Boston Marathon 2011

Zack ran the Boston Marathon!

I have to say we were way impressed with our papa and think he's the best.  He trained through the winter and turned into one of those crazy guys you see running along the Charles River despite the plummeting temperatures and snow.  This was Zack's second marathon.  He ran the last one when I was pregnant and sick with Jack and had not discovered the wonderfulness which is Zofran.  I really wanted to see him cross the finish line six years ago but I couldn't get out of bed or stop throwing up.  So this time, despite being pregnant and sick once again I was determined to see Zack run and cross the finish line.

Jack and I made it to the 5 mile marker by nothing more then dumb luck.  Honestly we were lost, and decided to just follow the crowds, parked close despite not having cash to pay the attendant, and promised we'd run get cash and come back. [read run, see Zack run, get cash and come back].   By the time we got back the attendant was gone (turns out he was not a real attendant and was charging money for someone else's open lot).  But we saw Zack, screamed loud for him and gave him high fives and kisses!

Totally Zack, man do I love him.

We then headed to the mall to get in a little bit of shopping before trying to meet up with Zack at the finish line.  Thanks to the marvels of electronic tracking, we were able to keep checking in to see his progress.  No amount of fancy pants electronic tracking can make up for a lack of smarts though.  I kept seeing his time and adding wrong in my head (yes I know I add for a living).  When I finally realized my mistake, Zack was 20 minutes from crossing the finish line.   I had promised our friends the Jones' that we'd pick them up to go to the finish line too, and they turned out to be my own Boston Marathon angels.  They insisted on dropping Jack and me off a block away from the finish line and letting them find parking.  Jack and I ran to the finish line just minutes before we saw Zack running by.  We cheered and yelled at the top of our lungs (even though he said he couldn't hear us) and then got to hear the announcer announce that some runner had just rolled over the finish line.  The first somersaulter of the day!  That's just so Zack.

We are so proud of all his hard work and so grateful that we could see it with our own eyes this time around!

Father Son Campout

I don't camp.  Don't get me wrong, I think its tons of fun to cook dinner on the campfire, and to eat smores, but once the sun goes down and it's time for bed, I'm ready to hit the road.  Something about sleeping out in the open after so many years of sleeping behind a locked front door just doesn't sit right with me.  Zack will tell stories of our first, and only campout as a married couple.  About 1 am I woke up insisted someone was out there and convinced him to run me out to the car to get a frying pan for protection.  Problem is once I was in the locked car it took all his persuasive skills to get me to agree to leave my secure car  (I blame too many horror movies as a teenager...nothing good ever happened to the couple leaving their car in the middle of the forest at night).

Jack was six months old the first time the option to go on the annual Father Son Campout came.  I don't think I even bothered to stop laughing enough at the suggestion to say no.  Then year after year he asked.  The last few years it didn't happen mostly because we were in new cities, or states and it just wasn't logistically possible.

This year we were in Boston, and Jack was a hearty 5 years old.  Old enough to understand when he heard adults around him talking about a Father Son Campout.  Old enough that I wasn't going to stand in their way even if I could.

So Zack and Jack and our dear friends Jonathan and Rivers packed into JBs car and headed out to their first Father Son Campout.  I have to say I really didn't know what to do with myself without them. I dined on Top Ramen which is my favorite meal to make myself when no one else is home.

The boys all had a great time together despite not being able to find the other people at the campout and Rivers insistence that he saw monsters.   Jack came home and reported that he ate 8 marshmallows that evening.  (He also came home and promptly started to throw up).

Buddies

Men making dinner

Love this picture because you can see how excited Jack is to be camping by his dancing moves

Marshmallows (which number I wonder)

The bench they made.  Jack was way proud that they made a bench all by themselves

Dinner time!

Rivers.  Love that kid.

Zack and Jack brought Curious George Goes Camping to read together in the tent before bed.

Next year maybe I'll let Zack take Jack and this new baby and get a good night sleep myself.  I've heard tell that second time moms are more laid back.  Time will tell.

Celtics Game 2011

Before we left Boston, Zack and Jack, along with our good friends Matt and David went on a boys only trip to see the Celtics.

Jack and David hatched a plan to both dress up like Mario thinking that might up their chances of getting on the jumbo tron.

I think they are in the second to last row.  Who says good seats make the experience!

