Finally a Video! (Hint: pause our blog music first)

In case there's any question as to whether Anna and Mia get along, here you go!

Well, we've been trying to post this for several months now! First, we didn't have a firewire hookup to be able to digitally download video from our camera. Then, we moved across the country (you might have noticed). Then, it has taken us several weeks to make it into a small enough file that Blogger would accept it. I'm sad that we couldn't put the whole thing on because it lasts about a minute or so, but here's at least a small part. If anyone has tricks to making downloading video onto a blog easier, we're all ears.

Enjoy!

"School Days..."

Well, we are finally here to the day we have anticipated for a long time. I feel like the proud parent of a kindergartener (: We should have taken one of those cheesy before school pictures, but this one below will have to do for now. We (me, Anna and of course Mia) just watched Dave walk down the road from our home to the bus stop and go off to school. ( I know that sounds cheesy, but it just happened) Mia whined the whole time, Anna watched questioning, and I watched wondering what the next couple of years are going to bring. We are excited for our new adventures and have already experienced a ton. Dave wasn't "excited" to start, like many of his fellow students, (it is a little hard to be excited when you are going back after 3 years of being out of school) but he is ready. He has always been and will be an amazing student.

Good Luck Daddy! We love you and are so proud of you!

GO UTES!!!

Well, they pulled it off at the big house! What a great year for the Utah Utes to decide to go to Michigan and play. We were so excited to have my Dad and Brother come out among others fellow Utes who were on campus yesterday. I played mom and stayed at home wishing I could be there, but not wanting to pay (yes PAY) fifty Bucks for an infant. Yes, they are insane at the big house and believe that a 7 month old needs her own seat. So my baby and I were sporting our RED and cheering from a few miles away. What a game!

Dave went to the game wearing Grey with the U of U emblem on it and a green shirt over that. Yes, something we don't want to admit to and seemed to be a cardnal Sin, but he wanted to go and ENJOY the game rather than be heckled by U of M fans.

Now that the first game is out of the way, we can sport our crimson red AND our maize yellow and dark blue. What a fun year ahead!

- Heidi

Here's Dave's contribution to the post ...

Here is a shot as I was going down towards my seat on the 4th row in the North end zone. It was my first time in the Big House, and was truly amazing to join 108,000 screaming fans. Notice the red row on the top ... awesome! Yes, I was an "under cover" Ute fan because some students here told me that it would be potentially hazardous to my health to be an opposing team's fan in the middle of the student section. A mixture of amped up testosterone and a whole lot of alcohol can be a dangerous combination. It was incredibly weird being at a game where I was quiet the whole time (at least for three quarters). Eventually, I ended up going up 95 rows to be in the Utah section so I could yell and scream and bear my Ute colors!

You can't really tell unless you make this photo bigger, but this is a pretty cool shot of opening kickoff as the ball starts to sail in the air. Go Utes!

And here's the best shot of all ... 25-23! The Utes did their best to give it away at the end, but eventually came through. I had a blast and will now shift focus to cheering for the Maize and Blue (at least in person). Go Utes and Go Blue!
- Dave

Things I never saw in Utah...

These pictures were taken on our walk yesterday...

(NO "ice"Skating)

The sidewalk I was walking on turned into this mysterious woods! (they seem to have random wooded areas everywhere it is pretty cool)

This rather LARGE squirrel won another squirrel in a fight... I wonder why, look at the size of that thing. This is jsut down the path in our complex.

This is what the three girls looked like... sort of. I felt a little silly working out in my chacos, but I left my running shoes in Utah so I wear whatever works for me that day.

Week One of Ann Arbor Living

Well we are shocked, but exactly ONE WEEK AGO we just thanked many outstanding Elders in our ward for emptying out the PENSKE and filling our home with boxes (I should have counted how many, on second thought, I am glad I didn't!) and we along with my AMAZING parents looked around exhausted, pushed boxes out of the way and got ready for bed. I made my Dad a U of U bed and thanked them for their incredible work and love (I could never REALLY thank them for all they did last week, I feel SO BLESSED!) Dave and I looked at each other before crashing and said, "We LIVE in Ann Arbor... CRAZY!!"

Now we are sitting in in our ALMOST put together Living room (it looks alot different than the picture seen above, but still not blog worthy) holding our teething starry- eyed 7 month old and feeling like the time has passed so fast.

During the day we work hard to unpack boxes, clean, and run errands. Dave spent Monday getting some things ready for school and wondering what he got himself into (especially after making a record of losing his student card within hours of getting it). Today, we went swimming in our COLD pool. In the EVENINGS, especially at sunset we have enjoyed many walks through amazing parks, seen fireflies and wild hares (that threw Mia for a loop!), liked beautiful sunsets -though they don't compare to the Utah skyline at night, talked with family on "skype," and stayed up way TOO LATE watching the Olympics (TV times in Michigan are horrible).

All in all we are enjoying our time and know it will go by FAST. We will definetly keep you updated and try to blog more frequently. We feel lucky to have the support of family and friends and though far we still feel close! Also, as you can tell from the photos, our two "girls" love being together. Mia is very good to Anna and Anna loves reaching out for Mia and just laughs as she is soaked with Mia's "love."

They are so CUTE!

Hello from Ann Arbor!!

Just a very brief update to let all know that we're here safe and sound in our new home in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The road trip in the moving truck across the country was indeed long, but with the help of Heidi's parents, it didn't seem too bad. Another HUGE thanks to Heidi's parents for doing so much work in cleaning, unpacking, and organizing our home. There was a TON to be done, and we're so much further ahead than we could have dreamed. There is still a lot to be unpacked and sorted through, but we're getting close.

Ann Arbor is a BEAUTIFUL place that's just loaded with trees and parks. We haven't had much time to enjoy them yet, but at least we've been able to watch a bunch of the Olympics while working. Speaking of work, I've got to get back to it. Hopefully Heidi or I can post more info and pics later. We hope you're all doing well, wherever this post finds you!!

And He Still Never Ceases to Amaze Me...

...even after almost 10 years of knowing each other and 5 years of marriage!!! Today is our 5th Wedding Anniversary and I feel so lucky to be married to one of the most creative, handsome, thoughtful, loving, and funny men (obviously the list goes on...). Dave has always been great at surprises. He surprised me with a Limo and a suite @ the Grand America the night of our honeymoon and now surprised me with a beautiful and scenic Bed and Breakfast in Midway for our anniversary and the surprises didn't stop there. Thank you for all you have done this weekend and the last 5 years.

I love that we have been together for so long and can NEVER get bored with each other. We always seem to make each other laugh, can finish each other's sentences, boost each other up when we are clumsy ): and cannot wait to be together each day.

As we have discovered change is the only constant in life and our last 5 years have seen a lot of different types including moving 4 almost 5 times, 2 almost 3 schools, getting about 5 nieces and 9 nephews, 2 new in-laws, 6 church callings, MANY vacations, 4 cars, lots of different toys, 7 jobs, a dog, a baby, etc. and have found our love grow stronger with it all. I feel that through these changes our love hasn't changed, only grown stronger. We can honestly say that we rarely fight, if ever, and seem to agree on most subjects.

I am so happy to be married to such an amazing best friend who is the GREATEST Father to my baby girl. We couldn't be happier...unless we had the bed and jacuzzi from the Johnson Mill Bed and Breakfast ... (:

HAPPY 5th Year ANNIVERSARY BABE! I LOVE YOU!!!