Thursday, October 8, 2009

BYU-Oklahoma game

Justin has been bugging me to get our trip to Dallas for the BYU game up on the blog for a while. Why you ask? Purely for bragging rights to all our BYU fan friends and family, I'm sure. It was about the funnest game ever and we LOVED it. Plus going without the kids was a bit of a bonus. (Thanks Lesha and Dave!) We got to go with my mom and dad and had a blast with them!




This is the Oklahoma side right after BYU won. (Notice all the empty seats?)


...And here's the BYU side. All the BYU fans stuck around, we were all so excited.


Oklahoma fans were, I think, the nicest, most cordial, gracious fans I've ever encountered. And I have been to some games where we have had to deal with some pretty rough, foul mouthed rival fans. So thanks to Oklahoma fans for making the game even more enjoyable.

Fort Worth was Justin's mission so this trip had double purpose for us. He took me all over his mission and we even got to go visit a lady that he taught. (Love you Gloria!) This was his apartment in one of his areas. (Can you tell he looks thrilled to be posing for a picture in front of someone's apartment?)

Mia's Birthday

Mia turned 4 a couple of weeks ago, and being the slacker mom that I am didn't get it up on the blog before she pointed out that her birthday pictures weren't on the "bloggy" (every word ends in "y" these days). What the heck?! I don't blog very often and my 4-year-old still noticed the discrepancy. So here she is...



Very excited that she now has a girl bike. She was very done with the tonka truck hand-me-down bike from Matthew.


When I asked what kind of cake Mia wanted she immediately said "pink cookie monster".
A little random (okay, a lot random) but the great thing about Mia is that she is very decisive and doesn't take FOREVER deciding on something (nudge, nudge Matthew and Daddy).


She got to have her first friend party and decided on Strawberry Shortcake. We had 17 kids(ACK!!!) ranging from 1-5 in our small house at one time so... very chaotic!. Though, Mia assured me that it was the "most awesomest party in history" so it was a success.

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

My baby is in school!

I have to say that I have LOVED this summer. We have enjoyed every second as we have lived it up before Matthew started school. Incidentally, several things got put on the back burner, including my blog, as I spent all my time enjoying my kids so here is an update.

Matthew is now a kindergartener. He loves school and is so excited each morning to get to go. He says his teacher is nice and he likes his class but I think the majority of his excitement stems from getting to ride the bus.



This is him sitting with his class not even looking back at me as I (silently) bawl in the back of the room. He was unaffected by the separation which is a good thing I guess. Not too fun for me but I survived.

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Princess Festival

This week Mia got to go with mommy to the Princess Festival. She dressed in her Tinkerbell dress and got to make a crown and a wand. She went around with all the other little princesses and the blue fairy to save Snow White, Rapunzel, Cinderella, Belle, and Sleeping Beauty from the dark fairy. The Foundation "In Our Own Quiet Way" which provides relief for children in Kenya, put the festival on for the girls and Mia and I had a blast. She felt very special and she even got a free real pearl necklace which she wore to church a few days after. Although the main highlight for Mia was the playground with swings. Go figure, I could have saved the money and just taken her to a park in her Tinkerbell dress! All of the volunteers were dressed in princess gowns and it was very well done. Definitely something my girls and I will try to go to next year.

Princess Mia in her carriage on her way to the ball.


Little Tinkerbell got to "fly" with Peter Pan and Tinkerbell. She even got to blow fairy dust to give her the magic of flight.


Mia's very favorite princess, Sleeping Beauty. She adores her for no other reason than that she has a pink dress; surprise, surprise. Mia was terrified of all the princes and wouldn't go anywhere near them. I guess she figured that those boys did not belong at our "girl's day".




The blue fairy and all the little princesses on their quest to save the storybook princesses. Mia is, of course, hanging away from the group in the very back. Less claustrophobic that way.

Webfetti.com



Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Trip back east!

Now that we have FINALLY transitioned to high-speed internet, I can post about our trip back east! It was the first trip Justin and I have taken sans kids since before our kids were born. It was a little strange to be without them. I didn't realize how much the kids' bedtime routine actually helped ME to go to sleep. I woke up several times during each night out of habit but it was nice to not have to get out of bed in the middle of the night for nightmares etc. We went to visit my brother, his wife and their adorable baby girl in Baltomore. We got to go to Gettysburg, Valley Forge, Statue of Liberty, Ground Zero (very sobering) and Carnegie Hall to list the major sights. My sister's choir group from Provo High (love you Shar!) was the featured choir at Carnegie Hall. Going to see her perform at such a prestigious place was the basis and main reason for our trip. It was a great trip and I am VERY grateful to my in-laws for braving my three crazies for an entire week.

This photo prop was for kids but I was able to talk Justin into a picture. He was not at all embarrassed to stand in line behind a group of small kids waiting to be George Washington!


One of the cannons at Gettysburg. This place was very cool and a must see for anyone doing a trip in the Pennsylvania area.

Going to the Statue of Liberty. Such a touristy thing but something everyone must do at least once in their lives.


All the construction at Ground Zero. It is incredible to see a huge hole in the middle of downtown New York City. Construction is slow-going and still underway eight years after 9-11. My sister's choir group sang at the site and did a great job.



A memorial at the fire station across from Ground Zero that lost nearly 200 firefighters in the aftermath of the attack.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Ellie turns 1!

My baby turned 1 on Feb. 13th, her great-grandpa Kimball's birthday. This year went SO fast. I know every mom in the world says that at every birthday their kids have but my goodness, it really has!

She looks thrilled doesn't she?



Matthew and Mia decided that since she is one and isn't walking yet, they would try to help the process along. We found out the other day, after several very confident steps to Justin, that she really can walk; she just chooses not to.