They didn't make it, but I think they both look super adorable.  They got a lot of attention from other people at the game which the boys loved.  Despite the evening ending in a fender bender in the parking lot, all the boys had a great time!

Padres

Pretty much as soon as Zack graduated he started getting calls from the Padres.  Not job offers, but sales calls to try to get him to buy Padres season tickets.  Although we are not really Padres fans, Zack is always up for a good marketing pitch and agreed to come down to Petco Park for a tour with Jack and hear what they had to say, promising me as they ran out the door that he was not going to buy any tickets.

Here they are in the dugout

And on the field

And in the play park area for kids

Two hours later I got a text.  "I'm buying tickets to 5 games."
Like I didn't see that one coming...

He did convince them to give him extra tickets for free, and arranged for them to go down on the field before the game on the 24th against the Dodgers to meet both teams and take pictures with them.  He was pretty proud of himself.  That's a huge difference between Zack and me (one of many that keep our relationship interesting!)  He doesn't mind asking anyone for anything.  He says the worst they can do is say no, which I think sounds pretty awful.  Years ago we went to go buy our first car together and my insistence that we could afford the ridiculous price they were asking resulted in me not being invited on any more car purchasing trips.  Evidently it's hard to haggle when your wife is working against you. 

I'm glad I stayed home on this outing too because these father-son moments are priceless.

All of us at our first Padres game (and my last).  Jack insisted we stay until the very last ball was thrown.  He and Zack also danced like fools trying their hardest to get on the jumbo tron.  No luck yet, but thanks to Zack's haggling they have a few more chances to make that dream happen!

Niagara Falls Trip 2011

I saw my doctor yesterday who agrees that this baby isn't going anywhere anytime soon.  So before he shows up and throws my schedule into chaos, I want to catch up on all the blog posts I should have been doing this summer.

Starting with our Niagara Falls/Palmyra trip we took in June.

One of the things I said I wanted to do as soon as we moved to Boston two years ago was to go to Niagara Falls.  It took us until our very last month living in Boston to actually make it there.  It was great trip!

We drove the 4 hours up to Palmyra and stayed the night in upstate New York and then headed to Niagara Falls the next day. 

Jack at the Whitmer Farm

Jack and Zack up at tree at the Whitmer Farm

After tree climbing, Jack decided to find a fence to climb

The street we stayed at in Niagara Falls.  It was pretty much like staying at Universal Studios.  Talk about tourist traps!

The Hershey Factory was a stop not to be missed by our family's two Hershey lovers. 

Vacation pictures rock!

We made it to Niagara Falls!

I love this picture.  Mostly because I can't tell you how many shots of me and Dani making this exact face we have. 

I was a bit ridiculous and worried as we took this picture that Jack might get accidentally thrown over board.  Sometimes I wonder what I could accomplish with all my extra time if I quit worrying needlessly...

The Niagara Falls boat might be a curly haired girls worst nightmare.  Jack loved getting wet though.

The best family picture shot we got on the boat.  Pretty impressive I know.

We had a great birthday/father's day meal on top of our hotel.  As you can see the view was fantastic despite the quality of the shot.

Jack and Zack conquered the Sky Wheel.  This picture doesn't do justice to just how HUGE this thing was.  I opted out given my fear of ferris wheels figuring the boys would have more fun without me having a panic attack at a gazillion feet in the air.

Happy Jack on the Sky Wheel

Happy Zack and Jack on the Sky Wheel.  Love the self portraits!

All in all we had a fantastic trip.  Zack and Jack did spend the afternoon at the indoor water park and had a fantastic time.  Jack went down all the huge water slides and has been begging to go find a water park in San Diego to visit.  Our hotel room had a fantastic view of the falls and we watched fire works over the Falls our first night in town.  Except for the nasty border patrol lady who yelled at me for missing a stop sign waiting in line to cross the border (seriously it was hidden) and then doubted my ability to drive in a foreign country (Really?!) the trip was a ton of fun.  Personally I would have thought Canada would have been more grateful for our visit and money.  I'm just saying...

Thank you Zack and Jack for making my Niagara Falls trip happen, just in the nick of time!

Zackrison Sister Update

It's my turn to host the weekly Zackrison Sister Update.  Enjoy!

