It's been awhile...

Things finally settled down a bit around here, but then it was catch up time on all the things put off in October. The kids are growing like weeds! Seriously Katelyn's legs are getting so long, she's still skinny as ever - lucky girl:) They are gearing up for the Christmas recital at dance class and she's excited about that. School is a little challenging for her right now, as she is such a social creature she just can't stop talking. It seems to be a dilemma the entire class is struggling with according to her teacher. I swear he has to be a saint to put up with 20 something chatterboxes all day long, I can barely handle one.


Brody is not a baby anymore I am sad to say. The teeth finally came in all snaggletoothed, I love it! He's got 2 fangs on top and one full tooth on the bottom + one bottom tip barely poking out. I cannot help laughing at him and he thinks he's so handsome grinning from ear to ear. He took his first steps about 2 weeks ago!! He is way off balance but has no fear and will turn, let go and waddle about 6 or 7 steps at a time before plopping down on his bum. He thinks he can feed himself too, which is really just more work for me-lol!

So Twilight came out too! A few girls from my ward went to the midnight showing the first night, it was fun to get out as a grown-up for a change. The movie was um, interesting to say the least. I had high hopes and low expectations so in all wasn't too bad. There were a few really cheesy moments and Edward should be so much hotter. But once he smiled and doesn't want to eat Bella (or throw up,I'm not sure) he warms up and doesn't do too bad. Bella did better than I thought she would from looking at the trailers, and I have no idea what was up with Jasper? anywho, hopefully with a bigger budget for any future films things will improve!

Thanksgiving was much more relaxing this year than in the past! We started off with a little Turkey Bowl with the Elder's Quorum. It rained HARD the night before so it was a very messy game. The kids had a blast playing in the mud and were just as messy as the guys I think. Then we went to Dave's Mom's for some yummy eats. I brought the homemade stuffing, a buttermilk pecan pie and a pumpkin roll but had it all made the day before, so no work for me. Except kids!


Then Black Friday!!I drug my friend Megan out of bed before the sun came up and we stood in the cold at Toys R Us with all the other fools. But my shopping is done,yay! ok maybe a few more things, but kids are done for sure. And we had a good time chatting without being interrupted 5 million times. Same time next year girl!


Now we're just trying to get the Christmas decorations up and enjoy the season with those we love

Halloween & Birthday fun!

Birthday Girl!

So it's a busy week at our house, right? Today is sweet Katelyn's 5 year old birthday as she likes to call it. Looking back it's mind boggling we got thru this day and the next 3 weeks to follow. Katelyn was in a hurry to meet us, she was NOT waiting for 40 whole weeks no thank you!I had trouble with her from the get go and at 24 weeks I was hospitalized on bed rest. At 32 weeks she'd had enough and out she came weighing 3 lbs 7 oz. But that strong personality I fight with everyday got her through and she was able to come home right before Thanksgiving. I am so thankful her little spirit had such a strong desire to be with our family and I know it will serve her well as she faces the challenges in our world.

She is such a loveable girl,and she doesn't know a stranger. She's like her brother as she's not stingy with the hugs and kisses. Katelyn loves to help around the house and with Brody, though you may have to ask more than once. She has a great imagination and comes up with some crazy ideas which send us into hysterics daily.

She has a mind like an elephant,I swear she will not forget the important suff, ya know like rewards, treats you said "later" about, or even places we've gone and with whom we went. Watch out!!


Mostly she's a sweet and sensitive girl, who cares about others and has a kind heart.Her favorite color is pink, and she loves merry-go-rounds and playing dress up. We're so happy that she's our's and look forward to watching her become an amazing young woman. So Happy Birthday Katelyn, we love you so much!

Birthday Boy!

It was 1 year ago today that we were blessed with our sweet boy Brody. I look back at the time and wonder how it went by so fast. Why is it when you are preggers it can't go fast enough? You are just dying to meet that little ball of boundless energy that's been jumping on your bladder/kicking you in the ribs for 9 months. True, you are ready to take back possesion of your body, but I think mostly you can't wait to see who they look like and what their little personalities will bring to your family.
This one was so observant from the get go. Not much has changed! He doesn't miss a thing! He didn't even like to be rocked up on your shoulder- had to be facing out so he could check out his world. You'd think he would've been tired from all that squishing, but once he came out I remember him just watching everything for the 1st few hours after he was born. So neither of us slept, we just stared at each other trying to get to know one another while Daddy snored in the corner.
He is such a lover! Cuddles and kisses are never in short supply with Brody. He's a good eater and you'd think whatever it is he's eating is the best he's EVER tasted cause he's really vocal about it. MMMMMMMMMMM and MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM some more, makes me laugh! And he thinks his big Sis is just awesome. He laughs at her all day long and she wouldn't trade him for the world(most days, I think) ;)So I guess we'll keep him. Thanks to all our friends and family who came from near and far to help celebrate Brody and Katelyn's birthdays, I'll try and get some pics from the party posted soon

Fall in New York

Dave and I have not been on a getaway alone for longer than I care to admit to, so this past weekend we left Brody with Grandma and Katelyn with Uncle Ken and Aunt Julie and we escaped! My littlest sister and her hubby live in Manhattan and so we took advantage of my awesome flight benefits and crashed with them.Neither Dave nor I had ever been to NYC so it was fun to wander around and see the sights.

