To keep the blog up I might have to insert sections of letters I write here to our many missionaries out serving right now so I can keep up on what is happening at home! (Here are some clips included from this week's past note to Grandma.)
* Grandma is currently serving her mission in North Carolina (here she is pictured with Sister Peace in her ward who loves to feed the missionaries.) She is serving as the Financial secretary at the mission home & is loving it - but dearly missing us all... well I should say the grand-kids!!
Uncle Tony flew out today to Tacoma Washington.. where we learn from our cousin Denelle that there was a 4.3 earthquake today... My mom messaged me the info. about the earthquake & I replied... "Did you Txt Denelle back & let her know it looks like Tony has arrived safe in WA then?"... as Denelle isn't a member of the church & I thought considering he is so into body building & is so excited to be going on his mission... it was his Big ARRIVAL to WA!! I don't think my mom found it too funny!
Info. from our past week:
Our big excitement this week comes from:
Madison getting really sick again due to an allergic reaction to her Antibiotic the Doctor put her on the week before. (The week before she ran a 101 - 103* fever starting on Sunday & by Wed. we couldn't get it to break with our routine of warm bath, gatorade, motrin, & soup - so we took her to the Dr. & they tested her for everything... she had nothing but was dehydrated & low on potassium - so just in case they put here on a Antibiotic.) UGh... Almost within 5-6 hours she was spot free after taking an oral steroid!! I am so glad!! She had a wonderful day at School for Valentine's day!! Her & Brady alone probably made close to a 100 homemade Valentine's cards for our family!! What a treat (except the reminding them to clean up their craft supplies each time they broke into a creative moment!! LOL)
Other that - Tyler finally cleaned his room!! It is amazing, helped a bunch that he wants to go on the upcoming Dare Ski trip again!! Proud of him that he did such a good job all by himself!! He is so excited to go skiing again... has a bag almost packed & it is still a month away! He has been trying so hard in school & has actually really been making some effort to be more civil at home lately... I don't know if I want to call it maturity? or just a fluke... but I hope it continues!! I like having my ol' boy back!! He is so fun to watch & enjoy when he is happy! Today I was touched when I was up at his school hanging locker posters for the Girls BB team... he somehow found me or saw me & actually came to talk to me... all of a sudden he reaches into his pocket & pulls out 6 beautiful Chocolate & red Chocolate rose shaped suckers & said... "Mom, can you take these home for me & put them in everyone's mailboxes for me?"... What? You thought about everyone else & even spent your own money on buying something for them too!!! WOW!! Romeo... watch -out!!
Brady is of course SO Excited for Valentine's day tomorrow/today & to see all that he is getting at school!! (LOL) I went to eat with him at Lunch today at school & I am so tickled & proud of him... if that boy doesn't know every person in the school & is a friend to "EVERYONE" than I don't know who is!! It was SO Fun to see him walk down the halls, sit at lunch, etc & EVERYONE came to talk to Brady & see how he was & to tell him HI!!! We get so many reports from Adults who work at schook or visit with their own kids that Brady is quite the Ladies man... LOL!! (It terribly upsets him when Dave teases him about it... but I tell him that is a good thing as it means he is kind to everyone & that everyone in return wants to be his friend!!) He is a doll!! I Love this Stage!!
Info. from our past week:
Our big excitement this week comes from:
Madison getting really sick again due to an allergic reaction to her Antibiotic the Doctor put her on the week before. (The week before she ran a 101 - 103* fever starting on Sunday & by Wed. we couldn't get it to break with our routine of warm bath, gatorade, motrin, & soup - so we took her to the Dr. & they tested her for everything... she had nothing but was dehydrated & low on potassium - so just in case they put here on a Antibiotic.) UGh... Almost within 5-6 hours she was spot free after taking an oral steroid!! I am so glad!! She had a wonderful day at School for Valentine's day!! Her & Brady alone probably made close to a 100 homemade Valentine's cards for our family!! What a treat (except the reminding them to clean up their craft supplies each time they broke into a creative moment!! LOL)Other that - Tyler finally cleaned his room!! It is amazing, helped a bunch that he wants to go on the upcoming Dare Ski trip again!! Proud of him that he did such a good job all by himself!! He is so excited to go skiing again... has a bag almost packed & it is still a month away! He has been trying so hard in school & has actually really been making some effort to be more civil at home lately... I don't know if I want to call it maturity? or just a fluke... but I hope it continues!! I like having my ol' boy back!! He is so fun to watch & enjoy when he is happy! Today I was touched when I was up at his school hanging locker posters for the Girls BB team... he somehow found me or saw me & actually came to talk to me... all of a sudden he reaches into his pocket & pulls out 6 beautiful Chocolate & red Chocolate rose shaped suckers & said... "Mom, can you take these home for me & put them in everyone's mailboxes for me?"... What? You thought about everyone else & even spent your own money on buying something for them too!!! WOW!! Romeo... watch -out!!
