December is here

And I am way behind on posting.  I will start from the present and go back...

Paige and Braden preformed in a Christmas Choir performance last night. They both did great.
Zach performed for choir last week and did great as well. Zach also has a band performance this week.
We have a very busy schedule this December between, work, school and church parties.

Hope had a doctors appointment on Monday because of a cold that just won't leave.  45 minutes before the appointment she swallowed a dime and got got in her throat.  She turned red, i hit her on the back she started to breathe, threw up a little, went red again, repeated process about 4 times.  Thank goodness Loren had the day off and was there to help. We put her in the car to head to the ER and decided to stop at the doctors office instead because she was breathing okay by then.  The doctor checked her out and gave her an antibiotic to clear up a sinus infection and ordered us to the hospital for x-rays to make sure the dime was in her stomach and not stuck in her throat. The dime showed up nice and bright on the x-ray-in her stomach.
I don't think she will eat money again.

I am trying to get caught up on house work and Christmas shopping, after having a horrible sinus infection for more than 7 weeks.  I was on 2 kinds of antibiotics and then on a weeks worth of  oral steroids.  Each helped some but didn't clear it up altogether.  So the doctor ordered a CT scan.  Infection is gone but my sinuses are very swollen.  They don't want to give me more steroids, I just have to wait it out.  I feel a little better every day.

We hosted Thanksgiving this year.  Mom told me that no one was coming to her house because they all had other plans.  So we invited her and Dad, Rob and Chris to our house.  It was a fun,small get together.
We didn't have as much food as when we all get together but between mom and me, we had plenty. No one starved.

Halloween was fun.  Paige threw a party for her friends and dressed as a Diva Angel.  Both Ethan and Parker dressed as ninja's.  Hope was a cute little witch.  Paige took Hope out trick or treating. Hope thought it was the greatest thing ever.  She started taking candy out of our candy bowl and putting it in her bag.  You can't have to much, you know.

Hope is 2! We had a family party for her and ate corn dogs and fries. We then went to Trafalga for games and rides. Hope loves the carousal and plane ride.  She also likes to miniature golf.  I can't believe how fast time has gone by.  It seems only a short time a go that we brought her home.

I will post picture's later.

Eight is Great!

Just ask Parker, he will tell you. He loved to have a party with some friends on Friday. Although, he was very excited about being baptized on Saturday.

Braden was able to baptize Parker.  Loren had mixed emotions about letting him do it. He then decide that it would be a good experience for both boys.

Loren confirmed him.  It was a small service because Parker was the only one in the ward being baptized.  We were able to choose who spoke, played the piano, songs and prayers. 

I'm sure parker will remember this day for years to come.

Thanks to all who came to support us.

Hurray! Hope is potty trained (mostly)

Okay, so we started potty training a few months ago and it only lasted about 1 1/2 weeks.  She was doing pretty well and then I guess the excitement wore off and she didn't care.
So I decided to wait for all of the vacations and camping to get over before I tried again.
We started Tuesday when the kids went back to school.  She made it to the potty about as many times as she had accidents.  Wednesday, she only had 1 accident. She even told me when she needed to go.
Today, she woke up, told me potty-she went- and then asked for panties.  She doesn't like pull ups. I don't know why. I make her sleep in them just in case she doesn' t. make it through the night.  She usually makes it through  the night but I don't want to take chances.
She hasn't had any accidents and even went number two.
She has been the easiest of all of my children.

Way to go Hope!!!

Paige made it through girls camp

This is a long time in coming. Girls camp was in June!!
Paige is a fourth year and they went on a 10 mile back pack hike. We tried to make her pack as light as possible but still have all of the essentials.They ran into snow where they were supposed to set up camp and so they had to hike farther to get out of it.  She said that she didn't think that she would make it, she was exhausted. She made it through. And I'm sure it will be a great memory for her in the future.
She loved the rest of girls camp and was glad to be home after a long 5 days.