The Brodniak Family News

Baptism and Family fun!

2011-06-30T17:29:00.000-07:00

It is hard to believe that Miss D is already 8! It is also hard to believe that S is almost done with residency.. hooray! The interns have arrived and he is busy getting them trained and comfortable in their places as Chief Resident. The kids are out of school, finally. We have been busy painting, cleaning and planting to get ready for family visits. Weddings are on their ways and family pictures are keeping me busy! D received the citizenship award for her class. H and D did amazing in school and are well above where they need to be. B will be starting Kindergarten, which is super exciting. K will be the only one home with me. School for me is going well. I have 12 credits of A's and 4 credits of B's so far. Graduation will be May 2013. D and B had birthdays, and S and I had our 11th wedding anniversary. My Brother B graduated from Med school with Honors. We are so proud of him and his wife M! I will attach some pics:) I will also blog sooner next time, since we have a few more newsworthy events coming up this summer. Have a great one!

update!

2011-04-11T17:31:00.000-07:00

So sorry that I forgot all about my blog and updating it! A lot has happened since I last blogged. Ster is now chief resident and is as busy as ever. He spent five days in isolation at the hospital 2 weeks ago with multi-modal hospital acquired pneumonia. He went to a medical conference last week and went back to work today as his first official day to work. We are really grateful to have such good friends on staff at the hospital and all of the exceptional care that he received while he was there! The kids just came back to school today for spring break. They are all doing well in school and we are sooo proud of them! Dakota just received an award for being voted by her peers at school as being a good friend and a helpful person. We are so proud of her! Kristjan jumped off the bunk bed in January and gave himself a black eye and a permanent dimple in his right cheek. Braxton has now been officially signed up for Kindergarten! We are so excited for him! This means that I will only have one kid still at home. I started school in November and have managed to keep a 4.0. I am not honestly sure how I have managed to pull it off in lue of my part time job with the caterer, the part time job with the wedding coordinator, my photography business and the four kids and all! Mom Isom and Mom Brodniak came to visit us in March and we had a really good time with both of them! We found out officially this past Friday that we are moving to North Carolina in the early part of next year. We are excited to get back to the sun, the southern hospitality and near friends and family! We are planning a trip to VA in June to attend my brother Blake's graduation from Medical School. We are super proud of him! We put hardwood floor in the front room of our house, Sterling learned how to replace the brakes on my mini van, and we have lived with rain, day in and day out! I think that is for the most part, the highlights of the last 6 months short of one last thing. Sterling recommended that I try short hair and I decided to give it a shot. So be prepared for the new and shorter haired.. Katie. Well, I hope you all are well! Adios! I will need to get on my other computer to get some images to upload.. bye! I forgot to add that Hunter got a new puppy! His name is Mushu and he is a Pekenese.

School has come, Halloween, and Thanksgiving is almost here!

2010-11-05T14:24:00.000-07:00

H's pumpkin I carved :)

Ster and the kids

So.. It has been a very long time since I have written. Things are going well! The kids like their new teachers and are learning leaps and bounds! KJ had his 3rd birthday and thinks he is a big boy even becoming potty trained as well. Hunter received scores in the 99th percentile for math in the nation. We are super proud of him! He has lost a few more teeth but we are still waiting on those long awaited upper teeth to come in.. it will be so weird to see him with a full mouth of teeth. Of course, then he will need orthodontia and that won't be very fun! He and I have been reading the Percy Jackson series together which has been super fun! Sterling and the kids have been running and trying to prepare for a 5k. They love to run and especially running with daddy! Sterling has enjoyed is work and loves being able to help people every day! Braxton is thriving in Preschool. He now knows his abc's and is getting colors and shapes. He still has a hard time with peoples names for some reason but his laugh is just as amazing as it always has been! Dakota is becoming a little lady! She draws and sings, she is learning to read and write more and loves the Ramona books! Kristjan is so funny! He has quite the vocabulary already and sometimes I have to take a double take to make sure it is him talking! He is still having random issues with asthma but is otherwise doing great! I am starting school in about two weeks along with running my now more successful business. We have had fun painting the house and making it more "ours"! Adalie, the bernise mountain dog is doing well! She got a little overweight for a while there but has slimmed down now. We plan on breeding her in April. The kids are excited for the puppies, I however am excited to replace the carpet in our living room with the money we make! Well, we hope all is well with you and would love to hear from you! xoxo

More pics soon!

Summer's here!

2010-06-17T17:23:00.000-07:00

Well at least the kids don't have school for a few months, but it is still in the 60's here and raining, so it looks more like early spring but oh well!
Sterling is still loving his work and is excited to work on the outer painting on the house :) JK.. he is actually excited to have his brother Hyrum coming to visit for a few weeks!

Hunter is excited for school to be done. We got him a new bed and he is super excited about that too! We got rid of cable so he is sad that he can't just watch tv whenever he wants but likes getting to read the Percy Jackson series with him mom every night before bed. He will be nine in just a week or so.. it is hard to believe that he is getting so big so quick!

Dakota is already missing her teacher.. lol.. which is funny because today was the last day of school. She is starting to make some new friends and still loves to play soccer and draw. We finally finished her room and are really pleased with the result!

Braxton is doing well. He has been done with school since last Friday. He was so funny because he screamed all the way to school about how he hated it and then said that he missed "teacher Cece" all the way home. We have one more layer of painting to do and his and KJ's room will be picture perfect. We moved Hunter's bunk beds into their room and currently have the old king size mattress that they were sleeping on piled onto our bed.. it kind of reminds me of what the bed the Princess and the pea slept on.

Kristjan is working on potty training. He is learning new phrases every day and is quite a character! He is excited for Hunter, Kota and Braxy to be home all day to play.

I am busy trying to finish up the extensive paperwork necessary to do foster care. Collecting all the random things we need to be licensed and working. I have had quite a few more little portrait sessions. We are all starting to make some friends and are feeling more at home. My sister Kellie just had a little girl she named, Cysie Kellen McClure. Blake, Mandi and Kennedy are going to be in Utah this summer to so we are trying to figure out a way to go and see them.

We hope you are all happy and healthy.. until next time.. adios!

Soccer Fun and more!

2010-05-07T15:59:00.000-07:00

This year we broke down and signed up Hunter, Dakota and Braxton up for soccer. It has been, fun and interesting to see the many facets of all their little personalities!

It is Hunter's first year of soccer. Most of the kids that are on Hunter's team have been playing for several years. He has learned a lot and is loving being part of a team! He is a great team player!

Dakota is super shy in school but when it comes to soccer, she is fearless and as aggressive as can be! I must admit I was a little surprised when Ster said that she was on the soccer field, but seeing it is even more amazing! Even when she is knocked down, she gets right back up and charges again!

Braxton is quite the opposite of Dakota. At school and in general is very outgoing, bubbly and friendly. In soccer he is super shy, cries when he gets knocked down or when the other team gets a goal. The coach and I have to bribe him to go out on the field to play and half the time he won't even walk out on the field but instead crawls on his knees out there. It is a bid frustrating but I think it will be good for him, despite how frustrating it is for everyone to watch and listen!

Kristjan has had fun watching the soccer games and making messes! His new favorite thing is to dump out all of my spices "making dinner" and pouring all the cereal and milk on the counter getting himself some cereal. He is quite the little helper!

Sterling is still happy at his job and business for me is coming along well. We have started the process of being Foster Care licensed and are excited see how things go!

Italy and much more!

2010-04-06T14:58:00.000-07:00

Let's start where we left off last.. Clear back in January, I think!! Hmm... well, Sterling finished his extra 6-7 months of his first year of residency and is now officially a second year resident. Things have been a lot better with his schedule and except for this month he has actually not had to leave for work until 6:30am and has been coming home around 5-6pm.. pretty awesome! Ster and the kids have been sick a lot! I think mostly due to the fact that Ster works with sick people day in and day out.. but that is just my personal opinion. I got a job working for Occasions Catering, working as a server. I just work one, maybe two days a week and it has helped to get out of the house (mostly on Saturdays.. when Sterling is off) and add a little extra cash in the bank! I shot my first wedding in Washington. I was so nervous because the lighting was horrendous and I prayed the whole time that the pictures would turn out okay. They did, and the bride was super happy! Yay! I have 2 more weddings this year on my books and am hopeful for a few more. I am also working for another photography company based out of Seattle and they have another 6 weddings that I will be photographing for them as well. I have made some good connections with some of the vendors as I have been catering at their venue. Hunter is doing well. He has been a little anxious about school but is greatful to have spring break under way! He has been attending scouts and is going to be getting his wolf this month. We just had parent teacher conferences and he is doing extremely well and is even reading above level! He started soccer a few weeks ago and is really loving it. Dakota has been getting a lot of headaches and we are going to have tested for migranes. She is doing extremely well in school and has come a long way since the first of the year. She will be starting soccer next week and can't wait! She still loves to draw and create outfits for everyone at home. I think she is our little clothing designer! Braxton is doing well in preschool. He has come a long way and is not only talking a lot better but is starting to recognize letters and numbers. We are going to keep him in preschool an extra year so that he will be extra prepared for kindergarten. He will be starting soccer next week as well and is super excited.. he loves to run! Kristjan is growing leaps and bounds. He is talking up a storm and speaking in 3 and 4 word sentences. He is still very cuddly and I am very grateful for that! In March Sterling and I got the opportunity to go to Italy for a week. We counted it as our 10 year anniversary since we will be celebrating it officially on June 10th. We had some friends who helped us out significantly or there would have been no way we could have gone. We flew from Seattle to New York, from New York, to Brussells, Belgium, and then into Naples, Italy we stayed in a villa with our friends on the Afmali coast. We got lost more times than we can say, laughed, cried, saw some amazing places (Rome, Positano, Afmali, Naples, and Pompei), ate some wonderful food! (pizza and gelato in Naples were amazing!) and came home. We were happy to see our babies, greatful to Mom B for watching them, but sad to leave such a wonderful place! We have truly been blessed. So that about catches you up on us.. we would love what you all have been up to!
xoxo the brodniaks

Here is a link to our albums on facebook for you all to see them and I will try and upload a few of the kids too!
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=159256&id=501528774&l=e23c057263
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=158474&id=501528774&l=214d6cad14
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=159089&id=501528774&l=69f1d0471c
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=159034&id=501528774&l=03b98a2d6f
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=158907&id=501528774&l=b578d62eb2
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=158886&id=501528774&l=0c44c91339

Update

2010-01-16T10:15:00.000-08:00

Danish Christmas Dinner with Besta and Neil Yum!

Chloe's Good bye Party

Matt and Kathy's Cute family.. we took these while Sterling and Matt were shopping!

