Denver, here we come.

I know I am terrible at keeping this updated. I have just been so busy lately. Our big news that I thought should be announced. Jake has been accepted to University of Denver's Strum College of Law. We will be moving within the month. It has been a crazy road that has led up to this moment, most of it a little nerve racking.

First, he was accepted to Creighton's Law school (in Omaha, NE) so we started playing for there. Shortly after Denver sent notification of their acceptance and since it is closer to home and a better ranked school, we choose to head to Denver instead.

I will try to keep an update of the process but so far we are still waiting to hear back about student loans and we are close to finding a place to live. School starts on August 16th and yes, that is one day after Jake returns from his trip to Alaska with his brothers.

I guess it's time to start packing.

Work 2nd Annual 5K

A couple of weeks ago, my work held their 2nd Annual 5k run. It's part of our work exercise program. Annie came out to run with me, but unfortunately I'm not in as good of shape as she is. Macy wanted to come so she came with her bike. There was a good turnout from the employees as well. Macy and I stretching before the race.

Ellie waiting to start the race.

After warming up a little, we started the race. Even though the original plan was to run together, both Annie and Macy were faster. I didn't realize how much your arms provide momentum when you run.

Luckily Macy came also and rode her bike along side Annie while Ellie and I followed behind. The race went well except Ellie hated it when we jogged toward the setting sun because it was too warm. The problem with that was the last mile and a half was mostly facing the sun. My choices were either continue walk at a fast pace and listen to her cry or continue running (even though I was completely exhausted). Being a first time mom, I chose my discomfort over hers. I hadn't trained too well for this race but I finished with a decent time at a little over 36 minutes. Remember I was also pushing a stroller.

Even with my lack of training, there were no injuries. Maybe next time I will training better before running a race.

A movin and a shakin

Ellie has really made me laugh lately. She doesn't like to roll over that much so she only does it when she wants to (usually when she doesn't think anyone is watching). I haven't been to worried because I see her roll at least once a week. Recently she has stopped even pretending to roll over because she has figured out how to scoot backwards. Yes backwards.

I believe it comes from the fact that she also discovered how to work her bouncy chair. She has been sitting in it for quite some time now but never would really bounce. I sometimes would even try to bounce her by pushing down on it, but she would just pick up her feet. Well, the other night I sat her down in the bouncy chair and turned to walk down the hall when I saw out of the corner of my eye, she was bouncing and she was bouncing out of control. From that moment on, Ellie is the biggest maniac when in her bouncy chair. It cracks me up.

Shortly after discovering bouncing, she started wiggling her legs, while she was sitting, like she was bouncing. Soon she was doing it while lying down and this combined with pushing with her arms causes her to scoot backwards.

Now don't think I am a mean mom for this but sometimes when she is feeling needy (which is a lot lately because she has one tooth in!) and she is lying on her stomach, she starts to scoot back. Seeing that I am moving farther away, she starts to cry. So she is lying on her stomach, scooting backwards farther and farther away from me but crying the whole time. So I giggle and tell her to come forward or wait until I am finished doing my make up or hair. (This usually happens in the morning while I am getting ready for work and she is hanging out in the bathroom with me.

She loves hanging out with me while I get ready.

Graduation!!!

We have finished another step in life. Friday was Jake's Graduation ceremony.















It still seems a little weird because, similar to me, Jake graduated in December and has had a diploma in his possession since mid-Januar. But like most universities, the University of Utah only has the one ceremony to walk in the spring. Although there haven't been classes to worry about, there has been a little bit of stress as Jake has taken the LSAT and has been applying to law schools but we just haven't heard back from any yet.

As I sat in the ceremony, I couldn't help but think back 3 years (I can't believe how time flies) to my graduation. Same building, same time of year. Other than the time that has passed, the only change was adding Ellie.


















(Obviously this picture is from my graduation 3 years ago. I wanted to post it because I look good.)

