Welcome to Nebraska

The title of this post is a little misleading since you would think it would be full of our new adventures in Omaha. Truthfully, our adventures have been rather limited to unpacking boxes and moving stuff around in the house.  We will take the boys to the parks (yes, I say parks since there are FOUR different, great parks within a five minute walk from our house.  Those are only the ones we have discovered thus far.  That aspect of our new neighborhood is fantastic!  Other than the house and parks we have made numerous trips to the local Walmart to stock the house with items we need.  Sounds exciting right?

We are adjusting to the new life although this is a sort of false reality we are living in at the moment.  Todd won't start work until after he returns from Officer training (which is now less than a week away) and Fisher will be starting Kindergarten.  I will be resuming life as a stay-at-home mom without my husband to help out all the time.  It has been nice (can I say UNDERSATEMENT?) having Todd around but we are ready to get into the swing of things and get a routine started.

I will be blogging more soon.  Lots of stuff to catch up on but there has been so little time.

I thought I would post a few pictures I have managed to take of the boys until I have a chance to add more later.  Cooper turned two years old a little over a week ago.  We ditched church and ate cake sitting on the kitchen floor surrounded by boxes seeing as we had only moved in two days prior.  It was fun. :)  Grandma Church was able to share the occasion with us since she came along for the ride to Omaha to help us with the move.  More on all our adventures to come.

What's up?

We just returned from a week long family reunion to Hilton Head (with side trips to Savanna and Charleston) and are now packing up to move to Omaha in a few days.

Needless to say, things are a little hectic.

This was our first attempt at a family reunion since the siblings are scattered all over the country and we don't get to see each other all that often.  It was a great week and I hope to blog about it later.  I don't see it happening any time soon with all that is going on but hopefully I will find time eventually. So here is what we have been up to lately:

Aside from kissing sharks, Todd has been working in the emergency clinic up at the dental school for the last few weeks.  He is so happy to be done with school and was excited to see his dental license in the mail when we returned from our trip.  He is feeling a little nervous about officer training and leaving us for 4-5 weeks- especially about Tucker not remembering who he is when he returns.  He is not stressed about moving which baffles me. 

I, on the other hand, am going crazy over the move.  I am stressed and up and down in the emotional department.  All the packing from showing our house, to moving and our trip has made me a little loco.  I can't wait for September when we will have had a chance to settle into a routine in our new lives.  I need to be out of limbo or else I am going to lose any of the leftover sanity I may possess on a good day.

Fisher spent a lot of time in the water on our trip.  This is a big accomplishment since he hasn't had swimming lessons (Mom is not a big fan of water and has been a slacker in that department) and LOVED the swimming pool.  He was a really good boy on the trip and now that I am thinking about it he has been been doing a lot better all around.  He is sad about leaving his friends when we move and tells me everyday.  He is a sweet, tender boy when he is not having a bad day.  On the bad days he has a tongue sharper than a razor.

Our little crazy beast will be two in one week.  I can't believe it...well, I can believe that he is in his terrible two's-his behavior is a reflection of that- but I can't believe how fast the time has flown.  He has started climbing out of his crib over and over and over so that the first few nights when he started doing it, he was not going to bed until 11 pm.  Naps went good-bye for a few days and he was so tired and grumpy that there were moments I was ready to lock him in a closet.  He has been doing better about staying put now, but still has his moments.  He still has 3 teeth coming in and wakes up every night crying.  We will be happy when he has all of his teeth.  He is a joyful, mischievous almost two year old and I am guessing he will continue to be a handful in the future.

Tucker turned three months this past Friday.  He is such a good baby and very low maintenance.  He is a blessing in my life.  All my boys are actually, but if Tucker was a difficult baby I think it would have put me over the edge these past few months.  He coos and occasionally laughs and has the sweetest smile.  He rolls from his tummy to back every now and then.  He sleeps 8-10 hour stretches most nights and loves to nap on his tummy.  His hair is falling out and he is developing bald spots on the back of his head.  He is starting to grab on to fabrics, likes looking at his little toys and is very alert.  He drools a lot, always chews on his hands, occasionally sucks his thumb and is not a fan of the heat. 

He melts all of our hearts. 

