The first day of school

Here are some pictures of the first day of school. I am about a week late, I don't know why I can't pull things together around here, I don't even have any more boxes to unpack to use as an excuse ;) Bryn loves her teacher and she is so happy to be back in school. She has made so many friends already and is just really enjoying it. She goes to school at 7:45 am, it has been a big adjustment for us to be back in the states where everything is always in such a hurry and you are always go, go, go. We are used to being in the island mode where we were more laid back, and let's be honest, lazy! However, we have adjusted quickly.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRYN!!!!!!!

On August 23rd, my baby turned 7 years old.  I really can't believe she is that old.  Her Birthday was on a Sunday, and that was the day my parents were leaving.  So we got up to say goodbye to my parents and then get ready for church.  After church Bryn opened her presents and we had cake and ice cream.  We were still living out of boxes at that point, but we tried to have a very special day for her anyway.  I hope it was everything she wanted!

Bryn,

We want you to know that we love you so much.  You are such a special little girl and we couldn't be more blessed to have you in our family.  You are such an amazing sister to your brother.  You are always trying to make him happy and play whatever game he is wanting you to play with him.  You always want what is best for everyone else and what will make others happy.  The beautiful smile you always have on your face makes my day every morning.  You are growing up so fast and as much as I hate it, I love that you are healthy and strong and have such a passion for life.  I would keep you small forever just so I could keep you close to me all the time, but I know that is not going to happen.  So, I am glad that you have such a desire to make right choices and be obedient.  Daddy and I love you so much and we are so proud of the little woman you are becoming.  You are THE most beautiful little girl I have ever seen, inside and out!

I love that you are such a girly-girl.  You love make-up, jewelry, dresses, high-heal shoes, frilly and lacy anything and you are the biggest shopper I know.  You love to go shopping and you can always find something girly no matter what store we go in.  You are so into Hannah Montana, High School Musical, and Disney Princesses right now.  You are starting first grade this year.  

Bryn, Mommy, Daddy, and Kyler love you more than we could every express.  We want you to always know that, and to always have that sparkle in your eye.  You are so beautiful and so perfect in every way.  

I Love you,

mom.  

We really need to stop moving.......

Wow, you would think after so many moves (10 to be exact in 8.5 years) that it wouldn't seem like such a big deal! But it has actually been a very big process and I can't tell everyone who helped us out THANK-YOU enough. My parent drove the truck back for us while the kids and I flew, and then they stayed and helped us so much with everything for the few days they had back here. We couldn't have done it without them. Erick parents took us shopping before we left Utah and stocked us up on the essentials that can really add up, they really helped us out a lot. So to them and everyone else, Thank you!
With my lack of blogging comes a lack of following as well, so I can't wait to have a minute and catch back up on all of you!
However, We are here in Michigan and LOVE it. We have been so busy trying to get everything unpacked, and everyone ready to start going again that is has just felt so hectic. Erick and the kids got a cold and that slowed things down a little. Thankfully everyone is over that now. We have been looking for Erick a car, getting Bryn and Erick ready for school and Kyler ready for football!
We love our place, we feel like it is home and could just stay here for a really long time. The area is wonderful. The kids can ride their bikes to a park just around the block from our house. I have to run to keep up with them! The park is great, lots to climb on and play with and it is pretty busy so lots of kids to play with. We love our ward, there are a few medical students and residence in the ward. Kyler's sunbeam teachers are the best ladies ever. They are so fun and cute. Kyler has come home both weeks so excited about sunbeams. Bryn has some really fun teachers as well. She has made a lot of friends in her class already.
We have met most of our neighbors and they are all wonderful. Most of them are retired and have offered to be emergency babysitters!
The garage is now empty and will hold two cars, yea!! The basement is set up for the kids to play. We have lots of storage down there along one wall, but they have the entire room to play, and they have had so much fun down there while Erick and I have been putting things away and organizing. We have seen a little bit of the area just from driving around looking for cars, but we keep hearing how beautiful the fall is and we can't wait to really see things then.
It is a little chilly, okay it is freezing! I have been so cold, even Erick has been chilly so that tells you how cold it is. In the afternoon it does warm up a bit, but I haven't taken off my jacket since we got here! So all I can really say is thank goodness for layers.
Bryn will start school on the 8th of September, Erick starts on the 14th and that day he will have a huge exam called the competency so we are hoping that that will go well and then as he does 5th semester he will be preparing for the board exams. Bryn is also going to start on a swimming team on the 14th and Kyler will start football on the 19th.
Anyway, we are here and happy and everything is going well. I have some pictures to post, I will do that soon. I am finally back so I can be more regular again.

Another haircut at the Anderson's

When we first got to the Bahamas, Erick decided he was going to grow out his hair.  We got here in January, and in February he cut it REALLY short.  That was the last time he cut it.  In June, because it was getting a little shaggy, he cut the the back and sides.  He was starting to go to the hospital and clinics and wanted it to look a little more presentable.  He didn't cut anything off the top, just the sides.  The whole time I have been giving him a hard time about needing a hair cut.  Every time I would say anything, he would tell me, "No, I am growing it out."  A few days ago when he woke up, it was looking a little crazy.  He got up and said he was going to cut it.  I was so excited!  Doesn't it look so nice?  

Our little cover model

Bryn loves to dress-up.  I think she spends more time in a day dressing-up and getting make-up on that doing anything else.  A few days ago, I came downstairs and she was dressed-up, only this time in my things!  She was modeling in the TV.  When she saw me she said, "Can we try to find me some shoes like this and glasses like this and a hat like this?"  When I told her we would see, she said, "Oh, I really hope we can.  This looks so fabulous!"  What a cutie!  

Michigan.... Here we come!

We found out today that we will be making the next move to Michigan.

So here is how it works:  Erick is just finishing up his second year of medical school.  The first two years are the "book work" years.  He has spent some time in the hospitals and clinics and seen standardized patients, but for the most part, he has just been studying the basic sciences.  He will finish up here in the Bahamas mid August and then meet the kids and I in Michigan.  We will be living in Saginaw, Michigan.  Here, Erick will be doing what is called the 5th semester.  It is Advanced Introduction to Clinical Medicine, and is actually the first rotation of his third year.  The first day of 5th semester he will take an exam called the comprehensive exam.  Then once 5th semester is over, he will sit of the National Board exam Step 1.  After we get his scores back from step 1, we will find out where we will be for the remainder of 3rd year and 4th year.  We are unsure at this point where we might be, there are lots of possibilities and probably more than we even know about at this point.  So we will take it one step at a time.  

The kids and I will be leaving the Bahamas on July 30th, to come home and see family and gather our things!!!  Yea, I am so excited to have all of our things again.  It feels somewhat like we have been living in limbo for the last 18 months, so we are really excited about that.  After a few weeks in Utah, we will head to Michigan and get things set up and ready, then when Erick gets there, he will begin the study for the comp. exam.

Here is a map of where we will be.... We are really excited about how close we are to Erie. Lee and Jandi will be within driving distance!!!

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Guess who!!

One of the kids favorite games right now is Guess Who.  We were playing it today and I was playing on Kyler's team.  Bryn asked us the question, "Is yours a girl or a boy?"  I usually just help Kyler when he needs it, so I pointed to our picture and asked him the question again, and this was his answer:  "............(VERY LONG PAUSE).............um, a boy, with lipstick!"  It was so funny.  This is a picture of our guy.