HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Goodbye 2008, you were a good year and I will miss you. You went way too fast, I feel like I blinked and you were over. We had our 12th wedding anniversary, Elora was born, Degan turned 4 and started preschool, and Tyler turned 8 and got baptized. That is just a glimpse of all that happened during your time with us. Again, we will miss you.

I hope you all have a wonderful new year, I can't believe it is 2009. Make the best of this new year and cherish it. Time flies way too fast.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Daily Life Happenings

Just thought I would post some of the daily activities that happen around here.

Degan, our little gymnast, has been doing the splits for several months now so Daddy thought he should try it against two walls. Yesterday while holding onto the Wii remote control he did a one handed cartwheel. He is amazing.

Elora is pulling herself up to everything and is getting hurt more and more often. This was right after she busted her lip on a chair. Thank goodness for Popsicles.

She loves getting into the fridge. Whenever it is open she rushes towards it. It is ALMOST as fun as the toilet. I don't have a picture of that one because usually I am running her to the bathtub to clean her up. It has happened 3 times, once while there was pee in the toilet and she grabbed the toilet paper and was splashing it everywhere, YUCK! Jon found wet toilet paper on the wall and the sink. The new rule in our house is "SHUT THE DOOR!"

She just looks so sad, I think this was the night she was sick.

My little helper. Usually she tries to put the dirty clothes in the dryer when I am transferring the clothes from the washer to the dryer. Lovely, we've probably been wearing dirty clothes. Oh well that is life with a 10 month old.

Just looking adorable. She loves George, Curious George. We got Degan one when he had his surgery and she fell in love with it. I got her one for Christmas but was forced to give it to her early. Degan hated his all slobbery everyday.

And where is Tyler in our daily life? He is there but he is usually playing the Wii, Xbox or on the computer. I think we need to limit his use with these things. I don't have a picture of him. Sorry Tyler. I love him and he is such a good kid. He is always there when I need him to watch his sister or help his brother. We are so lucky to have him. We are so lucky to have all of them. I really couldn't imagine life without these guys, even though life would be easier, it would be awfully boring.

Christmas 2008

Christmas around here wasn't so great. Poor Degan got sick on Christmas Eve and all day on Christmas then the next night Elora threw up in her bed and the next day Jon was sick all day. We weren't able to go to Jon's parents house for dinner like we had planned but other than that and being sick it was a good Christmas. Santa was very nice to the kids this year even though according to Degan, Santa didn't get anything on his list. I think Mom and Dad were pretty nice too. I thought Elora would have gotten into the groove of opening presents but she really didn't care about them. She just wanted whatever the boys opened. We are so very blessed to be able to celebrate and give gifts to our children that we know they will love. We have tried telling the boys that there are a lot of children who don't get very much and that we are lucky. We actually were very practical this year. They got clothes, Jammie's and socks besides a few toys and movies. That is probably why Degan was disappointed. Santa spent the big bucks and got the boys a Wii video game system. Tyler was thrilled and has been playing it quite a bit since Christmas. Tyler was so sweet and got me a new pair of flannel Jammie's and Degan got me an electric griddle. Jon told me to go buy some new shoes and clothes before Christmas and he was able to get his Progressive ammo reloader. We also got him some Cd's of a radio show called "The Shadow" from the 1930's and 40's. He remembers listening to them when he was little, no he is not that old so I don't know where he heard them but he has been wanting them for a long time now and he was very happy to get them. Overall I can't complain, we are all nice and healthy now and can enjoy our gifts and our time together as a family. Just a few more days and it is time to go back to work and school, ugh!

Christmas morning, you can tell Degan isn't feeling too well.

Elora opening her gift from Santa, a big Tinker Bell doll.

Tyler and Degan opening their gift from Santa, the Wii.

I love Tyler's face, he was so excited.

We hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas.

