Dr. Bryce Haslem M.D.

It's official!  Bryce graduated from the St. Louis University School of Medicine today.  I got to watched him take the Hippocratic Oath with all of his classmates and I am so proud of him!  These last four years have not been easy and he worked so hard to get where he is today.  

CONGRATULATIONS!!!  You deserve it!

Don't my boys look so handsome and so well-behaved!

Bryce's class reciting the Hippocratic Oath                                    Bryce and the proud parents

                                           

My dad came too                                                                   John and Tara

                                                                                              (We didn't see everyone together to

                                                                                                 get a group shot)

The Happy Family!

                                                         

Bitter Sweet

I can't even tell you how much I am going to miss St. Louis. It's not even St. Louis itself so much as the people I have met during my time here. I have met and become friends with some really amazing people who have impacted my life forever. Most of these people do not share my religion or my age group, but we all had one thing in common that brought us together, the gym. I started working out, and I mean just started, at the community YMCA and decided to join one of their classes called "Bootcamp". It was a combination of running, spinning, and strength training, none of which I was very experienced at. I signed up with two of my friends from church and had heard that it was really tough and there was somewhat of a following for the instructor who organized the class. All the women in the class knew one another. I have to admit that I didn't go to the first two classes purely because of fear and intimidation, I didn't think I could hack it. After I finally got up the courage to go I was hooked. I had never been so sore in my entire life, but had never worked so hard either. Over time as I began to get to know these women better it eventually came up that I was 25, had two kids, and got married when I was 19. Elizabeth, the bootcamp instructor, was blown away by this. She couldn't believe it and finally asked me if I was only 19 when I got married, than was I able to drink at my reception? When I told her my husband and I didn't drink she finally put all of the pieces together. Our friendship just grew from there. Since I met these ladies I run, spin, and do all sorts of crazy things on a regular basis and I have a blast doing it, purely because I am with them. I love them all and don't know if it's possible to replace them. Thank you everyone from Bootcamp for all that you taught and showed me. Especially a huge shout-out to Elizabeth and Julie. They both are amazing athletes and took me under their wings and taught me so much about so many things. I love you guys!

Just before the "farewell" spin for Jamie and I

Elizabeth did an awesome job during the spin. The music was the best!

She played this song about Iowa in my honor,

it was hillarious!

I wish I could have put it on my playlist, but I couldn't find it.

That night they threw us a going away party

Top row from left to right:

Marsha, me, Jen, Aixa, Elizabeth, Jamie, Norene

Bottom row from Left to right:

Kim, Gayna, Kathy, Suzy, Julie (Boston marathon in 3:39), Nancy (3:14 marathon)

I will respect them and not tell you how old they really are,

Let's just say AMAZING GIRLS!

Luz, Michelle, Lisa, Megan, Ashley, Suzy, Christy, Kim

More of us at "Amigos", Megan's new restaurant,

Very good food!

Powder Valley

Landon's Class did a field trip to a local environmental conservation Park.  It's called Powder Valley and I have taken my kids there many times before.  We love to go and walk the trails and I have taken pictures of them there in the past.  This particular time they learned about insects during their field trip.  They did a field study in the pond and got to see the mosquitos that hadn't matured yet that we will all soon be enjoying during the summer.  Than they learned about insects and got to experience how insects see with some cool glasses that everyone loved.  I have absolutely loved Landon's teacher, Mrs. Lillick, this year.  She has been so good with the kids and taught Landon so much.  He had a great year here in St. Louis at Tillman and will miss all of the great friends he made here (especially Tessa).

That is another story for another time.

 

For those of you who know the history behind Landon and Tessa,

She is the little girl in the jeans and light blue shirt with short dark hair, cute!

30's the new 20?

Bryce's 30th birthday was yesterday!  I can't believe he is 30 only because we started dating when he was 18!  Time has gone by so fast and I can't can't believe where are lives have brought us over the last 10 years.  We have two beautiful children who make us laugh every day and a wonderful life that is really only beginning.  I am so grateful to have a husband who loves to go out and play basketball, golf, etc. with his boys and is working so hard to provide a good life for his family.  