We spent Thanksgiving afternoon (Sterling had to work until 1) with The Brodniak Crew (Ster's grandma, Uncle Jeff, Uncle Neal, Aunt Babe, Cousin Carmen, Cousin Sarah, Cousin Chris, etc.) down in Oregon. It was really fun to get together with them since we haven't seen them all in 9 years! I really wish I would have remembered my camera! We spent the night at Chris and Carmen's House and had a blast talking about old times (for me, it was just listening, but still fun!) Then we rushed off back to Washington to have Thanksgiving dinner with our awesome friends Barrett and Liz.

Chloe had some family drama going on and decided to go back to Hawaii. She gave her notice on the first Sunday in December and was gone by the following week. We miss her. I must say that it was a little relief, since I still haven't done much with my Photography Business here and didn't know how I was going to pay her!

Christmas was spent at Disneyland. My mom made us all promise that no matter what, we would go down to California and spend Christmas there. Blake, Mandi and their new little one Kennedy didn't come because Kennedy wasn't born until December 20th and coming would have been just plain crazy! We drove the 16-18 hours down and spent 6 days there at my mom's condo. We got discount tickets and I even got a free ticket on my B'day to go and we went to Sea World one day too (free for Military up to a family of 4). Braxton cried on the way home from Sea World. He loved Hawaii and it reminded him of there. He keeps telling me that our home is NOT in Washington but in Hawaii and when are we going to go home? The trip was fun but expensive and the kids had a great time playing with their cousins and uncles and grandparents :) We drove straight from Anaheim to Salem, OR and were pretty much exhausted! We spent the day of the 26th showing the kids where there daddy went to school, lived, played, etc. and then visited our friends Matt and Kathy, ate dinner with Besta (Grandma B) and Neil and stopped by Jeffs and saw them and Sarah's family and then made the last 3 hour drive home. We arrived about 11:30, put the kids to bed and then Sterling had to get up the following morning to be to work by 5am. It was a fun but whorl--wind of a trip!

New Years, Sterling had to work, and our friends Matt and Kathy and their cute little one's came up for the weekend. We did the fireworks on the night of the 1st, since we all went to bed pretty early (Sterling had to work the following day)!

I will post pics of some of the adventures.. xoxo the Brodniaks!

New Years was

Halloween

2009-11-04T14:42:00.001-08:00

Hello all! For those who aren't on facebook,
here are a few pics of the kids. Sterling is liking not working as much! He has used that time to work on painting the house. I have been trying to decide if I should send some pics before the whole transformation is done.. you really won't be able to tell that it is the same house :) You go honey! I am still trying to get my business established. I broke down and decided to invest in an ad on www.mywedding.com under Seattle. I really believe it will pay off, I just have to be patient.

Hunter is LOVING school! He even has straight a's despite missing the last month or so of 2nd grade. He has plenty of friends and is thriving!

Dakota is still trying to make friends. We just got her a dog that she named Isabella, she is a 3 year old miniature american eskimo dog which she has already tried to dress up. She is still so sweet and only a few minutes ago, she gave me a note that stated, " I do no wot muney oll i wot is my mom" I am sure you can figure out what she said.. such a sweety!

Braxton started preschool and loves it, he came home the first day just beaming, wanting us to see his pumpkins that he had made.
Kristjan is trying to potty train himself which is tricky.. I love the idea of no more diapers but it means my baby isn't a baby anymore and that really makes me sad! Addie, our bernese mountian dog puppy still thinks that she is one of my children. She climbs on the couch and sits her 70+ self right on my lap. It has been a little interesting seeing the two dogs interact but at least Addie isn't quite so needy! Well, that is about all for us.. Enjoy the pics!

uhhhhhh

2009-10-08T23:30:00.001-07:00

So.. as I mentioned before, I have been trying my darnedest to restart my business here in Washington. I must admit that I am frustrated. I knew that it would take me a LOT of time and a LOT of work but I am running out of time. I either need to book a wedding this month or i will HAVE to get a job outside my home. This is not saying that I have not been working.. or that I am against working. As many of you know... I work constantly! Lately, I have been making up flyers and taking them to the neighbors. Tomorrow I will be delivering them to a few more subdivisions (I will upload a pic of my flyer). I have dropped off flyers at hair salons, the FedEx/Kinkos shop where I made my copies, every baby that I saw at Madigan Army Hospital today, I gave a business card to and talked to them for a few minutes. I even gave one to the Optomitrist that checked my eyes today. I have been praying, fasting and working my as best as I can. I called 10 or more wedding venues, caterers, photographers in the area trying to create a buzz. I have added my company to every wedding online site that I can find and even write many of the brides emails. I dropped off flyers to the local newspaper too. Needless to say.. I feel like I have exhausted all the ideas that I can come up with. I think the thing that makes me the most frustrated is that as I was checking out the vendors that are participating in the sassymei home show... www.sassymei.com , (in which I will be selling some flower and landscape images all the while marketing my business) and I noticed that all of the photographers particpating have only been in business for less than a year and are charging nothing! Absolutely nothing! They have no experience. This is not to say that they aren't talented, because they are but grrrr. I guess I am just angry because I work so hard to get my business going just to move when it starts to do something. AND they have one thing that I definately DON"T have and that is a connection to the area. Washington is such a tight group. They won't refer you brides unless you have worked as a vendor several times but if you don't have clients then how can you work there.. well ahhh.. that is where my next plan has fallen on it's face too. I applied to work part time at one of the caterers so that I could develop a repour but they haven't called me back yet. I am sorry for the rant.. I just don't know what more I can do!

Much needed update!

2009-09-23T11:41:00.000-07:00

Since it has been a while, I will try to be pretty concise as to what we have been up to. We arrived in Washington and I think that is where I left off. We got the opportunity to stay in a couple of hotels until our stuff arrived and so we got to know Seattle a little better! We also got to stay at the Great Wolf Lodge which was a blast! We went down to visit Matt and Kathleen for the 4th of July and got to visit Great Grandma B and Uncle Neal! Then, our friends Matt and Kathy and their adorable 3 kids came up and visited us and we had a great time going on a Ferry and seeing a little more of the area near us. We finally got our stuff and started unpacking. We then had a record setting heat wave. With no a/c and no fans within a 50 mile radius, me, the kids and Chloe decided to head down to Utah and stay with my mom. We had fun playing with the cousins, Uncles, Aunts, Grandparents and the horses! Part of the way through, I flew with Hunter and Kristjan to Tennessee so that Hunter could spend a couple of weeks with Grandma B. Kristjan and I stayed a few days and had fun going to the Aquarium, helping with Uncle Joe's Play, playing with the cousins, and helping Grandma! Kristjan and I flew back to Utah and then Hunter, Grandma B and Grandpa B flew out the following week. Hunter had a great time with Grandma and Grandpa! We spent 2 days in Southern Utah with Grandma and Grandpa L riding the 4 wheelers, picking fruit and hanging out with the family. We then drove all the way back to Grandma and Grandpa I's and Daddy flew into town thanks to Grandma B being generous and paying for his flight. We did family pictures that night and then the next day we babtised Hunter to be a member of the LDS Church! We are so proud of his decision! We drove/flew back into town just in time to start school the next day. Chloe and I have been unpacking ever since and are thankfully pretty much done. Last week Sterling has a work retreat at Seaside, Oregon and so we got to spend the weekend playing on the beach and enjoying some much needed family time with Daddy! I will upload some of the pictures, but not all since, I can't find the electrical chord to my laptop with all of the pictures. I am trying to restart my business and sell Scentsy Candles so anyone interested, let me know!

Hello from Washington!

2009-07-24T15:04:00.000-07:00

I will post a few random pics but we arrived and in the process of getting settled. I will write more when I can spare the time but as you all know I am very good at keeping myself busy with random projects and such! Sterling is loving his new program and me and the kids are loving having him around A LOT more! We have a live in babysitter named Chloe that came with us from Hawaii so when you see the new face you will know who it is! Live has been MUCH easier with her to help out! Now I just have to book enough photography jobs to afford her :) tata for now!

Our First House and the crazy life of us!

2009-06-07T00:47:00.000-07:00

So.. I know it has been forever and I can't really even remember what I wrote last! So.. I guess I will try to update you all as far as I can remember...

Sterling finally got off night float, went to family med and decided to change his major to Family Med. We had 2 weeks of not knowing if we were staying in Hawaii, going to possibly Germany, Italy, Japan, etc. and Sterling being deployed soon after the move to being notified that they were transferring him to Washington State. The day after it was official, Sterling was on break and we flew out to Washington, met up with a realtor that Sterling had called the day before and looked at approx 15 houses. We then flew back the next day and did Dakota's birthday party. After the party our Realtor called and said that they house we really liked had an offer on it and did we want to counter. We decided yes, and countered. They accepted our offer then next day and Sterling left the next day to camp. I started filling out the paperwork and then we got it all faxed. In the middle of this, we ended up removing Hunter from school and beginning to homeschool him. Also, I continued to plan this fabulous wedding for a client/now friend of mine for the 30th of May. The week before the wedding, Kristjan got bit by a dog and ended up pooping blood from the antibiotics, Hyrum, Sterling's brother arrived to help me and visit and I had a lot of errands to run for the wedding. The week of the wedding, we closed on our house, we traded in the Miata and are now leasing a Acura TL, and finished the wedding details. The wedding was one major event. I was the photographer, planner and florist. The bride was super busy and a little delayed at making a few decisions so the day before the event, the ring bearer suits arrived (overnighted), I had to make a new ring bearer pillow (one didn't arrive), cut the table runners, decorate and hang fabric and beaded curtains from the sides of the tent, make 70 centerpieces, buy and cover 150 chapsticks, buy favors for the guests, make a sign in book(the book didn't arrive until tuesday after), and attend the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner. I literally didn't sleep between Friday and Saturday. There is no way that I would have been able to do it all if Sterling, Chloe, and Hyrum wouldn't have helped me! Poor Sterling had just worked a 30 hour shift from Thursday to Friday and still helped me set up on Friday, then helped me photograph on Saturday and had to work another 30 hour shift from Sunday to Monday! We were all exhausted by the end of it all. So here it is Saturday again I am just now finally feeling like a normal person again! I am flying out to Washington on the 20th/21st. The kids, Sterling and Chloe are flying out on the 29th to Washington and then we will all drive to Utah for the Brodniak Family Reunion around the 1st of July. I will try and attach a few pics of the house and the wedding and stuff.

Big Changes!

