The Nights Have Gone To The Dogs!

Okay - one dog in particular.  Bella is proving to be a highlight to the holidays as well a hinderance to our sleeping schedule.  I know - puppies are like newborns.  They cry and whine and eat and poop.  Well, she has taken it one step further.  She is a little sick.  I wound up taking both Ali and Ian into the doctor on Monday and they both have ear infections.  Then, I took Bella to the vet and she has Coccidia - a parasite in her small intestines.  Turns out, all the pups from the littler have it.  So - there's lots and lots of poop, blood, special diet, antibiotics and very little sleep.  It sounds gross (that's because it is).  My hands are getting raw from washing them constantly and now lotion just burns when I put it on.  Oh well - it's the price I pay for loving this little pup.

It's not little Bella's fault and we are doing all we can to make sure she gets better fast.  The kids adore her, when she is not using Ian as a chew toy.  When Bella is feeling a little frisky, she runs towards Ian.  His first response is to cover his crotch with his hands.  I guess Bella has gotten him a few times.  She is really adorable and very playful and also pretty smart.  We are teaching her to go potty in one place outside, she is already sitting on command and learning her name.  She hears "No" a lot - so she and Ian have a lot in common.  

We are looking forward to Bella (or Belly as Ian calls her) getting better so we can get her trained.  She already feels like part of the family.  Derek is trying to become a dog person (but this is going to take time).  I just hope it's sooner than later.  Ian decided he likes Bella's new crate and crawled in himself to check it out.  We were so happy when it was super warm yesterday and spent most of the day outside.  Bella enjoyed a nap sunning herself in the backyard.  Spring can't get here soon enough!  

The Big Surprise!

Is not updating your blog as quilt-wrapped as not writing in your journal?  If so - I know I am a slacker.  But - there have been some very fun things happening in the lives of Williams.  

Alison - I have bragging rights to my daughter.  Two weeks ago, she read her first book all by herself and tied her sneakers all by herself (in the same week).  That was a big, successful week for her.  Then, she won an award for her painting (Alpheba from Wicked) she submitted to the Reflections contest at her school.  She was only one of 2 Kindergartners who submitted anything.  She hated going up on the stage, but was happy she won a medal, a certificate and a free ticket to the Clark Planetarium.

Ian-He is still proving to be quite the artist.  I need to ban markers all together in our house - but how fair is that for Alison?  He found one of her brown markers and wrote on everything in his play room under the stairs.  UGH!  Then, just this morning, he took crayon and wrote on our sofa.  Lucky they are microfiber and a diaper wipe took most of it out.  He also got into my paints (we had no idea he knew how to open closed doors) and smeared it all over his new shirt and a sentimental pair of levi jeans (so sorry mom!)  If there is anyone out there who knows how to get oil-based paint out of clothing, please share it with me.  He is into everything and dumped out my mineral makeup all over my bathroom floor the other day.  He played in it like he was in a sand box.  Funny !???

Derek is still working very hard and enjoying his job at Snow, Christensen & Martineau.  We are lucky he leaves for work early, while the rest of us are sleeping, and then comes home to spend some quality time with us before bed time.  He enjoys his work and is working on growing his business and adding new clients.  So, if anyone is in need of a wonderful lawyer, please let me know.  I happen to know an outstanding one who lives right here in this house.  I love him so much!

Candie - okay, now that Christmas is over - I get to brag about something.  This year, both my family and Derek's family decided to do homemade gifts this year.  I got the notion I would sew my gifts.  This is funny since I have never sewn anything of worth for anyone, including myself.  My mother gave me a sewing machine 14 years ago and this is the first time I have used it successfully.  A friend of mine, Adrienne, came over and showed me how to sew a purse.  I bought way too much fabric and decided I would sew several at one time.  That was a big mistake since it would take me so much longer with my inexperience.  But, I finished them all and they turned out really well.  I also made a few SNUGGIES out of blankets for the guys we had names for.

Thanksgiving - This was a lot of fun.  Derek's family came over and the girls had a pie cookoff this year.  Boy - was it fun!  The food and the company were wonderful.  Derek's parents, who recently returned from their mission in Dallas, TX, were able to come as well.  And - Colleen (Derek's mom) won the pie bake-off.  

