I Cannot Believe It!

Wow, where has this year gone?  Is it really the end of October already?  In the words of the great Quincy from Disney's Little Einsteins, "I CANNOT BE-LIEVE IT!"  It's just crazy how fast this year has come and gone... I can't help but feel somewhat cheated as I look back and try to remember exactly what events this year consisted of.  It's as if time just blew past me like a giant freak gust of wind that just came up out of the blue, tossing my hair up and throwing dust in my eyes.  And before I even have the chance to catch my breath... it's gone.  Leaving me with nothing but watering, stinging eyes, and a very unattractive wind blown hair-do.  Now, don't get me wrong, it was a fantastic year!  SO much to be grateful for!  I'm just having trouble accepting it's almost over...  Man, not too many more of these and pretty soon at this time of year I'll be standing on my front porch, waving good-bye to my little Ava, as her and her date drive away on their way to her first homecoming dance...  ugh... just the thought of it sends a chill down my spine...

Hm, well enough of that... now where was I?... Oh, so here we are!  The end of October!  This has always been my favorite time of year.  When the weather gets nice and cozy, and fall colors are everywhere, and the holidays are just around the corner...  Seems like this year has just been somewhat chaotic with lots of ups and downs for our family.  In fact I feel like my head is still kind of spinning... But I guess all I can do is live for the now, right?  So here is an official update of what is going on as of now for our family! 

Well, as some of you already know we are kind of set back to square one.  Unfortunately after a whole year of waiting for Chris's new job with the LVMPD to work out, we are once again playing the same waiting game...  Ok, now I'm not very good at summarizing, but I will try and make a long story short.  But unfortunately Chris had to withdraw himself after his first week at the academy due to a back injury that we thought was healed.  See, back in April our family was involved in a minor car accident, in which case we were rear-ended by an elderly woman.  Anyways, luckily no one was seriously injured, or so we thought.  In fact, aside from being a little shook up, we all felt we were fine and didn't see any need to go to the hospital to be checked out.  (This was our first mistake, but neither of us had experienced anything like this before, so we had no idea of the after effects...)  Needless to say, after the adrenaline wore off, like any accident would do, we began to feel the soreness and achyness pretty intense.  So we decided to see a chiropractor, who did an evaluation and set us up for some appointments to get us feeling good again.  During all of this Chris was still in the process of applying and testing for the Vegas PD, so we never thought twice about it, because we figured we had plenty of time to recover before any thing happened.  So after six months of bi-weekly chiropractor visits, Chris is still not 100% better, but he finally gets accepted in Vegas and he decides to discontinue his visits so he can head off to start the academy.  Well, that was our second mistake I guess.  He had been training previously trying to get in shape for the academy and never had any unbearable back pain, so we assumed he was all healed.  Its not until he starts the academy and is pushed to his limits that his back pain comes back with full force.  So he saw a doctor in Vegas to see if there was anything he could do to lessen the pain, but he just put him on light duty, which meant that Chris couldn't participate in most of the physical tests.  Therefore, unfortunately his only option was to resign.  (Wow, I didn't really make that a short story did I... oops!)  Anyways, they pretty much just told him to get better and re-apply when his back is healed.  Needless to say it has been a very frustrating time for the both of us.  But it is no ones fault and there is nothing else we can do but work on getting Chris healthy again!   So for the time being we are here to stay.  Well, in AZ at least...  We will still be moving some time in the next month.  But no decisions have been made... we are still looking at our options and trying to decide the best path for us right now.  I'm sure we will let everyone know when we get things figured out!  We are just trying to stay positive and remember that although it was a very frustrating set back, everything happens for a reason!  I heard a quote once that said, " If you ever want to make Heavenly Father laugh, just tell him your plans!"  haha.... So I'm sure even though this was something we wanted, he has a plan for us somewhere!

First Day at the Academy

Well, yesterday Chris had his first official day at the LVMPD academy! I talked to him last night and he was pretty exhausted! He said all in all he has never been yelled at so much in his life. But I guess that was to be expected! He said it was pretty crazy because they make it seem like you just can't do anything right. They had to be lined up by 6:00am and they didn't get off until 6:00pm and in that time period they changed clothes about 5 times because they would be told to go change into their uniforms, but then right when they got their uniforms on, they would come out and get yelled at because they took too long, so he'd make them go back and change into their PT uniforms so they could do more push-ups to make up for taking so long to get their uniforms on! haha... So he says it was a long day of getting told they weren't good enough and they were never going to make it through this academy. He also told me that out of the 30 recruits, 2 already quit! After just one day! I guess that is why they make it so tough, so they weed out the weak ones. As for Chris though, he says the physical work is difficult, but do-able. He has always liked a physical challenge, so that doesn't surprise me. He's also made a few friends already, which is good... he says surprisingly there are a handful from his class that are also LDS too! He says the hardest part of all of this is being away from the girls and me. (awww... so sweet!) He doesn't think he can make it until the beginning of December without us up there. He says he wants us to move up as soon as possible. So I think we will try to bump it up a month and move up the beginning of November instead. I thought it would make things easier on him if we stayed here while he adjusts to the academy for the first couple months, but he says it is more stressful on him not being able to come home to his family every night... poor guy... We miss him too! So we'll see how it all works out... I guess I need to start looking for a house up there... Anyways, I just thought I'd let you all know how he is doing and how his first day went!

