The Move

We determined that driving our stuff in a U-haul across the country with three kids was not in our best interest. Since one of Ryan's classmates from the University of Washington was also moving to Rochester to begin residency with Ryan, we decided to share a full ABF trailer. 29 feet of semi trailer may sound like a lot, however between the two families, there are a total of 8 kids and Ryan's classmate owned a house during dental school. Needless to say, both families had to get rid of a substatial amount of stuff in order to make it all fit.

We said goodbye to our Seattle appartment and to many wonderful friends - We really loved our time in Seattle.

Some Highlights of our Last few Months in Seattle

Pike Place Market in the Spring

The Mariners at Safeco Field

Boating on Lake Washington and Lake Union

Lake Chelan with the Garcias

Grandpa Walker & Granny Kate came to Visit with Aunt Kelsey and Cousin Rylee for St. Patrick's Day

Riding on the Ferry - We all love Grandpa Walker's Peanut M&Ms

The Seattle Waterfront

Visiting the Vancouver and Seattle Acquariums

Jeffery's Blessing

3 Peas in a Pod

Our trip to Cannon Beach, Oregon

Back to the Blog

Well, it's been a long time since we updated the blog. It certainly has been a busy past 6 months for our family. Moving to Rochester from Seattle and getting settled into a new place has been both one of the hardest things we have ever done as well as a great experience for learning and growing. There may have been places where it would have been easier for Ryan to do his residency, but we are now more confident than ever before that Heavenly Father is watching over us and that this is where he wants us to be right now.

I'm going to add a few posts today to catch up for the past few months, then we are planning on updating the blog on Sundays from now on.

These first photos are from Ryan's graduation just before we left Seattle.

Brothers

It’s a lot of fun to watch Jeffery get older. Jeffery reminds me of Jacob in so many ways. Jeffery is 5 months old now!!

Old Friends

We went to Spokane last weekend to see visit some friends before we leave the Northwest.  Jacob was so excited to see some of his old friends. The first picture was taken last weekend of Will, Morgan, Halle, Jacob, Grace & Will. The second picture was taken in May two years earlier!

 

Pathetic...

I don't have new pictures to post right now. Lately, I have stopped taking pictures of the kids and using my memory card to take photos of our junk that we are trying to sell on "Craig's List."

This is one of our more memorable Craig's List transactions.

Ryan made this fence for our patio four years ago to keep the kids in. I decided to post it on Craig's List for $25 before I took it out to the trash. Why not?

I received a call a few days later asking me if I would be willing to donate our fence. I quickly chimed in "Sorry..but we have 3 kids and we need the money for a 3,000 mile move for more schooling."

The man then proceeded to tell me that he's in charge of an organization that performs random acts of kindness in the community. His group wanted to put our fence in a disabled woman's yard to keep her pets in. I told him that his organization sounded nice, but I would have to check with my husband. When I called him back and told him we'd be happy to donate our fence, HE WOULD NOT take our donation!! He claimed that he WOULD NOT accept a donation from us and that his group wanted to buy the fence from us. When he came to pick up the fence, he actually gave Ryan more money than we asked for. He then asked Ryan again how many kids we have living in student housing.

Crazy? Huh? I'm almost 30 years old and a charity CALLED ME soliciting money or goods and at the end of the deal, they ended up donating to me an extra $5. Pathetic

What I love about my boys...

Dimples!

Lunchtime

We were invited to eat lunch at Jacob’s school a few weeks ago. It was a lot of fun. Lunch at Jacob’s school is a production (real dishes, linen napkins, music, and candles).  As a special treat, Jacob’s teacher asked him if he wanted to do the dishes. He was ecstatic. Apparently, every kid begs to do the dishes. We watched him wash 23 plates willingly! If only we could pull this off at home. Why is it everybody listens to the teacher but nobody listens to mom?

 

 

Jacob and Grace's 1st Dose of Dry Milk

Ryan and I decided that we better eat all of our food storage. Why? Two reasons:

 

1)      We are too cheap to ship it across the country

2)      We are too cheap to throw it out

 

Some days I pray that they boy scouts will come asking for food donations. Until then…I’m grinding wheat, baking bread, eating chili every other night, and the kids are drinking dry milk.

 

When Jacob tried the powered milk for the first time he asked if “I had left the milk in the fridge too long.” Grace asked “why is this milk warm?” But they drank it! They don’t seem too miserable in the picture, do they?  

 

 

 

Life with three

Everybody asks me what life is like with three. I think that the third is a sweet bonus. The transition between one and two was really tough for me. But the transition between two and three has been sweet. Jeffery is adorable. Jacob and Grace love him too. True..our life has many more chaotic moments, but when I see them all three being silly together I forget about the undone dishes and the overflowing laundry basket.  

 

 

 

Why didn't I study photography!

I just went online and had a little blog fix. I started to wonder why I don’t update our blog more. So I searched through our pictures to find something to post. THIS PICTURE DEMONSTRATES WHY I DON’T UPDATE OUR BLOG. I can’t get my kids to look at the camera. I have a series of tragic family photos with nobody looking or if they are looking at the camera somebody is screaming. I finally found a photo with everyone looking, but then I remembered that I photoshoped Jacob’s head from another photo. EEEK. Maybe there is something wrong with our photographer. \

 

The New Generation of IPOD

Jacob and Grace play with a cardboard IPOD. They push the pretend "play button" and sing their favorite tunes. Jacob found Ryan’s IPOD today and starting using it. I’m glad that our toys are their toys.

 

 

Grace's First Hair Cut

Aunt Kelsey gave Grace her first haircut. Kelsey is amazing. Grace sat still the whole time and Grace looks beautiful. Thanks Kelsey!! 

 

 

Pediatric Dentistry Match Results

Match results came in this morning at 5:35 a.m. We’re moving to Rochester, NY in June.

Making money...

Well...you can't make money! But can you make gift cards? Jacob made this REI gift card for Grandma for her birthday. Then he insisted that we all go to REI to help her pick something out. I think he honestly believed that his was as "good as cash." Grandma had to slip the cashier some money to pay for her gift. I felt pretty bad that her birthaday gift cost her $45.

If you have a favorite store please let us know. Maybe Jacob will send something special for your birthday too.

No! He is my brother...

Grace & Jacob absolutely adore their new brother. They love him a little too much.

This is the most frequent fight that occurs at our house now.

Grace: "This is my little brother."
Jacob: "No, he is my little brother too!!!!"
Grace: "No, he is MY BROTHER."
(Then Grace starts to chase after Jacob.)
I will NOT insert the gory details here.
Mommy: "Grace, now why are you in time out?"

Grace has seen time out so much with her older brother that it's hard for
Grace to take time out seriously. Any suggestions?

Merry Christmas!

Jeffery Lionell Walker ~ Born 12/22/2007

To all of our family and friends, here are some pictures of yesterday and today at the hospital. It was so nice to talk to many of you over the past couple of days. Jeffery was born at 7:24 AM on December 22, 2007 - 8 lbs 13.1 oz, 21 inches long.

We are so excited for him to be with us!