We're Moving!!!!

You heard right! We are moving to Utah in July! I have never been so sad & excited at the same time! Keith took a new position and we are off! I am going to miss our dear friends here in Vegas! I will miss the playdates and walking club! I will miss our house! We put so much effort into making it our home! I am going to miss the warm weather too! But we are so excited to go back to beautiful Utah. We are excited to be near family and see to see our long lost friends! Wish us luck!

The Cabin 2010

Last weekend we went to my family's cabin up in Utah. It is always one of the highlights of our summer. I have been visiting the cabin ever since I was a baby and I have very fond memories of being there with all my loved ones! However I have never seen so much rain/water there in all my life as I did last week! It rained and poured everyday all day. We were freezing cold and soaked to the bone. In fact I never even took out my camera and had to bum these pics off my sister. If I had taken pictures they would be of my family hanging out inside playing games and eating way to much junk food. Hannah & Nick had a complete blast being with their cousins and I never even saw them except for mealtimes and when they wanted dry socks. Jack loved playing with his fellow baby cousins and crawling everywhere and getting really dirty! The river was very flooded and came up and almost covered the firepit where we usually roast hot dogs and make dutch oven. The boys had fun playing in the water/mud and making bridges to their little island. It's nice to be dry and warm back in Vegas. We can't wait for next summer and are hoping there is a little less rain!

The Graduates!

Wednesday Nicholas graduated from his 1st year of preschool! He had such a great year and learned so much. He knows most of his letters and sounds. He knows his numbers and can count really high! He is doing great with writing and drawing and has such a fabulous imagination. He earned a special award for "Following Directions"! He has been carpooling with his good friend Brooklyn and has made many new friends this year! Way to go Nicholas!

Hannah graduated from Kindergarten today! This year has just zoomed by! She loves school. She has lots of friends and really liked her teacher Miss P. She is a beautiful artist and can draw anything! She has really picked up on reading and writing and is amazing at both! I know I wasn't nearly so smart in Kindergarten! She loved riding the bus and can hardly wait to start 1st grade in the fall and eat lunch at school!

We are so proud of our little graduates! Education is so important and we are so grateful they have enjoyed school and excelled so much this year!

On a side note Jack is really looking forward to being able to nap this summer. The poor guy suffered severely from 3rd child syndrome this school year. He was constantly being woken up to go to the bus stop, pick someone up or run someone somewhere!

Now watch out summer here we come!

Happy 1st Birthday Jack!

Wow! I can't believe it's been a year and my baby is 1! Today is Jack's 1st birthday! 1 year ago today he was born....5 lbs 6 oz, 18 1/2 inches long at 12:52 AM! He was so tiny and not an ounce of fat on him!


Now he is so sweet & chubby! It's been a little bit of a rough year but worth every minute! We couldn't imagine our family without Jack in it! At dinner tonight we went around the table and each said our favorite thing about Jack:

Mom: I love to squeeze his chubby thighs and see his goofy toothy grin!

Dad: I love his infectious laugh!

Hannah: I love how playful & fun he is!

Nick: I like how fast he crawls and how he can kinda stand up!

Happy Birthday Jack! We love you!

A Nigbur Style Weekend!

Go Pumas! Nick started soccer. This is his first season and we think he likes it! He loves to run! (not always after the ball!) Maybe we should have signed him up for track instead! He looks so studly in his uniform and we are so proud of him for trying his best and learning something new! Way to go Nick!

We also had a Nigbur style campout this weekend! We are NOT campers but our kids wanted to go. So we pitched the tent in our backyard, made hotdogs on the BBQ & roasted marshmallows over the stove. Me & Jack slept inside while Keith and the kids slept in the tent! It was the best camping trip I've ever been on! Hope your family had a fun weekend too!

Happy SPRING Break?!?

We headed up to Utah for Spring Break this year to visit our families. Boy did we experience anything but Spring weather. It was freezing cold & snowy most of the time. But even though I complain my kids had a great time playing outside in the snow!

