FHE at the Park!

This Monday we spent part of our FHE at the nature park playground. The boys had a blast! They have some great toys there.

Andrew hated the slides though! He usually has no fear but lately he has been terrified of new experiences! I love this picture of Andrew! It totally shows his mischievous side!
There was a digger there but Peter's legs were quite not long enough. So Anthony stepped in to help him! We had a lot of fun!

Anthony even had to get into the action! He's just a big kid at heart!

My Boys!

Here some pictures of Anthony and the boys while they were watching a bunny in the neighbor's yard. The boys love Anthony so much and he is such a good dad to them! He has far more patience with them then I ever do and is always more willingly to attempt to explain things to the boys instead of, like me, just try to get them to stop whatever they are doing. Anthony teaches me each day how to be a better parent and what love is all about. Thanks for being a wonderful dad and example to me!

Fun in the Sun!

After eating a wonderful dinner and conversing for a while, we decided to go over Grandma Monsons to enjoy some more of the wonderful sunshine! My parents had bought a scooter toy at the DI for the boys and we all laughed at their delight of cruising down the driveway and then pushing it back up to the top and then going down again! Andrew was our only causality when he biffed it running after Peter down the hill. You can it see him falling in the picture of Peter. He skinned his face a little and cried a lot!




Everyone got into the action when a old wheelchair was pulled out for grown-up fun!



Anthony thrilled us all by popping wheelies and Aunt Rachal gave rides to Andrew while he wanted his turn on the "lion" as the boys called.

Booster Shots!

Andrew had to receive his 12th month shots yesterday. I know what you are thinking, "12 month shots? Isn't he over a year old? In fact, almost two?" Yes, it is true. Because of complications when he was little (he had a nagging cough that won't go away) he got behind on his shots and then whenever I went in to get his shots, he had a ear infection. He has had five ear infections since October! Totally insane! So we finally got the shots yesterday. Anthony, being the most wonderful husband in the world, came with me so that I wouldn't have to hold him down. I hate holding them down. It makes me feel like such a meanie and I can't stand the pain that they go through and the tears and the fearful expressions. My heart just crumbles when they have to go through it. So Anthony, being the awesome support he is to me, he decided to come with me. But because Andrew is so big (26 pounds and almost 35 inches tall) it took both of us to hold him down. I had his arms and Anthony had his legs. After being stuck four times, we were done! I picked up Andrew and kissed and hugged him while he clung to my neck and glared at the nurses, screaming all at the same time. He is completely done now until he is four! Whew! Thankfully, Andrew has little to no reaction to shots. Not even a fever! That is a huge blessing!

Andrew wasn't the only one though that received a boaster shot yesterday. I did also! But my shot was not as painful and didn't come in a needle. Mine was a boaster in testimony. I came to better understand how much my Heavenly Father loves me and how much it pains him to see me in pain! If it tortures me to give my kids the shots that they need in order that they may not have painful diseases later, I can only imagine the agony, our Father in Heaven feels when he must give us trials that will make us stronger for the battles ahead. These trials give us pain now and seem to be horrible and sometimes too painful to take, but they often save us from having to experience life's harshest experiences. I don't know if this makes sense to anyone else but I felt myself renewed with love when this realization came. He loves us so he must give us a little pain now in order to spare us greater pain and consequences later.

Only in Rexburg, Idaho!!

So my first day of freedom, I spent outside with my boys and what did we do....what every normal child does in Rexburg in on the 11th of April. We built SNOWCASTLES! That's right! You didn't read it wrong! We filled up their pails with snow and made snowcastles! The boys were thrilled and thought that I was so smart and clever....which I am being a college graduate now! We had so much fun packing the snow in and then dumping it out and then doing it over again! It was really great to be able to hang with my kids without worrying about homework looming over my head! Kind of weird concept for me after going to school for almost 17 years of my life! (this figure includes grade school up!) Our castles were melted by the afternoon but it was fun while it lasted! The snow was so deep in our backyard that it is taking an eternity to go away. The boys ask every day if they can go out and shovel! I don't know what they are going to shovel when all the snow is gone but I'm sure that they will come up with something!

