So after the sad events of yesterday, we found ourselves at a pet store last night. The next thing I know we have purchased an 8 week old female puggle (Male Pug + Female Beagle = Puggle). Her name is Tessa. I'm glad it worked out the way it did. Jace is doing much better with a puppy than he would have with a full grown dog. He really likes her. 
We have mentioned a surprise to a few of you via facebook and conversations, etc. Well we had a turn for the worse today and decided to let you in on the secret.
We decided to get Jace and Ella a dog for Christmas. Rather than ruin Jace's Christmas morning we were supposed to pick her up tonight. However, the people that we are buying her from are moving. This dog has a basket of toys and even knows how to put its own toys away. Well they had the lady's sewing stuff by the door and the dog's toy basket, in preparation for moving. The dog got confused by the apple push cushion and started playing with it. She got a needle stuck in her throat sideways.
Well they rushed her to the vet immediately. The vet put her under so that they could take some xrays. Well while they were taking xrays they discovered that she also swallowed a very small pair of sewing needles. Needless to say, she just went into surgery. We probably won't get her until tomorrow or even Sunday now.
We are very sad. We were very excited to bring this dog home and felt that she was a good fit for our family. Hopefully she will recover completely. Jace and Ella still don't know and we feel that Jace will handle it better if he sees her in person first. So please don't mention it to them.
Here is a little bit about her.
She is a puggle, half pug, half beagle.
1.5 years old.
She is house, kennel, and leash trained.
She has been to a behavior class.
She goes to bed at night in her kennel at 10 pm and wakes up at 8 am.
She sheds minimally, but likes baths and to be brushed wish decreases her shedding.
She knows down and sit and supposedly how to put away her own toys.
She is current on all shots, spayed, and has a microchip in her already.
She is energetic which is good for Jace and she likes to say hi to people when they come in, but then she calms down.
I have been with her twice and still haven't heard her bark. She wore a shock collar when she was young and that decreased her barking.
We are going to curb her enthusiasm when people knock at the door.
The fun part is she is trained through all of the annoying puppy behaviors, but young enough that we can still work with her...hopefully.
We found her on Craiglist and she is in Springville about 3 minutes away. She was only $200 and comes with her kennel, toys, food, treats, etc.and now I am assuming a nice vet bill!
The best part is her name is Bella!
She is really cute and the picture attached really doesn't do her justice, but thought we would include it anyway.
We like her cause she isn't a little yappy dog, but she isn't huge either.
The owners are moving to an apartment that doesn't allow pets. That is why they have to get rid of her. They have been really good owners and were really shaken up by what happened this morning. (The lady was almost in tears telling me.)
Well, our life has finally settled down quite a bit. Two days before our Thanksgiving vacation, we moved into our home. Yea! Since then, we have been quite busy getting organized. However, not 48 hrs after moving into our home, we took an awesome trip to California to visit our great friends, the Eddy's. That was so much fun. While we were there, we had a chance to use the Universal Studios passes that Nick's former boss gave to us. Thanks, Tom! Nick decided that it was his favorite amusement park! Jace understood the concept pretty well that we were watching how and where movies were made. Although I think in a few instances, he may have thought the fire and characters were real. Ella loved the Simpsons virtual roller coaster, but for the most part closed her eyes for everything else. The kids were so excited to get their pictures taken with their favorite TV characters. 
While we were in California, the Eddy's took us to see Vasquez Rocks. It is a cool place in Santa Clarita that was created by earthquakes. There are huge rocks to climb, which come out of the ground in very diagonal angles. You can climb to the top, but there are just drop offs on the other side. Ella had no fear and scared us all as we MADE her hold Nick's hand. Here's a few pictures. On one of the pictures, you have to look closely to see the small bugs (kids) climbing at the top of the rock. 
It's hard to believe that we haven't had a significant snow fall in Utah until yesterday. Five inches fell at our house and the kids really enjoyed the snow once again.
Well we have had a lot of things going on lately. I guess that would explain the lack of blogging. Also, I (Nick) have found it easier to load pictures on Facebook. So if any of this info is familiar sorry.
Anyway, our summer was really fun. We were with a lot of family. Did a lot of wakeboarding and took a short cruise for our 10 year anniversary. We also found out that Alyssa is pregnant with our third. (Not as a result of the cruise) She is due in late May or early June.
We also finally had a bank accept our offer on a house in Springville. We have had an offer in since May 2. However, the short sale market is very difficult to navigate. We finally went into contract last Friday. Hopefully we will be moving in the first week of November.
The new job is going well and I really like what I do. So I included some pictures of some work we have done.
Here are some pictures from the last few months too.
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Random photos of us at the park yesterday just hanging out. Also a few at the end of Nick playing at his softball game on Thursday last week.
So it's pretty obvious that we've really dropped the ball this summer when it comes to blogging. But better late than never, I suppose! Here are a few highlights from the last couple of months. To clarify on the pics, my parents have been living in Idaho this summer building a barn with an apartment on top. They're building this, in addition to their house, on a property which they've purchased for their retirement years. So anyway, this past Fourth of July weekend, we spent our time up in Idaho with them, going back and forth between their property and the campsite where they've been staying while their apartment is under construction. There are a few pictures below.
Riding ATV's is an exhilarating experience. Nick had a chance to go off-roading. He went through some streams and some steep terrain as well. I hear it was fun- oh, and he actually flipped one of them... did I say that? Don't read that part, Nick. My Mom has some other good ATV stories. Ask her. :)
Tin foil dinners has got to be one of the best parts of camping.
That's right. Got to keep everyone's straight. Who's who's is pretty serious business.
So currently this is the barn/ and apartment (up on top). It has about three weeks to go until it should be done. Then my parents can move out of the trailer/campsite and into the apartment. It currently makes for a great large pavilion from sun and rain. Ok, seriously, do I never take a picture straight up and down? 
My brother Tom and niece Avery (my sister Rachelle's 2 year old)/
Jace excited about being on Grandpa's boat. Notice the missing two front teeth! This was about 2 weekends ago. My Mom and Dad brought out the new boat to Utah Lake to do a little wake boarding, or so we hoped. While the story does get more interesting... including some stormy water, a boat tow, and a trip to the boat repair shop, (LOL) we still had a lot of fun together!
My brothers Jeff, Steve, and Nick.
A little swimming in Utah Lake never hurt anyone....
My sister Jenesee and Sister-in-law Clarissa, Jeff's wife.
Grandpa O'Bryant doing a little bonding with Ella after the boating trip
About a month ago we took the kids up Rock Canyon to a stream, just to play in the water. Good afternoon...
Guess I'm finally getting around to posting their birthday cakes from back in May. Anyway, they were fun to make. I don't know how I got myself hooked into this tradition but I guess I started when Jace turned one and I've made them ever since. They look forward to picking out their special cake each year. I have a book that I follow. Nice and easy directions... just like I like it. :)
Most kids like to sleep with a stuffed animal... Ella liked her stroller so much that Grandma gave her that she wanted it right next to her all night. After she fell asleep, I moved it to the floor thinking surely it was going to tip over onto her during the night. The first thing I heard from her in the morning was her yelling about her stroller not being in her bed anymore. Oops!
