The last ski of the season

You know the saying "in like a lamb out like a lion"....well this definitely proved to be true here in Montana this year. Although I had been experiencing major spring fever and wanting winter to go away, it's back. I suppose this is a good thing because David and I were planning on going skiing for the last time on Saturday with the kids anyway. So waking up to tons of snow on Saturday morning sort of encouraged my excitement for the plans of the day. A part of me previously just wanted to continue working on our house (i.e. lots of painting needs to be done). However, it proved to be a really fun day. The highlight was definitely watching Gracie hit the slopes. She really is awesome. I wish I could say the same for Elijah. I am not sure if it's just his age, or the fact that he was tired....but he pretty much cried all the way down the mountain. Things should be better for him next year. It's not that he can't do it....he just gets a little scared for some reason. I guess we have decided that he has Boppa's extraordinary super duper cautious gene. At any rate it was a quiet and peaceful ride home.

I am discovering the world of the internet

Okay, so I know that the internet has been around for awhile. However, since I have been blogging I am now actually learning new things about the computer all the time. And fortunately I have a wonderful friend who is always happy to fill me in on all the fun things you can do to deck out your page. And I am beginning to realize how you literally can find out any kind of random information you are wanting to know. I like most people have seen the new mac thinbook commercial....and have thought...."oh this is a catchy tune." Well, just so you all know the artist's name is Yael Naim. She was born in France....but is Israeli. It could be that everyone already knows....and I am just still in the dark (like my light bulb moment with the internet.) Anyways, I can't help get this song out of my head. This really is a crazy world we live in. I realize that I am making myself vulnerable to all sorts of picking on......oh well.


Just a little goofy pic....Elijah hasn't gotten much face time lately!

He is Risen!

So this is a little delayed...but we had a wonderful day celebrating Jesus' resurrection. It started off a little hairy as 5 minutes before we were going to leave for church Micah appears with a face smeared full of chocolate....and some all over his new Easter clothes. But I was able to laugh as I told David to go grab the camera, because this makes great blogging material. Fortunately, I was able to get most of the chocolate out of his shirt before church (not that Jesus cares). After church we came home to have a turkey lunch....which David was a little disappointed because he was wanting ham. But the turkey was on sale....and I wanted to redeem myself for Thanksgiving....because our turkey was dryer than hoped for. It actually was amazing....and will be eating lots of it all week long. Then we went to some friends house for an Easter egg hunt. They live on 5 acres with a beautiful view of the mountains.

When we came home Grace was busy eating an apple and all of a sudden she realized that her tooth was looser than before. Yes, the big moment happened...she pulled out her first tooth. I can hardly believe how big she is! This makes me think how fast our life goes by....it seems like just yesterday she was getting her teeth. I am rejoicing in the fact that I put my hope in Jesus....and can look forward to my resurrection in Him!

I've been tagged.....awhile ago!

What is your husbands full name? David James Oettel

How long have you been together? Going on 12 years....but married almost 9.

Who eats more?Definitely David

Who said I love you first? David....but I told him he could not tell me this until he was going to marry me.

Who's taller? David....I am not hard to beat.

Who's smarter? David is by far more intellectually smart...however, I think I have beat with the emotional intelligence.

Who does the laundry? Ugggghhhh me. I literally spent three hours folding laundry yesterday.

Who does the dishes? I do, but David gives the kids baths after dinner while I clean up the kitchen....it's a great little system.

Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? I do, because David sleeps closest to the door....always.

Who pays the bills? David does it now....but I did them all through medical school.

Who cooks dinner? I do and I love to cook, but David is the king of the grill.....I love the summer!Who drives when you are together? David

Who is more stubborn? Hmmmmmm...it may be a toss up. I will have to go with me.

Who kissed who first? David kissed me. I knew that it was coming because he told my friend that he shaved. This was kinda a joke between us. We wanted to wait awhile before the big kiss....so we would sit nose to nose for hours. I told him I preferred a clean shaven face. So I knew he was going to make a move.

Who asked out who first? Technically I think a friend told both of us that the other wanted to go hang out....when neither of us had told the friend that. Our first official date, David asked me to go discing (or frisby golf for those who aren't so serious about this sport).

Who proposed? David, I pretty much had been begging for a ring since we had been dating a couple of months. However, David had me convinced I would not be getting one until the spring. He proposed on our "Christmas/anniversary of dating date". He took me on a horse drawn carriage ride...and proposed along the way. I thought when he was digging for the ring he was digging for chap stick (it was cold out). He even kept his cool when we were talking to a couple before the ride. The girl was saying that she knew that her boyfriend was going to propose...and I said "oh.....I am not getting a ring until spring." I was obviously in the dark.


Who has more siblings? I have one more.....no big news here.

My Big Boy......And the Rest of our Happenings

So poor little Nathan's hair was getting kinda scraggly. He was in dire need a haircut. Fortunately...or unfortunately for him, mommy is also the hair stylist in our family. So after mentioning to David that I was planning on giving him a little trim I allowed myself to give into David's request to go commando and buzz it all off. This request has taken place many a time on behalf of Micah....but Mommy in her wisdom has not allowed this to happen. I think all the pent up desire to buzz our little boys hair transferred to him. David gladly stripped away the little innocence of my baby as I sat and got teary eyed through the camera lens. I have to admit....hair or no hair he is still just as cute. It's just the thought of my little boy turning into not so little anymore that makes me sad. David since then has continued to request that we do the same thing and buzz Micah's hair....but I just can't do it. And everyone that we know tells us never to cut it because it's so cute. I told David he had to find 10 to tell me that I should cut Micah's hair short (5 of them being our family members). So if you are reading this please feel free to join into the poll! Yesterday night we had fun as a family doing the traditional Easter egg dye. We have been trying to get across to our kids the importance of this time. We knew that we needed have a little discussion when we asked our kids why we celebrate Easter. Elijah's response was "so we can get presents from the Easter Bunny." This actually made me sad. Grace new that that wasn't the reason and it had something to do with Jesus. Honestly, Grace and Elijah both understand what Jesus has done for them as far as dying on the cross and raising from the dead....but didn't get that we specifically celebrate it at this time of year. I suppose their is some truth their....we should celebrate this every day!

