We survived February

While we were stuck inside with earaches, Sam made some great pillow forts and towers. I could always tell when his ibuprofen was wearing off because he stopped jumping and climbing and just cuddled in the pillows and said he needed a little rest. Definately not Sam's nomal behavior.

In this picutre Luke looks exactly like his Grandpa Reed. I think it is especially his mouth. I don't see look without a big grin very often, so I guess I haven't noticed it as much before.

This looks more like Luke's usual happy face.

Luke loves chewing on apples. I think it feels really good on his sore gums. Teething can be such misery.

It is not a secret that February is my least favorite month. It all started when I threw up all over my desk on Valentines Day in first grade. My regular teacher, who I loved, was not there that day. Instead we had mean old Mrs. Carpenter. I really didn't feel good, and I got up the nerve to tell Mrs. Carpenter that I felt sick. My nice Miss Anderson would have let me go lie down in the back on a special pillow, but not mean Mrs. Carpenter. She told me I had to finish writing all my spelling words first. Just as I was finishing writing my last spelling word, I threw up all over my desk. My first thought was, "good, now mean Mrs. Carpenter will have to clean it up." I tried to warn her. Then I was pretty embarassed when the girl sitting next to me, Kim, had to raise her hand and say, "Mrs. Carpenter, Katherine is throwing up. As you can tell it is a pretty vivid memory for me. I think I was sick and missed Valentines Day parties for most of Elementary school. I still seem to always get sick in February. I think it is all because of nasty air, dirty snow, being cooped up inside, and S.A.D. Well, this year was no exception.

The worst part of being sick this year was that Sam and Luke got sick too. They ended up both having ear infections. This was the first ear infections for our kids, so I know we are really lucky. Poor Luke was really miserable. He tried to be happy, but everytime his ibuprofen wore off, he just got cranky. I am so thankful for ibuprofen, Tylenol, antibiotics, and warm tubs. I'm just happy to report that I think we are all feeling better and February is over. Hurray!!!!

Apostle or Apostate?

This is a conversation I had with Sam on Sunday.

Sam: Mom, can we take Grandpa Robert's dogs to church with us?
Kate: No.
Sam: Why?
Kate: Because we don't take dogs to church.
Sam: Can we take my [toy] dog Gerda? She does not talk.
Kate: No, we don't take toy dogs either.
Sam: Can I take my transformer?
Kate: No, we don't take toys to church.
Sam: (after a slight pause to think) Mom, how can we change Church?

Happy Valentines Day

Sam and all his friend from preschool were special guests at Hickory Kist. They got to help the baker make cookies, decorate their own special cookies, and then we even were served a special lunch. Wow, what a fun-filled day for us all!

Sam loves being with all the cute girls.

The Baker asked for a volunteer to hold the big rolling pin. Sam's teacher quickly volunteered Sam. The baker said, "Isn't that heavy?" Sam said, "No, it is not heavy. I am strong."

So much for that little demonstration.

CRUISIN'

Dave and I went on a cruise to the Western Carribbean in January. It was kind of a late 10 year anniversary present to ourselves. It was so nice to just get away all by ourselves and have time to really relax and play. We are so blessed to have wonderful grandparents to be able to leave our boys with. I was so happy to trade the old dirty snow, smoggy air, and cold weather for turquoise blue oceans, white sandy beaches, and sunshine. I think I need to escape the winter every year, even if it is only for a few days.

We left from Miami, then visited Honduras, Belize, Cozumel, and Key West. Each place was beautiful and was full of amazing things to see and do. We also took pictures with an underwater camera that I haven't gotten developed yet, so I'll have to add those pictures later.

This is Dave relaxing in our room. Our room had a balcony and it was actually nicer and much more comfortable than I expected.

This is our ship, the Norwegein Pearl docked in Key West, Florida

These are some of the butterflies in the butterfly conservatory in Key West.

We are proud to say we have now been to the Southernmost point of the USA.

More of Key West

This is the port at Cozumel, Mexico. The water there was so beautiful, even right in the city by all the ships. We went out in a glass bottom boat to 3 different reefs to snorkel. We took some pictures with the underwater camara that I hope turn out. It couldn't believe how many fish we saw. Our guide had pockets full of fishfood, so that definately helped.

After we finished snorkeling we wondered around town to a seafood restaurant where we had a wonderful shrimp dinner. We got a little lost, so I was very glad Dave could speak Spanish to help us find our way.

