Spring Break 2011

This year I actually got to take the kids on a vacation for Spring Break!  Vacations don't happen around here so they were excited.

We started the trip by going to Las Vegas for one night.  Vegas has a lot of cool things to look at and some...not so awesome things to look at, especially for kids.  I'm sure I said "close your eyes" too many times.  We really got a lot of walking in though and the kids had fun looking at the fun things there.

Then we headed to St George for a few days.  I know a very generous family that allowed us to stay in their vacation home for free.  So nice!  We went to Zions National Park and did the Emerald Pools hike.  We rode the crowded shuttle in, hiked the crowded trails, and sat by the crowded pools/water falls.  April is the PERFECT time to go temperature wise, but a lot of people have the same idea. We rewarded ourselves after the hike with an ice cream at the visitor center.

The next day we hiked in Snow Canyon with my dad.  We saw lizards, cool plants, and lava tubes. It was just as good as Zions and cheaper (well, we got into Zions for free but if you had to pay Snow is cheaper).

We got to eat out and go swimming and just had a really, really fun time.  I'm so glad we got to do it.  I hope we can get down there again soon.  Sometimes I forget that we live so close to really fun and beautiful places.  If I were a tent camper, which I'm not, then we could do a lot more things.

Liam Likes Choir?

Liam is in Mixed Jr. Choir this semester.  He wasn't sure about it at first. Liam's never been a "singer".  In fact, he kind of avoided it.  But this year he really enjoys the class.  I've noticed him actually singing at church and trying to do well.

 Lean On Me

Liam's teacher must be good because she has him excited about the class. She even got him to sign up for men's choir for next year. That one is going to be all year. I'm glad he's doing it. It's nice to have good teachers!

Gavin Turns 4!

My little Gavin turned 4 in February!  We were a little worried because he really liked being 3 and he didn't want to be 4.  But the day came and now he loves being 4!

 We had my family over for dinner on his birthday, which is always a good time.

 The big boys trying to hear TV over all the loud talking.

 Gavin got some excellent gifts and was very excited!

 Robot Arms!

 When asked what he wanted for his birthday he kept saying "A Banana" so Uncle Eric gave him one.

 Now baby horse has a mom.

 Liam, Gavin, and bowling pins

 He chose 4 tractor candles for his cake.

 Gavin was sick when Jim's family got together for February birthdays.  So, grandma and Roxanne came over on his birthday and brought him this awesome ROBOT cake!!

 I'm going to have a helper in the garden this year.

And here's my big 4 year old boy!

And he was still in a cast for his birthday. It came off a couple weeks later.

This video is of Gavin blowing out the candles on his cake.....with his nose! 

Good thing we put the candles on his piece only!

The birthday turned out pretty well given this is what he looked like most of the day.  He was SO sick that weekend.  We thought we'd have to have him sleeping in his room during his party.  But he was miraculously better just in time for the party and then he crashed again when everyone left.  I'm not sure what he had because nobody else caught it, thank goodness.  But he was down for a few days.

iPhone Over Computer

OK, we bought "refurbished" iPhones pretty cheap a couple of months ago.  Since then I seem to go days without even getting on the computer!  Those phones are GREAT!  But, that means I miss out on some things like blogging and blog-stalking.  I'll have to take that trip to the computer a little more often.

November Family Photos

The Whole Group

Our individual family shots were at the end and Gavin was DONE. Don't you love how nice he's smiling??

Cute pictures of the boys

Grandparents and Grandkids

Grandma and Gavin

Gavin was rarely trying to be in a photo. Caught while playing in the plants. Oops.

Not the easiest photo shoot. Gavin was usually running away, hiding, making faces - anything except cooperating.

Gavin's favorite Baby Horse.

Uncle Eric and Gavin

Nice group shot

New Cast!

Before
After

Gavin got his new cast on today. Blue of course. It's a longer one, above the elbow. If it's bugging him they can switch it for a shorter one (below the elbow) in 2 weeks. He'll have some sort of cast for at least 4 more weeks though. He's doing OK with it and figuring out how to do everything with one hand. It's kind of heavy for him though.

Christmas 2010

We had a great Christmas. I feel bad that I have no photos from the time we spent with Jim's family. The first gathering ended quickly with our exit to the ER. Then on Christmas Eve, Gavin decided to throw a fit over singing. Plus, I just got side tracked with him and didn't get to my camera. We had a great time with them though.

Opening the first gift on Christmas Eve. Liam is old enough to realize it's always going to be pajamas. I think he wishes he could pick something else, but what about WEARING them on Christmas Eve??
Look at the surprised faces! Gavin's pjs even glow in the dark!

Looking good. I really am glad the sleeve fits over Gavin's arm. I keep thinking about all the long sleeved shirts going to waste right now because of that cast.....

Liam with our awesome tree of the year. Ya, it's fake and the same one from last year. Oh and yes, the lights near the bottom are out. Classy.

After we opened Santa gifts and got ready for the day we headed to my sister Melissa's house for their excellent breakfast!

Melissa helping Trey with his gift.

Dad opening gifts.

Sue and her new snugly blanket. Stephen trying not to shoot himself in the face with his new nerf gun.

Matt looking for his nerf gun bullet. Ryan hanging with Trey.

Stephen, Jackie, Sue lounging.

Trevan and Asher helping Gavin open his present - Handy Manny Construction set! He loves it.

This will be a Christmas to remember. Poor kid couldn't open gifts or even really play with them.

Andrea and Trey

The family on Christmas day.

OK, Gavin got a ladybug Pillow Pet and he loves it. It came with a baby ladybug that he also loves. He likes to bring all his animals to show Grandma Prestwich.

Please, please, please ignore the condition of the table. I swear we are going to re-stain it once Gavin stops destroying it. Anyway, Gavin is doing a great job painting his car bank with his LEFT hand. Maybe he'll be ambidextrous at the end of all this.

Another Broken Arm! What is going on this year??

This has been quite a year. Between the 2 boys we've had three trips to the ER and two broken arms.

Tonight while gathered for dinner and gingerbread houses, Gavin decided to jump down a few stairs (at least that's what we were told). All the adults were upstairs and I hear a lot of crying and screaming. I just assume it's the usual child is hurt thing. But, he cried longer and harder than usual. He looked pale and he felt cold. I finally dared to lift his long sleeve. We all saw it at once and headed right for the door!

Luckily the wait at the ER wasn't too long. Poor little guy trying to hold it still.

One bone is broken all the way through and the other has a "buckle" fracture. It was really bent out of place so they had to put him out and set it. What did they do in the old days when they didn't put them out? Poor people. I'm SO thankful for modern medicine!!!

At least he got a new dog to go with the baby horse he got during his last ER visit.

All done and just waiting to wake up enough to go home. I feel so sorry for my little buddy. Just in time for Christmas and everything.

I wonder if he'll stop jumping off everything now.

White Christmas??

Well, the snow I wanted for Christmas is here! It just doesn't feel right if there is no snow. I hope it doesn't warm up and melt before the big day.

Good thing Liam loves to shovel. I avoided the shovel because I'm an old lady with back problems. My back is finally feeling better and I wasn't going to take a chance. Although, Jim's is also hurting now after shoveling the snow. Liam may be on his own for the rest of the season.
Gavin had a good time. Maybe next year he'll be old enough for a shovel....

Time to nail some kids with snowballs!