Life in the fast lane

That is exactly how I feel my life has been since Matthew was born....fast! Its crazy around my house right now! With feedings every three to four hours (both the older and young boys...husband included), doctor appointments, vacations, family reunions, holidays, church callings, I feel like I am constantly running. I have grown fond of the stairs in my house...its a split level so to go to the bathroom or to where the basement(where Peter and Andrew play) I get to go and then down or down then up! I am getting into shape plenty! I am doing good as well Matthew! He has gained five pounds since he was born and is sure to grow more!

Peter and Andrew love their brother and their new found freedom that comes from Mommy being busy taking care of "Mahew" as Andrew calls him. Flushing things down the toilet, making mud soup in the sandbox with Mommy's rice, salt, pepper, sugar, and what ever else they can get their hands on has, attempting to potty-train ourselves (poor Andrew...he wants to be so desperately but I am a little preoccupied), it has been an adventure at our house.

Peter (in order to get attention, we believe) has been flushing things down the toilet. We know for certain that their are two bottle caps, a toothbrush, and an excessive amount of toilet paper. Anthony was plunging it out and a bottle cap and nipple popped up! It has been frustrating but it is getting better. We are unsure about what else may be in there! Anyone know a good plumber?

Andrew can tell me when he needs to go to the bathroom but is not patient enough to sit for it to come. I think that must be my genes because I have an awful time being patient! I once prayed when I was single to help me to learn patience. The Lord, with his wonderful sense of humor, sent me three wonderful mischievous boys!! Andrew loves to talk to Matthew but is convinced that he is not a boy! Matthew is a baby! He is not a boy! Andrew and Peter are boys! It has been so fun to watch those two with Matthew! They definitely love him!

Matthew is continuing to grow and has started to smile! His favorite time to smile is at 1:00 am when Anth and I are tired and irritable about having to get up! He knows how to get out of trouble. He'll look up at us after eating a few ounces and give us a huge cheesy grin! The frustration just melts! He is such a special addition to our family!

Sorry about the wordy post...but I wanted to write down some of this stuff before I forgot what these days are like. I often hear myself repeating phases my mom would say. You know the ones..."I can't have anything nice!" "You're driving me crazy!" But most of all, "I love you!" Being a mom is tough but definitely worth it when I check on my boys before I pass out every night, and see them sleeping like angels.

He's HERE!!!!!

Matthew Ellis Tietjen entered this world on Friday, June 19th at 3:45 p.m. His mother, Alisha Tietjen, was awaken when her water broke early Friday morning. After a hurried dash to the hospital, it was confirmed that Tietjen was in fact, (FINALLY..remarked some of the bystanders), in labor! After 11 hours of labor and 9 pushes, Matthew arrived much to the relief and joy of his parents! His weight rang in at 7 lbs. 14 oz. and it was declared that he will be a future basketball player with a starting height of 22 inches. His hair color is a light brown with blonde undertones and what appears to be dark blue eyes. Both mother and baby are home and are doing very well. Visitors and well-wishers are welcome and desired!

Photo of New Parents with Baby Matthew (Doesn't the mother look exhausted but oh so happy?)

What a cutie! (Okay so I think I will drop the reporter thing!) Matthew has been an awesome addition to our family. We love him so much already!

Classic Mom and Baby shot! This was right before we left to come home. I spent two night in the hospital and I am so glad that I did. It gave me time to rest before coming home to house full of boys. Highly recommend taking as much time as possible in the hospital!
Finally the "Going Home" shot! He has a really cute outfit on under the blanket but he was screaming so much when I took the picture of just the outfit that this one became the only option.

Sweet 16!

My baby brother, Glen, turned 16 May 30th. Because he was getting ordained a priest the Sunday after, we came down a day later to celebrate! I can't believe that my baby brother is that old! Its makes me feel really old! We made him an awesome candy poster (forgot to take pics) that he loved! (I later found the cd that I was going to give him! Oh well!) I was assigned (volunteered) for cake duty.

I made an super easy but totally yummy ice cream cake! My good friend, BettyCrocker.com, shared it with me. It was so good! I ate way to much! (Especially because I'm "suppose" to limit the amount of carbs and sugar I have to keep the baby's weight down).

Glen is such a ham! He cracks me up! He is always pulling faces or telling us some kind of joke! My boys love him, that is until he gets them so wound up that they can't take any more! Good luck with the dating world, Glen! We were going to get him a little black book for all those numbers he is sure to get but Anth talked me out of it! He's too nice!

The boys fell asleep in their carseats on the way to my parents! Since they are both in boosters now, they don't have much head support! Good thing they can lean on each other! We are thinking of investing in some travel pillows or something since they always fall asleep in the van.

Yes, I did say van! This is our new mini van that we have had about a month now! It took us a while to find one that we liked but when we saw this one and drove it around we knew it was right for us. It's a 2002 Dodge Caravan and has lots of room and cool features! Its so much easier to get the boys into and to go shopping in! And there will be still lots of room after Matthew decides to arrive! We have definitely enter the family zone now!

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.