Please Pass the Ketchup

What have we been up to the last Six months???

The biggest news is that my brother came to visit us and fixed my dead computer. Stan wants everyone to know that he "helped" but that's like saying Leah "helped" mommy make dinner.

APRIL:

We had an awesome pirate party for Matty's 4th birthday

Complete with Treasure map

Adventure

And cake!

A Grrreat time was had by all!

We also went to Ana's house for spring break and went to and Indianapolis Pacers/NY Knicks game. This was our first NBA game.

Ana spoiled the kids rotten with cotton candy!

With Ana's connections we hope this wasn't our last NBA game.

MAY:

The biggest thing in May was that Stan and I, along with Ana and Silas Smith and Nate Tracey, ran a HALF MARATHON. That's 13.1 miles of shear TORTURE. Nate creamed us all, Ana and Silas stopped for muffins somewhere during the race and stan stayed right with me up to mile 10 where he left me to finish up strong while I was slowing way down. I did it though, I ran the whole thing and finished under my goal time. I lost two toe nails, and couldn't walk for a few days but I did it!

Toothless

ETHAN LOST HIS FIRST TOOTH

We went to a bounce house birthday party this weekend, and Ethan came running up to me with his tooth in his hands. That thing has been loose for the last month and a half, or more. The last two days it was just flopping around by a thread. We got it home and he promptly lost it...again.

Mothers Day

Because of This:

And This:

And This:

For breakfast this morning I got This:

And This:

I feel so lucky to be a mom to these little people. They teach me about love and patience and sacrifice and happiness. I can't imagine my world without them.

News From the Potty

Today as I was getting Leah ready for bed:

Leah: "I have to sit on the potty"

Mom: "Okay let's go!"

Mom (after waiting in the bathroom for 3 min.): "Leah, where's your pee-pees?"

Leah: "Shhhh...They sleeping.

We've been sick, and she peed

We've been sick for the last week and a half. Leah got it the worst and this is how I spent my week. You can see her throw-up bowl on her head (which is where she liked to keep it), and a pile of vomit laundry on the couch behind me. I'm glad it's over, and my sincerest apologies to anyone we may have spread it to.

On a much more exciting note, yesterday at church the nursery teacher brought Leah to Tanya (I was home sick) and said "Leah has to go potty". Tia was like okay, but Leah has a diaper and doesn't use the potty but she took her anyway. Leah sat on the potty and peed! Then she told Tia "they be so proud of me". Yes, Leah, we are so proud of you.

It's Been a Long Day

Happy Birthday Stan, I wouldn't want to do this with anyone but you.

These are a few of his favorite things

I can't believe my Matty is FOUR!

Here's a few unforgettable (which I'm bound to forget) things about Matthew

Height: 41"

Weight: 30 lbs.

Nick Names: Matty, Matty Patty Ding Dong, Matty Saurus Rex, Mateo, Matyas a Kiraly, and any other language for Matthew we can think of.

Favorite Food: Matt really doesn't eat, but when he does it's ranch dressing, ketchup, ice cream and cookies (that's what he said when I asked him), chicken nuggets, apples, and green peppers.

Favorite Color: Green and Blue

Favorite Song: Jesus Once was a Little Child, Follow the Prophet.

Favorite Phrase: "What Heck?!"

Best Friend: Ethan, or Leah, when Ethan's not around. Luke Tracey, or Gabby Tracey when Luke's not around.

Favorite Book: Shadow of the Dinosaurs, and anything we get from the library

Lovies: Matty has a blanket called Mi-Mi and a stuffed rhinoceros named Max. He also has a purple velvet pillow.

Favorite things to do: Matty is my little jokester engineer. He loves to make people laugh, and loves to be silly. He's also really good at figuring things out and putting things together. He's good at puzzles, and he loves to screw and unscrew things. He loves to play dress-ups, and loves pirates and has just discovered that he fits into Ethan's old cowboy boots, which we have not gotten him to take off for the past two days. He loves playing outside in the sand box and climbing up our big hill with daddy and Ethan, going to story time at the library and reading with mom and Leah. Matthew loves going to speech class, and is quite open and talkative there, much to my surprise.

Matty you make mommy laugh, even when I try to discipline you. You're good at making people feel like they're your favorite person in the world when you're with them. You're kind to Leah, and you're patient with Ethan when he forgets he's bigger than you. You're smart, and funny, and kind. You're growing up to be such a great little boy!

aaaghhhhh...

I just found gum in my dryer. Maybe I can't handle it...

For good times and bad times

Did you ever have one of those days, or weeks, or maybe months where you just can't find the motivation to do much of anything. The house is a wreck, your two year old floods your toilet, dinner consists of a box of cereal and some milk, your four year old brings a bucket of sand into the house to play with, the kids never even get dressed for the day, you don't have the money to pay for your medical bills that keep piling up, your five year old informs you it's about time to do some laundry, and you go to bed alone and lonely because either your husband's not around or because you feel like your husband's not emotionally around? Maybe I'm the only one, but it's been one of those days...for the last couple of days.

Andrea called me this morning to see what happening for the day, and apparently I had had enough. That one innocent question threw me over the edge and I literally started bawling on the phone unloading a few weeks of frustration, and anger, and anything else that was bothering me. Poor Andrea just wanted to find out what I was up to. As we were talking I hear her get into the car and I asked what she was doing today and she informed me she was on her way over to give me a hug. Seriously? She was going to drive a half hour to hug me? Oh yeah and do my dishes, and start some laundry, and sweep my floor, and vacuum my carpets, and sort and put away my winter coats, and listen to me cry some more, and just be a sister in the best form of that word. As she was leaving to go pick up Luke, she actually apologized that she hadn't been able to do more, but I think maybe I can take it from here...maybe.

