Swimming...and sledding

We were lucky enough to be invited to Soldier Hollow with our friends last night... Our kids had a blast. Especially Gray who decided to not wait for us after riding down one time, but to instead head up the hill on his own, riding the ride that takes you ALL the way to the top, without his parents so he could ride down the hill again. It was a fast hill - I don't think the pictures give it justice about how big the hill is (ask Matt who ran up it to find Gray :))

This is Jax riding down - look at the later picture to see how squished into his sled he is... Gray -

The ride to the top!

Sorry - for some reason it uploaded it twice...

Swimming! Abby was lucky enough to get her feet and lower legs wet chasing after Eva who went for the hot tub WITHOUT floaties. Just what she wanted - wet pants in the middle of winter...

Swimming in the wintertime is one of those things that is so much more fun because it's in a time when you don't normally get it. Like eating chocolate during labor - you're not supposed to so when you do it tastes SOOO much better.. at least that's what I've heard. Well, my complex has an indoor pool and my kids love it. Today the Maile girls came with us! The older three are having a lateover right now (after swimming) and I have some serious MarioKart competition going on in my downstairs living room...

My baby isn't really a baby anymore...

I've hit a milestone in my life - my baby isn't really a true baby anymore. She has a tooth! I know it's not a big deal, but knowing it's my last baby to cut his/her first tooth - it is to me! And she was not that moody!! Okay, maybe a little, but if this is how teething with Emma is going to be - no problem. She's also trying to stand unassisted and is into EVERYTHING... I have a mover and shaker. Emma also is fed up with baby food - she wants the real stuff. I can't believe it's gone that fast.

It's totally true you know? Don't take anything, not even a moment, for granted because you will blink and it will be gone. I'm trying to relax and enjoy the ride, which for those of you who know me, THAT is very hard to do. I am loving my kids and loving all of their different ages and stages because I know I will not have that with them ever again.

But, I am taking lessons from Abby and listening to her... Although it is not where she wants to be or have happen to her, I am learning from her, she is an excellent teacher and older sister. Abby - we LOVE you. Thanks for being such a great example and for carrying your trials with such grace. It just shows me that you, and even I, can handle anything...

Update

Okay - I know it's been forever since I've blogged... I don't really have any major news to post! I can tell you that we have crazy lives, don't we all, but that we are SOOO excited for Christmas this year. We had a small parenting milestone in that our oldest figured out the "truth" about christmas. According to Addie, it's just not realistic that Santa could make it to all of the houses in one night. Now she just wants to help eat the cookies and of course know what EACH present is. She's such a grown-up in a child's body.

Emma is almost walking I swear, and she won't be 8 months till next week. She is the HAPPIEST baby now that she can move around. We love that little crazy.

Jackson is playing basketball - as always. He's playing in the front yard, in the living room, has figured out how to bounce them on the top portion of our vaulted ceiling in the kitchen...he has also asked for a hoop that can go on the door in his bedroom. Go figure.

Grayson is so sick of waiting for Christmas to come. How many times does this 4-year old have to hear that he cannot have that toy today but should WAIT to see if he gets it for christmas. The wait is becoming unbearable. He told me today that christmas is never going to come... poor kid. If only he knew how awesome he's going to feel in 2 days.

Matt is loving having the best time starting his part-time job at UV. He will be at all of the bball games starting in Jan. and cannot wait to get his feet truly wet in marketing with them. Bless him right now because he is out installing fence and having a miserable time. Comes with having a job right? Not always the best time but is worth it in the end. We are so proud of how hard he works for us.

Me? I'm loving my job and have a lot, I mean a lot of work to do. I walked into a big mess. For those of you who know me well, you know that I don't mind it and love fixing it. I am basically a parent to my 4, and now 430 other teenagers... I have plenty of moments where I am torn wondering and worrying if I am doing the right thing and whether my kids will suffer from this and from having someone else watching them during the day. I also have moments of complete peace and answers from Heavenly Father that I am doing what I am supposed to be doing right now. I have moments where I feel supported and moments where I feel judged. You know the moments when someone finds out you work full-time and have someone else watching your kids, when they say "Oh..." like that. Love those moments. Actually I hate them...

