The Day After Christmas

The day after Christmas we decided to go bowling. The girls had never been and were so excited. Elizabeth was so competitive and really wanted to win. She wasn't too happy when she didn't win! It was a good day after bowling we went over to the mall the girls wanted to go to Clair's...aka: little girl heaven! Josh was feeling a little out of place, but the girls had money in their wallets and a desire to spend it! We ended the day with going to visit the Skinners and then go to Leatherbys for some ice cream. All and All it was a good day!

Christmas 2011

Our 2011 Christmas season started on the 14th of Dec. this year. I decided to do the 12 days of Christmas. Each night we set out a new piece to our manger and talked about that piece and the meaning behind it. Of course ending on Christmas with baby Jesus. Also after we did that the girls got to open one gift to the both of them...it was a book each night, some Christmas books some not. They seemed to like it, but of course they are kids and like getting gifts! We would read the book that night as a family.
A few days before Christmas we put together our gingerbread house. This year I got one that was already put together you just had to decorate it, yes I'm getting smarter! The girls LOVED doing this and I know they look like orphans or that their mother doesn't comb their hair, but it's break.
Josh decorated the gingerbread tree and by the end that tree had more frosting on it then the whole house!
On Christmas Eve we got together with my whole family. I gathered all the kids together to take pictures. I had to let them do silly ones if they were going to sit for a nice one!

The adults were worse then the kids when I wanted to document them for this occasion!
After dinner we all came and sat down this is a tradition in the Cole family. The kids are all sat down in a row in front of us and we start with the sharing of testimonies. The kids usually start and then it goes around the room. My dad and mom started this with just us girls and it has continued as our family has grown. This is my favorite part of Christmas to get to hear my sweet girls share their testimonies with out any help from us is so special.
After our testimony meeting comes the over spoiling of the grandchildren aka: gifts from Nana! We open presents from each other first then my mom gives out hers.
Christmas morning after going to church we opened the gifts from Santa and us. The girls got American Girl dolls from Nana the night before and has dragged them everywhere. Each gift they opened up the next day they would show their dolls!
It was a good Christmas, Elizabeth said that it was the best day of her life, Of course she says that every Christmas and come to think of it every birthday...I think she likes gifts! That day the girls played all day with their new toys and Josh and I took a much needed nap!

End Of The Year Catch Up!

So it's been a while since I last posted...I know, stating the obvious is my specialty! I finally down loaded some of our pictures from my camera so that I can share what we have been up to. For Halloween Elizabeth was Dorthy and Abby was a witch, we went trick or treating and the girls had school parties...that's about all I really remember about Halloween! This is the problem of waiting so long to post. This picture of Elizabeth is for winning the Say no to Drugs poster contest. She made it her self and won for her class. She was so excited! It went on to the next level, but didn't win. She was happy enough with her first win and was just happy to get the poster back so she could show Josh. The shirt and the candy is what she won.
From Halloween to now we have had a wedding which I don't currently have any pictures of, Elizabeth and My piano recital which I lost the pictures and video to that...thank goodness..., Thanksgiving which we kind of skipped over by just going to The Chuck A Rama and nobody even thought to document! So until I post for Christmas that is all we have done!

Fall Is Here!

Fall has come with all the changing of the colors. I looked outside today and saw all the leaves on the ground and had to get the girls out there to take some pictures. Here are some of them...

Witches Night Out!

Another October means another Witches Night Out! Celeste, Cory and I got dressed up went out to dinner and went out to Gardeners Village to hang out with the hundreds of witches there! I love hanging out with my sisters and love this tradition of going to Witches Night Out!

Major Mile Stone!

Abby this morning woke up and realized that she had a tooth missing! Now it happened sometime during the night and we don't know what happened to the tooth. She was so excited to find out that she had lost a tooth. This is how our conversation went this morning,
Abby, "Mommy look I lost a tooth."
Me, "Wow, where is the tooth?"
Abby, "I don't know maybe the tooth fairy came and got it last night."
Me, " Well I don't think so I think maybe you swallowed it".
Abby, "No I don't eat teeth, I think the tooth fairy came already and got it but there is no money for it"
Me, "Maybe we can write her a letter tonight and she will leave you something"
Abby, "Ok, I'm so excited I'm a big girl now I didn't think I would be a big girl until I was 6."
I love that kid!!! Now I just hope that I don't forget to put the money under the pillow tonight!

