Movie Date with Dad

Christian took Brooklyn to the movies for a Daddy Daughter date and they had a blast. They both loved the movie and it turns out that "Susan" (the big tall girl) was from Modesto California!!! So that made it even more funny.

Brooklyn's favorite part of the movie was when the Secret Service man scanned his Butt to get clearance into the "top secret" mtg. And she loved B.O.B the blob.

Cute movie we recommend it to anyone with a 4 year old! Dad and Brookie even brought home some popcorn for Landon and Mommy!

Do you think they got enough?

Just like my Dad

Just taking out the trash

"Mom you better come see this..."

When your daughter is ever so helpful and likes to help her brother get ready for bed things like this can happen...

After the kids got out of the bath, Brooklyn wanted to put Landon's diaper and Pajamas on him. She likes being so helpful and "Motherly." This time Landon actually let her help him and they were being so good...UNTIL I heard a little boy splashing in the tub??? BUT wait I thought the kids were out of the tub? The next thing I know Brooklyn is yelling, "MOM, you better come see this!" OH NO, that sentence is never good.

Of course I couldn't stop laughing which made him do this!!!

Family Home Evening

Family Home Evening is something our Church encourages for each family. We have one night devoted to "Family Time" and learning. We try to do this every Monday and I can attest to the fact that when this happens we have a much better night and start to our week!!! Yesterday we had some friends over for some "Mormon" pictionary. This was a hit even for the little kids, they all did a great job. Here are some of our masterpieces.

Can you guess this one?

And of course we ended the night with some yummy ice cream and brownies!!!

Baby Number 3

We are pleased to announce that baby number 3 is on its way!!! I have been pretty sick with this one which is actually a good thing because that makes me think that things will go well the first trimester. We also don't have to worry about my gall bladder causing any problems, because that sucker is long gone!!!

Because of the nausea and all that comes with pregnancy I have been really tired and lazy...sorry to all those who I have been "poopy" to; especially Christian. I am not exactly the most chipper pregnant woman. He has been doing so much around the house and for me and the kids it has been a blessing to have him home more this semester.

Thanks honey for working so hard to make sure we are taken care of in every way! Also for putting up with my throwing up, and cranky self. I hope things will get better in the next few weeks as I begin my second trimester.

I am due September 30th and so that puts a little damper on our plans for the kids and I to go to Detroit with Christian for his core rotations. But with the help from family in Modesto we know things will go well. Brooklyn will start Kindergarten in Modesto and I will deliver soon after, so if we did move to Detroit it would only be for 3 months and having to take Brooklyn out of school and switch insurances would not be fun. I know the time away from Christian will be EXTREMELY hard, but it is only for 6 months. At least he isn't going to Iraq for a year, and although it is Detroit I don't really need to worry about his safety.

Brooklyn is praying for a little sister of course, but I would like another boy, so Landon can have a bud to play with. We will see what the Lord blesses us with. I am just thankful that everything has gone well so far and for wonderful modern medicine. Every time Brooklyn says her prayers she blesses that the baby will stay in Mommy's tummy and it will grow healthy. Thank goodness for little children!!!

St. Patrick's Day

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Yesterday was a really nice day! We started it off with a St. Patty's Day party at Megan Summers house with some great friends!!! We will sure miss those party's/play dates with our friends here in Iowa. The food was great (all green that is), and the weather was 70+ degrees, so the kids played outside. I am so ready for more warm weather. All the kids were too busy playing so this is all I could round up for a picture.



Here is the recipe for the pasta salad I brought to the party:

Marvelous Macaroni Salad

Dressing:
1 pint Best Foods Real Mayonnaise
1 cup buttermilk
1 envelope plus 2 rounded teaspoons from twin pack of Hidden Valley Ranch buttermilk Dressing mix
1 package Arby's Horsey Sauce (optional)
1/2 to 1 teaspoon mustard
1 pint Miracle Whip
2/3 cup sugar

Mix above ingredients in large bowl. Add the following
22-ounce package salad Macaroni, boiled, drained (I like using bowtie pasta)
2 cups celery, chopped finely
1 cucumber peeled, seeded, finely chopped
2 small zucchini, unpeeled and finely chopped
1 1/2 cup peas (optional)
1 bunch radishes, finely chopped (my family doesn't like these so I leave them out)
5-7 green onions, chopped
5-6 tomatoes, chopped
3-5 cups cooked chicken or turkey, cut into pieces

This salad is Delicious with our without meat and is best made the day before

Over due post and our trip to Cali

I know I haven't posted in a while, but there wasn't a whole lot going on around here. BUT there was a party going on in California. For my Dad's 50th Birthday my Mom flew the kids and me to California to surprise Grandpa for his birthday! We left on February 19th and stayed for 10 days!!! It was a great vacation and much over due visit to see family. The kids did great on the long flight there, I was so thankful. We ended up flying into San Francisco instead of Oakland because of a missed flight and arrived late Thursday night. We spent the night at my Aunt Laurie's and we were sure grateful, because it was 5 min from the airport and we didn't want to make the 2 and 1/2 hour drive to Modesto after being on a plane ALL DAY! Then Friday after having to locate our luggage that went to the Oakland airport from the flight switch we got home to Modesto, showered, and headed to Grandpa's work.

My Mom dropped us off right before the shop and she went in to make sure Dad was out of sight. We snuck into the front shop and told the guys to call Dad up and say there was a costumer up there to talk to him. The kids and I hid behind the cash register area and Brooklyn jumped out with balloons and I was holding Landon. The look on my Dad's face well, was kinda dumbfounded. He didn't smile he didn't really say anything. I ran up and hugged him and then I think it finally registered who we were and what we were doing there. I guess when you are 50 it takes longer for things to process!!! After lots of love from his Grand kids we headed to lunch and then over to Grandpa Toboe's office to surprise them.

I love surprising people and the feeling you get when you make that person so happy. PRICELESS!!! Thanks Mom for making that happen.

The warm weather mixed with awesome Aunts and Uncles to play with my kids made it so we didn't want to come back to cold Iowa. We just kept telling ourselves that we would be back in 2 months.....awww, scary I better get packing!

Our time in California was so much fun, but of course I missed Christian. Luckily he was busy the first week with studying but after that Rock Band couldn't fill the void of his wife and kids. Also thanks to Megan and Katie who fed my starving husband, you are so great!
Good thing I left a long list of cleaning to be done while I was gone. Thanks babe for having the house spotless for us!!! There is nothing better than coming home to a clean house, you are the BEST, I LOVE YOU Honey!