Collin Graduation

Collin had to be at graduation (I would have made him go anyway). Both his parents and my parents came with us which was a lot of fun. We didn't want to pay for parking at the airport so we rode Frontrunner to the airport. Scotty thought it was great that we rode a train (Frontrunner), trolley (Trax), an airplane, and a bus (to the rental car) all in one day. He loved watching out the windows of Frontrunner. It was so nice and I was extremely glad and grateful our parents were with us. Carrying 2 carseats, a suitcase, 2 backpacks, and keeping track of Scotty with Kylie in the carrier on the Frontrunner and Trax was pretty crazy, but was much easier once we were at the airport and had additional help from parents. Both kids did so great the whole trip! Our flight left at about 8:30 PM. Kylie fell asleep before the plane took off. Scott was too excited that it took him about an hour and half before he settled down and slept. We flew into Chicago. We had a rental car while we were there. I reserved an SUV. Even though we needed 8 seats I reserved one that said 7 online. I thought all SUVs had a full middle bench. Apparently the rental company only had 2 seats in the middle row, so Collin got to drive a 12 passenger van! We had more space that way though and it was easier for me to go back and forth from the passenger and the kids right behind me. We got to a hotel that night around 1 in the morning and had to leave early in the morning to get Collin to Davenport for graduation practice the following morning. We didn't get tons of sleep that night, but both kids slept well which was good.

Driving to Davenport (2.5 hours) was uneventful. It was nice being back in Davenport. It felt like home! While Collin was at graduation practice the rest of us hung out at the school and talked. My memory is fuzzy on how the rest of the day went but at some point we went to the John Deere tractor museum. It brought back so many memories from going there with friends. We went to The Machine Shed for dinner. Scott fell asleep on the way there (pretty much anytime we were in the car both kids slept) He slept on my dad's lap pretty much all of dinner. He was so tired from such a late night, early morning, and no nap really. After dinner our friends the Colvins came to the hotel and talked with us for awhile. We miss them! It was good to talk with them and catch up with them, even though it had only been a few months since we last saw them.

Graduation was the next day. We had enough time in the morning to swim for a bit. That was Kylie's first time swimming. She liked it. It was then time to get ready to go for graduation. Graduations aren't fun, but it was so exciting for me to see Collin acknowledged for all his hard work! He graduated Magna Cum Laude and was also on the Dean's List every trimester. All that while being married and having 2 kids. I was so emotional seeing him walk across the stage. We were sitting right above where they walked in and out. As he was exiting he looked up, found us, and held his hand up with the I Love You sign - that's when I was very emotional. I really am so proud of him. After graduation we went and found Dr. Katie Clark (the clinic doctor Collin learned from and worked with). She is so great and we all loved her! After that it was time to drive back to Chicago. We went to the temple as soon as we got there. The men went first and then the women. It's a pretty temple and I'm glad we went. Collin and I meant to go there the whole 3.5 years we were in Davenport but always went tot he Nauvoo temple instead. After the temple, we went to dinner and then our hotel for bed.

The next and last day was spent sight seeing Chicago. It was so cold nobody wanted to get out of the car. We just drove around downtown before heading back to the airport. We got to the airport quite a bit earlier than we needed to, but Chicago airport has a playground that Scott played at for awhile. Our flight back to SLC had our friends from our Davenport ward, Jared and Holly Brown, on it. That was fun to talk with them for a bit. When we landed in SLC we realized we had to really hurry to make it on Trax, otherwise we would have had to wait an hour for the next Frontrunner. It took forever for our carseats to be unloaded. We made it on Trax just in time.

It was a fun, busy few days with lots of good memories!

Frontrunner

Trax, or as Scott called it "Trolley", like Daniel Tiger

Before we ever took off, with a sleeping Kylie

How they looked at the end of our flight

Dr. Katie Clark

Look at this crazy parking garage, with a river right below it!

The Bean

Illinois is very proud of Abraham Lincoln coming from there.

Lake Michigan

Wrigley Field. I really wanted to go to a Cubs game while we were in school, but we never made it. At least I got to see Wrigley Field while in Chicago.

Kylie Baby - 8 months

Our Kylie Baby is 8 months old now! I swear every year goes faster than the previous one. She continues to be so happy and a joy in our lives. Here are a few things she's doing now:

-For the last month she's been doing an army crawl until about a week and a half ago. She has finally figured out how to crawl with her knees up underneath.

