Polish Reunions and Polish Weddings

I thought that I should host a mission reunion this year since I won't see most of these guys again after I graduate. Here we've got Gardner and Harvey up front and Whitney and Joe Ray in the back ground. Joe Ray did not technically serve in Poland but when you're at a mission reunion you just kind of assume you know everyone (even the people you don't recognize) so no one questions you.


Risley and Bitter
Whitney- keenly aware of the fact that Bitter NEVER wears deodorant.
Cragun is famous for never taking a serious picture in his life...seriously. You should see my wedding pictures.
Bitter defied all predictions and prophecy and actually got married! We couldn't believe it. And what's more- Miley 's actually not mentally impaired or blind- she's a great girl. Way to go Bitter!

This is the only picture I could find of Cragun and Ellie where Ellie isn't crying.
There's just not enough pictures of your wife breast feeding you know?


Eleanor loves plastic spoons and spatula's. They're better than toys and usually safer anyway.

This was taken at about 4 1/2 months. We can't leave Eleanor on the bed by herself anymore. She is scooting and rolling all over the place!

Last days of Provo

Gotta love my girls! Aren't they gorgeous?
Thanks Whitney for supporting me through school and putting up with all those late nights!
Leaving college with a baby is quite the adventure- totally worth it!
Whit's Grandpa is huge on getting a college degree and "do'n it right."

By the end of our time in Wymount ellie had completely taken over the office.
One of our last Saturday's in Provo we did a shish-kabab grill with our friends the Rays and the Gardners.


Ellie thouroughly enjoyed the cook-out and sported her sun hat to stay cool.

Sometimes Eleanor likes to just play on your chest.
After a long day as a mom, you just need a mid-evening nap sometimes.

Super Sweet Video

I don't post much video so these go back all the way to when Whitney was pregnant with Eleanor. I'd love to hear your comments on these!

Last Week of Freedom from "The Man"

Wow! I start work in a week and won't stop working for the proverbial "man" for the next 40 years if statistics are close to accurate. I thought that this would be a good time to catch up on my blogging since I've got a little time. Check back often this week as we'll put up lots more pictures of Eleanor. Enjoy!


What a good looking family!

For a month or two- Eleanor was quite happy just to have her mirror in front of her for hours on end.

On our way out to New York City to look for apartments! Undaunted, this cheerful family faced the streets of Manhattan for 3 long days.
At last, they found the one. Marsela (said in a VERY sing-song way) helped the family make a speedy decision.

What beautiful wood floors you have...
What beautiful window light you have...
What an awesome 5th floor-walk-up view you have...

On the way home I prepped Ellie for her new home, pointing out sights from the sky."I just can't wait Dad! Do they really have milk on every corner??"


Back home we began to slowly get ready for the move. Eleanor made the process so much fun!
Whitney has wasted no time getting her pre-pregnancy looks back. Owwww!
Eleanor loves bath time and even likes to dry off afterwards.
We decided to sell most of our possessions before we moved to New York. Whitney and I picked this gray chair up on the side of the road in our first week of marriage. We'll miss you comfiest chair in the world...

We also sold our car to Whitney's brother Sean.

Return of the Eleanor!

I know. 2 months with no job and school and you can't pull off a blog post? Well it is amazing how busy unemployed people can be- honestly. I'm so back logged that it will take awhile to really post everything we have but here is a start.

Whitney is routinely invited to parties with her old MOA registration work crew. They are all really good friends and have a great time together. This is Jessie Gibbs and her little boy Jonah.
This is Whit's old boss Emily on the left and her crazy friend Kelsey who now lives up in Washington.
Your's truly and Micheal and Jane in the background.

Whitney's good friend Megan Bowns graduated from UVU and we happily went to the party. (notice the trend of parties...we usually aren't invited but crash them if there is food there.)
This is Karen Madsen, Megan's sister holding our little girl. Karen just gave birth 2 days ago to a little girl named Maya. Congratulations Karen and Merrill!
They grow up too fast...
This picture was necessary to show what shadows can do to a person's nose in pictures. Doesn't mine look huge here? All shnauz, all the time.
Sean, whit's brother came over a couple of times right before we moved from Provo. He is really going to miss Eleanor...and maybe us too.