Tuesday, August 25, 2009

It's Been Almost A Year....














































































O.K., so it has almost been a year since I last updated our blog. I am really stretching myself now, because this time I am going to attempt to add some pictures to this blog, so you all better have a look!





Alot can happen in the course of almost a year. In our case, since the last time I wrote, we drove from Charlotte, N.C. to South Jordan, Ut., Attended one more year of school (Jason, Ashley, Brady, and Aimee in preschool), Ashley got baptised, sold a home, moved into a condominium - short term, Brock broke his thumb, got a graduate degree from BYU (Jason), celebrated by driving to Southern California for a family vacation to none other than Disneyland-including a visit from Grandma and Grandpa Smart and Uncle Nate, drove back to South Jordan, Ut., had car problems, returned to S.J., diagnosed car problems, bought a newer suburban, sold the old one- just in time (yes, in that order), to drive back cross country, stopping in at Black Hills, South Dakota to see Mount Rushmore, then on to Cincinnati, Ohio. Through the course of the summer, we have seen the Zoo, Children's Museum, Clermont County Fair, spent countless hours at the community pool- with some swim lessons, taken tennis lessons (Ashley), taken golf lessons (Brady), broken an arm (Aimee), and not to leave anyone out - Brock has bumped his head to many times to count! Seriously!! Now, this is where we will reside (in Loveland a suburb of Cinci) for who knows how long, but we will enjoy it while it lasts!!






Today was Ashley's and Brady's first day of school, and first day of riding a school bus to school. They couldn't have been more excited, a big day. I love the fact that the bus stop is right in front of our house (that will be great on yucky weather days)!






Ashley is in 3rd grade and has a new teacher, Mrs. Hess, at Loveland Elementary (which comprises only 3rd and 4rth grades), she likes the fact that the teacher is new, because Ashley is new as well. Ashley reported today that her teacher was really nice! She likes the fact that she has a locker of her own (this is an older school that used to be a high school) .






Brady is in 1st grade and has Mrs. Flick (who just had a baby so, she won't be coming until after Halloween, in the interim he has Mrs. Mellet). We have been informed by numerious people that Mrs. Flick is the nicest 1st grade teacher at Loveland Early Childhood Center (a school for just kindergarten and 1st grade). Brady reported that he had a great day and enjoyed touring the school and having recess!! Doesn't surprise me.






I love to see my kids growing and doing new things and having new experiences, and starting a new school year. After having two summers in a row that were basically 4 months long each, I have to say that I am glad to see my kids back in school. I don't think I could take another day of them all (all 4 of them) at home grating on each others nerves. That is what happens when you spend that much time together.






Now, don't get me wrong, I love them, every one!! Very much, but enough is enough, it is time to move on.... so here we are the beginning of a new adventure for our little family. I will work on keeping things up to date on the blog, and keeping in touch with the loved ones better, but if I fail at it every once in a while, please forgive and know that we are always thinking of you all (and you know who you are) and missing you very much!