Update

This is a double entry for us…and since I am writing, it will be longer than Sambo’s entries.  J  August brought the beginning of the school year… Jaydee was so excited to start preschool again.  Sam was not so excited to start school, he was however very excited to watch Lobo football and he finally talked me into getting TV again and has been watching a lot of college football too.  Jaydee loves having TV we have DVRd: Dora, Diego, Tom & Jerry, etc.  Hyrum can’t understand why you would watch anything except Diego and frequently asks for more Diego please.  The last weekend in August I hosted a baby shower at our house.  It was fun but a bit crazy… then in September I put on another baby shower.  I had 2 sisters, Van’s wife and Vicki that are all expecting babies.   Hyrum had a birthday party and turned 2.  We did a cousin party at my parents on the 11^th.  (Don’t worry Devin we ate some ice cream cake for you too.)  Then Ron-Mindy and Grandma Flake came over and had peach cobbler on Hyrum’s birthday.  Oh we also did corn, picked peaches, grapes and apples.  We did 8 GALLONS of Grape Juice this year.  We got 2 buckets of apples off of our 3 trees.  (This is the first year we have had apples).  We also lost 2 branches from our peach tree because we have a ton of peaches.  I picked some green peaches just to save the tree.  The peaches are fabulous.  So THANK YOU Grandma & Grandpa Toronto for planting all those years ago.  

Jaydee is doing well in preschool and learning to write her name and numbers better.  She can count to 100 if you help her with the tens.  She is a big help around the house, but would still rather play in her own little world.  Hyrum has a new favorite phrase “Jaydee did it.”  Typically said whenever he is hurt or mad.  He is VERY independent.  He loves the stool so he can move it around and get whatever he wants off the counter.  He even makes his own lemonade.  (I really dislike this achievement and hide the lemonade.)  He is all boy and loves the cat much more than the cat loves him.  

Oh – yes we have a kitten.  We were walking home from the football game and saw the kitten, Jaydee climbed under a truck and got it.  We took it home and I wasn’t worried we have lost 4 cats at that house (not one lasted more than 2 weeks).  However the kitten sleeps with our dog and they get along great.  Jaydee loves on him and Hyrum picks him up by his tail and throws him; we are working hard on teaching him to be soft and nice.  Hyrum loves to catch the kitten and bring it to me to hold (typically while I am doing dishes or cooking.)  So the little cat that I thought wouldn’t stay a week has been with us for 2 months and is named Tiger.  Sam did put his foot down and tell the kids “No bunnies.”  However their cousins keep trying to give them one.  Hyrum holds the bunny then puts it down and then tries to step on it so it will hop.  I don’t think that he is old enough for a bunny.  Jaydee wasn’t impressed when we told her we would eat the bunnies, although we are enjoying Logan’s steer and Dallin’s pig in the freezer.   

 

We are looking forward to Halloween, Jaydee told me that I couldn’t be a witch with a green face because that is what I was last year… Maybe I will be a sorceress this year???   Jaydee is going to be a fairy and Hyrum is a pirate.  Sam is going as bum… (actually he won’t dress up).   We have the PTO carnival, the ward party and Jaydee gets to dress up for her preschool.  So we will have lots of fun.  I LOVE HALLOWEEN.  J 

 

I think that has everything covered for our family, we love you all and hope you have a great October.  Enjoy your Halloween…

The Bum… The Witch… The Fairy (complete with wings, glitter and sparklees)… and Give me yer Candy or Walk the Plank…

 

FW: Pictures from the wedding

A few people have asked me for some pictures from the wedding. I did
not get a whole lot of pictures, my camera was acting up, but there are
some cute pictures that I thought I would share.

Sam & Jaydee

Jaydee's hair

Jaydee in her "Wedding Dress"

Jaydee trying out the carriage after the bride & groom were done.

Hyrum fell down the steps Saturday morning. Poor boy.

