Murdock Moments

Catching Up

2011-10-20T18:28:00.000-07:00

I have decided to start blogging again! I have taken quite a long break from it and so here we go. Here are so pictures from Mike's GRADUATION!! June 3rd, 2011...the day I realized Mike was NO longer a student!! YAY!! Mike's family came out for the celebration and festivities. We had so much fun.

On the 6th of June, we packed up our entire house and headed to Waterloo, IA! Mike began his residency shortly after arriving and we continued to get settled into our new place. We LOVE Waterloo! We have made some pretty wonderful friends and have had so many fun adventures.

Viva La Vida!

2011-07-18T13:56:00.000-07:00

On to our next big adventure! MEXICO! For graduation, my parents took us to Mexico. We went to the Mayan Riviera and had an absolutely amazing time! We took tons of pictures and here is just a few of them. Every once in a while, Ben will say, "Can we go back to Mexico and go swimming at night?" We went swimming every night! We had a blast and can't wait to go back some day!

Ok...ok!

2011-07-18T13:35:00.001-07:00

So it has been A FEW months from the previous post and a TON of things have happened. I am going to update from where we left off. Mike finished up with all of his rotations. On Mike's 28th birthday, we went to a Cubs game. Before the game, we went to a resturant featured on Man VS Food called Lucky's. It was so yummy! Once we got into Wrigley Stadium, we waited, and waited and waited for the game to start. Of course, it didn't and they rescheduled the game for the end of June. Luckily, we were able to get them sold and we also got to see the inside of Wrigley! It was still a fun day!

MATCH!!!!!

2011-03-13T19:10:00.000-07:00

We are going to....

Suspense........

WATERLOO, IOWA!!! We are so excited to be going to Iowa!! Mike is going to be starting his residency at Covenant Medical Center at the beginning of July! They only chose one resident and it was MIKE!! We are so excited and cannot wait for our next adventure! This is going to be our theme song for the next little while here at our house!

January

2011-02-07T12:24:00.000-08:00

We had some pretty fun adventures during the last couple weeks!! Ben went to Monkey Joe's with his friend Adam. He LOVED playing on all the big slides. We also went down to the Museum of Science and Industry with some other friends. I love seeing how happy Ben gets when he does new things!

Also, here are some of our Blizzard 2011 pictures. It started snowing on Tuesday the 1st and when it finally stopped snowing, there was about 3 feet total in our driveway. Needless to say, I was snowed! My neighbor had been plowing our driveway and the plow on his truck had broke... I was stuck. On Wednesday afternoon I decided it would be "fun" to go out and get some exercise. I started to shovel out some of the snow. About 45 minutes later, I was wearing nothing but my T-shirt, jeans, and boots. I had shoveled about a 7x7 foot patch in the 100 ft. driveway. Ha! On Thursday night, I asked our landlord how much they pay to have theirs done. After I picked my chin off the floor, I told them I had some friends that were willing to come help me. Her husband over-heard my predicament and told her to call the guy and that he would pay to have it done! I was so thankful that he was willing to help! Finally, on Friday night, the heaven-sent plow guy came and saved us! Ben and I decided to celebrate. I told him he could pick anywhere to go for dinner and he picked Denny's. That food had never tasted so good!

It has been a LONG time!

2011-01-25T12:49:00.000-08:00

I am such a procrastinator when it comes to blogging. Here is the "nutshell" version of what has been happening lately!

The whole month of November was spent in Washington. Mike was doing a rotation there and Ben and I went with him. We stayed at his sister Sariah's place and it was tons of fun being around family. My favorite part of the trip was our weekend in Seattle.

After that month was done, Mike flew to Kentucky for another rotation and Ben and I flew to Utah to stay with my parents. It was good not being by ourselves for the Christmas season. The best present we got this year was Mike flying to Utah and being with us for the Christmas weekend! We drove from St. George to SLC and picked up Mike. Then, traveled on to Idaho. We stayed at my grandparent's cabin in Island Park. Ron, Maggie, and Hayden joined us up there and we had so much fun. Lots of snowmobiling, card games, and eating. It was a great holiday!

Ben and I flew back to Chi-town on the 5th of January. We hung out with Mike for less than 24 hours and then he left to go down to Texas for interviews. He did great down there and had lots of cool experiences! He got back on the 16th. We were able to spend one week with him and now he is in Washington for his last outside rotation. He is doing a private practice rotation and loving it! As for Ben and I, we are trying to keep busy with lots of projects and trying not to get on each others nerves!

Maybe I will do better at keeping our blog up-dated, but we shall see. In only five months, Mike is going to graduate and the next set of adventures will begin! YAY!!!

Goings On

2010-10-25T20:34:00.000-07:00

Life is getting more and more crazy around these parts! We are looking forward to more adventures and there are many more to come!! Sariah came to visit and we had a BLAST!!!

Bonnie took our family pictures and the next day, had them back to us (I still think you are SUPERWOMAN, by the way!!!). I LOVE THEM!

Lots of FUN, FRIENDS and FANATICS!

And nothing beats good 'ol HALLOWEEN SPIRIT!

