We're so glad when Daddy comes home!

Joe has been in training for his new career since July. He is required to live at the academy with a closed campus all week so we don't get to see him much and we really miss him. He is allowed to call but it's usually after the children have gone to bed. He does get to come home on Friday night for a couple of days so we really look forward to the weekends. The second he walks through the door everyone erupts with excitement and he is instantly mobbed with loves.

One of the kids' favorite things..."Daddy Train"

First, he was in the POST Academy ("Peace Officer Standards & Training") for 10 weeks. It is the standardized training all law enforcement officers in Idaho must complete.

POST Graduation Day

Now he is in the Advanced Training Course with the Idaho State Police. It is a 12 week, very intense, high-stress academy. It is very militaristic with marching everywhere, daily room inspections, and tons of physical activities. They originally had 10 recruits but now they are down to 6 and Joe was voted class president. We are so proud of him and are very excited for his graduation (2 days before Christmas) when he officially becomes an Idaho State Trooper. This will definitely be our family's best Christmas ever! After Christmas we will be moving to Region 4 (Twin Falls) where he has been assigned.

Halloween (better late than never!)

Joe with our trick-or-treaters...

Kate, the nice witch,

Super Sam,

and our little pink kitty, Alice.

Super Sam turned 4!

Sam turned 4 years old about 2 weeks before Halloween

so we had a super hero birthday party.

Thanks to everyone that came to celebrate with us and a special thanks to

those who dressed up like super heroes! We had so much fun!

(Unfortunately, my camera stopped working just minutes before

people started arriving so I wasn't able to get many pictures.)

Super Sam

Super Sam's awesome birthday cake made by the amazing Carlie!

Kate the Kindergartner

Kate started Kindergarten this year. It's been quite a change for all of us

but she has adjusted well and is really enjoying it...even if she won't admit it.

Her favorite class is music. (I have no idea where that comes from!)

Kate's LOVES her teacher, Mrs. Glassco. She likes to come home and play school

and pretend that she is Mrs. Glassco and Sam and Alice are her students. She has them do

"circle time" and reminds them to sit "criss-cross applesauce with your hands to yourselves."

After her first day of school, Kate excitedly told me that her teacher claps in rhythm

(clap, clap, clap-clap-clap) then the class repeats it.

Then disappointedly said, "But then we have to listen."

Kate tends to be the ring leader with the games and activities the kids play at home during the day...

...so it was quite an adjustment when she started school, especially for Sam.

For the first few weeks, he would say, "I miss Kate," at least 5 or 6 times during the school day.

But he has learned to come up with some pretty creative things to do without Kate.

And he's even learned that it's lots of fun to play with Alice.

They are quite a silly little pair together. Sam kind of gets to call the shots while they play

(like Kate usually does). But Alice definitely speaks up when she doesn't approve!

Enjoying juice boxes in the backyard together.

A Look Back at Summer

The next few posts will be my attempt to catch things up on my blog starting out with a quick glance back at our Summer fun.

We splashed and played in the pool to cool off...

Alice turned 2 years old...

The amazing cake was made by my super talented friend Carlie.

We had a nice garden complete with tons of zenias...

And made some fun zoo memories together...

Hello Blogging World. It's been a while.

Here I am. It's been a while since I've dabbled in the blogging world. Quite a bit has happened in the last 6 months. So here's a very brief update...

1

I went back to work full time last November. I work at Intermountain Gas Co. It is a really great company to work for. It was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do but we've all learned and grown from it.

2

I had a chance to go to SLC and be a part of a recording session for a beautiful new LDS album.

It's called "What Heaven Sees in You" by Doug Walker. I was in the women's choir.

It was an AMAZING experience and I'm excited to do more someday!

(Click here to listen to samples from the CD. I'm on track 9.)

3
I had a major surgery to have something removed that shouldn't have been there.

Not fun, but necessary.

4
Joe will be starting a new career in July and we are ALL VERY EXCITED about that!

I'm so lucky...

...to be their mom!

All dressed up for their Mother's Day Primary Program.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Mother's Day Photo Shoot with my kids at Jump Creek...

Happy Birthday, Uncle Matthew!

Merry Christmas!

Yeah, it's a little late. But it still counts.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!