The Dastrup Family

Just One Weekend

2012-01-25T13:52:00.000-08:00

Before last weekend Travis said, “I need just one weekend, just one.” He meant without call, without a sick child or sick wife, without anyone being in the hospital, without a trip, and wouldn’t it be nice if Lucy would sleep a little bit more.

We’ve had a busy season. We were planning on my bouncing back from pregnancy quickly, but such are the viscissitudes of life that our plans haven't been realized. Michael has had the stomach flu four times since Thanksgiving, and strep. Each of these bouts of flu has been over a holiday or a weekend, and three while at grandparents’ houses. We’re losing what little popularity we had. Sarah has had a couple of stomach viruses too, one so bad we took her to the emergency room. At three and a half weeks after Lucy’s birth I had a postpartum hemorrhage. Fortunately we were in Orem and could hand Lucy to my mom. Travis rushed me to Utah Valley and that night I had an emergency dnc. The on-call OB had a hard time stopping the bleeding. You don’t want to hear from your surgeon that “you were in the disaster zone.” I was admitted for a day and a half and then recuperated at my parents' house all week. We had wonderful help from my mom and my dad and from Travis’s parents who kept Lucy while I was in the hospital and kept tabs on Michael and Anna when they went back to Ogden with Travis. We’re so thankful for our wonderful family and for friends in Ogden who helped out too. I couldn’t believe how weak I was. I’m doing tons better, but my hematocrit is still low and I can tell it’s more than long nights with Lucy making me feel so drained.

So over the weekend—what was supposed to be our weekend for recovery of all kinds--our thermostat broke and the temperature in our house was stuck between 61 and 63 degrees until we got it fixed on Monday. I got the stomach flu and could barely nurse while Travis was up all night with our fussy baby. We had an appointment to meet with the Stake President the next morning, so I told the Lord (in prayer) I was happy to go if He could help me stop vomiting. You can’t cancel on a stake president the day of ward conference. I stopped throwing up and my nausea quieted down, and we were able to make our appointment Sunday morning. Travis was called to be a second counselor in the bishopric of our ward. I think this calling will be a great blessing in our lives. His parents were able to come to Ogden, and his dad ordained him to the office of High Priest before he was set apart by President Crowell, the second counselor in the stake presidency, a wonderful man who Travis has the privilege to work with at Country Hills Eye Center.

It’s hard to get one relaxing weekend in life, but we'll keep plugging along and counting our blessings, which are many.

Lucy's Here!

2011-12-19T13:38:00.000-08:00

Lucy Margaret was born on Dec 13, two weeks early, and one week before my scheduled induction. I went into labor on my own, which was a new experience after three inductions. I had contractions during the night, but didn't tell Travis because I wanted him to sleep. They started getting closer together around six a.m. and by eight I was eager to get to the hospital. I had time to wash and dry my hair, call my mom to come up from Orem, and pack a bag. We decided to let Anna stay with Michael and Sarah (meaning stay home from school) until my mom could get there. She never went:), and Michael was already home with strep. I'm grateful for my mom's help that day, and Dad Dastrup's help for the next two. I came home to find he had done all of the ironing!

My labor was picture perfect. My water had broken, and I didn't even know it. Travis dropped me off at the hospital and quickly saw a few post-op patients. He was back by ten a.m. when I was moved from triage and checked-in. I had an epidural within twenty minutes--my best ever--and Lucy was born at 3 p.m. She could have come an hour and a half earlier, but we were waiting for my doctor, who was in surgery in the same hospital. I pushed twice--a tie with Anna. We were surprised when she was only 5 pounds, 4 ounces! Our smallest baby by half a pound. She has lots of dark hair like her sisters at birth, but we expect it will all fall out and leave us with another blonde-haired, green-eyed girl.

I fell in love with this little girl the moment I saw her. I enjoy every second I hold her and nurse her and take care of her--even in the long night-time hours when I wish she would sleep. Her siblings have greeted her with tenderness and not a hint of jealousy. We have always been so lucky in that way. They weren't able to visit the hospital because of a Pertussis outbreak--thank you all you crazy Utahns who don't vaccinate your kids! For the first time in her life, Anna was seriously considering breaking some rules to get into the hospital. Michael asked me first thing, "Mom, how are you feeling? Are you all better?" How many eight year-old boys are so aware of their mom's health. Sarah has been bringing Lucy toys and accessories since she got home. She doesn't quite believe me that she can't play with toys yet. I'll find a little car or another toy tucked inside Lucy's basket while she sleeps.

I give birth, and it's like being born again, physically. I feel great! No more nausea, no more reflux and volcanic heartburn, no more pstyalism, no more emptying my bladder every eight minutes. I am so grateful to have this sweet little baby here--safe and sound--and to feel whole again myself so that I can take care of her and the rest of my family. I think they're ready to have their mom back, and Travis is very happy to see me smile again--without effort.

Halloween 2011

2011-11-10T17:15:00.000-08:00

30 Weeks!

2011-10-18T12:31:00.000-07:00

Every Tuesday we count down the weeks of my pregnancy--and in-between I know how many days--but 30 weeks is a milestone I've been eager for. A few weeks ago, the finishing of my second trimester and beginning of the third didn't give me the lift I was hoping for. Instead of feeling a boost of courage, I felt pretty disheartened. Just 13 more weeks of being nauseated and spitting into Dixie cups didn't sound very doable. But now it's nine weeks until induction. If we can get through Halloween--never my favorite holiday even when I'm not pregnant--I think the Holidays will provide some happy distractions with Christmas music, Christmas movies, and some fun gatherings with family. I look forward to having the Christmas tree up. I apologize to all who are trying to enjoy Autumn and live life in the moment. October is usually my favorite month, but this year I'm just wishing it away as fast as it will go! Next year we'll live more thoughtfully and regret that our kids are growing up so fast, but this year the countdown until Christmas began in April.

