Signs of the Times

With no intentions of making light of the subject...I am amazed at the ever increasing cyberspace "signs of the times". There is MySpace, Facebook, e-mail, texting, chatting, video-chatting....it is all just plain amazing to me...and wonderful...and time-consuming...and convenient....and addicting...and fun! It is keeping up with blogging that will be the fun part. :) It is like my friend Kendra says, "just one more thing to feel like I am never caught up with".

So...if you are viewing this blog, it means that we love you, and want to keep in touch with you better. An update on us.

We have had a busy few months of Andrew graduating from dental school (Yee-haw!), and moving from Cleveland to St. Louis via Washington, Idaho, Utah, Colorado... It was a busy few months of traveling, but we had so much fun seeing so many family and friends. Andrew is in his AEGD (Advanced Education in General Dentistry) residency at Scott Air Force Base near St. Louis. We will be here 1 year. He is excited for the experience, and we are excited for him...although it will be interesting to see what "on call" is really like since there are only 3 residents instead of the anticipated 5.

Cooper and Gunner are boys, and boys will be boys! They are so busy, but I have to say it is so fun to see them becoming friends and starting to play together (and get into trouble together). They are sure lovers of baseball, just like their Dad, and Gunner has a bat or ball in both hands at all times, except the ocassional car.

THE CHRONOLOGY



First Andrew graduated from dental school and got his official title of "Doctor"...and a few days later his official title of "Captain" in the Air Force. We are so proud of him and had an emotional, enjoyable time celebrating his accomplishment. It was really hard though to say goodbye to Cleveland, our dear friends, and our first home (which still hasn't sold...keep praying for us!).

It was really fun to have his parents out to visit for graduation and to watch our kids while we took a graduation trip to Cancun.

We also enjoyed a 6 weeks of fun with dad between the time of finishing school the end of April, and setting off on our nationwide tour June 13th. During that time we went to an indoor waterpark with our friends, the Munds, went to the "Parade of the Circle", spent time in Chagrin Falls and went to the Memorial Day festival there, went out to Fairport Harbor (a coming a going place for the early Saints on lake Erie) with Andrew's parents, the Science Center, Kelley's Island via ferry, Memphis Kiddie Park (with all little kid carnival rides), our last Indians games, trips to the zoo, rode "Thomas the Train", went bowling, and had some fun bbqs with friends. It was a really fun time.

Then we headed to St. Louis to look for housing. We ended up deciding to live on-base in a duplex. We really love it now that we are here. It has a fenced backyard, and the community playground just beyond the fence. It is especially nice to to only be 1/5 of a mile from Andrew's work! He comes home for lunch everyday, and we love no commuting! It is also fun to take advantage of the on-base pool, BX, etc.

Then we flew up to Spokane/Coeur d'Alene to visit familly. Cooper and Gunner had so much fun with all their cousins. Cooper also LOVED the Gatten pool and learned to jump off the diving board...and various other tricks. We also went boating a few times, and the kids got spoiled by their Grandparents.

I went on an really fun Girls Weekend to LAS VEGAS with my high school buddies Amber (Isaacson) Lowder, and Jenny (Sampert) Jeppson, to visit Rachel Robbins and her family. We had tons of fun staying up until 4 in the morning, shopping, eating (notice the HUGE desserts for dinner), eating yummy Mexican food made by chef Dave, and loading up on our late night shopping trip to the DI Doug manages. Loads of fun!! I have to say too that I am so proud of Rachel for heading to Medical School this fall in LA!

Then it was a sad goodbye to Daddy, as he headed to Montgomery, Alabama for a 5 week officer training with the Air Force. We sure missed him, but stayed busy enough to make it tolerable! I have to brag though that his flight of 15 guys completed 13 our of 16 obstacles in the obstacle course, tying the Air Force Record EVER!!! We have yet to celebrate our 7th Anniversary that happened a few days after he left.



