Leaving Morgantown...quick, rip it off fast like a bandaid...whaaaaa!

Seriously....tears just thinking about it again...and I'm writing about it oh, 8 months later.

ALMOST HEAVEN (cliche', I know) really are the best words to describe our 4 years in Morgantown, WV for Doug to fulfill his dream career of a Doctor of Dental Surgery.  Some of the best friendships were made to last a lifetime and beyond.  The hands of heaven were there in the forms of the high quality woman I associated with from Church.  How I love these ladies and their examples of so many wonderful Christlike attributes inspire me to be more like our Saviour and reach out to those around me.

As a tradition, we would make baby quilts for each other...and there were many babies born.  Since Katie Johnson had already made me a gorgeous safari quilt for Talon, I decided to ask for something extra special...a quilt for me!  I wanted each of my Morgantown friends to be represented in a way I would remember them.  So many of them made me a quilt block and drew a picture of what to be stitch on it (something that represented them).  Katie sewed the blocks together and Britta stitched all the pictures on it.  OH HOW I LOVE IT!!!!  I love it so much that it had go somewhere where I would see it oft and feel of their strength to help me get through my days as a mom like I know they are all doing with the strength of the Lord.  So I put it in a place I see every morning right after I wake up...it's hanging on the wall above Colton's bed.

the backside of quilt

Katie Johnson- bird (though petite and classy, her talents quilting/crafting are grand in everyway)
Yolanda Ulibarri- snowflake (snowboarder, and shimmery like snow...haha, I know you're laughing)
Britta Ellis- flower (gardens, an artist blooming in every direction as well)
Abby Johnson- skis (from Utah, loves the slopes along with her husband)
Amy Godfrey- basketball (all her boys are into the sport)
Liz Olsen- maple leaf (from Canada)
Micki Harris- apron (amazing chef and knows how to run a house)
Julie Weed- wheat (makes the best bread out of whole wheat)
Mary Brough- music notes (beautiful vocalist)
Melanie Daines- girl clothes on a line (super crafty and makes most of her daughter's clothes)
Angela Vest- fruit (healthy chef and baker)
Tara Bowen- jogging stroller (even runs when she's 9m prego)
Jenny Tarbert- bread (is a talented baker)
Cheri Grigsby- party hat (threw Martha Stewart style parties)
Julia Kelly- Seattle Space Needle (a fellow Washitonian)
Kristen Meeker- faith (her sister died a few months before we met, a woman with great faith for sure)
Kim Walker- family (what a patient mother, loving and supportive wife)
Emma Hunter- tooth fairy (dental student and mother...for sure has magic)
Alicia Terrell- ice skates (from Fargo, ND...brrr)
Sarah Jessop- necklace (makes jewelry)
Shilo Lindstrom- headband with flower (she made and sold really cute ones)
Marissa Herbert- Alofa tele (Samoan for much love or something like that)
Jami Jackson- running shoes (serious runner, also an amazing housekeeper)
Kelly Manwaring- guitar (talented musically in many ways)
Katie White- house (always welcomed me into her home)
Cassie Stevens- Eiffle Tower (speaks French, traveled there)
Sheila Benson- cat (loves cats, English professor @ WVU)
Christy Seigmiller- something in chinese (soon to be Pediatric doctor)
Jessica Criser- purse (loves to shop)
Andrea Larson- pharmacy sign (pharmacist and mom)
Michelle Whipple- Texas (southern hospitality and gloriously happy spirit)
Andrea Fowler- cow
Nicki Clark- happiness
(if I miss marked your name with the design, please let me know...)

 This quilt brings me so much:

Oh and there are more friends who have a place in my heart though they are not on my quilt:
Lydia McAllister (though her body hurts daily, she still fulfills her motherhood duties with joy and faith)
Kim Waldron (mother of 11)
Lynette Wright (so many motherly qualities I hope to gain)
Lynette Doelling (family ALWAYS comes first)
Jen West (a R.S. president with humor)
Sue Daniels (started Morgantown Connection)
Darcia Tippetts (calm, cheerful disposition)
Maggie Berry (Crate and Barrel floor designer, singer, pianist)
Karrie Shiebel (had triplets this last year!)

Going away picnic at the park

 Jaxon's first crush was Gretchen Harris.  His preschool teacher's daughter.  One day Jaxon said to me, "Mom, I don't love Gretchen anymore...she doesn't like it when I sit next to her...so I love Kate." I reply, "Ok."  A few days later he says, "Mom, I just love Gretchen...why doesn't she like me to be next to her."  hmmmm...what to say.  But then I witness this: (my interpretation)

Jax: "Gretchen, I found this really cool bug for you...can I sit next to you?:
Gretchen: "ya"

 Jax: "Yes! Who knew love notes and flowers weren't her thing."(and yes, there were many pictures drawn for her including hearts and flowers.)
Gretchen: "Finally, he understands me."

...a kiss goodbye.

My "say goodbye to everyone" birthday party.

"OH, HOW I MISS YOU GORGEOUS GIRLS!"

Happy Graduation to you and me and the family...

Here we are at Myrtle Beach relaxing and enjoying the most perfect weather and beach and my aunt's beach house that is fabulous!  Doug's sister Kim came and enjoyed the beach with the boys and us.  She took some family photos for us as well. Thank you Kim!  And thank you Aunt Val and Uncle Tony, it was so much fun!

Aunt Val and Uncle Tony

All the boys wanted to do was jump in these puddles.

This is our little dog...I mean our son.

Oh how they LOVED the PUDDLES!

But they didn't like wet clothes that stuck to their bodies.  So they stripped down and ran free.

 I really think they were having a moment in paradise as they ran free and really didn't want to put clothes back on to walk home.  So we wrapped Talon's shirt around him instead.

What a cutie!

Colton's favorite was napping on the beach.

I just really liked this photo.

Aunt Val gave me this hat...so fun.

Doug's graduation dinner with Val and Tony.  Super yummy and thanks to Kim we got to eat kid free.

Birthday Girl!!!!

Yep, it's her birthday!!! Happy birthday to the girl in our family! Amber we love you and are so thankful for your love, support, motherliness, kindness, smiles, sacrifices and all around greatness! I hope this year won't be spent sick like last year! Babe, I love you and can't imagine life without you. Happy B-day!!
love,
Douglass and boys

Dr. Douglass McArthur, Doctor of Dental Surgery

Graduation day was truly wonderful!  I sat their just so proud of my husband for working so hard to accomplish his goal of becoming a dentist.  It was a miracle that he was accepted to dental school in the first place and a true gift from Heavenly Father that he graduated.  We knew this adventure would be challenging, but totally worth it.  It was a glorious 4 years with great friends who became family.  I would love to go back and repeat the last 4 years as they were that good.  

Sign we made.

Aunt Kimmie's phone. 

Grandma Mac lovin' Colton.

Pres. Johns (Doug's dentist growing up and the Stake Pres.) hooded Doug.

Doug's dad (retired Lt. Colonel) swore Doug in.

It was quite an emotional moment for Doug.

Signing our life away to the Army.

Proud parents.

Kids proud of their dad.

Lots of hugs and kisses.

Doug's best friends during school, Ryan Ulibarri and Daniel Johnson.  

My best friends during school (their wives) Yolanda Ulibarri and Katie Johnson.

We wives so proud of husband's hard work and dedication.

We started with 2 kids: Jax (8m) and Ashton Ulibarri (14 m) and ended with 7.5 kids.

The boys lovin' Aunt Kimmie.

Even Colton is proud of his dad.

Proud moment for Mama Mac.

Talon refusing to do a family picture.

Love.

Love.

WE DID IT!!!