January in Pictures

Nothing is individually Post worthy, but collectively they make a great month.

We got back from Canada with a year (or 2) supply of Hot Chocolate. Canada has the best Coco, here are all the many different flavors. We got multiples of some of these.

Spencer became a Sunbeam at church. I got the idea from a friend to make a sunbeam cake in celebration. We also had some friends over. If you ask Spencer how he likes his new class he says, "They moved me to the boring class."Salta attacked a Husky and ended up in doggie ICU. The miracle is she is alive and doing really well. First picture is he in her bandages. She couldn't really walk for a week. The second you can see her staples. And you can see how big her bum got, that was from the two punchered lungs.

We had a huge ice storm. The boys loved being pulled all over by dad. After awhile Garett jumped on his bike, they rode and slid for over an hour.Mallory really started walking. She loves Balls and her Brothers. She has really started showing her personality she is so much fun. Actually she really does need her own post because she is growing and changing, but I already have the pictures uploaded her sooooo maybe next post.Mallory also learned to climb. Here she is on top of a tv dinner tray.And I don't think I could explain this picture if I tried. Cute though!!!We love Sushi! We have been going to the same place since we moved here. They know us and love us. We know they love us because they are always giving us free custom made sushi. They also make our boys special oranges, they look like beach scenes. Here is our main waiter!

We also had our favorite friends come and visit for a few days. We are really going to miss them when they move far away this summer.

Fighting started it, Fighting ends it!

Salta got into a fight with a Husky. Actually, Salta started a fight with a Husky! Last Wednesday the boys were in the front riding their bikes, Garett was cleaning the garage and Salta was supposedly upstairs sleeping. Garett came in for a second to tell me something, then Spencer starts screaming outside. We go outside to see what is up and he is yelling and pointing in the road, "That dog is eating Salta" Garett runs out there I see him bend down, I see him stand up, I see him chatting with the owner of the other dog, I think everything is fine. Then he comes walking up and Salta is just a noodle in his arms. He goes to hand her to me and discovers that his hand is soaked in blood. Off I go to the Vet, by this time Salta's eyes are rolling in her head and I am pretty sure she isn't going to make it to the Vet. Vet takes her, listens to her and thinks that she is fine just a wound to sew up, so they start to shave her belly. Then they discover another wound and another. Then they find the lungs have been punctured. They take her back to surgery.

Then this is the worst part, the tech comes out and asks me how much I am willing to spend on her. WHAT?!? I have always thought I wasn't the type of person who would spend insane amounts of money on their dog. I've put a dog down before, I know it is not the end of the world. But I was wrong, I am that type of person. After crying to Garett and generally FREAKING out, I told him that I have to give her a chance.

After the Vet fixed all of her wounds she tells me that Salta needs to go to the Doggie Hospital to possible get another surgery. For some crazy unknown reason I am sent to Thomasville Vet Hospital, which is about 30min away. Salta's body cavity was filling up with air, and her lung with blood, and she wasn't able to breath, we literally got there just in time. Worst drive of my life. They took X-Rays and put her in a oxygen box. Basically the same type of bed/box that they use for premature babies (although kind of crudely homemade, as could only be found in rural NC). Luckily she didn't need anymore surgery, but she was in really bad shape and they were not sure if she would make it through the night. At this point I start to question my "spend as much money as it takes" reasons. Why didn't the vet just call it hopeless. Anyways, she has a cracked sternum, few cracked ribs, two punctured lungs and lots of bruises. (Preston saw the X-rays and picked out the broken ribs and sternum before the Vet even said anything-Future Radiologist) She did make it through the night and continues to get better at an amazing rate. The Vets are shocked, she is already walking and eating on her own. And the best news ever is that she should be coming home on Monday. Of course their are still a lot of concerns, like blood clots and infections but there is not a lot we can do about that.

When we lived in Sierra Vista I coached Basketball at the High School there and I used to take Salta to Saturday morning practice when Garett was deployed. I used to make the girls says all these saying to motivate them and one of them was....

"It's not the size of the Dog in the Fight but the Size of the Fight in the Dog"

Thank you to everybody who left comments on my facebook page and everybody who prayed for her. She really is my baby and I am glad that I still have some more time to make more memories with her!

PS

I really can't believe that I am one of "THOSE" people!!!

Resolutions

The difference between a goal and a dream is the written word.

-Gene Donohue ...

So here I go, I am writing my new year's resolutions down and I am posting them so that I can be held accountable for them.

1. Take Salta for a walk everyday(Garett or I)

2. Make me and my family eat 5 fruits and or Vegetables a day.

3. Finish my YW PP by the end of March.

4. Have 52 Family Home Evenings

5. Learn to sew a quilt and make one.

I have had to amend the first goal already. There is no need to walk her when it is less then 35 degrees outside or when there snow on the ground. I don't like to freeze and Salta doesn't like to walk in the cold and ice, in fact she has hid from us a few times.

So far so good! Wish me luck the rest of the year!

