Surprise! An update

Mid December, Dave and I did something that

we haven't done since Nicole was a baby.

We went on a little get away without any children.

Dave's best friend, Jeff, from North Carolina was on a business trip to Vegas and we haven't seen him for over 20 years, so Dave decided that since he was that close, we had to go see him.

We walked around and ate at the Ballagio. The Christmas decorations were amazing...so many flowers.

There was a lot of eating as they caught up with each other.

Next we ate at the Venetian, and it was like being outside with clear blue skies (we were there the week end before the area was flooded because of the heavy rain storms).

Christmas came and went quickly, and we had to take the traditional "putting out cookies for Santa" picture. I can't remember what Blade decided to put out for Santa this year. That Chay...always a character...

We're finally starting to become an Apple family like the rest of the family.

Everyone is coming out with 3D movies!

These glasses however, were the nicest ones we've used though. They are so valuable that you pass through a scanner and if you have your glasses with you, it beeps. No, I did not try to sneak a pair out, I had to go get a refill of popcorn, had the glasses on the top of my head and was told that I had to leave the glasses with the attendants and pick them back up when I returned.

We didn't have a formal family picture taken this year ( just the one of the kids as we ran/drove around downtown SLC at Sunset) but, we did manage to snap a group shot.

We purchased a season pass to the Clark Planetarium (for a great price of course) and apparently the boys weren't too happy about hanging out on another planet...

Nicole made an amazing discovery! The buffalo wool sweater that Grandpa knitted for her is the warmest thing EVER!

She couldn't get over the fact that she could wear just a tank top under the sweater and no matter how cold it was, she was VERY warm!

Packing things up until next year...

Blade loves to shovel the snow! (This was in January) As people walked/drove by, I felt as if they were looking and thinking "I can't believe that that mother is making her little boy shovel the snow as she just looks on!"

He did do a fine job.

And with the snow storm yesterday, he couldn't wait to go out and shovel not only our sidewalks but the neighbors also!

Blade was watching a show on the Food Network and he was eager to try one of the recipes.

Sugar cookies dipped in chocolate and nuts with a scoop of ice cream and a cherry on top.

What's not to like?

(for any of you wondering why I haven't posted pictures of our traditional cookie decorating for different holidays, it's because our oven isn't working properly and baking just doesn't work out too well, so I didn't bake any).

I was impressed with Dave and his Super Bowl food though. His presentation surprised me, I was so impressed.

Our computer has been dying piece by piece and we finally needed to give in and get another. We took advantage of the student/staff discount at the Univ. bookstore and became more of an Apple family.

Automatic payroll deduction is the way to go for us...I don't even notice the payment coming out.

And Doug is right, I think I CAN tan sitting in front of the monitor.

On Feb. 15th, we picked up Brent from the airport.

(his eyes aren't closed, it's the Asian in him shining through).

Blade was so excited that I think Brent thought Blade was crazy.

(there is another picture of the 3 boys at the airport that I wanted to add but with the iMac, I don't know how to add a picture and move to the spot I want. I did use my "call a friend and lifeline" but no one was home. I tried Doug and Sheila).

Proof that Brent was filling out the required paperwork before entering the MTC.

Again, I am amazed with technology. We were able to get needed info immediately with scanning, emailing and printing.

This picture is out of order but again, none of my lifelines were available to help me.

It's Feb. 16th and my BiRTh DaY!

...and time for Brent to enter the MTC...

We ate at Tucanos in Provo before the drop off at the MTC. ( I had a free meal coupon for my birthday and so happy to use it...that was the only birthday coupon I used this year). With the car rental that we have, there was only room for 5 and so we had to take 2 vehicles. Nicole and Chay went in one and the rest of us in the rental.

Poor Nicole AND Chay.

The google directions did not help Nicole and being directionally challenged, she got very lost and I found out later that when she would ask Chay questions, he would just sit there quietly (smart boy). We started to eat without them so that we wouldn't run out of time and they did get there with time to eat. (I think Sharon forwarded some of the video that Blade took).

I'm not Sheila and so I didn't get the "perfect" picture. BUT I did get a picture.

Trust me, that is NOT a halo around Nicole's head...

...it was the fire pit...

