Tis the Season

I know that these are silly but they make the kids and I laugh out loud!!! You almost have to watch each of these four times just so you don't miss any of the elves!=)

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Happy Thanksgiving

I am so very thankful for all of the blessing that I have in my life. I have a wonderful husband who is makes me laugh, loves me, and is the best dad to our children. I have two beautiful children who are happy (most of the time), healthy, and bring so much joy to my life. I have a big extended family that is supportive, loving, fun, loud and crazy and I love each one of them! I have an incredible circle of friends who constantly bless my life with their presence and their generosity.

Last night as we lay in bed I told Marshall that I was fulfilled. I mean that. My life is a great one. I am not saying that it is perfect, in fact it is far from that, but who really wants perfect? What I have is a life where all of my needs are met. One that is filled with people I love.

Each and every night I thank God for the blessings in my life. As we celebrate Thanksgiving I wanted to thank each of you for being in my life. I love you all and appreciate all that you do for me.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.

Tyler is walking on his own!

He is a video we took of Tyler last night. He is walking around and is pretty much back to his stinker self!=)

We took a walk outside today and he made it about half way around the block before he wanted to go back. He is bouncing back so quickly. Thanks again for all the good thoughts and prayers send our way!

Tyler's Surgery

Tyler did AWESOME with his surgery. Everything went very smoothly and he is home and beginning the healing process.

The Dr. did tell me that even under anesthesia his tendons were so tight that surgery really was the best thing to do for him---stretching and shoe inserts were never going to be enough to fix his toe walking--so I feel good about the decision that we made to do the surgery now.

Here are a few pictures from the day.

Getting some extra cuddle time in before surgery (this calmed mom and dad as much or maybe more than it did him).

He really does have issues!=)

Playing with his cars before heading back to pre-op.

The kid's room was very fun and sure helped to reduce the anxiety of waiting.

When I put this on he told me I looked like a big marshmallow or a snowman!

Headed back to the operating room

This was taken at 11:30 a.m. --we were home and he was in good spirits!

He really is doing great. He has had little pain and is learning how to take advantage of the situation quite well. He sits on the couch and calls out orders to ALL of us!=)

He still hasn't walked but hopefully by tomorrow we will start the process and get him to put some weight on his legs.

He wears the casts for 4 weeks and then should be good as new.

Thanks for all the love, support, and prayers sent our way---we sure did appreciate them.

Our first visitor

Well our first visitor was a very unwelcome one!

On Halloween we had the yard landscaped about an hour or so into it he landscaper came and got Marshall to tell him that there was a rattlesnake in an overgrown bush that he wanted removed.

I immediately wanted to call the fire department because #1 they will come and remove snakes and #2 you gotta love the firemen! However, Marshall made me wait until he knew if it was still out there. It was still out there so I called 911 (at this point I RAN...not walked...to the bedroom to finish getting ready). Much to both Tyler's and my disappointment they killed it before anyone got there so we called the fire department back and cancelled the call.

We have a wash behind the house so it isn't unheard of to have a rattlesnake in there...I am just hoping this was a one time freak thing and that we aren't going to be seeing them on a regular basis....that is unless the cute firemen will be coming to my house on a regular basis!;)

Halloween

I honestly think that Halloween is a very close second in children's favorite holidays behind Christmas. Both Tyler and Emma had been anxiously awaiting the day that they could go door to door and receive tons of candy.

We were pretty much done moving out of the old house by that night so we got to trick or treat in our new neighborhood. We are blessed to have moved in to a wonderful community filled with kids. In fact, one of Tyler's classmates lives right around the corner so they were kind enough to include us in their group for the evening and even introduced us to ALL of the neighbors. It was quite a site seeing around 13 boys running like mad men and little Miss Emma going as fast as her little legs would carry her trying to keep up with them.

I didn't take that many pictures but here are a few from the night.

Emma didn't look quite as haggard by the end of the night as she did last year but you can tell she is pretty done with it by the time this picture was taken!

The best part of Halloween for me is the week after when all of the costumes go to 75% off and I get to replenish the kid's dress-up boxes!

Halloween Party

Tyler's school had a Halloween Parade last Friday. Both of the kids had a great time wearing their costumes for the first time and getting some practice in before the next night's main event!

It is getting harder and harder to drop off Tyler in the morning because Emma wants to stay with him. I think she is ready to go but I am not ready for her to go yet! She is just growing up so fast that their are times I find myself asking her to please slow down and stay my baby. She totally fits right in at school and even follows along with whatever his class is doing. Check her and Tyler out as they enjoy the school parade.

As they were trick or treating the Pastor said, "Oh look....a little nurse." Emma promptly said, "I AM NOT a nurse....I am a DOCTOR!" (gotta love her=)

I am so happy that Tyler has such great little friends in his class. He just loves school and I know that being with his buddies is a major part of that.

Fall Fun

Both of the kids have been enjoying Fall and all that comes with it! Here are a few picture from Tyler's fall school activities (Emma fits right in with the big kids and has even been overheard bossing them around!).

One of the kids in Tyler's class lives on a cattle "farm" here in Oro Valley. They had the whole class out for a day of fun that included jumping castles, slides, horses, a hay ride, and we even got to take a pumpkin home.

Emma is TOTALLY fearless...can you believe she did this without even a moments hesitation!

This horse property is tucked away right near the middle of town...and just look at that view!

Oh My!

Cooking in nothing but her apron and high heals!!!! I think I should start worrying now!!!