Grandpa & Grandma visit! Part I

My parents flew in a week ago to spend some time with us before Dan graduated. They flew out early this morning to Utah, to see my little sister who is supposed to have her baby anytime now. (So exciting!!!)

I think Chelsea and Michael were a little confused when we picked them up at the airport, but they warmed up very quickly. Michael was very disappointed that we weren't going to be getting on a plane at the airport, so Dan took them to go watch the airplanes take off for a few minutes before we left the airport.
Chelsea played Grandma some of her piano pieces she's been practicing, and Grandma helped her sing the songs. Aren't they cute?!


Chelsea also loved wearing Grandpa's hat. Luckily for Dad, the weather was cloudy enough that he didn't really need to wear it.

Mom recently got a new tech toy...and I phone. She was constantly snapping pictures of everything! I'll have to get some of those pictures from her. This was at the fountain in front of the dental school while we waited for Dan to be finish up for the day.


I have lots more pictures to post, but I'll spread them out a little bit. I had to share this last picture. Both of my parents are extremely busy. Mom has a big role in the music teacher's association in Texas and will be retuning home just in time for the Texas state music convention. Any moment we weren't out somewhere, she was busy trying to get things ready for the convention. Dad had to do some work because he didn't have enough vacation days to just take off these two weeks. This is what our kitchen table looked like most of the week, with their cell phones going off constantly! And I thought my job was bad! They were very good about dropping anything they were doing when it was time to go do something. Thanks mom and dad for an awesome time. I miss you already!

Time out!

It was one of those days, where you feel like you are running around trying to get stuff done, but nothing seems to get done. My house was a mess, my kids were crabby, and I still needed to practice a piece I had agreed to accompany my friends with. Dan was at school getting ready for boards. We had made it through dinner, and now I was trying to get the house cleaned up. However, everytime I left Chelsea and Michael alone, they would fight, or one of them would start crying. I finally couldn't stand the bickering any longer, and made them sit on opposite ends of the couch so I could at least run through the song once or twice before the Monahan's came over to practice. I gave them the "mommy's-had-enough-and-someone-will-be-in-serious-trouble-if-they-even-think-about-moving" look before I began. After just the frist page, I noticed it was strangely quiet...too quiet...so I turned my head to see what they were getting into now. And this is what I found....



He stayed this way through our practice, after Dan got home, and through me finishing up the cleaning. That's one exhausted little boy!

Remember this?

That was me this last saturday for, oh...6 HOURS. Yeah...not exactly fun, but you have no idea how grateful I was to be there.

It all started Friday night, about 6 PM. I just got home from the grocery store, and my stomach was starting to grumble...and not in a good way. It was scrapbook night, and I hadn't been in many, MANY months, so I was so excited to finally be able to go. I went straight upstairs to take a hot bath and lay down for a minute to get rid of the wierd feeling I had going on. At 8:00 I knew I wasn't going anywhere. then from about 9:00 on, I was in the bathroom every hour doing something on the potty. (I'll spare you the details) :) at 3:00 AM I headed back to the bathroom and after doing my thing, I started crying. I was Dan's patient for his Dental Board exam. Me, and only me. I was his last back up after the other patients hadn't worked out. If I didn't make it there in the morning, he would fail. His next exam would be in August. In Dallas, Tx. He would have to fly himself and any patients out there. We would be unemployed until at least January when he could finally get his license.

NO way! I wanted to scream to my body! I have to be there. I WILL be there. No matter how I felt. But then I remembered this:

ARGH. Well, like I said, I was RELIEVED to have the thing in my mouth all day. I was so glad to be there. I prayed HARD that morning, as I slowly (2 hours) got ready, dropped the kids off at a friend's, and drove to school. I had bawled to my sister already that morning, and I knew she had been praying for me too. As I got closer and closer to the school, I felt better and better. Not great, but better. I could do this. I did do it.

It was a long day, but Dan did awesome! We're pretty sure he passed and he did it so fast! We thought I might have to come back on Sunday, but he finished it all on Saturday...with time to spare! He IS a great Dentist!

My baby is growing up!

It seems like just yesterday we were playing in her room...

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

and now she's all done with preschool! She went to preschool at Valley Christian Preschool. She went there last year too. This year, we couldn't get into the morning class with the friends she'd made from the previous year, so we went to the afternoon class. It turned out to be soo nice! I loved not being rushed in the mornings. There were about 12 girls and 4 boys. The girls were so sweet and cute! They often traded shoes during play time and loved to borrow things from each other.