Graduation Annoucement

For those of you whose email I don't have, heres an annoucement! We are so excited to be graduating! I only have six more class periods left! (I only go on Tues/Thurs) We are sad to leave BYU-I but are so ready!

Happy Easter!

Here are some pictures from our Easter adventures. We got the boys some new clothes and I couldn't believe how big and old they looked! I wanted to cry when I saw Peter! I thought to myself this can not be my little boy. He is so big! If you can't tell I'm having issues with my boys growing up on me. We gave the boys a little bit of candy forgetting that they were going to get tons for the egg hunt later! Let's just say that I'm pretty sure that they didn't get all the main food groups today! Overall, it was a fun day and we really enjoy being with family and relaxing from the stress of school and work!

Back from the Dead!

And we are back! Sorry about the delay in posting for those you check our blog! School, kids, and other activities have kept us pretty busy these last two weeks. Valentine's Day was awesome! Anthony and I had dinner at the Railroad Inn (aka Anthony's parents home.) All the girls got together before the dinner and primped and curled and chatted. It was a lot of fun to be with just all the girls. We then had a yummy dinner by candlelight and then played a version of Family Freud that I found on Ideadoor. com. (I love that website!) My brother, James, came up from Firth, which we really appreciated! It was really fun to get out and to be together with Anth's family!

The Second Adventure began Saturday morning. While Anthony was at work trying to catch up on hours, I, absentmindedly, step on the side of our garbage sack that was sitting on the floor. So what? you may say? Well, by stepping on the side of the bag I stepped on a chicken can lid and slice my toe wide open. At first I thought I had just stumped it or something. It didn't really hurt. But then I looked down and saw that it was bleeding. I still didn't think that it was that bad, until I finally sat down on the floor and looked at it. It was bleeding all over the place and I could tell that it was pretty bad. I called Anthony and he said that he would come home in a little bit and then we would decide if I need stitches! I called my friend, Sinead, and she came over and administered first aid since I couldn't really do it and I didn't have the stuff and I was desperately trying to stay calm for my two dumbfounded little boys, who were trying to understand what was going on. Anyways... Anth finally came and we decided to run to Community Care and see about some stitches. Sinead watched the boys and we were off. After waiting for about 30 minutes, it was determined that I could just be glued together, but I still had to get a tetanus shot! That hurt worst then everything! Ne ways... so I now will have a scar on the my second toe on my left foot! It has healed nicely and all the glue is gone now.

Adventure three was on Monday, when we got to go sledding with the boys. Anthony was off because of President's Day and we had so much fun. Since we couldn't find a sled to buy anywhere in Rexburg, we decided to rent some from the BYU-I ORC(Outdoor Recreation Center.) We then headed to Smith Park! Anth and I had a blast! The boys not so much! The first time we went down, Peter said, "I'm done! I want to go home now!" They finally warmed up to it and were really loving it!

I think that I will end this post and start a new one for the next adventure since its a pretty big one but you will know about it before you know about this because of the way that things are posted on here!

Snow Adventures

Birthday-the Big 24

I know of alot of you are probably thinking, "24? That's not big! Just wait!" I know, I know! But I do feel a little old, especially next to some of the sisters in my college ward! My birthday was last Friday, the first, and I want to say thank you to all those that wished me a happy birthday. It started out, should we say interesting, and got progressively better. Anthony threw together a party with some of our friends and it was a lot of fun. The pictures are of me opening my presents that Anth and the boys got me. I got a new backpack, (prefect way of saying so long to college life) a new scarf and glove set, a Payday (my favorite candybar, okay so its only one of my favorite candbars. What can I say? I love chocolate) and Are you smarter than a fifth grader board game. The next picture is of the boys licking the cake batter from after I made the cake. That's right, I baked my own cake and I'm really okay with it. At least this way I got to get what I really wanted. I tried a new recipe and it was a smash! One of my first memories is licking cake batter after my grandma made a cake and I want my boys to be able to have the same kind of memories!

Let's Boogie!

