He Did It!!! Jim is a CRNA :)

Jim & Dr.Rieker

The gang at graduation

Came back to hotel and had cake to celebrateMario's pizza on Grad day

What this all was for...

Who would have thunk?! 8 years ago Jim & I were lying on the floor, propped up on pillows watching TV in our living room of our new, unfurnished home that we had recently built. He (a product designer at the time) turns to me and says "I want to be a CRNA". What the?! We're 30! What is a CRNA? What does it involve to become one? What is your plan, etc., etc. Well, he meant business. He got right to work, didn't take a break for 8 years and made it happen! Incredible! We owe the world to our parents who supported us emotionally and many times financially throughout the years. Without them, this dream wouldn't be realized. I am also very thankful for amazing friends & co-workers who supported us all throughout :) Next step, waiting on licensing paperwork so Jim can start work, LOL! He is finished doing what he needs to do and has been hired by Brevard Anesthesia, but the paperwork can take another 6 weeks...or so...!! So proud of my man and blessed to be his wife.

July!

Carowinds w/ Angelica for Toby's BD
Arielle made Jim a BD Crown :)

Happy Birthday Jim!

Fireworks at our house on the 4th

Davis Family : Natalie's friend, Natalie, Tina, Noah (Dave & Blake OOT)

Max, Jaime, Eliza Parke (Blake & Gage OOT)

Lewisville Square Fireworks

Got together w/ Parkes & Davis for fireworks on 4th

Getting Settled & Aunt Jules Comes For a Visit

Tobes and Aunt Jules kayaking at Brevard Zoo

AArielle & Aunt Jules feeding giraffes

haha

Enjoying our community pool

Wow, the last month has flown by! We were busy right up until the move with Toby's soccer camps, Arielle's horseback riding, me training my replacement at work, Jim had finals and we were all saying bye to NC friends & family- barely had time to pack, LOL!

Jim helped us move down the weekend of July 23rd and was able to stay for a few days, then he had to head back to his empty house to finish 2 weeks of clinicals. Our new rental townhome is nice and a good location with quick access to beach and mainland. The kids were great about going right to work unpacking and setting up their rooms. They are so excited to have their own space! It took me a couple days to unpack the kitchen and a week to unpack my room. There are still a few random boxes laying around the house that will probably be here until Jim gets back.

Toby jumped right into another soccer camp here where he'll be playing with the Satellite Lightning. They seem to have a great soccer program and Toby was a happy kid playing soccer 2x a day for a week during camp week. After a week here and major horse withdrawal, Arielle & I drove around and found a barn where she took her first lesson. Bandish Stables seems clean, well taken care of, has an English riding emphasis, fun young instructor and a homey feel. We hope we've found the right fit, but we miss Hidden K!

I have loved not working and just being home with the kids the past couple weeks. I really look forward to simplifying my life a bit. Julie (Bryce :)surprised me with a long weekend visit this past weekend. We had a great time exploring my new area together. Enjoyed a couple runs on the beach at sunrise, played on the beach with the kids, checked out the Brevard Zoo, went Gator Hunting (with our eyes, not weapons ya'll), took her to a couple of my favorite cheap eats (Da Kine, Bizarros), and went to the Eau Gallie Gallery Stroll. It was fun having her here and hope it was a good break for her from nursing school.

This morning I got up early for the first time in weeks and joined my new early morning running group for a run over the causeway. I'm so excited there's a group from the ward that work out in the mornings, just what I need!

Now if we can just get Jim here...life will be complete :)

Carrying on the Tradition

Some of my FAVORITE childhood memories include my summer visits and holiday get togethers with my dad's side of the family. We cousins have stayed pretty close through out the years and it's especially fun to get our kids together now and carry on the tradition of Lovelace reunions! Ann, Randy, Paul & Kathy were kind enough to let us all pile on their boats and drive us around- all 27 of us if I'm counting correctly!!! We had a fabulous time at Lake Bowen and hanging out at Ann's, looking at old photos, grillin' & roasting marshmallows :)

Ann on our swim over to her dream lake house :)
We were a wee bit tired after the day on the lake
(Ann, Bahnson, Joyce, Julie Bryce)

Isabelle, Arielle, Gracie

Joyce & Bahnson

Nancy, Kathy, Megan

Megan & her boyfriend Austin

Bahnson

The "island"

Austin & Megan

Paul's very full boat

Jules & Me

Josh, Conner, Toby

Link & Winston in Gracie & Sara's pink lifejackets :)

Conner, Isabelle, Arielle

Link, Sara, Conner

Josh & Toby

Toby & Arielle's End of School Year Festivities

8th Grade Graduation Day

Amy, Danielle, Toby, Bryce, Victoria

Angelica threw Toby an awesome surprise farewell party :)

Jessie, Kayley, Danadia, Arielle, Hayley

Arielle & I went to Five Guys after her 5th grade graduation to celebrate

Southwest Elementary 5th grade graduation

Arielle's Activity Recognition Night

5th Grade End of Year Party at Tanglewood Park (Arielle on end)

Angelica came to Toby's final Optimist game

Coach Mark Yost & Optimist Team 'Germany'

29.....Again!

I had a nice little BD party (4/26) at home with Jim & the kids. Complete with cake, a new game (apples to apples), and entertainment provided by Toby.

RaNdOm SpRiNg STuFf

Treats I made for my Mia Maids
Teddy & Gage (Gage came over to ride to school with us in the mornings, Teddy would wait anxiously by the door for him to arrive)

We took the kids to a Disney Magic Show, only to find out that all the kids there were like 4 yrs old! LOL.

Jim & I woke up one weekend morning to this sneaky slumber party

I went to Asheville for moral support when Link had his tonsils out & tubes in. He's so tough! This was him right after surgery, they wheeled him to the car in this cool wagon instead of a wheelchair