Christmas Day

We had a great Christmas morning. We each got something we really wanted. Izzie wouldn't tear the wrapping paper. I think she thought she was going to get into trouble for tearing something up, like usual.

Hannah got a new bike that she needed so badly.



Izzie got a Fur Real cat...it even hisses when you pull it's tail. She loves it. It's name is Meow.



The kids each got a present made out of wood. After Ryan opened everything, he went to play with his airplane & firetruck.


This was the aftermath. It took all day to clean up!


P.S. We had a White Chistmas!!!

Christmas Eve

We had Christmas Eve dinner at Pat's sister's (Tammy) house. Her house is the only one big enough for all of us. We had a good time! The biggest surprise of all...Caleb, Pat's brother, drove up from Albuquerque...no one had a clue! The little sneak! Everyone (minus a couple)

The three monsters & the people responsible for them

Pat, his Dad, Michael, & Isabella

The exhausted couple

Me & my girls

After dinner we came home & the kids opened their matching pajamas...a tradition I hope to keep up.

War Heads

I was going through the Halloween candy that is still hanging around, throwing things away that we will never eat. I came across some war heads, those really super sour candies. Izzie decided she HAD TO HAVE IT! I told her no but she threw a fit. So, I got the camera before I gave it to her. I am the meanest mom. She put it in her mouth & it immediately came out, as you are seeing here.

This is the look she gave me after she flung it on the floor. It's like she's saying, "What the HECK was that?"

She quickly got over it...she wanted the camera.

Christmas outfits

I think these kids are pretty darn cute! This is how they looked as we went to church...I can't say this is how they looked when we got home. Of course, Izzie would not hold still, so I got a nice shot of her butt. You gotta go with what ya get.

Baking...with kids...oh the joys!

We did some baking the other night. I don't think my kitchen will ever be the same...I was doing dishes until 11:30pm! Oh & by the way, can I tell you how much I love sprinkles?!

These were Ryan's that he took to his teacher, Miss Jody. Hannah's didn't get a picture & they should have. She frosted & decorated all of them by herself...they looked pretty awesome! I'm sure Mrs. Schnarch loved them!

Hannah's 2nd Grade Performance

We finally got another camera...thanks Mom & Dad...& I am so happy with it.

Hannah had her 2nd Grade Performance last night. It was really cute with all the hand motions & all. She is the one in the red dress with the white fur cuffs & collar.

He looks thrilled, doesn't he?

I am surprised this even turned out...she never stops moving.

Grandma & PapPaw visit

My parents came from West Virginia to see us for the hoildays since we traveled to see them in the summer. They shipped lots of presents before they left & the HUGE box arrived while they were here.

Just walking by, Ryan would say, "I love you MamMaw." The kids were so excited!

Hannah received the new Jonas Brother's CD...awesome... & new bedding for her room.

Ryan received lots of West Virigina stuff...he's obsessed. He loved it all. He also opened Star Wars action figures. Those were pretty cool , too.


Isabella got some toys, but she stole Hannah's baby doll & thought it was hers. Thankfully Hannah is sharing.

A rare moment when Izzie was still. Cute.



Ryan also got the Lego Star Wars game for the Wii. This was his general position for days. He won't sit down. Gotta love the addition of the tougue; must have been concentrating.




Little angels...where are they hiding their horns?

P.S. If you can fix a chair with gorilla glue, plumbing tape, & a piece of trim....you might be a redneck! (or my Dad, who I call MacGyver)

Still No Camera

I still have no camera. I'm not happy about it. Still looking. I thought I would post a few pictures to show how much Isabella has grown. I can't believe she is 16 months old. She really is a beastie...the kids call her a demon. She loves to climb on the table & the other day she was in my purse & eating my gum...chewing it actually. How does she know how to do that?

She is pretty cute though.

No Camera

So, my stupid dumb camera is totally broken. Therefore, no real pics until I find a new one. I want one that I am going to like this time. I don't want one that's expensive, but it has to be durable in this house. So until then, text only.

