Summer Fun 2016

 I just wanted to write up a few memories from Summer 2016 so that they are not forgotten.

At the end of May we celebrated Lizzy's 5th birthday with lots of friends.  She wanted a Cinderella themed party, so we did a lot of blue themed things and then just let all of the friends play together in our front yard.  We had bubbles, sidewalk chalk, and music.  Lizzy was very happy with how it turned out.

The extended Garn Family reunion was at Harris Pond.  We enjoyed spending time with family and all of the water activities.

In June, Matthias had his tonsils out.  He used to snore like crazy and we were worried about sleep apnea.  I was anxious to have him go through surgery, but the hospital and nurses did a great job explaining what was going to happen and making him feel comfortable.  They even gave him a little "buddy" doll that was also wearing a hospital gown.  The first picture shows Matthias drawing his face on the doll.

 After surgery he was a bit groggy, but happy to see us and to hug his tigey.  He was also very happy to have slushy after surgery.  For the first couple of nights afterwards I would go into his room to make sure he was still breathing while sleeping because he was now so silent!

 As a joint birthday gift, the kids received an XBox and a couple of games.  Here they are trying out the dancing game.  We also have several other games and the kids have loved having this.

And later in the Summer, Grandma and Grandpa Lewis came and danced with us!

Matthias also celebrated his 7th birthday with a soccer theme.  We went to the park to play soccer with friends and eat cupcakes.  Josh even got out there and played with all of the kids.  It was a great day.

Throughout the summer we did some camping in Southern Utah, learned to rock climb in Rock Canyon and spent a lot of time together.

DEFENDED!

At the beginning of March (after a couple of all-nighters), I submitted my dissertation to my committee.  Josh and I flew to Atlanta two weeks later.  On Tuesday, March 22, I had my dissertation defense.  I gave a 20 minute presentation and then the committee asked me a bunch of questions.  Josh even asked a question about my results--my committee thought this was hilarious and amazing.  I answered questions for about an hour and fifteen minutes.  I was able to answer pretty much all of their questions and had a good discussion.  Near the end of the question time I started checking people's watches to see what time it was and thinking "I'm so tired, can we be done yet?"  Luckily, they excused me a few minutes later so the committee could meet and discuss my performance.  

I walked back into the room and they told me congratulations, because I PASSED!  It was such a relief.  And one of my committee members said "congrats, Dr. Garn."

Successful!

After I successfully passed, Josh took me to the Sun Dial restaurant in Atlanta to celebrate.  I loved Atlanta way more at that point then I ever have before.  :)

Yay! Time to celebrate.

The view from the restaurant.

Soccer 2016

Both kids are in soccer this year.  Lizzy was excited to start doing this with her brother this year (since his first year was last year).

Lizzy is in a preschool group with boys and girls.  Her team has a 15 minute practice and she enjoys kicking balls with friends and kicking goals.  She also loves playing in the games so that she can wave at and blow kisses at mom.  Even with all of that, her favorite part is the snack at the end of the game.

Dribbling during practice

Dancing during the game. 

Matthias is in a first and second grade group.  His group plays a game for about an hour.  He's getting better getting into the group and trying to get the ball away and has even dribbled the ball down the field a little.  He's learning about soccer positions and is working hard.  He's also starting to trash talk when his team scores.

Matthias running to steal the ball from his friend Liam.

Getting ready to kick the ball.

It's really fun to watch these two try to figure out how to play soccer and be on a team.

Merry Christmas 2015

2015 has been an eventful and happy year for the Garn family.

Elizabeth 

  

• Completed preschool at Holy Trinity Parish Preschool.  We loved her school and her teachers.  She learned some wonderful things at school.
• Turned four in June!
• Was happy to move to Utah and be close to grandparents and BYU
• Got a bike and can ride pretty well with training wheels on.
• Started another year of preschool at Chrysalis School.  She is learning so well and now can often be heard around the house singing songs that she learned at school (particularly Christmas songs that she learned for her program).

