Christmas 2009

Being 8 is great ! ! !

Today was Dylan's birthday. He is now 8 years old. I've spent a lot of the day shaking my head in disbelief because that couldn't possibly be true...But somehow it is.

He wanted to go to lunch at Applebee's. So we went and he ordered a corndog basket with fries and a lemonade.

Of course he kept saying, "Take a picture mom...take a picture!!!"

For dessert he ordered the chocolate mousse, just because it sounded funny. He didn't like it though, no surprise. He's just not a chocolate fan.

But he did like the whipped cream!!

After Applebee's, we went to a Redbox where he got to choose his own movie, then off to speech where Matt, his therapist, was waiting with a birthday present. A BIG bag of Skittles and two boxes of Tim Tams from Pepperidge Farms. He shared a different way to eat them, for which we look forward to trying...

THANKS MATT ! ! ! ! ! ! !

We went to Grandma/pa Thurber's and had pizza for dinner. Then we sang to him...

Opening the long awaited loot...

He got a quad of scriptures with his name embossed on them, a baptism coloring book, the Juniors Giants 2 DVD, a book about Joseph Smith, (whose birthday is tomorrow, he missed that by one hour and 16 minutes...being born at 10:44 PM) and a whole new church outfit. Grandma and Grandpa Thurber gave him his cub scout book and his cub scout shirt.

Practicing his salute in his 'uniform'. He kept walking around with it on, in awe with how 'beautiful (his word not mine) it was.

We didn't quite get to everything because Jared was sick and had a trip to the doctors. Jared has a left ear infection, tonsillitis and the beginnings of bronchitis. Poor kid, didn't want to go to the doctors, he kept saying, "I not sick, no doctor. I not sick, NO DOCTOR...." It's alright though Dylan, we'll get the bowling in some time during holiday break ! ! !

Happy Birthday Dylan. I hope it was good for you and that you will look back with good memories of this day. I love you so much and am so thankful to be your mom ! ! ! ! !

The Elementary School Christmas Program

The kids' school program was at the first of December. It was broken up into two nights...the kindergarten and 2nd grade on December 2nd, the first grade and 3rd grade on December 3rd. I did my best to explain to Dylan that I would not be making it to his program on the 2nd, because I had a class (test) then work immediately afterwards. I found someone to cover me for a short bit on the 3rd so I could make it to Taylor's. So for Dylan, I went to his dress rehearsal earlier that day...

Dylan doin his little dance...

Taking a breather with his aide Deicy...

Jared being very well behaved during the practice...of course I had to get a picture.

Taylor showing her sign language skills...

Following the program with her teacher, Mrs. Olsen.

What a 3 year old takes pictures of...

In case you were curious, here are a few things a 3 year old would take a picture of, if he ever got a hold of your camera...

The celing, of course... his feet...
his toy computer...

the rocking chair...

the room from wherever he is...

the vacuumn (why not??)...

Thanks Jared for those sweet pictures and showing the perspective from a 3 year old ! ! !

Then and Now

I really appreciated everyones positive comments about the kids and the Christmas pictures. To answer the question...Yes, I've started the tradition of taking their picture in front of the Christmas Tree with the santa hat, although I just started it last year...

Dylan Christmas 2008

Dylan Christmas 2009

Taylor Christmas 2008

Taylor Christmas 2009

Jared Christmas 2008

(Also Christmas 2008...but I just had to throw this one in for posterity sake...)

Jared Christmas 2009

Nothing like starting a new tradition. I print them up then put them in an ornament with the year on it. Someday, they'll have pictures of themselves as little kids to put on their trees and I hope the tradition will continue on...

Christmas cookies...

Don't forget to be cheezy when fighting over which cookie cutter you'll get to use next.

Make sure to make a mess...

But above all...ALWAYS
use ALL the green sprinkles on 3 cookies.

The 2009 Christmas Tree

As is tradition at our house, we put up the Christmas Tree on the first Family Home Evening after Thanksgiving. This year was the easiest year yet. We had bought a tree for 50% off in a post-Christmas sale last year. So this was our first year putting it up. Its prelit (YAY!!!) and that was DEVINE ! ! ! ! ! It was the one thing that received the most water damage when our water pipes burst a couple of weeks ago. So as I got it out and it was still so molded and wet, I was afraid that it wouldn't work. But we put it together and plugged it in and it worked like a charm. It does still smell a little moldy, but I have a 'Pine' scented candle that takes care of that.

Jared was so excited about his Christmas Tree. He just kept repeating that over and over, "Look at my Twismas Twee."

