We're Expanding!

Our family, along with my middle, is expanding. Mathias will be a big brother soon and we are so excited. I'm not due until March 26 and it seems so far away. So far, my pregnancy has been healthy. I have been a lot more sick this time than I was with Mathias but hopefully that part will be over soon.

Melissa and Matt's Wedding

Melissa and Matt Meng

Married August 23, 2008

Rexburg, ID LDS Temple

Dirk

The 'Original' Ravsten Family, plus one.

Becky, Brian, Annamarie, Milton, Rosemary, Melissa, Matt, Grandpa Roberts, Jeff, Johanna and Jennifer

Mathias gave us quite the scare at the temple. He was missing for about 5 minutes before we could find him. He wandered off up the stairs and was standing in the middle of another wedding party watching them take pictures. Thank you, Becky, for finding our little boy.

Sisters

Becky, Annie, Melissa, Johanna and Jennifer

Melissa with her big brothers, teasing her like always.

Jeff, Melissa and Brian

Melissa's cute shoes

Brian, Lindsay and Mathias

Wedding Luncheon

Mathias saw the cake and would not take his eyes off of it.
Matt and Melissa cutting the groom's cake.
Mathias was so excited when they finally cut the cake and he got some.
Anabela couldn't make it through the party.

Reception

Mathias and Brian
Handsome little boy.
Matt removing the garter with his teeth. They were both so embarrassed.
Bowen caught the garter. He didn't realize what it was at first, but once he did, he threw it on the ground and ran away.

7 Little Monkies

Mathias, Emily, Cory, Jackson, Bowen, Dirk and Anabela

Not pictured: Jessica, Megan and Jane. Sorry guys.

Mathias had all of his cousins on the Ravsten side over to go swimming last week. They had so much fun!

A Boy and His Bear

Mathias has always loved his stuffed animals but in the last week or so he has become really attached to his bear. Bear has to sit with him while he plays, reads a story, eats, gets his diaper changed and anything else he does. Mathias will 'share' his snacks and drinks with bear. He also gives him hugs and kisses all of the time, something he won't do for mom and dad. If we ask him for a kiss he either runs away or makes a face at us. Last night he had to have bear in his bed with him and I could hear him talking to bear for about 45 minutes before he went to sleep. Mathias is so cute to watch with his bear and it's funny to see him carry bear around because the bear is about as big as he is. On a side note, Mathias also loves his tiger jammies and screams at me when I get him dressed.

New Fish

We bought Mathias some new fish over the weekend and he still loves to watch them. We bought four guppies and three ghost shrimp to keep the bottom clean. So far, so good. I hope these fish live longer than the goldfish.

Sleepy Boy

Mathias had just gotten up but he was still tired. He climbed on the couch and covered himself with a blanket while he watched Mickey Mouse.

I'm Me!

Mathias is so funny. He is starting to talk more and mimic what we do. Yesterday I was trying to get him to say his name. This is the response (when he's willing to give one) he gives every time we ask him.

Mom/Dad: "What's your name?"

Mathias: "ME!"

Mathias has also learned where his armpits are. When we ask him to show us, he raises his arms in the air until we tickle him and he laughs like a crazy man. It's his favorite new game.

Fish Story

The fish have a new home that will hopefully keep them healthier. I like the sunken ship. We have not named all of the fish yet because we don't want to waste a good name on a fish that is going to die in a day. Mummachog (solid gold behind the ship--Brian came up with that one) has made it almost a week which is amazing since it came from Wal-mart. Oscar (black sucker fish on the side by the plants) will probably never die and is kind of mean. If the other fish bother him he will charge at them. Mostly they leave him alone which is easier now because their tank is twice the size of their old bowl. Mathias still loves to watch them and help feed them. He will watch them for a long time and gets excited when he sees the bubbles from the aerator. He loves bubbles and it is really funny that he gets so excited by them.

Stupid Fish

Well, I'm not sure what possessed me to buy goldfish. They have turned out to be a bit of a pain in the butt. Marty, the black one, died after a day and a half. I took him back to the store and got a replacement that died that night. I felt so stupid taking another dead fish back to Wal-mart but I wanted my money back. I got my money back and went to Petsmart instead and got 2 replacements, just in case. So far, so good. None of them have died yet. I think the fish from Wal-mart are diseased and expensive compared to Petsmart. Plus, the people that help you at Wal-mart know nothing about how to take care of them. After doing a bit of research this morning, I found out that goldfish do not like fish bowls and do better in larger aquariums with a bubble strip and the sucker fish we got to keep the bowl clean could attack them or eat them. So, I am headed back to Petsmart to see if I can find them a new tank that won't cost a fortune. Just in case anyone is thinking about getting some fish, don't buy them at Wal-mart!!

5 Little Monkies

Mathias was more excited to see the animals this time
Lauren, Spencer, Courtney, Nicole and Mathias

We met Amy and Bryan and their kids at the zoo on saturday. It was a lot of fun eventhough it was so hot.

Happy 4th of July!

Mathias sat on the curb while the first few fireworks were lit and then he got scared and would not move from my lap. He sat as still as could be and if I moved my arms from around him he would promptly put them back.

Sparklers!

Mathias wasn't sure what to think at first but then loved holding the sparkler. He was careful to hold it on the end and when it went out he would drop it in the bucket of water. Then he would go get another one and try to light it himself. I think he went through 15 or 20 sparklers.

Don't worry, someone was helping him at all times.

Trying to blow it out.

Bowen
Dirk or as Mathias calls him, "DirT!" (He emphasises the T)

Bowen and Emily running around all crazy.

We spent the 4th of July at Jennifer and James's house. We had a lot of fun with all of the fireworks and it was fun to watch the kids play. Mathias had a lot of fun with the big kids and did really well with the sparklers. I think the big kids worried us more than the little ones because they were running around being crazy with the sparklers.

Here Fishy, Fishy.....

We bought Mathias some fish yesterday and he was so excited! He always loves to look at the fish at Wal-Mart and I finally caved and bought him a couple. All through the store he was pointing at them and wouldn't take his eyes off of them. When we got them to their new home he stared at them and talked to them for a long time. This morning when we got up Mathias helped me feed the fish and then stared at them and talked to them for a while. He gets excited every time he sees them or remembers they are there.

Fishies!

Marty (black) and Mummachog (orange)