The Fawson's

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."

2011-11-13T09:24:00.000-08:00

Some of you will recognize this scripture found in Proverbs 3:5-6(KJV). It is one of my favorites and until recently I thought I understood this scripture. However, recent trials and adventures in my life have made me realize that at times in the past I have only put partial trust in the Lord. Why am I starting this blog post with a scripture? Because it was the only way I could adequately introduce the events that have transpired in our family over the last 6+ months. In my last blog post I shared how Paul had accepted a job in Illinois, however, we now live in Billings, MT. Shortly after my last post, I was diagnosed with ventricular tachycardia, a very serious heart arrhythmia. Two weeks later I underwent a cardiac ablation to hopefully correct the rhythm problem. Unfortunately it was unsuccessful. During that time, we were also anxiously looking for a home in Macomb. This to was unsuccessful and we were starting to worry as graduation was quickly approaching and we had to be out of our home in Milwaukee by the end of May. Having done all we could do, we put our full trust in the Lord, knowing that he knew of our prayers, efforts and the desires of our hearts. We had come to Billings the summer of 2010 and Paul had a number of interviews. We liked the area and the proximity it gave us to our families and had hoped we could find a practice in Montana after Paul filled his commitment in Illinois. Shortly before Easter, Paul received a phone call from one of the dentist's he had interviewed with in Billings asking him to come for another interview. Paul flew out over Easter weekend to meet with them. After looking at a number of options, they came to the conclusion that they were not quite ready to bring Paul on, but offered him a partnership after Illinois. Paul came home the Monday after Easter and related the news. We both felt discouraged but decided to increase our efforts to find a home in IL. I left shortly after he got home to do some sightseeing with my aunt who was visiting from out of state. Paul called me a few minutes after we had left and told me he had received another phone call from Billings. He explained that this dentist had seen his CV on the Montana Dental Board website and needed an associate ASAP. Ironically, he was purchasing a practice that we had looked at purchasing previously. Long story short, Paul headed back to Billings and felt a confirming witness that we were supposed to move to Billings. However, the challenges were far from over. We were unsure if he would be able to get out of his contract in IL and we knew that finding housing in Billings would be challenging based on a hot rental market. Paul graduated the weekend of May 21st and 22nd. On the morning of the 23rd, Paul was released from his contract in IL and faxed in his contract for the job in MT that afternoon. That evening, I found us a great home with a wonderful landlord who was willing to take a chance with an out of state family. Without having packed a single box at that point, we moved just two weeks later. I didn't get to say as many good-byes as I had hoped for. Please accept our apology if we didn't get to tell you good-bye! We arrived in Billings after a two day drive. Our furniture finally arrived the first part of July!! The summer months found us busy exploring Montana and spending time with our family. School started for the kids the end of August and they are all doing well, especially Abby, in their new schools. They have made friends quickly. Paul has transitioned well into Dentistry and the practice is growing and doing well. We have been extremely blessed and are grateful for our challenges. My health hasn't been the best recently, but I am optimistic that I will be able to overcome this trial. I am scheduled to have a second ablation in Salt Lake on the 28th of December. This is a new procedure that uses MRI technology to map the heart and uses catheters that are more flexible and able to access areas in the heart that are difficult to reach. We want to express our deepest appreciation for all of our friends and family who have loved us, supported us and served us during this eventful year in our lives. We will never forget you!!
Love,
Paul and Alicia & Kids

Drum Roll Please......

2011-03-20T18:32:00.000-07:00

We enjoyed a special visit with Bob and Gladys(My great uncle and aunt) while vacationing in the Dells.

Sydni and Mikelle climbing the rock wall at the Kalahari.

This shot really doesn't do the scene justice! This is Abby, 3 stories high on a rope course. She has no fear and a ton of determination. I on the other hand, nearly passed out and couldn't watch!! She is one amazing 7 year old!

