It's Back

The robin is back. It must be spring. It gets a bit irritating to hear the bird running into the window for 15-30 minutes each day. 

Blue and Gold

Last night was our ward's Cub Scout Blue and Gold Banquet. The boys get to decorate a cake for dessert. The theme was bravery this year. Gavin came up with his own idea.

The artist at work.
He wanted to do an army cake.

The final result.
 I think it turned out fabulously. It was so fun to watch him put it together. Gavin would put some guys on the cake. Then step back to check it. More guys were added. Again he would step back to make sure all was right. It is so fun to see him in his element.

Here is a picture of his good friends, Rees and Luke's cake.
They did Super Mario Brother's cake.
It was a great evening. The food was fun and so kid friendly. Hot dogs, french fries, coleslaw and milkshakes for dessert.
There was a small fire that started in the kitchen from some oil being spilled on a hot burner. It was quickly extinquished and the fire alarm went off. We did have to exit the building but continued on with awards.
Gavin earned his wolf in October or November and received the badge last night. He also earned one gold arrow and a silver arrow.
The smoke was taken care of the alarm shut off and we were back in the building eating cake in no time. The young women and men arrived for their activity shortly after and didn't even notice anything.
It was such a fun and memorable night.

Things Happen in Threes

Isn't that how the saying goes? Well life doesn't follow the sayings unfortunately. After Aaron got the dishwasher hooked up last week. Something got caught in the garbage disposal and the motor got fried.

Our van battery has been being very temperamental as of late. When we get in to go some where the van may or may not start.

Friday night I was up feeding Hazel at midnight. The A/C was on, but I was noticing it was chilly rather than comfortable. After putting Hazel back in bed, I went downstairs to turn off the A/C. I did that and noticed that the thermostat said it was 77 in the house. Wrong. Then I noticed that the A/C unit was still running. I went into the garage and flipped the breaker for the A/C off. It turned off, but I kept hearing this surging sound out in the A/C unit. I didn't now what else to do. I woke up Aaron which is not so easy. He went downstairs and took the thermostat front off. The unit finally stopped doing the surge sound.

This is what we found inside the thermostat.

We think something inside it shorted out. Of course this happens the night before the hottest day of the summer. Luckily Aaron got a new thermostat yesterday and got it installed in no time.

He also installed a new disposal. Also our van has a new battery.

All of these things add up to more then 3. The kids have asked several times, "What's going to break next." Let's pray for nothing.

A Favorite

One of my favorite flowers is a Hydrangea. I love how big the mop heads are, ll of the different colors that they can be. The leaves are so pretty too.

This is a plant my sweet neighbor gave me a couple of years ago. I've pruned it and it must be in the perfect spot in the yard because this year it looks amazing.

I think there are even more mop heads on it today than yesterday.

I also love that I can cut some for the house and it still has plenty on it to still beautify the backyard. Gorgeous!

Visitors

When we got home from Seaside we had some visitors from Utah, Becky Petty and her son Matt. We had such a great time together. Becky wanted to come help me and be with us. She was a big help! I'm so grateful for her. Wish we were closer to each other.

Time With Cousins

Alice and Carter came over this morning. Dawn had some errands to run before they leave on the trip to Disneyland Friday. It is so much more efficient to run errands when you don't have to unload and load up the kids at every stop.

Alice and Graham enjoying some Playdoh.

Carter loving the baby toys box I got out of the garage just for him.

We had a great time with the kids. It's always a good time with cousins.

After school this afternoon we headed outside for some fresh air. It was a gorgeous day. We are enjoying this weather while we can.

Two Days At Doernbecher

Monday morning was an early mourning for us all. We had to leave at 7 a.m. for us to get to Doernbecher in time for Hunter's appointment. Which meant getting the other kids ready for school and off to friends, thanks Stephanie.

Hunter's appointment went well and was fairly quick, comparative. He had a chemo, Methetrexate in his back, and the same chemo in his port along with Vincristine. While Hunter got his back poke, Graham and I went to the playroom for some fun.

Graham quickly found the police car and rode around in circles.

Tuesday Hunter went to school for a half day. He and I headed up in the afternoon for his study chemo drug,Aspergenase, which is a longer day. An hour to get the drug in his port and an hour wait to make sure there isn't a reaction. We didn't get home until 7:30 p.m. Thanks to Aaron's dad for getting the kids from school and Dawn for watching Graham once again. I'm so grateful for the help!

Hunter was so excited to head to school this morning. But once awake didn't feel up to going. He slept most of the day and kept asking and wondering why he was so tired. I reminded him that usually two days after chemo he gets this way and that his body is responding to the treatment. He is feeling better tonight and his hopeful to be heading to school in the morning. We don't have to head to Doernbecher until next Thursday. Grateful for the break.

