top 100 things I am most THANKFUL for..not really in any particular order:)

1. The blessing of life and every new day i get to live
2. For Jesus Christ, his perfect example and endless love
3. For a husband that loves me and supports me in all my endeavors
4. To know with every fiber of my being that I have a Father in Heaven who loves me
5. For my beautiful, strong, intelligent boys
6. To be part of a wonderful family
7. For my great health & the physical ability to enjoy the things I love and cherish
8. To live in this great country, and for all those who have sacrificed their lives and time to keep it free
9. For the beauty that covers our world, and for finding it in places often least expected
10. To have a roof over the heads of me and my family
11. To have a wonderful mother who showed me the power of love through example
12. To have a car, hot water, electricity among others for luxury
13. For my Religion and the burning fire of truth in my chest that i feel continually
14. For opportunities of serving others and for the blessing of being the hands of god
15. For kind faces and kind hearts in all the places we have ventured
16. For knowing the comfort of being a daddy's little girl
17. That my children go to bed each night with a full belly
18. To have been taught how to work hard, and enjoy it
19. To be educated
20. For a hardworking and incredibly intelligent husband who willingly provides for our family
21. For the great outdoors, for its impeccable beauty
22. for modern medicine and innovation
23. for music and all those talented people who share their wonderful gift
24. For the loves i get  everyday from my babies
25. and for the blessing of being able to give my children love everyday
26. for the trials that i have overcome thus far and for the strength i have gained from them
27. for the scriptures, for the things i learn from them and for the things im able to teach my boys from them
28. That my children try, even though they are so young, to do the right things everyday
29. To watch Brig grow as a big brother & for his helpfulness
30. To see the love my boys have for each other, they are best friends
31. To have married into a family thats full of love
32. For great friends who often feel a lot like family
33. For people who have entered my life at just the right times and have blessed it immensely
34. For temples and having my family mine forever
35. to watch my children continually cross developmental milestones
36.  for being able to enjoy art and express myself through it
37. Being able to hear my boys giggle together
38. to know my place in this life
39. For the major and the everyday miracles
40. for dates with my man and dates with my boys
41. for the precious moments and heart to hearts i get to now have with brig
42. for an abundance of good healthy food
43. for a warm home and to sleep comfortably each night
44. to live in a safe area and peace of mind
45. to be guided by the holy ghost
46. for parents that taught me strong values
47. for my determination and stubbornness (i have found it can be a good thing:))
48. for the holidays and the overwhelming spirit i feel
49. that seth has been so blessed and guided through his schooling
50. for the miracle of life
51. for my siblings, especially sisters to understand and support me
52. for the goosebumps i get when i hear the national anthem or say the pledge of alegence
53. that my boys have insanely curly baby hair
54. for snow and its pure beauty
55. for warm clothes and hot cocoa during the long winter season:)
56. to have parents and siblings that love and support me as a mother
57. for restaurants and the ability to have a break once in a while from nightly dinner duties
58. to know the love and overwhelming joy of watching my children sleep peacefully
59. that my hubsy once in a great while gives into my spontaneity
60. that my boys still need me and rely on me
61. for pictures and the ability to capture memories, moments and expressions
62. for the good that lies in every heart
63. that becoming a mommy has made me try every second of everyday to be a better person
64. that fresh air and a good run clear my mind and recharges my soul
65. for a curious three year old who understands far more than he should:)
66. for the smell of my children after their nightly bath
67. for the occasional night Gray snuggles us goodnight
68. hearing little voices all day call for me
69. to have had the best grandparents in the whole world
70. for a sweet husband that rubs my back endlessly
71. for Christmas lights and their beautiful glow
72. that my boys have great friends in their lives
73. that i was taught young to love and care for animals
74. that Gray loves and sings "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" all day everyday
75. that my boys admire and can never get enough of their Daddy
76. for baby tooth smiles and crinkled noses
77. for little hands to hold
78. for strong arms that hold me tight
79. that my children love their grandparents
80.That brig requests"away in a manger" to be sung to him when he has a bad dream and cant sleep
81. for vacations and being able to witness the unique beauty throughout the world
82. That seth is so helpful despite being insanely busy with school and church callings
83. for my testimony of Prayer
84. For humor and the healing that comes from a good laugh
85. For bright fall leaves and crisp air
86. that family has helped us survive medical school and its demands
87. to stay home with my boys rather than work and be away from them
89. that Gray loves animals (esp dogs) as much as I do
90. For binkis, snuggles, and fluffies
91. for big brown eyes of two little boys that seem as though they see through to my soul
92. that my children and husband love me despite my many many short comings
93. for our Heavenly Fathers continually watchful care over my family
94. for contagious giggles
95. for old friends who always leave a smile on my face
96. For the American Flag and my patriotism
97. to have grown up in one of the most beautiful places on earth
98. that Gray runs to me for a quick hug to make everything all better
99. to never feel alone and to know I really never am
100. for this season and for a full heart..and belly:)

