OUCHIE!

Sorry about the nudey shot - the only pic we have of the splinted cast

A "blinging" kind of surgery

This would be her "pretty" pose - you could tell, right?

Riding her new quad (from Grama Krey) with cousin, Celia

I'm pretty sure I get the mother-of-the-year award for this one! Here goes... Last Saturday night I got Arie up from her nap and changed her diaper on the changing table. In the 2 seconds it took me to throw the diaper away, she had somehow fallen off the table. I picked her up and rocked her and gave her loves, but she just didn't seem quite right to me. Luckily, Aaron was working in the ER that night, so I decided to take her in. All of Aaron's nurse and doc friends assured me that she had just popped her elbow out and once they "popped" it back in, she'd be just fine. However, as Aaron exited the x-ray with Arie he looked at me and said, "Don't be mad but...she broke her arm." I thought I was going to be sick. Sure enough, x-ray's don't lie! On her left hand, the outer bone just above the wrist, it was completely broken. Doctors were talking about overnight stays and surgery. Luckily, the peds specialist on duty that night said that casting it would be just fine. The doc who came in to splint-cast the arm says to me, "WOW! You seem really calm. This must not be your first." to which I replied, "No. I have a 12 and 8 year old boys, which have never broken a bone. And yet, somehow, I manage to break my baby girl." Needless to say, he replied with a nervous giggle and then made a rather hasty exit! 3 days later we were back at the hospital for x-rays. The bone looked good, so they gave her a permanent cast - neon pink! However, signing names on casts is so passe - so we decided to bedazzle the cast! My sister-in-law, Paula, along with her girls came over today to help fancy up Arie's cast - it is, afterall, all about the bling! So, now she is all blinged out! She is moving her arm and using her fingers just fine. We go back in a couple of days for another x-ray, but I am pretty confident that all will be well. And in 6 weeks time, she will be back to as good as new!

PIGGIES!

Arie's hair is growing at a maddening rate! I was sure that when we found out we were having a girl, that she would be blessed with Aaron's hair! Alas, she was born with mine. Poor girl! So far, she just has a girlie mullet - almost non-existent in the front and longer in the back. But thanks to my sister-in-law, I was encouraged to put the hair into piggies. I've been getting more and more brave - doing mini-messy buns, and lately, braids! She looks so cute and grown up in her little piggies and braids. I just had to chronicle it by taking pics. And now I am sharing them with you! Doing piggies and braids on a 16 month old is no small feat, mind you. Especially for someone who can't even braid her own hair! It takes awhile, and I have to give lots of distractions, but in the end, it's all worth it!

Temple Lights

Again with the sideways shot - sorry!

Every year, we like to go as a family to see the lights at the temple. Last year, Arie was little and it was raining and cold, so we opted not to go. It just never felt like Christmas. So this year, Zach was adamant that we go early, to ensure that we see the lights! It was a chilly night, but seeing all the lights, the people and the live nativity is such a wonderful experience. This year, we ventured into the Visitor Center and watched a movie about Christ. It was really quite powerful. I promptly came home and bought the movie! I feel so blessed that we live so close to the temple! It truly is a bit of heaven on earth. Even my children can feel the spirit that resides on the grounds. During this time of year, I am taken back to my travels to the Holy Land, to the birthplace of our Savior. It seems like yesterday that I was out on Shepherds Field, looking at Bethlehem off in the distance, and wondering what it must have been like to have been a shepherd visited by an angel to herald in the birth of the Savior?! I feel blessed that I live in a day in age when the truth of the Gospel has been restored. That I know that my Savior lived and died for me, and that because of his life, I can once again return to live with Him and my Father in Heaven. Christmas is such a magical time! It is a time when the world, collectively, whether religious or not, recognizes and celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ.

Merry Christmas!

Santa brought an XBox 360! Mason is sooo surprised!

