St. George

So I guess it's about time for an update! Don't you hate when bloggers go forever without an update?! Geez!! Well, it has been the busiest, craziest few months of my life, probably. We moved from Dallas, TX, to St George, UT in mid-June. I took a job at a local dental office here, and we have been working on getting a practice started for Corey. I work 3 days a week, and would like to go back to my 1-2 days before too long. It takes the fun out of dentistry to work too much. Corey is able to be home with the kids while we have been deciding on an office location, and we still have to wait for the build-out, so it is working OK for now. Truth is, they LOVE being at home full time with their dad! They are going to have some serious withdrawals when his office is done.

Little Zs on the steps of the beautiful St. George Temple

Why St. George? Well, we were faced with the daunting decision of where we wanted to live for pretty much the rest of our lives. Hawaii was seriously at the top of our list, but I am too practical, and the cost of living is just ridiculous. So we will be vacationers there until we have enough money to not worry about that! I seriously considered the Carolinas. Beautiful, beachfront areas, nice weather. We wanted somewhere with nice weather, but also wanted to be closer to family. St. George was the closest you can get to Idaho and still have palm trees, so that was it!

Our porch swing and patio set are my favorite furniture items because they allow us to hang out in the beautiful outdoors.

Golfing at Sand Hollow Resort in Hurricane. Gorgeous course.

We love the beauty of this area, the fact that it has so many fun things to do outdoors, and that our families are not terribly far. It is also a great place to raise a family. Our home is up on a hill, with a stunning westward view. We try to watch the sunset every night possible. It brings peace to my soul.

We also try to hike as frequently as we can. The kids have done great. Zach whined a bit on our first one that was 3-4 miles long and a bit strenuous, and had to be mostly carried down, but he's held his own since then and done awesome on some big climbs! Zoey is in the Kelty backpack for now, but itching to be on the ground. There are a lot of hills on our horizon that I can't wait to ascend!

This is on our first hike to the Petroglyphs in Santa Clara. It was about 4 miles and a little strenuous. I had to carry Zoey on the way back because Zach couldn't make it down by himself, so Corey carried him on his shoulders. It was beautiful though.

Zoey screamed about half the time because her sunglasses weren't staying on right. Worst $5 I've spent lately.

It was all worth it because we got to see this at the end. Come to find out there were petroglyphs all along the trail, but they were on the edges of the cliffs we were trying to keep our kids from. Go figure!

This was just a baby climb by Gunlock Reservoir.

My babies at the top of Shadow Mountain, really close to our home. Stunning panorama. Zach is doing his "cactus pose." He climbed to the top all by himself, and it was a bit of a scramble. We also saw some petroglyphs on this hike. They are all over out here where the ancient Puebloans lived around 500-1200AD. So cool!

This was a slightly scary scramble we took to the top of a hill in Snow Canyon State Park. I need a better picture of how high it is, but just Zach doing his cactus pose. He and I do the scary parts hand-in-hand while Corey has Zoe-zoe on his back.

She's just beautiful

We are still finalizing the decision for Corey's location. It is like getting married all over again--I feel like it is almost a lifelong decision--one that can make or break our business. Anyway, we are taking our time to get everything as perfect as possible. It is exciting, but also stressful.

Zach and Zoey started a Montessori preschool that we like so far. Zoey is recently potty-trained and that is also an adventure. A very wet one at times. ;)

We took a quick trip to San Antonio just before our move for a chiropractic seminar. Grandma Nettie saved the day by helping with our move. Best Mary Poppins grandma ever!!

Views from our home

The things we miss the most about Dallas- all our friends. These are the kids' very best friends, Cruise and MacLayne. Every so often, Zach sadly asks to move back to Texas because he misses Cruise. We are all definitely going through some Lone Star withdrawals, but love being closer to family here. We miss the park near our home where we would always take nice walks. However, we don't miss the humidity, and the climate here in Southern Utah is just right for our tastes. There are unfortunately still big cockroaches and I have found 2 dead scorpions in my house. *gasp* At least they weren't in my bed! To have warm winters, some trials must be borne!

