The Wood Family

Life Goes On

2011-03-10T22:30:00.000-08:00

So it's been a really, really long time. I'm back for a couple of reasons. One, I am tired of Tiger Woods being front and center on my blog. Two, I have been re-inspired because of reading your blogs. There are so many moments and memories I need to capture and remember. I have been spending time of Facebook and although I like it, there are some things I don't want to share on there like this:

Our sweet little Kamree had a procedure on Wednesday. She is a lot more nervous and scared now that she is older and it makes me sad. The first thing she had to do is get her finger pricked. She was not all about that! The nurse was squeezing her hand to prick her and she kept saying "please let go of my hand, you are hurting me, please let me go". So polite but she was so scared. Luckily that was the only shot she had to get while she was awake.

She got dermabrasion on her face where her skin graft is. It is to help even and smooth it out. It has been a long journey from birth until now and I just hope we have done the right thing. I love her so much and want her to have a happy life. I wish so much of life, especially for a girl, didn't focus on appearance. I just hope we can raise her to have self worth, which is much more than what's on the outside. I am so grateful we can raise her to know that she is a daughter of God.

Surgery went well and she is such a little trooper. She doesn't love looking in the mirror right now because she says she looks too bloody. She lets us give her the medicine and keep Vaseline coated on her face. I don't love that part. Vaseline can be a sticky mess so we have a bunch of special shirts, special blankets and things set aside for this messy part of the healing process.

After a couple of popsicles and a few presents from the nurses, she was ready to ride the "princess carriage" out to to the car.

We hope this is it for surgeries. After this she will have some laser treatments and things should be a lot less painful. Wish I could take if from her, but if anyone has been blessed with the spirit to handle this, it is her.

Tee It Up With Tiger!

2009-06-26T22:46:00.000-07:00

So here is my husband's claim to fame and dream come true! Last October Brandon won the contest of a lifetime called "Tee it up with Tiger". There were 2 ways to enter the contest. One was to get a special platinum golf ball in a sleeve of Nike balls. Brandon tried that but after buying a few sleeves he had no luck. The other way to enter was buy buying "virtual" golf balls online and hoping to get a platinum one that way. Brandon kept trying to do that online and I was teasing him that it wasn't going to happen. Well he got lucky and got the platinum ball that entered him into the contest. There were 2000 platinum balls and out of those, 24 were drawn.
Brandon was one of the lucky 24! (He got "the golden ticket") They flew him to California where he was picked up in a limo and taken to an amazing hotel in the marina. He was treated to a nice dinner and given goodies from Nike and Golf Digest. The next day was what he'd been waiting for. He went to the new Trump National golf course and got to play 18 holes of golf. Tiger was waiting for his foursome at the 10th hole. He watched them play, gave them tips and just spent time talking with them. After that, Tiger and Anthony Kim (another golf pro) put on a golf clinic for them and gave them tips, answered questions about anything and just hung out with them for awhile. The Golf Channel filmed the whole thing and they interviewed Brandon as one of the featured winners. It was fun to watch him on t.v. and get to see part of his amazing day. Anyone who knows Brandon knows how much he LOVES golf and also Tiger Woods. If he could meet anyone famous, Tiger would be the one. He called me that night after golfing and meeting Tiger and said "After our wedding day, birth of our children and some other wonderful days in between, this day was one of the best!" As you can tell, he obviously thought about it before and made sure he put those other events in their first! Good move on his part. Anyway, I was so happy he had the opportunity and he came away an even bigger Tiger fan than before. How cool is that?!?

Baby Sydni is here!

2009-02-25T21:15:00.000-08:00

Baby Sydni is here! She was born today around 4:30pm. She weighs 6lbs 1 ounce and is 18 1/2 inches long. She is so beautiful and sweet. She surprised us all by arriving about 4 1/2 weeks early.

Because she was born so early she has to have oxygen but so far is doing great. Jill is doing well considering all she has been through. Having a baby is truly a miracle. Please keep Jill and Sydni in your prayers in hopes for a smooth recovery for baby and mommy. I will post more pictures soon.

Playing Blog Catch-Up

2009-02-25T00:08:00.000-08:00

Well, I have ignored my blog for a couple of months now for a few reasons: 1) My computer freaks out whenever I go on blogs, but nothing else. It is really annoying! It takes forever for the pages to load and then it stops half-way through. 2) I joined facebook and what little time I have on the computer I have been distracted by that. Please forgive me as I am going to be going back in time doing posts because this is a type of journal for our family. So don't give up on the blog. I will be posting soon.

O Christmas Tree

2008-12-07T21:30:00.000-08:00

Last Saturday we decorated the Christmas tree. It couldn't have been soon enough for the kids. They wanted it up the second Thanksgiving was over. It's fun now that they can actually help now. We have a fake tree and it is very kid-friendly.
Kamree had lots of fun. She was too young to really help last year. What a difference a year makes.
It was hard to get a good shot of the tree so I just went for a shot of the kiddos. They were fighting earlier but this is proof that they do get along and love each other.
Parker's favorite part is setting up the train under the tree. He LOVES trains and it's so fun having this one under the tree.
Of course you have to end the night with hot chocolate. They are really into it right now. We had a fun night decorating and love the Christmas season. Easton slept through all of this but will hopefully be awake for the fun times next year!

Nutcracker

2008-12-07T21:16:00.000-08:00

On Monday night, Kamree and I went to the Nutcracker with my sis-in-law Ashlee and niece Ellie. We started the night off with dinner and then off the the ballet. It was a local dance company that put it on and some of the dancers are in our ward. They did a great job and the dancers from our ward were amazing. Kamree liked it better than I thought she would. When the SugarPlum Fairy came on stage, Kamree said "Mom I want to be her when I grow up". She loved all of the different costumes and of course the ballet dancers. We will be adding this to the top of the list of holiday traditions.
Thanks for the fun night, Ashlee and Ellie!

Parker is 5!!!

