Family Update

I just wanted to update everyone on what everyone has been up to. We loved having Jerry's parents come visit us a few weekends ago. I'm just kicking myself that I didn't take any pictures while they were here, what is wrong with me. The kids loved playing and hanging out with grandma and grandpa. We love it when family comes to visit. We sure do miss all of our family. Well, Jerry is busy working 2nd shift, doing test flight. He enjoys playing basketball at church and Soccer and the YMCA on the weekends. I am 30 weeks pregnant now and really starting to realize how quickly this baby is coming. I am very excited to be done being pregnant, I'm at the can't sleep or get comfortable stage. I guess it is good training to get me ready for all the sleepless midnight feedings. We are struggling to find the right name for this little girl, which is making me anxious. I wish we could just find that one right name and have some idea of what she might be named. Usually one of us feels strongly about at least a few names, but we both just feel ok about certain names, nothing sticking out. I know it will come to us, I just wish it was sooner then later.

Kate loves to go to preschool, she loves singing and playing on the playground. It's been really good for her to have another outlet to do something. She also is having a blast playing soccer with her friend Bella at the YMCA. She is on the orange team. The coaches are great with the kids, they asked the kids what they should call themselves and one yelled out Giraffes. So Kate is on the Orange Giraffes team, which consist of 5 girls and 2 boys. It's fun to watch all the kids try to chase the ball and most of the time kick in the wrong goal. It just goes with their age group, you can't expect to much. They are just there to have fun and run around. It's been really great for Kate to get some of that extra energy out. I love soccer game days, because after soccer I give the kids a bath and they are so ready for bed, it makes for an early night. Kate does really well at kicking the ball, she really seems to enjoy herself.

Caleb is growing up fast. He just turned 16 months. He is the cutest boy. I love is personality. Everyday my husband and I look at each other and say he is just so funny. Just the facial expressions and the things he does. He is now starting to talk a little. He says ball, Da Da, and dog dog, and Sadie. That's right he hasn't started to say ma ma, which frustrates me, but who can compete with daddy and the dog. He loves shoes, he will ask me to put his shoes on every morning. He loves to put on Kate's dress up girly shoes, and daddy's soccer shoes, and mommies High heals. Caleb love his blanket, I thought it was his Binky that soothed him but I was wrong. Last week as church my friend took him while I did singing time, he had his Binky, but she asked me if I had his blanket with me, and I said yes. As soon as I gave it to her he calm down. He can't sleep without it, I've tried other blankets it doesn't work. I really hope this blanket hold up for a while. Caleb loves to kick the ball all around the house, and chase the dog. He is such a good eater. He eat twice as much as Kate does. He went to the doctor yesterday and we weighted 22 pounds and I am not sure about his heights . The doctor said he looks great. Well that is just a few of the update I want to write down so I wouldn't forget.

Alligator Hunting

Jerry went with some friends from work to Lake Eufalua to go alligator hunting, at night. He said he caught and Alligator within the first hour of hunting, but since they only had a permit to keep one, they decide to let it go. They wanted to keep looking and not stop so soon into hunting. The first Alligator was 8 feet. About and hour and a half later they ended up catching a 11 foot alligator but there was trouble with the line and it got away. So Jerry went home empty handed the first weekend of hunting. The next weekend they had better luck, about half way through the night on the very last night to hunt they caught a 6 foot 9 inch alligator. Jerry was very excited, I got to watch the footage he taped and he seem to be having a great time. It was quite the adventure.

I'm back!

We finally had to give in an buy a new laptop. All are attempt to revive are old computer was a bust. So I know, I know I have a lot to catch up on and Iwill fill you in on every last detail. It's funny how everyone thinks I blog way to much and gives me a hard time, but the moment I can't everyone is asking me to hurry up and update. Can't win. Anyways look for updates coming soon

Labor day Weekend!

