Glasses

Isaac is so much fun. He really loves to joke around. He thought it was pretty funny to wear my glasses.

HE PASSED!

Lance finally got his California law exam score today and he passed!!!!  He will start his job on November 14th and is driving to LA on the 1st to find housing and finish up a few things with his work before he starts.  It has been quite the roller coaster ride.  I just got a new job (a temporary job where I can work from home!!!) yesterday and I start Monday, so Isaac and I will have to stay behind until I'm done with training and have a computer set up in California.  Let the craziness begin!

The Children's Museum

I am so glad I just broke down and got a 6 month membership the the Gateway Children's Museum. We were able to have a lot of fun and kill a lot of time while Lance was studying. Isaac is infatuated with lawnmowers and always has to take one for a spin when we are at the museum. We even got to go to the Children's Museum in Las Vegas last weekend when we were there for Lance to take his exam. It has been money well spent!

September Stunk

So, September stunk! These are really my only pictures from September (and they were taken on the 29th!). We had a Murphy's Law month...everything that could go wrong basically did (or at least that is how it felt...most things in all reality were fine, but some of the big things were NOT!). Lance was supposed to start his job in California in August, but California decided to hold all of the exam results "until late November or early December" according to their message (you cannot actually talk to a human being at the California Board of Pharmacy), so he couldn't get his license, therefore he could not start his job. Meanwhile, most of our belongings were in a P.O.D.S. container in Compton, L.A. Isaac started growing out of all of his clothes and shoes that we brought for the summer (and we didn't really bring winter clothes with us). We endured a very hectic household at my mom's with house guests from England for 3 weeks while dealing with doctor's visits and other disappointments. Lance had several debilitating migraines on very inopportune days, including the day before he was supposed to head to his exam in Las Vegas. It turned out he had to cancel the trip almost literally last minute because he noticed his middle name wasn't spelled out on his Social Security card and he wasn't eligible to take the exam until he got a new card (it didn't match his driver's license EXACTLY)! On the bright side, at least he wasn't already in Vegas when he realized it. Other pluses from September were being around family, beautiful weather, plenty of time to spend as a family, and me being blessed with temporary work. Having said that, I still wouldn't want to relive that awful month!!

Puppy Love

So, I reverted to my unemployed crochet-a-holic phase since we've been at my mom's. I was like this in Denver when I was unemployed and pregnant with Isaac. I am essentially unemployed again since I have Lance and my mom to help with Isaac so much. These puppy slippers were my first project, and Isaac really loved them. Unfortunately, the loop stitch you use isn't very secure (or I was doing it wrong), so they got all stretched out with holes all over them after only a few wears. He'd want to wear them to bed and by morning his toes would be sticking out the ends. I finally just threw them away. Too bad they weren't functional, but they sure were cute.

Flaming Gorge

Greg and his family took us, Grandma, the Bryants, and the Sanders on a little river trip in Flaming Gorge. The weather was very rainy when we got there the night before, but it was beautiful while we were on the river. Unfortunately, it down-poured right after we got off the river and drenched everyone who was packing up the rafts. Isaac was pretty upset for the first half of the trip. I don't think he appreciated his life jacket too much. It was fun to get another night of camping in with the cousins!

Summer Fun

We went to the U to watch the Tour of Utah crit. Isaac LOVED the helicopter and was fascinated by all of the speeding cars and bikes. Can you tell it was one of the hottest days of the year?

We thought Isaac would love the fountains at the Gateway more than we would love running around everywhere but IN the water. He still had fun.

I spotted Isaac making cookies on grandmas couch...he had brought the toys in the front room himself.

Snowbird

I finally made it to Snowbird this year!! We have gone to Snowbird every year for as long as I can remember. We missed Snowbird while we were in Colorado and Tennessee. It isn't quite the same as when we were kids, but I think the grandkids really love it now.

Isaac had a lot of fun swimming in the kiddie pool and playing with his cousins this year. He wasn't quite ready for the swimming lessons. Maybe next summer!

Bear Lake

We had our Lindberg family vacation in Bear Lake back in August. We all stayed in a rental home and enjoyed swimming, raspberry shakes, boating, an awesome play (Who Shot Juanito Bandito), oh, and watching our lives flash before our eyes when Lance's brother, Scott, backed their rental car off a small cliff and nearly rolled the car with us in it (first and last time getting a ride with Scott!). Isaac really loved sitting in the baby chair for some reason, and fell in love with his little cousin Meredith (Mer-Mer). It was a very fun and RELAXING vacation!

Durfee Campout

This is only a fraction of the Durfee Family. My grandma and grandpa Durfee had 6 children, ~40 grandchildren (39 of which are married) and at least 50 or 60 great-grandchildren, probably a lot more. I think about 100 attended the campout this year, which is a little more than half

We managed to get a little camping in this summer. I don't know how my parents went camping so much with so many little kids when they were our age. It is a lot of work! (but a lot of fun, too)

Fun with cousins

My brother, Russ, has this awesome bounce house for the kids. Isaac had an absolute blast running full speed towards the netting walls and falling backwards. He has loved playing with his cousins so much!

Camping with the Uriona Twins

Long time, no blog. Here's what you missed:

Shortly after making it to Utah in July we had an overnight camping trip with our good friends, TJ & Jill, and their twins, Ty & Lizzie. I bet we spent more cumulative time packing for the trip than we actually spent camping. It was the twins' first camping trip and they did pretty darn well. We'll hopefully get more camping in here this week.

We miss you Lilyan!

Isaac enjoying his snacks...he knew exactly where to find them at Lilyan's

Isaac's best friend in Nashville was our next door neighbor, Lilyan Stewart. By the end of our time in Nashville, we went over nearly every day to play and kill time until Lance got home from work. She is the sweetest Southerner we know and miss her so much!  She is 86 going on 66.  She walked every day, did all of her own errands and driving, lived on her own, and watched over all of the 'elderly' people in her church group.  In Lilyan's words, we needed a big ol' weepin' vial when we left her!

He made it!

One of the few photos I snapped of Lance because Isaac thought it was really fun to keep running in and out of the room.  He'd come back every time he heard clapping so he could clap, too.

Lance and his transplant ladies (fellow pharmacists and residency director): Stephanie, Jen, & Christie

I know this is long overdue, but Lance successfully graduated from his Solid Organ Transplant residency at Vanderbilt!! He put in a lot of long hours, yet still managed to make time for me and Isaac. He did a great job and now has a job lined up at University of Souther California in Los Angeles (if he EVER gets licensed in California!) We have been in Salt Lake City for the past 6 weeks or so and were originally hoping Lance would be ready to start work this Monday, but the licensure process may take up to another 2 months! Our plan is to just enjoy this unexpected time off.

Cousins

Isaac has had so much fun spending time with cousins. We have been to most of my siblings' homes to hang out and we had a fun outing at Liberty Park with almost all of the kids last week. Here he is with his cousin, Courtney, who is 2 months older than him. Can't you see the family resemblance? Me either ;)

We're Here!

We made it to Utah! After 3 days in the car we are so excited to be in Utah for the next long while. It has been so much fun to spend time with the whole fam! Here is our entire Gatrell crew!