Echoes - I am in a singing group called "Echoes of the Heart".  We performed at a few church parties and were slated to perform at Temple Square, but a big storm caused the cancellation of this event.  I was so sad as this was to be my first Temple Square performance with Echoes.  We start practices back up in February and I love singing with this great group of ladies.  We have a lot of fun and look forward to other opportunities to share our talents next year.

Christmas Eve & Christmas - This was a great Christmas this year.  We were able to spend Christmas Eve with my sister, Kareen and her family as well as my twin sister, Christine.  She is recovering at my house from surgery and it is nice to have her here.  Christmas Day proved wonderful as the kids were spoiled yet again by family and friends.  We took the time to teach Alison about the real reason we celebrate Christmas and she seemed to like it more this year.  She answered all the questions we asked her - so we know she was listening.  

Alison has been asking Derek for a puppy since she could talk.  He has put me off for 14 years, nit wanting to deal with something like that.  BUT - he couldn't hold Alison off any longer.  She MILKED it big time this year and was asking for a puppy for Christmas.  We just kept telling her there would be no puppy at our home on Christmas Day.  She didn't seem too disappointed - but that's because she thinks dogs are allergic to Derek.  She even went as far as to draw a picture of herself crying and then drew an arrow pointing to a puppy and then taped her fortune from her fortune cookie the night before.  It stated "Your dreams are about to come true".  By this time - Derek had already told me to start looking for a Christmas puppy.  I could not believe it and I was not about to wait around for him to change his mind.

We did not lie to Alison.  There was no puppy at our home on Christmas day.  She was delivered to our home the evening of the 26th and is currently wining her little heart out next door at the neighbors home until tomorrow morning.  We will unveil the puppy them and definitely post it online.  The kids have absolutely NO IDEA!  Until then...

Ummmmm... What can I say?

Well, Ian is turning out to be far more mischievous than Alison ever was.  He found a new hiding place the other day.  Then today, while I was upstairs sorting the laundry, our cute little boy found a black fabric marker in my purse.  
Ummm... all I can say is... this kid drew on

everything that would stand still.  He got the tile in several areas, the kid's table and bench and chairs, our kitchen table and chairs, the dishwasher, the highchair, the outlets, the stools, the toy Ian pushes around the house and it goes on and on.  He did this all in a matter of 6 minutes.  My new best friend is Mr. Clean and his Magic Eraser.  It really works, but I have to go buy some more to clean up the rest of the mess.  I had a choice when I saw his artistic abilities.  I could yell and scream and cry (I wanted to) or I could take a few pictures and have him help me clean up the mess.  I chose the latter.  He is really good at pushing a swiffer mop around, even though the only thing working is the Magic Eraser.  Good times, right?  Have a great day!

Halloween

So, I am going to post two today because I am a little behind on our Halloween pictures.  We went to the pumpkin patch to pick out our pumpkins and play in the Hay Maze in Farmington.  Alison wanted a skull with fire for hers (who knew?), Ian's was a baby pumpkin and Derek carved us a very nice pot of ghosts.  

Alison was Hannah Montana (Ian tried on her wig) for the Ward Trunk or Treat and at her school party.  But, on Halloween Day, she changed it to a witch.  Ian was a monkey, even though from the front, people thought he was a bear or a skunk.  It was a bit confusing but a lot of fun.  We got to go trick or treating with the cousins after a spooky dinner.  It was awesome.  I even got all dressed up as a ghost.  It's one of my favorite costumes from years ago. Derek dressed up as a sick dad.  He wasn't feeling too hot on Halloween - but he is on the mend from a really long cold.

The kids got a lot of treats and we are trying to limit consumption each day (including the adults).  We love seeing and hearing about everyone's Halloween.  On to Christmas.  Wait - there's Thanksgiving first, right? :0)

Last Week

We FINALLY got to go to lunch with Auntie Kareen.  We celebrated my birthday and she decided it was time to get Alison a new fall outfit for school.  They have had a shopping date in the works for a couple months now.  Alison picked out a very cute outfit and we promised auntie we would post it on our blog.  Doesn't she look like a little model?  THANKS AUNTIE KAREEN for a fun Friday!