Sarah:

Last Week:

• The boys started school!! Woohoo!! So excited to be back in the routine.
• Finally finished cleaning the postal cabinet & (mostly) put the room back together.
• Met RZF at the Gateway and let her watch Huck & June while I tried stuff on at Anthro. I finally took the sandals back I bought last April (love Anthro's return policy!) and got a few things I'm excited about (love Anthro's sale section!). I saw the table I've been wanting at Urban but they wouldn't sell me the floor model and confirmed it's sold out online. 
• Loved having Rachel around for the weekend - I'm always pretty disappointed about not having my siblings around, but am glad we're in a place that people tend to get back to from time to time
• Took all 4 kids up to SLC for a Lower Lights fireside. Remembered again why I'd vowed not to do that anymore.
• Had fun watching Scott recording with The Lower Lights online (http://www.juneaudio.com/livestream) and stopped by to play bells and handclap in the background a couple times. It sounds like they've had a great time and gotten so much done - can't wait for the new albums
• Went to dinner with the other "band wives" on Friday night - tried out the new La Jolla Groves - was pleasantly surprised at how good it was
• Had the carpets and upholstery cleaned - it was high time and looks so much better!
• Saw Mom & Dad's new house - their furniture is looking great and I'm so excited for them.

This Week:

• Rooftop concert on Friday! I think we've got most jobs delegated pretty well to the volunteers, so I just need to follow up with them. Oh and also maybe make some vinyl logo stickers and get the merch area spreadsheets ready. Need to make arrangements for the kids on Friday
• Work - turns out I have the same work habits and I did study habits - namely procrastination. I have a presentation next week, which they gave me 2 weeks to prepare. Better get started!
• Get into a better after-school routine to get homework and practicing done, and do better at getting to school on-time.
• Go to Seven Peaks one last time this season
• Arrange a playdate with some new little girls who have moved into the neighborhood - June is having some serious friends withdrawal since the neighbor twins moved and her other friends are all in school. 
• Figure out how to gently tell the Fall Festival Silent Auction committee that I can't exactly help them like they'd like me to.
• yardwork

Annee:  No photo this week. We'll just have to picture in our minds pretty Annee!

Last Week:

• Sent Darin off to school.
• Attended all of the back-to-school nights leading up to the first day of school.
• Helped atire and coif four children for the big first day!
• Drove and picked everyone up from school on both Thursday and Friday.  We'll ease our way into the 7:15am bus pick-up time!
• Once I got everyone off to school I had to turn my attention to getting ready for the Baby Shower.  I was on the planning committee, and my responsibility was to provide the location, and the decorations.  As it turned out, I had a lot of fun crafting up a beautiful setting for the shower.  I'll have photos up on MOM soon.
• Had a dismal week of running.  Dismal!  
• Felt an earthquake and prepared for a hurricane, all within the same week.  The hurricane, which I referred to as "Irene" sort of came and went without much to-do around here.  We had gusty winds, and blowing rains for a little while on Saturday, but that was the extent of it.  

This Week:

• Running has to be at the top of the list.  I am now behind one long run.  Hopefully there is still enough time to make up for it. 
• My first full week of the school year.  Time to settle in and find a rhythm for my days.  I'm really looking forward to it.  
• Attend Book Club.  The selection was "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close".  I love that book.
• I started a patchwork dress last weekend.  Maybe this week will be more settled and I'll find time to get back out there and finish it.
• Go grocery shopping at the beginning of the week.  Have dinner planned out for the whole week.  No last minute scrambling or shopping.  That is the goal.  I'm thinking of trying the chili in a jar, cooked with cornbread on top.  It seems so fun, that maybe the kids would actually eat the chili!
• Write the primary program!  
• Piano lessons start back up this week.  Life is slowly but surely getting back to normal.  
• That's it.  I feel like it doesn't sound that exciting, and honestly, I'm kind of hoping it isn't.  I don't think I made it to bed before 1am even one time last week.  I'd love for this week to be at a much slower pace.  We're back to needing to wake up daily by 6:30am.  That has to mean that bedtime returns to 11pm at the lastest!  Kind of sad, to make that concession, but life runs so much better this way.  Time to get on board.  

