For Unto Us...

The long awaited day has finally arrived! Behold the child...

Simon Johnelle Curtis

7 lbs. 3 oz. 21 inches long

Born Thursday February 28, 2008 @ 8:45 pm

Although we are very honored we are not surprised that we are his namesake. Thank you.

Finally Proof that his head is in fact attached to his body.

I'm glad to see that Sarah has instituted the rule that you (meaning Kevin) must sit down before you can hold the baby.

All joking aside we are so glad you're here Simon. Brava Sarah, Brava.

Babies, Babies, and More Babies!

You may remember a few months ago I listed all the pregnant women I know. This list had something like 16 names on it. Well, we're getting to the bottom of that list. In fact in the past two days look who has come....

First Max Mantooth was born Yesterday February 27, 2008 at 8:12 a.m. weighing 6.5 lbs. and 19 inches long (Yay Charlotte!)

Max

Next is Mr Kalem Baird born at 1:48 (but their blog says 1:40??) weighing 7 lbs. 8 oz. 19 inches long.

Chelise, Kalem, & Eric

Now Chelise if you think you are excused from mutual because "you had a baby" then I think we may need to have a little talk about commitment;)

And last but not least....
Simon Curtis is on his way out as we speak! We got a call around 6:30 am from Kevin and Sarah at the hospital. I'll keep you posted! (Go Sarah-you're a rock star!)

LeeElle + Will

Take the Quiz

I'm not surprised! Our relationship started long ago in Bel Air and we've been gettin jiggy wit it ever since

I'm Excell 'n'!

I did a whole lot of this last night...like 10 hours worth and it was wonderful! I was also able to get a lot done prior to dozing off. I made an excell spreadsheet to help me track the YW's personal progress. I love excell although I'm still a novice user. (thank you John for your help) You don't understand this document is color coded (in the value colors of course) and is very user friendly. Quite the accomplishment for someone who didn't have email until late 2002.

Sorry to recycle this picture again:)

post script: yay for spell check to be working again on blogger!!

Good Reads

I recently read these two books and really enjoyed them. Both are quick and easy reads.


It is a symbolic story that urges its readers to follow their dreams.-wikipdia.org


The Red Tent is a novel by Anita Diamant, published in 1997 by St. Martin's Press. It is a first-person narrative which tells the story of Dinah, daughter of Jacob and sister of Joseph, a talented midwife and proto-feminist. The book's title refers to the tent in which women of Jacob's tribe must, according to the ancient law, take refuge while menstruating or giving birth, and in which they find mutual support and encouragement from their mothers, sisters and aunts. -wikipedia.org

This Little Ziggy Wants to Stay Home

Dear Ziggy,

This is Aunt LeeElle I just wanted to give you a pep talk and play a game with you called would you rather. First let me set the mood with some music think The Final Countdown by Europe. Would you rather stay in a uterus surounded by anmiotic juices and where your movement is restricted (no thank you!) or come out and play with me?

Things to consider:

• I am really fun
• I am confident I will be your favorite _____
• You have a ton of cool stuff waiting for you
• The sooner you come the sooner you can see me

Peace out KIT & BFF

heart,

Aunt LeeElle

*******************************************************************************

Uncle John wanted me to include a thought from him...

Simon bar-jonas,

If you don't come soon I will have to subpoena you.

Govern yourself accordingly,

Unky John

*note* Ziggy/Simon is Kevin and Sarah's son who is still in utero.

The Best Caramel Brownies Ever

That's really the name of these brownies! I do however agree that they are the BEST! Here's the recipe that my friend Lisa gave me. Trust me you will not be disapointed.

1 German Chocolate cake mix
7 tbs. melted butter or margarine
1/2 Evaporated milk

1 C chocolate chips
50-60 kraft caramels
1/2 C evaporated milk

Preheat over at 325. Mix together cake mix, butter and 1/3 C evaporated milk.
Pat 1/2 of the mixture into the bottom of a 9"x13" pan. Bake for 7-8 minutes.
In a separate microwabable bowl, combine the caramels and 1/2 C evaporated milk.
Melt mixture in the microwave, stirring every 1-2 minutes until smooth.
Remove the cake from the oven & sprinkle chocolate chips over the top of the baked cake.
Pour the caramel mixture over the chocolate chips. Sprinkle the remaining cake mixture over the top. (I take chunks of the mixture and flatten it in my hands then lay it on top of the caramel to insure the whole top is covered.)
Bake for another 18 minutes

New Calling

**By way of information for the family and anyone else who is interested**
John was released as the ward mission leader and is now the 1st counselor in the Elders Quorm presidency. He's excieted to work with the EQ pres. and I'm excited that he'll be home on Sunday mornings! Fun stuff.

