We are Moving!

Sorry for the blogging absence! We are moving back to Mesa, Arizona the Monday after General Conference. So, we have been packing and organizing and cleaning out and....I am feeling a bit overwhelmed, so I probably won't be blogging again until we are in Arizona. I will have a lot to post!

Disco Bowling!

So, what do you do in Seattle when you drive all the way to Daddy's work to have a picnic in the park on a Friday night and the sky starts spitting at you? You go Bowling!Dusty usually works in Bellevue on Wednesdays and I am in Young Womens, so we do the Kimball hand off. However due to all the doctor's appointments, Dusty was there on a Friday! So, we were going to play at an awesome park...we were at the park near our house with play group for 3 hours enjoying a "no temperature" day with a cool breeze. But, during Kimball's nap things turned cloudy!
Kimball LOVED the change of plans! He was adorable at the bowling alley. He would cheer for his ball jumping up and down shouting, "Go! Go! Go!" as it teetered down the lane at about 4 mph. I did pretty well! I had two spares and a strike...and a ball that got away from and flew backwards! Pretty good for the prego lady!

"Kimball Doggy!"

Kimball likes to pretend he is a doggy! He will crawl on the floor and bark. He tries to itch his ears with his foot (unsuccessfully). He likes to cuddle with me and have me scratch his back like a dog. I can coax him to come to me when I call, "Come here, Kimball doggy!" I love his little imagination!
However, I always catch him trying to get away with drinking from the dog's water bowl and this is where I draw the line! I now have to put bowls of water on the floor and give him special "dog food" (cereal)...is there such a thing as buying into your child's pretend world a little too much? Hmmm...

Shark Towel

Let the nesting begin! After cleaning my house top to bottom, I started to clean out the laundry room and found the supplies for this project I have been wanting to create for awhile. I saw one of these in a magazine and have wanted to make one ever since. I found a great tutorial for a bear hooded towel at: http://makeitandloveit.blogspot.com/2009/07/bear-hooded-towel.html
I used it as a "pattern" modifying it as I went. I am pretty happy with the results! I am amazed that I actually could complete this on my own. I am glad that I made the inside of the mouth red to keep the unfinished edge hidden. I'm not sure how the lady who created the tutorial dealt with that problem. Of course being 2, Kimball refuses to pose in his new towel!

My Ball Quilt

Okay bloggers, I need input!!! So, this is the lay out I am thinking of going with for Kimball's ball quilt. Do you think I should move any of the squares around? (The squares at the top have (L-R) baseballs, soccer balls, and football helmets). Do you think I need cornerstone pieces for the quilt? I would use these small blue squares.Which Border should I use? Blue, Yellow, BlueOr Yellow, Blue, Blue? Should I use the light blue with the dark blue circles or the checkered blue with balls on it for the border? I used the checkered blue for the cornerstone pieces, or would that be too busy? Can you tell how excited Kimball is for this to be done? He calls it, "My Kilt!" and I could hardly keep him off of it to take these pictures!

12 Egg Omelet

We went to Beth's Cafe in Seattle with Bryce, Kristina and their girls. On the show, "Man vs. Food" the host eats the famous 12 egg omelet served on a bed of hash browns and two pieces of toast... so our men decided they would try and eat it too! Here they are before they began to eat...And this is how they did!I was amazed at how much Dusty ate! His omelet was stuffed with chili, salsa, and cheese. Yumm-o!I must say I had Dusty's left overs for breakfast the next day (about 10 bites) and it was mighty tasty!

Thanks for the support!

We have had a scary past few weeks. Dusty suddenly went unconscious at work and was taken by the paramedics to the ER. I frantically tried to find someone to watch Kimball, so I could go and be with him. Kelly, thank you so much for taking him all day at the last minute! We were at the ER from 9 am until 3 pm. They did all kinds of tests on Dusty...EKG, Cat scan, Spinal Tap...It felt a little like being a patient on the show, "House." They could not figure out what was wrong with him. He was sent home on bed rest for the next few days. The next week, Dusty followed up with a neurologist....nothing...and finally a cardiologist...who told him he needs to reduce his stress! That is going to take a little working out!

Thanks for all of the prayers and offers of help in the past little while! I don't know what we would have done without our "ward family!" The above picture is what my sweet husband brought home with him to thank me for all of the treks up and down the stairs to ensure he was pumped with food and fluids...I wish I could send one to each of you in thanks too!

My Boys

So, Dusty decided it was time to shave his head and "match" Kimball. What do you think?I still cannot believe he actually let Kimball use the clippers on his head! Here is the difference in their hair colors!I married such a handsome man, but I will miss his curls!

Kimball's first Baseball Game!

We went to the Mariner's vs. Yankees Game at Safeco Field (The D-Backs came while we were at Jessie's wedding). Kimball was entranced with watching real life baseball. He entertained everyone around us. They were amused at all of his comments and yelling (I guess he takes after me and my Mom!). I guess it is unusual for a 2 year old to be that into a game! Kimball loves all of the baseball cards he received at the game. He loved singing his rendtion of "Take me out to the Ball Game!" and of course the ballpark hot dog!
We have been watching baseball non-stop ever since! Kimball has loved the Little League World Series on ESPN...at least there is a lot of action and it isn't a pitching dual like in the major leagues. I think he already has the superstition of a lucky shirt...because he hasn't let me take it off him for 3 days straight! Here is a little peek at all the entertaining he was doing!

