"Santa Sarah" (she went around telling everyone she was "Santa Sarah, ho ho ho, Merry Christmas!")

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I hope this brings many wonderful surprises for you all. We are playing the waiting game, waiting to see what happens with the job change for Jason. As soon as we know anything we'll pass the word along. I can't believe I've miss updating this so my new years goal is to keep it up. I like FB but it doesn't allow for sharing stories and funny things so I want this blog to keep going at least for my own record of our families happenings.

December was very busy with my Christmas Exchange and making stuff to Jason's work (Santa pillow.) I enjoy doing those things I just need to start sooner so it doesn't take my life away. I also put together gift baskets for some Dr.'s and they turned out really good; it was a big relief for me, I wanted to make sure they would be appropriate for the recipients. I heard many good things back so they must have been a hit! I'd love to move to a larger area so I could get this little business off the ground, but here in nowhere land it wouldn't be sustained.

Some of our highlights were surviving the Ice Storm, Colton becoming a Deacon. Sarah getting potty-trained, Luke making it through another year with Diabetes and starting preschool. Whitney excelling in school with her math facts. She did great. Had learned her times and division and was a month ahead of all the other 4th graders. Some of my favorites sayings from the kids: Sarah - singing "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the ear" and Luke trying to tell us he was scared (nervous) and said "mom, I feel nerbo." It took us a while to figure that one out:)

I'll post some Christmas pictures soon! thanks for your patience, love to you all - Melanie

Family Pics...

Our windy picture day on the park pier...

Colton is becoming quite the Young Man!

Luke is just my huggable little bear...

Can't believe how much Whitney has grown up!

She was told to smile so she did...with her gum sticking out:)

So serious...but so cute! our Sarah bug:)

One of my favorites with Colton & Luke...

Sarah pulls the funniest faces....

Our funny little family:)

The best things in our lives...Whitney, Luke, Colton & Sarah.

Ok so there was a bit of a cold wind and my hair shows it...burrr!

These were taken at this beautiful little park in MO.

Tough Day for Colton

This week has been a bit crazy, sick kids and then our first experience with Colton and the police. I think every parent would dread a phone call from the school principal, I certainly did. I was relieved to know that he was calling to let me know my son did the right thing! This week Colton had been in class watching a film. A boy next to him got his attention and showed him a knife he brought. Now when I was growing up I'm sure oodles of kids brought pocket knives to school, but now days there is zero tolerance for anything that could be a weapon. Colton has seen other kids bring pocket knives to school but didn't want to lose his friends by being the snitch so he didn't turn them in. However, this time he finally had the courage to turn the boy in. He was at lunch and the same kid sat next to him, the boy being a smart mouth told Colton to give him his food or he'd cut in the bathroom. The boy reached for his food but Colton slide away from him. Thankfully the boy dropped it and Colton finished his lunch, instead of heading to the gym he went to the office and reported what had happened. They took him back to class and at the end of class the coach escorted the boy to the office. When the police arrived they were going to take Colton's statement again, but he had to catch the bus. When Colton got home he told me he had to go to the station and make a statement that night. I wasn't sure who was handling this so I really didn't know where he should go. We live in the county, but the school he goes to is in a small town 12 miles away. Jason had to call to find out were to go but no one knew about it. The town only has 2 officers, one for day and one for night. We hadn't heard back from the county dept. so we just waited to see if the town sheriff would contact us back. (Their office closes at 4:30pm.) Finally at 8:30 the night officer came out and took his statement. It was a very vague statement and the poor officer was trying to get him to give more detail. Finally I told Colton he needed to give detail - play by play, movie detail as to what happened from one moment to the next. After he listened to him retell it with more detail, he then had to write it. After he left we joked about the rumors that would be flying in the neighborhood as to why a cop was at our home for so long. I haven't heard anything yet though. Anyhow, the boy was taken to "Juvie" as my son calls it; and should be having a hearing by Monday. If it goes to trial Colton will have to testify. We are all hoping it will be settled without it going that far. I was very proud of Colton for having the courage to report the knife. I was shocked any student would bring any weapon after the experience that happened last week. (This really isn't a violent area, it's rather quiet compared to the school we had in CA.) Last week a 5th grader pulled a knife on a boy he had a fight with earlier in the week. He actually had it to his throat when another boy pushed him away and the teacher was able to restrain the boy. That boy will be in Juvie for 2 years. So I was very surprised any kid would even risk bring a knife to school. It is just plain stupidity. I told the cop it's probably time for another Assembly to really reiterate what will happen if you bring any weapon to school. So sad it has come to this now days. It blows me away my kids have to have lock-down drills just as they do with fire-drills. They have had 2 lock-downs already this year.

