Gifts for Montey Jaycob

Caleb with his new baby brother, giving Montey his first Teddy Bear, which is named Michael. A name that Caleb wanted to call his new brother but we compromised and gave him the opportunity to name someone Michael.

Liahona with new baby brother, giving her gift, a muscial duckie..."Twinkle Twinkle little star"

Tamara with new baby brother, giving her gift, a froggy bath robe. Montey says "Peace Out!"

Still NO baby...

So with all the great advice from friends and family, trying to decide to either be induced or go into labor naturally....we have decided NOT to be induced this Wednesday, and just go into labor naturally as I have done with the past three pregnancies. Mostly because this last week we have had a ton of Contractions. Also, last week the doctor said I was dilated to 3 cm. So, Even though the contractions have not been serious, or close enough to go the hospital, it's good to know my body knows what it's doing. Yet, however, I could be dilated to 3cm for weeks without any progress, but we are optimistic about having the baby come sooner than the Due Date(May 1st), seeing that we really would like to avoid having a 9 to 10 pound baby. =)
Thanks for all your advice and support everyone.
Love Tanya
We will keep you informed when this baby boy finally decides to come.

Baby Dilemma

3D Ultra sound picture.
The OB-tech couldn't get a clear picture of his face. He wouldn't move away from the cord. But we still got to capture part of his cute face.

So our doctor told us that "baby boy" is about 2 weeks bigger size-wise than suppose to be. Plus were we noticing some abnormal quickening, so we did an ultra sound to detect all the actually facts. Ended up the baby was indeed on the larger size, weighing about 7lbs right now. And still 3 1/2 weeks left to go. The OB-tech said that a baby gains about 1/2 pound per week in the last month. Meaning that this baby could be a 9, almost 10 pounder. However, they did say their estimate could be off give or take a pound. YIKES! So dilemma, Question: would you prefer to just go into labor naturally knowing that your baby would be healthy but be larger than expected, or would you choose to be induced a week earlier to help prevent from having a large baby to deliver, but knowing that there could be health problems if baby is not yet ready? Any advice would be appreciated. I have heard that being induced is REALLY unfun, and I have always gone into labor on my own. Just being able to do most of the labor at home has always been nice, I really like it that way. Thankfully there are NO abnormalities with the baby; the baby is very healthy and strong. Yet with the 3D ultra sounds now'n'days they can get really good pictures of the babies inside, the OB tech said this boy has a lot of hair. And I can testify to that because of all the terrible heartburn I have been having lately...ouch!
So I have made a poll for you to vote on what you would do. So please vote or respond to this post.
P.S Friends and Family have been asking me what I needed, and I couldn't tell them anything because I wasn't able to get out all the baby items until April 1st. So, for those that are still interested in wanting to know what we need, I have registered at Target. Feel Free to look, but don't feel obligated to purchase anything. I already know that I have all your love and support as dear friends and family.=)Thanks Everyone!!

Happy Spring Everyone!!

The new header picture of tulips was taken last year in Woodburn, Oregon (near Salem OR.) during the Tulip Festival; taken by me of course.=)
We are glad that it is officially spring, even though it is snowing a bit today. It doesn't look much like spring here, but at least there have been warmer days here and there throughout the past couple of weeks. I have changed my blog page around trying new things, and it's kind of awkward for me with it all backwards, hope it doesn't throw you off too. =)

Picture Portraits

Early Spring, Late Fall Photo shots, since I missed their Fall individual picture portraits.

Pictures and More Pictures

Homeschool Easter Nest Craft Making Fun!!!

Messing Around With Mom's New Photography Backdrops!!!

Spring better get here and get here QUICK...

