Missing Des Moines

Two years ago, I never thought I would say the words, "I miss Des Moines" but here I am in Ohio, finding myself saying it all the time! I really do miss it a lot! We enjoyed being there so much more than I could have ever imagined. We had some amazing friends, we lived in an awesome ward, and it is just a nice place to live. I will probably, in the future, be missing Sandusky too. I think the hardest part is getting used to a new place, new friends, and a new ward. Our new ward is really nice, and have really welcomed us, but it is very small, and just not the same as Des Moines second ward. Not that it should be the same, I think we will really come to love this ward just as much, and it will be a great place for us for the next two years. Brynlee is really missing Des Moines, too. She is always bringing up some story of when she was with her friends and even some of my friends out there. She always asks about our friends in Des Moines and when we will see them again. I think the hardest part of leaving was telling her to say goodbye to everyone, she would get really sad about it. She has been able to make some new friends here and is always asking to play with them, and soon preschool will start!!! Yeah, I am so excited!! So is she!

Now an update on what we have been up to. Nate started rotations at a family practice clinic last Monday. He is working with 3 doctors, and hasn't been able to do a whole lot yet, mostly just watching, I think it is pretty boring for him and he is very sure he doesn't want to do family practice.

On Thursday, Nate and I celebrated our 5 year anniversary!! He was at the clinic most of the day, I took the kids to the library and out to lunch, and I made him a nice dinner and a homemade cherry pie for dessert. We had our friends watch the kids and went out to dinner a few weeks ago to celebrate early because we knew Nate would be busy. It is hard to believe we have been married for five years! Nate really is a great person and I am blessed to have him in my life!







On Friday we went to a place called Sheldons Marsh (I think that's right). It was a pretty place, we were able to walk along a trail for about a mile and there were lookouts and a beach. Brynlee's favorite part was the beach, when we first walked to it there was a crane in the water just down from us and she ran over to chase it. Gracen was all smiles even though he had to stay in the carrier the whole time.

This is the picture of her chasing the crane, it is in the left corner of the picture and I am way across the beach that is why it is hard to see.

Gracen had his 9 month well check recently and is now weighing in at 18lbs 15ozs and he is 19 inches long. He has been all over the place crawling and is in to everything. If we tell him no or to get down he turns and smiles and waves to us, it is so cute! He has just recently started to stand on his own, he doesn't last too long before he falls, but he gets so excited and holds his arms in the air, and gets a big grin on his face. I have tried to get a video and picture of him standing, but as soon as he sees the camera he is down and trying to get it. Here is a picture of him standing in the tub.

Well, to all our friends in Des Moines, we miss you and hope you are doing well!!