Hunting Trip

I will try to sum up what Brent and the girls did for a week away from Elsie and me.

First they went to Evanston to visit with Grandma Ene, I know they had a ton of fun there. Repainting Grandmas deck, going shooting, going down to the creek with Grandma, helping Grandpa in the feed store, and just having fun! I will have to find Madi's camera. She may have some picts from the Evanston trip, but then again they might have been having too much fun for pictures!

They went with Brent's sister Nancy, her hubby Russ, their two boys, Matthew and Caleb, and two youngest girls, Heather and Lauren. The plan was to camp the first night with Dad and the boys and see how things went then Nancy would either take the girls back home to her house, or stay...well I guess they had so much fun they decided to stay. The first day while the boys were hunting Nancy took the girls into the closest town and had a fun time going to toy stores and eating out for lunch and hanging out with cousins. The the second morning is when the snow came. The boys left early to do some hunting, but had to cut things short cause they couldn't really see anything.

I know they all had a great time, especially the girls! I know that Brent had a lot of fun with his girls. Cassi is going though Dad with-drawls today. He had to go back to work today, and she wasn't very happy about that. They have been together every day since last Tuesday! Anyway, I think I summed it all up...I wish I could have been there with them. Oh well, next year!!!

All bundled up for a chilly night!

Cooking dinner in the snowfall...this picture makes me want to give Cassi a big hug...I am sure she was just exhausted!

Wearing Dads socks to stay warm for the night

Snow!

Husband Tag

I was tagged, but have done this tag before so I just reposted what I had before...but I put a few *updates* in!
1. What is his name? Brent Eugene Matthews...funny story about his name...I had no idea what his name was the first few dates we went on...I was introduced to him as Brent, but on the dates we went on, we usually went with friends he grew up with and they all called him Benji...so I had no idea what to call him...when he was born his nephew was about 1 year old and when he would say Brent Eugene, it sounded like Benji...so the name stuck...so I wasn't sure what to call him, everyone who knew him growing up knew him as Benji, but anyone since he started College calls him Brent...anyway, kinda a funny story!

2. How long have you been married? It will be 9 years in January, can you believe it!

3. How long did you date? Ummm...two 1/2 months from first date to "I Do"

4. Who eats more? I do, by far...always have...he isn't a big eater...but I think I could beat anyone in an eating contest.

5. Who said 'I love you' first? He did...I didn't want to say it until he said it...

6. Who sings better? Brent doesn't ever sing...but I am not a great singer...so I guess neither of us...

7. Who is taller? Brent is and I love it...I love my tall dark and handsome man.

8. Whose temper is worse? Well it depends...what do you think is worse? Ignoring the other person when they get mad (Brent)...or yelling and slamming doors and kicking stuff (Me)... But really we don't get mad very much... *update* I am pregnant...my temper is MUCH worse!!!

9. Who is smarter? Um...Brent wins that by far!

10. Who does the laundry? Me...but I am not very good at it! One whole day to wash, one whole day to fold, and one whole day to put away...then I am sick of it for a week...so that is why it takes another whole day to wash, cause there is so much...it is an ugly little cycle! *update* I have been working very hard in this area. I am now able to get laundry done and put away all in the same day! I hope it lasts!!!

11. Who does the dishes? I have a great husband, my house would be a disaster if not for him... we both do the dishes, but really, he does it more than me.

12. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? Brent does...it has always been like that.

13. Who does the cooking? Again, Brent is the one who can cook...if it is mac & cheese and fish sticks that you want, I am your gal! *update* I am still not a great cook!

14. Who is more stubborn? I would have to say me...I get my way, ALOT!

15. Who proposed? My sweet hubby did...he was TERRIFIED!!!

16. Who is more likely to admit when they are wrong? I think we both do that...of course after the ignoring and yelling and kicking ...... *update* I am pregnant, I am never wrong!!!

17. Whose parents do you see the most? We always visit each side when we go to visit...they live about 1 1/2 hours away from each other...but they are both 5 hours from us...so we always split our trips...

18. Who pays the bills? Bills...what bills. *update* I still don't know what these 'bills' are everyone asks about!

19. Who wears the pants in the family? Brent wears the pants...maybe sometimes I pick them out for him... ;)

20. Why do you love your husband? We are perfect for each other...he is what I need and I am what he needs. I love how I fit in his arms. I melt when he says my name. I love how much he loves our kids...and they think he is the world. I love how we work as a team with everything we do. I love him for all he does to put up with me...I love him cause I know he would give me the world if he could. He knows when I need a hug. He is just my man, that's why I love him!!! *update* I love him cause he is absolutely amazing!

There were some different questions on the tag...but these are all pretty close...we will stick with these! And I tag whoever wants to do it.

