Merry Christmas!

Love,

Andrew, Becky,

Kimball, & Hazel

Hazel's Birthday (Late)

Yesterday before dinner Hazel was so tired and hungry that she cried for 20 minutes, "I don't want to grow up, I want to stay little forever." This reminded me that I am so far behind on posts that it is embarrassing, so I have a great deal of blog catching up to do.

Hazel turned 4 in October. I tried to convince her that it would be fun to have a princess birthday, but she reminded me, "Mom, I want a horse birthday party, I am a horse LOVER!!!" That is somewhat of an understatement. (She is obsessed.) She frequently calls Grandpa Black to ask him about the horses. She was so overjoyed the other day when she asked Grandpa Black if the horses would be resurrected and she would be able to meet one of the horses that died when Andrew was a little boy. As soon as Andrew got home she said, "Good news Daddy, the horses will be resurrected and I will be able to see Boxer someday." Needless to say, she had a horse birthday party.

Kimball gave her new cowboy boots for her birthday. She didn't take them off all day.

She had a small party with her friends. They had a stick-horse race in the yard. They played "pin the tail on Two-Shoes" (Her favorite of Grandpa's horses.), colored pictures, and decorated cowboy hats.

Andrew had to leave very early for work that day so we didn't get to celebrate her birthday as a family until late at night. We of course had the traditional rice crispy cake that night as a family. She got new clothes for her doll, and a horse for her doll.

It's tradition for Daddy to give her roses on her birthday.

Hazel he got 4 orange roses. (She cried for 20 minutes one day about not wanting her roses to die. . . they are dried and hanging in her bedroom with all the roses from her other birthdays.)

As you can see she is her Daddy's pride and joy!

Halloween 2010

Skeleton Family

All 4.5 of us!

My sister, Heather, was pregnant last year at Halloween so she offered to loan us the shirts she and her husband wore. I took her up on the offer and then added legs to our costumes. If we were going as skeletons, so were the kids. It took a little bit of work to get all the bones painted on, but it was worth it. (My Dr. Hubby informed me that the bones are not all in the correct placement. He wasn't home at the time to help me make sure I was getting them right so don't look too close if you know your skeletal anatomy.)

Boy

We're so excited for healthy boy! Now if we can just stop arguing and settle on a name!

What do you think?

Boy or Girl???

Next Wednesday is the ultra sound.

We are very excited to find out the flavor of the baby!

What do you think?

(You can also vote on the side of the blog.)

9 Years and Counting

• 8 wards,
• 7 hobbies,
• 6 moves,
• 5 cars,
• 4 years of Med school,
• 3 states,
• 2.5 kids,
• 1 dog

and 9 years later

Happy Anniversary!

I love you,

Becky

Scrub Buddies

Time for a Trim

Before

During

After

Preschool Cancelled

I have decided to cancel the preschool class that I was planning on teaching this next year. It seems like it will be in the best interest of our family, since I will have to take at least a month off in January for our new addition. Yes, we are having a baby in January. The kids are really excited. Hazel told Andrew shortly after we broke the news to the kids, "Daddy I will help feed the baby and water the baby."

All I want for summer is my two front teeth

(Kimball wouldn't hold still for a picture, this is the best I could do.)

Last weekend Kimball finally lost his two front teeth. It was about time since they had been barely hanging there for more than a week. Thanks to eating an Oreo cookie for the first one, and number two popped out while rough housing with his friend Josh.

Science Class with Grandma Connie

A couple of weeks ago my sister, Shelley, came to visit from Denver. While she was staying in Idaho at my parent's house we also went to visit for the weekend.

Grandma Connie is a GREAT science teacher to a couple of curious little grand kids. She loves to take them on a walk behind her house in the "tree field" to explore. She made sure that they each had a bucket for a nature collection.

I usually sit around the house glad for the peace and quiet for a few minutes, but I tagged along with them this time and was very glad that I did. I caught some priceless moments with my camera. There were also some priceless conversations between the kids and made up songs, too bad that I couldn't have captured those someway too. Enjoy!

