October...

October has been and gone, and way to fast might I add.  It seemed like we had something going all the time and were so busy, yet I can only think of a few blog-worthy events, hence the once a month blogging (if even that!).  I'll try and keep this post to the 'Reader's Digest condensed version' and just touch on the highlights.
*We ended September and started Oct with being in charge of our ward campout held at Snow Canyon State Park.  We fried up scones for desert and did breakfast the next morning.  It all turned out quite good and everybody had a lot of fun. I did feel bad for those whose tents got went when the sprinklers came on in the night...  Troy and the boys camped while Camrie and I went back and forth.

All bundled up at camp

*October 22 was Braxton's 6th birthday.  I can't believe how fast time has gone by and how BIG he is.  Seriously, when he stands in line at Kindergarten he is a whole head taller and probably the most husky kid in his class.  Honestly he is just plain SOLID, and will make a great linebacker some day.  I'm guessing one hit and his opponent will be laid out flat.
We had a fun bowling party, inviting his cousins and a couple friends from his primary class.  Then back home for presents, cake and ice cream.  Later on Nick and Paige joined us for dinner at Olive Garden, Braxton's favorite place to eat because he loves the little ' it's our turn to be seated' buzzers.  Despite my best efforts to convince him otherwise, he was pretty set on the idea of a Thomas the Train cake.  Now mind you, the Wilton train pan is unavailabe to purchase and I was not about to pay $30.00 for one off Ebay, so I looked up my fav birthday cake website and there was a blog with a complete tutorial and pix of how to make what was a cute (and very involved)  Thomas cake.  The face was made out of fondant which I have never ventured into using before now, and credit Troy and his slick carving skills for doing most of the shaping of Thomas while I watched in awe and horror as he said 'ok now you do this side....' All in all it turned out well and Braxton was so excited to watch it progress and see it all come together.  He came in the kitchen several times to tell me this was the greatest cake ever and it ' sure is a lot of work mom.'  I got it done an hour before the party and barely enough time to clean things up and head to the bowling alley.  A big thanks to Troy for staying home from work for the morning and manning the kids so I could get it done without a zillion interuptions.  We surprised Braxton with new bunkbeds for his birthday.  We put him to bed in the other bedroom and he woke up in the bottom bunk of the bed.  He came in around 5 am all concerned about why he was in a bunkbed, I rolled over and said we'd talk about it later and to go back to bed.  We've been a bit hesitant about bunkbeds because Braxton would fall out of his full-sized bed on a weekly basis and always kidded him saying  Tanner would have to sleep ontop so Braxton wouldn't have so far to fall.  So far after 2 weeks, Braxton on the top twin bunk has had no falls, and Tanner on the botton full-sized bunk has had about 5 and a scraped up chin from one of his falls (still not sure what he hit?)  Bunkbeds also frees up 2 convertable cribs.  We gave Braxton's to a family who needed it and moved Tanner's in the xtra bedroom for Camrie. Big sigh...my kids are growing up...:(

Thomas is finished:)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU...

New bunkbeds.  What's up w the gansta dudes?

*I was in charge of our annual mother/daughter weekend this year, that we usually try to schedule in the summer, but since having a baby in May, I really kinda forgot about it and had it the last full weekend of Oct. We rotate who is in charge and the weekend requires an overnight stay and no husbands or kids allowed.  My mom started this in 1995.  This year we went to Thriller, none of us had ever been, but we'll all go back next year.  I've never laughed so hard! It was awesome and makes me miss all my years of dance. We stayed up to our Worldmark condo (in the Penthouse!!) and loved the jaccuzii on the deck. We went bowling (a story of it's own, my mom does it with such style and grace!) shopping, ate lots of yummy treats and had a great time.  Our weekends in the past have taken us to the Shakespearn festival a few times, a murder mystery cruise on the Great Salt Lake, shows in Vegas, weekends at the cabin, the Zoo, and lots of other fun places.  It never matters what we have planned, we always have a blast.  Our husbands are great to keep the kids while we play and not have to be the mom's for a day or two!!

Mom

Caroline

Stephanie & Caroline renact the Jason scene

Valerie bowling

*Halloween brought carnivals, parties, and WAY too much candy before the actual event even arrived!!! Last Wednesday night was the carnival at the DRMC child development center where Tanner and Camrie go, and their 1 yr. anniversary of being open.  Thursday, was Braxton's party at Kindergarten that Troy and I were in charge of, and Xray also had a great Halloween lunch party that same day,  Thursday night, was the carnival at Country Kids daycare where Braxton has gone since he was 2 and still goes after Kindergarten.  Friday after school, Braxton's class at Country Kids was invited to Trick or Treat at Snow Canyon high school...more treats... and finally by the time Saturday arrived and we went to the Trunk or Treat, Braxton just wanted to sit and eat his hotdog.  I mean what mom has to literally pull her children out of the back of the truck to go get FREE candy??? and LOTS of it??  REALLY!!!  I think everyone was trick AND treated out.  Needless to say, I went back to work and an under-the-weather Troy took 3 onery kids home. 

