Grandpa John

Our Family with Kevin's Grandpa John
Grandpa John and the girls August 09'

Rarely do we get to see Kevin's Grandpa John and this summer he came to stay with Kevin's parents so they decided to bring him down to Layton to see our new house. It is always a treat to see him. Grandpa John is either 94 or 95 years old and doesn't miss a beat. He loves ice cream (a man after my own heart), and he loves to visit the family. Even though I have only met him maybe 4 or 5 times he is always welcoming and fun to listen to. I admire his independence and lease on life.

It's always nice to see him and visit with him even if it is only for an afternoon... until next time Grandpa John- we love you!

The Dahlke's summer

4th of July 09'
4th of July 09'

Me and the girls 09'

Nana was so nice to come along with us this year! Thanks MOM!

Grandpa Scott decided to tag along-

We love Ross Park!

Hammin' it up!

We did it!

Strider's 1/2 marathon in Syracuse, Ut. Memorial weekend

We do love each other...

Tending the campsite... she was pretty good @ that!

Getting ready for a 4-wheeler ride... looking tough!

She loves to ride with Papa!

Classic face for this little girl!

Raegyn loved the sprinkler!

Paityn and her cute cousins-

Roasting Marshmallows... Yum!

Raegyn in the big green tractor-

Lookin as dirty as ever... just what camping is all about!

Camping @ Big Springs with Nana and Papa

We had a busy summer that didn't seem too eventful but the time has come and gone and now we look forward to next summer. After about a 3 week hiatus at my parents house we were finally able to move into our new home in Layton. The process was a huge pain and I don't think that we will be doing that again for a VERY long time! But, after painting a whole upstairs (pretty much), and getting everything organized we are really enjoying the area. Heavenly Father must have helped us with this one because there is a darling little girl next door that is the same age as Paityn and she can't get enough of her. Everyday when we get home she wants to go play with Abery (her real name is Avery). We can't wait to see what the future holds for us here.

Kevin is still on the road but has managed to be a little closer to home this last month. For a couple of weeks they were in Wendover and now he is in Green River, Utah. He sacrifices so much for our family and I love and thank him for that. I started my student teaching at Snow Horse Elementary in Kaysville. Can I just say that I think it is a great school. Most of the staff is super friendly and the kids are fun. I have already learned a ton from my cooperating teacher and am excited to learn more. It has been kind of nice to have a life outside of my kids but I am starting to feel a little guilty. I take them to a sitter all day, pick them up at 4:00, drop them at the gym daycare for an hour and then we go home eat dinner, bath, and they go to bed. I only really see them for about 2 hours. That is horrible! I really hope that next year I am able to find something part-time so they still know who their mom is! Kevin's work schedule has been kind of nice because he is able to stay home with the girls on his days off and play Mr. Mom. I have been quite impressed to say the least... he tried to make the bed everyday! That is a huge accomplishment for him! Way to go Kev! j/k... really he has been doing a great job and is will save us a ton of money!

Paityn has been growing up so fast! She just started dance class last week and went again today. It is so fun to watch her try to copy the teacher. I hope that she sticks with it. She is a bit nosey and it drives me nuts! She has to know everything about everyone and what is happening in the world around her and she remembers all of it too. Over the summer she has learned to ride her tricycle the right way (pushing the pedals) and we are working on getting her to sleep in her own bed! What a nightmare!

Raegyn is as cute as ever! Over the last month or so she has really started to pick up on a ton of words. She can say hi, bye-bye, mom, nana, dada, doggie, shoe, juice is jew, done, bear, night-night... She is such a great dancer and I almost laugh so hard I cry every time she starts to get jiggy with it. She loves her blankets and loves to sit on the kitchen counter to watch t.v. Raeg has outgrown her high chair which is always not so good and now sits at the bar like a big girl. We are on the countdown for nursery... only 3 more weeks and I could not be more excited! I love watching her grow!