It's a...

BOY!!!

Dusty is greatly relieved that the ultrasound today revealed "boy parts." He isn't worried about having a little girl wrap him around her little finger...he is worried about having a teenage daughter. Although I am still hoping to have a daughter one day, I am glad that Kimball will have a little brother to play ball with one day. They can camp in the backyard together and share the bunk beds that currently occupy Kimball's room. I am also excited because Holly (my sister) is having a boy in September and these two little boys will only be 2 months apart. Dallas' little boy will also be sandwiched between two boy cousins. So, I think we are pretty excited for another little boy!

Jesse and Brittany's Wedding

I can't believe my little brother is married! I still remember him as a little boy climbing into bed with me because he had a nightmare. I remember him practicing jazz squares at three in the arcadia door as I cleaned it. I loved watching him play catcher on his baseball team and cheering him on in lacrosse. He did it! He married "The One!"The wedding was beautiful! Kimball loved running around and dancing with his cousins...his partners in crime! Kimball loved to hold Jesse's arm (see top picture)! My sister Holly is due in October and we compared prego bellies. Next to her, I just look fat! It was an outdoor reception and we were graced with a "cool" August night. I guess 90 is cool in Arizona! I was still dying of heat! It was fun to see so many of the adults that made such a big difference and my life and it was sad to think that this is my family's last wedding...so I may not see many of them again! For those of you who want a glimpse of the professional pictures, paste this into your browser (there is an adorable one of Kimball!) http://madsenphoto.blogspot.com/2009/08/jesse-and-brittney-married.html

Arizona in August

The first week in August, we went home to Arizona for my little brother's wedding. Of course, we lived in the pool the whole time we were there!Kimball loved getting into his "mailbox" at Grandma's house!We went to one of the high school pools and got in for only $2.50 for both of us! Kimball had a blast with Grandpa in the lazy river.He also loved Grandma or Kylie catching him at the bottom of the slide. The whirlpool with all of the cousins was a highlight. Thanks for inviting us Katie!Kimball loved singing happy birthday to Corbin (and blowing out his candles for him!).But the highlight was sword fighting with his cousin and swimming together in Grandma's pool!We are so excited for Jesse's wedding this weekend.

Rachel's Birthday

Rachel is one of Kimball's favorite friends! She just turned 3! Kimball calls her princess Rachel and any time he sees one of the Disney princesses he says her name! I think Kimball thinks that she is Sleeping Beauty because he always asks to go over to her house...and I always tell him she is sleeping. He was so excited when we pulled up to her house! He started shouting, "Rachel, wake-up! Rachel, wake-up!" The above picture was taken at mutual. Since Rachel's Mom, Kristina, is in the Young Women's Presidency with me, they both often end up at mutual on Wednesday nights. I am so glad that they play so well together. Even though it was the hottest day of the year, Rachel had a great party! The kids played with the parachute and slid on the slip and slide. The kids had a blast playing outside, while the adults tried to stay in the shade! The cars were a favorite!Rachel's smart Mommy made pudding cups instead of cupcakes so she didn't have to turn on the oven. Kimball has been begging for pudding ever since!!! Thanks for being such a great friend Rachel!

Keepin' Cool

It has been HOT here in Seattle, so we have stayed inside. While this has not been great for our attempts to teach Kimball that the couch is NOT a jungle gym, it has helped me get some project done. I finished the drapes for Kimball's room. I bought the black out liner with my 50% off coupon from Jo-Ann's and the fabric is "left over" from Kimball's quilt (I had planned to use it as the back, but I learned that flannel is more durable). Anyway, here are the results. If I made them again, I think that I would have used this busy fabric as a band on the bottom of the curtain. Anyway, I am definitely getting braver with my sewing machine! I didn't even have a pattern for this project!We have also loved having our "refugees" visit for the air conditioning we have on at our house! Kimball has thought it is heaven having so many friends come over! Kimball and I joined the Stephens at the Cedar River one evening for a little fun. I was amazed at how cool it was by the water. Kimball and Kaylin loved playing with the sand toys in the river water.

Birthday Fun!

I had the best birthday this year! A group of my friends took me to lunch for my birthday. It was fun to have some adult conversation as our kids ran a "little" wild at the restaurant. Dusty returned from his leadership retreat about 2 pm and we got to spend the rest of the day together. It was babysitting co-op night, so Kimball was thrilled to go to Brooklyn's house! We had the most amazing prime rib at "The Keg." Then, we watched a chick flick at the movies. It was fun to be with Dusty without having to be "Mommy!" Dusty gave me the most beautiful hand made jewelry that he picked up at his retreat at Salish Lodge. Thanks for all of the birthday wishes and calls/texts/facebook messages! They made me feel so loved!

PS. I have no idea why my posts the past few days have been blank...I rewrote them, so feel free to scroll down!! Don't miss the picture of Kimball watering the tomatoes. It is adorable. He is in his favorite pajamas. I have to take the bottoms off so that they don't get dirty and then coax him out of the top by the time we leave for play group or the store!