Traditions!

One of the things we made sure we did this year before the holidays got even more hectic was to honor some of the traditions that I grew up with. After going to Utah for Thanksgiving and watching the video that Kelly and Danielle did it made me really think and be grateful for how I was raised. I grew up in an amazing family that did things together all the time. We had our challenges like most do, but I have wonderful memories of camping, picnics, parties and being able to hang out with cousins and lots of family around. One of my favorite traditions that I have let slide (unless I'm with all the family) is the one of acting out the nativity. If we didn't go to Safford we didn't do it, the same with the birthday cake for Jesus that Grandma Laurel would do for us every year. I loved the part of the video with Josh and Daniel in front of the birthday cake with a lighter and a fork! This year we weren't able to go to Safford but I wanted these traditions for my children. We invited the Boones and a neighbor over for Home Evening and we acted out the Nativity and had birthday cake. My cake will never be as beautiful as Grandma's but it was special none the less. I'm so grateful that my children have such great examples and traditions to follow!

Christmas with the family!

Well we are finally home after being able to spend the holidays with Sean's family in Mass. Luckily we made it after the ice storm and after they got their power and water back on. What a blessing to have such a wonderful family. The kids had a blast and when it was over there were more than enough tears. We had a blast sledding, going the the aquarium in Boston, learning how to butcher deer, playing wii, and just having fun with Grandparents, cousins and aunts and uncles. Christmas was fun and we were very blessed. We got to talk to our missionary! I can't believe how much he's changing. I think it's been harder for me since talking to him. What a blessing he is to our family! The kids handled 2 days flying too and from Boston, they really do a great job! The hardest thing for Lia was being away from school for so long. She was sure her teacher was at school and she was missing something. We left Boston and it was minus 2 and arrived in Phx. and it was 68 and there were flowers and plants blooming all around. It was hard for Sam to realize he didn't have to have a jacket on to go outside. Anyway this time of year makes me always realize how blessed we are to have such amazing families and friends. We love you! Happy new year! I'll post a few pics and figure out how to post more later!

Christmas Party

Christmas Party

I can't believe it's around the corner. Where did November go? I truly love this time of year! The kids have had such fun getting things ready for our big trip, we are going back east to spend the holidays with Sean's family. We don't get to see them much, so it's great to have 2 weeks with them. It'll be tough to spend it without Josh but he's doing great! It was hard to get Josh's stuff ready and mailed, but he got it. It was great to start the holidays with our ward Christmas party. We had a hawaiin party! We have a couple in our ward who taught the kids to hula and do some dances. We had traditional food that was great. We even acted out the Nativity play and had a visit from Santa. This was the first year no one cried on Santa's lap! It was so much fun!

Great Memories!

Recovering

I have been down the last few weeks with a Kidney infection. I am grateful to be healthy and grateful for my sweet husband who took a bunch of time of work to take care of me. It started when I fell down my back steps taking Lia to school, I was hustling and carrying one of the babysitting kids and somehow rolled my ankle and fell down the steps and took the brunt of the fall on my tailbone. It was a pretty hard fall, when I came too Lia was sitting by me just crying and worrying about how she was going to get to school. Nice eh? Anyway I called my friend who is an emt and told her what happened. She said I would be sore for a few weeks but not to worry. Oh my it hurt! I gimped around and managed to have a birthday party for Sam, then the pain got worse and moved up my back. I finally got into the doctor and turns out I had an infection and had to have a cat scan. They told me I had internal damage that might require surgury but couldn't get in till the next week. That was pretty scary! That weekend was pretty tough..for those of you who haven't had a kidney infection- I would do labor again before I'd want another one. I have never been in so much pain. Poor Sean did his best and it got so bad he convinced my doctor to get me in somewhere sooner. Well after another round of tests turns out there was no internal damage just a serious infection. Whew! So I'm on antibiotics for a month and then I'll be as good as new, well good as I was. People were so good to me, I had meals brought in and people calling or coming by checking on me and taking care of my kids. What a great place to live, and what a great family to be a part of! Now we are just getting ready to go to Utah for my Grandma's birthday and Thanksgiving. We just got to get everyone else healthy for the trip. Lia and Sam are so excited to see Shona and her kids! especially to meet Boston! I've had a change in babysitting, what a interesting job to have. Sometimes it's kind of scary what our kids have to deal with. You think they are safe, especially in your own home. I am even amazed at some of the stuff Lia comes home from kindergarten with. She's already had a boyfriend and been dumped. When I told her we don't have boyfriends she had a fit and argued with me (not a good sign for the future) but when I told her the prophet said we don't have boyfriends she said ok....hmmmm what am I? Anyway that's our update for the last few weeks. Hope everyone else is happy and healthy and going to enjoy a great Thanksgiving!
Cindy