There are only three girls in Chelsea's CTR5 class at church and one boy. We were so excited to find out that Brooke would be in Chelsea's preschool class too. They have become the best of friends. The teacher's presented each child with a memory book with a picture of each classmate, and a survey of what the children thought of each other. MOst of the comments were like "she's nice" or "I like her hair", but most of the comments about Chelsea were "She likes to play with Brooke" or "She likes to paint". (Many a day she came home completely covered in paint...in her hair, on her shoes...all over)

Getting her certificate of completion. :)

Her awesome teachers, Miss Shannon and Miss Laura. She had another teacher, Miss Lisa, who was also the primary president of our ward, but she moved to Colorado in January. We've really missed her!


She's very excited to start Kindergarten this fall, but I'm starting to get nervous as the time gets closer and closer, and I don't know which school she's going too! I'm sure she'll make friends quickly and easily, but I'm sure she will miss the friends she's made. The night of the graduation, she woke up crying, "I want to go to my preschool!!!"

Fun at Grandma and Grandpa's

This past weekend we went up to Tacoma to pick up some teeth Dan's dad had collected for Dan's boards. (He's a dentist..and yes, I know, that was an awkward worded sentence...kinda like this one...(sigh).

Anyway, like usual, we had a blast. It was the perfect weekend...Sunny and warm! AND it was Dad's birthday! Dad brought home some cupcakes he was given at the school he teaches at and we devoured them. Especially the frosting.
Um, Dad? You got something on your face....


Oh, me too!

Chelse loved the chocolate cake!

We played in the bubbles....

And played "pioneer" with the old handcart.


That night, we had a BBQ in the firepit. Michael is no longer afraid of the fire. Instead, he kept tromping back and forth from the fire to the woodpile, to make sure the fire kept going. Chelsea did much better, but still wouldn't get too close.

Dan was awfully proud of his gourmet hotdogs, slow roasted to perfection.



We each gave dad a box of whoppers for his birthday...


Which michael couldn't seem to stay out of.


Jumping on the trampoline is a blast...but when you turn on sprinklers...it's little kid heaven!




Does he look tired to you? Goal achieved! We left to get back to Portland about an hour after this picture was taken. both kids were passed out by the time we got out of the neighborhood. We ALL love Grandma and Grandpa's house!

I got my PhT!

Last night, Dan and I went to an alumni dinner. It was really fun to talk to all the friends we've made during the four years we've been here. I haven't seen some of the wives for a long time. There were a few of us who would watch the intramural basketball games every week, but the new gym they built didn't have room for spectators. It was fun to catch up with them, see pictures of kids, and learn about their plans in the very near future. We will soon be scattered accross the U.S to Georgia, North Carolina, Arizona, Michigan, Utah, Oregon, and Washington.

We are all amazed at how fast the four years went by, especially when it seemed it would take forever when we first met that first year in '04. I hope that most of them will continue this blog stuff so we can keep in touch. :)

The dinner was held at an Alumni's house, who is also a parent of one of dan's classmates. Of course, it was an incredible house, and the food was delicious, especially the desserts! YUM!

In the middle of the evening, the Dean of the Dental School gave a presentation. He told the story of an alumni member who graduated in the 60's and who's wife recently passed away. This passing caused him to reflect on all the memories he and his wife had an her influence on his career. He and his children got together and decided to create the Ann Wilkins Ellis award. This is the PhT award "Putting him/her Through" award. Students could nominate their spouses by writing a 500 word essay on how their spouse "Put him/her through" school. Dan left a copy of the essay he wrote on the table they day he submitted it. It was the sweetest letter, and of course, made me cry. I didn't care if I won or not, the essay was prize enough. But, due to his amazing literary skills more than my "support" I was one of 6 selected. We were given a copy of the letter on formal paper along with a cash award. We were instructed that the money was NOT to be used to go towards paying off debt, or anything but on ourselves. :) I think I can handle that. In fact, I was able to get myself a new dress for the evening, some jewelry, and makeup. It was so fun to get dressed up. Unfortunately, though, I think most of the money will go towards our move. I am so grateful for Dan's thoughtfulness. I love you!

Nephew number #12 is born!

"What the heck just happened?!" --new Staiger boy

My sister had her baby tonight! He's 8lbs and 20 inches long! My mom got a new i-hone so she was able to take a couple pictures when he was only an hour old!

Look at that cute dimple in his chin! (from dad)
And that adorable nose!
And that scowl! (all the staiger boys have had that...) comes from mom. :)
He's sooo cute!!!!


I have TWELVE nephews! (That's from both sides) with one on the way, 2 nieces... and an "it" on the way. My lil' sister is due June 4th, but the kid was too darn stubborn to let the doctor get a good picture to find out what "it" is. Whatever the baby is, it'll be cute!

I'm so excited to meet the new guy...but not sure when I'll get too, since he lives in Texas with his mom, dad, and two brothers. The brothers are really going to have fun now! If you really want to see how awesome they are at being sneaky, click here http://staigerstar.blogspot.com/2008/05/fun-in-sun.html

Aren't they so cute! Congrats Tami!!!!