2009-04-10T23:19:00.000-07:00

There has been A LOT of changes since I last blogged. I have been waiting to blog about it until everything was settled and it finally is! First of all, about a month ago Sterling finished his two months of the night shift and started his rotation in Family Practice. He went from working 90-100 hours a week to working 60. Along with the drastic change in hours he really loved the variety of patients! He got to play with his babies, kids, and his old people and he was so much happier. The program director talked to him about changing his specialty to Family Medicine. Sterling has been unhappy with the hours worked, missed the variety of patients and missed
spending time with his family and so decided to go ahead and change his specialty. As soon as the decision was made our lives have been in a tornado of craziness. We were told after his decision was made, that Sterling would have to be deployed and that he would have to work as a General Medical Officer for a time before he would be allowed to change Residency programs. Sterling had a long discussion with the head of Residency Programs and after a couple of days we were informed that we would be moving to Madigan/Ft. Lewis (Washington state). We are sad to move from Hawaii and leave the wonderful friends and family we have come to love! We are also excited to be closer to family, own a home (we put on offer on a house tonight!) and see "daddy" a little more often. Along with all the above craziness we have been busy enjoying spring break, having a stay-cation (a vacation without leaving) in Waikiki, working and playing with our fast growing puppy Adalie! Sterling and I just flew out to Seattle to go house shopping on Wednesday night, arriving in Utah for a short 20 minute visit with Grandma Isom, then on to Seattle. We then drove to Madigan and looked at 13-14 houses and then sleeping at the hotel for a few hours before flying back this morning so that we could attend Dakota's early Princess Birthday Party. I will put pictures of the best of everything and please pray that if we are meant to get this house that we will get it. We love you all and hope you have a great day!

The Brodniaks

New Name

2009-02-17T13:32:00.000-08:00

So.. we have finally decided on a name for the dog. Her name is Adalie but we will call her Addie for short. We will be getting her in 2 weeks.

puppy

2009-02-13T10:21:00.000-08:00

Well, it is official, Sterling has convinced me to get another dog. She is a Bernese Mountain Dog and we will be bringing her home in 2 weeks. The kids are really excited and so is Sterling! Attached are a few pics from our last visit to see her. Oh and we have to name her a name that starts with A because she is from the first litter... any suggestions?

Great kids!

2009-02-09T11:06:00.000-08:00

The past couple of weeks I have noticed a phenomenon at my house. My children are constantly trying to surprise Sterling and I. They will make up baths, make us treats, get us a drink all the while flooding, spilling on and ruining the house! It has been very interesting because I sometimes am torn between being grateful for their thoughtfulness and being frustrated that I have yet ANOTHER thing to clean! Generally, I try my best to be grateful and just clean up later. The only problem is that our washer floods EVERY time I do a load of laundry. The pipes are apparently in need of replacing and the maintenance crew hasn't received the right parts yet to fix it.. so I either flood the house myself or go without clothing :) We recently had a HUGE tree cut down in our yard. It was apparently sneaking into the sewer pipes rather forcefully as well as lifting up our sidewalk so that it looks like we have been through an earthquake. I can't believe how much more space an light we have now that it is gone.. Yay! I got my hair cut and I dyed it super dark in an effort to go back to my original color. I might post a pic, one of these days. Sterling has been working like a crazy person. He has been working 14 hour days and then sleeping 7 hours and then eating or driving the other remaining ones. Poor Sterling! He did have Saturday off and we went to Hanauma Bay where Sterling and Hunter went snorkeling and I played on the beach with Kota, Braxton, and Kristjan and took pictures. I will post a few. Hunter had a rough couple of weeks at school. Last week something changed and he was amazing! Worked on his homework right after school without any prodding and his teacher even commented that he was ahead of where he needed to be in his school work (which has not been the case for months)! Dakota continues to excel at school. She is home sick today. She has a fever and a nasty cough... poor girl! Braxton is talking more and more all the time. He is still delayed (as per the Developmental Pediatrician's findings) but is making real progress! We found him a Wonder Pets pair of pajamas and are happy to say that he likes wearing them every bit as much as his sister's Cinderella dresses which is a major victory for us! Kristjan has finally moved past the honery cryee baby that he had become for last last month or so and is back to his happy self. He still won't let me sit down to the computer without screaming at me or talk on the phone..(he is sleeping right now:)) but has developed a "fake" laugh and this really goofy cute smile that he pulls out especially for the camera. He has also developed at love for peanut butter. As for me.. I think my brain has gone on vacation. I am having a hard time remembering anything that isn't written down. I am helping plan a wedding with one the Sterling's coworkers and between that and trying to keep the house clean, meals made, laundry done (ha!) and all the other stuff I am pretty busy! I am grateful that my kids are so sweet and have such a desire to be so thoughtful! Adios!

More pictures from Christmas and New Years

2009-01-16T15:45:00.000-08:00

Pictures

2009-01-15T13:28:00.000-08:00

I put the 800 images on a picasa slideshow for all of you to enjoy :)

Katie

Update!

2009-01-14T12:25:00.001-08:00

So.. I know it had been a while but I am so hopelessly busy that I have a hard time sneaking blogging in all of the time. We are all doing well. The kids started back to school yesterday and I am now finally able to get some of my errands done. I just don't like taking all 4 kids to the post office or the bank when I can get away with only taking 2. It hardly felt like Christmas this year because of the lack of snow but we had a wonderful one anyway! I had a good birthday (which is rare, since I like to feel sorry for myself because hardly anyone remembers) but thanks to the miracle of facebook I received many, many Happy Birthday wishes plus my husband went all out and got me an awesome gift! He managed to get a week off of work and fly his mom out to watch the kids for a couple of days so that we could get away just the two of us. It was sooooo nice to not have someone eating my food, hanging on my legs crying, fighting, etc. It was also great because the kids really did miss us! Braxton was so cute.. Mommy, come home right now! Dakota also was sad to see us be gone. Hunter was just happy to be with his grandma! I will probably have to upload a slide show to show you the pictures that we took because there was about 800 of them! (We had 2 days by ourselves and the kids and my mother in law joined us for 2 days and then the kids and us had 2 more days before going back to Oahu) We visited the Big Island and had a great time seeing the volcanos, swimming, hiking, snorkeling, checking out the black sand beach, seeing waterfalls, and even visiting Sterling's Aunt Doloris. We bought a dog and named him Remington. He was a miniature italian greyhound and he was very sweet. I took him back to the people we bought him from 2 weeks later because it was just too much for me. 4 kids, and a overworked husband is enough for me! Maybe when the kids get older. Well, that is pretty much all that has been going on with us. We hope you are all doing well! I am sending out our family newsletter a little late but if anyone else wants one please make a comment in the comment box or email me your info soon. Adios!

Our First Christmas in Hawaii!

2008-12-27T20:03:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas everyone!

It's not beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

2008-12-13T13:10:00.001-08:00

It's been oh.. at least 70 to 80 degrees this week. We had this one wacky rain storm that blew into our covered porches and ruined a bunch of toys and stuff that I haven't had a chance to put away yet.. but I guess it gave me the excuse to get rid of more stuff, right? The kids are getting excited for Christmas and I must admit that I am starting to panic! Sterling has worked every weekend this month and after Sunday will be in the 100- 115 hours worked this week alone. I am going to have to get a babysitter to finish up! Today is the 2nd birthday of our stillborn Jaden. I made it a goal to have a little "secret santa" project every year on his birthday. I kind of give back to someone the wonderful love we were given at that time and also so that I wouldn't dread today. But I honestly don't really know anyone around here that is hurting for $$. Everyone I know who short on cash is on the mainland and I really wanted to do a drop and dash with the presents with the kids. So I am going to pray that I can think of someone today to surprise. Anyways... here is a little update.
Sterling is a working machine! He is downright exhausted and frustrated that he has to work so much. I must admit I am sad that he is gone so much but grateful that we have a job and that we are finally in a place (financially) that we actually have some money to spare! Spare as in.. I don't have to consign my kids clothes in order to buy new ones :)
Katie is trying to finish unpacking, keeping up with the unending laundry and cleaning, and trying to put together meaningful and nice gifts for family and friends. Oh.. I trying to enjoy her babies while they are still little!
Hunter is doing well in school. He reads really well and has a ton of friends. He is a good helper around the house and likes riding his bike a lot!
Dakota is a singing, dancing machine! She is learning to read and refuses to sound out words but instead just memorizes what they look like. OH..well.. I guess!
Braxton is totally potty trained and is finally taking himself to the bathroom.. yay! He is such a great brother and is constantly keeping tabs on Kristjan. Last Saturday while I was cleaning out the porch.. he entertained KJ for 2 hours!
Kristjan is turning into a big boy. He has started saying, "Hunter NO!" "Daddy up!" "Kota, Kota" and many more pertinent phrases.. his personal favorite is "no!"
Well, that is all for us her in Hawaii! We hope everyone is having a good holiday season!

Pictures

2008-11-17T14:59:00.000-08:00

Read the update below the pics

Grass!!!

2008-11-16T14:51:00.000-08:00

I know it has been a long time since I last blogged but there has been a whole lot to occupy my time! As I have previously written.. we just moved. I have one last van full and I am officially done with the moving. I have unpacking well under way and have definitely decided that we have way too much stuff for this new place! (We cut our living space in almost half!) We went ahead and changed the kids over to their new schools and both seem to be adjusting super well! I have had no crying or flailing of bodies before school.. which is a wonderful change! Sterling has been busy, busy, busy with work. He had Veteran's day weekend off and so we went to the Dole plantation and got some really cute pics of us all. Kate has been busy cleaning, packing, unpacking, painting, landscaping, photographing, mothering, must we go on.... Hunter is doing really well at reading and is very helpful! He just started doing chores and is excited to earn some of his own dinero! We finally decided to take off Hunter's training wheels and with no help whatsoever, he was off. Ster promised him a new bike if he could ride without the training wheels and so Kate got to go buy a new bike. Since then we can't seem to get him off it! Dakota is loving her new school. She actually gets upset when she doesn't get to go. She has 3 or 4 friends who fought over her the first day! She is learning quickly and will hopefully be reading soon. Braxton is officially potty trained!!! Hallelujah!!!! He is talking a lot more and is getting cuter by the second! Kristjan just cut his 5th tooth and is working on his 6th. (aka he is honery!) He is running like crazy after his siblings and only seems happy when he is outside running. His favorite thing to do when we are grocery shopping is to run away while I am loading the groceries onto the conveyor belt. He thinks he is so funny. As for the title of this post... I will load some pics from recently and included is our yard before and during the "remodel". I am just so excited to see our grass coming up! No more mud in the house.. okay.. not really but not as much and we will finally have a place to sit outside! Well, I could go on and on but I am not sure you all really want to read everything so.. adios!

craziness must be my M.O.

