My Girls

Everyday I am amazed at how fast my girls are changing, growing and learning. Everyday I tell myself, "Oh! I need to write that they said this or did that", but of course I forget and get busy, but I thought why not write some of them here? Then I can have them to look back on and everyone can know what amazing sweet girls I am blessed to have as my daughters.

First is Juliet, what a firecracker! She was defeintely born with her Dad's high energy and zest for life! Juliet's favorite activities right now include going on runs with her Dad in the jogger, going to see the ducks, going to storytime at the library, playing outside, playing the piano with her Daddy, reading with Mommy, and of course watching her Disney movies! Juliet also loves to Sing! The girl hears a song once and can sing the melody and the words back to you! She knows a dozen or more primary songs, not to mention all the storytime and lullaby songs. The other day during Sacrament meeting she starting singing Reverently, Quitely for all to hear (at least it was a primary song!) She can sit for a very long time with Ryan at the piano while he plays and she just listens and sings along. She definetely has a knack for music and I can tell that is one of her many talents. Everyday she talks more and more and is excellent at recognition when I point things out and ask her the name, color or number of something. She can count to 10 and sing her ABC's and knows all her colors and shapes. She is learning to dress herself and is starting to be interested in the potty, but we have along way to go...Her favorite foods are apple juice, chocolate milk, fruit snacks, yogurt, goldfish, mac n' cheese, hotdogs, smoothies, queseadillas, cookies and any type of candy (when she can sneak it when her Dad isn't watching!) My favorite time with Juliet is first thing in the morning when she crawls in bed with me and gives me cuddles, its a great start to my day. Juliet challenges me everyday, but in everyway makes me a better person and teaches me so much!

My little pumpkin head! Claire is my little squishy right now and I am loving every moment (most of the time) having an infant again. Juliet got big so fast it is so fun to have a little one again, although I don't think she will be little for long. At her four month check up she already weighed 16lbs and was 27ins! 95% for her weight and off the charts for her height! She is already wearing 6-12 months clothes! Claire has been the perfect baby! She is a really good nurser, and I am learning to actually enjoy breastfeeding and will probably go for as long as I can with Claire. (Juliet was alot more difficult when it came to breastfeeding) Claire is very content and smiley, she loves to giggle and watch her big sister. She can already roll over from her back to her stomach and is working on rolling from stomach to back. She has been sleeping through the night for the past month, and I am loving it!! I couldn't ask for a better baby!

Busy, Busy and More Busy!!

So Sweet!

The Beautiful Bride and Groom, we are so happy for you Tyler and Sarah!

Our little family picture, we took a dozen and this was the best we could get...oh well...someday my kids will be old enough to actually look at the camera and smile!

Our new home! It is so wonderful to live in a quite neighborhood and for Juliet to have a backyard!

Before we flew home from Missouri we checked out the St. Louis arch! We took these little pod elevators up to the top, Juilet loved it!

This was Big Springs, MO. Its the largest natural spring in the world, its alot bigger than in the picture and was so beautiful. Right after this picture we accidentally locked the girls in the car! We were pretty stressed since we didn't have any phone reception to call for help, but luckily a park ranger rescued us after only 15 mins. The girls didn't even cry or anything!

The Bonner family!

It was so wonderful to see my aunts and uncles on my Dad's side, we had a blast in Van Buren, MO where my Grandma grew up.

Juliet geting ready to float the river!

My Dad and his sister Anita

Before driving down to Missouri we took the opportunity to drive up to Nauvoo. It was my first trip up there and I will definetely have to go again because we only had one day there. Ryan and I were lucky to do a session the first night we got there and it was incredible. I can't believe that the pioneers built such an exquiste and beautiful building during those times. It really brought it home just how difficult it must have been for them to leave it all behind and head west. They truly had insurmountable faith that I can only dream to have someday.

Juleit with all her Kriger cousins in Idaho, she had so much fun at the cabins and playing with her cousins.

My sister Carolin and Juliet going for a boat ride

I am not even sure who follows my blog anymore, but for those few who still hold some interest in my little family's life, its been a busy last two months since I last blogged. I feel like I have been going 100mph for the last four months with no let up in sight! In the last two months our family has gone on five long road trips, flew to Missouri, moved to a new house, helped put a wedding together... on top of the normal chores and church callings. Whew! Since Ryan hasn't been working full time we have had the opportunity to travel and see family. We visited my family twice in Utah and also drove to Idaho for a family reunion. We flew to Missouri to attend another family reunion and had the chance to tour Nauvoo. Ryan and I drove to New Mexico and Arizona and interviewed at a potential job and then Ryan flew up to Washington for another job interview. And then last weekend we drove to California for my brother in law's wedding in LA! I am staying put until Christmas!! In the middle of all this traveling we also had to move from our condo, but we are now in our first house!! We stayed within our stake and our still close to our friends, but get the opportunity to meet new people. Ryan is working part time at two different dental offices, but we are crossing our fingers that we get an offer to work for Indian Health Services under the government. We have interviewed at two locations and feel good about an upcoming offer, so our lives will probably be changing again very soon (moving again!) Here are some pictures of the last few months and all our adventures! Even though its been crazy...we made alot of memories!

