The Andrews Family

Lots of FUN Stuff! Yikes! SO Far Behind! :)

2011-07-20T09:59:00.001-07:00

Man! I get so far behind with this blogging stuff sometimes! I need to do so much better at it! :) I'm not sure if this will all be in order but I'll do my best! ha! ha! This is my little man playing basketball! He just played on a team with his buddies in Fremont's League! He loves the sport so much!He got elbowed right in the nose I was worried that he was going to get a bloody nose because he gets them SO easy.. but he didn't! His eyes watered a little but he was good to go! It's nice to see good sportsmanship too! The kid that did it felt really bad! Little Miss Avery Cheering her brother and all his friends on! She loves all Preston's friends and she sits and yells their names out and cheers for each of them! It's pretty cute! Everyone in the stands always laughs!Valentines Day at Preschool! Avery LOVES Preschool! This is some of her little classmates and her box she decorated! She LOVES Valentines Day! Probably because she knows the next day is her Birthday! ha! ha! She might Hate it when she gets older!

All the kids got to hand out their own Valentines to all their friends!
Is she blowing me a kiss or what! ha! ha! Oh I love her!
They got to decorate their own Valentines Cookie! She did such a good job!They got to play games and also do a craft! I was in charge of the craft.. we made LOVE Bugs! They turned out SO Cute!We put Avery in Swim Lessons because she's a little fish and NOT afraid to go just jump in the deep end! She LOVES to swim! She had such a fun time!

She is So stinking brave!

Can you tell she just loves it?
My Little Sweetheart! Avery got to Cheer at Fremonts Halftime! She LOVED it! She loves to dance and cheer and she's not afraid to be up in front of anyone! I didn't get very good photos because the lady sitting in front of me didn't care that I was taking pictures and kept standing in front of me! I guess she thought her daughter was more important than mine! ha! ha!

Let's Go FREMONT! Let's GO! Let's Go FREMONT! Let's GO!

Avery and her Lindsay! She LOVES Lindsay! She's one of my many adopted daughters! ha! ha! Preston has LOTS of nice girls that are his close friends! We just LOVE them!

We went up to Lost Creek to see how much Snow was up there and just for a fun Family drive.. Preston thought it would be fun to go out on the Lake and see what it was like to be on the ice!

He's Clear out there! That little Spec.. is Him! :)

I love my Crazy Boy! He even went and laid down and had a rest! :)

More of our Lives to catch up on!

2011-01-28T11:46:00.000-08:00

Our Little Miss Avery just LOVES Playing in the snow! So I thought I'd take a few photo's of her looking cute in her snow attire! :)

Making Snow Angels for the very first time! She thought that was awesome! She said, "If they are angels then am I making my Uncle Shayne?" I about started to cry! How do you tell a 3 year old the difference of a snow angel and a real angel with out crying?? Oh I love her! She is so Close to the spirit it amazes me!
Trying to make snow balls!

The sun was kind of bright and she didn't want to wear her sunglasses at first! So she is squinting in most of her photos!
This is my studly man playing basketball! He's now playing in the high school league. His team is the only sophomores in the league so they are playing against all Jrs. and Seniors. They lost their first game by 5 pts to a bunch of HUGE seniors! Then they have beaten everyone else! Yeah! They are pretty dang good for being the only sophomore team!
He got fouled pretty hard here! So now he gets his free throws!

Little Miss Avery cheering her brother on! She is so funny at these games!
Getting ready for the rebound!
Preston throwing in to his buddy Bryson! This is Preston on Christmas day sporting his New Utah Utes sweatshirt and fixing his new stereo system. He's so easy to please! :) My Cute Mom at our house on Christmas Day! I have the best Mom! She does so much for me and my family!

Avery on her New Bike Santa Brought! She is in Hog Heaven! She didn't even care that it was colder than the North Pole!
My Papa! I love him so much! I couldn't have a better Dad! I don't know what I would do without him!

Grandpa Taylor helping Avery learn to ride her new bike! He's such a good Grandpa! Avery getting it all figured out!
Grandpa and Grandma Taylor with the kids at our house on Christmas!

Nick's Brother "Uncle Bub" with Avery on Christmas Morning!

Avery showing us her cute little snowman decoration she made for us at Preschool for Christmas! She did such a good job!

Preston and Avery helping each other open presents on Christmas Morning! It was so fun! They each took a turn and helped the other! They are such good little buddies! I couldn't have two better kids!

Our Christmas Countdown showing that it is time for Santa to come! :) Yeah!
A close up of my cute boy! I got a new lens for my camera... so I was practicing! :)

Avery can have such wild hair in the morning! ha! ha! She's still cute though! ha! ha!
Avery showing off her new Woody and Jesse dolls! I think Santa spoiled these two! Avery on her New Bike! She is SO EXCITED! We had to bribe her to make her want to stay in! She didn't care that it was 6 am. She wanted to go out and ride her bike! ha! ha! Funny Girl! Preston and Avery SO excited to see what Santa had brought! Preston was cracking up over Avery! She was a crack up on Christmas morning!

Avery coming down the hall to see what Santa left during the night!

Boy did Santa Spoil us! This is what we woke up to! The children all nuzzled in bed! While Sugar Plums dance in their heads! Normally we sleep out in the front room with the Christmas Tree lights on and wait for Santa! There was NO way we were going to be able to that this year! Avery wouldn't have gone to sleep! She wanted to sleep with her brother and they both went to sleep Fast! Avery saw Santa's red light on the way home and new Rodolph was Super close. Santa had come and gone by 9:30 pm. Sure beats last years 3 am! ha! ha! He even had time to watch the Christmas Story and relax and eat his cookies! Wish every year could be so good!
Christmas Eve at Grandpa and Grandma Taylor's with all the grand kids in their new Jammie's! I can't believe we have so many now! There's Breanne and Chad, Parker, Kaitlynn, Emily, Kaylynn, Bailey Rose and Baylie Rae, Shaylie, Hunter, Tyler and Preston and Avery! We can't forget our favorite puppies.. Charlie and Roxie either! Avery is the 10th grandchild on my side and the 50th great grandchild on my mom's side! Crazy huh? Avery and her Cousin Breanne! She LOVES Breanne! Her and Breanne are Buds! :) She is so lucky to have lots of great cousins who she loves! Avery and Preston showing off their new Christmas Jammie's! Avery got to see Santa SEVERAL times this year! Santa came to her Preschool party and Avery and the kids got to have breakfast with Santa!

We always go to Christmas Village every year to see the lights! It's so fun to see all the amazing displays and colors of lights!

Preston's buddy Tucker went with the kids and I this year! Tucker is just like one of my own! He and Preston have been best buddies since they were 5 years old! Avery LOVES Tucker! She follows him around EVERYWHERE! :)The kids at Santa's Castle!

Avery looking at one of the many displays at Christmas Village. She had to look in EVERY one! She was totally amazed by it all and didn't want to miss a thing!

