Who are the Bodens?

This is us, taken last Saturday:

















Pete and I have been married just over 7 years. And look what we have to show for it!

I am a non practicing nurse. My mom always corrects me when I say 'used to be a nurse,' so I guess that works. I haven't worked since right before Abby was born in 2003. I did used to work in Peds ICU and ER. I miss it...sometimes. Pete is a Software Engineer. BOooooooring. But he's really good at it. Just glad its him and not me! I look at the work he does from home on occasion and am baffled by the fact that it actually MAKES SENSE to him.

We live in Spokane, WA. I grew up in Snohomish WA (SHS Class of 1994) and he grew up here (East Valley HS Class of 1994). I went to Washington State University in Pullman...GO COUGS! He went to Eastern. So how did we meet? Um...gulp...the internet. Yes, its true. There is an ancient program called ICQ, its like an outdated version of AOL IM. So we chatted for a few weeks before I moved here and we met right after I got here. In fact, he helped me unpack. And he's done that several times since then :) Anyway, we were both simply looking for a friend and it blossomed into much more than that. We moved fast...met in January 2001 and married in September 2001. But when you know, you just know, right? He's so awesome, we know many people who have offered to attempt to clone him for their daughters. ANYWAYS, we have lived here except for a stint in Las Vegas from 2003 - 2005. Ultimately we love it here best.

*Disclaimer* We are sitting on a hay bale that is tilted, which is why it appears that my several inches taller hubby is shorter than me!

Ok...on to the kids.

Abby, our little Princess. She's 5 1/2. Born on April Fools Day, 2003. Surprisingly no one thought it was a joke when we called to say she was born. Wierd. She's in Kindergarten this year and proudly rides the bus. I often wonder, when exactly is it, that you learn to hate riding the bus? When is it not cool anymore? For now, I enjoy hearing stories of the Kindergartners bouncing around on the back seat of the bus. Yep, in the afternoons when the big kids are still in school, they get to sit in the back. How cool are they? She is our creative one. She LOVES projects (read: making messes). I think along with a creative mind, goes a chaotic working space, right? She is a wonderful helper and she loves to play with her brothers too. She takes weekly gymnastics lessons. She played soccer last year and T Ball in the spring. She claims she doesn't want to do T Ball again...we shall see.

Tyler, oh dear Tyler. He just turned 4 in August. He is the sweetest, most innocent little rascal on the planet. He is very analytical, meaning he definately will weigh the pros and cons of doing what we ask him to do. For instance, if he is told he cannot have a story for bedtime if he does not do X, he will often just say he didn't want a story anyway. That's my boy! He is very sweet and loveable, very sensitive and still loves his Mama! He likes to snuggle and cuddle. He loves to play with his trucks and he is learning how to play soccer. Pete is coaching his team, which is quite entertaining. He goes to Preschool 3 days a week, which he loves. Not sure how much he learns but I do know he gets a snack every day. How is THAT the highlight of the day? If you know Tyler, you know that it truly is.

Now on to Aaron, who is 2 1/2. This kid is all boy. He loves anything with wheels; cars, trucks, trains, whatever. He is our little Buggy Boy. He is a strong willed child, but sweet at the same time. He loves to give hugs and kisses. He is gentle with his baby brother...sometimes. Other times he likes to sit on him. It seems that he is very athletically inclined...he gets out there with Tyler's soccer team for practice and he kicks that ball better than some of the kids on the team! He loves any kind of balls. He has a baseball mitt, but he uses it sorta funny...he holds it instead of putting his hand in it. He hasn't managed to catch the ball that way, I wonder why? He doesn't go to school but he gets to run errands with me. I take him to MOPS and we call that his school. Its only twice a month but he's not in the nursery anymore, so I guess that qualifies? I think he's looking forward to going to Miss Angie's school in, oh, about 11 more months.

Last, but not least, is our little Matty Matt. His name is really Matthew, but every calls him that, or just plain Matty. He will be 13 months in 2 days! He is a small, huggable, lovable, cuddly little bundle of spit bubbles. Its so fun to see his little personality come out. He is louder than the other kids were as babies, but I presume that is because he HAS to be, in order to be heard in this house! Right now he has a Mr. King car from the movie CARS that he is crawling and pushing and making "mmmm mmm" sounds. It is so amazing that its like in the genes or something. He has yet to eat...er...play with Abby's Polly Pockets but he plays with cars all.the.time. He isn't walking yet, he doesn't even stand yet but hes close! Unusual for me as the others were walking by age 1. I'm enjoying the break :)

Well that's us. I suppose I should go as my husband just drove down the driveway and he's taking me on a hot date to PF Changs. My sister and Fia are coming to kid sit. Fabulous!