Great Neighbors....will be missed!

Since we finally got news that we were indeed moving - we wanted to spend as much time with friends as we could. Our life in Athens was SO great - we had the best friends, neighbor and ward that we could ever imagine. It will always definitely be our home away from home.

Liz and Ryan came over for homemade pizza and fun.  We had a great time, each creating our favorite pizza.  My favorite memory of tonight, was when Ryan admitted to Liz, that "Adalyn had kissed him!"  WHAT?  Little Adalyn, loves to play princess.  And in the midst of cleaning up, changing dirty diapers and putting things away, Adalyn has asked Ryan to lay down and go to sleep.  Much to his surprise, she planted a BIG wet one, right smack on the lips and said, "Wake up!"  Ryan of course was wide-eyed and not sure how to respond.  Little did he know that he was sleeping beauty and she was the prince, waking him up!  haha  Sorry Ryan - and Liz, thanks for being so understanding.  We'll have to teach our 3 year old better manners.  :)

Andie and Ali both made a heart pizza. 

Another night we had our wonderful friends, The Kofoed's over.  I was continuously amazed that they remained out friends for so long.  ;)  When they first moved in, Shawn was in the Bishopric and I was in the RS Presidency and Mike and Heather didn't have kids.  We would call them last minute to see if they could walk across the street and watch the kids for 20 minutes (ok, usually an hour) while both of us were required to be gone.  They were always so willing and so helpful!  Life Savers!

Then, Heather and I were pregnant together, with these two crazies!  Anders is just 6 weeks younger than Adalyn, but THEY LOVE each other.  Best friends, and according to all of my girls (Adalyn included) they are going to get married one day.  (Run now Anders!)  The last year or so before we moved, it was so nice to send Adalyn over, or to have Anders over for a few hours a week and the two would play, fight and be best of friends. 

Anders was leaving before we were moving and we would be back before they came home and so this was the last time they would see each other for a while.  Even now, (Sept. 10) Adalyn will pray that Anders will come and play with her and any time she sees an airplane, she says it's her airplane to take her to her Anders. 

Just before we left - baby McKay was born.  We anticipate him and Caleb to be good friends when their older!  :)

 We also got together for fun birthday parties before we left.  We will definitely miss the Johnson's and all the fun memories from their home.  Scotty had a great super hero pool party that the girls loved playing at.  Running around in sprinklers are the best!

 Mr. Caleb loves being out side and playing with his mama!

 That same afternoon, we went to Lena's birthday party, where the girls got their faces painted.  Such beautiful butterflies!

We sure do miss all of our Georgia friends!  We have some great memories and glad that we could capture a few through pictures!!

We got a job!!

{7/11/2013}

Yes - for journaling purposes, I am trying to keep this in order.  Shawn had an interview with Keene State College this week.  He flew out on Monday, July 8th, interviewed on the 9th and came home on the 10th.  He felt really good about the job, the people he would work with and the school.  However, he had felt really good when he interview for Weber, Dixie State and UVU as well.  Apparently, the Lord did not want us back in Utah at this time.  Shawn had made many other applications, and Keene State was one of the few that lead to a 2nd interview.  There was another one in Georgia, at Gordon State, but we didn't feel good about pursuing that interview.  On the 11th, we were offered a job a Keene State College!  HOORAY!!!

We had always known that our time in Athens was coming to an end.  We had always known that we were moving at the end of July, August 5th, to be exact - but we didn't have a job.  Until NOW!  It is with excitement, nervousness and definitely sadness that our family accepted this job and choose to move NORTH, to the cold, snowy part of the country.  We did our best trying to get back out west, closer to family.  Would you believe that 5 different Universities in Utah were highering for Math Education this year?  That's a lot - so we were sure, one of them would work out.  When it didn't - we kept our heads high and moved forward with faith, that the Lord would send us, where we could help strengthen and serve.

So, Keene State College it was.  I was excited to go to New Hampshire and have to opportunity to explore the north-east.  But wow!  We have 3 weeks to pack, cancel all utilities, find housing, move, and register the kids for school.  Ready...Set....Life is suddenly turned upside down - but we are grateful! 