Fall 2010

It's official!! We are moving to..............Macomb, Illinois!! Paul has accepted a position with a Community Health Center in Macomb. It's a beautiful town and home to Western Illinois University. The schools are great and we are excited to be staying in the Mid-West for a few more years. Macomb is 1/2 hour from Carthage and 1 hour from Nauvoo, IL. Both of these places are significant in our church's history and in our family history. Each summer there is a pageant in Nauvoo that re-enacts the story of early LDS pioneers. We are hoping to be in the pageant the summer of 2012. We love visitors! Come and see us anytime! We plan on living in Macomb for two years and then purchasing a practice(hopefully in the West and closer to family!) We have enjoyed our dental school adventure and all the wonderful friends we've made!! We will miss you!! Please keep in touch! I promise to be better at keeping our blog updated after I graduate!!!! We had more good news this week! Paul passed his last board exams and is on the home stretch to graduation!!! He graduates on May 21st and 22nd. If I pass my math proficiency exam, I will graduate on the 21st too!! For those of you who don't know, crazy me decided to go back to nursing school last year and finish my BSN(Nursing). I'm really looking forward to this new chapter in our lives!! I think after 14 years of marriage we are finally taking a break from education! Joshua asked me the other day what Daddy was going to do when he was done with dental school. I told him that Daddy was going to be a dentist. He said I was wrong and that it was time for Daddy to do something else!!! I am optimistic that Paul's third career choice is it! He not only passed his boards, but did very well and I know he will make an excellent dentist. Here is a few pics of our "celebration" trip to the Wisconsin Dells this week and our daredevil daughters. Thank you all for your encouragement and support! I'm also including an updated picture of our family.

Snow Dunes

2011-02-02T09:55:00.000-08:00

This is what we woke up to this morning!! We couldn't open the doors the snow was soooo high!! We also had "thunder snow" during the night! The kids ran into our room this morning to inform us that there was a "tidal wave of snow" in the driveway! No School today!!

Spelling Bee Champ!

2011-02-02T08:41:00.000-08:00

Sydni won her middle school spelling bee on Friday, January 21st! It's not very often that a sixth grader takes the title. She competed in the district spelling bee on Monday and took fourth place! The top six winners head to the Region spelling bee on Thursday night! We'll keep you posted on how she does. The region winner goes to the State bee and then on to Scripps!

Birthday Boy

2010-10-24T08:15:00.000-07:00

Five-years old!! Where has the time gone!

Snake Kisses!

2010-03-07T09:58:00.000-08:00

No snake kisses for me thanks! I'm waiting for my Prince Charming!

I'm not scared!!

2010-03-07T09:56:00.000-08:00

Abby had no fear when it came to holding a snake around her neck! Has anyone seen Josh??

Snakes!

2010-03-07T09:54:00.000-08:00

Mikelle's not so sure about this!

Soccer and Fall Pics

2010-03-07T09:31:00.001-08:00

A beautiful fall day at the beach. The kids had a blast at the nature center with all the animals. The girls even held a snake around their necks. Josh kept his distance!! Check out the next post for pics! We finished out the day doing what every kid loves, throwing rocks in the lake!

A special pile of rocks for Grandma Lynette! The kids were disappointed that I wouldn't ship rocks to Grandma!

Mikelle playing goalie for her team, The Vipers. Not to many wins this season, but lots of fun!

Mikelle in action!

Good News!

2009-07-19T18:27:00.001-07:00

Benign Reactive Lymph Node! The words we were hoping to hear! They also tested her lymph node for ALPS(autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome) and it was negative as well. Based on the lymph node findings, they decided not to diagnose her with ALPS. Her blood work indicated the disease, but she lacks other clinical features. Basically, we follow up with them if she shows any signs that are relative to ALPS. The immunologist also felt that she had reacted well enough to the new vaccines and determined that she did not have an immune deficiency as previously thought. She is recovering well.

Her sisters have been amazing! Abby had to endure a 48 hour EEG study, which they thankfully let us do at home. It required placement of 25 electrodes on her scalp with a very stinky glue! They then wrapped her head in gauze and placed a battery pack on the top of her head. She got to carry around a black "purse" for a few days and got to play movie star by being videotaped 24/7. They gave her a pretty bandanna to wear. She was still a little self-conscious, but felt better when her sisters joined in with their own bandannas! The worst part was the two hours spent in the bathtub trying to remove all that glue!!
Although we had some great news this week, she is still looking at further testing and a likely diagnosis of a seizure disorder. She has been much more herself the last few days and has enjoyed more of her normal activities. She has a beautiful little twinkle in her eyes and a smile that can shine through the darkest of days. She has an ability to endear herself to anyone in a matter of seconds!
We have no doubt that she'll make through any challenge that is placed before her! Thank you so much for keeping her in your thoughts and prayers!