We are so proud of you Chris! We love you SO Much! Can't wait til we can all be together again! Keep up the hard work! We'll see you soon!

September Update and Rice Family Pics!

Hello! Wow, I can't believe I've gone this long without a post! I am such a slacker, I know! Well, there isn't much going on right now, but I'll post a quick update on what's happening with our small little family for those of you that I don't get to talk to on a regular basis.
Right now I am up in Vegas with Chris. I came up for a short visit and to attend the Family Orientation night for Chris's job, which was last night. But I am headed home today... :( It has been nice to see Chris and hang out with him! He starts the academy next Monday, the 21st, so I know his life is going to drastically change pretty quick and he will be busy all the time with that. I'm glad I got to come up for a visit before he started, so we could just relax together for a couple days. It has been a nice trip! I am going to miss him when I go home, but I know it is all worth it in the end.
For now, the girls and I are at home, while Chris is living in Vegas. He is temporarily renting a room that he found in an online ad on Craigslist. He says everyone up here is really nice and he likes the ward that he is in, so that is good! The house he is staying in is also occupied by a few other roommates, but they are rarely home, so the house is always quiet. So that will make it easier for him to get all the studying done that he will have to do when the academy starts, which is also nice for him. He says he is very nervous but excited at the same time to start at the academy. I think I am more scared for him than he is! But then again he has always had the desire to join the military, (not that I would EVER let him!), so now he will get a good taste of what that would be like I guess! haha. The girls and I will move up with him the 1st of December, which will give us some time to save up a couple paychecks for the big move! Hopefully that will give me enough time to get the house packed and ready to go! So it should be an interesting next couple months for all of us! I'm sure I will be in Cottonwood spending a lot of time with my mom to pass the time! Plus while I'm in school, its easier to get homework done with someone to help with the kids! Love you MOM!
Well, I think that is about it... We sure love and appreciate all of your love and support that you all show to our family in this time of change! We've got the best friends and family ever! Thanks to you all!

Now here are just a few family pics I wanted to post from our Family Reunion a couple months ago... I just got them from Jolin so I wanted to show them off! hehe! Enjoy!

The WHOLE Fam-Dam-ily!

Our Own Little Family

Chris and I

Grandma & Grandpa! Cute Pic!

Utah Trip

Since Chris is gone, and the girls and I have nothing better to do, I decided this was the perfect time to head up to Provo to visit my sister and her family for a few days!  Luckily, my other sister, Kati, was nice enough to take the trip up with me last week to keep me company on the long drive!  It was a great trip!  We always have fun when us sisters get together!  And believe it or not, there is never a dull moment!  Especially when you're carting around five kids under the age of 5 everywhere you go... That's for sure!  Our trip consisted of lots of fun activities, including a walk down memory lane while watching some old and entertaining family home videos from our childhood, a very interesting trip to the mall, (in which Ava just happened to decide to throw THE BIGGEST TANTRUM I have ever seen her throw in her whole three years of life, which is always embarrassing...  UGH!  But that's a story in itself for another day), and a fun trip to Cornbelly's Cornmaze!  (Which is an awesome fall festival type of thing at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi... Probably the best ever!)  All-in-all, it was a trip to remember!  Here are a few pics!  

Thanks for letting us come visit Wendi!  We all had a blast!  Ava is already missing Jill and Ty everyday!  Love you!

Diaper Changing Time before we walk into the Corn Maze!

 

 

Ava loved dressing up in the Princess Corner.... I hardly recognized her with the wig on!

 

 

Ava's pretty face paint!

 

Ava and I about to walk through the Monster's belly.

 

All the 5 of the Kinkade Grandkids!

 

 

Good News! FINALLY!

We finally got the news! Chris was accepted into the Las Vegas Metro Police Department! Yay! He will be reporting to the September academy! We've waited for so long and now it's finally happening! Although, our plan right now is that Chris will probably move out there by himself and rent a cheap room from someone, while the girls and I stay home and work on getting our house rented and save up a little for the big move! Then come Thanksgiving time, we will all move out there together! We are all very excited for the big change! Although, like any move it will be bittersweet because we will miss all our friends and family here! Thanks to you all for the love and support that you give us! We love you all! :)

11 Weeks Old!

Yay! I can't hardly believe it! These have been the fastest 11 weeks of my life! Miley is already getting so big! At her last appointment she weighed 10 lbs 11 oz. But that was a couple weeks ago, so I wouldn't be surprised if she is almost 12 lbs by now! :) And she is so good at holding up her head and she is always so alert and observant! She loves sitting in her bumbo seat like a big girl so she can see everything that is going on! She is just such a good baby! I am so lucky to have such beautiful little girls to hug and kiss and play with all day long! I love it!