Ana: 

 

 

Last week:
-Had my 34 week appointment and ultrasound.  Baby is no longer breech and my placenta is way out of the way meaning I get to go into labor!  (hooray right?  Somehow even 6 years later going through labor doesn't sound like a plus even though I know it is in this situation).
-Bought Jack some closed toe shoes since evidently rainbows aren't permitted school footwear.  And here we've been teaching him flip flops are the perfect shoe for all occasions.
-While getting ready for kindergarten orientation we got a phone call saying there was 1 open space at our home school if we wanted it.  We changed gears and went to that orientation where we got to go into Jacks classroom, see his desk, meet his teacher and the other kids in his class.  His teacher is awesome and he couldn't wait to start!

This week
-Jack's first day of kindergarten!!   He was sooo ready and said other kids he knew were scared of kindergarten he was only excited.  No tears were shed by him as he bounced into the classroom.  I shed a few happy tears to see how prepared and awesome of a kid we have.
-I fell coming out to our car off a curb after Jacks swim lessons and am currently being monitored at the hospital (written Monday evening).  No real harm appears to have been done but I guess any time a pregnant woman falls on her belly even lightly they want to monitor her for a few hours and do some sort of blood test. 2 hospital visits in 2 weeks.  I'm seriously awesome.   And now all my plans of making Jack his requested first day of school dinner are down the drain.  So silly of me.
-I still need to buy a baby car seat so we can take this baby home when he's ready.

 

Ie Li:

 

 

Last Week:

• Park.  The weather was beautiful all week long.
• Library.
• Earthquake.
• Air and Space Museum as a family.
• Hung things on the wall.
• Cleaned the house.
• Painted a side table
• I couldn't sleep Tuesday night so I just got up and organized the storage room some more and ran on the treadmill.  I was up until 5 AM.  It took me three days to feel normal again, but in some ways, I feel like it was a gift to me.  It's like Heavenly Father knew I wouldn't be able to get it all done without that time.  I'm really grateful for that.  I even contemplated staying up all night one night a week forever more, but the recovery is really rough.  I just need my sleep.
• Hired a babysitter to play with the kids on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons so I could cross some more things off my list.  Then hired her again for Thursday afternoon so Steve, Mei Li, and I could go to the back-to-school event.
• Spent all Friday preparing for hurricane Irene.
• Hurricane Irene came and went.  It was very uneventful for us, but my heart hurts for those who suffered for it. 
• Watched Season 1 of "Downton Abbey."  Thanks for the recommendation, Rachel.
• Sewed a pink nightgown and a turquoise first-day-of-school dress for Mei.

Next Week:

• Mei starts kindergarten.  I am entering a new motherhood phase and I feel a little sad about it all.  Life was so crazy/good when all three of them were home.  She only has half-day kindergarten so it will still probably feel a little like preschool, but with a bus.
• Spend Mi Na's nap time playing with Stephen.
• Continue half-marathon training.
• Wake up early everyday.
• Sew a couple more dresses for Mei.
• Parent orientation for Stephen's preschool.
• Catch up on blogging.

Rachel:

Last Week:

• Earthquake!!  On Tuesday at 2pm we had a 5.8 earthquake here in VA.  Our office building evacuated and because I was planning to get lunch anyway, I headed home.  Our firm closed for the rest of the day so Ken and I spent 3 hours outside in the wonderfully cool weather running, walking and popping into stores we've been meaning to visit.  We came home, made dinner and I worked in the evening from home.  It was so awesome. 
• Almost signed up at the farm co-op store in Vienna.  Will consider this further.
• Have felt very organized and on top of my work situation. It's a great feeling.
• Spent some lovely time in Utah. Activities included: shopping with Sarah, Huck & June, recruiting event, returning GG, visiting fabric stores & Downeast, visiting mom & dad's pretty new house, dinner at La Jolla Groves and CPK, a crazy huge stake activity which included a hot air balloon, quality sister time, watching kids on giant trampoline time, visiting the Lower Lights in studio, etc.  It was short and sweet.  Thank you all for having me.
• Flew out of Provo on my way home!  It was AWESOME.  Accidentally overslept (sorry mom!).  Left Sarah's at 7:45am.  Was sitting on the plane by 8:13am (after forgetting my laptop in the car thus doing security twice).  Flight departed at 8:35am.  You cannot beat that kind of convenience.  It was cheap too.  I will fly through there every chance I get.
• Returned to VA to a house that was very well stocked for a hurricane that never really came.

