Practice

Eric got me a new camera over a year ago and I am now just starting to learn how to shoot with it manually. Baby food mustache- Andrew has the sweetest, cheesy grin.

Graham Cracker Goatee

Tanner ran out of paper

Mr. Potato Head- Trav can play with Mr. Potato Heads for hours.

Aubs and Tann Pixie Stix

How Tanner was sleeping last night when we went in to check on the boys. That can't be comfortable. Travis has undone his onesie and his one-piece pjs and had pulled off his diaper. He was completely asleep, just holding his diaper. We are going to have to start using safety pins.

Crap!

"Dad! Hurry! Travis' face is covered with poop!" Tanner

What we found when we came into the boys room this morning. I thought this needed its own post, even though I just posted yesterday.

We sure love our Dad!

Aubs finished preschool the same week that Eric finished and I just found these pictures that I had forgot to post. She enjoyed preschool once she got there, but it wasn't the easiest thing to get her there everyday. Her teachers couldn't believe she still has another year before she starts kindergarten.

It is finally getting warmer. I can't believe how cold and rainy this spring has been. Today, it got over 80 degrees and the kids played outside all the time they weren't eating and sleeping. Eric put their slide into their swimming pool and they were in heaven. Tanner especially loves playing in the water no matter how freezing cold it is.

Travis is a funny boy. The kids grabbed some of their gloves to help Eric weed and work on the yard. Trav ended up wearing his mittens for a long time. He had Eric and I laughing when he dropped his graham cracker and was trying to pick it up without taking his mittens off.

It is so great to have Eric around. They still aren't used having him home, and will go up and give him hugs or just say, "Hi, Dad." It is really cute. We had a great Father's Day in Wenatchee. Eric is such an awesome Dad and I am so grateful for the kind of Dad that he is. He is so patient and loving with the kids. While Eric was mowing the lawn Trav just wanted to hold his hand. It doesn't get much cuter than the picture above.

Andrew is such a sweet boy! He is so even tempered and such a good baby. You can see his two teeth that have come in and he has a few more that are close. He loves to eat, especially his solid foods. Whenever he is eating his hands are constantly moving and shaking, showing his excitement.

When I feed him he likes to hold a spoon and help me feed him.

Travis wants to be like Eric. Whenever he sees Eric wear a hat, he has to wear one. He is wearing Andrew's sweatshirt in this picture. I don't know why. He looks like a thug.

Eric's hat

Eric's hat and glasses.

Love this picture of the kids all playing nice together.

Travis with his Toy Story/Woody hat. Trav is going through the stage of taking off his pjs every night after we put him to bed. One night, Eric went to check on him and he was standing there with all his clothes and diaper in his hands. We make sure he has a onesie on now. As soon as he wakes up in the morning he puts them back on. He must just be too warm.

We celebrated Aubree's "Anniversary" this last week. We celebrate the day the kids were each sealed to us. She has been so excited for it for so long, asking me all the time how much longer. Everyone she saw that day, she told them it was her anniversary. It is so cute to listen to her explain what her anniversary is. We are so grateful for our little Aubs. She is such an awesome and special girl. I love her smile!

These two are so funny. They love each other so much. Tanner sure looks up to his sister and would rather play with her than anyone else.

Eric started his 4 week clinical rotation (RUOP) in Colville last week. They have a 2-bedroom furnished apartment for our family. The kids room has two queen beds and kids loved it. They had so much fun playing and jumping that they woke up pretty tired the next morning.

Eric has really enjoyed the RUOP so far. He has been able to apply a lot of was he has learned and has been able to give lots of injections (he is a pro!) and get other good experience.

Cute Tann in his very own bed. When we were in Wenatchee this last weekend a primary teacher came up to Tanner and said, "I know your name, it's on the tip of my tongue." Tanner looked at her and said, "Oh, I see it!" Tanner is so full of personality.

Andrew's cute smile.

Once a week we head out to my Mom's and meet my sister's family there. My Mom has all of this Polly Pocket stuff with tons of accessories. Aubree, Claire and Leah (cousins) put together furnished houses and cities together. It is so cute. Aubree is going to go through withdrawals from her buddies. When we were in Wenatchee, some friends were over and Tanner said a potty word. Aubree told him he shouldn't say potty words and then turned to the friends and apologized for Tanner's potty words and said, "My cousin's brother says potty words too." Funny girl.

