The gathering of Holbrooks

This past Saturday we had our Holbrook Family Reunion and Max and Kate had a blast. There was a balloon animal making clown, a face painter, bounce houses, a dunk tank and tons of crazy Holbrooks that always make anything fun. It was great to see the plethora of relatives that I'm related to. Mr. Max picked out a pirate patch for his face (as you can see from the pictures below) and Ms. Kate got a butterfly. Kate hung out with Mom while Max checked in from time to time. I cannot wait until next year.

Memories...Like the Corner of My Mind

My sister-in-law had this on her blog and I thought it was so cute I figured I would try it on my own.

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, or if you just met me, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you.

Kate turned 1...(a month ago)

I know, I'm bad at this blogging thing, so here is my "update" that happened a month ago.

Our Ms. Kate is 1!! You know she had a good party when the birthday girl closed the party wearing nothing but a diaper and a tutu! Kate loved having all of her family there and loved her cake. I cannot believe that Kate has been in our lives for over a year now. She is such a sweet addition to our crazy bunch and I just cannot get over how stinkin' cute she is. She has quite the personality on her and I just absolutely love my sweet baby girl. It seems like just the day before yesterday that I went to the hospital to have Kate and her daddy got to deliver her and do all of her vitals. She was so tiny and sweet and came into this world ready to eat and snuggle. I cannot imagine my life without the breath of fresh air and sass that she is. Just today she came up to me and put her hands on either side of my face and leaned in for the kiss. I cannot imagine life without those kisses.

Here are pictures of my Sweet Pea's first year of life (not to mention her many evolving hair styles).

More pics of the kidlets!

Okay, here goes...

So this blogging thing is just hard for me to keep up on. I get on to post and then find myself caught up in looking at other people's blogs and the next thing I know, I've run out of time to put a post on my blog. Such is life, right? So I promised pictures in my next update, so here goes...

MAX Our Max is lovin' his gymnastics class that he takes with his cousin Hayden. Its a mommy and me class, but he tries to ditch me because he's got it down. He loves the big tramp and the dancing. He got to be in the Farmington city parade and he had a blast. He got to ride on the float, wave at the people and throw candy to the crowd. Max (unlike his daddy) loves parades. Max has become his daddy's right hand man for putting in our backyard. Anytime that Scott is out in the yard, Max is right there working and helping along side him. Max has helped dig out trees, lay pavers, and (Max's favorite) pick the strawberries that are growing in our yard. The other day Max and Scott were working and Max came up to Scott and gave him a big hug and said, "I love working in the yard with you, Daddy." Scott told him, "I love it when you work in the yard with me!" That's my sweet boy. Although, later that day, Max was suffering the effects of a long and hard days work as shown in this video...

KATE Ms. Kate is becoming quite the character. She is so funny and is such a tease! She loves to pretend to give her daddy kisses and then she'll laugh and start to run away. It is so cute. She loves to run and play and climb. She likes to talk (too bad we don't know what she's saying) and laugh and be crazy. She is getting to be so much fun. I can't wait to see what she has to say because apparently it is pretty darn funny if you ask her. Kate LOVES playing with Max. Her favorite game is to run up to him, laugh her villanous laugh (you know the bru-ha-ha laugh) and then turn around and start running for him to chase her. It is so funny to be in a room and to first hear the two of them laugh and stomping and then you see the two of them with smiles ear to ear run past the open doorway.

Forgive me, for I have not blogged!

Hello, my name is Paige and I am NOT a blogaholic.

I know what your thinking, 'It's OK, Paige. Every now and then never hurt anybody. You can stop whenever you want.' Well in that case, bring it on.

Obviously it has been a wee bit of time since I blogged last, but for good reason. A lot has happened. Quickly as it is getting late and I cannot put this off any more, here is an update:

1) Scott got his residency at the University of Utah and starts work on Tuesday, June 17, 2008;
2) We looked for and bought a house in Kaysville (Thank you Uncle Jill - and no, that is not a typo, Max calls her Uncle Jill);
3) We moved into that house which is no simple feat with two small children;
4) Miss Kate is walking and will turn 1 this Sunday, June 15th;
5) We are putting in a backyard and I am having Scott do all the house projects I can before I lose him to 80 hour work weeks up at the hospital;
6) Went on a cruise to Cabo San Lucas without the kidlets (Thank you Moms and Dads and to Grandma and Poppie for watching the kids); and,
7) I continue to wage the day to battle that is raising two cute (but crazy) kids!

