Back to School

It's that time of year again...and we love it. Not the driving and time-management so much. But the excitement and anticipation of what a school day holds...that we love. (and mom loves a few hours of freedom each week).

Both of the older boys are attending preschool just down the street from us. Different schools...we just thought it would be better that way.

Andy was quite excited his first day.


How we got to school...


And Noah would stay all day if he could. (these pictures weren't forced or anything)



Noah just turned 5 at the end of July. We struggled over whether to send to Kindergarten this year or not. In the end, we decided that another year of preschool wouldn't hurt. I hope we made the right decision.

Happy Anniversary!

8 years of Wedded Bliss

(We are celebrating our 9th Anniversary)


In all reality, I am blessed to be married to such a wonderful man. A great husband, father, and provider for our family. What a wonderful 9 years it has been.

A look through the years...
(I couldn't get any of our wedding pictures to scan...we got married before digital photography got big...boy we're old)


In all our newlywed splendor...


Baby #1...

baby #2...

and baby #3... (obviously we failed to get a
complete family picture here)


I realize this is picture overload, but we got some great shots as we hiked in Zion National Park for our anniversary...

our hotel...



at the top of the mountain...

Welcome Summer

Today Jun 24		Sunny	105°/73°
Fri Jun 25		Sunny	103°/72°
Sat Jun 26		Sunny	101°/73°
Sun Jun 27		Sunny	104°/73°
Mon Jun 28		Mostly Sunny	103°/76°
Tue Jun 29		Mostly Sunny	100°/73°
Wed Jun 30		Sunny	99°/69°
Thu Jul 01		Mostly Sunny	99°/67°

Noah's preschool graduation

We love Noah around here for so many reasons. He's cute, fun, smart, informative, and compassionate.

Another reason we love Noah is that sometimes he is unpredictable (which adds a little entertainment to our otherwise boring lives)...

Noah's preschool graduation video (click here)
(bear with us for the first uneventful part of this video)

Highlights of this video...

1. Of course Noah's attitude towards this sweet, innocent boy sitting next to him.
2. Noah joining in on the last letter of the song
3. And Noah's comment at the end..."He distracts me."

Noah, we love you so much. Quirks and all.

Chiclet

So what do these...


and my baby have in common?



Seriously, have you seen bigger baby teeth on a child?

This has to be coming from the Hanks side of the family.

Just in Case...

I put on my shoes this morning only to find that Noah had autographed one of them. So just in case I lose my shoes, they can be returned to us. Maybe we should write our phone number as well.

The culprit (who is in desperate need of a haircut)...


When I asked Noah about the shoes, he walked directly to the kitchen table and said "I'll put myself on time-out."

At least something is sinking in.

A Weekend Away

What did I do when the husband gave the OK to go away for the weekend? I decided to relive college memories (well, some of them).

This weekend was Women's Conference up at BYU. I met my old (as in former) roommates up in Provo for a weekend that I won't soon forget. It was a weekend filled with fun, food, and spiritual uplift.

Things I took away from this Conference Weekend...

• Prioritizing my life makes room for the essential things (like scripture study, prayer, and meditation)...and we will be drawn off course if our priorities are out of order
• I control my calendar, not the other way around
• Chocolate covered cinnamon bears taste delightful (thank you, Brittany)
• Being consistent in spiritual things will help them become a forum for spiritual moments
• "Our sorrows and sacrifices carve and stretch the caverns of feeling within our own hearts, and as those caverns are enlarged, they expand our soul's capacity for joy" (I can't remember the author...)
• I'm not sure why I was worried about a 4 hour car ride by myself...it could've lasted longer
  
• I really do like Cafe Rio salads better than the burritos
• I will pray for the love that allows me to see the good in my loved ones and makes weaknesses and mistakes seem small
• I'm not sure why we thought the dorms were so awesome our freshman year (see picture at bottom)
• I was reminded why (15 years ago) I spent so many hours at the bookstore candy counter...and why I gained so much weight...and possibly why I didn't get married until a year after I graduated
  
• Seeing other people through the Savior's eyes will help us build sound relationships
• If I am constantly judging others, I have no time to love them...Mother Teresa
• I remember so well why my BYU experience was wonderful...I had the best roommates in the world