All About Ben

2010-09-16T13:22:00.000-07:00

On August 21, 2007, Benjamin came into the world.

One year later...
Two years later...

And finally, three years later...

Our baby boy is growing up SOO fast!

Thanks, Bonnie! You truly are amazing!

The Best Kind of Prize is a SURPRISE!

2010-09-08T19:39:00.000-07:00

This week has been full of surprises to say the least! To start out, Mike decided to come home for the long weekend. I was excited to see him again. On Friday morning, I went to get the mail and saw this...
I called Mike and told him it was a good thing he was coming home so he could help me change a tire. On Saturday, we changed the tire and found a huge bolt sticking out. Luckily, we had the extra tire on the back of the CR-V. We were really hoping to get more use out of this car, but the car was using us! We decided to drive it until the end of May and then get a new car before residency started. However... This '09 Nissian Altima was begging to be ours. We traded in our CR-V, which was a SERIOUS work-in-progress, and got an amazing deal on this bad boy! Mike is quite a shmoozer when he has to be. We were so excited to have such reliable, dependable, beautiful...

SERIOUSLY? SERIOUSLY! When we bought the car (Monday), there was a light on the dash indicating that there was something wrong with the tire pressure. The guy told us that it had been checked and re-checked and nothing was wrong. They couldn't reset the light there at their dealership and we had to take it to a Nissian dealer to do it. I guess something was wrong! Ben and I drove down to Independence Grove to take his pictures with a friend, and when I got out of the car, I saw this! Needless to say, I was pretty livid. Mike called the guy and he felt really bad and told us to bring it in and he would take care of it for us. I felt really lucky, however, to have such good people willing to help!
This week is not over quite yet, but I am hoping for the best!

We Are Here! We Are Here! We Are Here!

2010-08-31T21:45:00.000-07:00

Life has sure thrown us some curve balls the last couple of months, but we are still around and doing great! Here are some of the best of the bests (with pictures)!!

In July we...

moved to a new place.

found a new love at the driving range.

play soccer almost everyday in our backyard.

love going to the beach and playing in water. It is such a hot summer!

enjoy hanging out with friends!

As most all of you know, Mike is coming and going a lot this year. When we do have him here, we try to have as much fun as possible! My mom came out for a couple of weeks to keep me company and Ben from getting punished all day, everyday. We had so much fun Grandma!

My little boy is not so little anymore. I can't believe we just celebrated his 3rd BIRTHDAY! We had a couple of celebrations which I don't think Ben minded one bit! One with Grandma and another when Daddy came home.

In August we...

went to visit Mike's brother and his family in Des Moines where he is going to med school.

rented a boat and cruised around Lake Geneva with some great friends.

had a Rock Band party!

continue to have fun adventures everyday.

Home Sweet Home

2010-06-23T13:16:00.000-07:00

We are at home again and back to our lives as we know it now. It is so nice to be together again! Ben is LOVING having Mike around. Every second we spend at home, Ben is asking Mike to wrestle, play basketball or baseball and basically devote all his attetion to him. It is so adorable to see. Mike had really good experiences with his clerkships and is glad to be learning so much. We get to spend two months together. YAY!
We are going to be busy, busy! On the 6th of July, we are moving into a new place. I can't wait. It is bigger than what we have now, but cheaper...go figure. We are really excited!
Here are some more pictures from the rest of our stay in St. George.

Swimming at the Washington City Pool

My baby brother had a baby...Crazy. Me, Zac, Baby Hayden, Ron and Ben

Playing at Great Papa and Great Grandma's House

Playing with bubbles

I found a HUGE bag of Mr. Potato Head stuff at good 'ol DI

Little boy in his mom's heels...CLASSIC

Cheesey Pants

This and That

2010-05-19T12:20:00.001-07:00

Ben and I have REALLY been enjoying our time here in St. George! Ben is growing up so fast! He has grown at least an inch since we have been here and is getting WAY too smart!
Here are some pics of our newest adventures!

We miss our dADdY and bEsT fRiEnD!! Mike is learning a lot and can't wait to be a doctor... Alas, one more year! It will be here before we know it.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY BEST FRIEND!

2010-04-26T20:55:00.000-07:00

My bestest friend in the entire world is 28 years old today! So here is 28 reasons why I love you so much!

1. You are seriously the hardest working, most dedicated person I have ever met!
2. You are an amazing daddy.
3. You choose to dance to your own beat, even when NO-body else is dancing.
4. You understand me and know all my faults and yet love me even more.
5. You make me laugh. Even at your tremendously lame jokes...
6. Your shower stance!
7. Your focused on achieving your goals.
8. You love TV shows as much as I do.
9. You are so patient with both me and Ben.
10. Your love for the gospel.
11. Your willingness to do the dishes!!
12. You see the truth in people.
13. You can play ball with Ben for three hours and still find it fun.
14. You are willing to stay up late and talk to me even when you have an early morning.
15. You believe in me even when I don't.
16. Your hugs.
17. Your ability to find the good in difficult situations.
18. Your willingness to compromise.
19. Your willingness to not compromise.
20. You get so excited about new things.
21. Your kisses.
22. You still give me butterflies when you hold my hand.
23. Your driving skills!
24. You still open the door for me.
25. You make the best taco salad!
26. You tickle my arms or legs while we watch shows.
27. You can laugh and cry with me.
28. You are the reason.
I LOVE YOU WITH ALL OF MY HEART!