2008-12-03T22:06:00.000-08:00

Parker turned 5 on November 26th! I cannot believe it. Whenever one of my kids has a birthday, I always like to think about the day they were born and what I was thinking and feeling. It is so crazy to reflect and realize it has been 5 years ago. That was the day that I became a mother and I didn't realize at the time how my life would change. I am so glad that Parker is my son. He has brought so much joy and happiness to our life. He is like a little man now with his own opinions and thoughts. He is so considerate of others, especially Kamree. He is also learning a lot about the Gospel and his prayers are very cute to listen to. He is very into sports of all kinds and will sit and watch a whole Jazz game and not stop cheering. It's pretty cute to hear him say "Defense, Jazz or get the rebound!" He picked out the decorations for his cake and helped Brandon decorate it.
Parker had a small party with a few friends. Of course it was a sports theme so they played all sorts of games. His favorite game was when they had to shoot the basketball from different spots. We also had a party on Sunday with my family and he loves having them around. He always wants to get together with them.
Can you tell he is excited about opening his presents? That one was a Transformer and he absolutely loves it!
One tradition we have on birthdays is lunch at Applebee's with Aunt Jill. He especially loves when they sing and bring dessert.
The night before every birthday we blow up tons of balloons and put them all over their bedroom floor. They love it! Before Parker went to bed he even asked if we doing balloons and even though he knew we were he was still so excited when he woke and they were there. Parker also got to choose his favorite breakfast. I gave him tons of choices but he wanted a blueberry (Eggo) waffle with sprinkles and of course there had to be 5 candles in it. We had lunch with Aunt Jill and dinner at Panda Express, Parker's choice of course. Here are some of Parker's favorite things at age 5:
Favorite food: Mac and Cheese and anything chocolate
Favorite color: Blue and green
Favorite book: Fred the Firefighter and The Polar Express
Favorite t.v shows: Curious George and Sid the Science Kid
Favorite Movie: Cars, Polar Express and Peter Pan
Favorite Animal: Tiger
Favorite Song: Families Can Be Together Forever, Any music by Rascal Flatts
Favorite things to do: Play sports of anykind, especially basketball right now. He loves to play with Kamree and his friends. He also loves to color and draw.
We love you so much Parker and are so happy you are part of our family!

CHRISTMAS HELP WANTED!

2008-11-23T22:21:00.000-08:00

With the holidays quickly approaching, I have been thinking a lot about how we do things and our traditions. While my kids are still young, I feel like it's still easy to change or add to the way we do things. I am just wondering if anyone has any fun traditions or things they do? Also, I was talking with a friend about Christmas and what Santa brings. Does Santa bring all your Christmas presents or just one big one and parents do the rest? This is a shout out to my "peeps". I am wanting to hear from you! I would love to know how you do Christmas and what fun traditions you have.

Maybe For Your Birthday

2008-11-23T22:16:00.000-08:00

We were at Costco a couple of days ago and I saw a crockpot that I wanted. I told Kamree that I really liked the crockpot and wanted to buy it. Kamree said: "Well, not right now, maybe for your birthday." Hmmm, I think she's heard that line before.

Halloween Fun!

2008-11-09T20:05:00.000-08:00

Parker and Kamree had lots going on this Halloween. Here are a few fun pics to re-cap our Halloween fun.Kamree had a Halloween party at her dance class. They danced to "Thriller" and had fun treats!
Parker had a party at his preschool. These are some of his favorite friends. Aren't they cute in their costumes?
We also went to a party with cousin Ellie at Aunt Ashlee's work. We had such a fun time. There was trick-or-treating, bobbing for apples and fun little games. Parker and Kamree also got their faces painted.

Here is a picture on Halloween night, right before trick-or-treating. Kamree was Cinderella of course, Parker was Peter Pan and Easton was a cute little frog. They went trick-or-treating through the neighborhood and had a great time. I stayed home with Easton and handed out candy to the few trick-or-treaters we got. I had way too much candy left over and Brandon suggested we keep it as part of our food storage (cause you can totally survive on skittles and milky way bars). I need to get rid of it soon or it will go to storage on my thighs and hips! One other fun thing Brandon and I did a couple of weeks ago was go to a Halloween party with some friends and had a great time. Good friends, good food, fun games and lots of laughs. We love this time of year and can't wait till it comes again!

Carving Pumpins

2008-11-09T19:33:00.001-08:00

The FHE before Halloween we carved pumpkins. This is always a fun, yet messy and time-consuming activity but the kiddos LOVE it! They loved taking out the seeds and the funny feeling of the pumpkin "guts" as Parker likes to call them.

Of course we had to let Easton in on the action too! I didn't get any pictures of the finished product but we ended up with a bat, a ghost and a princess crown.

More of Kamre is Three!

2008-11-04T21:50:00.000-08:00

The day after Kamree's birthday we had a party with my family. Kamree got this Princess chair for her birthday from Uncle Ty. She loves it!

Blowing out the candles on her princess cake (with a little help from Parker of course)
We were a little camera happy getting pictures of Kamree with all the family. Here she is with Grandma and Grandpa . She loves spending time with her grandparents.
I love this picture of her with my grandparents, Kamree's great-grandparents. Also known as Grandma and Grandpa 2.
Kamree with my brothers, Trev and Ty. They love to play and are such fun uncles!
Kamree with Aunt Jill and Uncle A. She loves them both and can't wait till they have their baby.
We also went to dinner at Applebee's with Brandon's family. They sang to Kamree and brought out free dessert which she shared with her cute cousin Ellie and Parker. Brandon's parents were also here from St.George for Kamree's birthday. Kamree loves spending time with them and all of her family.

Kamree is three!

2008-11-03T20:38:00.000-08:00

Kamree turned 3 on October 18th! She celebrated by having a princess birthday party with her favorite friends. The highlight of the party was having the "real" Cinderella come.

Kamree had such an amazing time at her party and kept talking about it for days. The girls all came wearing princess dress-up. When her friends first came, they decorated pink princess crowns for the girls and blue hats for the boys. She didn't know that Cinderella was coming and she was so surprised when she knocked on the door. Cinerella played games, told stories, sang "happy birthday" and took pictures. Most of the girls were a little afraid of her but not Kamree. Everywhere she went Kamree had to be right by her side. When she left Kamree asked me if she was riding a carriage or flying a plane back to her castle. We ate cupcakes with pink frosting and little Cinderellas on them and then opened presents. It was so much fun for her and I was so thankful my mom and sister were there to help out. I couldn't have done it without them. Although very fun, parties are a lot of work! Very worth it though. Later that night we let Kamree choose where to go to dinner and we ended up at Winger's. She had a very fun birthday! I asked Kamree to tell me about some of her favorite things at age 3 so here goes:
Favorite food: Spaghetti and vanilla ice cream
Favorite color: Pink
Favorite book: A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon
Favorite t.v shows: Little Einstein and Curious George
Favorite Movie: One guess...Cinderella of course!
Favorite Animal: Penguin
Favorite Song: I Am A Child Of God and Popcorn Popping
Favorite things to do: Dance, twirl, sing, dress-up in Cinderella dress-up and play with Parker

I can't believe that Kamree is three. She has grown up so much the past few months. She is a very lovey and cuddly girl and always has a kiss or hug ready to give. She is also ready to give you a compliment or quick to say "I love you". As you can tell she loves princesses and is always singing and dancing around the house. She really does love Parker and looks up to him a lot. She has been through a lot with her mole getting removed and her surgeries and has handled it all so amazingly. I think Heavenly Father knew that she had the Spirit and personality that could handle this obstacle. She constantly amazes us and keeps us laughing and on our toes. Kamree, we love you so much and are so grateful and happy you are a part of our eternal family!