Best Friends EVER!

I have the best friends and family a girl could ever ask for. Now I know that everyone says that and I'm sure you're saying to your self, "Ya, right I'm sure they are very nice, but can you REALLY say that they are the BEST?" Yes I can and Yes I just did! Let me expand a little...
(disclaimer: Now I've had brain surgery and have recently had back surgery I'm on heavy drugs and my memory has never been...well...I'll just say it GREAT, so if I forget about anything somebody has done for me it's not that I don't remember your efforts and service to me it's just...well I don't remember your effort and service to me and I'm sorry!)
...For a few weeks I've been getting ready to go to Colorado. I've been a bit stressed with trying to have the house clean and the girls packed so I didn't have to come home to a messy house and the girls had all their things for school while staying with my wonderful mother who took them for me. And of course I left everything to do until the last min. because well..I didn't say I was perfect! Who should knock at my door but Lynae. In 3 or so hours she cleaned more of my house then I could do in 3 weeks! She ran up and down stairs and helped me get ready to leave! And when I called her to ask her for help this is what she said, (Now just imagine this in a Disney princess voice) "Oh, I'm so glad you called I am just so happy to come over and help you thank you so much for calling me!" The girl is thanking me for asking her to come clean my house...for free!
On the Wednesday before we left Amy A. texts me and tells me that she is watching my kids for me so that Josh and I can go out to dinner before we leave! It really was so thoughtful of her to let Josh and I spend time together.
Then on the day Josh and I were going to leave Heather comes and gives me a gift bag full of things that I will need for my trip, including: One trashy magazine (because you always feel better about your life when you read about how celebrities have screwed up theirs), and a variety of fat-free candies so that I can snack on them!! Then Amy comes over and gives me another going away gift, she made me rice crispy treats and her and her kids made me a get well soon card!
While we were gone I had no worries about my kids being safe or getting to school or where they were because as previously mentioned my WONDERFUL mother watched my kids for me during the week and then my AMAZING sister-in-law Lisa came all the way out here and picked the girls up and watched them over the weekend, then drove them all the way back down here on Monday.
When we returned we found that our generous home teacher mowed our whole lawn for us and that some unnamed friends broke into our house and cleaned the whole thing, vacuumed and all! I can only assume that it was Lynae and Amy G. Amy a while ago learned how to break into our house, they are the best house robbers ever they clean everything!
We were home only a little while before Amy A. and Amy G. came over with a sign for me and my favorite things: cubed ice and frozen yogurt! My amazing sister-in-law Lisa not only brought me my kids back but brought homemade chocolate peanut butter cupcakes and get well cards made by my kids and hers! This is the my sign Amy and Amy made for me!I am overwhelmed by the many prayers and offers of food that have been sent our way. I am blessed to have all of these extraordinary people in my life and only hope that I can rise to meet their standards!

