Life Lately

It's been quite a while since I've posted. Here is our lives over the last few months in a nutshell.

* We're having a home built in Gilbert (Meritage at Lyons gate.) The price is fantastic, interest rates are low, and the best part is that it's very green. Okay, I just visualized a house with a neon green exterior, so I'll clarify; super energy efficient. The community that we are building in was just listed as one of the top three green communities in the world. With Ken's work equipment constantly running at home, we have a $500 utility bill on average, so the idea of having a smaller utility bill is super appealing. We feel very blessed and excited! The house should be done in March sometime.

*Dray is loving Nursery

at church. He calls his leaders "Nursery Mommy and Daddy" and when we pick him up after

ward, he spends quite a while telling us about all the exciting things he does there. The most common topics are his favorite song (Once There Was A Snowman), snacks, and bubble time. He's become quite the conversationalist. He loves playing with play-dough, drawing on the Magnadoodle

and singing. When he has a terrible two's tantrum he shouts "Momma, Please!" over and over. He gets frustrated when we can't understand what he's saying, which is the cause of most of his tantrums. He still calls Alan "Aggie." We are working on that. He's very snuggly, opinionated, determined, and lovable.

* Ellie is still the socialite of the family. Every day, several times a day, many different neighborhood kids knock on the door requesting to have her come over and play. She spends most of her afternoons trying to diplomatically split up her time between all of her friends. Her friends from school also are constantly calling, asking if she can come over. I can always tell where she is in the neighborhood by her extremely audible and unique laugh (which sounds kind of like a machine gun, and just as loud.) She's very sad to be leaving the neighborhood, but will no doubt have friends lining up at the door of our new home in no time.

* Alan is on the Principal's Gold List for getting all As. He is most often very kind and obedient a home and school, and always tries his hardest. He's especially sweet to Dray, who several times a day yells, "Aggie, play with me!" Alan will usually stop what he's doing and take some time to play with little bro. He's especially good at boosting Dray's confidence. Dray was drawing today and Alan stood over his shoulder and enthusiastic praised every drawing he made. It was so cute to hear him say, "Dray, that picture is so good! I love it so much!"

* Ken and I are Cub Scout leaders. I've been a leader for a few months, but my companion just had a baby, so Ken got called in with me. The scouts are rowdy, cute, and fun. I'm enjoying the calling.

* In December, Ken and Abby where once again patient and sweet enough to let me be in another play (ANNIE.) I played Cecille (Daddy Warbucks' french maid), a homeless lady, a fancy New Yorker, and FDR's secretary. Lots of costume changes and lots of fun. I am thinking that maybe I can pull off one play per year? I have so much fun singing, dancing, and getting to know fellow cast-members. The nice thing about Copperstar plays is that they are only around four or five weeks from start to finish.

*Ken has been very busy lately at work. On many days he'll see multiple clients and he's been working lots of overtime. His job is such a blessing, which we especially appreciate at a time when still so many people are out of work.

*My mom, brothers, and sisters are coming to visit this next weekend for my mom's 60th birthday celebration (Feb. 9th). Mostly we'll just be hanging out and visiting, but I'm excited that we'll all get a chance to be together. It's been a while since all of my siblings were together in one place. Ken's mom's birthday is also on Feb. 9th, which is a fun coincidence. They are both wonderful ladies and I'm blessed to know them.

Onomatopoeia

Alan getting ready for a Cub Scout meeting

Dray after his second formula spill in a week. He dumped it over his head. Yeeesh, you'de think I'd learn to hide the can a little better.

After dancing in the formula.

Ellie as a dalmation

After Ellie's "101 Dalmations" performance

Into the Woods cast photo

In my hot-n-itchy Granny costume in a scene with Little Red.

Dray playing with cute and fun cousins, Caleb and Quinton

School starts back up in just over two weeks, and I find myself wondering how our summer break flew by so quickly. We've had a very low key summer. Ellie took a week long dance class and a two-week long "101 Dalmatians" drama camp, which she loved. She performed as a very cute Spanish singing chihuahua and a dalmatian. Alan insisted that he didn't want to do anything but relax and enjoy his summer break. Josh stayed for a few weeks and they spent hours building cities in "Minecraft." In June we went to the Crandall reunion in Safford (which was great!) Next week, Ken and I are are going to Las Vegas. It's our first vacation without the kids since we had Alan (almost ten years ago!) I'm excited for this long overdue get-away. He's attending a convention, and I'm tagging along. We'll be staying at the Paris hotel and going to see the Cirque Du Soleil Beatles show. I grew up listening to Beatles tunes and am super duper excited to hear the music and see the choreography! I've heard great things about it.