Bryce started out the his birthday in the best way he knows... a round of golf.  We were than able to spend the night out with some friends at our favorite place, the Cheesecake Factory.  I am going to miss Cheesecake because sadly they don't have one in Iowa.  We skipped the actual cheesecake this time because we had birthday cake waiting at home.  He blew out all 30 candles on the cake and almost set off the fire alarm in the process with all of the smoke.  Landon picked out a Guitar Hero shirt for his dad that he was so proud of because his dad plays it so much.  Also, If your wondering what I got him for his birthday, Bryce was playing his round of golf this morning with some new irons than my dad also contributed to... Thanks Dad!  

All- in- all I think he had a great 30th birthday, I hope, and I'm so happy I am the one who gets to celebrate with him every year.  Happy Birthday Babe!

I'm really going to miss these guys!

This was the "free" dessert at the Cheesecake Factory

that's a lot of candles on one birthday cake!

You can see all of the smoke surrounding the cake

from blowing out the candles

Going Private

So we started out with our blog private and there were pros and cons to that decision.  We decided to open the blog a few months ago and I have to admit that I have gotten in contact with so many more people through the open blog that I wouldn't have otherwise.  I decided rather than make it private again I'm going to remove our last name from the address and places on our blog.  I'm sorry for those of you who have to change this and hope it's not to annoying for anyone, but I think I'll feel better about keeping it open so those old friends who we haven't kept in touch with for years are able to reconnect.

Thanks!

( if you have our last name linked to our blog please remove it)

Read, Right, & Run Marathon

Landon's school did something really cool this year.  They participated in the Read, Write, & Run Marathon.  Since the beginning of Nov. Landon had to read 26 books, run 25 miles, and do 26 good deeds.  His race at the end was 1.2 miles to complete his marathon of 26.2 miles run.  The kids had a great time and I was very impressed by the organization of the event.  There was a million kids there from schools all over St. Louis.  Landon had to run the entire course by himself, no parents allowed!  They started the kids one school at a time and one by one so they wouldn't be trampling all over one another.  He did awesome and needless to say I don't have any video of him crossing the finish line because he way exceeded my expectations on time and I saw him running towards the finish line before I could even attempt to get the video camera out.  Thank goodness I made Landon wear his red Cardinals hat or I would have completely missed him.  Chase and I just cheered from the sidelines and luckily Bryce caught some pictures.  He completed the 1.2 miles in about 8.5 minutes! 

Way to go Landon!

Alexader, Landon, & Nicholas

These guys have been the best of friends (they're twins!)

Alexander and Landon never have a dull moment with one another

Here he comes rounding the corner towards the finish!

Way to go!

Happy Birthday!

                                     So there are quite a few birthday this month for some very important people.  Kari's in on the 1st of April, Jamie's is on the 2nd, my little sis Lindsay's is on the 11th, Jaclyn's Birthday in on the 24th,  Tara's is on the 29th, and Bryce turns the big 30 on the 16th!  

Happy Birthday to everyone (especially my man) and I hope it turns out to be a great birthday for all!

(Pause the Music before viewing the JibJab)

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Sleeping Boy

So, I was going through some of our photos the other day and noticed a theme is some of them.  Chase sleeping everywhere and in just about every position!  Chase has always been a very good sleeper.  He loves to hang out in bed in the mornings for at least 20 min after he wakes up.  Warning:  Do not get Chase out of bed right when he wakes up!  He has always needed some time to adjust to the idea of starting the day and you can't rush him.  Some might say he takes after his mother, but I have to say, I have drastically improved over the years.  I think two kids had something to do with that!  These are just a few of the fun ways we have found Chase sleeping over the years.

Just drag your mouse over a picture to see the full image

Enjoy!

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter!  According to Bryce the Easter Bunny went way overboard this year and got the boys way to much candy (maybe).  They also got "Enchanted" which we hadn't seen yet, but heard really good things about.  Needless to say, we loved it!   Stake conference was this Easter Sunday and I have to say my kids do not do 2 hours of sitting still and being quiet in church, they can barely handle one.  I also do not do 2 hours of trying to get them to be quiet and be still, so in other words we didn't go.  My kids also didn't get Easter clothes this year because when I found out Easter Sunday was Stake Conference I returned them to the store.  No need to have new Easter clothes when your not going to church on Easter, right?  Instead we stayed home and had a quiet Sunday with the family and tried to get the boys to understand what Easter Sunday was really about, not the candy or the Bunny!  Hopefully your Easter was a little more meaningful than ours.

