Meadow Elementary Christmas Sing

On Dec. 18th the boys had their Christmas Sing concert at school. It was hard to get good pictures and video of them since we were near the back and it was waaaay crowded, but they did amazing. Xander recently lost one of his front teeth and he looked so cute singing with that great big space showing in his mouth. Christopher is just always so handsome and performs so well. It was the girls nap times, but they were troopers. Christopher is front row, white shirt, looking right at the camera. Xander is top row, white shirt, looking right at the camera. Later that day Eliza got a yummy cookie and made a major mess. VIDEOS TO COME

Xander's 6th birthday

Dec. 2, 2010

It was a super fun day for Xander and the rest of us as we celebrated his big day. With Xander being our "middle child" and with his birthday so close to Christmas I really try to make it a special day. I left the house early in the morning to get some donuts and chocolate milk. On my home I called the home phone and had Christopher gather all the kids at the kitch table. I came in the door with goodies in hand and singing a very loud and silly version of Happy Birthday. I know one day I will completely embarass my kids, but right now they think I'm pretty cool and funny and they were all tickled by my theatrics.

After school we went to the University Mall and visited Santa and saw all the Christmas decor. They played at the playground for a little while. Then we met both sets of grandparents near there at Xander's favorite place... Pirate Island Pizza. Yummy pizza, fun atmosphere, and lots of arcade games for all the kids' levels and they are all generous with tickets. Xander was in HEAVEN!!!

The very next day I got to go in his kindergarten class and read his favorite book to the class and out goodies. Xander was every bit as excited to share his favorite book and introduce his mom and sisters to his class as he was to go to Pirate Island.

I adore Xander. He is such a special little man. He finds the good and beauty in everything. I love that he'll tell complete strangers how beautiful they are. I think he daily makes some woman's day by his expressions of "Your hair is GORGEOUS!" or "Mom, the lady helping us is BEAUTIFUL!" He is also quick to give his mommy compliments, too.

I love my Xanderman!!

Here's some new stuff...

November 30, 2010... Christopher achieved his Wolf in Cub Scouts. He's very proud of his accomplishments.

December 5, 2010... the kids looked so nice and handsome before church and the girls were wearing their new Christmas dresses from Gma P. I was so glad I got this great picture.

Dec. 2, 2010... As part of Xander's birthday celebration we went to see Santa.

It wasn't all about Xander that day. Darci got brave and decided to get her ears pierced. We've been trying to talk her into this for a couple of months.

I also finished a petti-skirt I had been working on for a VERY long time. It is so beautiful and only cost me $15 to make. They usually go for $50-$100 online.

Dec. 8, 2010... despite Darci's hair getting longer than it's ever been, we gave her a cute, new, and sassy cut. Much easier and cuter than ever.

WAAAAAAY Behind

But here are some pictures until I can catch up. Xander on the pommel horse at gymnastics Christopher holding new cousin, Cora Eliza being a cheese. Darci being silly.

HAPPY Halloweentime!!!

Halloween fell on a Sunday this year. So, for our family that meant church, a yummy dinner, and some fun Halloween cartoons. I LOOVE these pictures leaving the Halloween parade at the school on the 29th. So much love between Bret and his daughters.

Saturday the 30th was an incredibly cold and dreary day. Despite the wind and rain the 3 older kids costumed and then bundled up and Bret took them out. I really didn't think they would last long, but more than an hour later they came back cold, wet, and had buckets full of candy.

Xander at the Halloween parade.

Christopher at his Haloween parade.

Waiting for Christopher's parade to start. Friday the 29th Christopher and Xander had their school Halloween parties and annual costume parades. Christopher's was in the morning and we had fun seeing all the fun creative costumes. Xander's was in the afternoon and was just the PM Kindergartners. It was short and sweet and soooo cute. I love kindergartners.

All 4 kiddos in front of Grandma and Grandpa's house.

My mom and I at the Trek-or-treat.

Walking down to the nature path for the Trek-or-treat. Thursday the 28th we went to the "Trek-or-Treat" out at my parent's. They set up on the nature path near their home with everyone from their ward and have dinner and tick or treat along the path. It was kind of cold and windy. But, as always, it was worth bearing for big bags of candy. Earlier that morning Darci had her preschool Halloween party and had fun wrapping up as mummies and making starch and cheesecloth ghosts.

Darci at her preschool party with the ghost she made.

The cute girlies wrapped up as mummies.

Saturday the 23rd was a crazy day for me. I started back to work with Dollar Cuts salon. A new location in Saratoga Springs. My friend, Rebecca, is the new manager and was able to get me shifts when Bret doesn't work. For all the Dollar Cuts grand openings we do $1 haircuts all day. I worked from 9am-6pm and did 40 haircuts. Bret and the kids picked me up just as we needed to head to our wards "Trunk-or-Treat". It was fun for everyone and I didn't have to think about how tired I was until it was over.