Brotherly Comparisons

I have been horrible about pictures of Tucker but I love this one so I thought I would share it.  He is 11 weeks old and loves: drooling, sucking on his hands, falling asleep on his stomach during tummy time, turning himself so his body is almost sideways in the crib in the morning, blowing out in his size 1 diapers, cooing, smiling at me, Todd and the boys, grabbing onto fabrics: our shirts, burp cloths, blankets, etc., he has (accidently) rolled  from his stomach to back two days in a row. 

We are all enamoured with him.  Even Cooper will point out "baby" whenever Tucker is around and will give him kisses.  He has also stopped trying to throw toys at Tucker's head.  Fisher is still as sweet as can be when it comes to his baby brother.

For fun I thought I would do a little comparison on the boys.  Tucker is starting to push himself up on the floor which reminded me of some old pictures of the other boys.  The ones of Fisher and Cooper were both taken at about four months and Tucker is only about 2.5 so I will probably do this again in about a month-and-a-half.

 Fisher.

 Cooper.

Tucker.

Fisher's Pre-school Graduation

 Fisher graduated form preschool last week.

 He looked so grown up compared to hist first day almost two years ago.

He did a good job singing all the songs.

(Upper right hand)

He was able to sing and play with his tie at the same time.

Receiving his certificate.

Todd yelled out that he loved Fisher and Fisher waved back.

Putting his "diploma" to good use.

He thought it was so cool to look like his daddy did the week before.

Fisher and his teacher, Miss Brady. 

 She and everyone else at the school have been so patient with Fisher (and with me not having my act together.) 

I have absolutely NO clue what Todd and Jared were doing in this picture.  I guess this what two old guys find funny. :)

We hung out with our friends, the Southwells, since their daughter was in the same class.  We were car pool buddies. :)

Too much celebrating.

Fisher will be starting Kindergarten at the end of this summer.  It is weird to think he is old enough.  We are excited but I would be lying if I didn't say I was a little nervous as to how he is going to handle all the changes with the move and starting school so soon after.  Hopefully he will love it.

Introducing Dr. Todd

 It is official.  Todd graduated from dental school yesterday on May 14, 2011.

Todd's family came down to celebrate with us.  We had great seats up on the balcony where all of us juggled the kids and cameras and the kids entertained those around us.  They actually did so much better than I expected.  Fisher played his Leapster and Angry Birds, Cooper sat on laps and ate fruit snacks and yogurt covered raisins.  Tucker was passed around...even to strangers sitting behind us who seemed reluctant to give him back. :)

Todd walking in.

 Finding his seat.

 A view of the stage from our seats.  Thankfully we were not in the front row.  Fisher did not notice the balcony until we started to walk out.  There were a few concerned people as Fisher kept rushing down to see the trumpets and he wanted to lean over to do so.

The graduates. 

The arrow shows where Todd was sitting.

 Next up!

Making the walk to the stage. 

 Smiling for the camera with Dr. Espisito.

Shaking hands with Dr. Boyd and hugging Dr. Stratton.

Dr. Boyd placing the hood.

Hooray!

Receiving his diploma from Dean Sauk.

Fisher and I came down from the balcony to take pictures.  As Todd was on the stage Fisher was yelling "Congratulations Daddy! and  I love you!"  As Todd walked off Fisher ran to him and walked with him down the isle.

Fisher was 18 months when Todd started four years ago.  Since then we have had two more boys who were both born within days of Todd taking a portion of Board exams.  Fisher is now 5 1/2, Cooper is a little over a month shy of two and Tucker was two months and 4 days the day Todd graduated.

Todd with Jedd & Mom & Dad Church.

 This was a proud day for Mom & Dad.

 Todd and his buddies.  There were a few missing from the photo- it was chaotic with everyone walking around.

 Fisher is so excited Daddy is done with school.  I don't know if he realizes this means now he is going to have to start work. :)

 I forgot to mention that it was a miserable rainy day...I mean downpour type of rain. We had to park so far out and everyone had umbrellas and we still ended up wet by the time we got made it to the building where graduation was being held.

Fisher was insistent I take a picture of him doing a 360.

When he wasn't jumping, following Todd around or running away from us and hiding behind a tree, Fisher was hanging out under an umbrella with some of the other kids.

