November 2010

The month started out with Madisyn having a crazy hair day at school. She is the first of my kids to really want to participate in spirit/dress up days at school. The boys never seemed to take in interest in it. So we made some twisty-twirly ponytails all over her hair.

Jacob turned 14 and enjoyed his first gluten-free cake. He is an amazing child. It is nice to know that he willing does everything(most the time days before it needs to be done) on his own, without having to be reminded. He earns all A's and doesn't even have to try too. He sits down everyday and reads his scriptures(can't say he learned that from me). He has already mapped out his next six to eight years. He knows where he wants to go to college and would love to be a writer or illustrator. Have I ever mentioned the stacks and stacks(Not joking) of notebooks that he has drawn and written stories in? He continues to amaze us with his knowledge and is such a blessing to our family.

I think our family dynamics are quite interesting and unique. We have our obvious stand outs for sure, but each one of us is so perfectly fit in our family. Not one of our personalities are the same. We often tease that so and so is our favorite child, but I know all of my children know that we love each of them the same and expect things from them on different levels that they are capable of achieving. Our kids struggle at times, because they know that Braydon requires a lot of our time and attention, but at the end of the day they all know we love them and how important they are in making our family a "FAMILY".

WE had a very quiet Thanksgiving this year. We celebrated with just the seven of us. Since I started working at BBW I knew I would be working on Black Friday, so for the first time in about seven years I didn't get up and go out with all the crazies to do some shopping of my own, but I really didn't miss it this year. I think I mostly missed the fun that I would have with either going out with my sister in law or my good friend Bridget.

More from October.....

This month also came with something I am experiencing for the first time......my very first child got his learner's permit!!! Yes Kaleb is officially driving us around at times. I can't believe it!!!(Not that he is old enough to drive, just that I am old enough to have a child that drives!!!) He is doing quite well. Justin has been taking him out to the school parking lot in the the snow to get some of that experience down.

He also attended his first Homecoming dance. He went with a group of friends. They first had a catered dinner at a friends house, took pictures, then went to the dance and then after a few dances they headed over to a friends house to play basketball, games and eat more of course.

I also took a picture of him and two of his friends at one of our trips to the Halloween store.

Madisyn went to the high school's Spirit clinic, which was taught by the Varsity Pom team. She of course loved it!! Lindsay and Isabel(a couple of Kaleb's friends) took good care of her. They all learned a routine and then performed it at halftime of one of the football games.

Halloween 2010

We enjoyed a snowless Halloween this year and had lots of fun activities. Madisyn and Braydon's school had a Halloween Carnival with a Trunk or Treat. We had our ward trunk or treat and then we had gone out on a chilly Halloween night for trick or treating(my mom was here to help/enjoy this) I only had two dress up for Halloween this year and I was feeling kind of sad. We also enjoyed our visits to the Halloween store not to far from our house at least twice a week for the whole month of October. Braydon enjoyed going there, every time we drove by it we had to promise him we would go and visit or he would keep kicking the back of our seats to let us know he wasn't going to give up on going. We entertained all who where in the store each visit. Sometimes it was just a walk through visit, but most of the time we had to try on the masks which made Braydon laugh (His contagious belly laugh), sometimes it was an occasional scare mom by walking up behind her wearing the Michael Myer's mask. (Now my kids and husband know if they want to really scare me all they have to do is wear that mask!) By the end of the Halloween season the props where no longer functioning, items were sparse, but Braydon still had to visit. We had an enjoyable Halloween this year!!

October

My mom came in town just before Halloween and we took Braydon and Madisyn to the North Pole in Colorado Springs. Maddie and Braydon had lots of fun. (I was worn out after lifting Braydon in and out of every ride). Madisyn did not want to get near the Santa, but Braydon would have stayed and visited him all day. (Ironically Maddie thinks he is the real Santa) It was a beautiful day to have been there.

We took the kids to Kanosha Pass/South Park to see the changing of the leaves. It was really beautiful(my pictures do not do it justice). We stopped in South Park and enjoyed lunch from a roadside caboose turned bbq. The food was fine, but the small town entertainment was better. I took a bunch of pictures of the kids in the trees and Braydon enjoyed falling over into the leaves while we would take his picture.

September

CAYSON!!!! This is his month. He turned 11 on the 10th(for you number sequencing types this year his birthday will be 9-10-11 and he will be 12) Our neighbor's the Sweeney's came to help celebrate his birthday. The next week he was awarded his Arrow of Light and is now in the Boy Scouts. He also joined the majority in our household by switching from glasses to contacts.(The first five of us all wear contacts, the contact lense company loves us!!)

I also decided after 15 years of children at home during some point of the day to go and start working again. I did it in hopes to work while the kids were at school, but I really love it and seem to work a little more. I call it my sanity job. I am working at Bath and Body Works and just finished my first holiday season.(actually it was my second, I worked there 14 years ago for the holiday season only). I work in a really neat little outdoor mall, that has an ice skating pond in the winter and water park in the summer.

August 2010

I can't believe I once again put off updating my blog! Since it is the New Year, I am going to finish out 2010 and hopefully keep current on 2011.

The kids and I headed to Vegas in late July for a few weeks of vacation with friends and family!! We of course make it a tradition to head to Vegas in the hottest time of year! We stayed for a week with my mom, visited with my brother and Jen, went to the YMCA pool with Brandy and her girls, I also attended a funeral of a former Bishop of mine son who passed away while at scout camp(sadly it gave me a chance to see some people I hadn't seen in at least six or so years), we went to the Spring Preserves(oddly I never went there while I lived in Vegas, but since the kids got in free...). We then ventured over to my in-laws where we had swim day with the cousins, a hike at Red Rock Canyon, enjoyed Sarah's birthday, went and saw my teeny(not so tiny anymore) new niece Alayna Samantha Fantauzzi, and as tradition enjoyed a scary movie with Sarah.

Justin flew in the last weekend and we enjoyed a night away for our 18th Anniversary free of children (thanks Sam and Diane). The next day Justin's oldest brother Phil's stepson was married and then we went to my 20th!!!! High School Reunion.
That was enjoyable. I answered many peoples questions as to: I have been married 18 years(yes to the same person) I have five children (yes all by the same dad). I was amazed to see how many of my former classmates were not married or hadn't had children yet. We will see how they all are at the 25th!
(I have very few pictures, once I scan into my computer I will add them)