3 months old

2008-10-12T23:01:00.001-07:00

I cannot believe that our little baby is now 3 months old. Time is flying by and sometimes I want it to stop. I truly love this phase. Easton is so smiley and interactive right now. He loves when you talk to him and he will coo and talk back. He is such a happy baby and barely cries when he needs something. He is not the best sleeper however but that's okay, it will come in with time. He is also getting SO big! At his 2 month appointment he was: 13 pounds and 75th percentile, 25 inches long and 97th percentile and 25th percentile for his head. He's a big boy and fitting just right in 3-6 month clothes. Parker loves him so much and is always singing songs to him. He is always saying things like "I love you forever Easton" and "I'm so glad I have a brother". It's pretty cute. Kamree also loves Easton but sometimes she loves him too much! He gets lots of squeezes. She does love when he smiles at her and sometimes plays like she is his little mommy. I am loving and enjoying every minute of our little guy!

Easton is always soaking up everything going on around him. He loves to watch Parker and Kamree dancing, running around and entertaining him.
This is Easton's classic sleeping pose. Gotta love his pouty face.

Our happy, beautiful little guy. I love being your mom!

Go Cougars!

2008-10-12T22:38:00.000-07:00

Brandon and Parker went to the BYU game on September 20th when they played Wyoming. They had such a fun time and Parker is still talking about it. He goes around the house singing the BYU fight song and has taught it to Kamree. At least once a day I hear "rah, rah, rah, rah, rah, gooooooo Cougars!" He loved spending time with Brandon too and Brandon loves that Parker is old enough to enjoy doing these things with him.
Of course you can't leave a BYU game without a football and a BYU hat which is now his favorite! Parker also made sure to tell me many times that BYU won the game. Go Cougars!!!

Princess Spa Party!!!

2008-10-06T23:11:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I am way behind on posts. Back on August 7th Kamree got to go to the cutest princess, spa and tea party ever. My sister-in-law Ashlee works at a spa that puts on these fun parties for little girls. First they get to try on all sorts of dress-ups and walk down the runway. They get to see themselves on a big screen t.v which adds to the fun. Of course Kamree wore Cinderella, which is her favorite, most of the time. She did change into Tinkerbell and then back to Cinderella.

Kamree and Ellie in Tinkerbell dress-up
Kamree with Aunt Ashlee
Kamree getting her first pedicure which she loved of course! Even more fun when wearing your Cinderella gown and tiara!
No girls day out is complete without a tea party. They served mini sandwiches, cookies, cupcakes and pink hot chocolate with whip cream and pink sprinkles. Before the tea party they also did Kamree's hair and make-up with glitter. She had such a fun time and is still talking about it. I think I loved it just as much as she did. Thank you Aunt Ashlee and cousin Ellie for such an unforgettable day!

I-FLY!!!

2008-10-06T22:33:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I'm a little behind on my posts. On the Saturday before Easton's blessing (Sept. 13th) we did the coolest thing. If you've ever wanted to try skydiving but are too scared like I am, you can get a bit of the experience at I-FLY in Ogden. Brandon's parents were in town for the weekend and his dad, sister, Bran and I decided to give it a try. I loved it and want to go again soon. Don't mind our smashed and wind blown faces!

ME!

BRAN!

Parker, Kamree and Ellie watched us in awe! Afterward we found out they can do this as young as 3. Parker was sad because he wanted to try and I think he totally would have. He always wishes he can fly like a superhero. Maybe next time!

Easton's Blessing

2008-09-25T21:56:00.000-07:00

We blessed Easton on September 14th and it was a wonderful day. This first little milestone is always such an amazing reminder to me of how fresh from God these special spirits are. Brandon gave a beautiful blessing and it is so humbling for me to get a glimpse of what might be in store for my sweet little babies future. I hope that those special things he was blessed with will come to pass and that I can be the mother I need to be to help him realize those blessings. A big thanks to our family who joined us on this special day. Here are a few pics to enjoy! Sound asleep

Easton and Grandma
Kamree with her Great-Grandpa

Parker and Aunt Jill

Soccer

2008-08-31T21:22:00.001-07:00

Parker had his first soccer game last Saturday. He had so much fun! He seemed so grown up in his little uniform playing a "real" soccer game. Kamree had fun watching him and kept cheering "go Parker" and he would wave at her. He is on a team with friends from the neighborhood so it's fun to watch all these cute kids learning to play. Parker couldn't wait to call his grandparents, aunts and uncles to let them know all about his first game. Parker loves this picture...he says he's a "real" soccer player
Waiting for the game to start
Getting in on the action
Kicking the ball on his way to make his first goal

Back to School

2008-08-31T19:26:00.000-07:00

Preschool started last week for Parker and he was so excited to be back! The night before school he went with dad to get a haircut and pick out a new backpack. He chose Spiderman of course.
Parker was lucky to have a lot of his friends in his class including his best buddy, Luke. We're glad to be back to school!