Our family got to go to a really cool musical called The Ark at The Grande Theatre at Salt Lake Community College.  It was written by Michael McLane and it's all about Noah and his family on the Ark.  It was such a great musical and we had a lot of fun watching the characters.  Speaking of characters, the kids all got animal masks and Alison and her cousin Eliza had a great time pretending to be ferocious beasts.  

We have some great friends (The Tullis Family) who invited us and The Tovey's down to their mom's vacation home in St. George for UEA Weekend.  Derek had to work (poor guy) - but I got to take Alison and Ian with me and we joined their favorite friends Cecy, Collin, Mazie, Alex, Darren, Carson and my favorite friends - Anne and Crista & their hubbies for a long weekend vacation.  It was beautiful weather and we actually had a little time to relax.  We swam a couple times, went & played miniature golf, watched a couple movies and ate GREAT food!  They guys got to golf and I was a little jealous.  The kids had a blast.  The only thing really missing was Derek.

We also had another opportunity to meet up with Alison's birth mother, Brooke, and her family.  As always, we had a great visit and it was just like seeing old friends.  The girls played together and we just caught up on what everyone was doing.  We love you, Brooke!

Derek got sick on Friday and spent the weekend working and recouping, though he still feels very much under the weather.  We are hoping it passes over me and the kids.  We are having a great time enjoying the fall season with all the colors of the leaves and crisp air.  We are looking forward to Grandma and Grandpa Williams to come home from their Dallas, TX Mission.  Hope all is well with everyone!

What do you mean... SNOW?

That's living in Utah for ya!  We woke up Sunday morning to a beautiful blanket of snow.  Alison and Ian both were so excited when we got home from church and they got to play in the snow for a little while.  Derek took Ian in before I could get a picture of him eating a snowball - but they had a lot of fun.

I received a new calling Sunday.  We have a brand new Relief Society Presidency and I am the Secretary.  I will be released as the Nursery Leader (*sniff*) and I am really going to miss that calling and the ladies I served with.  I am excited though to be back in Relief Society.  It's been a while since I heard a lesson that didn't have to do with loving my hands or animals :0)

Alison is all done with soccer until the Spring.  She carved pumpkins in her Kindergarten class today and she really, really loves school and her teacher, Miss Smith.  Ian is super grumpy when his teeth come in and we got rid of the binkie - so that adds to the grumpiness.  He is learning how to play with other kids and and is climbing over anything that stands still.  He took a header off the chair onto the tile floor, busted his lip and bloodied up his nose.  His teeth are still intact - thank goodness.  I know - I know - Welcome to BOYS!

Derek and I celebrated our 14th wedding anniversary on the 8th and Derek and the kids celebrated my 34th birthday on the 9th.  Derek ordered me the most amazing cheesecake with fresh raspberries folded in, a layer of chocolate mouse and a thick layer of ganash on the top - garnished with fresh raspberries around the edge.  Oh - it was sinful!  Thanks Alison for sharing your wonderful talent with my family.  

I took the kids to Meuller park for some pictures of the changing leaves.  I could not get Ian to smile for me.  He just loves Aunt Christine (Alison said).  It was a nice afternoon up there with the kids.  We even found a BIG Bee Hive.

Derek is working hard and Ali, Ian and I are going to St. George this weekend for UEA.  We wish Derek could come with us since he is really the one who needs a vacation.  Halloween is coming!  We're so excited!

Make Up Party

So Derek's cousin, Beck Morgan, invited a bunch of gals over to his mom's house Sunday night to do makeup lessons.  He is a Mac trainer for the western region and he just wanted us to get the BEST training on how to apply makeup.  It was so much fun.  We watched and laughed and learned a TON!  He taught everyone how to do smokey eyes while using me as the volunteer.  I liked it.  He was sweet and let Alison pick her own colors of eye shadow and lip gloss.  She is sleeping in it right now and I had to break it to her that she is not allowed to wear makeup to school.  

