Catch of the Day

My mom and Chris spent all last week fishing up in Minnesota. Luckies! Hopefully next year David and I will get to join them. While they were there they purchased this huge net. Apparently it is necessary for the kind of fishing they do up there. I can't wait. Until next summer it will just have to catch some cute girls and grandma!

Malia's 3rd Birthday

Malia's birthday was quite the day. We planned to celebrate her birthday on the 9th along with Britt's kids. Nora turned 2 on 7/26, Malia 3 on 8/9 and Nathan 4 on 8/13. We ended up having the party at mom's on short notice which worked out better with the weather. We got hit with storm after storm! Water everywhere. The Hayes Family almost didn't get to join us because Epworth got hit so bad. Nonetheless, the party went on. We were also lucky to be joined by my high school friend, Heather Brown and some of her family. I think the kids had a great time and the weather only added to the fun!

We threw around a few themes for the party and ultimately decided on Sponge Bob. I know, no mother's favorite. At the same time, he's gender neutral and for some sick reason the kids love him....



Here's the birthday girl, right before the party...



The studly Abram...



The 3 Birthday Kids...not so sure what Mali was grumpy about...



The storms got pretty nasty for a bit there...a little basement time just as a precaution...



An added bonus from all the rain... GUSANOS (Spanish for worms)...



Hanging out in the garage...Georgia, Heather, and Britt...



Celebrating Mexican style with a Sponge Bob pinata...



Grandpa taking charge at the grill...



Mali opening presents. She got some great things... Thanks all!



All the kiddos enjoying the grub...hot dogs, of course!



"Happy Birthday Dear Malia, Nathan, and Nora...."



Malia and Nathan loving the Sponge Bob's that came with the cake...



What to do for fun? Why gather all of the gusanos! Malia loves worms. Strange.



Finally, Sponge Bob tattoos...the kids loved them...


All in all a good day. We even got to hear from David! Malia sure does miss her papa. She misses all of her other cousins too. This week is Jocy's kids' birthdays- Tony and Alex turn two and Gabriel turns three. Wish we could be there!

Nicole's Wedding

Here are some pictures from my cousin Nicole's wedding two weeks ago. My camera has been acting up lately, so it's taken some work to get these loaded. Nonetheless...

One of Abram's new tricks...combing through Mali's hair with his fingers!



The Newlyweds first dance...



Malia at the reception. We were passing the doors of the cultural hall and she says, "I hear something!" Quite the detective!



Sisters serving up cake... my aunt Deanne, Susanne, and Mom...



Here's the happy couple...



Abram digging on the decorations...



Celebrating Grandpa's birthday before the reception at Famous Dave's. I dare say Malia is following in her grandpa's footsteps... thoroughly enjoying her grub...



This was Malia's demeanor the entire trip to Cedar Falls, such a pleasure sometimes. My poor cousin Mari got a front row seat...

Abram

I can usually get him to laugh much more than this! Rough night. Oh, well. This will give David a glimpse at our little man's laugh.

Malia

The Update

Well, hello blogging world! Yes we are alive and doing well. We've had a rough couple of weeks, but we keep trudging along. We have finally settled into my mom's house in Iowa. It only took me 2 1/2 weeks to unpack!



Abram has had the roughest time. Before David even left Abram kept breaking out in hives, from a suspected milk allergy. Because his skin was "compromised" already from the multiple hive breakouts, it made him more susceptible to various strains of bacteria, thus the impetigo break out.... That was even one of his better pictures. It has healed beautifully and you can't even tell he had such horrible sores. Earlier this week he was diagnosed with infantile asthma (aren't I the kind mother, passing on my finer traits?). He takes breathing treatments three times a day and is getting a steroid boost to clear things up. No fun!



Malia on the other hand, is the picture of health. Tomorrow is her third birthday! I can't even believe it. She is such a great little girl. She has her moments, as all do, but I am so grateful to have her in my life. She has mastered the tricycle and rides it whenever she can. She has not, however, mastered dressing appropriately for the weather!



Here are the kids playing in the sandbox together...Good times!

Well, I hear stirrings and I fear the blissful moments we call naptime are coming to an end....