A few pics of Easton

2008-08-20T21:29:00.000-07:00

Easton is now almost 6 weeks old and I thought I would post a few pictures of our favorite little guy. He is so mellow and rolls with whatever is going on which is so nice. Parker and Kamree are loving him and love that he is more alert now. They talk to him and sing him songs and always tell him that they love him so much. Some of his nicknames are googly bear (Parker's choice) or bugga boo. So alert and happy...he looks like Parker in this picture
This baby can sleep through ANYTHING!
Bath time
Our bald and beautiful little guy

9 Years!

2008-08-19T21:31:00.001-07:00

Brandon and I had our 9 year anniversary on July 16th. We were a little busy with just having Easton but we did manage to go to dinner. I can't believe it's been 9 years and time has gone so fast. I was almost 21 and Brandon just turned 22 when we got married. Now when I see people getting married at those ages, I think they are so young, do they really know what they are doing (maybe people thought that about us too?!?). It has been a wonderful 9 years with a lot of joy and some trials and there is nobody I would rather be on this journey with then Brandon. I love the life we have together and the family we have created. When we are together there is no where else I would rather be. Thanks for the best 9 years babe and many more to come!

A Dream Is A Wish

2008-08-16T21:51:00.000-07:00

We are staying at Brandon's parents in St.George for the weekend. Kamree brought her brand new princess backpack that she absolutely loves. She was showing Grandma Wood her backpack and this is what I heard next:
Kamree: "Grandma, do you wish you had a backpack like this?"
Grandma: "Yes, I wish I did."
Kamree: "Then dream it into your dreams. That's what I like to do."
Oh to be a kid again and think things were that simple. One too many times watching Cinderella maybe?!?

Baby Love

2008-08-03T21:11:00.000-07:00

Eaton is now 3 weeks old ! I can't believe how fast time is flying by. He is still sweet as ever and the kids are loving him. He is sleeping okay and going about 4 to 4 1/2 hour stretches at night. He just had his 2 week appointment where we learned he weighs a healthy 9lb 11oz and is now 22 1/4 inches long. Easton we love you!!! Whenever Easton is like this, Parker says he is "just chillin". Parker loves when this happens because he says Easton is looking at him and learning things from him already.
Our new family of five!
Holding on tight to his brothers hand. The highlight of Parker's day.
This baby gets LOTS of L-O-V-E
Aren't these the cutest and most kissable cheeks?

I'm 30 !?!

2008-07-31T21:01:00.000-07:00

I'm 30! Brandon took this picture of Easton and I on my birthday. I had a wonderful day with shopping and dinner with the family at the Cheescake Factory. My family made the day and weekend so wonderful and Parker and Kamree kept telling me "Happy Birthday" all weekend...so cute. I feel different then I thought I would at 30. 30 used to seem so old to me and of course it doesn't now! I love being this age and feeling happy and settled. I feel like I know now more who I am and who I want to become. I feel great and even though I've found more than one grey hair, I'm going to be okay!

Easton's Story

2008-07-28T20:26:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I have dropped out of the blogging world for a minute, but I am back. I wanted to blog the story of Easton's birth so here we go. We checked into the hospital at 5:00am on the morning of July 11th. The hospital was completely full so the put me in the post-operating room to get me ready for my c-section. My mom had slept over to be with the kids but both she and they wanted to be at the hospital for the big arrival. The kids came and saw me in the hospital bed and were nervous and excited. They left for a minute and it was a good thing because a woman and her husband came flying into the room and she was already in labor. They set up a bed for her right next to us and pulled the paper thin curtain to separate us. Nurses came in and said that she was at an 8 and she was screaming for medicine. It was so crazy....Brandon and I wanted to get out of there before this lady had her baby. Luckily right then they rushed me off to the operating room and we later learned she had her baby 5 minutes after we left. Needless to say, the morning started out a little crazy. Then Brandon went to wait with my mom, sister and the kids while I got my spinal block and got prepped for the c-section. I hate that part when Brandon can't be with me. I want him there so bad to comfort me and hold my hand (yes, I am a baby). They gave me the spinal block, waited for a few minutes and then the doctor told me to lift my leg. I did and then he said "you aren't supposed to be able to do that". After this went on for a while they told me that if the medicine didn't start working in the next minute or two that I would have to be put "under" and not be awake for the delivery of my baby. That really upset me and they still hadn't let Brandon back in the room. I was panicking and just praying so hard and all of the sudden I felt this huge weight all over and I knew the medicine had kicked in. The doctor couldn't believe it and said he had never had it take so long. I was so grateful that it worked and knew it was an answer to prayer. Finally Brandon came in and it was time to start. I had my baby at a very small hospital and if you want, family can watch the c-section through a small window. I had already discussed this with the doctors and nurses and they said it would be okay for my kids to watch. We had prepped them for this and they really wanted to see the baby come. To be honest, I would much rather let them see me have a baby this way then the other way babies come. Anyway, they didn't have a great view because the doctors are hovering over you the whole time but they did get to see when the baby came out. My mom, sister, father-in-law, Parker and Kamree were all watching. Right when they pulled the baby out, Kamree asked my sister "why does the baby have a snake hanging from his bum?" (yes honey, mom delivered you a brother and a pet snake, how nice). Parker kept saying they were taking so long and thought that maybe we were having twins. Everyone kept saying how cute the baby was and Kamree said "he's just a normal baby". When Easton was out, I knew he must be a big baby because the doctors were guessing 9 pounds. They were close enough since he was 8lb 14oz and 22 inches long, by far my biggest baby (thank heavens for a c-section). After the c-section, I was put in a nice big room because 12 patients had checked out since the morning. I had to stay in the hospital for 4 days. I feel so blessed because my kids were so taken care of during this time by my husband and family. They went to Build-a-Bear, Kangaroo Zoo, an Owlz baseball game and many other fun things. They also came to visit everyday "just like I promised I would" Parker reminded me. Having a baby is such an amazing and spiritual experience I get choked up even thinking about it now. It's not glamorous at times but I am so grateful for the opportunity and realize it is such a blessing. We love our little Easton so much and are so happy he is with us. He has been such a good baby and has a sweet spirit about him. The kids are so happy to have him too and he gets a lot of love....sometimes too much. We are adjusting and just enjoying having this sweet little boy in our lives!

Happy Birthday Easton!!!

2008-07-15T20:37:00.000-07:00

Easton Mark Wood

8lbs 14 oz 22 inches long

July 11th, 2008

8:08am

Welcome to the world little guy!!!!

Parker and Kamree Day!!!!!