Ian

Who knows if we are ready for this - but our son has learned how to CLIMB!  He can climb up the ladder on the play yard in the backyard and slide down the slide all by himself.  He is so proud of himself.  He also likes to stand on his little toy four wheeler and balance, climb up on the ottoman and jump off into our arms (even when we are not looking) and learned how to climb up on our barstools and onto the bar today.  He doesn't stop there!  He climbs onto the kids table in the kitchen as well as Alison's table into her room - but can't get down (unless falling counts).  We have tile floors downstairs, so we are hoping a cracked skull is NOT in our future.  Smother Mother is on it!

Ian is also cutting more teeth, this time the molars on the top just broke through.  He is on day 5 without his binkie and doing really well.  He just chews on his fingers.  He is also very allergic to mosquito bites.  We live in the wrong place for this as West Bountiful Mosquitos are extremely aggressive.  One bit his left arm a few days ago and within a day, he looked like he had a Popeye arm - it was very swollen, tight, hot, red, itchy and very uncomfortable.  We had to wrap his arm to keep him from scratching and digging into it.  Poor kid.  

He is talking a lot more and even said car, more and love you (sort of) yesterday.  He loves Ali's school bus and cries when he doesn't get to ride it with her.  He's growing so fast - how do we keep up?  He loves to think he is so much bigger than he is and wants everything we have.  He loves Sonic slushes and dark chocolate (that's my boy!).

I Survived the 3-Day Walk

I feel guilty because so many friends and family have asked how the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk in Seattle went and I realized how lazy I have been.  I hope you will forgive me as my body was recovering from this little walk of 60 miles in three days.  My friend, Jennifer Tanner and I walked the full 60 miles together.  We supported each other as a few times we were tempted to grab a ride on a sweep van.  I'll tell you about those in a minute.

First, the weather the entire time was GLORIOUS, which is unusual for Seattle.  The lows were in the mid to high 50's and the highs were 75 to 80's.  We got to the Opening ceremony by 6:00 am on Friday and it was a very energetic, moving, uplifting and motivating start to the day.  There was live music, people all decked out in everything pink and ready to walk.  We met the rest of our team.  I want to tell you a little about them.  Christine and I walked in honor of our mother, as well as some dear friends.  My friend, Jennifer Tanner walked for the experience of a lifetime.  Just three weeks prior to the walk, our teammates (Becky and Ellie's) mother went in for a routing mammogram.  She decided to go since her daughter were walking and it saved her life.  She was diagnosed with breast cancer and now they were walking for their mother.  Their Aunt Sheri walked with us as well.

We started the walk at Bellevue Community College and our first cheering station was awesome.  People would come out along the route and cheer us on.  They would spray is with water, hand out Gatorade, water, candy, all sorts of treats, sample Jamba Juice & Starbucks, just little things to keep us motivated.  There were designated cheering stations as well as some just here and there along the route.  There were also Two older ladies dressed up in cow costumes and had their VW convertible bug decorated as a cow.  They had cow jokes all over the route and would drive up and down the route playing music and getting us all pumped up.  There slogan was breast cancer utterly sucks!  There were so many puns, slogans and great team names - most referring to breasts in some way.  There were also sweep vans.  These vans would be decorated with a theme on the outside (one was princesses, one was dogs, one was hippies, etc.).  They would drive up and down the route, honking and making sure they were available in case a walker was unable to finish.  They would climb into the van and be doted on until their next stop.  They didn't want walkers to feel bad about having to take a bus.  They were great motivators along the way.

We walked 20.7 miles on Friday and ended up at camp.  It was a sea of pink tents everywhere and very well planned out.  We went strait to the big tent for dinner and live entertainment.  Lights out was at 9 pm, and I was exhausted, but feeling pretty good.  

Day Two - it was cool and foggy and it was a little harder getting out of bed.  We had a great breakfast and started on our way for the 20.8 mile walk ahead.  Luckily, every day, there were 5 pit stops and a lunch stop.  They were stocked with port-a-potties with jokes on the inside of the door or pictures of really good looking men staring back at you with "so and so LOVES 3-Day Walkers".  They were funny.  They also had stations for medical, water and gatorade, food like uncrustable (a new favorite of mine), bananas and ranges, pretzels and chips, cheese sticks, bagels and cream cheese, animal crackers, granola bars and cookies.  There was something there to please everyone.  They also had dunking stations where you could dunk a bandana into ice water to wrap around your neck to keep cool.  They were so nice.  Each pit stop also had a theme.  There was a beach theme, pirates, disco and a couple other grab and go stops.  

