Dance Recital

Elizabeth and Cierra had their spring dance recital. They both did an amazing job. Elizabeth did a ballet and a tap routine. She was nervous but pulled it all off fantastically. Cierra got sick as we pulled up to the school for the dress rehearsal but was able to make it through the recital and ended up being fine. We think she just got overheated. Andi did their hair... they are both so beautiful...

Trampoline

So the Easter bunny brought a trampoline for us. He said he hid it in the garage during the winter to make his basket lighter. We never even noticed it amongst all the other stuff. The girls have not gotten off of it since.

Easter

The typical Easter weekend. We colored eggs on Friday night, looked for eggs and baskets on Saturday and went to church on Sunday. It was a good weekend.

Rylee and Brown's Syndrome

Yesterday Rylee was finally officially diagnosed with Brown's Syndrome in her left eye. In a nutshell it is a condition that affects the mobility of the muscle attached to the top of the eyeball (there are four muscles attached to the eye, Brown's only affects the top one). You can see the affect perfectly in the picture we captured last fall. When Rylee tries to look far to the right or extreme upward her left eye goes down and to the right and when looking up it stays midline while her right eye looks where she intended it to. After several different doctors and appointments and lots of waiting, we finally were connected with Dr Gamm, a pediatric opthamologist in Madison. He is just absolutely wonderful and we fell in love with him right away. His knowledge on the topic far surpassed any doctor we had seen thus far or internet research that we were able to do. He was able to do the first fully complete eye exam on Rylee - her vision is fine. There are lots of variables and other little bits to the story but basically, Dr Gamm will follow Rylee for the next 1 1/2 years and if there is no change or her condition worsens she will have surgery in summer 2010 to help alleviate some of the tightness that muscle has - allowing her left eye to work the way it should. We are so happy to finally have some real and good answers.

4 Teeth PULLED!

Elizabeth had to have her four bottom teeth pulled out today - to make room for her permanent teeth. The dentist called it "wiggled out" but it didn't take her long to know that it was the same. Over winter break she came to us and said she had teeth growing in but her front ones weren't loose. Sure enough her baby teeth were still completely intact and her permanent teeth were coming quite a bit behind them. Elizabeth wasn't too thrilled about her new growth until Uncle Judd told her she was like a shark - then she loved it!

Previous to the procedure she was pretty nervous but afterward said she did not feel a thing. Daddy's blessing helped a great deal. One dose of motrin and she was fine - even eating popcorn that night and school the next day.

Brooke turns 1 year old

We celebrated Brooklyn's first birthday today. Hard to believe but true. Brooke's personality is really taking shape and she is such a joy to have around. We are so fortunate to have her with us everyday (OK, her Mom and Dad too!). She has been walking for 2 months now and picked up basic sign language in a couple of days. Brooke mimmics just about everything you do and makes us laugh every single day. In the last couple of weeks she has grown more attached to me and recognizes me by name - which I just love so much. I just have to say, she is still the CUTEST GRANDBABY IN THE WHOLE WORLD!

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.

Our baby is growing up - - too fast

Rylee moved into a toddler bed today. We let her help set it up and pick out her sheet set in hopes that she would take to it well. She cried a little the first nap but ever since has loved it. She still hasn't fully realized that she can get up whenever she wants. I have found her several times awake just sitting in her bed. She is just so cute isn't she?

SLEDDING

Sledding over Christmas break was great. It got warm enough for all of our snow to melt half way through our time off together so we only got out once but had soooooo much fun. Elizabeth did everything by herself, Cierra liked to go down with Daddy, and Rylee just kept saying, "Elizabeth like it, Cierra like it, Daddy like, Rylee no like it." I have to give her credit, she did try once and I accidently kicked a bunch of spray up in her face - no more after that. She did love being outside; just refused to get on another sled. Once Cierra and Matt went down and then started going up a mound of plowed snow. Cierra was at the tip of the sled so when Matt stopped at the end, she just plopped over the little hill. At first alarmed we quickly were relieved to hear nonstop giggling. It was a great day in the snow.

We are potty training

Yes, we are potty training. Elizabeth received a Baby Alive potty training doll for Christmas. She is so excited but I have to admit the little one is a little creepy. She talks and tells you not to forget to wipe!

Christmas Day

This year we spent Christmas Day at home. It was a special treat for the kids to be able to open their presents and then play with them. We were able to just spend time with them and each other. It was a great day.

Christmas Eve

We spent Christmas Eve day with Matt's sister and family along with Grandma and Grandpa.  It was nice to have all 11 grandchildren playing together.  It didn't take long and batman was getting a ride from my little pony!  Despite the cold, snowy weather it was well worth the trip.  It can not be said enough how happy we are that the Nicholsons are so close.

Matt is a Master

Matt graduated with his masters degree from Western Illinois University today. His degree is in law enforcement administration. We are so proud of him. Unfortunately my sister, Ronna, got married at the same time and the girls and Andi were in the wedding so we were not able to watch Matt walk. Nick went with him for support and Grandma and Grandpa met them there. We were all supposed to meet up later at the reception but the weather did not permit. It was a long day for all and although for the day Matt was overshadowed, none of us felt that way in our hearts. We are all so proud of the work he has done - WAY TO GO!

Snow Storm

We woke up to 9 inches of snow today with another 4 to fall during the day. School was off

and the girls were excited. Rylee wanted to go out so badly - she would not take no for an answer. I got them bundled and off they went. It was all good until Rylee's boot came off. Nick was quick to the rescue.