Enjoyable

Obama delivered the top 10 list on David Letterman the other night. Pretty funny.

10. To keep the budget balanced, I'll rent the situation room for sweet sixteens.

9. I will double your tax money at the craps table.

8. Appoint Mitt Romney secretary of lookin' good. (amen!)

7. If you bring a gator to the White House, I'll wrassle it.

6. I'll put Regis on the nickel.

5. I'll rename the tenth month of the year "Barack-tober."

4. I won't let Apple release the new and improved Ipod the day after you bought the previous model.

3. I'll find money in the budget to buy Letterman a decent hairpiece.

2. Pronounce the word nuclear, nuclear.

1. Three words: Vice President Oprah.

My New Favorite Dessert

My Grandpa and Grandma Matern came down from Utah to visit. We all went out to dinner and after we hit up Dairy Queen. I had originally ordered the new caramel waffle cone blizzard but after tasting my grandma's cotton candy blizzard I switched my order. Oh my goodness, it was so good. Incredibly sweet but if you are a cotton candy fan I highly recommend it.

Me and my yummy blizzard

G-ma, me, & Cory with our pink blizzard

Dancing Queen

Last night our young women were invited to a Valentine's Day dance given by another ward. I drove 7 of the girls over in my aunts van while the other leaders waited for any late comers. We were some of the first to arrive and in an effort to get the girls to dance I went out there with them and shook my groove thang. It was the classic dance scene, girls on one side and the boys on the other. After much encouragment the floor was packed and all were having fun. There were some classics...Abba, Whitney, KC & the Sunshine Band, MC Hammer (yes I did the dance). and the end of the night I was dropping one of the girls off at home, as she was getting out she said, "Hey LeeElle, I really liked your old school moves."

What? My old school moves? Are you joking me? Um, hello I'm 25 which means that only 7 years ago I was at the dance as a participant! Kids these days, pfft.

Wordless Wednesday

Go Go Go LeeElle

Dedicated to my siblings: Kerilynn, Janae, Deandra, Weston, and Collin

The other night Mom& Dad came up to visit. They said they had something for me, I figured it was mail or decorations Mom was gettting rid of. You can imagine my surprise when they presented me with a beautiful, expensive multi-colored coat. I tried it on and I looked stunning, I looked smart, I was a walking work of art really.



That night I had a dream where my family and I were in a corn field. My portion of the corn was tall and produced many ears of delicious corn while the rest of my families stalks were short, shriveled and were leaning almost in a bow-like fashion toward mine-wierd huh? I dont know what this means. It does remind about that one Broadway musical, you know the one about the dad giving his favorite child a beautiful garment; a story so fine I've even heard it related in sunday school. I can't remember all the details but two things are for sure: (1) there are some striking parallels and (2) Andrew Lloyd Weber is a genius.


Please don't throw me in a pit! This is actually the coat I bought at the consignment store in UT. All in attendance declared it the find of the day!

Winter?

It's February.
It's 81 degrees so my AC is on!
I'm still not sure how I feel about this

UTAH

I had such a great time in Utah. I can't believe its taken me a year and a half to go back! As I was landing I looked out the window and saw everything covered in snow, it sounds cheesey but I was so happy to be there, I got a little teary. I have so many fond memories of living there and friends and family who I miss. Don't get me wrong I absolutly love Californina I guess my heart is splt in 1/2.
Josh and Leanne

After landing and barrowing G-pa and G-ma Materns suberu I made my way down to Lehi to visit the Custers. It's been so long since I've seen them. We ate deliciouse Cafe Rio chicken salads and caught up.

Here is Ethan (Josh and Leanne's little boy) he has grown up so much! He was 9 months when I last saw him! He loved taking pictures with my camera.

The Frost Family

I stayed with the Frosts till Sunday. Oh how I miss them. It was fun to see Hannah, she's quite the little lady now and Mia is adorable. She is such a good baby, I was in heaven holding her. I was able to hang out and talk with Lisa, I miss doing that in person, and go see all my friends from our old ward at Michelle's baby shower. (I forgot to take a picture). We also went to Tucano's-tasty! Plus I was able to enjoy Lisa's deliciouse cooking. She gave the BEST caramel brownie recipe.

Hannah enjoying her cupcake

Mia chilling on the bed while we picked up Hannah's room.

I saw so many friends and family member while I was up there but didn't get pictures-lame I know! Right before I went to my conference I snapped a few last photos...