We had and awesome time this past labor day weekend. Jerry's Sister and her family came down to our house for a visit. It was a jammed packed weekend full of tons of fun. We ended up taking a trip to Atlanta to visit the zoo and the Aquarium all in one day. I know, I know your probably thinking we were nuts for trying with 3 smaller children, but it end up being just fine. We had a few melt downs around lunch but that was to be expected. The Kids loved to see all the fish and loved petting the sting rays. Caleb's favorite part of the day by far was the petting zoo. He made me a little nervous, he had no fear and got right up in the pigs and goats faces. It didn't seem to phase the animals, after a whole day of it, it wouldn't bother me either. Caleb did have a little run in with a goat. He decided to pat him on the butt while he was eating and the goat warn him once by turning around, then he did it again, and the goat head butted him in the chest. It was the classic funniest home video moment. Caleb was just fine, he got up and started babbling very firmly, telling the goat in his own way that it wasn't nice to push, and then Caleb did this funny stomping/dancing feet thing. We got it all on tape for future posterity. It was really funny. It was a beautiful day and I had a great time as well.
The next day we stayed home and relaxed and then the following day we headed to Panama city Beach in Florida. It about 1 hour and 1/2 to get there, not as long as our Atlanta trip which is 3 and 1/2. The beach was great, the water was so nice, warm, clear, and free from Jelly fish this time. The kids loved playing in the water and riding the boogie boards. Caleb struggle to get use to the sand, he mostly spent the day in mine or daddy's arms. He warmed up a little and let me take him out and sit in the water for a little while. Kate is such a water girl, she loved swimming with her cousins, and looking for seashells on the beach. All in all it was a busy but very fun weekend. I was really needing this little get away the everyday was getting to me, and I'm getting more and more uncomfortable the farther I get along in my pregnancy. I will be 7 months this coming Saturday, yeah I'm on the down hill! I currently don't have a working computer so I can't post the pics of our weekend until I get it fix, but I promise all you blog reader out there I will deliver the second I get a chance. I am borrowing my sister in laws before she head out tonight. Thanks so much Jennifer, Neil, Sierra, Mia and Preston, for coming down and spending the weekend with us, we made some great memories and we had a great time!

Kate's first day of Preschool

I wasn't planning on having Kate go to preschool this year, but I did quiet a few month ago sign her up on the Early Education Center in Enterprise. I didn't have much hope of them calling, she was way down on the waiting list. So my initial plan was to work with her myself, but they ended up calling. I guess a lot of people didn't want the afternoon schedule so that's why they called me to see if I would be interested. I didn't care what time it was I told them I would love to have her come anytime. So She goes every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday from 12:30-2:00. I know it's a weird time but the more I thought about it the better it worked out for me. Having a new baby soon and trying to get around in the morning would have been tough I can barely get to church at 9:00 on time.
Kate of course couldn't wait to start, she was so excited to get her new backpack and new tennis shoes for school. She kept asking me do I go today, is it today, she about drove me crazy. Jerry and I along with Caleb all took her to school that day, Kate thought that was really neat. It nice that Jerry schedule allowed us to do that. Kate of course did great she didn't cry or anything, she just waved and said bye mom. I figured she would be like that, she is very outgoing and not a very nervous child. It made it easier on me I think to let her go. She had a great time, she talked all the way home. She had to call her dad at work to tell him all about it. She was so excited and wired she couldn't calm down enough to take her nap. I think naps are going to be disappearing soon for her, good for her sad for me, I'm doing to miss taking a nap. I'm very excited for Kate this is going to be really something she needs and it will be really good for her. Kate needs an outlet to burn some of her energy off and use curiosity to the fullest. I like the fact that it's not everyday and it not all day long, just the right amount of time to be in school but still have a good amount of time at home with mommy and brother during the day. Wow Kate's growing up I can't believe she is already in Preschool, where did the time go!

Just like Daddy

I found Kate the other day in our room pulling out her daddy's work clothes and I said what are you doing? She said I'm going to be just like daddy. She got all dress by herself with a little help from me to help her with the long pants. The funniest part was she said, mom don't forget my boots, I haveto have my boots just like daddy, he wears boots to work. So she put on her new rain boots we got her the other day. I took a couple snap shots it was pretty cute, especially with the bright pink rain boots. Kate loves her daddy!

More, More, More!

This past Sunday Caleb did the cutest thing. We got to church a little late and had to sit in the front row of the hard chairs in the back. I was worried because there was no row or pew to block the kids in, so they wouldn't walk off. It ended up being OK. Caleb is really caught on to this sign language thing, finally, it's taken him a while to just want to do it. As the sacrament was past Caleb got his one piece of bread and was very happy. Well where we were sitting that day, he saw all the deacons with the trays of bread and kept babbling very loudly and signing MORE MORE, MORE. He was getting upset that the boys were not stopping and giving him some more bread. He got very upset, you could almost see his wheels turning in his head and him thinking, this is what I am suppose to do if I want more, why aren't you giving me more bread. I, thank goodness, for some odd reason, I've never done this, just happen to put a single piece of bread in a zip lock baggie. Wow did that work out perfectly or what. We gave him another piece and he settle down. Jerry and I both look at each other and smiled and chuckled a little and said you can't get to upset with him for getting mad , he was doing what we taught him to do. I just never thought Caleb would take this whole Sign Language thing in that direction. You never know what your going to get with Caleb, I think that's one of the things I love about him, he keeps me on my toes and keeps me laughing everyday!

