Independence Day

I hope everyone had a wonderful 4th of July as you celebrated our nations independence. Here are three movies that have raised my appreciation of all we enjoy here in the USA. Let me know which movies or books have made an impact on you.
The Kite Runner
Hotel Rwanda (Both made me realize just how frightened and desperate I would feel living in a terrorist run country)
1776 (Yeah I like musicals. This one is of course about the making of the Declaration of Independents.)
Referring to the first two movies it's not hard to imagine how you would feel living in those circumstances with your own family. We don't have to go through those terrible happenings. The freedoms we enjoy have been fought for and won on and off of US soil. Let us remember those who have fought for us to ensure our freedom and the freedom of our childrens' children. We live in a wonderful country let us all be sure we are doing all we can to maintain and improve it.
Thank you for letting me stand on my patriotic soap box. Have a wonderful July. Don't stop celebrating! God Bless the USA! - Chrysi
Speaking of Celebrating, Here are some picts of what we did:


We were invited to a special breakfast that is only available
one time a year. Thanks mom, it was great!


Doesn't she look patriotic?


Grandma and Grandpa Robinson


Clare goes for her first swim at grandma's house


As you can see, Clare doesn't mind the water.
She is a natural water baby like her mom and
dad were.

1 Year Older

The surprise party we held for Rick went very well. Thanks to everyone for making it such a success.
And yes, we did actually surprise him! It wasn't easy, but it was fun!

Review of Ricks past year:
Last year on his birthday I was pregnant and we had just found out it was a girl.
Within 24 hrs of learning her gender we decided to name our first daughter Clare Beth.
Rick spent that summer going to class, preparing for the next school year as Beta Alpha Psi President, serving in our ward bishopric, and working full time. But with a little golf and roller coaster rides without his pregnant wife he was still able to enjoy himself.
The Fall only continued in the same pattern, (School, BAP pres., church, full-time work), except his first child was born mid November!
Winter was just as busy until Feb. When we bought our first house and Accounting-Busy-Season started. So on top of all the craziness he was working 60 hr weeks and we were fixing up and moving in to our first house.
Rick finally got a break in May and boy did we need it! Life has calmed down now that school, BAP, and busy season all ended. A change in jobs and wards has also made a big difference in his time commitments.
So now June, Ricks birth month has ended and he is not just a year older he is a year wiser also. "one thing at a time" are his words of wisdom expressed after the past year of frenetic activity.

We're Back! (although some of us didn't really leave)

These are our nephews who live in Kansas. Aren't they great!

Rick did make it out to Kansas and he enjoyed the visit a lot. The only thing that wasn't so great was that Clare and I couldn't come. We missed him a lot! Rick missed us too. So much that he made the drive back in one day. Yeah. We're all together again and that's the best.

We're still working on the house. I don't know if we'll ever finish unpacking and fixing things. Maybe next year.

Clare loves to give the best smiles ever! The picture below is of Clare with her cousin Elliot. Elliot is only 3 weeks older than Clare.

So much for Kansas City and Nauvoo.

Since I had a month off of work before I start my new job, Chrysi and I decided that we should go on a family vacation. We had been in the market for another family car to allow Chrysi to be mobile once I begin work again and it turned out that my sister Amanda was asked us if we wanted to buy hers. We bought it and now had a family vacation planned. Fly back to KC, pick up the car, visit the Fam, and then drive up to Nauvoo and see the church sites. It sounded too good to be true. Well, I guess it was!
At about the middle of the week, Clare started getting a cold (from her mom, who received it from who knows where). We were still planning on going until Friday night, the night before our flight. Clare was getting really sick, and so was I and Chrysi was only starting to feel better. Clare didn't sleep more than 2 hrs that night. As you can guess neither did we. I spent most of the evening walking up and down our new neighborhood streets with Clare wrapped up in a blanket in my arms. Side note: We have a beautiful neighborhood, at least for a 3am perspective. So Saturday morning came and we decided that we didn't want to share our lovely plague with Amanda and whoever else comes in contact with us (i.e. plane, airport, Saints in Nauvoo). We didn't want to start an epidemic. So we are still at home and our car is still in KC. We will have to figure out how to get the car later when we can think and walk straight.
Maybe we just aren't meant for Nauvoo, or Nauvoo isn't meant for us. This isn't the first attempt that Chrysi and I have made to go visit the "City of Joseph" (Nauvoo). Two years ago Chrysi and I planned a great road trip back to Nauvoo with Roy, Jani, Airety and Lissa. Well that didn't happen either. Chrysi's family ended up going, but I had been hampered with a herniated disc in my lower spine, and couldn't sit in a car for over 10 minutes without passing out due to the pain. I encouraged Chrysi to go with her Family and leave me at home. But due to the wonderful loving nature that she has, she stayed home with me. What a SWEETHEART!!!! So we didn't get there. Better luck next time!
George, Henry and Clifton, We do love you guys and someday we will come visit you. We just need to figure out how to get the curse lifted.

He's Finished!

The latest and greatest news from our family is about Rick.
He completed his Masters of Professional Accountancy emphasis in Taxation!

Graduation was on May 2nd and I've been waiting for pictures before I posted anything. Still don't have any but I'll put one up as soon as I do.

It was a long and hard but Rick stuck to it and we made it. I'm so proud and excited and happy. I just don't have the right words for it!

New Home Renovations!

We began looking at houses in January. In February we found one with tons of potential. Our offer was accepted on Valentines Day, (we'll never top that gift). We closed in March and have been working so hard that all our New Years Resolutions got put aside including keeping the blog updated. Well, we finally have an internet connection. So, I can resolve once again to update this blog and keep it going!
Check out our progress in the slide show. It's been a real project and it's not finished yet.

We had tons of help from family and want to say a big "THANK YOU!!! We couldn't have done it without you!"