Funny Boys

Braxton: It's only two days till Christmas, yeah. Tomorrow is Christmas Eve, so why don't we call today Christmas Adam?

So here's to wishing you all a Happy Christmas Adam today, the day before Eve!!

Gingerbread Houses

The kids and I made gingerbread houses the other night while Shane worked late. It was really fun. They ate so much candy while we were making them, I am not sure much of it even got onto the houses. Braxton throwing me the usual peace out sign!
The finished products.

My happy little candy eater.

Breakfast with Santa

Every year we go to Shane's mom's school for breakfast with Santa, which I was informed was not actually WITH Santa because we eat alone, and sit on his lap, so technical my children are sometimes :) This Santa was a little strange, he kept telling the kids to put it in a letter and send it to him (FYI Santa: that is why we are sitting on your lap!!!). Braxton was thinking he was a quack I think.

On the lists:

Braxton: Air hog Zero Gravity, Foam Airplane

Dakota: Yoda, Toy Box

Cameron: He's just happy to be there. Braxy says Cam wants a ball.

I am so thankful for these day where the requests are so simple, so affordable. I love my three boys and they sure make this holiday season awesome. The joy and anticipation are much better than the actual day.

I was reading something today that really touched me:

Is there enough awe in my child,

enough magic left, to save a world?

For within my heart I lament a great truth--

That the only promise of childhood is that it will end.

And I wonder what I have given to him to take its place. And is it enough?

Braxton's Smarts

I had to record this funny story Braxton was telling me the other day. He is in first grade and loves math. I asked him how many friends were at his cousin's party.

He proceeded to ask me: "what is 8 + 8?"
Me: 16
Brax: What is 16-2
Me: 14
Brax: What is half of 14
Me: 7
Brax: That is how many kids there were, 7 in one car and 7 in the other, so I guess there were 14! The other two were adults driving the cars.

I was cracking up at how his brain solved that issue of how many kids were there, I hope he is very mathematical, because that is a good trait to get through all of his upcoming years of school.

Reflection

So, I sat in church yesterday listening to 6 young men in our Ward tell about the things they are thankful for, and it was not a teary kind of situation, but for a gal like me being the mother of 3 wonderful boys that are about to grow up and be one of those young men, I cried through the whole thing. (Is there something wrong with me or what?) They told of their love for their parents and their love for their leaders. One spoke about how he knows prayers are answered, and I just sat there and thought how much leaders mean to boys at that time in a boys life. How much the scouting program shapes who they will become.

I am deathly afraid of being the mother of "big boys". I am sure I can tackle this little boy thing, but big boys have big attitudes, and are a little silly more often than not. They act like idiots 1/2 the time, which if I remember correctly so did I at that age.



At this thanksgiving time I feel like I am so thankful for my boys. They give me a reason to be happy, to love, to be joyful, and to look forward to all the fun things we will encounter together in this life.

Ode to first snow

Oh, the first snow. Only a child could be quite this excited about something so cold. It hadn't been snowing for 5 minutes when they asked if they could go out and play in it. Then upon finding we had no winter stuff out Braxton searched through the shed in the freezing cold, to find the coats, hats, boots, and gloves. When he got back inside and realized he hadn't shut the shed door, he ran out there in bare feet!!! After finding most don't fit anymore, they made do with irrigation boots and Dakota just wore pants. Now half the neighborhood is out there enjoying this weather.

How great it is to be a child and feel such excitement each year when the snow comes. I get feelings of bad roads with crazy drivers and children screaming at me to get in the car faster because they are cold. I also hear a little boy OBSESSED with skiing starting to ask already if he can go when he probably wont go until February. I also think of a husband with nothing to do but watch TV because "What else am I supposed to do when its cold and dark?"

I really do like the snow, but lets just say winter gets old really fast at our house!!!