                                                  Face painting at DRMC daycare carnival

Fishing pond w/  T's teacher Miss Jessica

The cutest pea-pod you've ever seen!

*Work is work...lately the ER never seems to be less than completely full which keeps us busy.  I can say I had one one of the dumbest questions asked of me yesterday. Patient's family member: "So can I ask you if this whole H1N1 thing has really affected this hospital yet & are they taking it that serious??" Me trying to be really nice AND with a smile..: "oh yeah we've been really busy this past month."  My inside voice saying:" Are you kidding me idiot? how long did you have to wait to be seen and did you not notice almost every person in the waiting rm and in the ER is wearing a mask, INCLUDING the person you are sitting here with???" for the love of all stupidity!!  Honestly where do these people come from??!!  Moving on to the kids....

*Does anybody know of  a boot camp that accepts 2 years old?? If so let us know ASAP, Tanner is a prime candidate! Rarely does Troy get upset nor really frustrated with the kids, that's my job! But lately Tanner can push all the right buttons and he does it frequently.  I try so hard to get after him but when he flashes me 'the look', you know the one where he tucks his chin down and looks up towards his eyebrows at you? that gets me everytime.  I try to be tough, grit my teeth, and be the mean mom, but end up laughing at him in stead,  the other night while cooking dinner, he pour his container of dry Cheerios on the floor, grabs his little rolling pin and started smashing them.  He is relentless at driving Braxton crazy.  There are many times where I do feel bad for Braxton b/c Tanner is constantly all over him, in his face, pinching, and in all just being a 2 year old little brother who wants to do everything B is doing..

Tanner can be so fun & a great helper....

and then turns into a devil child!!

*Camrie is my sweet 5 month princess who's smile melts my heart.  She is rolling over, giggling, pulling hair, and an up-the-back-pooping extrordinare.  I finally cut the cord, and we moved her into her crib and own room.  The boys were both out of the bassinet by 3 months, mostly b/c I was more afraid of bothering them.  Since she sleeps all night and doesn't make a move, I have'nt been in much of a rush to move her.

Look at all the wiggle room I have!!

LOVE this girl!

*Braxton is loving kindergarten.  Im so amazed at  the love and patience the teachers have with the kindergartners'. .
*Just thought I'd add...Troy has strepp, and got an antibiotic today.  This tops everything...I plugged my breast pump in today at work like I alway do, in the same outlet as the ultrasound machine,  and heard a big 'pop' and smelled an electrical burning smell. "FABULOUS"   I unplugged everything and tried to reboot my ultrasound machine and it came up just fine, except with the wrong probes that we don't use and crazy images swirling on the screen.  I spent time on the phone with technical support trying fix it and needless to say, G.E is  sending a tech out tomarrow to see which front power supply  needs to taken out and replaced, so it will be down for at least another day or 2. So my patients all went to the new hospital and so did I.  Darn I didn't even get to go home!! I was mostly  glad that my pump was ok. (Is that totally selfish of me?) I do feel bad, just like the time as an x-ray student in Cedar, when I opened the door to the dark room to go out, turned back around and said 'hmmm, so that's what the inside of the film bin looks like.' and in that same instant realized that I had opened the door with the film bin wide open, and had just exposed the entire film bin which had just been restocked, wasting an obscene amount of money :( 
*Well, this will have to do for now as I keep dozing off while typing.. thank goodness for spell check! so thanks for stopping by and goodnight!

Summer Recap

Yes, we are alive! What can I say other than my lack of blogging is due to nothing more than pure laziness!! Although, after a few failed attempts at trying to blog, I have concluded that I must've somehow offended the blogging Gods & are now being punished. Why you ask? 1) Good intentions of posting were replaced by falling asleep on the couch 2) Camera is in the car and too tired to go get it. 3)Can't log onto Blogger 4)Spent 40 mins typing out a post, couldn't get it to post, AND it didn't save arrgggg... 5) Tried again today & the bar at the top of the page to sign im wasn't there. I'm just glad that everyone else has kept up with theirs so I have something to read while I'm up at night :)

So here I am again with another feeble attempt. Camera is out of car, pix are downloaded, I'm obviously logged in, and not asleep on the couch. This is a good start. On with the highlights of the past 2 months:

We started our backyard project the first of July with a 46' long & at least 15'tall retaining wall made of the precast cement blocks, which look like huge legos stacked together by a remote control crane. Now instead of rolling down the hill which was our back yard, my kids can now just fall straight down off the wall! We hauled in 2 tons of fill dirt, and bless their heart, Troy and Nick backfilled it all by hand. I did make a pretty good dent in one of the dirt piles myself I must add. Last week we poured a little extension onto our patio which will be nice to have a bit more room to bbq & enjoy the yard. A big shout out to Travis Robinson for forming and helping to finish the cement. He is AWESOME! Guess that will teach him to ask if there is anything we need next time he comes home teaching (he helped us with tile last year). The next step is stinky mulch & sod. We've gotten a few bids on vinyl fencing (OUCH!) that will have to be next spring's project.