St. George Happenings

2010-04-17T22:21:00.000-07:00

We are having SOO much fun in St. George. I have a TAN! Ben does too. It has been such a good experience to be here with family. Ben absolutely LOVES his grandparents. He plays "hide and seeking" with Papa and helps grandma cook. There are so many new toys to play with and he is so excited every morning when he wakes up.

For Easter, Ben got this movie. He LOVES the book and talks about it everyday. I really like the movie too, so we both win!

I wound up getting a job for the first month here. I worked for a tax company when Mike and I lived here before we moved out to Chi-town and when my mom told them I was in town, they begged me to come work again. It was the perfect situation. My dad had MON, TUES and half of WED off so he watched Ben while I went to work. I did mostly paper work and putting together tax returns for the clients. Lots of organizing, which is one of my most favorite things in the entire world! It was good to earn a little extra money to help out at "home." I had so much fun.

My parents live right down the street from the temple and so ANY time we get in the car to go somewhere, Ben yells, "Mom, there is the St. George Temple! It is so beautiful." We took him to see it after church a couple of weeks ago. These are some of my favorite pictures.

It has a beginning!

2010-03-26T16:57:00.001-07:00

So, the three months apart has started. Ben and I flew out to Vegas on the 23rd and are staying in St. George with my parents. We are loving the sunshine and the great, no traffic, relaxed atmosphere! We are looking forward to hanging out with Papa and Grandma and doing lots of fun stuff OUTSIDE!
I personally have made lots of goals to accomplish and hope that it will happen. I am really excited for Mike and his rotations. He is spending his first month in Seattle, home... He has only been there for one whole day and LOVES every second. He has been able to see lots of his friends from high school and is spending lots of time with his family. The second month is in Toledo, OH. Then, Waterloo, IA.
We are really looking forward to our future and hope to many more great experiences!!
More fun to come...

We are having a...

2010-02-18T16:50:00.000-08:00

NEW TV DELIVERED! That's right. A new addition to our living room has come. Mike has been wanting a new TV for about three years now. He has been working SO much lately and we have been able to pay for almost all of Mike's rotations already. So, with the tax return we decided to save most of it and then reward all of his efforts and get this...

There has been a lot going on at the Murdock abode. This post is very random, but C'est la vie! A couple weeks ago, we went down to the Shedd Aquarium and The Field Museum on a free Monday. It was really fun for all of us.

Ben has been able to really experience the snow this year. Every time he sees his boots, he says, "Please, I put my boots on and go outside?"

Ben LOVES shoes. It doesn't matter who the shoes belong to, he puts them on and walks around the house. Daddy's shoes, however, are his #1 choice.

Since Christmas, Ben has been in a "big boy bed." He loves it! From the very first morning I went into his room, this is what I found and continue to find to this day.

We have a little tradition before Ben goes to bed every night. Mike will play ball with him. Whether its baseball, basketball, dodgeball or football. Ben is ALL boy. He loves everything that has to do with sports. He asked me to turn on the Olympics Tuesday morning. When I told him they only come on during the evening, he fell to his knees and said, "NOOO! I need to watch them now!"

Family Pictures

2010-01-13T14:48:00.000-08:00

So...my friend, Heidi took our family pictures a long time ago. We were using them for Christmas cards so I didn't want to spoil the surprise of having them on here, so now HERE THEY ARE! AThese are some of my favorite photos. She did so good and it was SOOOOO cold. By the end of the shot, Ben had had enough. Thanks again, Heidi! Whitney, you might recognize one of them! I totally copied you!

The Holidays

2010-01-04T14:51:00.000-08:00

We had a BLAST this Christmas season! To start out, Mike had his final graded test for the rest of his life on December 18th. To celebrated, we traveled to Baltimore, Maryland where we met my Dad and brother Jason. We jumped into Jason's car and drove to Ocean City, Maryland for vacation. My mom, Leann (Jason's wife), and their kids were already at the condo. OC is a very touristy town! It was on an island that consisted of a row of condos and hotels on one side, a main road, and another row of condos and hotels. That is it! Typically the island brings in beach-bum tourists in the summer and since it was winter...NO ONE WAS THERE! Hardly anything was open too. We pretty much had the whole island to ourselves.

We had so much fun playing games all night, sharing stories, and hanging out. We also loved going miniature golfing. I was schooled by my little niece and nephews. I am going with they were just lucky...

Jason's family and my dad left on the 23rd to go back home. We stayed with my mom until the 25th. Ben had four christmas' this year. He loved every minute of it. On Christmas day, we checked out of our condo and drove over to Washington DC. Jason is a dentist in the Airforce and is stationed at Bolling AFB right in the heart of DC. It was pretty incredible to see the Nation's Capital and the Washington Monument from his front yard.

For the next couple of days, we saw all the sites in DC and had such a great time. We had the opportunity to go into the White House as well. We got to go into the Oval Office, the Press Room, and through the West Wing. It was really interesting to see all the framed photos on the walls of the President doing his day-to-day business. What an experience.

