As of late....

Our computer is in the basement, so I hardly ever make it down to update the blog, check my e mail, etc....I feel like life is just busy all the time, which is a good thing, but is making it much harder for me to keep in touch with people the way I like to. As Kurt would readily acknowledge, I would spend all my time on the phone or computer keeping up with friends if I could. However, with three children and a pregnancy that is kicking my behind, I find myself falling behind with lot of things...mostly everyday things and other things I would like to do. When the kids go to bed at night, I find myself wanting to do nothing more than sit on the couch and veg with a Dr. Pepper and a good treat!! So, that is what I usually do....
The girls are doing great! Annie turned 8 today, but more about that later. Both older girls are loving school. We had parent teacher conferences and great reports on both girls....Annie's teacher (Mrs. Doherty) just loves her and we had to laugh when Alyse's teacher (Ms. Zarlengo)told us that Alyse had found her voice and it's very loud:) Annie is playing soccer and doing well...frustrating at times, but is loving it and the girls on her team (The Golden Cheetahs). Kurt is helping coach the team and seems to be enjoying it most days.
I have started doing a lot of "playdates" around here and the girls love having friends over. I try to have Madelyn's friends over when Alyse is at school, so it gives me a little time to get some stuff done around the house! Madelyn turns 4 on Monday and is growing up so much. She started soccer this fall, but since Alyse wasn't doing it with her, she quickly lost interest and quit after 2 weeks! She is into all things girly now, like dresses and skirts, whereas, Alyse is going away from that a little. She hardly wears skirts anymore, but LOVES her "skinny" jeans/pants and wearing boots over the top of them. The other day, she put on an outfit that Melissa had given us and says to me, "Mom, these are cool clothes. I love them. Annie always has cool clothes to wear, but I don't have that many, but these are cool. I'm so glad I have them." She is still always cracking us up....and talking non-stop!
This pregnancy seems to be going on forever for me....it's probably been my hardest yet...too much pain, tiredness and heartburn/reflux...I'm already waking up a couple of times a night to go to the bathroom and that's been happening for at least a month if not longer. I have put on more weight to date than my others...had to do a three hour glucose test (which thankfully came back normal) and have to have another ultrasound next week...really?!! Oh well, as long as this little girl is healthy! We still don't have a name, but Paige, Brooke and Kendall are all in the running for now...hopefully soon.
The fall here as been beautiful!!! Kurt and I are loving Colorado and I feel like our girls are starting to make some good friends, which is nice. I feel like I am making progress also...I've started doing a park day each week with some girls and it's nice to get out and get to know people better. The weather has been fantastic...a little annoying because one day it will be 85 and the girls are wearing shorts and tank tops and then the next will be 60 and they need their pants and long sleeves. So, I cannot put all their "summer" clothes away ever...just something to get used to I guess. We've had a few cool days, which the girls have loved because they have gotten to wear their "new" fall clothes or pretty much the ones I just pulled out of the bucket.
I got to go on Alyse's first field trip to the pumpkin patch, which was average at best. It was fun to be with Alyse, though and meet her friends at school. She is a very social little girl and almost had to "flip a card" because of it. I was glad I got chosen this time, since the next field trips I will probably have a little one to worry about!
Pregnancy picture is from September 30th and the 2nd week of October so right around 28-30 weeks along!
Grandma's beloved Halloween package came and the girls loved it...I even added a few things to it so the girls would all have Halloween outfits to match each other. And even though there's not much in the packages for Kurt and I anymore, I get just as excited to open them to see how excited my girls are. I have been getting holiday packages (V-Day, St. Patrick's, Easter, Halloween and Christmas) since I left for college 15 years ago!!! Thanks MOM...
I have so much more to document on here...but another time.....lots of pictures to enjoy of what we've been up to!!!

1st Day of School

The girls started school on August 23rd. We are headed into their third week and all is well. Annie was so super excited to go and I think be away from me and the girls....I guess I should just be happy that she likes school! Alyse was just as excited, but sad that she was only going half day instead of all day, like Annie. i put her in afternoon kindergarten because she likes to sleep in. Most mornings I have to wake her up around 8ish to get ready to take Annie to school! She loves her teacher. We met her before school started and she wouldn't say a word to her, but left telling me how much she liked her and that she had pretty hair.

I had taken each girl out previously to pick out their first day of school outfit...they both did a great job and picked something that I would not have chosen for them myself. Alyse is not so much into her dresses and skirts anymore and Annie has worn more of her dresses this year than ever before!

Madelyn seems to be happy to be at home with me. I just need to get started on "mommy school" at home with her. And she of course would not be left out of 1st day of school pictures.

So far after school has been pretty good. I've had to get after Annie a few times for being grumpy and not wanting to do her homework, but I think she'll settle into it soon enough. Alyse has only been grumpy once after school, but usually comes out with a huge smile and tells me all about what went on that day. She's already made two new best friends! I have to pull teeth a little bit more with Annie about school. She really opens up a lot more at night time when we're going to bed. I think that's when her brain finally slows down a bit. Now, I just have to get her to bed early so we have the time to talk!