This Week:

• Christine's BDAY!!  Let's celebrate shall we?
• Major work time.  Just over 2 full weeks to the Sept 15 deadline.  My senior is out of town for the next month so I'm filling her role.  Very exciting.
• Call the hair salon and get a reimbursement for the skirt that was ruined on my last visit by bleach spots.  Sad.
• Call REfind about ordering the light fixtures I want.  Inspiration photo here.
• MAKE THE WEDDING ALBUM.  I don't really want to pay to extend the event online... Ugh.
• Ken's sister is coming to visit Friday through Tuesday!  Need to get the guest room in order and plan our activities. 
• Book our Christmas flights.  They're only going to get more expensive from here.

Christine:

Last week:
- Spent the first half of the week in Morgantown for the start of the school year.  This included a big free concert put on by the school with a lot of supposed big names that I've never heard of, mainly just because I'm not so much in on the hip hop and rap scene, but it was still fun nonetheless.  I ended up being in WV for the earthquake and didn't feel it, though others in the area did.  I was actually pretty sad to have missed it.  I came home to a few broken items that had fallen off the shelves.
- Worked Wednesday and Saturday.
- Went to Rehoboth Beach all day Friday as everyone was panicking and preparing for the big hurricane.  It ended up being a nice beach day, and it was pretty interesting to see all the little shops boarding up their windows and hearing all about the mandatory evacuation.  We made it out that evening luckily without hitting much evacuation traffic.
- Went out to dinner with a girl from high school who I haven't seen since high school.  It was random but fun to get caught up and always nice to see a familiar face from home somewhere far from home.
- Got bored waiting out the big hurricane Saturday night while everything closed early.  It ended up being a pretty big letdown, I didn't even lose power ever.  But ultimately I should be grateful seeing as a lot of areas were much more impacted.
- Rode bikes around the monuments late Sunday night.  I think this is possibly my favorite activity in DC.

This week:
- Turn 24.  Weird.
- Go to Utah!!  I'm flying out there Thursday and am excited to be there for the rooftop concert Friday night! And to see mom and dad's new house!  I currently don't have a ticket back but I'm planning on staying for a couple weeks, not really for any reason in particular just to spend time with family and friends there.  I feel like it's probably the last chance I'll have to go out there for an extended time so I might as well take advantage of my free time.
- Work Wednesday.
- Hopefully run more than I did last week.
- Finalize everything for an apartment.  I settled on a place and just need to get everything signed and finished in time for Jaklyn's arrival next weekend.

Gratitude

I've been feeling pretty sorry for myself lately and it's time for it to stop.  I am uncomfortable most of the day and exhausted the rest.  I forget what it was like to actually be a mom to Jack that I could be proud of.  Not that he or Zack would ever complain, but I feel it.  Someone reminded me about everything we have been through to bring this baby into the world and it reminded me to be grateful.

When I was 4 weeks along and our ob was monitoring my hcg levels every 48 hours my levels weren't doubling.  In fact they told me to prepare myself for a miscarriage.   As devestated as I was, I was grateful that I had been spared having to see the heartbeat on the ultrasound machine.  Two missing heartbeats was devestating enough, I couldn't take a third.  The doctors decided to do one more round of hcg testing.  I waited the 48 hours and picked up the phone knowing it was the nurse and I was prepared to hear the news.  But instead she told me my hcg level tripled.  I don't think I managed a coherent sentence for the first few moments of that conversation.  At which point I started to cry and told her I didn't know what to say I had prepared myself for the complete opposite news and was speechless. 

Then I made it to eight weeks and stopped functioning again.  Each of my prior miscarriages I had lost somewhere around eight weeks and I had to wait one whole week before my next ultrasound appointment.  This was a huge low point.  I don't think I got out of bed for two days.  That is when my amazing husband swooped in, picked me up, packed us up and took Jack and me for a spur of the moment weekend trip to New Hampshire.   By the time we got home, I was mostly out of my funk and made it to the appointment where we heard everything was perfect. 

Fast forward through months of nausea, a bleeding scare, complete placenta previa downgraded to partial 18 weeks later, a move across the country, a new job, and this new life inside of me kicking to remind me "Mom I'm alive, we made it" over and over again. 

I am grateful for those kicks.  I am grateful for Jack who hands down is the most amazing kid, and I am most grateful for my husband who nine years later stands more firmly planted by my side then ever before.  Here's to a year of being blissfully exhausted to come.