Thanksgiving and Aunt Sy Sy

2009-12-03T20:43:00.000-08:00

We had an amazing Thanksgiving this year. It was the first time I made my own turkey and meal. It turned out really good. Mike helped a lot with the turkey, so he thinks it was all him. Mike participated in the Turkey Bowl again this year. Our ward does one every year and this year was REALLY muddy. Mike's sister Sariah came this year. We had a blast hanging out with her. Ben loves his Aunt Sy Sy and he is still asking where she is.

We went down to the city on Friday. We played downtown and had a ton of fun seeing the sites at night. The city looks so different at night. We then stayed in the Palmer House Hilton right off of Michigan Ave. It was a beautiful hotel. We had so much fun and we even did room service for breakfast. You have splurge once in a while.

The rest of the weekend we played lots of games, watched tons of movies, and talked about life. Sariah has become one of my closest friends. It is so nice seeing eye to eye on things with someone other than my husband. Thank heaven for Eternal Families!!

Waiting at Union Station

This was in the lobby at the Hotel. It is made out of gingerbread!! It smelled SOOOO good!

Ice Skating and stuff

2009-11-23T15:19:00.000-08:00

So, the other day I found Dennis the Menace at the store for only $3.00 and thought it needed to be added to our DVD library. Ben wanted to watch it and I thought, why not. I gave him his "san-wech" and "milt" and let him eat lunch and watch the movie. I handed it to him and then went into my room for about 20 minutes. When I came back, he was in EXACTLY the same position. I called his name three times before he looked up at me and smiled. Good purchase!

I tried to give Ben a haircut with just scissors and not the buzzer. I put his new movie on and handed him a tootsie pop. The haircut didn't turn out nice, so I used the buzzers anyway... at least the sucker was a success.

Mike's school will hold social events every once in a while and this time it was ice skating! Ben actually enjoyed it A TON! He was pretty upset when it was time to take off the little skates and put his regular shoes back on.

Please forgive the 80's hair-do...I was extremely bored the night before and braided my hair in a ton of little braids...I didn't have time to wash it out before we left. Aren't these skates the cutest things you have ever seen!

Silly Goat!

2009-11-10T10:04:00.000-08:00

So, our family finally made it up to Kroll's Farm this last Saturday. When we pulled into the parking lot, no one was around. We thought they were already closed for the season. We got back into the car to leave and the guy came out of his house and said, "Today is our last day open."

We were pretty sure they were already closed, but it was nice of him to let us walk around and see the animals. Ben was LOVING himself some baby goats! He was going crazy. His favorite part was letting them lick his hands. We had a blast!

Best trip I have ever taken!

2009-10-31T11:07:00.000-07:00

So, Mike called me Friday afternoon and told me he had heard a rumor that one his teachers at school was going to hand out $100 to the best costume in class. I quickly got Ben and I ready to go, along with a bag with Mike's Two-Face costume and headed to the school. It was worth a shot, right? Once I got there, Mike came out and took the bag and went to change and go to class. When Ben and I got home, I got a pix message from Mike with a $100 bill in his hands!! I couldn't believe it! He told me that there were only four people out of the class that dressed up and each person was handed a $100!! The guy didn't even bat an eyelash.

Recently, we...

2009-10-27T20:03:00.000-07:00

went to our ward party as a Zombie, a Skeleton and Two-Face!

took our annual Fright Fest trip to Six Flags!

well, Mike, went to Boise to go through the temple with his younger brother, Aaron. He is leaving on his mission in early December to Lima, Peru!

have watched Ben do the things he does...

tried to enjoy the last bit of warmth (it was still cold) outside.

Lots of FUN!

2009-10-05T16:01:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago, I went back to my hometown Fruitland, Idaho for the first time in nearly 4 years. It was soo crazy to go back and see my old place! My good friend from high school, Cortney Howard, got married and I couldn't miss it! The ceremony and reception were so beautiful, but nothing compared to the bride!! It was so fun to see her again and laugh like old times.

I stayed with my bestest friend Amanda. She had come out to Chicago earlier this year. We had a blast hanging out in Boise and in Fruitland. We stayed at her parents house one night and they are practically my adopted parents. I miss being able to see them and be with them! I also got to see some of the most influential people in my life. The leaders I had in my ward were amazing and truly helped me become the person I am today!

When I got back, Mike, Ben and I decided we needed to go to another Brewer's game. They were playing the Cubs, so it was a win-win situation. The Cubs won and Ben had a BLAST playing with his cars and NOT watching the game. He did like being there and watched some of it, but the cars were so much more fun...silly boy. At least he was FREE.

Ben loves sitting on his "POTTY SEAT." He hasn't figured out how to use it, but likes to sit on it. I don't mind. I am pretty sure he is going to be 17 by the time he is potty-trained. He is far too stubborn, like both of his parents...he has no hope. Sorry, dude!

He also loves to pretend that he is sleeping. Climbing in the bed, pulling the sheets up and saying, "Mommy, I sleepin'!" is an everyday occurrence.