Avery with Tucker and Preston walking around Christmas Village!
Avery sitting on Santa's lap at our Fikstad Family Christmas Party! She LOVES Santa as you can tell! Wow! Santa sure resembles Uncle Dan! ha! ha!

Preston sitting on Santa's Lap telling him what he wants for Christmas and getting his present!
Preston and his Cousin Parker! They are good buddies! I love these boys!

Avery and her cousins Baylie Ray, Bailey Rose, Shaylie and Tyler getting ready to do the Nativity Play at the party.Avery played one of the Angels. She's a cute little angel! Nick and I went with the kids to Willard Bay's lights. You get to stay in the car and drive around at Willard's light.. thank goodness because it was super cold that night.. So we let Avery drive around! She thought she was hot stuff! She's a good driver for a 3 year old!

Avery also got to sit on Santa's lap AGAIN at Willard Bay! Preston waiting for Avery to see Santa! He didn't want to sit on Santa's lap! Go figure!

Avery anxiously waiting in line to see Santa! Every year we do a tree for my brother at the Festival of Trees. Preston comes with me to help decorate! It's a very special day!Preston and his cousin Tyler. Tyler also comes to help and hang out with Preston. My Mom and I go, along with my Grandma Fikstad and my aunts, Jill, Sherrie and Cindy. My cousins Raini, Shelly and Jacie also come and help! So we have a great day doing a great thing! All the money from our tree goes to Primary Childrens Hospital! So we get to honor my brother and the Air Med Crew along with all the money going to charity to help kids!

This is our plaque that goes with our tree! They truely are Angels in the sky! Shayne's helicoter crashed January 11, 1998 while he was trying to rescue and injured skiier who was in an avalanche! They all died.

This is my cute little Grandma Fikstad after we had the tree all done! Our Tree for 2010

This was our whole scene. We always do a tree with a scene to go with it! Avery got to go to the corn maze for her Preschool field trip! They had a BALL! It was so fun getting lost in the corn and playing all the games! Nick went with me, so we had a good day with Avery!

Avery trying to be a little ghost!

They had a slide the kids could go down! Avery didn't know what to think of it at first! Her belly tickles really easy, but she's always so brave and always dares to do stuff! Teacher Andrea went down with the kids! Nick is up helping all the kids get ready! What a good day! Avery at the bottom after her first slide!

Her first slide down! She didn't know what to think! ha! ha! But she did it!
Avery and her best little friend Hadlee leading each other through the corn.They had all kinds of fun games for the kids to play! It was such a fun day!Avery and her Best little friend Hadlee getting ready to hit the games and then off to the corn maze!

This is Avery's Preschool class at ABC School 2010. Mrs. Andrea is her teacher and she just loves her!

Lots and Lots of Fun Stuff!

2011-01-21T11:17:00.000-08:00

Okay! So I am a HUGE Slacker! It has been FOREVER since I've last posted.. so there is a lot that we've missed! The really sad thing is.. there will have to be another post to catch up! ha! ha! Tell me I have a busy life! I don't even know what day it is anymore! So let's start with Avery's Preschool Thanksgiving Feast! What a ball she had!
They played Lots of games, sang songs and had a great Thanksgiving Lunch! She thought it was so cool being blindfolded playing, "Pin the Feather on the Turkey"! What a crack up it was watching her trying to walk all dizzy!
As you all well know.. Avery LOVES to sing and dance! So singing songs and doing the actions to them is right up her alley! :)
We went bowling with our Dear Friends, the Vernons. This was Avery's very first time bowling and she had a great time! Especially because her boyfriends were there! This is Avery with Charlie or Char Char as we call him.. whom she thinks she's going to marry! :) We LOVE Char!
Avery was such a goon! She takes bowling SO SERIOUS! "Why So Serious?" She's jump up and down with her hands in the air saying, "YES!" every time she knocked pins over! Then she'd go and give us ALL high fives and hugs! We just love our girl! :)
This is her other boyfriend, Robbie. Robbie is Chars twin brother.. even though they don't look like twins they are! They are some of my adopted kids! I am SO glad Preston has made such good friends.. and we kind of like them too! The WHOLE FAMILY!!!
Preston just hanging out.. enjoying getting his picture taken! NOT! ha! ha! He's just making him Mommy Happy!
This is Avery's Very FIRST Roll down the alley! As you can tell.. she's a Pro! You should see her on the WII! She kicks all of our butts! Literally!
Avery and her Bubba! He's such a good big brother.. always helping his little sis!
Ready.. Set.. ROLL!
Avery was also able to go to the Tree House Children's Museum with her Preschool class! She HAD to get on the Bull because she thinks she's going to ride a bull one day! What she doesn't know is.. this is as close to it as she's going to get! :)
She thought driving the Fire Truck was so cool! She loved thinking she was driving with sirens and going to help people!
These are the kids in her Preschool! Some of her besties are in this class!
Avery got to be part of the play they put on! She was the little kitty in the story about the chicken who needs help planting her garden and growing the seeds and harvesting the garden to make bread.. but no one wanted to help until she made the bread and then they all wanted to eat it! I can't remember the name of the story, but it was pretty funny! She actually got a little shy! I was kind of funny watching her act shy! Not her nature!!
Hey Kitty! Kitty!
Preston made the State Scout Team and had the opportunity to go to Peoria, Arizona over Halloween to play baseball at the Mariners/Padres Spring Training Stadium and play in front of lots of college and Major League Scouts! What a GREAT opportunity this was!
Avery loves to go out after Preston's games and help him put his stuff away! What a great helper! I love these two kids SO Much!
Preston up to bat! Pitcher has a Rubber Arm! Okay! So we don't yell that! He had a great hit at this at bat! He got a line drive out to left center for a double! Yeah!!
Miss Avery on Halloween hanging out at the ball park! She loves the ball park!
Preston behind the plate! He's such a good little catcher!

Mr. Melle posing next to the little baseball player! That's my handsome boy!

My Mom went with the kids and I to Peoria! What a ball we had! Preston played ball all day on Halloween and then they had a big Halloween party that night at the stadium. (Halloween was on Sunday this year so they celebrated Halloween on Saturday.) We stopped in Las Vegas on the actual Halloween day and night.. and boy was that an eye opener! ha! ha! Note to self and every one else... DON'T go to Las Vegas on Halloween if you have little kids!!! YIKES! ha! ha! You'll see ALL kinds of things walking around!
Preston and Avery visiting the Pumpkin Man! I thought Avery would have been scared of this guy... but Nope! She wasn't!

Preston down on the Field at Home Plate! He had to go check out what it was like behind the plate! Hhhmmmm! I wonder if he is a catcher?

Avery having fun at one of the many games!

Grandma Taylor with Preston and Avery! We were so glad Grandma got to go with us!

Preston at the Fall Classic in Peoria at the Mariners Field.

Having a little down time at the Hotel swimming in the pool! Who would have thought the kids would have been able to swim over Halloween! Only in Arizona! Peoria was such a NICE place! We LOVED it!

