Christmas

Christmas was pretty fabulous this year. We stayed home and had a quiet little Christmas Eve. We made waffles, opened up a few presents, and tracked Santa on the internet. Christmas morning we opened gifts then headed to Seattle for a few days. It seemed to be more relaxing than the past few years.

The kids and I do a gingerbread house every year. Why? I don't know. It makes a huge mess and it takes up all kind of space in an all ready cluttered kitchen. But we have a good time and it is festive so we do it.

Santa at the Boise Mall on our way home from Thanksgiving. Sage was mesmerised. She is always amazed at our good fortune of being at the same mall as him, sometimes in Seattle, sometimes in Idaho and sometimes at home. Crazy how that happens.

Naughty or nice??? Hayden had a lot of explaining to do. Marlee is just banking on the fact that she is so cute, the old guy wouldn't be able to resist bringing her everything she wants.

Hayden loves just about all fruit. Instead of an orange in the toe of his stocking, he found a pomegranate. He was so excited, said it was one of his favorite gifts...yeah, that is a bike in the background, he was more excited about the dumb fruit.

Favorite Gifts:

Dad-Double griddle and Guitar hero

Mom-Wii Fit and a massage

Hayden-Bike, Pomegranate, maybe Shaun White snowboarding game

Sage-Bathrobe and BFC Inc Doll Kaitlin

Marlee-Dress up dress box, monkey slippers

Sage turns 5

To celebrate 5 years, Sage wanted to have a rockstar party. Jamie and Kyle brought Avery over for the weekend and several of Sage's friends joined the fun. Hannah Montana and Taylor Swift belted out the tunes as the girls made microphones, dressed up and destroyed a guitar pinata. This was one party that rocked!

Football

Hayden decided to give football a try. Not flag like previous years. This was the real thing, pads, helmet, tackling and all. He wasn't a huge fan of tackling, even less of a fan of getting tackled. He makes a great kicker or running back. Not sure he will want to do it again, but it was an intense experience. The three 2 1/2 hr practices a week plus games every Saturday really seemed to be more than all of us were ready for. We had great weather just about every game, and the games were pretty fun to watch. Still, football is really serious business. Not to mention that some football parents are a bit overwhelming.

That is Hayden, all the way to the right, number 11.

He got to be one of the team captains this game

Hayden's team was the Eagles. He pretty much drowned in his enormous jersey. But dang, was he cute!

My Cute Kids

Auntie Jamie took the pictures of my girls. She is awesome!

Summer Wrap Up

Wow, where did summer go?

In June we started summer off with a visit from Jamie and Avery.

Then the first week out of school, we sent the kids to Idaho. They had a blast, I rested and recovered.

Cousin Krystal got married to Haini in Salt Lake, so we made the journey for a weekend of fun. No dancing for me though. These two can throw a great party!While in Salt Lake, we visited with our friends Billy and Diana and family. So good to catch up!

Sage and Brenna

Me and Diana

8 cute blondes!

July brought a fabulous 4th at Paula's house.

Summer got a bit crazy from here with Golf lessons for Hayden, Swim lessons for Hayden and Sage, Physical Therapy for me, playdates, birthday parties, Dr appts and, oh yeah, we work!

My friend Eugenia threw a big water party at her house and we had a great afternoon playing with old buddies and sliding on her awesome water slides-way cool!

In August, Hayden started Grid Kids Football, he has practice 3x/wk, pretty serious stuff! Sage learned to ride a 2 wheeler. Marlee learned how to open doors, and climb on to counters. She certainly is keeping us on our toes!

My doctor has turned me loose, and I think I am just about fully recovered from my surgery. Woo hoo!

The kids got to spend another week in IF, riding 4wheelers, playing with Grayson, Gabe and Dalton, having Fiesta Ole, and enjoying Grandma and Grandpa.

We ended the summer with a long weekend in Boise. We had a great time swimming, shopping, eating and just enjoying each others company. As with most of the summer, my camera was there, I just didn't turn it on :(

Back to School! 2nd Grade

Whoo Hoo, back to school!

Baseball, Ballerina, and Back Surgery

BASEBALL:

Hayden is all about baseball right now. Playing, watching, practicing, even Wii baseball games--or just talking about it, it doesn't matter. Grandma F. sent a Mariner's schedule magnet that we put on the refrigerator and so he tries to tune in to them as much as possible, he has about memorized the thing.

