We Made It!

I can't believe that school is finally over! For real! We are not quite sure how we fit in the world now. The kids keep asking if dad is going to school today, we have to start training them to ask if he is going to work! Wow, work. Loren graduated from University of Nebraska on Dec. 1. There wasn't a formal graduation, but a banquet with all residents and faculty. We were lucky enough to have both Loren's parents and my parents there to celebrate with us. I was wrestling with Sydney the whole time, so Macy was taking pictures. Therefore the quality is lacking, you can only do so much! Roz I am going to use your excuse. I just had a baby (ok, nine months ago!).

This is a picture of Loren with his classmates, Mike and Paul and the full time faculty.

Here is Marin with my mom and dad. Sitting for a few hours is not very fun for little kids, can you tell?

Marshall was lucky enough to sit on Grandma Short's lap.

After 3 hours at graduation we actually got everyone to sit for another few minutes for a picture. It was quite the feat.

The next weekend we loaded up our Movex van and headed out to Idaho. You always hope that the move will go smoothly, but unfortunately it rarely happens and this time was no exception. Our moving van arrived 6 hours late which meant that Loren and all our slave labor (j/k I mean friends) only had 1 hour of daylight to load the truck. The other 3 1/2 hours were in the dark. I can't forget to mention the thick layer of ice in the parking lot from the snow storm a few days earlier and the freezing rain that day. It was quite the day. By the time we loaded the truck, rounded up our kids, and ate dinner, we arrived back at our apartment at 10:00 PM and still had to pack the rest of our stuff and clean our apartment so that we could leave early the next morning. Well, unfortunately we didn't get out all that early. I wish that I would have taken a picture of the kids loaded in the van because they were truly packed in there like sardines. (Our camera battery was dead and I still haven't found the charger, I hope I find it because I have opened every box!) I kept telling Loren that we could buy new cleaning supplies, a new broom, new tp and paper towels, new whatever!!!!! He still kept packing the car until we really couldn't fit anything else. My question was, "how are the kids going to get out to go to the bathroom?" I was sneaky and put some things in the dumpster when he wasn't looking! Our trip across Nebraska took forever. Yes, I know it is a long state, but this time it seemed to take twice as long! Our windshield wiper fluid was frozen so we could barely see out of the windshield because of all the dirt, and ice the trucks were throwing at us. We got to Laramie and they closed the road for the night. Marin was very excited to sleep in a hotel. She got her wish. We were trying to make it to Brigham City, Utah to stay with my sister, but it didn't work out. The next day we made it to Idaho with only a few hours of snow fall. We were very happy to make it. It is reassuring that I will most likely never have to make a long move ever again!!! Yea!!!!

It has been fun to see Loren's office. It is very close to being done. It is also fun to live in a place where we can spread out a little bit. I have never had so much space. There are actually closets that aren't even half full yet. And to have a garage is truly amazing.

I was really looking forward to having a living room that was a living room, not a play room. AS you can tell from the toys in the picture. I am tired of toys in the the living room. For some reason I can not convince the kids to play in the loft upstairs. I think that they are too used to playing where I am. Any ideas of how to solve this problem?

We finally purchased a couch, for the first time ever in our marriage! It was great. Actually my sister bought it for us, but we looked at it online, does that count? I guess we are now real people in the real world since we have purchased real furniture!

Thanks to everyone that has helped us with our big move! We could not have done it with out you! Anyone who has tended kids, lifted heavy stuff, called to see if we are ok, etc.........

Merry Christmas to you all!

Happy Halloween! Or should I say Almost Thanksgiving!

Ok. so retrieving pictures off my camera is like "pulling teeth". Maybe I should have Loren do it since he likes pulling teeth! :) I finally downloaded our pictures from Halloween so that we can document our fun day!

I am proud to announce that I didn't make a single costume that my kids wore. I bought them all and was happy to do it. Sometimes you can only do what you can do!

We went trick or treating at Loren's school. Marin and Macy were very concerned that we were going without them. Sometimes having to go to school can be a bummer. We saw a few of our friends there as well. Marshall is the Lion, he is here with his friend Kari (the Hershey's kiss) and Emma, aswell as Bev the secretary for the department.

Marin wanted to be a soccer player. Who would have guessed? In fact this past weekend the girls were invited to a princess b-day party. Marin let us know that she didn't have to dress up like a princess and that it would be ok if she went as a soccer player. Macy however was happy to dress up as a princess.

