Claire is Cute

We tried to take family pictures today. The battery was low so we were pressed to get a good shot in before the power went dead. The one of the kids turned out okay, but the of the family was awful, except for Claire. She looked adorable. So I cropped the rest of us out and posted the shot of her.

The First Tooth was Lost.

Lance came home from school on Tuesday all excited because he had a loose tooth. After he wiggled and jiggled it for a few day it finally came out with one final pull from Dad. The second tooth is well under way and I think that Lance will have to ask Santa for a new set of front teeth for Christmas.

With Wondering Awe

Can you remember what Christmas was like as a little child? The magic, the excitement, the anticipation of it all. The wonder of seeing things for the first time. All of the twinkling lights, the snow falling, the music, the houses all trimmed in lights, the treats, and all of the wrapped presents under the tree just tempting you to explore them. Well last night while the movie was playing Reese stood by the tree fascinated by the way it looked in the dark. She kept touching the lights wondering and admiring how they worked. It brought me back to when I was little and reminded me of why it is that I love this time of year.

Late Nite.

Zack had a Scout camp out last night (even though it was 10 degrees) so the kids and I had Lucky Charms for dinner and ate popcorn while we watch "The Night at the Museum:Battle of the Smithsonian." We invited Kade and Sydnie to join us and made it a full fledge pajama party.

A Visit From Germany

Zack was on Face book a few months ago and came across an old friend from Germany. They got to conversing and of course Zack invited him to come for a visit. Much to out pleasure he accepted. Though he is married and has two children he traveled by himself, stating that his family had been to the US and he has not. So after much planning Sven arrived tired and jet lagged on Thursday evening. He is a joy to have around and gets along with the kids really well. Claire talks to him non stop and Lance is anxious to share everything with him. He spoiled us rotten with all of the yummy treat that he brought us. I believe even for a chocolate lover like myself I am stocked piled for a good 6 months, okay maybe 4. He excited to see all of the sights of Utah and Zack has taken a few days off to spend with him. Really all he wants is to experience what life is like for a member of the church in Utah.

It is Christmas Time Again

Just like every December 1st I put up the Tree. This year however most things on it are edible. We strung popcorn and cranberries, baked some gingerbread men, and hung some candy canes (of which most are gone). The girls helped make some paper chains to hang and along with a few glass bulbs I think we have one of my favorite trees ever. I must say Zack to a great deal of care fluffing the trees and wrapping it with lights. Thanks Zack that is the part I hate most.

Ready or Not

So come Monday morning Reese was determined to wear panties and go "pee on the potty." I was determined to fight the whole thing, but finally broke down and put some purple panties on her. The whole thing last 45 min. until she pooped. When I got her cleaned up and went to put on a clean pair of panties she refused and brought me a diaper. I won. I am just not ready to got through the whole potty training thing. If there are any volunteers out there I will send her your way. (Yes she is eating Chex Mix while she is using the potty. What goes in must come out. Claire insisted on being in the picture.)

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone

I know that with all the bustling going on in the Kitchen tomorrow that I won't get a chance to tell everyone how grateful that we are for all of you. We have so much to be thankful for this year. Our home, Zack's job, our children, wonderful neighbors, our health, fabulous family members, our testimonies, the gospel, the sacrifice of our Saviour and his love, missionaries (esp. Kyle), the chance to serve others, friends, food, Chocolate, and so many many more things.
I love the holiday season because of the chance that it provides for us to reflect upon everything and everyone we have. It gives us the opportunity to gather together with those that we love and reconnect with friends of past and present. I am thankful for this time of year because it reminds me of all that I have received and gives me a chance to show to those people the appreciation that they deserve. So Tomorrow as we eat our wonderful Thanksgiving dinner, that I am so grateful that I am not making, know that we will be thinking of all of you (our friends and Family) and wishing we could be with you all but being grateful that we know you and that you have blessed our lives in some way. Now that I have wax poetic all of you enjoy a piece of pie in my behalf.

Halloween 2009

Trick or Treat

Lance went as Beaker from the "Muppet Show"

Claire was Miss Piggy, but everyone thought that she was Penelope.

Reese went as BOO from Monsters Inc

Here are this years pumpkins. Lance's is the biggest one, Claire's is on the front row to the right, and Reese's is the scariest one up front.

This is cute little Madison. She came trick or treating, stayed for a bottle, and a diaper change and Lance really wanted her to have these glasses. Such a cute pictures I had to share.

Happy Birthday Reese 10-25-2009

Birthday luvs from Grandpa and Grandma Gifford

It is suppose to be a one eyed monster!!(the cake inside was green)

She couldn't wait to open presents.