It's weird that I have two kids in school now. Alyse still seems so little to be going, but it's been good for her and Madelyn's relationship too. They are seeming to do a lot better together in the mornings and not fighting so much...most mornings they are wanting to match and be best buddies.

A few more sayings...

6/9/10-
While out in California visiting my parents (Kurt was unable to come...he had to stay home and work to pay for our trip:)) Alyse was talking to Kurt on the phone, "I lost my heart because I miss you so much."


7/18/10-
On our drive home from Utah, it was Madelyn's turn to pick out the movie to watch. Her and Alyse had just gotten in a little fight, so Madelyn tells Alyse, "I'm going to pick out a Barbie movie that's not your favorite." She picks out one that Alyse does not want to watch, so Madelyn proceeds to tell her, "Then you just don't have to watch it Alyse."


7-20-10
It was Alyse's turn to say the family prayer...."Thank you for the prophets and the missionaries. And one of the prophets is named President Monson and that's the one I was praying for."

It's a.....

GIRL!!!!

Just thought I'd let those who don't know already that we found out Wednesday that we are having another girl!! We are super excited and not sure about the teen years :)
Annie was disappointed, but then perked right up when we took her to pick out a new outfit for her little sister....Madelyn yelled, WhooHoo! She really wanted a sister and then told me the next one could be a brother. Alyse was hoping for a boy, but then said that little girl babies are pretty cute too......I thought about posting the ultrasound picture, but not much to see :) She was moving all over the place and we almost didn't find out!!! We are just super excited that everything looked good and that she is healthy. Next up will be to pick a name, which as of right now, we have no clue about!!!

What in the world!!!!

When we moved to Colorado, we signed an 18 month lease on a house. We were even hoping that things with our landlord and her boyfriend would work out and we could stay put for at least a year after that. We are now 4 1/2 months into our lease, which we apparently did not read all that well, and are being kicked out. Things with our landlord and her boyfriend, whom she moved in with, are not going well and she wants her place back. SERIOUSLY!!! Who does that to their tenants....it is a little ironic though. In the past week, Kurt and I have both had conversations with people about how we like our place just OK and how we feel like we are paying too much for it. Kurt's friend was telling him,well maybe something will happen and you can get out of your lease early. Well, lo and behold, the next day is when I got a call from our landlord, while I was getting ready for church. She said she hated to do it, but that she was sending written notice and we had 30 days to get out. I realize this is most likely a blessing in disguise, it's just that it's such a pain to get moved and settled again. I feel like we were just getting to know our neighbors a little and the house was getting organized, etc. Oh well, such is life I guess. When I think about it, I get really irritated and annoyed at our landlord, but maybe we'll find something even better that will work great for us!!
Our bishop is a huge real estate guy around here and he is bound and determined to keep us in the ward, so that is a good thing. He told me that we came here for a reason and we're still here for that reason, so we was going to find us a place :)
Anyway, that's what's new with our life.....craziness!!
Here's a few pics of the house we're in for the next month :)

13 1/2 weeks...

Just wanted to let everyone know that baby Niepraschk #4 will be joining us Christmas of this year! We are so excited....it's been a long road! We'll find out what we are having in about 2 months or so...stayed tuned (although I'm sure it's another beautiful little girl)

Kurt's Graduation....

So, I know this is a little, well 3 months late, but it still needs to be documented. Kurt graduated from Orthodontic Residency February 26th. There's not a lot of hoopla that goes with it, no ceremony or anything like that. And I have to admit, I was not that excited to go, since the previous year was not that great. However, I was pleasantly surprised. The dinner was at Maggianos and my mom had flown out for that and to help us drive to Colorado the next day. A few of the part time faculty were there and the staff and of course, Dr. M, the director of the program.
Everyone had such nice things to say about Kurt, it was very impressive and very nice. Now, if only I could remember everything. I meant to write it all down, but in the midst of moving somehow forgot.
Dr. M said that Kurt was a natural leader. That he didn't lead by force, but by example, the way a leader should...a silent leader. That he was really able to bring everyone together after a tough go of it. (Dr. L, the old director and Dr. M did not see eye to eye, actually didn't even speak to each other, so it was a rough second year-a definite power struggle between the two men.)
Kurt got up and spoke a little and got choked up. I forget that although there were complaints about the program and some of the residents that this was his life for over 2 1/2 years. He spent day in and day out with these people. It was very touching to see.
It was a very surreal experience for me. It was the end of a wonderful chapter in our lives...school-almost 11 years. I can't explain all the incredible experiences we had, people we met, life long friends we made, opportunities presented before us and all the blessings we received along the way. I know these will all continue, but it will be different. It was definitely a bitter-sweet moment!