Our Mr. Max LOVES to cook, work with his tools around the house (or at least pretends to) and work in A yard (it doesn't matter if it our yard or his Grandma's yard) he just loves it. Max got to run errands one day with Poppie (Grandpa Garth) in Garth's truck that Max absolutely loves and has named "Poppie Truck". To say that Max absolutely loved it is very much an understatement. In fact he loved hanging out with Poppie and riding in "Poppie Truck" so much that Grandpa Garth took him the next day to Hyrum to help him with all the puppies and to McDonald's for lunch. Again, in the world of Max it was ranked as the greatest day ever! Max loves nursery and whenever he sees Scott dressed up for work he always asks him, "Going to nursery, Daddy?" Max talks so very well and is such a great helper I have to sometimes remind myself that he is only 2 1/2 years old (but if you ask Max, he says that he is 2 old years instead of 2 years old).

Ms. Kate is quite the character. She is into everything, but always seems to get out too. She loves to climb onto anything she can, but she always figures out how to get back down on her own. She is my little problem solver. This is good when you want her to be independent; however, this backfires when she is trying to figure out how to get into things you really wish she wouldn't. She and Max are the best of friends and she loves to just hang out with him and laughs at anything that he does, which of course makes Mr. Max do it over and over again until Kate is laughing so hard that she pees her Huggies! Kate is very mischevious and loves to wrestle with her Daddy and brother. She keeps up with her brother and cousins, but her heart lies with her Grandpas. Kate is now walking and ready to conquer the world, and I wouldn't put it past her, she will.

Please allow me to be indulgent when I say that my kids rock! I absolutely love their guts! (I apologize for that small moment of gloating, but they are asleep and therefore extra loveable!)

I promise that I will get back on the wagon and even post pictures.

Randee's Taking over the Moultons...

Randee here blogging for Paige...(They are driving back to Utah from Scott's last rotation down in Sin City and wanted to get the good news out.)

As we all know Scott will soon become Dr. Moulton in May when he graduates Medical School. (side note...the whole flippin' family couldn't be prouder of all his hard work and sacrifice!) This week is a big week for those soon to be resident docs as they all found out on Monday whether or not they 'matched' to a program and on Thursday where they were going if they did 'match'. This is a huge deal, just ask anyone in med school!

To no ones surprise Scott did match and after a long few days, found out where. Here were the options (I'm not sure the order and since Paige and Scott aren't doing this, they can clarify once they get back to town.)

1. Omaha, Nebraska

2. University of Utah

3. some town in Connecticut

4. Loma Linda, California

5. Some place in Washington or maybe it was Oregan

Honestly every time they told me the list all I heard was Utah (because I was secretly hoping for that), Nebraska (because I wondered if anyone really lived there...apparently lots of people do) and Loma Linda (since it was us Holbrooks old stompin' grounds and I had visions of Disneyland trips dancing in my head).

Well ladies and gentleman...every one's prayers were answered and Scott matched to University of Utah Hospital Internal Medicine Program!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can tell you that this is an answer the prayers of Mom's, Dad's, Sister's, Brother's and Cousin's alike. Our family love Scott and Paige so much, but between you and me...we really wanted little Mr. Max and Ms. Katie to stick around. (Their kids are amazing!)

Let me please take this opportunity, since I have free reign over this blog at the present moment to tell my sister how much I love her! She is one the most amazing people I have ever known. She is funny, beautiful, talented and the best mom. She can make you laugh at nothing and is fiercely loyal to her family. Paige is one of my best friends and has always been there to help me out! I love ya!

Chuck...I loved you enough to set you up with my sister and let me tell you, you're the greatest thing that's happened to her! You are the best and a ton of fun to be around. I am so proud of all that you've accomplished, you are one of the most driven and smartest people I know. (I don't know that many people so...) Your honest and full of integrity and I'm so glad your apart of our family.