Unexpected Summer

Where has the summer gone?? I can't believe its almost over! Life has definetely thrown us some bumps this summer, but we are hanging on and trying to just enjoy the ride. From the endless job search, a week of terrible horrible sickness, Ryan being called Elders Quorom President, traveling to California, AZ and New Mexico...it has been crazy and very humbling. Thank heavens for family and the gospel, I don't know what I would do without them. Life is good though and I try to find the joy in the little things each day.

I'm Alive...Life is so good!

Yes, I am alive and doing well and my kids are just awesome! I think we are pretty much over the transition stage and are starting to move into a pattern of life now with two babies. But boy has it been a busy and emotional six weeks. Having a baby just flips your whole world upside down, but Claire is just doing so great and Juliet is finally getting adjusted. Claire is a really good baby and nurses really great, she is already getting so big! Juliet had a really hard time at first when we brought her home, she would scream and throw tantrums for no reason and then started waking up at 5am everymorning! We fixed that by putting a child safety lock on her door and now she is starting to sleep till 7am, woohoo! When Juliet was first born I took like a zillion pictures, but with Claire I am a little over the camera, but I have been trying to take more pictures of her...here are some cute pics of the girls over the last little while...

This is Claire at around four weeks old

Sisterly Love...Juliet is pretty soft with Claire, she has only taken a few swaps at her

This is at my Mom's house, she loves playing fetch my Mom's dog Sam...when she sees my Mom she automatically asks where her dog is, but she says it like "gog"

We were in Utah for the fourth and had a big family BBQ and fireworks (what else??) My Mom and my Grandma, my Grandma is so excited to have 2 great grandchildren now!

Jules trying out a sparkler, she loved it! She wasn't as fond of the bigger fireworks, we had to take her inside because she was so scared.

Juliet has become such a great swimmer this summer. The girl has no fear, literally! She jumps off high rocks with her dad, goes under water and opens her eyes, kicks all around, she is awesome!

Juliet in action

Claire is so sweet, here she is at almost 7 weeks...love that baby girl, it is so fun to have a little baby again...I am truly blessed to be a mom, I love it more and more everyday...even though it can be hard sometimes, I wouldn't trade it for anything!

Shes Here!!!

Our sweet baby girl has finally arrived! Clarie Michelle was born on June 4th at 8:47pm weighing 8.8lbs, 21ins! My labor and delivery went really well and we are so blessed and happy to have her in our home! Here are some cute pictures of the little peanut...

p.s. I am a little freaked out that I have two kids now!!!

Graduation Highlights

Well, we did it! This last weekend was so wonderful to be with our family and celebrate our graduations! It was a long three days of ceremonys, but we were so thrilled to have so many of our family there to support us. Thursday night was Ryan's Senior Gala, were he was honored as the AGD Senior Dental Student and received the Dean's award for top producer in clinic. Friday night was Ryan's class commencement celebration at the UNLV Ham Hall where just his class was honored and received their doctoral hoods for the next day. Saturday morning was my ceremony, my moment of walking across the stage was so brief, I am not sure it happened, but I tried to soak in the moment and enjoy it. Ryan's ceremony was that afternoon where he was offcially hooded a doctor! That night we enjoyed a BBQ and swimming with all our family.

We are so blessed to have the opportunity to receive an education and I am so thankful for the experiences and knowledge it has provided me and Ryan. We have grown so much together these past four years in dental school and I look forward to all the future has to hold. I can't offically say I am down with school forever, I still have a place in my heart that is yearning for more, so who knows... Here are some highlights of the weekend...

WooHoo Graduation!!!

Yep, its finally here!! Ryan and I are finally graduating from school! Ryan offically today had his doctoral degree posted and will be hooded and walk on Saturday afternoon. I can't believe dental school is over! Its been a long hard four years, with alot of ups and downs, but he made it (we both made it!) I am so proud of him and how much he has improved and grown during these last four years.

After seven long years of going to school, I am also graduating with my Bachelors in Social Sciences! I will walk with Ryan on Saturday! I am so glad I made the decision to keep going to school, I wanted to throw the towel in lots of times, but I am glad that I endured to the end.

Thank you to all our friends and family for their love and support during these years, we are thankful for the examples we have had in our lives of the importance of education. We are truly blessed for the opportunities that we have been given.

Now its off to work, work, work! (We have some serious loans to repay!)