The reason I took so long to post anything was that we had some technical difficulties with getting our internet up, then my phone took a swim, and I have been doing a lot of CE in my spare time due to some big cases at work that I need to be up on. I have a ton more to update, and hope I can keep up with it, because seriously, those guys who never update their blogs are LAME!! LOL!!

T-ball Fun

Corey and I volunteered to be T-ball coaches this year for Zach's league. I was secretly hoping they'd waive his fees if we volunteered, but that didn't happen. :) At least we all got matching Pirates shirts and caps. (I am really regretting not getting in the drawing for the Rangers team. They said everyone requested that team, but I would rather have Rangers shirts than Pirates. Argh!) 

There were 7 kids on the team, including Zach's best friend, Cruise. They are two peas in a pod. We were excited to have them play together. The coaching was actually pretty easy, because at this age, the other coaches don't hold practices, so neither did we, with one or two exceptions. The kids were hilarious to watch. I had to work every other Saturday, so missed half of the season, but Corey told me the first game that each child cried at one point for one reason or another--not catching the ball, etc. Haha!! The girl pictured in this first picture caught the majority of the balls this season--the boys couldn't keep up with her! Anyway, it was a fun season. Zach improved a lot, and we look forward to having him involved in a few sports as he grows up.

                     He was absolutely enthralled by his trophy!

With his friend, Cruise. Um, I don't think two players on the same team should be on the same base!! Cruise also is responsible for instigating a dog-pile every time the other team hit the ball. He would jump on whoever was the first to get the ball, and the entire team would follow suit!

      My cutie-cute little baller!! I adore this handsome hunk!

Dr. Corey M. Wilhelmsen

I knew the graduation would be a blur- I'd better hurry and write what I remember! (So sad that this is the only photo I got of him on the stage. I either got to cheer or take pictures.)

It has been a very long 3.3 years here in Dallas while Corey earned his Doctorate of Chiropractic at Parker University. At the same time, it has flown, just as I knew it would from our experience in dental school. 

 

 There were countless mornings that began before 6 am, and didn't have Corey home before 10 or 11 pm. During midterms and finals, Corey would often go days without seeing the children, as he left and returned while they were slumbering. Zach and Zoey are absolutely elated to have Corey done with school and home to enjoy for a little bit until he begins to work.

 We definitely missed him, but his hard work has paid off in many ways already. Corey was on the Dean's List nearly every semester, graduating with the honorable distinction of Cum Laude. He never failed one test, and never received a final grade lower than a B in any course. During his time at Parker, Corey was also selected for two competitive scholarships (which were nice, but totaled less than 1/100th of the final cost of his schooling!) Corey was selected among numerous applicants for a position in the Career Based Internship Program, where he spent the last 8 months of his clinical year treating patients in a private practice setting. This opportunity allowed him to get much more experience in adjusting, other treatment modalities such as cold laser therapy, and management than most of his classmates received in the student clinic. 

To my utter irritation directed at Parker, the only recognition Corey received for spending probably double to triple the study hours of many of his classmates in order to earn those high distinctions, was having his name called as he crossed the stage with the other eight Honors graduates. Seriously, no mention in the program. Not even an asterisk. I still have a mind to call and complain to them!!

  Oh, well. He obviously didn't spend those countless hours solely so that he could get credit at his graduation ceremony. Corey has striven for excellence since he first walked through the doors of Parker University so that he could have the greatest knowledge with which to successfully treat his future patients and also have the means to best provide for his family. And did I mention that he cracks back like a pro?! Honestly, I have neck and back issues, and have seen many professionals, and Corey is now my provider of choice! 

 I honestly couldn't be prouder of my sweetheart. He set his mind to a lofty goal, and went above and beyond in achieving it, showing he could be an exceptional student, husband, and father. His accomplishment will stand as a great example to our children. We do not know exactly what or where the next step we will take is, but I know beyond the shadow of a doubt that Corey will lead us successfully and safely there. 

