The Midwest, In All It's Glory

As if we didn't have enough fun the first time around, we returned to Nebraska and Kansas for more "action:)"

Playing at Lake McConaughy- awesome sandy beaches and warm water. We made a little afternoon trip out of it and even managed a stop at Ole's to see the famous Polar Bear, Elephant head, Giraffe head, etc. A "must see" on I-80:)

Laugh if you must, but TRACTOR PULLS are the COOLEST thing ever! As you can see from Zach's reaction, they are simply mesmerizing! Really though, if you ever have a chance at this pure redneck form of entertainment, run to it! It was well worth every pennie and the 100* 90% humidity we suffered through to watch it! Ike's favorite tractor was name "Mean Moline." He still pretends he is Mean Moline every once in awhile.
Perhaps just as good as the tractor pull itself is people watching at the tractor pull. Lets just say we have a whole new respect for redneck children and what they must go through at home... Ok, I better share... I saw a little kid with BEAUTIFUL long curly blonde hair. In fact it was so beautiful that I pointed it out to Ben. THEN THE KID TURNED AROUND... yep, it was a BOY with lovely blonde locks down to his hips age appx. 2 yrs. with a shirt on that said "My Daddy Drives a Caterpillar Machine" sweet.

How can you not eat PLENTY of CORN on the COB or cookies for that matter?? It's the midwest for heaven's sake! Zach LOVES it:) This was the day he discovered said love.

My cousins with Ike- they look pretty tough, eh?! They played nurf wars for what seemed like hours. Ben was on a team with Justin and Mallory. Ike, Josh and Madison were the upstairs team. Nurf darts were flying everywhere. It was a sight! Ike is still talking about going back to visit these guys and when that will be. He had a blast (and we did too)! We also got to see my cousin, Danielle and my Aunt Jen of course, but I missed that photo op:)



Ike prays every night that we can go back to North Platte to the bumper boats and that he and Grandma can choose red again. Yep, it's bound to be a tradition now:) Besides bumper boats, he also LOVED the Childrens "mah-zoo-zem" including the dentist room, doctor room, pizza shop, bank, grocery store, school house, farm, art room, music room, and car racing room. It was a huge hit! (he prays for that every night too)!



Zach and Gramps enjoying the tractor pull- can you tell it's HOT??

Grandma Pokorninininini (as Ike calls her) We just call her Grandma :) I love this lady so much. She is truly someone I look up to and miss everyday. Sniff. What a good lady.



Well, I missed getting pics of the rest of my family in Kansas, but this is my Aunt Mary. She is so fun! In fact, she is so fun that she was caught on many occasions taking my kiddos for walks to the pond, to see the birds, to the Library and Park! Crazy lady:) I love her and am so glad she has left such a good lasting impression on my boys. I hope they always remember the goodness of our family in Kansas. Wow, I really miss them now. Maybe I can talk Ben into moving to the Midwest after school???

 We had such a good time in the Midwest. I really do feel like it is my growing up home. I miss it, maybe someday I'll even miss the humidity:) We were able to spend lots of quality time with our family and with each other. We took walks or runs every day. We also went on an awesome day trip 4 wheeling with my dad to Halsey National Forest (in Nebraska- weird, I know, but really cool). We went to Cody Park to feed the ducks and ride the carousel innumerable times and even checked out a tandem bike to ride around town (for free, no less)! The river in North Platte is beautiful with the nice river paths and I had a blast running there (turns out I can run FOREVER in the midwest)! Oh, I also should mention, I had a wonderful time Garage Saling and ended up with some real steals- like a new kelty baby backpack for $5! Sweet! Thanks everyone, we had a wonderful time!

On to Pinedale!

Not such a flattering pic of me... note to self... don't stick belly out for pics ANY MORE:) 

O
Next stop: Pinedale, WY. We are lucky enough to have amazing family everywhere. When we found out we had such a long summer break this year, we had to promise Joni and Clay we would not "jip" them out of a visit... It just so happens we are usually coming or going from our parents when we pop in to see the Kenningtons. Not this time. We were able to spend several days enjoying Wyoming with them. As you can see, we had a chance to do some AMAZING hiking, even with the little kiddos and a sick preggo. In just under 4 miles round trip, we saw a place called Sacred Rim. I can definitely see why. We hiked through a beautiful wooded forest outside of Pinedale in the Wind Rivers up a mountain. Eventually we ended up here on the edge of a cliff overlooking the Wind River Range. Words could never describe the beauty of what we saw. I think all of us could have sat there all day and just admired the beauty of the earth we live upon. Wow. I know my photography skills are lacking, but I hope to forever keep this one ingrained in my mind. Thanks Joni and Clay for humoring us with these hikes.
     We also had a chance to go to the Pinedale Rodeo and Rendevous Days; a free kids matinee at the theatre, jogging every morning with the kiddos, Ben and Clay went mountain biking, and to "the beach," to name a few of our destinations. I love Pinedale. If it weren't for the winters and the lack of proximity to Walmart (or any chain for that matter...) I could live here. The fact that Joni and Clay live here does sort of make up for that, so who knows... Maybe someday we will live here:)
      I just want to mention here (warning: oncoming sapfest... I miss my sister)! I love Joni and Clay and their sweet little family so much! We miss them dearly. We have such a good time together, even in the depths of morning sickness (all day sickness, in this case). I feel SO BLESSED to have them as family and to be able to share cousins of the same age. What a special thing that will be for our kiddos. Joni and Clay, you are such a shining example to us of good, honest, wonderful living. Thank you for being a good, righteous mommy and daddy that we can look up to and share with; we love you to pieces and really, really miss you. and the girls. and maybe even a new boy?!