2008-10-18T03:28:00.000-07:00

I am sorry that I haven't written in a while. I tried to upload a couple of videos but haven't managed to get them to work so instead I will tell you the stories about them. One of the videos had Kristjan walking. Yep, my baby is walking. I can't hardly believe that he is old enough. The next video was of Braxton trying to fly. He has gotten really obsessed with dragons and the other day he climbed on the dresser in the guest room and started flapping his arms and saying, "Looky Mommy, I fly, I fly" and then he proceeded to jump arms flapping onto the mattress. I had to video the event because it was too cute! The last was a few clips from Dakota and Hunter. I let them borrow the camera a couple of days to take pictures and forgot to change the settings back to still shots instead of video and they shot about 10 little films.. I call them the "what my kids are up to behind clothes doors" films.. they were very funny!

As for the update!

I am currently trying to pack and move us to our new place. For all of you who know me, you know that I try to be superwoman or something and take on WAY too many things! For instance, on Wednesday, I dropped off my kids at 8, went to Tripler to pick up a paper and drop off Ster's white coat. Then ran over to sign the lease and pick up the keys by 9:30 only to drop the kids off at a friend's place at 10. I then drove 30 minutes to shoot a family portrait in 2 locations and drive an hour back. I picked up Kristjan and Braxton and then went to the school to pick Hunter and Dakota up from school and it happened to be early day so I ended up being like 20-30 minutes late and then filling up my car with stuff to move and going to the new house... another 30 minutes in the car... and then painting a room while carrying Kristjan in my backpack because he wouldn't stop crying and trying to convince the other 3 that they really were best "helping" me by watching a movie. And the week hasn't gotten much calmer. AAAHHHHHHHH!

Sterling passed his Physical fitness test and earned 3 extra vacations days!!! Yay Sterling!!! This is no small feet.. he was the only resident in his year to do it! He is happy to be ending NICU and to start GYN.

Hunter is reading REALLY well! He is really helpful and so smart. He is doing well at school and loves his church teacher!

Dakota is my little lover girl. She is doing better in school too and loves helping take care of Kristjan. She is an AMAZING artist!

Braxton is talking much more clear and is so sweet! He is always trying to find ways to help me and is SO loveable!

Kristjan as I said above is walking and climbing on everything! He has developed a little temper and loves to scream! Otherwise he is darling!

Well, I need to go to bed.. i will upload some pics soon!

XOxo

Kids

2008-10-01T14:08:00.000-07:00

I took these a day that I kept Kota home. Enjoy!

Ouchy Me!

2008-10-01T13:36:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday while grocery shopping Kristjan grabbed a large can of pork and beans of one of the shelves and it landed on my foot. I was sure that I had broken in and after picking up the kids from school, putting the groceries away, cleaning, cooking, and helping with homework I was in absolute pain. Sterling took me to the emergency room. Two hours later, I came out with an anti inflammatory and a bruised but not broken foot. Poor Sterling ended up with only 4 hours of sleep before having to work a 32 hour shift.

Kristjan's birthday is on Friday and he is walking! He is growing up way too fast and is sooo much fun!

Braxton is talking better and is going to be going to a speech therapist to help him talk better. He is still as sweet as can be and is always helpful, just sometimes helping in the wrong things.. like cleaning the bathrooms and dishes.

Dakota is finally liking school. We talked to her teacher and she made a seating change and moved things around and Dakota is much happier! Yay!

Hunter is also doing well. He has gotten taller, growing out of most of his jeans. He is reading very well.

Sterling is working in the NICU this month. He has been working a lot and is scheduled for every weekend including Columbus day. He is pretty tired but is always good at making time for the kids.

I am working a little at my photography business. I am also packing for us to move in 2 weeks. I have also been trying to keep up with the usual stuff, like Dr. appointments, cleaning, cooking, homework, etc.

I hope you enjoy some of the newest shots I took this week.

pics

2008-09-12T18:48:00.000-07:00

oops.. i forgot the pics from hanauma bay

2008-09-07T20:48:00.001-07:00

i know you guys are all about the pictures.. well, I am so here goes even more pics. Oh, and Kota didn't go with us so that is why she is missing from those pictures. bye

travels

2008-09-07T18:22:00.000-07:00

We have had our friends Rose and Matt and their little Dima here to visit for a little over a week. We have taken the opportunity to see more of the island while they are here. Ster started his rotation on labor and delivery and is currently working. Me, well I am busy keeping track of our kids. Hunter was in a play at school (just his class) and he had more lines than anyone else in his class. We worked really hard on them.. I hope we will have an opportunity to see him perform it. Dakota is still not loving school but is enduring well. She decided she wanted her hair cut and didn't want to bother mom so mom ended up cutting her hair rather short. Braxton is finally starting to get the potty training thing.. we'll see. Kristjan just cut another tooth.. that makes 3 and is the process of cutting another one. We are just having fun with our company and trying to stay cool.. boy is it hot here! So.. attached are some pics of the Hanauma Bay (where I learned to snorkel.. it was awesome!), the Polynesian Cultural Center, the Laie Temple, Pearl Harbour( I decided not to take my camera so I will have to load the pics I took from my phone) and the B-yodine.. The valley of the temples (Japanese).. enjoy!

The pics

2008-08-20T21:07:00.000-07:00

Here are the pictures that I mention in the last two posts as well as a few from the day Sterling and I got married.. a little over 8 years ago. :)

the monkey

2008-08-20T00:02:00.000-07:00

I forgot to write that Hunter is definitely showing his Hawaiian heritage proud. He is one lean mean climbing machine. He climbs palm trees, houses, you name it. My neighbors all think I need to get him into gymnastics before he hurts himself climbing on the roof. I have tried to convince him otherwise but I did take a pic of him the other day that I will post tomorrow..

Update

2008-08-19T21:49:00.000-07:00

Sterling admits defeat.. just kidding! He says as some of you also have written, that it is only fair if you post a picture of him too. Too bad there aren't very many of him at that age! HA!
We got a new vehicle finally but still haven't sold the prius. I will post a pic soon of it but until then you can all wonder what kind we bought!
We are as always busy. I ordered business cards today for my photography business with some of my pregnancy photography on it... apparently it's big out here.
It is so stinking expensive here in Hawaii. I just got my electric bill and even without using one second of a/c and turning off the lights when we leave a room it was still almost $300. Sickening!
Dakota is officially in school and is liking it pretty well. She is so smart it blows me away! She brought her homework out and worked on it without any help from me and if you can believe it.. when she was done she had done exactly what the paper had asked. Without reading even.. and it wasn't obvious either. I am totally impressed.
Hunter is still having a hard time getting all of his homework done. We have been given lots of advice and tried a bunch of different techniques and though better than before it is still like pulling teeth to get it done. He is reading really well though! I can't believe how good he has become at reading!
Braxton is not looking like a baby/toddler anymore but like a big boy. It makes me sad to see my kids growing up so fast! He is speaking sentences like crazy and he likes to repeat every sentence twice.. he is funny! He is still completely obsessed with Kristjan and making sure that he stays out of trouble. Too bad he can't manage to keep himself out of it! LOL
Kristjan is now not only crawling up but down the stairs as well. He now clicks his tongue when he wants to eat something and kisses with fishy lips. He is such a crack up! It looks like he will soon have 4 teeth instead of his adorable 2. I don't want him to grow up!
Sterling is still loving his rotation. He looks with trepidation towards next month's rotation.. I guess he will be home even less than before, if that's possible! He LOVES his new car and says that He now has everything he's ever wanted! He took D and H on a daddy date, taking h to Haunauma Bay to go snorkling and D to dinner to a fancy restaurant.
Kate is busy paying bills, cleaning kids messes, changing diapers, nursing babies, feeding children, etc. etc. Her friend Jestine, dyed Kate's hair back to her root color and cut it so she (I) will post a pic soon. She just read the new Twilight book and another really sad book called the Memory Keeper's Daughter. Bye

One kid might look like me!

2008-08-10T19:44:00.000-07:00

So.. Sterling denies it and says that Kristjan looks like him but I have to say that I think he looks more like me. Attached is a pic of KJ and a pic of me about the same age.. Let me know what you guys think.

Overwhelmed!!!

2008-08-05T19:16:00.000-07:00

So.. ever since Kristjan joined our little family.. I can't seem to catch my breath. Everyone says that 3 was a big milestone but I think that four was definitely one for me! It might have something to do with all of the changes that coincided with his arrival but for whatever reason.. I am EXHAUSTED!!! We still only have one vehicle and the kids started school last week. Because of that I have had to take Ster to the hospital early in the morning and then pick him up in the evening. Unfortunately because deliveries are so unpredictable.. my husband's schedule is too so there are have been a few nights that we have spent several hours hanging out in the van or in his office waiting for him to be ready to go home. If any of you know of someone within driving distance of Chattanooga who is interested in a Prius.. let me know. We have decided to sell it as opposed to waiting for it to be shipped. The kids are liking school for the most part, which is good!

Hunter just started 2nd grade and has a GREAT teacher! He is a little overwhelmed with all the homework that he has and isn't happy about having to miss out on tv time until he gets it done. He is growing up so fast and frequently complains about the unfairness of being the oldest and having to help.. I don't blame him.. I felt the same way growing up.

Dakota starts Kindergarten officially on Friday. She went for orientation and complained that she was bored. Her teacher informed me that she is very smart and is a good listener and praised my parenting skills.. It was nice! She is still very much a girly girl and loves to wear a dress even when she rides her bike (a little dangerous in my opinion). She frequently sneaks out to go to "granny Debbie's" house (our neighbor and one of the nicest people I know!!) and loves Granny a ton.

Braxton is my little mothering child. He is constantly concerned for Kristjan's welfare and is either carrying him somewhere or screaming that KJ is going to hurt himself. He is very independent and VERY determined to get what he wants!!! He still gets into things and loves to taunt Hunter and Dakota.

Kristjan is as sweet as can be... except when he cries, which is half the time. As long as he is being held.. he is content. He likes to pull Granny's cats' fur but doesn't like it when he hisses at him. He is in the process of cutting his third tooth. He is crawling all over and walking along furniture even letting go and standing for a minute or two at a time. He still hasn't mastered going down but loves to go up the stairs and play with Hunter's toys.

Sterling is busy and tired. He hasn't had a day off in over 3 weeks (most of which average over 90 hours). He loves the people he works with for the most part and especially loves working with the REI (Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility) patients this month. He also loved his Cancer patients last month too.

