Wait A Minute, That's Not An Angel!

We had our Ward Christmas Party. The best part was when the Primary Children got to come out and act out the Nativity Scene. Sadie was an angel, and I was so busy taking pictures that I didn't even notice that Connor had taken off. Well, I didn't have to look far because he was on stage next to Sadie and all of the other angels. He was so proud to be apart. Then he walked off the stage in a single file line back to the primary room like he was one of them. What is a Ward Christmas Party without some little kid crashing the Nativity Scene? It just so happens that the kid crashing it this year was mine!!

It Is Way Too Quiet In There!

Caught in the act

The naughty squint grin


Connor was in the tub making the sounds he usually makes. Splashing, standing up and then trying to use the back of the tub as a slide, roaring with his ninja turtles, and some screaming when he gets super wild. Anyway, my point is I can hear Connor when he is in the tub no matter what room I am in. Well, all of the sudden I couldn't hear him anymore, I ran in to see if he was okay and I saw him with my Sonic drink sucking it down as fast as he could before I would catch him. He snuck those naked buns out of the tub and grabbed my drink. If it hadn't been so dang cute, I would have been mad that my Saturday Morning Drink was gone!

Bonding

I was going through some pictures of this last year and I found some of Whitney and Sadie that I thought were really cute. Whitney is my littlest sister and Sadie has just grown up with her. Sadie adores Whitney and you can see why, dressing her up as a princess, hosting tea parties, making up dances, always coming up with new games, and most important, lets Sadie feel of her love. Anyone Sadie is around will somehow end up hearing Whitney's name in the conversation. She cries for a week after we leave Idaho because she wants Whitney or when she is in trouble all she can say is that she wants Whitney. It just really struck me how these bonds start at such an early age. Later in life it won't matter how little you see or talk to them, when you do, you will feel the same and it will be like you were never apart. I think of the people I bonded with when I was little and I don't get to see them as often as I would like, but when I do I still feel that love and closeness for them. So, Whitney thank you for making such a difference in Sadie's life. You can't have too many people to love you, and you truly are her little angel.

The Tooth Fairy & The Rock Fairy

Sadie lost her first tooth. I don't know why that was so hard for me. It had been loose for so long that Matt was getting worried about it and thought that he was going to have to pull it. We told Sadie that her tooth needed to come out. She said, "It hasn't come out because I prayed it would stay in." Once we convinced her that she would get another tooth in its place she quit praying - thank goodness!! Well, that night I heard a scream in the car and Sadie told us her tooth was out. I kinda freaked out and she looked at me so calm and said, "Mom, it was time."

I am glad she was the one comforting me. She didn't want to put it under her pillow because she wanted to take it to Idaho and show Whitney. So instead we got a picture of her holding it. She said she didn't want money, but she wanted a candybar from the Tooth Fairy. The next morning she came running in to show us how sweet the Tooth Fairy was to leave her a King Sized Kit-Kat. I was quick to agree with her how sweet the Tooth Fairy is. Now she can't wait to lose another tooth. However, this morning (the morning after the Tooth Fairy came) she woke up and was almost crying. We asked her what was wrong and she said, "I put my rock underneath my pillow last night, and the Rock Fairy didn't come."

Boys will be boys - unfortunately

Look at the black eye and that little grin!

I think I have the naughtiest little boy in the world. He loves to do things that he knows will get him in trouble. He grins before pulling Sadie's hair, he waits anxiously when he has taken something of hers for her to scream and tell. He thrives on being mischievious! He loves it! Well, yesterday he was being way too quiet, so Matt went and checked on him and assured me I did not want to go into his room. I went over to his door and did not know whether to laugh or cry. He had poured out a whole container of Quik Mix and a whole bottle of baby powder all over everything. But, the worst part about it was he had tried to clean it up with wet wipes. So the chocolate was wet. Oh my gosh! So, we put him in the tub to clean him off while we attempted to clean up the mess. While cleaning up his room, he put a whole roll of toilet paper in the tub with him. Matt spent another hour unclogging the drain. He poured out all of my bubble bath, shower gel, and his baby wash. He also has an obsession with undoing any lid and pouring it out and trying it first of course (toothpaste, perfume, lotion, you name it). Poison Control is now on speed dial. So, if there is an award for the most naughty little boy, sorry to say mine would win.

Little Miracles

I am so blessed to know that little miracles can happen all of the time. I like the phrase "Tender Mercies". How many of us need those once in a while. Well, Heavenly Father has done so much for my family. He has given me my two beautiful children and an amazing husband. I have so much to be thankful for. However, I have been struggling for awhile now with my little Connor. He is really behind in his speech, when he is around other little kids his age the differences in their speech is so dramatic. For me as a mom it has broken my heart to see him struggle so much. For more than a year now Matt and I have been relentless in trying to get Connor the help he needs. In Arizona, there are so many kids and not enough help that you have the waiting lists and what seems to be dead-ends. So, all I could think to do is just tell Heaven how much this mom needed some help and intervention to get Con help. TODAY, after many phone calls, meetings, and screenings Connor got approved for a preschool that is with a speech pathologist. He starts after the Christmas Break. Now, this may seem so minor to some, but to a mom who has seen her little boy struggle for years it truly is my own tender mercy!