I hope Hannah checked to make sure it wasn't yellow first!
Keith and Nick shoveling Grandma's driveway
We drove up to Hailey, ID for a few days to visit my sister Melanie and her family! We had a great time throwing rocks in the Big Wood River, eating out, walking around Sun Valley and playing a lot with our cousins!

Jack rode on his 1st carousel and loved every minute of it!


Here we are all suited up for the big egg hunt! Thanks Aunt Keri for the fun invite!


We had a chance to celebrate Easter with all the grandparents & cousins! Thanks for all the yummy food and great gifts! We spent a great deal of time in the car. Poor Jack was pooped but found some comfort from this sock. Poor thing!

Happy Easter and Happy Spring to everyone!

Keith's GNO (Girl's Night Out)

On February 26-27 Keith went down to Prescott AZ to participate in the Ragnar Relay Series Del Sol Race (hereafter referred to as "the GNO"). The race is a series of 3 individual runs (mostly speed walks) for a team of 12 from Prescott to Mesa AZ, which totals 204 miles. Keith was invited by his sister Keri to join her and her friends, and he spent 2 months training for the running. If you can read the rear window of the van they are team "Poison Running Through My Veins".

Van #1 - Andrea, Carol, Keri, Kate, Ashley, and Keith (all in the team color pink)

Keith finishing his first run, which was 6.6 miles over a hilly pass. Hannah really wants the pink top so she can wear it as a dress.

After each series of runs our van had a stop to recuperate while the other half of our team was on the course. This is a picture of our team camped out with a sampling of the other 350 teams doing the race. Keri is taking the picture, and Kate was sleeping on a banana for some reason??

Keith was a little confused about which head lamp he should wear for the night run.

Keri and Keith right before Keith's night run. Notice Keith is still smiling, which is how you can tell it was before the run. Keith's second leg was 8.7 miles up a 4 lane highway, and was not his favorite part of the trip. People kept telling Keri "thanks for volunteering", because of that vest she is wearing. She had to be either a volunteer or working road crew.

This is the team safe a sound back at Keith's house (except for Keri's burn). Unfortunately, the team did not get to run their 3rd leg due to an accident on the course where a runner was struck by a car and died. In total Keith ran 15.3 miles, and was really grateful for the experience with his sister. What did he get for doing this insane event you ask??

This medal and the best/only GNO of his life. We are already planning to do the race in Las Vegas in October 2010. Let Keith know if you are interested!!

Thanks Chuck!

So yesterday we decided to go to Chuck E. Cheese and use the leftover tokens from Hannah's birthday. A great, inexpensive way to spend an afternoon! As we are pulling into the parking lot we had a very insightful discussion with Nick. Here's how it went down.......

Nick: (pointing to the mouse on the sign) "He died for us?"
Mom: "Who?"
Nick: (pointing again to the mouse on the sign) "He died for us and then came back to life again?"
Mom: completely baffled "Who Chuck E. Cheese?"
Nick: "Yeah."
Mom: light bulb moment! "No Nick...JESUS died for us and then came back to life again."
Nick: "Oh!"

Well they do kinda sound the same Jesus/Cheese's. I guess we know what Monday's FHE lesson with be on.....

We are not complete failures as parents though......we do make our kids wear their helmets when riding their bikes.....all 3 of them!

A Utah Weekend Away!

My older sister Georgia had her baby at the end of January and I just had to go meet him while he was still teeny tiny! He is absolutely gorgeous & precious! If Jack were just a little older I think you could talk me into having another one! I felt like Dug in the movie UP when he says "Hello. I have just met you and I already love you!" Welcome little Andrew Jacob Raymond....you are too cute!

Jack was such a joy to have all by himself! We flew and he did great on the plane. He got a lot of attention from everyone and was so happy and smiley the entire trip! He also was a champion sleeper. There must be something about a cool dark Utah basement! I sometimes feel like because he was such a hard infant we didn't get a lot of quality bonding time. This trip more than made up for it! He kept looking around wondering where those other 2 kids that are so demanding of me were. I think we loved having each other all to ourselves!
We had Sunday dinner at my parents and there are so many babies in my family I'm afraid we are not much help to each other. "Here I'll hold your baby if you hold mine!"