I have been a busy little runner this summer. Next Saturday will be my 7th half marathon this summer. My dad and I have been all over running and having fun! I have really enjoyed spending this time with him and accomplishing something that I never thought I would do. Last weekend I did a 10k here in Layton all by myself. It was a little lonely but it was a great race. I would recommend it to anyone! Student teaching has been fun and interesting. It has been different to go back to school and try to remember everything I learned before. I have a ton of respect for special education teachers and am anxious to graduate.

The Dahlke's are happy, healthy and busy. Hopefully it doesn't take me so long to post again... I hate these long boring updates!

Finally Out!

Well, we finally got all moved out of our house in Tooele and are in Idaho taking a breather before we move into our new home next month. I am so grateful for my family and their help, we couldn't have done it without them! Packing and moving is such a pain and it has made me realize that I never want to do it again! So I am praying that we really love Layton because I have a strong feeling we will be there for the long haul!

I never thought about all the new things that I will need to find when we do move. The girls need a good babysitter, a Pediatrician who can never compare to Dr. Gould, a Gyno (not too excited about this one), a dentist... the list goes on- so if anyone has suggestions I am open for ideas!

For now, we will enjoy some time with family and relax before we get settled into our new home-

We're Moving!

So I thought that we would put our house on the market and that it would just sit and no one would buy it... even though I wanted to move and try something else maybe even inherit a little more space. Well, this week someone did buy and we are now moving. You would think that I would have a house all picked out and be so excited but it is the opposite... no house and I am scared to death!

We have been on a search in the Layton area and have found 3 that we are pretty interested in... Kevin will be home on Sunday and needs to see 2 of them for himself. I hate that I have been having to also do most of this alone. Kevin is working in Oregon and that leaves me with 2 crazy little girls, a whole bunch of stuff that needs to be packed and papers to sign... the list goes on! Don't get me wrong, I am so grateful that the house sold and I am anxious to start a new journey and experience, I just hate starting new things and not knowing what my future will be like.

This house is our first house together and it is all my girls know- we have had many memories here and I am sad to leave. Paityn doesn't quite understand what is happening... she is mostly concerned that she will no longer be able to see Chris, my step-brother, go figure! We love the friends that we have made in Tooele and we are sad to leave but I can't help but wonder what is in the future and what new memories we have in store for us... to the future! :)

A much needed vacation!!!!

Fisherman's Wharf

This guy was Kevin's favorite attraction for the entire trip!

Kevin and I on Pier 39

San Francisco!

Ready to come aboard the cruise boat

Getting ready to do the audio tour @ Alcatraz

Alcatraz Island

If Kev went to jail I'm sure this is exactly what he'd look like!

The Golden Gate Bridge

Kevin posing for the camera!

AT&T Park... where the San Francisco Giants play

The Coliseum Stadium

Kevin and I at the Oakland A's baseball game

First time at In & Out Burger!

Kevin and I have never taken a vacation together... that's right NEVER! We got snowed out on out on our honeymoon and since then we just haven't gone anywhere. I always thought that the word vacation meant $1,000's of dollars and I didn't ever think we could afford it. Well, I put my foot down and talked Kevin into going on a group trip with some of our friends and it was a blast! Now that we are home I wonder why we haven't done anything sooner... now I know that a vacation is possible and well worth the money!

We all decided that San Francisco would be fun and that there would be plenty to do in 4 days and boy was there! We left Thursday morning and got there around 11:30. I had many firsts on this trip... my first first was to eat at In and Out Burger... it was pretty tasty and I don't think it will be my last! After lunch we pretty much conquered Fisherman's Wharf. We went to the Wax Museum, Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum, the Aquarium by the Bay, Ghiradelli Square, and all the little shops along the way. It was a great way to start the trip.

Friday we decided to see Alcatraz. That had to of been my favorite part of the trip. It was very interesting to see and hear all the stories of past prisoners and guards and to get a feel for what it was like all those years ago. I love learning about actual history and trying to picture in my head what it would have been like to be in that actual place as a prisoner or guard in the 1960's... very creepy! That afternoon we did a Golden Gate Bay cruise and rode a boat out to the Golden Gate Bridge that was really cool and I was excite to see the famous bridge. That night we rode a Cable Car to Union Square and did a little shopping... I stood in a Jimmy Choo store... that sounds dumb, I know, but for a little Idaho girl who never goes anywhere it was neat!

