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Future Scientist of America

I got Marshall a science kit a while ago to do during our school time. He LOVES it!!! It works great as a bribe to get him to do school with me. He looks forward to the experiments and asks to do them all the time.

-- May 27, 2009 --

a job offer

After 3 1/2 months of being out of work, John found a job. He has been working for a company that sells software to businesses. He's on the phones for tech support and was hired in the hopes that he'll start their analyst department soon. We're so glad our prayers have been answered!

a visit from my BFF!

I was able to go to lunch with my best friend Rachael while she was here in May. We've known each other since 1st grade and been best friends since 7th. She moved to Portland to go to school so we never get to see each other. She's the type of friend who, no matter if it's been 3 months or 1 year, you can pick up the phone and start from where you left off. I love that about our friendship! She got to meet Coen, just like she met Marshall when he was a baby, 4 1/2 years ago. Waaaay too long to go without seeing your best friend if you ask me! I love ya, Rach!

The last time I saw Rachael, right after Marshall was born

Marshall's Last Day of Preschool

Marshall had a great time in preschool this year. He went 2 days a week. Miss Tracy (left) was the aide and Miss Angie (right) was the teacher. They had him write his name every morning to check in. At first it was just scribbles but by February he was writing it! He learned and grew a lot. He's getting so big, just one more year til kindergarten. I can hardly believe it!

shaking hands with miss angiereceiving his "diploma"

the program included fun songs they had learned that year. you can tell he had a lot of fun

still his best friend, asher

--May 21,2009 --

Daddy & Coen

Coen is such a good snuggler! He loves to cuddle up with us and his blanky! - Pictures taken in May

Marshall's First Time Skiing

Back on April 14th John met up with his best buds from high school and their kids Marshall's age. John and his friends have been skiing together forever. This however was Marshall's first time and it was a success! He loved it and thought it was really fun. We're so glad since it's a favorite pastime of John's.

Easter

Easter...that seemed like decades ago. The boys found Easter baskets upon waking up then we had brunch at my mom's along with an Easter Egg hunt. Off to church and dinner at the Bradley's. Pretty typical Easter. The pictures are in backwards order...stupid blogger!

Sporting their new Easter threads

Marshalls Rockin' Moab!

Haha, get it...rock?...Moab?

Back in April my dad took us on an all-expense paid trip to Moab! It was such a blast. There were 9 of us there. Whoa, dad, never thought you'd have a family that big, did ya?

While in Moab, we went for a 4 mile hike up Negro Bill Canyon. It started out with Dad saying we should just go up for an hour and then come back down but we ended up trekking up the whole trail. It was so fun! Luckily I brought snacks for Marshall, they ended up getting passed around and shared by everyone at the top. Marshall did amazingly well! He didn't complain once, not even when it started raining and getting cold at the end. Brandon and my Dad took turns giving him a ride on their shoulders through the rough parts and they both hung back with us to accomodate Marshall's slow pace. Thanks guys, I don't know what I would have done without you!

John gets the "Trailblazer" award for being such a go-getter, he was the first to get to the top and the first to get down...with a baby on his back, no less!

Marshall sure earned the "Good Trooper" award

wedgie picker #1

and wedgie picker number #2

the posers, every time they're in front of a camera they ham it up

dad and the young 'uns

he JUMPED up there!

everyone took a bite out of 1 of 2 apples

this is what was at the top, a way cool arch (forgot what it's called)

Marshall snacking and resting

Cooper was running down the hill and John was in a hurry to get to the bottom, but I made everyone stop for a sec so we could get a group photo

Dad rented a SUPER nice condo for us all. There were 4 bedrooms and PLENTY of room to spread out. We had TONS of fun hanging out. We hot tubbed after the long hike, played games, ate yummy food and just chilled. Brandon and I went for a drive around midnight one night and almost ended up getting stuck on some 4-wheel drive path. We also put a pretty big ding in his rental truck, oops! It was fun driving around though, I LOVE 4-wheeling! It's always an adventure with you, bro!

the condo

poor little Coey had an allergic reaction to the sunblock we used on the hike. his whole body broke out in hives and we had to make a middle of the night call to his ped's on call doctor.

B-Dog listened to music all night

Marshall and Riley had pillows over their heads so they wouldn't hear it

all I can say is weird things happen when you go to sleep and leave your camera in your two little brothers' hands



On the way home John and I decided to drive through Arches National Park. We couldn't come so far just to skip it! Marshall, we decided, gets motion sickness and HATED it! And boy did he let us know it. We got out and did a couple little walks to some gorgeous view points. We were too wiped out from the 4-miler the day before to go on any serious hikes.