Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving, Brittany & I ran the 5K in La Quinta with our sweet friends Alysa, Carson & Roxanne. Our family was going to do it together but Thanksgiving morning, Avery woke up with a fever so I took Brittany and we had a mother/daughter moment. She did great and next year we're going to train a little better and Bailey is definitely going to join us next year and we'll gladly take any others. Alysa and Carson were with us last year as well and it's such a fun way to start off Thanksgiving morning. We had a great time and it feels so good to not only do it for yourself, but to help out a good cause. The event raises money and awareness for Martha's Village & Kitchen so it's definitely a win/win. It's a great way to start out the day and it definitely helps us to reflect on all of the many things that we're so grateful for. We had many blessings this year and I can't tell you how thankful we are! Among some of the many....

• My sweet husband who I love and keeps me sane (either that or we're both nuts) He also is the one who can always make me laugh. With all of the craziness this year, that has been one of the most important things that we've learned....you have to laugh or the sanity thing goes right out the window. He has been amazing and while things definitely could've torn us apart, it has brought us even closer together. I know, I know, sappy, but I don't know what I'd do without him and I love him!!


• My wonderful kids! Without their help and their love & understanding, it would have been absolutely miserable. They stepped in so many times when we needed them, watched kids, cleaned the house, made breakfast, lunch and dinner and also made me laugh. What a joy it is to be their mom and I don't think they'll ever understand how much I love and appreciate them. Together we made a pretty scary year turn out to be okay and I love them so much for that!


• Our family & friends! I know that if we ever needed anything, they would be there for us. I can't tell you how nice that is to be surrounded by such good people who we love! Many times this year we received acts of kindness from family and friends that helped us mentally, emotionally, financially, etc. I hope that we're in the position to do the same for someone else because you have no idea how many times our prayers were answered through the wonderful people around us.


• I'm thankful for the gospel...you can't help but have a positive attitude when we know how blessed we truly are. I'm thankful for the testimony that I have and for the opportunity we have to teach our kids the gospel and to believe in the power of hope and of goodness and to see firsthand how prayers are answered. I'm also grateful for the opportunity we have to serve others and we're grateful for those who have served us! That is a humbling and wonderful thing and one that I'm used to being on the other end of. Thank you for those who have picked us up when we've been down! You truly made a difference in our lives this year.


• Work....we've been very blessed to have good people around us that either provided us with work or passed our names to others. We wouldn't have made it without all of you and we know this for a fact. Thanks for all of the jobs, referrals, friends of friends, etc. We'll try to return the favor...


• I'm thankful for the opportunities we have in life and for timing. It's amazing how things fall into place when you're least expecting it.


• I'm thankful for moments of pure happiness that come with a sweet moment with one of my kids, an unexpected hug and kiss or a card made and left on my nightstand. I'm so thankful for all of this and more and for the opportunity I have to write it all down so I can remember that 2008 wasn't all bad! :) There were so many learning moments and moments of reflection that made me realize that through some of these difficult days, we smiled, we laughed and we were grateful for each other and for all of our many family and friends who made a bright spot out of a lot of cloudy days. Happy Thanksgiving (a little late)! :)

Carson & Avery

I know I've blogged about this before, but I just keep catching these two taking such good care of each other. Carson is very protective of Avery and they are such cute little friends. I do catch them being mean every once in a while too, so don't get me wrong. But the thing that I do love is I catch them like this way more than I ever catch them being mean to each other. I worried about them being 3 years apart and them being brother and sister, but now all I worry about is how Avery is going to handle letting Carson go to school next year. She'll be lost without him!

This is at one of Bailey's football games. They were giving away lemonade and he wanted her to have some. He didn't want me to go with them; he took care of it all by himself.

This was just too cute!

