Time just flies

I can't believe it is August already.  The summer just flew by and now we are thinking about school starting up again.  I just wanted to share a couple of pictures from this summer:

The kids at the Provo Cemetery on Memorial Day

Jeff and Amanda next to the big tree.

Amanda finished the Utah Valley Half Marathon and Jeff finished the Utah Valley Marathon!

Amelia with her masterclass teacher at Suzuki string camp.

Claire and Zady with their masterclass teacher
at Suzuki string camp

Taking advantage of Battle Creek Falls to cool off (with Shannon,
Ben, Emily, and Anthony).

 At the Provo Freedom Fest Balloon Launch.

Hanging out at the Freedom Fest Parade in Provo with Lizzy, Jared, and their crew.

We enjoyed a picnic lunch with the Bertasso family.

All the Michaelis (and Rogers) cousins got together for a nice outing picking huckleberries up near Kelly Canyon (at an undisclosed location).

Huckleberries everywhere! It was really hard to stop picking
and leave all those berries on the bush!

Claire and Grandpa hanging out in the raspberries. 

It's Groundhog Day

Alright, it is Groundhog Day today, but the post really doesn't have anything to do with groundhogs.  Just an update on us since the last time (which apparently was a long time ago):

Jeff started taking classes at BYU in January and seems to be enjoying it.  He finally got another job as well that will work with his school schedule.  Both of us have signed up to run the Utah Valley Marathon in June, so we are both busy "training" for that as well.  Amanda is taking the family quilting activities seriously and working on a few quilts for the kids right now (pictures to come in the future).

The kids are all growing like crazy little weeds.  Ross started kindergarten last fall and has some ups and downs, but is doing well in his class.  Claire just earned a candy bar for practicing an exercise 25 times each day on her violin (which she was pretty happy about).  Zady and Amelia are both doing "Knowledge Bowl" at their school, so there are constant questions about the geography of the United States going around the house right now (mostly states and capitals).  Collin's biggest accomplishment lately is he decided he could use the toilet instead of a diaper -- most of the time.

Captain Ross at his birthday party

Temple Square

Claire, Zady, and Amelia at Temple Square

Waiting in line at the visitor's center to see the Christus Statue

Memorial Day Weekend 2013

Gathering as a family at the Provo Cemetery

Here are a couple of pictures from our adventures this Memorial Day Weekend.  We had a fun trip to Vernal and to Dinosaur National Monument.

Allosaurus skeleton at the Quarry Site at Dinosaur National Monument

A petroglyph we found on our hike at DNM 

We made a brief stop at the Vernal Temple on our way back home from Vernal

Arches and Pioneers

We had a great Saturday last week in Arches National Park.  It was a beautiful day and beautiful scenery.

Jeff and the kids at Balanced Rock.

Amanda keeping Collin from falling over.

Proof that we were there.

Underneath Delicate Arch--the unofficial emblem of Utah

Amelia also had a "Wax Museum" program at her school last week.  Amelia was Eliza R Snow (and she makes a cute pioneer young woman).

Teeth and Cousins

Collin has been teething the past couple of weeks.  Well, it never really ends until all the teeth are in, right?  Anyway, his molars have come in on the right side, but the left side is still working it's way through.  The past two nights he has been sleeping better.  Yeah!
Kelly has been visiting this past week which has been a lot of fun.  Sophie and Ava keep busy playing with Ross and Collin during the day.  Yesterday, we (Shauna, Brydger, Ayden, Kelly, Sophie, Ava, Kim and Naaman) went to the girls school for lunch and the book fair.  It was definitely a little crazy, but fun.
We are all looking forward to Spring and riding our bikes to school.  I'm also dying to get out and start running.  I'm hoping to do another half marathon towards the end of the year!  We'll see.
Amelia gets to participate in the School Spelling Bee this coming Tuesday.  I think she is excited, and we hope she does well.
The biggest news is that Liz had her baby yesterday at about 6:01 pm.  Ethan Cade Parker, was 8 lbs. 3 oz. and 21 1/2 inches long.  We are excited to meet the 31st grandbaby!

Back In The Saddle Again

It has been so long since I have posted.  I actually started a FB account and I rarely post anything there--I really don't feel I have anything to say on there.  But, I miss doing our blog because it really has been my journal writing for the last year.  Our family has renewed its efforts to write in our journals.  I'm going to start blogging again.  It is mostly for myself!

HARRY POTTER!

We feel very blessed that my parents have let us live in their home these past few months.  We know we will be here awhile longer while Jeff goes back to school.  He will be starting this summer so that we can save up a little money before then.  Hopefully he doesn't need anymore root canals before then!

Collin questioning why dad brought him out in the cold!

Amelia and her new exercise shirt

Santa finally brought Claire an AG Doll 

Looking spiffy in his new jacket AND Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle PJ pants!

Zady taking a breather in the snow

I want to include some pics from the past few months.  All the holidays were great--being able to celebrate with family!

Cha-Cha-Cha-Changes!

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit out west this past month.  It was great to be with family and the girls also had the experience of Suzuki Camp, again.  It always helps to motivate us to practice better!

Cousins at BYU

Coming home to Indiana was bitter-sweet.  It was hard to leave all the family.  And it was definitely a drawn out process.  First we said goodbye to Jeff's family, then to my sister Jessica, then Liz, then Ben.  Anyway, I wonder if we should all leave at the same time next time--You know, like ripping off a band aid!  Just get it over with.

Battle Creek Falls

Well, we are happy to be back at our house and to get started on some more of our projects.  Unfortunately, Jeff has also been trying to get certified in Elementary Music and looking for another job, in case he couldn't get certified.  As things have progressed, we have decided that the job here is not going to work out and we can't find another teaching position.  Soooo, we have chosen to move back to Utah and have Jeff enroll in school to pursue another career choice.   Something in computers, we think.  Things are still in the early stages, but we are VERY busy packing the house up and finishing ALL the projects we had wanted to complete over the next year.  We even had the realtor come this week to look at things and give us tips.  She seems confident we will be able to sale the house and that is very comforting.  The branch here will not have a regular Primary after we leave, and that will be sad, too.

Michaelis Clan at Mesa Falls

Caytie and Ross

Amelia, Carley, and Zady after haircuts

  Remington, Collin, and Lucy after bathtime!

Lucy and Collin chillin'

I don't know when the next time will be that we will update the blog.  Hopefully not too long.  Here are a couple of pics from our trip.  It was a ton of fun!  We love you all!