Halloween 2008!

We had fun for Halloween. Lia was Cinderella and Sam was a fireman! We had to find him and axe, and the only one I could find was this nasty skull and bone one. He had to have something to chop down doors and save the people. Plus I hoped that having something might help him feel braver. Last year some scary looking guy grabbed him and scared him. Lia loved getting to wear make-up and I can't believe how different she looks when she has it on. They are growing up fast!

Picture day!

Lia had her 1st school pictures taken last week. It was so funny, she kept asking how she should pose, I was amazed she had so many! She got mad because I kept giggling. I love the fact that she is so confident. Had to post a few of her pictures. She loves the shirt she got from Mor Mor and her favorite part is the sparkly belt.

October update!

Lia is loving kindergarten...well by Friday she is pretty done and wants to stay home. It has been so fun to watch her learn. She has about 6 sight words she knows and gets pretty excited to see them outside school. We have our first parent conference this Weds. and I was grateful she let us go at night, so Dad gets to go to his first parent conference. The hardest thing Lia struggles with is the friend thing, one minute they are friends and the next they are not. It kills her. The other thing is she struggles to be the one in control and likes telling people what to do...hmmm could that be the reason her friends don't play with her. She'll have to learn. She has some posters up by the table and loves to play school. It's funny to hear how her teacher sounds. I know that to get called on in Lia's class you have to cover your mouth and raise your hand. She will get out her ruler and point to the chart, "okay class what is this letter? I'll raise my hand the "right" way and she goes, good job Cindy I like the way you raised your hand. In the mean time Dad will blurt out the answer and this sends her over the edge. "Sean (as she is shaking her ruler at him, with her hand on her hip) is that how we answer? You need to think about your choices...do you want to lose part of your recess?" Of course he can't help himself and continues to provoke her. She cracks me up. Sam is getting excited for his birthday. We are working on a huge sandbox for him. Railroad ties and a big hole. We'll see how it goes. If he's outside he has either a shovel in his hand or a rope or heaven forbid both. He's obsessed with tractors, especially since Uncle Dustin let him drive his Bobcat alone. Yesturday I made him mad by telling him he had to eat his vegtables at dinner...he said "Mom when we get done we are gonna have to have a talk, because I am angry and mad". Hmm at least he's learning to communicate. Can you tell Mom has been working on not yelling? I have started babysitting again. 3 full time kids and 2 part time. It hasn't been too bad, they are getting used to the rules and me. They aren't used to playing outside and definately not as rough as Sam is used to. He's happy to have kids to play with and I'm happy to not have to spend every minute entertaining him. Plus it forces me to get more orgainized with my time. Not a bad thing.

Sean got his Masters Degree!!!!

Woo Hoo!!! After a very long, rough, and exhausting year and a half; Sean got his Masters in Politics from Brandeis University!!!!!!! He started it when he lived in NY and life changed and he never finished it. After coming to Arizona he was able to petition the universtity and was able to finish. What a blessing! I am so proud of how hard he worked to finish this while working and taking other classes to get his supervisory certificate.