After Jeremy's graduation we decided we wanted a celebration weekend. So on Thursday afternoon we drove North, and made it to SLC at about 8:00. That weekend was a family Reunion, and some of our family was already planning on heading that way. We decided that along with Laurie and Chrissy's families we would have a Lagoon day on Friday.

My little family was on our own for the first bit of the day at Lagoon, none of the other family groups had stayed in the same hotel and we all arrived at different times and with different initial agendas. We rode "The Bat" first, but Jerm opted out of Frankie's requested second ride and took this picture of us instead.

When we went to meet up with my family, Frankie decided he would jog through the little splash pad fountain. It turned on full force when he was in the middle and he got soaked. He was so mad, and Jeremy and I thought it was so funny which didn't help matters. I got this one picture, and then we changed his shirt, which was the only extra clothes I had. The rest of him had to dry slowly.

Lagoon was weird. After discovering that Frankie was too short to ride the White Roller Coaster, I feel like we didn't even walk in that direction and we missed half the park. We had no plan and we zig zagged back and forth 20 times. Having the comparison of Disneyland in his head, Jeremy was unimpressed with Lagoon. It is amazing how inefficient they are with things like boarding and exiting the rides. And the rides are so short! But, it was fun. And Frankie loved the little roller coasters he could ride, especially Bombora.

Mid-day, we went to Laguna Beach. If I had realized that Frankie couldn't go down any of the waterslides because they all have a crazy tall height requirement, I don't think we would have bothered with this. It did feel good to cool off, but it wasn't worth the trouble to just play in the kiddie pool area. After the water we left the park and went to a little cafe/burger place for lunch, then we came back and continued trekking around.

Hunter is such a fun teenage cousin. He wanted to make sure he got to take Frankie on the flying aces. We went over to an abandoned pavilion right next door, ate our dinner we had brought in, and the boys rode the aces.

Here is Jarek since he missed the group picture above.

Hunter and Frankie rode a second time, and Frankie was so excited that they got to be on the plane with flames. Hunter had that thing flying very high, and I really think they almost broke the ride. The cables looked like they were going to snap, and they started slowing it down right after it happened. It was a bit scary, but of course Frankie loved it.

Starting to wind down at the end of the day. We went over and rode the log flume and the rapids last, which was sort of poor planning. It had started getting chilly.

In the afternoon we decided to rent this stroller for Frankie, partly on the logic that if we had a stroller maybe he would take a nap. When they rolled that thing out after I had paid my $10 bucks AND left my drivers license as collateral, I about laughed out loud. Do they really think someone is going to steal it? It was the most uncomfortable, bolt upright positioned thing you've ever seen. We only saw one other person with one the whole day. So, no nap happened, but I do think it helped Frankie survive. The cousins all battled over who got to push Frankie around, but Hunter usually won and took him on some great excursions. As I heard them arguing over who got to push or ride with Frankie I came to a conclusion: not only is Frankie an only child, he is often the youngest too. What a life.

So ends the Lagoon adventure. We would go again, but not unless Frankie is tall enough to ride everything and not without a plan.

I Pricelined our hotel for this trip, and we ended up at the Peery Hotel. The picture below is of Frankie on the staircase in the lobby. The location is really cool, right in downtown, and I love the old architecture. But I neglected to read the fine print for Priceline that it only guarantees you accommodations for 2 people. Thus, Frankie didn't have a bed, and slept on an air mattress on the floor. We didn't have continental breakfast, we had to pay for parking, and the room was tiny with a view of mechanical equipment. If I had booked our usual hotel we like to stay in in Salt Lake, it probably would have ended up actually being cheaper. Ah, well-live and learn. And save Priceline for couple trips.

On Saturday we slept in, (even Frankie, miracle!) and then had time for a quick trip to the GAP. The only time I can get Jeremy to shop for clothes is when we're on vacation. Afterwards we went to the family reunion, and I neglected to take any pictures. It was wonderful to see everyone and catch up - I really hope that someday we can get a lot of those people to the new cabin.

Which is where we headed after the reunion. It ended up being just my little family and my parents at the cabin for Saturday night and Sunday. I was worried Frankie would be bored with no cousins around, but it ended up being really neat for him to have that individual time with my parents.

He helped my Dad with a hummingbird feeder:

And on Sunday we took a little drive to Cedar Breaks to see the wild flowers and such. Here we are at a lookout point:

And not looking at the view, but the chipmunks:

My son has started to be rebellious about me taking his picture. Isn't the stripey sweater awesome? It almost hurts the eyes but I love it.