Dray is a wonderful handful. At just over 20-months-old, he keeps us constantly entertained. He doesn't speak many words, but says lots and lots of Onomatopoeias. When he's hungry, he makes a loud chewing noise and pretends he's putting food in his mouth. When he sees a clock he makes a ticking sound. When he's tired, he makes a snoring noise. We always know what he wants because he seems to have an accurate noise for everything. He told me he wanted to watch a Humpty Dumpty cartoon he's seen before by falling off the couch, screaming, and making a cracking sound. He then pointed to the computer screen. It took me a minute to figure it out and when I did, I had to laugh. He's a proficient little imitator. He seems to have a noise for nearly everything in the house and every animal he sees. I'm not sure when the actual words will cone, but for now the Onomatopoeias, combined with a shaking or nodding of the head, seems to work pretty well.

Dray's favorite activity lately is washing his hands. He points to the bathroom, makes a "shhhhhh" faucet noise and starts rubbing his hands together. If we let him, he'd stand at the sink all day scrubbing his little digits.

Ellie and Alan have started to enjoy playing "Hink Pink" (a rhyming game) and "Would you Rather." They have come up with some questions that require deep thought (and are usually followed by my stifled laughter.) I can't help it, they are just too cute.

Here's one of my favorites from Ellie: "Would you rather do chores all day Friday or have nightmares all Saturday night?"

They both chose the nightmares. Can you tell how they feel about chores?

Favorite from Alan:

"Would you rather have the Swine Flu for a week or sleep in a pig pen with actual swines for a week?"

They chose sleeping in the pig pen. The game has been very good for their deductive thinking skills and imagination, and it's been good for giving me a good laugh. I could listen to them come up with questions for hours.

Oops

Don't leave the baby formula unattended, especially if it's completely full. :(

Surgery and Sparrows

So much has gone on since I've last blogged. The surgery went well and the tumor is benign. I feel completely blessed. I'm so sorry that I never got back to people that wanted to visit in the hospital. I was so sick for a few days after surgery. I went into shock from low blood pressure and spent most of the time on an I.V. and oxygen, trying to keep some liquids down. I can honestly say that the week after surgery was pretty horrible, but now I'm feeling good and am more grateful than ever about good health! My blood sugar is under control with Metformin, and life is good. Throughout the recovery Ken was a sweet husband; always by my side and attending to every need. I have to admit that he is pretty great and I appreciate him more now than ever. I don't know how I could have made it through the month without he, my mom, and Abby. I also appreciate the many offers of support and help from extended family and friends.

Eeeek. This was the photo that I sent to let Alan and Ellie know I was okay after the surgery.

Well, now that I'm feeling better, my very long-suffering husband and sister have allowed me to audition for the musical "Into the Woods." I'll be playing Granny and the voice of the Giantess. Both are fun characters, and I'm excited to play them. It's a different experience because the cast is so small (only 20.) I've never been in such a small cast before,  but so far it's been a lot of fun. The best part about the whole thing is that Ken will get a sneak peak of what I'll look like about 40 years from now, complete with wrinkles, gray hair, a cane, and granny glasses. He'll know what he's in for. Hee hee. Here is the info for the performances, if anyone is interested. It would be fun to see family and friends there! http://www.copperstarrep.org/woods.html

Dray is growing up quickly. He is energetic, fun, and we love him so. Like his Daddy and brother, he constantly wants to play on the computer. He can nod his head for yes and shake for it for no. He laughs a lot and is full of constant energy. He still loves to pull things out and knock things over. His current favorite activity is spilling cups of water. When someobody leaves a cup unattended, he must have a sensor that goes off. He sees the cup and runs for it with a mischevious grin. If we don't make it to the cup before he does, water is enthusiastically spilled all over the floor. His fave foods are mac-n-cheese, tomatoes, strawberries, cheese, chicken, and french fries. He loves watching Elmo, Barney, and Yo Gabba Gabba. He often casually walks around the house humming in a high-pitched voice, which we think is quite cute.

On an unrelated note, I've just done a project that is super cheap, easy, and fun. I needed some artwork for a bare wall in the front room, so I went to Michael's and bought a few peices of patterened scrapbook papers that matched the blues and browns in the house. I then arranged the papers, drew and cut out the shape of a sparrow, and Mod Podged them onto to two canvases. Fun and inexpensive wall hangings!

Pinewood Derby 2011

I threw this video together for Alan to remember some of this scouting experiences later in life, then thought I'd put it up on the blog to share.  He wasn't very interested this year, I blame the digital age.  I apologize that it's a bit boring, but I wanted to capture each of his races for those that weren't there.