We had a fun party with family. We gave a big piece of cake to Ellie to devour just as we have the other two kids. She stuck her hand in it and with the most disgusted look on her face, yanked her hand away. She tentatively put some in her mouth and this picture is of her spitting it back out. After that, she wanted nothing to do with the blob on her tray and scowled at it the whole time.

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Matthew is 5! AAHHHH

On Sunday, Feb. 1st, (yes, Super Bowl Sunday) Matthew turned 5! It is so crazy to me. I don't know why this age is so much more a wig-out for me. Maybe because of the whole starting school thing, who knows. I love my little boy so much! He is such a little sweetheart and has no qualmes about going and talking to any new little kid. I wish I could make friends so easily. Happy Birthday, Matt! I love you, buddy.

Matthew's new big boy bike sans training wheels.


We went to Chuck E. Cheese's the day before for a little family birthday party. (Note to self and all others: NEVER go to Chuck E. Cheese on a Saturday. Especially in the Winter!! AGGHHH is all I will say.) It was fun but a little of a let-down for us after having been to the Amazing Pizza Machine in Omaha. Ellie was less than thrilled at the gigantic rat trying to give her five with a paw bigger than her face.

She also wasn't too excited about the big truck that moved up and down and rocked.



I saw this survey on Lindsey's facebook and thought it appropriate to post here.
Here you go mommies - a different kind of survey for a change - it's all about your first born! Let's see how much you remember!
1. WAS YOUR FIRST PREGNANCY PLANNED? Yes
2. WERE YOU MARRIED AT THE TIME? Yes
3. WHAT WERE YOUR REACTIONS? SOOO excited, overwhelmed
4. WAS ABORTION AN OPTION FOR YOU? Never ever ever (fight FOCA)
5. HOW OLD WERE YOU? 23
6. HOW DID YOU FIND OUT YOU WERE PREGNANT? We had been trying so I was very aware of my monthly friend's schedule and took a test as soon as I was late.
7. WHO DID YOU TELL FIRST? I screeched it at my husband
8. DID YOU WANT TO FIND OUT THE SEX? Yes, although I was sure he was a girl.
9. DUE DATE? Feb. 8th
10. DID YOU HAVE MORNING SICKNESS? Oh yeah
11. WHAT DID YOU CRAVE? Chocolate milk and cottage cheese
12. WHO/WHAT IRRITATED YOU THE MOST? The weight gain
13. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CHILD'S SEX? Boy
14. DID YOU WISH YOU HAD THE OPPOSITE SEX OF WHAT YOU WERE GETTING? No, I was sure I would get a girl but I was so excited to find out he was a boy.
15. HOW MANY POUNDS DID YOU GAIN THROUGHOUT THE PREGNANCY? Let's just say it was less than a ton.
16. DID YOU HAVE A BABY SHOWER? Yep. Thanks Mom and sisters
17. WAS IT A SURPRISE OR DID YOU KNOW? I knew
18. DID YOU HAVE ANY COMPLICATIONS DURING YOUR PREGNANCY? Pregnancy hypertension causing puffiness and weight gain. But I was able to be induced a week early so there is the silver lining.
19. WHERE DID YOU GIVE BIRTH? Creighton University Hospital. A teaching hospital...nuff said.
20. HOW MANY HOURS WERE YOU IN LABOR? 2
21. WHO DROVE YOU TO THE HOSPITAL? My hubby
22. WHO WATCHED YOU GIVE BIRTH? My husband, a bunch of nurses and a med student who kept saying "this is so awesome!" and started to cry. I didn't want to deck him at all!
23. WAS IT NATURAL OR C-SECTION? natural
24. DID YOU TAKE MEDICINE TO EASE THE PAIN? Yes, sure wish it worked.
27. HOW MUCH DID YOUR CHILD WEIGH? 7 lbs. 2 oz.
28. WHEN WAS YOUR CHILD ACTUALLY BORN ? Feb. 1st at 11:36 am Super Bowl Sunday. It was snowing like crazy; at least a foot. Justin kept cradling Matty under one arm like a football.
30. WHAT DID YOU NAME HIM/HER? Matthew Justin Eliason among many many nicknames.
31. HOW OLD IS YOUR FIRST BORN TODAY? 5! AAAAAGGGGHHHHH!

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Fun life list

I saw this on Terica's blog and thought it looked kind of fun. It's a fun way to learn about your friends. How many have you done? The blue bolded ones are the things I've done

Have you ever?
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris {will someday!}
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea (no, although I have seen a midwestern lightning storm and those are pretty intense!)
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning (thank you very much Spain food)
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty (I will in March YAY!!)
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France {I will when I do #12}
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill ( I tried to justify it by calling it a "personal day")
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice {on my to do list}
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run (thanks to an error, but I'm counting it!)
32. Been on a cruise {hopefully soon!}
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language (my spanish teachers helped a little)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied (my goal is to be satisfied with whatever I am blessed with)
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Gone without food or water for 24 hours or longer
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris {again, will be done once I do #12}
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling (probably when I go on a cruise if that ever happens)
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business (my lucrative ebay sales)
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Stayed up for 24 hours with NO sleep at all
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason (ALL THE TIME! I love my husband!)
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma (Way too much, maybe that's my problem)
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check (a obnoxious mistake I will NOT make again)
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Tied a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square (In March hopefully)
74. Visited Mount Rushmore
75. Been fired from a job
76. Changed a lightbulb
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle (not really "speeding" because I was too scared and wouldn't let him go fast)
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book (my brother Trevan has)
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Mowed the lawn
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible (close.. I am in Jeremiah in the OT right now)
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Been loved by someone
Total: 49
I have decided that I am not very well traveled. Justin, get on the ball!