We are missing our Grandpa Davis... He was here long enough that we got used to having him here! Lucky Idaho family...

So there's the update... I am so excited for Christmas! I have been walking around singing Jingle Bells for the last two weeks because I am so excited for the presents I know are under the tree! Thanks for the tradition Mom!

Sweet Jackson

For those of you who know my Jackson - you know that he has a tender sensitive heart. A mom from another kindergardener from school shared this story with me this weekend about my sweet young man.

So - there is a bully at school - he is not in Jackson's class but plays at the same recess time. He has been a problem for some time - Jax in fact had some anxiety from this boy at the beginning of the year and we talked to the teacher about it.

Last week this bully came up to a boy from Jackson's soccer team and kicked him, when he fell down, he started throwing wood chips on him, and then kicked him some more. Jackson, saw this happen and ran over and laid down with/in front of his friend to take the brunt of the blow. He laid down on the ground and protected his friend, and in fact, was then kicked instead of Braden. When I asked him about it - he just said that he wanted to take care of Braden and shrugged it off.

I am so completely proud of my little man - I know now that when he is gone from me that he is making good choices - that he is learning the correct way to serve and love others. It just exemplifies what a truly good kid he is - I love love love that little boy.

---He also has figured out that when this bully runs by chasing after someone to torment that he can stick his foot out ever so slightly and trip him, or that he can lay in wait on top of the monkey bars during a similar situation and if he times it just right can drop down and take this kid out to protect whomever he was going after next.... Nice Jax.

Abby

So I know that things are awful for Abby right now... And there aren't many times when she feels joy or happiness... However, at the Maile Thanksgiving dinner I was taking pictures of a game Mona and Junior were playing with the kids and caught a picture of this...

It was a breath fresh air to see true happiness - relaxed laughter from her.. We love you Abby!

Piece of advice

Do not, I repeat, do not give a 4-year old a piggyback ride up the stairs RIGHT after giving him cold and cough medicine. If you do - you might, just might, end up with puke in your hair and down your shirt. I'm just sayin...

The true alphabet

So I know I'm overblogging about Gray - but I just couldn't pass this up...

Tonight I was educated on the true alphabet. It goes like this...

A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I,J,K, I know why you pee. . . Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, and Z...

Perfect.

Primary Program 2009

I first want to say that ALL of my kids did a fantastic job with their parts and singing their songs in this year's Primary Program. I was truly a proud mother. Addie's class had a solo and she was fantastic and beautiful. Jax memorized his part all by himself and his class had a solo, which he proudly did. It was the sideshow that Gray provided, however, that I want to highlight this year. First, this year, the primary president placed all of the sunbeams in the front row, a row of little primary chairs in front of the bishop's row. At the practice, when the kids stood up to sing, we quickly realized Gray was too tall.. So, they moved him to the side of the front row so as to not block the view for those behind them. This did place him right beside the wood half-wall. You know? Right by the stairs?

So, in his new seat, during the primary program itself, Gray provided the WHOLE ward with a sideshow that included repeatedly trying to hang himself with his tie, making the noises, faces and everything. When that was done he began having a make-believe transformer war with his hands and the half-wall next to him noices and all again. Explosion sounds, men dying, you get the picture. And THEN, he began making out with the wood half'-wall next to him. What I mean was making fish faces on it, pushing his lips into it and talking loudly... I, being the primary chorister, was in the front row and kept yelling (under my breath) at Gray to stop. When I could not get him to do so - I had to call him down to me. He didn't like that one bit, and on his way back UP to his seat, stomped the whole way making loud mad noises. Then he sat back down in his seat and cried loudly, during the program. Last but not least, when it was his class' turn to get up and say their parts, instead of walking along in front of the small chairs, he decided to stand up on them, jump over them and walk behind them. At least that's how I think it went down in his head. What really happened you ask? He started to jump over the chair and caught his back foot on the back of the chair and bit it. Loudly... a loud thump onto the hollow stand by the podium.

This was definitely a primary program to remember. The show of '09, the year of Gray.

