HEEEELLLLLPPPPPPPPP!!!!!!!!!

So, I've run out of ideas on what to feed my boys (excluding Robert). They only want to eat hotdogs, mac-n-cheese, pizza (pepperoni for Adam, sausage for Matt), pb & honey, and that's it. Not even nuggets entice them much anymore. I'm a bit fed-up and unmotivated to cook anything nice. I figure why go to all the effort when they won't eat it and will just complain. So, this is my call for help and any ideas.

"I don't need no stinkin' diapers...."

That's exactly what Matt told me today. For the past two nights, he has worn underwear to bed, and stayed dry. He has been potty-trained for about six months now. For the past 3-4 months he's been wanting to sleep in underwear. We've let him a few times, but he hasn't been successful until this weekend. Sometimes he'd get so mad that we made him wear a pull-up to bed. So, today, I asked him if he needs any more diapers, and he said, with a sneer, "I don't need no stinkin' diapers". I love his independent spirit.

How Does Her Garden Grow?

Last week we finished planting our garden. We've got lettuce, green beans, carrots, green onions, tomatoes, jalapenos, cantaloupe, and watermelon. The boys and I were watering it early today and noticed that everything has sprouted. We're very excited! The boys are especially anxious to eat the melons. Adam said he's not going to eat the vegetables but it's still fun to grow them.

Cute pics of the boys

Ahhh, brotherly love. Matt looks like a young Elton John.

Helping Robert put together our new chairs.

Hooray for Adam

We had an appt. with Adam's OCD doctor yesterday. He doesn't have anymore rituals/compulsions. He's really worked hard to not listen to "Mr. Worry". Now, we'll just go down for checkups every month or two. Yay, it feels like a big relief to finally arrive at this point. Good job, Adam!

I Spoke Too Soon

Yesterday, in my post, I said nothing too exciting has happened in 2008. Well, I spoke too soon. This morning Robert was put in the bishopric as the 2nd counselor. Whoops--I should have kept my mouth shut. He was called at 9:30 this morning; church starts at 10am. So, we were a little shell-shocked during Sacrament mtg. The entire bishopric was redone. It's a fun coincidence that all three of us wives served together in the primary presidency a couple of years ago. So, we're all good friends. This will be a great opportunity for Robert.

11 Years and Counting. . . .

This is the most current photo we have of Robert and I together. It's weird--all of our pictures are of the boys. Go figure. Oh well, at least the picture includes his true loves--his family and the University of Kansas. (Adam took the photo.)

Aren't they cute?

Today, May 17th, is our anniversary. We were married 11 years ago in the Logan Temple. Sad to say, but I don't have any wedding pictures on disc or computer because there weren't digital cameras back then. Here's a list of our most fun and exciting happenings for each year.

1997--We got married! And, started Law School in Omaha(however, that was more tortuous than fun)

1998--Heidi went back to school to finish up her B.S. in Public Health.

1999--This year was spent studying.

2000--We graduated! We moved back to Kansas City. Heidi started working for KU Med
Center. We traveled to Miami, Connecticut (Derek and Alexis' wedding), and Phoenix.

2001--Robert passed the Bar!! We went to Branson to celebrate.

2002--We finally decided to have a baby. Adam was born November 21st. We traveled to
Oregon and Arizona for brothers' weddings.

2003--Robert started working for Kansas Legal Services (he still works for them). We moved to
Emporia, KS.

2004--We traveled to Miami and Snowbird, UT. We got pregnant with second child.

2005--Matthew was born June 18th. We served in a Spanish branch. We moved to Garden
City, KS.

2006--We traveled to Miami and Snowbird. . .again. We bought a minivan.

2007--Adam started preschool. We bought our first house. Robert was promoted to be the
managing attorney for southwest Kansas.

2008--We're still waiting for something exciting to happen this year.

I think my memory is fading because I had a hard time remembering what happened each year. I'll blame that on parenthood. We've had a wonderful time being married and having a family. Robert is a real catch. I love that he isn't pretentious and doesn't have an ego. He's just a real, down to earth, kind man. I love him lots!

