Alot more pictures...

We love spending time with our parents/grandparents. It's really really fun to see the kids with their grandparents.

Grandma Nancy
And cousins...we try and cram in a years worth of bonding and memories...They play so good together. The older cousins love the younger ones and make them feel so good and the young ones play with a bond that only cousins have. (my brothers two cute boys and EZ)

Our awesome niece Morgan graduated highschool. Highschool!! She's the neatest girl. We love you Morgan.
Ezra had fun watering everything.
We bought a 2 dollar sprinkler and had endless fun with it.


B-rad has to cram all his exercise adventures into our vacations back to family and the gorgeous Utah mountains. He and Jeff went on this beautiful hike together.
My sister Amy and her husband Steve invited us on an early morning hike. Their friends had hiked up before and brought a little breakfast surprise. Gorgeous Utah moutains. I love them.
EZ at the Zoo.
The dinosaur exhibits at the Zoo were pretty cool. Why am i capitalizing Zoo?!
The Zoo with sweet Grandma Ruthie.
Pedicures for Grandma Ruthie's b-day and my sister invited us to tag-along.
BearLake games with Brad's side.
They had to get in the water. Freezing and rising.
More cousins. These little girls play like they never skipped a beat.
I like feet pictures.
Brad's triathlon. We competed in this Salem tri a few years before and the bike portion was canceled. The water temp was warmer than the air temp that year. Crazy triathlon weather and memories. This year Brad and Jeff got their dad and older brother to compete along side of them. It was fun to watch.
B-rad successfully sprinted past this dude in red.
After the pass. Brad is just good at running and biking and really anything he does. I've probably mentioned it but during my first half marathon, I was a little nervous and that morning Brad woke up and said, "i think i'll run it with you." Um...okay. He didn't train a bit and just ran happily alongside me and kept me running and successful. That's just how he is. Irritatingly good without training a bit. But that makes me happy because he doesn't have time to.
Here they are in their glory.
Hiking up at Ensign peak.
I did a women of steel try. It was really fun to do with with all girls.
Early on in my "event" life I decided there was really no point for ugly pictures. So though I don't look like I'm trying hard with my happy smile I am. When I did my first marathon Brad told me i didn't have to keep waving and thanking the people for coming out to watch. I think the smiling keeps me from crying.
And that sums up our summer in Utah, etc. Can't wait till we go back.

Let's just get this party started...

I have a lot to share by way of pictures. We've had a whirlwind month and we are finally getting settled into our new place and city of Peoria, Illinois. So for today, and for my mind, I'm just gonna download this many pictures.

Here we are...the family and their DOCTOR!

So, so, so proud of Brad. He worked harder than anyone and probably I ever even knew. He's such an amazing guy and dad and friend and doctor.Brad with two of his best buds...Trenton (moved to Arizona) and Scott (Michigan)

Jake (Illinois) and Dan (Indianapolis)Jason (Pennsylvania) and Matt (Michigan)
Here I am with 2 of my great friends Devri and Danika.
We were lucky to have Brad's parents and his sister Melinda be able to come out for this amazing accomplishment.

My cute parents came a week or so before and helped us pack up and then traveled with us out to graduation. I was soooo sick with the worst flu of my life when they arrived and they just got started working and didn't ever stop.
These were the girls I got particularly close with when I served as Historian for the Students wives association.
More of the wives. I can't even explain what a place Kirksville was. It was just full of talented, giving, beautiful people.

Kirksville was just a simple life and simple time. I think this picture captures my memory of living there. This was a pretty lake we would go to on Sundays. I really loved just "being" while I was there. I was never in a hurry and I never really had much to do or really anything pressing. It was the perfect place to have Chloe and discover some of my talents...uh, while Brad was busy becoming a doctor (i'll keep mentioning that cause I am just so darn proud)

After graduation we sent my parents back to Bloomington to fly home, Brad's family took EZ and flew home from Missouri and we 3 drove the 1200 or so miles to Utah. We met up with some friends at Arches. I love Arches and these friends are just amazing so it was a double dose of good for a couple of hours.I couldn't not mention or show you the huge bird that killed himself on our car. He seriously flew right into us. As we were about to hit him and shreiked and covered my eyes and then impact. We both kind of lifted in our seats and that's when we saw huge feathers coming up over the hood. We drove this way for about 25 miles till dinner. As we exited we saw more than one car pass by and point at our grill. We really didn't no the extent of the incident till we got out and saw the poor fellow.

Luckily, we had a first aid kit with plastic gloves. Seriously?!!

After we arrived in Utah (more pics of that later) Brad and I went on our much anticipated trip to San Francisco. We drove Sunday night and had Monday through Friday. Just me and him...him and me. The best part with walking around with no plans and holding hands and eating wherever and whenever we wanted and walking into stores without a stroller and taking note of the exit and finding the bathrooms. It was sooooo fun. I just really can't even start thinking about it because it makes me want to cry because it was just so great and so needed and so perfect.We rented bikes and rode them around and across the bridge to Sausalito.
Chinatown, of course. Brad tried MuShu pork with me. Love those little pancakes and that plum sauce.
These were everywhere and so were those hats that are popular right now ( a fedora?) I tried one on in every store till I realized I would only be wearing this hat right now in SanFrancisco and most likely not in my real life in Peoria without people staring at me. So i passed and we passed on those shirts but there were cute.

As is typical Brad and Mel, we discovered the free stuff to do. This cable car museum was free. You get to go and see how the cable cars run through the city. it was really cool and I recommend it.
Did the touristy Pier.
Most people return their bikes after the marked ride across the bridge. Brad and I, cycling enthusiasts that we are decided to ride our bikes to Qwuait tower. To say "steep hill" is an understatement. It was THE steepest hill either of us has ever been up. Here we are at the top of the hill lookin down at Lombard (crooked street) We cruised down this hill and then rode straight up the other hill that you see in the distance. 29% grade mean anything to anyone?

Brad, of course, did this feat with little to no effort. I came trailing behind, but made it. We had people staring and pointing at us. If you'd seen the bikes you'd have known why.
On our last day we headed to Muir Woods to see some giant redwoods.

I like this picture.
And this one.

Here is another one of the cable car museum.The Japanese flower garden.
Cutest guy ever.
More woods.
And that wraps up the first part of our trip so come back for more Utah pics later.