So Sad.

Every year I get rid of many things and take it to Deseret Industries. So, since we just had Christmas and my kids got new toys, I go through all of their toys and get rid of the ones that they don't play with. I just do this for Zach and Connor, Ethan goes through his own stuff to see what he doesn't want. I have kept some baby toys, since Ethan was a baby and well Zach and Connor don't play with them and the toys are for babies, so I decided to finally get rid of them. It was a sad day for me, cause there won't be anymore babies in this household. I would love to have a daughter, but I shouldn't get pregnant again. For Medical reasons, I shouldn't get pregnant again. I have a lot of back problems and 2 of my son's has health problems. My other son is 4 and he is talking more and more each day and it is really cute to hear him talk. My 12 year old son has diabetes and my 6 year old son has Muscular Dystrophy. I am a carrier for that diesase and so if I had another son, he could have a 50% chance of also having the diesase. I just couldn't do that to my family. Will and I have thought of having another baby this year, but it wouldn't be a good idea if we did. I have always wanted to adopt, but I don't think that we ever happen, it costs to much and we will never have that kind of money. I just wanted to share about this, if anyone cares. Thanks everyone who does comment on my blog , it means a lot to me.

Finally, I have written.

All of us with Mickey Mouse and yes Connor is crying.

Will and Ethan on California Screamin.

Me after the Grizzley River Run and as you can tell I am
drenched.

A very cute picture of Will and Zach.

Zach and Connor

A cute picture of Zach and Ethan

It has been way to long for me to write and so I need to finally write about Christmas and our trip to Disneyland, so please bare with me.

We left on the night of Dec. 23 and we stayed with my friend Laurie and her family in Henderson NV that night. Then we left for my parents house around 7:30 am and they live in Ramona CA. If some of you don't know where that is, that is near San Diego. We got at my parents house between 1-2 pm. We had good traffic and good weather and so I was happy about that. We had the usual dinner that my mom always makes, which is ham, rolls, and salads and it was very good, like it always is. Then always on Christmas Eve, we read about the birth of Jesus out of Luke, but this year we did something different. We went around the room and explained what was next in the story and it went well. Zachary, my 6 year old and Connor, my 4 year old didn't participate, since they wouldn't be able to explain much about it. Then we hung our stockings and then took pictures in front of the fireplace and it was fun. Then we left to stay in the condo, a time share my parents get for us when we come for the holidays. We have made it a family tradition to come spend sometime with my family in CA for the Christmas holidays and we have done it every year since we have been married, except in 2001, I was pregnant with Zach, so we didn't go anywhere for Christmas.

Anyway, Christmas was fun and all the kids enjoyed themselves, so that is always good when that happens. My brother and his wife and 3 kids live next door to my parents, so they came over later on Christmas and it was good to spend some time with them. My kids loved playing with their cousins, they don't get to see them very often. Also, when we were there, I was able to go out to lunch with my mom and sister in law and that was lots of fun. We also did some shopping while we were there and we do that every year we are there for the holidays. We all had a fun time, while we were there and then we left on Dec. 30 for Disneyland. We stayed in one of the Best Western's around Disneyland, so that was nice.

Since, we couldn't do to Disneyland or California Adventures until Dec. 31, we went to Downtown Disney and it was fun. The boys especially loved the Lego Store and so of course we bought some legos for them. Thankgoodness there was a Denny's right next to the motel, cause that is where we ate breakfast and dinner. We did Disneyland on Dec. 31 and let me tell you it was so crowd, we don't think we will do Disneyland around New Years again. Anyway, we had to rent a wheelchair for Zach and that helped alot. Yes, we were able to get on rides faster, but Zach can't walk very well anymore and someday, he will be in a wheelchair all of the time. We all had a great time, except for Connor and he is 4 and Disneyland is suppose to be the Happiest Place on Earth, well not to Connor. Anyway, when we were on the Dumdo ride and it was about ready to start some people were going around handing things to people and well it turned out to be a Dream Fast Pass. What that means is, that you can use the Fast pass on certain rides that were on this pass for Disneyland and California Adventures during anytime only on Dec. 31, but you didn't have to go back during a certain time, like the regular fast pass does. We went on Splash Mountain and well we believe that ride ruined Connor's time at Disneyland and California Adventures, but Zach liked that ride. So after that ride, Connor was scared to go on anything, except for the Carrousel, which he loved. We had a good time that day and it was great to spend time with family. Ethan and I decided to go back to Disneyland that night, well that was a big mistake. Music and people were everywhere, but we did manage to get some icecream and let me tell you it was very foggy that night and it was hard to see anything.