Sam & Hyrum

Hyrum and his buddy Luke

Sam's siblings with the bride & groom.

Little Shopping Carts

Mmm, I think I have a love/hate relationship with little shopping carts.

I took my 18 month old shopping tonight.. we needed milk, bread, bananas and lettuce. The conversation in my head went something like this. (I did remove all the times I said this is ridiculous).

No we don't need bologna (yuck!) but we will get some lunch meat.
No we don't need chips... ok that may be a good way to use the leftover beans.
Lets get salsa too... no we don't need refried beans. (Remember I have them in the fridge).
No we dont need soda... okay just one.
No not bagels, no not that kind of bread... Here try this one. Yes you can put it in your cart.
No we don't need candy.
Let me get the bananas.
Mmm, we are out of room and I still need milk!
Oh if we have chips and salsa, I need sour cream too... back to the sour cream.

Okay check out. Lets put the cart back... No just because your cart is empty doesn't mean that you can put mints, gum and candy in there. No leave your cart here. Okay here is my card... Lets go.

No Hyrum we are not taking a basket with us. Put all the groceries down, put the basket back in the stack out door number one. No come on buddy we don't need a grocery cart. K he is following me out the door quickly hey where did he go, sit the groceries by the car run back in. He is not playing with the shopping carts, he is not by the check out lady! Wait they are looking at me funny so he did not come back in the store. Oh, there is the little man he is in the car cart now. No we are not going shopping again so you can ride in the little truck!

Sheesh next time I'll send Sam to shop!

Jaydee's Gift for Vicki's Bridal Shower

Dance Recital Pictures

Riri & Briezy did so awesome in their dance recital!

Bounce & Shout

Trip to CA

I had a hard time uploading pictures so this is in 3 parts... I also did not upload pictures of other kids that went due to their parents wishes but I have some darling pictures!


Jaydee & her cousin

Jaydee coloring in the car! She was such a good traveler!

Nana & Jaydee at the temple!

The Temple

It had rained so it was a bit cold, but the rain stopped during the wedding!


The San Diego Temple looks like a castle and has always been one of my favorites!

I lovve this picture!

The Bride & Groom

Trip to California

Jaydee and all the other kids LOVED the chocolate fountain!


I am so impressed with Sarah's cake making ability. She is so talented!

New Bishopric

We got a new Bishopric today!

Dale Nielson
Phil Decker
David Mills

Sam works with Phil at the school and he is a great guy. I did jury duty with Bishop Nielson when he was the judge a few years ago. He is an awesome guy and will be great Bishop.

President Smith shared that there really is nothing else like this in the world, where we spend years training a man to be a spiritual giant and then release them to be a nursery or scout leader. Bishop Peterson had been in a bishopric for 11 years, his wife informed us but whose counting. We will really miss the old Bishopric but it is awesome to see how the new Bishopric steps in and the Spirit confirms that they really are called of God.

It has been awhile since I have sat through a changing of the Bishopric but I thought it was neat that President Smith shared a letter from the First Presidency that they approved the choice of the Bishop and that THEIR prayers were with him and they were confident that he was called of God.

Sister Nielson shared some comments that her kids had made:
"Dad is Bishop and Mom is Relief Society President - now my social life is ruined."
"So we still won't get any cookies..."
"I'm going to cry until one of you are released."

So Sam & I made cookies for the Nielson kids tonight. I love to make cookies but I have to give them away before I eat them all. We made the traditional Waffle Stompers for Valentines Day. We have a heart shaped waffle iron, so that has been a tradition for a long time in my family.

Exercise

Maybe I should clarify that I did not like PE. I am not good in sports and in general I do not like to exercise. However Sam's family started a biggest loser contest and I joined. Because as much as I love my little boy, I really would like to lose the rest of the baby weight. I have been trying to eat less, but I like to eat and I like candy. I admire my friends who are doing PX90 challenge but that is just way too dedicated for me. So I did the bike at the gym and rode 3 miles today. Then I came home and did crunches... Don't laugh but I was proud of myself for doing 30. Hyrum decided I was in the perfect position to play airplane so I finished off with that. I borrowed my sister's pilates tape and did that twice in the last 2 weeks so I really need to get in gear.

