Hi Everyone!
I am not first today because Jens and I have been over playing at a friend's house.
This past week, Mike has been working like a slave of Intel! He worked late every night last week, would get hom around 8, play with Jens, talk to me, and then work more from 10-1 or 2 in the morning. He had to put in some hours on Saturday, but then, happily, he signed everything off on Monday. Hopefully this week we will see him a little more.
Friday Jens and I went to a play place called "Funtastic" with Chelan and Harrison. (Chelan is my friend, Harrison is Jens's friend). The kids had a ball. It has a nice indoor, cushioned play area, with slides and balls and steps and blocks to play with. There is a music room with lots of
instruments and on Friday mornings, they have an hour and a half time for just kids 2 and under. We bought a punch card so we can go back!
Saturday we had lunch with the Nielsens and Mike worked.
Sunday we had JP and Natalie down for dessert. I made Helen Butler's Apple Cake with butter sauce, and it was delicious, and I mean DELICIOUS! For those of you with a family cook book, please add to the recipe that it sould be baked in and 8 x 8 pan. Also, on the gingersnap recipe, you cook the cookies at 350.
While I am talking about the cook book, let me encourage you to send me new recipes as you find things you like and you think we would like. I will then update your cookbooks with additional pages next Christmas.
Monday Jens got sick. (I feel like I write this a lot. Apparently I have a very sickly child)
Tuesday we were all supposed to go to the funeral for Kristin's dad, Pat Mower. As Jens got sicker and crankier, we decided Mike had better stay home, so I went by myself. Kristin's dad died last week after open heart surgery, even though it seemed like the surgery had been a success. It was a surprise to everyone, and no one was prepared for his death. The funeral
was beautiful. Kristin gave the eulogy, which I thought was very brave of her, and she did such an amazing job. She really highlighted his life and made us all feel uplifted by what a good person her dad was. Matt gave a talk about the plan of salvation, which was done really well. I think the meeting was better then most of the church meetings I've been to lately. Although it was sad, it was very uplifting in a way, too. I sat with Matt's parents, which I really enjoyed. I haven't seen them much since we moved from Utah, but back in the dating days, we practically lived at their house, so it was nice to visit with them. I have to say, not having Jens there was
really, really good. Mike was sorry not to come, but I think it was for the best, especially since Jens puked all over soon after I left. I am hoping that Jens and I will be able to run down to Modesto to visit Kristin and Mati one more time before they head back to Utah.
This morning we went to Chelan's house to play, and now Jens is napping. He is still super snotty, but he has been chewing his fingers and slobbering like crazy, so I have a feeling this cold is tooth related. Hopefully his two year molars will break through soon and he will get better. Man he hasa lot of teeth!
Okay, that is all the news from here. Have a happy week!
Love,
Alison
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
January 24
Good Morning everyone.
I just finished tying the kitchen chairs to the table because someone has started pushing the chairs around the kitchen. We'll see how that works!
We are doing fine. Some highlights of the week:
Visiting with Kristin on Thursday. She and Mati came up to see us and we spent a nice day together. We went up to Apple Hill and got yummy treats. The kids were really cute together. Mike has been teaching Jens how to give kisses, and Jens gave Mati quite a few hugs and kisses on demand. It was pretty adorable, and I think Mati liked it. They laughed together a lot
about nothing, and we enjoyed talking and watching them.
Eating out on Saturday. Mike and JP Nielsen played basketball on Saturday (another crushing loss--it looks like the trend of last season will continue) and afterwords the Nielsens came over. We ended up going to a little Mexican place close by, and Jens was so good that we actually enjoyed our dinner!!!! It was pretty unbelieveable. He sat in the highchair and ate his dinner happily the whole time. This is the first time I can remember taking him out to eat and having a good time.
New ward Sunday. The drive to church is a lot longer. We were pretty spoiled before! The ward is huge (two sections of the cultural hall TOTALLY full) but it looked like there were lots of families with kids Jens's size. We are excited to start him in nursery next month.
