Dragon Con

Cheryl told me it was my turn to write a post, and she recommended I write about our family trip to the Dragon Con parade (Dragon Con is a gigantic convention for the video game/science fiction/fantasy book/comic book crowd).  A picture is worth a thousand words, so as I calculate it, this is a 11,061 word post. Enjoy!

Daddy and Matthias having fun.  Wish we would have got a picture with the whole family.

For those of you who are Dr. Who fans, I think you will know who this is.

Found him!

Our good friend Scott Goates and his son James.

Thor has been slacking off in the weight room.

"Robot" on wheels.

First day of school

Lizzy started "school" at the Lanette Suttles Child Development Center at Georgia State University at the beginning of July.  It was a little bit of transition, but now she loves her school and is happy to come with mommy in the morning.  She is officially a panther.  :)

Lizzy and the GSU Panther

 Matthias started school on August first.  It was hard for him to be at home when Lizzy was at school.  He really missed his sister and they would give each other big hugs at the end of the day.  He is so happy to be back in school and loves his teacher Ms. Gabriel.

Matthias in school at his "meet the teacher" night.

First day of school!  So happy to be there.

First homework.  Had to draw the "Wheels on the Bus."

Grandma and Grandpa Lewis and Uncle Paul came to town

Grandma and Grandpa Lewis and Uncle Paul came to visit us in Atlanta.  It was so much fun to have them visit us.  On their first day they watched Matthias and Lizzy all day so that Josh and I could get somethings done.  This means that the kids had a great day and spent some fun time at the Children's Museum of Atlanta.

Too much fun with Grandma

We were able to join them at the zoo the next day.  The kids loved seeing the animals and it was fun to enjoy a relaxing visit with family.

Flamingo creature powers

The Lewis' also treated us to a Braves game.  I don't think I've been to a baseball game since I won Angel's tickets in grade school.  So much fun.

Highlights for Matthias and Lizzy:

Eating ice cream (and simultaneously kissing Uncle Paul).

Swimming and Grandma and Grandpa's pool

Giving Uncle Paul piggy back rides

Matthias' birthday

Matthias is now four (he adds, almost five!).  He was able to celebrate his birthday a number of times.  We had a small birthday celebration for both Lizzy and Matthias at the end of June while Uncle Paul, and Grandma and Grandpa Lewis were visiting us in Atlanta.  We played at the park with friends, blew bubbles, and ate pizza and cupcakes.  It was a fun little celebration and we were so glad to have close friends spend time with us.

Mmm.. frosting, my favorite!

Matthias and Lizzy's joint birthday party.  Lizzy with her friend Roz.

Matthias spent his actual birthday at Grandma and Grandpa Garn's house.  He was able to go boating, jump on the tramp, and run around their huge backyard. He had requested a 'hulk, dragon, tyrannosaurus rex cake.'  I wasn't sure how to make that happen, so we ended up with a green (for hulk) T-rex cake.  He was very happy with it.

Matthias' dad designed this cake.

Loving the t-rex cake with chocolate ice cream.

Can't get over this silly face.  What a great four year old.

USA Road Trip Vacation

Josh and I decided that it had been too long since we had seen so many of our family members.  Our schedules are so crazy (particularly with my clinical rotations) that we weren't sure we were going to find time.  We were so pleased to see that we could sneak away for the first week in July.  It was a whirlwind vacation and it was so fun to see everyone.

We left on a Friday night and drove straight from Atlanta to Albuquerque, NM to visit Jared and Richelle.  It was such a long drive, but we were so happy to be able to be able to stop in New Mexico.  My kids went crazy once we arrived (running around everywhere--sorry, Jared and Richelle!).  We were able to have dinner with them in their beautiful home and attend church with them the next day.

From there, we drove up to Provo, Utah to see Christian and Alicia.  We were so happy driving into Utah and return to our old stomping grounds (The Drapers live in the same apartment Josh and I lived in while attending BYU as married students).  It was fun to talk with Leeshy and Christian.

On Monday, we were able to meet up with Matthias' birthmom.  It's always so wonderful to see her and hear how well she is doing.  Matthias is always so happy to see her and always tells us that he loves her.  We were so happy that this worked out so well.

Matthias looks so much like his birthmom.  So cute!

Spiderman had fun playing at Kirsti's park

From there we stopped in to see Jess and Isaac in SLC, Utah.  Their little baby Matthew is sure a cutie.  They were so nice to watch our crazy kids for the afternoon as Josh and I cleaned our condo.  Josh was also able to do some networking at the University of Utah.  Jess and Isaac also made us a delicious dinner. (You guys are too good to us!)

Although it was late, we were also able to stop and see Grandma Garn in Treemonton, Utah.  She was so nice to welcome us in even though it was late.  Lizzy and her Great-Grandma Garn played ball for a bit--it was so cute and Lizzy loved it!

So happy we got to spend time with Great-Grandma Garn.

Playing ball with Great-Grandma Garn

We were then able to spend Tuesday through Friday afternoon in Burley, ID with Josh's family.  It is always so wonderful to visit them.  We were able to go boating, go on walks, watch movies, eat good food, celebrate Matthias' birthday, watch the fireworks, and do so many more fun things.  Jess and  Isaac, and Shay and Skyler were also able to come spend time with us while we were there.  Josh and I had planned to work on research stuff a little while we were there, but we just had too much fun and enjoyed the break from working.  It is so nice to go home and be with family.

Matthias getting his teeth cleaned.

Lizzy's turn

Four wheeling around the yard

Ring around the rosies on the trampoline.

Catching some unexpected air

Much better

This is how you are supposed to catch air.

Waiting for fireworks to start.  Lizzy was scared before the show even started!

On Friday we drove to spend time with Grandma and Grandpa Teichert.  It was so nice to see them and hear how they are doing.  They made us a delicious meal and the kids were able to go with Josh's cousins to feed the calves.  Lizzy saw one of their horses and started bouncing in my arms and yelling, "Hi horsey!!  I LOVE YOU!"  She was so excited to see an actual horse.  We love visiting Cokeville and wish we could have been there for the July 24 celebration and hope that we will be able to make it sometime in the future.

So fun to see Grandma and Grandpa "Tiger"

Good travelers having fun in their 'fort.'

Tired travelers.  YAY for sleeping in the car.

Early sun rise on the way to IL.

We then drove through the night and the next day to Peoria, IL to visit Sheri and Tyler and family.  They were so nice to let us stay with them.  Matthias and Lizzy loved playing in their backyard with cousins.  Matthias still asks about Karissa, Kayden, and  Kal.  After attending church with them the next day, we drove the rest of the way home.

It was such a wonderful vacation and far too short.  We wish we could have spent more time with each family member and that we could have included more family members.  Can't wait to see everyone again--hopefully sometime soon.