An Update

Here's a quick update on life since last I wrote, so much has happened to us in the last five months that it seems overwhelming to blog about it. But I will do a quick synopsis and then start blogging fresh from here on out.

-We found out we were pregnant, a total surprise baby. We are super excited but had to make some changes in plans we had made (changing my registration for the Ogden Marathon from a full to a half.)

-Had a miscarriage scare when I was about two months along. Much to our relief it was pain caused most likely by a cyst. And baby was fine!!!

-We made a trip to St. George to see G.G. and Papa Don and our Auntie Brady. We had a great time hiking, swimming, and catching up.

-Sheppard turned 4 years old in March. I can't believe how old he is getting. We went to Chuck E. Cheeses for his birthday with our little family. And, in true Sheppard fashion he freaked out about the animatronics and all the noise (kids), but once he realized there were video games there he snapped out of his fit.

-In April Aram started to look for a new job. There were a number of factors involved with this decision, some of which were he really wanted to get back into the food industry (it's much more regulated than the vitamin industry which is a big bonus when you are interested in Quality), his company continued to take things from employees despite record profits, health insurance was a big one and no raises company wide for two years. Aram loved who he worked with and made some great friends there, but he felt it was time to move on. As we began looking for new jobs we worked through food industry recruiters. Many of the jobs he was applying/interviewing for were East/West coast. So, we were really excited when he got an interview with Basic American Foods in Idaho. He landed the job, Quality Assurance Manager, and here we are 6 weeks later living in a hotel (short term) in Rexburg, Idaho. So far he is really impressed with the company and is excited about their commitment to producing a quality product, and really likes his job so far.

-We worked hard getting our house ready to put up for sale...it's officially on the market for a screaming deal. So we are crossing our fingers that we can get our house sold so we can move on with a house in Idaho.

-We have been house hunting in Idaho Falls...which is super fun trying to find a place that is a good fit for our family/lifestyle.

-All four of the girls in my family were pregnant. The day before mother's day we had a girl's day at my parent's house. My sister Lindsee was on bedrest at 29 weeks because she had toxemia, and my sister Kelsie was about 37 weeks along and seemed to be a bit miserable. We let them relax and we were just hanging out, we decided to take our blood pressure just for fun (what we pregnant girls do for fun). Lindsee's blood pressure was through the roof, and I am sure all her crazy sisters made it go 20 points higher. She ended up having to deliver her baby that night. Baby Elli is our miracle baby, she was about 2 1/2 pounds. She still is in the NICU a month later but she is progressing really well. The day after Elli was born Kelsie went into labor and had cute little Cormac. It was a crazy mother's day weekend. We went from four prego sisters to two in two days.

-Sheppard finished his first year of preschool. We sure had a great time doing our co-op with Ephraim, Walter and Neal and their fabulous Mommies (teachers). We will miss you next year.

-Papa Dude and Gramma Judy came to help us on our house browsing trip. We did a road trip up through Yellowstone, down to the Tetons and through Jackson and back; it was a long, memorable day. I will never forget our picnic in the snow, or Marshall's reaction when he first saw a hot pot (he just giggled and thought it was hilarious.) The boys had a great time with their grandma and grandpa.

-We are currently staying in a hotel in Rexburg. We will rent an apartment for the remainder of the summer once our temp housing is done and hopefully by then we will be able to buy/move into a house in Idaho Falls. But, for now we are enjoying our food allowance, the pool, not having to make our beds. To be honest I feel a little bit guilty, it's like we are on a perpetual vacation. But, I am trying to put the guilt aside and really enjoy this time I have with the boys, without all the distractions of home life. I really have the sweetest boys in the world, as of late Marshall has been calling me "Mama" and it just about melts my heart along with his constant hugs and loves.

I know I missed a million little moments that really make up the fibers of our life during the last five months. But, those are the high/low lights, and I will try and do better about recording the small moments.

-