Merry Christmas

Ward Christmas Party Friday December 11, 2009



He only got on Santa's lap for the candy cane.



Hunter got sick while Vanessa and I were gone. Paul got a call from the school nurse on Thursday that Hunter was having a severe asthma attack and her lungs sounded crackly. He picked her up and took her to the doctor. The doctor said she sounded like a squeaky toy. Not good! They got her on some steroids and she was still pretty tired Friday night. Vanessa was just plain tired from the trip.

6th Grade Science Camp!

...was cold! Oh so cold!

Wednesday December 9 through Friday December 11, 2009



We even left a few hours later in the morning (nice! I did not have to get up at 5am to leave at 6:30) because of the winter storm that blew through on Monday). They wanted to make sure the roads were all clear.



First day after lunch our group went on the hike



in 12-18 inches of snow (some of the kids had never seen it in person before!)



to the top of the rim



to explore the cave.



After the hike they dissected owl pellets.



We went from the hike to the non-heated gym to our cabin, where the heater was broken, for an experiment class. We did not warm up that day until dinner. The next day was much better. We alternated inside versus outside classes.



Someone brought paddles and ping pong balls. Did I mention it was cold? With a foot of snow on the ground?








Ice skating on the frozen water in the gym





This rip roarin' fire was gas. A little disappointing. I would think they would use the gas in the summer when fire danger is high and light a real bonfire when there is snow.



Paul noticed we all still had jackets on in this picture. The heater in our cabin was very tempermental. Sometimes it would work and it would be nice and cozy in there. Sometimes it would not work and it would be 50 degrees or less. The gauge only went as low as 50.

We were in the haunted cabin. I think Paula, the resident ghost, must have controlled the heater at her whim. I was so glad I brought extra blankets for Vanessa and I to put on top of our sleeping bags and my space heater!



Lining up for a meal. The first morning it was 14 degrees when they lined up for breakfast. Brrrr.





Snow ball fight!

Random

Christopher helped me paint some "really early for next year Halloween" candy corn decorations I am making.





He picked up my cleaner one day and I told him to put it down because I was going to clean the shower with it later. He then took it upon himself to go right ahead...and dump it all in.







December band concert



Vanessa got a thumbs up from the band director, Mr. Bannon, at the end of one song for playing the triangle just right at the end!



Snowy has a fire at his feet.



He had some trouble during storms this year and might not make it up next year. It is really funny to hear Christopher say, "Snowy has problems."



Ribbon for Missy's baby shower this Saturday!

Sunday

Sunday we went to my mom's once again. We helped entomb more furniture in plastic and took the kids to the park some more. Mom let me read her Relief Society lesson which was fantastic. It was about the Temple.

We left there to come home, get ready and go to our ward. After mom and dad's church Mindy and Brian came over to help them load the kids and all the stuff in the car to go sleep at Chad and Emily's since their house was being demolitioned the next morning and that way Chad could get the kids ready and off to school in the morning.

Phew! Quite a week. We made it through though and it was great to spend so much time with Carter, Anna and Gracie. I just wish it was not under such stressful circumstances.

Baby Jane is now home from the hospital (she was only in the NICU a week and a day) and is doing great! We are most thankful for the blessing of how healthy and strong she is.

Saturday

Saturday was back to my mom's house. I took the girls to play with their cousins! They watched a little tv, played on the computer and Carter's Nintendo DS, went to the park (3 times!) and played with Grandma's Boyd's Bears.

Mom, Dad and I packed up their living room, kitchen and family room for the remodel. Removing tile is apparently a very dusty process so we were covering all the furniture and stuff with plastic. Remember, mom still has a hurt arm making everything she tries to do more complicated.

Paul brought Christopher to me when it was time to go to the ASU vs. UofA game so Chris got in on one of those trips to the park! After the football game I met Paul at home. He watched the kids while I went to the gym and then worked late that night.

Some friends in the ward called us that night and offered us a twin loft bed. Thanks Ryders! We are so excited. We were looking at getting another twin right after Christmas since we will be switching rooms around again. We are thankful now that we don't have to buy one.

Friday

Friday was spent with the Evans family. We started out that morning by working at Aunt Cathy's house for her Christmas present. We removed the fake green grass from her back patio, varnished her gate and touched up the paint around her front door from a new screen door going in.

We went home and showered, grabbed something to eat, picked up the kids and headed up to canyon lake for a ride on the Dolly Steamboat.





On the way home from that the Muhns and us hiked at the Lost Dutchman trailhead until sundown.





Then back to Grandma and Grandpa's for hamburgers and a fire.

Thursday - Thanksgiving!

Got up late (Paul was long since gone to the park to play football) and made two batches of rolls. Showered while they were rising. Rolled them out. Then left to pick up my mom to head over to see Emily at the hospital (an hour away) and pick up her kids from her sister. The magnesium they gave her to stop the labor helped and by now she had been given the second dose of the steroid to help the baby's lungs. Dad stayed home to keep the turkey dinner moving along. Paul baked the rolls after they were done rising and took a batch to his parents. The girls had ridden their bikes to Grandma and Grandpa Evans' house earlier.





Paul came home in time to steam the brocolli and wrap presents for the birthday parties we were celebrating with my family - Hunter (9), Anna (6) and Gracie (4). We were running late coming back so Paul had to unload his truck of his pool equipment and bring all of our Thanksgiving stuff and meet me at my moms (bday presents, bday candles, brocolli, rolls, sugar-free pumpkin pies, sugar-free carmelitas, and a steak for him since we were only having turkey - no ham as well this year).

We had a lovely Thanksgiving dinner/birthday party! We ate very well. It turned out nice we had two cars. Paul brought the kids home and I stayed to help put Carter, Anna and Gracie to bed at Grandma's.



Thank you Mindy for making the texas sheet cake!



The girls played dress up

Brittany



Hunter



Vanessa



Oh, and did I mention mom fell on Tuesday and had a hurt arm? She was in a sling with a wrap. Urgent care said no breaks but possibly soft tissue damage. So she was hosting Thanksgiving dinner, taking care of 3 grandchildren whose mother was in the hospital, preparing to substitute teach in Relief Society and packing away her house for a tile remodel all with one arm. Can you say stress?

Sorry for the blurry picture, but it is the only one with mom in the sling I had.

Wednesday (Nov 25th) - Happy Birthday Hunter

Homeschooling Day 3

This day started out with an 8:15am phone call from my sister in law. She was 33 weeks pregnant and her water broke. She was in the hospital and had gotten one dose of the steroid shot to help the baby's lungs mature and was waiting 24 hours for the second dose. They had called my parents at 3am to let them know and the phone had not gotten hung back up in my dad's half awake/half asleep state. I got a hold of my mom an hour or two later as I was about to drive to her house and give her the latest update.

Made sure the girls had their school work done. Went to the gym while Tyson was napping so we could play this afternoon. We went to Amazing Jakes for Hunter's birthday. It was so nice to be able to go when everyone was in school and there was no crowds. We had an awesome time and did not want to leave.

The Birthday Girl - 9





Tyson (a neighbor I babysit) got to come with us!



Hunter and Mom riding the go-karts



Mini-golfing with two 2-year-olds was interesting



Dad and Vanessa on Frog Hopper



Vanessa and Hunter on bumper cars



We ate a couple of times



We came home and made pumpkin pie because that is what Hunter wanted for her birthday cake and wrapped her presents really quickly so she could open them.







Then we all collapsed in bed for a good night's sleep!