Match Day

Match day was very exciting.  All of the fourth year medical student and whomever they brought with them met at the Red Bird Club at Cardinals Stadium.  We arrived a little later before they started handing out letters so all of the tables were taken and just about all of the food from the "appetizer buffet" was gone.  Then things got started as they called out everyones name individually to come and get their letter.  My husband proceeded to open his letter without me while I was scrounging up what food I could for us and our kids.  I heard where we were going from everyone else as I returned.  Thanks Bryce!  Non the less, everyone was so excited and all of our friends had a good match.  It's going to be really hard separating from people who have been such a big part of our lives over the last four years.

Bryce opening his letter to determine where we spend 

the next few years of our lives.

The Four Amigos

Bryce, Kiley, John, & Greg

The Supportive Wives

Jamie, Me, Tara, & Sarah (with child)

The whole gang together, we are really going to miss these guys

as we are all going to different places

Our most recent family picture in the last 3 years!

The boys entertaining themselves during the "Boring Party"

We will miss you St. Louis!

Thanks for taking the pictures Jamie!

I, of course, accidently left my camera on the kitchen table

We Matched!

We found out today that we matched in the Internal Medicine program at the University of Iowa in Iowa City.  We are really excited, it was our #1 choice, Bryce really liked the program and we think it will be a great place for our family.  We will be moving at the end of May after graduation.  We will really miss St. Louis and all of the friends we have made here along the way, but are ready to start this next chapter in our lives.

LaDainian Tomlinson

So before I forget, I had to keep record of something really funny that Landon said to my little brother Brandon and his wife Jaclyn.  A little back story first.  

Landon is a huge Chargers fan and especially loves LaDainian Tomlinson who plays on the team.  You can probably guess by the name which ethnic backround he comes from.  Well, Landon was talking to Brandon and Jaclyn about when they have kids someday and what they should name them.  Landon than proceeds to tell them that if they have a boy someday they should definitely name him LaDainian..... But only if the baby is black.  Now it would be funny if it stopped their, but it gets even funnier when he tells them that if the baby isn't born black than they should name him LaDainian anyway and just paint the baby black!  

Out of the mouths of babes!

Basketball's Officially Over

So basketball is officially over and Bryce and I don't know how we're going to spend our Sat. mornings anymore.  The team did awesome and really played like a team during their last game.  They went 9 - 0 for the season (technically they don't keep score, but Landon sure did) and really had fun with one another.  Landon's going to miss the games and getting to see

 all of his friends every Saturday.

Quinton, Carter, Landon, Jack, Noah, Kerry, Alexander, & Nicholas

The whole team with Coach

Celebrating the end of the season at Cici's Pizza

What Chase was doing during the games

Here Comes the Tooth-Fairy!

Yes it's true!  Landon finally lost his first tooth.  He wiggled the little thing out of there all by himself and wasn't even scared.  He is so excited to get a visit from the 

tooth-fairy, especially because they have been talking about it in class and he just received his own personalized letter from her just the other night!  

Chase insisted on being part of the action and wouldn't let me get a picture of Landon without one of him first.  The sibling rivalry will never end!

Spider-Man Wanna-be

So Chase is really into coloring on his hands to make webs like Spider-Man.  Well, the other day he took it a few steps further and made himself a mask and "boots" to complete the look.  Thank goodness he knows which markers are the permanent ones and which he can color with.  He insisted that I couldn't wash it off and we went to Bryce's basketball game that night looking like "Spider-Man".

Notice the marker underneath his foot!

Let It Snow!

St. Louis got hit with the most snow I've seen since we moved here.  All the schools shut down (which here really doesn't take much)

and the kids had a blast playing in it all afternoon.

Yum, Snow!

They were sledding down the slide

Chase, Tayler, Brandin, & Landon

Chase, Landon, & Brandin

I Love this picture!

For Love of the Game

                                                                                          

                                                                                          

The kid is a complete nut!  Landon has had so much fun during his first basketball season.  

He has made a lot of  new friends and lets just say is didn't take him long to love playing the game. 

 I think it's safe to assume this is what my life is going to consist of for the next 10+ years.

I wish the picture was a little better through the blog, but you'll get the point.

You'll also need to pause the music at the top of the blog while you view the video :)