Sometimes I wish...

1. Chris could be home (especially on the tough days when I would rather lay in bed than do anything at all)

2. 4th year was over and we were moved and in our new home ready to embark on our newest adventure.

3. I could get over all of my insecurities and really embrace life.

4. I would just let myself have a good cry instead of having to be the one holding it together all of the time.

5. I was a better mom and did more things with my boys that I have always wanted to do.

6. Little people didn't throw temper tantrums.

7. I was 16 again and could just be silly and do silly things.

8. I could snuggle with my boys (all three of them) all day.

9. My boys weren't so big, even though I really enjoy this time.

10. I lived in a small town like "Gilmore Girls" and had tons of super close friends for my neighbors.

11. I didn't love chocolate and icecream so much.

12. I could sew like my Mom.

13. I could sing like Amanda.

14. I could run like Lindy.

15. I could have thick, long, blonde hair.

Across the Country: Reno, NV to Harrisburg, PA

Before we left, I was trying to explain to Tracen that Mommy and Daddy were going to be leaving for a few days and so he would have to stay with Grandma Debbie. He didn't like this idea and so I asked him:

Me: "Do you want Daddy to have to go to Pennsylvania ALL by himself?"

Tracen: "No...."

Me: "So then Mommy needs to go with Daddy for a few days, I'll be back I promise."

Tracen: "But I don't want you to go."

Me: "But you don't want Daddy to be alone to you?"

Tracen: "No....so, I'll just come with you!"

What a smart guy...almost convinced me to let him tag along :(

Here are some details from our trip:

Approximately 2500 miles and 40 hours later we are now in Harrisburg, PA.

Us...in the car!!!

Wednesday: July 28th

Reno, NV to Salt Lake City, UT (520 miles and 7.5 hours)

We left at 645 pm and arrived in SLC around 215 am

Thursday: July 29th

SLC, UT to Lincoln, NE (872 miles and 12.5 hours)

We left SLC around 1130 am and arrived in Lincoln around 1 am

Friday: July 30th

Lincoln, NE to Columbus, OH (840 miles and 14 hours)

We left Lincoln around 1030 am and arrived in Columbus around 130 am

We stopped and looked at the Mississippi River. Neither of us had ever seen it before...so that was kinda fun =0)Us by the river....

Just me and the Mississippi!

The bridge we crossed over the Mississippi...we felt very connected to Christin and Kent at that moment! Ha!

Saturday: July 31st

Columbus, OH to Harrisburg, PA (380 miles and 6.5 hours)

We left Columbus around 1130 am and arrived in Harrisburg around 6 pm

On our drive through Pennsylvania to Harrisburg, we traveled on the turnpike...it cost us $12 just to drive on the road. But hey...on the bright side we didn't have too much traffic...pay for no traffic...I would do it any day!

Beautiful Pennsylvania...we traveled through about 3 or 4 of these cool tunnels through the hills.

We traveled through LOTS of states, drove over LOTS of rivers, listened to two books, watched one movie and just hung out.

We traveled through: Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. I wish I had taken pictures of all the "welcome signs," but I thought about that too late....maybe next time!

One of the many rivers we crossed...no, its not the Mississippi

Today, we traveled to the land of Hershey, PA and went to Chocolate World. After a chocolate tour and lots of crowds we called it good.

The Hershey tour was more like a Disneyland Kiddie ride.... it was fun!

And this is for Christin...you gotta love the GIGANTIC display of Reeses :)

Good luck, Chris! You will rock it out here at Penn State :)

I had to add this...isn't he handsome! Soon to be Dr. Karrasch...you know you would want to have him as your doctor :)

Time to Update...but my Camera is DEAD

I have been wanting to update, and I have fun pictures, but my battery is dead on my camera and I have NO IDEA where I put it so...here's what's new:

Christopher *finished 3rd year...studied super hard and rocked his Surgery Rotation and got awesome reviews (we are so proud)

*starting 4th year with tests!!!

*home from Vegas for the past 4 weeks!

*Studying...studying....and more studying BORING :(

*getting ready to apply for residency...we picked out our 66 schools...yes, I did just say 66!

*leaving Wednesday to go to PA and OH for 2 away rotations for 8 weeks

Sara

*hating that school starts in 3 weeks (booo!!! but it is my last year....YAY!!!!)
*training for my first 1/2 marathon in October

*has logged 111.52 miles since April (now that is crazy to think about)

*ran a 5K and placed 33/195 people, 8/137 women with a time of 28:03 (which was 2 1/2 mins behind my goal time...bummer, but not bad)

*loving being home with my boys and hanging out with them

*SO ready to find out where we will be heading for residency

Tracen

*Playing a lot!

*Loves the number 4, can you guess why?

*loves to sing Veggie Tales in the car...this kid is a performer if you catch him at the right time

*Thinks his room is "off limits" to any babies and that includes poor Ethan

*Is having Mommy separation anxiety and is CONSTANTLY telling me to "stay out of the street when I run"

*eating better...I didn't say good, but better

*loves super heros but thinks that he is a bad guy because he likes to swim and scare people

*Has a fake (stuffed animal) dog (Buster) that he absolutely loves

*Is just a super fun kid! I wish more people could get to know him :)

Logan

*Is ALL BOY and LOVES to play swords

*Is throughly convinced that he can do anything if he makes this weird duck noise before he does it

*Loves to swim

*Loves babies and is super affectionate

*Has the biggest lips I have ever seen on a little guy

*Love to be Buzz Lightyear and jump off EVERYTHING! (but he has to say "To infinity and beyond!" first)

*Adores his brother

*Has a very tender and cuddly side that I absolutely love

Lake Tahoe and Magnetic Calendars

Today we headed off to Tahoe for an adventure and it was super fun! The boys loved it. Tracen did ALOT of swimming which totally surprised me since the water was like ice. Logan on the other hand HATED the water because of its "coldness" so he hung out on the beach. I made him a little hole with water and he like to splash in there. We couldn't have asked for a better day. The sky was clear, not too hot and hardly anyone there. We had so much fun!!!

Our sad little sand castle.

Mom and the boys!

I came up with a plan to make magnetic wall calendars for my house. It has been quite a project. Did you know they have magnetic paint? And it really workds. Then the paint over the top is chalkboard paint. we are almost there. One more day and they should be done! We rock!!!

Amanda after pulling off some of the paint

Jess hard at work!

My board after painting

I couldn't resist trying out putting on the border. So here it is. ALMOST DONE!!!

Pants on the Ground

I can never catch Tracen in the act of singing this, so when I did I had to jump all over it! He is a goofy kid!

Happy Father's Day!

We tried to get this a ton of times but the webcam kept skipping so this is the best we got! We love you Chris! Only 4 more days!!! YAHOOO!!!