Over Memorial day weekend, we went to a Mariner's game with our good friends Ted and Stacy and crew. In honor of little league weekend, we got to walk around the field at Safeco before the game-but were very careful that we didn't touch the grass! It was so fun. We started out the game at the very top of the stadium. Last row. Then, with a little help from the friendly seating hosts at Safeco, we got upgraded to just behind first. Pretty amazing. Aunt Angie even showed up to hang out with us for a bit. Really fun time!

James, Emma, and Hayden fighting to make the catch!
Kyle, Emma, Hayden, Marlee, Sage, Adam and James

Me and the twins-Happy Birthday this week Mom and George!

Team Blimpie wrapped up their season earlier this month. Hayden was very pleased to have Grandma F. attend one of the last games and performed quite well. His new glove and bat have really upped his game. Both Hayden and Sage were bummed to see the season end, Hayden for obvious reasons; Sage because she had made friends with many of Hayden's teammates sisters and was not pleased to end her weekly play dates.

BALLERINA:

Speaking of Sage, she finished her year of Preschool with a fun water party and graduation. Since I am working more now, I will probably not put her back in next year as the daycare is also a preschool program. 1 more year till kindergarten!

Teacher Michelle-she is amazing!

Sage just had her ballet recital a few nights ago. She was fantastic. Such a proud 2 minutes! She knew every step and the teacher had her be the flower girl- in charge of the rose that the girls all leaped over. So Cute!!!

Sage and two of her ballerina friends at a kids fair performing thier dance as a practice before the big show. Miss Katie is their teacher, she has some amazing patience.

My video is terrible, otherwise I would post it. I bought the DVD of the show, so if any one wants to see the actual performance, just let me know.

BACK:

And me, well, I finally had back surgery. After years of agony, I finally found a Dr. willing to help me. You rock Dr. Wilkinson! I had a micro discectomy at L4-L5. He said that when he got in there, it was bad. Lots of scar tissue indicating years of damage, and he told me it had ruptured and there were pieces of my disk floating around impinging on the nerve. Yeah, I sorta thought so. So, no bending, twisting or lifting more than 10 lbs for 8-10weeks. My mom stayed with us the week of my surgery, then Jamie and Avery took over. Now, since I am still totally useless, we shipped the kids off to Grandma and Grandpa G in Idaho. I have great family and friends that have been so willing to help me out, and am so grateful for them. With out all the help, there is no way I could have had this surgery. Thank you to everyone who has called, brought meals, sent flowers, brought me goodies, watched my kids or helped in any other way. I am very blessed.

Sorry, no pictures of my scar.

Lucky Seven!

Hayden has turned seven! yippee!

For his birthday, we got him a new baseball bat and DS game. Unfortunately, the bat was a bit too big and he had gotten his DS taken away for trying to smuggle it to school. Sort of a bummer.

We exchanged the bat for something more his size and he picked out a new glove to go with it, as well as a pitching net thingy thanks to some gift cards he had gotten. I was very pleased with his wise use of his money.

He is in the middle of Baseball season right now so the bat and glove were in need. He is doing Machine Pitch this year and is on team Blimpie. He plays 1st base, 2nd base and shortstop primarily. He had a game on his birthday and even helped turn a double play.

We had our friends the Chans over for pizza and had a tasty DQ blizzard cake per his request. It was a fun time.

At Seven:

Favorite color: Red

Favorite Restaurant: ShangHai Chinese

Favorite way to spend his afternoon: Playing DS or Wii
Hayden loves to go to Seattle and see his cousin Grady!

Favorite evening activity: Playing catch with Dad

He loves to tell jokes, watch the Mariners, anything involving electronics, read and be silly with Sage.

He is not so passionate about unloading the dishwasher, tying his shoes, cleaning up before bed and grocery shopping.

Hayden is finishing up 1st grade. He is an excellent reader, he has accumulated over 50 points in AR this year. He is quite the math whiz. PE is his favorite part of the week, however recess is great because he plays soccer with his buddies.

He loves to ride the bus still. He only wants peanut butter and jelly in his lunch, but on occasion is agreeable to buying cheese pizza.

Within the last month or so, he finally lost some teeth. The front bottom teeth. They were sort of pushed out by the permenant ones that were coming in, not enough room for all of them!

He is very excited that next year he can be baptized. I love it at night when he teaches Sage the right words to the primary songs. (She gets rather inventive).

He is a good boy, very sweet, smart and funny. He takes good care of his sisters and is a huge help to me. Love You Hayden, Happy Birthday!!!