Lots to update, but you'll have to wait

Sorry. We put our cabintes in this week, Matt worked full time, I was sick, we have a family thing. Next week we're going on a vacation. Have patience!

I've never been so grateful for my sink now that I'm doing dishes in the bathtub.

Our landlord found new cabinets for our kitchen. Our old cabinets were scratched up, the plastic shell peeling off, with bite marks all around the edges of the doors (not from us), handles hanging loose and drawers that didn't have rollers. Our new cabinets are nice, quiet, and we get more counter space.

Our "maintenance guy" who only comes around occasionally, does a cruddy job mowing our lawn once a month, wears a dirty white tank top, is missing some teeth and others are rotting, inevitably swears after tracking mud into our apartment and smokes at the bottom of our steps, was supposed to put in the cabinets last month. But he took the money and went to Louisiana. So Matt and I offered to do it and the landlord said he'd take 75% of next month's rent. Good deal? Yeah, we definitely thought so.

So Matt put in the bottom set of cabinets today. It took him 7 hours. Matt is a smart builder. There were some complications with this job though-- such as having to remove a baseboard, cut some washer and dryer lines, pound the cabinets to a pulp to get them out because they were so rotted they wouldn't come out in one piece and pull up flooring underneath the cabinets that hadn't been removed the first time.

But he did it. They look great. When he gets the top cabinets in this weekend, I'll post pictures of the process. Our house was a complete disaster, which made me stressed. But now it's clean. We put a piece of plywood on top of the cabinets as our "countertop" until we get a new one. And until then, I'm doing dishes in the bathtub.

Entering the world of Boy

We ventured into uncharted territory the other day. We watched Nephew while his mom had the stomach flu. What a difference! He woke up talking to himself saying, "Chugga chugga chugga. The train is on the tracks! Choo choo!!! The train is coming!" He put himself down for a nap by telling himself over and over, "Watch out! The freighter is coming." He wore Thomas the Train underpants, told me about "my friend, Lightning McQueen" and when we drove him home he kept saying, "Go faster, like Queen!"

(He fell asleep playing trains under his Cars blanket.)

Let me tell you, it was quite the experience. Despite Emily being somewhat of a tomboy, she rocks her stuffed animals to sleep. She wants "pretties" in her hair (even if she pulls them out) and she loves her fingernails painted. We talk about butterflies, flowers (and worms and ants). We play trains too....but put sparkly craft balls in the freight cars and on the bridges. If we ever have a boy, I'm in for a big change.

Adventures with Emily

Emily brings me joy. She has so much interest in the world. "Look Mommy, an ant!" "Look Mommy, a trash truck!" "Look Mommy, a bird!" We spend our walks constantly admiring nature (or trash trucks) and she loves to tell me about everything all day long. True to her heritage, she is curious, adventurous, and also has a little bit of the daredevil in her.

This slide is so steep. She loves it.

Is this genetic?

This is the most hilarious game they have ever played.

Is she beautiful? Pretty sure she is.

Love this little girl!

"Hey, are you coming?"

I asked her to sit on her bike for a picture.

Climbing on the wall at church. I'm on the ground, she's that high up. She'll run along this wall while I have a heart attack.

Pretty pretty.

Climbing.

It's always busy

Between Matt and his 5 siblings and spouses, there are 20 grandchildren, soon to be 21. For us it means lots of events all the time--baptisms, blessings, birthdays, etc. For the kids, it means that some of their best friends are their cousins. This last weekend was a baptism and a baby blessing. Here are some cute pictures from the weekend.

Within 1 year and 2 days from our wedding, a child was born to each sibling and ourselves. Of the 6 new grandkids, it's evenly split between boys and girls. Here are the girls from that year. Oldest to youngest from left to right.

Nathalie got this beautiful dress for her birthday. I admit to loving it and wanting one just like it.

In other news, we haven't really celebrated Matt's graduating yet because he has had strep this week. But....next week we're getting Papa Johns AND going on a date! It's a big treat for us. And I don't think we've been on a date since....February? March? Who knows!

I love this picture.

This particular nephew LOVES having pictures taken of himself. Isn't that a great face?

Beautiful little girl. It's been really humid the last few days and her hair has been in ringlets. Even curlier than this picture--the top and front have gotten curly too.

Emily and Nephew are two weeks shy of being 1 year apart. Nephew is the oldest of the 6, Emily is the youngest. It's great for her because there is always someone with whom she can play!

