Merry Christmas!

He's Eight!

What's happened to this little guy?

He eats his vegetables like a good boy and is growing like a weed! No more chubby cheeks and he's grown a little taller!

Today is Isaac's eight "happy birthday to him." I love that he still calls it that! He also told me that he is growing into a man and that he will do amazing things in his life, like give money to the poor and be an astronaut....or maybe a hamburger cooker guy.
He cracks me up! If there's one thing I can say for Isaac, it's that he is one funny little man! He makes me laugh everyday! He's thoughtful and sweet, brave and wise beyond his years. I don't know what we'd do without him in our family! He sure is patient with those sassy sisters of his! There's nothing he wouldn't do for them!
Yesterday Isaac had a family birthday party with his Grandma Diane (we won't say how old she is, I don't want to get in trouble!)He was sure Isaac about all those people showing up just to "celebrate him being borned." We really do try to work on his grammar, but I must admit I love his way with words!
*Pics of the party to follow*

She's nine!

Nine years and eleven days, actually. She's already counting down to ten!

When I think about Daisey I picture this little girl:

So, how has this happened?

Time flies huh?

This year we had a family bbq party. There were lots of cousins to play with, lots of yummy food to eat and lots of girly presents! Daisey was a very happy girl!

She gave me specific instructions on what kind of cake and decorations she wanted but I got sick and it just didn't happen. She picked one out at Sam's Club and sure enough, the world didn't come to an end.

My favorite part of this picture is Maggie's face. She's just as excited to see what is in that present as Daisey is!

And, I love Isaac's face in this one! You can almost hear him saying, "Are you kidding me? Another barbie? Is this girly party over yet?"

Her gift from us this year was a fish tank. It's what she wanted more than anything in the whole wide world!

At the end of the day, after everyone had gone home the birthday girl announced that she was so happy her heart might burst! Aww, now that's what every mom loves to hear!

After much twirling in her new pink nightgown from Grandma, they all went to bed happy and high on sugar. And they all lived happily ever after!

Bubbles! Bubbles! Bubbles!

Bubbles aka boredom buster! We used this bubble solution recipe but there are plenty of bubble recipes out there. We were supposed to let it sit for 24 hours. We waited about 8 and the bubbles still turned out great! How cute is Daisey's label?

For hours of bubbly fun, round up bubble wands in all shapes and sizes,

including fly swatters from the dollar store that we cut big circles in, I know, weird. But they were a hit!

Pour bubble solution into a container large enough for sharing. Sharing is key.

Then let them have at it!

Bubble machine? Don't waste your money. We were unimpressed.

Enter Bubble Train.

This little guy however is awesome! We learned that after 3 full hours of play the batteries run out. 3 hours of laughing and playing and (get ready) no fighting is well worth the money spent on batteries in my book!

Back to School!

Yesterday was Daisey and Isaac's first day of school! Daisey is in 3rd grade and Isaac is in 2nd. They both feel so big and couldn't be more happy about going to a new school this year. It's close enough that they can walk or ride their bikes.

Maggie can't wait for the day that she starts school! But, I think she kind of enjoyed the alone time with mommy and daddy after a whole summer of teasing from her siblings! I'm happy to have her home for one more year!

Look how big they are compared to last year! Wow!

2nd and 3rd grade! That seems so big!

Diva

Mancub

New backpack and bags! Daisey insisted on an over the shoulder bag this year. Mags insisted on a matching smaller one.

Off they go!

They both came home and announced that they had a great day and they love their new school!
After school snacks!

Aren't they the cutest? You can find them here and yes, they look super cute with faces but I didn't have time for that! The kids ate them up anyway!

August

I missed a lot this month while recovering. I think we always try to cram a lot of fun into August as the summer comes to an end. While I was home recovering Robert and the kids went swimming, to the park, to the fair and up the canyon.

One day when they left I was sleeping. Someone shut my bedroom door when they left and when I woke up I couldn't open the doorknob! I don't know how long I was in there until I finally figured out how to open it with my foot!