Little Red's Most Dramatic Moment

2009-07-19T15:57:00.000-07:00

Sydni participated in an intermediate drama class this summer. On the last day of class, the kids put on the production "Big Bad Wolf". The Big Bad Wolf was put on trial and his victims were put on the stand to testify.(i.e. Little Red Riding Hood and her Grandmother, The 3 Little Pigs) Here's her most dramatic moment!

Abby's Update

2009-07-09T08:45:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone. I promised to keep you updated on what's going on with Abby. This week we met with her neurologist for the first time. She told us that Abby's EEG showed that she had generalized abnormal brain activity. She ordered further blood tests, an MRI and a 48 hour EEG that we will start at home with her on Monday. On Tuesday, she had a lymph node removed from the left side of her neck. Everything went well. She has been tired and has had some mild pain the last two days, but is in good spirits. We should have the biopsy results in the next few days. Thank you for your fasting and prayers! Keep the prayers coming! Thanks to all those who have helped with our kids this week!

4th of July

2009-07-09T08:29:00.001-07:00

Enjoying sparklers with the Carter Family.

A chilly swim at the Twelmeyer's.

Syd doing a cannonball!

Sweet little "frozen" Abby. It never gets warm enough to swim in Wisconsin!

Fireworks at the Lakefront

2009-07-09T08:22:00.000-07:00

The most incredible fireworks show ever!! One hour of huge, boom after boom, amazing fireworks!

The pre-show entertainment!

Paul and Josh playing football before the Fireworks. That's a building in the background(the Milwaukee Art Museum), not a huge sailboat!

Lake Michigan

Post Camping Fatigue Syndrome

2009-07-09T08:19:00.000-07:00

2009-07-09T08:03:00.000-07:00

Berries white take flight. Leaves of three let them be. Our campsite was overrun with poison ivy! We had a few near misses. Joshua crashed his bike in the bushes and came out hysterical. Not because he was hurt, but because he knew exactly what he had fallen into! We washed him off good and miraculously came home without any rashes!!

Joshua hates to swing! However, he recently discovered tire swings and loves them! I'm sure it has something to do with his love of trucks!

Fishing on Devil's Lake. We had a great trip, in spite of a few "Griswald Moments!" We packed up the trailer to leave for Mirror Lake and realized the keys were missing. We unloaded the entire trailer, said multiple prayers, and finally called, as Josh would say, an OckSmith to make us new keys! Our last Griswald moment came as we were leaving Mirror Lake. Josh was saying goodbye to the boys in the campsite next to ours. He backed up and fell in their fire pit! Luckily they had not had a fire going since the night before. I should have taken a picture. He was covered in ash! We frantically washed him off thinking he had split his head open. Once we had him back to his little white self, we found just a small goose egg on the side of his head. Never a dull moment around here!

Frog Catching at Mirror Lake

2009-07-09T07:54:00.000-07:00

The girls had a blast catching these tiny frogs. Josh wouldn't touch them!!

A sandcastle and moat for their froggy friends!

Abby's baby frog named Emily. (She names everything Emily!)

More Glen and Nature Pics

2009-07-09T07:43:00.000-07:00

Paul and Josh getting a drink from the pump.

Josh and Brigham.

Parfrey's Glen

2009-07-09T07:29:00.000-07:00

These pics are from an amazing nature walk we took while camping at Devil's Lake. We ran into our friends, The Baers, and the kids had a great time hiking and exploring together.

The scenery was incredible. Dark craggy bluffs covered with moss and ferns. Springs and crystal clear pools. The girls were sure they would spot a fairy or a gnome!

Abby wasn't quite up to the hike that morning, but found the perfect ride on her Daddy's shoulders!

Right in the middle of the trail was a perfect Tarzan vine. After Paul tested it's strength, the kids had a great time swinging and doing their best Tarzan yells!

Mikelle's Birthday

2009-07-09T07:02:00.000-07:00

Mikelle wanted to be "showered" with money for her birthday! Unfortunately, her fan blew the money off the ceiling during the night and she woke up covered in one dollar bills!!

