NICK & WICKED

Nick took me to wicked for my birthday. No you didn't do the math wrong, nor did you forget. It is a belated birthday present as I was in Utah on my birthday and we just around to going now. Nick had already gone with Kelsey last year and had talked about it non stop. I fell in love with the story and knew all the songs before we went - anyone who spent any time with Nick for the first 3 months after he went the first time would have as that is all he talked about or listened to. We went to the Ford Theatre in downtown Chicago. It was cold -11 but so wonderful. I will cherish that night forever. It was definately in my top ten of all time best memories. I will remember walking the wrong way to find PotBellies and getting so cold we couldn't feel our fingers; Alphaba's courage; those amazing voices; Nick and my great conversation; our contest seeing who could gauge a 1/2 mile the best - I won by the way; not realizing that the gentleman that I asked to take our picture had a crippled hand so bad he could hardly hold the camera - he did a fabulous job; the lady at the parking garage who accused me of standing in a blob vs a line; and Nick screaming, "MOM, WATCH OUT!" while slamming on the brakes after I fell asleep in the last 10 miles from home (it was well after 1am) and then laughing the rest of the way home while my heart finally found the strength to beat again.

I am not sure what I did to deserve such a great birthday year but I need to find out as it was the greatest for sure. (OK the pic of me is soooooo bad but is all I had so I am cherishing it as it will help me remember our night).

Update

Hello everyone,
For those of you that actually went to our blog after getting our holiday card, I thought it would be nice to get some additional info on our family. Matt is loving being the chief at UW Whitewater and it fits well with our family life. He just graduated with his master's degree from Western Illinois University - we couldn't be prouder of him. Andi, Jimmy and Brooke have been living with us in our basement since last March. We finished the basement in February and they moved in right away. It has been nice having them so close, and most days we enjoy being together. Jimmy and Nick are both working at Arrow Financial where they are debt collectors. Jimmy works full time and Nick part time. Nick is also going to school at UWW for business management. Elizabeth, 6, is in all day kindergarten. She likes it but misses home too - she is often torn as to where she wants to be. I am fortunate enough to be able to volunteer at her school once a week and that has helped. Otherwise she is doing karate, dance and her latest "homeschooling" Rylee. Cierra, 4, is doing extremely well in speech therapy. She has actually met all her goals set in her IEP from last June and will be setting new ones this next week. She loves to have some alone time while Elizabeth is gone - something that shocked us. They have a little power struggle as to who will be the leader once they are together again. Cierra is also in dance and has library club once a week. She is thriving in both. Rylee, 2, has recovered fine from the dog bite that occurred back in March. She is still loving and loves to snuggle but is learning how to wrestle as good as the older girls. Rylee just graduated from to a toddler bed and loves her independence - especially between 5:30 and 6:00 am!
I am the keeper of the zoo and then some days am in the zoo with the rest of them. I am grateful to have the opportunity to have all my children in one house again. I know it will not last long so am trying to enjoy the precious moments and watch them grow closer to each other. Sometimes I become anxious about the crowded cupboards and closets and the never ending pile of dishes and clutter but when I allow myself to remember that those things are just things, I cherish the time together.
Love to you all - Dana

Relief Society President

At first I felt weird putting this on my blog but after talking to my best friend she helped me rethink it. I was called as relief society president of our ward about a month ago. It has been a great blessing in our lives. It is rough at times to schedule all that has to be done - especially with Matt as elders quorum president but we are doing all we can and leaving the rest to the Lord. My blog is not always up to date and my house is often not as tidy as I want it to be but we try hard everyday to do all things - some days are better than others. I have felt so blessed to have watched Andi, Jimmy and Nick help us more and more as they see necesary as we are pulled away for church meetings and such. The entire experience has helped me be closer to my family and appreciate them all the more.