Merry Christmas

Trever and Joseph had a good little talk with Santa a few days before Christmas.
I am glad that I was protected by the back door when they let the snowballs fly.
Everyone was very happy with the new matching pj's and rice bags on Christmas Eve.
And Santa seemed to get the message the boys gave him, and brought just what everyone always wanted. We had a very good Christmas and we hope that you all did the same.

Holiday songs

I have enjoyed each of the kids at about age 3 singing their favorite Christmas carol.

Sleepy

This post is for Jenny. You really don't want to see all the pictures of my kids sleeping in weird places or positions, but this one is pretty cute.... and recent. After I took this picture I went to do a load of laundry and discovered why he hadn't come up stairs to sit on my lap and say Hi to aunt Shai....... He had gotten into the laundry and there was soap every where. Aparently he had tried to wash his pants because they were half in the washer with soap on them. I guess he got distracted because it looked like he had started making pictures in the soap. This is just a cute picture of Trever my little indian. His preschool is so much fun.

Adventure with Caleb

This is Calebs most recent basketball picture. Yes the hair was driving mom crazy, so he went to the barber. Of course he had to have pictures first to show off those locks. Ok, the adventure really has nothing to do with basketball. It just makes it better to have a current image of Caleb in your mind. It was about a week ago, and I had already had a pretty hecktic day. I had to report to jury duty that morning and fortunately the trial was put on hold. So I was home and things were starting to calm down. I was just starting to think about what to put on for dinner. It was 5 min. to 3 and I get a call from the school. The secretary said that Caleb had fallen and banged his head. She then said with audible concern in her voice that his eyes were black and blue and that someone needed to come to the school to see him. I hurried and called the neighbor who came over to watch the kids and I ran up to the school. Now we had just had an incident at scouts where one of the boys ran into a chalk board and fell banging his head and he was transported to the hospital via ambulance with a mild concussion. So I go running up to the school telling myself not to panic. Panic never helped anyone. I get to the nurses room and Caleb is so still. They having his head on an ice bag and his feel proped up. He is quiet and not moving a muscle. His eyes, lid and underneath are black blue, and a hint of purple. He looks terrified. The secretary is bodering on panic. I sat down and felt his head..... no goose egg. I asked him what happened and as he is laying there, he tells me the story..... I could hear him, and I knew he was making sense as he told the story, but it just didn't register. I just kept looking at those eyes. Then I just picked up his hands and looked at his hands. There was marker all over his fingers. I had the secretary get me a wet paper towel, and the black and blue eyes wiped clean off. The principal was great and so very releived. He said he had never come so close to a heart attack over marker. Well everyone was relieved. Caleb then started to cry and said he was just so scared he would have to go to the hospital. The secretary kept asking how I knew that it was marker. I still really don't know other than, I just felt what to do. Aparently Heavenly Father knew that taking my son to the hospital and panic over marker just might have done me in, so he helped me out. Later that evening Caleb came clean and told me that he had tried to make his eyes black and blue, but that he didn't think it had worked. He was so afraid he was going to be in trouble. Well I guess the moral of the story is, when everyone around you is in a panic, take the time to just look and feel. I just might be marker.

Poll

Ok, I only have a minute..... a messy diaper is calling. It is amazing what I will answer. : ) Anyway, I am starting to get my Holiday baking scheduled. I want to know who out there likes Grandma Mencl's Christmas Bread. I admit, I hated it when we were growing up, but I really have been craving it lately. So I am making some this year. If you don't respond to this poll, you might end up with some when you don't like it and you may not get any when you really would like some. I am also excited to make Grandma Thueson's Olympia creams, and of course a Pumpkin roll. I think this year I will be making Pinwheels, and Christmas Star cookies as well. So anyone who wants to come baking with me come on over and do let me know your favorites so I can include them in your packages.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

Trick or Treat

Jason and Mia decided tobe the ones to stay home and pass out candy to the trick or treaters, so me and the boys set out with Jana Tabor and her boys from next door. Some of us are very glad that Halloween comes only once a year. On the up side, everyone slept really long and hard that night. They all were very happy with their costumes and very excited about the loot they gained. Joseph just kept saying, " Mom, they gave me candy!!!!!!"

Happy Halloween

This is the corn maze went to this year. We actually went twice. The first time we went with the ward primary, the second time we went with Trever on his preschool field trip. The slide was kickin'. Caleb and Trever would fearlessly run all the way to the top, and launch themselves down the slide in any direction. Joseph however was very timid. Being the good mom I am.....(ok it is more like the crazy mom I am) Mia, Mom and Joseph all went down together. I must tell you that it is one very tall, very quick slide.
We all had alot of fun, but missed Jason very much, as he had to work both times.