Almost a teenager

I bet you didn't know that 5 is the new teenager. Preston now has a desire to learn to read because "I will soon learn to drive and then I can go to the store for you, but I won't be able to read the list of stuff to buy". We really do love this boy and can't believe that it has already been 5 years.

Happy Birthday Preston

Preston's favorite food is Spaghetti but he will tell you it is bagels-which is funny cause we hardly ever have bagels. His favorite color is orange. He loves the song, "Joy to the World" and we sing it almost nightly. He wants to be a machine maker when he grows up. I think he is going to be a writer because he is always telling "stories", which is another way of saying make believe. He and Spencer pretend that they are super heroes, his super hero name is "P Lighting". He goes to Preschool 5 days a week and is loving it. His teacher tells me all the time how wonderful he is and how helps out the other kids in his class. All I hear about school is how the girls chased him or how he chased the girls. I fear his teenage years! Preschool has taught him a few bad habits, like spitting and acting like a crazed animal but we try to tame those actions. He is still the best brother. Spencer doesn't like to do anything really, but lately it has been chores so Preston does them for him. Tells Spencer to have a free day. He is still in love with Mallory and wants to enter her into a baby contest because she "is sooo cute!" He loves reading the scriptures and can't wait until he can get his own set. Basically he is an almost perfect kiddo (except for when he is not!)

PS I don't know why my font changes half way. Just go with it!

December

Just like the rest of you, we had a super busy December. We loved it! Here is our month in Pictures!

At the church Christmas party, two cute Shepherds. At the last minute Spencer decided to be a sheep.

The boys had a school Christmas Program. They were in an angel choir. Check out there stylish bow ties!

Love this picture of Spencer. He was so proud of himself.

We went to Canada for Christmas. When we arrived Aunt Vicki and Cousin Elizabeth were there. The boys really love Aunt Vicki (just like Garett did when he was their age).

We went to the Rainforest Cafe to celebrate(the first time) Preston Birthday party.

Everybody in there Christmas PJ's. You can't tell but they have moose(s) on them. I love that we all are matching. So much fun!

Mallory got the boys old baby toys. Look how happy she is, she doesn't even know that Santa recycled them.

Auntie Sues got the boys RipRazor bikes. I was trying to teach them how to make them do a 360 but I just didn't have enough leg room.

Auntie Sues also got the kids these awesome Moose hats. Garett is borrowing one because it was freezing outside, but notice the lack of snow.

Mallory loves to be naked, good thing that the floors are heated.

Christmas outfits!

During the month they wore these outfits at least 5 times, each time I tried to get a picture and each time it didn't work out. This is the best that I could get.

The second time we celebrated Preston's Birthday(we celebrated the next day and we still have to celebrate it at school). If frosting had turned out a little more red then this cake would really have looked like a pizza!

Mallory's first time being in the snow. She saw it in Minnesota. I would say that she is indifferent to it. Oh and this picture was taken in West Virgina. Because Canada never got any snow when we were there. I know, hard to believe, but true. So we stopped in West Virgina so that we could use the new sled that we got.

Spencer after a ride on the sled. He loved it and just kept going down the hill, never getting tired of it. I love snow gear and am so happy that we have it, it makes snow so much fun.

Spencer is now a big boy and goes to Primary at church. When we asked him if he liked it he said, "No they switched me to the boring class". It is tough to go from toys and snacks to sitting still in chairs and lessons.

Oh and what was the biggest thing that happened during this month. Yep, Mallory took 4 steps on Christmas day. Out of nowhere she stands up and walks. She is very cautious and has only done it a few more times since, but it won't be long now. I am not really happy about this.

Family Pictures

These were taken last month in the woods across the street from our house.

Hilton Head

Garett's Aunt and Uncle rented a beach house for the Thanksgiving Weekend and invited us to join them. What can I say....It was AWESOME. The weather was perfect. The water was nice enough to play in. The house was HUGE and we got our own suite. The only down fall was I left our skillet there, bummer. Thank you Tom and Vicki for having us.

Garett wasn't able to leave school to join us. He really missed out.

This is my favorite picture. Penny, Lucy and Mallory are all taking turns eating table scraps. Mallory thought it was the most fun she has ever had!

During low tide the beach is perfect for riding bikes. We didn't have a bike that had training wheels so Preston decided that he would try riding without, however, he kept getting distracted by all the people, shell, sand, water, etc.

This is the boys favorite part of any vacation. CABLE!

Because I had so many babysitter I got to do a lot of stuff. One of my favorite things was just hanging out with my boys. My second favorite thing was crashing while roller-blading.

Mallory loved the beach and she loved all the attention she got from everybody.

Aunt Vicki, Preston, Spencer, and Lucy

After a few days at the beach we headed back up to Ft. Bragg to have one of the best Thanksgiving Feast I have ever had. Plus, Julie made 7 pies. Then I went Black Friday Shopping, it was the craziest year ever. I can't believe how many people were up at 3 am.

On Saturday we got down all of the Christmas stuff. Love it!