Colorado bound

Joseph and I just found out that we're going to be doing his 4th year dental externship in Colorado! We're going to be living out of a suitcase for a month in an extended stay hotel in the Denver area, and we couldn't be more excited! I think Joseph is mostly excited for regular 9-5 hours. I'm excited for outings at the zoo, hikes (maybe?), museums, and all the other cool things that Denver has to offer. We leave the end of July and will be back in Iowa the end of August.

All this talk of 4th year externships means that (I'm about to state the obvious) we're almost 4th years (and yes, I do mean we.) It means that the end of our time in school is coming ever-closer and that light and the end of the tunnel is growing ever-brighter. It feels like the time has been going by so fast...but at the same time it seems like FOREVER ago that he was just starting dental school. I'm starting to get really excited for what the future has to offer.

Anyway, for those of you who may live/lived in/visited Denver, let me know the absolute MUSTS that should be on our list to do while we're there. We could use some pointers and insider tips. Yeehaw!! (Does Denver have cowboys? Probably not...)

For the Birds

A couple of weeks ago we found a bird's nest on top of our deck lights in the backyard. Call me crazy, but I was a little bit flattered. That mother bird thought that my house would be a perfect place to build a perfect little nest for her perfect little babies. *Sigh* A few days later it was filled with two little blue eggs. A little bit later, those eggs had hatched and there were two teeny tiny birds in the nest! I'm not gonna lie, they were pretty gross looking and I sort of wanted to throw up when saw them, but after that initial reaction I thought they were pretty cute (sort of like seeing your own baby for the first time...sort of.) Anyway, Jake was fascinated with the birds, and I thought this might be a good opportunity for him to get over his seemingly irrational fear of birds. I'm not sure it worked, but he liked seeing the mangled little things regardless.

Here he is holding part of the egg that had fallen out of the nest.

This, of course, means that spring is officially here, and we have LOVED the warmer weather. A friend of mine once noted that after going through an Iowa winter, you feel like you can go through anything. Instead of just appreciating the spring, you have a feeling of triumph. We did it! And we only have to do it ONE MORE TIME!!

Easter festivities...or lack thereof

Jake woke up with a fever on Saturday morning, so that put the kaibosh on our Easter festivities that were planned for the day. Instead of going to our church's Easter activity, we held our own activity at home.

We decided to decorate hard-boiled eggs (albeit without using dye...probably one of the smartest decisions I've made in a while) and commenced in one of our favorite Easter traditions introduced to us by the Andersons: Easter Wars. I know, it sounds like an oxy-moron, and the actual activity is much less brutal than it sounds. All that happens is that each person decorates their own hard-boiled egg and then you make a bracket. Two people hit their eggs against each other and whichever one doesn't crack advances to the next round. Since we had a grand total of three people competing in our egg wars, it lasted a total of 5 seconds and Joseph won. It was a little anti-climactic.

After our egg wars, Jake wanted to eat his egg, so we let him peel it. He kept telling us he was hatching his egg!

The next morning, Jake found his Easter basket (as well as Eli's for that matter) and enjoyed the goodies he got.

Even though Jake was sick, we still had a nice Easter spent as a family and are especially grateful for the meaning behind the festivities - the resurrection of our Savior. What a wonderful day!

P.S. Did you notice that Joseph got his braces off?? I often catch myself staring at his perfect smile. He is so handsome!!!

The dandelions in my life

Jake gave me a flower today for the first time. It was a dandelion. When he saw it, he ran into the middle of the yard and excitedly picked up just the head. "Look at this flower!" he exclaimed, "It's so beautiful!" Then he instructed me to smell it and, in so doing, also appreciate it's beauty. Then he sweetly handed it to me and said, "Here you go, mommy." It made my little heart melt. What was once an ugly weed that marred an otherwise perfectly green lawn suddenly became a beautiful flower that was worthy of appreciation. It will always be remembered as the first "flower" given to me by my child.

