February

I can't believe how fast this month went by! Here's the updates on our family for this month.

Ella is almost 20 months old and growing and learning so much! It's still so fun to see a little person wondering around the house and discovering new things. This month she has been learning more words and her new favorites are please, love you, thank you, good night, bye bye. She still signs quite a bit too. She has learned the "schedule" we have at nap time and bedtime and is so cute about it. After lunch she knows its nap time and points to the rocker in her room. We read a story and then she grabs her blankie to snuggle while I sing her a song before going in her bed. She also has discovered the fun of the park now that she is walking and can climb and go down slides by herself, she thinks she is big stuff! She also enjoys cleaning and is such a big helper when its time (or even not time!) to clean up all her toys!

Logan is discovering new music. Daddy got the Beatles rockband for Christmas, and while he plays the guitar or drums, Logan is right there singing and playing along on his toy guitars and drums. His favorite songs are "Ticket to Ride," "I want to hold your hand," and "I've got a Secret." He has also learned Aerosmith's version of "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing," and was singing it all through the grocery store this week. Some lady walking by said she was very impressed! He loves his monkey school class, and having play dates with his friends from nursery. He will start soccer in April.

The kids and I had a chance to go down to Vegas for a few days to visit Grandma and Papa and had a blast. I was nervous about traveling 7 hours each way in a car alone with two littles, but they did so well! Logan helped keep Ella happy by getting her toys and things she needed, and kept himself busy watching movies. They loved going to band practice with papa! Logan got to hear his favorite Beatles songs and play air drums and guitar along with the band while Ella danced and teased Papa. We also got to visit the children's museum there. We started out rough with Logan falling on the stairs and giving himself a black eye, but after some ice and stickers, he was back on his feet and ready to enjoy what the museum had to offer. I got to attend the temple while mom and dad watched the kids, and we went out to visit Lauren and her family at their house. It's so fun for Logan to have a cousin his age, even if they don't always get along.

Lucas is still working for Stanley Steemer, and during slow periods and his days off he is training with an HVAC company. The company is in Lehi which is about an hour commute from our house to the office. Right now it is a trial to see if he likes it and if the owner likes him as a worker, but if things work out and he goes full time, we will end up moving closer to his office. So far it has been a little overwhelming to him, but I think it's because it is inconsistent and not something he is doing every day.

I am 13 weeks along with our 3rd child, and looking forward to entering the second trimester and hopefully feeling better and less tired. I got a little scare at my last appointment when the doctor said my thyroid is outta whack, but I will have it checked again at my next visit. It shouldn't come as a surprise since thyroid issues run in the family, but when you are pregnant everything is nerve wracking. I have my ultrasound in April, but since we already have a boy and girl we will not be finding out the sex of this one! Hopefully, I can stick to that decision.

Luke and I were able to celebrate Valentine's day a few days early by going to MovieGrille-a theater where they serve you dinner in the theater! The seats are comfortable, the food was great, and it was nice to have some time away from the kids! On V-day, I took the kids on a playdate with their friends to a bouncy house place and to lunch. That night when Luke got home, we made an Olive Garden copy cat dinner at home and enjoyed a movie.

That's pretty much the excitement around here-we will see what fun March brings!

Updates

Well what a better way to start off the new year, than with a renewed commitment to blogging! Here is what we have been up to the last year:

Ella is now 18 months old, and just started going to nursery! She loves it and gets so excited when we open the door to take her in. They have a little playhouse that she loves and will run right to it, screaming at anyone that gets in her way! The leaders say if they want her attention they have to hide the house to get her to listen. She started walking at 16 months, but has now changed over to running--everywhere we go. It's her new favorite game--let's see how fast I can escape mom and dad! She has done really well at learning sign language, but is now starting to talk as well. Last weekend she came up with uh-oh, bye-bye, ball, apple, and baby. She loves going to see grandma and grandpa and is grandpa's little girl (probably because he gives her candy!) and calls him"Bampa." We are thankful to have her in our home.

Logan turned 3 in August and is growing way too fast! With some friends, I started a co-op preschool that we call "Monkey School," and he loves it! There are 4 other kids and we have it once a week. It is good for him to get some social time with kids his own age. We have also tried to get together about once a week with his friend Kelby. Her mom and dad got married about the same time as Luke and I and have two kids, each five months older than ours. Logan and Kelby love to play and we have been on outings to the zoo, a farm, a fair, and a few other things. They get along great. We spent New Year's Eve at their house, and Kelby even picked out a dress that she wanted Logan to see her in! They stayed up the whole night and Logan even said "We're getting married!" They are adorable. Logan loves to be outside playing even in the snow. He loves to play ball, and with robots, and sometimes even tea party with Ella. He is into Jake and the Neverland Pirates, and Santa even brought him Jake's pirate ship (that I swear he would sleep with if I would let him!)

Lucas is currently working for Stanley Steemer. He started there in August and really enjoyed it at first, but now it is slow season, and he is only working about two days a week. Not ideal for a family! So, he is again looking for another job. He has an interview today for a cabinetry company that is closer to home and is willing to train. He likes hands-on training and is really excited about it so I hope it works out. He says the best part is that they would give him a company truck and paid cell phone too! When he is home with  us he enjoys playing Mario Kart on the Wii, and teaching Logan Beatles songs with his new rock band game he got for Christmas. He has also enjoyed playing basketball with the Elders Quorum.

I am currently working two part time at home jobs, one as an assistant to a financial advisor, and another as an assistant to a realtor. I have learned a lot through both jobs, and they definitely keep me on my toes with the kids, the house and my work. We started off the new year by learning that we are expecting baby #3 in September, and I have my first appointment next week. I am a little nervous for a new doctor, and hospital since we have moved since Ella was born, but the first appointment is always my favorite to hear the heart beat. We are going to be surprised this time as far as gender since we already have one of each, but I think it's a boy. I have had some morning sickness this time already which I did have with Logan, but not with Ella. Logan has also been walking around talking about brother for the last year or so, perhaps he knows something we don't? Either way we will be happy as long as the child is healthy.

So that's life at the Rasmussen house currently. Never a dull moment around here, but I wouldn't have it any other way!