So ya want some snow, do ya?

Since I've known Justin I've heard stories about these "fabulous New England winters." Ya know, so much snow that you can't open your door and you have to climb out through a window just to shovel? It was nigh unto famous in my mind.

So, naturally, when we moved out here, one thing I thought for sure I'd get to see was some great snow. Piles of it. I mean, I grew up with snow, and we got snow in Utah, but nothing I was used to compared with the impression I got from the stories I heard Justin tell. Well, let's just say, last year was a "mild winter" and this year, I was so excited about a little dusting that I bundled Caleb up and went out to "experience" the snow.



His favorite part was eating it. He loved being able to look up and see the snow coming down, too.

Then, what do ya know, here in January we've had two big snow storms, and something about Mass...snow here doesn't melt. I told Justin that back home, a "big" snow storm meant school closings, being stuck inside with hot chocolate, movies, and playing outside. Here, it means shoveling and work. No fun. No wonder people get so tired of snow.

Well, after last night's storm, I decided to document the difference. I would lose Caleb in these drifts if he could burrow his way into them! The big picture on the bottom is from the snow plow collections, and the bottom right is the walk up to the front door.



Needless to say, I've experienced my "real New England winter." :)

Big News!!

Okay, we haven't told y'all where we're going! Some of you may have heard through the grape vine...but I wanted to do an actual announcement. You read for this? (nah, nah, nah)...

We will be moving to... OHIO OHIO OHIO OHIO OHIO!!!
It was not an easy decision to make. We talked about it, we'd make a tentative decision, and then we'd think of something else to consider; we made lists, both mental and physical; we prayed; we talked some more. It was very much a "go where you want" decision, and that made it all the more difficult for us. But, in the end, we decided on Ohio. And we're excited! We have lots to do to prepare for the move, so not only for the school deadlines but for my sanity we had to decide soon. I've gotta have time to make MY lists of things to do and get them done!

And, once again, we will be moving to a different state (though this time not cross country) only weeks after having a baby!! AND, (best part!), we just had our ultra sound this week (drum roll, please) and we found out (you ready for it??!!)...the baby is perfectly healthy! Everything is developing as it should and baby is right on track.

What? That's not the news you were looking for? haha, alright, I'll indulge you. :-D

We're having a GIRL!! (again, some of you probably knew that from the grapevine, but I'm super excited so I had to announce it) That's right, a cute little girl. I'm blown away. What will she look like? I think knowing that my next baby is really a "mini me" makes it a bit different than having a "mini us." I'm also very excited to see Caleb as a big brother!

We're both really excited for the changes that are coming to us soon...and we're ever so grateful for the continuous blessings we receive from our Heavenly Father. It's amazing to feel how aware He is of us!

So, Happy New Year everyone! What big changes, plans, even goals? does everyone have going for this 2011 year?

Merry Christmas!!

I know it was a festive time of year, but unfortunately I didn't get a lot of pictures taken. Last year's Christmas was like picture overload, but this year I don't have hardly any. Well, I've got some from leading up to Christmas, but not many from from Christmas day.

Anyway, Merry Christmas everybody! It was a fabulous day for us; Caleb decided to let us have the honor of opening all his presents and he just sat in a circle surrounded by all his newly acquired treasures (thanks to Grandma and Granpa!). It was a lot of fun! Justin's family has a tradition of doing a Christmas EVE dinner, so that was fun for me to be able to do. Luckily, I had the help of him and his brother, Devin, and I was healthy enough to do it! That was fabulous! I was so proud of how it turned out (...you'll have to wait for that random picture...), especially my homemade dinner rolls.

I especially enjoyed Christmas Eve this year. We read the Christmas story, Caleb version, then we read it for real once he was in bed. We ended up singing hymns and reading other stories for about an hour. It was wonderful and I'm so grateful for the spirit it brought into our home as it reminded us of Jesus Christ's birth and why we celebrate Christmas. How blessed we are!

Christmas morning Justin made our now-traditional bacon quiche tarts and then Caleb decided we should open all our presents. It was all over within an hour and we finally put Caleb down for a nap about 3 hours after his normal nap time. Oh it was joyful!

We hope everyone enjoyed their Christmas wherever they were. Now we have the New Year's to look forward too!

We're Goin' to Okla-hio-ma-sota!

So, Amber and I woke up on December 1st to find acceptance offers from 4 dental schools! Hooray! We have been accepted at Ohio State, Case Western, University of Oklahoma, and University of Minnesota. Oklahoma and Ohio State were two of our top three. (The only one of our top choices that we have not heard from yet is University of Iowa.)

So, I was not actually expecting such a good showing from dental schools this early. I was always expecting to accept whichever school accepted me. Now we have the blessing (and curse) of choosing a dental school. So, any input? Where should we go?

Visual Update!

With some words, of course!

So, we've had Halloween with an adorable costume that a great friend gave us for Caleb! :) And while Justin was trying to find some things for the ward Halloween party we found the matching tiger costumes. Think it'll be good for our Christmas newsletter? lol
We've learned that Caleb really likes stickers. especially on his face.



We also had pumpkin carving time, playing in the leaves (Caleb LOVES leaves. When they were all over the place he'd just run around picking them up. Then when the wind blew and they flew all around...ah, he was in heaven!).
Then there was Thanksgiving! Caleb really wanted to help cook!

And of course, Caleb wants to be just like Daddy.

Caleb and I also took a trip to Disney World, as I mentioned a while back. It was fun, hectic, tiring, but oh so worth it! His favorite parts were
1) The giant Winnie the Pooh that he could hug; he liked Goofy okay, too.
2) the sidewalk that lit up
3)the fountains/faucets/waterfalls
4) airplanes

And now we are on the countdown to when the dental school acceptances will be coming in. Midnight tonight is the first official POSSIBLE time, but they could come as late as February. I'm so ready to be planning and organizing and getting things settled for our little family...we're totally on pins and needles!

That excitement on top of the holiday season, a bathroom being renovated, and a little boy who loves the Christmas tree, outside, signs but doesn't talk, pees like a waterfall...and we've kept ourselves pretty busy!