Moving On...

Its recently come to my attention that more people than just my parents read this blog, so it seems appropriate to update it with the minor detail that WE'RE MOVING! Finally.

I've been tremendously patient throughout this whole process (or not, depends on who you ask). I never wanted to move to Provo and here I am TEN, yes TEN years later. I'm pretty sure that qualifies as Provo All-Star status. Anyways, please strip me of that title in your mind, because in three short weeks we're getting the *$&# outta here!

Las Vegas here we come.

I definitely have mixed feelings about the our future hometown. Since Hank's customers mostly come from online, we had the luxury/excruciating task of choosing where we live. I know I'd feel differently if I weren't given the option, but it sure seems like it would have been easier to just be told where we need to go.

We debated between California, Nevada and Utah. Since living in a cardboard box in California would cost more than our savings account currently holds, we immediately ruled that out. Although, I'm still keeping it in the back of my mind for the future....wouldn't I be so happy playing at the beach every day?

That left us with Utah and good ol' Nevada. Two places that couldn't be more different....making the decision TOUGH! For example:

- Fabulous chocolate cake from Molly's or Godiva cheesecake from Cheesecake Factory?
- Darling, bend-over-backwards-to-be-nice neighbors or tough Highway Patrol neighbors?
- Train outside the window waking me up nightly or cute little chattering elementary school kids walking past the backyard in the afternoon?
- Four seasons or two: hot and windy?
- Family a 5.5 hour drive away or a 15 minute drive down the road?

Because deciding the type of chocolate treat I want to eat for the rest of my life proved too difficult, we based the decision primarily upon closeness of family and Hank's business potential in Las Vegas. We're pretty excited but we're definitely going to miss a LOT about Utah.

Please come visit us soon. The guest room is calling your name.

The Much Anticipated Race

Over a year ago, Hank and I sat down and discussed what he should do for his final engineering project. He had two options: participate in a randomly assigned project for a reputable corporation or build the 2012 Formula Hybrid car for the university, if chosen to be on the team. We weighed the pros and cons and decided it was worth the extra effort to try to get on the formula team and pursue that path. Hank swears at this point we discussed in detail the time commitment this option would involve. I beg to differ. Or maybe I was asleep by this point? Not sure...

The last year has been truly difficult. Hank spent every waking moment at school, either working on the race car or attending classes and finishing a full semester. When he wasn't at school, he was at his shop making money for us to live. Three full-time commitments outside of the home didn't leave much, if any, room for family time. Kellen and I hated it. I think Hank did too....but he didn't have much time to really stew over his feelings like we did :)

A week after graduation, the team went to New Hampshire for over a week to compete against 40 other schools across the country (and world.) I tried to keep myself extremely occupied so I didn't just sit at home panicking about how they were doing out there. Kellen and I went to Las Vegas for a wedding and that really helped ease my nerves. The thought of them not doing well hadn't really crossed my mind all week, but as I was waiting to hear how they placed, I freaked out--what would I say to Hank to comfort him if they lost? I'm not good at that kind of stuff. Would I be super resentful that the last year of my life was for nothing?! Probably! You can imagine my relief when I got Hank's call informing me that they just placed FIRST!!!!!

I nearly peed my pants (mostly because we were driving back from Vegas and I really had to go.) But really, it felt like a ton of bricks were taken off my shoulders. Some people claim that feeling when they go through the repentance process. I feel that way when my husband wins competitions, apparently.

I am so proud of Hank. He really deserved his hard-work to pay off. I've always known he was smart when it comes to mechanics, but to beat out a bunch of Ivy League schools has given him a little extra jump in his step.

I have access to a ton of pictures from the event at Dartmouth but I'm not smart enough to download them correctly, so here are some pictures I took of Hank driving the car and with the media before and after the competition.

If you want to read more about the race car and competition, check out BYU, KSL, Daily Herald, Fox 13 and Wired. Hank is interviewed in the video on BYU and KSL (first two links) below.

http://news.byu.edu/archive12-may-formulahybrid.aspx

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=20355501

http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/central/provo/byu-students-win-at-formula-hybrid-competition/article_f6de4820-59aa-5a6d-bdfd-d5ef1f2b17cd.html

http://www.wired.com/autopia/2012/05/student-built-hybrids-evs-compete-in-new-hampshire/

Reunited at last.  This week Kellen has been yelling "Daaaad" about every five seconds. Yesterday, he would not let go of his dad, delaying Hank's arrival at work by a few hours. Today Kellen was flipping through photos on my ipad and yelling "Dad!" I came in to see what he was looking at and it was just a picture of a race car. Although we're still very proud, we all need a little race car detox.

Graduation 2012

It felt like this day would NEVER come. It feels like we've been in school for 20 years. We celebrated Hank's graduation from BYU a few weeks ago and we're SO happy he's done! 

The logistics of attending all graduation events with a toddler hadn't really set in until the actual day of the event. Things I didn't consider: 2x2 seats in the Marriott Center, ridiculously steep steps that inhibit any unsupervised baby wandering, cold-hearted people sitting in front of us sighing every time Kellen's feet met their back, surrounding proud parents not thrilled with frequent screaming outbursts, to name a few.

I felt like the only person in the world with a misbehaving child...until I eventually gave up and walked outside of the stadium. Babies and naughty toddlers EVERYWHERE! I love BYU.

Kellen was particularly thrilled to see Hank after all that speech stuff.

Hank's family came to bask in the glory that was graduation day. 

 

Kellen thought putting the ridiculous looking hat on Hank's head was the funniest thing he's ever experienced.

