Great Lake or Ocean?

Moving to Cleveland had a lot of perks for us, the Rasmussens were one of them!! Every time we get together with these guys it's like we just hung out the week before! You know how sometimes when you get together with old friends there is that awkward re-getting to know you phase and the kids all act shy and take a while to re-acquaint themselves with each other? Well that NEVER happens when we see the Rasmussens, we just pick right back up. It is so nice! We love these guys are were sooo thankful that they were able to make the trip up here to see us!
Kirsten is one of those girls that everyone instantly loves the minute they meet her! I am so lucky to have such wonderful, talented, amazing friends!

After a relaxing morning (a.k.a the boys were playing wii while we women got everything ready for the lake...), we headed to Lake Erie. I had never been before and was surprised at how much it looked like an ocean. The kids kept thinking it was the ocean, we had to explain that it was just a really big lake that you couldn't see the other side of. I don't think they really believed us.

Nate and Ammon decided to race out to the buoy and then back to the beach and whoever kissed their wife first won. I think they just wanted an excuse to get us wet!

Notice all the shells on the beach, it was crazy how many there were just in a thin line along the beach.

The kids built some "hot tubs" so they could get warm. (It wasn't the warmest day, but it was still fun)

Ammon and Nate buried all the girl, they were so cute!

Then they decided we needed to bury them.

Kirsten was nice enough to take a family photo for us. I loves these kids!!! (And Nate too :)!)

It was a wonderful weekend and we can't wait to do it again!!

(Again, if anyone decides to come visit us we will take you here too if you want. There is SO much more here than in WV. Really, please come!)

Kirtland, Ohio

We have been in Ohio for about three and a half weeks now. It goes without saying that it is very different from West Virginia, but I think we are adjusting rather well. The kids have made friends, we have met and like the neighbors, and we are almost %100 unpacked! Of course there are a few random boxes that are left, but for the most part we are settled. In the midst of all the unpacking we wanted to do some things as a family before Nate started residency. Teaching seminary last year, we studied D&C and Church history, I fell in LOVE with Church History. Any one who knows me will now this is COMPLETELY out of character for me! I usually HATE history and church history use to make me so depressed that I just tuned it out whenever anyone talked about it. I am please to say I have mended my ways!! I really grew to love it and to have an actual desire to learn more! (I know it sounds crazy, but it's true.) So naturally when I found out that we were IN the Kirtland, Ohio Stake, I had to make Kirtland our first official family trip here in Ohio!

It was a little complicated explaining to the kids why we could go inside THIS temple, but none of the others and why it was different. It was also a little confusing to them to listen to some of the things on the tour given by the guides of the Community of Christ church, but I was able to explain things after we left a little better.

We tried to take a picture of us in front of the temple, but it was on a timer on the park bench and I was being attacked by a spider, so this was the best we got.

After the temple we went over to the LDS Historical Kirtland part of the city, where the Newel K. Whitney store, the mill and some other buildings were located.

We had a lot of fun, although I think Lily was a little bored ;). After we finished in Kirtland we went and got delicious ice cream at this shop near our house. Little did we know it's somewhat of a local legend here. And it did NOT disappoint! If anyone cares to visit us (hint, hint) we will take you there!! :) All in all it was a great day and I was so grateful to have had the opportunity to learn so much more about this area before visiting.

Coonskin Park II

One of our favorite places to go in WV was Coonskin Park. There were so many aspects to it that we loved and we always had a fabulous time! Even though they have playgrounds, a pool, paddle boats and other fun things, our kids favorite part was the stream and trail that lead to the big river. We have walked that path several times and then made it to the beach area by the river. THIS time was different. This time there had been SO MUCH rain that there was NO BEACH!! The water was all the way up to the tunnel!! (In the picture below you can see a tree in the background. That tree is usually way back on the beach.) Nate and Stan decided they needed to jump in just to see how far down it went. They are such boys! (There was a huge drop off at the end of the tunnel.) Chisa, me, Tia and DeNae. This was our last outing before graduation and our move.

The whole group. We had taken several pictures already and I think some people we sick of pictures!! ;)

Graduation

This is a little late in posting, but give me a break I was packing the house, getting ready for company, had graduation and then moved to Ohio and had to unpack and organize a whole house! However we FINALLY have our Internet set up and I got pictures from my friends (my camera died at graduation even though I had charged it...) and I am ready to post this most monumental event of our last few years!
On May 28, 2011 Nate graduated medical school!!! It was a beautiful morning and the day went perfect! Nate's mom, sister and step dad came into town to support Nate. We were also joined by our West Virginia family, the Israelsen's and McLemore's. The event took place back in Lewisburg at the school, so we had to leave early to make the 2 hour drive and get there by 9am. Luckily everyone else had a car so they could come down a little later! I can not even describe the joy that we all felt that day, seeing Nate walk in dressed in his cap and gown with all the other students just made it all feel more real. There were wonderful remarks shared and then came the super long wait to get to the "T"'s.

Nate being presented his diploma.Being hooded by Dr. ReubenAll of us taking a picture with Dr. Nathan Tracey :)Nate's mom and new step dad Mark with the grad. (This was our first time meeting Mark, poor guy was coming off a trip from Germany and hadn't slept in 36 hrs!!! But we had a wonderful time and the kids instantly bonded with him) I love this man!! I am so lucky to have him, and I couldn't be more proud of him!This is the only group shot we got, and it was taken by some guy who really didn't want to help.Nate and his BFF Stan. Seriously Stan helped him out so much and they are such good friends. It is going to be hard not living just a quick drive away, but they are already planning biking trips and other ways to hang out even though we are 4 hours away :). (Too bad we didn't think of having Stan hood Nate, he is after all a doctor himself.) Jana and Leo with Nate and his mom. It was SO good to see Jana and little Leo and Gayle and Mark! It is hard being away from family and even though they were only here for a day or two it was WONDERFUL!

Luke wanted to try on the hat and hold the diploma, we'll see if this leads to anything in the future... (We did name him after Luke in the bible and he was a physician after all!)

I love these ladies!! Chisa and DeNae, what more can I say?! They are so awesome they have already driven up to our new house to see us!!

Nate and his buddy Ankur Dave.

All that is left of our group from first year, Jacob Harman and Weston Young. (Seth and Jake transferred schools and left after second year. We really missed them and their families)

If you made it through that whole post you get an idea of how long graduation was!! ;) I really am so proud of my wonderful husband and look forward to our next journey; residency as a general surgeon at the Cleveland Clinic!! Here we go...!!!