And Finally The Big News!!!

A little poster Isaac and I made to help our neighbors find out about our good news... We have had so much help in getting to this point. So many prayers, fasting, etc. that we wanted everyone to know:)

It occurred to me that in all of our ecstatic rejoicing, we have failed to mention that Ben was accepted to Dental School!! He was accepted to Arizona on Dec. 1st, first thing in the morning. I think both of us were crying and laughing. It's definitely a funny feeling, I'm sure everyone can relate, but we had been praying and hoping and putting our trust and faith in the Lord for so so long- with this matter in particular- that to finally have that prayer answered and to be supported in our decision to pursue the course was really overwhelming. It's like praying for something for 3 years and wanting it so badly and knowing the whole time that that is absolutely the path for you, but being "shot down" for years in a row, regardless of your hard work, etc. We are so grateful for the opportunity to go now and know that the timing is finally right and the place will be right too. We trust and have felt that the Lord needed us here for the past 3 years. We have seen so much growth in our personal lives, our spiritual experiences, and Ben's professional development that we know we needed Laramie. We also know that we have been able to experience things and experience a trust and faith so strong in the Lord and His plan that we may never have had to do otherwise. So, though it was trying at the time, we know that it turned out exactly the way it needed to and we are, once again, so grateful for the journey and the Lord's plan.

So, from here the plan will be interesting. We are thinking we will be moving somewhere outside of Phoenix (around Glendale, where Ben will be going to school) around July. Should be interesting, as always, but this cold spell has made us love the thought of Phoenix, that's for sure!!

Ben also finished his immunology class last week. To his astonishment, and thanks to lots of hardwork and the help of the Lord, he was able to pull of the highest grade in the class! It was definitely one of the most difficult classes he has had to take and along with another 4 credit course, and 40 hours of work each week, he has definitely felt the load! This spring semester, Ben doesn't have to take any classes, so we are going to really enjoy the calm before the storm!!

As for us, Ikie has been battling little colds and I actually found out that I had strep throat, though I didn't know it and had no symptoms-- lucky me, a day off work! Anyway, it has given us a couple of chances to be home together and relax a little... Something that doesn't happen too often! We are in the midst of a wonderful Christmas season. I love this time of year and the special spirit we can feel when we stop and take a minute. We are also taking great joy in making gifts for lots of friends and family (beware!!) and teaching Ike the same. So, while we make it through this last week of school and work, we will remember these special times and look forward for a great break and an opportunity to catch up with many of you. May this week be blessed for you all!

"It looks like guacamole!"

***Disclaimer: May be a little graphic for the faint of heart***

If ever you hear these words uttered from your two year old's mouth while sitting in the bathtub, "It looks like guacamole!" Know that you have a catastrophe at hand! Apparently, Isaac has a stellar imagination already, though I'm not sure I appreciate the link between a little poo and guacamole. I think it'll be awhile before I can eat chips and guac again! It does make for a great story to tell his girlfriends when he gets older!

This week has been great. Though Ben and I both feel like we are being pushed to our limits and staying busier than we ever want, we know that we are headed in a good direction and that the things we are doing are worthy causes. Ben is about to finish his two classes (8 credit hours)! Whoa! All the time he is working full time. We are so looking forward to this week with some friends and family and the opportunity to watch my little brother (who is much taller than me) play basketball for Regis University. (http://www.regisrangers.com/) It promises to be a great week of eating and basketball (and maybe a little black friday shopping...) So, here's to another great week in what we like to call paradise! May we all take a minute to give thanks and to realize the truly wonderful things in our lives.

The Indiana Diary

Ben, Isaac and I left for Indiana on October 28th for Ben's dental school interview Oct. 29th. He had a great interview and really feels like this would be a good place, if it's where the Lord wants us. While Ben was interviewing, Isaac and I went to the Indianapolis Children's Museum with our friends, Ashley and her daughter Lily, and Emily and her daughter, Lexi. We had a great time! I think this is the best Children's Museum ever... certainly on a different scale than the ones we are used to! I think Isaac's favorite part was the haunted house and a pool ball maze (difficult to describe, but a very intricate design that took balls up and down and through loops, etc.) He could've stared at it all day trying to figure it out!

Making cupcakes with Lily-- this is post them throwing dry cake mix at each other in the two seconds we were turned around... great cleanup!

We spent the rest of the week in Indiana with our friends, Roger, Ashley and Lily (and their family). We had a wonderful time and especially enjoyed trick or treating with our two little pirates! We also enjoyed going to Rog and Ashley's ward (a little backwards!) While we were there, the only really funny thing was in Sunday School when a guy's phone went off and it was a country song about getting it on! We all had a good chuckle! Ike also had a dream come true! He was able to ride with Roger's dad (and Ashley and Lily) on a real combine while they cut soy beans! It was pretty much the highlight of his two years of life and he talks about it all the time! I think he may have a good future as a farmer!