We are so lucky to have Nate and Andrea here, they have helped us through some bad times, and have been apart of all the good times we've had this last year. Heavenly Father knew what he was doing sending us here. I count among one of the biggest blessing of being here getting my old friend back. The friend I told I had a crush on a California boy to, the friend who let me dance for her and who ever else may have been watching in the lab, the friend who made me not only feel beautiful, but look beautiful in my wedding dress, the friend who told me about all the gross stuff about pregnancy and birth no one else dares to tell you, and now the friend who is surviving and understanding the crazy life of an almost doctors wife.

Here's to you Andrea, and your half hour drives to hug someone. I really needed it today.

100!!!

Today my boy counted to 100 ALL by himself. We were siting at the table counting how old Matty will be next week and he just kept going all the way to 100. I'm so proud of him!

Ethan, there are a hundred different ways I love you, a hundred wonderful things you've done, a hundred ways you've made my life better, and me a better person. I love you times 1oo.

Fancy Nancy catch up

Fancy Nancy is a little girl in a series of self titled books who LOVES fancy things. She especially loves to learn fancy ways of saying things hence a whole series of children's books. Our local library had a Fancy Nancy story time and the kids had a stupendous time (that's a fancy way of saying great time).

All the kids dressed up in fancy clothes

We made a top hat for Matty so he would have something fancy to wear

Gabby's classic fancy pose

The girls got to paint their nails, and got to put on little samples of Avon lipstick

And the boys got to shave with real shaving cream and plastic spoons

We had powdered sugar doughnuts and grapes for snack

And we learned to drink fancy with our little fingers up

After the party Andrea and Chisa and I (with Grandma) went to the park to play in the sun

We all had such a good time, what a fancy fantastic day

Getting caught up... almost

I feel like I haven't updated in a while, I wanted Sheila to have her good long run of glory, but now it's back to my life and what's been going on. I'm sure I'm forgetting a ton of stuff, but I'll try to remember the highlights.

Grandma Israelsen came to visit us in the beginning of March. The kids LOVED having her and so did I. I also didn't mind that the kids really didn't want anything to do with me the whole week she was here. She read hundreds of books, went on tons of adventures in the wooded lot across the street, played blocks, built amazing lego creations, went on lots and lots of walks, and let me take naps. Nothing's better than having a grandma here.

While grandma was here we went and had lunch with Ethan at school. Leah loved all the attention from the kids and teachers, and Matthew loved feeling like a big kid

The week Grandma left we celebrated St. Patrick's Day with Nate and Andrea and the kids, and Nate's brother Keith and his wife Pamela and their family. I make corned beef and cabbage (don't mock it until you've had my corned beef and cabbage, it's super good), all the trimmings and a super cool rainbow cake, that the inside was all rainbow swirls.

Wednesday morning I made green eggs and ham for Ethan and Leah, but Matty wanted nothing to do with it. He said it was too yucky to eat.

I've also been crafting, because I'm a stay at home mom and hey what else am I supposed to do? I really like this little set for birthday gifts.

I'm done for tonight, but keep looking I'll post more soon.

Sheila

This is for you Sheila, to remind you that there's life outside of the crappy world of work. To let you know that despite what they say, David, Dale, Patrick, Karen and many more are not the most important people in the world. For every conceited person there's a hundred more that love you.

To tell you that I think you're a fantastic mom, to beautiful children, with huge personalities.

To let you know that you've been there for me thru some of the hardest and some of the best times of my life.

(Don't you remember how scared I was to go down that Alpine Slide? You were right there beside me)

Without you, my kids would be naked, and my life not as full.

So, here's to you Sheila, I love you and I hope you have a fantastic day!

These are a few of her favorite things

I thought it would be nice to actually archive some things about Leah...things I say I'll never forget but am sure to do so.

Height: 34"

Weight: 26 Lbs.

Nick names: Grace, Gracie girl, Little Lady Leah Lou, Gracie Lou Freebush,

Favorite food: Chicken nuggets, tortilla soup, and chocolate milk

Favorite color: PINK and pink, and anything pink

Favorite song: Happy Birthday, Popcorn Popping and I am a Child of God

Favorite Phrase: Where's mommy? or anyone else she can't or even can see at the moment

Favorite Person: Eleanor Duncan "Ellie" Leah is a bit over the top about Ellie and goes as far as to sleep with a laminated picture of her.

Best friend: Lily Tracey

Favorite book: Doggies, or anything by Sandra Boynton

Lovies: Leah has two blankies and a stuffed chicken named Betty Bok-bok.

Favorite things to do: Sit on the potty, brush her teeth, take a bath, dance dance, read books, play chase, bother her brothers, cry on mom's leg, get dressed (at least 5 times a day), sing, play in Tia's room, put on chapstick, watch Elmo, story time, coloring, wave out the window at anyone leaving the house, and many many more.

Leah is a very active, and very, shall we say, determined little girl. She really can set the tone in the house with her huge personality. She is so much fun to have around and is growing and learning so fast, she's starting to make jokes, and learning how to make people laugh. She's learning to count, and is recognizing letters and is trying to sing her ABC's. Life would be pretty dull around here without our wonderful Gracie girl. We feel so blessed to have her in our lives.

Leah's TWO, cont.

Leah got lots of awesome gifts, but the best were PANTIES!!!

We all had a great time. Happy Birthday Leah Girl, we love you!