Thanksgiving For Four

This was our very first Thanksgiving with just our little family here in Arizona. It was a very special day for us. We were able to relax, not get ready, and I didn't cook a thing. We woke up and Matt and Sadie made a wonderful brunch. We watched the Macy's Parade and the kids got such a kick out of the floats and balloons. They enjoyed it even more then I thought they would. Connor would see any character that was familiar and scream (higher then I really think should be normal), and touch the TV. It was so cute. Then Sadie and Connor danced around the room to all of the songs - in their pajamas of course. Sadie's favorite was the Island Princess Float, and Connor's was the Scooby Doo Balloon. They both loved the Hairspray Float and tried to dance just like them. We were able to just be together and then we went out to eat. It was so fun! It was a very special day for me. On that note I missed being with my family so much, I tried to be positive so that the homesickness of the day wouldn't ruin it for me or my kids. Anyway, I love family whether my very own, or extended, you run so deep in our hearts that it hurts when were not together. I love you!

Make a slide show, scrapbook, or ecard

Roses Required...Husband Optional!

Today is Matt and my 8th anniversary. It has gone by so fast. Matt is the easiest person in this world to be married to. He is so easy about everything. Plus, he likes to cook, and is good at it - need I say more? He loves me for me - which is a really good thing since I am the one he is married too. I have never met anyone who is so genuine and thoughtful. He would do anything for anyone. I love him more than I could ever express in words, that is why I rely on emotion to try and show it. (They love it when we throw a few tears in!) I am so blessed to have him as my very best friend. Being in medical school and moving away from our families has made us so close and strong as a couple. As long as we can be together that is all we care about. I love you Matt! You are the greatest father to my kids and the most incredible husband to me.

The Map To Idaho

Sadie came up to me and handed me this colorful drawing. Not wanting to hurt her feelings (because I had no idea what is was), I asked her to explain the picture to me. She looked at me very bugged that I didn't know and said, "Mom, it is a map to Idaho." She then went on to tell me that we would need it to go home for Christmas. It was really cute! Whenever she gets in trouble she cries saying she wants to go home. I tell her she is home and she replies, "No, not this home, Idaho." She has such good memories there. Everyone is so sweet to her and makes her feel so special. So, I guess we can come home for Christmas now that we have the map to get there!!

Mom's Birthday

Today is my mom's birthday. I thought it would be harder being away from her on my birthday, but it has been harder today. I miss being with her so much. Especially on such a special day. I have been thinking about my mom all day. I love nothing more then to be with her. I tease her all of the time that her kids are obsessed with her. Well, it is true. How can you not want to be around someone who makes you feel so whole and complete. I miss you mom and hope that you have had the greatest day. I love you so much and as Sadie would say, "I want my mommy"!!

Picture Day!!

I got Sadie and Connor's pictures taken when I was in Idaho. All I can say is I couldn't have done it without my mom, Whitney, and a SONIC drink!! I got the pictures back so I thought I would post them. There were so many good ones of Sadie I had a hard time picking out my favorites. As you can see there is only one picture of Connor. This is not because I love Sadie more or even favor her over Con. It is because if you know Connor I am the luckiest mom in the world to have been able to get even one of him looking, instead of crying or throwing something at the camera and or the photographer! It is Sadie's five year picture and Connor's three year.

Dallin

The first of September, my little brother Dallin came and stayed with us. It was so fun having him. We did a lot of swimming since it was in the triple digits everyday! We loved having Dalling there with us. My kids would not leave him alone. I loved having him there everyday with me. We would go to Sonic, go swimming and of course play Mario Kart! Matt and Dal got to go to a Cardinals game which was really fun for them. Dallin will be turning in his papers for his mission in the next couple of months, so it is fun to spend all of the time we can with him.

Fall Weather

We were so excited to be able to go home to Idaho for a couple of weeks for Matt's rural rotation. We were able to actually enjoy fall. In Arizona, you just don't get the fall colors. We have found places in Idaho that are so beautiful, you almost can't believe it is real. Nothing beats Idaho in the fall. We were able to get a picture of "the guys" in front of our favorite tree. We were also excited that Jess was able to fly up and spend a little time with us while we were there.

Birthday Month

November is our family's month for birthday's. Mine was on the 4th and Matt's was on the 10th. Sadie went with Matt to shop for me and then went with me to shop for Matt. She is so cute about it. We were able to get babysitters both nights so we could go to dinner. Adult conversation uninterrupted - who knew that existed! The rest of the month goes as follows: Mom-Nov.14th, Rebekah-Nov.14th, Bryce-Nov.18th, Jess-Nov.26th. That doesn't even include Matt and my anniversay - Nov.19th.

Halloween

Halloween was so much fun! We were able to take the kids to trunk-or-treat at the church, and then on Halloween, trick-or-treating at Midwestern (dad's school). They do the best job and have such good candy. Sadie was Sleeping Beauty and Connor was Scooby Doo. He loved saying "tick-or-teat" in a higher voice then normal, and Sadie never saying anything at all! So, I got to say it a lot! There is nothing like Halloween with your kids.

Why Am I Doing This?

Well, I hate things like this! I don't do the "My Space" thing. However, a friend of mine (thanks Natalie) said she used this as a journal. I thought that was such a good idea. I do love the idea of keeping track of my days somehow. I also live far away from my family and I guess this is a way of them seeing recent pictures of my kids, and Matt of course. He changes so much!!