We got in early Friday morning and after hooking up with my sister we headed over to the site of the WTC. Even 7 years later it is still so hard to come to terms with such violence and hatred of the freedoms we take for granted. I was actually in the air when the first tower was struck and so it meant a lot for me to see first hand where my brother and sister flight crews and so many others lost their lives that day.

We took the ferry over to Staten Island and back to check out the Statue of Liberty, the NY skyline sure is spectacular from the water.


Friday night we took off by ourselves in the big scary city! After dark no less! It wasn't that bad at all, except we got off the subway in Time's Square and it is overwhelming. It was rush hour on the subway and there were people rushing everywhere. Then on the street add tourists to the mix and you can't even walk . I was a little worried I would lose Dave somehow, but we only got seperated at 1 stop light. So we went to Radio City, Rockefeller Center, we stumbled upon Magnolia Bakery and had to indulge in their famous Red Velvet Cupcakes, and the banana pudding was to die for too!



The Empire State Building was lit up for Halloween!

On Saturday we hung out with the family,had lunch in Little Italy. Went in some back room with a strange man to score some purses, sorry no pics! We went to FAO Schwartz and danced on the huge piano from the movie "Big" with Tom Hanks. We walked thru Central Park, we had planned on a carriage ride but evidently a 7 month old on a lap puts you over the limit allowed in the carriage. So lame! We'll save it for next time, maybe with snow.




I wanted to go in and demand my money back but they were closed! It must be a conspiracy!

On Sunday we took a walk over the Brooklyn Bridge. You walk up above the roadway in the center and don't look down cause if the boards break... long way down!

On the other side is the Brooklyn ice cream factory, and that was our intended destination. As we were walking across my sis is telling me about the Real Housewives of New York tv show and how one of the wives lives in Brooklyn but thinks she's living the New York dream (people in Manhattan think they're better than Brooklyn). Other wives on show live on upper East side, society events, blah blah blah and some critics of show wish Brooklyn wife would get a clue. So we are in the ice cream shop and who walks in? Tv crew and all!! So if you ever see the episode with them going out for ice cream look for me walking out right behind them! Autographs, anyone? ;)

Really lame

So nothing exciting to report around here, just trying to keep Brody healthy. I swear that poor boy has had a really ruff month. He finally cut a tooth, and has another one on the way. Funny thing is they are not the cute little first teeth on the bottom that most babies get. No,not my boy! He gets the side teeth on top,like fangs! Did I read a little too much Twilight while I was nursing him...? maybe, maybe not. lol=) so he's had that on top of a yeast infection(yep, boys get em too) then horrible diarrhea and red bum, then a cold that is still hanging on by a booger. Sorry, then when one clears up we start the cycle all over. Do they ever clean at the gym or what? That's all I can think cuz it's not even cold and flu season yet and we've all been down with something.
Katelyn is on fall break this week and next and about an hour after she woke yesterday(day 1)she's like " I'm bored". What am I gonna do with her? Thank goodness we met some friends at the park yesterday. After not being at the same park, I forgot my phone on top of everything else, we finally figured it out. Kate and Mckenna had a great time and just when it got a little too warm for them the landscape guy came by to mess with the sprinklers and he kindly left them on for the girls to run through. Then back in the sand box they went! What a mess!
Today we're off to the gym when Brody wakes up, that should entertain her for a bit. Maybe pizza with Tina after class? That reminds me of my first job at Dairy Queen which was right next to a gym and all the people coming in in their work-out attire and ordering ice cream. Hell-ooooo! I guess it's better than eating ice cream without working out. Anyway, if anyone else's kids are driving them nuts and they need to play call us! Dave will have the kids alone the next 3 days so I'm sure he would appreciate it.

Star Struck!

Ok, so maybe you know maybe you don't but a lot of famous people fly on Southwest. I think if they are flying on the studio's money they fly someone with a first class section but if they are flying on their own dime they want to save a few bucks just like everyone else. Plus we have good frequency and are on time mostly so it makes sense. I've had a lot of celebrities on my flights, Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Paula Abdul, Smokey Robinson,David Spade,Joe Nichols,Courtney Gaines, these are just off the top of my head. I had a list going for awhile but not sure where it went. Anyway, most of the time I say hello and smile and go about my business. I mean they're just regular folks who do an irregular job and get paid a ridiculous amount of money for doing it. Whatever!!
Well today I made an exception to my rule. I am not a die hard, gotta watch every game kinda football fan. Heck I can't even tell ya who plays for what team any more. But there was a time... I grew up in AZ with no team and so when I moved to the Bay Area back in 1988 I watched the 49ers and got to know that team and Joe Montana and Jerry Rice! Wow talk about some talented guys! I brought my love for the Niner's with me when I moved back to AZ and years later met and married a guy from San Francisco who loved them as well.
Which brings me to today and the reason I broke my so called rule and asked the man if he'd mind having his picture taken with me. He was kind and gracious, not only to me but others on the flight who recognized him and asked for a picture or autograph as well. Plus he can move on the dance floor as well as the football field, who knew??


Me and Jerry Rice