I have been somewhat inspired by so many of my friends who have participated in marathon or triathlon but really a hot bath and a good book sound much more enjoyable than torturing yourself to get in shape. However I did enjoy one story about how friends can help motivate you.
When my friend Whitney posted a blog http://whitneydibble.blogspot.com/2009/11/10-minute-mile.html For Myra's birthday she wanted Whitney to run a 10 minute mile. I think that is crazy...I would agree with Whitney for my birthday give me a pedicure!

And yes... I do realize that today is February 1st and not January 1st but it is never too late to start good habits. And yes I do procrastinate. I had decided not to make any new years resolutions because I usually break them. So this year I am not making a resolution rather I am improving my habits.

And my sister Deedra is making biscuits and gravy tomorrow to test how dedicated I really am. So we shall see if I will not overeat on one of my favorite meals...

Hyrum likes Diego

Dec Update

I think the Grinch took over our December schedule, we were very busy but we had fun.  Jaydee had a field trip to Basha's and we got to see how they make bread, cookies, cakes and see the sprinkle closet (it is 6 feet high and just has shelves of different kinds of sprinkles).  Jaydee liked the merry go round (the giant oven where they put in two giant racks of cookies and they spin around).  They can cook thousands of cookies all at once.  We went to a birthday party for Joseph, a baptism and the Christmas spetacular.  Then we went to see the CellularOne Santa.  He gave Jaydee a Mr. Potato Head and Hyrum some little trucks.  They were both thrilled.  We had a surprise birthday party for Mom with some of the aunts and uncles, then we missed her while she was touring the world with Vicki.  We took the kids to NPX (the North Pole Experience) and it was AWESOME!  We had dinner at Molly Butlers, then boarded the Candy Cane Express driven by Santa's special elves.  They took us to Santa's workshop, we got to see the Toy Hall of Fame, the mail room and then we entered Santa's workshop!  The kids got to help the elves dress bears, put together toys, then we had Snowman Soup and cookies.  The kids sang really loud and Santa came out to say Hello!  Then we went through Elf School, the Elf Bedroom and then we got a private session with the Bearded Man himself.  Outside we sat by a giant fire, played in the snow, took pictures on Santa's sleigh and by the "North Pole" (which looks like a giant candy cane).  We saw the Reindeer Stables, Jaydee claims she saw Rudolph's nose glowing.  Then we went back and had story time with Mrs. Clause.  Check out our blog for pictures.  It was really neat. 

Christmas Eve we spent with Grandma Flake, Ron/Mindy, Kent, Chris/Stacia and Vicki.  Vicky & Josh were Mary & Joseph... Jaydee was an angel next year she wants to be the shepherd that gives Baby Jesus this (the statue of liberty).  I asked if she meant a wise man, she said.  I want to be a Wise Guy next time.

Christmas morning was great, the kids slept in until about 8:15, so Sam & I were showered dressed and had made a huge breakfast.  Mean parents made the kids eat first too.  Jaydee had requested that Santa wrap all his presents so Hyrum was not impressed when he came in.  Until he found candy in his stocking.  He also liked his toys.  It took us about 2 hours to open presents because they played with them in between.  We had a small Christmas.  Jaydee's favorite toy is her dog from Sylvia's family.  She still sleeps with it. 

The day after Christmas we had a big dinner at our house and then Navajo Tacos...Honestly I don't remember much after Christmas.  I took the kids to Flagstaff for a day to see my grandparents.  We were in bed by 10:30 on New Years Eve (yes we are party poopers, we left the party at 10 and told Jaydee it was midnight).   

NPX