Carson had the flu one morning, hence the big pan, but Avery sat next to him and held the pot in case he needed it. She brought him a blanket and a little while later, she brought him his pillow and continued to sit by him until he felt better. She had her arm around him for a while, but I missed that! Carson looks like he needs a good friend! :)

I couldn't ask for better kids!

Girls Night Out!!

Here I am playing catch-up AGAIN.... I want to remember nights like these because they're so important! When things get crazy and I feel like I can't keep up and I get a little out-of-touch....what's better than a fun Girls Night Out to keep you going? A group of girls went out for Shannon's birthday and it was so needed and so much fun! We all piled into my big car and headed to Sami's at The Garden. It was perfect timing and nights like these are what bring a little perspective back into life and help make the next few weeks go so much better. I can't tell you how important our friends are to us and we're so blessed to have so many wonderful friends around us! I don't know what I'd do without them and we definitely need to do this a lot more often!

Roxanne, Shannon & I
Shari & Lizzie

Melissa & Shea

Brooke, Lillie & Rachelle

Happy Birthday, Shannon!

Smarty Pants

This is crazy hair day...just thought I'd throw this picture in there.
Brittany's Middle School had an awards assembly for all of the kids who were on the honor roll. I know this picture is horrible, which is why I'm saving for a new camera, but Brittany was one of the Platinum Patriots with a 4.0 this quarter.
Along with her honor roll award, she also received 2 Special Recognition Awards from 2 of her teachers for being a good kid. They are given to students to let them know that they appreciate the good work they're doing! What a great way to make the kids feel special! She is a good kid and we're very proud of her. Way to go, Brit! Keep it up!

Although they don't do any kind of honor roll or special assembly in elementary school, Bailey is doing very well in school as well. I'm so proud of both our girls. It's nice to go to Parent Teacher Conferences and not have to worry. They love school and they have wonderful teachers this year. They send nice notes homes and let us know that they're doing okay. We're so lucky our kids are surrounded by good people. Bailey had an incident at school a few weeks ago. She was playing football at recess and the ball hit her in the face, knocked off and broke her glasses and scraped her eye. She went to the office and asked if they could help her fix her glasses and one of the office ladies taped up her glasses, offered her ice or any help with her eye and then asked if she wanted to call home. Bailey didn't want to, but after she left, Lisa called me to let me know what had happened so when she got in the car with her red eye and broken glasses, I knew what was going on. I love that and I'm grateful that the girls are in a good place and that people are looking out for them. We've had a great school year so far and hope it continues!

HALLOWEEN 2008

We went to a "Boo Bash" for Bailey's school and had a really great time! They go all out, including a Haunted House, both scary for older kids and a kid-friendly version for the little ones. Brit and Bailey both helped out in the Haunted Houses and the rest of us went for dinner, games, bounce house, the dunk tank and they even got their faces painted. Carson was Spiderman so the girl painted a spider on his face and he was thrilled. We didn't even insist on a bath that night so he could keep it on for Halloween which was the next day! It went perfect with his costume and we all had a great time!

Carson's new/old friend! He danced around with him for a while and then sat him on the couch next to him. I think we need to get out more! :)

Our ward had a trunk-or-treat & Chili Cook-off last Monday. It was so much fun and the kids had a great time! Cody made our chili and took 2nd place for the cook-off. I've decided that he should take over all of the cooking... we'll see how that goes. It was delicious and he did an excellent job! The kids made trick-or-treat bags and then went outside to the parking lot and made the rounds. It's so fun to go around and visit with all of our friends and we don't have to worry about the kids! It was a great night and a great way to kick-off the week!

One of my mother-of-the-year moments...I was a little late getting started on costumes this year. I guess Monday morning the day of the trunk-or-treat is pushing it, but our friends came through. Denice gave us a jersey and pants for Bailey and Karley was kind enough to try a cute little costume for Avery, but it was a little snug. Speaking of snug, Avery was Tinkerbell (again) for the ward party. We bought it last year so snapping it was a little tight and she looked like she was sporting a thong with all of the diaper hanging out the sides. It wasn't too bad and she loved it so we made it work and had a fun night! I guess next year I'll start looking before the day of the party. I work better under pressure anyway. :)

Halloween Day at school

Our little football player!

