Six Months!!!

Brooklyn turned six months old a couple weeks ago and I have been wanting to take some pictures of her. It just never seemed to be a good time. Finally I just grabbed my camera and a few props and went out in front of our place. The boys rode around on their scooters while I played with Brooklyn. Every once in a while they would stick their head in a picture and then be off again.

Here is my absolute favorite picture. I shared it on facebook but I wanted to share it here as well.


And here are several more favorites...





Here's a few with the boys as well...




And the photoshoot just wouldn't be complete without letting Caleb take a few of Brooklyn and me!

Graduation

When Jared and I were engaged (nine years ago!) I remember many of our conversations about what we were going to do "when we grew up." At that time Jared was seriously considering becoming an opthamologist. Over the next several years Jared changed his plans to several different roads...we traveled on the dentist path for a while, then the doctor path, several times he mentioned graphic design, and there was even a time he considered doing something with computers. It was a very tough decision but after a lot of thought and prayer we ended up on the road to PA school. I'll never forget the week when he got laid off from his job at Aerials Express. The kids and I were on our way to California when he called to tell me he was losing his job. After finding that out he came to join us in CA. We went to Disneyland and while we were in line for Space Mountain, Jared missed a phone call from someone at AT Still. As soon as we got off the ride Jared called them and they offered him a spot in the class that would be starting in a week and a half. It was some of the most exciting news we have ever received at the happiest place on earth!

We were quickly rushed into the school scene and our lives began as a poor college family. We had some concerns with how everything would work out, but as always, we were watched over and protected by our Heavenly Father. PA school was about 26 months long and we had a lot of ups and downs throughout that time. One of the most difficult times was the 5 1/2 week period that we spent with Kyson in the hospital while Jared was in the middle of school finals. I'm so grateful we made it through that time and can say we survived! One of the best days was the day Brooklyn joined our family. Looking back, we were so so very blessed.

Finally the day arrived. Jared passed all of his tests and completed all of his rotations. It was time to put on his cap and gown and walk with his class. That day symbolized a lot for us. We had sacrificed a lot as a family and it was a day to celebrate that we made it! Although Jared still had his certification test to take, he had completed all of the requirements for PA school.

There is something about this picture that I just LOVE!

Receiving his fake diploma (real one to come in the mail soon:)

Even Brooklyn was giving a fist pump!

Jared's parents and Grandpa came to support us.

Those of my family that were able to make it to the graduation.

and last but not least...just the two of us!


On August 21st Jared took his certification exam. What a humongous test that is! Jared studied hard and was well prepared but he still felt stressed and overwhelmed when the day came. I felt bad he was so stressed but I felt at peace knowing he would do just fine. The morning of August 30th I was woken up to Jared telling me that he PASSED! Although I knew he would, it was exciting to see those words written...PASSED!!! We went to breakfast with a couple of his friends from school that found out they passed that same day.

Like I mentioned before, when we got married Jared was a student and he continued to be a student the entire nine years we have been married. School has always been a part of our lives. Now we can finally say, he is DONE! Of course he will always have continuing education classes, but that is different. He has his degree and we have an income again!!!

Speaking of a job...Jared began working at an internal medicine (similar to family medicine) office the day after labor day. He has to travel to Globe two days and week and to Scottsdale two or three days a week (he works every other Saturday). As with any new job there has been a lot of to learn and he is still figuring out how everything works in his office but he is settling in and enjoying it overall. Who knows what the future will bring but for now we have an income again and we are HAPPY!!!

Day 8-Heading home from the trip of a lifetime

Tuesday morning we slept in for as long as we could. Gratefully our flight didn't leave until about 5:00 that evening so we had time to pack and do a few last minute things before we had to be at the airport.

Packing all of our stuff turned out be quite difficult. We had been given SO MUCH STUFF!!! The funny thing is, the last day the gift from the First Things First Foundation (the Warner's foundation) was a very cool suitcase to fit all of the things they have given us while we were there. Even with that extra suitcase we were tight on space. Every bag was stuffed to the brim. Yes, we had been completely spoiled!

Once we finally got everything packed we had a couple things we wanted to do before leaving GKTW. We were never able to swim in the awesome swimming pool they had there because every time we attempted to go they had to close it due to lightning. I still wanted to go so we took about an hour and let the boys swim. They loved it and it made me wish we had been able to find time earlier to swim. It also made me sad that the pool party with Kurt, his family, and everyone at GKTW was cancelled due to lightning as well.

Here's a few pictures of the fun we had in the pool.






I really hope to go back to GKTW someday (once you have stayed there you are always a welcome guest. You can't stay in the villas ever again but you can visit and enjoy all of the activities they have for free). It would be so fun to go see Kyson's star and relive some of these amazing memories with our boys when they are a little older.

One other thing we absolutely had to do was take Caleb to drive the "motor boats." As I mentioned earlier, this was another activity that was always shut down by the lightning. Caleb was so disappointed every time it was shut down. There was no way we could leave GKTW without stopping to do it one last time.


We also made one last stop to get ice cream and to see Kyson's star in the Star Tower.

After loading everything up, I took two last pictures on our way to check out.



It was sad to drive away from that amazing place. It is full of memories we will never forget.