I'm not going to wax too philosophical on you, but this experience did make me stop and think about the "dandelions" in my life. I thought about things that at first glance may be weeds, but if looked at from another angle are actually beautiful flowers. I thought about the lack of sleep that I've been getting thanks to Eli's frequent night wakings. I've been pretty tired lately, and have been looking at this as a "weed." But if looked at another way, it is a beautiful flower in my life. Even though Eli wakes me up, I love that I am able to nurse him and have that time to hold my baby without any other distractions.

I also thought about how sometimes I get frustrated that I don't get to see Joseph very often between school, his job that makes him leave before I wake up, plasma donations (his other job) and did I mention school? Sometimes this "weed" can be pretty frustrating. But I'm so grateful for his willingness to work hard for our family. I wouldn't have it any other way. This "weed" in my life is actually a beautiful flower in that I have a husband who is a hard worker and does all he can to help our family.

So, in short, I guess you could say I've stopped and smelled the dandelions. (Ok, I guess I did wax a little philosophical on you.)

Conversations

These two boys are absolutely adorable these days. Eli's very favorite person in the world is Jake. You can tell because his face lights up big time whenever Jake is around! Eli coos and talks to Jake more than he does to anyone else.

The two boys have started having "conversations." Eli will often coo something at Jake, then Jake turns to me and asks, "Mommy, what did he say?" And then I make something up such as, "He said you have big muscles, Jake." Then Jake turns back to Eli and says, "I know, Eli," or something of the sort. And it goes back and forth like that for some time, with me making up all kinds of stories. I'm not sure if Jake actually thinks that I know "infantese" or if he knows that I just make it all up, but it's fun either way!

Cute baby!

When Jake saw that I was taking pictures of Eli he promptly decided he needed to be a part of it!

These pictures reminded me of this picture I took almost three years ago of Jake right when we moved to Iowa. Time is flying!!

You're afraid of what??

Jake was quietly sitting in his chair with his nose in a book the other day when suddenly he stopped, looked up, and exclaimed, "I'm afraid of birds!" Joseph and I were a little taken aback, and didn't know quite how to respond seeing as he's never said anything like this before. We thought maybe we heard him wrong, so we responded, "You're afraid of what?" And he repeated, "I'm afraid of birds. Birds will eat me." I wasn't exactly sure where this all came from, but I tried to explain to him that birds only eat bugs and berries, not people. As much as I try to tell him that birds are friendly and don't bite, he seems to think otherwise. One day when we were trying to leave the house, he stopped cold on our front step. I tried to get him to move his little tush, but he wouldn't budge. I couldn't grab him and carry him since I had my hands full with Eli's carrier and diaper bag, so I just had to pursuade him to follow me. Then a big flock of birds from the bush outside our house raced passed us and Jake stood frozen and wide-eyed. All of a sudden it dawned on me. OH! He's probably afraid of the birds in front of our house. He probably thinks they'll run into him. Either way, I'll let him tell you about it:
P.S. This was the second take. During the first one I had to keep telling Jake to get his hands out of his pants. Boys...

Rebuked

My sister gave me a stern talkin' to today. I was told over and over again, "Angela, you NEED to update your blog!! I need to see your babies!" Even if no one else cares, my sister is dying to see my two chunks, so, see them you shall.

I wish I had more exciting things to blog about, but I suppose I'm in a little bit of a rut lately. Actually, that's a copout. It's not that things haven't happened. In fact, LOTS of blogworthy activities have occurred. We went to the Wisconsin Dells over Spring Break again, Joseph turned 28 (Happy Birthday, babe, love you!) I signed up Jake for preschool, and Eli is growing like a weed. In all actuality, the reason that I haven't been up to speed with my blog is that I'm simply embarrassed that I haven't taken pictures of any of these events. And, let's all be honest here, no one comes to my blog to hear my ramblings. You all want PICTURES!

So, consider myself rebuked. Also, if anyone feels the need to buy me a nice, beautiful, new camera for my birthday, I won't stop you. My birthday is in August. You can start saving right now. Just a thought. :)

Until then, or at least until the batteries in my camera are charged, a grainy picture taken on Joseph's iPod will have to do.

Thanks, Abby, for the matching pajamas, the boys love them!! And, I promise I will update again sooner than later. You have my word (get it? like blogging words? ok, that was lame...)