Blessing Day

Last Sunday we blessed Miley and surprisingly had a great turn out! I didn't know I could fit that many people in my house, to be honest! haha... It was quite the crowd! Thank you to all of our friends and family that made the trip out to our ward to be there to support us on this special day! Then after sacrament we had everyone over for BBQ beef sandwiches, which was a blast! It was a day to remember! Thanks again to everyone! We have the best friends and family! :) Here are a few pics...

Family Pic!
Ava had already snuck upstairs and changed out of her dress when it was time for pictures... that little rascal!

Four Generations!
(I dunno why my mom felt the need to squat... You look pretty goofy mom... hehe! I love you!)

Ok, this is from the Sunday before... But my girls just looked so cute! I just had to take a quick pic of them after church! :) Girls are so fun!

And here is a pic of Miley finally meeting her Great Grandma Dixie for the first time!

2009 Connolly Family Reunion

Being up at the cabin worked out just perfect too! Because we went straight from the cabin to camping with Chris' family for the week just on the other side of Payson! Now, I've gotta admit, I wasn't really looking forward to camping all week with a 7 week old baby in a tent, and I actually intended on only camping for a coupe days and then calling it quits... But we had such a great time that we ended up camping with everyone for the entire week! haha! It was quite the experience! But lots of good memories were had! We all had a great time! It was fun getting to know family that we don't get to see very often and enjoying everyone's company. Ava never knew she had so many cousins! :) Then at the end of the week we all met in Cottonwood at Nana and Grand-dad's house to have family pictures. And surprisingly the whole gang was there! 48 to be exact! Everyone from all families were accounted for! So congrats and thank you for those in charge! Can't wait for the next one!

(I was very disappointed with myself when the week was over, cuz I noticed that I barely took any pics all week!! ugh... I've got to get better at this!)

Picking wild boysen-berries out in the forest! They were so yummy! And the kids had a blast!

Here's all the younger cousins that were there! What a wild bunch! :)

The kids caught miltiple Horny Toads throughout the week! Ava thought they were so neat! So I had to get a pic of one! That girl is fearless... haha!

My princess... isn't she cute?! Love you Ava!

~Cabin Week~

I know I am late at posting, but its been a crazy couple weeks and I'm finally getting used to being home again! So better late than never, right? Alright, well two weeks ago I had the opportunity to go to the cabin with my mom, and two sisters, Emeli (w/ her two friends) and Kati, while my other sister, Lesli, attended a pole vaulting camp near by. So it was fun to have a girls week up at my favorite place in the whole world... In fact, Kati and I loved it so much that when my mom went home with the girls on thursday, we decided to stay for the rest of the weekend! So our husbands came up to join us along with some friends too! And since it was the 4th of July weekend, we went into Payson to see the fireworks saturday night! And they were spactacular! Probably one of the best fireworks shows I've ever seen! All-in-all it was a weekend to remember! And to the Paulson's, Fringer's, and Welly's... Thanks again for coming with us and making it a great weekend! We love you guys! We are so lucky to have such awesome friends!

Here are a few pics I got from the cabin...

Playin at the creek-
Ava rock sliding! The water was FREEZING! But Ava loved it!

Tryin' to warm up in the sun!
Miley slept through the whole trip... like usual... :)
Ava with her new found friends! Maxine, Emeli, and Lexie! Thanks again girls for entertaining her for the week! She really enjoyed hanging out with the big girls!
Rock hopping down the creek!

4th of July Pinata!
What a great idea! the kids loved it!
Check out Brocks face.... haha! He's so determined to get that candy! ;)

Go Tristan Go!

That pinata was one tough cookie! The dads finally had to take a couple hard swings to bust it open! The kids didn't seem to mind though, as long as they all got their share of the goods!! :)

Waiting for the fireworks...

Lake Trip!

Well, I didn't get very many pics, but I just thought I'd post the ones I got... A few weeks ago we went to the lake with my fam for the day! It was a blast! I haven't been to the lake in a couple years and it sure felt good to be back! I love going to the lake and riding in the boat and chillin on the beach... I have to admit, it was hard to go home! Thanks Mom and Dad for a great time! Can't wait to do it again soon!!

Miley's first lake trip! And only a month old! Call me crazy, but she did great!

Blue had to dig a spot in the dirt every time he layed down... I guess it was cooler for him. It was so funny though! And everywhere Chris would sit, Blue would follow and dig a spot right next to him... Silly dog... Isn't he too cute?!