LifeSavers....

Have you ever had a day that makes you just want to jump into a bubblebath and never come out? (you know...one of those Calgone...take me away moments.) Well I have had a couple of those right in a row and without my sweet girls I think I would just topple over!

I love listening to McKenna rant about dancing and school and friends and watching her dance and twirl all over the house...and I love watching Paige laugh and giggle and dance (imitating big sis of course) and babble. They keep me grounded and remind me what's important in life...them!

Maid for Hire....

My most troublemaking child...

You hear stories about rebellious teenagers and terrible two year olds…but at our house…nothing is on the normal side. My troubled child is our adorable schnauzer “Maisy”.

Maisy has always been a very curious creature…snooping into everything that she can possibly get her nose into. She also is well known for eating just about anything…including toothpicks and straight pins!

Well last night in true Maisy form…she ripped into two bags of water softener salt in the garage…and proceeded to feast on it like we never feed the poor pooch!

Needless to say, we ended up in the doggy emergency room. They immediately induced vomiting to empty her stomach. Then they gave her another shot to stop the vomiting and gave her a charcoal something or other to absorb any poison that still may have been in her system. She then had to spend the night hooked up to an IV.

Apparently, salt overdose is a very dangerous thing…the Dr. said that if her body absorbed it all it could cause kidney failure and or brain swelling that would cause seizures.

I called early this morning to see how she did during the night. The nurse said that she was doing well, but that Maisy had made it well known that she didn’t enjoy being in kennel alone all night. She was very vocal about it. So they had to sedate her. This didn’t surprise me one bit.

Anyway, Maisy is home this morning…a little lethargic…but alive!

Turkey Day!

We hope everyone had a nice relaxing Thanksgiving. Ours was a very nice getaway. We met up with the whole family in Boise for the weekend. The hotel we stayed in was full of families doing the very same thing that we were…having a great time. Kids were playing and laughing in the hall’s…even the family canine’s were welcome at this hotel…we saw quite a few.

We all piled into Papa’s station wagon (all 8 of us! What a site) and headed to a great restaurant for Thanksgiving dinner…very good food…and a lot of it! And the best part was no clean up!

Leisy P (who thinks of everything) had pumpkin pie and whip cream waiting for us in each of our rooms when we arrived. What a treat…Kenna was in pure heaven…everyone knows that is her absolute favorite!

Paige thought it was a blast to run from room to room…the first things she would do when she woke up each morning was run to the door and want out to go see Papa and Uncle Ry, or Leisy and Andy Jo.

Friday the girls took on the mall…oh yes…the mall…and the boy’s hit the golf course (of course).

Saturday, we went down to the downtown shopping district and browsed all of the quaint shops, and then popped over to the festival of trees…that evening, we hit the movie theater to see the new Bond movie…what a day!

I am so thankful to have such a loving and extraordinary family to spend the holidays with!

It's the small things in life...

Have you ever noticed how small things that we adults take for granted seem to amuse babies and toddlers? Paige is completely in awe of Christmas lights and decorations. When we walk by the decorated Christmas Trees in stores she literally has to catch her breath! It is the sweetest thing you have ever seen.

Nana bought some outdoor Christmas lights and with the help of Uncle Ry, hung them on Paige’s favorite Spruce tree in the backyard. We couldn’t keep her away from the window last night, and she wanted to go out in the bitter cold and check out her tree! This girl is a brut…she doesn’t care how cold she gets…she doesn’t want to come in the house.

Aren’t there some days that you wish you could live the life in the shoes of your babies? Where your home is your playhouse, your backyard is an adventure waiting to happen; your parents are the center of your universe, food is not tempting (to my baby anyway :), and naps are routine.

Life is short…take time to smell the roses and see the Christmas lights!

Too cute for words....

What the?

Last Sunday morning, Nana looked out the kitchen window and said "Uh... I think we have a problem". I was scared to look but I did. The wind was blowing like crazy that morning and blew 2 eight foot sections of our fence down...broke the post completely in two!



So Uncle Ry to the rescue! He came over Sunday to check it out...in the pouring rain...and decided that he would have to dig the old post stub out and set a new one. So he was going to come over the next night and get that done.
Well Nana, Kenna and I decided to get a head start on it for him...after all...we aren't totally useless :)

Kenna the SheRah did most of the work...




Ry's going to finish up the job this weekend...we should be good as new!

Halloween!

Paige's first trip Trick or Treating...by the look on her face I don't think she knew why she was dressed up in a funny suit with big ears, knocking on the neighbors door holding a bag. But I'm sure she will get the hang of it...