Hazel, cousin Scottie, Kimball, & Grandma Connie

Blowing dandelions

Investigating an ant hole.

This science teacher is a big hit with this little class!!!

Out of the mouth of Hazel

"I don't wike my nose. It is stuffy. . . I can't bweeve. I don't wike my nose. I need a new nose."

"Have a holly dolly Christmas!"

"Santa Clause says Ho Ho Ho, Merry Christmas."

"Kimball don't talk." (Yelling)

"Daddy told me." (crying as she gets into trouble)

Kimball was playing Toy Story the video game on the playstation. In part of the game Buzz Lightyear runs around on the counter in the kitchen. Hazel said, "He is not supposed to get onto the counter." (Can you tell that she has been told a time or two to not get onto the counter?)

Out of the mouth of Kimball

"Mom you should just let kids do what they want to."

"Dad take the short-cut home not the long-cut please."

Just a couple of days before the big play off game to find out who was going to the Superbowl Kimball was wearing his Pittsburg Steelers hat. He pulled it off in the car as we were driving. Hazel quickly put it on her head. Kimball got really mad and started to throw a fit that she had stolen his hat. We tried to reassure him that she just wanted to try it on and would give it back he. He was still very upset and sobbed, "But now the Steelers are going to loose."

Soccer 2010

This spring Kimball has been in soccer, and he has loved it. Here he is all dressed up in his soccer uniform. He was really a good little player and made a couple of goals during the handful of games that they played.

His team was "Killer Whales". He enjoyed soccer so much more this year than last, not only because he understood the rules and idea more, but because he played on the team with some of his best friends. His coach, Tadd May, is his friend Emerson's dad. That made it extra special.

Kimball could barely wait for the last game which he has come to call, The Super Bowl. He was so excited to get a trophy for being the winning team, but when he found out that everyone gets a trophy no matter if you win or loose he was slightly bothered. However, his soccer trophy sits proudly on his dresser next to his trophy from last year, along with a couple of Andrew's old music trophies. (What can I say the boy likes trophies, even if they are not ones he has earned.)

Way to go Killer Whales!

Preschool

Here is the official name for my preschool this next year. If you know anyone who is in search of a preschool for next year in my area send them my way and I will get them a brochure. I am going to have about 8 kids in the preschool total so space is very limited.

Suggestions Please!!!

I've made the decision to start a preschool next year in my house. I am excited to again use all of my education to do something productive while being able to stay at home. I need your help. I don't know what to name the preschool.

Andrew's vote is for "Little Urban Achievers Academy"

I have thought about using animals to build my name and decorating theme, but I am not %100 set on that. I would love some name suggestions or ideas that you might have.

Happy Kidney Day #9

Today is the 9th anniversary of Andrew's kidney transplant. Here is a picture of Andrew and his sister, Janine, the day they got out of the hospital. (I'm sure they would prefer that I not post this picture of the two of them at their finest hour, but this is a very important picture in our family album.)

Last year I posted all the details of the kidney transplant so I will spare every one of the same details. But . . . for those of you who don't know how a kidney transplant works I will say a little bit more. It seems logical that the diseased/failing kidneys would be removed before placing in a transplant, but it is not worth the risk to remove both kidneys so they are left in place. The new kidney is placed in the front abdomen, as you can see from the picture. Andrew has 3 kidneys; however, only one is functioning. Due to the fact that the transplanted kidney is not as well protected deep in the body there have to be some considerations taken. The only restriction that the doctors gave Andrew was to not be involved in full contact sports, like football where a whole pile of grown men can squish a kidney.

Janine’s family will be joining us for our wacky kidney day celebration this evening. It is tradition to make something kidney shaped for dinner, suggestions anyone? I’m running out of ideas.

Here is a picture of Andrew and I the day that he left the hospital after his transplant. He proposed two months later. I guess he already knew I was in it "for better or for worse".

Happy Kidney Day Andrew!
Thanks Janine!