Last note: Mike found out what his schedule is going to be until June of 2011, also known as GRADUATION!! It seems so close, yet soooooo far away. YAY!

Just a little update...

2009-09-12T15:01:00.000-07:00

Well, Ben had a really fun birthday. He loved openning his presents, playing with his basketball hoop and, of course, eating his cake! We have been so busy lately, but we are having such a great time. We also took him to the Racine Zoo and he loved seeing all the animals!

We were able to get a second car, which has been the BIGGEST help! Its a '97 Honda CR-V. We got a pretty good deal on it and Mike loves driving it. Ben loves going to park and Six Flags almost everyday just because we can. Getting out of the house is nice for me and Ben is taking better naps, due to the fact that he is exhausted when we get home!! It is awesome!

Mike is busy with school and trying to figure out externships for next year. We do know that for the months of April and May, he is going to be in Washington. We will find out the rest of his fourth year schedule in about three weeks.

I am trying to keep up with Ben and all of his energy! He is so funny and I love hanging out with him. He is learning and growing so much everyday. We are having such a great time and we love being together as a family!

GUESS WHO'S 2!

2009-08-21T08:42:00.000-07:00

Today is Ben's 2nd birthday! We love him so much and are so glad he is a part of our family!

Pictures!

2009-08-03T13:19:00.000-07:00

So many memories!

2009-08-03T12:09:00.000-07:00

Where to begin... This post with be quite long, but I promise there is a lot of information about what has been happening. While Janeen and Addy were here visiting, I found out that I was pregnant! We were really happy and excited for another child to join our family. About four weeks later, I miscarried. Now we have to wait until we know Mike's fourth year schedule before trying again. I don't want to be here alone with a newborn and a crazy two year old!

On July 1st, Mike took his first board exam. He had studied months and months for a four hour test. We were so glad that he felt like the test went well and mostly, that it was finally over!! To celebrate being done with the test and also the Independence of our country, some of the student families got together for the 4th. We played all day at the park, ate pizza and played games for the evening and then watched the fireworks. It was such a fun, entertaining day!

In the mix of studying for boards, school, work, health issues and everything else, we were trying to pack up to move. It wasn't too far, in fact, we moved within the same building. We got the keys to the new apartment on the 12th (which was a Sunday), and had to be out of the old one by midnight on the 13th. We are so thankful for those who were willing to help us move and watch Ben for us! It is so nice to know there are amazing people everywhere you go. Now we are on the second floor and we have an attached garage. Grocery shopping by myself is possible now! We are paying less than we were and we have a bigger apartment. Go figure!

Mike only had one more rotation and then had a two week break! The first week was spent in Branson, Missouri with my parents. They flew into Chicago on the 16th and then we drove down together. We stopped in St. Louis and went to the Arch and also Six Flags. After that, we had a blast in Branson. We went to the Dixie Stampede, the Shanghai Circus, Ripley's Believe It or Not and an acapella group called Six. They were incredible! We also played mini-golf and went swimming a ton! Mike and I watched Harry Potter on the IMAX and it was amazing. I am a huge Potter fan and loved every minute of it! Ben loved hanging out with Papa and Grandma. He is still asking where they are.

We got back home on the 26th and Ron and Maggie came on the 27th. We had so much fun with them here! We went to a Brewers game, went to the city, and played lots of Guitar Hero! Ron and Maggie got married six months ago and this was the first time we have been able to be together since then. I loved getting to know Maggie and spend time with her!!

The last day they were here, Mike got his board results in the mail! He was anxious to get the letter because he had heard that other people had received theirs and he had not. But he passed and now that weight is lifted! I am so proud of him and his willingness to work so hard. He is such and amazing, dedicated husband, father and student!!

We are still here...

2009-07-30T22:45:00.001-07:00

It has been a crazy last while, but we are still here and I can't wait to post all the fun and not so fun moments from the last month or so!

Birthday, Anniversary and a Visit from Friends!

2009-06-13T11:51:00.000-07:00

We had quite a busy last couple of weeks! To start out, my 26th birthday was on the 1st. It was so fun to celebrate with Mike and Ben. I had a blast and a big thanks for all the birthday wishes.
Then, Mike and I celebrated our 4 year anniversary on the 4th. Wow...4 years! I wouldn't change these years for anything. We are looking forward to many more! Mike and I are best friends and truly have the most fun when we are together. I love Mike more than anything. A number of different people have said that they can really see how much we love each other and that really means a lot to both of us. When we got married, our sealer said that if we kept 4 things in our marriage strong, which were LOVE, UNITY, TRUST and LOYALTY, we would be happy and strong for eternity.

After that, Mike's best friend from high school Janeen and her daughter, Addy, came to visit. Addy is about a month older than Ben and it was so fun to see them together. They really did have a love/hate relationship! We played at Six Flags and went downtown and had tons of fun!

The rest of the summer will be quite interesting as well...
Boards- July 1st
Moving- July 12th
Branson, MO- July 17th-25th
Ron and Maggie's Visit July 26th- August 2nd

CAN'T WAIT!!