craziness

the boys after a great night or trick-or-treating

So to say the least the last couple of weeks have flown by and have seemed to be insanely CRAZY! It all started monday before halloween when Brig came down with CROUP:( if any of you have ever experienced this it is NOT fun and very scary! He went to bed monday night with a very mild runny nose and I was thinking great here we go starting the cold season already.  Only at 1:30 he woke up screaming.. (or at least trying to scream). I ran into his room thinking he had just had a bad dream and not wanting him to wake up Gravy i lugged him into the kitchen to calm him down. He was caughing, and what seemed like gagging, and couldnt catch his breath. Unable to calm him down and knowing something was up I ran to wake up Seth. (for his expertise of course!) First look and sound of Brig and he knew right away he had croup. So the rest of the night was completely sleepless. We kept Brig in with us so we could listen to him and make sure we didnt need to take him to the ER. This is possibly the first time i have actually thought hey! Medical school is starting to pay off!  Since Seth knew what he had right from the get-go we were able to make an appointment with his pediatrician first thing the next morning and get him started on steroids. It was amazing how fast they helped him! by wed he no longer had a fever or cough and was only winded while playing. We were lucky to have caught it early because Croup can last for up to TWO weeks!
Seth has just finished applying to several residency programs! yay! funny how we thought applying to medical school was expensive and a pain, only to find out that applying for residencies is possibly even worse:) He also started another internal med rotation and has been on call one-two nights a week which basically means twice a week he is working a 34+ hour shift besides his usual 12 hr days and board study. Poor guy, he is exhausted all the time yet still somehow manages to juggle his church calling, family and school like a pro.  we love and appreciate you babe!
This week both boys apparently thought it would be great to throw me a curve ball and completely change schedules. Brig has completely given up naps..even though im quite sure most days he could still use one! Gray has also decided to forgo his second nap but rather than just taking one REALLY GOOD one he takes one small 45 minute nap and cries and whinnes the rest the day..it really is oh so fun:) Here is to hoping he comes around to enjoying a good long midday nap!
This last Tuesday seth was on call so me and the boys thought we would run dinner down to him and see him for a couple minutes. Great idea right? WRONG! a couple keys points to focus on..1-the unmc campus is truely quite large. 2- i was carrying a purse, Gray, and a bag of dinner for seth.
on to the story..we pull into the parking garage and finally find a spot a couple levels above where we were going to meet Seth. When entering the doors to where the elevators are Brig ran in while an elderly lady was exiting so i propped the door open with my foot for her. Looking beyond the sweet little lady i see Brig anxious to see his daddy run into the open elevator. Before i could run to it it had closed with my poor little Brig locked inside...screaming at the top of his little lungs! not knowing if it had gone up or down i kept pushing the button hoping he would just stay on it until it got back to the floor i was on..but no no..that would have been too easy! seeing he had gotten out but still being able to hear him screaming i decided to go down hoping to find Seth quickly so he could help. when i reached the first floor i quickly found Seth but could no longer hear brig. Im not sure which is worse..hearing your small child crying and distraught or in this situation no longer being able to hear him? my first thoughts were great he has wandered far enough from the elevators that i cant hear him or someone has taken him. (i know way to be pessimistic but at an inner city hospital you just never know) Seth contacted security and i jumped back in the elevator and started checking each floor. luckily i decided to go down first and after just a few floors i found him in the basement wrapped around the leg of some random lady that was calling security.  Its amazing how so much can happen in such a small amount of time, this seemed like forever but in all reality it was maybe 15-20 minutes. I cant imagine having to endure the feelings i had for those short couple of minutes for days, months or years like some familys have . Its also funny how something so small yet dramatic can put a reality check on our perspective and priority's. Im so grateful that he was safe and unharmed. Best thing about this event is i dont think i will have to nag Brig any more about staying by me when we are out and about:)

our month away

During the month of September Seth did a cardiology rotation in Provo. Seth has a sister that lives there with her family so he stayed with them and me and the boys kinda were back and forth between there and wyo. Since Provo is just a couple hours from my parents house we were able to spend lots of time there with them, and enjoyed lots and lots of outdoors:) I never realize how much i miss it back in the mountains until i get to go back. Then Seth pretty much has to drag me away and back to real life. Something about it gives me a sense of freedom and clarity, its just very refreshing.. maybe its all the space and quiet you can easily find, maybe its the breathtaking views and sights everywhere you go, all i know is that i love it..its a definite part of who i am. here are a few pics to share of our adventures..we had such a blast, and Brig is already asking several times a day when we get to go back:) He is my boy!!