Good News from the Cozy Condo Dwellers

2011-07-16T12:25:00.000-07:00

After months offline, I'm emerging from survival mode long enough to share some good news. I'm 16 weeks pregnant with number four and we just found out it's a girl. We're thrilled--we would have been equally happy with news of either gender. Our kids are so spread apart that having two girls only three and a half years apart sounds like fun. I'm nauseated, like always, and have no hope that I'll feel better before Christmas when this baby is due. It's the longest count down to Christmas ever! I'm taking maximum doses of anti-nausea meds and am functioning a lot like my pregnancy with Sarah, which is much better than my pregnancies with Anna and Michael. I'm very, very grateful for this blessing. I'm feeling good about this being our fourth and final baby. The first 5 weeks were really rough because I had to drive Anna and Michael to school and pick them up (about forty minutes for each trip). Since school ended, I have spent a lot of time in Orem with the kids (at my parents' house) while Travis holds down the fort in Ogden and keeps working very hard. Our condo is very cozy. It's good to have less to clean, but the small quarters have also been challenging while I've been sick. Anna and Michael have done a lot to wash dishes and pick up and Travis has been a wonderful help in every way. Being this close to grandparents--to be able to bounce back and forth to have help and let the kids have a real summer but still see Travis has been such a relief. We have had wonderful visits with Dastrup and Thompson Family and even old friends like Keri Beauchamp, one of my childhood best friends who drove all the way to Ogden to visit when she was visiting Utah from California.

Our second big piece of news is that we're buying a house in Ogden! We're very excited to have more space. Not that we weren't up to the design challenge of four kids in a 2-bedroom condo--we maybe could have found a few square feet for a Moses Basket in our bedroom--but I think it's one challenge I can do without. We've found a home in a lovely neighborhood that has the best schools in the area that we can find. Our kids are ecstatic. In fact, they hardly slept after we submitted the offer and all three bounced into my bed (a cardinal sin with a nauseated mom, but I overlooked it) bright and early to ask if we had heard back. They have been so plugged in to our search, it's surprised me. We've waffled back and forth so many times and put offers on several smaller homes that we didn't get. This one felt different from the start. I'm nervous about having to move while I'm sick, but at least it's a local move this time. I really can't find words for how grateful we are for this move. We've had a good year in so many ways, but I have felt very unmoored. It's time for some roots.

Sarah at the Zoo

2011-04-17T16:29:00.001-07:00

Michael Max's Baptism

2011-03-17T18:59:00.000-07:00

Michael was baptized on March 12 in a lovely, well-planned stake baptism in Ogden. I admit I had doubts that the experience would equal Anna's personal baptism in Brownsburg, Indiana, but I was wrong to doubt. We were so grateful to have both sets of grandparents and many aunts and uncles and cousins. We missed everyone who couldn't be there, and I'm sincere when I say that we remembered you at his baptism. I knew his baptism would be special, but I was surprised at the abundance of the Spirit that I felt. I won't ever forget it. How wonderful to be reminded that the Spirit that resides in my young, eight year-old boy is so much greater than I remember every day. My mind was flooded with thoughts of the wonderful family and friends who have influenced his young life already. I thought of great-grandparents, and even earlier ancestors, of grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and of so many adults who have befriended Michael and taught him. He's had great primary leaders and teachers, even nursery leaders that taught him so much. I'm a little extra weepy these days as primary president in our Ogden Ward. I'm so grateful for the love and time that's spent on the children in our lives. Michael was beaming all day. His special quote of the day, right after he was confirmed a member of the church and given the gift of the Holy Ghost, was, "I wish I had fifty hands so I could hold hands with everyone." Michael is our teddy bear, a very affectionate boy who loves hugs. He beamed on Sunday when the bishop handed him his baptism and confirmation certificate. He has poured over his new scriptures from Grandma and Grandpa Dastrup, exploring them as the treasure that I occasionally take for granted. And he will never forget the dozen donuts that Uncle Matt sent with Elisa, though he couldn't be there. I'm pretty sure from the look on cousin Will's face that Matt will be buying all of his nieces and nephews a dozen donuts for their baptisms.

8 Years Old

2011-03-15T12:59:00.000-07:00

I'm supposed to be preparing sharing time for this Sunday, so naturally I cleaned out the linen closet and am even willing to blog as part of my procrastination. Michael's birthday was really fun, and 8 is a big one. During a marathon weekend at the end of February, we were able to celebrate with both the Dastrups and the Thompsons. After a really spectacular BYU basketball win, we had sloppy Joes and birthday cake in Springville with Grandma and Grandpa Dastrup, Benjamin, and David and Tamara and all of their kids. This was also good-bye to them before their exciting move to Columbus, OH. We sure miss you guys! Michael received a fishing pole and a promise from Grandpa Dastrup to teach him how to fish. Michael is VERY excited because we have a fishing pond near our condo. He also got a bank, a silver CTR ring, a Lego set from Benjamin, and his Cub Scout gear from his parents. He is so excited about Cub Scouts he begs to sleep in his shirt (answer always no) and pours over his Wolf book at night. We came back to Orem on Sunday and had spaghetti and brownie sundaes with the Thompsons. Michael was gifted a ridiculous :) number of old CDs from Aaron and Angie, who taught him that there are more Billy Joel albums than Greatest Hits #2, which we've had in our van for a while. He got a couple of new Wii games (our first additions to our Wii since we got it three years ago), a stuffed Raccoon from Anna that he has named Rocky, and Mega Mind from Elisa and Matt. Quite the haul for an eight year-old boy! We love this boy and were so happy to have him surrounded by family for his birthday.

Raisin Bran Fan

2011-03-01T18:41:00.000-08:00

Is this a doctor's household? Maybe, but you're not allowed to be too uptight and germ conscious if I'm your mom. Sarah loves Raisin Bran--especially the sugary raisins--and she would never let them go to waste in a dust pan.

Anna's 11th Birthday

2010-12-14T11:04:00.000-08:00

Anna had a special birthday this year. She wanted to be surrounded by her favorite people--her extended family--and she was. We were really amazed and grateful that so much family was willing to drive to Ogden to celebrate her birthday with us. Because of everyone's availability and Travis being on call, we had two parties. She requested chocolate-frosted cupcakes and purple balloons (thank you for choosing something so easy!). She got several pair of earrings from Elisa and Matt and Jed, because after six months with her ears pierced, she is ready to wear non-stud earrings. Grandma and Grandpa Dastrup gave her a beautiful silver necklace with a violin charm on it and a new CTR ring. Angie delighted her with a stack of Madeleine L'Engle books (who believes in supplying entire series, which we love!). We let her skip school on her actual birthday and went shopping and out to lunch in Salt Lake City with Grandma Thompson. Our destination was the King's English Bookstore in Sugar House, where Anna got to choose a few books for her birthday. She was walking on air for a couple of days. I can't believe we have an eleven year-old girl. Travis and I used to talk about how she would be ten and a half when we finally finished his medical training. Here we are with our eleven year-old girl, living in Ogden, Utah in a very cozy condo. We have a lot of blessings, and Anna is certainly one of our greatest. Anyone who spends even a little time around her knows what a special girl she is.