I am so proud of Jake for working so hard on schooling and for having the desire to continue to learn. He wants so much to have a wonderful life for his family. I just wish that sometimes he would take care of things a little sooner than the last minute. ;)

Softball Season

As some of you may know, Jake and I have been playing co-ed softball for the past couple of years. I think it has been about 4 or 5. The team has grown and changed over time but people always laugh when they here the story of how we pick the names we have. Currently our team name is Brown Chicken Brown Cow (which are the 2 sexiest animals in the barn yard, bow chicka bow wow!) Don't ask. Jake thinks it is hilarious, as do most of the teams we play once they figure out the joke.

Here is the story of how this name came to be. When we first started playing, the team was a group of friends and for the most part the team was made of dating couples. Of course the natural name for 20 something non married couples is Horny Toads. Over the course of that year, a majority of the couples were married and so the name was changed to Baby Makers. After a short time, this name also had to be retired because as it was a team of married couples most were starting to follow the name and we were running out of girls.

So far this year has been good to the team. We have won all of our games. My crowning moment was this past Thursday, I hit a home run. (Everyone tells me I should claim the home run because that is how it was scored.) It was a triple, which is still good for me, but as I made it to third base, i could hear shouts of the other team throwing the ball in. I turned just in time to see the ball flying towards my head. I had to duck but the third base player was quite a bit shorter than I am and couldn't jump high enough to make the catch. The ball flew into the dugout and out of play, which causes everyone on base to advance one placing me on home. HOME RUN!!

I guess that could make up for my crappy playing on Tuesday night's league. (Yes, we play 2 nights a week.) I have at least 4 bruises from 2 games. I guess I just need more practice.

4 long years!

Had I started blogging earlier, I would have posted this so I will do it now. The picture at top was 4 years ago on April 6th, 2006. Yes, it was snowing. It was kind of fun to go back and watch our wedding video on our anniversary. It made me realize, "It will always snow on our anniversary." I know it snowed this year as well.

What happened to spring? Our anniversary also happens to fall close to Easter most years. Again, what happened to spring?

Realizing it's been 4 years since Jake and I were married made me think. Man, I am getting old. It's been quite an adventure though; living in our first apartment, me graduating, to spending 2 weeks in Colorado with Chad and Christy, to living in Grandma Lue's basement (and having a garden), moving to our current place, Jake graduating with his bachelors, and becoming parents. (For those of you who don't know, Jake is a huge push over when it comes to Ellie.)

There are days I wonder, can I continue doing this for "FOREVER" and others I wouldn't trade it for the world. Actually, most of the time I am glad I waited and waited and waited for Jake to propose so we could be married. Most of the time I love having him around and love doing things with him. Most of the time he is a help and blessing in my life. I guess as long as it is most of the time, I can deal with the few times that it isn't. That's married life.

Here's to forever!

6 months old

Ellie is 6 months old and I cannot believe it. We had her 6 month doctors appointment today. She weighs 17 lbs 2 oz and is 26.4 inches long, that's about the 75th percentile for her age. That's quite a growth from 6 months ago when she was 6 lbs 13 oz and 21.5 inches. Unfortunately she also had to receive shots. She only cried right when the shots (3 of them) were given but stopped the minute I picked her up. The nurse used some pink camo band-aids, which Jake loved. After her mid-afternoon nap her legs were a little stiff and she had the saddest cry ever, but that only lasted about 30 minutes.

The doctor was a little surprised that Ellie doesn't blow raspberries yet and told us to watch for them (so guess what she started doing after we got home from the appointment). On the other hand the pediatrician was impressed that Ellie grabs 2 different items at the same time and will pick at things with just 2 fingers. These are 9 month skills. Ellie also tried to play peek-a-boo while the doctor was doing the examination, which was hilarious. This is her new trick and she is so proud of herself.

She is just like her mom, a non-stop talker but most people are saying more than before that she looks like her daddy. Recently she has started squealing and babbling.

She loves hanging out with her family and with Grandma Wendy and Aunt Calee's dogs. Ellie loves new adventures. She has been swimming, to the park, and almost all the malls in the valley (she loves to shop).

Ellie sits in the bathroom with me each morning while I finishing doing my hair and make-up. I would like to say it is because she likes spending time with me, but it is probably the mirrors.