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.

What's Happening In Our Neck of The Woods

So it might seem that this is a surprise, but we are pregnant with our third baby and just found out that it is a boy. I know I haven't written much about this on our blog, but I think I was in denial for a little while. Now, we are excited. I knew that it was a boy for a long time. I remember the day we came home from the hospital with Elise I told Justin that I thought we would have a boy next. Dallin is really excited for a brother. We took Dallin and Elise to the ultrasound. They both did extremely well. Dallin thought that it was so amazing to see the baby's heart beating and the hands and feet move. After the ultrasound he kept on saying how cool it was to see the ultrasound. Elise just kept on saying "baby". I am glad that they both got to see the baby, now the idea of having a baby seems more real to all of us. Well, it will be fun to have three, but I do get a little tired thinking about it.

Our crazy little girl

Elise is definitely getting into her terrible two's; tantrums, curiosity, and messes. If I turn around for one second Elise is getting into something new. This week, she wrote on our walls and couches with a pen, emptied out our silverware drawer and drew all over her face with my makeup. Good thing we know about the magic eraser and Aqua Net. Aqua Net hairspray gets rid of pen marks quite easily. However, it is no fun having to clean all of the time. Sometimes I have to laugh, because Elise is so funny. She seems like such an innocent little girl, but who would have guessed. We love her anyway and hope that this stage doesn't last forever.

Golf Season

Entry by Justin: So it's finally that time of the year. I haven't had much of a chance to get out and play golf yet, but I did manage to take Dallin to the driving range. We had a blast, and I'm happy to report that he did not spend his time eating or rolling in the grass as I would have been doing at his age. Instead, he was busting some 35 yard drives!!! Not exactly a Tiger Woods, but I must say that he's already much better than I was at his age. The good thing is that he had a blast. I tried not to give him too much instruction because I wanted him to just have fun his first time out. I think it worked, and soon we'll start working on his game.... if we get a chance to play again before my bar study begins.

Finding Joy in The Little Things

I decided that since my last post was so sad, we needed to have a happy post. I have been thinking a lot since General Conference about the small moments in Motherhood that bring me joy. Sometimes I like to post on my blog a big or exciting event that happened in our family's lives, but I have come to realize that it is the small every day things that bring us joy. I wanted to write down some of our small every day things that bring us joy and that make me smile.