Katie is tired! She finally unpacked the last box and is still trying to cut down on all the stuff we have so that when our lease is up.. we will be able to fit in a smaller place. She helped shoot a wedding on Saturday and though she was ridiculously under paid feels like it was a good experience, since it made her realize that maybe being an assistant just isn't enough after being the boss. LOL

We still love it here and can't wait to have visitors soon! check out these pics from our walk to KoKo Crater on Sunday....bye

More pics!!!

2008-07-22T23:51:00.000-07:00

For all of you reading this.. you will have to go to the next page to get the blog with all the pics that I uploaded.. sorry!

I have even more.. if you can believe it!!! I will upload them soon!

Aloha Ya'll

2008-07-22T15:18:00.000-07:00

Okay.. I will try and update you all on what we have been up to and post a few pics. I should probably look through what I wrote last but since my internet time is limited... I will just repeat myself instead. Okay...
So... first we went to Utah. Sterling was sick and we were really busy with Kellie's photo shoot and playing with the cousins. We did manage to go out to dinner for my mom's birthday at Applebees in Layton where my brothers taught my children the finer points on spit balls.. thanks guys. They also got to ride the horses and meet Aunt Nani, Uncle Mike and Brian at the Salt Lake Temple little did we know what kind of drama we would make while there!
We came home, Sterling's brother Hyrum came in to town a day before us and he and Mandi came and picked us up from the airport. Just so you all know.. 3 flights in one day with 4 children isn't really what I would call a vacation! So we arrived and started to work painting the house. We painted until it was time to leave to go to Florida. We scheduled Hyrum's flights so that he would fly out of Orlando to go home and he helped drive us down to Florida. Thanks Hyrum!!! We relaxed the first day at my mom's condo, went to a condo presentation the second day and spent a little time at the pool, hanging out with our friends the Neibaurs and Johannah and her family who came up from St. Petersburg, FL area. We went to one of the Disney waterparks (artic something) the next day, Disney Animal Kingdom the next, Disney Magic Kingdom the next and then Cocoa Beach. We dropped Hyrum off at the Airport, chilled and then drove home the next day. We arrived on Friday just in time to finish painting, cleaning and packing up the remaining of our stuff off to the Hotel. Unfortunately.. there weren't any hotel available nearby that we could find in our price range.. so we ended up staying at Blake and Mandi's new place.. Thanks a bunch Blake and Mandi!! So.. I shot a wedding in the middle of the move and came home to help Sterling finish cleaning while Mandi watched the kids. Graduation week arrived. I shot an infant/ family portrait for a cute family on Tuesday. We had the awards ceremony where Sterling didn't think he would receive any awards but received several including an award for Service that he and one other student received! We were so proud!!! Then the family picnic, Army Graduation, and of course Medical School Graduation! Mom and Dad Brodniak arrived for graduation as well as David and his boys (another of Sterling's brothers). Even Dr. VanKuiken came for graduation (the reason Sterling even made it to Medical School) We felt so lucky to be able to share the special event with all that were able to make it. Okay.. the night of Graduation we went to dinner at Alexander's ( our favorite place to eat EVER!!) and they even gave us free desserts! We will miss the staff there.. they always made us feel like we were home! We flew out the following morning at 7am to Honolulu. We stayed at the Marriott on Waikiki Blvd. for 2 weeks. We loved being on the board walk and seeing all the cool artists who come out to sell their work! We hung out with the Residents that are working with Sterling.. we have a great group!!! Soooo much fun! Then we moved to the Ilikai and stayed for one night. It was SOO nice! Then we moved to the Hale Koa for another 2 weeks. On Hunter's birthday we walked to the Hilton and had waffles and pancakes.. a little bit pricey.. but oh so good! We also played at the pool, made some new friends and went to a PF Changs! We had fun trying out some new places to eat and one of our favorites was Bubba Gumps! It was very kid friendly and the food was great too! Our stuff finally arrived on the 1st of July and we moved into our new place. We enjoyed spending the 4th watching the fireworks over the ocean in Hawaii Kai. We just got internet on Saturday and are still unpacking. Hunter and Dakota are starting school on the 30th and are so excited to make some new friends! We love living in Hawaii and apart from the fact that Sterling is gone ALOT, don't have any regrets! We love our new home and our new neighbors! "Granny Debbie" is an awesome neighbor and we love her grandaughter Kover as well! We hope you are all doing well and hope to get lots of visitors! Sadly I have way, way more pics but my computer doesn't want me to share so I will have to load more after I hook up the lap top for the other pics or you can email me and I will forward you on the link to our picasa album... :) Mahalo.. and ALOHA!!!

ALOHA!!

2008-06-13T00:26:00.000-07:00

So.. it is official! We are now in Hawaii. We are currently living in Waikiki, HI in the Marriott. I don't think it has really hit us that we have officially moved to Hawaii. It still feels like we are on vacation and in a lot of ways.. we are. Sterling is settling in at Tripler. Me and the kids are have a good time playing at the beach, walking to all the shops, waiting for Sterling in the care while he fills out paperwork, playing at the pool, etc. I will write again when we have internet access. We hope all is well with you all!

Katie, Ster and the munchkins

HOLY COW!

2008-05-02T08:19:00.000-07:00

Hello all! So.. here is our schedule for the rest of our time in Virginia.. keep in mind that I do have 4 kids and a dog and now only one vehicle that doesn't hold us all! So.. Yesterday we drove to Atlanta (6 hour drive) to drop our mini van off to be shipped to Hawaii (it takes 35 + or - days). Today is Friday and I had an infant photo shoot. I now have to edit and post the pictures for the Mom because tomorrow I have a family photo shoot, a baby shower, the ward party and a dinner date. Sunday we have church at 1 so basically all day. Monday I am going to have to do my final editing and send pictures off to the printer, oh and go through the stuff in my house to decide what I am not taking to Hawaii and get it out of the house... And pack for the next 2 months or so for us to live. Tuesday, the movers arrive. Wednesday more moving, Thursday the movers leave with our stuff (we won't see our stuff for up to 60 days). Friday recollect ourselves in order to fly out Saturday the 10th for Utah. Stay in Utah until the next Saturday (the 17th). Arrive back in Virginia. Spend the week cleaning, painting etc. Then the 22nd we are going to Florida until the 28th. Drive back from Florida (12 hours each way :)) then the 29th do any final cleaning and then move ourselves into a hotel or something. The 31st I am shooting a wedding and then church on sunday. Monday starts all the family coming in and graduation activities. The official Medical School Graduation is on Saturday morning and we fly out to Hawaii on Sunday to a hotel. We will be in a hotel for at least a month because the Army has not available housing until then. The great thing is that Sterling booked us a room in Waikiki and it is like a 4 or 5 star hotel right on the beach.. so the kids and I should have a nice vacation before we move into our place.. wherever that may be... we might buy, we might rent.. we are not sure.. anyways.. wish us luck on our crazy adventure! We are hoping to see lots of visitors! Aloha!

Latest news

2008-04-26T16:35:00.000-07:00

Sterling FINALLY got his orders to Hawaii!!! We can finally start scheduling our movers, get our plane tickets and looking for a place to live! Sterling is FINALLY coming back from Honduras tomorrow... HALLELUAH!!

Hunter is getting to be SO big!! He has been Instant Messaging Sterling all month and having full out conversations.. mostly about how mean mom is being and that he wants dad to call. :) He is also getting very good and writing, though I might have to ban him from writing if he keeps writing me notes about how much he doesn't like me.. (are you sure that teenagers aren't 6? I swear he is not 6 going on 7 but more like 6 going on 17!!!) He is really turning into a little man.. and quite a great photographer too!

Dakota hasn't been feeling well. She keeps getting unexplained fevers this week and is overemotional and lethargic. I might have to take her to the doctor on Monday. She is as always very sweet and continues to draw better and better. She turned 5 on Monday.

Braxton turned 3 on Monday as well. I can't believe it but he has changed back to his sweet little self (the one before the terrible two's hit) He hasn't been getting into as much and has been so much happier and content.. it is AMAZING!

Kristjan is growing WAY too fast! He is already trying to crawl and prefers to feed himself while being fed. He is rolling all over and starting to throw temper tantrums by arching his bag and flinging himself out of just about anything! He is still adorable and has one of the greatest smiles! He loves to sing.. just like the rest of the kids.. I hear singing all day long :)

Katie has taken some cool new floral pics.. I will add a slide show. And check out the cute cupcakes made for the kids' b-day.

Well, that is enough for now. adios!

Our Home in Virginia

2008-04-15T14:12:00.000-07:00

For all those who haven't been able to come and visit.. here are a few pics of our place..

Front View and Back View

front room/Kitchen/dining room

the office/studio

the playroom

dakota and kj's room

hunter and braxy's room

the upstairs bathroom

the master bath

the master bedroom (with braxy sleeping on my bed)

laundry hall ( as i call it)

main floor guest half bath

Yay Hunter!

2008-03-26T08:30:00.000-07:00

Hunter was recently in a little 1st Grade performance and he sang a duet with another little boy. He was one of about 10 kids that got to sing duets out of about 150 or so. He was the only one that everyone clapped for. It was SO cute! We are very proud of him.

Easter was really fun! We went to Grandma Brodniak's and she took us to two parks, the carousel, and the Discovery Toy Museum. The Easter bunny came and hooked us up with underwear, fruit snacks and a little bit of candy! We love the Easter Bunny! Mom and Dad got us some new church clothes!! YAY!

Sterling is leaving for Honduras this weekend and will be gone for the month! We are going to miss him tremendously!

Katie is working a lot and has no idea when she is going to find time to pack.. I guess she could just not update her blog and that would give her a few extra minutes:) Anyways.. She is glad for the work and is getting lots of necessary equipment for her business with the money.

Dakota is the little mama. She loves to take care of everyone and continues to draw at least 10 pictures a day... she is quite the little artist. I just realized on Monday that she recognizes and can write most of her letters. We worked on writing uncle Blake's name, and Mommy's name since up to this point she was only writing daddy on everything.

Braxton is our little adorable trouble maker! I went to dinner with a couple of friends and for a good 10-15 minutes they talked about what a naughty little cutie he is. And it is so true! He poured water into my heated hot rollers and the container started to melt the plastic rollers as well as itself so I got to throw them away.. meanwhile he looks up at me with his big blue eyes and says, "I sorry, Mama" and bats his long eyelashes and smiles with a little tear running down his face.. grr. why does he have to be so cute?

Kristjan is now almost 6 months. He is rolling over and he is almost sitting up by himself. His new thing is sticking his tongue out. He smiles with it out and talks with it out, you get the picture. He also is now in the I only want mama mode.. which is a sad one indeed! He has started gibber gabbering and says "dadadadadada" and he cries, "maaaaaa maaaaa". He is such a happy baby when he is being held and has a contagious smile.