Pictures of Kids in Yellow Leaves

2010-11-13T23:09:00.000-08:00

We just caught the tail end of fall color with these after-church pictures at the parking lot next to our condo.The yellow leaves have been so pretty in Ogden. Every day of their peak color I can't get enough of them. When the mountains are dusted with snow but still covered with fall color, they're glorious. Travis says that's a Thompson word, and it might be, but I'll use it if it fits.

Halloween Lizards

2010-11-07T19:30:00.000-08:00

I won't bother posting Halloween pictures because mine are terrible and I'll just end up begging Aaron for his (which he's very happy to share) in a few months when I need to make another My Publisher book. We spent Halloween evening with the Thompsons, which is the first Halloween with family since Anna was a baby. It's usually just me and the kids . . .. Everyone looked darling and we had lots of fun eating my mom's traditional and yummy Halloween soup and playing games sponsored by Elisa. The bigger cousins did some serious trick or treating, but even more than their candy, Anna and Michael love the little rubber lizards that Elisa put in their Halloween goody bags (There has to be a cool aunt who does things like that, and Angie and I both said, Not It! Or at least we thought it. But THANKS Elisa, you're awesome!) Anna and Michael have been playing with their lizards for days. Their habitats made of cardboard boxes, various pots and pans, and water, are set up all over the living room, which is the majority of our condo. Sarah is not allowed to touch them, though she does, but I let her play with the lizards while Anna and Michael are at school because I'm pretty sure they stole hers! Michael's lizard Elizabeth just gave birth to several adorable imaginary lizard babies today. Anna and Michael have also included the plastic frogs from the toy drawer at the dentist's office. (We love our dentist who is Travis's cousin Curtis Sampson!)

Christening the Fire Pit

2010-11-02T20:07:00.000-07:00

In October my parents put in a fire pit and a new patio in their backyard (adjoining the existing deck with rails removed). They have romanced the idea for years, but having Matt as a son-in-law (who owns a landscaping company) helps turn great ideas into realities. He brought in his crew and someone to do the cement, and the whole thing looked really spontaneous to the rest of us. We had a Campfire party to celebrate the new fire pit with hot dogs and S'mores. We even played games! The kids had a ball toasting marshmallows and running in and out of the playhouse. They love having the adults stay outside where they are playing. Travis had to miss this first campfire because he has been studying for his oral Boards (Nov 6 in San Francisco), but we look forward to years of memorable campfires. My mom has created such a beautiful garden, but we have never used the backyard at its potential. This opened-up space will allow us to enjoy the beautiful garden and yard at their best. Outdoor furniture is a project for another year, but what's out there is fine for now!

Locked

2010-09-29T18:27:00.000-07:00

I think we have another Conference Weekend project--as though there is ever time for projects during Conference Weekend. We knew this doorknob on the kids' room would be a problem. They don't make them like this anymore. A simple push and twist locks it from the inside, but there is no way to open it from the outside. We meant to switch it with one of the bathroom doors, since there are two bathroom doors and no one could lock themselves in. Somehow the door got locked with only Sarah asleep in her crib. She had stripped, which she does when she decides she needs her diaper changed, and was holding her wet diaper. After asking for me to Please get her out of her crib! she just started singing and laughed when I used the hammer on the door. This is a contrast to the time when Anna was 18 months and was stuck in a similar situation. Anna had been screaming on the other side of the door for over an hour when our landlord finally put his fist through the door of our Sacramento apartment. After that experience, I knew what I had to do. I just used a hammer instead. Michael was home sick (105.5 temp) and had been watching Myth Busters Explosions. He was completely on board with the rescue.

I thought I was being a good mom today . . .

2010-09-16T15:44:00.000-07:00

I know these should be beautifully plated and then photographed in natural light, but this baker and her little Canon PowerShot don't have what it takes to photograph food. The stove top is where food goes in my kitchen because I barely have any counter space. I thought I was making a special treat for my kids when they got home from school. I spent yesterday canning tomatoes and making recipes with homegrown tomatoes from Travis's parents. That combined with an intense Power Pump class made me feel like I deserved a cinnamon roll today. Just as I popped them in the oven, thinking of how excited my kids would be when they came home and smelled them, the phone rang. It was Michael at school. "Mom! It was a 1/2 day. School got out at 12:40 (an hour and fifteen minutes ago). I've been waiting in the office and I'm so bored!" He had been calling on my cell phone, which I left in the car, and finally the school looked up our home number, which he didn't have memorized. He does now. Anna and Michael go to different schools and I have to drive them both ways. It's a lot of schedules for this brain of mine. Michael said there were 50 kids in the office whose parents also forgot. I felt a little better, but the truth is, I had no idea there was a 1/2 day! There wasn't a reminder and Michael switched to this school two weeks into the school year. Michael had to wait while the cinnamon rolls cooked, plus another fifteen minutes for me to drive to his school. I can't say it's the first time I've forgotten about an early-out day, and I bet it won't be the last, but maybe my kids will remember that their mom made them cinnamon rolls.

Treehouse Museum with Grandma Thompson, Elisa, and Cousins

2010-09-10T21:45:00.000-07:00

After living in so many cities with fabulous children's museums, we were excited to find that Ogden also boasts an amazing children's museum called The Treehouse Museum. It's located right next to the Ogden LDS Temple, and close to both Anna and Michael's schools. Today Mom and Elisa and her girls, Mia and Samantha, came up to Ogden for the first time since our move-in. We're excited that they now know Ogden really isn't that far away. (Mom needs official credit here for many trips up here to help us paint the condo, along with a lot of other family who helped with our painting and move-in. And Grandma and Grandpa Dastrup--three times, but who's keeping score?--and Annie and Jed and Adam have all visited. I just wasn't taking pictures or blogging yet!) This museum is charming, and I know we will spend many happy hours here. Everyone is invited to join us! We have two complimentary adult passes with our membership and we'll go with you if you come to Ogden!