We have enjoyed our proximity to everything. There is a really nice park by the zoo that Jens and I went to on Monday, and yesterday we discovered a big park with fields and play equiptment just down the street. We also spent a long time out in the yard yesterday. We need to get some outside toys, though.
Jens got a new haircut on Monday, and he is stringing together words. (there you go, what you doing?) It is fun to hear him talk, and he knows so many more words than we think! This morning Jens got Mike's watch off of the dresser and Mike told him it was a clock. Jens looked at him and said "watch." His other favorite thing to do is dance--he says it whenever we are all laying in bed together because he wants us to turn on our clock radio so he can boogie. Good thing he is funny and cute, because he also enjoys being naughty!
Have a good week!
Love,
Alison
I just finished tying the kitchen chairs to the table because someone has started pushing the chairs around the kitchen. We'll see how that works!
We are doing fine. Some highlights of the week:
Visiting with Kristin on Thursday. She and Mati came up to see us and we spent a nice day together. We went up to Apple Hill and got yummy treats. The kids were really cute together. Mike has been teaching Jens how to give kisses, and Jens gave Mati quite a few hugs and kisses on demand. It was pretty adorable, and I think Mati liked it. They laughed together a lot
about nothing, and we enjoyed talking and watching them.
Eating out on Saturday. Mike and JP Nielsen played basketball on Saturday (another crushing loss--it looks like the trend of last season will continue) and afterwords the Nielsens came over. We ended up going to a little Mexican place close by, and Jens was so good that we actually enjoyed our dinner!!!! It was pretty unbelieveable. He sat in the highchair and ate his dinner happily the whole time. This is the first time I can remember taking him out to eat and having a good time.
New ward Sunday. The drive to church is a lot longer. We were pretty spoiled before! The ward is huge (two sections of the cultural hall TOTALLY full) but it looked like there were lots of families with kids Jens's size. We are excited to start him in nursery next month.
We have enjoyed our proximity to everything. There is a really nice park by the zoo that Jens and I went to on Monday, and yesterday we discovered a big park with fields and play equiptment just down the street. We also spent a long time out in the yard yesterday. We need to get some outside toys, though.
Jens got a new haircut on Monday, and he is stringing together words. (there you go, what you doing?) It is fun to hear him talk, and he knows so many more words than we think! This morning Jens got Mike's watch off of the dresser and Mike told him it was a clock. Jens looked at him and said "watch." His other favorite thing to do is dance--he says it whenever we are all laying in bed together because he wants us to turn on our clock radio so he can boogie. Good thing he is funny and cute, because he also enjoys being naughty!
Have a good week!
Love,
Alison
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
January 17
Hello from our new house!
We actually managed to move, and we are enjoying our new place, although we are not all put together yet. After last weeks downer e-mail, this one should be happier!
First: Jens is much better. His chubby cheeks are filling back in due to the massive quantities of food he has been eating, and the tantrums have been reduced significantly. In fact, I don't think he had any yesterday. He is back to his normal self (aka trouble) and delights once again in hitting the blinds, playing in the dog food, climbing onto the table (ahh!
He can move the chairs now!), playing with electrical outlets, and (a new one) trying to get into the fireplace. He loves the back yard, especially throwing dirt and rocks. His talking has pumped back up and he especially delights in walking around shouting "Momay! Daday!" He loved moving day because he got to sit in the front seat of the car and drive (while it was parked in the garage). It kept him conveniently out of the way! One more Jens thing. On Sunday we had roast and mashed potatoes, which Jens loved. Normally he wants to try and eat everything off of a fork, but he took one bite and the fork was gone. He grabbed the potatoes by the handful and shoved them into his mouth. I am sure you can picture how tidy this was!
Second: We had lots of help moving. My friend Natalie was a lifesaver! She and I brought carloads of stuff down on Thursday and Friday, so by Saturday there was almost nothing left but actual furniture. We contact papered the kitchen (it needed it seriously) and got a lot fo stuff put away before the big things came. Four of Mike's work friends plus the Nielsens helped us with loading the truck, and two women from church called on Saturday and volunteered to come and clean (bless them!) Our apartment is pretty spotless and empty thanks to all their help.