2008-07-10T21:21:00.000-07:00

Today was the last day with my 2 little kids before the baby comes tomorrow. I had been telling them that it was "Parker and Kamree Day" and they could pick whatever they wanted to do so we could spend time together. I had my camera with no battery so I have no pictures. We had such a wonderful day! We went to Noodles for lunch and then on to Chuck E. Cheese. We all had so much fun just spending time together and they were so good. It was strange to think that this would be my last day with having just these 2 kids so I enjoyed every minute of it. Tonight when we were tucking them in, I gave them so many extra kisses and loves and didn't want to let them go. I love them so much!!! I am nervous and excited for tomorrow to meet our new little guy! I know he will be such a wonderful addition to our family. I have to be at the hospital at 5am so I am off to bed. We are hoping and praying for a healthy new baby. We'll keep you posted!

Swimming Lessons

2008-07-10T21:11:00.001-07:00

Parker and Kamree just finished swimming lessons and loved every minute of it. They had lots of fun and took the lessons with their friends Luke and Eli. It's amazing how much the little kids can learn and have no fear. Even at this stage my kiddos can swim better than me. Ready to go!!!
Love the goggles!!!!
Kamree loves to float. She kept telling her teacher to "let me down so I can float"

Happy Birthday Babe!!!

2008-07-08T23:05:00.000-07:00

Today was Brandon's Birthday!!!! The kids were so excited and kept calling him all day to sing to him and wish him Happy Birthday! After work we met at one of our favorite Italian restaurants for some yummy food. The kids were so sad when they found out that they don't sing for your birthday but they made up for it at home . Then we had our favorite ice cream, gave dad his presents and homemade cards that Parker and Kamree worked so hard on. I'm so grateful for all Brandon does for our family. He works hard and has his priorities right. We always come first no matter what. The kids light up when he comes home and they love spending time with him. The other day Parker and I were talking about jobs he could have when he grows up and said "I just want to be a dad" and I know that's because he loves his dad so much. He is so patient and understanding especially with me his very preggo and emotional wife. He is my best friend and I'm so glad to know he's there for me always. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! WE LOVE YOU!!!

4th of July!!!!

2008-07-08T22:01:00.000-07:00

4th of July was all about fun with the kiddos. We slept at my parents house Thursday night so Brandon could get up bright and early to golf with my dad and brother. My mom and I took the kids to ride the carousel in Midway and to breakfast. Parker got a fishing pole and Spiderman tackle box for Christmas from Grandma and Grandpa and was dying to try it out. When the boys were finished golfing off we went to the fishing pond.
Parker was so excited to reel in his first catch with Grandpa close by to help.
Proud fisherman with his first catch of the day!!!
Grandpa told Kamree to give the fish a kiss....she almost did it!!!
Kamree's favorite thing was feeding the ducks. She would scream at them to come eat the bread and then crack up when they did. She could have gone on for hours.

Parker and dad caught the biggest fish of the day! He keeps talking about how he caught the "biggest fish ever". He also keeps saying how great a fisherman Grandpa is and he is right. This is just the beginning of many fishing adventures to come. We cooked the fish last night and Parker wanted nothing to do with it and Kamree kept asking for more (I'm with Parker). After fishing and fun at the playground it was time to head for home. I have no more pictures of the day but we had so much fun. We went to the neighbors for treats and fireworks. The kids loved picking out which fireworks to set off next. It was a long and fun filled day! We LOVE the 4th of July!

Big Brother & Sister Class

2008-07-08T20:04:00.000-07:00

Thursday night we went to a sibling class they have at Orem Community Hospital were I am delivering. They teach the kids all sorts of fun things including how to hold a baby.
Parker thought that was pretty cool and thinks he is so big and ready to be a big brother again.
Kamree loved holding the baby. The nurse teaching the class told her that she could softly rub the baby on the cheek and she kept smiling and laughing.
Then they got all suited up and went on a tour of the hospital. The nurse described the different things about a new baby and then showed them one through the nursery window. When we got back to the class she asked all the kids what their favorite part of the new baby was and Parker raised his hand and said "the umbilical cord". Oh how cute those are! Parker is such a boy. Kamree kept saying how cute the baby was and once even asked if that was our baby. I don't think she quite gets it yet.

Parade

2008-07-01T22:20:00.000-07:00

Saturday we went to the Lehi Round-Up parade. It very was very hot but the kids had fun. The best part was all the candy people were throwing from the floats. They loved that part and came home with a bag full of goodies. We ended our fun by going to see the movie Wall-e and eating all of our treats from the parade. We had a great day and we are loving the summer!!!

Babyface

2008-07-01T21:57:00.000-07:00

Kamree had her first dance recital last Saturday. She has loved every minute of her dance class and everyday wakes up and asks "is it dance class today?" It's been so fun to watch her have so much fun! Parker and I would wait while she had her class and Parker was so sweet to ask Kamree questions and be excited for her. He is her #1 fan!
The outfits they wore were absolutely adorable! The first time Kamree put hers on she got so excited and said "Look mom, I'm a ballerina!" She loved the big, puffy tutu.
They danced to the song "Babyface". Kamree froze in this pose for a couple of seconds when she realized how many people were out in the audience watching her.
This was her favorite part of the dance, doing her ballerina twirl. Even though her dance was only about 40 seconds, she loved it and wanted to go back out on stage again. Grandma and Grandpa Edwards, Aunt Jill and Uncle Adam and mom, dad and Parker came to watch and I think Parker cheered the loudest. Kamree had a great night and is so lucky to have so much love and support. Can't wait to do it again next year!

Cousin Bella

2008-07-01T21:39:00.000-07:00

The past couple of weeks we have been able to watch my brother's little girl, Bella, a couple of
times. Getting a picture of all 3 was quite the challenge, but as you can see Bella is adorable. She is such a good little girl and we had fun having her and her sweet little personality with us. She can say Kamree and tries to say Parker...it's so cute. We love you Bella!!!

34 weeks and counting!?!

2008-06-06T15:43:00.001-07:00

Okay, so this is the first pregnant picture I have posted and there is a good reason for it. I really don't love seeing myself big, no HUGE and swollen. I rarely have pictures taken of myself when prego but feel it is a necessary evil in order to remember this time in my life. Parker was by far my hardest pregnancy and if you think I look swollen here, this is nothing compared to how I was with him. I couldn't wear my wedding ring from 19 weeks on and had permanent cankles. I'm not exaggerating at all. I also had problems with fainting and just didn't feel that great most of the time. With Kamree and this baby, I haven't had those problems but I still get pretty swollen. I also feel like I'm bigger with this baby then with the others. I have been asked more than once "Are you sure there's only one in there?" and had many other comments suggesting that I must be due any minute now. I had a ultrasound on Monday and they are saying that this baby is about 6lb 7oz at this point. At first I thought they were kidding but they said he is in the high 90%. After hearing that, having a scheduled c-section sounds good to me! The countdown to July 11th is on!