Christopher with his friends Drew and Madison.

Daddy and his girls handing out candy.

Xander and Darci "fishing" for treats.

Overall Halloweentime 2010 has been a fun one for this family.

Raingutter Regata 2010

Christopher had his first Raingutter Regata at pack meeting yesterday. It's like thhe pinewood derby, but with boats. He and I worked clumsily together to make his boat. When we got to the church building there were other boats that looked by far more impressive and handsome. But when it came to sailing that raingutter straight... Christopher's boat had all the right stuff. He won two heats and lost one. He was very proud of himself. Afterwards there were yummy brownies. Thanks to Gma P for coming out and cheering him on.

Christopher with his able craft.

Darci and Eliza (middle two) enjoying yummy brownies with friends.

'Tis the Season...

It never fails. Every year, about a month into school, Christopher (and now Xander) bring home all the new germs that they are encountering in the bathroom, cafeteria, drinking fountains, etc of the school. My boys are good hand washers, but it is still inevitable. Christopher, Xander, and Eliza just got simple colds, but Darci (with her weakened immune system from T1) also endured a double ear infection and strep throat. Thank goodness no one shared in the strep. Bret got a little cold and I was spared due to being on strong antibiotics already.

Bringing to my other medical announcement (?). I've been struggling with stomach issues for a long time now, but beginning of September things just got worse and worse. Between September 5 and 12 I ended up in the Emergency Room 4 times. During the course of that time I endured a CT Scan, MRI, and Endoscopy... along with numerous IVs, drugs, and blood draws. I told the ER to stop sending me home and please find me some answers. A wonderful gastroenterologist discovered I have very severe gastritis and ulcers. I also tested positive for a bacteria called H. Pylori, which exacerbate the ulcers and bleeding and pain. I guess 53% of the population have h. pylori in their stomachs, but when it gets bad enough to become symptomatic they like to get rid of it. Hence the strong antibiotics.

It feels like we just can't catch a break in the medical department. I very much appreciate the medical community, the great advancements in technologies that have allowed disorders, diseases, and illnesses that were once major to be minor, and the easy availability of both. But we need a serious break from it all.

Darci playing with her stickers from the dr. You can kinda tell she didn't feel very good.

It actually ended up being a bad case of teething and a minor cold for Eliza, but it still wiped her out. One minute I could hear her playing with Lightning McQueen... the next it was much too quiet and this is how I found her.

JDRF's Walk to Cure Diabetes 2010

We had such a blast doing this year's walk to cure diabetes. It was our first year and definately not our last. Audra put together a good sized team this year and we were able to raise over $3,100. The them this year was "Rock the Walk" and we had fund decking ourselves out as rockers. I was humbled and touched by the family support and the generosity of volunteers and company donations for the event. Food, music, and lots of fun and games all donated.

Eliza and I at our team tent!

We woke up bright and early to get ready and be to the park by 8AM. We registered and then went to our team tent. We were lucky to have a tent. Only teams who raise $2,000 or more get one. A DJ, bouncehouses and slides, and lots of fun game tents were set up. A yummy breakfast of donuts, fruit, hot chocolate, granola bars, etc was available.

My side of the family :)

At 9:30 the walk started. It was amazing seeing 3,500+ people walking to support a cure for diabetes. All along the 3 mile walk there were signs with pictures of children with diabetes with their name, age, and diagnosis date. Including our own Darci and nephew, Brady.

Xander and Darci

Eliza is ready to rock!

Brady and Eliza with their fantastic endocrinologist, Mike Swinyard.

After the walk we had a yummy lunch and the kids played and played and played. Christopher was so proud to climb the rock wall to the top. Xander won so many tickets. Darci wasn't feeling very good, but enjoyed playing. Eliza could have walked all over the park and charmed everyone she saw.

Darci with her walk sign

Brady with his walk sign

Christopher at the top of the rock wall.

Back on the ground and so proud.

I can't wait to participate again next year.

Darci, Mommy, and Eliza ROCK!!

We love Autumn!!

My favorite season of the year is autumn. I love as the weather starts to cool and the leaves change. This year I am loving my boys' excitement as I pick them up from school everyday. I love how happy Bret is as football gets under way. I love Eliza's love of the outdoors and nature.

This week Bret has time off of work and we picked the boys up from school and headed up Provo Canyon. We showed the kids Bridal Veil Falls and then went to Sundance.

I'm grateful that my children can appreciate the beauty of God's creation.

Bridal Veil Falls

Sundance