We've had a happy and sad week. Happy week because the girls won their first ribbons at the swim meet on Saturday. Despite the fact Sydney got pushed off the block bawling, (her nerves get the best of her) she took 1st place in her backstroke, 2nd place in butterfly (cried while swimming... even took time to wipe her nose during the race ..could have gotten first place) and 5th place in her freestyle. Kylie took 5th in her butterfly. They were awesome...other than Sydneys pre-race nerves. She's a little high strung like her mother. Kylie...very laid back like her Dad.

It was a sad week because Sydneys favorite school teacher EVER got married and is moving to PA and her last day was Friday. MANY tears were shed...I mean many...so then we show up at her wedding reception and she looked beautiful. Sydney gave her a hug, the lowdown on the new teacher (who is fabulous) and then we left. MANY more tears were shed. This really was a tough one for her. She LOVED Miss Murdock. Always will...she tells her in a letter she wrote. Also a sad day yesterday, my puppy got into a bag of oreos and then had black oreo diarrhea. It was nasty. But who can resist eating just one oreo? Not Ruby, but at least it isn't just me! Don't worry it all cleaned up and Tyson knows not to leave oreos out anymore! Anyway...I think we are ready for Christmas, and we are VERY ready to go see the cousins! And I am very ready for 10 days off work! HOORAY for the Holidays!

The pictures are...Kylie getting pep talk from Dad..Sydney getting comforted by dad (Dad trying to convince her to do the next race), Miss. Murdock's wedding, Sydney about to take first place in her backstroke, and Kylie's beautiful butterfly stroke.

Happy Birthday Tyson!! 7 years old!!

I can't believe it! My baby is 7 years old today. I can't imagine my life without this little boy in our family. It wasn't always that way. Besides the fact he tried to kill me several times while I was pregnant with him...he also put me in the hospital for quite a while after he was born. Then he got RSV when he was 4 weeks old and made me miss my grandfathers funeral. He was a sweet baby, so I knew it was all worth it. Then he turned one. Life changed, and this little guy gave me a run for my money like I had never faced before. I started cursing the day I had prayed for a boy. Ask anyone, this was not your typical little boy. He was a major challenge...I wasn't ready for a boy so it was a major challenge for me! He had a mind of his own, and it was his way or NO WAY!! Then gradually he started getting sweeter and sweeter, and now I can't believe what a darling little guy he is. He truly wants other people to be happy and is very thoughtful. He is always bringing me gifts, and drawing me pictures. We love him so much and he is such a special part of our family. He loves his sisters very much and is so good to them. He is my best little buddy and I love spending time with him. Very rarely do I go anywhere with out my little "shadow!" I wouldn't have it any other way! Tyson loves to fish, play soccer, swim, and spend time with his cousins. He is a great student, especially in math. I am so grateful for this little boy in our family, and the energy he brings to our home. Happy 7th Birthday Tyson, I love you!!! P. S. I know I should have done a slide show...haven't quite figured that out either!

At Last!!

o.k So I am 2 swim meets behind and I CANNOT figure out how to download video of their meets to my computer. It is a new camcorder and way to fancy for my liking. I don't know what I am doing wrong...but I can watch the video on the computer, I just can't download and save it. Brooke, I will hire you to be my personal blogging trainer until I can get the hang of this...are you up for the job? Oh well. It was sooo much fun watching them race. We had a great time. They are both doing so well, especially in the butterfly. I think it is for sure their best stroke. Taking after Dad I guess. Anyway, if I ever figure it out I will show video of them trashing their competition. We also went to the festival of trees later in the day and that was fun too! Brians favorite tree was the Raiders tree and especially the fireplace with the Bronco ball on fire inside! Too bad the Raiders stink this year...however they did beat the Broncos the other day, so thats all that really matters. It is such a great time of year, I love everything about it ...if only I could sit inside the house and watch it snow instead of having to drive in it!

Exciting stuff!

So Tyson has finally lost his first tooth. He was very anxious as a lot of his friends lost their teeth last year! I kept telling him it was because his teeth were so tough! It didn't really help. What's sad is that I actually cried when he lost it. My baby is growing up. Pathethic, I know...but it's like he's losing his baby teeth...getting grown up teeth. I really don't like it. Anyway, he was very concerned that the tooth fairy was going to take his tooth away, because he wanted to keep it! I told him I would e-mail the tooth fairy and let her know. Thank heavens she got the e-mail in time! Sydney just finished a RAD kids program of self defense. Don't ask me what the RAD stands for.,..I can't remember. You can look it up online and see if there is classes in your area. Anyway...all the 4th graders do it at our school and it is a really neat program. It teaches them how to get away from a "bad" person if they are being abducted or attacked. It also teaches saftey from internet, to fire, to just about everything! Here are some cute pictures of Sydney fighting off the bad guy. She may be little, but boy she can be fiesty! I feel confident that no one would mess with her once she starts fighting back! Kylie has her first swim meet a week from today. Brian is so excited he can hardly stand it! I am so nervous I can hardly stand it! So check back next week...hopefully I'll get around to blogging about her first meet experience. Keep your fingers crossed for her!

