Just sitting here eating crusty white chocolate chip pecan bread!

This has been such a great day I want to document it so that when I have those days when I feel like I should get an award for how quickly I can clean up another spilled drink, or an award for changing a diaper really well... then I can remember how great today felt.

I woke up at 7:00. Thought I better start the day off right. Read my scriptures while lying in bed. Prayed for patience to be a good mom today and then got out of bed.

Ella had a play date in the morning and Tyler was at school. Two hours to myself!

I went running but only went two miles because that is all I wanted to do, so why push myself to do more!

Then after a huge debate in my head and no help from my sister, stopped at Little Ceasers to get an order of crazy bread all to my self. Yes I did just run but man, not having kids in the car and eating a whole order of buttery cheesy crazy bread sounded so good. BUT... it was 10:15 AM - They open at 11! I was actually grateful they were still closed!

Then some friends had lunch for me at my house. My house is great for lots of kids and a big open kitchen. I love it. Food always tastes wonderful when you dont have to cook it!

Ella and Tyler loved all the friends. Ella found dessert and just sat looking and looking at it.

We had a little talk about waiting to eat dessert but...
I turned to help Tyler and came back to see this!
Thanks friends, Lunch and cupcakes was great!
Then out of the blue, Darren has flowers delivered to the house for me. What a treat!

Another friend had a tea party at her house. We had munchies to eat and tea and cocoa to drink. More fun with friends and kids.
We came home to Ella saying Hungry Hungry! My favorite words from her!

My mom called and asked if they could come over. Sure thing! She brought a cake with candles!
Thanks family for stopping in- It was a great way to end the day. I thought many times today how a Birth-day should celebrate my mother. She is the one who gave birth to me and stayed home with me every day! Thanks Mom (and Dad) for allowing me to celebrate this Birth-day with you!
Then to finish the day, we talked to Darren on the computer. It would have been perfect if he was here for this momentous 30th Birthday of mine. But work is work. And really, he sent me flowers- I LOVE YOU! We will see you tomorrow!

These are Darren's kids!

Last night we had my parents over to eat. We had soup and salad. Tyler ate 3 bowls of spinach salad that had strawberries in it. Nothing else.

Today for lunch, I had to grab the camera because my plate was filled with stuffing, ham and sweet potatoes. His plate had cooked carrots, sweet potatoes and more salad. Veggie, more veggies, and then even more veggies.

Ella is the same way. Today she has eaten strawberries, blueberries (notice the purple fingers), and an tangerine. (and of course milk!) Clearly my weakness for dessert and bread didn't get pushed on to my children!
Ella asked me to take this one. She is saying CHEEZE!

Were getting better!

Saturday we put up the Christmas tree, lights, decor, and doctor visits.

Ella was done by 5:30. She was in bed asleep by 6:30. She just woke up, 13.5 hours later. Her Croup seems to be doing better. Darren got Croup as a kid, Tyler got it, at 20 months we had hoped Ella had passed it up. But Friday with that Darth Vader breathing we were doomed!

Tyler, he went to bed at 7. Now 13.5 hours later, he is still asleep. I love having kids sleep and get better.

I made Argentine Estafado today for friends here from Denver. Thanks Neti for teaching me some good recipes!

Heres to a good day with not so much medicine.

Thankgiving

I didn't take so many pictures so I am stealing some from my sister. Thanks Renee.

We spent Wed and Thursday at the cabin. It was nice and relaxing, and oh boy good food! Tyler was sick for the days previous so we took meds and a humidifier up just to be safe. And it was all well used!

My parents, Ben and Renee, and my uncle his wife and kids came up.

The cabin doesn't get sun from October till March but the meadow looked nice and sunny.
Thank you mom and dad, it was really wonderful!
Then we get home from our lovely Thanksgiving feast and Ella gets sick. Saturday was spent at doctors offices and pharmacies. We love Croup!

I forgot one!