Also...my family is all safely back together now. I will have to have Madi, Cassi and Brent help me to post about their trip. So look forward to that!

Addiction???

Elsie is addicted.

She has always enjoyed watching Signing Time, but just in the last few days...wow, she can't live without them!!! I love to watch her do EVERY sign with the show.

I think in this picture she is signing 'sand'. She concentrates so hard to get the signs right. A lot of them are hard for her to sign perfectly, cause it is hard for her to move and separate her fingers, but she does so good, and has so much fun with it. I am so glad that PBS has it on Saturday mornings so we can DVR it and watch them over and over instead of having to buy the set...which is a lot.

She will also try to get her dolls to do signs too. So cute!

Elsie Rose

I wish everyone could experience Elsie for one day in their lives.

I have taken for granted what a special girl she is.

The last couple days I have been able to spend all my time with her. She is so smart, so happy, so amazing I just wanted to share her with everyone.

This little angel has brought so much to our little family. Her little spirit is so happy and she tries so hard everyday to do the things that are so simple for other little ones, and she always does it with a smile on her face.

We have been playing all day, she had her speech therapy and then she refused to take a nap. Obviously she is loving the time she is getting to spend with just mommy! (Just kidding)

Well, I put her on our bed, this is where she played yesterday while I was working on the baby's blanket, and after a few seconds I looked over at her, and my sweet angel was out like a light. Doesn't she look peaceful.

So the moral of the story is...don't take your little ones for granted. I know that day after day, same ol', same ol' stuff...school, homework, eat, bath, bed....and over again, sometimes it is easy to forget to take the time and ENJOY life and your family.

I have also realized how much my girls (and hubby) get me through every day. It is hard to have them gone...I haven't been able to check on them 5 times (or more) each night to make sure they are still covered up, we haven't waited outside for Madi Bell to be the last one off the bus, I haven't been able to read to Cassi and Madi hasn't read to me. So although I know they are having the times of their lives right now, I can't wait to get them home so I can hold them and cuddle them, and hopefully not take for granted what special kiddos I have!

My man is pretty special to me too, and I know for sure that I take him for granted. I am so lucky to have him. I can't wait to hold and cuddle him too.

Grandma Ene's long lost sisters

Dad and the girls sent me this e-mail this morning. I couldn't stop laughing and thought others would enjoy it as much as I did. Apparently Grandma Ene has some long lost sisters that came to visit last night! The first picture is Cassynna, and the last is Maddytillda. I love it!

Hunting with Dad

They are all set and ready, including new pink camo hats that Dad got for them!!! They are in for a week of fun, for sure!!! Be safe!!! Love you!!!

Our Talented Madi

Of course we think everything that Madi does is amazing...but isn't she AMAZING!!!

Yesterday she found some scrap material that I had laying around. She came to us a little while later and she had sewn two pieces together to make a pocket. She did a very good job. So Brent suggested that she make a Teddy Bear.

This is what she came up with.

I had to sew a couple spots so she could turn it inside out and stuff it, but other than that, she did this by herself! Even the buttons. I was very surprised how well she put those buttons on. Then a little while later she came out of her room and had sewn clothes for it. She did tell us that she changed it from a bear to a pig, cause she thought it looked more like a pig. Anyway...I love how creative Madi Bell is!

Bell, you rock!

Saturday

Here we are sitting...waiting to see if soccer gets cancelled because of the rain.

The girls are being good coloring Conference packets and NOT FIGHTING!!!

*update*

Our games were not cancelled...the weather cleared up. Their games were at the same time again, so I went with Cassi and Brent came home from work to coach Madi's game.

Cassi played!!!

This time it was me running back and forth with her, but I was pretty close to the side-lines. She is so funny. She had so much fun, but just wanted to make sure I was close to her the whole time. She did make 3 goals! YAY Cass!!!

Madi did a great job in her game. Two of their girls were gone, so they had to play the 5 girls for the whole game, so they got pretty worn out. They are doing really well, and starting to really work as a team. They do a great job considering most of them have never played soccer before!

Now we can relax the rest of the day....relax...um, ya right!

New Project

Can anyone guess what my project for this week is gonna be???

Sleeping Beauty

This little angel has been such a stinker about naps lately!!!

She knows she is missing out of playing with her sisters, and she just won't go to sleep.

The other night while making dinner, she was SO GRUMPY!!! I just held her and she instantly fell asleep on my shoulder. Well, it was so late in the day I didn't want her to sleep long, but it would be nice if she slept so I could get dinner done!

So I just laid her on the floor and she slept until dinner time.

I just hope that she gets back in the NAP MODE before this new little guy arrives!!!