Backyard Campout

2008-06-06T15:25:00.000-07:00

Last Friday was the Father and sons camp out and Brandon and Parker missed it. Parker wasn't about to let it go that easy and really wanted to sleep in a tent. As soon as Brandon got home, they set up the tent and got ready for their own little Father and son adventure. They had their favorite treats, told stories and had a great time. Parker slept so well (Brandon not so much) and didn't wake up until almost 8:00am. He never does that in his own bed so we're thinking of moving him out to the tent for awhile...ha, ha.
As you can tell Parker loves spending time with his dad. He always tells me that his dad is "the best dad that anyone has ever had".

The perfect camp out spot

Kamree Update #2

2008-05-25T17:09:00.000-07:00

This picture was taken Friday May 23rd. As you can see, her face still looks red but it is definitely improving. Everyday we massage her face for 15 minutes with Vitamin
E oil. She actually really likes it and tries to help us. She even reminds us to do it sometimes. We saw the doctor and he said things are looking great. She still has to limit time in the sun and wear a special sunscreen and no swimming pool yet. We go back in 5 weeks so hopefully we will get the ok by then. Summer is all about the pool for us. More updates to come!

Last Day of Preschool

2008-05-25T16:26:00.001-07:00

Friday was Parker's last day of preschool at Imagination Station. He has had such a great experience and really loved it. It has amazed me how much he has learned and grown this year. He was lucky enough to go to preschool with some of his favorite friends: Luke, Avery, Brooke, Taylor and Joshua and he made lots of new friends too. His teacher, Miss Sara, put this graduation cap on and gave each of them a certificate. As she did this she said something about each of the kids. She said Parker always answered questions and had the right answer too. That is so Parker and I was not at all surprised to hear that. Looking all grown up and happy.
Parker and his preschool class
His last chance for playtime, wearing that visors that they made that day.

Parker and his teacher Miss Sara. She was great!

On the way home Parker said "it's good that I get the summer off to spend more time with you and Kamree". I couldn't agree more even though I'm sure we'll be ready to start all over again when fall comes around.

Discovery Gateway

2008-05-25T16:08:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday we took the kids to the Discovery Gateway Museum. We haven't been in over a year but they still talk the last time we went. Parker and Kamree have been working hard to earn their "stickers and shells" to get to go. Every night before bed they get to put stickers on their reward chart for things they did that day, ie. no time-outs, picking up toys, reading, etc. Then however many stickers they earned they get to put that many shells (pasta shapes) into a jar. When the jar gets full, they get to pick what they want to do. The museum is definitely what they wanted to do and they weren't disappointed. I also love this place and think it's great for them to learn and have so much fun at the same time. Parker pretending to be a helicopter pilot. A big highlight of the day!
Kamree had to give it a try too!
Playing in the water...another favorite thing!

Other things they liked doing where playing with the ball machines, and shopping in the pretend grocery store. It was such a fun day and the kids loved every minute of it. They have already decided that 7 Peaks in next on the list when the jar gets full. I can't wait!

Mother's Day

2008-05-22T22:45:00.001-07:00

I know I'm a little late for Mother's day but I just wanted to post and say how much I love my kiddos! They are at such fun and active ages there is never a dull moment. I do love being a mom although I sometimes think it's the hardest job in the world. I wouldn't change a thing and I truly feel blessed for being the mom to these amazing little spirits. They teach me so much each day and I know I'm a better person for being able to be their mother. The days when I feel stressed and overwhelmed I remember how Parker was just born yesterday and now he's 4 1/2 and how I don't always take the time to be in the moment with them. The other day I heard a song by Kenny Chesney called "Don't Blink" talking about how fast time goes by so take time to enjoy it. I also want to thank my mom for all that she's taught me and her unconditional love. She is the best grandma and one of my best friends. Once you become a mom you begin to understand all your mom did for you and appreciate it on a whole new level. I love you mom!

Kamree Update

2008-05-22T22:24:00.001-07:00

It's been so long since I've posted but I just wanted to show a few pics of Kamree and her healing process and process is definately the word to describe it. The doctor has always made sure we knew that things would look worse before they look better. This is a picture 5 days after her surgery. It looks pretty raw but that is just how it's supposed to look. Dermabrasion is similar to having sandpaper rubbed on your face.

This picture is about a week after her surgery. After is scabbed over it started changing and healing so fast. Kamree has been so good about not touching it. At this point, she was not supposed to go out in the sun and she was so cute about it. She would say "I can go in the sun when I'm all healed up, huh mom!" She has been a trooper. I think starting this whole thing at her young age has worked in our favor. We just love her and think she is beautiful. I have never really talked about my feelings through this whole thing. It was a surprise when she was born with her mole but we knew we would do what we could to get it removed and move forward. This has been quite the process but I just want for her what every mother wants for their little girl. I want her to be happy and to not be hindered by this in any way. It breaks my heart sometimes thinking that she will grow up in a world that is so hard on girls and on their self-image. Brand and I just want the best for her and hope she knows that she is so loved. I just worry sometimes but she has been blessed with an amazing spirit and personality and I know that she will have a wonderful life!

Kamree's Sugery

2008-04-28T20:41:00.000-07:00

Today was the "big" day for Kamree. She went to Primary Children's for dermabrasion on her scar. Last night we were at my parents house because they were watching Parker for the night. He was so worried for Kamree. He has been mentioning her and her surgery in his prayers for the last 2 weeks. He is so sweet about it and just wants her to be okay. Brandon, my dad and my brother Trevor gave Kamree a priesthood blessing last night and she was so excited to get it. She sat so still and so reverent and didn't want us to touch her head to "mess up" where they put the oil. Without any prompting , about 5 minutes after the blessing she went up to my brother and gave him a big hug and thanked him for giving her a blessing. It was so neat to see that she knew something special had happened even though she doesn't fully understand it. The surgery went well and the doctor was pleased. Kamree was so brave...she has been every time. She just goes with the flow and doesn't seem scared at all. The doctor mentioned this several times. He is not known for his beside manner but he has definitely formed a bond with Kamree. Today he said "she is so cute , I want to keep her". He is a very skilled surgeon and we know she is in good hands. As for Primary Children's, I cannot say enough about this amazing place. We feel blessed to live so close by. Kamree getting checked in and ready

The nurse gave Kamree this doll to draw on and put an I.V in so she
would know what to expect when they gave her the I.V.
Riding in the wagon with her new doll to the Operating room.
She really liked this part.