Adam's Last Day of School

Here's Adam--ready for his last day of preschool. He's pretty sad about it. He says he will miss his teacher, Ms. Janine Funk, and his friends a lot. He's been finding out which elementary schools they'll be attending to see if any will be at his new school. I told him one bonus of not having any more school is he will be able to sleep in 'til 9am. He thought that was pretty cool.

Preschool Graduation

Adam had his Preschool Graduation on Wednesday evening. It was really cute. The kids sang a bunch of songs and did a little presentation. They all looked cute in their caps and gowns.

Weekend Trip

We went up to Kansas City and Leavenworth for a few days over the weekend. We hadn't gone anywhere since New Years. Since we're so isolated here, it's kind of like living on an island. Instead of being surrounded by water, we're surrounded by amber waves of grain. It's such an ordeal to go anywhere from here, because of distance, time, cost, etc. So, it's was really nice to get away. As the photos show, we went to Lawrence (home of KU) to see the national championship trophy. We told the boys we were going to Mecca to do our pilgrimage, and that we would have to walk around Allen Fieldhouse seven times. They believed us. The entire weekend they were calling Lawrence--"Mecca".

We also did some (alot) shopping. We bought a new dining set----finally! We got a solid birch table with six chairs. The table is what I love about the set. It's a square with a drop leaf on each side. So, the leaves on opposite sides can be raised to make it oval, or all of the leaves can be raised and it makes a circle. I've always wanted a round table. I'm so glad to be done with our "Kmart" table. We got it five years ago, in a roundabout way. We moved into a new apt. right before Adam was born. As a special, the apt. complex gave us a DVD/VCR combo. We already had one, so they said we could take it back. So, we did and we got a dining set instead. However, since we got it for a "Kmart" price, we got "Kmart" quality. Two of the four chairs are broken and the finish on the tabletop is pretty destroyed. We also bought a new coffeetable. It's round, too, with wood inlay on top. It was initially priced at $300 but the people who bought it never picked it up, so it went to clearance, and we got it for $60. I love a bargain!

Lately I've been thinking the world is going to end on January 1st. I know that's dramatic statement, but I've just felt I have to get all of my food and other storage all ready by the end of the year. I feel that's all the time I have and if it's not done by then, I'm doomed. So, while in Leavenworth, I made a trip to ALDI--the best discount grocery store. It's discount because they don't have any displays and they only carry the top 1200 selling products. I spent about $230 on canned goods, flour, sugar, boxed goods, etc. Now it's sitting in my laundry room while I try to figure out where to put it. However, even though it's a lot of food, if that's all we had to eat, it would be gone in 2-3 months. I think I'm getting a little obsessive about it (now you can see where Adam gets his OCD). Today I was at Walgreens and they had raisins on clearance--so I bought 18 boxes.

So, I think that sums up our weekend. Oh, the boys were very cute on Mother's Day. They gave me a notebook and a sign for the dishwasher that says "dirty/clean", and they made cards with LOTS of stickers. We did see a good movie--"what happens in vegas"--very funny.

Kansas in the Spring

Last night we had our first big hailstorm of the season. The hail came down for about 30 minutes and as the pictures show, there was alot. There aren't too many places that have such powerful storms as out here on the Plains. You really haven't experienced Kansas until you've lived here during May and June, when we get huge storms and lots of tornados. So, to all my new friends that moved here this winter--Welcome to Kansas. Last Fall, the Discovery Channel (I think) had a show called "Storm Chasers". It was about storm chasers here in western Kansas and all the storms they chased getting footage of tornados, including the Greensburg tornado last May, that obliterated the town. Greensburg is about 70 miles east of here. It was really interesting watching the show and all the storms they filmed. A bit scary, too, thinking, "that's where we live".

The Love of a 5-Year Old

While in the car yesterday, Adam said, "I love you, Mom. I'm so glad Heavenly Father and Jesus sent me to you".
Me--"You are? Thank you--that's so sweet. Why are you glad Heavenly Father sent you to me?"
Adam--"Because you take me to McDonald's".