Third: we love our house! I don't think it is actually that much bigger, but the arrangement of the square footage FEELS bigger. We have room to spread out a little, and it is so nice to have all of the walls to ourselves. I am also overjoyed to have my big washer back in action! It holds so much! It looks so nice! YAY! We also have a new (to us) fridge with lots of room. It was delivered on Thursday and, much to my sorrow, was a half inch too tall for the fridge spot! I wasn't able to get in and measure before I picked it out, so we are out of luck. Fortunately, there is another spot in the kitchen that works just as well for the fridge, but now we have a kind of funny looking bald spot where the fridge is supposed to go.
So, now that we are all settled we are ready for company! The guest room is a little less cluttered than the old one. We were hoping for Kristin and Mati to be our first overnight guests (again, they were first in the apartment, too), but I am not sure that is going to work out, so the job is up for grabs.
Our new address (one more time, in case you need it)
183 Briarcliff Dr.
Folsom, CA 95630
(916) 221-2975
Have a happy week, everyone!
Love,
Alison
PS Family--Jess and I were talking about vacation this summer and she expressed a desire to see San Fransisco. Would anyone else be willing to consider a California vacation in August? It would be hot in Sacramento, but San Fran and Tahoe would be divine . . .
PS Loren, I was glad to hear through Betty that you haven't fallen off the face of the earth, you made it back to Utah okay, and that you didn't get sick. Hint hint--send us an e-mail, you dork!
We actually managed to move, and we are enjoying our new place, although we are not all put together yet. After last weeks downer e-mail, this one should be happier!
First: Jens is much better. His chubby cheeks are filling back in due to the massive quantities of food he has been eating, and the tantrums have been reduced significantly. In fact, I don't think he had any yesterday. He is back to his normal self (aka trouble) and delights once again in hitting the blinds, playing in the dog food, climbing onto the table (ahh!
He can move the chairs now!), playing with electrical outlets, and (a new one) trying to get into the fireplace. He loves the back yard, especially throwing dirt and rocks. His talking has pumped back up and he especially delights in walking around shouting "Momay! Daday!" He loved moving day because he got to sit in the front seat of the car and drive (while it was parked in the garage). It kept him conveniently out of the way! One more Jens thing. On Sunday we had roast and mashed potatoes, which Jens loved. Normally he wants to try and eat everything off of a fork, but he took one bite and the fork was gone. He grabbed the potatoes by the handful and shoved them into his mouth. I am sure you can picture how tidy this was!
Second: We had lots of help moving. My friend Natalie was a lifesaver! She and I brought carloads of stuff down on Thursday and Friday, so by Saturday there was almost nothing left but actual furniture. We contact papered the kitchen (it needed it seriously) and got a lot fo stuff put away before the big things came. Four of Mike's work friends plus the Nielsens helped us with loading the truck, and two women from church called on Saturday and volunteered to come and clean (bless them!) Our apartment is pretty spotless and empty thanks to all their help.
Third: we love our house! I don't think it is actually that much bigger, but the arrangement of the square footage FEELS bigger. We have room to spread out a little, and it is so nice to have all of the walls to ourselves. I am also overjoyed to have my big washer back in action! It holds so much! It looks so nice! YAY! We also have a new (to us) fridge with lots of room. It was delivered on Thursday and, much to my sorrow, was a half inch too tall for the fridge spot! I wasn't able to get in and measure before I picked it out, so we are out of luck. Fortunately, there is another spot in the kitchen that works just as well for the fridge, but now we have a kind of funny looking bald spot where the fridge is supposed to go.
So, now that we are all settled we are ready for company! The guest room is a little less cluttered than the old one. We were hoping for Kristin and Mati to be our first overnight guests (again, they were first in the apartment, too), but I am not sure that is going to work out, so the job is up for grabs.
Our new address (one more time, in case you need it)
183 Briarcliff Dr.
Folsom, CA 95630
(916) 221-2975
Have a happy week, everyone!
