Summer Associate

In a month we will be leaving Williamsburg for 4 months. Matt was fortunate enough to get two different legal internships this summer. He will be working at Steptoe & Johnson in Bridgeport, West Virginia in May and June, then two days after he finishes that we will be headed to Idaho Falls, Idaho for his second internship with Beard St. Clair Gaffney during the months of July and August. We will then hurry home so Matt can start school the following Monday. 16 weeks of work, no break, it ought to be interesting! We feel very blessed and are excited about these opportunities. It took a lot of prayer, patience, perseverance and faith but we are grateful for both of these wonderful opportunities that have come into our family.

      

Swimming

A few weeks ago Karlee started swimming lessons. She loves it! She thinks she can swim by herself now, which resulted in her going into water by herself a little deeper than she could touch when her teacher wasn't watching. Luckily her teacher turned around and saw her and got her out. It was a little scary watching. She still doesn't understand that even though she's in swimming lessons she still doesn't quite know how to swim by her self yet.

Spring Break

Last week was Matt's Spring Break! We headed up to DC for a couple of days. The weather was perfect and we had a good time at the temple and some museums. We went to the American History Museum and Karlee was in heaven looking at all of the First Ladies dresses.

Karlee with Michelle Obama's Inaugural gown. It was her favorite.

Waiting for the metro.

Love his toothless grin!

Colton at 6 months

This little boy is almost 6 months

Where has the time gone. I LOVE the age Colton is right now. It's one of my favorite stages. He is the happiest baby ever. Every time I go to the gym they always tell me how much they love Colton because he's just happy. Happy when they hold him, happy when they aren't. That is the way he is at home too most of the time. He's perfectly content laying on the floor or in his bouncer. He gets very excited when anyone walks into the room and makes eye contact with him and if he does you better not leave the room. We love him so much!
A few things about Colton

• He spits up...A LOT (we hope it ends soon)
• He gets excited when we put him in his high chair to eat. He loves carrots, and hates green beans.
• He hardly ever cries
• He's been sleeping through the night since 2 months but this last month he decided that was over rated. (we hope this will also end soon)
• He loves to bounce. He won't just stand up on your lap, he's always jumping. 
• He sits up 
• He rolls. Which I think partially contributes to him waking up at night. He can't always get back over and he doesn't like that. 
• He loves Karlee! When he cries we tell Karlee to go jump for him. It makes him smile every time. 
• He's a momma's boy
• He loves baths
• He's a busy body. He can't just hold still and sit on your lap. He's always reaching, grabbing, trying to roll off, etc.
• He loves when people say "BOO" to him. He will laugh every time. Even if he can't see you. He thinks it's hilarious. (Maybe because that's what Karlee says to him all day long)
• When he's tired he likes to sit on one of our laps and we'll say "hugs" and he'll dive his head into our chests. He'll do it over and over. It's his way of cuddling I suppose. 

The Best Five Years

Five years ago today Kim and I were married in the Mt. Timpanogos LDS Temple for time and all eternity. I have spent a lot of time over the last few days thinking about those five years and how they undoubtedly have been the five most rewarding years of my life. I would not change a thing about the rollercoaster of experience that Kim and I have rode together. Though we have experienced what we thought were unbearable trials at times we have come through it all together as more mature, more polished, more united, and prepared to face whatever lies ahead for our young family.

I feel immensely blessed and lucky to have Kim in my life. She is exactly what I need in my life and is always supportive no matter the stress I am under. She keeps me honest in my priorities and committed to eternal goals. She is truly my better half. Beyond being a gracious and wonderful wife, she is an amazing mother to our children. Watching Colton light up whenever she walks into a room or Karlee seek her out to perform seemingly easy tasks like putting a bow in her hair (which apparently she is better at than me) makes me realize that all of us would be incomplete without her as a part of our lives. She is the light at the end the tunnel worth walking through the dark for and an example of the believers in all that she does.  I love you Kim. Thank you for the best five years, I look forward to fifty five more!

Here are a few stats for memories sake of our first five years:

• We have lived in 5 apartments/homes in 4 different cities. (Provo, American Fork, Heber City, Williamsburg)

• We have added two wonderful children to the family

•  I have had 6 jobs over that time period ranging from tow truck driver, bookkeeper, life insurance salesman, tax staff, accounts manager at development firm, and  most recently peon for two W&M departments.

• We have served in what seems like almost every organization in the Church. . [YM President, Ward Mission Leader, Youth Sunday School Teacher(s) (16-18 and 12-13), nursery leader, stake athletic director, scouts]

• We have traveled to both DisneyLand and DisneyWorld and taken a 3000+ mile road trip through this country’s heartland

• We have both finished Bachelors Degrees (and soon I will add a J.D. to the mix)

• We survived hyperemesis and have seen miracles play out in our lives and in the life of others

• We have made wonderful friends from seemingly everywhere