Claire and Aubs cheesing it, with Andrew.

One Year Down!

Wednesday was Eric's last day of his first year of dental school. He started August 10th and finished June 9th. He went almost exactly 10 months straight. We are so proud of his hard work. We made him signs that I didn't get pictures of and made him a cake to celebrate. The picture above was taken on Eric's last day and the one below was taken his first day. It is fun to see how life has changed. When we started, in August, we were approved for adoption. Now, 10 months later we have an eight month old and I'm almost 6 months pregnant. Kind of crazy!

1st Day!

I'm posting this picture cause it is classic. Travis did not want to stop whatever he was doing to take a picture. Tanner is playing with Andrew and Aubs has an awesome cheese face. This is life and I love it!

All of the rest of these pictures were given to us on a CD and were taken by the RIDE programs tech guy. The picture above is from Eric's orientation. He is shaking Ron's (2nd year student) hand, who we were friends with back in our Pullman days.

I just thought Eric looked HOTT in this pic.

2013 RIDE group. These are the 8 students who did their first year here in Spokane. Eric loved his time here and his classmates.

The summer we got married Eric was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis. He has taken pills daily since, and has had a few outbreaks since that time. Around the time we found out I was pregnant, Eric started having a lot of pain and tried getting into the doctors. It took way too long (7 weeks) for him to finally see a doctor and get a colonoscopy scheduled, and when they did, they found his colitis had gone from moderate to severe, which explained his intense pain and weight loss. With this being his 3rd bad outbreak since he was diagnosed, they decided to try a new medicine that is taken intravenously, along with an immunosuppressant corticosteroid called Prednisone that has some hard side effects (retaining water, sleeplessness, difficulty focusing, acne, blurred vision). Even with all he had going on, he hung in there and made it through. Anyways, I am so grateful for Eric and his good attitude and hard work even with feeling like crap all of the time. He has had tons on his plate with our little family and his health, and he has still done so well this year. We are so proud and thankful for him.

Some crown preps.

Official Dental School Pic.

Eric took 88 credits his first year.

I was going to figure out how many hours that he studied, but that would take too long. He studied 12-17 hours/day on average (more around tests).

Eric figured out that he took around 55 exams and 85 quizzes.

No wonder this year has been stressful!

It was so nice to be able to get our first year done here. It was so nice to be close to family and so much help from my Mom.

Eric starts a 4 week clinical rotation tomorrow in Colville called a RUOP. He will being doing four 10 hour days and then we will have him for three day weekends. It has been heaven! having Eric around for the last four days. I took Aubree on a date the other day and we were talking about how wonderful Eric is and she said she wished he had taken her on the date instead of me. I know she loves me, she just loves to have her Dad around.

It is so cool to see pictures of Eric experiencing dentistry.

Happy 7 Years!!!

Eric and I celebrate our 7 year anniversary today! I am so grateful for Eric and couldn't imagine my life without him. He is my best friend and I am so excited to see what the next 7 years bless us with. For Christmas, I made Eric a video about his life. I scanned pics from when he was a baby till now. Anyways, this video I made just for our anniversary. Happy Anniversary Eric!

Superman!

I got a superman costume at a garage sale that Trav and Tanner love to wear. Travis runs around the house saying, "Superman!."

After a bath, Trav decided to finish his dinner.

Eric's brother, Brandon, had his birthday this week and we celebrated with him. The kids sure LOVE their uncle Brandon.

Andrew's classic staring face. He is such a nice boy! Andrew finally broke through his bottom two teeth. He is now our latest teether.

Eric's sister and family moved to Montana last week and we had Aubree's cousin, Carly come and sleep over before she left. Aubree was in heaven! They love playing together and are about as girly as you can get.

We got the kids donuts for the morning.

Eric finishes his first year of dental school on Wednesday. He has five more finals from now till then. We are so excited to have Eric around again. Andrew still looks at Eric very suspicious since he only spends much time with him on Sundays. Andrew isn't awake when Eric leaves and is already in bed when he gets home. I am now almost 24 weeks and I'm feeling good.