• She tries to learn as much Chinese as Matthias will teach her.
• She has been excited for Christmas for the last three months.  During that whole time she has wanted a "mermaid tail" and recently decided she also wants another doll.

Matthias

•  Completed Kindergarten at Glennwood Elementary in Decatur.  He made some great friends and is a good little reader.  He also did really well at math and his engineering brain is good at figuring out the basic math principles.
• Played soccer in the spring and had fun chasing after the ball
• Turned six in July!
• Was happy to move to Utah and sad to leave Georgia.
• Got a bike and learned how to ride without training wheels (though he sometimes needs a push to get started).
• Started first grade at Wasatch Elementary and is in the Chinese Immersion program.  He is getting better and better at reading (English) and at math.  He has also started randomly writing and speaking to me in Chinese!

• He love to write stories in English.
• He has been excited for Christmas and is looking forward to getting more legos!  (He's positive that's what Santa will bring.)

Josh

• Defended his dissertation at the beginning of March.  He was supposed to defend at the end of February, but because Atlanta was threatened with getting snow everything shut down (we didn't even get any snow!).  He did successfully defend!
• So in May he walked for graduation and was hooded.  YAY for being done with school!
• Now doing a post-doc through Emory and is continuing to study the effects of water, sanitation, and hygiene in academic and health outcomes.
• Drove the moving van with car attached the whole way from Decatur to Provo.
• Was able to go to several home BYU football games with Paul (thanks Paul!) and all of the BYU home basketball games.  He has loved being so close to BYU sports. 
• Has been working hard to renovate our new house.  He has good skills and good taste and our house is looking amazing.
• Is so kind to watch kids after school while still working.  It's a tough job, but he's able to manage.
• Plays piano in primary for the second hour and is an assistant 11-year-old scout leader in church.

Cheryl

•  Matched for internship at BYU's Counseling and Psychological Services Center.  Started working at BYU in August and it has been a dream job.  

Internship cohort from GSU

• Drove the van with the two kids in the car from Decatur to Provo.
• Helped Josh with house renovations (but doesn't really know what is going on) and is happy with how things are starting to come together.
• Has enjoyed going with the family to all the BYU home basketball games.
• Helps kids with homework after work and is having fun practicing Chinese with Matthias.
• Teaches the marriage and family relations class in Church.

More Family Pictures

Trip to Tallahassee in May

Trip to Lake Powell in June

Hiking in Provo Canyon in July

Listening to October Conference at the Mount Timpanogos Temple grounds

Yay for first snow!

We are so grateful for family and friends and the joy that you bring to our lives.  At this season, our minds and hearts also turn to our Savior's birth.  We are grateful that He was born, set the example, and atoned for each of us.  We know that through His love and grace we can return to live with him again someday.

Merry Christmas!

Hiking family

Now that we live by real mountains, we have enjoyed hiking.  We hiked the Y for Family Home Evening one Monday night in July.  The kids were able to hike by themselves the whole way.... with only a few complaints.  :)  They were very happy when we reached the top.

Lizzy got tired faster than Matthias, but they were both tough enough to make it to the top.

We made it to the very top of the Y!

A couple weeks later we went hiking around Rock Canyon.  I think the kids like that one a little better because the trail isn't too bad, but you can find other paths that are different levels--so kind of like a choose your own adventure.  They keep asking when we can go back and were disappointed to learn that Rock Canyon Park is different from the actual Rock Canyon.

Climbing up a steeper section.

Climbing up a BIG rock.

At the top of the BIG rock.

Family picture in Rock Canyon

First day of swimming lessons

Lizzy and Matthias started swimming lessons today.  They loved it and their teachers were great with them. Lizzy is in the lobster class and Matthias is in the dolphin class.

Matthias' favorite move was called the bow and arrow (he learned how to hold on to then push away from the edge). 

Getting ready to jump in.

Here we go!

Front Float

And a back float!

Lizzy's favorite move was the rocket (she jumped in and swam to the moon). 

Rocket ship and a tree (they did two different moves).

Lizzy said she was in the car and kicking to make it go.

She did a back float too!

Jumping in again.

It was super cute and my kids were so brave to try new things.