 The boys with stephy lou! she is such a fun and amazing aunt, they both love her to death.

 papa helping brig shoot the 22, he loves shooting guns

 Me shooting the hubs Russian moisan (used in WW ll), its a pretty sweet gun, he is obsessed with it! not gonna lie I was nervous that it was gonna knock me on my rear but it barely kicks! so fun!

 eating up every minute of being a big boy:)

 getting ready for a short hike with the boys, steph and grandma & papa..what a fun day

 horse riding with papa

 More hiking

 typical picture and expressions:)

 Me with my boys enjoying an evening of throwing rocks in the river..pretty much their favorite activity!

 throwing rocks into a fountain at our favorite Utah park with cousin Wyatt.

 Gray's birthday! Brig and Wyatt opened all the presents:) it was pretty cute

 enjoying his birthday cake, well at least the icing!

 Brig not minding for one bit Gray having a birthday:)

 covered & sticky..

 Brig being the goober he is!

 Ever been so exhausted you fall asleep sitting up? My boys do this a lot..its pretty funny. this is brig at Seth's sisters in Provo

 Back in Omaha, the boys playing on there jeep. Its just a one seater and Gray refuses to let brig have all the fun so he sits on the back of the seat. Dont worry we walk along side to make sure he doesn't take a tumble:) maybe one day well upgrade to a bigger one so they can both play in it..more safely..

 you can see brigs foot behind the jeep, he is not pushing Gray he is trying to stop him because gray took off in it, he did pretty good actually stearing and everything. you can see by the face he is pulling he thought it was pretty dang funny!

 My Dad got this puppy for Gray for his birthday because Gray is completely obsessed with animals, especially dogs! Only living in a rental and moving a billion times makes having a real dog out of the question, so this is the next best thing. He absolutely loves this puppy, when he is sad he will go to his crib and try to grab it and pull it through the bars. its precious.  If i get it out of his bed for him he hardly puts it down and its almost his size:)

 see he is in love, he either sleeps like this or directly on top of the pup

 Buried in the corn pit at Valas pumpkin patch. When we got home I changed Gray and found at least a full cup of corn in his diaper:) Usually this place is so over crowded its completely obnoxious but this year we planned it perfect! Seth got done early one Thursday so we went around noon, school was still in and later that evening was a husker game. if you know anything about Nebraskans you know that NO ONE misses a husker game so  nobody came for the shot time between after school and the game. We had the place mostly to our selves..IT WAS AMAZING! and yes we made it back in time for the game, if you know my hubs your probably laughing out loud right now:) He is an insane husker fan!

 Brig buried, he sat buried for at least an hour, he couldn't get over how funny it was. Such a silly boy

Picking their pumpkin during a hay rack ride

one year ago today...

OUR BABY GRAY WAS BORN! I cant believe he is one already. He is such a blessing to each of us, he is always smiling and is catching on to everything brig does very quickly:) I am so blessed to have such a beautiful family, and to have such wonderful little boys! LOVE YOU GRAVY! HAPPY BIRTHDAY LITTLE MAN!

pictures soon to come:) ...

another clump of catch up!

There is never enough time in a day during the summer so needless to say our family blog takes the blunt of the neglect.  Which is a good thing, i couldnt say much for myself as a wife and mother if i put this blog before playing with my children, fixing food, and cleaning our house top to bottom multiple times a day! Nevertheless, every once in a while it feels good to fill our family and friends in on the little events that go on daily.

First off id like to say...i cant remember the last time i saw toilet paper in a roll that didn't look like this, no wonder my house always feels like a disaster:)

This is the destruction of one 11 month old Gray, who crawls like all curious babies from one mess to another.  The funny part of this is I am never the one to re roll all that toilet paper..Brig is! Not because i ask him too but because he was blessed with my same OCD and cannot stand things a mess. needless to say i cant wait till he is bigger to fix all grays other messes:)

This happened a while ago but i keep forgetting to post it! Here is Gray swimming in the backyard. And yes that brown goo IS bird poop!! he had no idea what had happened..

But because everyone was looking at him and laughing HE thought he was pretty funny!

