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!"

Cutest Baby Ever!

Of course I still think my baby is the cutest baby of all time. Little Clare keeps growing and it's exciting every day.
We just moved and have been doing quite a lot of remodeling on our new house. She's been with us during the entire project and she's been an Angel to put up with so much chaos.
Here are a couple pictures of her. I'll put up a post about the house with some pictures soon.