Andie is 3!

Andie's big day! Grandma Snow sent a package with tiara's, princess shoes, a princess dress that was a little too short (Riley's comment, "mom-is that immodest?" Glad she's getting it!)gloves, pink heart necklace, a pink sparkle backpack and a ring. Wow! She was so excited! She also got a swing for her babies and a Smart Cycle that I can't get to work yet. I got these 2 items for her for Christmas from Kid to Kid and ended up holding them for her birthday. If I would of known my mom was providing everything, I would of held it to next Christmas! Amy also brought over a baby named "Hannah" that cries. Andie was so excited about that baby. We are going to celebrate Andie's birthday party next week. I wasn't going to have one for her but Riley was MORTIFIED when I told her that. So I'm really throwing this little party for Riley's sake. I'm even going to check her out of school for her to be my helper. Andie loves showing you she is 3 with her fingers.

Also, Steele skips with one leg. Really, it's the cutest thing. Probably because he's so big and round and then he skips so delicately. You can't help but to bust out laughing when you see this. Steele fell out of the laundry basket and got a shiner and a fat lip. Blood was coming out of his nose and mouth. I felt so bad for him. He was so swollen he looked like a little monkey. He didn't even look like Steele. I'm putting in a picture but it wasn't taken at full "swollen-ness".

I just got back from Texas. I'm doing some contract work for a company. My current project is to throw 3 parties for Dell employees in Texas, Tennessee and Oklahoma. Serious. How fun is that? We've contracted with Vince Young and Colt McCoy for a couple of the events and we're hoping to get Julian from the Biggest Loser. The first one I'm feeding 1150 people lunch, 2nd one 750 and the third 500. They will be in shifts of 200 people a time. (The room fits 250). I'm in charge of catering, advertising, decorations, security, the guests, the grand prize drawing (dinner with Vince & Colt, supervising the dinner w/ them in the evening, etc. Serious. I cannot believe I'm going to get paid for this. If I need to get my own "crew", I know some sisters that I will be calling!

Cole gave his 10 minute report on Japan and rocked the house! (as he said). REally, he did great. He had a real samuri helmet, ninja shoes, kimonos, sushi for all the kids, pocky sticks, dolls, etc. Great factual info was given. My favorite part was when he would go to another part of his presentation and he would say, "Now I would like to direct your attention to..." He would get docked 5 points if he said, "umm..." but he didn't at all. So proud of him! I'm only going to post the video because I know the only people out there that would take 10 minutes to watch this our his grandparents!

The Best Christmas Eve Ever!

Every Christmas Eve I always end up saying, "This was the BEST Christmas Eve!" but I really think this ranks up right near the top. It was because not only did I have 2 sister and their families here but Grandma & Grandpa Walker came and stayed the whole night. This was huge. On 3rd sunday dinners they are always the first to go because they don't driving in the dark. I don't blame them. So, we planned on having dinner early for them. Instead of 6ish we started at 4:30 p.m. This way, I thought they could stay for dinner and get on the road by 5:30 p.m. It is dark by then. Well, I made our traditional Lasagna that mom would make every Christmas Eve. I also made a pan of Grandma Walkers recipe for Lasagna roll-ups - spinach and all. Hey, if the kids didn't like it - tough! I made it for Gram. She said she liked it. One thing gram said was she leaned over to gramp and asked if he made it or did she. I quickly just said that I made it with HER recipe. Well, after dinner I told Gramp the itinerary and told me I would rearrange anything for them and also just to tell me and they could leave anytime. It was ON WITH THE PROGRAM in his book! I was a little surprised but away we went!

Next came the Story of Jesus birth. Of course, everyone had to get into costume. Riley was Mary, Cole was Joseph, Katelyn was the angel, Andie was a shepard, Steele was a very stubborn lamb, the Miller boys were the 3 wisemen and Daniel and Ryan were shepards also. I don't think any of the kids wanted to get into costume at the beginning but then the fun began! I think Gram loved watching the kids. I thought for sure after the story the would leave. But no! Grampa said to keep on going.


