Super-hero/Jedi/Pirate/Jet-pack guy

FLORIDA

Zach on the plane (no fun for anyone!!). We couldn't afford to pay for 4 tickets to Florida, so unfortunately Kimball and Brandon had to stay with family in Pocatello, Rexburg, and Utah. They had a blast back here, but we still feel guilty that they couldn't go. Zach was free and he is also still nursing, so along he came with Mom and Dad. It was a LONG trip to Florida, lets not repeat that ever again... PLEASE oh please! We arrived at Chris and Steve's place at 1:30 in the morning, just thinking about still makes me cringe! Chris and Steve were so gracious to offer a place for us to stay. We have spent only a handful of hours with them since our marriage, and to stay with them for almost a week was much needed "bonding" time for all of us. 

Mike and Zach at Blue Springs

Testing the temperature of the water, brrrrrr

Zach's first swing adventure, all smiles

Going on an evening stroll at the park. Being able to spend time with Kevin, whom we never get to see, was indeed a very bright highlight to our trip. He is a very smart and polite young man, and fun to hang out with. I can't believe that he is 7, he was only 4 months old when Mike and I got engaged and I met him for the first time, sheesh where have those seven years gone?

Sand fun with Zach, Mia, Kevin, and Mike. How can you go to Florida and not go the Beach? That would be like going out to a restaurant and not eating anything:) What a great day, playing and lounging at the beach, being mistaken for an Italian, Mike spending about 45 minutes talking to a group of Italians after I cleared up that I am not Italian. The only things that I can say in Italian are a few phrases that I have picked up from Mike. They were a great group of people. The beach was packed, but we hardly noticed, we were too busy enjoying ourselves.

Beach baby! Zach loved it! He added a new item to his diet for one day, he tried to eat the sand.

The happy couple before Mia took out her endowments and they were sealed. I love the temple in the early morning light, it paralleled the day perfectly, the dawn of a new life for Nate and Mia. What a blessed day! I was able to go with them early and be Mia's escort through the temple. That was a beautiful experience to be with her. I had to leave before the sealing to be with Zach. Mike was with Zach during the endowment session and then we rendezvoused to switch the baby and he joined Nate and Mia to be a part of their sealing.

It was a day that we will never forget, the Temple affords us so many precious experiences in this life.

We were able to go see the house that Chris and Steve are trying to purchase, and it was raining pretty good. I snapped this pic of Nate carrying an armload of umbrellas to our car, too funny! We weren't planning on getting out of the car, but since he was putting so much effort into getting umbrellas, how could we not? I hope they get the house, it has a lot of charm and character, perfect for those two.

In 2007 when Mike and I visited FL together for the first time, we were introduced to Dixie Crossroads in Titusville, FL. I dream of the food that we eat there at least once a week... the corn fritters, the AMAZING rock shrimp, juicy lobster, sweet crab, scallops... wow, the best food ever I swear! We went there again in 2009 when we visited for Steve and Christian's wedding, 2 years was too long to not go to Dixie's. Well if 2 years is too long, 3 is unbearable! We had to go, no matter what on this trip, and lucky for us, everyone wanted to join us. . . Kevin surprised us all, he ate a whole Dixie special and then started picking off everyone's plate for more seafood. Great times. We ended our trip on a high note, General Conference, a trip to Gemini Springs, a soccer game with the Matusek brothers and Kevin, and eating out all together again. We sat in the restaurant long after the meal was over and just talked, laughed, and enjoyed the evening. We left early the next morning... barely made it to the airport on time. I have never almost missed a flight, and it was a stressful experience, one I hope never to repeat. I am surprise I didn't develop an ulcer after that, I was so worried that we would miss the flight while we were sitting in traffic and then again when we were in line at security. We made it home safe and sound, got out boys back, and settled back into our life and routine. We have our next FL trip planned though, and we are thrilled!

All in a days mess

March 20, 2012 was a complete mess! Motherhood is messy though:) the boys spread mud all over the window, Brandon accidentally knocked the soap pump to the ground, shattering it to pieces sending soap everywhere and Zachary pulled half of my canned goods out of the cupboard. I love my boys to pieces, but goodness, they are messy. Speaking of messes, there is a big pile of sticks on the lawn that my boys call their stick fort and dishes to be done... Looks like its another messy day at the Matusek household, bring it on!

