CATCH UP TIME!!!

Okay, then. I'm not usually this bad about keeping up on the blog, so I'll try to get caught up here. Since my last post a LOT has happened!! Over the summer we did a lot of hiking & going to the lake, etc. We had a lot of fun & the summer was beautiful here. In September Indy & Landon started school & Dave & I celebrated our 11 year anniversary (13 years together total!). Indy turned 11 & Bodi turned 3 in October. Also in September we found out that Dave has stage 4 Lymphoma (as most of you know). The same week we found that out, we found out we are expecting baby #4! Wow, was that a rollercoaster week! Dave is doing pretty good & he is still able to work. Luckily his job has been flexible & he is able to rest when he needs to for the most part. Since he started practicing as a chiropractor in January, business has been slowly picking up, even through his cancer treatments! He is a wonderful chiropractor & his patients really like him. He has a couple months left of treatment & we are hopeful that he will be cured. Interestingly, through our trials, we have also received many blessings- we'll have a new baby in April (which truly is a blessing because we were trying to add to our family for a while but thought we had to postpone it when we found out about the cancer); we bought a new car; and we're getting ready to close on our first home!! It's been a whirlwind lately, but those of you who know us well, know that we are positive and strong. Love you all!!

4th of July

Went to stay with some friends in a cabin over the weekend. We went swimming at the clubhouse pool, the kids went tubing/rafting down a river and went for rides in the Kubota, played video games (I know, we really roughed it), and we saw a fireworks show. It was lots of fun!!

Bad, Bad Girl

Well, since moving I haven't been very good about keeping up on the blog. Here's what we've been up to in a nutshell: camping, gardening, swimming lessons, piano lessons, going to the lake, reading, etc., etc. We're loving our new home, but we didn't forget about our old one. Hello to all our Texas friends!!

Snow Days

We love being in the snow! It snowed for a while where we live now, so we played in it as much as possible. We also went up to the mountain for some sledding.

Prodigy

What can I say, the kid has talent.

Family Pics

More Gems From Landon

~ "I'm just so tired, my joints hurt." (This is when he's done playing/running around & doesn't want to do what I've asked him to. Also evidence he is a chiropractor's son.)

~ "My spine is tired." (Same as above)

~ "It evapt." (This is when something has already evaporated.)

Graduation Day

Here's Dave getting ready for the big day. This day has been a long time in the making. Dave & I started our schooling way back in 1998 when I was pregnant with Indy. We'd take a couple of classes here & there (in between working & raising our family). In 2003 we both started school full-time & as Dave's schedule got busier & our family grew, I slowly phased out of being a student. So here we are in 2008 & Dave is finally done. I'm so proud of him!


Here they were announcing the graduates one by one as they entered on the stage to take their seat for the commencement.


Dave receiving his certificate/diploma & shaking hands with the president of the school. The pic below this shows his robe, hood, cap, & gown. The history of the robe & hood dates back to the Middle Ages & were worn by scholars. The colors indicate the school where the degree was earned. Depending what doctorate degree you earn determines what the design is on the robe & sleeves.




Congratulations Dr. David Ray, DC!!!!!!!


Two of Dave's closest colleagues Joe & Colt.


Dr. and Mrs. Ray


BEFORE...getting on the airplane. We couldn't wait to get back home to see our kids!


AFTER...waiting for a long time at the airport.

Mexi-Dave

Some pics of Dave turning Mexican.

Gems of Wisdom

Gems of Wisdom from Landon:

"It smells tree-ish." (This is when you roll down the window in your car after a fresh rain)

"It's Washington out." (This is when it's pouring down rain)

"Only God, Darth Vader, and Jesus can read your mind." (He was totally serious about this)

A Good Witch, a Samurai, and Ironman

For Halloween the kids were dressed as a good witch, a samurai, and ironman. They did the typical school parties & then we went to a "trunk-or-treat" in the evening (it's where people we know get together & decorate the trunks of their cars & hand out candy to the kids- it's so much safer than going door to door). They had a blast. And yes, I have a blast dressing them up too. One of the treats they got was a little bag that included a toothbrush & toothpaste (apparently from a dentist). I told Dave he could hand out little rubbery skeletons or spines that have his name & his practice name on them. Okay, okay, that was really his idea.

Indian Summer

Traditionally, every fall we go to play in the leaves. We've had a long, beautiful, and warm fall here.

Double Digits

I can't believe my little girl is 10 already. Her birthday celebrations were spread out over a few days. She chose chili dogs & chocolate cake for her birthday dinner & dessert- which we did over the weekend so that more family members could be around & because we had more time. A few days later was her real birthday so we had pizza & went to a park (it was a school day, so there wasn't much time to do the big celebration). Her presents have still been trickling in through the mail too. What could be better than a week-long birthday celebration?!