Recent Happenings

In our ward here in Texas, there is a lady that had quadruplets about 5 months ago. She brought three of them to church a few weeks ago and she let a few families hold them since she can't hold three at once. My mom was holding Nathan and so I took him from her. After that Alyssa wanted to hold him. We let her hold him for a while, but he started to look uncomfortable and we took him away from her. She had a fit and wouldn't stop unless she could hold the baby. Crazy girl; she didn't seem jealous at all because she wanted to be with whom ever was holding the Nathan. In nursery when the toys come out she always picks up a specific little dolly. Sounds like she is about ready for some siblings, but she will have to wait until I'm done with school. Which is less than a year away. Hooray!

Grandma decided she wanted to put curlers in Alyssa's hair. I only have a picture of the curlers in. Afterwards her hair looked kind of funny on top. The next time grandma decided to only put them in on the sides, but the curls don't last very long, especially with an active little girl. My dad's work celebrated its tenth anniversary by having all the families go to an Astros game vs. the New York Mets. It was a really great time and the company even provided pizza, hamburgers, hotdogs, cake, etc. We even got to witness a grand slam in the 8th inning. The game was tied 3-3. The bases were loaded and one person struck out and then the next person hit a homerun. It was awesome and the crowd went wild. Something Alyssa didn't like very much. Towards the end of the game I could tell Alyssa was getting really tired, she kept walking back and forth through the bleachers trying to keep herself awake. We wanted to wait until the end though because they have Friday Night Fireworks. Minute Maid Park actually has a roof that can be opened up. During the game the roof was closed and they had air conditioning so it was pretty darn cool. After the game was over they opened up the roof for the fireworks. It was pretty amazing to watch the roof slowly open up. The firework display was amazing. It was set to music and was really a great show. Alyssa ended up falling asleep during the fireworks, which I found pretty funny. Here is Jesse and I enjoying the food and the game.
Recently I have been making some decorating items for when we get back to our apartment in Provo. Thanks to the Jeppesens, we actually have an apartment in Provo that we will be moving into on the 21st of August. I've seen these in a lot of people's houses and really liked them, so I decided to try to make one. My mom has all kinds of crafting materials that I can use.
Here is my flower arrangement, double-sided table runner, and kitchen soap dispenser for our kitchen/dining area. I have also been working on and have finished a 4-month meal plan that includes weekly shopping lists. Hopefully this will make my life slightly easier during school and pretty much from here on out. I'll probably have to update it a little when our family gets larger.

On Saturday we went to a 1st birthday party, so my mom went to Toys 'R Us to get a gift. She ended up getting Alyssa a little farm house because she said she really hadn't gotten her anything for her first birthday. Here is Alyssa with Brett trying to figure it all out.

We went over to Max's (the little boy turning one) house and Alyssa had a blast. Max is an only child so far and his parents are well established and so he has quite a few toys. Alyssa especially loved this zebra jumping toy. She bounced up and down; Jesse had a hard time getting her to stop so he could get a good picture. This one is a little fuzzy, but pretty good for the camera on a cell phone.

We only have a couple weeks left here in Texas, which is crazy. It almost seems like we just got here. We'll be sad to leave my family, but it will be fun to see friends that we have missed in Provo.

Summer Pictures

Last night we were at walmart and Alyssa and I were walking past the electronics section. I was very pleased when I heard her yell "Ba-Ball" excitedly. She apparently had seen a basketball game on the tvs and was excited about it. That's daddy's girl! Here are some pictures from this summer that we have been meaning to get up. Hope you enjoy, but be warned, viewer discretion is advised on the last picture.



Dad and Alyssa hat shopping.



Looks like we found a couple of hats we liked!



The neighborhood was pretty crazy with a lot of fireworks going on for the 4th, and Alyssa loved them for the 2nd straight year.



Texas is really getting into Alyssa's blood.



She loves that fudgecicle.



Alyssa in her new swimming pool. She really likes to play with about 20 golf balls in there.



She is also able to swing really well, she has a baby swing now, but she can handle the big kid swing on her own too.

So this is the last one, go on if you dare. We were in Ross the other day looking at swim suits for Katie, and we found this little jewel. She wouldn't let me get it for a gag gift, so I had to share it with everyone. Maybe you have seen these, but it is basically a bra for your bum. It keeps it perfectly shaped and firm looking! Hilarious!

