Yeah we finally posted something :)

Wow do I have to make up for some lost time. Everyone else has posted so I need to put somethings on here from the last few months. First off, on one Saturday morning, Our family was at Shopko with Brittany and Spencer. Colby and Spencer were playing and decided to chase each other. It didn't last long. Colby tripped and hit his head on an end cap, resulting in this owwie.

This was his first major trip to the hospital. As you can probably guess, he got his first stitches.

A short time later we took the kids to Union Station to play with the trains. Here is Colby and Spencer playing.

On the 4th of July, our ward held a parade down North Harrisville Road. Colby was the youngest participant. He rode his bike the whole half mile to the church, tossing tootsie rolls as he went.

We also went to the zoo. Here is a pic of me and the boy looking at one of his favorite animals. It was awesome. We had lots of fun explaining all the animals to him. We even went to the bird show.

Colby also decided to try his hand at being like mom. Lets just say he doesn't have quite the finesse or experience when it comes to applying mascara.

Colby also got an awesome picture taken when Paul and Brittany blessed their new baby. Here he is with all of his grandmas together at the same time.

And finally for Halloween. He decided to be Spiderman. He loves Spiderman. We spent part of the evening explaining that he wasn't going to kiss Mary Jane that night. But he had a great time playing Spider Colby.

This was a vast improvement over the previous year when he feared that Elmo was eating him!!

And just in case you were wondering Scooter reprised his role as Superman.

Sunny California

Well, life is pretty good out here in California. We are excited to have visitors out for Thanksgiving.

We are slowly realizing that our 15 month old daughter does in fact control everything that happens in our household.

We really don't have too much to say, so we'll just post some photos.

First, we have the queen in her natural habitat..... the car seat. Those things apparently can be very comfortable if you are flexible and willing to experiment.

Next we have a family shot from our trip to San Diego. We met Tara's parents there while Van was at a training class.

Gem decided to give us a rare shot at her "pose of seduction". Notice how you can cover up half her face at a time and she looks like she is in a totally different mood. What talent.

Finally, we have gem with her mom in Tara's natural habitat.... Mario Kart.

I'm Coming Home

Again, it has been a while since the last post. Now its time for me to come home. Dad will be out here on Saturday, then the drive begins. I am so ready to go home. I'm going to just put some of
the recent adventures on here before leaving. This first one is from when Coppola and I went to the Hill Cumorah Pageant. We were posing with Moroni, Coppola's favorite character so far in the Book of Mormon. It was a great time. I was so excited to share the awesome places with him, and super excited that he actually loved them, especially the Sacred Grove. It was a long drive that ended with our hotel being booked out and we had to go to another place that smelled super-funky. The next photo is of Kristen, Derek, and I standing in front of the pond on the block of the Cristian Science Center in downtown Boston. Its a pretty cool place. I was really happy to have my friends be able to come out and visit. It was a nice break from the rush of APX. We were able to get out and see a lot of the city and surrounding area. And next is my baby boy, looking so handsome. Nigel is now six months old and terrified of everything. He is such a sissy! His fears now include boxes, spoons, bags, and just about anything you can carry. He is a brat, but wonderful. Nigel has single-handedly redefined lazy and obstinate. You can stand there and call his name all you want and make kissy noises and whistles, but he'll just stare at you, not moving an inch. He's not dumb, just not easily coerced into your plans. I am super happy for ya'll to meet him. He is a sweetheart. And finally for this post I want to include two photos of our kayaking trip in Boston. We rented kayaks for two hours and started upstream and went down the Charles River past Harvard, MIT, Fenway and all the such until we got to downtown with some incredible views. It was awesome, but super tiring. We had a great time going, but I struggled getting back to the docks. Well, I love everyone, and I can't wait to see you very soon. Steve

NIGEL, Alive and Well

He's here and we're having fun> Nigel is five months old and very playful . He only wants to be in the way all the time. We're still working on the potty training, but he'll get it. He probably already weighs about 30 lbs.

A Long Time Comming

The first ever Mustang ATV.
Start spreadin' the news... I'm leaving today
Who could ever forget old Natey Voge
Boston in the distance

Schmecker-face
Spring in the Sacred Grove
Niagara Falls (the city, not the falls)

Well, it sure has been a long time since the last post. I've come across the whole country and seen a ton of cool things. Chicago, Niagara Falls, Palmyra, Boston, New York, and so on. I love it out here. It is the closest feeling to home of any summer area yet. Things are going really well. We were fifth in the company a couple of weeks ago, then we dropped down to tenth these last few weeks because of poor sales, but now we've switched areas and are cruising back to the top. Our guys are staying super busy and making good money, so hoo-rah! Things are going really well right now. I have some stresses, but that's life right? We are currently working in Springfield, MA about an hour and a half away, so we are staying in hotels for now. It kinda sucks, but it beats the three hour commute every day, although I am pretty sure I will be doing it anyway. The guys are all picking up on the job really well. Most of them are averaging under two hours per job and some are down to an hour and a half. I really don't have a ton of time now, but I wanted you all to have some photos.
Love you, buy.