We are ready for another adventure!

Happy 4th of July

We had a wonderful 4th of July! We started out the day at the church with a ward pancake breakfast and small program. They had some fun games and it is always a fun time socializing with everyone.

I'm on and off with holiday's - this year, I told Shawn "I'm not one of those people to go out and buy a new holiday shirt for every 4th of July - so we will probably be the only ones not in red, white and blue!"  haha - the next morning of course, I couldn't help it and told everyone to find something.  I think we did pretty good for a last minute color theme.

After the breakfast, a group was going to the $1 show.  We ended up at the wrong theater, on accident - but it was still $1 Thursday and we were with our friends the Watne's.  We watched Despicable Me - which is funny.  The girls enjoyed dancing during the end credits. 

We had a neighborhood pool party planned, but 20 minutes before it started, it started down pouring.  It has been the wettest summer yet!  We ended up having a cook out with the Kofoed's and Mildenhall's - always so fun.  There was about a 45 minute break from the rain between 7:45 and 8:30 - so we hurried out to do fireworks and sparklers. 

The Kofoed's joined us.

One last attempt at a family picture for the day!

I love the 4th of July and I love going to parades.  I miss celebrating the 4th in Utah, but definitely love that I could be with my cute little family! 

Girls Camp 2013

In June I was called to serve as a YW adviser. I was so excited as I thought it would be so fun to serve among the youth of the church - and it was! I was invited to attend girls camp for the entire week - and since Shawn had just passed his dissertation successfully, I was able to go, the entire week - without kids!! SCORE!

Above was a YCL training retreat that I was able to participate in.  It was so fun to watch the girls be so excited for camp.  A few things that surprised me - these girls had NEVER used the girls camp manual put out by the church.  I was shocked!  Back in my day (or at least back in Utah) they use this manual religiously.  We still had a great time.  I even was able to witness a copperhead snake shot by a pistol.  Yikes!

Here are my wonderful girls!  Okay, not "my girls" but the YW that I love.  We camped at Lake Hartwell for the week and it was so beautiful and peaceful!

Making a small wooden box

Sanding, and sanding, and sanding.

crafting with beads

My best friend LeAnn was also at girls camp for the entire week!  We shared a tent and had a lot of fun.  She was there to make our meals meaningful and fluffy!  We had fun creating themes for each dinner.

Look at how beautiful. 

It had rained really hard this night and some of the girls tents and canopies were ruined, but we all got through it.

Each night, LeAnn pulled out some fun/quirky toy that we would play with and go and say goodnight to everyone.  We don't have pictures, but my favorite were the flashlight rings.  We were very colorful and entertaining that night and had lots of encores. 

The glasses and fake teeth were a little too much for one night.  It's turned LeAnn into a little creepy critter.  I loved it.  A few of our west coast friends even got 1am phone calls.  We were in a goofy mood.

What a great friend and what a great week. 

Girls camp was just what I needed.  The stress of school was finally over, but the stress of a job was still very high.  On Thursday of that week, Shawn called and told me of a position of a school available in Keene, NH.  Where?  Naturally, I said, "sure, apply for it - we'll go anywhere at this point."  :)  I think you all know where we ended up.  What a huge blessing for Shawn sacrificing so much for me to go fulfill my calling and staying home with the 4 kids, on his own, for a week.  It was a great week and definitely worth it!  I love girls camp! 

The Defense

Hello, It's been a long time - I know. Lot's has happened since Adalyn's birthday and here is another attempt to play catch-up. June 11, 2013 was one of the greatest and happiest days of our graduate career. Shawn has his official defense for passing his dissertation. I was able to attend during the presentation - and let me tell you, it was pretty intense.