Well, that is about all for us so until next time.. adieu

My new blogs and update

2008-03-03T14:00:00.000-08:00

SO.. you will see in my links that I have a few new blogs.. one is a recipe blog and one is a photography blog. I haven't done anything with the photography one yet but I will soon! This past week has been insane! I have been helping plan a wedding that I photographed last weekend. It turned out beautiful! I am relieved to have it be done so that I can start packing. Hunter is going to his first wrestling practice tonight. I will past pictures later. Hunter is also working on a dragon book.. it should be interesting. Kristjan just had his 4 month check up and weighs 13 lbs. 8 oz. and is 24 inches long. He is starting to wear 6/9 month onsies.. I can't believe it! It makes me sad that he growing so big! I pulled out the chair I bought for Hunter when he was this age and KJ loves it! The kids love to push him all over the house in it and he loves the ride. Sterling just started a new rotation. He is doing family medicine in dublin. He just finished a 1/2 month in orthopedic surgery and 1/2 month in urology. He is getting ready to go to Honduras for the month of April for a Mission Medical trip. My brother Blake is going to go out with him and help him translate. Braxton is his usual stealth bomber.. in to trouble all the time and no one knows until you stumble on the disaster! Today was pretty minimal.. just crayon all over the walls up the stairs and on the closet door. Well, that is enough for now. I uploaded a few of the kids.. except for braxton. I just put a bunch of him the time before.

Our new hair do's

2008-02-20T21:20:00.000-08:00

Dakota and Kate went for girl's night out. Dakota got herself a hair cut and Katie dyed her hair back to the original color. (Katie got her hair cut a week ago) Here are some pics.. sorry Dakota fell asleep before I could get her picture..I will take another one of her tomorrow.. but here are a few of her before the cut.

Tag

2008-02-17T22:04:00.000-08:00

How long have you been together? 8 years and just under a month.

How long did you date? 1 week? We got engaged after dating 1 week. We then got unengaged a couple of times until a week before we got married.. though I knew we were still in love and it was about 6 months between the day we met and the day we got married.

How old is he? 30

Who eats more? Me!

Who said "I love you" first? Sterling.. though it might have been me? I can't remember

Who is taller? Sterling

Who sings better? Both of us are okay... he is much better at playing them!

Who is smarter? Sterling by far! He is smarter not only in school but people too! I am so lucky to have him!

Who does the laundry? Me!

Who does the dishes? Me most of the time but Sterling is good about throwing in a load occasionally

Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? Sterling

Who pays the bills? I do most of the time.

Who mows the lawn? The maintenance crew for our subdivision.. thank goodness!

Who cooks dinner? Mostly me. Sterling is great at getting takeout when I get distracted and forget about dinner!

Who is more stubborn? Probably Sterling though I am pretty good too!

Who kissed who first? It was a mutual thing

Who asked who out? Sterling asked me out

Who proposed? Sterling.. 3 times.. I kept saying no.. just kidding! I said yes to all three proposals and all were amazing!

Who is more sensitive? Probably me

Who has more friends? It think it is pretty even.

Who has more siblings? We have the same 1 sister, 3 brothers each

I tag anyone who hasn't done this yet! :-)

crazy Katie!!!

2008-02-13T08:17:00.000-08:00

Soo... I am officially going to admit what a crazy photographer woman I am.. through pictures of course! I am totally insane. Oh well, at least I had a good laugh. Enjoy P.S. The kiss was a total fluke! We asked the little girl to kiss Braxton on the cheek and he turned and kissed her on the lips. What a hoot!

Update :)

2008-02-07T20:28:00.000-08:00

Sterling just starting rotating with an Orthopedic surgeon. He is not home as much which we all have missed him being around!

Katie is busy doing lots of infant portraits, packing and keeping up with the kids.

Hunter and Dakota are both trying to convince Ster and I that they no longer need to go to school.. too bad they have many more years of school to go!

Braxton and Kristjan are enjoying being at home and having lots of company.

Sterling, Katie and Kristjan went to Atlanta, Georgia past weekend. The other three went to Grandma Brodniak's house!!! We all had a good time! Grandma and the three went to their cousin Alling's Birthday party while Ster, KJ and Kate hung out with Travis Hoban and his girlfriend Katie Lane.

Here are some new pics!

Snow!

2008-02-05T06:39:00.000-08:00

A couple of weeks ago.. we had snow. Here are a few pics.

one last thing

2008-01-12T14:53:00.000-08:00

Sterling and Katie both turned 30! Happy Birthday us!

Hello All!

2008-01-12T14:12:00.000-08:00

So.. as I am sure you all have noticed that I have been slacking in updating my blog. I have been trying desperately to get out our family Christmas Newsletter and I wanted the kids to look a little bigger than what ya'll have seen last. It is taking me far too long and so here are a few of the munchkins as of late. Also, as always we have had a busy, crazy life with Dakota having surgery on her leg. They had to remove a necrotizing granuloma (a non cancerous tumor) and she had 5 stitches to close that up. A couple of days later, Hunter being the helper that he is, took off the super glue closing the superficial part of her cut and we ended up in the emergency room having to steri strip it back in place. Hunter broke his nose twirling on the hard wood floors and Braxton cut his forehead open on a chair. Sterling ended up butterflying that one back together himself. That is it as far as our medical drama. Sterling and Katie are getting excited to start packing and moving to Hawaii! The packing is a little overwhelming as of late.. who knew 6 people could have so much stuff! We also blessed Kristjan last Sunday. For all of you who don't know what that is.. it is the what you do in the LDS religion.. we give the baby a name and a blessing. If you want me to explain it in more detail give me a call and I will be more than willing to do so. :) We spent Christmas at Sterling's parents in Tennessee and got to see Uncle Hyrum, Uncle Joe, Grandma Brodniak, Papa, Besta Mom, Uncle Dave, Aunt Annie and Cameron, Kellen and Alling. It was fun to see them again! We spent New Years sick at home. Have a happy day!

pics

2007-12-17T19:05:00.001-08:00

Kristjan and I got our pictures taken. Below is the link.

Link to the event
www.pictage.com/414446

update

2007-12-17T05:56:00.000-08:00

Hello all! It has been an exciting and crazy couple of weeks! First of all... We are moving to HAWAII!!!! Sterling found out late last week that he has been accepted to the OB/GYN Residency Program at Tripler (Honolulu, HI). He starts his residency on the 1st of July but we will most likely move there in May, since he has the month off and orientation will start some time in June. Hunter, Dakota, and Braxton are all doing well. They together are like a big tornado that can mess up the house in about 10 seconds flat! They are getting really excited for Christmas and even got to sit on Santa's lap at the church Christmas party. Kristjan is growing up way too fast. He is so expressive with his face and is a great smiler.. though I can't seem to catch it with a camera. He is now wearing 3-6 months clothing and just adorable! Hunter had his first piano recital this Saturday. He did so great! He had a couple of friends over and he had all his songs memorized. About half way through he decided he liked all this attention and starting doing all sorts of bows between songs and playing new tempos to make a little more interesting. It was so funny! Dakota had to have an mri this past week on her leg. She has a big bump on her shin. After the MRI, they are hopeful that the bump is from bruising but we will have to keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn't grow anymore. We will probably have to have it removed eventually by a vascular surgeon, apparently the bump is in the vascular wall. Braxton went to the pediatric ophthalmologist last week as well. He has intermittent something.. (I can't remember the name). Anyways.. he is doing well right now but will eventually have to have surgery to fix it. It was nice to know that there really was something wrong and it explains why he bumps and falls a lot. He basically sees double out of one eye when he is tired or sick. Well, enough of all that! We are excited for the holiday season and getting to see Great grandma Brodniak just before Christmas! We hope all is well for you guys!
xoxo, the Brodniaks

update

2007-12-04T17:41:00.000-08:00

Kristjan just had his 2 month appointment on Monday and he is officially in the 10th percentile.. which is miraculous for a Isom/Brodniak kid! He weighs 9 lbs. 9 oz. and is 21 1/2 inches long. We are so proud of him!
Braxton cut his chin open and had to have 3 stitches. He probably should have had more but he was so wild that it was a miracle to get 3 in!
Dakota can now write her own name and we are just waiting to see where she writes it. (the walls, her furniture, the usual..)
Hunter is reading really well! He was able read almost half of the subtitles on Heros the other night!
Sterling is working for Dr. Dennis, our Paranatologist and is really enjoying it!
Katie is running around with her head cut off! So much to do, so little time! Who knew that 4 kids was so crazy!!!
We enjoyed having so many with us on Thanksgiving! We had 21 people including children! It went really well and we made some new friends in the process. It was really nice having Blake and Mandi, Tami, David, and Matthew, Mom and Dad Brodniak, Rose, Matt, and little Dima and Rose's sister's family and kids!
We are looking forward to Christmas, Katie and Sterling's Birthdays! We are going to both be 30!! Hope all is well with all of you!
I almost forgot.. congratulations to Uncle Blake.. he received his white coat and officially passed his first term in Medical School.. go Blake!
Included in the pics are some additional Halloween pics.. Braxton as Lewis from Meet the Robinsons and Kristjan as a pumpkin... enjoy!

The Brodniaks

Halloween and more

2007-11-08T10:26:00.000-08:00

Halloween was fun and crazy! Our ward had a trunk or treat and the church and had their annual chili cook off and cornbread contest. Mom Isom made her special chili for the event. We didn't stay around for the awards, though. Kristjan stayed home with Grandma and the rest of the crew went. On Halloween, the kids had a great time posing for thier photo shoot and giving out candy until Dad was ready to take them out. Braxton ended up going as himself or maybe we could stretch it and say he was Lewis from Meet the Robinsons, since when we spike his hair he bears an amazing resemblence to him.

Sterling has been working with a Plastic Surgeon this month and has decided that it is not the field for him.. he is not a fan of pus and pulling skin off peoples faces. It has been nice to have him home especially since his hours this month have been great!

Katie is starting to get back into the swing of things. She just started doing some work and is surprised how much work it takes to keep an toddler and an infant busy in order to do anything. She recently lost a couple of fillings in her teeth and is SO EXCITED.. not to see how much it is going to cost her to get her teeth fixed.

Hunter is loving school except that the daylight savings time has really confused him. He has started complaining the school is taking too long because the sun is going down by the time he gets out of school each day.

Dakota has been out of school for 4 days because of pink eye and the flu and we can't wait for her to be better! She has been perfecting her matching and drawing abilities... she picks out the whole families clothes every day.

Braxton has had a sinus infection and loves his brother.. you can imagine the problem with that combo! He is speaking more words and clearer every day.

