So, it's been a while!

When I looked at the pictures posted from my last posting, I couldn't believe the difference in how my kids looked! Especially little Hannah who was only two when we moved, but is turning four in just a couple weeks. She's really a kid now! The sad thing about my last (and only) postings about our move to Utah, still hold true. I'm still adjusting to life in Utah. I've found myself working again to fill my time, which I am enjoying a lot more. I just wish I could have my California salary among other things. More and more friends are coming to visit, which has helped me to feel better about being away from such wonderful people even though it is so hard to say goodbye when they leave.

The kids are really enjoying skiing this year. Little Hannah has become quite the little snow bunny, and shows even her mother up on the slopes (not hard to do). Dad has proven to be quite the teacher as Hannah skied her first blue runs this year at only three.

Ethan is getting ready to move on to Junior High, but since he is a year younger than all of the other kids, mom's a little (okay, a lot) paranoid about many things. Ethan recently attended the Central Utah Engineering and Science Fair after moving on from his school then district to this regional science fair. He took home first place in Computer Science and Engineering for his project called "Traffic Signal Timing: Waste of Time?" for which we timed traffic signals in our area to determine their efficiency. We all learned a lot about traffic signals, and which streets to avoid because of poorly timed signals.

Aly is getting ready for braces next week (phase one of two). She'll actually have to have braces twice, but we hope this early start will help her out somewhat. Unlike her brother who can physically fit his fist in his mouth, Aly has simply no room for the teeth that need to come in. She gets to crank her jaw wider daily for a month; then get braces on the permanent teeth she has now (only five) to get them straight while her remaining teeth fall out and, hopefully, come in straight. So we've officially begun several years of orthodontics at our house.

Ryan is enjoying his job at Intermountain Healthcare and is always busy shopping for gadgets, cars, computers, etc. he wants to buy. He does all the laundry in our house so he can stay up late watching all of the TV shows he has on DVR.

Disneyland Halloween 2007

This may be a reality soon!

(Look at grandpa's face:)

So much to do . . . so little time.

Even with fires raging in southern California, we couldn't stay away from Disneyland. Just before the kids let out for fall break, we flew into smokey L.A. for some grandma/grandpa and Disneyland time. Ryan had to stay and see the opening of the new hospital, so I managed the trip alone. Luckily grandpa braved three days at the Magic Kingdom with me, while grandma stayed home with Aly while Aly overcame the stomach flu--at least she got two days of Disney in.

Update

I'm Going to Get YOU!

Aly Catching Snowflakes

Hannah's First Snowball

Many of you have told us that you have been checking our blog awaiting pictures, but with the quick move we just never got the pictures of our new house onto the computer let alone uploaded onto blogspot. We'll get right on that for you.

We're slowly adjusting to our new surroundings, but some of us (namely mom) are having a more difficult time. I'm feeling better after a week back in California for a trip to Disneyland and quick visits with friends. I know that most of my difficulties have been getting used to the slower pace of life being home with the kids. I miss working with the students and a few have been emailing me, begging me to come back. I only wish I could teach them from here!

It's been a little dryer here in Utah lately, but October was pretty snowy. We just couldn't resist getting out for a little snowball fight. One Sunday morning we awoke to four inches of snow!