Lake Michigan

2009-05-26T09:44:00.000-07:00

Well, it is official! Mike is done with his second year of podiatry school! He had his last test on Friday and we couldn't be happier. One year closer! He does have this week off of school, so its time to get good study in for boards! He is studying about six hours a day to get where he wants to be. Luckily, his first couple of rotations during the beginning of third year are pretty easy, so he can still study hard and get ready for the boards, which are July 1st.

To celebrate Mike being done, we went out to Lake Michigan on Saturday, and played at the beach and had a picnic. The water was really cold, so we decided not to swim. Ben, on the other hand, had a different idea. We went down to the water and Ben threw a couple rocks in, and then he threw himself in!! He dove belly first into the freezing cold water, fully dressed! Luckily, Mike was standing right next to him and grabbed him by the back of the shirt and pulled him out.

He had swallowed a ton of water and once he was done coughing, he yelled, "WADDER!" Apperently the freezing temperatures didn't bother him and he just wanted to play. We took off his soaking wet clothes, not having a spare set, and let him run around in his diaper. It was so fun to see him roll around in the sand, throw more rocks and help Daddy fly his kite. We love being together as a family and can't wait for this summer. We have lots of fun stuff planned with family and friends coming into town!

Seahawk!

2009-05-11T11:50:00.000-07:00

Mike and Ben were playing last night and this was the result!

Mike's Birthday and Amanda's Visit

2009-05-04T12:29:00.000-07:00

So, we had a very exciting time this last little while. First, my bestest friend of all time, Amanda, came for a visit. The last time we saw each other was in 2005, so needless to say, the vist was well over-due! She got here on Thursday the 23rd and we went to UNO'S for dinner. Our favorite pizza is BBQ Chicken, so they have the best! Our dessert was a GIANT peanut butter cup, also our favorite. It was so good!!

On Friday, we headed down to the city and played down there. The rest of the trip was mostly reminiscing about the good 'ol days and hanging out. She had to leave on Monday, which was also Mike's birthday. We went down early and did another run-around the city. We went over to Wrigleyville and ate Chicago Dogs...they were so good. Then, it was down Michigan Ave. and also China town. I loved having Amanda here. It was so nice to catch-up and have such a great friend around.

The rest of the day was pretty chill. Mike actually took a nap for his birthday... He had a final that morning and was super tired. The best part of his birthday wasn't until the next day. We had tickets to the MARINERS VS WHITE SOX game. Our seats were unbelievable! Row 7 by the Mariners' dugout and on the first base line. We made it there early for the game and Mike got Russell Branyan's autograph! He is the first baseman for Seattle. Mike was so excited. We ate a ton of yummy stadium food and had a blast! The Mariners even won that game.

Tennis Ben!

2009-04-22T22:20:00.000-07:00

Ben thought this was hilarious! We did too.

Tennis!

2009-04-17T08:16:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a B-E-A-utiful day so we decided to get out and let Ben play. Where was a good place we could play as well as Ben and he wouldn't run away...TENNIS! We had a blast! I am horrible at tennis, but it was still fun. Ben was our little ball boy and he loved it.

Cutest Thing Ever!

2009-04-15T13:15:00.001-07:00

I was cleaning our bedroom today, which was long over-due. Ben was "helping" me and loving every minute of it. I went into our closet to hang up some clothes. Ben was a little too quiet and that usually meant trouble. So, I asked him what he was doing. His response, "I weeding a boop." Wondering if he had really just said that, I poked my head out of the closet and there he was, sitting on the floor, reading a book! I started laughing so hard and he looked up and said, "A boop!" Ben is so stinkin' awesome!

Lately...

2009-04-13T09:51:00.000-07:00

We have been going to the park a lot. Ben LOVES to play and run around. We are loving that the weather is warm enough to do so. Ben is talking like a crazy man! He is trying to repeat everything that we are saying. He loves "Memo" and "Podder." Some of his favorite things to play with is cars, the step ladder, and everything he isn't suppose to play with. His favorite thing to eat is a "Bur Bur ga burs" which of course is a hamburger. He has to have bubbles in his bath and is so confused when there isn't any. He loves to help unload the groceries and when he hands me anything, I say, "Thank you" and he replys, "Da Do!" We are really pushing please and thank you and when he is in trouble for anything, he says, "Sorry" and pouts out his lower lip and it is SO hard to get mad. "He's just a tender little guy." I love to watch him grow and develop more of a personality everyday.

25 Random Things About DONNA

2009-03-27T20:26:00.000-07:00

1. To my detriment, I have an unbelievable memory! I remember specific details about just about EVERYTHING! Mike can't be right when it comes to things in the past, because I know what really happened. :)

2. For some odd reason, I cannot stand Tony Danza. He just irritates me and makes my blood boil.

3. I have a slight obsession with tape and stickers. I will play with them for hours! I love the feeling of it pulling on the skin of my fingers. The best kind to play with and wont lose its stick for a long time is either duct tape or the medical tape that holds the IV needle in your arm. Sorry Madison Memorial for taking a couple of rolls. ;)

4. I am still afraid of the dark. I just know that there is something lurking around the corner for me.

5. Mike is truly my best friend. There is no other person on this entire planet that knows me more than I know myself. I dare say he knows me better than I know me.

