Good-bye January!

Okay - so January came and went in a blur!  I remember some things and forgot so many others.  I lost my phone at the Draper Temple open house.  That means, I lost all my friends' cell numbers and some of their home numbers, too.  So, for all my loyal friends and readers, if you want me to call you, reply in a comment with your phone numbers so I can stay in touch with you :0) or call me and I'll write it down.

Facebook is my newest addiction.  I have connected with so many old friends in just 2 short weeks - I am in awe of the internet and it's power.  I'm sure there's some kind of conspiracy where all facebook members become entranced and start doing it's creator's bidding, some evil plot or something, but I am thoroughly enjoying it!  

The kids are getting more and more used to Bella.  Bella is proving puppyhood to be a bit of a struggle.  She loves to chew - as we knew going in.  We just didn't know puppies are fascinated by electrical cords.  She bit through some cordless telephone recharger cords and the worst was Derek's surround sound base speaker.  We weren't to pleased.  But, she is a smart thing, too.  She does lots of tricks.  On command, she will sit, give you 5, get dizzy (in circles) lay down and we're working on rolling over.  She will even do all of them before you ask her if you're holding a treat in your hand.  She loves apples and we use these as treats for her as well.  She'll be starting puppy classes on Feb. 10th.  Keep your fingers crossed.  Hopefully she will stay away from chewing up our new table.  We've doused it with bitter apple spray so we're hopeful.

Alison has a cold and she is miserable when she gets sick.  She crawls into bed with us and we have to taker her back to her own, but that little time with us comforts her enough to get past the sick feeling and fall back to sleep.  Ian and sleep aren't the best of friends right now.  Ian had an ear infection and is teething (I wish those last three would just hurry up).  So, when he wakes up in the middle of the night, it's an all out screaming and yelling fest in his room.  He will scream and cry, call out everyone's names, scream and cry some more until we go get him.  He won't go back to sleep unless it's in our bed.  We really are trying very hard to break this habit.  He will scream for an hour or more if we try to let him cry it out and then everyone (including the dog) is awake.  On the flip side - Ian does flips in our bed so Derek and I really aren't sleeping that great anyway.  It's a loosing battle at the moment.

Alison has started swim lessons.  She is pretty nervous in the water but really wants to learn how to swim.  So, she is in level one and will be for another round of lessons. She is doing great though.  Every lesson she gets a little more comfortable.  She is also making some more friends in our neighborhood.  There are a couple gals (Christa and Rachel) they're sisters, and they come over almost every day to see if Ali can play.  She loves it.  Summertime is going to be fun for her.  I just need to keep her motivated to stay in school through the spring. :0)

Alison is also learning how to read and even read a book to me last night.  She is also a huge fan of Fancy Nancy books.  This will be books she works toward adding to her collection by reading every day with me.  It's not a bad reward system.

Derek and I are hanging in there.  The nights are getting much better with Bella.  She isn't as lonely and she's sleeping almost through the night without having to go in the backyard (Hooray).  Ali and I went up to Park City yesterday and it was so nice.  Sundance was over, so there weren't too many people, other than the usual skiers.  I have two favorite places up there.  They donated to our Susan G. Komen silent auction last summer. I am listing their websites on my blog.  Check them out.  They're awesome!

Well, that's it for now.  If you are dying to know what's going on in our family and I haven't blogged in a while, you can catch us on facebook.  Chances are - we're on!

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!