Coming out of anesthesia was a little rough. All she wanted to do was
touch her face. She knew she couldn't and even asked me if I could rub
or scratch her face for her. She also had a melt down when she had to
change out of the hospital clothes and into her own. She wanted to keep
those clothes and was so upset when she couldn't.

Our happy little girl right before bed tonight. Through this whole process she has
kept her happy spirit! She is such a sweet example to us. We love you Kamree!!!

I will keep updating posts with her progress. We go back to the doctor in 3 weeks for a check up. Until then, she needs to stay out of the sun and we have to keep vaseline on the area. Wish us luck!

Bowling

2008-04-13T20:52:00.001-07:00

We wanted to do something fun and different on Saturday so we decided to talk the kids bowling. We have never taken them before and weren't quite sure how it would go. They loved it and were actually quite competitive about who knocked down the most pins. Bowling has come a long way since I was a kid...the bumpers come up all by themselves when you program it in the computer...it made things so easy. We had a great time and will go again soon before I'm the size of a bowling ball-we don't have much time! They didn't have bowling shoes Kamree's size so she had to wear her crocs. She was
pretty bummed about that.
Parker used this little "slide" a few times and then ditched it for
a cool spinning ball throw he liked better
This was the only time I was allowed to help Kamree.
After that, she had to do it all by herself. Even if she only hit one
pin, she would go running fast back to Brandon and say "I knocked
some pins".

Viva Las Vegas

2008-04-13T20:31:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday Brandon and I left on our kid-free trip. We went to Mesquite for a day and Brandon golfed, I read a book and drove the cart, we went to the movies and enjoyed the nice, warm weather. Then it was off to Las Vegas. First things first, we had to stop for lunch at In-and-Out. Then we went to the hotel spa and had an amazing massage, had a wonderful dinner and saw the Blue Man Group (there are so many shows in Vegas but this one was great and we knew it would be PG). The next day we did some shopping, relaxed, had lunch at In-and-Out again, some more shopping, and had dinner at the Cheescake Factory (another one of our favs). I think I gained some weight from all the eating, especially the ice cream and gelato stops we made twice a day. We had fun just being together and spending some quality time. As for the kids, they had the time of their life with grandma and grandpa just like I knew they would. They saw "Horton Hears a Who", went to the Kangaroo Zoo, Dairy Keen and all of their favorites. A huge thanks to my parents who love spending time with their grandkids more than anything else in this world! Oh-I did take the camera to Vegas but it's a new camera and I didn't charge it right so it wasn't working :(

Isn't it Ironic

2008-04-05T23:17:00.000-07:00

Brandon and I are leaving tomorrow for a kid-free trip to Las Vegas. We decided that we needed some time to relax and get away before the new baby comes. We will only be gone for 5 days but we have been looking so forward to going. We took the kids up to my parents house tonight so they can watch the kids. Parker and Kamree were so excited to be staying with Grandma and Grandpa and they have lots of fun things planned. We tucked them into bed and were going to leave when we heard crying from the bedroom. It was Parker saying "I want mama and daddy." This is rare for him and so it my made me feel sad. We went in and gave them both another hug and kiss and then my mom told us to go and she would stay in the room until they were asleep. So, why when I think I need and a break and even look forward to one, do I find myself already missing my little kiddos and wishing they were here? Isn't it ironic? Have you ever felt like this? I know they will have a blast with my parents and things will be fine....maybe I'll feel better in the morning :)

Kangaroo Zoo

2008-04-05T23:04:00.000-07:00

Parker and Kamree have a new favorite place...Kangaroo Zoo! It has tons of blow up slides, and things to climb and play on. This was their second time there and they did not want to leave. It was even more fun because their favorite little buddies Luke and Eli were there. We all had a great time and can't wait to go again! Kamree loves the big slide!

Parker striking a pose

Parker

2008-03-31T21:47:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to write a quick post about my favorite little guy. He has been so good and sweet lately (for the most part) and I just wanted to give him credit for being such a good brother to Kamree. They usually get along pretty well, but when they do fight, he is always the one to compromise or give up what he wants to make Kamree happy. He'll say things like "Ok Kamree if you really want it, or I love you Kamree, you can have it." He did it today once again and I asked him why and he said it's because he loves Kamree. I feel bad sometimes he doesn't get what he wants, but every once in a while Kamree gets the occasional push or gets hit to make up for it. Parker has also been into jokes lately...not any that make sense but the more crazy the better for him. He absolutely cracks himself up with his priceless same giggle he has had since he was a baby. One more quick note....Parker passed off his First Article of Faith at church yesterday and he was so proud. It's cute to ask him what the First Article of Faith is-sometimes you get the First Article of Faith and sometimes you get the Pledge of Allegiance, something he has learned thanks to preschool. He's growing up so fast and we are trying to take it all in. We love you little buddy!!!!

Sunglasses & Make-up

2008-03-31T20:51:00.001-07:00

Kamree is such a fun little girl!!! She always keeps us laughing and on our toes. She can have her sassy moments, but she can also be so sweet. She will give you kisses out of the blue, and say things like "I love you for my mom forever". Kamree sporting her new princess sunglasses from Grandma and Grandpa Edwards
I was at my friend Jenny's house the other day and Kamree just adores her little girl Avery. She is Parker's age and she is so cute to let Kamree play with her. When I was leaving, Kamree came down the stairs and said "Look mom, I do make-up! Do you like my purple lips?" This is her first lipstick attempt....luckily she plenty of time to practice. We love you Kamree!

Happy Easter!!!

2008-03-31T20:30:00.000-07:00

After all of our Saturday fun, we were hoping Easter would not be a let down. We have 8:30 church (early, I know but we'll take it after a year at 2:30) so the Easter bunny hid the baskets to be found after church. Grandpa Wood, cousin Ellie and Aunt Ashlee came with us to church and came over to our house after. Getting a picture before Easter baskets with Ellie....can you tell they are excited?!?

Kamree keeping her eyes closed until she got the ok to check out her basket.

Parker loving all the excitement!