6. I love the smell of gasoline, coffee and second-hand smoke. Reasons? Gasoline makes me think about how my dad smelled after he mowed our yard. Coffee...I just like this one. And the whole smoke thing...When we went on vacations as kids and stayed in hotels, they always had that smell. It makes me feel nostalgic. Weird, I know.

7. I am such a night owl! Always have been, always will be.

8. I have always been a do-it-my-own-way type girl. I try not to be exactly like everyone else. I think that can get boring.

9. One thing I can't stand is people who skirt around issues. Just come clean with it and especially when confronted about it!! Ignorance is not becoming!

10. I suck at keeping in touch with people.

11. I love dancing. I am constantly dancing around our apartment and Jewel (our grocery store which always has the best music). I don't really care who is watching either. When I watch dance, I can't really move. I like that.

12. Grey's Anatomy is my favorite TV show by far. I talk about the characters as if they really do exist. I refer to them as my friends. It is very rare to get through a whole episode without crying.

13. I love to travel and have new experiences in new places. I would rather spend money on a trip than on "things." I guess that is why I have been to 33 states and 7other countries.

14. I still know all the 44 counties in Idaho. Thanks 4Th grade Idaho History!! There goes that memory in action.

15. I am very self-conscious. I have always had issues with my body and the things I don't like about it.

16. When people think something is really powerful it usually gives them the chills. Not me. I get choked up and tears come to my eyes...awesome.

17. I think Ben is the most entertaining person to watch. I find myself watching him all day. I thought watching people in Idaho Falls on the 4Th of July was fun...Not even close. I love seeing him figure things out and get excited he did. He is so smart and clever.

18. I get migraines. These aren't your run-of-the-mill bad headaches. First, my vision goes blurry and then I have blind spots. If I can pump my body full of Ibuprofen and shut my eyes for two or three hours, they can go away. If not, parts of my body begin to go numb. Tongue, face, hands, arms, legs, you name it. The meds can possibly still help at this point. If not, I get so dizzy I can't stand up and then I puke. By then, I am basically a vegetable in bed. YAY!

19. I can't wait to have my own house someday! I love to decorate and do what I want with the walls. I have seen nothing but white walls and it feels like I am living in the loony bin...don't you even!

20. I was a competitive gymnast for 3 years.

21. Because of the gymnastics, I have had sleeping problems from the age of 9.

22. I can't chew gum. It gives me headaches.

23. I am SO fascinated with the human body. When Mike tells me about what he is learning, I get so excited. The grosser, the better! Pictures of nasty fungi and infections make me happy. I looked at Mike's dermatology book from cover to cover and loved every minute of it! I am very jealous he got to dissect bodies and see everything! What an amazing creation!

24. Mike always knows when I'm mad or irritated because I clean. That isn't the only time I clean. The other time is when people are coming over. :)

25. The best sound in the entire universe is the sound of Mike and Ben laughing!!

OUTSIDE!

2009-03-14T09:59:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a pretty nice day, so Ben and I headed outside to play some catch and play in the mud. It was still a little cold, so the whole mud thing was short- lived, but still fun. Ben loves to be outside and I am so glad that winter is pretty much over!

The best didactic break EVER!!

2009-03-02T19:49:00.000-08:00

During the week break from school, we had so much fun! Mike's sister, Sariah, came to visit us and we had a BLAST! We did a ton and loved being able to spend time with her. We played lots of games, ate lots of food, watched movies, and went down to the city. We went up to the Skydeck of the Sears Tower and that was amazing. My favorite part was taking funny pictures wherever we could! Thanks a ton, Sariah!

Valentine's Day

2009-02-15T17:46:00.000-08:00

Mike and I celebrated Valentine's Day one day early. We had a babysitter Friday night so we went to TGI Fridays for dinner. A good friend told us about an internet deal, buy one entree, get one for FREE! It was such a great deal! For dessert, we went to DQ for a "cool treat." We picked up Ben and once he was asleep, the best part of the night began...We watched a two-part episode of Grey's Anatomy on-line. We love that show!!

When I woke-up Saturday morning, I had these beautiful roses, some chocolates and a card from Mike. I am head-over-heels in love with this wonderful man! He is so committed to everything that he does. He is a devoted husband and a terrific father! I love his sense of humor and his ability to make me smile whenever I need it. Mike is truly my best friend and I can't wait to spend eternity with him!

More Vacation Photos

2009-02-15T11:22:00.001-08:00

Ron and Maggie's Wedding

2009-02-08T13:22:00.000-08:00

Well, it happened...my little brother got married last Saturday! They met on a blind date set-up by my parents and it was love at first sight. I am so happy for them and it was great to be with the entire family!

Ben loved hanging out with all of his cousins and not just hanging out with mom ALL day long.

We went hiking a couple of times and played at the park and skate park. I loved being with family and enjoyed some "away" time.