2009-06-28T16:01:00.000-07:00

Notice the blinker at the bottom of my blog. Boys are 90% mischief and 10% dirt. Today it was 10% chocolate. Josh has been hiding from me lately. Paul had taken the girls to summer school and I had gone in my room to make the bed. When I came out Josh was gone. I checked all the usual places outside, checked the basement, the princess tower(the girls bedroom) and was starting to panic. I looked outside the front window again and called his name out the front door. Just then I heard a tiny giggle. I found him a few feet from me, behind the piano with a cupful of chocolate chips! Stinker!!

Mikelle's Backyard Camp-Out Birthday Bash

2009-06-28T15:43:00.001-07:00

Our original plan was to have the girls watch a movie in the tent. However, after we set up the tent Paul checked the news and saw that severe thunderstorms were headed our way. We got the tent down just in time and moved the movie theatre to the basement!

Make a wish!

Roasting marshmallows and making smores.

Luckily the weather cooperated just long enough for the girls to eat and have some time around the campfire.

The cake!

A Day at the Zoo

2009-06-28T15:35:00.001-07:00

Goat slobber!!!

A rare and endangered Cheetos Walrus!

Posing with their cousin! Lil Apes!!

Josh, Layla(Abby's best friend and partner in crime!), Abby & Mikelle.

Flamingo rain dance.

2009-06-28T15:09:00.000-07:00

Josh and Abby insisted that we buy Sydni this singing birthday balloon. Here's Mikelle doing the "Birthday Balloon Boogie"!

Sydni's Birthday

2009-06-28T14:42:00.001-07:00

June 8Th, 2009. Sydni's 10 years old today!!
Blowing out the candles on her ice cream sandwich cake! Layers of ice cream sandwiches with fudge, caramel, and cool whip in between. Yummy!!
She's growing up to be a wonderful young woman. She was even brave enough this year to get her ears pierced for her birthday. We brought her friend Emma along for moral support! We are keeping her busy with summer school classes. She hates to be bored! She is taking a German class and a drama class. Her drama class is performing a play based on Little Red Riding Hood. Guess who landed the part of Little Red... our little drama queen! Congrats Syd!

Random spring pics

2009-06-16T11:15:00.000-07:00

Mikelle's 3D Butterfly Project

After a long hike at Kohler Andrae State Beach. How many kids can Daddy carry??

Running down a huge sand dune at Kohler Andrae State Beach in Sheboygan. This was a spontaneous trip and we had a wonderful day!

Josh and his Hero!

Floam face Kelly! Isn't boredom great!

Chicago and Navy Pier Children's Museum

2009-06-16T11:04:00.000-07:00

3 stories high in the pirates nest!! Brave kiddos!

We could not get Josh out of this play Ambulance or out of the fireman's coat!

Riding on the upper level of the Metra commuter train from Elgin to Chicago.

Riding the bus to Navy Pier!

2009-06-16T10:58:00.000-07:00

Trying to get a decent pic on a cold Easter morning. We had 12 inches of snow last Easter!

Josh and Abby before the Easter Egg Hunt.

More Recital Pics

2009-06-16T10:49:00.000-07:00

Abby's amazing dance teacher, Raquelle Willey and daughter Sienna.

Rising Stars Dance Company

This expression is why her daddy calls her "Pistol Pete!"

Abby's Dance Recital February 2009

2009-06-16T10:43:00.000-07:00

A day with nothing to do....I finally get time to update the blog!! All About Abby..

2009-06-16T09:35:00.000-07:00

Abigail's 5th Birthday Tea Party
The perfect party for our girly girl and social butterfly!

Resolutions.....Is it really April already??!!

2009-04-19T13:42:00.000-07:00

Well so much for that resolution!! I've obviously missed a few months! I'll catch up later! A few highlights of the last few months: Abby turned 5 January 23rd! She's an amazing little girl and keeps our lives exciting. She's a social butterfly and her idol is Sharpay from High School Muscial. Everything has to be fabulous for Abby. She won't leave for school in the morning without her hair done just right and her lipgloss on! We're in trouble!!
February brought a release from my calling in the Primary Presidency. I enjoyed it, but was ready for the release. Having one spouse in a leadership calling at time is a good idea! I've been happy to give Paul more of my support in his bishopric duties. I was called a few weeks later to be the Activity Days leader and am loving it!
After a healthy winter, we have made up for it during March and April. Strep throat made it's rounds, as well as Fifth's disease, sinus infections, and currently rotavirus. (Never heard of it, you don't want to! It's a terrible intestinal virus that reeks havoc on children and their mothers!)
On a better note, Paul took his written board exams in March and passed! We are almost at our half way point. It has gone by so quickly!

