Take Two: Back to Virginia

Morgan just started his second year of law school this week. He is pretty excited about some of his new classes. We have had a busy month back in Virginia already. We hurried back so Morgan could do on campus interviews, then we got to relax for about a week. We went to the beach a couple times, went to the park, went to some outdoor concerts and just overall enjoyed having so much time together.

Now it is back to the grind. We're finally settling back into a schedule and i'm working like crazy to get ready for baby #2 in six weeks.

I have had a major burst of nesting this last week. I redecorated our master bedroom (pictures coming soon) and have started sewing our Halloween costumes. My hip has been hurting a lot lately, but when it feels good i'm going a hundred miles a minutes trying to get things done.

Beka finally had her little girl, Clara Lela Sorensen. She is a doll.

I wish I could hold and snuggle. I'm glad that I will get my own little bundle here in a few weeks to snuggle with. Eva has absolutely no idea that a baby is coming. We have taught her to call my bump baby and she'll give him kisses if we ask, but besides that she is oblivious. Maybe it is better that way. Oh, I don't think I mentioned on here that we are having a boy, which is awesome! Now we'll have one of each gender and I won't have to worry what our next kids will be.

We're really loving being back in Virginia. It definitely feels more like home the longer we are here.

Summer 2015

We had an awesome summer in Colorado Springs this year. We lived with Morgan's parents while Morgan completed an internship with Judge McHenry at the district courthouse. Shay and Steph were home for the summer as well and we had a great time visiting, watching shows and playing games.

Morgan loved working for his judge. I feel like he finally found why law school was worth it through this internship. He excelled at everything his judge gave him and got a deeper insight into the court system. His favorite part that most surprised him was that he actually really loved watching the jury selection each Monday morning.

Eva grew leaps and bounds over the summer. We had three goals for her this summer: 1-learn to walk barefoot on grass; 2-learn to go down the stairs; 3-learn to enjoy jumping on the trampoline. I am proud to say that ALL three were accomplished in the 10 weeks we were in the Springs. She did take one big tumble down the stairs in the process, but wasn't seriously harmed. She also went to the zoo for the first time ever and loved it. Her aunts taught her a lot of animal noises before we went and she made the appropriate ones she knew (mainly monkey and elephant). Our favorite part of the zoo trip was when we went to visit the petting zoo and an aggressive chicken got too close for Eva's comfort. She quickly backed up, put her hands out and said, "whoa, whoa!" I don't even know where she learned that word from, but it was hilarious. Here is an Eva picture overload.

 Eva in her new pool

 First time coloring

 Relaxing in Grandma Lyons room while watching cartoons. 

 Making friends with the nutcracker at a German restaurant we went to.

 These are Eva's two favorite toys from Grandma's house: a stuffed dog and a blue purse. 

 Running errands

 Dancing in the living room

Splash pad 

 Watching TV with the aunts in her favorite chair

 Playing dress-up

 During family pictures, Eva decided little Gracie needed some encouragement to endure looking at the camera for so long.

I taught Skype lessons during the summer, worked on redecorating my in-laws house, enjoyed having company all the time and picked up watercoloring. Eva and I also spent tons of time together and went swimming and played plenty. It was so nice having Shay, Steph and Mom Lyons around to help entertain our high energy girl.

Other things we did: Visited the Garden of the Gods with the Laws and the McKeans (man, do we miss them both!),

went to a Skysox game (Eva loved Sox the Fox until she saw him up close),

had a tennis tournament (well, Morgan had one...and he won), 

tried camping in the backyard to see how Eva would do (it was a major flop), went up to Denver for the 4th of July to see Sam and Megan, and went to the Denver temple twice. On the last trip to the temple we did Daniel's temple work on the day he passed away a year ago. It was the perfect way to remember him and remember that families are forever.