Bear Lake August 2010

2010-09-10T21:09:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted a blog in a few months, but I figure it's like starting to exercise--again--you have to start somewhere. We missed the official Holdaway Family Bear Lake, which was earlier in the summer, but several members of Travis's family went to Bear Lake for a weekend at his grandparents' time share condo. Living in Ogden we're closer than when we lived in Orem, but it still always takes some doing to get there. Even the shorter 2-hour drive feels longer than it should. Lucky for us we had our little songbird Sarah with us. She sang for most of the drive, and we were greeted with a gorgeous double rainbow over Bear Lake. My candid pictures of our group weren't great, but I'm glad I took a few to remember our happy weekend with. It was great to be with Liz and Andrew before their wedding; Annie and April, visiting from their recent move to Boston; Brigham and Christa and their three wonderful boys, Benjamin, Jacob, and Ty; and of course, Mom and Dad Dastrup. Dad planned and cooked all of the food! He swears it's easy for him, and he always makes it look easy, but I'm still impressed. I've been in on many of these vacations to Bear Lake over my almost-twelve years as a Dastrup, and this place holds many dear memories. I love to think of Grandma and Grandpa Holdaway who are so much a part of Bear Lake. They're no longer with us, but they don't feel very far away.

We Could Make Everything Even if Only Mom Cared Enough

2010-06-16T10:58:00.000-07:00

Sarah's been very sick for two weeks, including the worst of her sickness while I was in Utah (for three and a half days) and Travis was alone with the kids. She is finally on the mend, though still whiny and weak, so I decided to take the kids to the Mall of America to exchange a pair shoes we bought for Anna and to just get out of the house. There are no home-packed lunches during these packing days, so we splurged and shared a large milkshake from Cold Stone. I warned Anna and Michael (though we all know I was really talking to Michael), "The lady making our shake is pouring it into four cups. If you complain about the shakes being uneven, you won't get one." "OK. Thanks Mommy!" And then Michael, "Wait, will they be uneven? Because we can make them even."

Sarah's 2nd Birthday

2010-06-09T14:02:00.000-07:00

Sarah hasn't had a cute, custom-decorated cake yet, but this Thompson family layer cake is always yummy.

So far her cat is named Kitty Cat and she sleeps with him every night.

In a moment of insanity I decided I would rather do something creative than deal with our move, so I made a new birthday banner for Sarah. It's hard to see, but they are flowers and leaves.When we moved here last June, I kept thinking, "Sarah will be two when it's time to move." It's June again, Sarah is 2, and it's time to move at the end of the month. We had a simple family birthday party, but it was extra fun because Travis's sister Annie and her husband Tyson and their ten month-old April were visiting. Sarah was happy to open presents and eat cake, but the lit candles made her a little nervous. I hope that on her third birthday we are firmly planted and not packing to move. She got fun musical instruments from Grandma and Grandpa Dastrup, a faucet that suctions to the tub and makes a continuous stream of water from Grandma and Grandpa Thompson, the blue knit cat (which she hugged whenever we saw him in the store) and some Max and Ruby DVDs from us. Two year-olds are so easy to please! Aunt Angie sent a book called the Quiet Book that she found on her last adventure to NYC for the book blogger conference. We wanted to get her a tricycle, but we didn't want to move it. We hope some cousins have tricycles that they're eager to share when we come over to play. . . We sure love this little girl!

Visit with Liz and Andrew--newly engaged!

2010-06-05T10:37:00.000-07:00

Liz and Andrew--newly engaged!

This isn't breaking news, but it's news that's made us all very happy. We got to met Liz's boyfriend Andrew before anyone else in the family (only because we live closest, but we pretend it's because Liz loves us best). Liz lives in Iowa City where she is a year-or-so from finishing her PhD in bio statistics. Andrew lives in Champagne, Illinois and is a year-or-so from finishing his PhD in physical chemistry (working with lasers, though I think his degree will officially be called something else). Sorry, Andrew, I should have had Travis check this before I posted. We had a wonderful weekend together in Minnesota. We spent the day at Lake Calhoun, biking, having a picnic, and canoeing. Liz and Andrew were great sports to have Anna in their canoe with them since Travis's and Emily's was full with Michael and Sarah. In the evening we got a babysitter and went out to eat at an Italian restaurant. It was one of those perfect evenings with perfect weather and perfect companions. Andrew is a great guy. He can talk optics with Travis, and he loves to garden and cook! Best of all, he adores Liz, who has always been one of our favorites. We've seen a lot of each other while both living in the Midwest. We couldn't be happier that these two wonderful people are getting married.

Jed's Visit

2010-05-17T12:24:00.000-07:00

My family knows it's hard for me to say goodbye when they leave after a visit, so Jed came to Minnesota only two days after Elisa left. He actually had his ticket first, but it feels like they planned it all for me. We had a great time, of course. Sarah and I went to the Minneapolis Institute of Arts on Thursday while Anna and Michael were in school. On Friday the weather was rainy and cold so it was a perfect Mall of America day. Sarah loved her time with just Mom and Jed. Jed alone is pretty great, but it doesn't hurt that he buys things like lunch and chocolate milkshakes, and her mom never does. I'm afraid our kids will be thoroughly spoiled after all of our fun company. On Saturday the rest of my jealous family got to play too, but the weather was too gray and cold to do all of the outside things we had planned. We went to the Cheesecake Factory (we called it a Mothers Day lunch) and Michael has claimed it as his new favorite restaurant, even though he was disappointed that it wasn't a true factory. Jed and I saw Iron Man II at the IMAX theatre while Travis stayed with the kids because we couldn't get a babysitter. Then Travis's pager beeped at 11:30 PM when he was staggering into bed. There was an eleven year-old with an open globe, and he was up all night sewing a boy's eye whose brother poked it with a stick. (Our kids never get to touch sticks.)Travis didn't get to go to church or the beautiful Walker Art Museum sculpture gardens, where we walked after church. It was Sunday, Jed's last day, and we finally had beautiful weather. I love spending with Jed, and I hope he finds his way to Ogden often!

Passed!

2010-05-12T09:32:00.000-07:00

A little announcement for the family and friends who knew Travis had taken the written ophthalmology Boards in April. He passed! He was even pleased with his strong score, which is gravy, if you ask me. He has worked really hard his fellowship year, and I'm proud of him for studying as much as possible, which he didn't think was enough. In November he'll take his oral boards in San Francisco (another $1600 on the credit card) and then he'll be exam free for another ten years. Way to go sweetie!

