Babies growing up

Our little Madeline started crawling last week. I know, she was just shy of 9 months old, but Hallee was a late crawler too, so it was expected. I think all the chub has been holding her back! Not really. We do love our little chub!....Anyway, we are so excited that she's crawling now! She is a real cutie!

Hold Me Closer Tiny Dancer(s)

This week has been crazy and next week will be nuts. Here's the recap. Searching for a home. Commuting 2 hrs. each way from MD to PA. Temple is putting us on a single student's budget for the student loan eligibility. Homes we searched are out of that price range. Start a new search in ghetto homes. Walk out covered in fleas. Gold's Gym screws us over and costs us big. Fly back from NYC to ABQ on Friday--flight canceled, weather. Eat great NYC pizza. Fly out of NYC on Saturday--flight canceled, crazy guy with fake bomb wakes up too early to terrorize. Buy and read Glenn Beck's Common Sense (please read it no matter what your political view this is something that I think we the people can all agree on). Eat great burger from Shake Shack. Thanks Rich. Finally get on a plane on Sunday. Plane delayed on the runway for 1.5 hrs., weather. Weather passes, power on the plane dies. Finally flying to Dallas but get there even later because plane has to conserve gas and fly slower in order to make it to Dallas (don't fly AA). Get to ABQ.

So now I'm in ABQ to pick up the car and drive up to P Town to pick up our stuff and then drive across the country to Philly. Hopefully there is a home to take stuff to (that's Megan's job while I'm driving, I'm sure she will find something).

I've been gone for 3 days and I miss my girls! I miss Maddie's kissable cheeks. I miss Hallee giving me BIG! kisses and hugs. And I miss Megan's company. At least I have these adorable pics.

Proud American

We spent the 4th of July in Albuquerque. We were planning on spending it up in Utah because our family was having a reunion up in Park City. So on the 2nd we left San Antonio and took the long drive to Albuquerque (which was Hallee's worse trip in the car to date). By the time we got to Albuquerque we realized a few things: We didn't want to drive anymore, my family was coming back on the 5th, and I had left my camera in San Antonio (I was supposed to be the photographer at the reunion).

After realizing all of this we wished we hadn't left San Antonio so that we could be with family on the 4th. But we still had a great 4th with just our family (and Taylor who also stayed).

Albuquerque had a firework show which headlined a Blues Brothers tribute band and then had one of the best firework displays I had ever seen--it just went on forever and had several "finales." Hallee was so much fun during the concert. She was dancing, screaming, and yelling the whole time (the fun type of screaming and yelling). Here is a short clip of her at the concert.

Kiss it Better

As my wife's last post said we have been in moving limbo for the past month. All of our stuff is in storage back in Utah and we have been spending time with both of our families while we figure out where we are moving to and then find a place. She talked about the stress, but it has also been a long vacation. Seeing our families has been fun and we have been able to have some fun times with our family as well. We have been doing so many things that I will break this up into more than one post.

Out in San Antonio we had a great time at Grandma and Grandpa's. While we were there we experienced record breaking heat, which for San Antonio can be pretty hot. That made the swimming pool in the back yard even that much more enjoyable for Hallee--she absolutely loved it. Here is a video of her doing her routine. She would swim and then slide and had a blast doing it.

Megan and I got to cool off at the biggest water park in the US, and possibly the world--Schlitterbahn. The park is so cool because it is right along the river and uses river water for its rides. It is also huge, like I said, so there was a lot to do.

If that wasn't enough fun we also went to Six Flags Fiesta Texas. Have you ever seen the Wiggles? If you have, I'm sorry. Anyways there is a Wiggles part of the park where the little kids' rides are which is where we took Hallee to have her fun. We had fun with Hallee but I really wish it was anybody but the Wiggles, they kind of creep me out. After a little while Grandma and Grandpa took the kids back home so Megan and I could have some fun just the two of us. I tried a three point shooting contest basketball game hoping to win a big screen TV. I was pretty confident going in because of my mad skills but it ended up being a semi-humbling experience. I only made one shot out of twelve! I say semi-humbling because by the time we left I had made up enough excuses about how it was rigged that I felt pretty good about myself and my pride stayed in tact.

The other highlight of the trip to San Antonio I wasn't there for so I don't have too much to say about it except that the girls had a great time shopping with the Grandparents and the Great Grandparents.

