Snow Days

With over a foot of new snow in Spokane over the weekend and more on its way, we've been having lots of fun outside. Spokane schools have been cancelled (this doesn't happen real often) and the plows finally reached our street today. Andrew loves the big piles of snow everywhere and playing under the trees where it has stayed cleared!



We built our first snowman on Sunday. Andrew was convinced that we needed a carrot nose, but after scrounging through the fridge, we had to settle for a piece of celery.



Shoveling is becoming quite a challenge and with several inches expected to come tonight and tomorrow, I'll be getting my exercise heaving the snow over the piles. We've made a good little sledding hill off of the corner pile.



Abigail is finally feeling better and loves playing in the bouncer with all of the fun attachments.

Brrr! It's cold in Spokane...

January Updates at the Liezen household:

• JoEne went back to work after the holidays. Luckily it's still the Thursday, Friday, every other Wednesday schedule. It has been a transition going into the classroom half way through the year and the 2-day weeks are the best!
• Matt, Andrew and Abigail have all been passing around colds and coughs. I'm not sure how, but I think God blesses moms so that they aren't sick and can take care of everyone else!
• Abigail has had a rough start to the year. She made her first trip to the ER on Friday with wheezing and coughing. She's on nebulizer treatments to help open her little airways. When she went in for her follow-up appointment today, she now has an ear infection, which explains the uncharacteristic screaming she's been doing. Pray for her to get better! She now weighs 17 lbs. 2 oz. and is 25 1/2 inches long.
• Andrew is going a little stir crazy, being stuck in the house with the cold temperatures, but continues to amaze us with his imagination. School is still going well and he has been having fun learning about polar bears. He also loves going to Sunday school and seeing all of his friends at church. Andrew is a great big brother, reading to Abigail and helping when she doesn't feel well.

We hope everyone is having a good 2008 so far. Take care!

Happy Holidays!

It has been very busy around the Liezen household this Christmas season. It started a couple of weeks ago with Andrew's preschool play and his role as the donkey. The following week was his Sunday school play, "Angels Aware." We were so proud of all of our angel cousins! Jacob, Nick, Hannah and Andrew did a wonderful job! Andrew had a case of the yawns while on stage, but managed to sing a few lines too!

On Sunday we had another fun Christmas celebration with the Williams' family. Uncle Scott (dressed as Santa) took us out on the trailer to go caroling around the neighborhood. It was very, very wet with freezing rain, but we had a good time and many laughs. It's those kind of family moments that make for great stories and memories.

Christmas Eve was spent with the Heimbigner clan. Abigail had a beautiful Christmas dress and looked quite precious. She had lots of help opening presents from her cousins and brother and slept through most of church. When we got home, Andrew had to prepare the plate of cookies and oranges for Santa. When he awoke on Christmas morning, he was excited that Santa had delivered a new kitty (stuffed friend), but was concerned that Santa didn't put anything in mommy and daddy's stockings! Oops!

Christmas day and night brought lots of new snow. Andrew had fun making snow angels and eating fresh snow, and Abby was all smiles when she got to join in a little outdoor fun.

Abigail has officially outgrown her bath time in the kitchen sink. She has discovered the joy of kicking and splashing water. Her other new fascination is her tongue. She has figured out that she can make some pretty funny noises and lots of bubbles!

Holidays and Fun

Thanksgiving Time...

We spent Thanksgiving in Gresham, Oregon at Olivia's house. All of Joy's siblings were there along with all of the cousins except one. It was quite the crowd and a lot of fun!

We had blue sky and sunshine while in Oregon, but the wind never stopped blowing. It didn't stop Grandma Joy, Aunt Ruth, Andrew and I from walking in the woods. Andrew was busy finding the perfect hiking stick!

We left Oregon at noon, arrived home around 5:30, dropped the kids off for a sleepover at grandma and grandpa Heimbigner's house (Abigail's first night away from mommy and daddy) and went to a cocktail party at Megan and Aaron Baltzell's place. It was fun getting all dressed up and having a night out with all of our good friends.

Santa and Santa's helper visit all of the kids....

Three ladies that I teach with and all of our families gathered last Friday to get a special visit from Santa. It always surprises me how calm the kids stay, but how you can see the excitement and wonder on their faces.

Snow in Spokane...

Even though it is all melted now, we had some snow over the weekend. Andrew had fun shoveling, making footprints and sledding!

Abby's New Tricks...

Abigail is getting so much stronger and enjoys belly time for longer periods. She loves to hold her head up and look around. We couldn't resist getting some naked shots the other night. Her little cheeks (both sets) are so cute! Abigail is still sucking her thumb and even when she was playing with her rattle, she was able to find that thumb and go to sleep.

Abigail's Photo Shoots

Abigail is such a trooper when it comes to getting her picture taken. It's very fun having a girl and dressing her in all of the pretty clothes she's received. We have our own little photo shoots often!

Everywhere I go, people are always telling me, "Abigail looks just like Matt!" I heard the same thing when Andrew was a baby. Here's a picture of the three of them together. What do you think?

Abigail spent several weeks determined to get her thumb in her mouth. Her hands were dry and chapped from all of the sucking. Well...she finally had success and is officially a thumb sucker (just like her mommy was). It's hard to complain too much, she's sleeping 9-10 hours at night and is good at soothing herself back to sleep!

Lets Play Ball!

Andrew's favorite past time is playing ball and we thought Abigail should get in on the action too!


Abigail is cheering for her favorite team, "Go Eags!" In her first two months of life, she's become quite the volleyball fan.



Boy's Weekend in Los Angeles, California


Matt spent Veteran's Day weekend hanging out with the boys and they had a great trip. They spent some time at the beach, went to the UCLA vs. ASU game at the Rose Bowl Stadium and enjoyed a Clippers vs. Cavaliers game at Staples Center. A weekend talking about fantasy basketball and sports...what more could Matt ask for?

Halloween and Harvest Party

Halloween was quite exciting for Andrew this year. He had a harvest party at school and went trick-or-treating with his cousins. After every house, he would run down the driveway with his pumpkin full of candy and yell, "Yeah!" When he woke up this morning, he was determined that he was going to have "just one piece of candy" before school. I'm sure I'll be hearing that a lot.

The day wasn't as fun for Abigail. She had her first set of shots at her 2 month check-up. I think that's the most she's cried in her entire two months of life. She would be peacefully sleeping during the day and all of a sudden start crying the saddest cry. I did however, still put her in her pumpkin costume for a few minutes of pictures. Does she look like a 14 lb. 1 oz. pumpkin?

Abigail's Baptism

Abigail was baptized on Sunday, October 28th. It was a special day shared with the baptism of her newest cousin Sean Anthony. Both children slept through the whole thing, even with the cold water poured on their heads. Abigail wore a special slip, gown and coat that was worn by her Grandma Joy and hand stitched by her Great-grandma Besta. Abigail is blessed to have Aaron and Megan Baltzell as her godparents. Afterwards we went to Grandma and Grandpa Heimbigner's house for brunch. With 9 kids running around...well 7 running and 2 being held, it was a crazy place. When it was time to go, we realized we hadn't taken a picture of Abigail and Sean together. Abigail was hungry and Sean was sleeping. We will try for a better photo shoot next time we're together!