National Organ Donation Awareness Month

April is National Organ Donation Awareness Month. This is not something many people take the time to think about, but it is an important decision. I carry with me in my wallet me driver’s license with YES organ donor marked, behind that is my signed organ donation card, and behind that is my blood donor card that shows my blood type.

Here are some facts everyone should know:

• Over 79,000 U.S. patients are currently waiting for an organ transplant; nearly 3,000 new patients are added to the waiting list each month.
  
• Every day, 16 to 17 people die while waiting for a transplant of a vital organ, such as a heart, liver, kidney, pancreas, lung or bone marrow.
  
• Because of the lack of available donors in this country, 2,025 kidney patients, 1,347 liver patients, 458 heart patients and 361 lung patients died in 2001 while waiting for life-saving organ transplants.
  
• Nearly 10 percent of the patients currently waiting for liver transplants are young people under 18 years of age.
  
• Acceptable organ donors can range in age from newborn to 65 years or more. People who are 65 years of age or older may be acceptable donors, particularly of corneas, skin, bone and for total body donation.
  
• An estimated 10,000 to 14,000 people who die each year meet the criteria for organ donation, but less than half of that number become actual organ donors.

For more information on organ donation, including how to be an organ, and the pdf file to down load the organ donor card, visit this national website.
http://organdonor.gov/get_involved/donatelifemonth.htm

Catch of the Day

Last weekend while we were in Idaho, Andrew took Kimball fishing on the river in an "undisclosed location". The two of them had been fishing for quite awhile and Kimball was ready to call it quit but decided to give it 5 more minutes. Kimball was using an old bait rod of Grandpa's. Andrew was busy using his fly rod just a short distance away. Kimball then told Andrew, frustratingly, "Dad, I think I have ANOTHER snag." Just as he finished saying that they saw a fish come flying up out of the water.

Here is Kimball's catch that he caught all by himself while Andrew coached him along. It's a 21 inch Cut Throat. (Andrew didn't catch anything, and Kimball was pretty proud that he out fished Daddy. "He got skunked and I didn't." Andrew wouldn't have traded the moment for the biggest fish in the river!)

Kimball's absolute favorite thing to do is fish with his Dad!

Turtle Bread

I again was reminded of a funny things that Hazel came up with a couple of months ago and have to share.

I have to admit something first, I LOVE french bread. I cannot walk into the grocery store and pass the cart with the warm freshly baked french bread without buying a loaf, or two. I frequently make a run to the grocery store just minutes before dinner to pick up a loaf. This leads to my story.

One night after a last minute run to the grocery store for a soft fluffy loaf of freshly baked french bread, I quickly sliced it and put it on the table for the family to enjoy with our spaghetti dinner. (Another frequent at our house.) As we sat down to the table to eat Hazel quickly grabbed the closest piece to her, the heal. This is my very favorite part of the french bread and I have a hard time allowing someone else to eat it. Besides my kids don't even like crust. So that night after Hazel had grabbed this particular piece and placed it face down on her plate (round smooth side up) I tried to convince her that she may want one of the other less crusty pieces. She insisted on wanting this piece and justified wanting it because it looked like a turtle. The heal of the french bread at our house is now affectionately called "turtle bread".

Popcorn

I forgot to post this funny Hazel story on the last post, so here is another one.

My sister in law, Chandra, added to our family recipe book Cinderella Popcorn. It happens to be one of my very favorite treats ever. The other night I asked the kids if we should make Cinderella Popcorn for a treat. Hazel quickly responded, "I don't want Cinderella Popcorn, I want Belle Popcorn."

Needless to say that our Cinderella Popcorn ended up being yellow "Belle Popcorn" that night.

Here is the recipe for the Cinderella Popcorn if anyone is interested.

Popcorn (about 1 cup of unpopped popcorn kernels)
2 C. Sugar
2 Tbl. Butter
1/2 C. Milk
Food Coloring
Flavoring (I usually just use Vanilla, but any flavoring can be used.)