Aurora, Colorado

The city of Aurora Colorado has become Josh and my top destinations to travel to lately. We seem to take all of our vacations there. Back in August we went back there to visit Dr. Oro again to see if he could do anything about my leg problems. I was really nervous, I wanted him to just say yes Carrie I know exactly what your problem is and I can fix it! And of course I would like it be done all magically too! It has NEVER been that easy for me in the past, however I found that this time was different. Dr. Oro basically said just that. He told us that he was completely sure that I did have tethered cord syndrome and that he could fix it, not magically which I would have gone for but that I would just need a surgery on my lower back and I would have a 2 out of 3 chance that my legs would be perfectly fine, along with a number of other symptoms that I have been living with would also be taken care of. As soon as he told us this there was just a huge weight taken off my shoulders. I felt completely at peace about going through another surgery. Of course I wasn't too excited about the idea of going through another recovery, but he told me it would be easier than brain surgery, so I didn't have to give it another thought, I was in! We got scheduled for September 1, 2011 for the surgery date. As the date came closer I did get a little nervous. I don't know how Josh lives with me and my back and forth of yes I want to do this to no I don't want to do this. Josh patiently just smiles at me and lets me go through this battle with myself. We left for Aurora on Tuesday August 30,2011. We waited until Abby got home from her first day of school because I couldn't leave my baby without seeing how she did at school as a big girl. We didn't drive to whole 9 hour drive all at once we stopped in Vale, Co. for the night. My nervousness was still causing me to go back and forth on whether or not I wanted to do this still, yes I know I have issues but whats one to do about it. We got to Aurora on the afternoon of August 31,2011 I had an appointment at Dr. Oro's office and we went over to the hospital to do labs and check in...4 hours later I was ready for the next day. Now on Tuesday I had broken my glasses and couldn't see anything real clear, and on the morning to the surgery as we are going to the hospital we got a flat tire. Which Josh had to change while I tried to help but just got in the way. By this point I was starting to think that these were some sort of signs that maybe nothing was going to work out. Josh once again just smiled at me and drove me to the hospital. It has been 4 days now since my surgery and I am out of the hospital and sitting in the hotel room feeling pretty good. Now I don't think I will be running around and my walking is more like a slow waddle, but I feel good. Dr. Oro said that while he was in there he found the tether and cut it away from the vertebra, and he tested all the nerves for my legs and they ALL responded! He was VERY positive about my recovery. I have learned the the medicines prescribed to me are not just a suggestion you need to take them or you begin to hurt really bad. I am figuring out my meds. and think that my recovery will go good. I'm VERY positive about the outcome....Of course I just took two pain pills a few minutes ago and find that I'm positive about everything after taking them...
One thing that was really neat before I went into surgery was that Josh and I were waiting in the pre-op area to go back and the nurse came up to us and asked if we were LDS. She had seen that we were from Utah. We said yes, and she continued to tell us how much she loves Glen Beck and then she asked us if it was ok if she prayed for me. I said yes and she took my hand and said a prayer for me and for Josh. It was so touching that she would want to help comfort me and offer a prayer for Josh and I. I have been so blessed in my life. I am so grateful for all the people in my life and for the prayers and support that Josh and I have gotten.

1st day of School!

Abby is in SCHOOL! Abby went to Kindergarten on Tuesday. She was SO excited. That morning she woke up early and had her outfit all picked out the night before ready for her to put on as soon as she got up and took her bath. I did her hair and she went down to eat breakfast when she came back up to me and said, "Mom, I don't know if I want this to be my first day outfit?" I said, "Ok, go change." Long ago I found that life is easier if you just let her wear what she wants to wear! She came back in with a new outfit, it was pants with a shirt that had a little girl on the shirt. I said, "Oh that's a cute outfit do you like that one?" She said, "Yes, This way if no one plays with me at school I will have a friend to play with!" and she pointed to the girl on her shirt! WOW! That is all I have to say about that. I think that she was most excited about riding the bus! This is Abby with her friend Kate Andersen. As they were waiting for the bus. They didn't really want to have anymore pictures taken of them. All the moms were out there at the bus stop taking picture after picture of their kids!
I followed the bus to the school to make sure Abby got to her class. Yes I'm that mom but I did have a point the school put on a cookies and tissues for the parents of the new kindergarteners. You drop your kid off and they get a cookie while you get some tissues! It was really cute. Abby just walked right into class and didn't look back! I have to admit I did shed a tear for my baby going off to school!

Lagoon!

Back in July Josh and I told the girls that we could do ONE big thing this summer! That is pretty much all I had the energy to do. They both picked to go to Lagoon. So last weekend we went to Lagoon. Yes I know we waited to the very last second to keep our promise but what are you going to do. Thank heaven Jake and Lisa agreed to go with us. It was so hot that day and my energy was gone before we got on the first ride, but the girls were so excited. We met up with Jake, Lisa, Chase and Syd later in the day and the kids went wild, going on ride after ride! We are so grateful that they came to spend time with us. Now I only got one picture, I let Lisa take all the rest but she hasn't gotten them to me yet so this picture is the only one I have of that day, hint hint, Lisa! It's of Abby and I while we were on the train ride while Josh and Elizabeth went on a bigger ride! The girls had so much fun and Josh and I...well it was good memories!