Memorial Day Weekend

Gem had a lot of fun over the weekend with her grandma and grandpa. Tyler and I enjoyed it as well. We were able to go to the santa barbara zoo, and even visit the ocean for a little while. Gem was good all weekend (thank heavens), and made it through the experience with no major injuries. Anyways it was way fun to have you guys out to visit, we can't wait til we come out in July. Steve we hope everything is going well in Boston, and we love to hear from you even though you call at the weirdest times.
anyways we love you all
-The California Rosses

These are some good pictures we had done at the mall. Hope you like them.

Before Boston is a Big Birthday Baby Boy

I'm on my way! Only two days until I am on the road for an eternity driving across the country. You all know how it feels with trips to New York, Palmyra, or Buffalo. I just wanted to put up a couple of pictures of Colby's birthday bash. We had a lot of fun and we missed Tyler and Tara. As soon as I get to Boston I will purchase a new webcam so I can feel like I am part of this video family. (does anyone else feel like we are all putting big brother in our own homes?) Neither do I. Today I passed a studio on Harrison Blvd. called "Adult dance and fitness." Any guesses? I laughed my butt off, but I don't suggest that you all think about it too much.

baby in the hood

Capital Improvements

We've been pretty busy with the house since we arrived. Here are some before and after pictures. First we have the kitchen. This is the room that has seen the most change. New tile, paint, cabinets, countertops, and a microwave.

A few more details of the kitchen... tile, big green wall.... the usual.

Next are the two bathrooms. Downstairs first and then the upstairs.

Life is good. We're enjoying it out here. We hope everyone comes to visit sometime. The post just below this one has some good pictures of Gem. Hope you like them.

Hello Family

Today is Easter and the family is all over the place. Steve just returned from a trip to Zions National Park and Tyler, Tara and Gem have moved to California and our getting settled and remodeling their home. Chris, Tricia and Colby are also in California and they are spending Easter with Chris because he is working there. We have heard from them and they are all doing great. Steve had a great time and this the first holiday that we did not have kids around. Grandpa and Grandma Joe are in Arizona till April. As for me work is going good it becoming the busy time of the year and Our hospital had a kids day, Saturday March 15th it was a Great day. Dad and Tricia and Colby came and it was great to see them. I had a doctors appointment March 12th and everything is fine. there are a few things that he is keeping a eye on, but nothing major. Well now for some of our plans for the future Dad is going to go to Boston with Steve and they are going to stop in Chicago and Toronto and the Palmyra areas on the way out, were not sure yet how long he is going to stay in Boston when he gets there, probably for about four days. Then over Memorial weekend were going to visit Tyler, Tara and Jem if all goes as planned. Its starting to turn to spring and were starting on our yard work. The daffodils are begging to blossom and so are the Tulips. Dad burned the back ditch and am proud to report that the back pasture behind our house did not burn with it. Dad started to level the backyard were the septic tank was with his lawn tractor. All is good in Hooper hope every one had a great Easter.

Driving is not a cheap past time

Well, it's almost time to head out to Boston. I am so excited and nervous for this move. I am sure it will be a great summer, but I am unsure about my managerial skills. We'll see. I leave in two weeks on Saturday, the fifth of April. Dad is coming with for the drive. (I'm sure he'll be the one driving.) We're planning on hitting Chicago, Detroit, Toronto, Buffalo, and Palmyra. So for now I am just trying to do as much training as possible. I am worried about not having my guys ready enough. I did go out to Boston two or three weeks ago to check out the housing, which is good. We went to a Celtics game while out there. I'm not a huge sports fan, but the game was a lot of fun. So I figure with gas averaging 3.30 a gallon I'll be about six hundred dollars just in gas to get to Boston. I took a trip to Zion's this past weekend. My first time there. Derek and Kristen came with, Andy and Julie were supposed to go but backed out an hour before it was time to leave. The trip was fantastic. I can't believe how amazingly beautiful it is down there, and how unbelievably difficult it is to climb up such beauty. These are some of the pictures from the trip and of babysitting Col-Bear. By the way happy birthday to him on Saturday. HAPPY EASTER.