Slacking

Sorry, we have totally been slacking in the blogging department...life is a bit stressful right now, and living out of a suitcase is never easy. Here's the scoop; we have been staying with our families for the past few weeks when we moved from Utah. We would be making every effort to get out to Philadelphia ASAP but there is a catch. There is a school that has us on their waiting list that we would MUCH rather go to. It's William and Mary Univ. in Williamsburg Va. The only problem is that they are currently overcommitted, leaving the chances of us being accepted there pretty slim. AND, it's possible that they wont even let us know until the week before school starts....so, do we just go to Temple and forget about W&M? Or do we wait? There is always that chance....We have decided to at least wait until around Aug 1st to see if we get any good news. If not, then all efforts will go towards Temple Univ.

The issues at hand are that we would like to buy a house instead of rent....but we have no way of knowing where that would be, Philly or W&M. We also have no incoming funds, aside from a photo session here and there that Kyle does, which we all know that finances are a stress in their own category. So.....this last week I had 4 canker sores in my mouth at the same time. I am just a tad stressed. And those that know me well, I stress out easily.... oops. :) I know that God is there and he knows what is best for us, and I think part of that is being here in this transition state for a little while, which is hard for me. But I guess if it's what I need to do, then I am doing my best to keep a positive attitude about it. Let's just say the day we hear from William and Mary will be a HUGE relief! Anyway, aside from all this, we are doing well. The girls are great and we are having fun. Maddie is getting so big and is REALLY close to crawling! Hallee is constantly mistaken for a 3 year old. She just turned 2! She just speaks and acts and looks a lot older. But both of their little personalities are just so fun! Anyway, that's it. That's what's going on. So, the motivation to blog has been quite low, with all energy and strength going towards the near future. Comments and support would be greatly appreciated and comforting! :)

Fathers

So, I know it's way past father's day....but life is just a tad busy for us right now, so oh well. While we have been here in San Antonio, I have been thinking about a few of these things ever since Father's day....I just want to let Kyle know how proud I am of him and everything he does for me and our girls. I honestly could not ask for a better father for my children.

He is so calm, peaceful, and fun with our kids.

He never looses his temper with them.

He occasionally sheds a tear just watching them.

He adores them.

He changes their diapers when I just can't stand it.

He wakes up with them in the morning so I can sleep just a little longer.

He lets them(well, Hallee) jump all over him and scratch him.

He reads to them.

He teaches them.

He prays with them.

He loves them.

There is so much more that I am thankful for that he does for me and our kids.

This is the only one I have of all 3 of them....oh well

I am also grateful for my own father. When I think about my life growing up and who he was to me as a father I think of peace, love, humility, comfort, spiritual strength, knowledge, and support. Anytime I was going through something rough, or even when I was upset at him, he would always just give me a hug and love me. Thank you dad for being who you are. And thank you for being a fun grandpa too!

Anthony's Song

If you understand the title I like your style. We moved out of our home in Provo this past Monday. It seems so strange that we are actually moving on because Provo has been our home for so long and since all of our things are in storage and we are just visiting our families it kind of feels like we are just on vacation. The plan is to visit family, find place to live out in Philly, and then move all our things out east.

Since Monday we have been in Albuquerque and it has been relaxing. With so many helpers around we have been able to relax while others watch the girls. We also were able to get out and see Star Trek the other night on the fly. There is no way back at home that we could have decided on the spot to just go to a movie that started in ten minutes (one of the luxuries that you give up as a parent).

As we were getting ready to visit Albuquerque and San Antonio we have been setting up some photo shoots. I was excited because it would mean income and a great chance to take pictures in new locations. The only problem is that this turned out to be a busy week for some of the people here in Albuquerque. So I had a couple sessions fall through, or at least be postponed, and thought that I would take some pictures anyways. It's a good thing I have two beautiful daughters. I took these in front of my parents' home and also at the botanical gardens. We went to the botanical gardens and the aquarium which yesterday which was fun. The aquarium here is much better than the one up in Sandy. There was a blow fish that was the size of something that is probably four feet long and two feet wide, and it wasn't even blown up!

My sister Michelle.

Camy and Maddie.

Lizzie fishing for peoples' wishes.

Keoki.