Before Ella was born Darren said no pink, no bows, no lace, to frills-

This is the coat Darren found and just had to buy for his little girl. Yes... we already have a blue coat this size from Tyler - when Ella grows into it but No, Darren didn't want to to return it, He liked it!

next....BRING ON THE BOWS! ( but no lace yet!)

He also wanted to buy her pink shoes. I said no to that one. sorry. I said black ones so the next kid whether it will be a boy or girl - can wear them too. (and no that is not an announcement. )

Our week in pictures

Ella discovered how to climb in the dryer.

She also wants to do what Tyler does. In this picture she has three pair of Tyler's undies on.
Darren said I should take a picture of Tyler's face when he drew all over himself with permanent marker but I was working so hard to be calm I just couldn't. The marker was on Tylers face, Ella's face, both their tummies and back. Tyler's new pants and shirt... and
He drew a large mural on the wall between his bunk beds. In the process of scrubbing this off I accidently squirted soft scrub on my newest nicest pair of pants. so now I have four bleached spots on the pants! Tyler wants to draw every day all day right now. But I guess I am a terrible mom to stunt his artistic ability and took his crayons and markers away for a while.
Toby is still alive and well.
Tyler built a train. He wanted to be the conductor with the whistle in front.
We also spent the weekend in Logan having a Thanksgiving feast- And found out that my sister in law is having a baby! That means I have two sisters having babies and one sister in law... does anyone want to add to this news!? Pretty exciting!

Our Weekend Get Away

So we have all been sick. Sore throats, coughs, fevers, but no swine flu don't worry. We all felt better by Thursday and decided to head south to "warmer" weather.

Here is the schedule:

5:00 pm head out

5:02 hit traffic

Some time after Provo... get out of Traffic

10:00 pm Make it to Zions National Park. Set up bed in back of truck.

12:00 sleep- Slept pretty well unless someone moved which woke up Ella who then screamed for a few minutes until she fell back asleep. But woke up to this.

This is the 2 miles hike to the Narrows. Tyler enjoyed climbing on all the rocks. We took this picture saying in 10 years he will be back here hiking the whole Narrows. Maybe we could make it a cousin party- all 6 boys! and of course any girls who are old enough!
Ella had to copy Tyler and jump off everything.

We went for a nice drive to the East Entrance and let the kids take naps. This picture of the tree was taken in the snow!
We were wondering if we would have to head home at 2 in the afternoon or if it would stop snowing. And it did but just for an hour. We did one more hike to a look out.
Thanks to our Daddy for taking us on an adventure. We love you. (even if we complain a little, it turned out to be a great weekend- even the long drive was nice.)
And thanks for driving us home safely through 2 different blizzard snow storms (it was a crazy drive home but we made it)
This picture is so Ella. She is a little dare devil!

Our Break UP!

We just cancelled our Credit Cards with Chase. Long story short, with out our approval or knowing... they have changed all our accounts to a card that is 1 dollar for 1 point. Where it used to be spend a dollar get 3 reward points. So add that up to the poor customer service we got dealing with the situation we have cancelled our long and happy partnership with Chase bank.

We are in the market for a new credit card. We want either cash back or travel points....

Anyone have a good suggestion. We are leaning towards Capital One No Hassle Miles. But wow, there are just too many options out there and where do you start looking. We don't want an annual fee. Too bad for Delta Skymiles!

Would really love suggestions!

Halloween Weekend

Tyler and Ella went to one door this year. Next year we will do better but this year. Trunk or treat was just fine. This is Grandma Harston opening the door and man they sure got plenty of candy from this house! Tyler was Buzz and Ella was the same pumpkin I was when I was a little girl.

This is Tyler's Preschool class. He is right in the middle. Next year he wants to be the Grim Reaper. ... His teacher explained it to him that the Grim Reaper comes and takes all the people to heaven when they die. He said that sounds nice and wants to do that too.
Side note: This class has 17 kids.... 4 are girls... the rest BOY!