I had Dave stop at the University Mall because I had gift certificates to use and I bought Blade some icecream so that he would keep busy in the the car while I made a quick trip into the mall.

It amazes me how he can get the ice cream to cover so much surface area (the face had more than what shows up in the picture).(I know, not the correct use of safety restraints.)

I was concerned when we arrived at home before Nicole and Chay and when I called and no one answered Nicole's phone. I called Chay's and Nicole answered and they had stopped to shop also. I thought it was just to Target but they obviously made another stop.

I was surprised with a wonderful display of cake and cupcakes!

My precious kids...I sure do love them.

...my finest work....

And I love it when the 3 of them get along and I hear them laughing together.

This is the beautiful display.

We each picked the cupcake we wanted and them I HAD to have a bite of everyone's because I NEEDED to know what each one tasted like.

My birthday was complete,

I got calls from my family, I had a cake and Happy Birthday sung to me.

The bonus this year was being able to spend time with Brent and take him to the MTC!

The day was windy, and reminded me of Southern Alberta.

The evening surprised me with a heavy snow storm and huge snowflakes (I sent Chay out to take a picture).

And now you are caught up.

...hope to blog again before 3 months pass again...

Daredevil Blade

Can You Spot It?

There are 3 fractures in this picture.

answer: top of 2nd,3rd and 4th metatarsal (long bones)

Blade was on his razor scooter last night trying to "jump/hop" with the scooter and it didn't quite go as Blade had planned and it slipped from under him and the handle came down on the top of his foot. I was upstairs and heard a loud cry...it was a "I really hurt myself" type of cry. Dave was downstairs by Blade and since Dave wasn't calling for me, I didn't rush down to see what was going on. But being a Mom, I had to go down to see what had happened (Okay, if I was a "good" Mom I would have "rushed" right down when I heard the first cry but...).
I assessed the foot the best I knew how and palpated it to located the area of pain, put ice on it, elevated it, gave some tylenol, and then wrapped the foot. Blade's couldn't and wouldn't bare weight on his foot. Dave and I went to bed and then it was so sad to see Blade upstairs crawling across the room to our bed and hear him say, I had to crawl all the way up the stairs like this.

In the morning, he crawled back up to our room and when I checked his foot, it was swollen, still tender to touch and painful when he tried to stand on it.

Yes, a trip to the doctor was in store.
We were able to get an AM appointment at the Ortho center on campus and things went smoothly and Blade did a great job answering questions and letting the doctor do her assessment. I could tell when he was in pain but he didn't cry or even grimace (he doesn't like anyone to see him cry).

Blade was fitted with a boot instead of the old school fiberglass cast, and when we got home just chilled.

Nicole and Chay were surprised when they heard the news. Nicole came home after classes so that she could check on her brother.

Blade is suppose to stay off of it as much as possible until after the week end so that he won't have to worry about crutches. Unfortunately, the boot is working so well that Blade is moving around way too much for my liking. He's a tough cookie.

Dave isn't surprised by any of this. From the time Blade could walk, Dave has said that there are casts and stitches in Blade's future because he is such a daredevil and won't stop until he accomplishes what he set out to do. For example, he would jump off the stairs and would increase each jump a step at a time to see how high he could go and land on his feet (I would stop him before it got too dangerous...for "me"); He would run and do some kind of kick on the wall and when he didn't succeed, would try again and say "this time I'll get it!" (even if he hit the wall and/or fell to the ground). He isn't afraid to try anything and he knows that he can do anything!
What a great quality to have...I hope he never loses that!



Nicole and Blade are tied with 3 fracture...I don't want any records to be broken (no pun intended) . Chay has had one fracture but when he does something he really does it well, he required surgery to repair his. Nicole doesn't mess around either, in 3rd grade she had two compound fractures in her forearm and her arm looked like a step ladder. In the ER she received some "Michael Jackson special" (propofol) and it was reset right there. An amusing story is that when Nicole initially saw her arm, she was afraid because she seriously thought that she was going to be "retarded" (not politically correct but that was the term she used at the time) because her arm looked like that of some severely mentally disabled people.

Chay is trying out for the school musical "The Sound of Music". He has "call backs" tomorrow, wish him luck and say a little prayer for him.