Throwback to the old school

Hey, this really is a coincidence, but that last video had an old rap song becuase it was kind of a boxing song. This next one is one that Katie's brother David taught Alyssa, so we had to put it on here. I think it's now her favorite song. Ice Ice Baby!

Mama Said Knock You Out!

As you can see from the video, she favors the right hook.

Some new pictures

Well, things are going well, kind of. Katie's job is ok, and I am really liking mine. FMC is a good company, and I am enjoying my work. I have been sick this week, and Alyssa woke up pretty sick this morning, but she has been surprisingly cheerful. She is a lot of fun. She is starting to get really talkative, she had a conversation with my sister Sally for about 15 minutes over the phone the other day. Of course nothing of what she said was understood, but she would listen, then laugh, and then she would talk when Sally asked her questions. She is getting pretty good at saying some words too, along with her many signs that she knows. Her favorite fruit is now a strawberry, she says "staabouy".

We finally got some of the pictures off of our camera, so I wanted to put some of them up here.

The other night I was filling up the bath and stepped out of the bathroom for a minute. I heard a splash and a gasp and ran in to find this.

She loves to lean over the edge of the tub and touch the water. I guess she leaned a little too far!

Alyssa loves to try on shoes, especially ones that aren't hers. Here is one of those times, it also gives a shot of her haircut that grandma gave her.

I thought this was a funny picture so I had to include it.

More shoes

We have found a new problem in that Alyssa refuses to understand that she can't draw on her body, or the table, or the chairs, or her doll, or anything she wants really. We're working on it.

Alyssa loves to play in the bath, and one of her new tricks is to blow bubbles. She really likes it, we need to take her swimming more often.

Happy Mother's Day

I hope all of the mothers out there had a wonderful day today. Things are going great here in Houston. We have been playing Wii a lot since we have some extra time right now. I've also been trying to make monthly meal plans for when we are busy again. I've been going through cook books and picking out the recipes we like. Jesse has been reading a John Grisham book. The weather is getting pretty hot already. It is too bad we can't be here in the winter instead of the summer. The winters here are supposed to be pretty nice. I had an interview for an internship on Wednesday. It sounds like they are going to hire me, but I haven't heard from them yet. Jesse went to the doctor on Wednesday and got a boot to replace his cast. The doctor told him that he could put 30% of his weight on his hurt leg. He could be off crutches in two weeks; the doctor will evaluate how he is doing then. After the summer we are going to be back in Provo and then we will be graduating in April, pretty exciting. If anyone knows of any good housing in Provo opening up in August please let us know. Here are some of the fun things Alyssa has been doing. You may not notice, but Alyssa has Collin's (my little brother) shoes on. These are pretty huge on her, but she likes to put them on because they light up and just because they are shoes and she likes putting any shoes on especially when they aren't hers.

Here is Alyssa posing in the window sill. She really enjoys sitting here. It is the perfect height for her.

Collin also likes to sit in the window sill. I think part of the reason Alyssa likes it is because Collin sits there and she likes to copy Collin. He was hitting himself on the way home from church today, so Alyssa was doing the same.

Here is Alyssa eating ice cream with daddy. She almost looks like Mario to me with her lovely moustache. This picture cracks me up.

In Houston

Wow, it's been a while since we posted on here. A lot has been going on, from finishing up school work, to finals, to packing, to driving to Houston. There is no way we would have been able to move without the help we received from ward members, thanks so much to any of you who may read this. We have been here over a week now though, and have just been lazy. The weather is nice, it was snowing when we left Provo, and 85 and humid in Houston when we got here. Katie is still hoping that she will get an internship, and I start work on the 19th. I get my cast off in the next week or so. Alyssa is loving the big house with plenty of room to roam, plus stairs to go up and down. She is a little show off, performing for people who ask. She knows around 100 signs now, and so people will ask her words and she will sign them, and then laugh and clap for herself. It was cute for the first 20 times or so. She is still our little cutie though, and people are always commenting on how much she looks like Katie and Katie's little brother. One thing she has loved here is finding Easter candy in closets and all over really, she always seems to find the candy and get it in her mouth. The other day she came out of a bedroom with chocolate all over her face and hands, and with aluminum wrappers in her mouth. I'll post a picture. Overall things are good here.

Moving boxes are so much fun!

Nothing but her shoes and a diaper on. At least she covered her bust line.