Sunday's Post

Heart Broken

The story: So many of you know Dave coaches wrestling at the high school. Once in a while Dave will take the boys with him just for fun (and hey, Mom's not going to complain!) Thursday we had the cousins over to play, while Will and Cassie did some Christmas shopping. But time came that Dave had to go to wrestling practice so he took Wyatt and Clare with him to meet Will there. Of course Evan got to go along, but poor little Andrew! We just didn't have enough carseats for him to go along too. Talk about rejected! Of our two boys, Andrew is the one who loves wrestling the most too! I think the photo explains his grief. Mom could NOT console him so he's talking to Dave who is promising to take just Andrew next time for some good one-on-one time.



The Finished Product
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When we were buying the candy, I kept telling Evan the candy corns were Halloween candy, but he really wanted them so we got them anyway. Little did I know what he had in mind....he turned them into icicles! What do I know!! He's such a creative kid. (You should hear him beat-box sometime!)

It may not look like it, but yes, Dave is having fun!

Building our gingerbread house.....it didn't make it until Christmas. I'm such a candy freak, and my boys take after me.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Anyone remember the abominable snow monster from Frosty the Snowman?? Andrew doesn't want to remember it. Am I a bad parent? I thought it was cute.

Thanksgiving

We had such a wonderful Thanksgiving!!! I have so many pictures I thought I'd just post them all. So enjoy. We drove straight thru the night up to Cut Bank, MT...22 hours. I can hardly believe we pulled it off! And it actually was a very pleasant trip! The kids were absolutely great!

My favorite parts? The food of course!! Judy always goes big. The pies were wonderful! I think I ate two full ones myself. And I literally came home 4 pounds heavier.
The late night games and talks. There's always laughter when the board games and stories come out. Definitely one of my favorite memories.
I also really enjoyed just doing what came along. We visited the highschool, watched movies, drove by the house Judy grew up in and the river Dave used to fish in with his Grandpa, we did a little shopping, played some piano and just hung out.
All, in all, I'd say it was a perfect vacation. So here come the photos...

I think Evan is in love with Aunt Emily!!

Grandpa Dan's AWESOME airplanes!!! And AMAZING story telling!!!

Opening Christmas gifts!


We had an early Christmas celebration with presents and everything!! What spoiled kids!


Evan and Andrew helped decorate the Christmas tree!

Thank you Grandma Judy, Grandpa Dan, and Aunt Emily for a wonderful holiday!!!

Christmas, Christmas!

We just can't get enough of Christmas events lately!

Evan was so excited to put up our tree the minute we got back from Montana. But what he really wanted was to play with the train that goes around the tree. I found our Christmas stockings in one of the tupperwares and pulled them out. "Look! Our stockings!!" Then I set them on the couch. Next thing I know, Andrew is putting them on his feet!

Friday night, we went to our Ward Christmas party! I wish I'd brought my camera. Evan performed with the other primary kids in the cutest little choir robes! Santa came and they were able to sit on his lap and tell him what they wanted.


Then Saturday morning, Santa flew in on a helicopter. Of course, we just HAD to see that! It was really exciting, and we had a front row spot. The wind literally pushed Evan and Andrew backward. I watched Evan as Santa got out and came to greet the crowd. He didn't even glance on Santa...his eyes were glued to the helicopter. So glad we went, and I totally recommend it to everyone next year.

Sunday, we went to the Palo Alto ward's creche exhibit. I was totally impressed as usual! Andrew and Evan loved the childrens' room and playing in the costumes. The marionette show was a hit too! I'd never seen a marionette show before. It was really fun!

For FHE Monday, we drove to the Oakland temple to see the lights and the exhibit at the visitors center. It was beautiful of course. We intended to do some shopping at Seagull Book while we were there, but they closed just after we arrived. FYI, they close at 5:00 on Mondays. Boy did I take for granted the closeness of LDS stores in Utah. Next time I'll plan better.

Since then, it's been shopping, shopping! I'm almost done too! It's all pulling together.

Happy holidays everyone!

VeggieTales

Have any of you ever seen VeggieTales? It's a bunch of vegetables that sing and tell stories. Kind of cute actually! Anyway, I found one of their dvds at the library and Evan thinks it's so funny!



We just got back from the grocery store and this is what Evan wanted to do. Call me crazy for indulging him; but hey, it's keeping them entertained so I can clean our bathrooms.

A Hodge Podge

I had a lot of photos I'd taken to post about. So here they are,various photos from various events.


Thanks Mom and Dad for these awesome Halloween shirts! They love them! And they really get a kick out of matching.

I promised Evan I would post a photo of their jack-o-lanterns so that Lorien and Wyatt could see them. Hence the photo. Evan's is on the right. Andrew's on the left.

We shared a family birthday party with Lorien and Wyatt on the Sunday before Andrew's birthday. Grandpa Clay, Grandma Lizz and Uncle Daniel came up. I made Andrew a soccer ball cake for this party.

Andrew was really excited about his birthday this year! I think this early party with the cousins was a good run-through for him, because he couldn't wait for the birthday party on Thursday. He knew what was coming and what to expect.

If it looks like I'm about to hit Andrew on the head with his present, it's because I am. My family has the tradition of singing "Heavy, heavy hang-over thy poor head. What do you wish __(Mommy)__ with a bonk on the head." Then I bonk Andrew on the head with the gift, Andrew says what he wishes for me, and then opens it up.

Has anyone heard of this before?? Dave had never heard of it when we got married and I could hardly believe it! I thought every family did this! It's one of those strange traditions we'll probably always do.

Thursday was his real birthday. Evan helped me create his "rocket" cake this time, and wrap the presents. I don't know what it was, but Andrew really got it this time, that it was his special day. He loved all the attention.