Macy is a ballerina spider. All last year Macy participated in a ballet/tap dance class. I had to morgage our non-existent home to pay for her dance costume and then come to find out her one and only performance was on Sunday! So did she wear it? NO!!!!!! Therefore there was no question that she was going to wear it for Halloween. The most expensive costume ever!

Marshall loved being a lion. He made sure he roared at everyone!

Sydney was a kitty. Are cats pink? I don't think so, but it was cute and the first costume I saw at Target so there you go!

After we picked up the girls we decided to try "A Walk in the Stalks" at Hy-Vee. It is a grocery store in town where they have trick or treating in the parking lot. They have different stations set up and they have sponsors that pass out coupons for Happy Meals and prizes and candy. Unfortunately we had to wait in line for an hour in the cold. I am not sure how much fun the kids had. I know that for myself I would have preferred the traditional trick or treating, but oh well!























I couldn't resist documenting Loren's Russian jacket that he found at the Goodwill. He handled Hy-Vee better than I did! Happy Halloween!

Wow, time flies!

It is amazing how fast babies grow up! It seems like Sydney was just born. She is almost 8 months now, it is acting more and more like a big girl!

Huskers!

It is really too bad that the Huskers haven't given us anything to cheer about this year. The Cornhusker state is all about football. There is a pre-game party that starts a few hours before every home game. Amazingly enough it is free to attend (unless you get a 20 dollar parking ticket like we did). The kids had a blast jumping on air inflated objects, getting their faces painted and getting a balloon.

The Things Kids Do!

One day I was enjoying a peaceful afternoon when my phone rang. It was my neighbor letting me know that the kids in the neighborhood were painting Marshall with Eucerin (lotion). She told me to bring my camera and then clean him up. I was grateful for her suggestion of the camera. It helped me see the humor in the situation. By the way, Marshall thought that it was the best thing ever to be plastered in greasy, thick lotion. Whatever!!!

Back from vacation!

Oh, the joys of driving long distances with children. We have returned from our trip to Idaho! Although I don't think that our t.b. (tired bums) have recovered yet. Marin has been very nervous about moving, but now that she has seen all of the cousins that she is going to live by, she is no longer concerned.

We were able to find a house to rent and I am very excited! I have been waiting for a fenced backyard, garage, and seperate living room/family rooms for oh, 9 years now. I feel like I am being let out of jail.

It was fun to see Loren's office. They are making great progress. There is sheet rock now and brick is going on this week. In a few weeks there will even be cabinets on the inside-thanks to Loren's brother Garrett. This building has made me never want to build a house. Too many decisions! We are now counting down until the big day of the move-Dec. 15.

Clock Tower Orthodontics

Welcome to Clock Tower Orthodontics. Our accomadations are very spacious and have lots of air conditioning at the moment. Bring an umbrella if it is raining! The building is coming along, hopefully we will be open for business in Caldwell, Idaho, in mid January 2008!

We have even hired our first assistant. She is willing and ready to put her hands in your mouth! The question is- are you ready? Luckily, she is willing to work for dirt cheap because we can't afford to pay her.

White Trash Bash 2007

You haven't lived unless you've been to a "white trash" party. Who wouldn't want to eat Totino's Pizza Rolls, 'Lil smokies, and Cheese Wiz. There was a gift exchange of $3.00 gifts purchased at a gas station. (I've always wanted a beef stick!) Loren won the prize for the best costume. He definitely fit the definition of white trash, but I still love him! The kids thought it was halarious. They haven't seen that side of their dad.

Raspberries!!!! Yum, yum!

We made our annual trip to the raspberry patch so we could make yummy homemade jam. There is nothing like being covered in raspberry juice, sweat and mosquito repellant! This year we actually remembered to bring our camera so we have pictures to document this great occasion. We finally got the kids to look at the camera, but Daddy forgot to smile!

Our Family Has Grown!

Well we obviously are not proficient bloggers-since our last blog was oh lets see...almost a year ago. We are a little bit behind the times :). Mike this is just for you because I know that you have anxiously been awaiting our NEWS that we have to share!

We have added a new addition to our family March 2, 2007 Sydney Elizabeth Short. She is what I would consider a "perfect" baby. She sleeps alot, is happy almost all of the time. She even had a tooth come through last week and I had no idea!!

Being a family of 6 is quite the adventure!