Big Man

The other day I set the juice out to get the boys a drink and got called into the bathroom to help Trever. When I got back Joseph was sitting on the counter, helping himself to the juice. Apparently he just couldn't wait. Terry, Pat, this scene reminded me immediately of you both, only you were a little bigger and standing in front of the open fridge with a milk jug. My Joseph is a mans man already. I have to teach the kid to use a glass, he personalizes anything he drinks with very visable backwash. YUM!

Trever The Fierce

Trever is going to his school Halloween party

today. He is excited to take the cookies to decorate

and to be a pirate. He also loves to see himself on video.

Personally I think a pirate is fitting. He often tries to mutany on me.

Trever had his first day of preschool a couple of weeks ago. He loves school, and asks every day if it is a school day. He absolutely loves Mrs. Sara. We personally think she is a bit nuts to try recorders with 3 and 4 yr. olds on the first day of preschool, but I guess a little crazy is just what these kids need. We love Mrs. Sara. A big thank you for all you do.

We had a fun trip to Twin Falls over Conference weekend. It was very rainy the first day, but lucky enough it dried up and Saturday the kids all went to the Pumpkin patch. They had fun, even if it was really really cold.
One of the big favorites is the Tractor train ride. They all had to go at least twice. It wasn't very crowded at all so they didn't have to wait in line.
The beauticians, Andrea and Tiana just had to give the boys, Andrew and Caleb their cool dude mohawks. And Grandma had pleanty of carmel apple suckers to go around. After such a busy day, they all wanted to watch a movie. Good thing Grandma and Grandpa have such a big couch.

Entertainment

When your a very active boy, and mom is busy .......making dinner, feeding the baby, going to the bathroom....... here are some things you can to to entertain yourself. This first one is called "The Stair Slide". Believe it or not, mom actually let us continue. Maybe because we were actually laughing and playing good together...... or maybe just because she is an awesome mom. At least it is slower than sleeping bags.
This one is called "The superhero run". You have your mom tie a dupe (burp) diaper around your neck like a cape, pick your favorite superhero who's name ends with man, and run up and down the hall shouting his name as if you are his sole source of advertising. Mom also let us continue with this game. She is soooooo cool. Yea ok, it made us a little tired, and the rest of the evening we didn't even have enough energy to fight, but it is soo much fun.

Now this game, called "Surprise" was not really so keen with mom. It was at first, until Joseph jumped....yes right on guess who. I tried to tell mom he has been earning it for a while now, but she still said I can't flatten my brother, at least not while she can prevent it and he isn't activily asking for it.

Now thats what I call Entertainment baby!!!!!

Birthday Boy

Joseph was very excited to watch me decorate his cake. He has loved playing with his animals. He liked the mouths full of frosting mom spoiled him with een more. What a treat- a- holic.
We successfully kept the other kids out of the way and he got to blow out the candles all by himself.

We had all the Palmers over for dinner then presents, cake and ice cream. He finally started to understand that it was his birthday alone and not Trever's and Caleb's too when he was eating his cake. Too bad I didn't get the camera out when he was eating his cheetos with dinner...... that was the messy photo. Aunt Shai gave moms favorite gift. Josephs very own water bottle. Anyone who knows Joseph knows he is a drink steeler and drink hog. He also backwashes something fierce, so his own bottle is great. The trick now it to convince Trever to leave all of Josephs new things alone.
Happy Happy Third Birthday to our dear Joseph.

Back To School

Here is Caleb holding Mia one last time before heading off to school. And notice he has a real smile on his face. He usually does when he gets to hold his sister. He is a big help and loves to feed her bottles and even burp her. When ever I get out the camera Trever has to be in the picture. Caleb is heading off to Third grade. He has Mrs. Hyde, and says she is a fun teacher.
Heres the side shot to show his back pack and his new "must have" cool shoes. He also wants to grow his hair out of a buzz to be "cooler" this year. I don't know if I can handle the peer pressure. (And Yes, Joseph had just gotten out of bed and hadn't coughed up the binki yet. I just can't bear to take away such a good friend. He only has it at bed time, and we are working on that.)

Sick,Sick, Sick.

Well, We are slowly coming to our senses again after all the illness that has gone through lately. Joseph started with a stomach bug. Then Caleb came down with Strep and the stomach bug. He is good at sharing, so Jason next got it all and then mom got sick, and when that happens the whole world seems in trouble. Our biggest problem was when Mia got sick. She had a urinary tract infection. Because her fever was so high, and she is so little, they started with blood work, urine sample, and a spinal tap. For three days, Mom and Mia spent hours in the Dr. office, and hospital getting lab work. Finally after the third shot of antibiotics she is feeling much better. We all seem to be on the mend now and are hoping that we have had our turn at the sick bug for a while. Caleb has started Third grade and likes his new teacher. He likes school and is excited to be back at it. He is also taking piano again. Trever starts school on the eleventh. We are all excited for his school to start. Miss Sara is so fun and she is even going to start teaching them recorders this year. What a good teacher (crazy lady).