During the walk, no matter how much I stretched, my calves would not relax.  Day two was FULL of hills and was definitely the hardest of all the days.  When I got back to camp, walking all 20.8 miles, I went strait for the ice bags to ice down my ankles while I ate.  It wasn't enough and I had to go see to sports medicine and physical therapy tent for some help.  Stephanie worked on my calfs for a little while and saran wrapped bags of ice around them.  She also said I would need both ankled taped before walking on day three or I might not be able to make it. Luckily, I was pretty much blister free at this point.

Day Three - I had to wait in line for almost an hour to be seen by PT.  Torry taped both ankles and helped me with a couple blisters (darn it - I was hoping to do this without them).  I started walking and just couldn't get my calves to relax.  I was determined to make it to at least pit stop #2 and take a sweep van to pit stop #3.  But... when I got to #2, I was feeling a little more loose and I wasn't going to leave Jennifer alone to walk.  Oh - Becky, our captain, was red-carded after Day 1.  She is pregnant and had some issues.  Ellie and Sheri started much earlier than we did on day three, and Christine was only allowed to walk a maximum of 10 miles per day.  So, it was me and Jennifer together all of the time.  

We walked through Washington University and stopped to flash our guns (Jennifer wanted a picture showing how STRONG we are).  We also got the privilege of walking right through Washington University's RUSH.  All the "PLEDGES" were standing in the middle of the road on the island waiting for their house assignment.  All the Houses' existing members were all dressed up and dancing and partying outside their house.  Music blared from each house and it was loud and exhilarating.  Some houses even cheered us as we walked by as they understood what we were doing.  It was pretty fun.

We walked to Green Lake and then to Gas Works Park.  It was so beautiful and we could see the Seattle Skyline.  We crossed over Fremont Bridge and then to downtown Seattle.  I turned cheerleader in the last 8 miles of the walk.  I even had a following of other walkers that wanted to stay close to us.  The reason for this was... there was a walker who had copies of an army-style cadence written for the Seattle 3-Day.  He gave me one and I tried it out on a new group we were walking with.  My loud mouth and ability to walk and read at the same time came in quite handy.  We made it up a hill with very little effort as we were concentrating on the cadence.  A lot of gals told me they forgot all about the aches and pains as we did this - so they asked to do it several times more.  They best ones we did were in downtown Seattle.  We passed shops and restaurants and everyone listened and cheered us on.  

As we walked, there were a few vendors selling different breast cancer awareness merchandise. I could go on and on about all the different breast-related titles and company names, but I will just tell you my most favorite, as was with many walkers.  There was a guy whose company name and T-SHIRTS read "NO WAR IN MY RACK".  We loved it and I did buy a t-shirt.  It made us smile!

Christine met us at the top of the hill as we were making our decent into the Seattle Center.  She wanted to walk with us into the closing ceremony holding area.  She bought us all beautiful flowers to carry in with us and it was overwhelming as we walked through thousands of cheering family and friends, survivors, fellow walkers and crew, and all those who came out to celebrate our accomplishment.  There were 3200 walkers total (more than they expected) and we raised 8.7 million dollars just in this one event.  What an amazing cause and I am proud to say I was a part of it.  I definitely want to do this next year - so if you want to join us - let me know.  It was an honor to walk and I will never forget the experience.  I thank all of you who supported me in this journey and you will be hearing from me again next year.

Please, please do all you can to take every preventative measure against breast cancer.  Know the signs and symptoms of IBC (Inflammatory Breast Cancer).  They discussed this on Day Two as a survivor related her battle with Breast Cancer and then another Battle with IBC.  The symptoms are different.  The fight is a lot harder.  So, I encourage you to google or go to You Tube for more information.  Also, please do your monthly self-breast exam, get your annual exams, mammogram, etc.  These measures can save your life.  

Alison is playing Soccer!