So then we had the talent show. Andie sang Twinkle, Twinkle in her little minor voice. Before I go any f Riley made jewelry for her aunts and gram got a home made bookmark and Cole had everyone say a capital in the world and he would tell you the country. All the cousins did something and then Katie and Amy played the cello and violin. Amy was nice enough to try to include me by asking me if I would like to accompany them on the piano. HELLOOO?! I can't stop laughing just typing this! Joy to the World DOES NOT sound like "My Turn on Earth" which is the ONLY song I know by heart! I quit piano for more important things like sports! Amy had a full memory blockage on that one. Nice for her to not leave me out but probably better for everyone that I didn't participate. Now what I should of done is pull out my sax!


After the talent show I thought for SURE g & g would leave. NOPE. On to the presents! The ones that g&g got for the kids. Gram got Andie a dolly. You would of thought it was 100 dollies with Andie's response. I realized then and there Andie did not need one more gift - she got it in that dolly! After all the screaming and ripping open of gifts I think gram was thoroughly pooped. Now there were finally ready to leave. It was probably close to 8! I couldn't believe it! They had stayed for the whole night. I was wonderful to have them there. I know gram is going through such a rough time and that it is also hard on grampa but it was the most wonderful feeling to have them in our home with us. I'm so grateful for their sacrifice on not only driving down in the bad weather but staying and celebrating with us. I don't know how many more christmas's I will have with the both of them. It's hard to see your grandparents getting old. I've been living near my grandma & gramp longer than I lived in Michigan. It's hard to see my gram going through this. I love her so much.

Survived the Holidays!

So much to say so little time. We had the Mesa Daytons here for the holidays with their 4 full of energy boys (add them all together and you have more power than a nuclear power plant!) Before we go any further, there's a story here. We have a bedroom in our basement. The mattress fits but the box spring doesn't fit around the corner at the bottom of the stairs. So, when Adam and Christy stayed here this summer, I bought a frame contraption from Ikea for Taylor to assemble. When Christy was going down to bed, I jokingly said to her, "be careful....Taylor THINKS he put it together right!" Well, Adam got on the bed-no problem. Then Christy did. She MIGHT weigh 100 lbs-all 5'10" of her. BOOM! The bed falls to the ground. So, they just slept in their "coffin" all week. The headboard, footboard and railings surrounding them. This leads us to now. What are we going to do you ask? Well, I think Taylor thinks if he waits long enough the wall will magically get wider so the box spring will fit. My reply: "Cut the wall". So that we did! Taylor got his hand saw and just started sawing. He went a little crazy and just kept going. When I looked I yelled, "STOP!" We had to have a quick discussion as to how FAR we should cut back. I won. Only enough to get the mattress down. No messing with wires or load bearing problems which is where he was heading...

On to our winter vacation with the cut wall and the box spring fitting now THANK YOU VERY MUCH! Here's the lowdown of what we did w/ the Mesa Daytons. Sunday night we had a party at John & Angela's. There was over 35 kids and a ton of adults. This was considered the christmas party for Lynn's side. (Taylors' dad) Monday night Jared decided dinner at Cafe Rio. He called a bunch of brothers and Lynn & Jude both showed up. That ALWAYS makes it an exciting evening! David, Joey, Perry, Anna, Barbara, Jared, Tricia, Chris, Tricia, Taylor and myself showed up. Fun night. All the cousins were at our home playing the WII. (The great addition to our home this Christmas!) When we got home around 10 Judi wasn't ready to go home. She asked me if i would like to go to the movies-her treat. She had gift certificates. How could I say no? So off we went to see Sherlock Holmes until close to 1 am! Great movie...

Tuesday the Mesa Daytons went skiing so it was the perfect day for Grandma Snow to come! Grandma was a trooper. She will go down in history as beating Cole in canoeing on the WII! And then she held her own with Archery. Cole says they tied. I wonder what she would say...Cole just couldn't believe how good she was. I told him that's where his natural talent comes from! They played Mario Kart (he smoked her he says), canoeing, wakeboarding, archery and cruising. Wow! She then played Trouble with Riley and got to see Riley's competitive side which DID NOT come from her! We went bowling at BYU and I think we just tired her out. It was absolutely great to have mom here. That night, Taylor, mom and me went over to KAtie and Aarons for Pie nIght with the Bensons. Great converation - alligators, cougars, mucous to name a few...