Jan. 1, we went to California Adventures and again we rented a wheelchair for Zach, which was a lifesaver. Will and Ethan did Tower of Terror and well I just watched Zach and Connor and I didn't want to do that ride. Ethan loved that ride and Will liked it. Ethan even got me on the ride California Screamin and I thought that was the best roller coaster that I have ever been on. I even bought the picture of Ethan and I on that ride and it turned out real good to. The rest of our day at California Adventures went well and Ethan and I also went on the Grizzly River Run and well I love water rides. You know how there is always at least 1 person on those rides, that always did drenched, well I was that person and man I was cold, but it was fun. I wouldn't of gotten that drenched, if I didn't move over for this father and son that needed to get in, so Ethan and I weren't sitting together and Ethan got wet to, but not as drenched as I did. Will took Zach and Connor into A Bugs Land for some of the time and the rides are more geared towards the younger kids and Zach liked it more than Connor. Later that night, Ethan and I came back and it was fun.

Jan. 2 was our last day at the parks and since Connor loved getting in the wheelchair with Zach, we decided to rent him a stroller for this day, but he cried when we put him in there, but eventually he calmed down and he was fine being in there. It was cloudy on this day, but at least it didn't rain, it just sprinkled some. We went to California Adventures first and it was fun. Ethan wanted me to go on Maliboomer and I did. If you don't know about this ride, it launches you straight up in the air 180 feet and comes back down and down, again until you get to the bottom. It was fun, but when I was sitting there waited for them to launch me in the air, I had to keep telling myself, Okay I can do this over and over again, until I went up in the air and I even kept my eyes open the whole time. Ethan went on this ride the day before with Will and Ethan loved it and Will liked it. We stayed at California Adventures alittle bit longer and then we went to Disneyland and we mostly stayed in FantasyLand and Mickey's ToonTown. Ethan and I took Zach on Matterhorn and thankgoodness we were able to get on this ride. The Matterhorn was having problems the whole time we were there. Zach really loved this ride and so I was glad he liked it. In ToonTown, we went on that little roller coaster and it was fun and I have never been on that ride before, the line is always to long. We took pictures with Pluto, well Ethan and Zach was in that picture and then Minnie Mouse, all of us was in that picture, except for Will. Then we went to see Mickey Mouse in his house and well Connor was crying the whole time, except for when they showed the old Mickey Mouse movies, he loved that part, cause well they were showing movies. We took pictures with Mickey Mouse and then we looked at some stores. Connor then fell asleep and we decided to go do Pirates of the Carribean and well Connor woke up and I was holding him close and he started crying, when we went down the 2 little hills, but he was fine after that. It was a fun day and then Ethan watched his brothers that night, while Will and I went back to Disneyland and we had fun, it being the 2 of us and all.

The next day on Jan.3, we left for Cedar City. We left after 10 am and we got home around 6 pm. We even made it home on 1 tank of gas, so that was impressive. We had a good time, but man I can't believe that Christmas and New Years is over. On Sunday, Jan. 4, I put all of the Christmas Decorations away, which I don't like doing, but I managed to get it done. Then on Monday Jan. 5, the kids went back to school and Will got sick with a cold. We had a bunch of errands to run that day and it took us 3 hours to get them done. Will started his 1 college class on Tuesday Jan.6 and Zach stayed home from school with an ear infection. Will also didn't go to work that day, he still wasn't feeling well. Then today, Connor stayed home from Preschool, he had a cold and I am coming down with a cold. So, I hope Ethan doesnt get sick. I am sorry this was to long, but I had to much to write about. Hope you enjoy the pictures.

14 Years of Wedding Bliss

Today is my 14th Wedding Anniversary and it has been 14 wonderful years. I just can't believe that it has been that long and to tell you the truth I never thought I would ever get married and here I am married to a wonderful man for 14 years. Since, Will has to work tonight, we went out to IHOP for breakfast and it was very good. Then we went looking at Christmas Decorations in a few stores and some of them were very cute, but I didn't buy anything right now. During our 14 years of marriage, we have added 3 wonderful boys, who are the best sons that we could ever ask for. Despite all of their challenges, we are thankful for Ethan, Zach and Connor to be a part of our family.

