Hello all! Although I am not sure who is left of the "all". I'm pretty sure most of you have given up hope of me being an avid blogger. I'm sure I'll come back around. We've been trying to keep busy around here. Makes the time go faster. I do have some pictures of our recent activities and will work on getting them on here. So in the meantime I thought I'd update "everyone" on our little family-
DAVID-
He's been pretty busy with work, fighting a war and all. Things can get pretty intense over there in Afghanistan. Fortunately, we have great communication options. He got a cell phone and just keeps getting calling cards so that we can chat. We try to limit phone time, since the minutes can add up pretty quick. We usually just call to tell each other to get on the computer. They have computers set up (much like going to the library, where you wait in line)that have the internet. He can usually jump online once a day. We chat through AOL Instant Messenger and he keeps in contact with friends and family on Facebook. One of the computers also has a web cam so we have been "skyping". Malia LOVES seeing her papa! David does have his own laptop and we considered signing up the internet, but it is expensive and slow. Although he may have to wait in line to get on a computer, at least it's free! He loves getting mail, so if anyone needs his address, just let me know! We still aren't sure when his leave will be, maybe January, February or March. Gotta love the Army!
AMANDA-
I miss my husband something fierce! I am trying to keep busy. Fortunately I have two great kids that do just that for me! I am also subbing in Western Dubuque again. I have been mostly subbing at the middle school in Farley. My sister lives right behind the school, so I get to come home for lunch. I don't sub a whole lot, but enough to remind me I still love teaching without getting burnt out. Plus, loving the fact I don't have to plan or grade! My calling at church is also keeping me busy...Roadshow Director! We perform in November and things are coming along well. I also joined Weight Watcher's and have lost 14 lbs so far. Trying to work out more and have discovered the stability ball. Lots of fun. I love being near my family right now. They have been super supportive and have helped me out a lot, especially with watching the kids. Thanks all! I do wish there was a way to be in Arizona and Iowa at the same time! I would love to go visit our family in AZ and am hoping to stay there after David's leave until he gets home for good. I've also been having some seemingly gallbladder issues. I say seemingly because I have had all of the symptoms of gallbladder attacks, yet all of my tests came back negative. My doctor says it could be a "false negative" and says he could still remove my gallbladder, but that terrifies me. Although the pain is not fun, I have a hard time getting an organ cut out when I don't have something definitive telling me that is actually the problem. Other than that, life is good. I am super excited for the holidays and love being with my babies. I love and miss my man SOOO much, but am beyond proud of him and all of his hard work and sacrifice.
MALIA-
Where to begin with this girl? SHE CRACKS ME UP!!! She has a lot of spunk and definitely plays the part of "drama queen" well... no idea where she gets that from! Lately she starts every morning by eating a carrot. For real! She has me peel a whole carrot and just starts gnawing on it. I fear she might start turning orange! She is really into "Dumbo" or "Jumbo" as she says. I found myself humming the songs today while subbing, needless to say we've watched it a "few" times. She is also slowly getting into the whole "princess" scene. Malia is a great older sister and loves to help out with Abram. She loves reading, counting, singing and jumping on or off of anything. She loves nursery at church and often begs mid week to go to church. She also LOVES going to Britt's house and gets mad when Britt and I decide to take a break and have the kids spend a day a part. She loves cooking and recently helped me make cookies to send to David. Often throughout the day she will talk about David. Any picture she draws is set aside to "send to my papa". Yesterday she noticed a piece of plastic that had broken off in the car and insisted that we were going to "send it to papa to fix it". She misses him so much and talks about him all the time, but is a stinker when it comes to talking to him on the phone. She does better with the web cam. She is SUPER excited for Halloween and reminds me several times a day that she is going to be a purple butterfly. I love her SO much and love that some of the faces she pulls remind me of David! And being she pulls faces quite often, I have a constant reminder of her papa!
ABRAM-
I love, Love, LOVE this little boy! He is such a cuddle bug! He reminds me a lot of Malia. His smile is so infectious. We found out he is allergic to milk, eggs and nuts. I stopped breastfeeding him because he kept breaking out in hives. I kept trying to cut different things out of my diet, but the hives kept coming. Little did I know I had to cut ALL of those out! He's now on soy formula and doing well. He has now cut two teeth and it just adds to his little grin. He sits up really well and is getting better about just sitting and playing without screaming his fool head off. Going through a bit of separation anxiety of late, but nothing too bad. He LOVES Malia and just laughs and laughs at her crazy antics. Even though he is only 7 months we've moved him into 12 month clothes. I was going to have him be a lion for Halloween but I accidentally dried the costume and ruined the mane! Working on other ideas. He also loves gnawing on carrots! Apparently I am the mother of little bunnies! He is loving the fruit and veggies he has tried. He especially love the mashed up avocado we fed him the other day. He still isn't sleeping through the night. Some days are better than others, but I am definitely looking forward to some real sleep! All in all, he is a great little boy and I am so grateful in our lives!
So there you have it. The Matas in a nutshell. Well given the length of my ramblings, a bit more than a nutshell. I'll work on getting more pictures up. Should be easier now that I finally got the router to work. Before I had to be on the computer in my room, where there is no TV. May sound weird but unless I have the distraction of the TV going, I don't like to sit at the computer very long. With the other computer being near my bed, the prospect of sleeping is way more appealing than sitting at the computer! Now of course I am sitting up WAY too late but at least I am FINALLY posting!
Here is Malia helping make some oatmeal raisin cookies to send to papa...
I am so happy my ward is collecting things for his unit. I strongly encourage others to do something for servicemen in your area. The holiday season will be especially tough for them having to be away from family and friends. I am so grateful for all of their sacrifices and service. If anyone would like David's address, just let me know. They crave mail!
Jump, Jump!
Sorry not the best picture. This was from our ward activity on the 10th. For those of you in the area you have probably heard of the "Taste of Dubuque". Well, they did a "Taste of Dubuque Ward". Lots of fun! Britt and I did a table called "Soup-er Sisters". We made four different kinds of soups: Harvest Bisque, Baked Potato, Smokey Black Bean, and Split Pea and Ham. They were a hit! We didn't win any prizes but got lots of compliments, especially on Britt's Bisque and my Smoky Black Bean. The whole night was lots of fun. There were 16 tables with lots of great food and themes. You just moved from table to table sampling the goods. One of the winners was a sister in our ward who is Mexican and made horchata, tamales, etc. Yum! Some people got super creative with their decor also. Good times had by all.
Here they are working hard...Not sure what Mali is doing with the salt and pepper shakers...and believe me when I tell you I TRY to contain Malia's hair, she just prefers the "grudge" look...
Engineer Nathan checking things out...
A costume preview... Abram had a super cute lion costume that I accidentially put in the dryer and ruined the mane... so we had this adorable puppy costume...its a bit big but it'll do...
Apparently Abram has something to say... 
Say Ahhhhh......
Malia and her strollers! The girls LOVES pushing around strollers. She also loves her hats. I have great aspirations to learn how to crochet well enough to maker her more hats...