I love you both so much, but sorry to say, I might just love your cute kids a little more. If any of you have not had the pleasure to meet Max and Kate...consider yourself cheated and make a point to do so. Women, before you know it you will have promised your daughters to this kid and every cent you ever make. What a ladies man!!

Love you guys, Congrats!!!

Put this baby in drive...

Our sweet little Kate is trying her darndest (is that really such a word?) to crawl. She can sit up on her own, she rolls like a pro and she has even pulled herself up onto things in order to stand up on her own, but the poor thing just cannot crawl in a forward direction. She can crawl backwards untill the cows come home, but she just can't seem to go forward and it is really (to put it bluntly) pissing her off! Keep your fingers crossed for the following persons and reasons: (1) Kate - so that she can finally get it in drive and out of reverse, (2) Max - so that he can finally have a partner in crime, and (3 and 4) Kate's parents - so that they can be prepared when this girl is officially mobile!

Hope all is well with all of you.

Making this mom gig easier one day at a time...

When Max was younger he was very afraid of the vacuum to the point where our home was just not getting vacuumed as much as it should. One Saturday Scott was vacuuming and Max was, of course, clinging to me for dear life. I decided enough was enough and started clapping my hands and yelling "Yeah, Daddy! Thank you for cleaning our house!" Pretty soon Max joined in and now every time anyone vacuums Max will cheer for them. Every now and then Kate joins in by clapping a little extra enthusiastically!

Scott and I also try to always give positive reinforcement to Max and Kate usually by saying "Good job!" Well, Mr. Max has picked up on this too! He will say "Good job, Mama!" or "Thank you, Mama!" all the time when I'm doing things. It sure does make this mom position a little easier to bear when you have your own personal cheerleader. Although, the other day, I was bending down to pick up Kate's binki from under the kitchen counter and when I stood up I hit my head on the underside of the counter to which Max began clapping and said, "Good job, Mama!" What a stinker!

I've been hit!

Rules of the game: Tell six things people might not know about me, then tag six of the pals I want to hear more about.

Well....

1. I am a wealth of useless knowledge. Now when I say useless, I mean useless. For example, I can name actors in movies and what the movie is about even if I've never seen the movie or I can usually tell at least what the make and most times the model of a car or truck is from far away. I know, I know, this will help cure world hunger!

2. I love cooking shows, cookbooks and recipes. The problem is that I always seem to cook the same things.

3. I love looking at homes, apartments, buildings, etc. I love real estate shows like House Hunters, Property Virgins and Hidden Potential. I even liked watching a show that came on in Las Vegas that was just of local housing listings. One could just say that I like real estate in general. Now the reason why: I'm nosey. I love to see how people have decorated, how you could possibly change the layout of the place, how you could decorate it by using what is available. I've thought about becoming a real estate agent just so that I could look at people's houses and no other reason why.

4. I never, EVER wanted to marry a doctor. I did not want to deal with medical school, residency, call schedules, malpractice insurance, etc. But I am so proud of my husband, I wouldn't change anything about our life (oh, except for student loans!).

5. For those of you who think I never shut up, I am actually pretty shy. If I am around people I know, well, let the talking begin! But going into new situations and meeting a lot of new people all at the same time are pretty intimidating for me.

6. I love, love, LOVE traveling and everything involved with it. I love riding in airplanes, airports, staying in hotels, seeing new places, eating in new restaurants, etc., etc.

TAG YOU'RE IT: Randee, Summer, Amy, Danielle, Natalie and Jen

We'll see you at the movies!

So I know that this is a little late to be current news, but a few weeks ago Mr. Max went to his first movie with his Grandma Janice and to say he LOVED IT would be an understatement. He went with his cousin Emma and Grandma to see Alvin and the Chipmunks for his Grandma's birthday and did not remove his eyes from the screen the entire time. He ate an entire hot dog, bag of popcorn and had a tasty beverage to wash it all down. I have wanted to take Max to the movies on a Mommy/Maxer date, but I was not sure how well he would do. So I was more than grateful that Grandma was brave enough for the inaugural try and since Max did so well Max and I went the following Saturday on a Mommy/Maxer date to go see a movie. I have a feeling, there are many more to come!

Adventures in parenting!