We had our Primary Program today. Ryan memorized his part without me really helping him. Hannah's talk was really sweet about baptism. She was the youngest one of three with a talk. Everyone else had single lines & each practice after she was done reading her talk, she would say, "Man, that is really long." Pat told her she did a really good job & she said, "I was really nervous." The first of many talks & she doesn't even know it. Pat's sister Tammy & her daughter Morgan came to keep Izzie for me. This was very nice of her considering the fact that Izzie doesn't respond too well to her. I don't know why, all the kids love her, but Izzie never wants any part of it. She even bought her toys & ended up driving around town with her. And the biggest surprise of the day...Pat showed up unexpectedly & was able to help with Izzie & watch the kids say their parts & sing. Ryan got mad because he wanted to go say hi to him & another leader wouldn't let him go. He basically laid down & cried after that. I let him go down to say hi, after he said, "Leave me alone!" He came back up & was fine after that & kept waving to Pat.

That's a big stress out of the way. Oh, & when I got up out of my seat to get a tissue, the folding seat (like a movie theater seat) popped up, I didn't know it, & I sat back down on the top of it & almost fell over, in front of the entire audience. Great. I laughed & life went on.

Besides that, same old thing here. I can't believe Christmas is almost here. I have to figure out what to buy & how to pay for it. Isn't it amazing that you always stress over it & it always seems to work out fine. We have enough toys @ our house...I want to get a big thing for each of them, a few small things, & I want to start the tradition of getting PJ's for the kids that match & letting them open it on Christmas Eve. I don't want Santa to have to try to out do himself every year. The kids have no idea how much things cost & they don't care. It will be a good Christmas because we will be together...even though we drive each other insane at times...OK most of the time, but whatever.

Mostly Treats

Pat's dad got the results from his bone marrow biopsy today...no cancer in the bone marrow!!! Totally awesome! They leave for the Mayo Clinic on Monday & will stay for about 2 weeks to get the stem cell transplants started. He will then come back here for the last 2 chemo treatments & go back to Mayo for the transplant. He still has a long road to go, but things are looking way up. He is making his own blood...good sign. Keep him in your prayers. He's a good man that will be around to tease & love us for many more years.

Izzie was a ladybug for Halloween...she actually did really well & was going up the houses by herself & trying to go inside. She held her bucket by herself & tried to attack the candy as it was going into her bag. Funny girl.
Ryan was Darth Vader. He didn't really like the mask & his cape was so long I kept stepping on it. He was so excited to finally wear his costume. He's getting really good at being a big brother & minding his manners.

Hannah was a High School Musical cheerleader. I don't think she even cared what she was; she just wanted more candy. She is becoming a wonderful leader & is developing her mothering techniques.

BTW: my camera broke as soon as we started out tonight. I took these with my phone (not the greatest, I know) & had issues with getting them on the computer & then they were tiny. Being stubborn pays off sometimes.

Update

No pictures, but I thought I would update real fast, as I am very tired from subbing @ Hannah's school & then closing the store tonight. Soccer is almost over. No more practices until spring & only 2 games left. Hannah scored 2 goals last Saturday. She was excited. Ryan scored 5...about the average per game. All the parents are asking Pat if he is coaching next year. He said he doesn't know if he is going to, but I know he will. Some kids said they wouldn't play unless Pat was the coach.

Izzie has been getting her molars...great fun for us all. She has been cranky & all that wonderful stuff. Runny nose. I had Pat take her to the dr. today...double ear infections. At least they were not perforated like last time. She is starting to feel better.

I'm working a lot. More than Pat wants me to I think...but he is doing great with the kids. The house is not always clean...ok never clean, & the dishes don't get done like they should, but we are all surviving. We have managed to figure out a schedule.

Pat had last week off & amazingly, he is still alive. I thought we might have major trouble, but he kept himself busy...just give that guy a fishing pole & a set of waders & he's gone.

It's getting cold here. Ryan is going to be Darth Vader or Halloween. Hannah is a High School Musical Cheerleader, & I think Izzie will be a ladybug, if she will leave the hood on, but she probably will not. So, she will be a furry red thing with black spots. Whatever.

That's our life for now. I will update with pictures hopefully soon. But I'm not promising anything.