Preston getting ready for another at bat! He hit so well down there! I was SO proud of him!

Grandma and Avery playing around before the game! Can you believe the Sunset? They were SO beautiful! We went to the Swap Meet this day and had a ball! Who knew there would be so much fun stuff at a Swap Meet!

Preston and the team after a great win! Good Job Boys!

Preston in between games! He bruised his hand pretty good.. so we had to hurry and ice it!

Avery at the Padres field! She loves watching her brother playing baseball!Avery at the ball park checking out the cactus! She had never seen a cactus before! I had to keep telling her NOT to touch it! ha! ha!

Preston and Brody at after a great game! Brody is one of Preston's good friends he has played ball with for several years and become very good friends with! They even go to the same high school and now get to play school ball together too! Brody is another one of my adopted boys! His Dad has been one of Nick's Best Friends for 30 years! So they are more like family! :) Love these guys!

Avery the night before we went to Arizona! My Mom's ward had a Trunk or Treat the night before so we went and let Avery Trick or Treat. We weren't sure what there would be available in Arizona.. so we let her get in one of her Princess outfits and get some candy! So by the time the weekend was over.. she had more candy than she knew what to do with! That's when you say, "Hi Mr. Garbage Can!" ha! ha! Don't tell her that though!

Avery posing at the Trunk or Treat in one of her many princess outfits! Her Butterfly wouldn't have been warm enough for Utah! :) Avery and Kierra posing after she let Avery put make up on both of them! What a great sport she is!

Preston got asked to a dance by Shaylee, one of my VERY Best Friends.. .April's daughter. This is Shaylee and April before they left for the dance. We went to Lehi and stayed at their house so the kids could go to the dance. Shaylee and Preston have known each other since birth and have been very best friends ever since! Once again... they are more like Family! Love these guys!

Avery and Preston the Priest before the dance! They had a great time! We all went to the Olive Garden.. dropped the kids off at the dance.. then took them to the Haunted Forrest in Lehi!

The Medieval Princess and the Priest! What a crack up! LOVE IT!

The Priest.. getting ready for his Very First High School Dance!

Avery at the ball park once again in Bozeman Montana! Preston's Scout Team travels all over and plays in front of scouts! What a great opportunity! Miss Avery here.. makes all kinds of friends where ever she goes! :)

Nick giving Scott a Big ol' Kiss! We're all still wondering if they've really been such good buddies for all these years.. or just because???? I'm thinking there might be more to it! The Rich's were with us too because Preston and Brody play on the same Scout team too!

Preston rounding third base in Bozeman, MT. This was such a great trip! It's So pretty there!

Kids Photo Shoot

2010-10-08T10:10:00.001-07:00

Here are some photos of my little chitlins that I took! We went up to Snowbasin, to the Monastery up in Huntsville and then across the street from our house! Grandma Monie was in town from South Dakota, so Nick and I, along with Grandma Monie took the kids up to see the fall leaves and have a little photo shoot! :) Besides the fact that I hadn't done the kids photos for a long time! :) Preston is 15 and Avery is 3 1/2!!These two are best little buddies! This photo is Priceless! These Two are my Pride and Joy! They are my WORLD!!

Avery was having a great time swinging on the rail at the Monastery! Oh How she loves her brother! He's so good with her! He's always making her laugh!

Look Bubba! Look out there!! Avery do you see those cows out there? Or are those Moose?? ha! ha! I LOVE these two! SO MUCH!!
Our Little Model
If you Lead me... I WILL Follow!!

The Kids with Grandma Monie!
Our Little Poser!! Oh! She's a Ham! ha! ha!
One of my Favorite of her! This is actually in the bathroom stall at Snowbasin!! Crazy!

First Day of School, Avery's First Hair Cut & Feeding the Ducks!

2010-09-22T15:27:00.000-07:00

I'm a BIG girl Now! Avery's FIRST hair cut at 3!!

Nikki taking the very first snip! Avery's hair is almost to her little bum! We just trimmed it up! She's never had a hair cut yet!

The very first SNIP! I just about died! ha! ha!

Avery LOVING the fact that she was getting her hair cut! She thought she was so big!

I'm a big girl now! She wanted to know if she got to keep her hair cut! ha! ha! Where was it going to go?? ha! ha!
Miss Avie.. loving feeding the ducks! We had our Fikstad Family Reunion at Barnes Park and while we were there, we went to feed the ducks and geese!
All gathered around for some food! Some Seagulls came on the other side of the fence and were walking towards Avery! She FREAKED out and thought they were going to get her! It was so funny! Preston and I kept trying to tell her that all she had to do was run at them and they would fly away! She didn't dare!! It was like on the Movie, "The Birds". I laughed so hard! Thankfully some random kid came running through and scared them all away for her!
My two favorite people in the world! I have the best kids EVER! I don't know what I'd do without them! They are my WORLD!!

This little guy was trying so hard to get the crumbs!
What a nice big brother! Helping his little Sister throw bread to the geese! He loves her so much.. and vice verse! Avery and her Bubba feeding the Ducks at Barnes Park! These two are best buddies!

Two Peas in a Pod! How did I get so lucky to have two AMAZING kids?? I'll never know!

Avery and Hadlee after their First Day of Preschool! They are buddies!

Say Cheese! Aren't they just the cutest things???

All lined Up and Ready To Go Home! :)

Avery and her best little friend Hadlee!

Playing with the play dough! Oh how she loves being able to go to school! Isn't she just a little doll?

She found her cubbie and her chair! She's all ready for her first day!

Avery and Teacher Andrea! She LOVES her so much! We are so lucky to have such a great teacher!

Avery getting ready to go in for her first day of Preschool! I can't believe she's old enough to go to Preschool!

What a little Ham! Oh How I love her! I cried a little today when I had to drop her off for her first day!

My Little (Tall) Stud Muffin on his first day of High School! One starting High School... One Starting Preschool... man, it's been rough! ha! ha!
Oh How I love this kid! I'm so proud of the young man he's become!

Family Campout and Breanne's Wedding!

2010-08-20T08:10:00.001-07:00

We have been so busy the last little while! Preston had a try out for the Mountain West State Scout Baseball team down in Salt Lake. There was so much competition, and even though he did just as good as everyone else, we weren't sure if he would make it or not! We knew he could, but there were SO MANY good kids and you just never know! We'll after Two weeks of waiting, we were informed that.... .HE MADE IT!!! Yeah! There were only 3 spots open out of all those kids! It is such an honor for him to be on this team! We are so excited for him! Now it's off to more traveling for us... but he'll be in front of over 750 College & Professional Scouts! How cool is that! They said that most of these kids get college scholarships all over the country and also could get the opportunity to be on the USA Team and the Jr. Olympic Team! We are so Proud of Preston for all his hard work and dedication!! We just love this kid SO MUCH!!

