Liver Day

Christmas Cards

Gingerbread Houses

Sunday

We Miss You, DADDY!!

P.S.  I stayed up all day after working all night to get these posts done, just for you Patty!  You owe me big time!!

Working Together

Allen got to come this weekend and even had an extra day since the post office will be closed on Monday.  The kids are always so excited to see their daddy and they always crowd him! 

Allen loves to nap and sleep with Rock, so he makes sure that he gets to put Rock down for naps whenever he can.  And, like father, like son, they both just LOVE to sleep.  And, both of them are wild sleepers, they never stay in one place for very long.  Because they slept together so much this weekend, I was able to quite of few pictures of them!

When Allen and I got our new sectional last year, our plan was to move the old one down to the kids' tv room.  One night when I was working, Allen called me and told me that one of the pieces of the sectional was stuck in the stairwell; he had tried to take the couch down the stairs by himself.  And do you know what I said to him right before I left for work?  I told him to wait for me until the next day and that I would help him.  He NEVER listens!!  Well, with the couch stuck in the stairwell, he also caused a hole in the wall.  I've been after him ever since to fix the hole he made.  Finally, this weekend he got what he needed to fix it.  The kids loved trying to help him.  The girls helped him sand the wall and Rock just watched with his potato chips always close by. 

Dad's Home

After meeting Allen at Becky's house we headed for home. Mom stayed the night with Becky's family and Sarah came home with us. Allen and I mowed the lawn and tidied up the yard. Then the kids ran through the sprinklers and played with hose spraying each other. Rock became very territorial with the hose and at one part accidently soaked himself. It was actually quite funny, even though he didn't think so.

On Sunday we went to church as a family and Allen taught his class in Elders' Quroum.  After church we all relaxed and rested.  Allen and Rock actually napped together, they both love it!!  Then we had a great Sunday dinner before Allen and Sarah headed back.  We were all tearful as they drove off and are looking forward to seeing him again!!

 

Loving siblings

The Dentist

This was Rock's first visit to the dentist and he wasn't too sure about what to think.  We laid him across my lap and the dentist's lap as they cleaned his teeth and then examined them.  Perfect bill of health for Rock!  His teeth look great and the dentist didn't have any concerns!

The girls also had they semi annual dentist trip, and neither one had cavities!  They have perfect teeth.  With as much candy as they eat, I really am surprised, but so far, so good.  At their ages I had a ton of cavities, so I am very proud to say that neither Sam or Danni have ever had a cavity. 

They love going to see Dr. Doug.  He has a tv in the ceiling that they get to watch, and the staff always come out to play with the kids and do an activity.  And they always get to leave with a balloon.  This time, their activity was planting seeds in a pot they got to decorate.  They plan on babying these seeds and seeing how big they can get them to grow.  Wish I could be so excited about a dentist trip.

Love you daddy!

Easter Weekend

Our weekend to visit Allen just happened to fall on Easter.  I got lucky that way, because when I was planning time off, I never even though about Easter.  We left after school on Friday.  Mom drove her car with the girls and picked Sarah up on the way.  I drove separately with Rock and ran a few errands before leaving town.  We drove two vehicles because Mom and the kids stayed the next week since it was Spring Break and I headed home for work.  Mom and I met up at Little Acorn before entering Price Canyon so that we could caravan.  We were trying to get there before dark, but we didn't quite make it.  The kids and I met Allen at Dad's and stayed Friday night there while Mom continued on over to Kris'. 

Dad and Denise had gone camping so invaded Dad's house.  Allen had to work Saturday morning, but the rest of slept in.  That morning Dad called to say they were on their way home because it was so darn windy and cold on the desert.  So we did get to visit with Dad some.  They got a new puppy and the kids had a blast playing with her.  She really is a cute a puppy but she is going to be a BIG dog!!  That evening we left for Kris's like we had planned.  we colored eggs that night and the kids just got to play with all the cousins.  There are always fights, but they always end up making up and having fun!!  Sometimes they fight like siblings instead of cousins. 

On Sunday morning, the kids had to wait for everyone to wake up before they could come out of their rooms and look for their baskets.  At Aunt Sexy's house the Easter Bunny always hides the baskets as well as the eggs.  It was a little new to my kids and Sarah but they had fun looking.  Rock's basket was under the end table, Sarah's under the hide-a-bed, Danni's in the pantry, Sammi's in the dryer, Ashton's in the hall closet and Gage's under a laundry basket in the laundry room.  Once all the baskets were found, we all headed outside to find eggs.  The bigger kids helped the little kids find eggs and it was so cute to watch them all.  It makes me sad that they all have to grow up!!  I can remember when Gage was only as big as Rock is now.

We had a pretty restful day while the kids played.  Allen took Rock for a ride in the Rhino and then Allen and I went for a ride on Shaun's bike.  Allen was in heaven while I really tried to have fun in between all the thoughts of what if's - what if we don't make the turn, what it we fall over, what if we both die on the motorcycle!!!!  That's the worrier in me, but it was pretty fun most of the time.  Allen said he could tell when I got scared because I squeezed him almost in half.  So he would then slow down until I let go a little.  It's a good thing I am such a calm person!!!!

Dad came over that night for dinner and we barbecued steaks and just visited with everyone.  Once the kids were asleep, Allen and I headed back over to Dad's because he had to work early the next morning and I was headed home to Logan so I could work the next day as well.  Mom and the kids will be home next Sunday and Allen will get to see the kids everyday.  He plans on heading over to Kris's every night when he gets off work.  I am actually pretty excited to be home by myself.  I won't have to feel guilty about how much I am working or how much I sleep in between jobs.  I'm sure by the end of the week I'll be missing the kids lots, but for now I'm looking forward to my time all alone!!

Saturday

Kris called me a couple of days ago to let me know that Ashton had a basketball tournament in Ogden this weekend.  So Mom, the kids and I drove down today to watch her play.  She is great ball player and I always enjoy having the opportunity to watch her.  Kris coached today and that, too, is always fun to watch.  Then we went to lunch at Chili's and was able to visit a little longer.  It's always a joy being able to see family!!

After lunch, I told the kids I had a surprise for them.  They got so excited!!  They kept trying to guess what the surprise was, but never came close.  We drove up the freeway just a few exits and pulled into a Chevron.  We pulled up right next to Allen's car and just sat there for a few minutes (Allen walked in the store before we pulled up).  Then Mom got out and started to unbuckle Rock and got him out of the van and just then Allen walked out of the store and Rock ran right to him, so happy and screaming for Daddy.  The girls still didn't get what was happening and I told them that there was their surprise.  I'm not sure how happy about it they were, but they did run up to Allen and give him lots of loves.  I think they were hoping for something a little more fun?!  But Allen ate it up and loved every minute of it.  Mom offered to drive the car and Allen jumped into the van with us to drive the rest of the way home.  Danni interogated Allen about staying at Dad and Denise's and all about his new job.  From what I could gather from the interview, Allen is liking the job and has had quite a few experiences with dogs on his route!!  He even got flashed by someone - should I be jealous?  Anyway, both Allen and the kids are loving being together and just keep teasing each other.  Tomorrow will be another sad day as we have to say good-bye for another week.