Change of Plans

So just when you think you know which way you're headed - Heavenly Father throws a wrench in your plans. In looking for additional/new/second incomes for Matt, I came across a job posting for an apartment complex manager. So, I submitted my resume to find out more about it - the posting was really vague and stated it the job wouldn't be starting for a while. I knew that my days watching Covelli would be over soon so I thought I should at least look into it... Well, the property owners called and after a few meetings - offered me a position, immediately. After working out some kinks and making sure our kids will be well taken care of, loved and not able to fall through the cracks - I've accepted the job. I start on Wednesday! I am totally excited - I am hesitant and worried - but I am peaceful that Heavenly Father wants our family to do this. I'm going to try and see if it works for us. . Here's to being an adult and making the hard choice.

How Abby feels about Halloween...

I love this picture. Abby - Halloween.


We had the pleasure of starting our trick-or-treating off with Abby and the girls. Abby has no problem letting you know that Halloween is her least favorite holiday. So, when Lose showed the same emotion when a house was not home to give her candy, I thought we should document it... Although Abby - my kids had a blast with yours. And somehow, your girls always look adorable and as if it was easy for you.
This isn't a Halloween picture but I had to throw it in. Can you believe this gorgeous boy? He was actually sitting there talking to me in this pose when I realized how adorable he looked. Can I please have eyes like that?

Maile and Brousseau kids. . .

We were lucky enough to have a last minute Zeller sleepover last night. . . The boys decided to fit all four of them on the air mattress in the living room - which didn't last long. . . They had soo much fun together though.

We were taking still shots of each of the kids but who knew we'd get the treasure of Line in mid-cheer too!!

Emma's costume was my FAVORITE this year. . . a little pink bug.

At the very end of trick-or-treating our neighborhood. Emma was a trooper and konked while we walked...

Supermodel

So Matt says we grow supermodels around here. Isn't he sweet? Our daughters are our pride and joy, of course, but bias aside they are TALL. So Matt, to keep me from freaking out and thinking our girls will be freakishly tall so that they won't ever get asked out or have boyfriends, just tells me they are going to be his beautiful supermodels. Emma had her 6-month check up today. AND. . . Yea! Thanks to all of the love, support, and prayers - she does NOT need a helmet. Thank goodness. That is one more budget item I don't have room for right? She also grew 2 inches in 6 weeks. She is off of the charts in her height. Go figure. . .

Naki's Viewing and Funeral

For those of you that are wanting a chance to say goodbye to Nox here's the info -

Viewing - Thursday from 7-9 pm at the stake center (150 East 1600 North, Orem)
Funeral - Friday morning at 11 am, same place (stake center as above) with a second viewing before from 9:45-10:45.


Thanks again for all of your love and support. . .

My Brother Naki

My sweet brother-in-law passed away unexpectedly this morning. Naki Maile, father of 6 young girls, my beautiful nieces, died early this morning in his home. He was only 32. He was simply amazing and a fantastic teacher and person. Our Brousseau family will never forget him or the lessons we learned from him. We love his girls, including his Abby. One of his best friends in life, his brother Carlton has set up a website in his honor. For those of you who are interested you can go to http://www.nakifamily.com/ to read more about him. For those out there that know the Maile family and would love to help them, aside from love they truly need financial help at this time. Abby now has the enormous responsibility of raising these 6 girls, ranging in age from 9 to 1. Any other donations can be made through Wells Fargo under the account name of the Naki Maile family. Thanks for your love and support...

That took too long. . .

So during dinner this evening . . .Gray said he had to go to the bathroom and ran upstairs. . . .

and didn't come back for at least 10-15 minutes. You wonder, what were you the mom doing for that long and not notice he was gone??? I did notice - I was feeding Emma, and even commented to Matt - Gray's been up there for too long, that's not normal. So I yelled to him to see if he was okay. He yelled back, "I'm just going to the bathroom!" He did come back after a while and we moved on with our night of dinner, cleanup, bathing Emma, etc. It wasn't until I went into my bathroom and noticed the scissors and hair on the counter and floor that I realized what he had ACTUALLY been doing. Candy - sound familiar? Soo a new haircut for Gray happened tonight. . .