Getaway

Instead of gifts for Cameron's birthday we gave the boys a night out at a hotel in West Valley that has a water park in it. It was a blast!!! It was a Tuesday night so we had the place to ourselves. We played for hours. Then the next day after more swimming we went to see A Christmas Carol at the IMAX 3D in SLC. I am not sure it would have been my pick, but Shane wanted to see it and thought the boys would like it. It was pretty good, a little dark in some parts, but overall the 3D was pretty cool.

We love to spend time like this with just us and our boys. It seems like everyone gets along so well when we are away from home, it is awesome and much needed.

Cameron told everyone--"went on slide, splash!" It was so cute he went up and down that thing about 100 times.

Happy Birthday Cameron

I cannot believe two years has gone by. Cameron is the sweetest, happiest little guy. He talks about like he is 4 and throws quite the fit when he is angry. My favorite thing to do is get him out of his bed in the morning and after naps, he is so sweet and happy at both of those times. He loves to play with Braxton and Dakota and fits right in. This was his second party where my family came. He got this coat and wouldn't even take it off for the cake, he loves it.

He got this GIANT monkey which he refers to as OO AA (as in monkey sounds) at Shane's family party. He loves monkeys and trains, and got a few of each one.

Cam's stitches

On Friday we were making pies for our early Thanksgiving party and had taken a break to eat lunch when Cameron fell off of the stool and hit another chair with his chin on the way down, so off to the doctor we went while Kiley and Grandma Jo finished the pies and watched Dakota. Cameron was very brave and even fell asleep at one time while waiting for the doctor. He had to have two stitches which he proudly shows off to everyone as his "hurt".

It didn't bleed very much, but this is what his shirt looked like afterward. I am proud to say we have made it 7 years and this is our first trip to get stitches. Both other boys have had similar accidents that maybe needed stitches, but we put a butterfly bandage on it and they healed up fine, but this cut was showing the innards and I thought it would be better on the chin to have less of a scar.

Lets hope the next one is 7 years from now, but I somehow doubt it!!

Kiddos Costumes

Here are the photos of my Bat, Pirate, and Fireman. We had a great Halloween with tons of candy, and we even got to trick-or-treat a little longer this year, me and Braxton anyway. We went with Marley and Mauri, and so when the little boys pooped out, we kept on trucking.

Pumpkin Carving

I love Halloween. It is the best holiday. So many fun things to do, and no one to buy gifts for. I get so stressed about what to buy people for Christmas, but this holiday we can just have parties, play together, and not have to worry about gifts (the costume thing may be worse for some people, but it is alright for me). It also remindes me of how great it is to be a kid, they just light up at all the fun things to do this time of year. Braxton did his pumpkin on both sides, one with a regular Jack-o-Lantern, and the other side with a bat.

Dakota would hardly touch his, but Brent helped him and he pulled out the pieces as Grandpa went.

We had a Family Home evening with some of Shane's family on Monday (Brent, Rebecca, Lisa, Neil, Weston, Paige, Chelsea, and Landon) at our house. It was so much fun. We carved pumpkins, made carmel apples, and ate delicious homemade donuts. A few of us went for the fancy pumpkin carving, but me and Cam stuck to the regualr square eyes, traingle nose pumpkin. All of my boys love this time of year almost as much as I do. They get very into the trick-or-treating, and parties, and especially the pumpkin selling. They all especially love using knives to cut up all sorts of things, and this is one occasion when it is alright with thier mom and dad.

Shark teeth (ooo aa aa)

(Its off of finding nemo in case you wondered)
Braxton had 2 teeth growing in behind all of his baby teeth in the front so I took him to the Orthodontist and he said to get rid of them so the others can move into place, so we were off to the dentist. He was a champion, no gas, just some serious shots in front of and behind all the teeth, then some pliers just like the ones Shane uses, only fancier, and about 2 minutes later they were all out. I was shocked at how long the roots were. Two of them were beginning to dissolve, but the other two would have stayed there forever. None of them were even loose.

And this is the final product. He looks like a vampire, with four holes in his gums. He is a little concerned that it will look like that forever, but I assured him that soon it will look like they never got pulled in the first place.