2 left feet

A few weeks ago I told Brandon to go get his dress shoes on so we could leave for church. This is how he came out, two different shoes, different sizes, and both of them designed for the left feet! Brandon is the last person on this earth who needs to be wearing two left shoes, he is clumsy enough as it is. We didn't notice until we came home from church, and we all had a good laugh:)

Time out

I have created such wonderful memories in time out, I don't think my children can say the same thing:) Last year I was able to go to the Time Out for Women here in Pocatello. What a great weekend that was! When the time came to get tickets for the Time Out for Women in Idaho Falls this year, me, my mom, grandma, and sister in law just had to get tickets. I looked forward to this weekend for months, and when March 16th and 17th came around I was so ready to go to time out:)

My favorite presenter at this year's event was John Bytheway, his message was stirring and thought provoking. He spoke about marinating, relating the process of marinating meat to our spiritual potency. His thoughts were, in short, that what we surround ourselves with become a part of us just as a marinade soaks into the meat and becomes a part of that meat. I have asked myself often since that night, what am I marinating in? What kind of music am I listening to? What shows do I watch on television? What am I surrounding myself with? Another highlight from this year's time out was going to lunch at Babe's with my Grandma, mom, and cousin. SO SO good! I ordered an asparagus and ham quiche and their homemade chicken noodle soup. It was delicious and fresh, I am definitely going there again!

Old news

Only those who haven't seen me since December would be interested
in this post . . . I did get a new haircut in December (trimmed 2x since then).
I LOVE it, how did I ever live with long hair and 3 kids?

Personal Progress

It has been almost two years since since I was put in the Young Women's program at church as a beehive adviser, with the 12-13 year old girls. My role has been one of support, for the girls and also to the second counselor in the YW presidency, who is over the beehives. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time teaching these lovely girls, they instruct me more than I instruct them.


As a leader in the Young Women's program, I can take the opportunity to complete the personal progress program. I was so excited about this when I heard about it shortly after coming into my calling. 14 years ago when I came into the program as a young woman, I completed the beehive requirements and received my beehive medallion. Then the program was revamped, doing away with the individual class medallions. I never finished the requirements to receive the young womanhood medallion for completion of Personal Progress before I graduated early and headed off to college.

A second chance, that is what I am being given, to complete what I didn't take the opportunity to as a youth. I have the requirements for Faith all completed except the project, and I am almost done with that project. Divine nature is 100% complete. I have completed 2 requirements for Individual worth, 1 requirement for Knowledge, and am currently working on 2 goals in in Choice and Accountability. Also, in reading the Book of Mormon last fall as part of our Bishop's challenge I completed the Virtue requirements. I am making "personal progress", slowly but surely.

Put a plug in it

5 pinches

On February 19th, 2007 Kimball made his grand (harrowing for me) entrance into this world. Mike and I were so eager to meet our first born, to be parents. Five years, and it seems like it was just yesterday. At this rate I will be writing about his mission farewell in a few days!

To celebrate the big 5 we went to Utah on the 18th and with Mike's parents went to the planetarium in SLC (which was a blast), to Chuck E Cheese's (not a blast for the adults... but the kids loved it), and enjoyed a Star Wars Legos cake made by Marge. On his birthday he had his favorite pancakes for breakfast (whole wheat), had a birthday song sung to him at church, had surprise visitors (Corey and family), ate his fave foods (shrimp and fish), opened more presents, and ate more cake! If I might say so, he had a wonderful two days.

So here we go, by the end of the year I will have a child in kindergarten, he is so so excited! I will definitely be crying on that morning.

Waiting for the UTA Frontliner train to take us
to SLC. Kimball and Brandon had a blast!

Dad and boys on Mars:) The planetarium was a blast, they had
moon and mars landscapes that kids can play around on


Playing games at Chuck E. Cheese's with Grampy!
What more could a kid ask for?

Grammy and Grampy did awesome making this Star
Wars cake for Kimball, it was quite a surprise
for everyone

Kimball was eating heart shaped pancakes (with a candle of course)

Kimball's face in this picture is priceless, I was so lucky to
have captured that moment! He was so surprised to get
a big Star Wars ship!!

LOVE

Valentines day is not a big thing with Mike and I, it never has been. Don't ask me why, I'm not sure really. However this day does hold significance for me because it is one of the days in the year where I make sugar cookies (the only other times being Halloween and Christmas). I love sugar cookies, especially when they are in the shape of a heart with pink frosting and sprinkles.

We celebrated V day on Monday night, Feb 13 during FHE. Our lesson was about love and how we show love to each other. Then we sat down and made a sugar cookie for one another. Brandon kinda went overboard on the sprinkles while Kimball was a little more reserved. Mmmm, they were superb sugar cookies (if I can say that about my own baking).