Me, Grandpa, and Grandma

I have a gangster face in this picture actually I frequetnly have a gangster face because I don't want to have a double chin in picture so I lift my head up. I need to practice so I know the right angle to tilt my chin for pictures.

I loved spending time with Grandma and Grandpa Matern. I finally move back to CA and they move to UT-what's that all about? It was nice just to sit and talk with them. I played the piano, ate yummy food, Grandma took care of some mending for me, and we went to this cute consignment store and I got the raddest jacket(that will be its own post)!

(Back row)Allyson, Aunt Lezlee, Sherri, Bryttin, Me (Front row) Grandma & Aunt Diane

Whenever Grandma has visitors she has a luncheon. We had good food and it was fun to see some of my extended family.

A Time to Cry

**I meant to post this on the 27th but I didn't have access to a computer**
On January 27th marked one year since my grandpa passed away. This is the first close relative of mine who has died. We were close with my Grandparents, we would go to their house every Sunday night growing up. My grandpa Jex was such a wonderful man. He was wise man and loved by many. (It's strange having to use the past tense) In fact his funeral was packed! Not just in the sense of, "whoa what a big family" but it was seriously celebrity status numbers. The chapel, choir seats, cultural hall, and stage were full.

I'm so grateful we were able to stay with them for a few months when we moved back to California. It was a blessing to be able to save up some money while we looked for an apartment but more than anything it was great to have that time with Grandpa. Every night we would sit down for dinner while both of my Grandparents would tell stories.

About 6 years ago he was diagnosed with some sickness that escapes my mind right now. Towards the end the family was taking turns staying overnight to help out. Most everyone was doing there part, especially my Aunt Karyn who was over there daily. On Friday most of my aunt and uncles were over with grandpa. John and I were staying at their house that night. My grandpa was so uncomfortable and unable to move, I started reading to him form the Ensign because he said it helped calm him down. I remember my Dad rubbing grandpa's back while I read and seeing silent tears fall down his face because he knew it wouldn't be much longer.

Through out the night I would get grandpa drinks or pillows, turn him over, rub his back and legs and such. He was not able to articulate his thoughts very well so it was difficult to know what he wanted. I started asking him yes/no questions like, "Grandpa do you want a drink?" if he said yes I would follow it up with, "Do you want water? (wait for a yes or no) "Do you want apple juice? Do you want club soda?" (he had 4 drinks on the bedside table). The asking of questions continued on through the night, I was doing everything I could to make him comfortable. At one point grandpa said, "LeeElle, will not talk so much please?" As you know I'm a talker but in my defense for the better part of the night I had to ask yes/no questions, nevertheless it is still funny and my family loves that story.

About 12:30 am John came in to take over for a while so I could sleep an hour later I woke up to give Grandpa his medicine. He was so sick and couldn't keep anything down. It was hard to watch such a strong man who I loved so much wither away. He would cry out for Heavenly Father to take him. It was so sad. I started praying for Heavenly Father to let grandpa go home because it was too difficult to watch him suffer so much. Around 2 am grandpa asked me to wake up grandma. She came and sat by his side and he leaned on her and said, "I'm sorry Nancy." (the past few years were hard for my grandma. My grandpa did everything he's always been solid and their to hold it all together but with the disease taking control of him there had been a role reversal) My grandma answered, "I know Bob, it's OK." Then they told each other that they loved one another. I was in such awe of my grandpa, even in his final hours he was more concerned for his sweetheart than himself. He would say, "LeeElle close the door a little more and turn down the light in the hall so it's not in grandma's face while she sleeps" He was such a wonderful example of sacrifice and love. Around 4:30 am he finally was able to calm down and rest. I went into the guest bedroom with the baby monitor close by in case he needed something and fell asleep. I woke up every hour to check on him. Then about 8 am grandma came in and asked me to try to wake grandpa she had already tried with no luck. I can't describe the thoughts or feelings that went through me at that time. There was fear and sadness but an overwhelming peace and strength. It is times like these that 1 Nephi 1:20 comes to mind, "...I, Nephi, will show unto you the tender mercies of the Lord..." I went in, Grandpa had in fact passed away. I then proceeded to call my uncles and aunts for my grandma. It's hard telling your dad that his dad has passed away. I was trying to be brave and strong but again I had help from on high.

I am so grateful that I was able to be there that night. When we're are faced with difficult situations it really puts our faith to the test. While I miss my grandpa a lot and am sad sometimes I am comforted with my knowledge that I will see him again. I know that death is not the end and that we have a loving Savior who came to earth and died so as to make it possible to return and live with him and our Father in Heaven. I am so thankful that I have that knowledge.