2nd Grade

School is back in! Yeah! Well only for one of them Elizabeth's first day of 2nd grade came. She was so excited to go. She was a little nervous about meeting new friends, seeing as there are non of the girls from our neighborhood in her class this year. After meeting her teacher the night before she decided that she was going to be ok about being in her class. Here is Elizabeth at the bus stop. Yes I walked her to the bus stop, she asked me to. I love that she is not too old for her mom to walk her to the bus!
Abby was sort of sad when she found out that she would not be taking the bus until next week. She got over it when she found out that we would be going to the school that morning for her kindergarten assessments. Abby was so excited she bounced all the way there in the car telling me that she was going to find out how brilliant she is!

Back To School Night

Last night was back to school night at Lindon Elementary. The girls were so excited. No that even is an understatement, Abby was bouncing practically out of her seat with excitement. We got there and went to see Abby's teacher first. We walked all around her new classroom and found where she will put her backpack and things and where everything was. She said hi to her new teacher and was so happy. Next we were off to Elizabeth's class where she found her seat and introduced herself to her teacher. While we were in Elizabeth's class Josh came down to the school and we did the whole tour again! Needless to say the girls are happy to be starting school!

Family Pictures

While we were in Oregon we took Tippetts family pictures. Josh and I..ok just I thought it would be a good time for us to take some family pictures also. So thanks to my two wonderful sister-in-laws, Lisa and Laura, we got some family pictures. Here are some of them..

Manners Matter!

Sometime in May Josh, the girls and I went out to dinner. As we were eating I looked over at Elizabeth who was sitting with her legs up on the table and chewing with her mouth open. I was shocked that my oldest child had such appalling manners! Later I was talking with my mom and she said something that really made me think. She told me that just because I know etiquette doesn't mean that my child does...she asked me have you taught her? I honestly thought that I had taught her better but it was evident that I hadn't. So I thought I would do what my mom would do...I decided to have a manners class during the summer. Now I know myself and I know that I needed a reason to actually have follow through and have the class more then once. So I asked a few of my friends if they would mind if I taught their children in a manners class. They said yes and thus begun my teaching career. I had five students, I wanted to keep it small enough that I could still have control over all these kids. We had 2 boys and 3 girls. I liked the idea of having mixed genders so that they learned how to act with each other. The ages were from 7 to 8 years old. My plan was that if Elizabeth could sit in a class with other kids her age that maybe she would listen! The class was an hour a week for six weeks. These are the invites to my class. The grey ones were for the boys and the pink for the girls.We went over everything like using our magic words: Please, Thank you, Excuse Me, and I'm Sorry. Also Thank you notes, What is the difference between Manners and Etiquette, Interacting with Adults, kids, and with our parents, bathroom etiquette, personal grooming and ended with Table Manners. At the end of the six weeks I planned to have a formal dinner for the kids in my class and their parents to show the parents what their kids have learned. We had the dinner last Saturday and it went really well. I magically fit everyone at a table and cooked a meal for them. It was so fun to listen to the kids teach their parents what fork to use and how to act. We sat at two tables to fit everyone. These are my tables and the place settings. My sister Celeste helped me with the place settings, she is so creative. We had appetizers first while we waited for everyone to come. The Godfrey's were on Godfrey time! (Translation: They were late!)Then we sat down for our meal. The kids helped to pick out what they wanted to eat. They picked a cauliflower soup, and we had tri-tip, glazed carrots with garlic mashed potatoes. We ended the meal with a brownie sundae.
Even though I don't really know how much information my own child got out of it (last night at dinner I would have guessed non!) but I am really glad I did this. I have already heard back from a few of the parents that their child has shown good manners that somewhat surprised them! Thus ends my teaching career!