Can't Believe I Forgot about THIS One

Yet another one...of Brandon the funny man.

Just in case you ever wondered what he did on the side lines...while he waits to go back in.

And a story about Ethan. We went to the doctor today becuase I have strep throat. Awesome. Anyway, our doctor is really cool and she saw us in the hallway as we were following the nurse to our room. The boys know this place really well. The whole family goes there. The doctor is really animated with the kids which I love, and she loudly exclaimed, "did you guys get your treats yet???" They get treats no matter why they are there. If they get shots, they get like double the treats, it is so great. There is a huge drawer filled with goodies and toys. Ethan and Brandon were with me but Ethan started going crazy when they opened it up. The whole office even the waiting room was aware that this little boy was getting "GUMMY BEARS!!!!!" and "MOOT NAKS!!!!" It was a little embarassing but mostly funny. The doctor and nurses were very entertained. As are most of the staff wherever we go publicly lately. We have decided that Ethan, due to the fact that he is the youngest we are guessing, is the LOUDEST child we have. My mom always says there is something about little boys....

Art Work

MY VALENTINE! Love this boy....Brandon. Love the other two as well though.

This is an example of his constant effort to spell his name perfectly. He was upset about this one due to the fact that he forgot the N but it shows how he has learned this year. Two months ago he could not do his name at all.

This is Brandon's family portait, we love it. Notice mom (me) in the middle with "gill hair"

Tyler brings these home once each day. In any free time at school he makes these tribute papers to LeBron James.

Caving and Basketball

Brian and Ethan Dad and the boys entering the cave

Tyler

Brandon and his friend Braiden

Tyler and his friend Blaine

Tyler and Brian playing at the last practice

So Brian's sister and her boyfriend John are on missions for our church. He is in Paraguay and she is in Missouri. I am writing them once a week and I think I will just paste those letters here and it will be like a journal for me. I like to tell them funny stories that I can think of that happen with the boys because they were around so much before they left...

To my two favorite Missionaries!
Hi kids, thanks for all your letters. You should see me eyes how they are so glued to the screen when I read your letters. I am SO interested in the exciting things you are doing! Things sound great for both of you I am so glad. I hope this next week brings more good things while you teach!
Things here are good. Ethan and I just returned from one of our walks that we like to do in the mornings if we can and it was soooo cold! Probably not as cold as Missouri but colder than it was last Monday for sure. We had to cut it short cause Ethan was so cold. I was ok, but I wasn't sitting in a stroller either!
This past weekend we went searching for some caves that we saw in a hiking book that we have. The boys were really excited, we went out just south of Bend to some caves called, Skeleton Cave, Boyd cave and Lava River Cave. Some are closed until May and the others were cool.....except it's hard to see into a cave when you don' bring any flashlights! Duh! Well, we are planning to go back next week with some light, headlamps etc. Ethan was really funny though, I don't know if we would have gotten very far because he was scared to be in there. He was so funny saying "we gotta get outta here guys!" "I'm too scared!" I don't know if we will get any farther next week if we bring him! It was fun. The weather has been beautiful here. It was warmer last week but this weekend and now starting this week are colder again. I am ready for some warmer weather but John, that sounds hot and sticky! Sounds a lot like Brian in Guatemala actually. He didn't need shaving cream to shave I remember. Cold showers too. He'll have to write you in a bit. I am sure it all sounds familiar to him.
I can't believe no one really works there! Hmm. Sounds like some Americans I've met! I am glad those two families sound promising. Cathryn, haven't heard from you yet today but hope all those contacts are positive ones.
Not much else is happening around here. Boys are doing well in school, Ethan is getting old and so are Brian and I! Brian's still in young men's and I am still in Relief Society.
Well, I am going to attatch some photos. Some are of Brandon's art work and writings. He is ALWAYS getting out papers and pens and drawing and writing. He didn't even know the whole alphabet before preschool this year and now he is spelling words. Mostly his name. That took a while to learn for him but he's got it now. Tyler is reading great and doing well in math too. I am still teaching PE for Tyler's first grade class once or twice a week just as a volunteer it's nuts. So many kids! It's fun though.
Take Care this week! Love you guys!
~Marnae

Here are some funny videos...


Above is Brandon Dribbling

Above here is the "Under Pass"

This is Brandon guarding his best. The beginning

is him more than the end of this little clip.

Hug your Kids a Little Tighter

You will not believe your eyes when you read this blog. This all just happened in the last two weeks and it's all true. I don't even know this family but their story had an impact on me and I wanted to share it with you...I found it on my friend Chiara's blog.
Look at how many comments they have. People all over the country have heard about this in such a short time. It is truly amazing and has so many great messages. One of the comments I read was a person who had been doubting even the existance of a God. After the last two weeks of following this story, that person has gone back to church and has a true testimony of God and his workings among us all.
http://stakerzxposed.blogspot.com/2010_02_01_archive.html start here, read up till you get to here
http://www.stakerzxposed.blogspot.com/ end here

Something that I forgot I wanted to write about to remember later is the fact that our boys are very concerned about the people in Haiti and want to know all about earthquakes. I think they think we are next. Let's hope not. I kind of would like to just adopt like 10 orphans from there if I could!
They also pray for Brian's younger sister Cathryn and her boyfriend John who are on missions for our church. It is really cute. Something else I wanted to remember is how Tyler was a little "8 is great" meeting with other kids his age to talk about turning 8 and getting baptized for church. He was so funny, he would raise his hand and answer every question practically. He really know a lot about the gospel! I think it's mostly due to the fact that he has always had a stellar sunday school named "Sister Platt" or as Brandon calls her "Sister Flatt".

Not a whole lot of exciting things to update. This time of year can be difficult! The sun does not shine as much, it is cold, and the Holidays are over! So we have to find things to keep busy. Hot tubbing is always a favorite.

Cute Ethan.....well he's cute when he's not crying or screaming or getting mad these days.

Tyler playing basketball. The boys have really enjoyed playing, this is their first year.

Brandon playing....he is funny as always.

Ethan keeping busy with various stunts all over the countertops.

He refused to take his jacket off this day.

Making homemade pizza! You can't really see them but we are using mini pepperonis. They are perfect for this. So cute.

And that is about all we've been up to!