Pictures of the Holidays

2009-01-17T15:43:00.000-08:00

The Holiday Season

2009-01-05T17:24:00.000-08:00

We had an incredible holiday season! To begin the story, Mike finished school a little early because his last final was cancelled due to a snow storm. We were able to hang-out together and decorate for Christmas. Ben was pretty good with the tree and we only had one "problem."
My parents decided to come spend Christmas with us in the cold. We really enjoyed having them here! Ben loved being able to be with them and not just see them on the web-cam. We played lots of games, watched movies, and enjoyed being with family.
Ben loved hearing the Christmas story, as told by Papa Lance with the props, opening his gifts and playing with his new toys.
We drove down to Indiana to see Jason and Leann and be there for their new little girl, Candice's blessing. It was fun to see them and the kids. Jason took us to his school and for a drive around Louisville, Kentucky. Since we were in Louisville, Mike and I wanted to go see an old Tuberculosis sanitorium that is called Waverly Hills. In the 1930s, this huge, 5-story hospital was a place where tons of patients with TB went to get treatment. Because there were so many deaths, this building has been known as one of the most haunted places on earth. It was private property, so we tried to get close enough to get good pictures of it. I loved it and it was quite creepy to see this place.
We rang in the new year with tinsel hats and smiles on. It was a great holiday season and it was great to have family around to celebrate with us!! Pictures to come!

Early Christmas Present!

2008-12-09T09:33:00.000-08:00

Mike and I have been shopping around for a new camera for about a year now in the hopes we would be able to afford one for Christmas this year. We have had our camera for about three years and it has been a pretty good one. However, when Ben started to do things we wanted to catch on film, the delay was too long to get anything. We finally chose the camera we wanted and tried to find the best deal. One night, we were on the internet and found the cheapest offer on it and it was too much to turn down!

Just a little silliness!

2008-11-23T18:52:00.000-08:00

Finally!!

2008-11-08T08:39:00.000-08:00

So, this week is finally over! Mike had his last final yesterday and we couldn't be happier! After the final, he went over to a friends house to play video games and unwind from the stress that all of them were feeling. Then, he came home from classes earlier than planned. We had tons of fun talking about the lack of plans for the next week. Ben was being babysat so we got to go on a date. We are looking forward to hanging out together all week and getting stuff done around the apartment.

Halloween and more! (Thanks Bonnie!!!!!!)

2008-11-07T20:35:00.000-08:00

2008-10-26T13:57:00.000-07:00

Ben and Daddy!!

So serious...

Ben LOVES to play in every kind of basket.

What a stinker...

Fall football!

I love this picture.

Ben fell on the metal bed frame...poor little guy.

Nothing like a boy in a bra!

All dressed up for church.

How adorable.

Peek-a-boo!

Our New Car

2008-09-20T22:21:00.001-07:00

We have been needing a new car for quite some time and "conditions were perfect." We went to test-drive it on Monday the 15th and actually drove it home. It is a '05 Ford Taurus and we really enjoy it.

Ben's 1 year pictures

2008-09-19T09:23:00.000-07:00

Heidi, a fellow podiatry wife, took Ben's pictures. She is so good and has an amazing talent. Ben did really well for her and it was SO much fun!

Ben's Birthday Party!

2008-08-31T12:17:00.001-07:00

Ben's pirate ship cake.
Ben and Adam Sabatini
Tally, Liberty, Madelyn, Drake, Emma
Pirate Ben
Treasure Hunt

The Rest of Summer

2008-08-31T11:51:00.000-07:00

This statue is from Ferris Bueller's Day Off.
On the train home from downtown.
Ben in his new Batman cape!
Going to the Bear's Family Night
Soldier Field

Bear Kisses!
Millenium Park, Downtown Chicago
The Bean, SUPERBEN!
He didn't like this much, obviously...
Who took this picture?

ID/WA trip...

2008-07-12T11:49:00.000-07:00

Our family picture Brad, Ben, Grant, Charlie and Cortnie
Eating COLDSTONE in Bremerton before the ferry to Sea-town
Space Needle in Seattle
Seattle Skyline from the ferry boat

ID trip '08

2008-06-30T10:35:00.000-07:00

Just a quick little break from driving. Ben needed to get out and enjoy the woods...
Ben got a little sun...

There was a certain void in our lives living in IL... Jack in the Box, here is a little guy time: Ben, Justin, Tim, and Mike
Ben and Uncle Tim

Ben being Ben

2008-06-21T21:20:00.001-07:00

Ben will climb on anything that is available.... here is proof!!
Ben and Mom swimming
Here is our boy showing off his manly physique
Here is Ben pulling out all his diapers, and all his baby whipes... and then jumping into the basket
This is Ben finally big enough to wear his tie shirt, his grandma bought him.

Orlando, FL trip...

2008-06-21T19:40:00.000-07:00

Here is the Shamu show, we really enjoyed this!

Donna's birthday pearl. At Seaworld you can pay to have divers dive and get oysters, and after you can pick which one you want and you get the pearl inside. Donna's was gold.

3D space show at Kennedy Space Center

Outside of our condo, Ben communicated with the wildlife

The grandparents and Ben in front of the Clyde and Seymour show at Seaworld
"A sweaty nap" Ben snoozing at the Shamu show in the scorching heat
After the nap, he really enjoyed the show

Here is Ben giving his cheesey smile to the camera

Seaworld Orlando, FL... IT WAS HOT!!!