It wouldn't be Halloween without the BraxMeist! So we were glad that he stopped by for a treat and a quick pic!

SCREAM!

Kenna's Halloween Dance show was last Friday night. She did awesome! She was pretty scary looking...I barely recognized her! Kenna with cheek bones...who'd a thunk?



She was also the "Bobcat of the Day" at school yesterday. Her math teacher nominated her...she said that McKenna is an awesome student and a great role model for others.
How cool is that?

Well...sorry Rhoda...the race is over for tooth#9...yep...Paige is sprouting teeth all over the place...pretty soon she will be ordering a steak for dinner!

Tooth #8

So I never know when Paige gets her teeth...she doesn't ever seem cranky at all... and she rarely lets me look in her mouth...but last night she was feeling a little adventurous...and when I said "Let me see your teeth?" she opened her mouth up wide...and there it was...a big huge molar on her bottom right... is it just me or is she getting her teeth in the wrong order?

Us girls and Jana went to our first costume party last weekend. A friend of mine hosted a her husband's birthday party/costume party at their vacation rental up in Midway...It was beautiful up there! Paige went as a cute little mouse, McKenna looked stunning in her Dorothy costume...and Jana and I went as smokin' hot 50's girls! It was a lot of fun...really good food...and nice to get out.

Check out this babe in high heels!

Fatten that little baby up...

Paige had her 18 month check up on Thursday. She weighed 21 lbs. 13 ounces. Apparently that is in the 11th percentile for growing little girls. So Dr. Havlik gave us instructions to "fatten the baby up". Sheese...how would it be to be advised to eat as much fattening food as you can! Lucky girl! Anyway...I think she is "just perfect", but we will try to put some weight on her. She is also, with great timing I may add, getting in all sorts of new teeth. Getting in to look at her mouth is almost impossible for me, so when Dr. Havlik pried it open with a tongue depressor, he found all sorts of little eruptions. She also got her flu shot, and wanted nothing to do with the cute little nurse after that.

Kenna had a busy weekend...this is a very strange feeling for me to have her gone "hanging out" with her friends on the weekends. I still see her as that cute little precious moments baby when I look at her. I guess I have to face it...she is growing up on me. I knew the day would come.

I spent a quiet..rainy weekend at home...Nana went home for the weekend.
I did get a lot of chores done around the house though. And a few naps with Paige...nice.

The best teenager ever....

Last night, McKenna opened up "Kenna's Cafe" and very professionally prepared Fettuccine Alfredo with shrimp scampi for Nana and I. For dessert, she whipped us up a fruit smoothie of our choice. What a treat!

Things ran much smoother at our house last night since Nana and I had time to walk Maisy and Paige while the "Chef" was getting down to business.

Thanks Kenna! You rock!

Happy Birthday Eric!

We miss you!

Hives, Hives, Hives...and not the bee's kind...

Our little Paige E. Girl has sprouted a nice case of hives...we have no idea what she may be allergic to. They don't seem to bother her...she is her little cute self still. We haven't changed our soap lately so were thinking it must be something that she has eaten lately...we're afraid watermelon may be the culprit! Papa brought a yummy watermelon with him when he visited last weekend and Kenna has been diving into it for dessert for the past few nights. And of course...Paige has to have some "biiiites". Poor child if that is what it is...can you imagine a life without watermelon?

I was so proud of McKenna yesterday (and every other day of course)...she came home with a comment sheet from her dance teacher at school. Her teacher wrote that she was an exquisite dancer and was a great role model for the rest of her class! What a compliment! That...along with her other 7 A's makes me a really proud mama!

Many thanks to our Leisy P. who has been with us for the last 3 weeks. We let her go home to her lonely husband who missed her dearly! We will miss you Leisy P!

18 months...

Yesterday marked 18 months that Eric has been gone...seems like such a wild ride. We still think about him every day and miss him like crazy! I know he is keeping busy being our guardian angel.

Paige is becoming quite the little talking machine! All of the sudden she has added several words to her vocab...including Awww Dang! She also says cheese and shoes.

She had the giggles while sitting on my lap a couple of days ago when I noticed a new tooth in her mouth! So that makes 7....she absolutely hates to brush them though...:(

Kenna is so busy that we barely see her anymore! She has quite the social life! With that, dance and school her life is pretty full!

Leisy has been with us this week and will stay on as head Nanny-housekeeper-chef-taxi driver-keep mom sane person until the 21st. She is giving Nana a much deserved vacation and we love having her around!