A Vacation

Our Vacation with the Thueson family was so much fun. We actually ended the vacation with a tour of the temple square and the conference center. We also saw the new church film, Joseph Smith Prophet of the Restoration. It was very good, but a tear jerker. This is actually the roof of the conference Center. The fountain is directly over the podium so that President Hinkley will be the first to know if there is a leak. Here is Caleb and Trever with the Prophet Joseph Smith. I think they both could learn a thing or two about work from him.
The first day we went the the tree house museum. I of course forgot my camera, but the kids had a blast with all the fun toys, and I enjoyed the fact that I didn't have to pick them up. On Thursday, we went to the Dinosaur Museum. We all enjoyed it. Joseph was scared the whole time and since I was carying the baby, insisted that Aunt Ana or Uncle Terry carry him. We also went the the water park that day to cool off. Joseph would swim, and Mia is too little but everyone else at least got wet. Caleb even braved the heights and went off the high dive. That night, the kids had their favorite sitter come over and the adults went to Borne Ultimatum. It was a very fun day.

Friday we all went to Lagoon. We all had fun and went home completely exhausted. Thanks Terry, Ana and all for including us in your vacation. We all had fun, and really enjoyed spending time with your family. Lets do it again.

Sun Valley Ice Show and Dinner

I am not sure which was better, the dinner or the ice show or the concert before the dinner. We had so much fun this weekend. Pat, Jan, Ana, and Terry sat at one table and Jason, Me, Mom and Dad sat at another. The raspberries and other fruit was to die for. They had wonderful crusty rolls and all kinds of cheeses. My favorite was the brie.......oooohhhhh so good. They had shrimp and crab legs and salmon, steak, prime rib...... vegies that I couldn't even name. It was truely a great dinner. Before the dinner we listened to the Sun Valley Symphony and they played American classics.... Gershwin etc. I so enjoyed it. They sounded surpurb . It made Jason and I miss playing in the orchestras. It was interresting to sit outside and listen to such good music, and all around us people we sitting on blankets or lawn chairs drinking wine, eating fine cheeses...... quite interresting.
Even though it was moms birthday, It was a gift to us all to share the fun evening. Happy Birthday mom. The few pictures I had of the ice skating didn't turn out very good. It was fun to see Emily Hughes. I enjoyed the couples skating most, but the trick skaters with the hulahoop and the fire was pretty entertaining.

Baby Fever

Well, we are all really enjoying our little Mia. She is a very quiet baby, only crying when she spit up alot, and when she had to have a blood draw to check her jandice. She is very alert when she is awake. She just takes it all in. Mom thinks she is just perfect. Caleb loves to hold her and feed her. He is a big help to mom. Trever loves her too. He loves to kiss her soft cheek, and help mom by getting a diaper or wipes, or blankets.
Joseph goes around the house with his hands together saying "hold her" "Hold her" and he is constantly thinking she is awake. We are all smitten by the princess.

New Bundle of Joy

This is a picture of Joseph when we brought him home from the hospital. I am not able to post a picture of our new bundle, but it looks similar...... just add more dark hair, and a little bit smaller. Our Meia is 6Lbs 8oz. and 19 inches. She is very quiet and does not fuss much at all. Again soooooo different from Joseph. Plus we put her in as much pink as poor Caleb can stand. He's not a big pink fan, but he loves to hold and help feed Meia. Can't wait till you all can see how perfectly beautiful she is.

A Good Mom....

It was 97 degrees, and we were all so hot. But what a fun time we had at the Hoagle Zoo. We went with Aunt Shai, Gabe and Regane. We packed sandwhiches and some snacks. It was a very good thing that the food booths refilled our water bottles for free. We were not only drinking them, but pooring them on our selves to try and cool off a little.

The first thing we did was watch the elephant show. I have never seen inside an elephants mouth.... what a tongue.

The kids all liked the Giraffs. Trever wanted to ride one. Who could have guessed? Caleb and Regane were the only ones that would get in the picture with the Giraffs.
We all enjoyed the rest to our feet with a train ride. Then we decided the best way to end a trip to the zoo was with ice cream. Diary Queen still makes the best dipped cones and blizzards. I figure that now I have photographic proof that I love my children. It is a good mom that takes her children to the zoo. We had so much fun. Thanks aunt Shai for taking us.