The view:

My cute Mom and Dad:

My Dad took us way on top of the mountain where there are a bunch of radio and satellite towers. This cool  building is actually an old double outhouse. It's amazing to think that someone put that much craftsmanship into an outdoor toilet. I would love to know the story behind it.

Frankie knows that when he picks me a flower I usually put it in my hair. So he helped me:

Back at the cabin, Jeremy and Frankie did some deer watching.

Ch-ch-changes

It's been a monumental few weeks around here.

First and foremost: Meet my husband, the Paramedic. He passed his written and his practical exams on the first try. This is the picture we included with the couple of graduation announcements we sent out.

We made it through the year. They asked us to come talk to next years class and tell them how we did it. I don't know if we were actually the most effective for this. I remember how hard they pushed having a calender and scheduling everything when they talked to us last year. Instead I told them "I gave up trying to keep track of his schedule because it changed so often and it just made me frustrated. We took it a few days at a time."

After he received his certificate, I got to go up and place his pin. And then I got a hug. This was the best picture we got of the actual ceremony, the lights in there were all sorts of funky. But it was a good graduation.

At the ceremony they presented an award for the Student of the Year. This was voted on by the class. When his instructor Malinda presented it, she said Jeremy won "by a landslide." He was at the top of his class with his grades as well, and he excelled at all he did this last year. I'm so proud of him. Here he is with his student of the year plaque. He also had to give a speech, it was well done.

These were Jeremy's favorite classmates and friends. Devin and Aubrey - who are married to each other and went through the program at the same time. Brave souls.

With our parental units:

Frankie helped himself to the brownies they served after the ceremony, even though we were soon to be having lunch.

A happy family that never has to go through the Paramedic Program again:

Afterwards we had a little luncheon celebration at our house.

Jeremy's Mom gave him most everything he needs for a "jump kit." Basically a first aid kit, but for someone who can administer some serious first aid. He still needs to get a few things but he was very excited about this. He also got a new fishing chair and some Hello Kitty band aids. Always essential.

After the graduation we packed up and headed for a trip to SLC and the cabin. That's another post, for another day.

Last week Frankie started preschool. He has been so excited about this all summer, and it's helped make it a little less painful that his cousins are in school. It was only a little painful for me. We planned a lunch on his first day so I had something to look forward to. And it gives me a few hours at the office which is going to be good. He comes home singing cute little songs and telling me all about it. He loves going and being around other children. Here are some pictures from his first day, he wanted his hair to be "rockin'-stylin.'"

Frankie chose his tie dye preschool shoes, and although I picked out the Cars 2 backpack he is a big fan.

Kennadi and Frankie are in the same class. We couldn't resist.

The first activity at preschool was going through a list that helped him know where everything in the school is. When he would find the item, he got to put a sticker next to it. The last one was "give your Mom a kiss and say 'See you later, alligator.'" It was very cute. I gave him a kiss and away I went. Since the first day he wants to run in by himself, he doesn't want me to walk with him. He is so grown up.

On Tuesday we learned that Jeremy has 2 new jobs. One is at the E.R. in the hospital. For now he is just a tech but we hope by getting his foot in the door he'll be able to get a job there as a medic the next time they hire one. He is also going to be an instructor for the Paramedic program 3 or 4 times a month. And he still may be hired at the Iron County ambulance agency.

In the midst of all the happy news, for about 24 hours this week we thought we might be adopting a baby boy. Our home study isn't finished yet, so it was a frantic and emotional 24 hours, because it would have been possible to expedite the process if necessary so we were trying to get everything done. When nothing came of it, it was devastating on many levels. I really don't have much else to say about it right now - it's so hard to express, and when I see what feels like everyone around me pregnant, with little babies, or with their several children I feel almost angry... not at those people but at my situation. And I feel so sure that no one will understand.

Just keep moving forward, as always. Give me a minute to mourn and I'll be fine, but it makes this process even more frightening. If it's that hard after only a day, imagine the disappointment if it's been weeks or months of expectations, and it doesn't work out. Our home study should be finished soon. I'll post the link to our profile and such when it's done. We still have faith that there are more children that need to come into our family, somehow.

Post Edit: Jeremy's position at the E.R. was just upgraded. He is still a tech, but now he is a full time one. With benefits. We have never had health insurance for our whole family - to say the least we are excited. This week has been quite the ride.