Isabelle videos

Ok I originally intended on posting several videos I just taped of Isabelle, and maybe I will get to that later this week, but for now, enjoy "Wheels on the Bus!"

"Less than a year"

Let me just brag about my wonderful husband for a moment. I am so proud of what he has accomplished with school. He started college in 2000 with an eye on the health-care field and that was it. We were dating and he had just moved to Utah and jumped right into school. With school credits from the BYU extension center, Salt Lake Community College, and the U of U-he finished his general education probably 5 years later. Then it was down to "what do I do?" He looked into occupational therapy, radiology, health education, pretty much everything under the bachelor-roof except nursing. After a few semesters in a few different areas, nothing clicked, but then nursing came into play. He knew the options around the Wasatch front were slim-pickings and with his jobs always in the way of any volunteer experience for applying, he knew it would be a far reach. So he took that far reach and applied for the SLCC Nursing program-didn't happen. Then it was onto a program sponsored by his job with IHC-didn't happen. Three times' a charm I guess... I still can remember the day he and I read his acceptance letter to the very competitive Nursing program at the U of U. We have never hugged tighter or yelled louder. It was such a great feeling!!!! Now he's nearing the end of the tunnel, ending with Graduation in 2009 with his Bachelors in Nursing. I am so proud of him for not giving up when many doors were closed along the way. I can't wait for what's in store next year!!!!!!!!!!

Oh yeah, and did I mention that somehow in the middle of all this he became the craziest feather-wearing-warrior-Ute-Fan published in Urban Meyer's "Urban Legend" book? He's the fan that the U "loves to hate!"

"DADDY BIRR-DAY!"

Hi everyone! Aaron's birthday came and went last week-along with school and Labor Day weekend so I'm now finally blogging it. We didn't get the classiest photos for it, but we did document it. In July, Isabelle wasn't very interested in candles when her 2nd birthday came and went. But as you can see from the expression on her face in this birthday photo, she couldn't contain her excitement over Daddy's bonfire of candles-I insisted on the correct number of candles!!!!! Aaron had a good birthday-although he was in class for most of it. I gave him a new fly-box for all his little flies he catches fish with-then he tested it out the next day on the Weber River with my brother Dave. He also got to spend some time with Adam the week prior when he visited from Oregon. As Isabelle says: "Happy Birr-dayyyyy!!!!" We love you Aaron!




Isabelle "in action" finishing her "BIRRR-DAYYYYYYYYYYYY" exclamation!

I guess this is a really-big-deal fish that Aaron caught. For more on his fishing adventures, visit his fish blog- http://www.troutunlimited.blogspot.com/

awwww how cute, the twinners!

Gazebo Recital 2008

Tonight was my 8th annual Gazebo Recital for my violin students. I had 29 students participate and about 6 or 7 that couldn't come this year. This recital is always so rewarding, but always a lot of work trying to prepare the students between all their summer commitments, camps, vacations, and un-structured schedules. Even with all of their other things though, I felt good about their preparation and it's a fun recital with mostly fiddle tunes and a few Suzuki pieces mixed in here and there. We always have the families bring a big pot-luck dinner and this year I also gave them practice-point-prizes for summer practicing! Now my work schedule goes back to teaching early morning before kids go to school (7am!!), and late afternoons after school. These students work very hard for these recitals and it pays off!! I'm very lucky to have such awesome students and I look forward to this event all year! Bring on 2009!

Why does summer have to end?

I can't believe summer is almost over. This has been one of the most fun summers for Aaron and I for lots of reasons-and if you want to be bored with the "many blessings" list, read on:
1. I'm not in school, always so grateful for that
2. Aaron is IN nursing school, not waiting for a response, or un-sure of his pre-req's, he's IN it!
3. He's almost done, next summer should be even sweeter!
4. Isabelle is a happy, healthy 2 year old, and has kept this summer really busy, but really fun!
5. We are in a home of our own, such a dream come true.
6. We've had a few road trips together-Island Park, Jackson Hole, Aaron took a fishing trip with Adam, and holidays as well to celebrate.
7. We had 3 of Aaron's brothers come to visit at different times this summer: Adam, James & family, and Eric & family!
8. Having a backyard for a 2 year old is so sweet!
9. We both have good jobs that are paying the bills and keeping us in good hands.
10. After almost 7 years of marriage, we are still madly in love!!!!!!!!!!!

Isabelle turns 2!

How do you get good pictures of a 2 year old? I swear it's impossible!

Happy Birthday Isabelle!!!!

It's official, we have a 2 year old. She has filled our lives with so much joy I can't imagine life without her. She is so full of life, smiles, kisses, energy, love, and personality. We are so proud of her!



When we ask Izzy how old she is, she said "two" then gives her hand to us to make the "two" sign with her fingers. She's such a cutie!
We enjoyed some family over in our backyard for some cake & icecream!
Isabelle admiring her adorable birthday card from Grandma Norton!
Isabelle getting acquainted -kisses!-with her newest baby-one that comes with a "ponny" (potty), crib, and dress up clothes! The crib in inside a great new toy chest Izzy can roll around the entire house from Grandma Kunz!

Making her grand entrance to the party!

Happy Indepedence Day 2008!

