Memorial Day Fun

My family came to celebrate Memorial Day with us. We were going to eat at a park but they were all full by the time that we decided to find one! Oh, well! I guess we learned a lesson for next year! We decided to have it at my house instead (boy, was I glad that I went on cleaning frenzy before they came) We had hamburgers, watermelon, chips, and a whole bunch of other great stuff. My Grandma came up with my parents! We have been able to spend a lot more time with her lately and it has been really awesome!


My mom filled up the boys pool and was playing 'Ring Around the Rosies" with them in it! The boys had so much fun kicking and splashing! Then we decided to put the pool under the slide and the boys absolutely loved it! Peter didn't like sitting in it but they had fun sliding in to it!

Their facial expressions were priceless! It's moments like these that make you feel like life is worth it! Brothers and sister and I had so much fun sitting around retelling stories from when we were kids. Since I'm the oldest, I have some memories that they don't and its always fun to see what I remember versus what they do!

We then took a walk (not me! Anth and I drove) to the nature park to feed the ducks! Too bad everyone already had! The ducks were quite rude and won't even pay us any attention! Good thing there was a turtle who was still hungry! He's kind of hard to see but if you look close you can see his head in the picture above as well as his body under the water. The picture below shows him under the water! (isn't it weird how we just naturally assume that something are male or female based on their name?)

Rachal's Graduation

My sister, Rachal, graduated from high school on May 21st! I can't believe that she is that old (or that I am). She has been an inspirtation to me and to countless others. She had to the say the opening prayer. She recieved a large amount of scholarships and will at BYU-I in the fall.

Rachal with the trophy from one of her scholarships! We were all so proud of her!

A group shot of all family that were there for Rachal! Anthony wanted to be there but got a stomach ache right before and so stayed home with Andrew. I am 36 weeks in this shot! Told you I was huge!

Rachal walking in to graduation. You can tell she is nervous!

After getting her diaploma! The look of relief is so evident!

Rachal with Peter! Peter did awesome for the most part! He wanted a drink and kept asking when it was done and how much longer but there wasn't any tantrums or really loud screaming! That's always a bonus!

Brotherly Love

A few weeks ago the boys were wrestling on the floor and lo and behold someone got hurt! Poor Andrew got scratched with either Peter's fingernail or toenail! It was pretty traumatic for everyone, mostly Andrew. He won't let me touch it or put a bandage on, till the scab kept getting ripped off. He now has a lovely scar above his eye. Hopefully, it will fade in time!

Mother's Day Smores

We spent Mother's Day at my parents house because my brother, Shaun, who is serving in West Virginia was due to call. Saturday night we built a fire and roasted marshmallows! The boys were so excited! We used the striped shortbread cookies instead of graham crackers and chocolate, which is just as good if you ask me! I got a new watch, so that I could time contractions when the need arises. We give my mom a photo collage of pictures that their wedding! I scanned them in and edited them and printed them off. It turned out pretty good! Over all it was a good day and it reminded me how much I love being a mom and how important that calling is.

Hamburger, everyone?

Last year my parents raised cows that later became hamburger, roast, steaks, and ribs. They decided that it was profitable enough to do again! They have eight baby calves that they are raising in order to have hamburger and meat in the fall. It has been quite the experience! The boys love to go and see the baby cows when we are down in Firth. It has made my sister, Rachal, and my brother, Glen, feel very rustic and country.

Alive and still kickin'

Sorry about not blogging recently, but I have found it difficult to sit at our computer to blog and to find the energy that I need to do it. I have also slacked in giving comments to others because I feel guilty about my non-blogging. Ne ways....this first post will be a short pregnancy update and then I will try to post others that will have pictures.

I am now officially 38 weeks! I am so big that people ask me if I am having twins! There is no chance of that, thank goodness but I am really carrying forward with this baby! He,(His name will be Matthew) is very high up and is constantly pushing on my ribs and lungs. There was a period of time that he was breech with his bum down and his head and legs up. I had to do what I call "bat exercises," which required me to place my legs on the couch or chair and lay on the follow for 10 minutes twice a day. It worked and he flipped! I have been tons of false labor with this baby and have been in the clinic twice with continuous contractions that eventually faze out. They have last up to 4 hours before. I have been checked and Matthew's head is so high they can't even find my cervix! There is a good chance that I might go over! To say the least, I am a little depressed and totally done with being pregnant, but am trying to have a good attitude. At least with all the rain and cold weather that we have been getting lately helps to keep the swelling down in my toes and fingers! I am so thankful for all the help and concern of my friends and family!

And in this Corner....

And in this corner weighing an outstanding weight of 35 lbs in Peter Tietjen. (Crowd noise...Ahhh) And in this corner with sporting a wooden ledge is the front window (Crowd noise again....Boo). Who will win this awesome fight?

THE WINDOW!

The Thursday before Easter Peter tripped and fell against the window ledge in our front room. Because the window is so big and low, he hit right on the corner of his eye. With Peter's past history, (he fell from a shopping cart at Walmart and cracked his skull, for any new readers), I panicked when it started to swell right away. I put shoes on all of us and we ran to Anthony's office. From there we decided that we need to go in and have his eye looked at. We were afraid that something might be broken...with our luck anyways! Luckily, there was nothing broken and the doctor told us that we were really lucky that he didn't need stitches! He got just a little bitty scratch from his glasses most likely. The doctor called it a Boxer wound! Peter continued to swell and get discolored! (Anthony took more pics with his camera then I did but I couldn't find it this morning) Now two weeks later there is only a little bruising left. Oh the Joy of having boys!

The doctor told us to ice it for the next 24 hours but Peter refused to use a normal ice pack (the old baggie with ice in it trick). So I broke down and bought him this Scrobby Doo ice pack. He loved it! He carried it around with him everywhere and it kept the swelling down! What we do for our kids!