Real Meaning of Christmas

Today in Young Women's Sis. Gifford shared this video. It is so cute. I showed it to my kids and they really enjoyed it as well. It is always nice to be reminded of the real meaning of Christmas, especially the last week when I am running around trying to get last minute things done. I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas. Hopefully I can get caught up on my blog after Christmas. I am really behind. Sorry the side is cut off for some reason. I can't figure out how to fix it. I guess my blog is not wide screen. :)

Amy's birthday spotlight

Amy's kindergarten spotlight. In preschool the teacher told the class everything, but in kindergarten she held a little pretend microphone and told the class everything. She did great and was so excited.

Things I like barbies, dancing and singing
My favorite story or book is about science.
I am special because she is nice and shows gratitude.
My favorite animal is a seahorse and a seal.

Her teacher Mrs. Hellman is helping her.

Swimming Lessons

We decided to put the kids in swimming lessons this year. We did the end of the year and it overlapped school by a week. It probably wasn't the best plan because the kids were really tired. The nice thing was Amy was in a class by herself and Parker was with two other little boys. Sometimes their teachers would work together on some things, but it was still a great teacher/student ratio. The place I took them did 2 week swimming lessons in the evenings, which is great for those of us that work. Swimming lessons were from 7-7:30. They both did really well. Amy went from not wanting to put her face in the water to swimming with her head in the water and floating on her back. Parker didn't want to put his face in the water, but by the end he was putting his face in a blowing bubbles. He just need to work on doing the kicking at the same time.

Parker looks a little scared in the picture, but he was really pretty good at doing the floating with his instructor.

Amy floating.

Learning how the swim with life jackets.

Roaring Springs

We had season passes to Roaring Springs this year again. We didn't seem to go as much as we have in the past. Here are a few pictures (mostly of Parker since Amy wasn't in the mood for pictures). Parker's favorite thing to do is to play in the kids area. Amy's favorite is the wave pool and the swimming pool. She loves the waves and jumps right in. I didn't get any good pictures because there are always so many people in the wave pool.

Parker usually sits on the edge of the wave pool and waits for the waves to stop.

I wish I had taken this picture from the other direction. They were both being silly.

First Day of School

Amy and Parker had their first day of school on August 23rd. Amy started Kindergarten and Parker is in preschool. Amy was so excited she woke up at 6:00 and wanted to leave at 7:00.

Parker ended up getting pretty wet trying to brush his own teeth. He always wants to do it by himself in the morning.

They both had a great first day and Amy was excited to have homework. I hope that attitude continues.

Tooth fairy visits again!

Amy lost her 3rd tooth last week. I was surprised that this one was on the bottom. She had showed me at dinner that her tooth was very loose. Her two top teeth have been loose for awhile, so I was expecting them to come out next.

She was not listening when her dad was trying to get her to bed and she had a beach ball in her mouth. David pulled it out and out came the tooth. She was excited that the tooth fairy would come again.

Her 2nd tooth came out June 6 when Gigi and Paul were visiting. She lost that one while eating like the first one. I hope the tooth fairy can keep up with this girl. She is going to be toothless before kindergarten at this rate. Actually her 2 permanent teeth have already come in on the bottom.

Amy's Dance pictures

These pictures were taken by my friend Jaymie. Amy was not being very cooperative but she still was able to get some good pictures. Amy hates to show her teeth, just like her dad. I think it is hereditary because everyone does it on that side of the family. Amy really wanted pictures in her recital costume. They only took one shot at the dance studio.

Parker's 3 year pictures

My friend Jaymie took these of Parker. She was able to get some good pictures of him. I love to see the dimples.

More pictures of Parker

It is hard to see, but Parker is in the shade under the airplane. If you click on the pictures you can see him better.

I love the hands in the pockets.

Trip to Utah

This last weekend I went to Utah with the kids for my sister's wedding. I rode with my parents. I didn't get any pictures the day of the wedding, because I left my camera in the car and I was too busy trying to deal with my kids. The wedding went really well and my sister looked beautiful.

The next day we took the kids to the Hill AFB museum. The boys really liked it but the girls complained about being there. Parker really loved it and kept wanting to get his picture taken.

Little man trying to touch the propeller. He has a few more inches to grow.

Parker thought the big tires were cool.

Trying to get a picture of Tyler and Parker together turned out to be a challenge. Tyler is a bit like Amy and doesn't always cooperate with pictures.

The boys being silly.

The boys checking out the pilot's chair.

Parker in the pilot's chair.

Parker inside one of the airplanes. The kids thought is was fun to run up and down the ramp.

Parker on a jump seat.

On Saturday we spent the night at Gigi and Paul's house. Parker and Christopher were going to a train thing with Robert early in the morning. I love this picture of the kids sitting on the couch. Paxton was a cutie and gave me a big grin, while the others were engrossed in the movie.

Christopher being his regular photogenic self. I can't believe how quickly he is growing up.

BYU-I Education week

My sister and I went to BYU-I education week in Rexburg, Idaho. This was a week before her wedding so it was great that she was able to come. We had such a fun time. The classes were amazing. I can't wait to go again. We stayed in the dorms with several ladies that had been many times. I have so many great ideas that I need to work on now.

We went to the Marvin Goldstein concert. He is a pianist and composer. He was amazing and it only cost $8. He took song suggestions from the audience of about 20 songs and then made a melody of the songs. It was a lot of fun.

Holly getting an autograph.

Parker's surgery

On July 22 Parker went in to have his adenoids removed. He has had problems with his sinuses, pink eye and negative middle ear pressure for quite sometime. Dr. Beck said his adenoids were blocking 95% of his nasal passages. That was while taking a nasal steroids that was suppose to shrink them. Hopefully this surgery will help him feel better and his speech will start to sound clearer. His speech is hyponasal sounding and he can't breath out of his nose very well.

His surgery went really well. He didn't even cry once. He walked back with the anesthesiologist and breathed into the masked without fighting. The anesthesiologists told him they were going tell him a little story. So when I left him I told him, "Have fun buddy!" When he was walking out to the car he said to me, "Mom, that no fun!" He was quite the trooper he didn't cry even at the end.

They said he might get car sick on the way home. I told them that he gets sick really easily so they gave him another dose of the anti-nausea medication. He still threw up in the car. He was really groggy on the way home, but 5 minutes after getting home. He wanted to change into shorts and he was jumping on his bed and wrestling his sister.

He ate lunch and then I tried to give him some Tylenol with codeine, but he wanted no part of it. So I gave him just Motrin for the rest of the day. I don't even think he needed it. He didn't need anything the next day.

Parker in the surgery waiting room. Playing with a really big fire engine.

Waiting to go back to surgery.

Parker with Dr. Beck. She is a great ENT. I used to work with her a lot when I worked with Cochlear implants.

Parker with his cool pirates hat.

I didn't get any post surgery pictures, because Dad left with Amy because she was getting a little bored. I was busy holding Parker. We had planned on her going to Grandma and Grandpa's the night before, but she changed her mind and didn't want to.

Ward Camp out

We went to the ward camp out at Hot Spring camp ground. It was great weather and we had a lot of fun. I am not entirely sure it is worth all the hard work for one night, but it was still fun. Amy loves playing with all her church friends and I enjoy visiting with everyone.

Dad and the kids playing in the hot springs. This was one of the little pools.

This was on the main hot spring pool and the hottest.

Amy and Parker enjoying the warm water.

Amy and Parker with their friends enjoying a little snack, Goldfish and powdered donuts, Yum!