Love,
Alison
PS Family--Jess and I were talking about vacation this summer and she expressed a desire to see San Fransisco. Would anyone else be willing to consider a California vacation in August? It would be hot in Sacramento, but San Fran and Tahoe would be divine . . .
PS Loren, I was glad to hear through Betty that you haven't fallen off the face of the earth, you made it back to Utah okay, and that you didn't get sick. Hint hint--send us an e-mail, you dork!
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
January 10
Good Morning Everyone.
We have had a horrible, terrible, no good week. It was also very unexciting, except that Loren stopped by. We were all sick, we all threw up, we all felt crummy.
Loren came on Saturday, risking his own personal health to see us. That, and he was flying out of Sacramento, so he had to come here. It was nice to see him, even if it was for less than 24 hours. We made abelskevers and I showed him our new house. HOpefully we will hear from him today about all of his activities in CA!
Jens has regressed to newborn tendancies--crying all of the time and waking up at least twice in the middle of the night. He throws tantrums when he doesn't get his way and wants to be held all of the time. He also apparently has forgotten how to go to sleep on his own. Mike and I have
both thought about shoving his thumb into his mouth! We are a little sorry that he has stopped sucking it. This week has definitely been a parenting challange. He is finally feeling better, though, and is eating constantly to make up for the weight loss of the past two weeks. Also, while we were watching the Football game, Mike taught him to say "Go Gators!" It is real
cute.
We are moving on Saturday. Yesterday I packed four boxes--that is pretty much all we have done to prepare! I am going fridge shopping today and we are getting the key to the house tomorrow. I am also hoping to rent a truck today--talk about waiting until the last minute! I will let you know next week if we make it.
That is all from here--hopefully you all have had a better week than us, and hopefully next week will be better!
Love,
We have had a horrible, terrible, no good week. It was also very unexciting, except that Loren stopped by. We were all sick, we all threw up, we all felt crummy.
Loren came on Saturday, risking his own personal health to see us. That, and he was flying out of Sacramento, so he had to come here. It was nice to see him, even if it was for less than 24 hours. We made abelskevers and I showed him our new house. HOpefully we will hear from him today about all of his activities in CA!
Jens has regressed to newborn tendancies--crying all of the time and waking up at least twice in the middle of the night. He throws tantrums when he doesn't get his way and wants to be held all of the time. He also apparently has forgotten how to go to sleep on his own. Mike and I have
both thought about shoving his thumb into his mouth! We are a little sorry that he has stopped sucking it. This week has definitely been a parenting challange. He is finally feeling better, though, and is eating constantly to make up for the weight loss of the past two weeks. Also, while we were watching the Football game, Mike taught him to say "Go Gators!" It is real
cute.
We are moving on Saturday. Yesterday I packed four boxes--that is pretty much all we have done to prepare! I am going fridge shopping today and we are getting the key to the house tomorrow. I am also hoping to rent a truck today--talk about waiting until the last minute! I will let you know next week if we make it.
That is all from here--hopefully you all have had a better week than us, and hopefully next week will be better!
Love,
Alison
Wednesday, January 3, 2007
January 3
I thought Jessie's subject was catchy, so I copied.
We have had quite the two weeks!
Our biggest news is obviously that we are moving. We signed a year lease for a house on the 22nd before jetting off to Florida. We are excited because of all th pros, but I am dreading the actual moving process. I keep walking around the house looking at all of our stuff, thinking NO!! I know we will be happy with it once we get moved, though.
Our second biggest news is that Jens has quit sucking his thumb. I never thought it was possible that he would be done at such an early age, and I think I might miss it as much as he does. After our Thanksgiving trip, his thumb got really swollen, dry, flakey, and painful. It actually started to split open and bleed! I noticed that Jens had stopped sucking it during the
day, I think because it hurt so much, so we started putting a sock on his hand at night to let his thumb heal. Jens seemed almost relieved to not be able to suck his thumb, and he hasn't done it since. It has been two weeks! His thumb is looking much better, but I noticed today that it hasn't recovered all the way yet.