A Young Man Now...

Sunday was one of those days that just makes a mother so proud. For once, Colton dressed in his new white shirt, tie and even a belt. Yes, you guessed it; he usually tries to do the least dress up as possible. Sunday he took it very seriously and I was so pleased. He looked so handsome. He asked Grandpa Erickson to ordain him and Grandpa gave him a really special blessing. I love him so much. They just grow up too fast!

Our trip with Mom and Dad was such a delight. I loved every minute of it. They were so cute with the kids and one evening Luke propped himself on a stool and rested his chin in his hands watching Grandpa making scones. I walked by and patted his back and he looked at me and said "I just love your Dad!" Of course I love my dad too, but it's even more special when your kids do too. It reminded me on how much we miss out on out here and how my little ones haven't had as many special times with their grandparents as other cousins. It makes me sad. I really hope we will one day be closer to our families. We miss them so much.

Yes, we played much scum in honor of all of our family; and I even pulled out my "presidents cap" but it didn't help much. I was only president one time:( It was a lot of fun though!

(my presidents cap for those who don't know, is a bandana I wore several year ago when several family members were playing scum. I played so well and was pres. so long that we attributed it to "the cap" and so I like to bring it along when we play just incase my luck sticks. There are usually some family thiefs who try to hide my cap for fear of me being pres. again, but it's all just family fun!)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY COLTON!!!

He got a scooter and school ring he wanted...

He also got a John Bytheway, cd about the priesthood...

Mom and Dad made it a real birthday treat!

Here is our big 12 year old. He is taller than me and he just wont stop growing:( Oh well, I am destined to be the shortest in the family I guess. Colton also wanted an Ice cream cake, but we decided to do brownie instead of cake and he didn't want whip cream around it so I left it as is and drizzled fudge sauce on it and it was yummy!!! I made homemade vanilla and used the spring pan to freeze it in. Before hand I made the brownie in the same pan so it would be the same size (worked better and didn't shrink up like the cake.) To top it off I made a Chocolate Fudge Sauce from the Lion House Recipes. It was so tasty! Ok now I've got to go on a diet:)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

I kidded her that she was 1 this year since the camera man took the pic from the back!

Whit had a small party with some friends the week before since we'd be picking grandma and grandpa Erickson from the airport in St. Louis on her actual birthday!

This was my first ice cream cake! Whit and Colton both wanted one for their birthdays. I made homemade ice cream with oreos for the one layer and a chocolate cake for the other. then frosted it with cool whip once the cake was frozen. Used a spring pan to bake the cake in and then the same pan to freeze the icecream so they would be the same size, good idea but the cake shrinks up a little and I had to cut some of the ice cream off so it was the same size, so we decided to do brownie next time.

Yummy, we liked it and I didn't have to spend $30 to get it!

Happy Birthday Whitney!!!

10 years old on a historic date - 9-9-09!

Watch out Hollywood....

Welcome to Dollywood...
The kiddos with a giant, fake cut timber.

Luke has tamed this dragonfly...

Sarah has learned to ride a caterpillar...

Eating homemade ice cream...it was alright, I think I make better though.

This old steam engine took us on a five mile ride...a bit dirty as it blew dirt on us upon departure.

Sarah was worn out, the train ride was just what she needed to unwind.

Flying a bee, Luke an Sarah hit the air...

More picts to come from Dollywood!

Anniversary Celebration!!

