Back to blogging...

A lot has been happening in our lives over the past few weeks, and so I'm going to try and sum it up in a few sentences and pictures, so here we go.

Kaitlin, upon turning 8 years old, decided to get baptized and become an official member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It was such an amazing baptism! I have never seen Kaitlin look so beautiful and so happy before. She had been preparing for this day for a long time, and was very ready when the moment finally came. Thanks to everyone who came to support Kaitlin on her special day!

After the baptism we had a few hours to rest/pack before heading to the other big event of the night, Rich's graduation. Congrats Rich on becoming an orthodontist! You have worked so hard for this day...you did it!
Here's their graduating class: the boys and Beth:)


Thankfully graduation was a sit down dinner, where we just got to eat and enjoy the program prepared for us. We were so happy to finally be there, but at the same time we couldn't help but feel sad for closing such an amazing chapter of our lives. We sure had some amazing times in Ohio and made many friends whose friendships we will cherish forever.

And a big thank you to all of our family who shared this day with us. Thanks for coming all the way here just for one day; thanks for all of your very touching prayers and talks, and help during Kaitlin's baptism; thanks for being there for Rich's graduation.



Washington...

After all the packing , and cleaning, and goodbyes were done, the kids and I flew to Seattle while Rich and his good buddy Tyler, and then my brother -in- law Paul, drove the moving truck over the next 5 days. While waiting for Rich and our stuff to get here, the kids and I spend a few days with Grandma Cindy and Grandpa Dan. The kids had so much fun playing with all the toys in grandma's toy closet. Kaitlin got started on a quilt with Grandma Cindy, and Nicki kept making gardening plans with Grandma Cindy. Micah had had it with all of the packing and moving, so he just gave up and became really sick. Basically he stayed up all night long and wanted me to hold him (while standing up of course) all day long the entire time we were waiting for Rich to get to WA. Still, somehow he managed to get enough strength in him to take his first steps. Here he is right before he did so. Way to go Micah!
We are finally all moved in our new home that we're renting (pictures to come soon). Kaitlin has started school and she loves it. She has made some new friends and is very happy that people don't refer to her as "the new girl" anymore. Nicki loves that we live close to our families but still keeps talking about all of her old friends and her old school. Micah is loving his big new room (the girls still have to share) and just LOVES to play basketball each day with anyone that will spend a few minutes with him. Rich and I have been unpacking and trying to figure out how to fit our stuff and family of 5 in a smaller place. So this is where we're at right now...I'll try to be better at blogging now that life seems to be calming down a bit.