What a cute doll and stroller. Lance is playing with the Barbie phone that G&G gave her.

Our little Reese has turned 2. It is quite amazing to me that she has already aged that much. She, when asked how old she is replies: "I six". And thus the saga begins. I guess she will spend the next several years being six. We have loved having Reese be a part of our family. She is very curious and loves to explore new things, new heights, and new people. She is very loving and can not retire to bed unless she has given you a hug and allowed you to kiss her check. She loves her brother and sister, is fond of her mom, but adores her dad. She likes to pretend that she is talking on the cell phone. You can almost always find her holding something up to her ear and blabbing into it. Her favorite person to talk to is Grace. She loves the music set that she got for her birthday, but most of all she likes the doll and stroller that she received from her aunts and neighbor Joyce. We were lucky this year to have family in town to help kick off her Birthday. Grandma and Grandpa Gifford were here, as well as Russ, Shaunna, Kade, Anjeanette, and Brittin. I made her a monster cake because she loves to go around pretending that she is a monster. Really, however it doesn't take much to pretend, she is becoming quite the little monster (as I type this she is throwing a fit under my chair becasue I wouldn't let her have red juice in a regular cup, but insisted that she use a sippy cup).
She is definalty a unquie personality and I love every bit of her spunky self. She does, after all take after her mother. Curses.

I Sleep with Cars?

So some kids sleep with teddy bears, blankets, or even a drink of water, but not our Reese. Reese use to sleep with a glow worm that lite up and played music. She has recently traded that in for one of Daddies model cars (yes a Ferrari). What can I say she already loves them. She goes around the show room when we visit Zack at works and points at the Ferrari emblem and says "Ferrari, Ferrari." It really makes her dad very proud.

Sister Weekend 10-22-2009 thru 10-25-2009

Shaunna's in the Kitchen making salsa with mom and the rest of us are getting busy with the paint. Thank you Brittin for climbing the latter and painting the big tall wall.

Reach real high Anjeanette.

Doesn't it look great. They even painted the trim and Doors.

My sisters and my wonderful mother came to visit and spend some time with "just the girls." We started off the weekend by painting my entry way and hallway. Then we got massages, pedicures, and spent a great deal of time shopping. It was a wonderful weekend and I could never express enough my gratitude and love for my wonderful sisters and marvelous mother. I could not forget my niece Brittin (now in college) she come along to keep us under control. Thank you girls for a fantastic time.

A Postcard From KYLE 10-05-2009

Cousin Elder Kyle Gifford bless his dear sweet heart sent Lance a postcard today. On the front is a wonderful picture of the Washington DC temple. On the back is written this touching message.

LANCE!!! This is your cousin Kyle. You're the best. I miss you. You are one of my best friends in the whole world. I can't wait to see you again. Tell your sisters I love them too and keep being the best big brother ever. Listen to your mom and dad. They are so smart. Here is a picture of us now (A stick figure of Kyle the "missionary" and a small stick figure of Lance.) And here is us in 15 years. (Another picture of a Larger stick figure of Lance as a "Missionary" and a stick figure family of Kyle and his future family).
Love you bud. Elder Kyle W Gifford

Such thoughtfulness. It made Lance's day. As you can see he couldn't part with it long enough to sleep. We love you Kyle. Thanks for thinking of such a small little man clear across the country in a time of your life when you are so very busy.

Lance ate his "Homework"

For homework this week Lance was to spend ten minutes each day writing his name capital L lowercase ance. One day we kicked it up a bit and used skittles to practice. We also used the skittles to craeat patterns, count which colors had more, and of course when we where done we got to eat them. Yummy. Now that is what I call homework.

Spring Creek Fun Run Sept. 26 2009

Saturday was the Fun Run for Lances School. This is the first year that they have done it and they had quite the turn out. Lance and I ran together. Okay he ran and I walked just fast enough to keep my eye on him. He had such a great time. While we ran Zack and the girls played in the bouncing houses.

Get Ready!!
(I know that is says finish but it was also the start)

Set Go!

This is Lance sprinting to the finish line. The course was tough considering that they had set it up for kids. It started down hill quickly move to up hill, leveled off for a bit and then turned us around so that at the end we where struggling to run up hill. I thought Lance did great, he is already talking about next year.