-She's pulling herself up and standing next to anything she can. This morning when I went in to her room to get her out of bed she was standing up. I guess I need to lower her crib now.

-She still loves Scotty. He can make her smile and laugh more than anyone else. She always wants to play with whatever he's playing with. Thankfully he usually plays nice with her.

-The last few days she has started to scrunch her nose up. It is one of the cutest things I have ever seen.

-Her hair is growing more and more. When she wakes up in the morning she's got some bed head going on now. It's down over her ears now and it must tickle her cause she will move her hand over her ear to move the hair off.

-She got her 2 front bottom teeth around 5.5 months. She's working on her top ones now.

-Still not sleeping great. I had her going about 4 hour at night for about 2 weeks but now her teeth are bothering her and is back to sleeping awful again.

-At 7.5 months she weighed almost 19 pounds!!!! Her legs are starting to slim down now that she's crawling though. 

-She is finally taking long naps most of the time. She takes two 1.5-2 hour naps a day usually. She is so much happier now that she's not taking lots of cat naps throughout the day.

-Most of the time she uses her left hand to grab toys or food. I'm curious to see if she will be a left handed girl.

-She really is so happy all the time. We are so lucky to have such a happy baby.

This is one of my absolute favorite pictures of her. Her whole face lights up when she smiles.

Her first Easter

She crawled over to our toy corner and was so proud of herself.

The first time she pulled herself up to her toy all by herself.

She loves to be outside, but didn't necessarily like the splash pad.

She loves getting to play the piano. I hope it sticks.

This was today. Standing in her crib, bed head, and you can kind of see her scrunched nose.

I just loves these two little kids!

5 Month Kylie

Time has gone so fast with this Little Girlie! We love her to pieces and want to squeeze and squish her all day. Here's what she's up to:
- She is a master at sitting up now. If she wobbles she can catch herself from falling and get herself sturdy again. She can talk, smile, and play with toys while sitting up.
- She loves music! We went to see Trolls together as a family yesterday and anytime a song was on I would help her dance. I do this often at home as well and she always smiles and starts giggling.
- Anytime we eat she's in her Bumbo on the table or sitting on one of our laps. She has been really interested in us eating and wants us to put the food in her mouth. We have started giving her oatmeal the last week and a half. The first few times she didn't like it very much, but she does now. She loves fruit. I gave her smashed black beans a few days ago and she loved them too.
- She is finally starting to grow into some shoes. She has gotten really big and chunky, but her feet have stayed little. She now is too big for a pair of newborn sandals.
- Collin pulled out our Jumperoo earlier this week. She liked it at first, but wasn't quite sure what to do. It didn't take her long before she was jumping, smiling, and having a blast. Scott loves watching her jump as well and laughs and jumps with her, which then makes her laugh and jump more.
- Her sleep at night has been bad since the beginning of the year when she had a cold. The last few weeks has been better thankfully. She's only going about 3-4 hours at a time, but that's much better than it was.
- We switched her to a convertible carseat a few weeks ago.
- Kylie loves watching Scott play. He runs and jumps all over, going crazy. She will just sit and smile or laugh at him. I hope this friendship continues.
- She loves to talk and squeal. She is such a happy baby.
- When she smiles her whole face lights up and usually loses control of her body.
- The weather has been nice the last few days the kids and I were able to go outside and enjoy the fresh air. Kylie was so happy. She sat on a blanket playing with toys the whole time.
- She's been able to roll over for a few months, but just hasn't done it consistently. She finally is rolling front to back every time, almost as soon as I lay her on her stomach. She's only rolled back to front a few times.
- We only have a shower here, but she's taken a bath a few times at Grammy and Grampy's house. She squirms side to side and looks like a penguin waddling, but side to side. It is so funny!!!

Look at those thighs!! I squeeze them all day everyday.

One of the first times she sat for a about 30 seconds.

We loves this happy girl and enjoy having her part of our family. 

Sweet Scott

Scott lately has been doing several things that are so sweet. Two weeks ago we were driving in the car somewhere and Scott said to me "Mom, I want go temple." I told him maybe we could go to the temple on Sunday (he said this on a Thursday or Friday). Everyday after that he said several times a day he wanted to go to the temple. So the following Sunday we went for a short drive after dinner to see the temple. We stopped in the parking lot and just let Scott look at the temple. He then said "I want walk temple." The gates were shut, it was dark, and it was too cold to go outside so he was okay with us going for a walk around the temple when it gets warmer. We think he remembers and misses walking around the Nauvoo temple almost every month when we were in Iowa. He also loves singing "I Love to See the Temple". It makes me so happy and warms my heart that he loves the temple already.