This is Bailey's school Principal, the counselor and assistant. Every year I look forward to what they're going to be. Last year, they were ballerinas with the blow up costumes and the year before that they were Thing One and Thing Two. It's so fun for the kids to see the administration letting their hair down. I can't wait to what next year brings!

TRICK-OR-TREAT!

What a fun night! We got together with Dean, Dayna and family for a little pizza and trick-or-treating. It was so fun for us and the kids! This was the first year we went around our neighborhood because we usually have the trunk-or-treat on Halloween night at the ward so we went around the neighborhood and then piled in the car and hit a couple of houses down the street. I've been enjoying Halloween ever since.....I think I'm definitely going to have to start exercising again! Rats!

Our little Puppy! Thanks, Alysa for a really cute costume for Avery. We ditched Tinkerbell and borrowed this cute puppy costume for Halloween. She did really well keeping the little hood on for a while so we had to snap some pictures while we could! She had a really fun night....as long as she had a sucker in one hand, she was pretty happy! Funny, I felt the same way. I carried her candy bag and there were quite a few wrappers in there when the night was over. :)

Flag Football

Last Wednesday was Bailey's first flag football game. It was so fun to watch, especially because there are like 3 girls on the team. Bailey and her good friend Danielle are on the team and they absolutely love it! She's really quick and we're going to start working a little more at home with the football so she'll be a double threat. :) She really loves it and Dayna and I were commenting on how the girls have all of these friends from football, all boys of course. I played football at every recess in grade school when I was young, so I say "more power to her. " She's trying to find her niche so if this makes her happy and she's feeling good about it, that's all that matters. It's great to be a part of so many fun things and we're so proud of everything that they're doing. I don't mind at all being a Football Mom!

Brittany's Debate

I feel bad that I don't have a picture to post for this, but Brittany is on the debate team for her middle school and they had their first competition last weekend. They have 2 teams from the school, one with the older kids and then her team is made up of 6th graders. It was an all-day event and me, Cody and kids made it on the tail-end because we knew the little ones wouldn't make it for long. We were able to see them in action on their last round and it was so fun. Brittany was the speaker for the group so she started it off as to why they opposed one of the propositions that we're voting on. I learned a lot!! They had 5 rounds throughout the day and they won 4 and lost 1, which ended up being an 8th grade team. We stayed for the awards and their team got 5th place out of 37 teams. We were so proud of them and Brittany actually got a speaker award for her points for the day. They did a great job and it was a wonderful experience for them. I'll remember my camera next time!

Carson & Avery

We went to the park the other day and the kids had so much fun. We met some of our friends from the ward and had a really great time. I've really got to do things like this more often. We've been very consumed with life and making our situation work for us and it really makes us appreciate the things we've been missing. The kids had a great day and it was nice to get out and talk to my friends! I've been missing them.

This was the cutest thing...Carson was twirling around and fell against the coffee table in our family room. Avery was so concerned and while Cody got him an ice pack, she got him a pile of books to look at and then sat right next to him on the couch and put her arm around him. It was the sweetest thing and reminded me again of what a cute relationship they have. If Carson is going anywhere, he always asks if Avery is going....he's always looking out for her and I hope that continues throughout their life! I wanted to remember this moment.

I got in the shower and look what I found when I got out....she is always busy!

Carson got a pair of handcuffs and I thought it was so funny that he would handcuff himself to Avery and they would try to walk around. He also handcuffed me to my chair not long after that, so that was pretty funny too... once I got them off, of course. They have a really cute relationship and they take good care of each other.

I just really love this picture!