Well we have upgraded to a Grand Dodge Carvan, but as Eric would say downgraded from our SUV Ford Explorer. He thinks more cargo room makes more room, I on the other hand think more seats makes more room.....Who is right? Anyhow, we are glad to now have a way to drive in one vehicle as a whole family when the baby comes. It runs great and the kids are glad to have more room to themselves instead of being all squished together, as in the Ford Explorer....I think secretly Eric likes the new and improved room, to move more freely. =)
We have been sick since the beginning of Feb, and are just now getting better. And last night I felt the need to clean and catch up on house work, and needless to say I threw out my back. I couldn't move or walk for the rest of the day, it was pretty painful, but I got a good nights rest and I am up and about hoping to get more of the cleaning done......I never learn, It just frustrates Eric. =)
The weather is still bitter cold from the freezing wind blowing non stop, since there are NO mountains. Still reminds me of ICEburg Idaho. I can really understand the past pioneers as they traveled the Mormon Trail, when they called Winter Quarters one of the toughest hardships they had to endure. The snow and ice isn't all that bad...it's the bitterness of the wind that just pierces your soul, making it really hard to breathe when you step outside. We are glad to almost be down with our 1st winter here in Nebraska, one down 2 to go. I have never known a time in my life when getting to know your neighbors is mere to impossible. We have found it to be really funny how everyone pretty much hibernates in the winter and in the summer, due to the extreme humidity, causing you to never see or even meet your neighbors. We still have no idea if anyone even lives on our block. The kids really miss there cul-de-sac back in Oregon and all the kids to play with. I miss all the adult interaction as well from the great neighbors we had. Life is just awfully different here in Lincoln.
Eric's clinicals will be starting at the end of this semester. Not as much book work and more hands on learning time.....=) His finals are the week after the baby is due, May 1st. So we asked the doctor if we could schedule an inducement in case I go over my due date. She was more than happy to work it out for us, seeing that it would be a positive thing for Eric to be there for the birth. it's really nice to have an official day. Most likely I won't need it since I never go over, so we aren't too worried. Clinicals will keep him here in Lincoln up until August than, he will be in York, Nebraska, 45 mins away for almost 2months. The commute will be reasonably short allowing him to come home for the weekends, or even allowing the children and I to visit him.
Homeschooling is still coming along nicely. However there has currently been a huge battle going on between the Public School district and the Home schoolers. With the Senator wanting to make rules and regulations harder for the home schoolers, forcing more of the home schooled children into the Public system to help out with their money flow problems. And since the home school organization has such a strong hold on the state and have spoken up again, and again, this bill most likely will get shot down. Yippy!!
WE are really looking forward to the Spring, Tamara wants her birthday to come, Liahona wants it to be summer so she can touch starfish and other sea animals at the zoo, Caleb wants his brother to come, I want the snow and ice to go AWAY, and Eric wants to do more fun clinical sites for school instead of all this book work......so what it all comes down too is that Spring better get here, and get here quick!! =)
Other than that we are all good!!!

Christmas Vacation

Christmas Home School Craft FUN!!!!

Sledding around; out and about, in the snow. We are getting LOTS of snow, kids are having FUN.

Star City Parade, in downtown Lincoln Nebraska. Our first time seeing huge balloons!!!

A Visit with Mrs Claus. And the Girls wearing their Christmas Dresses.

Caleb, Liahona and Tamara standing by the Christmas Tree.

Mathison Family Christmas Letter 2006- 2007
Wanting, to wish you a Merry Christmas!!


Year 2007:

Tamara is now three, and is still our busy little bee. She now allows her dad to call her his little Tammy, she is quite the little hammy. Singing is one of her favorite things to do, singing here, singing there, singing until she turns blue. Among all her growing talents, she has an amazing dancing balance.

Liahona is five and her art skills are really coming alive. Once a week she goes to an Art class, enjoying every minute never wanting the time to pass.
At home she colors and draws like crazy, it’s good to know she isn’t even lazy.

Caleb is six and each day he has to get his computer fix. He has had a love and talent for the computer since he was two, even before he learned to tie his shoe. He can change the computer display to install a game, so when something isn’t working right we usually know who to blame.