If you didn't know this about me, you now will! I love Big Band music or I guess you could say old jazz. I love listening to Glen Miller and all those bands from the fifties and forties! There is just something about the music that wants to make me jump up and boogie or to close my eyes and softly sway and remember romanitc moments in my life. Ne ways . . . I had some of it playing the other day when I was getting ready and I thought that I would steal one of my friends ideas and record my kids "busting a move!" The minute the music came on, the boys began to jump all over the place, or if you are Andrew kick! It was just so cute that I couldn't help putting it on!

Snooze Hour

We celebrated Corbin's blessing last Sunday. After eating all the delicious casseroles that people brought, mnay of us began to feel tried and droppy eyed! Some were even able to sleep amongst all the kids running around and the adults talking.

Santa Claus is coming to...Broulims?

We heard that Santa was going to do some shopping at Broulims, so we loaded up the boys and took them over to see him! The first time Peter saw Santa, he freaked out and was so scared! So this time, we made it a big deal and told him what we were doing, and he at least sat on his lap and let me take a picture!

Andrew, on the other hand, waited impatiently for his turn and then sat down and was content! He even said Cheese! The difference in these two amazes me daily!

Time to Decorate!

Now it's time to decorate the tree! The boys had some much fun putting all the ornaments on the tree! They were so excited about it! Peter has to show everyone his tree when they come into our house! The boys do a really good job staying away from it too! It only got pushed over once and that was an accident committed by a guest that will remain nameless!

The Hunt

Last year after dragging Peter through knee deep snow, crying and screaming, we decided that a fake tree might not be such a bad idea! I still liked the tradition of hunting for the tree, so we compromised! Root of any good marriage, right? We bought a fake tree last year after Christmas from someone that was moving and a killer of a deal! This year we put it together, (a feat in itself), and then got the boys in thier snow gear (another feat!). Anthony then went and hid the tree out in the yard and we commenced on our hunt! The boys had a lot of fun walking around looking for it. This is us in front of our tree. By then Andrew and Peter were crying because they were cold and as we hauled the tree in, we snapped off one of the legs on the base! So it was just like the real thing! Ne ways... we had a great time and plan to make this one of our family traditions!

Yummy! Let's eat!

Andrew and Peter loved the appretizer I gave them: a celery stick with some zingy Ranch dip! They just licked it right up while the rest of us were more cautious. Peter was so excited to eat turkey! It was all he talked about for days. His favorite was probably the olives and jello that I gave him! Isn't that every kids fave? Thanksgiving at Grandma Monson's house was a lot of fun and we had so much food left over that we are still eating three days later! Anyone want some turkey or pie?

YUCK! What is this thing?

So, we had stir fry for dinner the other day and this was Andrew's expression when he bit into one of the carrots. He didn't find it very appealing and commenced to spit it out and to dump his tray on the ground! His way of saying, "I can't believe that you expect me to eat that!"

Goodby AOL CDs

We are de-junking so I decided to get rid of my AOL CD collection. I let Peter and Andrew play with them for a while before throwing the CDs away.

I can fly!

It's true! Our boys really did come from heaven and here's the pictures to prove it! This last week has been busy as Anth and I have been trying to wrap up our classes for our Thanksgiving break that begins next Monday! We get a whole week off! YEAH! But its really not a week off because I have to do a paper and Anthony has to work and do his homework as well! Oh well! We only have 18 more weeks left of school till we graduate! (That is only counting the days that we actually got to school!) I'm really pumped to be graduating! I can't even inagine what life will be like when homework isn't looming over us. We like to think that every day will be just like summer vacation! No homework and all we have to do is be a family and for Anthony to go to work. It will awesome but scary at the same time!

Look at US!!!

So, here we are! Halloween night 2007! Peter is Bob the Builder (Its as close as I could get it and he loved it!), Andrew is a pumpkin, Anthony is a melodrama villian, and me...well, I'm suppose to be a 70's Prom Queen but most people just thought that I was Prom Queen. But that's fine! We had a lot of fun! We had a trick or treat at the office where Anthony works (where this picture is taken) and then a ward party out at our Bishop's farm, and then a Tietjen family party. Peter and Andrew loved getting the candy! Andrew's eyes would light up every time someone handed him a piece of candy. I needed to be better about taking pictures of stuff like that. I just get too distracted by everything else that is going on! It's been a great night but I'm glad that Halloween is only once a year!