our year

Well, enough with the neglected blog guilt....here comes a little catching up. If I can remember what we've been up to! Buckle up....it may be a long ride!

We are feeling pretty settled in here in Derby, KS. It's a great town to live in that is very safe and family oriented. I wish there were more restaurants, but it's probably good that I have to drive 20-30 mins up to Wichita to eat at my favorite places. I LOVE that everything in Derby is about 5 mins from my house. (I would eat out every day I'm sure, if I only had to drive 5 mins.)

Isabel is in first grade this year (she turned 6 in Aug) and just SO grown up. She gets very annoyed if anyone wakes her up, she likes to "sleep in" even if it's until 7:30 or 8am. We still take her up to the dual immersion school in Wichita. For first grade she has English literature, Spanish literature, Spanish Math/Science, PE, Art, Computer, Library and Music. Her handwriting is starting to look really good and she loves to read Boxcar Children books. These are little mystery books about four siblings who are very hardworking and mature. (GREAT examples for her!) She read THREE of these little hundred page books in a week and we are so happy that she enjoys it so much. Since Isabel is already six I thought we need to practice bike riding more. We had Joseph come out to see her go for 3 seconds without me holding on. I suggested he try it with her. He let go and she rode down to the end of our street with him running next to her. (I always spend so much time trying to teach our kids something and then he waltzes in and helps for 2 seconds and the kid does it perfectly! After being a little jealous, I guess I'm just glad that she can ride.) I'll be excited for spring and summer and all the bike riding we can do.

Ansel turned four in November and is learning to be a GREAT big brother. He is getting good at sharing with his little brother, being kind and being a good example. I started doing reading lessons with Ansel and he is catching on so much faster than Isabel did. We are already a third of the way through the book and we are so proud of his hard work. Ansel and I are also doing a little parent/child pre-school this year for 2 hours, one day a week. They have a lot of fun projects and learning activities for us to do. Ansel was very shy at first, but quickly got over it and started participating with the group. We also had a blast at his pumpkin patch field trip where they had a huge slide, wagon ride, train ride, giant parachute trampoline, and zip line. Ansel LOVES tools and fixing things with his dad and can patiently sit and help much longer than any of the rest of us. The boys just got a wooden train set for Christmas this year and Ansel loves to build the track and drive on it. Ansel loves to do little gymnastics drills with me and is pretty coordinated. I hope to do little classes for him and his friends this year because I know he'll enjoy it a lot.

Lincoln turned two in November and is our little wild man. He is such a character and is always putting on shows for us especially at the dinner table. He makes silly faces, does little dances and anything he can think of to make his siblings laugh. Lincoln also LOVES to play with trains and watch train movies. He has a blue engine that he calls Thomas (even though he is not Thomas). Lincoln also really likes to play with Buzz light year action figures when he goes to other people's houses. We just started potty training him a week ago and boy is he stubborn, like Isabel was. He has been making some good progress and I hope he'll be ready to get back into our daily routine again next week. Lincoln is SO animated in his facial expressions and the things that he says. He is very loud (not like our other children) and he'll always sing his answers to you. My favorite is when he changes his answer in the middle of his "song." He'll say: "NNNN...YEEES!" He has started reading the scriptures and saying his prayers (by repeating after us). It's very cute and he loves being involved in those activities. Lincoln also LOVES his letters which he learned on starfall.com. He has just learned how to move and click the mouse all by himself which he is thrilled about!

Joseph got switched to a new group at work again and is really enjoying the change. I'm so glad that his schedule still allows him to pick up Isabel from school for me most days. Joseph continues to explore his talents and interests in his spare time. This included fixing our furnace when the heat stopped working one Saturday morning. I have to admit I was pretty nervous when he started tinkering around and taking it apart. It only took him a week and a $13 part! He continues to watch sports (much to my dismay....but I try to get into a few NE football games and Heat basketball games to be supportive.) He still likes to learn songs on his guitar and the piano we scored on craigslist this year. He writes occasionally for American Thinker and was published in a Harper Collins anthology book edited by Jonah Goldberg. We had to cut our big summer vacation to Lake Tahoe a little short because Joseph ran for State Representative in the Kansas House and we needed to get back to campaign. It was very busy with Joseph going door to door at least four hours a day and all the new things we had to learn. Joseph came in second in the three way race. He ended up getting more votes that we thought he needed to win; the turn out was SO much more than anyone anticipated. A week after the primary Joseph got called to be a seminary teacher for our church. So, during the school year he meets with about 25 high school students to study the scriptures from 5:45-6:30am. It is time consuming and challenging, but he is really enjoying it. This year Joseph got a little over a week of Christmas vacation and he put himself to work. He painted our entire upstairs (except for the bedrooms). I think the hardest part was picking the color. We had to get about 8 sample colors before found a GREAT pale green that reminds us of our old house. Joseph also ripped up our carpeted dining room, living room, hallway and linoleum kitchen and is putting in a hardwood bamboo floor right now as I type! I've been getting so fed up with having him occupied every minute of the day, being physically exhausted and the house being torn up. But as soon as I saw a few boards laid down, I realize it's SO worth it. It looks amazing!! We'll see if he can finish up before he has to head back to work on Monday. I have my fingers crossed!