**Note- my friend just pointed out that I never mentioned WHO was pregnant. My sis, Joni is the one expecting, not me. Don't worry, I will tell you when it happens, you won't have to try and guess:)

Dose 2: Utah! Fam Reunion and "old" Friends:)

Evening Hike to Bridal Veil Falls at dusk

This may have to go on their wedding
announcement someday:)
Best Friend Hiking Buddies

My best friend who gets the award for best
smore and best smore maker and smore snot:)
Apparently their is a perfect way to make a smore

After Nebraska, we took a slight detour 10 hours west to Utah. Lucky for us, Jen and Tom graciously opened their house and their kids' rooms for us to stay and then helped us navigate to a beautiful Pieper reunion spot. Unfortunately, it seems I have no pictures to document the entire reunion... Hmm. I guess we'll have to rely on a few other Piepers for those:) Needless to say, we had a wonderful time together, as always. I am so glad to be part of a family who values being together and finding time to go to family reunions. There is great strength we draw from all being together and uniting our hearts and friendships. We love you and can't wait for next year's reunion!

It just so happens that our dearest friends, Mike and Chalece, live just down the road from our fam reunion. So, we very luckily got to check out their new digs and visit them for a few days. It was bliss! I don't know how we'll make it without these wonderful friends just down the street! Hopefully Jaylee's prediction comes true and we end up related in the end! We even got to go on a little hiking/smore trip in Provo Canyon with them. Thanks guys for the great memories (and many apologies to Chalece for the smore shot)... It's just that you have such a talent in smore-ology. It's about time the world knows- let your light shine:)

Small Doses Summer Lovin Part 1

ThE fIrSt StOp...

      North Platte, NE home of G&G Pokorny

After an undisclosed amount of time, one very successful dental board examination (part 1), 6000 miles, 2 portable DVD players and more than trader joes100 granola bars, we have returned to Arizona for year 2 of Dental School. Whew! We had a great summer criscrossing the country and I can honestly say we made the most of it! I don't think there is much we left out of our travels, short of a Tropical Getaway (maybe next year?! ha!) So, I guess we'll start at the beginning and make our way through in small. doses. Buckle up. Here we go!

Lucky for the boys, Grandma and Grandpa got a new
stove... you know what that means- instant fun!
This was a "Mexican Wagon" where Ike sold
quesadillas for 20 cents and gatorade for $2.
Zach was more than happy to join in the fun!

North Platte Train Park- Happy Boys

Fireworks about to begin- Redneck Style
FYI North Platte is the Fireworks Capital of the US! None of us have
ever ever seen a display like this, not just from the city but
from literally every home on every street... We were real party poopers
only spending $20, but had fun watching everyone else blow
a month's salary on fireworks! Thanks Cornhuskers:)

I think I got it...

Ok, ok. Yesterday I had a "moment." I'm good now. I'll always be sad because life is constantly moving and changing, right?! I do feel incredibly blessed to have more than my fair share of "rocks" (and friends who are as stubborn as rocks...) in my life and friends all over the world. Thanks. Anyway, today as I was sitting in Relief Society, I think I got it. (Which is amazing b/c most of church was spent NOT paying attention to the lesson, but trying to get my kids to be relatively behaved:) I digress... The opening hymn was Abide with Me. A hymn I LOVE and have heard a million times, but today it struck a little different and now I get it. For the second week in a row music has brought me to tears... Follow me down this little path. See if it helps... The words say:
      "Abide with me fast falls the even tide
       The darkness deepens Lord, with me abide
       When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
       Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me!

       Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day
       Earth's joys grow dim; its glories pass away.
       Change and decay in all around I see;
       Oh though who changest not, abide with me!


       I need thy presence ev'ry passing hour.  
       What but thy grace can foil the tempter's pow'r?
       Who, like thyself, my guide and stay can be?
       Thru cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me!

Ok, I know all of you were WAY ahead of me on this one, but I get it. Even if I don't want change... I get it. That's what life is all about change and relying on the one thing that will never change, the Lord. Now carry on, life's too short:) and life is good. Thanks guys, love you!

I know, I know...