We also got to go to our Fikstad Family Camp out, which as always, was a ball! The kids had a great time playing with their cousins, playing at the lake and floating the River! Even Avery LOVED floating the river! We had such a great time together!!

The day after the camp out was Chad and Breanne's Wedding at the Salt Lake Temple! Avery was her cousin Breanne's flower girl! She was SO EXCITED! She loves Breanne SO Much! Breanne and Chad are so good with Avery! They love playing with her, jumping on the tramp and taking her to "Chucky Cheese"! Avery just loves them so much and loves to be their little shadow! What's even better is, Chad and Breanne love to have her pal around with them! We're SO HAPPY for the New little couple! We love them so much!!
Our Two AMAZING Kids!

Little Avery starting the day off with her little poses!We need to work on the Princess Smile!!! Breanne and Kaitlynn think it's funny to have her do a BIG CHEESE Smile.. .which you'll see a few below! ha! ha! That's all we needed is for Avery to do her Big Cheese Smile in all of Breanne's pictures... so we've been working hard on her pretty Princess Smile! ha! ha!

Avery with Grandma Glennda waiting for the Bride and Groom to come out!

Avery and her Beautiful Cousin Emily!!

Presenting the new, "Mr. & Mrs. Chad Sanders"!! YEAH!!! We are so happy for them!

Breanne hugging Grandma! Look how happy she is!! What a WONDERFUL DAY!!

Avery and her new cousin Chad... we've waited 6 years for this day to come! ha! ha! We're so glad it's now official!! We LOVE Chad!!

Avery and Grandpa Blair!!

Avery and her Cousin... the New Mrs. Sanders!! What a GORGEOUS Bride!! This is one of my favorite pictures! I love these two girls!!

Avery loving her Cousins! They take such good care of her! If I didn't know better.. I'd think they kind of like their little cousin! ha! ha!

Miss Avery hanging with her Cousins Emily and Kaitlynn!

" I love my Cousin! She looks like a Princess!"

The wedding party! Parker, my nephew is next to Chad.. then Chad and Breanne, Emily, Kaitlynn and little Miss Avery in front! She LOVED being Breanne's flower girl!

Bubba and Avery! My two Favorite Kids! I don't know what I'd do without them!!

Avery hanging out with the girls! Emily.. on the left is my other Niece.. who is Just GORGEOUS!! and Avery with hanging with her Cousin Kaitlynn!

Avery and another one of her beautiful cousins! Kaitlynn and Avery are little buddies too!

My Handsome boy being a sport!!

Mr. & Mrs. Chad Sanders! LOVE THEM!!

Avery just LOVES Breanne.. and from the looks of it, I think Breanne loves her little cousin too!

Avery with the Bride and the rest of the girls!

Avery holding Breanne's bouquet for her! She thought she was marrying Breanne! What a little nut!

Miss Avery and her Beautiful Cousin Breanne! What a GORGEOUS Bride!!

Avery with her Great Grandma Fikstad! She just loves her!!

Miss Avery looking so Beautiful!

"Just one more picture okay Mommy!! Just ONE More!" That's exactly what's she saying too! ha! ha! Nick and I were Cracking Up!

"Daddy, do I look like Cinderella??"

Looking Beautiful by the flowers at the Salt Lake Temple.

Little Miss Avery doing her famous little pose of hers! Isn't she to die for! I just want to eat her up! She's such a special little girl! Not only is she just beautiful... she's got the best personality too!

Salt Lake Temple! Chad and Breanne were married on 08-09-10. How cool is that?? What a special day it was!

Making BIG Smiles for the camera!!

The Bride and Groom taking their little cousin for a Dance! They are so good to her! She loves them SO MUCH! She's a lucky girl!!

Avery with her very first set of curlers! ha! ha! She wore them ALL night!! ... only because I told her she would look like Cinderella if she did! She was a trooper!! I think it was mostly too because it was for Breanne's Wedding! What that girl won't do to make her Bernanne happy!! ha! ha!

She's a little ham! We turned on the music and she started dancing away!!

Nick and his willows! ha! ha! Avery thought it was pretty cool to follow her Daddy around in the trees!

Parker and Preston taking the girls up to play in the lake! What good cousins they are!!

Nephew Parker reading his Stephen King! Do you think he's a little scared?? ha! ha! Love him!

I love this boy!

Oh No! Here it comes!! I don't want to get wet!!

Avery and Tyler think they are pretty strong... bouncing the balloon around! She's having a BALL!

Nick and Avery getting ready for the candy throw! She's a little shy! ha! ha!

Preston, Tanner, Trevor and Tyler getting ready to go down the river!! It was the white team against the Green Team! :)

Summer Fun

2010-07-27T16:06:00.001-07:00

We just had a Bridal Shower for my Gorgeous Little Niece Breanne! I can't believe she's getting married! I still remember the day she was born.. and her pooping ALL over me at the swim pool!! We are SO excited to have Chad be official though!!

My Cute Mom at the ShowerAvery helping Breanne with the presents!! She and Breanne are Buddies!! Avery is going to be one of her flower girls at the wedding!!
Avery with my Brother Shaynes, Brother's little girl! She is so cute! Avery was in HEAVEN! Thanks Melissa for letting her play!!

Avery and her Bernanne!!! (Breanne) They are Best Buddies!!

Avery with Grandma Taylor and Cousin Parker at Weber States Fireworks!!

Preston with Kirsten and Brigette at Weber State Fireworks! Some of my adopted daughters!! :)

Avery with Cousin Breanne and soon to be Cousin Chad.. The cute little couple will be married in a couple weeks.. Avery is their flower girl!! She's SO STINKING EXCITED!! :)
Avery is playing with Brooklyn and Brinley, Braden's little sisters.. .like she does every ball game!!! She's singing her little heart out for all to hear! ha! ha! It was quite hysterical!!!

Like I said, she's singing her Heart OUT!!

Our Summer has been So Busy! I know I say that EVERY Post... but it seems it just keeps getting worse! ha! ha! Preston has had SO MUCH baseball I can't even close my eyes with out seeing balls and bats flying!!! He made the Fremont JV A team which has been pretty fun. They did pretty well and it got him really excited for High School Baseball! His Northern Utah Baseball Academy team was one of the best experiences we've ever had! We just loved the coaches, the kids.. and even all the parents had a great time together!! Loved it!! Then he got asked to also play on a team to represent Ogden and the surrounding areas. They made it to the State Championships and got to play at Lindquist Field. For those of you that don't know what an honor that is... it's where our AA Team, the Ogden Raptors play! It's such a nice stadium and there were announcers and everything! It was awesome!! In between all his baseball games he's been hanging out with his best buds... Braden, Brody, Tyler and Tanner!!! It's like I've adopted more kids! ha! ha! He's also got a big group of friends that included girls! ha! ha! Which has always been kind of hard for me to deal with... thank goodness he hasn't ever really wanted to hang out with girls until now... but these girls are awesome! I love them like my own! So it's been a ball having them all hang out together. Avery loves it too! Not only has she acquired more brothers... she's now got 4 more sisters! ha! ha! It's been such a fun summer... we have been loving ever minute of it! I'm sad it's going by SO Fast!