New Years Resolution...Keep the blog up to date!

2009-01-12T13:57:00.000-08:00

December flew by in an instant! It was wonderfully busy! It started snowing here on December 1st and never stopped! We never have to worry about having a white Christmas in Wisconsin!! December found Paul and I busy with our church callings, Paul trying to balance study time for finals and tithing settlement, and me trying to staff the Primary during the holidays and plan sharing times. Despite our hectic life, the burden's seem light and we both enjoy serving. We loved having Paul home for a few weeks of needed vacation. The kids enjoyed a few surprise days off from school for some family fun. The next few posts are all about our December fun. We play just as hard as we work!

2009-01-12T13:39:00.000-08:00

Our friend Amy took these pics of the kids this fall.
Abigail, 4 years

Mikelle, 7 years

Sydni, 9 years

Joshua, 3 years

They're all growing so fast! We are so blessed to have them as part of our family!

2008-12-17T14:56:00.000-08:00

Decorating our Christmas Tree!

Hann's Christmas Tree Farm.

Surprise Visitors!

2008-12-17T14:18:00.000-08:00

We enjoyed a surprise visit from Aunt Tam(Paul's sister) and Uncle Jimmy(her husband and competitor for the favorite uncle contest) just before Thanksgiving. I checked the kids out of school and we headed for Chicago's O'hare Airport. The kids had no idea where we were going. There were a few tears thinking we were going to Utah and they were going to have to endure an endless car ride. Finally things clicked when the started to see signs for the airport and planes flying above. We had a great visit with them and a wonderful Thanksgiving with them and the Johnson crew!
Tamara and the kids painting the ceramic animals that Aunt Tam gave them.

Picking the perfect Christmas tree at the Tree Farm on Thanksgiving morning.

A visit to Wisconsin's ocean, Lake Michigan. A few weeks before the ice bergs formed!

A stop at the Jelly Belly Factory on the way home from Chicago to get a little sugar high!

Our first stop was the Chicago Temple. This was the kids first trip to the temple since our move to Milwaukee.

Time moves so quickly...

2008-12-17T13:53:00.000-08:00

Here's the last few months in a nutshell. Joshua celebrated his third birthday on October 15th! He's growing up so fast! He loves anything cars and got a "hugemongus" racetrack for his birthday. However, he loves his Daddy more than anything else and counts the minutes until Daddy gets home and he's no longer the only male in the household! We hope to have him fully potty trained by age five! His sisters were trained at age 2!
Halloween was great and the kids had many parties and dressed up in multiple costumes! Sydni was "Nancy Drew", Mikelle was a witch, Abby was "Cinderella", and Josh was "Batman"

2008-10-22T08:25:00.000-07:00

Fall in the Midwest...a little piece of heaven.

2008-10-02T19:05:00.000-07:00

We have officially decided that fall is our family's favorite time of year! I could eat glazed donuts and drink fresh cider for breakfast, lunch and dinner! We officially started our fall celebration this last weekend. Saturday we drove to Burlington, IL to visit my great uncle and aunt and my grandmother who was visiting from Utah. Uncle Bob treated the kids to a ride in his old car. The girls loved riding in the "rumble seat!" After a picnic lunch, we went to Goebbert's Pumpkin Farm. This farm had it all! A spook alley, a corn maze, a hay bale maze, an incredible petting zoo area, pig races, camel rides, donuts, cider, pies, a million varieties of pumpkins and they even had a pumpkin eating dinosaur! It was a great day and a great visit with people we love!

DARN GROUNDHOG!!

2008-02-10T11:40:00.000-08:00

Schools canceled again! Serious cabin fever has hit the Fawson's! What we sing while we shovel snow, "Sweet home Arizona, where the sky's are so blue........"