We sent Ben back home to work and go to school on Sunday and then Ike and I spent another week "chilling" with the Whites. It was so fun to take a step back and just be with our kids enjoying each other's company and letting the kids play a ton. It certainly took care of my stress problem, at least for awhile and made me so excited for the day I can live next door to these special friends! (I'll keep looking on Craig'slist for our next house!)

Well, here's to another week of fun! Life back to "normal" is quite exciting too, especially with this two year old around!

4 Birthdays... Really?? Overkill? Maybe...

Isaac on his First BirthdayIsaac on his 2nd Birthday Each year I am taking his picture on his birthday in our rocking chair... sniffle... he is growing so fast. What a fun little man!

We have just celebrated Ikie's Birthday for the past two weeks! I don't know if he remembers a time when it wasn't his "birthday season!" It all started when we were in Kansas visiting my grandma and she made Isaac his first birthday cake (angelfood-- a longstanding tradition of Pokorny birthdays-- yumm!) After that we hit a hiatus for a week until his real birthday on October 19th. We had birthday waffles for breakfast (an adopted tradition that we love!!) I let Isaac choose what kind of cake he wanted me to make too. He chose lemon, just like his daddy! So, we ate lemon cake that night and he opened a couple of presents with Grandma and Grandpa and us. Then our fourth birthday celebration came this past Friday when we had a little "Spook-tacular" 2nd Birthday Party with a couple little friends and our family. It was a crowded little event, but so fun! I actually made homemade donuts ("spudnuts") and put candles in that instead! So, all in all, Isaac insists he is four years old when you ask him, he is an excellent candle blower outer, and I am about to be in a diabetic coma from all the sugar!! It was sure fun though:)

just a few friends and family at the party... Not enough room for everyone we love, but it was certainly enough to feel some love:)

If you couldn't deduce from my shotty attempts at keeping a blog, or any contact at all, we have been "bouncing around" the country this month with interview season. We started off going to Nebraska and Kansas to interview and UNMC Dental School and then went to see my family in Kansas. We had a great little weekend that went all too fast, but we sure enjoyed everyone. Isaac still can list everyone we saw from "Grandma Ponininini" to "Grandma Leafy" and "Aunt Rita," etc. Sure was fun to catch up a little!

Ben then took a trip last week to Phoenix to interview for dental school. He has felt good about every interview and comforted in that he did his best effort, but he really enjoyed this visit and the people he met. We'll see... We really have turned this one over to the Lord and know that when the time is right, we will go. No worries on this end!

Now we are preparing this week for a trip to Indiana on Tuesday and Ben's 3rd interview this year, at IU in Indianapolis on Wednesday. Ikie and I are pretty excited to go along to see our good friends and adopted "families" and to spend Halloween somewhere warm with lots of leaves changing colors:) We'll have lots to report I'm sure!

Anyway, as we continue on through interview season and this interesting time of life, we want to thank all of you for your never failing support and faith in us and on our behalf. It makes all the difference and truly has blessed us in everyway! Here's to a great week!

Singing in the rain, Singing in the sun, singing, singing

A picture of Isaac post carrot cake episode:) He awoke early from his nap and snuck into the kitchen where he proceeded to eat his fill of carrot cake without me knowing. When he was done he was sure to tell me all about it!! So cute!

This week has been really wild around here... So wild, in fact, that my stress-induced zits are arising!! ahhh! If that doesn't make you want to de-stress, I don't know what will! Anyway, I know it'll all work out for the best. I find it so difficult to own what is mine, and not everyone elses'! After we take a step back, though, we realize how truly lucky we are and how much we love where we are in life. It's all worth it and we really are very happy here.

This weekend we were able to do just that. Ben did some community service with our stake this weekend planting over 160 awesome trees on 130. They look great! While he was out doing good, he happened to take all our sets of keys with him (on accident, I'm pretty sure!) So, in the meantime, I promised Ikie we were going for a walk in the "trolla" as he calls the stroller. In his mind, this is the epitome of everything wonderful, so to say the least, he was disappointed when all the keys were gone and the jeep was locked! So, thinking on my feet, like every good mommy, I decided we would just take the bike trailer, until I realized I left it at my parents' last week. So, again, thinking on my feet, I determined the only mode of transporation we had left was the framed baby backpack. I loaded Ikie up and away we went (finally)!