My Little Man

Caleb is in this really cute stage, and I am loving it. He is a few shy of 15 months. Caleb is so different then his sister, he cracks my husband and myself up all the time. I can't really describe it, he is just so animated and the things he does everyday is just plan hilarious. It anything from a facial expression or just something he is trying to do. He loves to play with balls, he does really great at kicking it all over the house. He loves to watch Letter Factory everyday and to sit with mommy on the couch and watch Curious George in the morning. Yesterday Caleb was so funny he experienced his first brain freeze, I wish I would have had a camera with me. Caleb has been slow to want to use sign language. He know how to say more and all done, and sometimes eat and please. He tends to be a little reluctant and doesn't want to give in and sign more to get more food etc. So after we took both the kids to dairy queen to celebrate Kate doing so good at the doctor we asked him to say more to get more ice cream, he just wasn't going to have it. So once he finally gave in he kept saying more more more, faster then he could probably swallow, and then it happened, he close his eyes for a while and shook his head like he has the shivers. It was totally hilarious, he ended up doing one more time after that. That is just a small example of some of the funny things he does. Caleb loves to run and do a belly flop on Kate's bed, he does it over and over. He especially loves to do it in the morning and wake his sister up. He actually tries to sneak by me and go to his sister room and run in there and do his belly flop. Oh and his new hobby is to put toys and other items in the toilet. I never had this problem with Kate so I so didn't see this coming. One day I found my shirt in the toilet, so gross. Caleb has the most bubbly smile funniest Laugh, he also still likes to make his little owl sounds, if you have been around him you know what I am talking about. He eats like a champ. I just wanted to write some of the funny things my little man has been doing lately to help me remember later. I really enjoy having this little guy around.

Bath Time Fun

The kids love our new grandma pink bathroom and tub, it even smells like an old grandma sometimes. I think the swans on the doors add a special touch to the room. Anyways they were being so cute in the bath tub I decided to take some pictures. It's so funny if you look at my sister Karrie's blog she just happen to post a picture of me and all my sisters in the tub as kids, we must have been on the same wave length or something. I was just thinking about the mermaid I had as a kid because I just found some at the dollar store for Kate and then my sister post the exact picture I was thinking about, strange. Kate and Caleb love the bath. Kate loves playing with her mermaids in the bath, and pretendind the bathtub is her personal pool. Caleb likes to stand up and pretend that the 3 knobs for the water are car horns, he taps them and tries to say beep, beep, it come out sounding more like dee dee, I don't know don't ask me. It's funny to see how tan Kate is compared to Caleb, he doesn't play as much outside as his sister. Bath time is always a fun time at the Rasmussen home.

Happy 4th Birthday Kate!

