All I want for Christmas!

The other night Shelby lost another tooth! Now she can sing the song--"All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth!" And, apparently she has really wanted this to happen. I was cleaning up in her room and came across this note she had written to the Tooth Fairy! :) It says: "Dear toth firey, pleys poph (poof) my two front teeth out. Love, Shelby" I thought it was pretty cute!

OUR FIRST SNOW!

Well, we woke up yesterday, Sunday, to our first snow! The kids were super excited. So, of course they threw on their snow clothes and played for a bit before church and then again after church when they were able to make their snowman. Sam was determined to make the snowman, eventhough we only got an inch or two. It was pretty cold and windy, but the snowman got built and Sam was a happy boy! :) Then, or course, they came in for hot chocolate---made with Shelby's Cocoa Motion! It's great! You just put cocoa and milk in and turn it on and in minutes you have frothy, hot chocolate! Great present! (Walmart)


It seems funny that it is just instantly cold and we have snow. Just last week for Thanksgiving it was beautiful and warm. The kids were able to play outside on Thanksgiving day and we had a fun holiday. We were able to celebrate it with my cousin's family and two families from the ward. I was worried because I haven't cooked turkey very much, but my turkey turned out awesome! We couldn't even cut it because it was just falling off the bone! So yummy!
Can't let this holiday go by without thinking about what we are so grateful for. I think the biggest thing Tom and I have talked about lately is that we are so grateful for Tom's great job. You never know when that can be gone. It seems so many around us are losing their jobs. Another thing we are so grateful for is our little family. They were definitely worth waiting for! How lost we would be without them. Each one has their place and things they add to the family. And, we are so very grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ and the happiness it brings!

Sidenote--yes, Sam is growing his hair out again! Needless to say, my favorite Christmas present this year will definitely be the haircut I get to give on Christmas day! :) Tom and Sam want to grow "the bush" until Christmas when Troy's family will be here to check it out! :)

POWER!!! Pilates!

Ok, I am not a "class" exerciser---I kind of like to do my own thing. But, as I was on the elliptical the other day, I saw a friend doing this class. It looked very interesting and I could tell they were working lots of different muscle groups. So, after class my friend convinced me to try it yesterday. Well, I was a little skeptical because if I took an hour to exercise, I wanted to make sure I got my heart rate up and sweat enough. Well, let me tell you! I definitely got my heart beat up and even had to concentrate a couple times to make sure I was breathing! And, yes--I was dripping with sweat. I wasn't even able to keep up the whole time because I was DYING! I think I worked some muscles that maybe I didn't know I had!!! :) And today, yep! I am feeling the pain! But, it is good pain, right?! :) So, if you are looking for a great workout, try Power (cardio) Pilates! I'm sold! :)

P.S. I hope to someday get caught up with the blogging I haven't done. So not good at the whole blogging thing, however--it has gotten me to take a lot more pictures! :)

Goin' Private!!

Just to let who ever might read this---I have decided to do the very thing I should have done from the beginning! I'm taking the blog private. So, let me know your email if you're interested in getting an invite. :) I will go private in a couple of weeks. Thanks for all your fun comments. It always brightens our day to get a new comment! Hope all is well with everyone! I hope to have some delayed posts up soon---just too busy right now!

We've got a Chirper!!

Ok, I just have to say that I hate the chirping sound of a smoke alarm! And, how come it always happens for the first time in the middle of the night??!!! And, when your husband is out of town!!! :) I had just been woken up by the sound of our sprinklers going on---oops, we forgot to shut them off! And with all the rain we've had, the sump pump had already been going on. So I was the lucky one to get up and go down to the garage to turn them off. Then I just get back to sleep and I hear "the CHIRP!" So I get up walk around the house and can't figure out which one is making that annoying noise. (I have never been able to tell direction of sound well) Finally I decide to just shut everyone's doors and try to go back to sleep. Well, then Shelby wakes up and asks if there is a fire. I get her back in bed, go to my room and shut the door. I lay down and realize that it could be the CO2 detectors because that has happened to me before. And, I knew I would be so bugged if that was the case and I just tried to sleep through it. I checked those, but they were fine, but I decided to take out the battery anyway. So, I go back to bed and finally get back to sleep. Then about an hour later the boys wake up and come into bed with me and they can't sleep because of "the CHIRP!" and neither can I!!! What a crazy night! I was thinking though, that I was lucky that I wasn't up with a little baby, trying to feed-change and such while being half asleep and wondering if the baby would go back to sleep and for how long! So glad those days are over!!! I need sleep--so not sure how I made it some nights. I still remember walking with my friend Wendy in CO and some mornings telling her the many times I had gotten up with Matt and not sure I even got any sleep. With Sam it was easy--he slept through the night at 6 weeks--until night tares came at 2 years old. And, Shelby---well, I just remember nursing and falling asleep and then changing her from her bed-to swing-to car seat-to bouncy chair. (anything to have her sleep!) :)
And, of course the "CHIRP!" is in the boys bedroom---with vaulted ceilings!!! And, yes, Tom is still out of town until about 10:00 tonight!!! So, yes---it is me who gets to get the big ladder and haul it up and down the stairs!! Oh, well, maybe I can count that as my exercise today!!! :)

9/11----Happy Birthday Nancy!