Alison ditched her tap and ballet shoes for sneakers and shin guards in order to play soccer.  She is learning a lot about teamwork and that it takes some guts to try and kick the ball when there are 5 other girls in your way (including her two other teammates).  She likes getting dressed up in her uniform and the team's name is Pink Ponies.  Is that a girl's name or what?  She is really enjoying it and has her games every Tuesday night at 5 p.m..  There are 4 minute intervals, 8 minutes to a quarter, 4 quarters in a game.  The didn't score at her first game and was a little disappointed.  Not to mention the opposition was really good.  So - to sweeten the deal, I promised her an extra treat if she scores a goal.  She's been consistent at her next two games, scoring a goal in each one.  They have a treat at half time and then one at the end.  The coach is on the field with the players and they have three players from each team on the field at one time.  Alison really does look great and is enjoying her new friends.  She practices every Wednesday night.  She will play this fall and in the spring.  

Alison is also in Kindergarten and LOVING IT!  Her teacher is Miss Smith and is super nice.  Alison sat next to the class bully for a couple weeks and we had to talk to the teacher and have her moved since he was especially mean to Ali and would make her cry.  She loves her new spot at school and is learning to read.  She gets to ride the school bus and really enjoys it.  She's growing up so fast!

We Are FINALLY Blogging!

Our August

We've had a busy August with Alison turning 5 years old and Derek turned 36!  Ali had a Littlest Pet Shop Birthday Party and took 5 friends to Kangaroo Zoo for some active play time fun.  She is so excited because she will be starting Kindergarten this year.  She is also a little scared because she is so shy and doesn't quite know what to expect.  I'm feeling like a bad mom because I am not getting all teary-eyed when I think about her going to school.  I am so excited for her.  She needs the stimulation and is really sick of her mom.  I'm too boring.

Alison decided that for Derek's birthday present, we would get new family pictures done and he would get some for the house and his office.  She picked out our outfits and we took a family home evening night with my twin sister (an amazing photographer) and got a few great shots.  Ali decided which ones to enlarge and we framed them and gave them to him along with the Josh Groban Concert DVD that was shot here in Salt Lake City.  We were there and it's fun to watch it again.

Ian is growing up so fast.  He turned a year old on June 12th and is walking, running, dancing and getting into absolutely everything.  His new favorite things are belly buttons, his own private part (grin) and basketball.  He has had 6 haircuts and it's still growing so fast.  Ali is jealous.  Ian is saying words and using sign language.  He signs milk, help, hurt, more and we are working on please and thank you.  He says mama, daddy, Lala (Alison), Ali, yellow, wow, baba, ball, binkie and screeches a very high note when he doesn't get what he wants when he wants it.  Learning help may help that a little bit more.

We've been putting him in bed (awake) and he has been rebelling.  In protest, he throws out his blankets, stuffed animals and binkie onto the floor and cries and screams.  He's fallen asleep without any of it, but learns when he wakes up in the middle of the night, he needs them.  We'll keep trying.  We've tossed all the bottles and are on sippy cups now.  His favorite food of all time is pizza.  It's great!

Ali and Ian are in full sibling mode.  They love each other and bug each other to death.  Ali has resorted to kicking Ian out of her room and closing the door because he likes to pull her room apart.  Ali gets a little jealous when he's occupying more of our time and plays with things that used to be hers.  It's interesting and fun to watch.

I am gearing up for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer 3-Day walk in September 12th-14th.  My twin sister and I are walking in memory of our mom and some other friends and family.  We are joined by 4 other great ladies and our team name is 3 Days 2gether 1 Goal.  It's a 60 mile walk in 3 days and we are training hard to prepare. 

LASIK - PRK

I had Lasik Eye Surgery on August 13th and am still recovering.  I know - usually people are back to normal the day after surgery.  Well, I had to have a more extensive Lasik than the normal "pull back the flap correction".  I had to have PRK because my cornea was too thin to create a flap.  So, they scrape a thin layer off the cornea, proceed with the custom Lasik correction, put a contact bandage on for about 5 days while the epithelium is healing and the recovery is a lot more extensive.  I should be seeing pretty clear in about 1 month and optimal at about 3 months.  I know it is a longer recovery, but they even say that the results are better than the other Lasik.  We shall see!

We love our family and we feel so blessed in our lives right now.