Okay, I will tell you the story of how we met. After I graduated from high school in 1991, I didn't go to college, I just worked for a couple of years, which I am glad I did. I wasn't ready for college yet. I found out about Southern Utah University in Cedar City from one of my cousins and so in Sept. of 1993, I went to SUU. I met Will at the Institute Dance the Saturday before school started and it must of been a great first impression. The first week of school, we kept running into each other. We had a few classes in the same building. He was taking theatre classes and I was taking dance classes. Then Friday comes around and we decide to go to the Institute dance together. Then a bunch of us were going to see the midnight movie that night and I invite Will to come along. We saw "The Fugitive" at the Fiddlers theater and we all couldn't sit together, so Will and I were in the very back, but hey I love sitting in the back and well I still love sitting in the back when I go to the movies. My grandparents were living in Kanab at this time and so when Thanksgiving came, I took Will to Kanab with me, cause most of my family would be there and I wanted them to meet him. Then Christmas came, I went home for the holidays in Ramona CA and Will went back home to Kentucky for the holidays.

Then on Mother's Day in 1994, Will ask me over to his apartment and there were these 2 monkeys dressed as a bride and groom and I didn't get it when I saw them. Then there was the card in back of the monkeys with the ring box in front of the card and I still didn't get it. So, I read the card and yes I finally got it and I of course said yes. We called all my family and then he called his mom. We decided to get married in December in the San Diego Temple. So, I met Will on Sept. 18, 1993, we got engaged on May 8, 1994 and we got married on December 17, 1994. The wedding was beautiful and it was great to have most of my family there, my brother Tim was on his mission. Will's mom and brother were the only ones that came and so it was great to finally meet them. We lived in Cedar City from 1994-July 2004. Then from July-2004-December 2004 we lived in Phoenix AZ, but Will came back in Nov. 2004. Will's new job didn't work out for us, so Will got his old job back in Cedar City and so we moved back. So, we lived back in Cedar City from Dec. 2004-present. That is pretty much the story of how we met and what we have done since then.
I was going to post some pictures of my Wedding Day, but for some reason it wouldn't let me post any pictures, so maybe I will post some pictures later.

The Nutcracker Ballet

Talisha and I after The Nutcracker Ballet

The Nutcracker tree at The Jubilee of Trees on Nov. 22.

Last night, I traveled to ST. George with my best friend Talisha to see The Nutcracker Ballet. We left alittle after 4:30 pm and it was a good thing that I did, that is when the winter storm hit Cedar City. It was windy the whole way down there and it started snowing, but it wasn't to bad to drive in at that time. We got down there at about 5:40 pm and I ordered my tickets online, so I went to keep them up. After that we went to Wingers for dinner and it was very good. Then we went to see The Nutcracker. We got there at about 7 pm amd the ballet started at 7:30 pm, so we looked around at the little gift shop they had there. I am very proud of myself, I didn't buy anything and I saw somethings I wanted to, but I didn't buy anything, so that is good.

The Nutcracker is my favorite ballet and I haven't seen it for 8 years. The Nevada Ballet came to Cedar City in 2000 and so I haven't seen it since then. We went to the Jubilee of Trees in ST. George on Nov 22 and that is when I found out The Nutcracker was going to be in ST. George and I picked Dec. 13 because it was a Saturday. I was so excited when I learned they were going to be in ST. George, I just wish The Nutcracker was going to be in Cedar City sometime again, but who knows if that would happen. The first time that I saw this ballet was in 1991, when I saw it with my sister Sandra and the San Diego Ballet put it on. I thought it was so beautifully done, that I knew that I wanted to see it again and I have seen it about 2 or 3 times, since then.

Anyway, back to the performance of The Nutcracker Ballet from last night. I thought it was really good and they had some really great dancers last night. One of them was the guy doing the Russian Dance, all I can say is wow, he was so good. The other one I liked was one of the girls doing a dance from China, she was amazing. There were other great dancers last night to, but to me those were the ones that stood out. To end the evening, Talisha and I took some pictures by these Christmas trees that were in the lobby. It was wonderful that Talisha could come with me, it just was a nice evening, until we had to drive back to Cedar City.