Every night we read scriptures together as a family. We read one column out of the Book of Mormon. Collin and I each read half a column and have Scott repeat after us to read the shortest verse in the column. Last week Scott's verse went like this: 

Collin: And

Scott: And

C: it

S: it

C: came

S: came

C: to

S: pass

Collin and I then started laughing immediately, which then caused Scott to laugh and say over and over "pass". It was so funny and great. We struggle every night trying to get Scott to sit and listen, but he only lasts for about a verse before we have sit him back down. I'm so grateful that Scott is paying attention and hearing the things we say, even if he can't sit still. 

It's nice only being 10 minutes from a temple now instead of 2 hours.

Chiropractic School ----- Complete!! *Almost*

Collin submitted his LAST assignment for chiropractic school last night. He is DONE!!!!! He still has to be at graduation the end of this month, but that's it! I am so so proud of him. He's done an awesome job, all while still being a fantastic husband and dad! The last 3.5 years have been tough, but oh so good at the same time. We loved our time in Iowa, but are excited for the next chapter of our lives to start. Our whole married life one of us has been in school. It will be nice to be done with school and have a regular family life. Way to go Collin! Scott, Kylie, and I love you and are so extremely proud of you!

DONE!!!!! This was last night right after he submitted his assignment.

I think we both lost a few brain cells over the last few years....

Our life in January

Life for us isn't too exciting or eventful anymore. We moved from Iowa the end of October to Pleasant Grove, UT. Not knowing many people + winter = not getting out of the house much. The kids and I go to the grocery store about once a week. We also make trips to the library, Collin's work, other store trips, and that's about it. We maybe leave the house 2 times a week. However, we do have fun at home.

Scott loves to read books. He can "read" several books by himself, which is so cute and fun to listen to. Some books he can read are Green Eggs and Ham, Brown Bear Brown Bear, and The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Luckily I got Green Eggs and Ham recorded. He recently has started to love The Little Critter books and Clifford - which I love! Most days he gets to watch a movie after he takes a nap, usually when I'm making dinner. He discovered Lion King a few days ago and has wanted to watch that everyday since. He also likes Big Hero 6, The Peanuts Movie, Cars, and the Despicable Me movies. He likes Daniel Tiger and Curious George. He gets to watch those in the morning when I shower and get ready. He used to love doing his puzzles, but I think now that they are super easy for him he doesn't like it as much. For Christmas he got Candyland and Hi-Ho Cherry-o. He really loves to play Candyland. He also found our game Qwirkle that he now loves - which is great for him to learn his shapes better. He does great lining the tiles up by color. He is even starting to say the color and shape when he puts them down! He got more wooden train pieces to go along with the ones he already had. Almost daily we put it together. His favorite saying right now is "top of mountaint" (yes with the t at the end). Anything high is at the top of a mountaint. He wasn't eating much at meals and it was driving me crazy. I finally figured out I need to give him less snacks during the day so he's hungrier at dinner. He really like Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas we had a few nights ago. We sing a Primary song after we read scriptures at night. This week we are singing I Love to See the Temple. He knows it so well and does a great job singing this one. I love hearing him. Scott really loves his aunts, uncles, and cousins. Several times a day he will talk about them and that he wants to play with them at their house or have them come here. He loves them - even his cousins in AZ.

Kylie talks a lot. She used to sound a lot like Chewbacca on Star Wars - gurgling spit in her throat - this last week she has started shrieking, and boy is she loud. She talks the most when she's playing with her toys. Yesterday she woke up from her nap about an hour before Scott woke up. I had her laying on the floor playing with her toys and talking with her. She was shrieking almost the whole time. It was fun to have that time with just her. We've also been starting to let her taste foods. So far she has loved apples, strawberries, and blackberries. She could not get enough of any of those. Whenever we're eating she watches us put every bite in our mouth. Last night she was sucking/gnawing a strawberry and ended up eating a quarter of it. She would see it in my hand, grab my fingers, and bring it to her mouth. It's fun to see her grow, experience, and learn more, but sad at the same time. I was telling Collin last night that it makes me sad that she's not going to be breastfeeding for all her food. I don't want to totally be giving her food until I talk with her doctor about it next week.