This year we celebrated 13 years!!! We would have loved to gone off by ourselves, but it just wouldn't work out for that so we were all together for our anniversary. Aug. 2nd we visited the small ward in Pigeon Forge (pretty much like our ward here in Missouri.) We found it to be a very pleasant day. Jason is my best friend and a wonderful husband. He does so much to help me that I feel guilty when I hear other women complain about their husbands. I wonder how I ever deserved someone who is so good to me and helps me to want to be a better person. It hasn't been easy living away from family our whole married lives but I am grateful for the sweetheart who has been with me through it all!!!! I love you Jason.

Jason took off a week at the end of July in hopes we'd be able to go home to UT, but when we couldn't do that we decided to use up our timeshare points in TN about 7 hr drive. We went to Pigeon Forge. It was beautiful and made me so homesick for the UT mountains:( But I loved every minute of it. Most the time the kids swam, they had in door and out door pool, playground and some activities. It was a welcomed vacation...one of the best and one of the first that NO one threw-up!!!!! It felt so nice to swim, cool off, relax, no callings to deal with, no classes to teach on Sunday:) One of the few times Jason has been able to sit with me in Sacrament meeting, yippee! And not a commitment in the world other then my families immediate needs...so glad I went...

Our little swimmer...she gave us a horrid scare at the pool. We kept trying to tell her that it was too deep (3 foot) and she had to have her floater. She was playing in the little pool with a little boy, I had taken my eyes off her for a moment when I was with the big kids; she changed her mind about he kiddie pool and came over to the big pool, stepped down the steps and couldn't touch when I turned around all I could see was her pink ponytail. I yelled for Colton to grab her as he was the closest to her and I felt like I was in cement and couldn't move fast enough. My biggest fear was the thought of her dry drowning later, and so I had Jason give her a blessing and watched her all day. She was fine, but it scared me to death.

Having fun with my sister...

Colton in the goggles and Whitney coming out of the water...

Luke played a rubber duck race and came in third....

Pool fun for Whitney...

A picture by the pond with Colton, Luke, and Sarah...

More pictures to come soon - love and miss you all...Mels

Happy Birthday Jason!

Yes it's his big 35! He really made out this year, not from home though. Birthday money from family and a gift card to lowes from work got him a new cordless drill, nice powerwasher and then we gave him a night of golf with a friend, new temple pants and book on cd for long drives. The book is the second one from LDS author Sandra Grey - She wrote "Traitor" which we really liked and so I got him the next one called "Tribunal." We'll see if we like it too.

Jason usually doesn't read the blog much, but I just want my friends and family to know what an incredible man he is. I wonder at times how I ever deserved someone who treats me so well, helps me so much and is truly a partner, friend and companion. He's funny, a great dad and my very best friend in the world! I couldn't imagine my life without him.

Pioneer Day Fun...

We had a lot of fun at our Ward Pioneer Day on Sat. July 25th. We had bouncers and grilled hot dogs and played baseball, volleyball and heard a story about the pioneers. Whitney is in the blue striped shirt.

Sarah had a great time sliding down the non-slide (it wasn't slippery at all, so adults had to scoot themselves down).

Colton is on the right and Luke is on the left with Keegan.

These are the bouncers!

Sister Ray was holding Sarah so I could finish my game of Volleyball. No she didn't wet her pants, though it looks that way; she had just finished a soda and spilled it all down her front!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SARAH!

We had a "fairy" good time celebrating Sarah's birthday on Saturday, June 27th. It was her first party with other kids invited. Because there are only 2 kids in her nursery class we decided to invite families and it was lots of fun. We BBQ'ed and had homemade oreo cookie ice cream and cake, played in the water with water balloons and Jason's mini-pool (it was cheap and in one of the picts you can see why.) We had the Riches, Nutt's, Madison, Dee & Carl, Jamie and Brandon.

Sarah got her first riding scooter and she has loved it! Luke loves it too, he informed us that's what he wants for his birthday (good thing they have it in boy style too.)

Sarah is such a little singer and makes us laugh so much. She likes to sing in the microphone and throws her hip way out swaying back and forth. Her brother is her best bud and she loves all her siblings. She loves to play with Luke, Whitney is her preschool teacher and roommate and Colton is the one she goes to when she is sad or has hurt feelings. He does a good job consoling her. It's hard to believe what it took for us to get her here, but we were greatly blessed and very happy that she has done so well after being premature. We love Sarah very much!!!