No Order...such is life...

Wow...it has been a long time! I figured if I didn't post now, I wouldn't do it until after we were settled in Oregon and that might again be FOREVER!!! So sorry...yes for those who don't know (which I think is very few of you) we are moving to Corvallis, Oregon! We are thrilled and anxious to start the next chapter of our lives and not be students! Well, at least Kristian won't be a student...I on the other hand will try to finish asap! Kristian will be a professor at Oregon State University and we hope to be moving up to the land of many green trees in mid July. I am going to post these pictures in non-sequential order as I have WAY to many to figure out what is what...but enjoy another flash back into the last two or three (has it really been that long?) months of our lives...let it begin!

****************************************************************************** ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GRADUATION ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What can I say about an event that has been six years in the making? It has been a long road and I was thrilled that Kristian decided to participate in graduation because he deserved every bit of recognition the night had to offer and then some! I cannot even begin to tell you all that he has gone through on this journey, and I won't even try, but it has been and remains surreal. I am beyond proud of him and all that he has accomplished. I love you honey. Thank you. Believe it or not, this is the only graduation picture that I have of just the two of us. I thought it was pretty funny though...and rather fitting:) Kristian's dad and mom and us (and NO I am not pregnant...it's called ice cream...you know, that really good addictive stuff...I just can't help myself these days:) Kristian and his dad at the graduation dinner Cousin Trinity and Avery are great buddies! This is Kristian's Aunt Jan and Uncle Fred who flew all the way from New Jersey and surprised us all at the graduation dinner the night before. It was such a great surprise and so fun to spend a little more time with them, they are truly terrific people.

******************************************************************************* ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OTHER EVENTS ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- We recently went up to Phoenix to visit Uncle Rustin and Aunt Erica. We went to a fun park with some rides and flew kites. The girls were a little under the weather that day, but it was fun to hang out! The girls are so blessed to have such great aunts and uncles!

Flying a kite with aunt Erica Dad and Avery enjoying the day Erica and Rustin a train ridin

******************************************************************************** For Mothers Day we went up to Mt. Lemmon and hiked around a little and enjoyed the scenery. It is really beautiful up there!

Mom and her girls Fearless Avery

******************************************************************************* We want to devour all that Tucson has to offer us before we leave and so we have been on the trolley twice so far. The girls LOVE it. It takes you from the University and down a fun street called 4th ave with shops and such. It is only 50 cents round trip and worth every penny! Reading all about it...

The girls wave to everyone they can...

******************************************************************************* A few weeks ago for one of our playgroups we went to a live sheep farm where the girls got to pet sheep, llamas, alpachas, and geese. They were so engaged that I got few pictures of their faces but here are some highlights...

Though there aren't any animals in it, I had to include this picture of Fin because it is her baby look. When she wants to be picked up and held and/or treated like a baby, she purses her little lips together and lowers her eyes and when you pick her up she just lays her head on your shoulder and you melt...love this little girl so much!

So sweet.

This poor little baby got chased everywhere...the owner didn't mind and let all the kids hold him, but I think this little guy had a rough go of it. Whenever he was put down, he ran for dear life! *********************************************************************** We have said our last good byes to several of the girls classes. We have spent many a hour in the gym at parks and rec, gymnastics world, the dance studio, and the soccer fields. We will miss all that Tucson has offered the girls at such a young age...it is a great place for activities. We hear though that Corvallis has a really strong parks and rec and many fun classes await us there! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ GYMNASTICS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ I know...you can hardly see her, but this is one of the only gymnastics pictures that I had...I had to include it to represent all of the classes the girls were involved in...this actually ended up being a private lesson for Avery...no one else showed up and boy did she have a blast!! All that attention...what more could a girl ask for? --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MOVERS AND SHAKERS --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- On Fin's last class, Avery got to join in...here are my two little monkeys! Waiting patiently for her turn to shine... Finally...Finley the super star! We had to hold her back she was so excited to go up front and receive this certificate! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CREATIVE DANCE -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Don't have too much fun Avery! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SOCCER ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Posing with two of her soccer coaches and her fabulous trophy! ************************************************************************ Another trip to the zoo...we will miss the Tucson zoo. It is pretty affordable and fun! We have spent many a playgroup there and decided one last send off was in order. The zoo has a little water area where the kids had the most fun just getting really really wet! What could be better in the Arizona heat? Avery the turtle The water is this way mom Helping out at the pump ***************************************************************************** The heat has arrived and usually that deturs me from the oven, but last week I decided it would be great to make some cookies. As we are purging for the move, I didn't feel too bad dumping extra flour and oatmeal on the table and letting the girls go nuts with it...they loved it! Avery trying hard not to smile for me. Do kids go to secret classes where they learn the cheesy smile? There's the real thing...