White Christmas

We woke up to a wonderful snow storm today. We had been wanting the snow to come and this storm wasn't even in the forecast but our city got hit hard with a good foot of snow. I sent the boys outside to play and then I went out to help them sled down our side yard and somehow stayed out for about an hour playing with them. Our side yard is perfect for Degan, not too steep. I think Tyler was trying to find every way possible to go faster but he still had a lot of fun. I even made a snow angel and Tyler made sure to put the halo on top. He is so cute. We had a snow ball fight of course which Degan wasn't too fond of but Tyler loved getting me and tried several times to get me right in my face. I showed him, don't worry, I picked him up and threw him in the snow(it was very soft and powdery). By the time we were done I was soaked but we had so much fun. I am so glad that I have 2 little boys that love to have fun.

Tyler making a snow angel and Degan just getting comfortable. He wasn't too sure what he should do at first.

SNOW!!! Our neighborhood is covered in so much snow.

Full Moon

The other night we were able to see this beautiful full moon outside. The picture doesn't do it justice but I thought I would post it anyway.

Cutie

LOOK....One hand!! She loves her new (used by Degan) hippo walker. She is getting so big. She actually stood up for a second or two today on her own.

I just love this picture of Elora sleeping. What a cute bum sticking up. She is not the greatest sleeper so I don't really have a lot of pictures of her sleeping.

Grandma and Grandkids

My mom was able to come for a quick visit the weekend after Degan's surgery. It was a very nice treat for Degan and all of us actually. I just love how no matter how much time passes that we don't see her, the kids just love her and don't forget how much fun they have with her. Thanks for the visit mom. We love you! I know you said not to post the picture but I think you look great and I want it in my blog book. Sorry:(
While Grandma was here Elora learned a new skill. She figured out how to climb the stairs. She went all the way to the top on her first try. Since then she has snuck up there once and was playing at the top of the stairs, yea I know, where was I??? Jon thought she was with me and I thought she was with him. Now we have a gate. I guess I need to teach her how to come down. She is so proud of herself. She is clapping in the above picture.

Our Silly Boys

Ever since Halloween, Tyler and Degan have had to sleep in the same bed together. They drive us crazy because they are always scared. Tyler is always afraid that there may be spiders in the top bunk (he found a black widow in the garage) and Degan just thinks there may be monsters and Tyler would be able to protect him. So one night I went in to check on them and make sure they were asleep and this is what I found. I thought it was pretty cute, they were totally out and didn't even wake up when I took the picture. Brothers......gotta love'em.

Degan's Surgery

Today Degan had his first surgery. He had his tonsils and adenoids removed. He has been battling swollen tonsils and infections for quite some time now but after our Disneyland with strep Dr. Deny's decided they should come out. We were very honest with Degan and started telling him about his surgery a couple of weeks ago which I think really helped. He didn't even seem too scared. He was more excited about being able to eat all the ice cream, Popsicles and pudding that he wants. The surgery took less than 1/2 an hour and he didn't even cry once. The nurse was very impressed and couldn't believe that he didn't even want meds. Degan has the throat of steel. We were able to come home withing 2 hours of his surgery and by this afternoon he was ready to play. Kids are amazing. I had to keep telling him that he will heal faster if he rests but he was feeling pretty good. I could tell a couple of times that he was in pain but when I asked he still refused to say it hurt. He has been drinking and eating LOTS of pudding pops and by this evening he had to have a piece of chocolate from his Advent calendar and McDonald french fries. I just hope that he continues to feel good. He has been such a trooper, I expected the worst and so far it has been really good. I am so grateful he is home safe and sound.

(before surgery)

He thought the hospital gown was funny because it looked like a dress.


Silly socks. The nurse gave him these sock that were just silly to him.

(after surgery)

Not too happy, thank goodness we got him a new teddy. Curious George saved the day. Still recovering. He did not like the IV. Tyler thought it was crazy when the IV bag ran out and Degan's blood started going up the tubes. I tried not to make a big deal of it so Degan wouldn't freak out.

Starting to look himself.

Tyler's 1st Pinewood Derby

Tyler had his first experience at the Pinewood Derby. He and Jon worked on his car which started out at first just as a rectangle piece of pine. They did a great job and Tyler was able to file and sand the wood, attach the wheels, and stain and varnish his little car. Jon did a lot of
work too but they had fun working together. Sad thing is that it didn't do so well. In all 6 races his little car kept getting 5th or 6th place. That's OK, Jon is already working on a plan for next years race so that Tyler will win. He did get an award for best craftsmanship. Good job buddy and better luck next year!