We're just getting ready to get Preston all registered for High School!! I can't believe I am going to have a high school kid! YIKES!! I'm getting OLD! ha! ha! Plus Avery is getting ready to start Preschool!! Again I can't believe my baby is old enough for Preschool!! Where does the time go?? It makes me so sad!!

Little Miss Avery showing off her 4th of July attire and the pool! Miss patriotic!! :)

Avery going to the little slide! She goes down this.. .over and over and over!!

Avery with Grandma Taylor and Cousin Tyler taking a break at the pool!

Preston, Brody and Braden at Roy Pool! My Three Little Goofballs! ha! ha!
Avery and her "Other" Brother Brody! He's one of my adopted boys! ha! ha!

Avery started dance! She LOVES it! She loves her teacher and thinks she'd pretty hot stuff in her dance attire... she's in with one of her Best Friends... Hadlee. They are so fun to watch! Chaylie Rawlings at Energy Dance is her teacher and can I tell you what a wonderful teacher she is!! She is so good with the girls!!

Avery and Hadlee with Chaylie!
Learning 1st Position

We went camping with my Auntie Jill and Uncle Steve and Auntie Cindy and Uncle Dan and their kids up to South Fork! It was a riot! Avery floated the river for the very first time and had an absolute BALL! I couldn't hardly keep her off the river!! She wasn't scared at all!! We are going back in a couple weeks for our Fikstad Family Reunion... I can't wait! It's going to be so much fun!!
Hope you like the photos!!

Our CRAZY Busy Life

2010-06-16T10:41:00.000-07:00

Avery and the Carp that was at least 12 pounds! It was almost as tall as her.. .bigger than her pole and took Dad about 15 minutes to bring in! What a crack up that was, seeing Nick trying to reel this sucker in on her Little Pink Princess Pole!!! Funny Stuff Right there!!! ha! ha!

My Little Fisher Girl! Throwing the Big, Gross Carp Back into the WILD!!! ha! ha!
Bubba and Daddy trying to get Avery to touch it so she wouldn't be scared of it anymore! She was FREAKING out when Nick finally got it in and out of the water! She didn't think it was cool anymore! ha! ha! She was screaming at the top of her lungs! It was a Crack Up!

Preston going in after a Turtle for some kid he doesn't even know!! Trying NOT to fall in! If he only knew what what in this water! ha! ha!

Preston's Little Catch compared to Avery's!
Preston and His Catch of the Day!
Daddy! Don't you think there is a fish in there somewhere?? I think I want to throw my line in over there Bubba!!
Okay Honey! I'll help you catch a fish!! But I'm not sure how I feel about this Pink, Princess Pole! Who had the Brilliant Idea to cut these off and use them to hold our poles???
I just know there is a fish out there somewhere!!
Hi Mommy! How do you like my glasses??

My Bass Fisherman!

Avery Dancing and Grooving at Preston's Lip Sing Play!

Preston doing "Smooth Criminal", trying to be like Mike! ha! ha!
"Annie are you okay? Are you okay Annie!" ha! ha!

Preston and his Siblings! Aren't they Cute??

Avery taking Charlie for a Ride in her Jeep! He LOVES to go with her! It cracks me UP!

The Two Amigos!!
Are we Cute or What?? Mr. Baseball playing at Salt Lake Community College!
Preston Loves being a Catcher!

My Boy on Easter Morning! I LOVE My Kids! They are Best Buddies!!
Avery with her Cousin Breanne.

Breanne was helping her at the Easter Egg Hung at Grandma Taylor's
Avery finding her eggs! She LOVED the Easter Egg Hunt! Preston being a Little Dork!! He's so funny!!!

Man, I can't believe it has been since January that I last updated! Yikes! ha! ha! I wouldn't even to begin to post all that has happened! I had another knee surgery... and I'm getting really tired of those! ha! ha! But it was very much needed! Even though I am probably going to have another one in the not to far future! Thanks Church Ball for that one!! :)

Avery turned 3! I can't even believe she's 3! It's so fun, yet so sad at the same time! I waited so long for her.. .and now she's growing way too fast! She is so independent! LOVES her brother and all of his friends! Has decided that she has 5 boyfriends... which are all her brothers friends.. .so I think we are safe with that one! ha! ha! Charlie, Robbie, Braden and Brody all play on Preston's baseball teams! It's a good thing it's these boys.. they are the only ones Nick and I would allow for her to follow around like she does! She cracks me up! When ever she see these guys.. she yells their names.. and RUNS to them! Gives them great big hugs and follows them around like a little lost puppy dog! She'll stand at the fence and cheer for them, yell their names and tell them she loves them! ha! ha! It's a crack up! They are all so good with her! They will even let her help them get the team stretched. She tries to do all the stretches with them.. it's quite the crack up! She even named our new little Shitzu "Charlie", yes.. after Charlie on Preston's team! LOVE IT! She's all signed up for dance and Preschool! I can't believe she's old enough! I have to stop talking about it or I'm going to cry! ha! ha!

Preston is finally out of Jr. High and on his way to High School! Talk about another life changing event! Man! This is also something I am having a hard time with! I can't believe my baby boy turned 15, got his driving permit and is now going to high school! Where does the time go? Preston made his Jr. High Baseball team again and was also Captain! Yeah for him! He was pretty humble about it, but I think deep down he thought that was a great honor! He's my humble boy! One of the reasons he's such a great kid! We've been playing baseball out our EARS! Seriously! In the last 2 weeks, we played 14 baseball games! Yes I said 14! Holy Cow I know! ha! ha! He's been playing with "Northern Utah Baseball Academy" (NUBA) with GREAT Coaches and great kids! It is just getting over and I'm so sad! It was so fun with all the great families that we were able to hang out with at the ball park!! He's also been playing with Fremont's freshman team and now Fremont's JV team! I'm so excited for him to be playing high school ball and now we get more friends too!! Yeah! Avery is so excited because all the girls that come watch Preston, Brody and Braden play, play with her as well! Preston has made some great new friends and we just love them to death! It's been such a fun time watching him play and they make life all the more enjoyable too! Plus, Preston thinks it's pretty cool that the girls come watch them play too! ha! ha!

So that's our life in a Nut Shell... I hope the photos helped you see what all we have been up too and to show some of the things I didn't post! We LOVE our family and friends... so don't ever forget that!! :)

Mr. Snowman and Bird Door Hangers

2010-01-19T07:45:00.001-08:00

Valentines Day is just around the corner... and what a perfect little "Love Bird" for your door! I can do the bird also with a flower that can be used more than just for February. If you'd like a different color I can do it with whatever color you'd like. Mr. Birdie also looks really cute in Blue or Yellow ! I also have a heart door hanger and some other fun Valentines Crafts on my craft blog. http://www.kerrieskrafts.blogspot.com/. Check it out! :)

Both the Birds and Heart are $20.00

This would also be so cute in a kids room!

