The Drew Israelsen Family

Bonny and Brady wanted to go up the canyon and get some pictures with the fall leaves so we drove up to the cabin last sunday, not thinking about getting a key because we weren't going inside, but the gate was locked. We parked and walked in and Drew came to the conclusion that he likes the road into the cabin alot more on a snowmobile!!
These are a couple of the pictures we snapped. I didn't post Bonny's favorite because I wanted her to be able to use them for herself!!!! I absolutely love the one with Drew putting himself in the picture!!!

We had a birthday party for Rob a couple of weeks ago and he had so much fun. It was rainy and cold and we had it outside but that didn't stop anyone. Almost everyone on both sides of our family were there! It was a huge turn out and everyone seemed to survive the cold and rain. The kids had a good time with the pinata and Robert loved the cake, presents (his favorite was the Lego batman game) and seeing everyone he loves around to wish him a happy birthday. My brother Tom even taught all the kids a pinata 101 class in hopes that no one would get whacked with the stick!!

This last Sunday was the primary program in our Sacrament meeting. Robert had his very own part and has been so excited about doing it for weeks now. He has been practicing the songs at home and we were very proud of him for getting up in front of everyone and doing so well. They looked so cute in there Sunday cloths I just had to take pictures before church.

With Drew's new job he is out of town overnight usually a couple nights a week. The kids are always so happy when Daddy comes home. This is usually what happens the first night he is back.

If any of you are up for a good old fashion game of truth or dare come on over!!! We had a great game of it one night of course I missed out on a few of the pictures. I didn't get the neighbor and ex deputy sheriff, Mike climbing the fence and using the road as the bathroom. We try to always make his so that they are on the edge of legal.(ha ha ha)Sorry Mike!! And I missed out on a picture of Lindthy with a dirty sock in her mouth crowing like a rooster. As most of you know I NEVER wear shoes if I can help it and Lindthy also had to lick the bottom of my foot from heel to toe YUM!!!! The picture with Thomas hauling Drew around the neighbor hood in the kiddie cart, with flat tires on the bike, is my absolute favorite!!!

It seems like just yesterday that we were trying and trying to have a baby and after 4 long years of that we were blessed with our baby boy Robert!!! We believe with all our hearts that he is truly a gift from his name sake! I love this kid so much I can't even describe it. He always has a hug, kiss and "I love you" for his dad and I. On a good day he even has one for his sister.
Here is a list of my 10 favorite things about Robert


1.He never calls Lena by her name unless he is mad at her so if you hear him call her sister they are getting along.
2.He is a pretty sensitive kid and seems secure with sharing his feelings.
3.He loves his family and always makes sure that they know. My parents usually call and talk to the kids about 3 times a week and there is never a time that Robert doesn't end the conversation with I LOVE YOU!
4.He is an active and healthy five year old boy. It is very rare that Robert is seen sitting still.
5.He makes friends easily which will really help him out in life.


6.One day he reminds me of myself so much and then the next minute he is his dad all over again. He is the perfect combination!!!
7.He says that his dad is his best friend EVER! (he also says that his dad is the "nice one")
8.He is always the first one to climb up on my lap and give me a hug just when he knows I need one!
9.He has a true love of life and lives it to the fullest everyday.
10.He is a strong boy with a soft heart!!


HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROBERT!!! We love you so very much and can't even imagine life without you!!!

So today is my birthday and I couldn't think of a more fitting post then to put one on about my greatest gift. MY HUSBAND. I saw this on someones blog and thought it was pretty fun to go back and remember!!!

HOW LONG DID WE DATE?
We started dating the week of new years and we were engaged September 18 and by the end of November we were hitched!


WHO KISSED WHO FIRST?
He kissed me first and I mean seriously who could blame him? It was kind of a mutual kiss I would say.

WHO SAID I LOVE YOU FIRST?
Of course I did!!! Isn't it always the female that wears her emotions on her sleeve?

WHO ASKED WHO OUT FIRST?
He called me the night after we met and asked me out for our first date. We went to the H2O dance club in Ogden. He takes me to a dance club and won't dance?! We stayed for the after hours party and had a ton of fun!!!


WHO SINGS BETTER?
He would say that I do but I love listening to him sing! The first song he ever serenaded me with was THE BIGGEST FAN OF YOUR LIFE we had been dating for about 3 weeks! If you have never heard it you can listen to it on my playlist. I love that song.

WHO IS SMARTER?
I am more book smart and he is definitely more street smart. He is really great at figuring something out by getting his hands into it and I am better at sitting down and figuring it out on paper!


WHAT ARE YOUR FULL NAMES?
We both have great family names which is why we choose to keep it going with our kids. ANDREW ROBERT ISRAELSEN named after father and grandfather and RACHEL ANNE HALE ISRAELSEN named after two of my grandmothers.



WHO SLEEPS ON THE RIGHT SIDE?
He does which really sucks because the alarm clock is on my side and he wakes up before I do!!

WHO MOWS?
I do 99.9 percent of the time. Drew is great but he is not a huge fan of working around the house!

WHO COOKS DINNER?
I would have to say it is half and half on this one. If he is home.


WHO DRIVES?
If any of you know me at all you all know this answer. HE DOES I hate to drive and even hate going along for the ride! Drew always tells me I am the third child in the car...ARE WE THERE YET?

WHO IS MORE STUBBORN?
I would probably say I am but he puts up a pretty good fight!

WHO HAS MORE SIBLINGS?
He does....5 sisters and one brother. I have one sister and 2 brothers. But if we count step sibling I think I take the prize there. I have 5 step sisters and 4 step brothers.

WHO WEARS THE PANTS?
We each put one leg in and they usually rip right down the seam.

WHO IS TALLER?
He is but it really doesn't take much!

HOW LONG HAVE WE BEEN MARRIED?
It will be our 9Th anniversary this November and I am looking so forward to the next 50!!


I LOVE YOU BABE AND THANKS FOR THE GREATEST GIFT EVER....YOU!!!

We had our asters blossom this past week and they are so pretty. I decided to stick Lena in front of them the other day and as you can see she was very willing to give me a smile.
Robert talked his dad into starting up his snowmobile and let him take it for a spin. Lena and Robert both love it and are going to be so much fun this winter in the snow.

Robert sure has enjoyed his summer. He loves any and all sports. These are a few of him swinging at the bat a couple of sunday's ago playing with his friend Christopher and his dad.

As I have posted in the past Lena is very very much into drawing and coloring. The other day we were at my brother's house and she came walking down the stairs from playing upstairs with Shay. I about fell over when I saw what she had done. Her and Shay had gotten ahold of BRIGHT PINK fingernail polish and painted Lena's hair. These pictures are after 3 attempts of washing it out. It was caked on her hair so bad I had to pull the hair away from the scalp. After 6 washes now we have almost removed all of the polish. She was so proud and couldn't understand why I didn't just love it. She had watched very closely the other night when my friend had colored my hair so who knows maybe that is what gave her the BRIGHT idea!!!