Happy 30th to the love of my life!

David,


There are so many things that I had thought about doing for you on this day.....and most of them didn't turn out exactly the way I wanted them too. I hope you understand just how special you are to our family. For those of you that don't know I always have to be sneaky with David's birthday or surprises because he is just too smart. This year I obviously wanted to give him a huge surprise for his 30th. Usually, I am the conservative one in the family when it comes to gift giving. This year I decided to order a mountain bike online and have it shipped to a friends house. I knew he would love it because he has been talking about getting one all year long....and of course he would never suspect that I would actually buy it. I picked the bike up from our friends house and brought it to a local store to have them put it together. My plan was to drop David off at a trail on his birthday where friends would meet him for a ride. Needless to say, my 3 boys were with me when we brought the bike to the store and picked it up. Although I had passionate discussions with them about how we didn't need to say anything about our little secret....you can imagine it didn't really happen. David got back from his TDY in San Antonio and the next day we were sitting at the table for breakfast(last Saturday). Elijah pointed out that we had a surprise for David but couldn't say what it was. Micah then chimed in.....and said "yeah and it's a bike". So, I guess the moral of the story is if I want to surprise David......don't have the kids with me. So we actually gave him his present last week. This Friday we got to surprise daddy at work with a cake that said "yes, David really is 30." This is in reference to the fact that everyone can't believe that David is actually this old. Some people tease
him and call him Doogie.

Back to you honey, the most important thing that I want you to know is how much I love you! You really are the most amazing husband and father. I am so blessed that the Lord brought you into my life. I can honestly see that the Lord has used you in so many ways to refine me into the woman He wants me to be. I just want to know how special you are. Although their are countless reasons I could give for why I love you....here are 30!

1. You truly love the Lord....and seek to do His will

2. You are committed to me and our children

3. You do everything to the best of your ability....and everything you take on such as skiing....or mountain biking, or house repairs, you aim for perfection.

4. You confess your sins to me and ask for forgiveness

5. You provide for our family

6. You have integrity at work

7. You look for every opportunity to serve me...i.e. you give me a backrub even when you don't want to

8. You love to have fun with our family and look for ways to make memories for our children

9. You always say sorry first....and you always forgive me before I ask for forgiveness

10. You help out around the house when I don't have time to do it all

11. You spend time working on the house after work when all you want to do is relax.

12. You are super goofy

13. You listen to me when I have concerns about how we should raise our children

14. You always tell me that you love me

15. Your such a hottie

16. You call me in the morning just to make sure I am awake.

17. You are the most disciplined person I know

18.You always speak highly of me....even when you know and I know that I can be a pill sometimes.

19. You want to spend your time with me

20. You take care of all the little things that I don't like to do....and we would get in trouble for if we didn't do

21. You tell me I am beautiful...when I really don't believe it myself.

22. You encourage me to seek the Lord about all things

23. You help with the kids...i.e. bathtime, reading them the Word of God, wrestling, biking, playing, dancing around to music, getting them ready, feeding them etc. etc.

24. You help me with all the things I have no clue how to do on the computer.

25. You download music for me to put on my ipod
26. You spoil me wrotten every Birthday, Christmas....or any other holiday where you could give gifts.

27. You randomly come home with flowers, and treats for us to eat.

28. You always buy the biggest, most, or things I normally wouldn't buy....because you love us and want to spoil us.

29. You seek to make sure that I am happy in all things....and would give me the world if I asked.

30. You are a kingdom builder, a man after God's heart, you seek to be used by God in powerful ways, you study God's Word and apply it to your life, you have a heart for the lost, you want to live up to your God given potential.

I am proud to be your wife! Happy Birthday Honey!

Nathan's New Trick

So I truly believe that Nathan is trying to catch up with the rest of the gang. It appears to me that he is over being a baby in so many ways. Today was a little bit warmer so Elijah, Micah, and a little boy I was watching went outside to ride bikes. I was watching them from the patio window where Nathan had his little nose sticking to. While he has not perfected the word outside yet....I knew that his babbling was telling me that he wanted to go outside too. So we decided to go check it out. Nathan crawled all the way to the carport where they were riding. I was so proud of Elijah who was so kind to give him a very safe ride on his bigwheel. He loved the ride. This only confirms that from the womb I knew that he was going to be laid back...yet a mover if that makes sense. Or maybe what I am trying to say is that he is nowhere near the will my other children have. He is always....with maybe only a few acceptions happy and easy. Although, he has a part of him that likes to move. His latest trick as of late is climbing up and down the stairs. This is the first time we have ever had to contend with stairs....so needless to say I have encouraged his safe passage up and down them. I think he is pretty darn good at it. But again, I really have no idea when kids do this because we have never had stairs for the other kids. I just think that he is so darn cute.