I still have some Snowman Door Hangers Left. Let me know if you'd like one! $20.00

Halloween, South Dakota, Festival of Trees & Family Fun

2009-12-03T07:01:00.000-08:00

Here are some fun photos of little Miss Avery. She is such a ham and LOVES being outside!

I know this is a little late.. but, better late than never right? ha! ha! So thanks, all of you who have been asking where the photos are, for being so patient with me.

Grandma Monie (Nick's Mom) was able to come visit from South Dakota for several weeks. It's always so fun having her here to share in our special memories. We just Love her so much! Uncle Bub, Grandma and Avery and I took a little ride one day up to Snow Basin to see the pretty leaves, had lunch at the Oaks and enjoyed the day together. Here are some fun photos!

We had a lot of fun having Grandma Monie and Auntie Kathy in town with us for Halloween! We carved lots and lots of pumpkins, dressed up as a scary site and trick or treated our little hearts OUT! We miss them so much when they are gone! It's always fun to have Nick's family all together when they come to visit! Here's some fun photos of the kids with their Grandma, Auntie Kathy and Uncle Bub.. Hope you enjoy! Don't forget to check the slide show at the bottom for lots more fun photos!

Then we were off to South Dakota for Thanksgiving! What a great time we had! Seeing Uncle Stan and Auntie Delphie.. Kenny and Ruth, Les & AlMarie, Francis and Bobby, Wallie and Judy and last but not least... Grandpa Richard and Grandma Monie. It was such a good time! We went to Mount Rushmore and Bear Country. It was a blast! The kids had never been there before, so it was a great time! Avery LOVED the faces in the mountains and all the Bears. It's something you never get tired of! We miss our family so much and hope they know we love them! The kids did very good with the 12 hour drive. They watched their movies and did great! The puppy even traveled really well.. yes, we just got a 6 week old puppy and took her with us! She was a trooper! Her name is "Gaddy".

Preston was all in a play the week of Halloween! It was so fun to watch! All of you who know him.. know he is very quiet and reserved! He had one of the main parts in the play so it was such a joy to watch him come out of his shell. He did such a GREAT job! I was so proud of him!

The day after we got back, Preston and I went down to the Festival of Trees to decorate my brother's tree. Every year, my Mom, Grandma, several Aunts & Cousins and I go down and decorate a tree for the Air Med team who was killed. My brother was the flight nurse. All the porceeds go to Primary Childrens Hospital! It's a great tradition we started the year he was killed. He was always giving back so we thought we could honor him and do the same in his honor! I love you Shayne!

Catching Up On Life!

2009-10-19T15:27:00.001-07:00

Preston and Robert having a little tiff! They are so funny!

They give each other so much crap, and Mr. Nice Guy Preston.. won't hit back!

Avery and Daddy taking a walk! Avery Loves her Daddy!

We were at a Baseball Tournament and Avery Loved Jumping on the bed in the Hotel!

What a little Ham!

Avery Loves the ball park! She is playing hide and go seek.. and posing like a little ham! :)

Here is my Studly Baseball Boy!

Here are some fun photos of my cute kids.

Here is a fun day at the pool! Avery LOVES the water and my Hot Shot Son, loves the diving board and doing all kids of fun tricks! It's always a fun day when it's spent with the warm sun, cool water and great family! We love having Grandma come with us and sharing in a fun day!

Summer Fun

2009-08-17T15:27:00.000-07:00

I took the kids to Weber State's Fireworks with my family. It was pretty fun. Avery isn't much into loud noises so she kept her head hidden the WHOLE time! It was a riot!

Here are some photos of my Studly Baseball Boy in some great action photos. What a stud he is! I love that kid! Avery Loves the baseball park and watching her Bubba play baseball. She has many little friends at the park and is very good spending 6-8 hours a day at the park when we're there! I couldn't ask for a better little girl! It's so fun to watch her cheer for her Bubba!

We took the Front Runner down to Salt Lake then took the Trax over to the Gateway with the kids, my Mom and my Nephew and Niece: Parker & Emily. We had some lunch and let the kids play in the fountains. Avery Loved the water! She is a little fish and isn't scared of hardly anything. Preston and Parker mostly walked around... they didn't think playing in the water was very cool! ha! ha! Preston got some new glasses... doesn't he look like a stud? Who would have guessed glasses from the 70's would be back in style? ha! ha! Avery loved riding on the choo choo train (Front Runner) and keeps asking to go on it now all the time! She thought that was pretty cool!

We went to the Hogle Zoo and Avery thought it was the coolest thing EVER! She loves animals and was begging to go for days! I should have never told her we were thinking of going! She didn't want to leave! Every single thing we saw she went nuts over. She wanted to ride everything and give them a kiss. She thought the Merry Go Round was a blast and wanted to stay on the train even though it only lasted about 2 seconds. It was a full day event and she was deliriously tired, but she still didn't want to leave. It was a very good family bonding moment... even though Preston said it was a lot more fun when he was younger. He was a good sport though, even though he was sick of the camera after about 5 minutes! It was a great day and I can't wait until next time!

So MUCH to do... so LITTLE Time!

2009-07-16T09:45:00.000-07:00

Okay, so once again... I am way behind on things! ha! ha! I realized I haven't posted any of Preston's baseball photos, which some of you have commented on... the 4th of July or any thing else that has been happening this summer. I have been getting ready for the "Treasure Box Boutique" which is on Saturday and I feel with Avery being so sick and everything else we have been doing.. this has been on the back burner.

Did I tell you that Preston even has a Job? Yep, he's officially employed at the Snowie Shack. He actually makes pretty good money and is loving it... needless to say, I am addicted to "Snowies". Baseball has quit for a little bit, but we are getting ready to play in another tournament over the 24th of July. I can't wait! I have missed it! We seriously were on such a great team this year, I was actually sad to have the season over! Thank goodness for Fall Baseball! :) Preston's Jr. High Baseball team ended up playing in the playoffs at Raptor's Stadium which was awesome! They beat North Ogden Jr. High and went to the Championship game on Preston's Birthday and lost to Wahlquist by 1 run... it was an awesome game though! Preston did great! How do you like Little Avery dancing to the tunes? Isn't she a crack up? It was awesome playing at Raptor Stadium because they had an announcer and music playing just like they do when you are at the Raptors game! It was quite the ta-do for these boys!