The other tooth fairy at our house (aka Dad) thought $10 was a good amount for loosing 4 teeth at once. I will say that is a bit steep for a gal like me, but whatever. I read online that the going rate used to be $1, but due to inflation that will not cut it anymore :) $2 is much more common these days--it is all up to which tooth fairy you have I guess.

The best part of it was that I found a $1 bill on Cameron and Dakota's beds later that day, Braxton has such a kind heart. I asked him about it and he said, I was just sharing. What a sweetheart.

Halloween Party

This is our annual Halloween party with some of our friends. We had a Vegas theme this year, and they rented a craps and roulette table. It was a blast. Shane mostly played craps while I played Texas Hold 'em. We had some great food and mostly great company. We never get to see half of these people, so it is a great excuse to get together. We were to go as our favorite couple, so we went as Gilligan and MaryAnn. Most of the party goers did not really know who we were and I really never watched the show as a kid either, but it was an easy costume and a fun idea.

Lessons from sickness

I have had a sick Braxton this week. I suspect the swine flu, due to the symptoms, but haven't taken him in because the doctor said we could treat it at home. Since he is now in school full time I have learned a lot these past three days.

1-If that is the swine flu than it is not that bad. He had a fever for two days of about 102, and threw up one time. He laid around and slept really long at night, but felt fine in the afternoons (not himself, but fine). In fact, I would be sending him to school today, but the doc said that he cant have a fever for 24 hours, so tomorrow he will be there.

2-I don't spend near enough time playing with my children. We have had so much fun playing puzzles, games, reading, watching movies together instead of me just turning it on and getting my stuff done.

3-I miss him. As much as I like the freedom of school I miss seeing him all day everyday.

4-I don't like staying home this much. It is so confining. We haven't left the house for 3 days, and as much as I like to clean, I would rather not be alone in the house with just the kids for this long. Even Dakota said at dinner last night to Shane "We cant go anywhere!"

5-When Braxton is feeling better, he is just his old self. Tormenting his brothers, running and jumping everywhere, getting in trouble every few minutes, and quite frankly making me miss the sick Brax ;)

Here is to feeling much better and hoping no one else is carrying this sickness around just waiting for me to have to stay home for even longer.

Its Pumpkin Time

We are excited for another fun year of pumpkining (if that is a word). We look forward to this every year. We spent the past 4 months, planting, weeding and weeding, preparing, picking, weeding one last time, and last but not least selling. We love to meet new families that come, to see the joy on the kids faces, to recognize regular customers, and to see our children get so excited each time there is a knock at the door that there are "pumpkin customers". Everyone gets on their jackets and heads out to help. I am sure it is slightly overwhelming for some people, but my kids love it!!! My kids also insist on being the first to pick out their pumpkins and put them on the porch. I think it is becoming a contest of who can get the biggest one. Sorry Dakota's picture isn't turned, but you can see the pumpkin is large.

Cameron loves to ride on the tractor, and eat the candy. I have to tell him he can only have one each time, or else he would have turned into a sucker by now :)

This is it--the biggest one in the patch. Braxton had to have it, and he couldn't even lift it. We started out with 12 of these big guys, and now have 5 left after being open now for 5 days. They are popular.

This is Cameron, me, Kiley, and Dakota (Braxton is turning into a monster to get to agree to a photo). We loved getting our picture taken with "the great pumpkin." The whole opening night was so fun and we had a lot of support.

This is the family who was there opening night (we missed Tara who was partying in New York

:(, but we will catch her next year I am sure. Shane and Dad were off doing what men do I guess, but they were here somewhere.

All in all I am very happy that 4 years ago I came up with this idea and look forward to doing it for many years to come. Every dollar goes toward the boys mission/college fund and they and we appreciate it very much. It is also good to have a family project that we work on together and hopefully instill a little work ethic in these three boys.