I also took a couple of new pictures of Emma. . . Enjoy!

I told Gray to show me how he felt about cutting is hair and this is what I got. . .

This is how he feels about his new haircut, the only solution to what he had done...

This is stressful. . .

So we have a small dilemma at our house. Okay, it's a big one to me. Emma has a flat spot on the back side of her head. After our last pediatrician appointment they let us know that if it doesn't improve we will need to take her to a specialist and most likely fit her for a helmet. No problem right? Well, apparantly helmets are medical supplies and insurance does NOT cover it, any of it. Any guesses as to how much those cost? $2000. So, here's the deal. On top of that, Matt works in the construction industry. Enough said right? Money isn't exactly flowing, not even close. . . So - we REALLY need your help. Can you please please please pray for our family that either Emma's head will improve or some miracle will happen that will help us to afford the help that she would then need if it doesn't?

For those of you that know me. . . I hardly ever ask for anything. I'm at the point that I'm asking. I feel close to the brink of a stressful break. . . lots going on, don't need to complain, vent, or whine. Emma's little dilemma just feels like the straw that just might break the camel's back. Please add us to your prayers. . . .

Thanks everyone. . . .

Things I've Learned from Kids

So I learned a few new things from kids this week -

First - Gray taught me that gardens are "places where we grow the food that we don't like."

Second - I learned that when burying an animal/pet you should break out into song, specifically the Star Spangled Banner. It helps with the tension and grief. It's the perfect funeral song.

Third - I learned that Bumblebee, the transformer, has a last name, it's Tuna.

Here's to a great next week!

Addie 2009 Soccer Photo

Okay - I apologize for way over-blogging this week or so. . . but I just got Addie's soccer pix for this year and had to post them - isn't she gorgeous???

Odds and ends

So the rule at our house is when our kids are fighting they end up in a hugging timeout - for an indefinite length of time - that the parents get to decide. At this particular time - Addie and Jax were fighting so they had a 5 minute hugging time-out. Gray, was NOT in trouble or even involved. He did, however, walk through the room when it was happening and seemed to think it was just a big fun LONG hug, so he decided to get in on the action...

Gray has been waiting for his birthday to come forever it seems like and couldn't wait to have a "friend" party. Here are all of his little buddies at that party - he had the best time. Props to Bailee who was the ONLY girl there. . .

Matt found the build-a-bear helmet for a bear of the boys and decided to put it on Emma. . .

Poor Emma - she got tired, no pun intended, of waiting for her brothers to finish lunch so that naptime could start. . . Cute girl right?

Today. . . 54%

Today I went to Walgreens, Smiths and Target. I spent $78.77 total and saved $92.19!!! Yea me!! I'm going to get better at this too. . . .This coupon thing takes some time to get used to but when you save 54% that's just plain great incentive. . .

A day of nothing. . .

Have you ever woken up in the morning and just hated the fact that you were up at all and that a new day had started? When that happens to me I just rebel, stay in my sweats all day, eat junk, and definitely don't exercise. DVR anyone? That's my day today. We all need a day like that every once in a while right? I'm sure it's a unwritten rule somewhere. So here's to nothing!

Gray's Day

Opening with a picture of Emma. . . I know - not what the post is about - but it's such a cute picture I couldn't resist. . . Matt took this with his phone yesterday - love this girl!

Gray turned 4 yesterday and we had the best time with him ever. He is the funniest kid - he told me yesterday that he is now too old to hold my hand. Stink. He got a Transformer BumbleBee costume and he wore it almost all day. . . See him fighting the imaginary bad guys?

His most favorite bday cake ever - TMNT. Thanks to all of the family who came down for his party yesterday!



Grandma Davis - these are the books which he LOVES!

Happy Bday Gray!

I love me some Matt. . .

Today is my best friend's birthday. I love this guy. . . He is the kindest, sweetest, bluntest, toughest, most honest, hard working, best guy. We've been together for 10 years now and it just keeps getting better. Through thick and thin, lots of drama and hard times, and the sweetest most tender moments, Matt has been there for me. Happy birthday babe! P.S. Can you see how long my hair was? Dang it. . .