Gems like these...

"While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about." - Angela Schwindt

And Kaylen's first daycare, First Friends, taught us what we wanted to find in our next daycare. We were lucky enough to have some of the most amazing, caring, giving teachers we could've ever hoped for. And her friends became family. She spent 5 days a week with these people from the time she was 3 months old. It was one of the most difficult things to say goodbye to.

The one and only, Weston.

Kaylen's school boyfriend declared early on. This short hair cut of his was a newer development, but always quite the beef cake! He was always sweet and Kaylen took to him from the beginning. It's been 4 weeks in Portland now and his name comes up out of the blue as I'm sure she still retains so many of her memories of him.

Lilly was Kaylen's other BFF who had been around since the beginning. For some time, they went back and forth biting each other. Usually the Action Notice we got was either that Kaylen got bit or did the biting. And we could almost be 90% sure that the other participant was Lilly! But all in all, they were friends and it was funny to have her friends be going through all the same stages at almost the same times.

Kaylen has always been a social butterfly. She has always thrived being around other children, so I know that it would be important to find another great daycare for Kaylen in whatever city we were going to end up in. She has always been a leader in her class. Gregg and I often joked that Kaylen pretty much walked into the classroom and announced her arrival. She usually had Weston or Veer take her coat off for her. Ha ha... she definitely had far more than just us wrapped around her little finger!

First Friends Director, Mirna. Kaylen loved to yell out every night as we headed out the door... "Bye Mirna! Bye Minney!(Mindy)"

Miss Melinda. She worked in the Infant Room even when Kaylen was with the Toddler class, but always took a fondness toward Kaylen and we loved her dearly for that.

Miss Rosie... Kaylen LOVED to get her dance on with her! Miss Rosie gave Kaylen a little Latin rhythm!! ;-)

Miss Linda. With the kind of motherly love you would hope to find in a daycare. Each day we knew that Kaylen would find the kind of love we'd hope to give her in the Toddler B Classroom like Miss Linda could give her.

One of the gems we had to leave behind. Miss "Kika", Monica, was definitely one of our favorites while we were at First Friends. She was one of the teachers who fell in love with Kaylen the way that Kaylen fell in love with her. In the Infant Room, it was Miss Becca, and as a Toddler, in was Miss Kika. Kaylen attended her 2nd birthday party, she thought of Kaylen when she went out of town and bought her her first tutu dress, she would think to share special treats with Kaylen, and the list goes on. We, as parents, really connected with Monica, but it was the special attention she gave to Kaylen that always meant the world to us. We always knew Kaylen was loved, adored and well taken care of, as we would do at home. It's people like these, who your child grows to adore herself which makes it hard to switch "schools". These people become family... which always makes it that much harder.

We couldn't be more grateful for the amazing care and memories First Friends gave to us and to Kaylen. We always knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that she was in the best of hands. She was loved, nurtured, cared for, educated, praised and disciplined the way that we would've tried to do ourselves had we been able to at home. It's always been hard to know that we both had to be working parents, that staying home wasn't an option. And if you had to have your child in daycare, this is the kind of place that you would want them. We loved the facility, but it was the people that we're most grateful for. The teachers were more than we could've asked for and trusted them with our most prized jewel. Thank you First Friends for all the care and love you gave to Kaylen and being the best second family we could've possibly provided her!

Gregg turns 28!

The unfortunate part of having your birthday fall just two days after your daughter's??? Having to basically share your birthday with your daughter for the REMAINDER of your life!! But honestly, the minute Gregg knew his birthday was going to fall so close to Kaylen's, he was going to be more than happy to give his up to celebrate hers. And this year was his second in having to do so...he turned 28!! So, we didn't have a big bash, though he had friends that gave him plenty of crap for not filling them in on the fact that it was his birthday! But we did go out for dinner that night as a family and he spent a little time out with a few friends later! So, it was nice to celebrate Gregg! He who gives so much of himself to make this family continue to tick, his dreams stay on track and still find a little bit of time for himself. We love you and are so happy we had even just a little bit of time to celebrate YOU!