I was driving and thankgoodness I had the van, cause if I had the smaller car, Talisha and I probably would have stayed in ST. George over night. Talisha said a prayer before we left and then we made our way to Cedar City. It normally takes 45 minutes to get home, well because the freeway was bad, it took us about 1 hour and 15 minutes to get home. I was so thankful, to see exit 57 and to get off the freeway, but I still had to go slow, cause I heard Cedar city got about 6 inches of snow. I dropped Talisha off at her house at 11 pm and I went home. When I got home, I noticed that my wonderful husband shoveled over the driveway for me and I thought that was so sweet of him. I pulled into the garage and I was so glad to finally be home.

Ethan is now a Deacon

This past Sunday, Ethan was ordained a Deacon after Church was over. Will ordained him and he did such a great job and I almost cryed. The Bishop was out of town and so one of the counselors called him up during Sacrament Meeting and it was so great to see Ethan up there. I don't like giving my testimony and well I never have and well I got up there and I was scared. I have always hated getting up in front of people, especially when there is many people, like at church. I told myself all week that I would get up, cause well Ethan is only going to be ordained a Deacon once and I kind of rehearsed what I was going to say and of course I didn't remember everything I wanted to say, but hey that always happens to me. A few people did come up to me after Sacrament Meeting was over and told me I gave a very sweet/good testimony.

When we were about ready to get Ethan ordained, one of the Young Men teachers came up to us and said thank-you for given us another Deacon, Ethan makes it 3 Deacons. He also had his first assignment as a Deacon, he went and collected Fast Offerings and he said it was easy. Next week, he gets to pass the Sacrament for the first time. Then tomorrow, he gets to go to his first activity and they are using the climbing rock wall at SUU and Ethan is very excited.

Ethan

Here are some more Pictures of Ethan. Enjoy. Ethan. Celebrating his 12 Birthday, 3 days early.

Ethan on his Baptism Day.

Having a Birthday Party for his 9th Birthday.

Having a Birthday Party for his 10th Birthday.

Having a Birthday Party for his 11th Birthday.

12 Years Ago Today

Ethan's 1st Birthday. A few days early.

Ethan, a few months old

The Day Ethan was born. My mom is holding him.

Taken in Oct. 1999. Ethan is 2 1/2 in this picture.

Taken in 2002, when Ethan was 5. Dixie, Ethan and Zachary

Ethan with Dixie. I think Ethan was 4 in this picture.

It is hard to believe that my oldest son, Ethan is 12 years old today. Where did the time go? Ethan was born at 11:45 pm on Dec. 2 and he was 3 1/2 weeks early. I was going to Southern Utah University at the time and I was in my Effective Parenting Class. I had to give a presentation that day and I hate getting in front of class and I always have hated that. Anyway, after I was done I sat down and I gave a sign of relief, well I guess it was more than that. I didn't know anything was wrong, until class was over and I got up. All of the sudden, I started leaking quite a bit and so I went up to my teacher and I told her I think my water just broke. She was talking to 2 girls in the class and both of them are moms, so all 3 of them, agreed with me. One of the girls took me to the hospital and I called my husband, Will there. At the time we lived very close to campus, so Will walked to the school and got the car. He drove to the hospital and later he told me that the song, "Tonight's the Night" was on the radio when he started the car. Anyway, I got to the hospital around 10 in the morning and Ethan wasn't born, until 11:45 pm, so it was a very long labor. Ethan weighed 6 lbs. 4 ozs. and he was 19 1/2 inches long.

Ethan is in the 6th grade and he loves school. His favorite subjects are Math and Science. He is very good at sports and he plays Soccer, Basketball and he wants to play baseball next year. He has many friends and so he is well liked. His friends know he has diabetes and they help Ethan,when he needs it, so I am grateful for his wonderful friends. He is a great big brother to his 2 younger brothers and for the most part they get along. He loves to play Video games and he is really good at them. He also is very helpful around the house, especially the last couple of days, since I have been sick with some stomach virus of sorts.

In my church, when boys turn 12 years old, they get ordained to be a Deacon and this is a big deal and it is exciting too. I just can't believe that I have a son, who is 12 years old and most people also can't believe I have a 12 year old, cause they think I am younger than I actually am. I am 36 years old. I was going to download all of Ethan's birthday's that he has had, but I got sick yesterday afternoon and so I was only able to download his 1st birthday. I do have his 9-11 birthdays, cause I got a digital camera for Christmas 2004. Some of the pictures are of Ethan with Dixie. Hope you enjoyed the pictures.