Wednesday was sledding at Rock Canyon. No accidents. (Last yr a four yr old boy ran into a tree and died-I'm always nervous). I cannot sled due to my sledding accident when I was 15. Still sends shivers up my spine thinking about it. Tuesday night was grandma Dayton's 100th birthday!!! Has anyone ever been to a 100th birthday?! It was great! She has 8 children-7 of them living. David died years back in a tragic farming accident. Lynn is 70 and acts like he's 55. After the party we headed over to Allison's parents home. They have an indoor pool...so massive pool party for the Daytons! Nothing like playing in the pool with Snow falling outside!



New Years Eve - Taylor and I decided to forgo going to Brendon and Delayne's annual party and we just went out for all you can eat shrimp and then the movie "Blindside". Breann told me that it reminded her of me and her in the movie. (Breann is a girl that lived with us on and off last year and I still keep close contact with her. Parents were in a middle of a nasty divorce-she was rebelling....) Taylor and I so desperately needed this night out. Cole and Riley were having their annual sleepover at Granna's New Years Eve party. cole and the Mesa boys stayed outside until 2 am building snow forts and walls getting ready for their big "battle" of snowballs the next morning. Those kids always party HARD at grannas! One part of the tradition at her home is they all throw confetti (provided by the crazy granna!) and then granna is left finding it ALL YEAR LONG!


Friday was more sledding. This time over to our cabin on the back property and had grandpa Dayton pull the kids and uncles on sleds behind the truck. Hours of funnnnn!!! Friday night we went over to David and Jessica's (another brother) for Thai food. Jessica is from Thailand so it was authentic and yummylicious!!! Also, another sleepover at Granna's. My children have gotten zip-zilch-natta sleep this week...it's starting to show....


Saturday was movie with the kids and granna (Alvin and the Chipmunks) and then the adults to dinner at Mama Chu's. Jared and Tricia took us out for letting them stay at our home.(Chris & Trish tagged along). Authentic mexican-great company-and then on the a Iceberg's for shakes. I'm stuffed just writing this! BTW, somewhere in this crazy week we all went to Avatar. Another great movie. Hilarious-we don't go see full-priced movies all year and then we see 3 in one week without having to pay for one due to gift certificates - gotta love those!!! Classic line from Riley when cousins were over. They were playing Trouble and her dear cuz Emerson was playing with her. Emerson sent one of Riley's pieces back to home-she didn't do it on purpose-it's just the name of the game. Emerson giggled and said, "sorry". Riley just folded her arms and said with all seriousness, "that's o.k., because I am gonna get YOU!" Wow! Where DOES that competitiveness come from? OBVIOUSLY Taylor's side!

When the Mesa Daytons left, Cole was cuddling with me on the couch. He had tears in his eyes and said the more fun they have, the harder it is to see them go. He then said he wished he lived with them. To be honest, a little painful for my heart. I told him I thought we had a pretty good family. he said, "yeahhhh...." but without conviction. He then said which I thought was pretty cute, "I just need STeele to get a little bit older!"

This vacation Riley is dying to know when she can wear "outliner". Yes, eyeliner but we're not correcting her. I love it - outliner. When can she wear make-up? What can she wear? Is there a distinction between wearing it to school, church, friends or cousins homes? AUGH!!!!!! She just turned 9!

Andie and Steele loved Uncle Jared. He chased them around the house constantly-CONSTANTLY. And then when he would stop, they would egg him on. The noise level was at a 9 all week. It would hit a 10 when Cole would start "honking" downstairs. It's the "horn" that I used to do when I was little. That deep down from the bottom of you chest honk. We hear it the most when cole is aroud the Mesa boys. Because he is always laughing so hard with them! Cole can and would do it for at least 5 to 10 seconds at a time. It was a great, magical vacation! I'm so grateful for those Mesa Dayton boys. Cole truly thinks of them as "his brothers". We're counting down to April 2nd-why? We leave for Mesa!