Kristjan is getting bigger every day! He is now officially in 0-3 month clothes and a few are too short! He is 20 inches long! He is a very good baby and is very tolerant of all of the love that he gets.

We are looking forward to Thanksgiving and will be missing all of you!

Gettin Big

2007-11-02T12:30:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we had an appointment at the Health Department. Dakota weighs 32 lbs, Braxton weighs 22 lbs and Kristjan weighs 6lbs 15 oz. We will have to weigh Hunter somewhere so that he can join the ranks :) We are so proud especially of Kristjan for growing so big and strong! He is also 19.5 inches long.

pumpkin patch with dakota and update

2007-10-25T06:46:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures of Dakota at the Pumpkin Patch with Mom, Grandma Isom, Braxton and Kristjan. There are also some new pictures of Kristjan.

Kristjan is doing well! He had grown 5 ounces in 5 days and was 19 1/4 inches long last Friday. He is such a great baby and everyone still loves to fight over who gets to hold him.

Braxton has been sick for the last 2 days. We hope he feels better soon!

Dakota is still loving school and was so excited to show off her new brother at the pumpkin patch.

Hunter just received an award for excellence in writing from his teacher! We are so proud of him.

We have enjoyed having Grandma Isom around. She came out on Friday and will be here until Tuesday morning.

pics

2007-10-17T19:04:00.001-07:00

Kristjan is home!

2007-10-17T15:53:00.000-07:00

We were able to bring Kristjan home on Monday! He is still a little jaundice but otherwise in great shape! It seems that blogger.com is havinga hard time with pictures... I hope to load them soon!

Good News

2007-10-12T19:36:00.000-07:00

Lots of great things have happened since I last wrote. Kristjan pulled his breathing tube out and on his 1 week birthday and they decided he was doing well enough without it that they didn't put it back in.. they just put a tube the went up his nose to supplement.. just in case. Today they removed his chest tube, and took him off the billiruben lights and we got to hold him for the first time since he was just minute old. He has started drinking from a bottle and will start nursing tomorrow! He is doing awesome! Thanks for the prayers and kind e-mails! Here's a pic of him from today.

Kristjan 1 week

2007-10-10T06:03:00.000-07:00

Kristjan is now one week old. He had a long day yesterday. They put in a new chest tube and put in a pic line (permanent IV). When we left the hospital at 4:30 he was down to 23% oxygen.. which means that his lungs are working better and he didn't need as much help to breathe. We were very happy about that! We hope he is doing even better today!

Dakota, Hunter and Braxton are having fun with Grandma Brodniak! She will be going home on Friday and then Grandma Isom will be coming out on the 19th through the 30th to help.

Sterling finished his application for Residency yesterday and we are very proud of him!

That's all for now...bye

Kristjan update

2007-10-07T09:11:00.000-07:00

Kristjan is still in Roanoke Memorial Hospital in the NICU and will probably be there for several weeks if not a month. He has air trapped around his lungs (a nuemothorax) sp? which they haven't been able to clear up enough for his lungs to heal. Once they are able to get a chest tube in properly then he should be in good shape. In the meantime he is up and down but generally stable. He is a very good natured baby and rarely cries.. part of that is that he is so well medicated. The kids love to sit by Kristjan and hold his hand. Braxton isn't allowed in and he keeps asking where the baby went. He gets upset that the other kids get to go in and he doesn't.. I can't blame him.. I would too! Sterling's mom is here to help with the kids and see the baby until next Saturday.. We are sooo glad to have her here to help! We love him very much and are thankful to have him in our family! We all can't wait for him to come home.. but for now we will settle with getting to hold his hand. Maybe next week we will finally get to hold him. Thank you for all of the nice comments and e-mails!

The Brodniaks

Kristjan Brodniak

2007-10-05T08:21:00.000-07:00

Hello all! Kristjan Brodniak (I am still deciding on his middle name) arrived on Wednesday, October 3rd, 2007 at 11:34 am. He weighed 5 lbs 5 oz and was 17 1/2 inches long.
They ended up having to induce labor because he was no longer growing. His stomach circumfrence had actually gotten smaller.
He is doing pretty well. His lungs collapsed yesterday and he had to be sent to Roanoke and is currently in the NICU. If all goes well, he will be able to come home in a couple of weeks.
We are really excited for him to be here and love him very much! We can't wait to hold him! I'll put a couple of pictures of him with this.

No baby yet

2007-09-29T07:53:00.000-07:00

Sterling got permission to come home early from Hawaii on Thursday in case baby came. It has been so nice to have him home!
It is really interesting to have stressed out and worried about a baby coming and then have nothing happen. It makes everything very anticlimactic! I am hoping he is going to come soon!

I have been seeing my OB twice a week for the past 2 weeks because the baby isn't growing like he should,his heart rate has been lower than it should be, the baby hasn't been moving much and my amniotic fluid is low. Ironically, the day that Sterling flew in.. the baby's heart rate improved dramatically. I guess he was just missing his dad.

The kids have been a little over emotional! They argue over who gets to spend the most time with, sit by, and even talk to daddy. Dakota even changed her clothes and ordered food at the restaurant to match her dad. They sure do love him.

Well, I will blog again if anything happens. bye.

Caleb

2007-09-20T19:28:00.000-07:00

For updates on my brother.. check out the Michael Isom Family Blog on the right. I am running two blogs these days.. and am trying not to repeat myself! :)

Baby quilt

2007-09-20T19:23:00.000-07:00

I am so excited! I finally finished Kristjan's baby quilt. I finished his crib skirt a week or two ago and I am hoping to get his bumper pads done soon! I got my house clean! YAY! And am excited to think that Sterling will come home soon. Attached are some pics of the quilt.

new prego pic and one of braxy

2007-09-17T18:10:00.000-07:00

Hello all!

Sterling is still in Hawaii. He is on Oahu and is having a good time! He has made a lot of friends and is learning a lot as well.

Katie is still pregnant.. she will be 35 weeks this week. She had an appointment today and they are still concerned about the baby's growth. She has another appointment on Friday. She is staying busy tying up loose ends and trying to get the house clean.. haha.

Hunter is still enjoying 1st grade. We were able to get him into the eye doctor and his sight is just fine.. he must have just had a bad headache that made his test at the nurses office be off. Hunter has been Katie's helper.. even taking the pictures of her so that you could all see her growth. Bravo Hunter!

Dakota is loving preschool and loves to do homework. She also loves riding the bus.. which Hunter wishes weren't true.. he would like to be able to sleep in, in the morning and get home sooner in the afternoon.

Braxton is saying new words everyday. We just told him about the baby and he keeps lifting up Katie's shirt and poking her belly and saying baby. He also looks around and says, "baby, where are you?"

Mandi starts her job tomorrow. Blake is working hard at studying and doing really well! I attached a recent picture that I took of them

School Picture Day

2007-09-14T14:54:00.000-07:00

Here are the two school going kids ready for school picture day!

pics

2007-09-07T12:11:00.000-07:00

New Pics.. and update

2007-09-07T11:53:00.000-07:00

Aloha..from Sterling in Hawaii!

He came home from Washington on Friday night and flew out to Hawaii on Monday morning. He is loving the great weather and beautiful beaches. I think in some ways he was looking forward to a vacation from the over exuberant, love deprived children that so fully let him know that he was missed. To be honest.. I barely got to see him because the kids were so possessive!

Hunter is going to have to get glasses. He has been coming home from school with headaches and so the nurse and I decided to get his eyes checked and yes in deed, he is in need of glasses. Hunter cut Dakota's hair again.. so I had to trim it and adds some layers to it. I will forward on some pics of her new do.

Dakota is still flourishing in Preschool and loves every minute of it!

Braxton is trying to adjust to being the lone ranger. He likes being able to play with any toy he wants but I can tell that he misses the sibs.

I am trying to finish the last bit of editing from weddings, working on getting the nursery done and running the house. I am now 33 weeks pregnant and am losing energy at this point. Things with the pregnancy seem to be going well. Kristjan is moving a lot and I thinks he might have dropped, since I am feeling a little more pressure and I am contracting a little more regularly. I am getting my formal pregnancy pics done this weekend and got a fancy hair do for the event. I will upload them when I get them.

In the meantime... here are a few pictures from this weekend.

Katie

Good News

2007-08-29T09:01:00.000-07:00

I called the specialist in Roanoke to remind me when my next appointment was and told them the news. They got me in yesterday afternoon. The baby is just fine and there is plenty of fluid to cushion him. They gave him a bishop's score of 8 out of 8 and said that he is just 2-3 days behind as far as growth goes. Apparently he must have dropped and since I hide my babies so well I didn't measure right. He was weighing approx 3 lbs and 8 oz so if I make it to my due date.. he should be around 8 lbs. We all know that it is highly unlikely, but if I can make it until 36 weeks he should be around 5 lbs 8 oz which is right in range with my other 3.

Caleb is doing better. He is now breathing on his own and can talk in short spurts. They were hoping that he would be stable enough to move him today by air to a hospital in Utah but it looks like it will be at least a few more days before he will be strong enough. Thank you for the prayers.

Katie

Family Drama and Such

2007-08-27T08:30:00.000-07:00

Hi all!
My brother Caleb was in a tragic accident on Saturday night at Lake Powell. He was boating with his friends when the his friend turned his head for a minute and drove the boat into a canyon wall. The impact threw Caleb and another girl into the wall and back into the boat. The girl died from a broken neck and Caleb is in the hospital with a broken neck, broken ribs, lacerated liver, punctured lungs and over all cuts and bruises. He does not appear to have any paralysis and will most likely make a full but lengthy recovery. We are very thankful that he lived through this!

I went to the OB today. My belly isn't growing like the doctor would like so I am going to be going in for an ultrasound to make sure that everything is okay. That I have enough fluid and that the baby is still growing like he should. I will let you know how it goes in a couple of weeks. Also, I am having professional belly pictures taken on the 8th so anticipate those pictures as well.

Hunter and Dakota started school last week. They are both thriving and enjoying it! Mandi, my sister in law (Blake's Wife) has been super helpful.. feeding the kids in the morning while I get dressed and watching Braxton so that I don't have to wake him up to take the other kids to school.

Blake and Mandi found an apartment about 5 miles away and are in the process of unpacking and stuff so I should have them around for a day or two more. I will be sad to see them go!

Braxton is doing well, talking more and getting into more trouble everyday.

Sterling is doing well in WA. He might stop by for a day or two at the end of the week before heading off the Hawaii for his next rotation. He is getting closer and closer to graduating.. Hooray! He was able to spend a weekend with his friend Matt and a day with his Grandma Brodniak while he was there. We can't wait to see him! We are so proud of how hard he is working! He has been working at least one 28-32 hour shift a week plus another 5- 12 hours shifts.