Out to dinner at Market Street to celebrate Daddy!!

Kaylen helping Daddy blow out his 28th Birthday candles!

Daddy opening presents... this card was from Kaylen...As were his new Toms!

No birthday is complete without birthday kisses from Kaylen!

We know Gregg had given in to more mellow birthdays considering his his two days after Kaylen's and he couldn't be more selfless. But we were super excited to have a little time to just share with Daddy to tell him how much we love and appreciate him! Thanks Daddy for all the time and energy you give to us!! Glad we could help celebrate your birthday with you!

And the winner is...... OHSU!!!

The decision has been made! After being accepted to 5 schools!!, Gregg is going to attend Medical School at OHSU- Oregon Health and Sciences University in Portland, Oregon! We couldn't be more excited for him as this is such an incredible opportunity and school! It wasn't a decision that was made lightly as the other major contender was Des Moines University in Des Moines, Iowa. We knew what an opportunity it would be to live closer to my side of the family, which would've been about a 3.5 hour drive from the Twin Cities and DMU was also an incredible school. But after really considering Gregg's options, the M.D. Program at OHSU is hopefully an opportunity that will not only open doors for him for his residency program but also for his future. OHSU is an amazing school that saw the potential in Gregg and we saw the possibilities in it!!

OHSU picture Gregg took while at his interview

Kaylen in the Sky Bridge on the OHSU Campus after making our way to Portland

Gregg and Kaylen taking a walk around the OHSU Campus

We knew that it would be hard to leave Salt Lake City and the proximity to all of our friends and Gregg's family as well as the decision to not make it closer to my family. But we knew that this was the best decision for our family as well as the best decision for the rest of Gregg's medical career. We are so proud of Gregg and all that he has accomplished! Congratulations, sweetheart on such a wonderful opportunity!

Our sweet girl turns 2!

Our sweet girl turned TWO on June 4, 2011!! It is crazy how fast the time is flying. I know everyone says it, but I think it's true that you can't possibly understand it until you're a parent yourself. I feel like it was yesterday that we were having her 1st birthday! We were lucky enough to have two friends of ours offer to have the party at their place as all the parks were full! But we took our friends Heidi and Max up on using there house as it was just a couple miles away. It was a gorgeous day and that had set up great outdoor space for the party! We decided to have a Curious George themed party as Kaylen spent most mornings before school watching Curious George and the Cat in the Hat. She knows George well and these days she prefers to call him Georgie. Heidi even had a little bounce house for the kids! Gregg's family, minus Warren, came to town for the party and so many of our friends were able to make it!

For the morning, we had a little playtime outside. Kaylen wore the Birthday Girl shirt Mima sent her to celebrate her big day! Here is the birthday girl and Daddy!

Kaylen exploring Heidi's house before her big party!

Party-outside

Our birthday girl!

The bounce house for the kids! Kaylen and Dane loved it! Heidi/Max's daughter Olivia tried to get in on the fun, too!

Heidi offered to make Kaylen's birthday cupcakes that turned out AMAZING! She even went so far as to buy Curious George faces to put on them!! They were perfect!

Ali and Dane

Having a BALL!!

Kaylen, Ian, Katie, Leslie, Cherie, Carissa

Our sweet angel girl

Opening presents

Having fun with each present as they're opened

Mommy, Daddy and the birthday girl!

Thoroughly enjoying her yummy birthday cupcake!

Kaylen and Miss Kika (Monica)

The party was amazing, but it was also the last time we would see Gregg's family before our move to Portland. We were all sad as it has been so wonderful to live within the closer proximity to them all. We're going to miss them so much.

Jay had a rough time... giving Kaylen a hug goodbye

One of our family BFFs, Uncle Nanny tossing Kaylen in the bounce house, she loved it!!!

Us with our 2 yr old BIG girl!!