Abby the Fairy Four-Year-Old Birthday

2008-02-10T11:32:00.000-08:00

Our sweet little Abby is four!! She is growing up fast and loves fairies and magic wands! We made magic wand cookies for her dance class and a castle cake for her birthday.

New Year's Eve and FIREWORKS IN THE SNOW!!

2008-02-10T11:23:00.000-08:00

We had a fun New Years! The Johnson's came for lunch and brought us some fireworks. Mikelle, Abby, and Josh had never held a sparkler before! They were illegal in AZ. It was great fun to do fireworks in the snow! Paul and Sydni and Mikelle stayed up until midnight and watched the ball drop! Another highlight of our day was that we finished reading the Book of Mormon!!

Ice Skating

2008-02-10T11:16:00.000-08:00

Ice Skating with their new skates from Grandpa and Grandma Palmer. It didn't take them long to learn how! Ballerina's on ice!!

Christmas

2008-02-10T11:04:00.000-08:00

We had a relaxing Christmas at home. The kids woke up at five, but waited patiently until 6 a.m. Santa brought a wonderful dollhouse and many gifts!

We spent the day playing games, eating sweets and making a yummy Christmas dinner.
Our new tradition this year was to make a gingerbread house. We found this cool log cabin design and spent a few nights and lots of royal icing putting it together.

Christmas Tree Hunting with the Johnson's at Tannebaum Acres

2008-02-10T10:54:00.000-08:00

Dasher made a pre-Christmas visit to the tree farm. The kids enjoyed seeing a real reindeer.

The hunt was on for the perfect tree......

We found the perfect tree! We then took a hayride around the tree farm and ended the night with a warm cup of cider! Yum!

Little Ballerina's

2008-02-10T10:44:00.000-08:00

The girls first dance recital with Rising Stars dance company! They all did a wonderful job!

Backup a little bit, Thanksgiving with the Johnson's

2008-02-10T10:32:00.000-08:00

We love having family close and we love the Bryan and Robyn Johnson family!! It's great having Paul's aunt and uncle just an hour away! We had a fun and very filling Thanksgiving with them! The girls loved playing in the snow and making a little snowman with Rose!

Abby loved all the sweet treats, Aunt Robyn's homemade grape juice, and cousin Joanna!!
Our little turkey made a chocolate covered turkey!

Weekend with Bob and Gladys

2008-02-10T10:03:00.000-08:00

We spent a wonderful and relaxing weekend before Christmas, with Bob and Gladys, my "Great" uncle and aunt. I'm so happy that my kids can have memories with these wonderful people. We loved their visits as kids and I'm glad we live close enough to see them often. They treated our children like royalty! The kids even got to eat a delicious Christmas dinner on nice china plates and drink out of goblets! The girls and Paul enjoyed building snowmen with Uncle Bob. Afterwards, we went to the Lions Club to see Santa. Uncle Bob gave us a personal tour of all the trucks in the fire station. Joshua was in heaven!!

Our first snowfall in nearly six years!!

2008-02-10T09:48:00.000-08:00

The girls knocked this icicle down by themselves!! I took the picture and then I began my lecture on the dangers of icicles!! They were pretty proud of their icicle log!!

It started snowing Dec. 1 and has harldy stopped! Kinsey wasn't quite sure what to think of it at first! She has grown very fond of it though and loves to chase snowballs!

Happy Halloween

2008-02-10T09:33:00.000-08:00

Our Ward Halloween Party with the little spooks. Abby(Dorothy from the "Blizzard of Oz"), Maddie(Sydni's best friend and a black cat), Sydni(Snow Fairy), Mikelle(2nd year running as a kitty cat), and our little Joshua(a dinosaur). The kids had a fabulous time. It was too cold for a trunk or treat, so the kids went trick or treating to each primary class. There was a cool spook alley, a dance contest, a pumpkin carving contest, and a performance from our ward rock band!
Dorothy and Dinosaur doing the chicken dance!
Boo at the Zoo! The Milwaukee Zoo is just around the corner from our house. We can hear the train and even hear the wolves howl at night! We had a great time trick or treating at each of the animal exhibits. We rode the ghost train into the dark woods. There were not any spooks in the woods, but Mom and Dad were even a little scared riding through the dark and misty woods!

