MERRY CHRISTMAS

Merry Christmas to all of our Friends & Family!!!

We have had lots happening in the last week and we have had a great Christmas season!

Thank you to all of our family, friends, and neighbors for everything!!!

We love you lots!!!

So good, she just had to have a lick ....

Cute as a button

The Mr. & Mrs. were not so fun this year

Christmas Eve dinner ... Chinese take-out!!!

Ciara insisted on using chop sticks

She even figured it out, I barely missed it going in her mouth.

The classic Christmas PJ's picture

Good Morning ... did Santa come?

Ciara almost always has a purse!

I think these are the faces of happy children!!!! :)

TIS THE SEASON!!!

I cannot believe how fast the last month has gone by. I am happy to report that Ciara's thumb is healing well. It is even starting to look like a thumb again!!! She got her big splint taken off 3 days after we went in to the ER, then we went back 7 days later and the stitches were removed. Then we went back again to have it checked. We still have to keep it wrapped and change the bandages each day, but it is getting better and we are all happy! No pics of it still though as it is not pretty and she doesn't like anyone to look at it.

We had a great Thanksgiving this year. We were just home and we were all alone, but it was nice day and then we ate until we were all stuffed like turkeys!!! We have much to be grateful for and that was really what made the day great!

We are officially ready for the Christmas season! Normally we set the Christmas tree the weekend after Thanksgiving but this year I just wasn't ready to put it up yet. We did put up some decorations that weekend though. Today at church though Randy asked if we should put the tree up, so it went up today!!! I am one of those people that like to decorate the tree by myself, my way ... you know what kind of person I am talking about! We have 2 trees and this year I decided to put up the 2nd tree and let the kids have at it. Ky didn't have an interest in it, but Dal and Ciara had a lot of fun and they did a pretty good job!

They sure are cute ... especially when they get along so well!!!

I got to go to Temple Square last night with the Youth in our ward. It was sure pretty! We watched the Joseph Smith movie, saw a few lights (it's a bit of sore spot for some), and then ate some dinner. I did get this pretty pic of the Temple though to share!

The lights there are the best!!! Now go ahead .... bring on Christmas!

AN EVENING OF FIRSTS

Last night Randy had his first trip to the emergency room for one of his kiddos and Ciara got her first trip to the emergency room ever ... and they BOTH survived!!!

Yesterday afternoon Ciara was outside playing with the neighbor boy in our back yard. We had checked on them several times and I had been in the house for a few minutes when we heard Ciara scream. We ran out to find her on the other side of the fence and the neighbor boy running away, he usually runs when she cries. Her hand was all bloody and she was just screaming. We brought her in the house and tried to clean it up and stop the bleeding we had assumed that she had cut herself on the fence, not really thinking about the fact that there are no sharp edges on the fence. We could see that her thumb was cut and a chunk of skin was gone at the bottom of the nail and the nail was bruised underneath. It stopped bleeding and we put some band-aids on it. She cried a lot that it hurt, but we thought it would be okay. When we went to change the band-aids before bed we found that it was still bleeding, so we knew that we had to take her in.

So after 4 lovely hours in the E.R. this is what we have ....

Not a cut, but some trauma to the thumb. The Dr. said that it got squashed by something pretty good. The whole nail came off and he stitched it back on, but once it was off and he was able to clean it up he could see the gash went all the way to her bone. So she has inside dissolvable stitches, outside stitches, and a splint around her thumb and her arm ( so she can't tear it off).

This is her telling me it is scratched!

And finally late this afternoon she crashed. We didn't get home until about 1:30 this morning and she only slept until 6 so she crashed pretty hard! She isn't trying to pull it off anymore and thinks that the wrap is soft, here's hoping that when it comes time to take it off, she will let them take it off!!!

Just Some Happenings

First of all, I would like to thank our family and friends who's kind thoughts and comments have really helped lift us up. We are so blessed to have each of you in our lives!!!

Thank you!!!

So here is what we have done over the past couple of days .....

