SNOW

On Friday 12-16-11 Darren took the to older boys to play in the snow on Mingus Mountain!

We love that we don't have to shovel snow off our driveways but we can drive within 10 minutes to play in it. The boys had alot of fun.

SANTA at the ward party

Tonight was the Black Hills Ward Party. They had a dinner and then the primary kids sang some songs. That is Mason holding one of the signs and then the YM & YW acted out the Nativity and then the special guest came..... SANTA! Mason with Santa...

Chase with Santa...

Trey and Shaley with Santa...

Our new family.....

Darren even wanted a turn... Santa has no finger in that glove.... A reindeer bit it off.

This year we had Brother Mike Gibson come up and be Santa. He and his wife Leah have lived here as along as us and this year they move to phoenix. We miss them alot. I had to bring the twins out to see him because he names all my kids. Mason is Duncan Thatcher. Chase is Franklin Safford. Now Trey is Jerome Clarkdale. Shaley is Sedona Payson. We just love the nick names he calls our kids. Brother Gibson is missing a finger and so we wondered how he was going to pull that off without the kids remembering who he was. I think he did well. The boys had a good time. When we were leaving the church Mason and Chase were bummed because they were wanting to watch Santa fly away. Mason was hoping to see and pet the reindeer. Maybe next year.

Ginger Bread Houses

Today we made graham cracker houses.... MUCH easier for the kids and cheaper than buying ginger bread ones. Chase frosting away.... Mason working away....

Time to decorate....

All Finished.......

I kept trying to take his photo and the eyes would close so this is the only one with open eyes.

The boys had alot of fun making them and it kept them busy for awhile. Which is nice since when they are together they are so loud. But they are having fun so I shouldn't complain that they are loud. Every time I would go and check on the boys to see how they were doing they would be eating the candy or picking the frosting. Now that the houses are done and sitting on the counter they are eating the hard candys. The houses might have to get thrown away.

Temple Lights 12-7-11

When I went to my doctor apt it wasn't until 4pm and when I got out I needed to get a gift before we headed home. I told Darren since it was starting to get dark that we should drive by the temple lights real quick for the boys to see and I haven't been by for a long time. So here is a quick photo..... The boys in front of the manager scene...

The boys loved looking around and it was a good way to get their energy out from sitting in the car at the dr apt, so they would be ready for the 2 hour drive home.

The twins first outing for lunch 12-7-11

DEC. 7-2011 I had my 6 week check up in Mesa and my grandparents happen to be going to the doctor that same day so we planned to meet them for lunch. They hadn't seen the twins yet so that was exiting. Michelle had been to the hospital when I had them so it was fun for her to see how they have changed. Aunt Michelle holding Trey.....Great Grandma holding Shaley....

Great Grandma holding Trey...

Great Grandpa and the older boys....

After lunch they got ice cream....

My grandpa doesn't really like to hold babies so that is why I don't have any with him. Mason and Chase loved having their great grandpa to hang out with.

Santa came to Clarkdale

Santa came to Clarkdale today and we braved the cold snowy/rainy weather to see him. Santa was 30 minutes late because he got stuck in the snow.... Mason went first and as he waited in line he couldn't think of what to ask Santa for so when he got there he told Santa, "Just Surpise me." That's my kind of kid! So come Christmas morning Mason will see what he got!

Chase went next and asked Santa for a "Hexbug Hive"....

Then we wanted to do the twins and well it was alot harder than we thought to get a good photo of them.... But at least we have the memory of them meeting with santa....

Snug as A Bug....

This is how we wrap the twins for bed.... DARREN is the official swaddler...

Chase Preschool 2011 pictures

They had picture day at school and this time they had you just buy a cd and then you can print what you want. Chase 3yrs old

No Thanksgiving

This year since we just had the babies we decided to stay home from Thanksgiving. My mom came and got the boys and took them to Mesa to be with my family at Michelle's house. They had alot of fun playing with their cousins.
Darren and I had Carls Jr hamburgers because they were free. Our stove went out the day before and so Darren was installing a new one. Trey had Rsv and wasn't feeling well. Then toward the night Darren's secretary brought us Thanksgiving Dinner they had.
Then at 10pm we went to Walmart for the black friday and that was awful. It was so crowed because it was earlier. But we got what we went for and that was good to save money.
I am thnakful for our new larger family and for our extended family for helping us out. It means alot to know that we can count on them for help. I am thankful for our friends who have watched our older boys, brought in meals, and have just been willing to serve us how ever they can. I really do like this town and the people.

For Personal Use

This is written so I can remember this stage:
Things have been so stressful having 2 more babies to the family. They are a month old and it seems like it has gone by fast but also slow. We have to feed them every 3 hours to have them gain weight. We got permission to let them at night go more if the babies want to sleep but it hasn't been the case. They are gaining weight and starting to feel out alot more. We are both going on lack of sleep because we both do the feedings at night. In the day I have to feed one first and usually the other sits there crying waiting for their turn. It is not easy trying to get 2 babies feed, ready to leave because of the 3 hour feeding. By the time we get it all done it is almost time to feed again. So I don't really go anywhere.
My biggest fear was them getting RSV and so in the hospital they told us that it lives on clothes up to 8 hours and it is in the air. So they told us to have the boys change their clothes when they get home from school and then also if we go to a public place to change. Well Trey got it Last Tuesday. I took him to the dr and they said that it wasn't in the lungs yet to just keep an eye out. Well luckly it never spread but he lost his voice and still has lots of mucus in his throat. We are keeping our fingers crossed that Shaley doesn't get it.
They both are spitters. We are trying different formula to try and help the spitting and being un comfortable after the feedings.
The boys have been good. But they just kiss them waaaaay to much. Chase is always trying to lay on them or tough their heads. I have to get on him to stop. Mason is also trying to kiss them always and hold them. He wants to walk around with them but that is a big NO.
I find it hard to get things done around the house because they are fussy.
I know that it is going to get better and before I know it I will miss this stage in their lives. Right now I am just a little over whelmed.

Thanksgiving Program

Mason's 1st grade class (Mrs. Densmore) had a Thanksgiving Program...

They read a class book that they wrote about the first Thanksgiving. Mason writes," there were 102 pilgrams that sailed on the Mayflower and it took them about two months to get to North America."

Trying to get a kid photo... Not easy

As you see nothing turned out. It is harder than you think to sit all four down for a photot. Chase would be upset because he wasn't getting to hold the baby he wanted too. Then he wanted both like Mason, and then he didn't even want his picture taken. The babies weren't liking it either and you can see. Hopfully one day we will have a good one. These will just be memories.