He was quite annoyed by the fur on the santa hat.
Every picture I took with Taylor was like this. A beaming smile and little bit of a pose. She is such a doll ! ! ! ! !
All Dylan wants for Christmas is his two front teeth, although I'm pretty sure he'll have most of one of them by that big day. His birthday is Dec. 22 and he is trying to make sure that I know what he wants for Christmas and what he wants for his birthday and that I better not get it mixed up. Thanks Dylan...I'll try to keep it straight ! ! ! !

Name them one by one...

Anyone who knows me even a little knows about the crazy life I've been leading for the last little while. Funny how things seem to grow more crazy without you even realizing it. I lost my planner about a 10 days ago. And anyone who knows me even a little knows that I call that inexpensive piece of leather 'My Brain' only because it is. It holds EVERYTHING. On top of the basics of where I should be and when, phone numbers and addresses of most all my extended family and long-time friends, it also holds my debit, & credit cards, check book, drivers license, temple recommend and business card for most every doctor Dylan has ever been to. All that...gone.

My computer died. The sound disappeared one day and I just thought the sound card had become loose. I opened it up and it was out. So I put it back in and after everything was all put back together, no picture. I thought it was the video card, which I tried and tired and tried again. And...dead.
Last nite I went down into the crawl space of our house which holds much of our storage. The traditional baby stuff and clothes from Dylan I hope Jared will grow into, cd's from teen-age years, scrap booking goods, food storage, journals of life until now and all things Christmas, and of course the big box of Halloween goods. I began to crawl down there when Dylan said 'Mom, I hear something, what does zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz, mean?' I looked about and found not one but two high pressure sprays coming from two different parts of pipe making a considerable mess. Not only with the water destroying the cardboard boxes that our belongings were in, but also the mold that was collecting on everything else that was not made of cardboard.

And even as I type this...it all doesn't not sound that bad. But I guess all this in conjunction with not being able to sleep well, children who've been very defiant during the last week, and mourning the end of my marriage had taken its toll. I have felt hurt, alone, and confused. I have had my times of wallowing in self-pity, overwhelmed with feelings of not being worthy, and coming to terms of my sense of guilt, feeling as though I've not been deserving or worthy of any blessing let alone being loved. It has been a trying week.

In the last couple of days I've started putting my planner together. I've gotten new debit and credit cards, new planner and I'm taking those steps to make it okay again. But no one has tried to do anything with the sensitive information in 'My Brain.'

I got my computer back today. I understand that the problem was some infected memory, that didn't really take that much time to clean up. He gave it back to me free of charge. (THANK YOU TRENT!!!)

My bishop and Tom Salas, came over took care of my pipes, finding that I didn't really have two holes, I had three holes in my pipes, and fixed all three. What it a blessing that they fixed them, Yes and also a blessing they found the third while they were at it. The charge....nothing, but it was noted that if I made cookies, they wouldn't be turned down either.

I had MULTIPLE phone calls today, wanting to make sure that the water would be back on soon, could they please bring dinner, what did I need, and could they please help.

I had another neighbor mow down the back half of my acre to keep things in check as winter moves in.

The young women stained my deck for me while I was in class.

My parents care for my 3 (at times TRYING) peeps, 3 nights a week while I am at work.

I have a friend that takes me out to lunch, (her treat) while she thinks she is getting the better end of the deal, (which is NOT true by the way!!!)

A simple e-mail from a friend in Belgium is enough to lift my spirits any day.

And the list goes on and on....And as it does, how can I not feel loved. So many who individually do small and simple things that as a whole in my life, I see great things come to pass.

Know that it is thru YOU that I know that my Heavenly Father loves me. And right now in my life, that knowledge is truly priceless.

Thank You

The Pumkin Patch...

Just before spud harvest, I joined in on going on a field trip with Jared's pre-school class. We started with a pumpkin patch.

Jared giving his bashful look.

Showing off the pumpkin he chose...

He wasn't really concerned about taking a pumpkin home, he just wanted to line them all up...

Kent Sutton. He always saves part of his field to planting a breed of pumpkin called 'Baby Pam' from a seed company in Denver, Colorado. He says that that is his favorite type because they will grow until the freeze comes. Then no matter what, within a few days, they will still turn orange. He then sells his pumpkins to local grocers.

A perfect example of the flowering blossom beginning to turn into a pumpkin.

We then went to Kent Sutton's house. Here is Jared with the sheep...

and playing on the tire swing...

and sliding down the slide...

and Jared checking on Yaks, who are native to the Himalaya's. Their meat have absolutely no fat. So he sells that to local markets as well, including Big Jud's in Archer.