2011 Family update

Chase Family top 10 - 2011

#10

Nelson Ryan arrived October 13^th and WE LOVE HIM!

#9

Diana turned 8 and was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ

of Latter day Saints. We are so proud of her.

#8

Ryan successfully climbed his bouldering nemesis of 10 plus years and also summited Mt. Whitney with the 16-18 year old young men of our congregation.

#7

Isaac mastered a whole bucket load of sounds and we are mostly able to communicate –

HOORAY and a big thank you to Miss Cherrie and Miss Lindsey.

#6

Nora began losing teeth – a very kindergarten thing to do.

#5

Emily, who knocked her top two teeth out when she was 4,

 finally grew in the new ones and now sports a beautiful smile.

#4

Marian (and 400 other singers and a double orchestra) recorded and performed Messiah in America

in Salt Lake City – it was a great (and intense) experience.

#3

Sarah turned 2 and has fully embraced her two-ness – life is an emotional

roller-coaster for her, but we love her anyway.

#2

We figured out how to fit 8 people into our 3 bedroom house and have

guests too (come and visit, we’ll make you fit!).

#1

Marian survived her final pregnancy and then got rid of all the

baby girl clothes and all the maternity clothes HIP HIP HOORAY!

It has been a great year (they just keep getting better) Thank you for being our friends.

Love, Ryan, Marian, Diana (8), Emily (7), Nora (5), Isaac (4), Sarah (2), Nelson (new)

festivities

 Our swing set from 3 years ago Christmas finally died, so Dad and Isaac got to do manly demolition. Thankfully our backyard was only bare for a day or two because Santa brought a trampoline! Be still my heart!

We had our traditional Christmas Eve dinner (Argentine food). The kids DID NOT appreciate it, but Ryan and I had a fine feast and hopefully someday the kids will mature and enjoy fine food.

 Christmas morning.

 Diana, Emily and Nora got official backpacking sleeping bags and are ready to adventure with Dad and Grandpa!

Nelson is my official Christmas gift (plus some shopping money to cloth my postpartum body).

I hope you all had an equally fine Christmas!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from the Chase Family cast of the Nativity

 

Sarah was too busy to participate (she is two you know) and I was narrating and photographing

for sale

Hey all, we have officially grown out of our LOVELY blue kitchen aid (it's a 4.5 qt) so for Christmas I'm getting a 6 qt and need to clear off the counter. If you know anyone who wants a GREAT tool, I'm selling the blue one for $100 (they retail for $299).

boy stuff

 Two Saturdays ago Ryan and Isaac went for an early morning hike (very manly) and encountered a total eclipse of the moon (also very manly). Isaac needs to hike every Saturday with his Dad - it wore him out. No small feat for a four year old boy.

semi obligatory

Here are the obligatory Santa pictures.

tales from our kitchen

We said farewell to our trusty crock pot - the stoneware bowl finally cracked so much it leaked. It was sad, very sad and I'm already getting a different major kitchen appliance replacement for Christmas - a crock pot was not on my list. But, if you have a crock pot you love, pass on a recommendation.

In much happier news; we have made three batches of peanut butter balls. Only one more to go. I can only imagine how scrumptious they are since I don't eat chocolate while nursing (makes my babies spit up for days, not worth it. I actually ate one while nursing Sarah because they just looked and smelled so good, but the spit up was too much).

2 months

 Nelson is 2 months old and loving it!

It is also exhausting!

RAD parent and child

My friend Kayce sent this out and I thought it was RAD!

kids

Nora lost her first tooth last week! All this growing up kills me. The other part of me is itching to pull out her other loose tooth! She is enjoying smiling lately to show off her space!

Nelson is 8 weeks old today and the above out fit is a 6 month!!!! He has the most precious smiles and I really am enjoying the little conversations we have of coos, smiles, and grunts - melt my mommy heart.

a 4 generation FHE

A week ago Monday we headed to Casa Grande to see Great Grandma and Grandpa Nelson who were over from Virden to see Uncle Dale. It was a really nice visit. Bother Grandma (86) and Grandpa (91) were really lucid and talkative and seemed to enjoy seeing the kids.