Elisa's Visit

2010-05-06T15:52:00.000-07:00

For her birthday, Elisa's sweet husband Matt bought her a plane ticket to visit us in Minnesota. We have had so much fun! We went to the Mall of America with all of the kids and actually went on a ride in the Nickelodeon amusement park and ate at Noodles & Co. (and maybe shopped a little while bribing the kids with the rides and food). We stayed up late talking with Travis, which was really fun because Travis wasn't on call and got to spend some time with Elisa too. We went window shopping at a lovely boutique mall, ate lunch at a couple of yummy restaurants called Burger Jones and Yum Bakery, and bought some treats and snacks at Whole Foods and Trader Joes, which are both within one mile of my house! We live in St. Louis Park, which is an idyllic suburb of Minneapolis. Travis's commute is only 12 minutes without traffic and without his walk from where he parks. We took several walks in the perfect spring weather and soaked up the charm of our lush, tree-lined neighborhood. Elisa stood guard while I cut branches from a bank of lilac bushes lining a nearby gas station. Lilac bushes line the freeways here. They are as numerous as dandelions, so I didn't think anyone would mind. Now every room in our house smells of lilacs.We also walked around Lake of the Isles, one of our favorite nearby lakes. Elisa took some great pictures, including the best family picture we have ever had since adding Sarah. Elisa even schlepped out her beautifying equipment and colored and cut my hair along with giving Michael and Anna much-needed cuts. I hadn't had a haircut in eleven months! I look and feel so much better. And my new poppy red glitter toenails are fabulous. Anna has red glitter toes too, and with Elisa's assistance, we learned about buying flip flops at Target to show off our new glitter toes. We had a ball! Thanks for the visit Elisa! I love you!

Participation Medal

2010-04-11T13:32:00.000-07:00

Michael's 1st medal won--very exciting

I can't think of a caption. I just keep chuckling. Travis might cry. We're glad Grandma and Grandpa Dastrup have got a hoop now! I think this picture shows where we're at.

Anna entertaining Sarah while Michael plays his game on the other side of the court

Michael Max's 7th Birthday

2010-03-25T12:35:00.001-07:00

Michael with his car cake. He and Anna planned this cake weeks before his birthday.

This is Michael's birthday banner. I didn't know when I made it that it would become a tradition to hang it every year. Anna has a banner in shades of pink and thinks Sarah needs one of her own.

Like all kids, Sarah loves balloons and cake, so Michael's birthday was a fun day for her. Travis stayed up late making a big poster for Michael and hanging pictures of Michael all over his bedroom door. What a cute little boy he has always been!

Fun presents from Aaron and Angie and Will and Piper

Michael's got his own Playmobile airplane. Now he doesn't have to borrow Anna's (which she doesn't like to share) and their games have become more fun. Michael had a great birthday. Travis and I felt like he needed a little extra attention this year. The whole family went to watch his baksetball class in the morning. After basketball we ate at a sub shop called Jimmy John's for lunch, which Michael has been talking about for 9 months since he ate there when we moved here in June. While Emily took Anna to her violin lesson, Michael and Travis turned our basement into the Cougar Den with their decorations. We had a great time watching the game together (I can't remember which game that was four weeks ago!), and got to drink rootbeer in the basement while we watched it. We ate Michael's favorite dinner, spaghetti, had cake and ice cream, and went to Chuck E Cheese's in the evening. It was a full, Dastrup-style birthday celebration. Michael got his Playmobile airplane, rollerblades from Grandma and Grandpa Thompson, Myth Busters Explosions (we've watched all seven hours at least once) and a great storybook called Wolves in the Walls from Aaron and Angie, money from Grandma and Grandpa Dastrup (very exciting--the possibilities for spending it are endless!), and a Bakugan from Anna. I think he had a special day, and he's a pretty special boy.

Playing Hooky

2010-02-19T12:52:00.000-08:00

My kids all have colds, and Sarah has a slight fever. Yesterday morning I was writing notes to their teachers so they could keep a baggy full of cough drops in their pockets. Anna said they had to bring cough drops to the nurse (even with a note), and then go to the nurse every time they wanted a cough drop. I started to suggest we just quietly put them in her pocket without letting the teacher know, but she was so horrified that I suggested breaking the rules that I backtracked and tried to undo my words. Of course that wasn't a good idea, I would never break a [stupid] rule. (Or use the word stupid.) It felt like a good day to keep my phlegmy, coughing kids home, but no one was that sick. So we went to the Russian Museum of Art (with free passes from the library). There are a lot of Russians in Minnesota, and it's the only Russian Museum in North America. Sarah fell asleep in her stroller, and we had a great time. There was a matriyoshka exhibit (nesting dolls), and an early color photography exhibit of the Silk Trail commissioned by Nicholas II, who was the last tsar of Russia. It was amazing. I don't know why I'm drawn to this language, culture, and art, but I am. We ate our home-packed lunch in the car, shared a chocolate croissant at a bakery called Artisan, then walked around Lake Calhoun because it was a balmy 36 and the sun was shining so brightly. The kids just frolicked in the sun, they were so happy. Until Michael's feet got cold because he wasn't wearing boots and his shoes have holes and he wouldn't stay out of the puddles. I think all kids need to play hooky with their moms every now and again.

Cabin Fever

2010-02-19T12:45:00.001-08:00

On one particularly cold, snowy, house-bound day, my kids discovered the laundry chute. They began dropping stuffed animals with homemade parachutes and crash helmets, but soon that was boring and they needed something more exciting--or more messy. It was Anna's idea to dump a whole bag of styrofoam peanuts down the chute. It was exciting for a few seconds, but the next hour of clean up wasn't so fun. Every kid has to learn how miserable it is to clean up a pile of styrofoam peanuts that they dumped. It was even harder to clean up in a crowded storage/furnace/laundry room. We might have a repeat from Michael or Sarah, but I think this lesson sunk in for Anna.

Mo Bed!