Fall Activities

Last week, we decided to put our Halloween haunted house together. It always seems like the most fun thing to do until you actually do it. As Hillary could tell you, the icing was everywhere & running everywhere. All the kids wanted to do was eat the candy & Pat & I are trying to put the dang house together...it dried with it leaning a little. Hannah had candy corn on the top of the roof & Izzie swiped them off lickity split & popped them in her mouth.
Tonight, we decided to let the kids carve their pumpkins. I know, a little early, but Pat can't stand it. Once the stores put the pumpkins & decorations out, he is itching to break out the little saws & stencils. As you can see here, Izzie did not like the insides. YUCKY!
Ryan has never like the insides either, so Hannah gladly helped clean his out. Hannah decided on a vampire. We taped the stencil on & then she decided she was afraid of it. Typical. So she decided on a ghost...I guess it looked more friendly. Ryan decided on a spider. I tried to talk him out of it because it looked too hard, but he wouldn't budge. Little did I know, he never planned on actually touching the stencil, or the saw, or the pumpkin, so I ended up doing it for him. I have done many so I finished in about 10 minutes...I wanted to watch the Presidential Debate.
I think they turned out pretty well. Hannah did all of hers by herself. She was so proud & was working on the last piece & the whole thing broke off. She, of course, was flipping out. Leave it to MacGyver Mommy to fix it with toothpicks.

What a mess

The other night while eating dinner, I turned around to this.

Courtesy of her.

Alcohol

No pictures once again, but I thought I would write about what is on my mind very early this morning. For those of you that don't know, I'm working as a cashier @ the local grocery store at night. I like it, it's a change of pace, & pays $, not a lot, but enough. Besides it's hard to find a job w/ little ones @ home & not wanting daycare.

I sell a lot of alcohol & cigarettes. I mean a lot. I think it is really insane, as I don't use either. This kid, I say kid, but he must have been @ least 21 or so, comes through my line & hands me his ID. I pretty much card everyone unless they are walking with a cane. ;) He wants to buy rum or something like that. I have never had anyone use a fake ID or anything, & I didn't smell any alcohol, so I looked at the ID. It seemed to be the same guy. He wouldn't look at me. A sign I guess.

This woman comes running in the store & says, "Let's go right now." I'm guessing his mom. He says, "No, I'm going to buy this." She says, "Let's go right now." He says, "No."

I'm looking back & forth. There are other people in my line. I'm the only cashier there.

She comes closer to him says, "You don't have money for rent & you're going to spend your money on this. If you buy that, I am not helping you." He said, "I'm buying this." The woman walks away.

I look closer to the kid's face. His eyes are bloodshot. I look at his ID again. I have to make a decision. Right now.

I said, "I'm sorry, Sir. I can't sell this to you." The mother says, "He has been drinking."

I took the bottle & put it on the register behind me. He walked out with his mother.

Several people said they were yelling at each other outside & she took his keys away from him.

I wasn't supposed to be @ work. I actually requested the day off. They called & said they needed someone to close. I have closed the store 5 nights in a row...@ midnight.

What IF that mother didn't follow her son to the store?

What IF I sold him the alcohol?

What IF I wasn't working?

What IF someone else sold him the alcohol?

Thinking about all the IF's in the world wouldn't change what happened tonight.

But I can't help but think about it.

I think about how the kid was feeling...thinking drinking was going to take care of his problems.

I think about how much the mother must love her son to follow him to the store & risk embarrassing herself to try to save him.

I think about the words they probably said to each other in the front of that store.

I think about how he is going to realize someday that she was right.

I hope he makes it to that day.

I hope I never have to feel the desperation that mother felt.

I thing that is so scary about life is that you could raise your children perfectly. Teach them all the right things to do & say. Mind their manners, be polite, be kind. They still have a choice. And the choice is theirs. You can have an opinion. They might listen. They might not. They have to find out for themselves what life is all about. At times, it's great. At times, it's devastating. I know those days are ahead. You want to protect your children from all the wrong & bad in the world, but if they are going to survive in that world, they have to be exposed to it. What a double-edged sword. I hope to show my children both sides & the benefits & consequences of both. I have faith they will choose the right.

More Soccer

We are in the middle of soccer season here. Hannah's team...well, let's say, they could improve a little. They have not won a game, but looked a lot better yesterday. I had to post this...classic Hannah. The teams split in half & play 2 games @ the same time so the kids play more. Hannah was sitting out, not paying attention, of course, & a girl on the other field got hurt so they called for Hannah to go in. She had a hard time getting there...I don't think she understands the word HUSTLE...but finally got to where she was supposed to be. Not long after, she scored a goal!!! Yeah!!! For the other team. Oops. I don't think she even had a clue. Soon after that, she starts walking off the field...during the game. She has her arm stretched out in front of her, holding her hand out going, "Eh, eh, eh." I told Pat, "Oh, no she's hurt." As she gets closer & I'm looking for blood, I realize she has the biggest booger I have ever seen on her hand. YUCK!!! I looked over @ her coach. He looked horrified. I said "Just wipe it on the grass & get back out there." She did & life went on. I'm sure the look on my face was one of a kind. Pat & I were laughing & embarrassed for her because I don't think she cared a bit. Classic.