Well, I don't know what to say about myself. I've just been mostly running things from behind the scenes and trying to enjoy every day. We had a great vacation to Lake Tahoe where we got to relax, have fun and spend time with a lot of my family. The drive out there was pretty long, but we are so glad we were able to go. Flat Kansas does have AMAZING sunsets, but I do enjoy the forest, mountains, and lake at Tahoe so much! This year seems like it has been so busy for all of us. It's been fun doing school with Ansel and I help out in Isabel's class every other week. We are expecting a baby boy at the end of January and are having so much trouble deciding on a name. With our first three children, the pregnancies were really not a big deal. I would be more tired, but be able to continue my normal responsibilities without any difficulty. This time has been different....We found out I was pregnant a week after we decided for Joseph to run for State Rep. So, in addition to being pregnant I had much more responsibility as a campaign manager and no time from a husband to help out. I think those two months just wore me out a lot and then I got sick a few days before the primary and have pretty much been sick ever since. We had a lot of illnesses go through the house and pass from person to person, but mine seemed to drag on forever, wear me out and cause me to not sleep. After consulting with several doctors, it seems apparent that I will continue to have these problems until the baby comes. I just take it a day at a time. It's nice to have a break from our normal routine and it feels good to get things done around the house.

As I reflect upon this past year I am so grateful for all the experiences that we have had and the things we've been able to do. We are so blessed and I know that the Lord has been mindful of us. I also know that when do what the Lord wants us to do, things work out better than we could have planned on our own and we are happier. I hope you all had a Merry Christmas and have a wonderful New Year!!

Thanksgiving

We had a great Thanksgiving this year. Kate, Jason, Grant and Mitch came down from Lawrence, KS. It was so nice to be able to spend time with them and their cute family. We went to the Exploration Place, had a football game, ate delicious food and relaxed. I think I'm finally not afraid of Thanksgiving dinner. The thought of making it is very intimidating, but I've made it two times now and I can do it! (Of course I buy a pie and make instant potatoes, gravy and stuffing...he he he.) This year all of the kids ate lots of turkey. (Even Lincoln who doesn't like to eat anything! yipeeee) Jason carved the turkey for us and Joseph and I were both astounded at how much meat he got off. Now I think every time we have a turkey we'll need him to be there to carve it for us.

Every time I think about our blessings I'm overwhelmed. My family has more than everything that we need and we have each other.

Tools

Ansel loves tools. When we got bunk beds Joseph had to put everything together and it was a big job. I remember Isabel and Ansel were very excited to watch and help. Isabel had fun helping for a while, but lost interest and went to play with other things. Ansel however, who was almost two years old did not loose interest. Even when Joseph did not have something for him to help with, he would get a screw driver and stick it into the different screw holes. I saw Ansel do something today that reminded me of that story.

He said, "Mom, I took out all the screws in my car and I still can't get it apart." I came downstairs to see what was going on and how to help. But when I picked up his car the top/shell completely separated from the bottom and opened up to reveal the little motherboard and wires. Ansel quickly said, "Oh, never mind. I can do it now." ha ha ha. Of course the car he took apart was his Mater shake and go car. Even though I had not paid much money for it, I still didn't really want him taking apart this nice of a toy. We do have one that got broken getting a “car wash” so I thought that would be a good one to take apart. Anyway, it’s just so cute to see Ansel sitting so patiently and unscrewing 10 screws from his car. Then he excitedly tells me I think this is what makes the wheels go around. (I think he was wrong, but it’s so cute to see him get interested in fixing things at such an early age.)

today

So, Ansel was in a time out today and Joseph got him all set up and everything. Ansel asked, "Why am I in a time out for 2 mins." Joseph said, "because you are two years old." Ansel said, "No, I'm three." Joseph said, "You are in a time out for 2 mins because I forgot how old you are." We all laughed so hard.

kids are funny

Isabel has started reading alone in her bed at night and she will read books out loud to Ansel. One night after the kids had gone to bed, we heard Ansel saying, "Isabel, ISABEL....etc." He just kept calling her and was getting louder and louder and louder. (Sometimes they play around when they are supposed to go to bed and they don't answer when they are called, just to be annoying.) Anyway, I thought I had better go down and check it out. When I get down there, Ansel was out of his bed and standing two feet from Isabel's face shouting her name. I said, "Ansel, Ansel....do you see that Isabel is sleeping? Why are you calling her?" "Yes, I just wanted to know if she was done reading," he replied. I went ahead and let him know that if she falls asleep that means she is done reading for the night. ha ha ha.

