Congratulations Joe!

Exactly a year ago, Joe and I were scrambling to figure out a Plan B because our Plan A failed at the last moment...which was to move to Florida by my parents, in a house we'd chosen, and Joe would work for and eventually buy out an orthodontic practice in my old hometown. Due to the horrible luck of a patient biting Joe's hand, he drilled too far and failed the restorative part of the FL dental boards. Even though it was disappointing not to be able to live by my family, we couldn't dwell too long on the turn of events because we had to focus on Joe finding a job and figure out where to live since we had to be out of our apartment in 2 weeks!

Well it all worked out thanks to Joe's wonderful parents who let the boys and I live with them for that summer while Joe worked in Texas and closed on our house. And we've loved every minute here and definitely have thoughts of staying here longterm. So this is why it was a hard decision to retake the part of the FL board he failed...but we decided that he might as well try again since he is so close and it will leave FL as an option in the future. So he endured another weekend of FL boards, and this time, things went much more smoothly and he passed!

I am so proud of you Joe! What a champ you are for enduring 2 FL dental boards for me. Maybe it was meant to be that you failed that first time and we live in Texas. But whatever happens, whether or not we move to Florida, at least you have something to show for all the dental board torture you endured!

Never say Never!

Bye-bye Altima. We'll never forget you since you were our first car together. However, driving you from Utah to Ohio to Wisconsin to Texas seems to have taken a toll on you and now... I have been forced to become a minivan mom. I am almost in tears looking at my picture in front of that van. Ha, ha. Just kidding. Ok, not really. I did have a slight identity crisis as we were shopping for a new car but I am over it and loving the new van.

I was one of those gals who swore to NEVER drive a minivan. I could never get over how
"uncool" they looked. But after looking at all our options, we couldn't deny how user friendly these babies are, especially getting into the 3rd row which will be nice when we have more kids. How can you not love the automatic doors, trunk, and dvd player? I am definitely spoiled and loving our "blue whale". To anyone trying to decide: SUV or minivan? All I have to say is, minivans aren't too bad!

Let's party like it's 1999!

Go Class of 99'! I just went down to FL for the weekend to attend my 10 year high school reunion. I swear, nothing makes you feel older than than to see the people that you went to highschool with go bald, gain weight, gain a few kids, become career people, etc! The first night was at a club in Universal Studios. I went with Sarah (one of my HS best friends) and her husband. It was neat to go to this thing and tell others "yeah, we still keep in touch" and "we were in each other's weddings". I'm so grateful for friendships that last! We had a mini-awards ceremony where I won longest marriage (8 years folks!) and Charlie, the girl in the middle won most changed person in 10 years. 10 years ago, Charlie was very into physics and not into appearances...I mean, not at all. Then when she walks into the reunion looking gorgeous and buff, jaws dropped. Don't you love stories like that? But don't worry, she still loves her physics with her PhD in Engineering and all!

Some of the girls (minus Charlie) from cheerleading.

My friend Sarah again, Jamie, and I.

Larry behind me, (who was not supposed to be in the picture), also won the most changed person in 10 years b/c he went from super short to super tall! And he was a lot more social at the event than he was in high school.
The next day, there was a picnic for the family and we all brought our kids. I only brought Mason since I left Joe and Samuel at home for the short weekend. Mason was free on the plane, so an easy decision on which kid to bring!

I forgot to rotate this ahead of time, but here is our homecoming King and Queen who ended up marrying and now have a little girl. True highschool sweethearts. I can't imagine marrying anyone from highschool, but its definitely worked out for them!

Mason found some friends and they were playing "pat, pat, pat, blastoff!" from Little Einsteins. He was really missing his "brubber" as Mason says, so when he met the little boy in the middle who is Samuel's age, he followed him everywhere. So cute!

Some of the Class presidency that put this fun reunion event together. Until the 20-year re-union class of 99'!!!

Finally, I wanted to post a picture of the new location for my parents' health food store. It's the section right behind the gray SUV. It's in a great spot that is close to the courthouse and a bunch of health practioners' offices. Congratulations Mom and Dad!