Students of the Month

Brittany & Bailey were both chosen as Students of the Month for September. Bailey had a Principal's Reception at her school with donuts and juice. She loves school and especially loves her teacher. She has many cute friends and is involved in Flag Football (I think it's mainly because of all the cute boys that play, but whatever) and she loves it! She looks forward to going to school every day, which is so nice. We're so proud of her and for being the good kid that she is.

Brittany was also Student of the Month and they had a breakfast at 7:15 before school the next week. Several teachers nominated her so that was nice and we received notes from two of her favorite teachers letting us know that she's doing very well and they love having her in their class. It's so nice to know that she's doing what she's supposed to do and doing it well.

We're so proud of both of our girls and are so happy that school is not a problem! They have cute friends and have wonderful teachers and we're looking forward to lots of fun things this year! Good job, girls! We all love you!

Carson Rocks!

Carson had a big month in August...I know it seems like I'm going backwards, but I have to include things as I remember them. He finally decided to swim without a ring or floaties. We've been trying to work with him on the swimming thing for quite a while, but he just wouldn't do it. He only wanted his floaties. We didn't push too much, but we knew that he was very capable, just not willing. It finally happened when we were at Grandma's house one afternoon and Cody was telling him that Avery was going to learn to swim before he did because she already likes to jump in and doesn't mind going under or anything. Well, that was it! He took off his floaties and jumped in and swam to the side. Amazing what a little competition will do, huh? He does a really good job and we were all so proud of him. It was a big accomplishment! Good job!

He didn't want that to be it, so he also decided to learn to ride his bike without training wheels. Okay, so the fact that I ran them over with the car had a little bit to do with it, but it gave him a little motivation. :) I guess that also taught him not to park his bike so close to the car. Two lessons in one. It didn't take him long and he was all over the place. The funny thing is that we bought him a bike for his birthday in January and it was way too big so we took it back but couldn't find a cool bike for him so we were going to go back and get one. Well... long story short, we never went back so he's been riding his old bike this last year, which is a little small. I couldn't find a picture with him actually ON his bike, but it's a little funny. We call him "Big kid on a little bike". For those of you who have seen Tommy Boy, this might make sense to you. :) He's so coordinated and he just goes full blast....he's growing up so fast and he is the sweetest boy! We love him and I have a few funny things that he has said lately that have totally cracked us up.

• I was waiting to pull out into traffic the other day and I was muttering under my breath because the car was coming so slowly and was going to ruin my chances of pulling out before the car coming the other direction was too close and he said, "Mom, don't get in an accident. We paid good money for this car." I think I laughed for two blocks.

• He was asking Cody question after question....after a little while, he asked another question and Cody, kind of exasperated, said, "What?" Carson looked right at him and said, "Dad, I ask a lot of questions because this is the way I learn." What wisdom for a 4-year old.

• Avery has been waking up dry a few mornings the last little while so we take her in and she goes potty. I brought her down the other morning and we were talking to Carson and I said, "Avery just went potty" and he said, "She did? Oh, give me a kiss...I'm so proud of you." They're so cute together and with the girls gone to school all day, they take really good care of each other. They are all at such fun ages...I wish this could last a little longer because I feel like it's all going really fast.

I can't think of any others right now, although two days ago, I thought of a whole bunch and thought to myself, "I need to write these down so I won't forget." Too late! Maybe they'll come to me before I finish this long, overdue blogging session.

Bailey's Birthday

I know it's been a while, but I'm ready to play catch up....again. I'm very determined to keep blogging because I'm getting excited about my journal for the last year. That was what started it all and it will be so gratifying in the end to have our year documented with pictures and everything...I can't wait! (That, and my niece keeps asking when we're going to do something new on our blog, because she's tired of looking at Brittany on her first day of school) :)

This actually isn't a picture of Bailey on her birthday, but we accidentally deleted her pictures of her birthday, so this is a picture of her favorite present. We really toned things down this year and this was her main gift; a motorized scooter. Brittany got one for her birthday and Bailey was always asking if she could ride it so we knew her's was coming. They have had so much fun with them and they've really come in handy. They ride them over to piano lessons, they ride them on errands for me and they take Carson and Avery on them too, real safe, I know. Cody and I have had a lot of fun too....we're not too old, yet. :) We've especially enjoyed hanging out in the evenings and watching the kids ride their bikes and playing outside. We're finally at the time of year that I remember why we enjoy living here. YEAH!