Tanya is still working hard at home, taking on home-schooling the children in our own family learning dome. The children are enjoying being with mom, having her be their teacher instead of some public school teacher named Tom. And yet you may say if that isn’t enough, she is expecting again without even a fuss. (Due May 1st!)

Eric is still our super-dad, taking on both work and school could almost make one go mad. However enough he is such an amazing lad, so hardworking and helpful never taking a moment to be sad.

We have moved out here to Lincoln Nebraska last spring as you all know, and boy does the wind sure blow. Allowing Eric to continue with school, to obtain his Masters in Nurse Anesthesia, he is no fool. But Smart, as smart can be, as you can see. The program will take about 3 years, but have no fear you will still be hearing from the Mathison dears. Our plans are to move back, yet our plans are not set in stone but rather lack. Even though we do not know where he will get his first job, but in spite the unknown do not sob.

We love you all, Merry Christmas one and All. May you be filled with happiness and cheer, for you all are special and ever so dear! With Much Love, The Mathison Family: Eric, Tanya, Caleb, Liahona, Tamara, and baby (found out it's a BOY!!)

P.S Year 2006:

We apologize for not sending out a Christmas letter last year; we would like to briefly sum up the year for you. Beginning of last year Eric applied to graduate school, in the field of Nurse Anesthesia, and was accepted into the programs in Arizona and Nebraska. The middle of summer Eric’s sister, Carmen got in a terrible car accident, age 22, and left us by returning back home to our Heavenly Father. The middle of fall, we were expecting with our fourth child. We were 12weeks and 5days along, due on March 12th of 2007, but lost the child. However, this year has had its up’s and down’s, but over all has turned out well. We are hoping that next year will go even better for us.

Our Thanksgiving

In spite of being away from family this year, we still had a rather enjoyable Thanksgiving. We invited two other families over from the ward to share Thanksgiving with us. One family with three children, the other family with six children. All the kids played together rather well, allowing the adults to have time to chat and relax. Eric made the Turkey for the whole party, and it turned out wonderful. The winter has started up here, and we got our first snowfall the day before Thanksgiving. But three days prior, it was up in the mid 70's. It was the last of the fall, and that evening a whole dozen homes in the neighborhood put up their Christmas lights. We still had our Thanksgiving lights up, so we couldn't be apart of the Put Up the Christmas Lights Party with all the neighbors. It was really funny to see, every street you looked down there where ladders up and lights being put up. But now that Thanksgiving is over perhaps we will attempt to hang up our Christmas lights, in spite of the freezing snow/wind weather. Yesterday was the start of our Christmas Holiday season. We watched Santa light up a big Christmas tree at our local outdoor mall. As we had free cookies and hot cider drinks and listened to a band playing Christmas music. After watching Santa light up the Christmas tree, the kids for the first time, wanted to go visit Santa. So we waited in line, about a 25min wait, to have them sit on Santa's lap, and tell him what they wanted for Christmas. Liahona was really the main reason why we waited, she really wanted to see Santa, so when it was our turn she wanted to go first. She told Santa she wanted Art things. Then Tamara was next to go, she was a little nervous, however I reminded her that Santa was just like a nice big grandpa. This must have helped her because she went next. And she told him that she wanted a cat, but I however had to remind her that Santa knows we can't have a real cat right now, but perhaps he could bring her a toy cat.=) Than last but not least was Caleb, usually in the rear of the group, he likes to hang back and see if his siblings are really going to go through with doing things, because if they don't he won't. But since both of his sisters went, he too went. And he told Santa that he wanted battleship game. We were rather amazed with their growth within the past year. Now we can make plans to go to Disneyland in three years or so when we have the time and money, and they won't be screaming and crying when they see people dressed up in costumes. HOORAY!! They are getting so big, we are so proud of them. Anyhow Hope everyones Thanksgiving went well. Happy Late Thanksgiving!!