I'm a slacker. I know. This past month has been one of ups and downs, ins and outs. We have all worked hard to prepare Ben for his first dental boards. By that I mean I held down the fort and the two children who desperately wanted to play with their daddy while he slaved away memorizing and internalizing bits of knowledge I never want to know:) We budgeted time and talents very wisely:) and hopefully that will pay off! They went well (we think)! and we should know results in the next couple of weeks.
Since that time, we have been tearing up the countryside, but I think it best for me to save those details for pictures (coming soon)!
I guess the reason for my lack of posting at least partially has to do with the departure of some very dear friends over the past month. I spent most of May and June sad and mourning the loss of three of Ike's favorite playmates (and consequently, my friends). I have had a difficult time with life moving on. I wish it could just always stay the same. Really, I'm not sure why the plan is for us to make close, eternal friends and then move away. How does that make sense? I know you are thinking I'm whining and I am... I just know that I am a person who needs friendship. I feel like these women (and their families) have sincerely blessed our lives and made a life in the desert with a husband studying *most* of the time bearable and even fun. I don't know how I could've made it through this past year without them and I know that they are in my life for reasons. So, thank you, dear friends... and please, don't forget to call:)
Honestly though, I feel like my heaven will have to be a reuniting of all my friends and family where we can all be together and never be separated again... wouldn't that be heaven? I know I don't see the big picture that our Father in Heaven sees, and I'm ok with that... I just miss my friends:)

Our Little 12 Month Old!

Post-birthday Cake:)

One Year Ago

First of all, how did this happen? It really has been the fastest year of my life (and probably busiest, but maybe happiest too)! I don't think much time goes by that we aren't laughing about something. Our boys truly bring so much happiness to our lives (even when things are way less than perfect)! Anyway, I wanted to describe our sweet Zachary at one year before time slips by and he's 5!
*Zach is H-A-P-P-Y. All the time, always. Ok, except maybe when his brother is putting his hands down his shirt to "keep his hands warm"- who would be happy with that, lets be honest! (Ike has done this since the day Zach was born... we're still trying to convince/threaten him to kick the habit! Maybe when they're married Ike will stop putting his hands in Zach's shirt... maybe.
*Zach loves to smile and laugh. His brother does lots to get this response in him and Zach is happy to be entertained... though mommy and daddy aren't always sure about the ends justifying the means (a lot of stuff ended up floating in the toilet to quote "make Zachy laugh!" hmm, gonna have to re-evaluate that one. He also loves "scaring us playing peek a boo and hide and seek and even knows itsy bitsy spider.
*Zach loves coming and going. He is a very laid-back kinda guy (obviously his father's child...) We often drag him to events/random parades/anything out of the house thus interfering with nap time at home or regularly scheduled anything. Don't get me wrong, we follow the same pattern everyday: Wake up, eat, play, snack, sleep, wake up, eat, play, snack, sleep... etc. But, it's not always at our house. I'm thankful for that b/c I'm obviously not a homebody.
*Along those lines, Zach loves new things and new people. He is the baby who will talk and smile and laugh to get your attention and then bury his head in mommy's shoulder when you stop to notice him. Funny funny boy!
*Zach has great hair! He has had 3 haircuts and never went through a really bald phase... it just changed colors! Now it's harder to see because it is so blonde, but it needs to be cut again... I'm just working up the strength to do it again!
*Zach eats everything! He loves everything he tries and is now being rather particular that his food not be too blended, he wants a little texture... but come on, until today he's only had two teeth... that's not much to chew with, buddy!
*You guessed it, Zach just popped tooth 3 and 4 (in succession, not dental terminology). They are his top front teeth and he already had his bottom front teeth (or as Ben put it today, "his maxillary central incisors (teeth E and F) and his mandibular central incisors (teeth O and P). Now he'll really tear the place up:)
*Zach is happy stationary. I've decided he absolutely could walk, crawl or belly dance his way through life, but he is absolutely and perfectly happy scooting on his bum. He has had x rays and is undergoing baby p.t. (on a very minor scale) to "light a fire under his diaper" and get him going. To be honest though, I think he is doing perfectly and will move when he feels a sense of urgency... hopefully before he turns 8!
*Due to all the scooting, we do a lot of laughing and I'm about to have lots of little 12 month old shorts with holes in the bum!
*Zach is great at building (especially when brother is off at a friends house)! He can stack about 4 blocks on top of each other! I think that's pretty good for his age, don't you?
*Zach can say 4 very clear words with lots of meaning (Momma, Dadda, buh-dah (brother), look (ook), and that). That pretty sums up everything you need to know as a baby in the English language! He also signs "more," "all done" and "big boy"- made that one up- it's a cute moment of pride when he accomplishes something!
*Zach is 18'12" (typical 4th percentile for my kiddos) with a huge appetite (eats more than Ike)! and he is in the 50th percentile for height
*Zach loves books and reading and music! Reading and Dancing is a large part of our life with kiddos and he gets really excited about it!
*Speaking of excitement, when Zach gets really excited, he makes this funny deep throated laugh/trill that I need to get on video... Very funny!
*Zach has asthma (Doc is pretty sure...) Sad, but it is very mild and he is even starting to not hate the breathing treatment every night! He also just battled a lovely case of pneumonia that I'm sure he picked up at Walmart or something! Through it all, he is a happy trooper- even with a high temp!
*This little boy is just the apple in our eye! I think all three of us are just enamored by him:) You can't help but love him and cuddle him to pieces! Ike put it best..."Zachy is my BFF!" I sure hope so because these two are in it for the long haul!