Visiting KC seths sister and her family took us to a Jurassic restaurant, the boys thought it was pretty neat!

 

FOr all of those who have forgotten I am incredibly sentimental. Not a pack rat or hoarder by any means but definitely sentimental.  Our baby was recalled and so i took a picture of the boys in their crib before we took it down and traded it in.

This one is Gray by his teeth marks:)

Gray and Flynn playing in a splash pad here on the Omaha river front

 

And finally.....

What happens when its 110 degree, miserably humid and you have the craving for some outdoor family time? you pack up dinner for a bonfire by the river, bring lots of water and bug spray, and hope for a breeze or at least clouds.

When neither a breeze or clouds come to the rescue.. you head home after an hour with two boys sick with hand,foot and mouth disease!!! j/k they did both oddly end up getting the sickness but not from the heat:)

Notice how nice and shinny they are? yeah it was hot, and miserable..but somehow still fun. Probably cause I am blessed with the best family ever:)

 

Seth is always dying to go back to Albania for the food. He continually goes on and on and on about how good it was. So when the Greek festival was going on here in here in Omaha we hit it up to see if it compared.  And like always he was completely disappointed! maybe one day we will find Greek food that actually is authentic. Brig chose to get his face painted like spiderman..obviously:) he thought he was the BOMB! and so did all the other kids that saw his face, which really helped the ego..ha

 

And just because they are too cute...

June Madness..

June came and went and i hardly felt its presence. ever have that feeling? Its like time is flying so fast with so much going on that i didnt even take time to savor it.  Not that there is much to savor about 100 degrees with 65+ humidity:). its been so long ill just start at the top...and prepare yourself....there are more than a ton of pics below!  this month started off with a crazy keiser family reunion in Navuoo Illinois. we spent just a couple days there seeing the sights. Family drove through on there way to my bro in laws dental school graduation so we got to see them for  split second which was nice.  Gray mastered crawling in the right direction (forward) and is already walking along furniture and standing on his own. so proud of that sweet baby! Brig is still saying the funniest things ever and amazing me with how smart he is. he now knows articles of faith 1-5 &8! Me and the boys spent a weekend in Iowa city with Brooke and Flynner then they came here for the remainder of the week to play while her hubby was gone fishing.  Our crib got recalled so we have been in  a mad scramble trying to find one we liked for a price we can afford before we have to turn ours back in..call me sentimental but it makes me so sad to give up my boys crib..there are lots of memories centered around that little hunk of defective wood! we celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary as well. I love looking back through life's journey. Seeing all the joys, heartache, excitement, trials and how much we have grown. I feel as though from the outside people might thing i haven't accomplished much but in reality i have what most spend there whole lives dreaming and wishing for. A family with more love in it than i ever could of imagined. My hubby is my very best friend, not in the mushy sense but in fact. there is no one i confide in, rely on, laugh more with, or love more than him. He supports and encourages my dreams..even better he works to make them a reality. The last five years have brought so many changes both in us and in the world we knew, i cant wait to see what comes in the next five..ten..twenty..! Seth got a week study break for boards! it was heavenly because he is not taking his boards this summer and has opted to take them over a holiday break this winter..sssooo...we had lots of much needed daddy play time. OUR BOYS WERE ON CLOUD NINE! its so fun to watch their faces when they wake up on mornings when seth is home, its shock-excitement-confusion-and sleepy eyes all meshed into two chubby little faces..its priceless:)

i am the worst at picking a few pictures to post.the more the merrier i say! plus pictures say so much more than words..

 

Brig and Flynn on the jungle bridge in the zoo

 

Gray eating his binki clip and enjoying a walk at the lake

B 

Naked Cuties

 

Gray taking advantage of Brigs nap and playing on the forbidden hip-pity hop:)

 

baby loves are the best, and Brig gets a hundred times more than anyone! lucky boy!

 

Brig does this all day long at the pool. he is always cold in the water so this is how he warms up. its in and out in and out playing then looking for dry warm spots. im just glad he hasnt heard the joke about peeing to make warm water!

 

this is what i get when i say brig smile...goof ball..

 

10 min water break! brigs lays down to get warm, Gray refuses to stay out

 

Fishing! (nothing like fishing the mid west!) caught nothing but blue gill but it was fun to be out as a family 

 

Yummy babe at the foreigner/stix/kansas concert

Brig trying to keep Gray from eating grass

 

Brig and his crush

 

i love these pictures..my boys are beautiful!. looking into their innocent eyes and smiling faces reminds me everyday of the things that are truly important in this life. I am so grateful for them and that i am lucky enough to be their mommy