Why hello there, are you still there?

EPIC FAIL. I hate that saying. I hate it even more when it is used to "summarize" the way a parable ended in a sunday school lesson. Epic fail? REALLY?? My ears were burning with the wretched noise of fingernails on a chalkboard after that one.

But, that has basically summed up my lack of blogging. EPIC FAIL. Rest assured, I am hopefully going to be more consistent. Ha! You, if you still even read my blog, are saying," Ya, everyone says that, we'll see." At least my personal journal isn't lacking like this is.

The last 6 plus months have been interesting I guess. We moved back to the infamous Rexburg Idaho area, actually to Rigby. It was an ok experience, but our apartment definitely was not the best. No insulation + -20 degree weather= A really high utility bill. And, that was with the heaters on only when it was necessary. Long story short, we found a really great place closer to school, and went for it. It is great! And, just for personal, identity purposes, that is all I can say. But we love it.
We were able to bring our dearly beloved doggy with us, and things were great, but we ultimately decided, that being students, in an apartment, with 2 young kiddos that cannot go outside when the weather is horrible, that we would let our favoritest sister in utah, extended "babysit" our dear doggy. She has an 11 year old son, who is absolutely loving him! I miss that huge monster, but I know he is where he should be, getting all the attention he deserves. Speaking of that monster though, he did just have to have surgery on his foot on friday, to remove some sticker/splinter/thorn type things stuck in his foot. Poor puppy.
Life has been great regardless! Jon is back in school, and loves his major. He has officially completed 1 whole year! YAY! But, only about 3 to go. Boo. It has been good being back in this silly town, because I know I am not a newbie, and that feels good. We have been just enjoying each other. We go on a bike ride every single night that it is decent lately, which is about 3-4 times a week. This last weekend though, it was in the 80s!! So, we spent basically all weekend out in the sun. Oops. Natalie and I have a little more color now, and if you were to have seen us on friday, we were matching Mommy & Daughter lobsters. I did find the sunscreen though, so we survived.
Matthew is so much fun. He is definitely 2 1/2 though. He has his moments of terrible twos. He is my wonderful, funny, smart boy, and I love him so much. He has been battling a couple of his own health issues again, with his milk protein allergy. He had a hard time for about 9 months gaining weight. Finally, we found a non dairy, non soy, high calorie drink that he has been using for almost 3 months now. In the 8 weeks he used the drink he gained 4 pounds!!! That is a lot after being 26 pounds for almost a year. We however, saw another provider in his pediatricians office, which was not fully informed, and told us: "He's doing great! He can have dairy, and be taken off the drink!" We were pretty skeptical. But we gave it a week anyways. And within that week, I was in the pediatricians office, almost losing it, because Matthew was miserable. He lost 2 pounds in a week, and it was completely obvious that he is still allergic to dairy! Long story short, we have been recommended to an allergist: FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And his testing is being done on Wednesday. If he does not react to the food panel, he is being recommended to do all the testing for Celiacs Disease. That is some pretty heavy stuff for us, and I hope we get some answers.
Natalie is2sdfffdxsedxcxxx55tt54. Well, that sums it up. Little snot got on my computer while I walked away for I don't know, 20 seconds? Yes, daughter, you're sitting right next to me, and I am typing these words: You are my Roo number 2, for sure. I love this sweet girl. I love the age between 1 year to 18 months. Such a personality. She is a lover and not a fireball, like her brother. She likes to give kisses, and hugs, and sing to me, all of the time. I usually start a tune, and she keeps it going. She weighs more than 20 pounds now, and is about 5 inches shorter than her brother. She is in the 90% for her height. She is starting to say lots of words, and even little sentences. For instance, when in Sacrament meeting this morning she of course had her turn at the bread. We were in the front row, and when they walked away, she stands up, turns backwards towards the congregation, and signs/says "WANT MORE B" And it was not a friendly, loving request. She kept saying it, and screaming it, but to no avail. We had left the chapel before she threw herself on the floor in a tantrum.
A quick 2 stories, and then I will leave this long winded post. First: Easter Sunday was fun, and long for us. Natalie and Matthew would not go to bed, and we finally decided to let them play. They were having fun, but started playing between their bedroom door. Of course, Matthew was trying to keep her out, and Natalie put her hand in the joints of the door. And, we'll just leave it there. I have seen a broken bone now! And, I about puked when I did. Natalie fractured her right pinky. JUST LIKE MOMMY. he he. Jon and I couldn't help but laugh, because we have to see the irony, that at least one of our children have to have a disfigured finger like their mother. It is still not healing properly, and swollen all of the time. Little snot, knows how to get the tape off, and the pediatrician refuses to cast it to heal. "Babies are really hard to cast, and they hate it."
Second, Matthew had his first lesson in shoplifting. Wow, that sounds a lot worse than it was. He was being a pest, and took some stuff off of the jewelry counter at Walmart yesterday. We promptly found them in the cart when we were packing stuff into the car, and Jon took him into the store right up to customer service. He was really sad, and he sniffled, with his head down and said to the cashier," I'm Sorry, I take this." And they were pretty good about and talked to him about taking things without paying for them. At one point in the conversation, the worker asked if they needed to get the manager, and he said,"No." Well, for being honest, they gave him some candy, and said you can only have it if you never do that again.
We are still up in arms about rewarding a child for taking something, because I know he's 2, and probably doesn't understand the entire ordeal. But, we are glad he knows to "buy it and then put it in a bag" and that " Only Mommy's and Daddy's get to put things in the cart." Jon and I laughed about it later. Our two kiddos keep us on our toes.
Congrats for making it to the end, I promise pictures later tonight or tomorrow.