Law School Bound!

For those that don't know - we are law school bound! I'm very excited about it, but there are some mixed feelings there too. When Greg and I were dating he always said that he wanted to go to law school. Early into our life together it seemed like maybe we'd go down a different path and we did for a while - but the law school dream resurfaced and here we are - it's really happening!! I'm happy that the dream is being realized and I'm excited for some of the changes coming our way.

First of all - I am excited to be able to live near my parents again. It so happens that the law school we're going to is in Naples, Florida. I will be a mere 4-5 hours drive from them. This will be the closest that I've lived to them in NINE years (holy smokes, I am getting old).
I'm excited that we will have our own little place, something we've never had before.
I'm excited that we where we're going, the months of January - April will no longer snow infested!

Now, for the mixed emotions - the things that made this a hard decision. I've moved a lot my whole life and growing up in the military I've had some hard moves. This will be the hardest move of them all. The hardest part about it will be taking Aimee away from people that she loves. We will be far from all her cousins, aunts, and uncles (on both sides of the family), and far from her nanny and poppy. Especially "Beep" and "Guck-gull" (Stephanie and Michael). She's lived just upstairs from them her whole life. I know kids are resilient, but it breaks my heart a little bit, thinking about how she will miss them, and not understand not being able to see them. I've been so blessed to have great in-laws. I get along with all of them and will miss being able to be around them so often. Not a lot of people can say that.

Besides the weather during the months of Jan - mid April, I will miss Utah. I never thought I'd live here, let alone come to love it. I suppose I love it mostly because of the area we live in. Specifically our little neighborhood. Never have I loved or been so comfortable around so many neighbors. A lot of people make fun of Provo (and it's warranted most of the time) but I would raise my kids in our neighborhood in a heartbeat. I love, love, love the ward that we go to. I've been so spoiled. Anywhere new is going to be an adjustment.

The logistics in general with this move are hard. Our baby is due when Greg needs to be at school for registration week, it's far by car and makes for a long day of travel by plane too, we have to get our apartment situation figured out remotely, expenses, etc... I have a game plan of sorts and that keeps me sane. I have lots of time to pack and get organized too.

Most importantly, despite all the things to worry about, I've felt the peace that comes from the spirit that this was a good decision. I will rely heavily on prayer and faith the next couple of months to get through it all. In the mean time - I am trying to focus on the positive and get pumped about this next chapter in my, and my family's life.

Zoo Days

We took advantage of the warmer weather (not that you'd know that from the way we're dressed) and drove up to the Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake. It's actually a decent zoo - I was skeptical the first time I went. I mean, it has nothing on the LA or Miami zoo - but it's a good size, especially for a 2 year old. It seems like Greg, Aimee, and I haven't done anything together as a family in a long time and our time (Greg's especially) is about to be tied up a whole lot more. Plus I still felt bad about Aimee being so miserable at the LA Zoo - she was scared of all the animals! - very unlike her.

This trip went much better!

Baby and Mommy - Baby was definitely the star of the zoo

Tried to get her in this picture by herself - wasn't going to happen

The "Raffes"

A special noggin' cuddle (nuggle) for dad.

Pretty Princess Song

Addison, we really aren't trying to steal your thunder... but ever since you taught Aimee to sing like Ariel, and since she has discovered princess Fiona from Shrek - she has become a little singer. Sort of. Nanny says she sounds like a wounded puppy. No way! She has a beeee-uuuutiful voice!

Anyway, she hasn't been responsive to our requests to sing like a princess lately. Mostly because she's majorly into telling me "no" any time I ask or tell her to do anything. And probably because we laugh when she does sing.

I was fortunate to get this video of her belting her heart out a few weeks ago.

Happy Easter!!

Here are some pictures from Aimee's first Easter Egg Hunt!

With Beep

Daddy giving her the height advantage


Showing us her loot

Daintily searching

Yes, it was cold. But that didn't seem to bother Aimee. She caught on real fast once we showed her that there was candy to be found inside the eggs!

(PS - I have posted multiple posts today! Make sure to scroll down... )

Quick Cali Trip

Like the title of this post says, we (Roxanna, Aimee, and myself) took a quick, last minute trip to California to play with the cousins. The trip almost didn't happen. Aimee had a fever for a few days right before we left, then I was sick... but Saturday night Aimee's fever went down and I felt better, so I thought - why not? It was clear though, once the day got going that Aimee was still feeling super lousy. But we were super excited to spend some time with all the other babies! On Monday we (Me, Roxanna, Carinn - her kids, Laura, Addison, and Debbie Whitaker) went to the LA Zoo. I think all the kids had a good time. Aimee tried to, she really did, but she felt so bad AND rubbed sunscreen into her eye to top it off. I'm glad that we got to go though!

Because of a snow storm in Utah, we ended up staying in California a little longer than we thought we would. Aimee got a few non-sick days in and got to play with her friends a little longer. But of course, Addison and Laura got sick (not from Aimee! We've only shared that virus with baby Bree so far). We get to see the whole gang again in May! This time - no sick babies! And no fighting between Aimee and Addison. (Not likely, but we can hope)

Carinn, Amelia, and bb Bree on the tram.

Neal (the handsome little man), Aimee, and Addison

The "big" girls

The Stroller Gang.

Cool Baby

Florida, Part 2

On our Floridian adventure we went to Universal Studios. Aimee was fascinated, yet terrified by all the characters in the park. But she did love Fievel's playland. We could have stayed there all day if it were up to her. I have a funny video of her at that part of the park that I need to upload.

Dora scared Aimee to death up close. Aimee preferred all the characters from a distance.

Donkey was also terrifying. And we thought she'd be so thrilled too! She LOVES Shrek right now (seriously, she wants to watch it daily).

Aimee was especially scared of the Simpsons.

Finally, Aimee's happy place, at Fievel's playland.

By far, her favorite part of the whole day!

More to come...