 Todd and his friend, Jeff.

 Todd and his group manager, Dr. Boyd.

 We would have taken more pictures with his buddies but we spent a lot of time dealing with tired kids.

It was a wonderful day and we can't believe it has now come and gone.  We now look forward to what the future holds in store for us.

What's been going on?

I have not had time to blog so this one picture will have to do (minus me) to show what the boys are looking like these days.  This was taken Easter Sunday which was also the day we blessed Tucker.  Todd's family came down for the weekend and Dad Church &  Jedd stood in with Todd along with our new Bishopric.  Here are a few things that have been going on with us:

Fisher: He is almost done with preschool and will graduate on the 19th this month.  Kindergarten starts mid August.  He is happiest cruising our street on his bike without training wheels.  We had a really good run with his behavior for about 2.5-3 weeks.  This last week there has been a big lapse and it has been tough.  The kid has a mouth on him and has no fear or respect for adults at times.  We still are scratching our heads (or at times ripping our hair out) trying to figure him out.  At other times I will find him reading to Cooper or trying to calm Tucker down by telling him how much he loves him, that he is the best baby in the entire world and that he will never let anything happen to him.  I am sometimes reminded of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.  For the record, I would also like to document that we do attempt to do something with his hair but it has a mind of it's own and that mind is a wild, uncontrollable thing.  No amount of water, hair spray or mousse is able to keep it down for longer than a few minutes.  I have been itchin' to buzz his head as soon as I find the energy to do so.

Cooper: is finally attempting to talk instead of only pointing.  He actually has been for about the last month.  While his list of words is not that long, he is adding new ones daily.  So far he says Mom, Mommy, Mama, Dad, Daddy, Dada, hi, more, , WOW!, ball, apple (appoe), baby, Elmo, cookie, Abby, Ernie (my personal favorite)- he LOVES Sesame Street.  He will sometimes let me know that he has a dirty diaper by saying poopie instead of resorting to sticking his fingers in his diaper to give me visible proof like he was for a while there.  He is trying to say Fisher, Grandma & Grandpa.  Sometimes he says something that resembles strawberry which is his favorite fruit.  Sometimes he will say candy.  That is all I can think of right now.  While he doesn't say that much he understands everything we say. 
He is still teething some of his canines and bottom teeth.  Teething is horrible for him.  He loves to cover his face so we can play the "Where's Cooper?!" game.  His favorite thing to do is to play rough with Fisher so that Fisher can get into trouble.  He loves jumping on Fisher's bed, stealing toys from Fisher, taking food from Fisher, hitting Fisher, jumping on Fisher, wrestling with Fisher, running away from Fisher...he LOVES Fisher but sometimes forgets he is not even two and sometimes is too little to take what he dishes out.  I am scared for the future wrestling matches these two will have.  He also has destroyed the crib from all his jumping.  It squeaks like the neighbor's apartment in newlywed BYU housing. :)  Todd and I sometimes crack up listening to Cooper's symphony of squeaks as he tires to go to sleep.  Truthfully, it is a miracle he can sleep with all that racket.

Tucker had his 8 week check up.  He was 11 lbs. 7 oz. and 21 3/4 inches long.  He is a sweet baby who does not like when I eat chocolate.  The next day is full of fussiness, non-sleepiness and spit up even though he usually never spits up.  That is, until chocolate enters the picture.  He smiles a lot, likes to hang out and wiggle between the hours of 3am-5-am, coos, laughs a little here and there, HATES poopy and even wet diapers and is the best cuddler.  He loves to suck on his hands, scratching his face (I keep socks on his hands a lot), and he enjoys baths on the few occasions I remember to give him one. :)  Tummy time is not a favorite  but loves he does love being on his back.

As for me & Todd, we are trucking along with passing off to-do things on our lists.  Todd is pretty much done with school.  He will graduate on the 14th.  He has spent the last couple of days in Omaha looking at houses for us to rent for our year there.  Our appraisal came back on the house and now we are just waiting to close.  We are down to about 5.5 weeks until we move.  In a lot of ways we are ready to be done with this summer...just want all the transition to be over with.  So much is going to happen and it is still overwhelming. 

That is my journal catch up for now.