While he was gone we continued playing with friends and family. We hit the beach various times. Gunner loved the food that went along with all the fun activities. He also loves his little cousing Ella, and yells her name so cute if she is ever out of his sight. Cooper loved swimming so hard, and then sunning himself. The both were obsessed the their "baby" cousin Cade (Brynne's little boy)...and Cooper is not holding back the begging for a little brother or sister. We keep telling him we are trying to make that happen, but that isn't good enough. He wants it now, so he asked if we can bring Cade to our house. Cutie! Cooper loved the Waites house...with lots of fun toys and fun company. We went to the 4th of July parade with the Larsons, and spent a day at Silverwood amusement/water park. Gunner celebrated his "half birthday" with his cousin Tyler Waite whose birthday is close to Christmas too. We also met up with some dental school friends, Mike and JayLyn Scholes, who actually are working up in Liberty Lake and working in Post Falls. Cooper loved seeing familiar faces.

Also, my Grandma Gatten passed away (who I got to see the week prior), and we had her funeral. It was really fun to see a lot of family who I hadn't seen in a really long time, and we know she went to a better place. The whole Steve Gatten clan was at the bbq (see the picture), except for Andrew and Gunner (who was napping at Grandma's). She was an amazing woman, who left an amazing legacy. She will be missed.

Despite the funeral taking up a lot of time and effort, especially in hosting all the out-of-town visitors, we still managed to make it rafting on the Clark Fork for the Lee Reunion. It was such great weather. The river was low, which made it less thrilling for the adults, but more fun for the kids. I LOVE the river!!!


Then it was some sad goodbyes until Christmas...and we were off to UTAH. We caravaned with Mikin and her kids and headed first to Tom and Brookes. With 10 kids in the house...it was crazy fun! We went to the dinosaur museum, IKEA, had an adults night out, hit up Rod Works (one of my favorite home decor stores) with the girls, went swimming, and just had tons of fun. Then we headed down to Orem to Andrew's sister Aimee's house. I headed to CLEVELAND to be there when the movers packed our stuff...and to clean the entire house with a little help from the Relief Society...THANKS! Aimee watched our kids while I did that, and then I watched her 3 cute kids while her and Dan celebrated their 10th Anniversary in Park City. We managed to squeeze in Cafe Rio, a haircut from my Cleveland hairdresser Aly Groneman (who now lives in Mapleton), and went to a movie. It was a lot of fun seeing family again, and giving the cousins a chance to play!

Then I ventured out of my own to make the drive to our next stopping point...DENVER. There we visited some of our best friends from Cleveland, the Bentleys. We loved seeing their beautiful new home, and office, and seeing where they live. We also went mini-golfing, and hit up a cute park with a train ride and fun little river for the kids to play in, and a petting zoo. We had so much fun chatting late into the night, and our kids had fun playing.

Then we went across town to vist my cousin Luke and his family and meet their new little guy Van. It was fun to see them again, and our boys had fun playing at the Littleton Park and swimming. My mom flew into Denver, and we all went to dinner, and the we were off on another long car-ride...although this time I had another adult to talk to! Thanks Mom!

We stopped that night in KANSAS, visted Liberty Jail the next day, and made it into ST. LOUIS to the airport, just in time to pick up Andrew. It was a fun reunion! We missed him so much!

Since being in St. Louis, we have been unpacking like mad to get organized. The boys loved watching the movers unload the BIG truck.


Then my Dad and brother Spike flew in to visit. We went downtown and visited Union Station, went to eat, rode to the top of the Gateway Arch, and went to a Cardinals game...our new team! The picture of the trampoline is actually Cooper bouncing like 30 feet on bungies at Union Station. It was really cool.

We also took a mini-trip to NAUVOO. It was so fun to be back and see the temple again, and visit the sights. Carthage was amazing too, and I am so thankful for the early Saints, and the Prophet Jospeh Smith. I feel so blessed!!! My brother Spike got his mission call while he was here, and will open it tonight when he gets home!! It was crazy to say goodbye to him for over 2 years!!! We are so proud of him though!




We also stopped in HANNIBAL (Mark Twains hometown). Great views of the Mississippi, and really yummy caramel corn!

















Yesterday, we visited Grants Farm. It is a free park with lots of wildlife and the boys loved feeding the goats and camels. We also saw the Budweiser horses, and the old log cabin of Ulysses S. Grant





So now we are finally "home", after 2-months on the road, and 3 1/2 months without "structure". It will be fun to continue exploring, and to get settled here. It has been really hot (110 heat index) and humid, but there are a lot of fun things to do, and it is nice to be somewhere permanently (well...for a year :) ).

I PROMISE future blogs won't be this long, but we had a busy summer to report on. We loved seeing a lot of you, and any of you are welcome in St. Louis anytime!