Corey with his parents

 His brother, James. Look related much?!

Dr. Corey Wilhelmsen

 Our good friends Kyler and Jenny

 Mike and Molly

 Daniel and Josiah

Sadly, we missed a few friends before we could get a photo with them. We have made several really good friends while in school. We will sure miss them. It is tricky to lnow whether or not we will see them again! I have only seen a couple of my dental classmates since our graduation eight years ago, even though it seems as though we were together constantly for those four years. 

Congratulations to my amazing, wonderful, gifted, loving husband, Corey Mack Wilhelmsen, Doctor of Chiropractic!

Karate Kid

I feel like I had a really rough time with Zachary from about ages 2.5-4. I know that sounds like a long time. It was. And there was LOTS and LOTS of good sprinkled in that time, for sure.  But there was SO much frustration on my part, I'm sure mostly due to my weak first-time parenting skills. There were also just a lot of tough transitions for us both during this time--weaning him from a naptime binky, which sent naptime out the window, moving him to a new bedroom and big boy bed, and potty training seemed to be the most stressful. 

 Corey did not have the struggle I had, for the most part, although from about last November to this January, even my good-tempered husband was getting flustered at Zach's temper tantrums! I honestly don't know if it was more me or him, but there were a lot of days that I felt totally incapable. Totally. It was really discouraging and I felt so bad for not being more patient and understanding and better able to control my frustration. 

Starting about 2 months ago, just after he turned 4, things really seemed to turn around. I'm knocking on wood that the trend continues. Again, I don't know if it is more attributable to his behavior becoming better or my prayers for my own patience and gentleness finally being answered, but it has been wonderful! He really seems so sugary sweet lately, and so much more helpful and obedient. I've hardly even had to put him in time out and I've raised my voice a lot less.

 How I adore this sweet boy!!

 I think the incident that triggered this transformation was poor Zach coming down with a bad case of the flu. The real influenza, which I'm pretty sure he had been vaccinated for. He had fevers, chills, was totally lethargic--totally not himself. It broke my heart. But it was during this illness that he was so tired that he lost some of his fiestiness and fight that was making things hard. He became so snuggly and grateful and polite and sweet. I hated to see him so ill, but it's been nice to see him acting so much sweeter. 

Since I began writing this last week, he seems to be gaining more difficulty obeying and has put up a fight about a few things, but he's still been easier than before. He is also pretty sweet with Zoey lately. They play together a lot more. I am really proud and grateful that he is gentle with her. Even when she teases him or grabs toys that he is playing with or even hits him, he rarely hits or is mean back to her. He just yells, "MO-OOOM! Zoey took my blo-ooocks!!" He has been better-behaved at preschool and church also. For awhile, he had a hard time sitting with his class and obeying his teachers, but he has done great lately. 

 The perpetrator, hiding a snatched block behind her back...

Heartbroken but not retaliating... 

Happy again!

Coincidentally, I enrolled he and Zoey in karate and gymnastic classes, respectively. They both LOVED it!! I started him in gymnastics, which he did not like, but he immediately fell in love with karate. In 6 weeks of classes he learned enough to earn his white/yellow striped belt. He was so fun to watch! I want to keep him in classes, but that one was far away and expensive. I took him to one close to home, but when the Korean instructor brought out his "spank stick" to threaten the misbehaving kids (not Zach) with, I didn't go back. They're 4 years old, Jackie Chan! T-Ball starts next week, anyway, and Corey and I are coaching his team. I hope it's not a headache, and should be a lot of fun.

Hi-ya!

Excited about his new belt.

 Anyhow, I am hoping this trend of sweetness is here to stay. It sure has made life easier and motherhood more rewarding this last little while. My heart just melts when he looks at me with his eyes all soft and mushy, and gushes, "I love you, Mom!"  Thank Heaven for my little boy!!