 And when it would fall off, he made sure it went right back where it belonged.

 Silly, silly Snugs...

 Love this picture!

It was hilarious to shake the blossom tree on our heads until I took my clothes off that night. Forgot that happened and was a little terrified.

And then there was commencement day. I had everything set up so Kellen would go down for his nap at home right before we left for the event and a neighbor would watch him. If things went according to the other 364 days of the year, he would sleep 4 hours and wouldn't even be awake when we returned home.

But since I planned things (which I should never do!), he woke up an hour into the ceremony and as a result was a cranky mess at dinner. I try. I fail.

 Hank gave a beautiful speech...

And looks surprisingly good in graduation garb. Who looks good in that hat?! He has just the right head for it :) Mine looked like a peanut.

We got a little tour of the BYU racing facility...which I didn't need...but hopefully others enjoyed seeing it :)

And because I planned the graduation events, we topped off the week with a trip to my favorite place in the world, the tulip festival, and a delicious dinner at Harvest Restaurant.

Hank asked if we could bring Kellen's lawnmower to the tulip festival. It seemed like it might be a nuisance at first, but upon further contemplation, we brought it. It was a good choice.

He took off like a bat out of hell when he saw it and look furiously at anyone who got in his way. (Never mind the other hundred people trying to stroll the paths.) At one point, he encountered a man on a motorized scooter coming right for him. They both stopped stared at each other, waiting for the other to get the heck out of the way. The old man joked with Kellen but he didn't see any humor in the situation. I laughed so hard I cried. The people waiting behind us on both sides didn't find it as funny.

 This place makes me so calm...unfortunately, the graduate doesn't really like it. :) Obviously, I didn't care.

My parents went down to the stadium to check out Hank's first home. Poor thing, he didn't really get to enjoy graduation weekend because his competition was only the next week. No time for celebrating.

 Hybrid Blue minus the body...and Hankie racing again, and again, and again...

When we pull up to the stadium, Kellen gets out of the car and yells, "Daaaaaaaad!!" He's like a little monkey when he sees his dad.

 Maybe one of my fav pics of all time. I love his soft, fuzzy little head.

We are so happy for Hank! He has worked harder than anyone I know to finish school, all while working full-time to support a family with expensive taste. We love you, Hank!

Home Sweet Home

Two weeks ago, Kellen and I went down to Las Vegas to say goodbye to our peeps who were moving to Texas. I couldn't wait for Kellen to play with Claire and Oliver but I totally didn't anticipate the amount of jealousy and possessiveness that would occur between them! 

Only seconds after arriving, Kellen got possessive over his grammy as she fed baby Oliver. He just HAD to be up on her lap, hovering over the baby. 

 Next victim: Grammy-Grammy. He spotted Claire over sharing a little moment with her and bolted over to stake his claim. At this point, it was still all fun and games.

After papa arrived home, Kellen couldn't stand the thought of him just holding Oliver, so again, he joined. 

Our attempt at going out to eat with three kids. This picture is blury, but it completely captures how the whole meal played out. Claire danced across the bench we were all seated at. Kellen played with the light fixture behind us, disrupting a couple trying to enjoy their lunch. Meanwhile, all 6 booths across from us stared at us THE ENTIRE TIME as they watched the circus that was our table. It was unbelievable.

 Kellen stole Claire's tricycle, eventually figuring out that his feet go on the petals, not handlebars.

 I didn't have the heart to tell him...

 Another episode of jealousy. Location: Bellagio Buffet. We had been waiting in line tooooo long. Both kids were fighting over who got the honors and while giggling and taking pictures, I managed to capture an epic kick! It was followed by a shove. :)

After an hour wait in line, we finally got into the buffet, at which point I was terrified to think of how naughty Kellen would be as we all ate--he was tired, cranky and apparently hungry. He sat back in his high chair, unbuttoned his pants and chowed down! I have never seen my child eat so much in his life. 

He grabbed a fork and started eating off of every one's plates. He stole a piece of turkey, skin attached and devoured it. WTH?!? He ate so much his Kwashiorkor tummy was as hard as a rock. He consumed turkey, asparagus, sweet potatoes, watermellon, cantelope, 5 slices of bread, a huge bowl of ice cream, bread pudding, to name a few...

I just LOVE the lowering of the turkey into his mouth...

 The picture below may look like nothing, but it was the aftermath of one of the funniest things I've seen in my life. Kellen was loving on my mom when Claire came up to snuggle. He leaned in her face, about an inch away and just babbled like crazy in the most angry voice ever, then pulled away, kissed my mom and snuggled up on top of her shoulder. We nearly peed our pants.

 This antique pot was one of his favorite toys of the week.

 Finally figured out petals are made for feet, then faced disappointment that he can't actually reach that far yet.

 The best baby in the world, Oliver. He couldn't be happier.

 My sweet dad taking the kids on a wagon ride around the yard.

 Kellen didn't see the importance of holding on...

 Until this point, when he plopped right out onto the grass.

 How could you not love this girl?!

 Trying to photograph three children under the age of three was quite the task. Here, Kellen started petting Oliver's head to show his love.

 Then I started clapping to get his attention and he happily obliged, by looking my direction and showing me that he can clap too!

 He learned how to get in and out of the wagon...

 and posed for a few photos. I just love my handsome little man.

 The last day we tried to do a little photoshoot of him (why I always wait until the last minute is beyond me!) and well, this is the best face we got: confusion.

We're sure going to miss being just a 5 hour drive away from the Lepperts!