1st block laid

                                                       view of finished wall amid bushes from below

The 24th of July was fun to have all my family together in Beaver. We did the parade, park, bbq, horse races, fireworks, & lots of good visiting. My sister brought her 'trike' for us to try out. Have you ever tried one of these? It's hard to do (ok, so I'm just REALLY out of shape!)

Caroline on the trike

August began with our annual Smith family campout up on Beaver mtn. We had it at Tushar Lake campground, where my parents have been the hosts every summer almost 20 years since it opened. We all enjoyed canoeing, shooting, fishing, playing games, & eating lots! Nick & Paige came since they are basically family,& my sister's nanny & husband also came which added to the fun. Since this weekend fell in between Troy & Tanner's b.day's we celebrated them up there. I made a camping cake which turned out quite cute if I do say so. G.pa Webb & G.ma Kaye also came up from Cedar to have lunch and party with us. Aside from a few incidents and 'time outs' the kids all played and got along well. Camrie did great and slept thru both nights.

Braxton started a.m. Kindergarten at Sunset Elementary. His teacher is Ms. Callahan. He is doing well and likes it. Country Kids daycare takes him to school & picks him up, then we pick him up from the daycare after work which is such a sweet deal. I've enjoyed walking him to school on my days off.

Ms. Callahan

Tanner is just, well he's 2! Need I say more? He truly is our 'Tanner the tornado', why bother cleaning on my day off? He really is the funniest little guy ever. I could sit & watch him run back & forth all day, & laugh while he jabbers the cutest things. He loves to say "Ah, man" when things don't go his way, & had a great time playing peek-a-boo with his hand under my skirt in church a few weeks ago

Miss Becky                                        Bowling w/ dad

 

                                                                                                

 Camrie & Miss Ashley

The unfortunate day arrived on August 10th, that I had to return to work. You'd think by the 3rd time it wouldn't be that big of a deal? Not this time! I couldn't do it and took an extra week off without any PTO left and suffered greatly when the paycheck came and was only $125.00! But it was worth it! We love the DRMC Child Development Center!! Camrie's teachers in her 'Roly Poly' class literally pryed her out of my arms reassuring me that she (and myself) would be just fine. All the teachers there are great and love her Tanner so much. I did go down to visit them the other day while we didn't have any afternoon patients. Camrie was asleep...no big deal. Tanner was fine til he realized that I wasn't there to take him home. He cried the hugest tears & was so mad at me, he woudn't have anything to do with me when I tried to love him & say bye. Lesson learned: endure the long boring afternoons with my co-workers, forget the kids!

Troy's bad elbow has resurfaced a few times since the first bout of bursitis in May & was getting worse (thanks to shoveling 2 tons of dirt) so a month ago he had surgery to remove the damaged bursa. He wore a splint for 2 weeks that covered all but 4 inches of his right arm. He got along ok, but was entertaining to watch him do things left-handed. Ever tried putting deodarant under your left armpit with your left hand???

getting the drain taken out of his elbow

Camrie is now 3 1/2 months and is so much fun. She truly is the light of our lives, & her brother's little princess. Her smile is infectious & almost a bit mischievious at times and her giggles make us giggle right back. She's getting a little chubb but nowhere near as chubby as Tanner at her age. His Kankles were spilling over his socks at 2.5 months:) She has also discovered her hands, & has began to lose her cute hair that I could spike up for her bows.

We've had a fun, busy summer and can't wait for fall and cooler temps. Fall is my favorite season, for so many reasons, one of which includes FOOTBALL!! yes, once again we are bleeding red loud & proud at our house (go utes!. Hopefully we can make it up to a game this year.

I think i've covered most of our happenings for the last month or so. Sorry to be so detailed & long winded, but those who know me, know that's just the way I am. Hopefully I have repented & appeased the blogging gods & this post will go through!! Bed time. So where is the icon to download my picures, it's gone!! I beter start repenting more... pix to follow, maybe another day!

My little fish!

Braxton has just finished his first 2 week session of swimming lessons at the SHAC. He loved it and looked forward to going every day. He would ask at least 10 times before bed, if we were so proud of how well he did at the skills his class learned & practiced that day. He will go to another session after he comes back from staying with this dad for 2 weeks.