2010-01-26T09:31:00.000-08:00

More Bread. Sarah is a do-it-herself-er. If Mom is not responding (quick enough), she'll just get it herself. Then it's usually taken away, but not before she has stolen a few bites. This is the challah that I make. We have discovered how scrumptious French toast is when made with this bread and topped with warm buttermilk syrup. I have been using a recipe book by Beth Hensperger called Bread Made Easy. It's a wonderful book about bread making, but don't be fooled by the title. There are no one-hour loaves in this book. Every recipe and variation that I have tried has been delicious.

Ice Skating at Lake of the Isles

2010-01-19T13:10:00.000-08:00

I can't believe we got two pictures with everyone standing! Michael spent a lot more time sprawled on the ice than he did standing, but he had a great attitude. Anna managed to make it around the "rink" a few times, and was very happy about it. Emily hadn't skated in ten years, and was never any good, but it was good to remember that she can skate forward. We couldn't compete with the 3 and 4 year-olds decked-out in full hockey attire and looking like they were born on skates, but we had a great time. Travis nobly held Sarah while the rest of us skated. This is one of many free outdoor rinks in Minnesota. This one is part of a frozen lake. We have two ice skating rinks and two hockey rinks (roughly made, but I think they deserve to be called rinks) in our own neighborhood! We bought some skates for $5 off of Craigs List for Anna, but Michael and Emily used skates that are left in the warming house for people to borrow. Our wonderful afternoon was free! We love this place.

Snow

2010-01-13T08:14:00.000-08:00

We got dumped with a heavy snowfall over Christmas, and it was mild enough (high 20s low 30s) that we could have a lot of fun sledding and building snowmen. Travis took the kids sledding on a real hill (with Christmas sleds brought out early) and we built a little sledding hill in our backyard with all of the snow we shoveled over Christmas. Sarah loved sledding on my lap! For two weeks it's been too cold to play in the snow much, but the kids still have fun at recess. Anna hauls pieces of ice to build a snow fort that is destroyed before she gets back to it the next day. Michael's school (He's at a K-3 and Anna is at a separate grades 4-6 school) brings out sleds and they sled and have snowball fights during recess. Driving is slippery and my husband is always cold, but I love it here! Our house is dripping with icicles and every tree branch in Minnesota is delicately frosted with ice. So beautiful.

-9 Degrees in Minnesota

2010-01-05T07:38:00.000-08:00

That's without the wind chill. With the wind chill it feels like 28 degrees below 0. It's hard enough to send my husband out when it's even colder and earlier, but sending Anna and Michael to the bus stop when it's this cold is hard. They leave at different times and I can't see them from our house. At least it's not far, and they're dressed very well for cold. Everyone wears snowpants and all of the appropriate winter gear here. Yesterday Anna had her first indoor recess because it was colder than -7. There's ice coating the inside of our windows and Sarah wears multiple layers of pajamas to bed, but we're quite snug in our house. Driving is tricky because it's icy and Minnesota doesn't spend a lot of money on salt. I know this cold will get tiresome, but so far we're pretty cheerful. Minnesota is beautiful all covered with ice and snow, and as long as you're not out for too long, the cold is invigorating. I don't think that's the word Travis would have used late last night when he schlepped four 50 pound bags of salt for the water softener from the (detached) garage into the house. And my fifty pound bag of bread flour. I guess people weren't kidding when they warned us about Minnesota winters!

Christmas 2009

2010-01-01T21:59:00.000-08:00

We had a happy Christmas! For the first time in several years, Travis didn't have to work and we were able to celebrate Christmas at our leisure. I think everyone was happy. Even Sarah felt the magic of Christmas morning. She has been playing with the toy kitchen, scribbling on her Magna Doodle, and pushing Michael out of her chair ever since. Michael has assembled all of his Legos and he and Travis love to play with his remote control helicopter, lovingly bought by Anna with her hard-earned $30. Anna loves her new doll, who used to belong to Emily. It's fun to discover games, art projects, and new books throughout the Christmas break too. This is our last Christmas on our own--too far to visit family. We are very excited that we'll live close next year, but we have had fun on our own too. We had our traditional Christmas Eve dinner together, but on Christmas night we ate dinner with several friends in the ward. Good times and good memories.

Thanksgiving Accomplished

2009-12-04T21:16:00.001-08:00

Anna and Michael were adamant that I take pictures of our Thanksgiving food and put it on the blog. They are aware that "everyone else" posts more often than we do. I think it's funny that we have no pictures of people from our Thanksgiving, but that probably shows how very dominant food is at Thanksgiving, especially when you're preparing the entire meal. Travis did help on Thanksgiving Day and made the potatoes single-handedly. During the holidays I'll miss our prettiest dishes that are all in storage. The Nutter Butter turkeys were fun. I made them for my nursery kids at church. Sarah quacked whenever she saw them (I guess she thought they were ducks) and kept taking them out of the fridge to eat. We had a lovely Thanksgiving and even put up our tree in the evening. It's Christmas time!

2009-11-16T07:35:00.000-08:00

Halloween . . . finally. I never promised to be prompt when I began this blog. Travis was actually in Albequerque (job interview) with his brother Brigham and his family on Halloween. Some friends in our ward (who belong to our church) came Trick or Treating with us because we live in a very friendly neighborhood full of small houses that are close together--ideal for Trick or Treating. This is Sunshine Park across the street from our house. The yellow leaves have been gorgeous this autumn. They're mostly gone now, and I'm afraid the warm spell we have been enjoying is gone for good.

More with Grandma Thompson

2009-10-27T21:40:00.000-07:00

My mom has been gone for a week and a half, but I wanted to post a few more pictures from her week-long trip to Minneapolis. We had so much fun while she was here! Travis was in Utah for a few days for a couple of job interviews, so we were lucky to have her company while he was gone. We tried to soak up as much of Minnesota's beautiful autumn as we could, but it snowed twice! We played a lot: walked along Lake Harriet, went apple picking, went to the temple on a ward temple day (where the kids had activities so Mom and I could go), went to the Mall of America, discovered the Galleria (gorgeous mostly window shopping mall), went to music lessons, Mom did my hair with coaching from Elisa over the phone, played with our bunnies, talked a lot about where we might take a job, and just had fun. It was very relaxed and wonderful to not be painting and prepping a house for sale, packing, or unpacking!