-Ken

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kcCs2z6nLk

Catch Up

It's been a long time since I last blogged! This is mostly due to the fact that I have a ward canning blog to upkeep, things have been crazy, and Dray wants to sit on my lap and bang wildly on the keyboard whenever he sees me on the computer. It's either blog or or sleep, and sleep is one thing that we don't get enough of around here (due to one very energetic, big, blond toddler.) Tonight is one of those rare nights that I've decided to give up some precious sleep and catch up. So...here's what's happened since I last blogged.
* Dray had his one-year-old birthday. At his one-year appointment he was over 100th percentile in height and 90th in weight. Needless to say, the circumference of his sweet, round head was in the 100th percentile. He dances to music, points to specific people when asked, runs quickly, loves the outdoors, sings into his toy microphone, and gets into EVERYTHING.
* We went on a fun-filled vacation to San Diego in early November. It was in the 80s here in the valley and upper 90s in San Diego. California was having a heat wave that we just happened upon. There was a lot of red, sweaty-faced crying and complaining while at Sea World. We also toured the U.S.S. Midway Battleship (which was very cool and interesting), took a harbor cruise, and went to Belmont Park and the beach.
* The kids brought the stomach flu home from school THREE times.
* Had a low-key, fun Christmas.
So, in other recent news, I went to the doctor and he discovered that I have an ovarian tumor. When the doctor saw it on the sonogram and said, "You have a tumor," I actually heard Arnold Schwarzenegger's voice in my head say, "It's not a tumah!" (from Kindergarten Cop.) Then I kind of laughed a little bit, and the doctor looked at me like I was crazy. It helped a little with my nerves.
To make a long story short, these last couple of weeks have been filled with appointments, blood tests, and an MRI. On a side note, I feel sorry for short people that have to get an MRI. If I looked up as far as my neck could stretch, I could see out of the top of the tube, which helped with the claustrophobia. Short people have to stare at the ceiling of the tube, which on top of sounding like a freight train at ear-level, is only about four inches away from one's face. Anyway, I'll be getting a laparotomy (open surgery) to remove that stinkin' tumor on February 2nd at Banner Desert and will be there for a few days.
Honestly, I just feel blessed that the doctor discovered it at all. I know that Heavenly Father guided me to this particular doctor and that he is always aware of our particular needs and circumstances. What a blessing the gospel is!

Dog-pile, worthy of awkwardfamilyphotos.com

All three have Ken's smile

We like to call him "Dirty feet McGee"

Fun with my Sound of Music sisters.

Dray at One

Dray turned one on Halloween. He's pictured here in his Charlie brown costume.

Dray:

• Loves to try new foods. His favorites are cheese, tomatoes, chicken nuggets, pizza, French fries, bananas, and frozen peas. He has no interest in sweets at all.
  
• Hums cute little tunes in the morning when he is just waking up.
  
• Enjoys watching "Elmo in Grouchland." It's the only movie he will sit still for.
  
• Climbs onto everything, opens every drawer, and seems to make messes faster than the speed of light.
  
• Claps when we ask him to clap or sees other people clapping.
  
• Walks up to random people with a smile, arm straight forward, and an outstretched hand.
  
• When we ask where things are (fan, a particular person, or a toy) he will point to it.
  
• Still is very wakeful at night and fights going to sleep with all his might. Life is too interesting for him to waste time sleeping!
  
• Loves to play hide and seek with his Aunt Abby.
  
• Will not stay in a highchair for more than 30 seconds.
  
• Prefers toys that flip open and closed.
  
• Still LOVES to look at books. He starts to laugh in excitement when we put him on our laps and open a book. He'll sit for five minutes straight looking through a book by himself.
  
• Spins around when he sees Ellie or Alan spin.
  
• Will make a loud growling noise when he sees a picture of Randall in his Monsters Inc. book.
  
• Says "Momma, Daddeee, Aaa-eee (Abby), and Josh."
  
• Can point to the nose, eyes, and mouth on his Ernie doll when asked.
  
• When we sing "Twinkle Twinkle" Or "Wheels on the Bus" he will go find the books with the same title.
  
• Loves to laugh and smile.
  
• Enjoys roughhousing with Alan and Ellie (this usually involves him hitting their faces, pulling their hair, and sitting on the heads- something that can turn from fun to not-so-fun in a few seconds.) We are working with him on not being such a ruffian.
  
• Despite often being a little rough, he is very loving. When we make a kissing noise he gladly moves his forehead forward, so we can kiss him.
  
• Stands at the gate on the bottom of the stairs and rattles the bars because he wants to go upstairs so badly.
  
• Dances and waves his chubby little arms to music.
  
• Loves to draw on the Magnadoodle or watch others draw.
• Is soothed by his pacifier and "silky."
• Wears size 2-T (sometimes 3-T) clothing and shoes. We had to order special early toddler shoes in his size because his feet are so big.
  
• Is an adventurous, fun, strong-willed, happy, energetic, stubborn, and sweet little one-year-old who we love having in our family!