Just wait, it gets better... So, my sister had called to see if I was garage saling (as we both need some things). I couldn't let her down, so off we went. The first stop ended up being way farther north than I thought, so we essentially walked to the end of town on the north (about a mile from our house) and then didn't find anything (of course!) So, we turned around and I decided I was going to hit this one neighborhood sale and then go to my parents' to get the bike trailer (the very southern edge of town). It only took 2 hours! Luckily, Isaac loved every minute of it and I got a great workout! By the time we got to their house, I think we walked over 5 miles with all the garage sale detours. Crazy, I know! The best part is that Isaac really loved it, the worst part, I didn't find one single thing at a sale. 5 blocks doesn't seem too far until you've already walked 4 miles with a baby on your back! Oh, and then we biked back home (another 3 miles)! Whew, I'm exhausted just retelling it!

So, that was our Saturday morning. We spent the rest of the day running errands and getting things done around here, which was so so nice! I love days like this!! Then today was equally as lovely. I subbed for a Sunbeam class of 10 kiddos- a little crazy, but it was really great. Then we hung out around here and took a little time to splash in the puddles outside our house after a rainstorm passed through. A perfect end to a great weekend!

2 months!!

How in the world did two months go by without a post... I guess life really is as busy as I claim! We have seen a few ups and downs this past little bit, but mostly ups and lots of laughs from the downs! We spent the summer traveling all over visiting friends and family and hosting several family and friends here too! What a treat! In Wyoming it is really true that we have to take advantage of our precious summer months because they don't last long! We took many opportunities to go hiking in the mountains... These are pictures of a gold mine we found above Centennial, WY about 20 minutes from our house. It's pretty difficult to get up there, so we're glad my dad found it and told us about it! Ben's parents made the great trek over Wyoming to come visit us a couple of weeks ago. We had a great time at the first football game of the season with Hannah, Mary and Peter (or Petey as Ike insists on calling him). We also enjoyed some delicious meals together and even a deep conversation/fireside on the last days. Joni and Clay just happened to be back in town for that too, as was my friend, Jamie. It was a really neat experience.

Mary and Ikey watching the rain fall on our patio. Too cute to miss!

Last weekend we finally crossed another of our "must dos" of the list! We drove to Canon City, CO with my friend Jamie and rode the train down the Royal Gorge. It was awesome and Isaac was beyond words! He loves transporation and trains are the ultimate in his mind right now... It was great.

This was the night before our garage sale... Ike thought it was funny to sit in the mirror and make faces with "make offer" stickers on our noses!

I also have to tell you a few new things Isaac is doing... He is all of a sudden speaking in phrases. About 20 times a day he says "Where'd daddy go?" My favorite for the moment was this morning when he came in on his tigger rocking horse toy saying "I'm-a goin to da library!" It was way cute!

Backpacking to Mosquito Paradise

For our Fourth of July Celebrations, we did what any good Wyoming family would do... We headed straight for the mountains!! We went on a hefty backpacking excursion with our other brave relatives... Joni, Clay and Macy, as well as Ben's parents, Paul, Peter, Hannah and Mary, oh and Libby the dog. It was such a great time! None of us escaped without an injury of some sort, but we all are better because of it. What a great bonding experience. The boys and Mary caught some excellent trout and we all enjoyed some "gourmet backpacking meals!"

We found a spot in the Bridger Wilderness of the Wind River Mountains surrounded by mountains where there were no other people within miles and miles of us! In fact, we were the only people on this entire lake... some people, I won't mention names... took the opportunity to skinny dip in the 45 degree water too!

The babies loved every minute of it! You can see Macy loves to attack their new puppy, but mostly Ikey and Macy just love to love each other! Pretty cute, though, it can turn violent at times, but only one lasting bite mark, so not too bad! Isaac thought it was pretty funny to walk around with the kettle on his elbow and tell everyone bye bye and then ask for a kiss.



I'm really glad he had a chance to bond with his grandparents, b/c he doesn't see them often, but he sure loves them. He has affectionately nicknamed all his grandparents "Monga" for grandma and "Poppa" for grandpa, though he can say grandma and grandpa just fine! He is turning into a little comedian for sure!

This is a picture of Peter about to cross the river in my tevas... quite the fashion statement:)

One more quick story... Isaac has a story called Oh David! in which the little boy, David, has a stinky diaper on one page and it says P.U. David! Well, Ike took this page to heart, so now whenever he has a stinky diaper he says "PoooWeee Davey!" and then he laughs and says "ah funny!" He kept us all laughing this weekend, that's for sure:)

Hope all of you had a happy weekend. We found ourselves very grateful on Sunday as we sang our National Anthem in Sacrament meeting in Pinedale. It was really touching and reminded us just how awesome our country is. Here's to remembering more often what we really have...