Exit HESI

The Exit HESI is a national test that nursing students have to pass in order to get their nursing degree. There are HESI Exams every semester for each nursing topic--the Exit HESI is a comprehensive exam of the entire nursing curriculum. Each school is different, but here the student has to get at least a 900 on the exam to graduate.

Matt took it today. He passed. And, ladies rsand gentlemen, he didn't just pass. Matt got...... a 959. That's like passing with amazing flying colors in a supersonic jet.

We're proud of you. We love you. Thanks for all those long hours (and there were SO MANY) studying.

Matt has been offered a job at the hospital here, working in the ER. He will be following a nurse around until fall. Sometime this summer or fall he will be assigned to take the NCLEX-- which is the licensing exam so he can be an RN.

YAY FOR MATT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

On alligators and hoses

Last week we had a couple of warm days, so I decided to break out one of Nathalie's birthday presents. It took forever to blow up, so I decided to let them play in our "rain barrel" until it was ready. I think the girls had more fun in the rain barrel.

I'm pretty sure I got wet right after this picture. Emily was spraying the hose around.

A miracle! They're both looking at the camera at the same time!

After she got out.

Not so happy

I tried to take some beautiful pictures of the girls, especially Nathalie, for Nathalie's first birthday. I probably shouldn't have done it on the day she got her shots. Emily was willing, Nathalie not so much. Look at those beautiful eyes.

Started getting upset. See her 2 new teeth?! We went through a month of agony for those.

Getting more upset and Emily's "helping".

Nathalie was very unsure about this swing.

"What the heck are you doing to me, Emily?"

Gosh this little girl is gorgeous. I love her flyaway curls and long lashes.

How she smiles when I say, "Smile for Granny!!"

Love these girls.

Simple Math

What do you get when you add these girls.... (P.S. I love this picture because it looks like Emily is texting. She's actually trying to "unlock" the keypad.)

plus this sweet pair of running shoes.....

plus this number?

= Michelle, 5k, 31 minutes, double jogger. Yeah baby!

This 5k actually happened a few weeks ago and I've been waiting (im)patiently for the results. 31 minutes is my personal best for a 5k with the girls! I'm pretty darn satisfied with myself. I was the only one with a double jogger, I sprinted and beat two girls younger than me at the end(neither of which had strollers) and I can easily run a 5k now.

It's been long, hard and sweaty getting here but now I feel really healthy. I'm running 4 miles, 4 times a week. The girls like "running days" and I'm a happier mom when I get my run in. Plus the jogger allows me to run when Matt isn't home. Which is a lot. Matt walked it and got 38 minutes.

If I can do it, YOU can do it.

Reminders of Mortality

One of the things I've noticed as I've gotten older is that people aren't bulletproof. As a child, you're blissfully unaware of death. As a teenager you deny its real impact. As an adult, all of sudden, you become aware. This post mainly has to do with the fact that, in the last two years, 3 of my friends from high school have lost their dads. Just this year, a beloved friend of mine lost her daughter and just this week, one of Matt's and my best friends lost his father.

All of sudden I'm realizing that the people I love won't be around forever. And there's nothing I can do to avoid that. I wouldn't say I'm afraid of death, but I know that when someone close to my dies someday, I will miss them terribly and I'm afraid of that.

The beauty of our life though is that we have the Gospel and temples and know that we will not only see our family members and loved ones again, but we will BE with them again. This is not to lessen the pain of death, but rather to provide hope.

This isn't a sermon. But as I get ready to go to the funeral this week and see our friends grieving, I now realize that I need to cherish every moment. I called my parents last night just to tell them I loved them. I relaxed and had a wonderful morning with my girls. I kissed my husband extra this morning before he left for school. I want them to KNOW I love them. Maybe you should do the same.

It was a perfect evening.

Last night Emily, Nathalie and I went to the park. The sun was turning orange, it was warm with a light breeze, the bugs weren't out, the grass was cut, the park was quiet. We swung, rolled around in the grass. Emily chased birds and Nathalie ate dirt. It was one of those nights I will probably remember forever because it was so beautiful and peaceful.


And then Emily dumped water on me. Ah, kids.

So if you clicked on the last link...

to the video "A (Real) Love Story", then you're going to LOVE this video! Called "All the Wrinkled Ladies" to the tune of "Single Ladies". It's hilarious.