My Grandpa came to visit the week I had my surgery. I wish I'd been feeling better so I could have spent more time with him. I'm so glad for the time that my children get to spend with my grandparents. That special time is a gift that only grandparents can give.

Grandpa, Maggie, Adeline, Lauren, Noah, Daisey and Isaac

Reading a story to Daisey and Lauren

On the mend!

Well, it's been three weeks since my carpal tunnel surgery and I'm doing a little bit better every day. One thing I have had to learn in the last 3 weeks is patience! It seems like it's been months rather than weeks since I had surgery. I do a lot with my hands, so not being able to use them has been very frustrating for me. In my opinion this has been worse than being on bedrest during my pregnancies. At least I could crochet or sew or scrapbook to keep myself from going crazy! As I slowly regain use of my hands I feel like I'm regaining my independance, as well. I've had to depend on others to help me in nearly everything I do. My family has been awesome during my recovery! I'm so happy to be on the mend and have this whole carpal tunnel issue behind me!

This is me after I woke up from my surgery.

2 thumbs up! I'm still on good drugs and happy as a clam! The pain will come later.

Sad, bruised hands. They used the laser on my hands leaving only a small 2 inch scar on my wrist. Inside they made a 6 inch cut, so there is a lot more healing going on then I can see for myself.

My happy little helper! I needed helping doing nearly everything for the first few days.

My 8 year old make up artist!

My little tv buddy! I think we were watching "America's Funniest Home Videos" which he thinks is hilarious!

Silly girl! Also, notice all my pretty pictures and love notes that my kids made and hung on my closet doors! I feel so loved!

With lots of hugs, pain pills, ice and help from this guy I'm feeling so much better! We celebrated our 11 year anniversary on the 14th. And by celebrate I mean we went to my family reunion, I got worn out, came home, took my pills and passed out for the night while he entertained my family! What a guy! I think I owe him a date or a cookie or something!

See ya in 4 weeks!

I'm having carpal tunnel surgery tomorrow. Hopefully it doesn't take 4 weeks for me to recover but that's what I'm planning on. If it takes less I will be pleasantly surprised! I'm having both of my wrists done. I thought if I'm going to do one I might as well do both and get it over with.

And with that I will leave you with a pic of Daisey's first sock monkey. She sewed it, stuffed it and named it Peace! Way to go Dais!

Can't find your iPhone? Ask the 4 year old on the toilet!

Summer!

On the last day of school the kids came home and wrote down everything they wanted to do this summer. We added the lists together and made a great big list that we hung on the fridge. We've already checked quite a few things off our list!

They're so funny! The put everything from ride bikes and climb trees to Lagoon and Disneyland on the list!

What have we checked off so far? Take a look!

Lagoon!

Every year we go to Lagoon on my dad's work Lagoon day. Every year it usually falls around my dad's birthday. The kids think we go to celebrate Dad's birthday! And, that's ok, it's a fun thing to do!

I spent most of my time in Kiddie Land with Maggie. Daisey and Isaac are getting big enough to ride the bigger rides. Daisey even went on Wicked and Colossus!

Isaac and Ethan

Lauren and Maggie

Daisey and Val

Chris and Noah

Maggie and Mommy

Mommy and Daddy

Little Water Boys, Ethan and Isaac

Robert and the boys

Summerfest!

It's always a fun thing to do here. There is good food, live music and plenty of crafts and fun things to buy. It was pretty pricey this year though. The only thing I bought this year was $1 balloon animals for the kids! It's always fun to look though!

They really wanted one of these hammock chairs!

And I really need to find a pattern for this cute hat that Daisey wanted!

This summer we've also played in the water:

Hiking!

We hiked the up to the Wind Caves with our friends, Jess and Augest and their girls, Sydney and Alexis. I was impressed at what little troopers our kids were hiking up that mountain! Even Maggie just kept climbing! I have to say that I was the biggest baby of the bunch! My allergies were killing me and that fresh mountain air wasn't helping things!

The Cruise In!

Fourth of July Fireworks!



Picnic at the park with Grandma

Slept in a tent!