Pumpkin Patch

Well this is year #4 of the Weston's Pumpkins, and we are excited for another great year. I had a fun opening night party with my family and some friends, and due to the fact that I am a slacker on the picture taking, I will get them from my wonderful sister, but until then my awesome cousin posted on her blog all about it so check it out. http://www.wwjdbergstrom.blogspot.com/

It was a great night with tons of supporters. My sister, Kiley, was a great sport and dressed up to give the kids candy in the patch after watching "It's a great pumpkin, Charlie Brown". It was a big hit, we may just have to do it again.

We hope to have another great year bringing many families out for a visit to pick your own pumpkin :)

Reflection

I have to speak at church on Sunday and the topic is "worth of a soul". For some reason I keep thinking about children and why God wants us to become like them. I have no idea what I am actually speaking about but today I think I figured out somewhat what he means by becoming like little children.


I teach primary (well taught as of last week) and often the kids arent very nice to each other and I kept thinking what is so great about THIS that we should become like it, then we went to soccer. Every week Braxton gets two treats and he cant wait to share one with his brother. In fact, now he shares one with Dakota and one with Cameron (he doesn't even want one for himself). He also went birthday shopping with my mom and she said he was so worried to get something for his brothers the whole time. That is pure christlike love. That is one quality I believe we are to strive for to be like a child.

Another example is the school walk-a-thon. The kids go around and around the track just to be able to earn a medal that they proudly wear around thier necks for days after. I ask different kids and tell them how proud I am of them and thier faces just light up. They are so happy to know they have accomplished something on thier own and were rewarded with this medal. I will be honest I dread the walk-a-thon because it seems to be an all night adventure, but I can't explain how the smiles radiate across thier faces as they get that medal. It spreads so much joy across that park, it is awesome.



Anyway I have no idea what this has to do with the worth of a soul, but I am sure I can tie it in somehow. Hopefully because I've got nothing else!

7 years ago today

This day is always bitter/sweet for me. Birthdays are always such a happy day, but for many reasons I am often brought to tears many times every year on this day.



7 years ago today I became a mother.



7 years ago today I felt my highest high right after he was born and my lowest low when they told me he could not breathe on his own and would have to be admitted to the NICU and intabated (a ventilator to breathe for him).



7 years ago today I cried my eyes out in my room all alone because Shane was at the cafeteria when they called to tell me.



7 years ago today my husband blessed my child and my wonderful father-in-law was in tune with the spirit enough to bless me and Shane, who probably needed it just as bad.



This was far from the worst day of those dreadful 27 days, seeing as everyone downplayed it so much at this point, but it is the day I am flooded with emotions every year and reflect on how blessed I am that Heavenly Father let me keep that little boy all those years ago (which seems like yesterday).

All I can say is it has been a wild ride that I am sure is only just beginning and I am thankful everyday for Braxton, and his spirited self.

Family Night

I took these cute pictures on a Monday while we were having Family Night. Shane had been home from work that day, and we needed an idea for FHE, when the boys wanted to play with playdough, I thought we may as well make sugar cookies and eat our "playdough" mess. Shane helped each of the boys cut out thier hand and we decorated them after they baked. The next thing we knew it was a down pour outside and they wanted so bad to go enjoy the rain. I went out with them and they had a blast while I took photos.

I suppose it takes a child to enjoy those sort of adventures. I personally think the rain is very wet, but they see it as an opportunity for play, as well as to show off thier moves for the camera :)

My husbands obsession

It's that time of year again when I become a single mother while my husband goes out and lives his dream of killing animals in the backcountry. He prepares for months; shooting his bow everyday and exercising like crazy. He also spends tons of money getting the right gear and the tags to hunt out of state. This obsession just started last year, but I assume it will be continuing well into the future. This is the first kill of the great Wyoming deer hunt. They hiked in 6 miles (on horses this time) and were both able to kill one within the first two days. Jake found his right after, but Shane wasn't that lucky, he hunted around for hours trying to find him, but to no avail. When they returned to camp in the pitch black that night.....

This is what they found. Their camp had been ransacked by a bear while they were gone. The tent was smashed, the food drug all over the mountain, and hundreds of dollars in lost gear. Of course it was the middle of the night and they were scared out of their pants. They wanted to leave that night, but Jake's deer was up the mountain in some snow, so they went across the meadow with whatever they could salvage, and tried to sleep with a horse on each side as a guard dog. They did not have any protection except bear spray and two bows. I can't even imagine what a fearful sleepless night that must have been.

