Happy Thanksgiving!

So ...
The week was supposed to be easy. Monday, normal schedule. Tuesday, after preschool, we would pack up the car, Aaron would be on a half day, we'd pull Ben early from school and head to Phoenix. Then, we'd have a fun-filled 7 hour car ride with the stop for fireworks and ice cream; visit with my sis in Tucson, and get to see grandma and grandpa. I guess that is kinda what happened - only with a good deal of vomit and poop.

Aaron was on call on Saturday, so we went up to see him and Ben wanted a picture of his hand - just like his sisters got a while back. As we got done, Audrey threw up on the machine. ACK! I spent the rest of the night up with her, and we didn't go to church on Sunday. Not fun. By Sunday night, the vomiting was over, but there was much poop. MORE NOT FUN. Really, I attributed all of this to her top teeth that are fast approaching.

Then, Tuesday morning came. We were packed, ready for preschool, and Aaron was ready to leave. I had arranged for a friend to come over and monitor Audrey for explosions. Then, Alex threw up. Aaron decided to stay home, and kept both girls upstairs while I did preschool. After preschool, my independent, opinionated three year-old curled up in my lap and fell asleep. We said a prayer, got Ben, and got in the car.

The ride was okay - just a few incidences of reaching for the bucket. By the time we got to Auntie Heather's in Tucson, Audrey needed a bath. YUCK. We stayed only a little while, and Ben and Al seemed fine - no more puking! (Until it was time to get back on the freeway...) We made it to grandma's house and crashed. Al was all better, Ben was all better, Audrey was contained in her diaper - and Mom and Dad were exhausted.

By morning, there was energy abounding! We got to do two great things - go to Chick-fil-a and see our friends the Walshs and the Walkers! After a yummy meal, we went to the Walkers house and played in the rain in the backyard. Alex finally got to play with Hunter!

The kids had fun and I got to visit with some dear amigas. Pretty great!

Thursday brought the cooking of the 26 1/2 pound turkey. It was beautiful, delicious, and succulent. One of the best. Mom's stuffing was amazing. Larissa even made a pie. Whoa.

Audrey got some good grandpa time. She really liked his mustache.

On Friday night, we went to the car show! The Honda Accord has a really big trunk.

And here are the things I am most thankful for. We have our health (finally), we have enough for our needs - and some of our wants, and we are together. We have wonderful families, amazing friends, and the gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives. We are so very blessed!

Thankful

As I listen to the wind gust around my master bedroom,

I am thankful for many things.

First and foremost, I am thankful that I have a warm house and that I am protected from the blustery weather.

Second, I am thankful for a husband who is home tonight, and enjoying the Suns game instead of doing stuff at the hospital. Because when he is home, everything will be okay and the noises of our house disappear.

Third, I am thankful for the Sunbeam electric blanket company. A while back, a friend mentioned her love of blankets. I truly LOVE my blanket. Aaron bought it for me last year, and aside from letting me put my cold feet on him every night, it was one of the nicest things he's ever done for me.

I love being warm.

Taking up the slack

I've been slacking.

Sorry.

We've been busy - lots of playing to do around here!

On Friday, we went with our church playgroup to a petting zoo in Socorro (so close to the border you can see through the fence - There is a HUGE waterpark in Juarez!). The animals were fun to visit and the kids had a lot of fun. Luke and Alex are such great buddies. Blake and Audrey were quite comfy in their strollers.




Beyond the usual farm animals, they had some deer, a buffalo (or a bison - what's the diff?), llamas, and peacocks. Here's a darling bum shot.



Saturday, we had a garage sale. I am proud to say that we sold everything in only 2 hours! For my sibs, I sold the Big TV for $40 - and they knew that it didn't work! We got rid of the now threadbare blue couch, also. Overall, it was a big success.

Monday, we got up and met our friends at the gym. When Emily made it home, she found out that the Dentist had finally called with an open appointment to fix her broken tooth. So Luke and Blake came to play! Alex and Luke disappeared into her room, making delectable desserts in her princess kitchen for 45 minutes! Audrey and Blake (3 weeks apart) played - crawling up the stairs together, attempting to exchange pacifiers, and generally, keeping me on my toes.
We had a good time, but I am totally glad that I do not have 4 children 3 and under. Oy.

I'll try not to slack quite so much. I know you all are waiting on baited breath to see what we're up to next. :)

My little laundry helpers

Today, Audrey crawled into the laundry room to help with the laundry. She is almost 11 months old, and this lovely little dress reminded me of my other little laundry helpers from a while back.
Here is Alex and Ben in July of 2006. Note the same little dress. Al was 13 months old - with much more hair than Audrey - in two months will it grow that much?I think this is why moms hold on to their kids' old clothes. The memories of the children in those clothes are almost as precious as the children themselves. :)

How I get Alex to do my bidding

Alex loves Diego. More than she ever loved Dora. ("Impossible!," you think.) I can use Diego to get her to do almost anything. No, not by promising her that she can watch a show (although that is very useful in a non-creative moment), but by telling her that she can be just like Diego.

It all began one Saturday, about a month ago, at Walmart...

Alex had to go potty, so I was elected to take her, and Aaron went on shopping throughout the store. As we got out of the bathroom, it was time to find Dad.

Me: Alex, you should call for Dad and see if he answers.

Alex: Dad! DAD!

Me: (less loud) Daddy! Where are you?

Alex: Mom! He's lost! I know, I'll call Falcon. He can find him! Falcon! Falcon!

Me: Alex, we're in a store, I don't know if Falcon will be able to come in.

Alex: It's okay, he's here in my pocket. Falcon can find Dad; Falcons have excellent eyes and can spot things from far away. Go Falcon! Go find Dad! (she releases her imaginary bird.)

Now, I use her love of Diego to get her to do things.

Me: Alex, use your spotting scope to find Audrey's pacifier. See if Baby Jaguar can help you. I know you can do it!

Alex: Okay mom! Come on, Baby Jaguar!

It's a lovely system. It does require a knowledge of Diego vocabulary and Diego amigos, and the 22 minutes per show are well worth the services she is able to provide.

Aaron's Birthday

Aaron's birthday is today, so we went out to play yesterday. We intended to go to the local Farmer's Market, and found out that it had closed for the winter season. Oops. We ended up at Bob-O's Playland. It was super fun! Audrey played for a while on the video games. Then, Alex and Audrey rode on the bus.

Aaron, the kids, and I played a little golf. Haha. Get it? A "little" golf? :)

Aaron took turns with the kids riding go-carts.

Today, we sent him off an errand, had some friends come over, and decorated.

He came home and SURPRISE! Happy Birthday, honey!

I love my husband dearly. He is the best thing in my life, and the best father for our children. He sits in church and puts star stickers on his little girl's fingernails. He wakes up in the middle of the night to give Audrey back her pacifier. He takes the boy out to ride his bike, even when he should be studying. And even though I know what I look like, he still drools over me.

We have spent the last 9 birthdays together, and they've been amazing. I look forward to many, many more. Happy Birthday to the most amazing husband EVER!

Halloween

Here are my fun kiddos dressed up for Halloween.

Ben was Captain Hook (he used his own money to pay for half of his costume), and Alex was a witch. Audrey got to re-use Ben's first costume - a giraffe.
We went to the Trunk-or-Treat at church and had a fun time. Then, we went to our friend Kate's house, and visited with Kate, Estephen, Kristine, Kristine's parents, and Alanna. On an emergency stop to the Walmart Neighborhood Market to get new pacifiers (all of ours have gone missing!), we saw Kevin, Emily, Luke and Blake. Then, we went home to hand out candy. It was a fantastic night. Happy Halloween!