Elise has discovered she has a little brother...

This is a three-in-one post, so be sure to check them all

...who she can "play" with - I should clarify, this is her hat :)

Did we move to Mayberry?

We drove to Rigby this weekend for Stampede Days - an apparently non-holiday-celebrating type parade that attracts a lot of people. I can understand why (it was pretty exciting), but they have this Biscuit Bingo drawing, where you pay $10 to cover a particular square of the sidewalk and if a horse drops a "biscuit" on your square, then you can win a lawn mower or big screen tv - yep, we live in the country :) Anyway, it was fun -
his hat doesn't fit him just yet -

Fell asleep within the first five minutes of the parade (maybe we should get a hold of some blaring sirens next time we're having a hard time putting him down for the night...)

this was massive and loud -

for a funeral home -

shook the ground as they walked - but they were amazing (and huge!)!

very old tractor - hilarious!

Broulims - yes, that is a giant, driving shopping cart

Publishing Company Pursues Rand!

No joke! Rand submitted a short story for publication due to an assignment last semester. Today, UPS knocked on our door with a contract from Tate Publishing.

This was Rand's reaction

We were slightly skeptical...

The "sealed" contract (which I'm sure we need to respond to in 24hrs or less)

Here's the very personal letter

They read "Amable" (his submitted piece) and told him they "loved the story" and included their "private line," along with a slight disclaimer that we need to pay close to $4,000 (of course refundable, that is if he sells 5,000 copies). However, worried parents of ours, they will invest $20,000 in it! Best of all, we were promised an amazing 15% of all sales - Wow! What a deal!! (Tio, you should really consider establishing a publishing firm) So, unfortunately, Rand's amazing work will remain unpublished, but it was pretty exciting to find that it was publishable (if that's a word?).

Elise's Reaction (filmed several weeks ago, it just fits - I think at some point she says "Eat dirt"?)

Elise burned her hand on the frying pan this morning and was understandably upset (she's fine, there's no mark, don't worry - hmm, that sounds bad). Later on today, we were making BLT's (so good!) and when we were all done, she said, "Bye, hot! Bye!" Yes, she thinks the frying pan is called "hot." We found a wild rabbit outside (in actuality, it was someone's very large pet rabbit) and Elise was so excited! She kept saying "Bunny eat carrot" and now, longingly looks out the window to discover her little friend with the "ears."

Oh, and I'm extremely slow with posting - we're doing better now, just reporting old news :)

Move Over Disneyland, Rexburg is the Happiest Place on Earth

I don't know what it is about spring, but it seems like my kids (and Rand) have been more sick now than they ever were during the winter - so there's been an onslaught of green goo, sticky faces and fingers (come on Rand, that's gross!), and slobber (Elise is teething - where, I'm not sure, but I figure she has to be since I caught her biting down on our marble nightstand the other day). Cute as they are, it can be quite the mess :) Midterms have arrived and I have become a zombie trying to figure out who in the world Murad II is - really? this is important to my learning the fundamentals of history? Rexburg happens to be the most amazing place in the world - it stays light out until 10pm (crazy!) and I don't think I've ever seen so much green in my life! There's a ton of stuff to do here (for little kids, finally!), so we've been having a lot of fun. Elise is slightly obsessed with the "horsies" - they have an entirely old merry-go-round (complete with very loud cymbals and jukebox thing - I don't know what it is, but boy is the music catchy...) and we cannot go to Porter Park without riding it. Unfortunately, they charge $1 per ride for this entirely old merry-go-round, which means my personal money is slowly dwindling... At least it's going to a good cause, Elise is precious on them. It's the most exciting thing in the world to her and she's full of all sorts of comments - for the first two minutes (it has to be a 5min ride, so they can feel justified in demanding a dollar for it), she's happy as can be. At the end of these two minutes, she starts hysterically crying. When the ride finally ends, she looks up at me and says, "Again? Horsies, again?" I just don't understand... Michael has taken up growling and is absolutely hilarious (I'm determined to catch him on video, but he gets too involved in trying to eat the camera than performing).

Yes, Another Video

I finally put in new batteries into my camera, so I'm making up for lost time, which is just a month of no pictures of Michael, but I feel so guilty (yes, I am one of those overzealous parents who has to take pictures of every waking moment of my child - I'm sure he'll be very disappointed to discover only a couple pictures of him at three months old). He's a really social little guy and within the past couple of weeks has taken off with the whole babbling thing. He mimics the sounds we make, so I think he's uncommonly smart and gifted (in the same way that every parent feels about their own spectacular child), but either way, he's pretty cute and occasionally, he'll cuddle with me (this is real progress, as it never happens) - so I think we're starting to bond (I was just waiting for him to come around) :) Enjoy!