Just couldn't pass the day by without thinking of this tragedy. I still remember the moments and emotions of that day. I was sitting on the couch in the family room watching TV and playing with my two little ones when it all happened. How shocking! I was glued to the TV for days. How grateful we are for all those that risked their lives to save others. I just read a story the other day of one of the brave people who didn't think of just himself that day. He helped organize and get thousands out---however, he never made it out. What Christlike love he and so many had that day and the days that followed. And, I'm sure many things we didn't even hear about. How thankful we need to be to have what we have and live where we live! Still such a heavy heart!

On a lighter note---HAPPY BIRTHDAY NANCY! Hope you are having a great time at Lake Powell! I don't know how you wouldn't! Love that place!

August-Where did it go?

Ok, seriously, August! I swear it came and went so fast! We got home the first couple of days of August and did some fun things--and then school started! Then things got really CRAZY! The first day of school also happened to be Sam's birthday. He was super excited. Before school, we had a little treasure hunt set up for him. He did Ok,with help from Shelby, at the clues and finding the hints to what his birthday present was. The things he found were sea shells, legos, airplane, picture of him on the beach in CA. He couldn't figure out what the actual present was because he had in his mind that he was getting Smash Brawl Wii game and the things he found had nothing to do with the game. We were cracking up because he kept trying to guess Smash Brawl. About that time Shelby asked if we were going some place and then I finally explained that we were going to CA with Dad on his business trip in September. It still took a while to sink in and then he was happy to know we were going to the beach and Legoland! Then he did ask, kind of sad, what about Smash Brawl? So Tom told him to go look on the kitchen counter and there was his game! He was really happy then! It worked out that Tom had found out a couple days before that he was going to San Diego for work. So, since we had enough frequent flyers and the hotel and car were paid for, we decided to make a family trip out of it. We decided that going to CA and Legoland would be a great trade instead of having a birthday party! (Good thing Sam thought so too!)
Sam had a great day and got to play his game before and after school. He picked Pei Wei for his birthday dinner. YUM!
Two days later---on the same day we got Sam, eight years ago, he was baptized. Pretty neat that it worked out that way! What a special day it was this year and eight years ago. The service was really special. The grandmas spoke and then the primary kids sang, "If the Savior Stood Beside Me". It was so nice to have Tom be able to baptize and confirm Sam. How blessed we are to have the priestood in our home. We are so proud of Sam and for his decision to be baptized. Shelby and Matt surely look up to him. He is a great older brother. We were blessed to have a little family--two grandma's, grandpa, and my cousin and her family. Eventhough we didn't have much family, you wouldn't have known it! We had so many great friends and neighbors at the baptism and the little dinner at our place afterwards. It was a neat experience for us to share this day with so many and to share our beliefs with others not of our faith. After the baptism everyone came over and it worked out great to just sit in the driveway and eat in the shade. It was a perfect evening! The kids were cracking us up! They all found light sabers or something that resembled a light saber and were playing Star Wars. (which was so nice because then the adults could just sit and relax a bit!) :) So fun! After everyone had gone, Sam openend some presents and cards. He was so excited! He said, "Wow! I got $55 bucks out of this!" I thought my mom and I were going to die laughing!! He had never had so much money in his life! The wheels in his brain were just a turnin' as to what he was going to buy! He ended up buying a skateboard, watch, and new scooter. And, he got to go to see Clone Wars with the movie gift card he got. Boy was he ever happy! Oh, I have to tell you a sweet story of cute Sam. The day that he bought his watch and skateboard, Matt was very jealous and having a rough time. He wanted a watch too, but I told him he would have to earn it. So, when Sam heard that, he went to the front door and yelled for Matt to come to the front door. Matt did and then came running back to the family room holding a $20 bill and said that he now had enough money for the watch. I cried. Sam felt so bad for Matt that he gave his own precious money to Matt so that he could have the watch and be happy. That shows how sensitive Sam is and just how much he loves his little brother. Those two are as "thick as theives"--as Tom would say. (needless to say, we worked it out and Sam got his money back---but even when I gave him the money back he still said that he was fine to pay for Matt's watch---so cute!) We are so blessed to have been able to adopt this amazing boy! We would be lost without him!

My favorite picture from Sam's special day! (Sam looking up at the Savior)


Below are the first day of school pictures, Sam's birthday, and Sam's baptism day.

Another very exciting thing happened in August! Matt's first day at kindergarten! He started the day after Sam and Shelby. He was so excited he didn't even care to get his picture taken! He just couldn't wait to be at the school with all the other kids.


Here's a picture of the "Brookfield St. Gang" He was all smiles walking to school with the big kids! Quite the crew!


Sam had his first major cub scout pack meeting! He was so excited to wear his uniform! The rockets didn't really work too well, but finally the dads decided to just fly them anyway. The kids had a great time, so that's what matters right?! :)



Oh! and one last photo I just can't resist! Tom has been debating whether or not to get Lasik done for at least 10 years---well he finally pulled the trigger! He said it is well worth it and would do it again---eventhough one eye isn't doing as well as the other. He will need a little "touch-up" in a month or so. So great he doesn't have to worry about his contacts when we hit the ocean and sand next Saturday!