Some of his classmates had made this sign and put it on his office door. Shawn gave a really good presentation and after the questioning and interrogation from his major professor and committee, I felt worried that we weren't going to pass. I sure was glad I wasn't up for review. It helped me really appreciate all of the WORK Shawn had put in to his school efforts the last 5 years. I hope I never have to go back to school! I don't think I could handle the pressure of writing a thesis or dissertation - and Shawn has done both! In the end - it was such a happy day. The committee closed the door, discussed and then his major professor, Dr. Kilpatrick, opened the door and said, "Congratulations Dr. Broderick!" Those words were sweet music to our ears. The burden of graduate school was instantly lifted and it felt wonderful!  Great Job Shawn - for accomplishing one of your major goals in life!  We are so proud!

Happy Birthday Adalyn

Still in catch-up mode. :) Adalyn celebrated her 3rd birthday on June 5th.  You will quickly learn that she LOVES Disney Princesses.  We had a great day and can't believe that she is already three.

Shawn was flying home from a job interview on her birthday - so we opened a few presents in the morning before breakfast. 

As you can see, she now has the majority of the "little" princesses.  I love the new clip on dresses the dolls now come with.  So much easier than the rubber ones that rip if you stretch it too far. 

We invited friends to go with us to the Sandy Creek Nature Center.  In the 5 years we have lived here, it was the first time we had gone.  It was a great find!  We'll definitely have to go at least one more time before we leave.  Perfect thing to do on a hot, sunny day!

Ali loved the big tree in the middle.

Andie enjoyed the microscopes and looking ad different bugs, plants and skins (like snake skin)

Adalyn and her buddy Anders loved the little picture viewers.

I helped her turn it right side up and then she exclaimed, "oh WOW!"  It didn't last long though.

Trying to get a picture of all of us....Caleb was screaming and ready to go home.  He just needed a nap.

Here is a cute one...but we're missing the birthday girl.

We had pizza (of course!) for dinner.  We didn't make cupcakes or have ice cream that night.  It came later.  Caleb loved gnawing on the pizza crust.

Dad got home around 8:30pm and brought more gifts from grandma & grandpa Pratt!  She now also has all the "big" princess dolls.  They are often the "mommy" of all the little princess dolls.  She was so excited to get "Brave!"

He also brought gifts from grandma and grandpa broderick.  She loves her new puppy and paint book!

She was very happy that Dad was home again.  She also liked her new dress up shoes from mom and dad!

We had a great day.  We make cupcakes the following weekend and invited some friends and neighbors to come enjoy them with us.  I don't have a picture, but she chose HOT PINK frosting for her cupcakes.  She actually chose the frosting and would not decide on a cake or brownies to go with the frosting.  She just said, "no, that's yucky - I want pink one."  Andie finally convinced her to get a sprinkle cupcake box that only made 12 cupcakes.  It was perfect!

We sure do love you Adalyn.  You keep us all entertained and you're also very good at knowing how to push all of our little buttons.  Her favorite thing to do is follow people around to the point where they get irritated.  Really, she just wants all the love and attention anyone else gets, times 100.  :)  She loves food and asks for a snack about every 30 minutes (no joke.)  She is very intelligent and will go through the list until I say yes.  "I want Raisins?  Crackers?  Yogurt?  Banana?  String Cheese?  Apple Sauce?  Sandwich?  Fruit Snack?  Treat?  ola bar? (granola bar)"  She says everything with the sweetest little smile, it's hard to resist.

She also loves to play with her friends and loves to be invited over to other people's houses.  Her best friend ever is Anders.  It will be a sad, sad day when we move away for the two of them.  She also enjoys playing with Sammy, Henry, Scotty and LeAnn (which, of course, is my friend - but Adalyn's 3rd mother, next to Heather who is her 2nd mother.)  We're lucky to have such great friends.

We love you Adalyn and are so happy that you are a part of our family.

Entertainment at it's Best!

When we had all the girls over, they each made a video.  Here is Adalyn and May in a excellent rendition of "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes."

Next, Ali and Sadie with "I'm a Little Teapot!"

And finally, Andie and Ruthie singing "1st Grade, 1st Grade"  They sung this at the kindergarten graduation and I'm so glad I now have it on video.  I especially love how Andie directs if they should sing high or low in some spots.