In 5 days I ate out 7 times! (I am going to need to kick up the walking!) I got to spend lots of time with my mom and sisters. My sister Melanie was in town from Idaho and I spent one night with my sister Emily and her girls while her husband was out of town. I also went out to lunch with my girlfriends from high school Marilee & Sarah. I went to visit my old neighbor & dear friend Veena and see her beautiful new home. Plus I got to see my sister in law Keri and my mother in law Dottie! Lots and lots of big girl bonding time (plus Jack!)

A special thanks to my wonderful Mom & Dad who were the greatest hosts! Thanks for all the yummy food and late night cards! You are the best parents a gal could ask for and the coolest grandparents on the planet! Jack sends hugs & kisses!

As for Hannah and Nick.....don't feel too bad for them. They got left behind with their completely awesome father! (Thanks honey for making this possible for me! You truly are the best!) They went to a hockey game and a movie and ate out way too much as well! When I got home the house was clean, the laundry was done and dinner was made! I am spoiled rotten! What a fun Utah weekend away! Anyone want to join me and do it again soon?!?

My Nutwinkles!

These are the 3 little people I love most in this world! Sometimes I am not always good at remembering that so this post is a little tribute to them!

I love blogging because it is such a great way to keep family and friends updated on your family! Here are updates on my 3 little nutwinkles!
Hannah earned her orange belt in Tae Kwon Do last weekend! She received a gold medal for doing the best on her forms and kicks. Way to go Hannah! She has really found her talent and is excelling in her class! She has lost 2 teeth and has one more really loose! I hope she doesn't end up missing all 4 front teeth at the same time! (Can you imagine trying to eat like that!?!) I think Hannah is very mature and grown up for her age. I sometimes think she is 6 going on 16. Maybe that's what you get with an oldest child. She loves Kindergarten and is becoming an excellent reader and writer. She also is a beautiful artist! Keep up all the good work Hannah!

Nick is loving preschool and goes 2 days a week. He is starting to learn his numbers and letters and he draws some hilarious pictures! He also is in a playgroup with some friends in the ward that meets once a week! He is going to start playing soccer in March. We spend a lot of time together while Hannah is at school and Jack is napping. I love him so much! He often makes me laugh out loud (and sometimes he makes me cry too!) He can be quite the charmer and has a fabulous imagination. When Nick is playing or excited he yells out "Yeehaw Cowboy!". Not sure where he picked that up but it is very funny! Love you Nick!

Jack is doing great as well! He is almost 9 months! Can you believe it? He still has his helmet and will probably have to wear it for 6 more weeks! But we hardly notice it anymore...it's just become part of who he is! He is down to only 1 physical therapy session a week and is showing great improvement! He is at this beautiful stage where he can sit and play with toys on the floor forever but can't go anywhere. I call it the "golden stage of babyhood"! He loves table food and is probably a better eater than Nick! Jack makes this adorable clicking noise with his tongue when you give him a kiss or tell him "I love you". I swear it's his way of saying "I love you too"! Hip hip hooray for Jack! We are so glad you are part of our family!

Now for my biggest nutwinkle of all! My sweet and adorable husband! He is so good to us! He works so hard to provide for our family! He is the greatest Dad! He is also the bestest friend and husband a gal could ask for! I never dreamed that when he dragged me to Vegas nearly 4 years ago we'd still be here but now I know that home really is where ever he is! The other night Jack woke up while I was out walking with the ladies. When I got home I found this.....my boys vegging out on the couch watching football! They had this guilty look on their faces like they had been caught doing something naughty! Like staying up way too late!

I'm so grateful to have these 4 nutwinkles in my life! They are the reason I am such a nutwinkle too! I love and adore each and every one of 'em!