I cut Elise's hair, and though I caught her off guard with this pic, it's actually pretty cute :) (it's layered, that way no one can tell that it's so uneven...)

Michael Laughing

I thought this was hysterical - he's so cute!!

Family Pictures

So, a few months ago, a neighbor of ours took some pictures of our family. The ones that turned out well and didn't include crying (freezing) children, are down below. If I can figure out how to develop them (they're on a dvd, which for some reason doesn't work at Wal-Mart), I'll send them out with Michael's announcement (which announcements were done in February and will be sent out in June...if midterms aren't too time-consuming - ah the joys of school) and our incredibly late Christmas card. Enjoy! - there's a lot :)

You've got to love the desert...

I was terrified that Michael was dying - I overreact to everything, it's a problem, I know - but, he had this weird rash that looked like a curling iron burn (trust me, it's not - I am way too overprotective to put him anywhere near anything remotely hot). But, anyway, it would flare up and get really dark red - it was the weirdest thing. So, after a month of this (it would get really pale and so I was never sure if it was serious until recently), Rand suggested calling the doctor. Rand never suggests going to the doctor, so my mind started jumping to vaccination reactions, childhood cancer - death was imminent and I was really concerned. Turns out, it's just dry skin - numular eczema to be exact. Since Rexburg is so dry (could've fooled me), babies up here tend to get this a lot, and occasionally they look like weird curling iron burns. I felt really foolish for going to the doctor b/c of dry skin (I even got a perscription for lotion), but at least I'm not terrified that he's going to die anymore. Ah, the joys of being a parent...

Michael is now 15lbs 9oz (Elise reached the 20lb benchmark finally at 26mos!) and smiles at every single girl in sight. He's such a flirt :)

Quick News

Ok, so I love piano music, and even though it's kind of funny to watch these guys get so into their music, I think that this song is amazing, so they get a little bit of free advertising :)

Well, Michael is officially mobile now. He started to roll over on Mother's Day and since then, we'll find him in the weirdest positions. He's really funny right now, his eyes will get squinty and his hands will move together like magnets in attempting to try and get a hold of an orange highlighter I'll hold in front of him (so easily entertained). It's hysterical to see how concentrated he looks. Ah, such a cute kid...

Elise is really funny! Yes, she's in the terrible two stage - throwing tantrums anytime she gets dressed, changed (though she was potty trained for a day, we aren't sure when it will be forever, but I'm looking forward to it...), or bedtime is near, but she's learning tons as far as communication is concerned (which is probably why the tantrums are so bad).

Elise - "Daddy's funny"
Me - "You're right, daddy is funny"
Elise - "Daddy has a nose"
Me - "Yes, he does have a nose"
Elise - "Daddy's nose is funny"

Elise - "I poot"

Elise - "Mice, mommy" - "mice" a combination of mine and nice

While playing with her dollhouse, her absolute favorite toy in the world, she puts Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, a girl and Zoe from Sesame Street at a table. She then says, "Waffles, syrup," watches them for a little bit, and then says, "all done." It's so cute! She has these little characters copy what she experiences in her life - which means they drive to the store a lot :)

Tribute to my Mom

I have no long distance calling ability, so here it goes...
"All that I am or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother." - Abraham Lincoln

Mom, you are the best! It's so nice to be able to have a day where I can reflect on just how wonderful a mother I have! Becoming a mother, myself, has taught me just how difficult and important this job really is. Thank you. I have no idea how you did (and continue to do) it. I am greatful for your wisdom, for your example of strength and service, for your sense of humor which is so needed (and missed). I have so many memories of going to the store to purchase toys/clothes for children in your classes over the years. You look out for everyone and you have the stamina and courage to take on the world, with no fear (I think of some doctors around the time I was six, and a certain organization which will remain nameless). Thank you for undergoing seventeen and a half hours of labor, ten months of pregnancy (you're amazing), and for the constant sacrifices you and Dad make. It can't have been as easy, as I am coming to find out. You're an excellent mother - thanks for all you do - I love you!

It's My Birthday!

I'm 23 today :)

We look so tan, haha :)