This is Dave just relaxing in Roatan, Honduras. We took a little tour around the island with probably the oldest group of passengers on our ship. Roatan isn't such a huge tourist spot, so it was kind of fun to see real life outside the port. Let's just say it looked very authentic for Central America. Then our driver took Dave and Me to this great little spot to snorkel. It looked a little scary at first, and I couldn't think too much about the cleanliness of our snorkel equipment. The beach wasn't much, but they had these lawn chairs set up on a little patio under some beautiful palm trees. I was actually glad for the shade since my back got plenty of sun as we were out in the water. There was a rock wall separating the shore from the water and some steps right down into crystal clear water.

We were also right next to this little restaurant where we had a delicious lunch of coconut shrimp.

This is just a little souveneir shop that the geriatric crowd in our tour van wanted to stop to see. The hammocks remind me of Margie's from Guatemala.

this is our ship as we were leaving Miami.

Hopefully we will have some great pictures from the other camera from Belize. We went on a zipline tour through the rainforest, then floated on tubes down a river through caves. It was a great adventure. Belize was maybe our favorite spot. Maybe someday we will spend a vacation there.

GO UTES!!!

I think Dave's favorite thing about the holiday season is the bowl games. This year was especially exciting since the Utes were playing in the Sugar Bowl. Dave was so excited for the game, but unfortunately I had to work that night. The Utes played an unbelievable game. I was listening to the game at work, and I had to call Dave to discuss the highlights often. When I came home, I found this Sugar Bowl party in action. Dave set up his new big TV in our bedroom, so of course that is where the party was. It's a good thing we have a king sized bed to accommodate the crowd. I got home just in time for the last few minutes of the game. Dave was giddy. He said it was the absolute best football game he has ever watched. GO UTES!!!!

Before the rest of the crowd showed up for the party, It was just Dave and Sam. Dave had fun hangin' out with his best friend Sam. Sam really got into the game and showed off some of his best moves and his awesome muscles.

Christmas time

Christmas morning exploring our Christmas Stocking treasures
Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve at Grandpa Robert and Grandma Nancy's. It just wouldn't be Christmas without Grandpa reading 'Twas the Night before Christmas and the Christmas story from the bible.

Luke and Cousin Avery are a very cute pair.

Just because Moms only get to play dress up with their boys for a little while. I have to say, Luke makes one handsome Santa.

Christmas Eve at Grandpa Reed and Grandma Paula's home

Sick, Sick, Sick

Our whole family got the stomach flu the week before Christmas. Sam started us off, then Luke, me, and Dave finished it off. We were all supposed to go down to St. George for the weekend, and then Dave and I were going to go see BYU play in the Las Vegas Bowl with my family. I was way too sick on Friday when we were supposed to drive down. So Dave drove down with Margie and Brady on Saturday morning and I stayed home with the boys. We were dissappointed to miss the party, but it is always best to snuggle in at home when you are sick. Liz came over to watch Mama Mia with us Saturday night. Sam loved the music, but he was just too tired to make it through the whole thing. He never looks very comfortable when he sleeps, but that's the way he likes it.

Dave had fun at the Las Vegas bowl, even though BYU lost. He was lucky to feel good during the trip until about the last half hour of the drive home Sunday when his stomach started complaining. He ended up spending the rest of the day Sunday home sick too. We had to miss Aunt Valene's Christmas party and Santa Clause too. It was a pretty miserable weekend, but at least we got over it all before Christmas.

Luke never really threw up, but he looked terrible. He was very pale and looked exhausted. He didn't want to eat anything of course, but he loved chewing on orange peels. I think they felt good on his gums that were so sore from teething. Luke is always so happy and smiley, it was really sad to see him look so pathetic. He also did a lot of cussing and swearing about how he felt. I think he really surprised Lizzy by what a vocabulary of cuss words he has. I think it is probably a good thing we can't really understand what he says yet.

Always tell the truth

I have been a little bit worried to put gifts under the tree this year, for fear Sam will get a little too excited and start opening early. I have everything wrapped, but I have kept it down in the basement. I had a few presents to wrap for some neighbors, so Sam and I went downstairs to get the wrapping paper. Here is our conversation:

Sam: Are all those presents for me?
Kate: No, most of them are for all of our other family members, but some of them are for you. We can take them all up and put them under the tree if you can promise not to open them. You have to leave them under the tree, and not haul them away in your dump truck, hide them, or open them. Do you think you can promise not to mess with the presents if we take them upstairs?
Sam: (pause). I'm going to have to say no.
Kate: Ok, then we can't take any of the presents upstairs.
Sam: OK

I'm glad Sam is honest and knows his own limits on temptation.