We were in Jackson Hole over the 4th of July and watched fireworks there. Here's Isabelle in her little patriotic gear thanks to one of our good friends, Jenny VanOrden-thank you!



She's got a little bit of a farmer tan to go with all her smiles!

Jackson Hole 2008

For the first week of July, we headed north...again. This time to Jackson Hole, WY. We had a great time!! Isabelle slept really really well in the port-o-crib in the tent which was a big gamble, but I think we wore her out enough every day so she was super tired at night. We camped on the Boy Scout property. My older brother Dave is the Director at the camp this year so we had fun spending time with his family and his wife's family who also made a visit. We went to the Snow King Resort Alpine Slide, Bar-J Chuckwagon Dinner & Show, Jenny Lake Hike & Ferry ride, Granite Falls Hike, downtown Jackson Hole, Aaron got some fishing on the Snake with Dave, and we had an absolutely great time! Holly was a trooper to do all the hikes all the while being 9 months pregnant and we just heard word that she had her baby on July 9th-all the hikes paid off! Welcome baby cousin Samuel!

Isabelle enjoying one of her favorite summer-time foods, watermelon!
Isabelle and Daddy having a great time together.
The fam in Jackson Hole square.
Some of those antler are bigger than her!

A big smile on my face after we reache the Jenny Lake Hike "descent."
The hike was long for a toddler trapped in a hike-pack. Luckily the "bink & blank" kept her happy for most of it.
Blondies on the Jenny Lake Ferry Boat ride.
Cuddle time on the boat-Isabelle sat like this on Aaron for a while, it was so precious!
Beautiful Teton National Park!

Snow King Resort Alpine Slide
All this for 2 adults and one toddler-hardly any room for anything else!
Granite Falls Waterfall-the water was super high this year, so we couldn't get very close to it, it was way loud and raging!

Beautiful Jenny Lake-we did this on the 4th of July which was a perfect overcast day for a hike!
Again, raging waterfalls throughout our journey!

ISSI

Intermountain Suzuki String Institute-this has been something in my life since I can remember. Every June since I was a child (minus 1 or 2 years for a family wedding and a vacation) I've attended this institute. The Institute celebrated it's 30 year anniversary this year. First as a student, then a teacher trainee, and now faculty, this institute has truley enriched my life for many many years. It's been so much fun to see my own students enjoy their experience there as I did as a young violinist. I look forward to the world of Suzuki it brings to Utah every year with it's world-class faculty. Aaron was a great stay-at-home-Dad during the week and still squeezed in some weekend 12 hour shifts. I was so busy teaching computer music theory classes all week that I didn't take any photos-sorry-kind of a boring post-but it completely consumed me for a week so I had to blog about it!

Summer time continues...

This summer has been so much fun with Isabelle. She interacts and talks so much more than last summer. We love having a backyard for extra running and playing space for Izzy. I don't know what I would do without one! We feel so blessed to be in our home this summer-it's really paying off!

Kisses! Isabelle and her 10-month younger cousin Katelin Norton. We had a chance for them to get together while her family visited Utah. They were partners in crime chasing & playing together.
Katelin is such a doll-we enjoyed seeing how much she's grown since we saw her during the holiday season!

Can't get much better than this, clean from baths, jammies, binkees, and best buds-we had a great time together!

Island Park 2008

We headed north to Island Park, ID for a weekend camping trip with our friends Adam & Eleisha Rudd and their family. We had a lot of fun and we had a great time spending time with friends we haven't seen for a long time since they moved to Idaho. Adam Rudd & Aaron served their missions together in Guatemala. While we were there we visited West Yellowstone, Mesa Falls & kept toddlers entertained! Thanks Rudds!

Iz-izms

Isabelle is a true toddler. I can't believe in a month she'll be officially 2 years old, it really has flown by! She and I have had a lot of fun lately with the warmer weather exploring nearby attractions, here's a picture-diary of our adventures so far, I'm sure they'll be revisited all summer!



I managed to get her on the moon, and gravity did not phase her, it was out of this world!

I tamed a wild cat and her cub to allow Isabelle the ride of her life!
I introduced Izzy to a gentle giant who lives not far from our house, he wasn't very friendly.

Isabelle's usual partner in crime, James, they are two toe-head toddlers indeed.

We found a goat smaller than Izzy! For Izzy it was love at first sight, more than you'll ever know.
Isabelle's first pony ride on "Honey." She's a champion rider already!

I think this is the first photo I've gotten of her smiling and looking straight at me (close up), needless to say she's almost out of the shot, but I captured her cute smile-and the bunny's that encouraged it-she's a spitting image of Aaron in this shot.
I thought Izzy should learn early how to use a wash bin early, she was a natural.

We are looking forward to a camping trip this weekend with some friends in Idaho, we'll post any photos afterwards. Next week I (Amy) am teaching music theory at the Suzuki Institute all week-www.intermountainsuzukistringinstitute.com-it's a great week for me, but also tiring. Then the following week Aaron's brother and his family are vacationing nearby so we'll visit with them at their time-share. Then the following week we are off to Jackson Hole for the 4th of July, fishing, camping, family and fun! I'll blog between adventures...happy summer everyone!