Ryan's team is doing really well. Pat is doing well as the coach & many parents have commented, even from opposing teams, that he is great with the kids & is really teaching them the game. Last week at half time, the score was 25-4, so Pat stopped counting. Ryan scores several goals every game. Even when he is not playing, he is on the sidelines cheering his team on. He loves it. He even tries to get the ball away from his teammates. He needs to work on that. It's like he's thinking, "Daddy told me to get the ball to the goal." And that's the ONLY thing on his mind. This is the beginning of a very long sports career for him & I don't know if I'm ready for this.

Busy

Hannah is becoming quite the young lady. She knows it all, & I mean everything. She has an answer or excuse for everything. I was never like that...she must get that from Pat! ;) Ryan is doing very well in school...his teacher says he is the model student...WHAT!?!? He's a good boy that always keeps us amazed & laughing.
Izzie...she is hard to handle. This is her "I am completely innocent" look. That blonde hair is hiding horns. She is overly aggressive (sometimes she has to be), overly loud (the noise level is deafening sometimes), & is a very good climber (like her brother). She can climb anywhere if given the time & she definitely has the determination.



Pat's dad is doing really well. He had is second round of chemo yesterday, 9-17-08. His hair started falling out, so he shaved it all off. His sense of humor is back, at least for now, & he looks really good. He has lost weight, but he's lookin' good for now! Keep him in your prayers.

Prayers

Life here is crazy. Lots of adjustments to get used to. For those of you that don't know, Pat's dad, Michael Blair, has been diagnosed with Hepatosplenic Lymphoma NK phenotype. He just didn't feel good & was tired for months. They found out he was anemic & needed blood. He kept losing blood & the doctors here in Farmington couldn't figure it out. He had a liver biopsy, bone marrow biopsy, & lots of blood tests. Finally, they decided to go to the Mayo Clinic in AZ. They said they could figure out what was wrong with him in 5 days unless it was rare. Well, 5 weeks later, they came up with a diagnosis. The Mayo Clinic has only seen 1 other case of this type of lymphoma. He has had units of blood ( around 20 in all, I think) every week. He is now in chemotherapy. He was feeling ok for a week or so, & now he just lies in bed. His 2nd treatment is Sept 17th. He will have 4-6 chemo treatments & then will need a bone marrow transplant. After the transplant, he will not be allowed to leave the house for 6 months for his immune system to rebuild.

We are trying to be positive about the whole situation. It's hard at times.

Please keep him in your thoughts & prayers. He is such a good man that has helped so many people achieve happiness. It is so sad to think he has to go through this. We know this is part of a plan & everything will happen according to it.

Oranges

Hannah had her first soccer game on Saturday. At half time, the team has oranges for a snack. Hannah brought hers to us and said, "Here's my oranges. Don't like 'em. Never gonna eat 'em." She threw them down & walked away. Typical. I just had to laugh.

Isabelly, Isabelly, night & day it's Isabelly

Isabella can get to wherever she wants to go now. I have a picture of Hannah doing the same thing when she was little.
She is walking really well now......
and learning to climb.

Izzie likes to find candy in our snack drawer. She favors the Hershey Kisses & tries to eat them with the foil. Yummy! Try prying them out of her mouth without getting bit by those huge teeth!

Soccer

Hannah & Ryan also started soccer for the fall. Hannah's on an all girl team named the Breakers. Ryan's team, the Ballhogs, has boys & girls. Pat signed up to be an assissant coach. When no one else wanted to be the coach, they asked Pat. "Surrrrrrrrrrrrre!!!!" he said, as he knows nothing about soccer except for the fact that you can't use your hands. He will figure it out & has been doing great with his little team. After lots of patience the first practice, he said, "This is hard!"
Ryan loves to practice. The first game should be interesting.
Hannah is doing really well, considering this is her first year & the some of the other girls have been playing for several years.
She is excited to play because she knows lots of the girls on her team from school.
I wanted to take this picture during her first water break & she told me, "Not now mom, I'm really sweaty." We thought that was hilarious.