Temple Square

Since it was quite busy during Christmas time at Temple Square and we didn't get to see the Christus statue, we promised Nyle we'd go back another time.  Well we finally made it!  Since I work 4 blocks from Temple Square, I had Steve and the boys meet me one day after work.  We then jumped on the train for 2 stops (since Nyles has been begging to ride it), then got off and grabbed a bite to eat at City Creek.  We then walked across the street to Temple Square. 

The boys excited to ride the train!

We went over and touched the temple.  Carter thought the door was pretty neat.

A man was kind enough to take a family picture for us at the temple.

Families are forever!

We then walked around to the other side of Temple Square to see the Christus statue.

The boys loved walking up the ramp to see the Christus statue.  When we got up to the top, both boys went quiet and just stared up at Christ.  It was a powerful, spiritual moment.  We are so thankful for the atonement of Jesus Christ which will allow us to return back to him.  We didn't get to see much more since it was getting late, but it was still a great outing as a family.  It will forever be in my heart.  These are the moments I treasure.

Labor Day Weekend

We had a fun labor day weekend.  Steve took Nyles up to the cabin Friday night to Saturday while Carter and I did some things at home.  Here are some highlights.

Carter jumping off the bed to another mattress below.

Peaches from our tree.  Steve said we had 100-150 peaches this year from our little tree!  They were super yummy.  We had too many for the 4 of us, so we shared w/ our neighbors too.

Steve got his boats ready w/ new seats.

Saturday morning Steve and Rob helped Dave w/ his pontoon boat trying to figure out why it wasn't working. That afternoon Steve and Rob took their boats out for a spin and to scout ducks for duck season coming up in October.  They are trying to find the perfect spot for the duck opener.

Dave and Joann offered to watch Nyles over the weekend.  Stacie and Phill and their kids were coming up that afternoon as well.  We knew he'd have fun playing w/ London and Conor, so we let him stay.  After scouting for ducks Steve came home.  Nyles went w/ Dave and Joann down to Heber and met up w/ Stacie and Phill.  Phill and Dave then went to get some parts for the boat and Stacie and Joann drove back to the cabin.  Nyles thought it was pretty fun to ride in the care with his cousins

London and Nyles playing in Wal-Mart and riding in the car.

 

London, Nyles and Conor being silly kids.

It sure was easy having only 1 kid instead of 2, but we definitely missed Nyles.  

Carter sure loves to make silly faces w/ Steve's phone.

  

Or just take pictures.  Silly boy.

Sunday after church we decided to go on a short hike up Little Cottonwood Canyon.  There was an event going on up the canyon, but luckily we kept going a little further up and not many people were up there.  It felt like we were the only ones there hiking the mountain.  It was actually really quiet and peaceful; like it should be in the mountains.  It was really incredible!   

Carter put on sunglasses and played w/ his puppy on the way up.

We had perfect weather up the canyon, cooler than down in the valley.  

Carter was a happy little trooper getting a ride from Steve.

Family picture (minus Nyles).

Cute Carter.  He still loves to hold up his finger like #1, but it comes from Nyles being in first grade.

Steve took a picture while I was taking a picture :)

Cheese!

Beautiful scenery!

Silly boys!

 

Walking back.  I love it when my boys let me hold their hands.  It melts my heart :)

Boys being boys!

There were some big construction vehicles near where we were hiking, so we had to take a picture next to them.  Carter didn't want to leave them of course.

Meanwhile, Nyles was having a good time up at the cabin playing w/ his cousins.

 

Conor and Nyles eating chocolate muffins and watermelon for breakfast.  Breakfast of champions!

Getting the boat out on the water.

Fishing now, waiting for the fish to bite.

Cute Carter drawing while I got ready for the day.

Carter's starting to get more and more independent.  One of the things he likes to do lately is pick out his clothes and put them on all by himself.  It definitely requires patience on our part.  This is after Carter put his PJ bottoms on.  He just kept pulling up the bottoms though they were snagged on his diaper.  So cute!  He was so proud of himself though!

After putting Carter to bed Steve and I working on drying pears.  We bought 2 cases of pears and we dried most of them.  I would peel, core and cut in half, then Steve would cut them.  We'd then put them on the drying sheets together.  We got 22 bags of dried pears, which was pretty good considering we ate quite a few.  Steve and I did this 4 nights in a row.  We were definitely tired of peeling and cutting, but they were worth it.  They are SO YUMMY!  

Steve taking a rack of pears out to the dryer.

Love these quotes.  We can each choose to be happy.  Try to enjoy each moment we have with one another.  I love my family!  "Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, and today is a gift––that is why it is called the present.”

 

Tender Mercy!

So last Monday, September 10th at 2:30pm Steve got a call from Jennifer Pollock, the Program Manager of the Diagnostic Medical Sonography/Ultrasound Program.  She asked if Steve was still interested in the program, which he was.  She then informed him that one of the students had decided to go another route and wasn't going to continue w/ the program, so there was an open spot if he wanted it.  She then gave Steve an hour to talk it over w/ me, find a sitter, call her back with his official response, and then get to class which started at 5pm that night.  

Steve then sent me a text which said, "Can you please call me asap!!" I had just finished with my phone appointment and saw the text and called him right away.  My first thought was that one of the boys were hurt and he was headed to the Emergency Room.  When Steve answered the phone he said, "I'm in the program!"  I then tried to make sense of what he was saying and he told me what just happened and the conversation he just had with Jennifer.  At first Steve wasn't sure if we had "changed plans" or anything since school had already started 2 1/2 weeks before, but we knew this was a great opportunity and we should definitely take it.  Steve then called Jennifer back and said he'd love to take the open spot.  Our neighbor Sydney Evans was kind enough to take the boys until I got home from work that night while Steve ran to class. 

It's been a little bit crazy trying to get everything done in a couple days whereas the other students were given the whole Summer to prepare.  Steve had to get his immunization updated, do a background check, a TB test, a drug screen, and he'll need to get re-certified for CPR.  He also had to order his books (thank you Amazon Prime for 2 day shipping), and figure out the balance our schedules with the boys.  Luckily his classes don't start until 5pm (Monday, Wednesday and Friday), so there isn't much change during the day with the boys.  I'm just getting them ready for bed by myself now most nights.  Joann has also been willing to watch the boys until I can get home from work which has been a great blessing.  Steve also has Young Men's on Tuesdays, so he'll normally be able to still participate in their activities as well.

We are still figuring things out and they'll be changing every semester since his clinicals will vary, but we feel blessed for this great opportunity.  Steve found out that there were more than 150 people that applied for the program, only 3 of which were men, and only 70 were interviewed.  They originally had 11 spots open for the program when they did interviews, then during the process one of the hospitals dropped 2 seats, so that left 9 spots open.  Steve was number 10, so he was technically "in" originally, but then was "out" after the hospital dropped 2 seats.  So after the other person dropped out this past week, he was back "in" the program.  

It's not going to be easy, but we know the Lord has a plan for us and will help us in this journey.  As Elder Bednar said in his talk about Tender Mercies “the tender mercies of the Lord are real and that they do not occur randomly or merely by coincidence."  We know the Lord had been guiding our path to this exact spot at this exact time.  We are indeed grateful and humbled by this opportunity.  We know this will push us to new levels both in Steve's academic career and our family life, but it will be worth it and the Lord will help us along the way.  This truly was a tender mercy of the Lord!