Checking out the baskets from Grandma and Grandpa Edwards.

So our kids got lots of candy and had lots of fun! Then we went to Great Grandma and Grandpa Edwards house for dinner with all the aunts, uncles and cousins. This is my favorite meal of the year next to Thanksgiving with yummy ham and my favorite twice baked potatoes. We had a great Easter and loved spending the weekend with both of our families.

Easter Weekend

2008-03-31T20:05:00.000-07:00

Easter weekend was jam packed for us but we had a lot of fun. Parker and Kamree loved doing 2 egg hunts on Saturday and ended up with lots of candy. They loved the candy but even more loved the money that Grandma and Grandpa Wood put in their eggs. They are saving it to buy something "special". Kamree trying to find all of the pink and purple eggs first.

Parker with his basket loaded down...eggs kept falling out.
Coloring Easter eggs at with cousin Ellie at Aunt Ashlee's house.

Daddy Date

2008-03-20T20:50:00.000-07:00

When Parker heard that Kamree and I were going to Princess on Ice, he knew exactly what to do. He said "Mom I like golf more than I like princesses, so I think me and dad should go golfing." Sounded like a plan to me. Brandon and Parker spent Saturday miniature golfing and Parker had a great time. His favorite hole was the one where you had to hit the ball through the windmill. He made sure to tell me that he hit the ball through the first time and daddy took 2 times. He thought that was great but the fun didn't stop there. Next they went to the golf store so Parker could get a brand new driver and golf bag. After that, off to the driving range where after buying a $9 bucket of balls, Parker hit seven and said it was way too cold to finish. If you know him, it must have been cold or he would have hit 3 buckets. He loves the driving range and loves to tell the story "remember when we were at the condo (last August) and I hit the ball the farthest ever?" Anyway, he had a great day with dad and wants to be just like him! He's ready to go again this Saturday and Brandon thinks that sounds good too. He loves his little buddy and can't believe how big he has grown!

"Daughter Date"

2008-03-20T20:18:00.000-07:00

My little Tinkerbell
Kamree was a little surprised and scared of the fire breathing dragon

Brandon and I decided our kids needed some one-on-one time with us so we decided it was time to take our kids out for special "dates". My sister Jill invited us to Princess on Ice and I thought this would be the perfect thing. All week long I was telling Kamree about our Mother-Daughter date and she was super excited. Every day she would wake up and say "Is it Daughter date today?" I heard that the little girls dressed up for this so we hit Target on Friday to find the perfect dress-up. Kamree picked Tinkerbell, probably because she has watched Peter Pan quite a bit since it is one of Parker's favorites. Saturday Jill came and we were lucky enough to have tickets for a private suite equipped with every kids favorite things...chicken strips, goldfish crackers, m&ms and jelly beans. She loved the food but once the show started she was in awe. I thought she would like it, but she absolutely loved it! It was so fun to spend time with my little girl and my sister. I think we have definately started a tradition. Now all we need is Jill to have a girl of her own to bring with us next time!

It's a Boy!

2008-02-25T20:26:00.000-08:00

On Wednesday the 20th, we went for our 20 week ultrasound. We decided to take Parker and Kamree with us and I'm so glad we did. It made things more exciting to say the least. Kamree has always said we are having a girl and Parker has said we are having a boy because "we already have a girl" (duh, mom). When they first started the ultrasound, Kamree kept saying "our baby is so cute" over and over. Parker on the other hand said "It's kind of freaky. It looks like a hippopotamus." Very different perspectives but I had to agree with them both. The baby was very active, and Parker said "Mom, it looks like the baby is rocking out in there." Then came the moment of truth...as you can see by the picture, there is no doubt that it is a boy. Parker got a big smile and said, "I told you I was right." Kamree kept saying, "no, it's a girl". The ultrasound tech kept laughing and saying she had never has such a strong reaction from such a young child. After we left the ultrasound room, everyone kept asking us what we were having and Kamree kept saying that is was a girl. Finally, as we were leaving, the receptionist asked what we were having and Kamree said "A boy-girl". The receptionist started laughing and then Kamree said "I just teasing, it's a boy!" We all started cracking up....what a cute sense of humor this girl has. She is happy now and is just excited that "our baby" is coming. It was such a wonderful experience to share as a family. I love that my kids are old enough to enjoy this with us. We are so blessed and the baby looks healthy and great! We're excited (and a little scared) for #3!

Valentine's Day

2008-02-18T20:28:00.000-08:00

I decided when you have kids that Valentine's is just as much about the family as it is about you and your honey. We had spent all week cutting hearts to "heart attack" Bran when Parker asked who was going to "heart attack" him. That gave me the idea to put hearts on Parker and Kamree's door with messages from Bran and I. We put them up when they went to sleep the night before Valentine's. They were both so excited when they woke up to find the hearts on their door. Kamree immediately came into our room, looked on the back of our door and said "Mom, your door doesn't have hearts. That's not nice." This is her favorite phrase as of late but it was cute to see her concern that someone had forgotten us. Valentine's was a great day that we spent together as a family. I'm so grateful for all loves in my life-my sweet kids and my amazing husband!

Itty Bitty Basketball

2008-01-26T12:47:00.000-08:00

Parker just finished playing Itty Bitty Basketball. He loved it! Kamree would sit on the sidelines and cheer "go, Parker, go". Parker had so much fun but he also took it very seriously. Everyday he would ask if it was his "championship" game. He even stole the ball from the other team a couple of times....which he learned later was a little too much defense! I have a feeling this is not the last basketball game he will be playing in. Go, Parker, go!

Did someone say swimming pool?

2008-01-23T21:41:00.000-08:00

Parker and Kamree have been begging me to go swimming so today went to the Lehi indoor pool. Parker and Kamree love it and it's a great way to get out their energy. They are little buddies and I love watching them play together. Kamree was scared of the tunnel slide so she made Parker hold her hand. It's so fun watching them play and it's such a nice change from being stuck inside. I love the pool too...just smelling the chlorine makes me dream of summer.

Ready or not, here we come!

2008-01-21T14:41:00.000-08:00

After a few months of viewing blogs, I have finally decided to join the blogging world! I have discovered that more people have blogs than I knew and I think it's a great way to keep in touch. I also think it's a great way for me to write down what's going on. I've never been good at doing that, and maybe this will help encourage me. My blog is not too exciting right now....stay tuned!