Apple Picking

2009-10-21T09:11:00.000-07:00

Something we really wanted to do this fall in Minnesota was go apple picking, and the timing was perfect when Grandma Thompson was here. We wish Travis could have been there. The weather was a little chilly--and it snowed the next day--but we had a lot of fun. We picked Harrelson apples and honey gold apples, which are a lot like golden delicious but bruise very easily. Sarah was very happy to take a nibble out of any apple she found (and our bunnies know where they are and make a beeline for the apple bags when they're out of their hutch). We also had to try Minnesota's famous Honeycrisp apples, available only locally. We ate a yummy dinner of pulled pork sandwiches and chicken dumpling soup with various apple desserts and hot apple cider. Then the kids played in a giant hay stack and we rode a tractor to pick our own pumpkins from the pumpkin patch. I'm so glad we didn't miss out on apple picking while we were in Minnesota.

11 Years

2009-09-17T07:11:00.000-07:00

Wow. Travis and I have been married for 11 years! I turned 32 in August and Travis realized that since we were sixteen when we met, we have officially known each other for half of our lives. I am so blessed to be married to this wonderful man! When you get married in mid-September, your anniversary is always at the beginning of a busy school year. Sarah probably has strep (Michael is antibiotics for strep now), Michael has a cello group class at 5:15, and we have a 1st grade parent info night at 6:30. Even if we don't get to go out on an anniversary date this year, it's wonderful to stop and think of how I've been in love with Travis for sixteen years.

Back to School

2009-09-08T18:27:00.000-07:00

School has been in session for one week in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, and that was met with complaints by Minnesotans who are used to starting after Labor Day. Michael is in first grade at Peter Hobart Elementary, which houses K-3. Anna is in fourth grade at Susan Lindgren Elementary, which houses grades 4-6. I am very impressed with both of their teachers and their schools. Most importantly, they both seem happy. In the evening of his first day of school, Michael did notice, "School is taking most of my time!" It's a sad reality. It's either school or work from here on out, Buddy. That's why we cry when they get on the bus.

Bunny Love

2009-08-14T14:53:00.001-07:00

We love our bunnies, which we named Tilly and Molly! I'm still determined to believe they're both girls. They were only in this wardrobe box (where Sarah is trying to drop a bag of lettuce because she knows they like lettuce) for a couple of weeks while their hutch arrived. I haven't taken a picture of it, but it's very spacious and happily situated in the basement instead of our living room. Travis and Michael did a great job putting it together. I also built a bunny run in our backyard. It cost only $18 but three trips to Home Depot to get it right. We can easily move it to mow and can even take it with us when we move. The bunnies are very happy in it, and they haven't escaped since we added plastic stakes to keep it close to the ground. We put them outside for a few hours every day as long as it isn't too hot (or too cold in the winter). They love to graze on grass. There is a wild cottontail that likes to come visit whenever Tilly and Molly are outside. We watch from the kitchen window so that we don't frighten it. They are very sweet and fun to play with. I am pleased to say that so far I don't regret this impulsive adoption!

Biking Family

2009-07-30T12:41:00.000-07:00

Though the season is short, biking is really popular here. Green trails connect cities and lakes and the walking paths and biking paths around lakes are separate, which make them safer. We decided that the one thing we would really regret not doing here is biking as a family. We bought Travis a used bike for his birthday, got mine tuned up (it's been a few years), and bought a trailer so that we could pull Sarah. She keeps her helmet on and usually falls asleep while we ride. It's so slick that I hardly even know I'm pulling it--until we got up hill. Anna and Michael love being bikers. Michael has outgrown his bike, but he's still cranking along with bent knees and a great attitude.

Pets

2009-07-19T19:39:00.001-07:00

This week we've had a lot of "pets," which resulted in a really impulsive purchase I hope we don't regret. It all started with Michael's grasshoppers. He had three hoppers in his bug house and kept them by his bed. Sarah was enthralled and he was so pleased to finally have his own pet (Anna has a beta fish named Bubbles) that I felt a little sad he didn't have a pet that he didn't catch by himself. There are a lot of little cottontail rabbits here. I decided to mow the lawn, which is usually a job Travis does. I felt horrible when I realized I had mowed over a rabbit burrow. Two baby bunnies bounded away, and two more were still in the hole. I didn't know how old they were or if they were okay . . .. I caught the last one before it hopped away because I thought the kids would like to see it. I'm guessing it was no more than three weeks old and very sweet. We kept it for a day but it wouldn't eat anything, so I tucked it back in its burrow and hoped its Mom would find it. I'll cry if I write what ended up happening to this bunny (or to one of its siblings), but nature isn't always pretty. The kids had so much fun with this sweet little bunny that I decided it might be a good time to buy the lop-eared bunny that I always planned to get some day.

We found some on Craigs List--two of nine progeny born to two supposed female bunnies. We're hoping ours are truly sisters. It was pretty impulsive, but we're excited about them. We don't have a cage yet. This weekend they've been living comfortably in a wardrobe box. They are absolutely adorable and very gentle. We met the parents and they were too. They'll live in a cage in our basement but we'll let them get out to hop around. We'll see where we live next--maybe they'll be inside bunnies, maybe outside. We're hoping Uncle Jed isn't allergic!

Sarah has been really cute with them, but she's a little grabby so we have to watch her carefully. She is a little upset that we won't let her eat the little treat balls that they leave behind whenever they hop. We sweep them up and dump them in the garbage and she toddles over to the garbage and howls, sure that we have thrown away chocolate chips or some such yummy chocolate treat. I hope she never discovers that they really aren't treats. And yes, I did forget how much rabbits poop! We're still working on names. We'll post when we can all agree!

Cat and Bat

2009-06-27T13:20:00.001-07:00

We attended an elaborate neighborhood picnic this week. Somehow Nestle was a sponsor and provided the meat and free samples of Carnation Instant Breakfast and T-shirts. There was a bounce house, face painting, cotton candy, and a firetruck, and it was all free! I can't remember ever buying cotton candy for my kids, so they were very excited. They each waited in line for an hour to get their faces painted, then we went home and they had to take baths and wash it all off. We have a very nice neighborhood full of families who have lived in their homes for a long time, and there are playgrounds everywhere.

Minnesota Zoo

2009-06-27T13:06:00.000-07:00

We bought a pass to the Minnesota Zoo. It reminds us of the Bronx Zoo because it's spread out with a lot of land for the animals. Sarah wasn't sure about the petting zoo in the farm, but Anna and Michael loved it. I think we'll go many times before it gets too cold.

