Chris and Julie

I think I'm ready to start really keeping up on this blog. In february we invested in a much nicer camera and I need a place to show off my pictures!

So much has happened in the past year, I'll just give a little overview:

Chris received a promotion in february, which has been a tremendous blessing to us. He has been working very hard on his schooling and is doing so well! He was formally accepted into the business school and will start his upper division classes in the fall.

I'm still getting used to the stay at home mom life, but I love it for the most part. It is difficult to not let my days get away from me without the structure that I used to have with school and work, but we're getting better. Erika and I have fun together, especially now that she is learning words. I try to read to her as much as I can and she is picking up new things quickly. I am have two callings in my ward that keep me busy as well; activity days and relief society enrichment night committee.

Erika loves all things dogs and My Little Pony. She is exploding with energy and happiness while Chris and I do our best to keep up. Her vocabulary is ever-expanding, as well as her memory for people, games and objects. She says Mommy very distinctly, but hasn't quite mastered Daddy. She can point to her eyes, ears, mouth and belly button. She is getting better at answering yes and no questions and is very particular about everything she does. All in all, she has embraced toddlerhood with overwhelming independence. She and I took swim lessons in June and she has become quite the fish.

The two biggest items in our life recently are the acquisition of a new minivan (finally a second car!) and a zoo membership! We've been to the zoo with a lot of friends and family!

Have some zoo pictures!