Our Eventful Weekend

The family that was able to be there

Ashley and Elora on Sunday

Elora in her blessing dress on the blanket that one of my best friends made special for the day

Derek and Ashley right before her baptism on Saturday.

This labor day weekend was a fun, spiritual, and eventful weekend. On Friday my in-laws flew in and we picked them up from the airport. Then Saturday was Ashley's baptism. What a great day it was to see her so excited to get baptized and receive the Holy Ghost. Then Sunday we blessed Elora. Ashley wanted their dresses to match so I tried very hard to make them as close to the same as I could. I am so happy to have these to beautiful girls in my life.

Elora's 1 month

Part of me can't believe it has been a month already. And sometimes it feels like she has been here forever though. She is a beautiful girl and we almost have her on a schedule so the nights are getting better. She is growing and has almost gained a whole pound. Which still makes her smaller than any of my others when they were born. We love her lots and are so glad she is part of our family.

Our Moving trip to AZ

The Moving Truck that was filled to the top and from front to back.

Circus Circus the hotel we stayed at in Las Vegas

Walking the strip

Tanis and Ashley in front of the water show at the Bellagio

The Hoover Dam

Our trip took us 4 days. The kids did really great with that many days in the car. we got to see Grandma Grandpa Great Hegstrom, Uncle Glenn, Aunt Debbie, Chelsey, and Micheal. Then we got to spend a day in Vegas what an adventure that was. We ate at a nasty buffet and then wanted to see the water show at the Bellagio and didn't realize how far it was from Circus Circus so we didn't make it to see the show. 2 Miles in the heat 13 days after having a baby was nuts and so we sent Derek back to get the van while the rest of sat in front of Ceaser's Palace looking like bums and getting really weird looks. Of course this was at 12am in the morning. So the next day we drove there and parked in the parking garage to see the water show. It was still beautiful even in the day time. Then we headed out to my parents and got as far as Hoover Dam and they told Derek he couldn't go over the Dam with the moving truck b/c he couldn't show them 80% of his load. I was already over the Dam and not turning around on a Friday night when the traffic was bumper to bumper for like 5 miles. So we waited in Kingman, AZ for 1 1/2 hours for him , his dad, and Tanis while they went a different way. But we did all make it to Peoria, AZ safe and sound. It was hard to take the in laws to the airport and see them go but at least we know we will see them again soon.

Hospital Photos

IT'S A GIRL

Elora Gene was born Friday June 5th at 10:25pm. She weighed 6lbs 6oz and was 19.5in. We are all very glad she is here after 22 hours of labor and not stop puking. I am so happy this is the last one.

Graduation Weekend

So this has taken me a while to get posted but we had an awesome weekend over Mother's Day weekend. First Ashley had her dance recital and did an amazing job. They did a tap routine to Girl's just wanna have fun and she loved it. Then the next day was graduation for Derek. As you can see my dad fell asleep (it was pretty boring) but we are all so proud of Derek for getting his Bachelor's Degree and to be moving on to the next step in his life. We all then went to Red Lobster in Lewiston for dinner and had a wonderful time together. The kids loved playing the Wii with PopPop all weekend and then going bowling on Monday with Nana and PopPop. They decided though it was much easier to do Wii bowling then the real thing. Now we are on to the next adventure of life with finding a full time job, having a baby, and moving all in the next 3 weeks.

Two Events for One Night

Tanis was involved in 2 events and they happened to get scheduled the same night so it was a very busy night for us. The first one was called the Wax Museum where all the 4th graders chose a scientist and became that person. Tanis was Roy Chapman Andrews who discovered dragon eggs and the velociraptor. They wrote a speech and had to memorize it and we would push on their hand and they would come alive and say their speech. It was a really neat night and Tanis was very excited to do it. Then we had to run over to the middle school for his orchestra concert. He has been playing the violin this year and has done very well. I am not sure that he wants to do it anymore but the exposure was really good for him. And we all know what a concert sounds like with those that are first year players. It has been fun for me though to see him develop in this talent and him making the decision to keep it up or not at the end of the school year. He truly is an amazing boy.