The kids stayed home from school on Thursday and we went down to the cemetery to take some flowers and a balloon As you can see it was quite windy and cold and unfortunately the balloon didn't stay for too long.

Then we went to visit Grandma Ogden after a quick lunch at Leo's. (I can't even recommend that place anymore. The food just isn't as good as used to be.)

We had a nice visit with her and was able to help her get some things done also!

Thursday ended up just being a nice day that we spent all together.

Now for Friday ... the day was nothing special. One of my Laurels asked me if I would chaperon the Sadie Hawkins dance at her high school and I agreed to it and in the 11th hour talked Randy into coming with me. No pics for this one because I forgot the camera and my phone camera doesn't have a flash or I don't know how to work it. The time went by really fast, and we were rather entertained to say the least. Some things never change, like slow dancing ... still exactly the same as it was in Junior High. LOL And then there are other things that have changed quite a bit, like kids laying on the floor making out ... no joke! And girls cutting in to dance with other girls. But for the most part it looked like a lot of fun and the kids were pretty good! Randy was super happy when our shift was over.

HALLOWEEN!!!!!

The kids school had their fall carnival today and I helped there for a few hours while Randy and the kids went around playing games and eating. Ciara won the award for most adorable costume!

She was pretty cute!!!

After a great nap we then went to the Trunk or Treat our town does. It is a good one too. Everybody goes to it and you are done in about 30-45 minutes. I don't think I would every want to go trick or treating again, this is just way too convenient!

Here we are ...

Now that's a cute family!

P.S. This is post number 3 this week! WAHOO! I wouldn't expect it to keep up like that though!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Happy Birthday Aspyn!

We love and miss you so much, but we know we will be with you again eternally!!!

Knowing that has helped our hearts to heal and brings up peace and joy! Another year has gone by and so much has changed. You have helped our family to be better, closer, and stronger. I know the work you are doing is great and something that you were chosen to do because the rest of your family could not. We love you and are so grateful for you!

When the day comes that we will get to hold you in our arms will be a great and happy day!

YEAHHH!!!!!

So as most Utahn's know this past week was the deer hunt! This year Randy and his brother drew out for the Vernon Range hunt. Needless to say, the were very excited. There grandpa used to own a ranch out there and they would hunt there every year until that area closed and turned into a "draw" unit. I harass them every year that this is just a glorified hunt, because they haven't shot anything since I've known Randy, so I think they wanted to be sure to get something this year. Randy has been home 1 day out of the last 9, so he was very serious ... I'm just not sure it was all about the deer, I think part of him just needed to get out of the house after being home for the last 7 months. He came home today and with a little somethin' somethin'!!!!

That is a happy boy!

You all want a good chuckle?!!! He took his little Suzuki Swift out hunting and brought this deer home inside of it with all of his camping gear. I know, I know ... but please no "you might be a redneck if" jokes. Just enjoy the laugh with me!

Like any good deer hunting widow I got some stuff done while he was gone. I worked and was even busy ... WAHOO!!!! And I did a little sewing and some shopping for BUNKO gifts.

Ciara's Halloween costume. She will be the cutest Little Bo Peep! I still need to do the shepherd's crook thing though.And some Christmas PJ's, I still have to sew Ky's together.

All in all, I think we had a pretty good week!!!

THE BIG 12

Dallin turned 12 earlier this month. He as very excited for his birthday and nervous at the same time. He knew that turning 12 was a big deal because now he could receive the Aaronic Priesthood and that it brings about some very important responsibilities. Well he was ordained to the priesthood in the class of Deacon on Sunday, September 13th by Randy. It was a very special day and I asked him how he felt afterwards and he said that he felt as though some weight had been lifted off of his shoulders. I think that it is wonderful that was the feeling that he had, that he felt his Heavenly Father helping him. It is an awesome feeling to be in our home now and having 2 priesthood holders. I sure love my little man and I am so happy for him and sad that he won't be my little man forever.