Yesterday we celebrated Kate's 4th Birthday! It was a great day! Kate decided she wanted to have a Fancy Nancy themed party. I love these books, the illustrations and the stories are great. Kate told me who she wanted to invite and was very excited to put the mail in the mail box for the mail man. Kate wasn't able to do either in our old apartment, it was a locked box and we didn't have a mail send out box. She kept asking me is it the day after tomorrow, is it Saturday yet. We invited some of her closest friends, and even though it was a girly party, there siblings were welcome to stay and celebrate. Kate loved all the decorations I hung up around the house, she woke up with a huge smile on her face. We first started out playing pin the tail on the donkey, to entertain everyone while Jerry went to get the Pizza to eat for lunch. The kids loved it. Then we eat Pizza and watermelon. We quickly move to open Kate's presents. She was so cute as she opened up her presents, she loved everything she opened, she got more and more excited with every present she opened. I just loved seeing her smiling, excited face as she open the presents. She was having a ball at her party. We pretty much got every Fancy Nancy product made out there for Kate's party thanks to family and friends. She got dress up clothes, shoes, sticker books, and treasure box, board game, purse, sunglasses and a Doll. She was also excited to get the rest of her my little pony collection. That is her other new passion, she love to barrie her pony's in the back yard , dig them up, wash them and do there hair everyday. That's another blog entry all together, back to the party. The Gardner girls got her paints and brushed and paper, she is so excited to try them out. Bella and her mom made her new name letters for her Bedroom, to go with her new big girl theme. I made her a princess piggy bank. Thank you Aunt Amy for the collection of stuffed kittys she love them. She also received some wonder birthday card sending her love and well wishes for her birthday from more family and friends that live far away. We then moved to the next room and had all the girls make Fancy Nancy pocket purses. The girls did such a great job decorating their purses with boas and sparkly paint and pom poms. I had fun helping Kate make her purse. This was such a great idea for a party, I recommend other try it, it was a success. We then had birthday cake and ice cream. We sang to Kate and she blew out all 4 candles, I can't believe it she is four. Kate requested to have a butterfly Cake like Fancy Nancy's butterfly book. So once again I attempted to create the cake of her dreams, while stressing myself out in the process trying to make the best cake possible. It actually turned out great in the end, I was pleased with the end results and Kate love it too. She loved licking the spoon of frosting while I was decorating the cake. After we sang and ate cake I had all the Kids line up and make their own ice cream sundaes, or as Fancy Nancy calls them Parfaits. I actually found these really colorful plastic sundae containers for a dollar at the dollar tree. The kids had so much fun dumping the toppings on their ice cream. I think they had more toppings then ice cream in their cups. As a party favor for coming we cleaned out the cups and put in candy jewelry and rings pops for the kids to take home. I thought it was a good idea to take a piece of the story home with them and to remember the fun they had making the ice cream parfaits. The kids loved taking home the fancy purses, ice cream cups and oh yeah I almost forgot the tiaras too. We had a group picture before everyone left and yell out Happy Birthday Kate and everyone headed home, most likely for naps and a good rest. It was such a fun time, I enjoyed planning it, all the ideas came easily and the party flowed really well. I even ended right on time. Kate was so excited and wired from the party, she couldn't take a nap. We spend the rest of the day as a family. One of my favorite moments of the day was, when we I got to take her by herself to the store to pick out the last my little pony to finish her collection. She was so excited to take the money Aunt Karrie gave her and pay for the pony herself. We also ended up going to the drive in, to see G force. Kate seem to really have a wonderful day, she kept saying I'm the birthday girl and I turned 4 today. Wow my baby girl is 4. I was sad to realize she was no longer 3, three is my favorite age, but I am excited she is growing up to be such a beautiful little girl.

Caleb's One year old Pictures

Well, I'm finally getting around to posting these pictures. I went to Sears to get Caleb's one year old pictures done. We don't have much in regards to studios to pick from down here to get your pictures done. It's either, Wal-mart or Sear or a mom and Pop studio. I wish we had more to choose from. I decided to go to Sears to get the matching wall portrait I got of Kate so they would match. Well not that I should of been surprised, but Caleb was being a mama's boy and being really shy. The photographer was overly loud and obnoxious which made him feel worse. I know she was trying to get him to smile, but Caleb likes things a little calm and easy going. It's just his nature I guess. So when she finished I was not very happy because once again she didn't capture that smile, you know the one smile that is your child's true happy smile. The one you can hardly resist, the one that make you smile back. Once again I had a few people tell me I've captured my son in pictures better than what the Sears Lady did. I guess that is a compliment, but still frustrating to go get pictures and not have them turn out the way you want them to. I was frustrated that it's been 3 years since I went there with Kate and they used the exact same props with Caleb that they did with Kate, minus the daisy flowers. They always advertise these great props with there ads and they never seem to have any at the time you go to take your picture. I don't know why I do this to myself every year. I guess I just want a professional to do it on there Birthday year mark, so I can say I got there picture taken each year at least once. I feel bad for complaining, I'm just frustrated with the results, they turned out just ok, not great. I was hoping for great. Tell me what you think, do you like them are they good, great or just o.k.?

The Results are in!

Well, the result are in we went to the doctor yesterday to find out what we where having, and the first thing Kate say to the ultrasound tech is I wanted a baby sister, not pressure right. She was very excited to see pictures of the baby and hear the heart beat. So you are probably wondering what are we having, well we are.................

Kate could hardly contain herself she went right out in the hallway and found the doctor and told him she was going to have a baby sister. He asked her what should her name be and she said very seriously with a long pause, um I am still thinking about it. Too funny. The doctor came in and said while I was doing my duty in the bathroom that he was told what we were having. The doctor said she seem to be a real girly girl and large and in charge, and it would be good to have someone to play dress up with. I said yes, and look at Caleb and said "Poor Caleb", the doctor chuckled with me. We are very excited to be having another girl. Now the new task is to decide a a name. I was walking out of the doctors office and had that day after Christmas feeling, the surprise of what the sex would be was over. It was different for me, since I had one of each I wasn't necessarily hoping for one of the other, it was just fun having it be a fun mystery and it was fun wonder how are family dynamics would turn out to be, would the girls win out or would there be more boys. I wanted to know what it was so I could plan, but it was kind of nice to not know and have a little bit of mystery and anticipation. I'm better now and am excited to start planning for this new little one. So it's official it's a girl!