A Mess

Pretty much "A mess" sums up most aspects of my life right now. 

Our new home...a mess
Me as a friend, sister, wife, mother...a mess
My mental and emotional status....a mess

So if you have been calling me and I haven't called, emailed or responded to let you know I'm alive please forgive me.  Turns out moving across the country and trying to restart our lives while big and pregnant doesn't agree with me. 

Go figure.

Zackrison Sister Update

Each week the Z Sisters post an update on their weeks and the weeks ahead.  It's my turn to host the update so enjoy!

Sarah

Last Week:
* Put on another successful rooftop concert. This time we hired a security crew so I got to use a walkie talkie and wear this super fashionable ear piece. It all felt very official and quite silly. But the evening was magical and perfect and went off mostly without a glitch so I'm happy.
* Celebrate the 4th of July in Provo Style - balloons (I saw them launch from the Y on Friday, but when we went on Monday they couldn't launch due to bad weather - so that was a total bummer), parade, fireworks (aerials are legal in Utah now! for better or worse)
* Got Oliver to go to 1 day of swim team!! Huge success!! His report was "it was ok" which I'd call a rousing endorsement. Unfortunately vacation and other summer plans preclude us from being able to go anymore this year. But at least we're set up well to go next year!
* Support boys in building dirt jumps for their bikes in the wilderness behind our house - and by support I don't mean I ever picked up a shovel - I just brought them ice water and cheered them on

This week:
* Do some work - must get project to next level before we leave town again
* Go to Idaho - we're headed to a lake house in Sandpoint, ID with the Wiley crew on Thursday. Not sure what we'll do there, but it will be a beautiful change of scenery and hopefully a little cooler

Annee

Last Week:

• Completely sanded the dresser, filled in the hardware holes, and primed it.  Picking the color was torturous.  I kept trying a sample thinking it would be “perfect” and it wouldn’t be.  I think I’ve settled on a color, only because I’m telling myself I can always repaint it!  I hate when projects drag out like this.  Time to get it done!  Maybe tonight?
• We did clean the house!  It was awesome.  I was able to give Henry jobs that I really needed done, but was busy doing other things that I really needed done, when I would give him an assignment, I’d come back and it was actually done.  It was almost like having two of me.  The girls even managed to truly clean their room, and get all their toys put away in the right spots in the attic.  It was kind of like magic.  We should have family cleaning days more often.  
• At long last went to the Durham Life and Science museum.  We’ve been told since the day we first arrived in NC that it was the best museum around, yet none of us had been there to-date.  The butterfly release was magical.  The feeding of the spiders was something straight out of the National Geographic.  It was really a great day.  With a brand new family membership, the kids are already eager to go back soon.
• We had the Fitzgeralds for a few days.  It went by too quickly as per usual.  Though the 4th didn’t exactly turn out as we had hoped or planned for, I think we still had fun.  The thunder and lightening closed the pool early.  And the rain made fireworks unlikely.  But we ended up at a pretty relaxing late dinner, and happened upon the Bynum fireworks display just in time for the grand finale.  Sparklers back at the house completed the evening.  I love being close to family again.  
• I pulled off a long run on Saturday!  I think it was a 9-miler.  The thing is, it’s so hot here. Just ask Rachel!  Long runs are getting more and more painful as the summer wears on because even if I had started at 7am (which I didn’t), it’s already warm and muggy.  That’s why the 9-miles I did accomplish are a true accomplishment.
  

This Week:

• Finish the dresser!!!  
• Finish swimteam!!!
• Finish sewing a baby present!!!
• Lose 5 pounds :)
• Run 10 miles on Saturday
• Get ready for our East Coast road trip summer vacation.  Mentally prepare now to blog each night along the way.  A picture a day on vacation shouldn’t be too hard, right?!
  

Rachel

Last Week:

• Spent Friday preparing for the bday which included baking, making paper chains and wrapping gifts.  I made a yellow cake and chocolate frosting from scratch (not good, but pretty) and red velvet cupcakes & cakebites.  Glad for an excuse to try out some new recipes but the search for the go-to non-box cake continues...
• FINALLY found a way to get gallon sized bottles of Redken shampoo & conditioner.  Picked them up Friday afternoon. 
• CZ came back from the Middle East and stayed with us for a few days.  We even got to meet WV Jon!
• Saturday evening we drove down to NC and arrived later than we wanted (sorry!).  Had a lovely, lazy Sunday with the Earnest clan.
• Ordered the supplies for the bedroom roman shade. 

