Pre School

Hayden Started Pre School today.  I have been so giddy all morning!  Hayden has been excited for a really long time to go to school.  We woke up and I made him one of his favorite breakfasts, Cowboy Eggs :)

 

 All morning he was driving me a little nuts because he just wanted to go.  School isn't until 1:00 so it was a long morning.  Once it was time he was all smiles

 

(showing me his muscles seems to be his pose of choice haha)

 Brett was really sad to miss him going off on his first day and surprised us and was able to come home (for all of 7 minutes)

I look forward to all the things Hayden will learn this year.  He loves to learn and hopes to finish learning to write his name so that he will get a turtle.

I asked him a few questions before he went to school

 Hayden can spell his name, knows his birthday and can write the H-A- and Y in his name.

San Francisco

A few months after moving to Utah I headed off to a much needed girls trip in San Francisco with some of my girls from Pittsburgh.  Most of the girls had graduated a few years ago so it was so much fun to get together and reminisce.

 Tiffany, Me, Kaylene, Megan, Elise

We decided to go sailing

Elise was a giddy school girl :)

I was SOOOO sea sick

We did A LOT of walking.  We went to Ghirardelli Square and of course had lots of good icecream.

I LOVE this picture of Tiffany LOL

We ended up in China Town.  So much fun, so many things happened.  Elise and I ended the night getting a massage in China Town in this place....

There really are no words.  Just know that I pretty much Peed my pants from laughing so much. WOW!!!

 

Our trip was short, but o so sweet.  Honestly couldn't have been a better time.  I just love these girls and miss them all dearly

Overload

Overloaded is how you will feel after this post.  I'm behind.  What else is new?  We moved to Utah the end of May.  Leaving the Pittsburgh behind was tough so I'm glad we were able to come to a place of such comfort.  We moved in with Bretts parents while we looked for a home.  Looking for a home was one of the most stressful things ever.  One day we were getting the loan, the next it looked like it wouldn't go through.  It was weeks of ups and downs.  We found a home we LOVED and hoped it all would all work out.  Long story short it all worked out great and we moved in :)

 It's such a great home, in a really great neighborhood.  It needs very little updating and zero painting (previous owners painted the whole house in really great colors).  There is a lot of room to grow into so we could stay here forever :) We have grass we can actually lay on, carpet....ahhhhh carpet (ha our WHOLE house in Pittsburgh was wood), and going for a walk is just that, a walk :) (Not a hike like in Pittsbugh).  With all of that said, I miss Pittsburgh and our home terribly.

Before this we spent our days reuniting with cousins and friends.  So many people tell us over and over how crazy we are to come to Utah (considering our school debt).  How we just can't make it here because the pay is so much less than other places....We wanted bad enough to be close to family so we took the plunge and decided the sacrifice would be one we would make. So far is hasn't disappointed. We knew that we could make more money elsewhere but Utah is where was want to be, so we're here :) Brett has been working for just over 2 months and we feel very blessed for the job he has.  I think we really lucked out (actually it's not luck, Brett is just amazing.  They interviewed over 40 people for Brett's position and Brett got it).

Birthday party for grace

 

 

 Hayden and his cousin Aleea

 My handsome boys on the fourth of July 

 Bretts parents had all the grandkids over for a sleepover.  They planned this big luau theme and had so many fun treats and food for the kids.  All of the kids slept outside in a tent.  Hayden was in heaven.  Such fun memories

 Anika and Greta

Beckham and Grandma Richins

Conner and Beckham 

(Conner is a one of a kind amazing kid.  Girls, watch out)

Grandpa Richins with Hayden and Greta

 Water Fight :)

 Amazing Anika

 Just a little bit in love with this kid

Since being in Utah, Hayden really wanted a new pet..He came up with this idea all on his own.

 What is that you wonder?  It's a cricket.  We actually went down to the pet store, knowing he wanted a pet cricket.  It was the best13 cents we ever spent.  The cricket only lived one day (apparently we didn't feed it right?)  Silly Hayden

Hayd learned to ride a bike without training wheels.  He's crazy.  He got right on and just took off.  One day, first time.  (trying to upload the video but isn't working) 

Reunited with Haydens buddy Jackson.  They 

now live in Ephriam :)

I honestly love this.  They had a blast

 My darling nephew got married

Brett and Hayden out digging post holes for our fence.  Hayden LOVED doing this with Brett.  It took a few days and Hayden would wait patiently for Brett to get home everyday so that they could work on it.  

 I'm sure there is so much I left out.  We are so happy to be home with family, and so far think the sacrifice was worth it :)

Graduation and Leaving Pittsburgh

4 years.  I spent 4 years anticipating this very time... and it has come and gone.  Actual graduation day was awesome!  I have never been so proud of Brett in all of my life. I was super emotional as I watched him take the stage.  They called out his name, the numerous scholarships he has received and then placed his "hood" on him, officially making him a doctor.  It was a great moment.  One I won't forget.  (Special thanks to Charla Watts.  She watched our boys during graduation so that I could sit and enjoy without the distraction.  What a dear friend that we will love forever.)

 being "hooded"

 

Ryan has been going to Penn State and also 

graduated with his Masters Degree

The last month of Pittsburgh flew by.  I was crazy busy doing all of my final hair appointments.  I haven't talked enough of the blessing it was for us to have the experience of me working while in school.  I'm so lucky to have a job that can go anywhere, where I can stay at home but still be able to make enough to allow us some freedom while on a tight budget.  It was hard.  There were nights that I didn't want to do hair at all.  I wanted to have dinner with my family, spend time, put the kids to bed and hang out with Brett.  But instead Brett got home, we'd usually have about 30 minutes for dinner and then I would work until 9:30pm.  But it was a blessing.  I always say that my clients are the best, but my Pittsburgh clients really were.  

Brett's parents came out for the last week.  It was so nice to have them there.  

Here is the group.  Our family in Pittsburgh.  

 Some of the guys from school

(Brett, Lance, Steve, Tom)

 Rich, Dr. Kernick, Tom, Brett

 Me and Kimi

Brett and Tom

 Me and Rachael

 We made really good friends with these two.  Vanessa and Anthony were both in Brett's class and got engaged right before graduation.  We LOVE them and so excited for them.


Pittsburgh was the greatest years of our lives thus far.  I tried to soak up every moment of the 'burgh.  I always loved it.  I will forever love it.