It was such a great party! We were so grateful to Heidi and Max for letting us use their space and helping through a wonderful party! It was great weather, great company and a great day to celebrate our sweet monkey turning 2!! It is crazy how the time has flown... have I already said that!? ;-)

Here are some of the things she is saying and doing now:

Sayings: "Me coming, too? Me coming, too!?" , "You okay?" every time someone coughs, "You happy Mommy/Daddy??" and doing anything she can until you say you are, "me happy!" , she speaks so well, but one word she can NOT get, which is fine because we think her word is so cute- washcloth= kaa-kaash, making squeal noises to make us laugh at dinner, she loves to sing the ABC Song, but has a tendency to stop at "G, next time won't you sing with me", but then keeps on with the rest of it :-) , repeating "Metamorsis" from one of her Elmo DVDs, tonight she told me that the crocodile on her book was an alligator... what?? How does she randomly know that word!?, she sings her song, "i love you, i miss you, i love you, i miss you".

Doing: She's been playing Daddy's drums and she's great at it!, she's great at sharing, great at holding hands as long as you remind her when in the street, she's going up and down our new steep stairs by herself, loves to play outside, at the park, at the zoo, loves her new daycare and friends, she really thrives on getting to play and be around other children, she loves our friend Amy's son Hayden and speaks of him even when we're not around him, she's likes to Skype family,

Getting a little sad...

It didn't take long to set in that we were really going to have to leave Utah. I think I had been pretty sure before we knew we couldn't stay, that I would want to leave. But as soon as it all set in, I think we both realized just how hard it was going to be to leave. Our friends have really became like family for us. Not only did we love our friends and they loved us, but they also loved Kaylen and she grew to love them like family. It made it so difficult to think about leaving. Kaylen had been with her daycare from the minute she turned 3 months and had been with two of the kids since almost day one, Weston and Lily. Arlo had also been there almost since the beginning. She was able to see these kids on an almost daily basis and in a lot of ways, spent more time with them than she did us. It was hard to think about taking her out of such an amazing environment that we'd been blessed to find that she'd been in for almost 2 years.

And our friendships have only gotten stronger with time. It was a sad thing to leave the people we'd spent so much time with and our jobs that allowed us to spent time with so many of our work friends. I was actually so grateful to work for a place where most everyone I worked with I considered a friend. And some of those people became some of my best friends. I intend to post a few picture from the days before we had to leave. It was the hardest thing we've had to do so far to leave Salt Lake City. We are grateful to Gregg's side of the family that gave us so many amazing memories in Star Valley while we were able to live close, Gregg's sister who moved to Logan and allowed us the opportunity for us to see her a few more times than we could've otherwise, my family who tried to make it out to SLC every few months, and our friends who became like family.

Visit to Portland

Gregg found out that he was accepted to OHSU the same day he graduated from the U of U on May 5th, which also happened to be the same day that I had a video conference interview for a job I'd applied for at the federal court in Portland. The interview and his acceptance was on a Thursday. The following Monday they called to say I got the job! It was a very fast turn around and the job wanted me to start as soon as I could. Because of this we had to hurry out to Portland to look for a place to live and a daycare for Kaylen, try to fit in as much as we could with friends and family, cancel a trip to Vegas with Carissa and Casey that we were very much looking forward to and make a last minute trip to Minnesota so that at least Kaylen and I had a little time with my family. Yeah, seems simple enough in 4 weeks!!! Yikes! A little added stress and very little time to wrap things up and say goodbyes to many people we've come to love.

So, we headed out to Portland to find a place to live just a few weeks before coming out for good. We stayed in a really nice hotel along the river, rented a car and did a WHOLE lot of driving around Portland! We started out with a very positive outlook. We were ready to take on Portland! Little did we know, we didn't know enough about where to look and the renting market in Portland is very competitive!

View from our balcony at the hotel

One very nice treat in coming to Portland was the fact that Gregg knows a couple people in/near Portland and I know one. So both nights we were in town, we met up with people.

This was taken at Henry's Tavern said to have 150 beers on tap and had absolutely delicious food! It was here that we remembered just how nice being in a state/city with Happy Hour is going to be much appreciated!

Gregg and his friend Chele, a friend from high school that now lives in Vancouver, the neighboring city across the river in Washington. I was so glad to meet her! We've actually had the opportunity to hang out a few times since either Gregg or both of us since getting here. She's wonderful and we are very happy to have a built in friend here!