This Week:

• Absolutely must get my head in the game at work.  I feel like I've been so distracted!  It's a really short week, I can do it.
• Sync my iphone and stop into the Apple store to exchange my phone for a new one.  The home button isn't working and it's annoying.
• Stop by Men's Wearhouse to redeem a gift card to get Ken some new work shirts
• Use my framing groupon
• Make reservations for our Bar trip down to Roanoke later this month.  We're making a stop at Polyface Farms!
• Feed the missionaries on Sunday
• Find a bolster pillow pattern.  Already have the fabric.  
• Spray paint bedroom frames
• Eat as little gluten as possible.  I feel so much better this way.
• Pipe dream: pick the pictures for our wedding album!

Christine

Last Week:

- Toured the pyramids in Egypt, attended a light show at the pyramids, visited various sites around Cairo, and went on an early morning horseback ride through the Egyptian dessert, it was pretty awesome. 

- Flew from Cairo to DC on Tuesday.  It's nice to be back in America where the water is safe and I actually get some time to myself since I'm no longer a part of a tour group.  I basically slept through all of Wednesday in an attempt to recover from all of the travelling. 

- Stayed a couple nights at the Fitzgerald's cute apartment where the freezing AC is wonderful and now greatly missed.

- Moved over to Melissa's apartment where the AC and internet both don't work, but it's nice to at least have landed somewhere where I may actually stay for longer than a week.  I've become quite familiar with the nearby mall and Starbucks where it's nice and cold and there's free internet.  And there's a movie theater which is another cool place to spend the days.  Can you tell I have a lot of free time these days?

- Enjoyed the wonderful weekend weather here in DC (it's surprisingly not been too humid, my memory of last summer is of it being painful just to walk out the door) which included a trip to Good Stuff Eatery, a walk around the Capitol, a Nats game on Saturday, a nice dinner and walk around Old Town Alexandria, great company, and all topped off with Sunday dinner and games at the Sazband's.  

This Week:

- Fourth of July BBQ and watching the fireworks from the steps of the Jefferson Memorial.  

- Get the AC fixed.  There's just really not a whole lot I can do or get done when I'm not even willing to stay in the apartment.

- Start studying for the CPA exam?  I finally ordered my study materials, so I guess it's time to get started on that.

- Finish my online class.  July 15 is the absolute final deadline.  No more procrastinating allowed.  

- Start looking at more permanent places to move into in the fall. 

Ie Li

Last Week:

• Picked our second cucumber from our garden.  It was even better than the first.
• Picked three mature green beans from our garden.  But what do you do with three green beans?
• Celebrated Mei Li's birthday on Friday.  After changing her mind several times about the party theme, we settled on the carousel and train rides at the mall.  I made Rachel's chocolate chip cookie cupcakes and they were a hit.  At the end of everything, Mei Li said, "Thank you, Mom."  I guess we did good.
• Mi Na took her first three steps on Friday night.  She has since taken a couple here and a couple there, but there is no real walking going on just yet.
• Gave "Friday Night Lights" a second chance (that whole Carlotta thing really bugged me) and we powered through seasons three and four.  I loved it.
• Reserved two airplane tickets
• Painted the inside of our white bookcases a robin's egg blue color
• Had Sunday dinner and made s'mores with Christine and John K.  Steve and I are big fans.  Stephen and Mei Li are even bigger fans.
• Fourth of July ward pancake breakfast.  Stephen was in heaven.  There were five different sports to choose from and he just roamed from sport to sport to sport.
• Ate some amazing ribs on the fourth of July.  Steve took on that project, complete with spice rub and hickory wood chunks.
• Put money down on the Richmond half marathon.
• Finished listening to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory with the kids.

Next Week:

• Use two airplane tickets
• Update my blog
• Hang some things on our walls
• Garden
• Swim
• Exercise
• Parent well
• Turn 28

Ana

Last Week:

-Said goodbye at the last possible moment to our wonderful Boston friends.  Nothing like postponing that final goodbye as long as possible.

