Why I haven't been updating...

Nope, not pregnant...but just very busy with all my "computer time."  Although there are a million home improvement projects I would love to be working on, instead I am super deep into my thesis proposal research.  I'm taking my last required class this semester and the culmination of this class is to have a research proposal to submit to the university's Internal Review Board (IRB) in order to get the approval to start my actual research.  I basically  have to get everything ready for my actual thesis (introduction, literature review, methods, etc.) and then I can begin collecting data after that all happens.

So that being said, I've basically been finding every article that is mildly related to my topic...then putting the reference into proper APA style along with a brief summary of the pertinent parts of the study...and the result is THIS.

Now I have to start organizing it into something readable and hopefully get it all turned in by the first week of May.  Then the plan is to collect data all summer, analyze it, write it up, and defend it in the Fall.  I was all gung-ho for getting it taken care of at the beginning of Fall semester (the earliest I can do it since I can't defend it in the Summer semester).  BUT, now I'm thinking of waiting til November so that I can take the opportunity to travel to Cedar City after my parents have moved back to St. George and I can make it a fun homecoming instead. :)

Anyway, that's where my extra time has gone...oh yeah, and the fact that we're over half-way through training for my May 5th marathon.  When it rains, it pours! :)

Watch this! See that?

 Elliot's favorite thing is to go around saying, "Watch this! Watch this!" and then do something really weird.  Such as sticking out his tummy and walking around with loosey-goosey arms.

 As soon as he finishes the demonstration, he follows it up with, "See that?  See that?"

He is such a crack-up right now.  We love him!

A few more

 I forgot to post Isabel's 5-year check-up stats...
Height: 42.5" (50%)

Weight: 35.2 (25%)

BMI: 13.7 (10%)

 We got a preview of Elliot's next birthday present. :)  Jack & Robbi just redecorated a room and with their furniture purchase, they got a killer deal on this car.  We couldn't NOT let Elliot play in it, even though it is technically for his birthday.  Basically this is what I ALWAYS wanted growing up.  But it's a step up because it can be controlled by a remote control or by the kid in the car.  Awesome. 

Spiderman!

Great-Grandma Rowan

 We were able to visit Great-Grandma Rowan...and even got her to play the piano for us!

 She was/is an amazing pianist who plays by ear.  Matt asked her how she started playing the piano.  According to her, when she was 3 years old, she just sat down at a piano at church while her mom was chatting and started playing a song.  When she finished, her mom looked at her and said, "I didn't know you knew how to do that!"  She just looked back and said, "Me neither!"  She didn't start taking formal lessons for another 9 years, but she ended up being a piano teacher and taught Matt and the rest of his siblings how to play the piano.

We don't know how much longer we'll have Great-Grandma Rowan with us on the earth, so we hope that Isabel will remember her namesake (Edith) and these sweet memories they have had together.

Valentine's Day--Taco soup night

 Matt woke up very sick on Valentine's Day, so we skipped our 2nd day of Free after 3 pm skiing and relaxed before heading to my brother's house for taco soup. :)

 So excited that Elliot has cousins only 4 months younger than him to play with!  Plus the older cousins were fantastic at engaging the kids and helping them play.

 Poor Isabel had a rough night.  She ended up getting a sliver followed by a bloody hang nail getting pulled off, so after about 30 minutes of trying to calm her down, we put on a movie and this was the result.  Basically, she's never going to want to return to Aunt Tammy's horrible house of horrors! :)

 Can I just say how beautiful their home is...Tammy is a professional interior designer and it shows...everything she touches turns to gold. :)  I get a lot of help and advice from her before embarking on a new project. :)

 These are the beautiful ladies that only have the backs of their heads in the previous pics. :)

 And the twinner winners.  So adorably cute!

Yay for chocolate cake!

Happy Birthday--family style

 We drove to UT on Friday and then joined some cousins at Jungle Jim's to celebrate Isabel's birthday.  Man that place is fun.  Despite Elliot's constantly non-impressed facial expression, he really had fun!

 Elliot insisted on driving the bumper car by himself, but then he got stuck doing circles and yelling, "Stuck!  Car not going! Stuck!"  We were laughing so hard that the tears were flowing.

 Then back home for pizza, presents and cake.

Isabel wanted a Candyland cake, so I did my best to deliver and follow the actual game board.  The candy was kind of hard to chew on top of the cake, including breaking Robbi's temporary crown...whoops!  But it sure looked good! :)  Jack also bought Isabel some trick candles, so that was funny to see Isabel's confusion.  We had a great birthday party celebration with family...so glad we could come visit right at this time!

Your little brother is stuck in the couch!

 When Isabel's friend was over, we were upstairs and heard her yell, "Isabel!  Your little brother is stuck in the couch!"

So Isabel responded the only way she could in the situations, "That is not a problem that I need to solve!"  Fortunately, Daddy was there to help pull him out. :)

Festivities

 Heart man!!!!!

 Birthday girl!  We didn't do too much celebrating outside of opening some of her presents because we're going to be having a family party in Utah this weekend.

 I missed the first reaction to this gift...she was ecstatic!  I had bought this same little makeup kit for a friend's birthday party and she had been begging for one just like it for her birthday.  I love being the hero! :)

 Poor Elliot was pretty sad that he didn't get any presents and spent the entire afternoon crying. :)

 I had locked my keys in my car and a friend helped get Matt's keys from the house and then came to pick me up from the gym, so I kept her daughter for the afternoon for thanks...perfect for Isabel's birthday afternoon. :)  They enjoyed playing Poppin' Puzzlers...

 Look at the piece up in the air.  I love their expressions!

Happy Birthday Isabel!

 Age 5

 Age 4

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 Age 2

 Age 1

Age 0