So remember how I told you that since moving back to Utah that it seems like we all were getting sick? Well last week Max and I (YES ME) had RSV, and now this week our little Kate has it too. I knew that Max was starting to get sick because he was not eating as much (because to be honest, the kid is a goat and would eat all day if I let him). Then he started coughing. If I didn't know any better, I would have though the kid had emphysema. One doctor's visit later and it was confirmed - RSV! We got all the way up to the very last day that Max was contagous when Kate started showing symptoms. At first the symptoms were exactly the same, but then she got this horribly raspy throat. The poor little thing sounds so sad when she cries and any sound that comes out of her throat sounds like she has been a chain smoker for the past ten years. And to make matters worse, we went to the doctor today and she has double ear infections and the post-nasal drip from her RSV is so bad (that is why she has the raspy voice) that for the last day and one half, she has not been able to keep any liquids down. My poor baby.

Oh, how I long for the springtime! If you notice, the first song on my jukebox is "Here Comes the Sun" by the Beatles because it is my absolute favorite Beatles song and I always have to play it on the first day that it really starts to warm up after winter. (Corny I know, but for all the ladies reading this blog that truly understand the winter blues, I advise you to do the same). There is nothing like walking outside with the warm sun on your skin. I can't wait for the weather to warm up and my kids to stop being sick because I feel so bad for them. Max is such a mover and a shaker that it is just killing him to have to stay in, especially since I've put us on quarantine so as to not get anyone else sick.

What we are all up to...

So since this blog is fairly new, I thought that I would bring you all up to speed as to what is going on in the world of Moulton.

SCOTT: The end is near! Scott is almost done with medical school! He graduates May 18, 2008, and we are both ready to be done with medical school and move into the next phase of his medical education. Scott has decided to go into Internal Medicine and sub specialize in Rhuematology. So we have a three year Internal Medicine Residency and a two year Rhuematology Fellowship left to go before he is practicing full time in Rheumatology. Scott spent a busy three months from November to January traveling across the country for Residency interviews. He was very fortunate to have several programs very interested in him so we were able to really look at all the criteria from the program itself as well as the area, cost of living, ease of family visiting, etc. to make sure that where ever we match to will be a good fit for our family. Scott will submit his finalized "Rank List" at the end of February and we will find out on March 18, 2008 as to which Residency he matched to. We could end up anywhere from the University of Connecticut to Loma Linda Medical Center. Scott has decided to rank (6) of the (19) programs that were interested in him because he feels they will be the best overall fit for our family. They are as follows: 1) University of Utah (SLC, Utah); 2) University of Nebraska (Omaha, Nebraska) ; 3) Loma Linda Medical Center (Loma Linda, California); 4) Virginia Mason Medical Center (Seattle, Washington); 5) University of Connecticut (Farmington, Connecticut); and 6) The Spokane Washington Internal Medicine Residency Program (Spokane, Washington). We know that where ever we end up will be exactly where our family needs to be for the next three to five years. We'll see!

PAIGE: All I have to say is a husband finishing medical school and beginning Residency, a possible cross country move, and two crazy kids. Need I say more? Yes? Okay. We're finally settling into our new apartment in Kaysville, Utah and I figure we will be completely settled just in time to pack up again and move in June or July to where ever we end up for Residency. Hopefully it won't be as hectic a move as our last from Henderson, Nevada to Kaysville. I have really enjoyed being so close to family; however, I have not enjoyed being so sick! Since moving back we all have had to readjust to cold winters and with that comes A LOT of colds! Oh well. While it may be cold, the snow is beautiful! And it's a good thing because we have had a lot of it. I don't, however, like scraping my windshield again. Those nice Nevada winters will be missed, but not the HOT summers.

MAX: I'm not sure if you've been paying attention or not, but Max has had some things going on at the local emergency department. He is a vivacious little guy who is growing up so much each and every day. He is quite the charmer and just loves getting out and seeing the sites. He is the sweetest, most polite little rough and tumble BOY you will ever meet. He loves trucks, cars, balls, bowling, Guitar Hero and spending time with EVERYONE! He loves his little sister very much and is always trying to make her laugh and take care of her. He is a very good big brother and a great son. He is talking more and more each day and it is really fun getting to know him. He definitely makes life interesting and worth it.