Music Program

Isabel had a very cute music program at school last night. Ansel's favorite song was "How much is that doggie in the window." Joseph's and my favorite was an animal song that a few kids had solos in which they made animal sounds. When the kids did the donkey and pig sounds, all the kids laughed so hard that they came in late on the next line they were supposed to sing. It was so funny. Isabel's favorite song was "Engine #9."

Isabel told us we were supposed to look our best. I thought it was just her, but at the last minute she said our whole family was supposed to look our best. I don't particularly like dressing up and was still going to go pretty casual. That is until I saw Joseph putting on his suit! Ansel wore his nice vest and tie. So, I went ahead and dressed up also. As the evening went on and I felt silly that my whole family was overdressed, I started to think about Isabel and what she might have been thinking. I began to feel glad that we dressed our best to see Isabel in her first little choir concert. She knows that it was important to us and if she told us to look our best, we certainly would. I can't believe that she is almost done with her first year of kindergarten!!!

Lincoln at 16 months

Lincoln is such a character lately. He seems so grown up. He will get involved with the other kids more and he LOVES doing things to attract attention. He throw his arms up and spin around. He falls down and looks to laugh with me about it. He loves to drink water out of a straw. He was doing it yesturday and after every sip he smiled so big or laughed at me to show me how much he loves it. He also LOVES to play outside. He'll run around and try to join in what Isabel and Ansel are doing. He favorite thing to do in the backyard is throw rock or anything really down our window well. He also likes to walk to our mailbox at the corner.

One problem we are having is that he won't eat anything. Right now he just refused to eat yogurt, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, cereal and chicken nuggets. These are his staples....pretty much the only things he ever eats. So...we'll see maybe he really isn't hungry?? hm....I doubt it.

fun moments...

Yesterday Lincoln did something smart and Isabel said: Lincoln is a very competent baby. Joseph and I looked at each other...we asked her if she know what that meant. She was a little insulted, of course she knows what that means. ha ha ha.

Ansel is a great big brother. A few minutes ago he was letting Lincoln pretend to drink out of his water bottle. They were both laughing so hard every time Lincoln "took a drink." Lincoln still has the hiccups.

Lincoln plays bulls-eye by sticking the ball in the middle hole. Then he raises both arms high in the air, smiling and celebrating. It's so funny.

Ansel started babbling a lot. I gave him a funny look. He said, "I'm speaking spanish. I'm getting really good at spanish."

I love my kids!

my lawn mower

I've mentioned before how much Ansel loves to mow the lawn. I know this is pretty hard to see, but it's Ansel mowing the lawn... in a ton of snow... in the middle of winter.

merry christmas?

Really I do know that it's after Valentine's Day. I just do not upload photos on my computer very often. Here are some photos from Christmas. It was an exciting time. I just love getting presents for my kids and I do try to restrain myself as much as possible. But, what fun to see them get excited for toys and goodies. I was proud of myself for decorating my house kind of early this year and putting up so many lights (inside and out.)

About half way through the day poor Ansel seemed real tired and got a fever. We had to change our plans to have Christmas dinner with the cousins. Isabel and I got to go enjoy some delicious food that I did not have to cook while all the boys stayed home. (Thanks Cindy!)

Ansel's scripture

Ansel did a scripture in Primary today for the first time. He recited Job 19:25. He memorized it and did it for us at the house the past several days, but got very nervous at the microphone. I thought he may not say anything. But, I just had to tell him the words and he repeated them. It was so cute. We are proud of Ansel. He has seemed so grown up to us lately. I guess it's because he shares his random thoughts with us more often. It's pretty fun. (Also, he has been whining a lot less lately.....yipeeee, that will always help!)

a mouse?

I've been hesitant to blog because I need to get the Christmas photos on the computer and "catch" up the past two months. But, oh well....some day I will put the photos on my computer and get things updated. Anyway, we think we just saw a mouse run from under our couch (that we were sitting on) to the kitchen. GROSS! It was extremely fast and black and small. Neither of us got a real good look. Joseph is at the store right now (per my request) buying something to get rid of this thing. I find myself not wanting to pick things up on the floor next to me because I'm afraid a mouse will run out and climb on me or something. Joseph loves to laugh at me in situations like this. He jokes: Is this the same girl who disposed of a rat that she caught in her apt in Costa Rica? Or would not be startled to find large spiders on the walls or cockroaches in the kitchen in the Guatemalan apt? Of course I respond: In latin american countries there are SUPPOSED to be gross things like that. But, in my house in Kansas? Oh no! Not here!

having a big dad

Joseph was doing dishes (yes, i know i'm such a lucky girl) when Ansel came over to him saying "Dad! Dad!" Joseph stopped, turned around and said, "Yes, Ansel." Ansel said, "Um...you're so big it makes me forget what I was going to say." Joseph said, "Did you just say: I'm so big it makes you forget what you were going to say?" Then Ansel replied, "Yes."