Cook in a sauce pan to the soft ball stage of the candy thermometer. Pour over the popcorn and stir until set. (It may take a few minutes, but keep stirring.) As it sets up the mixture hardens on the popcorn and is no longer sticky.

Reasons to smile

Hazel is always saying or doing things that make me smile. I love to find humor in the funny things that she does each day. So here are a few that just brought a smile and giggle to me in the last few weeks.

One day she came in and sat down at the table while I was fixing dinner. She was mumbling something to herself. Here was the conversation:

Mom: "What are you talking about?"

Hazel:"The mysteries of God."

Mom: "Where did you learn about the mysteries of God?"

Hazel:"From Daddy."

Mom: "What are the mysteries of God?

Hazel:"They are treasures."

Wow! I think she may have something to that 3 year old insight.

_____________________________________________

The other day while Hazel was sitting at the kitchen table finishing up her dinner I started to wipe the table off. I showed her how I wipe the table by putting my hand underneath of it and wipe all the crumbs into my hand with the dish rag and then throw the crumbs into the garbage. I did this to show her that it is easier for me to clean up the table than to have her throw it all on the floor and then re-sweep the floor too. Shortly there after she was standing on the stool next to the counter as we made cupcakes together. I looked over as she grabbed one of the dish towels and proceeded to gently wipe the little bits of powdered sugar off the counter into her hands. I had to smile!

________________________________________________

Hazel: "Mom this is my tushion." (holding up a pillow)

Mom: "Oh you mean your cushion."

Hazel: "No my tushion."

I reach over and playfully pinch her bottom. "I think this is your tushion."

Hazel: "I call that my bun."

In the words of my Mom, "Aren't kids great???"

Hazel's Heart Hair

The day before Valentines Day I saw a little girl with her hair braided into a heart. I just had to try it on Hazel for Valentines day. I was really surprised how many people actually noticed that it was a heart. It is a little bit crooked, but I will have to practice again.

Kimball and Hazel were soooo cute. They kept calling each other "my valentine" and giving each other kisses. I hope they always stay friends. Hazel looked so grown up in her skirt and blouse, it is hard to believe how big she has gotten.

Once There Was A Snowman!

Kimball's 6th Birthday

For Kimball's birthday party this year he decided on a camouflage-safari birthday. So here we are making cupcakes for the big party. You can see in the picture all the different colors of cake batter in the separate bowls. We made the cake camouflage colors so each little cupcake looked funny when the kids bit in.

Kimball invited 3 friends from school and 4 friends from church. When Kimball and Hazel were included that made 9 kids at the party. It was CRAZY!!! Luckily we only held the party for an hour so it worked out alright.




Kimball's birthday party was on a Friday although his birthday wasn't until Monday. We ended up celebrating as a family on Monday night. For his birthday he got a whole bunch of new clothes, and a camera and camera case. He has really been enjoying taking pictures with his new camera. On his birthday cake there is a sparkler shaped as a number 6.

Why didn't I think of that?

Alrighty I know it has been nearly a month since my last post, I just haven't had time to spend catching up. I will get to it soon. I did want to share this funny story though.

On Monday the kids and I went on a short day trip to visit my sister, Heather, in Idaho. She just had a baby a couple of weeks ago and we wanted to meet the new little guy. I have to preface my story be explaining where Heather lives. She lives in a little community about 20 minutes west of Malad, Idaho and about 20 minutes north of Snowville Utah. This is a small farming community in the middle of Arbon Valley. The kids were patiently riding in the car and their movie had just ended to keep them busy I kept telling them to look out the window. Well we were just a short distance out of Tremonton, Utah, and there isn't much of anything to see. I pointed out a little old abandoned farm that was visible from the interstate.

Kimball's response: "Does anyone live there anymore?"


Me: "No it is just an old farm that isn't used anymore. See how old the house is, it is falling apart."


Kimball: "I guess it is called a Ghost Farm."


I laughed right out loud for a few minutes. We enjoyed watching for "Ghost Farms" the rest of the way to Aunt Heather's house.