Update- Merry Christmas

We had a very Merry Christmas, I was blessed to be feeling full of energy for the two weeks prior to christmas, WOW it quickly disappeared after, but it got us through the holiday which was very nice!

The boys doing the "nativity story" that is always an entertaining event in our household, I hope they learn from it also!

Santa again came to visit the boys at home (which was a good thing because I don't think we made it to the mall one) All our shopping was done online, I was not going to deal with the stores this year. Thank goodness the boys were good enough for a personal visit!

Boys all excited for the Christmas party at Grandpa and Grandma's House!

First Christmas present is as always PJ's, don't they look adorable in them? We had a great Christmas with way to many presents as usual. We didn't do as many "service" related items as I like, but we fit in a couple, hoping the boys enjoy the giving as much as the receiving!

Update- Wow he is Getting Old

I can't believe my son is 7, he is such a great kid! We did a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Party this year, Colby had one on a previous birthday and since we again were not getting snow on the ground (so no sledding party), he decided he wanted to do another one. Allen was the "master" and taught them some moves, then they opened presents, had pizza, green drink and cupcakes. Then watched a turtle movie downstairs. Great party they loved doing the moves etc.

Colby is loving school and learning so much everyday. He is a great friend and the Best Brother Brody could have.

He loves to read and is getting into chapter books and reads anything and everything around. He loves playing with friends and his brother. He loves movies and hanging out with family. He likes cars and will constantly point out similar cars to those we or family members drive out on the roads. We are so lucky to have him in our family and to have him be such a good big brother. We are excited to seeing what being 7 brings!

The first thing 7 brought was the losing of his two front teeth, we had fun all Christmas signing, "All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth" He lost his first one on the Buzz lightyear ride (yes on it) and the next one quickly after he turned 7!

Halloween Fun

We had a great Halloween. Colby wanted to be Frankenstein, I went to every costume store in the area and even looked in Universal Studios in California, no go. Finally I found a costume online for him. Thank goodness for a bunch of different activities, Brody wanted to be a Ninja Turtle, he ended up getting swine flue the week before Halloween and had to miss a few parties. He felt better by Halloween, but we didn't take them out to long so he wouldn't get worse. They love Halloween, especially Brody, this is the first year thought that the day after I can honestly say my boys were on a "Sugar High"

Update- Are we crazy or what....

We had such a nice time in Disneyland last January that we decided why not let's go again...... Does that make us crazy??? ABSOLUTELY! We went with some of my family. The boys hit the BYU game in Vegas and California. We went to Disneyland, the beach, Universal Studios, Sea World and San Diego Zoo.

At Hunington Beach with all the family, ocean was a little cold, but it didn't stop them from going in.

Disneyland!!! Caitlin was Brody's buddy at Disneyland, he wanted to sit by her and be around her the whole time. We did have a scare this year though, while Allen and I were riding Alice in Wonderland, Brody and Colby were with my brother and sister-in-law, plus they had their 3 kids. When we got off of the ride, Jason came up to us and said, "Brody is lost" we didn't believe him at first, but quickly realized he wasn't kidding. I imediately sent Allen one way and I went the other looking for him. As I am walking through fantasyland calling his name, I of course think of all the horrible things that could of happened. I turn back to be sure I get all my brothers to check the bathrooms and head towards one to check it out. As I am looking into the bushes, and water by the castle, I get a text from Allen that he found him. I am so PROUD of my little boy. When we went on vacation last January we told our boys if they got lost to sit down off to the side, to not wonder, but just sit down and then we explained who to talk to when they are lost. Brody said he thought he saw my brother leave the store and followed him, I'm not sure when he realized he was following the wrong person, but he was had wondered from the Mad Hatter store towards the castle. During that time a Disney worker noticed that he was wondering alone. Their policy is to follow the child for awhile to make sure a parent isn't keeping an eye on him from a far and give the parent a chance to find him. She said she followed him through the castle where he went straight to the bench and sat down. She then asked him his name and sat there with him. I asked him why he sat down and he remembered what we had told him. He was so brave and didn't cry until Allen found him. He remembers getting lost and making his Aunt Cindy cry and making his mom and dad sad. I would have to say having a child lost is one very scary experience. After that I think everyone slowed down a bit and we were able to enjoy the rest of our disneyland experience. Our goal this trip was for Colby to like the "big" rides and we achieved that! We knew with him being able to go on these rides with his cousin Jordan and Uncles he would realize what fun they were. He even went on Indiana Jones again and had fun. The boys favorite ride had to of been Star Tours, then went on that a ton of times. I of course being pregnant was stuck on the sidelines watching, but when it comes to Star Tours, I'm quite okay with that!

This is one of my favorite pictures, Goofy and Colby both as skeletons, how cool is that?

We again did breakfast with Minnie, that is one of our favorite things to do and it was so rainy that it added a nice break from outside. Plus the kids get to see so many characters, their favorite seems to be

Captain Hook and Chip and Dale, this time it was a little bit busier than last, plus we did breakfast earlier and so they characters didn't spend as much time goofing off, something to remember next time.