The kids were in the 4th of July Parade at Plain City again this year. This year, we entered the boat and the kids and I rode on it promoting Nick's fishing club. I wasn't supposed to be riding, but Avery wouldn't go with out me! So what does a mother do for her chitlins??? Endures! ha! ha! We had a great time though, then we went down to Hooper for the Fireworks. Preston also played in a 3 on 3 basketball tournament with some of his buddies. They took 2nd over all in their age bracket. It was pretty cool! The 4th of July is one of my most favorite holiday's.Avery has been very sick. She's been getting her 2 year molars, and we thought all of this was just because of that... then she got a earache, which we just thought was one more thing. Then she got a fever of 104 that wouldn't break. So we again, took her back to the doctor and they thought she had silent phenomena.. her blood count was only 2 points away from the scary high.. so I was freaking out! She tested negative for Swine Flu thank goodness, but it comes down to she has what's called Hyper angina. She has open sores all down her throat. She won't hardly drink, let a lone eat. She's getting a little dehydrated and they want to watch her so they don't have to hospitalize her to get her back hydrated. We are bribing her and also doing the syringe thing... so hopefully she gets better soon! It's so sad to see her this sick. The crazy thing about it is, these are not all related!

Here are some fun photos of the kids and more of the stuff we have been up to! We love you guys!

July Flag for your Door or Wall

2009-05-30T19:56:00.001-07:00

Here is the new project for July! Also check out my craft blog.... http://www.kerrieskrafts.blogspot.com/ for more info! You can email me or leave a comment on either blog if you are interested in one!

My Boy is 14 Today!

2009-05-13T22:21:00.000-07:00

You know when you see something that just warms your heart... you think you've cherished every moment and then it's like you blink... and 14 years have passed?? That is how these last 14 years of my life have been! My little man just turned 14! I can't even believe he's finally taller than I am.. not that, that is hard to do! :) You won't get us confused now when you call and he answers.. you just won't believe him when he tells you it really is him.. you'll think some weird man is answering my phone! But more than anything.. you won't believe what a great young man he has grown into! I'm so proud of Preston for the person he's always been and the man he's becoming! I couldn't ask for a better son! He does very well in school, sports and being kind and caring towards others! I love him more than life itself! Happy Birthday Bud! I couldn't be prouder of you!

Today was a great day because his school Jr. High Baseball Team had their Championship Game today! I was so proud of him. He is the starting catcher as an 8th grader, and what a tough little catcher he is! They lost by one run! Bummer! They were down 7 runs and in the 6th inning caught up to being down only 1 run. In the 7th inning they tied it... we thought they were going to do it.. but the other team got a run and the game was over! They all played so good! They are a great group of boys and it will be sad to have the 9th graders move on! My little guy did great and it was such a proud moment to be able to watch him playing at the Raptor's Stadium in the Championships! I love you Buddy! Here's some photos of my little man and the good looking guy he's grown into!

Lady Bugs for Sale!

2009-05-04T11:24:00.001-07:00

$28.00 or if you sale 5.. you get yours for free!

Hi Everyone,

Every month my good friend Kellie and I are going to be making something cute for the month and selling them. There have been several requests for things to be made for Door hangers, yard stuff and just fun crafts, so we decided to make something that goes with the month. Right now we are doing these cute Lady Bug door hangers. The are $28.00. We are also doing a deal that if you sale 5 others, you will get yours free! If you are interested let me know by Wednesday! We are closing this one out kind of fast because we need to get some done for Mothers Day.
The next project will be posted soon... so we can have them done for June!

Check out my Craft Blog... that's where I'm going to be posting the projects every month! There are some Very cute things coming!!!! :)

YES! I'm alive & my Kids Photo Shoot

2009-04-24T14:02:00.000-07:00

Yes I am Alive! Okay... So I've been out for a while.. There has been so much going on and my health hasn't been all that great! I've had some stressers for the past couple months, but with lots of tests, scans, ultra-sounds and biopsies... things are looking up. 3 out of 4 of my biopsies came back okay.. and the one that didn't, isn't something they are too terribly worried about. They just have to watch me. They think it still might have to do with my Endometriosis... even though I had my Hysterectomy.. it had spread to my other organs and was growing them together and making some organs not work very good. I thought the problem would be mostly solved, but it looks like that might not be the case. I may have to have another Laporoscopy, so we'll see how that all pans out. I just have one more organ to take care of! ha! ha! There is something wrong with my Liver. The whole organ is darkened and my levels are very high. I go back in a few more weeks for some more tests, but hopefully things will have gotten better. They aren't quite sure what's the matter with it, they just know it's not working properly. Which was a shock for me because I didn't even know that organ was one of the ones not working right! :)So needless to say I haven't been feeling very well and I get really tired, but I've lost 20 pounds! Yeah! ha! ha! So maybe something good will come from all of this! :)

Between going to baseball games after baseball games and chasing my crazy little daughter ALL OVER... my life has been nuts. Preston made the Jr. High Baseball team again this year and is the starting catcher. We are very excited about this because the normal catcher is a 9th grader and we didn't think he'd be catching much. We figured he'd play 1st or something this year and catch next year... but he's started Catcher every game and plays the whole game unless they are killing the other team... then the coaches put in the other kids who don't play as much so they can get some good playing time too. He's doing very well this year! We are so proud of him! They only have 2 games left before the Play Offs and he has over a 600 batting average! Which is excellent! He had a school game on Monday and was behind the plate catching.. there was a wild ball and it hit the plate and bounced up and nailed him right in the throat! He went down! I was freaking out because he couldn't breathe! Mom's don't go on the field.. so I was watching not knowing what was going on while everyone was surrounding him! He just kept gasping for air and I was panicked! But once they got him breathing and his bearings back.. the tough little bugger got up, put his helmet on and said, "Let's Play Some Ball!" and he finished the game. Not much gets that kid down! Then last night we are playing another tough game and he's behind the plate.. a great hit was hit out to the outfield, the guy on second rounded third and was headed home... Preston is down ready for the throw and the tag at home... the ball comes, he gets the tag and the kid doesn't slide and plows him over! Totally over! It was one of his buddies too, so we know it wasn't him trying to be mean.. he just didn't slide.. I thought he just got the wind knocked out of him.. maybe stepped on because they were looking at his ribs... and he was holding his arm. Once again I'm thinking, "Seriously? Two days in a row?" ha! ha! But the kid was out! Yeah! ha! ha! It was the third out and the inning was done! He gets up and he's still holding his arm.. he can't hardly move his fingers.. I thought Oh no! It's broke! He came out and he got checked, the bones weren't broke, but they thought maybe it was a hairline fracture or something. So they had us take him to get it X-rayed and it looks okay! No Break! Yeah! But, they said he has a deep bruise, maybe a pull or tear in the muscle in his forearm! He's out for about a week! Maybe more, Maybe less!! He's got 5 more games left this week! Yikes! So he won't be playing for a few days for sure! He wants to make sure it's healed for next week and the play offs.. so he's not taking any chances. He even has to wear a sling.. so he's not too happy! Poor Kid! He's such a trooper! I love that boy! But they won the game last night so we were happy! They other team was undefeated! So it made our play off standings even better! He's also playing comp ball too.. and loving it! He's on a great team with great coaches and teammates! It's going to be a great year! I'm so excited!

