Swim Lessons for Dallin and Swimming for All

Dallin has loved his Swim lessons this Summer. He passed all three levels this Summer and was very proud of himself. Of course, we have a swimming pool in our backyard here in Utah so Dallin has swam almost every day. He has gotten really good. He can swim across the pool and I must say I am extremely happy at the progress that he has made this Summer. He is such a good swimmer and has been since he was very little. I guess it helps that both of his parents were lifeguards and swim teachers. We are definately a water-loving family. Elise has been loving the water as well. She still gets a little scared of floating by herself but she has loved blowing bubbles and kicking her feet. Dallin loves to pretend that he is her swim teacher and he has her do Motor Boat and Ring around the Rosies. She loves this. She is a little jealous while Dallin is at his swimming lessons though because her and Mommy just have to wait on the side of the pool. I can't wait until she is 3 years old so that she can be in swimming lessons. Life is so hard when you have an older brother that gets to do all of the fun stuff.

Elise Turns 2 Years Old!!!

Hello Utah

We arrived in Utah on May 31, 2008. The drive was super long and we barely missed a tornado that hit Nebraska. But we made it safe and sound. Now Justin is busy studying for the Bar exam so I am busy keeping Dallin and Elise busy. Dallin is in swimming lessons every day. That is fun. But, we still find the days to be long.
We started doing an activity with each letter every day. Elise loves to use glue and Dallin loves to do art projects. It has been pretty fun.
We have been going to Thanksgiving Point where Dallin and Elise love to visit Farm Country. They love feeding the chickens and goats but most of all they love the pony rides. We just went to Dairy Days last Friday where Dallin and Elise made homemade ice cream and butter. It was pretty exciting. So, that is what we have been doing in Utah. Dallin asked me the other day, "Mommy how do you make friends?" I was a little sad but I am glad that he wants to find friends. In Iowa we didn't really need to do much more than step outside of our house and Dallin always had someone to play with. So we are adjusting, hopefully, we will soon be settled down for a while.

Goodbye Iowa

I just wanted to post some pictures of all our dear friends that we left behind in Iowa. It is so sad that we have to move on, Dallin loved his friends so much. He sure misses them and asks for them every day. We miss our friends also. I sure miss the days of sitting out back behind our apartments with everyone and watching the kids run around. Justin sure misses his law buddies. But, I guess that is life.

CONGRATULATIONS JUSTIN!!

We are so excited to announce that the great Justin Vance has just graduated from Law School!!! It is so crazy to think that 10 years ago Justin and I first met when we had just graduated from high school. We have come a long way in 10 years since high school. I am so glad that Justin and I have gotten to do all of this together. When we first got married some thought that Justin should have a career and be done with school before getting married. But, it has been so much fun to do this together. I don't know if it has been easier, but worth it. I wouldn't trade these past 10 years for anything in the world. We have grown so much together and have 2 kids now and a 3rd on the way. It is so crazy to see how things happen. Ever since we first met Justin knew he wanted to go to law school. It seemed so far away 10 years ago when we were just barely starting college and figuring out what we wanted to Major in. Now we're here and I can say that it went by so fast. We'll see how it goes from here on out. We have never known what it is like to not be in school. So we are excited to see what the real world is like. We are so proud of Justin and can't wait for the future.

Good-Bye Nauvoo

We are so sad to leave our beloved Nauvoo. When we found out that Nauvoo was so close to Iowa City and that this would be our temple while we were here, Justin and I were so excited to come to Iowa. We have been to Nauvoo many times since we got here 3 years ago. We have loved being so close. We have felt so close to our pioneer ancestors while we have been here. That is why we thought it would be fun to dress up like them. Dallin and Elise had so much fun pretending to be pioneers. We even rode on a wagon pulled by oxen. But, I think most of all we will miss the beautiful Nauvoo temple. It is so wonderful to see the temple overlooking the Mississippi river and think of the pioneers crossing the river in mid-winter. We now know how cold it gets here and feel so much closer and more sympathetic for them. We drove to the Mississippi river in Nauvoo in the middle of the winter and Justin got out and stepped on the ice that coated the river. It was so crazy to see that the river could be frozen solid. We will miss Nauvoo.

Time for Graduation

Congratulations to Dallin for graduating from a long, hard year of Joy School. It was so much fun! Dallin was really excited because his Daddy will be graduating from Law School on Saturday. We are so happy that we did Joy School this year. We usually drop his Daddy off at school every morning and Justin gives everyone a kiss and then gives everyone a high five. Dallin wanted to do the same thing when he would get dropped off for Joy School, he would give his Mom and Elise a kiss and then a high five. Then he asked me (his mom) to let him walk to the door all by himself because that is what his Daddy does. Of course he didn't want his Mom walking him to the door. I really enjoyed being involved in the lessons and reading them. It was really fun for me also, and I learned a lot. For their graduation we had a little party and Rachelle Guymon made them little hats and diplomas. Hoorah for Joy school!! However, I think having only four kids in joy school was a great idea. So now all that we have to do is finish packing and have Justin's graduation.