Saturday we rented bikes and rode down to the AT&T stadium where the Giants play baseball. They were doing tours of the park and it was pretty neat. We also rode to Chinatown and had some pretty delicious, overpriced, Chinese food... the experience I guess. Saturday night we decided to eat fancy and I had a very yummy piece of Halibut and green beans. It was at a restaurant that we had no business being at and the guys ended up going to In and Out for a night cap... how sad!

Sunday we had some time to kill before our flight so we decided to hit an Oakland A's game. We ended up getting really good seats on the 15th row right off 1st baseline... that was fun and relaxing!

I had a blast and it was so nice to get away from reality and spend time with my husband! Thank you Josh and Erin for going with us and teaching me how to be a vacationer (is that a word)-Now, we just need to decide where we're going next year... Chicago anyone?

I DiD It!

So, my wonderful father planted this little idea in my head about 4 months ago that I should run a half marathon. I laughed in his face and then asked, do you really think I could do that? I started running about 2 1/2 years ago as an out from everything and have dabbled in 5k's and a 10k but a 1/2 marathon... that's 13.1 miles, are you kidding me! Well, after much thought, I decided that maybe it was something that could happen and in January I started training. Twelve long weeks and many miles later... I ran the my first 1/2 marathon in Salt Lake and I can't believe that I did it! Let me just say that it was the craziest race I have ever been in in my life! The experience of running with 4,000 runners, that's right, 4,000 (just in the 1/2) is something that I will never forget. The feeling and atmosphere that surrounds you is something that I cannot describe and I was pumped. It was elbow to elbow for about the first 3 miles and the whole time I was just people watching and plugging away... after they separated the 1/2 from the full marathon runners the congestion minimized but it was still pretty packed. The course was pretty nice, running down State St. was something I never thought I would do, and most of it was either down hill or flat. There was a gradual climb up mile 12 that I didn't appreciate too much but oh well. Turning that corner to the finish line down that Gateway mall was a great feeling and by then my knees where shot! I finished with a time of 2:15:36... about a 10:22 minute mile- not the best but also could have been a lot worse! Overall, the experience was something that I will never forget and I can't wait to do it all again next year... thanks DAD for talking me into it... now if only someone would have been there to capture me on camera... thanks a lot Kevin for supporting our family and not taking pictures of me on my once in a lifetime experience... I guess you're forgiven as long as you bring home the $, honey! :)

Easter 09'

Paityn's cheesy grin!

Raegyn's first Easter... not too sure what to do about it!

Paityn and Mason eating some Ariel cake... yummy!

Opening presents was Paityn's favorite part!

Not too sure about this whole Easter egg hunt thing...

I will call myself the egg hunting helper...

Paityn gettin' ready to hunt some eggs! NOT!

I am trying really hard to be better at this whole blogging thing....

We had a good Easter this year. We decided to go to Idaho and spend some time with our families. We also had the girls' family birthday party this weekend as well. Kevin and I took Paityn to the Blackfoot Easter egg hunt and sure enough she chickened out when the they said go. I had to break the rules and step over the tape just so that she would get an egg. She didn't want anything to do with the bunny, the Dalmatian dog, or the chicken so we got her a balloon and headed out. It was still fun, I guess.

Saturday night we had a combined birthday party for both girls. Poor Raegyn was such a grouch but I think Paityn had fun. Thank you all for coming and for the awesome gifts... it was really good to see everyone. I decided after that party that being host isn't too much fun and that I am only in for chaos for the next 10 years with parties and girls. Yah for me! :)

We loved being able to go home and see everyone and we are so blessed to have such great families. Thank you mom and Sharon for feeding us and letting us invade your homes. We know that isn't always fun, especially when Raegyn cries all night long. We look forward to the next trip home.