Just another week....

So, absolutely nothing exciting happened this week. Just another week. I guess that is a good thing. I have tried 3 times to do a slide show...and as I am just about finished I get an error and my whole computer shuts down. I am done trying that for now. Advice anyone? Sydney got passed off to Level III gymnastics. Way to go Sydney! She really is a natural! Kylie is getting ready for her first swim meet. It is middle of November. She is getting stronger everyday and it is so fun to watch her improve, and push her limits each week. Wednesdays is their "land day" and they run 3 miles, do 100 pushups, 50 sit ups, and do stairs for 20 min. You should have seen her the first week. Her teammates were calling her an indian because her face was so red. She is still red at the end of land day, but much less red! Tyson sat very reverently during the primary program today, so that was his big accomplishment for the week. Me...well, I got my hours in at work, had 3 YW meetings, sat at the Legacy Pool for 9 hours this week, and got caught up on laundry, for about an hour. Pretty good week, I have to say. We can't wait for the Holidays to see all the family. We miss everyone! But for now, we are happy to enjoy... just another week.

Best snow of the year!

The first snow of the year is always the best. The kids are excited, it is beautiful, and the best part is...it only lasts a few hours and its gone!! Two blogs in two days. I'm officially off for like 2 weeks now !

Bashing' in Boise!

Becky, Courtney, Mom, Heather and I, and about 12 orphans we found on the way, met in Boise over UEA weekend. It was great fun to see everyone...BUT have you ever tried to actually go anywhere with 12 kids? A little bit of a joke I might say. About the only place we fit in was chuck-e-cheese because nobody saw how many kids we had claim of. There were just hundreds running wild...ours were a mild 10% of the pack. The mall was a real treat...and so was Old Navy. We got a few stares, but nothing we aren't used to getting even without the kids. See...usually when all the sisters get together one of us ends up getting a new pair of pants because we've laughed so hard that someone ALWAYS has an accident. Usually one of the twins, I will admit. Fun times! I was at Taco Bell the other day when these 5 women and a huge long line of kids come pouring into the place. I was dying at how many kids there were in this one group. It was total chaos trying to get every ones orders and then find a place to sit. Then I counted them...12 kids 5 mothers. Now I know how ridiculous we looked. Somehow we didn't seem as crazy...but I am sure we were 10 times as wild! The kids had a blast though...and we had no damage charges to our hotel. That always makes for a successful weekend! One near drowning was the worst of our drama. ( It was Avery...Courtney jumped in fully clothed and saved her just in time). Never mind she had to go bra-less the rest of the day...she truly was a hero! Avery burped and cried for a minute and then was back in the pool in about 2 minutes. I am really wishing I had a picture of Courtney soaking wet...it was classic. I am sure the hotel was ready for us to leave...but we could have stayed forever! Thanks for a great weekend everyone! Next year is Moms only...Brenda get your bags packed now we aren't going without you!

Broken or not Broken? That is the Question!

Ok...the story of my maybe broken nose. I never actually went to the dr..so I dont know for sure if it is broken...but everyone that saw it right after it happened said they thought it looked broken. Anyway...I just pulled up to Tyson's soccer game last saturday morning. Let me set the scene for you...36 degrees outside and pouring rain...sleet. FREEZING cold...literally. I decide to get his coat out of the trunk (Becky says its called a tail gate...so whatever) of the van when I hurry and shut it...right down on my nose. I almost passed out. It hurt like last year when I fell down my stairs and broke by foot (apparently I am a little clutsy...who knew?) ...it takes the breath right out of you. I had to get back in the car and just sit for a few minutes because I almost started to cry. So immediately it swells huge and turns blue...and one side is totally crooked. It looked terrible. Everyone at the game coudln't believe I was actually going to stay and watch Tyson play...but Brian was at work so I really had no choice. Anyway after an hour and 15 minutes of standing ouit in the FREEZING rain (hail a few times) my nose looked totally better...the swelling had gone down...and didn't look quite as crooked. It was like having the worlds coldest ice pack on for an hour right after the injury! I think the cold weather was a blessing in this case! Anyway..it did bruise and swell under my eyes, especially under one eye. Anyway...It has been almost a week and it is now to the yellowish greenish bruise stage. You can bairly see it anymore. I really should have done it a few days ago. I do think the one side still looks a little crooked. What do you think? Anyway, here you go. Me in all my glory, no makeup and looking HOT! P.S. Look at Tysons sliding kick...it makes him look like he is good. Really, he just likes to slide and fall to the ground and get dirty! Makes for a good picture though!