Here's a photo of the cake. It really was a kind of a mess. One of the rocket boosters fell apart, and the frosting job was not as good as it looks in the photo. But Andrew loved it! And that's what matters.

This photo is totally random, but Andrew found a box of misc hats and wanted to put them all on. I think the total was 5. He likes to wear hats!

Tagged

Here it is! The 4th picture in the 4th folder of my photos. Not bad huh? These are my lovely sisters-in-law (? sister-in-laws?). Emily is on the left and Charity is holding her son Alton. It was taken outside the Rexburg temple at Alan's wedding. Aren't they beautiful!! I love my in-laws!

Jackie, this was a great tag; very easy, random, and fun! So here you go.
I'm tagging:
Kara, Cherisse, and Allie.

All you have to do is post your 4th photo from your 4th folder on your computer.

Happy Halloween!

Cardboard box - $0.00
Spraypaint - $2.00
Look on Evan's face - Priceless!

Evan wanted to be Spongebob Squarepants for Halloween. We worked together making his costume, and he absolutely loved the final results. Totally worth it!!

We went trick-or-treating with Will and Cassie's family. Andrew is the football player. This was the only suggestion for a costume that got any excitement out of him. He likes to wear it around the house while we yell, "Go Andrew" and "Touch Down!" (We got this costume at the Foote family white elephant exchange one Christmas. Talk about cheap costumes this year!)

Afterwards, they pigged out on all the Halloween candy they could handle. Holidays are getting more and more exciting every year!

Family in Town

We are so lucky that Grandma, Grandpa and Russell came to visit! We had so much fun! And packed a lot in to those 3 days.


Grandpa and Andrew at the beach.

"Taking a break" at Stanford.

Not long after they arrived, we headed off to New Brighton beach to enjoy the sun and sand. There were a TON of huge birds there (I don't know what kind they were...so "big" will have to do. And I don't know how many, so "a ton" will have to do.) Grandpa was curious to figure out what they were eating, so he took a shovel and scooped up some sand... sure enough! There was a crab! (I wish I'd gotten a picture of it, but I'm not great at remembering those things.)

Friday, we spent the afternoon at Stanford University touring around. Russell is definately one of Evan's favorite people in the whole world! Thanks to my mom, who likes historic homes, we discovered there is a Frank Lloyd Wright home there! We didn't get to tour it because it takes some planning ahead. But we drove by and admired it. We also drove by the Lou Henry and Herbert Hoover home, but once again didn't get to tour it. Maybe next time.


Admiring the Golden Gate Bridge.


At the piers.

Saturday was the big day at the city. We packed a lot of things in. We visited the Japanese Tea Gardens at Golden Gate Park. We drove over the Golden Gate Bridge for Russell. We ate lunch at In-N-Out Burger of course! And walked the Piers to see (and smell) the sea lions, snack on some hot donuts, and check out Alcatraz through binoculars. Next we hurried off to visit the Haas-Lithienthal house for Mom, which was really cool! It's an old historic Victorian home in San Francisco. What a day!

Then of course, Evan had to show off his bike riding to Grandma and Grandpa and we made a quick stop at the neighborhood Halloween party.


Haas-Lilienthal House. Japanese Tea Gardens.

It was so much fun to have family here! And to show you around the place we call home.

In case I haven't told any of you, I have an amazing family! I love you all and am so proud to be part of such a wonderful family that loves each other!

"I am turning 26... No, WAIT... I am turning 27?! Can that be Right?"

Happy Birthday Angela/Mommy,

It is not Angela's Birthday yet (13th of October), but I have a pretty hectic week coming up so we did a small celebration in our home today. I must say, She did a pretty good job picking her presents out this year. And, the boys and I did an EXELLENT job putting them in the same gift bags that we used last year. For the couple of presents that we actually wrapped, Evan was the self proclaimed Taper Guy, and was fantastic.

Angela has been house hunting, tending the boys (doctors visits [Drew got his cast removed this week], ice skating, home school pre-school, etc...), and all the other things she keeps herself overly busy doing, and, has, somehow, maintained some level of sanity. I have been little or no help as my most recent employment has been a huge time drain.

I wish this Birthday could have been more special for the Do All Mom/Wife. Here we are Midnight on Saturday and she is just finishing her project due for tomorrow's sunday meetings. I am amzed at all you get done, Angela. Please excuse my ramblings in this entry, but I felt it necissary to take a break from all I am working on to say, Thank you, Ang, and We Love you!!! And, yes, you are 27 years old.

Broken Arm

Poor Andrew. Thursday, Dave and the boys went to the Stanford football game. During half time they were out on a grassy spot getting out their wiggles, when little Andrew darted off into the midst of an older kids football game. He was knocked over and then accidentally stepped on.... hence the broken arm.

Both bones all the way through. It looked so awful...all crooked and swollen. Urgent care put a brace on his arm that night, then Friday the doctor set it and cast it. He was sooo brave through it all! I can't even imagine the pain he was feeling. Usually when he gets hurt...he'll say, "ouch" and then chuckle, "tickles Mommy." (That's how he describes his minor pain.) But there was no "tickling" feeling this time. Still...he was so tough! We've always been impressed with how well he can calm himself down, and how well he understands situations.

If you ask Andrew what happened, he'll tap his arm and say, "Boy stepped arm. Broken."

Anyway, doctor says six weeks for the cast. Through it all I feel so blessed to have wonderful doctors, and a wonderful husband who cares so much for Andrew and Evan. And what have I learned? Well, what I mentioned above, and that yes, kids are breakable.

(The photo was taken when we got home from urgent care. Now he has a cool blue cast on. I'll try to post photos of that later.)