Well they had been home all of 5 days and were chomping at the bit to go find Shane's deer. As you can imagine Alayna and I were almost as scared to let them go as they were that night on the mountain. They left without their best protection--the horses, and hiked in for 4 hours in the pitch dark. I know you are thinking they are NUTS, but those are two men whose minds are not easily changed especially when there are animals to be killed. I was of course thinking I really did not want to permanently be a single mother, so we insisted they take a gun this time, and they were to hang their food in a tree this time. I am not sure they really listened to us the wives, but I am telling you after all the bear dreams I had all week, I was very scared.

Well they made it back safely with about 43 hours of driving, hiking, and complete exhaustion, but they found the deer. Shane was about the happiest man on earth. He had been so excited when he killed it and so down on himself when he didn't find it, I was very happy he found it. It was full of maggots and chewed up, but the head was good and the picture looks nice after a little photoshop. I fear that this will only feed the fire and the obsession, but I suppose he is doing what he loves :) and I am just soooo happy he made it out alive and hope they learned a few lessons along the way.

First day of Preschool

Today is Dakota's first day of preschool. He was very excited and walked over there like a champion. The good old Plain City mosquitoes attacked us on the way over there, and he had about 10 bites before we got there--poor guy. I guess that is the one downfall of this town, can't win them all I guess.

Dakota is such a big boy, he is learning to write his name, and sings his alphabet all the time. He even writes us notes all the time, in scribbles and chicken scratches, but to him they definitely say something important. He is such an easy child. He obeys, tells the truth (which keeps other children in check), loves his dad and mom, and is an overall wonderful child. One thing Dakota doesn't do is the dentist. He has a very small mouth and can't stand to open it for anyone. I have to take him to get a cavity filled today, only after giving him a sedative and hopefully that combined with the gas will "help" him relax. The freaking out from last time about put this mother in her grave, so we are trying the knocking out method to see if it works better.

We had another little boy almost as excited as Dakota and insisted on wearing his new shoes and carrying a backpack. I am so excited to have two hours two days a week to spend alone with this handsome guy, Cameron is so fun to be with. He talks up a storm now, thinking he is much bigger than 22 months old. The other day I got him out of his bed and he said "Hi, Geana" I couldn't believe it, it was so funny.

First Grade Woes

Well it is here, my child being gone all day every day. I am not so sure that I like it, but I suppose I will get used to it in no time. Things are going fairly well so far. Dakota is bored stiff all day and wants to play the computer or watch TV, hopefully he will also get used to it.

Braxton had a tough first day, coming home saying he was tired and hungry. A little bully at school stole 3/4 of his lunch while he went to get his milk he had forgotten, and that same bully kicked him on the playground and tied his arms back. He told the boys teacher, and another mom saw the playground incident, and told the monitor on the playground. I dealt with this same child all last year and was very blessed not to have him in Braxy's class this year, but he is just like a leach that we can't shake. Since then Brax hasn't said anything, and the boy was absent yesterday, so after talking about it and giving him some tips on standing up for yourself and also letting adults know, here is hoping things turn out better in the coming weeks.

A friend at work told me I am going to make them get in a fist fight with that kind of "standing up for yourself" advice, but all last year we went the be kind, ignore, route and it didn't prove anything, so we are to the scare him off route now. I am not sure if it is the "right" thing to do, but if it works and he moves on to someone else, all the better for Braxton.

Any advice? I could use all I can get at this point.

Family Photos

My very talented friend Kaedell Ellis took these awesome family photos for us a couple of weeks ago. I love them. I have never been so impressed with any pictures EVER. My boys were so cooperative that day and it all went so well. Thanks Kaedell, they turned out Great!! The only problem I have now is what one do I choose for my wall? I will surely have to print each one, but where will I put them all? There are also many others and two darling 12 x 12 collages.