Collin is liking work. He enjoys not being in classes all day and to actually be doing the things he learned in school outside of school. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday he starts work at 7. Tuesday and Thursday isn't until 11. They have a lunch break from 12-2. He comes home for lunch for half the days and then the gym the other days. He doesn't get home until about 6:30 Mon-Thurs and about 4:30 on Friday.. I miss seeing and having him most of the day, but that's our life now. He likes work and helping people feel better. He gets to adjust a few people a day usually. We should know by the end of next week if he gets to continue to work at the office he's at as an Associate Doctor. We're excited for Collin to graduate next month.

Kylie was doing tummy time and Scott wanted to join her. I believe we were playing Candyland. Scott loves being on his tummy lately. I'm not sure if it's because of seeing Kylie like this throughout the day or not. Scott and Kylie have so much fun together though. She loves watching him run around the house and usually will smile and giggle. He lined a bunch of books up the other night and was running around them. She was laughing SO hard. It will be fun to watch them continue to play together.

For date night 2 weeks ago we went to the Creamery. It was fun, with great people watching for Collin, but we really miss Whitey's back in Iowa.

Scott loves helping with dishes.

This was after she had blackberries for the first time.

We had dinner with the Browning's last Saturday. It was so fun to get together with them. We miss them tons. I'm glad we only live an hour away now and can get together easier. 

Our Little Girlie!

Alright, now time for a post all about Kylie. She is one happy smiley girl. She is 4 months old as of yesterday. I haven't done any monthly posts about her so I'll fill those in with pictures, but here's what she likes to do now:

-In the last few days she has discovered her toes. She loves to grab on to them while laying on the floor, getting a diaper change, sitting in her Bumbo, or really any chance she gets.
-She loves to talk. I was reading old posts of when Scott was this age. We thought he talked a lot, but he didn't talk near as much as Kylie. She talks constantly while playing with her toys. She'll sit and have a "conversation" with us. She especially loves talking when getting undressed. She's definitely a girl. Collin says pretty soon between me and the kids he'll never get to say anything.
-She finally is starting to take naps in her bed. She does fine at night, but for the first little while I just had her take naps in her swing because I knew she'd sleep and I could get things done. She's getting too big for it now but thankfully is sleeping longer and longer in her bed.
-She's still sleeping in a pack n play in our room. We now live in a basement apartment with much much less room than we had in Iowa. We're still trying to figure out if we'll even be able to put up her crib up here.
-She loves her toys, especially her doll and ball.
-She is such a happy baby. She smiles all day long. Most of the time I just have to make eye contact with her and she smiles. In the middle of the night when I'm changing her diaper, I'll kiss her cheeks and she grins up at me with her eyes closed.
-She has major stranger danger now, even with her grandparents. It makes me so sad that she cries just from them trying to talk to her. I promise they are nice and love you Little Girl!
-She gives the wonderful big slobbery baby kisses. Almost anytime I kiss her cheeks - which really is all day long - she'll kiss mine back.
-She's rolled from tummy to back 3 times all in one day a few weeks ago and twice from back to tummy.
-Her legs are so chunky!

This is one of my favorite pictures of her. She's 1 week old here.

She was in the Moby Wrap every time I went someplace with the two kids. Now I have her in a different carrier, but she loves that too. Here we were at the zoo.

This was the last time she could wear this outfit. This was the one she came home from the hospital in. I loved it!!

1 Month

Matching for church.

Her first real smile we got a picture of. She was 6 weeks old.

She loves being swaddled and falls asleep within 5 minutes usually.

Painted toes for her blessing

Blessing day!! Pearl bracelet made by Aunt Emilee, wrist corsage that I wore when I was blessed, dress bought by Grammy and Grampy.

Another one of my favorites. This was before I tightened the straps. I did not leave her buckled like this. She grins at me every time I put her in.

Pumpkin Patch with Chet and Abby's family.

Her first Christmas

She sleeps so much better on her stomach, but I'm too afraid to lay her down like that in bed. I'm excited for when she rolls over on her own in bed.

2 Months

Scott had to bring her all of her toys.

Today at 4 months. This is how she is all the time. SO HAPPY!

How can you not want to kiss those cheeks all day?!

We are so totally in love with our Baby Girl. We love having her part of our family. She makes life so much better than it was before!! We love seeing her grow and learn and are excited to continue to do so.