Bailey had a wonderful birthday and she's had a pretty good 9 years. We had a family party and it was all low-key and very casual. She didn't ask for much and was just very happy with what she got. I've gotten to the point that I've realized Cody and I have worried more about the gift part of birthdays and Christmas than the kids do. They're good kids and I appreciate that about each one of them. Her scooter didn't come right on her birthday, so we gave her a couple of small things and she was thrilled with them. We surprised her with it the next day so it was a lot of fun! We love Bailey so much and she really adds a lot of fun and personality to our family. She loves to play school and I love watching her set up the desks for Carson and Avery and teaching them about the seasons and doing "tear art" with them. She has the best smile....when she smiles, her eyes light up and I love that about her. You can always tell when she's truly happy and you don't even have to see her mouth. She has always had her own style and it's driving me crazy that it's old soccer shorts and t-shirts this year. So much for the school clothes we bought in August. :) She can be the sweetest girl in the world and I love the moments that she cuddles next to me and tells me that she loves me with her arm slipped in mine. She loves to help, especially cooking and she is constantly playing the piano, which I love, writing notes and emailing all of our family. She's the very best at keeping in touch and she does a wonderful job of that. We love her so much and I hope she always knows how special she is and how much she adds to our family. She was a little miracle baby for us and we've always known she was meant to be ours. What would we do without you? We love you! Happy Birthday (okay, 2 months late) but have a wonderful year!

First Day of School...a week late

I had a hard time sending Brit to school this year....for starters, I really loved having her and Bailey at home this summer because I was able to get some work done. I had 2 babysitters who were happy to help because they got paid to do it. :) They actually told me I didn't have to pay them, but now at least they have some spending money, which they love. I also had mixed feelings because I dropped her off and watched all of the other kids go in ahead of us and wondered how my little Brittany was going to do with all of these giant kids with grown up bodies (I tried to put that in a delicate way, but some of the girls look more mature than I do) and when I picked her up, it was exactly the same only there were a lot more girls that were hugging on boys and flipping out their cell phones...It's a whole new world this year but she seems very happy there and she really loves her classes and is getting the hang of everything. Lunch seemed to be the hardest because there are so many kids at one time and not a lot of her friends were in her lunch, but she has found some cute friends and is liking it much better. She is doing better than I am, I guess. :)

Bailey was really excited to go back to school, I think. I asked her the night before if she was excited for school or to see her friends....guess what her answer was? She's my little social butterfly and she loves her teacher and even though all of her friends aren't in her class, she sees them all at recess and lunch so she's fine with it all. She's running for Secretary of the Student Council so that's been exciting. I haven't gotten my act together, but I'm glad she has. She's been great to hang in there with me and she always make me feel like I'm doing a great job, when I'm really not. She's off to a wonderful start and I'm looking forward to a wonderful year for her. She has been such a big help and has really taken charge of a lot of things....she comes right home and does her homework, which is a new thing, she gets everyone a snack and watches the kids if I need a little help. She's been so much fun (not that she wasn't before) but you can tell, school agrees with her.

I think the saddest part of watching them go to school was watching Carson and Avery after they were gone. They've been so used to having Brittany & Bailey to play with that they were kind of lost for a couple of days. Carson has really stepped up and has been taking such good care of Avery. They're so cute together and I love that he gets her blanket, picks up her juice for her, tries to carry her around and calls her "Aves". They're so sweet, but I know they still miss their sisters! I guess we'll just start looking forward to Christmas break. :)