Brady is of course SO Excited for Valentine's day tomorrow/today & to see all that he is getting at school!! (LOL) I went to eat with him at Lunch today at school & I am so tickled & proud of him... if that boy doesn't know every person in the school & is a friend to "EVERYONE" than I don't know who is!! It was SO Fun to see him walk down the halls, sit at lunch, etc & EVERYONE came to talk to Brady & see how he was & to tell him HI!!! We get so many reports from Adults who work at schook or visit with their own kids that Brady is quite the Ladies man... LOL!! (It terribly upsets him when Dave teases him about it... but I tell him that is a good thing as it means he is kind to everyone & that everyone in return wants to be his friend!!) He is a doll!! I Love this Stage!!
Garrett had his first weekend off from traveling with Speech & Debate & we enjoyed it!!! Only about 2 months left (YEAH!) He gets his braces off this week & a permanent retainer installed!! It will be a busy week for sure!! Things seem to be calming down a bit.. tonight in FHE when we were going around the family & talking about what we admire, like/love, or appreciate about each other... he comments that he appreicates that I help him fine tune his Debating skills... (He was laughing!!) Meaning - he enjoys that I allow him to & give him the opportunity to argue with me!! S0 FUNNY, but I do love ya!!! (P.S.... all this arguing you do better pay off in the future!!! ☺)
I got to teach a lesson in Relief Society today on fasting - it went well. Realized it has been since I was in the RS Presidency back in 1998-99 that I last taught a lesson in RS!! I feel it went well, but of course I always have to many tears (That is annoying! Oh well!) Of course keeping busy with Photos!! I seem to think that things are slowing down & that maybe people aren't interested in my style or what I am offering... then all of a sudden I get 2-3 calls or e-mails booking new sessions for upcoming family, missionary, etc. HOW fun & exciting!! I love it!
Dave traveled this weekend with referring to
Evanston! He sure does love it!! Dave & Madison had their 1st Daddy - Daughter date on Saturday!! I have never seen a happier little girl than she was!! From showering, picking out her outfit, to primping & getting ready for her big "DATE"!!! It was awesome!! (I am so grateful for such awesome programs in our church & what they do for our kids!) I am most grateful for an awesome husband who enjoys taking time-outs to spend with our kids on special occasions like this!
I got to teach a lesson in Relief Society today on fasting - it went well. Realized it has been since I was in the RS Presidency back in 1998-99 that I last taught a lesson in RS!! I feel it went well, but of course I always have to many tears (That is annoying! Oh well!) Of course keeping busy with Photos!! I seem to think that things are slowing down & that maybe people aren't interested in my style or what I am offering... then all of a sudden I get 2-3 calls or e-mails booking new sessions for upcoming family, missionary, etc. HOW fun & exciting!! I love it!
Dave traveled this weekend with referring to
Evanston! He sure does love it!! Dave & Madison had their 1st Daddy - Daughter date on Saturday!! I have never seen a happier little girl than she was!! From showering, picking out her outfit, to primping & getting ready for her big "DATE"!!! It was awesome!! (I am so grateful for such awesome programs in our church & what they do for our kids!) I am most grateful for an awesome husband who enjoys taking time-outs to spend with our kids on special occasions like this! What a fun time for our 8-12
year old girls & their fathers, Grandpas, & mom subs today!! They had so much fun!! Their morning started with some fun photos (which I got to do), a wonderful breakfast with the most Heavenly Pancakes & Potatoes ever! Then they had a relay as they were given a bag of goodies - the girls had to tie a tie on their dad's neck, they had to clip an ad out of the paper of their favorite food, the Dad's had to tie a pony tail in their daughter's hair & paint her nails!! 
Then they also played a game to find out how well they knew their daughters answering questions such as: What does your daughter want to be when she grows up, where does she want to go on a dream vacation, what is her favorite food? There were 
giggles & smiles galore!! Thank-you Sister Davis, Sister Fairchild, Sister Nathan, & Sister Hardy for such an awesome activity & breakfast!!
year old girls & their fathers, Grandpas, & mom subs today!! They had so much fun!! Their morning started with some fun photos (which I got to do), a wonderful breakfast with the most Heavenly Pancakes & Potatoes ever! Then they had a relay as they were given a bag of goodies - the girls had to tie a tie on their dad's neck, they had to clip an ad out of the paper of their favorite food, the Dad's had to tie a pony tail in their daughter's hair & paint her nails!! 
Then they also played a game to find out how well they knew their daughters answering questions such as: What does your daughter want to be when she grows up, where does she want to go on a dream vacation, what is her favorite food? There were 
giggles & smiles galore!! Thank-you Sister Davis, Sister Fairchild, Sister Nathan, & Sister Hardy for such an awesome activity & breakfast!!Other than that - the weather seems to possibly be warming up!! We hit 37* today & I didn't notice much wind!! That is nice!! Maybe we can break out the flip flops & shorts in about 3 more degrees!! :)