STAR OF THE WEEK

This is Blade's assigned week to be

"Star of the Week"



Along with that title is the opportunity to put something in the star of the week bag on multiple days and each day give a clue and ask on classmates to guess what it is. Today it was "the red bird from Avatar.

On Saturday, Chay helped Blade and fulfilled a wish for him.
For weeks Blade has been telling me that his tooth is loose enough for me to pull it out. I would check it, and it was far from me even attempting to pull it out. However, last week it was very loose and I told Blade that it would probably come out when he bit into something... much o his disappointment, it didn't. Since I wouldn't pull it out on Saturday, he turned to Chay to have Chay check it...then I heard some talk about "it came out". It had only been seconds and Blade hadn't made a sound and so I thought Chay was joking...as usual....until he held the tooth out in his hand for me to see.

Blade said it didn't hurt at all. BUT he was SURPRISED that there was blood...and a lot of it (according to Blade).

(by the way, Blade likes to take his clothes off when he's home and luckily agrees when I have him put pants on...in case you were wondering why he's often shirtless)

Chay is checking out his "work" and is amazed by how tiny the tooth is.

Chay made chocolate chip cookies for the first time without any assistance. They turned out so well that when he went to get some to go with his ice cream on Sunday, they were gone. He cried out in agony and then heard Nicole's laughter...Nicole and Blade had each enjoyed the last two.

See the Izzy bottles on the window sill? Chay is saving those to practise some of the "Minute to Win it" challenges.

Octoberfest

Why is it that boys like to be Super Heroes?

I had a fun costumes for Blade (won't say what it is in case he wears it next year) and a friend from work gave Blade a superman costume that her son had outgrown. I was thinking that it would be fun for Blade next year or just to play around the house...but he saw the Superman costume and fell in love with it. So that's what he wore to the school's evening Halloween carnival and treat or treating. Dave helped at the school for the Halloween parade during the day and Blade wore the "other" costume but, Dave thought the parade started later in the morning and didn't take the camera.


"...Superman stands this way sometimes...."

It was cool and raining Halloween night and I was mistaken when I thought that would mean a slow night for trick or treating. It was busier than usual and I sadly ran out of candy just after 8:00...pathetic I know.

Chay went out with his friend and friend's brother. I'm glad I got a quick picture when they came to the door. Why is it that kids don't want to take the time for mom's to take "posed" pictures?

For years Chay has wanted to be Abu from Aladdin and I never made a costume for him and just thought it would pass. Well, it didn't, and this year I made him a costume. Actually, I made two costumes because I made it in the wrong color the first time due to the fact that the color on my monitor is off....and I had forgotten that.

The boys and their payment after a hard night's work. They had a competition to see who had more treats and Chay won...almost twice as much.

Blade's into this cross-eyed look for pictures lately.
....that can be fixed where I work....

...this however, cannot...

What happens when hair coloring and eye surgery go wrong...

One little girl said when I opened the door "I love your house!".
That made me smile, thinking, it's so nice to know that MY house actually looks great one day of the year! (until we get it painted sometime)

The little black things in the window are rats if you can't tell.
Just cut outs from black paper but look so realistic at night.

This guy had a red blinking head.

This guy only had a head.

It greeted people as they came up the stairs and was activated by motion and the head started moving and talking.
One petite toddler was amazed by this and didn't want to leave, she kept reaching out to it and touching it so that it would move and talk. Brave 2 year old, wasn't scared at all!

This knocker met trick or treaters at the door, was activated by sound and started knocking and talking before their eyes.



Chay trying a new look.



I hope that everyone out there had a fun Halloween (whether it was on Saturday or Sunday)!

Earlier in the month, Chay had performance with his Show Choir. THIS year we went early despite what Chay told us because LAST year at a performance, we went about 15-20 minutes early and there were NO seats.
We found things to entertain ourselves. Dave on his phone, Nicole doodling, Blade on Chay's IPOD, and me transferring info to my new calendar notebook (I'm old school, I like to see an entire month at a time and write things down).

The male part of the show choir.
...we talked with Chay, next time his head will be straight...

Interesting tidbit.
The boy beside Chay is Levi Anderson whose Dad is from Barnwell and the brother of the guy I took to my High School graduation. It really is a small world.

After the show.