KATE: Oh, Miss Kate. She has very busy days consisting of eating, playing, sleeping, talking and just being loved and adored. It is a very hard job. Kate has been perfecting the skills of clapping her hands (she practices all the time) and she rolls every where. She is now trying to get up on her knees and we feel that in the next month or so she could be crawling. She loves her big brother and is always watching him. She loves to talk and laugh, but has one incredible poker face. I guess it comes natural since she was born in Las Vegas. Kate loves to talk so much that every time that you are rocking her to sleep, she mumbles herself to sleep and the only time you know that she is truly asleep is when she stops! It makes me smile almost every time (the times I'm not smiling is in the wee hours of the morning when I'm mumbling to myself "I wish we were both asleep right now, Kate!"). What a sweet baby girl! She is definately loved!

Adventures in the life and times of stitches. The saga continues...

So in the last post I let you all know that Mr. Max (due to a flying leap) sustained a forehead laceration this past Tuesday. The very next day (Wednesday), Max proceeded to pop all of his stitches, which resulted in the second ER physician suggesting that we glue the cut shut using Dermabond. If any of you know Maxer, you will know that he has a very expressive face. Not two minutes after the Dermabond set, Max was telling the ER doctor all about going to the movies with his Grandma and cousin Emma to see Alvin and the Chipmunks when, low and behold, the cut came apart! The doctor then decided to apply several layers of the Dermabond and then sent us on our way. THEN, on Friday night, (or should I say very early Saturday morning) I asked Scott to check on Max because I was worried about him. When Scott checked on him, not only did Max have a fever (he got my cold), but all the Dermabond had come off! Luckily the cut was still closed and we put a bandaid on it so that Max could go back to sleep. The next day Scott applied a Steri-strip to support the cut (that appears to be healing sans stitches and Dermabond) and we'll see how well it works! Keep your fingers crossed. If only insurance approved Toddler Botox so that Max's cut could heal already!

One little monkey jumping off the barstool!

Well, after two years of being a crazy little dude, our Max has finally had his first trip to the emergency room. Today Max was being crazy as usual and was triumphantly letting his mother and sister know that he had finished his lunch and launched himself off the barstool and in the process of doing so, knocked his noggin on the corner of the table. Needless to say head trauma was involved and, believe it or not, I actually kept myself together. I ran over to Max and picked him up off the floor. He was crying his 'that scared the you know what out of me' cry. As I picked him up I saw the blood and I did not want to scare him even more, so I asked him "Did that fall scare you?" He said "I fall. That was scary." To which I said "Do you want to go bye-bye?" And of course he immediately said "Yea!" I then asked him "Do you want to see if Poppie (my father-in-law, Garth) wants to go bye-bye with us?" And of course Max was all over that. So I called Garth and he immediately came down and off we all were to the emergency room.

Max was his happy, go lucky self and charmed all the nurses. He didn't even really know that he had a huge laceration on his head. Max was so brave when the doctor came and stitched him up. He did his best not to cry and held as still as our Max could. He did not like it when the nurse had to wake him up to strap him to the 'papoose board' or that he could not see Mom or Dad when they were stitching him up, so he kept saying "Mommy" and "Daddy." He politely thanked the doctor after the doctor finished stitching him up and told me after the doctor left "He is a good doctor." He is such a cute kid. I couldn't be more pleased with the little dude. Here he was with head trauma and he was being his sweet, hilarious self. All the nurses fell in love with him and gave him a lion stuffed animal which we named "Stitches."

So after all was said and done, Max left the emergency room four hours later with seven stitches and a new lion. We told him that we could get a treat for being so brave and he was very adamant that his Poppie get a treat too! Maybe the song "10 Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed" will have a special place in Max's heart from now on.

(Scott has asked me to let you all know that should you want to see a photo of the gash, we have them, but I did not think that everyone would want to see the pictures so I just put the 'post incident' photo on here. So if you would like to see the photos, let me know and we'll send them to you).

Halleluja! There's something actually on this blog!

Well everyone, I did it! (Or should I say Randee did it.) I promise to try to keep up on this. I'm not promising anything; however, I will try. Now this is not that long, but it did take me a while to get here.