The kids are doing great in school. They are enjoying it a lot even though the bus ride is long for them. This week is spirit week for homecoming, and they are having a lot of fun participating in all of the activities. Kylie is loving HS. She likes going to the football games, STOMP, and all of her classes. She most of her teachers are weird, but I just have to remind her that she says that about all adults who have rules or have to ask her not to be so chatty!!!! I can hardly believe how big my kids are getting. I am very blessed to have such GREAT kids! (Okay, I don't always feel that way, but most of the time I do.)

Randy is still in job search mode. He is at an interview now (that's why I get to blog!) and he has been looking forward to this interview for 2 weeks now. That's how long ago they called to schedule it. Plus while he has been gone I got a phone call from another company that would like to schedule an interview also. It has been a long 5 1/2 months with him home. We have been incredibly blessed during this time. Maybe that is why my blog has been soooo neglected.

Our little Ciara is growing like crazy. I don't think she is so short anymore, and she definitely isn't short of words or personality. She has my sass, Randy's dance moves, Ky's defiance, and Dal's tender heart.

I have been working at DIVAS salon 2-3 days a week. It has been fun being out working again and I love what I do. Now if business would just pick up, I don't like just sitting there. Thanks to some friends however, we have had some fun toe parties! Now some friends in town and I have just started a dinner group, we each take turns making meals for the group every week ... so now I am looking for fun, new recipes to try!

MY WISH LIST

I have been thinking a little today about what I would wish for if I could get some wishes granted ...

Cleaning Fairy

Cooking Fairy

Laundry Fairy

Calgon Take Me Away

$$ Tree . . . That probably means I need a Genie!!!

I could probably go on but if I actually had all of these would I have any friends left? You'd all be so jealous ...

As I thought of all of this stuff it made me think that I wasn't being very grateful for what I have. The past couple days have been pretty hard for me to be grateful. Well my attitude has made it hard anyway. But now as I sit here and think more I do have so much to be grateful for.

The past 3 1/2 months have been trying but in a strange way I am glad that Randy and I have had so much extra time together. And it has worked out well that he was here to take care of Ciara during girls camp and next week while I am gone to youth conference.

Girls camp was a lot of fun. I enjoyed being around the girls and when it was time to come home I couldn't believe how emotional that time was for me. I wanted to gather them all up and bring them home with me ... I'm sure I probably wouldn't have felt that way for long, but we have a great bunch of girls here.

I'm posting some pics of our water kickball game we played while we were there. If you have never played it, it is a BLAST!

This was how the game ended ...

It was all good fun though.

And here is Ky learning how to use a compass.

WOW .... ITS BEEN A MONTH

I have been the biggest blog slacker! But to my defense my hubby is still unemployed and at home! It's hard to blog when he is home. But I take pictures with the intention of blogging, but never get around to blogging. So here we go ... a quick run down of our past month or just pics I have taken for fun!!!

Ciara imitating Dad!

This was actually funny ... dad was tilling the garden area and Ciara is terrified of the tiller. So as far away from the tiller as she could get she pretended her wheelbarrow was a tiller and would "follow" dad's direction. She was a lot faster than he was!

2 Otter Pop Buddies!!!

Ciara copying big brother!

Lots of Loves for Dallin!!!

Ciara hangin' with the big girls!

Mom's big helper!

That ugly floor is now gone and now looks like this

Mom's other big helper!

After loads of welcome rain we found a frog at the bottom of the outdoor stairs to the basement, it was pretty cool looking and it's eyes would change colors with it's skin.

And the best part of our month was going to Colorado for a very special sealing of Malia to her parents at the Denver, CO Temple. We got to spend lots of time with family and I even got to do a bunch of toes while I was there. It was a great week!!!

School is also out now and some people got their yearbooks signed, but Ky had to get more than that signed ...

I'm really glad that the rest of the signing happened in the yearbook!

Well, I think I've redeemed myself a little bit. This looks like a long post but hey, at least it's mostly pics!!!