Grandpa, Nelson and Ryan

Grandma and Nelson

Turning on the charm for Grandma

When it was time to go, Uncle Dale filled us up with cookies and ice cream - that man knows what's up with kids (and yes, Nora does dress herself!).

no picture

Hi World,

Sorry for being MIA the last few days. We had a HIGHLY successful MCO Christmas Concert series last weekend (I'm pooped) and we enjoyed having Uncle Michael here to film. I wish I had a nickel for every time someone asked me if he was single, dating, his age, etc! There are some motivated Moms out there pulling for their daughters.

Nelson continues to grow (good) and be inconsistent feeding (bad, at least for my body).

The kids, honestly, have been rotten. Homework and piano are painful, food has been a fight (Isaac had his dinner for breakfast and it took 2 hours for Nora to eat her oatmeal) and Isaac BIT Nora on the cheek this morning - they were fighting over the button on the swing - it looks horrible. He got to have time out for the entire Sesame Street hour.

Oh yea, we also have termites - AGAIN! Gross me out.

Our Christmas lights however look fabulous and make me happy.

We are determined to have a better rest of the day. Wish us luck!

love, Marian

before thanksgiving

November 16th - Emily got sick, Diana got sick, Nora got sick, Sarah got sick - aren't they beautiful!

 November 18th - Everyone but Nora is better and Isaac turned 4!!! He requested Barrows pizza and ice cream - tasty!

November 19th - Ryan throws up LOTS of Barrow pizza but sends me to our long Saturday rehearsal anyway. I come home after a hour to take Nora to urgent care - she has been 3 days throwing up and history tells that if we don't get some zophran in her she will keep throwing up and end up in the hospital dehydrated. The zophran works and she and dad are both feeling a lot better by that evening.

All the time - Nelson is sweet and very big. At his one month we was off the charts for length and 95th for weight - eek!

He has entered the scitzo phase for eating. Two nights ago he was up 3 times and last night I finally woke him up at 3:20 because I needed to feed him NOW!

Emily is lovely.

She has discovered reading for pleasure and sometimes finds interesting places to have a little quiet.

thanksgiving weekend

We had a FANTASTIC Thanksgiving weekend. Aunt Sherrie, Uncle David and the kids came down from Utah and we partied hearty!

We spent Thanksgiving proper at the Porters with 50ish McKays and it was a WONDERFUL time. I love the dirt boys in heaven.

The wagon was also a big hit! Nathan was a tired boy by the end of a day pulling the wagon around and around.

On Friday we took a hike in the desert, climbed rocks, played on the playground etc. The weather was PERFECT despite Isaac's determination to wear his hood.

Friday evening we hit the Christmas lights at the Temple; they were beautiful and the kids well behaved - yipeeeee!

Uncle David, Aunt Sherrie and the kids were the perfect house guests! Come again soon!!

little girls

Baby Livy has gone home. It was a delightful visit. We will miss her and Aunt Di. As you can see, being at our house was exhausting!

Sarah LOVES to conduct the music at Family Home Evening - accesories reccomended but not required.

sunday naps

Isaac was tired on Sunday. He fell asleep.

Ryan was tired on Sunday. He fell asleep.

Nelson joined the party, since the floor looked like a manly place to be. Isaac woke up screaming and climbed onto Daddy, who slept on.

Isaac decided to try to sleep some more.

It didn't work and he was sad.

So ended naps on the floor.

In other Chase news - everyone but Nelson has either had throw up or diarrhea (or both) the last day. Oh the JOY! Diana and Emily have perked up. Nora is exhausted (she threw up most of the night), Isaac has a light case and should be OK for his B-day tomorrow. Sarah threw up in the night and seems just fine now and Livy threw up a little at lunch time and has no appetite but is otherwise happy.

We have done A LOT of laundry today. I LOVE my washing machine.