Arie got a pillowpet

The boys each got some gaming chairs

Stairs shot with Dad

Stairs shot with Mom

Christmas came in two parts for our family this year. We recently moved, and things have been quite hectic ever since. We decided that we all needed a little break. So we spent Christmas at the cabin this year. We learned, however, that it is a much smoother trip minus all the presents. So, we decided to open all our presents on the morning of the 22nd, then leave for the cabin. Santa could then bring the one present he brings for our kids, plus stocking stuffers. The boys thought this was a brilliant idea (and who wouldn't? Open presents twice!!) Growing up, my parents would make us wait to see our presents all that the same time. While we waited for the room to be "readied" we would all wait on the stairs. Thus, the famous stair shot began. Up to this year, we've never had stairs, but we would take a family photo in the hall, which would sub for the stairs. Needless to say, the boys were quite excited that this year, we would FINALLY be able to take a real stairs shot! We opened presents then headed for the cabin! We enjoyed beautiful weather while we were there! Didn't get the "fresh" white Christmas until later that evening when it began to snow. But there was plenty of snow on the ground. Aaron and the boys got a fun day of snowboarding in. Arie and I enjoyed a fun day indoors doing girlie things like baking cookies and painting finger and toenails! Santa actually did make it to the cabin, much to the delight of Zachary, in particular! Amazing that the big guy can find you even when you aren't sleeping in your own bed! We had a wonderful holiday and enjoyed the quiet and solitude that can only be found at the cabin! And we really enjoyed the time we got to spend with each other! Seems that life is just zooming by, and in the day-to-day hustle and bustle, I don't really take the time with my kids to just enjoy them. I look forward to these times when I can really enjoy being with them when the stresses of life aren't dictating what should and needs to be done! We wish all of you a very Happy Holidays!

Christmas Time!

The advent of Christmas is always marked, in our home, with bringing home the Christmas tree. Growing up, my family always went and cut down the tree. Hours, literally, were spent scoping out the farm and searching for the "perfect"tree. When Aaron and I were first married, we continued this tradition until Mason's second Christmas. By then, Christmas tree farms were far away and the thought of traveling 2 plus hours to cut down a tree just didn't appeal to me. Now, we hunt for a lot that carries Douglas Fir (my fav) and call it a done deal. This year, it happened to be raining as we left for the lot. However, upon arrival, the rain let up. And I'm pretty sure I got mother-of-the-year award (from my children at least) for the time it took me to locate and select the "perfect" tree for our home. Drum roll please . . . 10 minutes! Actually it was more like 7 1/2, but we'll call it 10 with having to tie it down to the car! We got home and decorated the tree to our favorite tradition - Alabama Christmas (don't even ask how that got started!) Then Aaron cooked the traditional dinner of sauerkraut and sausage! Again, this tradition began our first year of marriage and we've carried it out. I think we do it cuz of Aaron's German ancestry - but honestly, I'm lost as to why. We just have always done it and now continue because the boys won't let us quit! This year's tree is especially beautiful because only the top 2/3rds of the tree are decorated, to discourage little hands from taking ornaments off and hiding them in unknown regions! It was a great night, and now we are ready for the Holiday season to begin!

Giving Thanks

The yummy pancakes Zach made for Thanksgiving breakfast! YUM!

Arie riding the quad with Auntie Paula

Zach riding the motorcycle like a big kid - without training wheels!!

Mason and Aaron before the big golf game. Have no idea why or how this came out sideways and not smart enough to turn it right side up! So - you'll have to do the sideways look! p.s. - Aaron likes to wear goofy shirts - don't know why, but he does.

Thanks to my bro-in-law, Cameron! He's the last straw in a long line of butt-kicking to get me blogging again. Sorry it's taken me so long, Cam, but this one (and subsequent ones) are for you man!

This year's Thanksgiving, Mason flew to Utah to be with my parents for Thanksgiving. It was a little weird to not have him here for the big day. But, he didn't miss us at all! He was having a blast going to the BYU football game, seeing Harry Potter in IMAX and enjoying a snowy holiday! Back in Cali, Zach and I enjoyed making a yummy breakfast of buttermilk apple cinnamon pancakes while watching the parade. We had our feast at the Krey Kompound (Aaron's parents). Before the big feast, we always have fun riding motorcycles, hitting golf balls and just running with cousins. Arie got to enjoy her first moto ride with Auntie Paula. Needless to say, she was hooked. She basically walked around looking up at people saying "Pees" (please) until someone caved and took her for a spin! Zach is loving being able to ride the motorcycles without training wheels now. He even pulled off a couple of jumps! Then Friday is shopping with the girls while the boys stay home and enjoy watching the kids (pretty much my favorite part!) Mason flew back into Oakland late Friday night. Then he and Aaron woke up Saturday morning to go golfing with the boys while the girls stay home and watch the kids! They always award each other at the end of play with an "appropriate" candy bar. Mason won the "dump" award and won a Baby Ruth (you can use your imagination on that one!) but he also got 2nd place. He was pretty much a trooper since it completely downpoured for their entire first 9 holes! It was a great weekend - one of my most favorite holidays! I am grateful this year for my family. I really have so much to be grateful for, but when it comes right down to it - my family brings me so much joy and happiness!