We're alive!

Is it time for an update? Okay! Wordy stuff first . . .

Well, we're out in Utah now! We left Iowa mid-June, stayed with my parents for a week or so while we searched for an apartment (which was terrifying--most of the places we found really made me fear for my life, even when we were just driving by . . . the photos they put on KSL can be highly deceptive), and finally found a little place in Draper that we've been really happy with.

 

Jeff is doing an internship at Peterson Chiropractic in West Valley City (maybe you noticed West Valley on the news when there were 2 or 3 people murdered there the week he started . . . fantastic), and has really been enjoying it. Up until a week or so ago, he was the only Spanish speaker in the office, which meant all the Spanish patients no longer had to bring a translator to their appointments, and their Spanish-speaking patient base suddenly started growing like crazy, so he's really enjoyed brushing up on his Spanish (and learning new words when the patients laugh at him for saying things like "we need to take a . . . picture of your bones," and graciously teach him the word for "x-ray") as well as helping the office grow.

We're trying to adjust to our new ward, which is really making me miss our ward in Iowa (a lot!), and I was just called as the (brace yourself) assistant Wolf den leader. As in boy scouts. Not sure what about me would set off a boy scout trigger in anyone's head, but I guess I'll figure it out as I go along. I just hope they're not expecting me to buy myself a uniform, because that's definitely not going to happen. 

Forrest has become quite the little helper (although his helping usually makes chores take twice as long as they usually do) . . . he's especially good at reading the warnings and instructions before starting tasks:

As well as performing safety inspections and maintenance checks:

He also loves to play hide and seek, although he needs to work on not leaving a trail leading up to his hiding spot:

He'll be one next week, which is completely crazy since I feel like he was just born a few weeks ago. And speaking of birthdays, my sister Bekah just turned 20 and celebrated with (what else?) a Harry Potter party. My mom made this delectable cake, which I don't know if I'll be able to top for Forrest's birthday:

In case you need a close-up . . . 

Yum! We also had chocolate frogs,  Bertie Bott's every flavor beans (aka jelly bellys), cockroach clusters, and butterbeer (which I made; it was a bit of a disappointment).

Forrest dressed as Professor Flitwick for the party:

(For comparison purposes, here's the professor:)

 I think this picture represents his feelings about wearing such a silly outfit pretty well:

It's been so great to be close to family again--I'm pretty sure Forrest loves Bekah more than he loves me (I'm not even joking about that), and after spending 20 straight hours driving out here with my mom sitting next to him in the back seat, I think he thinks Grandma is his new mom. Although I'd like to remind him of the one who gave birth to him (which was not exactly a walk in the park, Forrest!) and changes his diapers every day. Especially the disgusting lumpy orange lava diaper that resulted from his precious aunt Bekah feeding him half a box of Goldfish the other night.