Fall in Wisconsin

2008-02-07T13:36:00.000-08:00

It snows leaves in Wisconsin before it snows snow!!

Do We Really Need to Buy Our Kids Toys??

2008-02-07T13:23:00.000-08:00

Joshua driving his trains in the dishwasher. Joshua using his train table as a chair. This shot was taken seconds before the bottom fell out!! Oops! He won't do that again!

BAD, BAD BABIES!

2008-02-07T13:14:00.000-08:00

"Bad, bad babies...... why can't you be good??" (lyrics to one of the kids favorite songs). P.S. The crib is still standing!

Joshua's 2nd Birthday

2008-02-07T13:00:00.000-08:00

Our little "J" bugs 2nd birthday. Our little caboose is growing up fast!! He's all about trains and loves Thomas! He spent the whole week singing happy birthday to himself!

He loves his new train table!
He also loves anything with four wheels and buttons!! Especially buttons that make noise! We had a fun family party with Uncle Bryan and Aunt Robyn and kids.

First Day of School

2008-02-07T12:37:00.000-08:00

The First Day of School at Wilson Elementary in Wauwatosa, WI. The girls are growing up so fast! I can hardly believe that we have a 3rd grader this year! Sydni's in 3rd grade and has a wonderful teacher, Mrs. Schwarz. Mikelle started 1st grade and has a teacher that is just perfect for her, Mrs. Falk. They have made friends quickly and love their "old" school with all the stairs! GO Wilson Wildcats!!

Paul's 32nd Birthday

2008-02-07T12:23:00.000-08:00

Paul's 32nd Birthday and 1st Day of Dental School!!

Look at the fire on that cake! Kids, grab the fire extinguisher just in case! "Heavy, heavy hang over Daddy's poor head, what do you wish with a "bump"(a heavy saw) on your head!"

We love you Daddy! What an amazing day!!

Apple Picking and The Pumpkin Patch

2008-02-07T12:06:00.000-08:00

This is a Wisconsin family tradition that we have adopted! Did you know that they grow apples in Wisconsin? Wisconsin is not just about cheese and beer! Apple orchards are plentious around here!
Each week the orchard selects a different variety for picking. The weekend we went we picked Golden Delicious. The kids had a blast climbing the ladders and sending their small buckets down to Abby to dump in the big basket.

Wisconsin farms are the farms you see in pictures! They are absolutely beautiful. After apple picking, we had a picnic on the grass and then went in search of the perfect pumpkin. We had never seen such a huge pumpkin patch! It was acres and acres of pumpkins!!

We had a wonderful afternoon and finished it off with a cup of fresh apple cider! It was heaven in a glass! We spent the next few weekends making apple pie filling!!

Marquette School of Dentistry

2008-02-07T11:47:00.000-08:00

We took these pics for Sydni's community project. This is where Paul spends his days, and a few evenings and weekends! The lower picture is of the sim lab (aka "The Dungeon") where Paul is currently hibernating!!

He is enjoying school and doing very well. We have been amazed at how fast time is flying by! He survived his first semester and is now well into his second. This semester has proved a little more challenging with just 25 credit hours!! He has anatomy this semester and likes to gross us out at the dinner table when he talks about what he did at school that day!!

Wisconsin Home

2007-11-19T12:39:00.000-08:00

We Love Lake Michigan! The kids think the "ocean" is only ten minutes from our house. We took a Sunday drive and found this wonderful beach. We thought we'd just let the kids play on the beach and throw rocks in the water.
These pics are before they all decided to jump into a very cold lake!! Thank goodness home is not to far!!
Our little monkeys enjoy climbling the many trees we have in our yard.

OUR BIG MOVE!

2007-11-19T12:10:00.000-08:00

On August 7th, 2007 our family left our home in Sunny Arizona to start a new adventure in Snowy Wisconsin! Despite extreme boredom and heat(see pic of underwear head pirates), we survived packing and were on our way! Our goal was to stop at all the temples along our route. However, thanks to poor map quest directions and car trouble, we only saw Snowflake and Albuquerque. We enjoyed seeing many new sites as we drove across the country and even got to spend time with cousins in Texas. After four long days in the car, we were finally home! The kids were amazed at all the trees and grateful that the weather was cool enough that they could play outside again!