-Used our one way tickets to fly to San Diego.  Jack made the adventure even more wonderful by starting to throw up on the plane all over himself and Zack.  Then once more in Dani's car on the way to their house.  Talk about being good house guests.  

This Week:

-Took Jack to In n Out four times.  Yes I know how bad of a parent that makes me sound but he has been asking for In n Out for two years.  I figure we can indulge him a bit our first week back.  

-Started driving around San Diego neighborhoods.  Nothing is settled and we very well may end up back in LA, but it helps me remain sane by thinking I'm making progress on finding and building my nest.

-Answered a scam criags list posting for an amazing 5 bedroom in Carmel Valley with all the upgrades for $1200/month including utilities.  Got an email back from a fellow in Nigeria explaining how he couldn't show me the inside of the house until we signed the lease.  I knew it sounded too good to be true, but figured for $1200/month it was worth a shot!

-Zack has had three interviews and an unexpected call from his summer internship with a job possibility.  Still no final word, but maybe soon?

-Had to keep reminding myself while I was driving around San Diego that the last two years of my life did happen.  We did move to Boston, Zack did go to HBS...

-Started Jack in summer swim camp to try to get him better at his strokes and kicking like a normal person.

-Sign Jack up for the more competitive soccer classes.  He has been asking for these classes for over a year now.  We'll see how he likes it.

Moving

We are getting ready to move again.   I've been walking around in a total funk today, blaming my book, blaming dehydration, blaming everything except for the people who deserve to be blamed.  My lame friends.   My lame friends who have made Boston home.  My lame friends who I have laughed with, parented with, and cried with.  My lame friends whose children pray for me and my baby by name each night.  Those are the sorts of lame friends I have been blessed with here in Boston.  Ones who only become lame when our lives separate and they require me to try to figure out how to make our lives work without them.

Jack's been a total mess this past week too.  Falling to the floor, crying over every little thing.   Today Jack told me how sad he was and how much he was going to miss Zack.  Turns out the little fellow thought Zack was moving tomorrow along with some of our friends to Michigan.  Without us.  I reassured him that Zack was our Papa and our home would always be with him.  And that's when I realized I would have been falling to the floor and crying over every little thing too if I thought Zack were moving without us.  So instead I try to remember how blessed I am to be so in love with my husband, and how blessed I am to be so in love with my son, how blessed I am to be so in love with this new life kicking around inside of me, and mostly how blessed I am that where ever life takes us in this world, we will go together.

But for today moving's lame.  And having the kind of friends that make our hearts hurt to leave is even lamer.  But we love them.  Lameos.

HBS Graduation 2011

My family.  Two words and two people that melt my heart like no others.  It has taken all three of us working hard to make it through these demanding years, but I wouldn't have had it any other way.   The first time I saw Zack in his cap and gown at graduation I totally started crying.  Leave it to me to not consider an occasion sentimental until I am overwhelmed at how life changing these small moments are.  I am so in love with him, so proud of the man that he is, and so grateful for all he is in our lives.    Here are a few additional pictures of graduation and the events leading up to it.

The amazing city that we have called home for the last two years. I am so grateful that we got to stay long enough for spring to come again to Boston and remind me how beautiful this city truly is.

Taking the official Michael Christensen Tour of Harvard Undergrad (Believe it or not it was my first tour.  Checked it off the list just in time!:))

A few of us at Zack's celebratory Graduation dinner at Legal Seafood.  He entertained the kids with all of the claws from his meal.  And yes, I am as exhausted as I look in this picture.

The ceremony was held right in front of Baker library.

One of my personal highlights was that Jack got to walk across the stage and "graduate" with Zack. 
I think it was a perfect ending to this experience because those graduating with kids deserved to be most proud of this moment because they found ways to be students and parents.

Zack and his parents. 

It was definitely an event worthy of such a huge family gathering.

More family shots

It wouldn't be a family gathering without a jumping shot.  I am continually amazed at Rachel's ability to get so high.  Love Jack's jump too.

Jack's surrogate family, the Whitakers.  These kids spend so much time at one another's houses that I think they are going to go into shock when they move to Michigan and we move to California.

I will forever be grateful for this experience.  It was such an adventure, and we have loved our time here. 

This is the hat that they gave Jack after he "graduated" with Zack.  That's exactly what he's been for the last two years, an HBS Kid.