Voet for Me

2009-06-27T12:53:00.000-07:00

That's not a typo, that's Michael's campagin slogan for their election for Bedroom President. Anna was hysterical when he stole it from her because "Vote for Me" was her original idea. Anna is trying to carve out her own little space in the bedroom shared by three, and she thinks bedroom rules and a president will help. She has a much better deal than Michael because she already has the top of a low set of bunkbeds. Her ideal for their bedroom is perfect silence, which is challenging because Michael is incapable of silence in any setting--not that he should always need to be quiet in his own bedroom. I have to share the first paragraph of Anna's speech, which is as far as she has gotten: My fellow candidates, it's a pleasure to stand before you today, but as time runs short, so does my speech. However, I still state the fact that I'll be perfectly . . .. Michael was too noisy for her to finish her speech. Elections are coming up soon, with two candidates and two voters. I just can't predict the outcome!

First Ponytails

2009-06-19T16:48:00.000-07:00

2908 Webster Ave

2009-06-18T06:48:00.001-07:00

We have been in Minnesota for a week and a half. I have finally found my camera cord so I can post some pictures. We are renting a house in the city of St. Louis Park (just outside of Minneapolis) for one year while Travis completes a cornea fellowship at the University of Minnesota. We are so grateful for all of the wonderful help we have had on both ends of our move! We were really touched by all of the service from our Brownsburg friends. While Travis drove the Penske truck, my mom rode in our van with me and the kids. Our original plan was to move in Sat at noon, but we bumped up the move to Friday night because Travis was able to skip work on Friday and arrive an hour before the kids and I. The forecast promised heavy rain for Saturday, and we were able to entirely move in on Friday. Five wonderful men (from our new ward in our church) came over with only an hour-and-a-half notice of the new plans and we were able to completely move in. I am still overwhelmed by all of the service we have received. Everything fits in our house, and we didn't need a storage unit. I love our house! It looks smaller from the outisde than it feels inside. My dad and brother Jed arrived on Saturday at 10 a.m. We were so happy to see them and they and my mom were amazing! Without them we would still be living in chaos. We had a scary start with a two-day stint in the hospital with Sarah. She had a fever of 106.9 and they admitted her. They never discovered the source of her fever, but she is all better now. Travis got a nasty case of strep--which I have now and am trying to get my old doctor or even my husband to call in antibiotics for me. Travis is back in Indy to finish his residency which ends June 30. We wish we could be there to celebrate his birthday today and attend his graduation from residency, but gratefully his dad is coming out for his graduation. So the kids and I are by ourselves for a couple of weeks, getting settled and learning our way around. We miss Travis and my family and I have to cook again now that Grandma and Grandpa aren't feeding us :). We went to the Mall of America and Downtown Minneapolis while my family was here, but somehow we didn't take many pictures. I think it's going to be a great year!

Nine Days Left

2009-05-26T19:37:00.000-07:00

We are very busy getting ready to move to Minnesota, but we have taken time to enjoy our peonies. They are my favorite flower, and we have so many this year that I have pitchers of them all over the house and there are still tons outside. They bloomed last year when Sarah was born, and suddenly it's the end of May again and she's turning 1. We're going to miss our home a lot, but we'll always have our memories of the four years we spent here.

Goodbye to Good Friends

2009-05-26T19:31:00.001-07:00

I had so much fun going to dinner with many of my good friends from the Brownsburg Ward a couple of weeks before our moving day. A few people had to leave before we took this photo. I am really going to miss all of my wonderful friends. Thanks for spending this memorable evening with me!

Mini Marathon

2009-05-13T13:12:00.000-07:00

On May 2 Travis ran the Indianapolis Mini Marathon, which is the country's largest 1/2 marathon. The weather was cloudy and cool with no rain, perfect for a race. He beat his last year's time by 16 minutes and felt really good. I'm so proud of him! It's always an emotional experience watching marathon runners finish a race. Travis's parents were here and so were Travis's brother and his wife and four kids. They woke up very early to drive up from Cincinnati to support him. We spent the rest of the day playing tennis and enjoying the perfect May weather. Travis's parents split their time with us here and with David's family in Cincinnati and then we went to our niece Amie's baptism in Cincinnati last weekend. My camera's batteries were dead, but (with some arm twisting) Michael let me use his.

Final Concerts in Indianapolis

2009-04-28T10:42:00.000-07:00

Last weekend Anna and Michael had their final violin and cello concerts as members of the Indianapolis Academy of music. Anna's music was challenging and we have had many interruptions during the past two months, but she played well. I can't even think about saying goodbye to her teacher Kathy Hershberger, who has become such a good friend and been such an amazing teacher. We already said a teary farewell to Michael's teacher Cara Miller who is leaving the academy and teaching full time at IU in Bloomington. She has been commuting to Indy (1 hour 20 min.) to teach in the Indianapolis Academy. As the cello group began their first song of the dress rehearsal, "French Folksong," the mom sitting next to me and I started to cry. I can't explain how these simple songs become such a big part of your life when you practice instruments with your kids. I view the opportunity to take lessons from these two great women as two of the greatest blessings of our time in Indiana.

Easter

2009-04-13T13:48:00.001-07:00

I came home from our trip to Utah for Grandma Holdaway’s funeral with a nasty cold. It kept our Easter celebration simple, but there were Easter baskets and Anna and Sarah sort of had matching dresses. Anna dumped the candy from her basket into a plastic bag and her pink rubber duck began nesting in her basket of grass right away. Michael hasn't set his light saber down. Travis took the girls to church while Michael and I stayed home sick. My sweet visiting teacher actually taught RS for me. I hope that she will be blessed and that I will never have to ask for that kind of service again! Michael was supposed to give a talk, but in his place Anna bore her testimony in primary. Having attended both her great-grandma and great-grandpa Holdaway’s funerals in March and April, it was a good time for her to bear her testimony of the Savior’s Resurrection.

Old Toys Rediscovered

2009-04-13T13:35:00.000-07:00

Michael Max received this rocking horse for his first birthday. He never took to it as a young toddler, but Anna adopted it and named it Brony (the Pony) and later renamed it Alice, when all things had to be girls. When we brought it in from the garage and wiped the dust from it, Sarah (10 mo.) squawked until we set her on it. She sat on it happily for ten minutes, then squawked to get down. She even likes it when her brother "helps her rock." I love seeing old toys loved again.