Gratefully we got to the airport early because getting through security and on our flight proved to be a little crazy. We had a lot of bags plus Brooklyn's car seat and stroller so trying to carry it all and navigate through security and getting on the plane was tricky.

It was kind of funny...as we were walking down the isle of the plane when boarding, a guy stopped Kyson when he saw his Make A Wish shirt. He talked to him for a minute and then pulled out a 20 dollar bill and gave it to him. Kyson was so excited he exclaimed...OH YEAH!!!

We were able to fly home with a few of the families we got to know. Brenda Warner and some of her kids were on our flight as well. Caleb begged and begged to go up to where Kade was sitting. Finally they turned the seat belt light off so I let him go. He said he got to sit on Kade's lap and play his iPod. He was so happy! We were all so exhausted on our flight home that we were grateful once the plane touched down and we could get off.

It was kind of surreal to look at the pictures on my camera after we got home. It went from the pictures of that amazing place to the picture of the limo driving away.

Yes, it was good to be home but sad at the same time. We will forever to be grateful to Make A Wish for providing that incredible opportunity for us and for the memories created. Our family had more fun than we could ever imagine and we had an experience that we will never be able to have again. It was truly a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Day 7-Magic Kingdom!

After getting home late because of the huge rainstorm, we sure would have liked sleeping in on Monday. Unfortunately we couldn't because I had made reservations for a character breakfast that morning. We actually slept a little too long and then it was hectic getting ready and getting to the park on time for our reservation. It was fun but crazy at the same time. Our kids had a few meltdowns and that was the one time I can remember Brooklyn being fussy. Once the boys started meeting the characters they were excited.









After breakfast we had most of the day to do whatever we wanted at Magic Kingdom. We decided to start off with Pirates of Caribbean since we could all go on it together. After that Caleb was feeling brave enough to ride the big rides so Jared took him to Splash Mountain. They had so much fun they did it twice:)
The first time Caleb's head was blocked...

The second time they switched places. Caleb looks scared half to death:) I asked him if he was scared and he responded..."No way! It was fun!" The look on his face tells me otherwise:)


After Jared took Caleb on Splash Mountain, I took him on Thunder Mountain Railroad. I tried convincing Kyson to go with us but he was too scared. Caleb and I had a great time together and did it twice in a row as well!

Next we headed to the Toy Story ride. Personally I think this ride is better at Disneyland, but we had fun. It was nice because we could all go on it together AND it was in an air conditioned building! It was just so miserable outside!




Once we rode that ride we decided to head to the Wish Lounge. It is a special room that only Make A Wish families can go in. It was so nice to go there and just relax for a little while and cool off.


We stayed there until it was time to go meet up with the big group. That afternoon we were having a prayer meeting and dinner together. As we waited to go into the Conference room where we would be meeting, the boys ran around with all the friends they had made. They especially loved wrestling with Kade Warner.

Sierra REALLY wanted to hold Brooklyn while we waited as well.


Before having dinner we had a prayer meeting together. Brenda shared her story with everyone. She talked a lot about her son, Zack, and the reason they do this trip for families every year is because of him. We also sang some songs and Kurt prayed for everyone. It was neat to be a part of that.

After the prayer meeting we all had a very yummy Mexican food dinner together.
For dessert after dinner they had gigantic cookies. The boys thought they were so lucky to get one:)


After eating the Warners invited us up one family at a time to give us some pictures and to get any memorabilia signed. Here's a picture of the pictures they gave us. (sorry for the poor quality!)





When they gave us our pictures it was also our time to say thank you and "goodbye." Although we would spend the evening at Magic Kingdom together, that would be our last more intimate setting with the Warners and the rest of our group.
Saying goodbye to Brooklyn...

Saying goodbye to Caleb...


I'm totally bummed that this picture is totally blurry but I still like it. Kyson always had this stance he would do when he was excited:)


After the prayer meeting and dinner we all rode the monorail over to Magic Kingdom together. First we got a group photo taken with Mickey Mouse.
Here's a picture of all the wish kids with Kurt and Brenda.

After the picture we had a little time with Mickey Mouse.



Once pictures were over it was time to go ride the rides. Caleb decided he was big enough to go on all the "thrill seeker" rides with the adults so he came with Jared and I. Kyson and Brooklyn stayed behind with Rory and the other volunteers again. The thrill seekers rode Thunder Mountain Railroad and Space Mountain. It was so fun! After riding Space Mountain it was time for the parade. They escorted us to a really cool spot to watch it. It was a huge grass area that was gated off and the parade came right by us. While waiting for the parade to start they passed out ice cream treats and soda.


We enjoyed relaxing and watching the parade.


Once the parade was over we had to quickly be escorted to another grassy area where we would watch the fireworks show. It was a very cool show. They used the castle as part of the show and it was really neat how they lit it up in different colors and projected pictures that were part of the show on it.





Once the fireworks were over it was officially time to say goodbye. A few of us would be on the same flight home the next day but we had to say goodbye to Kurt and several of the families.









While it was difficult to say goodbye to all of the friends we had made we were all just completely exhausted! We had had such an incredible day packed with more fun then you could even imagine. It was super late and we had been going and going and GOING for a week straight! We were all sleep deprived! Once we made it back to our villa it was good to crawl into bed again that night.