Kenna's First Day of School

Kenna's first day went great...she loves school!

Look Leisy! I can make a list!

Henderson Hospital

Well our house has been the place to be if you haven't been feeling well this week...I have had a flu bug all week, Brax has had the same thing all week, we thought Kenna was coming down with something last night but she seems to be feeling better this morning. And then, Ryan drops Brax of last night after soccer practice, he had gotten kicked in the knee and was hobbleing around! Sheesh! Lets hope next week is better.

Goodbye Summer...Hello Fall

It's hard to believe summer is almost over and fall is just around the corner! Kenna starts school next Monday and Labor Day is only a week and a half out...sheesh...where does time go?

We had a busy weekend...my Company Summer Party was Friday night up at the Park City Mountain Resort. It was beautiful up there. We were spoiled this year...our company sprung for unlimited ride passes on all of the attractions. The alpine slide, alpine coaster, rock climbing, mini golf, zip cord...the kids did it all.
Brax was able to come with us this year and I think he had a "sweet time" (in his words!) Kenna rode the zip line all by herself...Brax didn't weight enough to go. You had to be at least 75 lbs. The ride operator told him to keep eating his cookies and he could try again next year.

Paige seems to be on a sleep rebellion...she thinks she doesn't need much. She is either up until midnight or if she goes to bed a little earlier, she is up at 2:00 a.m. Let's hope this little phase passes soon!

Dance...Dance...Dance...

Kenna's first night at dance went great! She said she did exceptionally well in ballet class and was complimented a couple of times by her teacher.

She is very excited about this year and can't wait to get started learning their Halloween routines.

As for Paige...her repitua of food is getting rather large...last night she shared my salad with me...she loved the watermelon, grapes and chicken of course...but she also like the edamame beans and pickled beets!

What happens in the backyard...stays in the backyard!

So we have started this thing with letting Paige take her bath out in the backyard in her inflatable rubber ducky tub...our neighbors probably think we are running a nudist camp! scary thought...She absolutely loves it and she doesn't care how freezing cold she gets!

She loves to bail the water out of her tub one cup at a time and come over to the patio and pour it out on one of us.

Well I finally had to break down and put the crib tent up on Paige's bed...and aahhh...sleep...it feels good. She still wakes up fussing sometimes, but usually puts herself right back to sleep.

McKenna starts dance again tonight...her grueling schedule of Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Saturdays 11:30 to 2:45. At least they are letting us sleep in on Saturdays this year!

She also goes in this afternoon for her post-op check up on her wisdom teeth surgery. Her swelling is almost gone...she does have a little bruising, but not too bad.

Where the heck was the tooth fairy?

Kenna did well with her wisdom teeth removal yesterday...she was very nervous, but with the help of the nurses she was able to calm down and had no problems. She is a little swollen today, but that is to be expected. I'm so glad it is over...for her and I...I don't know who was the bigger wreck!

Paige decided that she had had enough of her crib again last night...did another front gainer right over the side...so needless to say she was in bed with me...and Kenna...try sleeping with 2 little bedhogs...you're right...no sleep for me!

We worked with Maisy's trainer this morning...he said that I need to "get tougher" with her...really show her who is boss...what a tough job! I thought I was doing ok...but apparently I am too much of a softy! Who knew parenting a little pooch would take so much effort!

Paige E. Girl...sunbathing

To Blog or Not To Blog...

Hi everybody... Welcome to our new website...I decided to try out a blogging page. What's great about this site is that you (our friends and family) can comment on any of our posts, pictures and video! Get a little communication going you know?

All is well and very busy in our world...

Kenna is getting all 4 of her wisdom teeth pulled today! Poor little thing. I will have to try to sneak in a picture of her with her chipmunk cheeks!

Paige is a very busy little girl...investigating every little thing that she can! But...so adorable! I don't know what we would do without her! She has also decided to take up flying (like daddy like baby girl)...flying out of her crib that is! She solo'd again last night! The first time she Superbabied out of her crib, I found her asleep on her bedroom floor the next morning. Here is a picture of how I found her...cute as a bug!

Maisy is continuing with her training. We have her trainer coming to our house tomorrow to help us keep her focused when we take our walks! She is doing really well compared to the hyper little pooch she used to be... James (her trainer) says that she has a lot of decompressing to do...with all of the changes that have gone on in the last 17 months. Poor Maisy needs her own grief group!

Nana is such a trooper! She keeps our household running and takes awesome care of all of us! We hope that her semi monthly weekend vacations back home will keep her refreshed!