This is at Universal Studios, we didn't get to everything we wanted to here, but I'm sure the kids didn't notice just us Adults.... My favorite event was there was a crepe store right outside the park where I got a yummy crepe, hmmm yes it is all about the food at 6 months pregnant.

Brody's favorite places were not Disneyland or Universal Studios, but Sea World and San Diego Zoo, of course, he LOVES animals, I'm not sure if this is THE killer whale, hopefully not, but it was a great show and I was a little grateful that my boys weren't at the show the whale went crazy, because Brody loved it and I would hate for him to be scarred for life.

All in all it was a hectic tiring trip and I paid for it MAJOR after with Bronchitis and Brody ended up getting Swine Flu, so much for being the hand sanitizer nazi, it did no good, thank you for all you that helped take care of our sick household after this trip!!

Brody First Day of School

Brody is starting a pre-preschool, He will be going a couple days a week for two hours. I am excited for him to go and get some friends. Brody is a very social guy, except he is very comfortable with his brother and it will be good for him to be around other kids his age. He is nervous, the day we took him to meet the teacher he wouldn't leave me. Here is his picture ready to leave...

He wouldn't let us get a picture without Colby.

Brody is such a stud. When he got there he was sooo nervous, he wouldn't let me leave. I was the only mom left there and everytime I tried to go he would run and grab me crying. Finally I convinced him that I would stand in the doorway until he was comfortable, but ONLY if he would go participate with the rest of the kids. That worked and once the teacher started storytime, he looked up and said, "Bye Mom" I'm so proud of my little one for being so brave!

School is Starting for Colby

I can't believe how big my Colby is. He is so excited to be going to first grade. First I must tell you how I AGAIN put my foot in my mouth. I am the biggest dork sometimes. So I have been upset with Colby's school, we did our track requests, which I of course requested A Track, then D Track. Thinking either would be good, but A Track would mean he didn't have to miss school during our vacation and he would be home when the baby came. D Track was an option that would work. So what track do we get.... B, what the heck? Not even my first two and I have two neighbors that got A track and didn't even submit a choice. Well to change a track you had to go to the school by 8 in the morning, first come, first right to change. Well I sent Allen there 30 minutes prior to 8 and he ended up being number 9 in line. So I figured no problem we def. will get our change request. Well time comes and goes and I hear nothing, so I call, they say they will call me back and so I wait. Again no call, then I go in and leave a note, she said she would check into it, no call. Finally I go back in talk to the person I need to, she agains says she will look into it, gives me a call an hour later and says, "Sorry, there is no room in A track" I was furious, knowing they had to of messed up with the paperwork, being number 9 in line and knowing at least 5 of the people in front were working on getting other tracks. Same time I get a notice that Colby's teacher is a male. Well I'm not sure why that worried me, my favorite elementary teacher was a male first grade teacher. I just didn't think Colby would respond well to a Male teacher and I worried how hard he would be on the kids etc...

So I am hanging out at the school for a PTA mtg (yes I got suckered to participate in that) I was talking to the front person in the office who I knew and decided to ask her about this teacher, get an idea of what to expect. Well as I was asking her, this guy walks into the office and stands about 10 feet away, he had longer hair and in "work" style clothes, I saw him, but didnt' think for a minute he was a teacher, oh how wrong I was!!! After asking the front person if she had any information on him, she said he was new this year. Then as I asked her if he was a "manly man" and what type of teacher he was, she kinda pointed her head back. I thought that the guy in the principals office must of been the teacher (again not thinking it was the man 10 feet away) I was whispering, but not quite enough I am sure. The next day when it was time to meet Colby's new teacher, who would it be, but the man that was standing 10 feet away. I was sooooo embarrassed, I can't believe what a dork I am. Well all my worry ment nothing. Colby LOVES his new teacher, he is sooo excited to have a guy teacher and soooo excited to start school. I am going to miss my little man so much, a whole day of school he will be gone......

Brody MISSED HIM sooooo much, every hour he asked, "When is Colby coming home?" He was not happy to see him leave after having a summer of fun with him!!

Colby came home and said, "That was the BEST FIRST DAY of FIRST GRADE EVER" it can't get any better than that!

Like a Fish

AMAZING, what a set of swimming lessons, a GOOD swim teacher who takes the time to be strict but gentle with your boy and all of a sudden I have a FISH for a son. Those who know Colby, he HATES water or should I say he HATED water. As a baby due to the eczema and how bad it irritates his skin he has not liked being near water. I finally decided he needed to learn how to swim. Signed him up for some last minute swimming lessons, and how lucky we got a good swim teacher. After the first day she mouthed to me after if he was afraid of the water, I confirmed he was and she said that she would work on that. She was AMAZING, one set of swim lessons and Colby LOVES to swim, he is getting so good and confident in the water. THANK YOU, THANK YOU Colby's swim teacher that took the time to help him. It might of only been 3 weeks of lessons, but she was amazing and did wonders with our son.

He became quite the swimmer. We got in a lot of swimming during the summer so Colby could practice his new found skills!!!

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Brody just loved the water, we plan on adding him in the lessons in the fall.