We greatly enjoyed the trip to Florida. Mike in particular seemed to enjoy going back. It was his first return visit since we moved, and I think it made him feel a little nostalgic, much to his surprise. It was fun to see everyone and Jens managed to not get really sick while we were there, just a little sick. Jens loved his cousin Abbie and looked for her on Saturday after they left. ("Ah PEE?") He likes the January calendar picture because it features Abbie. Some of our Christmas highlights:
Graeters!
Sea World!
Fish Fry!
Donuts!
Sunshine!
The Park!
Looking through the books (I found Herman the Helper after you all left and
I took it)
Getting to bake and have OTHER people eat the food, not just me
Seeing everyone
NOT having to go to a doctor or Emergency room!
We rang in the New Year by watching the ball drop in New York (9:00 our time, PERFECT!) and then I went straight to bed.
Since we've been home, Jens has been really sick (throwing up, diareah, fever, cold, cough) and I haven't been feeling so hot myself. Mike has a very painful crick in his neck, which makes it hard for him to move. I haven't made it to the grocery store for a real shopping trip yet, so we've been subsisting on Ramen, which is all any of us are in the mood for anyway. We have managed to unpack and take apart the Christmas tree, and the house is staying really clean because Jens doesn't have the energy to tear anything up. Hmm. That sounded really down, but on the up side, Jens is REALLY snuggly when he doesn't feel good, and it is sunny out today.
We are looking forward to seeing Loren this weekend, starting the arduous task of packing, and shopping for a refrigerator. Hopefully we will all be feeling better in a few days!
Hope everyone is having a Happy New Year!
Love,
We have had quite the two weeks!
Our biggest news is obviously that we are moving. We signed a year lease for a house on the 22nd before jetting off to Florida. We are excited because of all th pros, but I am dreading the actual moving process. I keep walking around the house looking at all of our stuff, thinking NO!! I know we will be happy with it once we get moved, though.
Our second biggest news is that Jens has quit sucking his thumb. I never thought it was possible that he would be done at such an early age, and I think I might miss it as much as he does. After our Thanksgiving trip, his thumb got really swollen, dry, flakey, and painful. It actually started to split open and bleed! I noticed that Jens had stopped sucking it during the
day, I think because it hurt so much, so we started putting a sock on his hand at night to let his thumb heal. Jens seemed almost relieved to not be able to suck his thumb, and he hasn't done it since. It has been two weeks! His thumb is looking much better, but I noticed today that it hasn't recovered all the way yet.
We greatly enjoyed the trip to Florida. Mike in particular seemed to enjoy going back. It was his first return visit since we moved, and I think it made him feel a little nostalgic, much to his surprise. It was fun to see everyone and Jens managed to not get really sick while we were there, just a little sick. Jens loved his cousin Abbie and looked for her on Saturday after they left. ("Ah PEE?") He likes the January calendar picture because it features Abbie. Some of our Christmas highlights:
Graeters!
Sea World!
Fish Fry!
Donuts!
Sunshine!
The Park!
Looking through the books (I found Herman the Helper after you all left and
I took it)
Getting to bake and have OTHER people eat the food, not just me
Seeing everyone
NOT having to go to a doctor or Emergency room!
We rang in the New Year by watching the ball drop in New York (9:00 our time, PERFECT!) and then I went straight to bed.
Since we've been home, Jens has been really sick (throwing up, diareah, fever, cold, cough) and I haven't been feeling so hot myself. Mike has a very painful crick in his neck, which makes it hard for him to move. I haven't made it to the grocery store for a real shopping trip yet, so we've been subsisting on Ramen, which is all any of us are in the mood for anyway. We have managed to unpack and take apart the Christmas tree, and the house is staying really clean because Jens doesn't have the energy to tear anything up. Hmm. That sounded really down, but on the up side, Jens is REALLY snuggly when he doesn't feel good, and it is sunny out today.
We are looking forward to seeing Loren this weekend, starting the arduous task of packing, and shopping for a refrigerator. Hopefully we will all be feeling better in a few days!
Hope everyone is having a Happy New Year!
Love,
Alison
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