I used to think that the twos were called terrible for the messes a two year old makes.  At least with Ari that’s not at all the case!  He is a super clean freak and gets so upset when things are out of place.  I’ve decided the name “terrible” comes from the temper tantrums that a two year old can have on a flip of a dime.  Like the past few mornings when Ari has insisted that he wanted mac and cheese for breakfast.  I haven’t given in yet…although we’ve had some creative persuasion.  Or when he doesn’t care about Dad going to work…he only freaks out when Dad takes the red car to work.  And I love that fact that his bear needs a pillow and blanket to go to bed as well as he does.  He’s so00 independent now; he’s been known to take off his shorts and put them back on again if it even looked like you helped him do it.  On the flipside yesterday we did his 2yr old check up and he got a shot in his leg.  Daddy enjoyed how cuddly he was all night.  His little limp when he walked and the little “Daddy carry please?”  would melt any heart.  We love this little guy!

Ari loves the new space to spread out his trains

We got a big package today from Auntie Phyllis with tons of puzzles. Ari loves this one especially as he can run up and down it after putting it together. Thanks guys!

Ari is definitely daddy's little helper. Here he is explaining to dad how to put together the ikea swingset. I think he even had the Chinese manual!

Finally a post with pictures of the new house.  As you read earlier Pete graduates officially in Aug and as we were in on-campus housing we knew we need to move by the end of the summer.  Since we just started the new job we decided to keep renting, but we are definitely taking a step up by renting a three bedroom house instead of a 600 sq feet apt.  We were a little worried how Ari would take the move, but he LOVES the new house.  There is so much more space for him to run around, and he especially likes the wood floors that make lots of noise as he run and throws his ball around.  Last week we went back to our old house to play with our friends there and as we drove into the parking lot he started screaming, “NO!!  I want to go to the “new house”!!  So here it is!

Not much to look at from the outside but I do like the two rose bushes on the left and the two cherry trees on the right!

the Cherrry tress are perfect for our hammock! Note this was when Grandma and Grandpa Halverson were here...we couldn't have moved without their help!!

This is pretty close to the kitchen I want to end up with...it's even painted my colors! And hallelujah we have a dishwasher! hehe I just noticed Ari's shirt he likes to throw up on the hutch:)

the backyard is fenced in and has a swing set!

the other rooms aren't too much to look at yet...we're still working on getting pictures up but we are enjoying the space...here's the dining room which has so much space I devoted one half to my projects yipee! The house also has an unfinished basement that Pete is devoting to his office and projects....more pics to come!

Last weekend we had a great time with the Halversons at East Canyon State Park which is about 45min East of Salt Lake.  It was fun to see everyone, and Sat we even saw the extended Halversons as the three brothers Paul, Gene, and Lee Halverson celebrated their combined birthdays.  The first night Ari woke up at 2:30 and not knowing where he was he fell into a coffee table.  After an hour drive, a quick visit to the ER we returned to camp with three stitches.  Poor guy couldn’t go swimming in the lake but we still had fun in the sand.

Grandma and Ari digging in the sand

Playing cards with Grandpa, David, and Brianne (Hans is standing)

Grandma in the kayak on the lake

Our Halverson clan

the Halverson brothers

This post is dedicated to the newest doctor in the family…yes that’s right!  Pete passed his dissertation defense with flying colors and got all the signatures in….its official.  I’m so proud!  The title of his dissertation was “Modeling, Design, and Testing of Contact-aided Compliant Mechanisms in Spinal Arthroplasty.”  This week he started his new job with Crocker Spinal Technologies, a start-up company based on Pete’s spinal disc implant.  He’ll mostly work from home, but this week he was doing a lot of setting up and meeting people.   He was introduced as the first time as “Doctor Halverson” and I wish I could have been there to see the double take the guy took.   To me it seems like we’ve been at this forever but Pete’s still only 28.   I find it interested that technically his title is a doctor of philosophy.  So don’t expect Pete to perform any surgeries or anything (unless maybe its a cadaver:)  So does this mean I can go by Mrs. Dr. Halverson???

We finally got the internet hooked up last night so I have a lot of blogging to make up.  I also have started having contractions pretty strong this weekend…so hopefully we won’t be headed to the hospital tonight.  Eek!  Maya can’t come yet, her room is still full of boxes!  Well I guess she won’t know the difference for a while anyway:)  Okay please have some patience as I’m going to have to rummage through boxes to find all the cords I need for the camera to post pictures…

Lots of great things r happening but our new house still doesnt have internet! more to come i promise!

Is it a sign of a couponing addiction that whenever I get in the car my autopilot takes me to RiteAid?  Anyways here was my Smiths trip Monday morning.

Total out of pocket INCLUDING tax: $1.48

I know, I know I should be packing right now (we’re moving this Sat) but all this little dress needed was a little hemming and whala!  Yes I made this from a guy’s shirt…can you believe it?

Yesterday I did a photo shoot for my friend Holly and her cute little three wk old boy.   Maybe I’m itching to take pictures of my own newborn, but I loved it!  I got my new camera for Christmas and have been trying to learn all the ins and outs…who knew photography could be so complicated?  Anyways they certainly aren’t professional but what do you think?