The other friend I mentioned, is my friend Amy, a friend from Jr. High/ High school. Our younger brothers were very good friends and we got back in touch through Facebook. From the minute she found out we were moving to Portland, she has been helpful beyond words! She and her husband, Aaron, have a 3.5 yr old son, Hayden! We met up with them the second night at Deschutes Brewery downtown. Hayden is adorable and a complete ball of energy! We knew meeting him that night that that Kaylen was going to love him.... and we were SO right!

We posted pictures of the enjoyable moments :-) because we didn't take any pictures of the less enjoyable ones! Needless to say the hunting was frustrating and tiring. We were beginning to lose hope the day before we had to go home and weren't sure we were going to find something. We were torn for quite some time between living in a nearby suburb of Beaverton which is well spoke of by many and trying to live closer to downtown. We found a few houses for rent that we liked, mostly in Beaverton. But slowly we started to hear about the nightmare traffic that exists in the commute that we would both have to travel. We were lucky enough to find ONE house just a couple blocks from the OHSU campus that would be ideal for Gregg and a fairly easy commute for me to get downtown. We ended up GETTING the house close to OHSU! We were very excited about it. It's an older home, but we knew that just based on convenience, it would be well worth it! We were stoked about our decision and the fact that we scored the house. There isn't a lot of housing up on the hill where these three hospitals are so we feel very lucky! All worked out! The payoff was well worth the stress of finding this one!

We were also able to check out a couple daycare facilities while we were in town and really liked one that had a decent wait list. Some last minute things came through and shortly after moving here, Kaylen got a spot at the one we'd been hoping for. We ended up having to give up a spot at the YMCA that she would've started if the spot hadn't come through. I say this because just in the hour or so that Gregg was at the Y filling out the start-up paperwork, Kaylen had so much fun and the Director fell in love with her. When I had to call to tell them we weren't going to start there, I was afraid I was burning a bridge there, but she was incredibly supportive telling me how wonderful Kaylen is and that any daycare is going to be lucky to have her. That her previous daycare must have done a great job because she is such a smart, vivacious child. I felt incredibly proud and sad that we had to choose. But we are grateful to have found a place to live that we live as well as a wonderful daycare so that we didn't have to worry!

Memorial Day 2011

As is our tradition for long weekends, we headed to Star Valley for the Memorial Day holiday. This was also the last trip we would be able to make there for a while as we knew we weren't going to be staying in Salt Lake City, which made it bittersweet. The weather was pretty nice and Kaylen got another chance to ride the "horsey" although this time she kept calling Dodger a cow? Not sure what that was about, but it's always so fun to see how much she loves him. Grandpa Warren is always really good about re-familiarizing her with him and she usually can't wait to get on! She usually gets upset even to have to wait for Ian and I to switch out riding with her!

She always loves riding with her Uncle Neenie. She usually always talks about it long after we get home saying, "me ride horsey with Neenie". It's very sweet.

Kaylen chilling out waiting for Grandpa to change out the saddle for Mommy

Kaylen riding Dodger with Mommy

Two of my favorite boys!

Having brunch at Tootsies after church on Sunday. Grandpa getting some cuddle time.

Kaylen and Grandma Rie

Leslie wasn't able to make it home to Star Valley this time as she was off visiting a friend. But it was so nice to get some quality time in with the rest of the family for a long weekend before we had to move.

(I am sad to have to add as an additional side note to this post, by the time I had the opportunity to post this blog, Dodger has since passed away. He had to be put down after Warren found out that he would not be able to overcome the health issues he was having. It was a VERY sad time for Warren and Cherie as there were lots of great memories of both Ian and Kaylen having some really special time on the horse. Warren dutifully cared for Dodger day in and day out and had spent a lot of time with him. We were very sad to hear of his having to be put down. It's amazing how clear Kaylen's memories are of riding Dodger. Thankfully we aren't there enough now to have to address death with her at this point. But we are incredibly grateful for the joy that Dodger brought the family and the special memories he gave us)