Happy 4th of July

We celebrated the 4th in Beaver with my family. The day begins around 6 a.m. with about 30 mins (although it seems to go on, and on...)of dinamite blasts that can be heard all over town. This is Beaver's way of saying good morning & happy 4th of July. I'm sure that any newcomers, would think we were under attack for sure! I've gotten pretty good at hearing a few booms, closing the bedroom window & going back to sleep. This also happens on the 24th of July. This year we decorated Braxton's bike so he could ride it in the children's parade which he thought was so fun. We hung out at the park for a bit and watched while Braxton & Tanner both won footraces for their age groups. Afterwards, we headed back to g.ma Smith's for lunch and time to relax. Later that evening we headed down to Greenville for a BBQ with more family. Greenville probably has more cows than residents, but they sure can put on an awesome patriotic program and some incredible fireworks. I am so proud to be and American, I can't imagine life any other way! We truly are blessed to have the freedoms that we do, and such brave soldiers fighting in our behalf.

Tanner in all his coolness :)


Dad & Camrie watching the parade & getting burps out


Braxton riding in the parade


Braxton and his ride


Me & my kids with my G.ma Fern Williams- the best cookie maker ever!!



Troy also made a small jump across the street from g.ma's house for Braxton to ride his bike over. Braxton thinks he's pretty hot stuff now he can go over a jump (even if it's only 6 inches high)

The contruction


Braxton approaching the jump


Tanner catches air on his trike


Random pix- taken on our way home. I love this area of dirt next to the freeway by Harrisburg

Relay for Life

The Relay for Life has become an event I look forward to each year. About 7 years ago, me, my mom, and sisters had a team at the St. George relay where my mom participated as a cancer survivor from lung cancer. We had so much fun we did it the next year and included our husbands, that was my 1st year as a cancer survivor myself. I try to do the survivor lap each year even if I'm not part of a team. This year Troy & I walked at the St. George relay in April, and then I went to Beaver June 26th and walked in the survivor lap with my 3 kids, & my mom, who was also part of the committee (you did a great job mom!)Braxton loved letting his balloon go at the end of the survivor lap & going back for breakfast in the morning. This is the first time Braxton has walked with me, & I feel it is only appropriate that he does since I was 20 wks pregnant with him when I found out about my cancer and had my thyroid removed, I feel he 'survived' with me! I can't believe it's been 6 years already time does fly. My mom & I talk a lot about how it doesn't matter what kind of cancer,the amount, or lack of treatment one goes through (mom didn't have any, I had one) the word 'cancer' means the same to all of us. We both feel guilty at times b/c there are those who endure such sicknes, and pain, and neither one of us had to go through that, yet it's still the same. The relay usually goes for 24 hours and a person from each team has to be on the track at all times, even in the rain! There is entertainment & fun through out the night & of course tons of food! If you have never participated in a relay it really is a blast!

Some Star Wars characters were also there to help fight cancer


Mom giving a little talk at the survivor reception


Mom & my boys

Lots of catching up to do....

Wow! Where does time go? It's been a busy summer and I really need to catch up, so if long, detailed, boring posts aren't your thing, then you probably should stop reading now...
June 15th, Troy's oldest brother JD, and his wife Kathy from Texas were in Cedar visiting his dad, so we went up for a hot dog and smore roast up Cedar mtn at G.pa Webb & G.ma Kaye's cabin. Troy's brother Gary, his niece Annie & daugher Gracie also joined us It was a cool day but lots of fun to visit and enjoy the mtns. This was Camrie's first 'outing' & I didn't even get one picture of her since she stayed inside most of the time (bad mom!)Tanner loved playing on the swings, and running around showing off, until he face planted it into the dirt!

Tanner & G.pa Webb


It's all fun & games until...


G.ma Kaye & Tanner


JD (wheelchair), Kathy, & Gary


G.pa Webb, Annie, & Gracie

Camrie's blessing

Camrie was blessed by her dad July 5th 2009 in the Green Valley 7th ward. It was a great day and we had tons of family and friends that came to support us. Troy gave her an awesome blessing that of course made me all teary (like that's anything new :)She had been so fussy earlier that morning and I was afraid that she'd cry during he blessing, but she didn't make a single peep! G.ma Smith bought her blessing dress, which I was informed was picked out by g.pa Smith - he always has such great taste! Her dress was so slick, I could only imagine her slipping out of everyone's hands as she was being bounced in the circle :) thanks g.ma & g.pa for helping Camrie look so beautiful. After Sacrament, we all went back to our house for lunch. For being passed around and being loved on ALL day long, Camrie was such a good girl, and sure enjoyed all the attention

Gotta love that double chin!


Love the dress!



Mom, Dad, & Camrie


All ready for church

Grandpa Webb & Grandma Kaye


Grandma & Grandpa Smith


Dig in and let's eat!!