Well, that is enough for now. bye

New Preggo Pics.. and kids at the park

2007-08-18T14:50:00.000-07:00

Well, I have made it past 30 weeks with no complications. I am slowing down and getting tired sooner now. Sterling seems to be doing well in WA. The kids start school this upcoming week. My brother Blake and his wife have found an apartment and are signing a lease today. They will probably move into their new place next week sometime. Lots going on.

New Update- pics of kids with dad

2007-08-13T13:12:00.000-07:00

Well, Sterling is now is Washington and has been for a little over a week. He is really busy working at the Hospital there in their OB Ward.

Katie is winding down for the upcoming arrival. She figures that it will take a few months to get everything taken care of so that she can spend the most time possible once the baby comes. She went to the doctor today and gained a whopping 5 more lbs. since last month.. making the grand total somewhere around 15 or 20 lbs gained.

Hunter and Dakota are anxious to start school in a little over a week.

Braxton is as always into everything.

Blake and Mandi.. Katie's brother and sister in law are staying with us for a few days while house hunting and we have all had a blast!

Well, I'm off..

New Kristjan Pics and one of Ster and Kate

2007-08-01T17:16:00.000-07:00

New Preggo Pics and Sterling and Kate's visit to NY and Philly

2007-07-27T12:39:00.000-07:00

Hello all! We have been busy with getting the house ready for Kate's Brother Blake and his wife Mandi coming in 2 weeks to stay with us for a little while, Sterling taking boards, working and getting ready to go to Ft. Lewis in a week or so and of course, the ever demanding job of being a full time mom and running a photography business.

Sterling's mom Alana took the kids for 10 days this month which was a life saver! The kids got to play with their cousins and go to all sorts of cool places (the discovery toy museum, the aquarium, the park, the carousel, etc. etc.

Katie in the meantime worked 10+ hour days to get caught up on all of the editing she needed done for her clients.

On Friday we decided to leave early to Pennsylvania so that we wouldn't have to make the 6+ hour trip in one day. Kate was appreciative, since on the week of the 4th they drove 5 hours each way to Chattanooga to spend time with Mom and Dad Brodniak, then on the 11th, Kate took the kids to Washington D.C. where they stayed with her cousin Tammy for 2 days so that she could photograph a wedding on the 13th at the LDS Temple there and then drove back the night of the wedding. That drive is about 6 hours as well! Anyways.. we went up to Pennsylvania and spent one day in Philadelphia and one day in New York. We had a blast! It was Kate's first time in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York and she loved it! Sterling was able to win a Broadway lottery for front row tickets at a steal! We went and saw Wicked. It was awesome!!! We saw Central Park, Times Square, the Rockefeller Center, and at real New York Pizza! Kate even got to hail her first taxi! Did we forget to mention that we also ended up walking way too much! There was just so much to see! We were sad to have to come home! But excited to see the kids!!

I better go.. Braxton, just fell asleep on my lap :)

The weekly updated picture of Kate Pregnant

2007-07-01T18:15:00.000-07:00

oops more pics

2007-06-26T17:44:00.000-07:00

The birthday, belly and kate w/the kids

2007-06-26T15:30:00.001-07:00

Hunter's birthday was yesterday and we had a party today. I uploaded a few pics from his party and no I didn't make the cake.. I bought it from Walmart! Also there is a picture of me and my little belly at 22 weeks pregnant. I had Sterling take a few of me and the kids and there is one of him too. Enjoy!

Katie

10/12/07

2007-06-12T14:43:00.000-07:00

Hello All,

We have been rather busy and I haven't had a chance to update this in a while.

Sterling and I just celebrated our 7th Wedding Anniversary. My mother in law took the kids for a few days and when we weren't working or studying we watched movies, socialized with good friends and ate out.

Hunter graduated from Kindergarten and is anxiously awaiting 1st grade. He loved spending time with grandma, so much in fact that he didn't want to come home. He is reading small books and has the memory of an elephant!

Dakota was accepted to Preschool full time in the fall and is dying to go. Every day until school ended she would cry and tell me that I made her late for school. I would tell her that her school hadn't started yet and she wasn't very satisfied with that answer. She is also missing grandma and grandpa whom she has wrapped around her little finger!

Braxton is as usual an utter delight and as mischievous as ever now that he has learned how to climb onto the counters in the kitchen with his chair and to draw on everything in the house. We got him a play guitar today and before I knew it.. he was rockin out.. to the extent that I had to take a moment to recognize that was was singing not screaming.

#5 or Kristjan as we plan to name him is doing well. All of the tests are still coming back normal and his ultrasounds are looking good. Attached is the latest picture of him.

Kate has been busy photographing VCOM's graduation ceremonies and weddings in between. One day her house will be clean.. ha ha! Attached is a couple recent pics of the kids too.

Sterling is back in town for a couple of months. He is enjoying his Geriatric Rotation and is not enjoying studying for step 2 Boards. Wish him luck! He takes them in July.

Well, that is enough for now. If you ever want to see what my business is doing.. go go to www.katiebphotography.com or my sister Kellie's website which is www.chloereese.com

adios!

April 18, 2007

2007-04-18T16:16:00.000-07:00

Hello all...

There has been a lot of drama in our neck of the woods not only personally but also in the area. First, I will comment on the recent tragedy that betook our fellow Virginians. We live in Christiansburg, Virginia which is a short 5-10 minute drive to the Virginia Tech Campus. Sterling attends the Medical School on the far side of Campus and many of his fellow students are currently helping to save the lives of many of those injured on Monday. He is still in North Carolina doing his OB/GYN rotation. I was actually supposed to be at the Medical School that day taking pictures of the labs and such and just decided not to go until the afternoon. I would have been a good mile away from the shooting but am glad that I chose not to go that day. Our Stake President was actually in the building, heard the shots and locked his door. We are so glad to have him still with us. Many of the members of our ward are Engineering students and Engineering Professors and as far as we've heard, none were harmed. I was at one of the local nursing care facilities taking pictures for the Medical School (I am their Photographer) and one of the patients said that many of the residents had grandchildren that were supposed to be at Norris Hall that day but because their overslept or were sick had not gone to school that day. She also said that isn't it wonderful that even though God wasn't able to save all of those students that he did protect as many as he could. I thought that it was very true and thought provoking.

As for our personal drama... As many of you know, we had a baby that died in December. On Friday we were informed that he died from a rare autonomal recessive disorder that has and will reoccur in 1 out of 4 of our children. Sterling and I were and are heart broken. Below, we have pictures of our latest pregnancy. I am around 13 weeks pregnant and am due in October. We have every hope that this child will survive. Ultrasounds and blood tests have come back as normal and we pray that this baby will be okay.

Sterling has finally decided what he is going to specialize in!!!! He is going to be an OB/GYN an specialize in Fetal and Maternal Health. We are sooooo excited that he has found his mission in life and we are soooo proud of him! I have been told by many people what a great Physician he is going to be and I feel honored to be married to such a great man.

Hunter is enjoying Kindergarten and playing with his friends! We just got his report card and he is passing with flying colors.. We are so proud of him!

Dakota is finally night potty trained.. hallelujah! She is going to be 4 on Saturday and is anxious for Saturday to come. We are having a barbie princess birthday party with a Sleeping Beauty Barbie cake and she can't wait!

Braxton is going to be 2 on Saturday as well. We are making him a dragon cake to go along with the princess theme. He is definately showing signs of the terrible twos already! He is talking more and my favorite word so far is "please".

Kate is doing well, a little tired with being the Mom, Employee, growing a baby, and not getting much of a break! I am as busy as ever.. I suppose it is my way of coping with loss (Jaden was due on the 26th of this month). I have a wedding cake I am making next weekend, 2 weddings to photograph in June and 2 in July as well as family, infant and engagement portraits.

Well, now that we have updated you on all of us... we hope that you are all doing well!

I will upload pics from Easter next time..

Happy April 18th. The Brodniak 5

Baby #5 12 weeks (picture 4) face

2007-04-18T16:13:00.000-07:00

Baby #5 12 weeks (picture 2)

2007-04-18T15:54:00.000-07:00

2007-04-05T06:52:00.000-07:00

I will have to find the pics of the other other kids... I'll add them later. bye.

April 5th

2007-04-05T06:09:00.000-07:00

Hey all! Sterling is back in North Carolina delivering babies this month. He is working all sorts of crazy hours and in heaven! He loves all those little babies! Hunter is on spring break and is constantly suprising us with his wit. Kindergarden has been amazing for him. Dakota just got signed up for Preschool for the Fall and asks me every day if she gets to go to school today. Braxton is starting to talk more and is ever into something. I will post his newest makeup creation, as well as the other kids with theirs at about the same age... we seem to have a terrible yet funny trend going on. Kate is pregnant. She is due October 21, 2007. She has been feeling rather well and hardly sick, which is unusual for her. We are really excited about this little one and hope that everything will be okay. Kate is more worried than Sterling! Kate is working for the Medical School in town as their photographer and they have been keeping her very busy, which is a good thing because then she doesn't spend too much time thinking about baby Jaden. He would have been either almost 4 months or had everything been okay he would have been born about a week ago. We went and dropped off Sterling is North Carolina this weekend for his rotation and we went to Myrtle Beach for a day or two. It was nice and warm and the kids had a blast! Well, I think that is about enough for today. Enjoy the pics.

Hunter Pic

2007-03-01T08:45:00.000-08:00

Our First Family Blog

2007-02-04T14:26:00.000-08:00

February 3rd, 2007
I don't know that anyone will find my blogs interesting but here goes...
Sterling just left today to go back to North Carolina. He is doing a Psychology rotation at Fort Bragg. I am keeping busy updating my website and taking care of my kids. I am still having a little bit of a hard time with the death of Jaden. Hunter is excited to go back to school tomorrow. We are going to work on addressing some of his valentines to take to school. Dakota looked so beautiful today. I found a beautiful Biscotti dress on ebay for a great price and she wore it today. Braxton is moving on to the terrible twos. He is still very lovable but a little more head strong. We have been having a problem with his current diapers. I bought some LUVS last week and they keep falling off of him. The older two think it's hilarious. I have a lot to do this coming week. Get pictures printed, cater a birthday dinner for my neighbor, normal tasks, and watch my friend Johannah's daughter Kiara for the weekend. Church was good. We are going over to the Dyer's to watch the Super Bowl.. maybe.. I can't help myself.. I just like staying home. Especially when it is cold outside! Well, that should be enough for now. I will maybe add a picture of Dakota and some of the other goofy pictures I took today before and after church.
-Katie