I'm sure you noticed the bruises on his leg. Those are from the beginning of December when his platelets were low. They look so much better.

He's 8!

Gavin's birthday was yesterday. He couldn't wait until the Stenson's came over. Then it would feel like his birthday.

They did come over to celebrate Gavin's birthday and ring in the new year.

This is Jared walking the tight rope.

Us all enjoying it.

Stacey giving it a shot.

We then headed downstairs for some cake and ice cream. Gavin wanted a chocolate cake with strawberry frosting. At least that's what he told me before his birthday. On his birthday he let me know that he wanted a vanilla cake with strawberry frosting. While they were at the grocery store, Aaron, Graham and Gavin found a cake that looked delicious to Gavin. A vanilla cake with raspberry jam on the top. He was so excited to break into it.

Blowing out the candles.

Gavin also let Aaron know that we needed the #8 candle because the cake was to small for eight individual candles.

He did it.

Waiting for some cake.

Finally enjoying it.

Opening his gifts. He got 3 Lego sets and a drawing pad. Gavin was thrilled. The Lego set were built last night and played with this morning. He also has some drawing already in the pad.

After all of this fun, we headed back upstairs to play Rockband and Beatles Rockband. We jammed until it was almost midnight. The we watched the ball drop. The kids popped balloons and we did a couple more songs on Beatles Rockband. We had a great time and the kids all stayed awake except Hunter. I was so surprised. They even slept in the morning.

Can't believe that Gavin is already eight. He loves Legos, football, basketball, baseball, drawing, scaring his sister and loving not being in a booster seat in the car any more. We are so glad he is a part of our family.

Gingerbread Houses and Sugar Cookies

Last week before Christmas, the kids and I got very creative. Before Christmas break we had talked about some things that we were wanting to do. We did accomplish some of them.

Sugar cookies were one.

I thought the kids did a great job of decorating them. There was a lot of finger licking while they were doing this. Hunter wasn't feeling up to doing this one.

Gavin and Hunter were doing this one together. Hunter didn't ever feel like doing much with it. This is as much as Gavin did. I think he did a great job.

The other side of Gavin's.

The front.

Gretchen and the younger boys worked on this one. I did help a little.

Gretchen got into decorating.

We had so much fun doing these.

Christmas

Christmas morning the kids gave Aaron and I a wonderful gift. They didn't wake up until after 7 a.m. Thank You! I heard Gretchen go downstairs very loudly. Gretchen had asked Aaron Christmas Eve night if she had to wait for everyone to wake up to open her gifts? Aaron reminded her that we do Christmas as a family. It'snot like this was her first Christmas. Funny girl.

After the kids heard Gretchen downstairs there was no going back to sleep. Graham came into our bedroom to let me know he was ready for breakfast. He usually does this in the morning. I asked him if Santa had come? He told me that he hadn't. I told him to go check. He came back upstairs so after and said Santa did come and he gave him a flashlight and a little bottle of sparkling cider. We could have ended the day like that. Graham was in heaven.

Some of the stockings on our new couch. Finally we have a couch for the living room. We've only lived here for 4 1/2 years, just saving up the money. I love having it.

Getting ready.

Aaron excited for the festivities. We had the kids open up the gifts the got each other. They draw names. It is so fun to see them really thinking about what the other one wants. Aaron also suggested having the kids take turns opening gifts. It was really great.

Graham got an Imaginext Bat Jet from Hunter.

Harrison a City Lego set from Gavin.

Gavin got a Star Wars Lego set from Harrison.

Gretchen got a Breyer horse from Graham.

Hunter got some Star Wars action figures from Gretchen.

Graham's gift from Santa was the Imaginext Batcave. He was more than excited. All of the kids have enjoyed playing with it too.

Harrison's gift from Santa, a pillow pet. He hasn't let it out of his sight since he got it.

Gavin's gift from Santa, an MP3 player. He can be found with it in his ears a lot of the time.

Gretchen's gift from Santa, horse riding lessons. More than excited you could say.

Hunter's gift from Santa, a portable DVD player. He was so excited to watch movies that the younger kids can't watch.

Hunter got the complete set of Indiana Jones. Movies that the younger kids can't watch.

Harrison opening up some jammie pants I made.

Gavin's jammie pants.

Gretchen's jammie pants.

Hunter's jammie pants.

Graham's jammie pants.

Gretchen very excited to get some boots.

Hunter very excited to get a Star Wars Lego set that is not made any more.

As a family we got Lego Creationary. We have had so much fun playing it.

Everyone in their Christmas jammies. I didn't make any for myself. Next year when I'm not pregnant. The grand total of jammie tops made this year was 6. Total jammie pants made 19. I think it is one of my favorite traditions.

Christmas afternoon we headed to Jared and Lydia's for dinner a fun with Aaron's family. We talked, ate great food, played Apples to Apples and some played Settler of Catan.