Happy Birthday Zack

Today is Zack's birthday. 36 Years ago, thank heavens, he was born. I have been grateful for that for the last 13 years. Zack is a great husband and a wonderful father. He loves his job and is great at it. He is admired by most people he knows and loved by the rest. Thanks Zack for who you are, and yes thank you Mother Bailey without you and Father Bailey, Zack wouldn't be here today

The kids really wanted to make Zack breakfast in bed for his birthday. Lance even woke up early and came into my room to remind me of their plan. The
"In Bed" part didn't work out but the kids still got to eat breakfast with dad before he had to rush off to work. Claire ready to celebrate anyones birthday was up early making "cards" for Zack to take to work. All evening she kept grabbing random toys and putting them into a box and telling Zack that they were his birthday present. Thankful he made a big fuss over each one, she was so happy. Bless her heart she really does try hard to make everyone happy. She just falls short, when she tries to make sure she is happy first. She is only three after all, I am positive that she will grow out of that.

Trip to The Bean Museum" Sept 7th 2009

The new African exhibit.

Reese scaring the crocodile.

We took the kids to the BYU Bean Museum today for Labor day. They have been so many times that you think that they would be bored with it by now. They were thrilled and ran around showing dad all of the great animals. There was a student there showing live animals. We got to see a snake boa, a turtle, and a very large cockroach. The kids loved the turtle, but didn't seem to want to have anything to do with the snake and the cockroach. It was a real fun morning. We followed it up with a picnic in the partk and then naps for the girls and dad. Lance and I went grocery shopping. Smiths had a child size shopping cart, so I let Lance push it around and he all of a sudden took control of the shopping. He wanted to by this and that. Reminded me that we needed hot dog buns, star sprinkled cookies, peppers, shrimp, and oh don't forget the eggs. It was fun. I let him put the groceries on the checkout stand, pay the lady, and then load the groceries in the car. He was so helpful that I treated him to an icecream cone on the way home. Shhh don't tell Dad, Claire and Reese they would be mad.

The Kids Made us Breakfast (Sept 7. 2009)

Lance proudly showing us how good he can make breakfast

Enjoying breakfast

Claire and her ice cubes

Reese pouting because someone said something to offend her.

This morning being a holiday, we longed to sleep in. At 6:30 Zack and I were awaken to laughter coming from the girls room, awaiting the usual routine of the kids coming to climb into bed with us, we fell back to sleep. Several times throughout the next 2 hours I was aware of the kids playing but unaware of the passing time. I assumed that eventually they would come into wake us up. At 8:30 I finally awoke to sounds coming from the kitchen as I heard the kids making breakfast. Concerned that we would find a gallon of milk split on the floor in an attempt to pour it over cereal Zack and I jump out of bed to see what was going on. What we found was really very sweet. Lance told us that he "wanted to make us breakfast to that we could sit back relax and have fun." He did a great job of pouring "Captain Crunch" into 5 bowls, getting spoons on the table and pouring the milk, both in the bowls and the cups. Claire made heart shaped ice cubes for dessert (ice cube making is her new fascination). It was a great morning. I did have to do dishes.

Update on Lance's 1st day of School

So I met with Lance's teacher today to review his test results and talk about what area's he needs help in. While I was there I got to tell her the things that he said they did "on the 1st day of school." None of which were true. They did dance and read stories but mostly they colored and play get to know you games. I guess in his mind they did the things he thought you ought to do on the 1st day of school.
He did test well, however he needs to work on identifying and writing letters above 10. For the sake of preserving the details of life, they look for an average score of about 80, he scored 140. This is not something he gets from his mom. I can't even put the right shoes on my daughter.

Reese picked out her shoe this day and wore them all day. She walked lopsided all day cause one has a slight heal on it and the other is flat.

1st Day of School 08/31/2009

Lance, so excited for school that he is literally running to the car.
He started off the day eating "Cinnamon Toast Crunch" cereal and a piece of cinnamon toast with his Dad (something special cause his dad is usually gone before breakfast).

Lance striking a pose in front of the school doors. Claire was so excited for him to start school today too.

Lance with his teacher Miss Knutzen.
(She and I use to work together at ZCMI way back when I first got married)

Lance with his good friends, Ben and Christian.
Ben and he have the same teacher but Christian is in another class.

Lance and Ben in their Bus hats they made.

The much anticipated day has finally arrived. Lance started kindergarten today. I think that he has been talking about and thinking about this day since he was 3. I hope that it was everything he imagined. When I asked what they did this is what information I could gleam from him. They played on the playground (his favorite part), they danced, sat on carpets, learned about how an X-ray machine works, how a video camera works, learned a little math (4+2=44), and some science. (If you add green science stuff to pink science stuff then you get freezing cold green lava.) They read a book called "Alphabet letters in the park" and made bus hats they got to cut out themselves. Sounds like fun to me. While Lance was at school, Claire stuck beads up her nose, which freaked me out. It took forever to calm her down enough to plug one side of her nose and have her blow the beads out. Reese, mean while go into the Midol that I was in the process of taking, luckily I caught her mid chew and had her spit it out. Quite the morning around here.