As far as Avery... where do I start?? She's out of control! ha! ha! She is such a Ham! She never seems to amaze me and keeps us cracking up constantly! The things that come out of her mouth are hilarious! I don't know where she gets some of the stuff she does! She is getting so big and it's so sad.. even though we are enjoying every second of her.. time is just going by so fast! She still loves to help me do whatever it is I'm doing.. cleaning, crafts, laundry.. everything! She is VERY independent! She's still talking up a storm, saying Hi to everyone she sees and Loves to be outside! She would live outside if we'd let her! We have to bribe her to come in with "Barney"... we are about SICK of Barney! ha! ha! She loves going to her Bubba's baseball games and sits and cheers him on! It's quite funny! Between singing and dancing.. she's always putting on a show for us! She LOVES Dancing and singing.. and what makes Nick most proud... she has a new fishing pole and she is obsessed with it! She can cast it clear across the room! She's two and knows what to do! Can you say.. father who wants his little girl to be a champion?? ha! ha! I'll sit in the recliner.. put the foot rest up and she'll climb up with me... stand out on the edge of the foot rest and say, "My Boat Mommy!" Then she will cast and reel in, cast and reel in over and over! She'll seriously do it for 45 minutes to an hour! It's crazy! So needless to say.. Nick is on cloud nine! You should see her little face! She's already so serious about it! It's amazing! We just sit and watch her and laugh! She even loves to watch fishing on TV with Nick.. she'll cast and reel in the whole show or tournament that he's watching! It's crazy! I think we are going to have a little Bass Master Classic girl on our hands! ha! ha!

We are getting into the time of year for Nick's fishing to get started again! He has a few Tournaments coming up and the Western Divisionals in a couple weeks! He's very excited for that!

Hope all is well with everyone! I will try to post sooner than this last time! I think I've gotten out of my rut hopefully! ha! ha! I'm trying at least! Now that summer is finally about here.. I don't have much choice!

My Baby is 2!

2009-02-24T19:32:00.001-08:00

I can't believe my baby's 2! She is such a handful, yet our little angel! We love her so much! She is so smart and doing so well in many things. She still loves singing her ABC's... counting to 13... Barney Songs.. and any we make up! Dancing is her new favorite thing... wearing her fun Tu-Tu's... dressing up with her crown and dress up shoes! Even though she gets into EVERYTHING.. and we have to watch her like a hawk... she still is so sweet and loving. Always saying please and thank you.. and giving lots of hugs and kisses! She is our little Princess and we all love her so much!

We are in for it!

2009-02-23T17:21:00.000-08:00

Boy am I in for it! Can I tell you all the stories I've heard about the terrible two's? I never had to experience it with Preston. Honestly, he never went through them! He was such an easy and good child.. those of you who know him can attest! I thought all of you who told me your horror stories were just being wimps, that 2 year old's aren't as bad as you all made them out to be! ha! ha! UNTIL NOW! Avery has been two what? All of a week? Well, now I know.. you were all being honest with me! :) If this is what 2 year olds do.... I'M IN FOR IT!

This is Avery... putting on lotion! She LOVES lotion, which is fine... unless she sneaks the Brand New Tube of BUTT CREAM! Yep! But cream! I guess her face is going to be awfully soft! ha! ha! No rashes on that cute face! Heaven Help Me! ha! ha! At least it wasn't the bottle of Nick's Wart remover this time... and the second time... Yep! Two bottles of wart remover were all over her New Cute Clothes, our bed, pillows and her! She thought she was painting her nails! Just shoot me now! ha! ha! But how can you not love her? Look at that cute little INNOCENT face! These photos are even with a lot of it already wiped off! I blame it all on Nick! Preston was a fabulous child.. Never caused me any grief! It's Nick's blood in this child that is paying him back for all the trouble he caused his mother! ha! ha! So why do I have to experience his paybacks? ha! ha! I think it's going to be an eventful couple of years! Wouldn't you say????

Avery turns 2.. and a Trip to Lava!

2009-02-20T11:45:00.000-08:00

Wow! What a whirl wind this past little while has been! At the beginning of the month, Nick’s Mom came to visit for Avery’s Birthday and will be here all month! We are so excited! We love it when she visits and hate to see her go! We really wished they would move here… HINT! HINT! Ha! Ha! Avery and I went to pick her up and as you can tell Avery was very excited to see her Grandma Monie! She ran to her yelling, “Grandma! Grandma!” It was very cute! So she jumped up on her lap and gave her a big hug! She loves her so much!
Preston is still playing basketball, so it was fun to have his Grandma here to watch! Avery is a crack up because she will follow him up and down the court yelling, “Hi Bubba!” Preston acts a little embarrassed… but we know he just eats it up! He loves his little sister and she thinks he walks on water!

We also took a fun trip down to Cabela's and Avery LOVED it! She was running all over looking at all the animals, and we couldn't get her out of the fish tank.. everything was, "Daddy's Fish!" Pretty funny! For Avery’s Birthday we told Ramona that we were going up to Rex’s in Lava for the weekend to celebrate. She knew Nick’s sister Kathy, and great family friend Tami were coming into town too.. so we thought it would be fun to go up there where we could all hang out.. all at the same house… little did she know we also had some other things up our sleeves!  Me? Never! Ha! Ha! Nick’s Niece and I, Lalena thought it would be great to have all the family that could also come in for the weekend because Ramona was also turning 80 on the 17th and we wanted to do something special for her! We didn’t know if we could do it.. but we kept it a secret for 2 whole months.. that was so hard for me as most of you know! Ha! Ha! I get so excited about stuff like this and usually give it up.. but not this time! So Lalena and her Daughter Mary Jane, Nick’s brother George and also his Nephew, Niles and his family were also able to come and visit.. Rex came home from Mexico.. and Nick’s other Brother.. Uncle Bub and Nephew Seneca and his girlfriend Mandy came up with us! It was so fun… until we all got sick with the flu! Little Mary Jane got the flu Thursday night when she got to our house and boy, did it spread like WILDFIRE! So needless to say, little Avery had the flu on her Birthday.. but it didn’t stop her much! She'd get sick... and then get up and start singing her Barney songs and clapping! Yep, She was a trooper! I can tell you this… after a week of cleaning up throw up and having the flu myself.. I need another vacation! Having the flu is Over Rated!

Needless to say, we had a great time visiting with everyone and miss them already! We were able to relax, watch movies and just enjoy each other’s company! I’m so glad they were all able to come and can’t wait until the next time! Avery and I went for a little walk to get some photos for her birthday! There was so much snow, and not too many places to go.. hope you enjoy! I can’t believe my Baby is already 2 Years Old!

When we got home Monday.. we had another birthday party for her with my family and Ramona and Uncle Bub came too… it was pretty fun! Thanks to everyone for making her birthday special! We love our families so much! I know I say this often.. but we are both very blessed to have such great families! So Happy Birthday Avery and Happy 80th Birthday Mom! We love you!

I took Avery out again the other day by our house and tried to take some cute photos for her birthday.. she wouldn’t smile much… note to self.. don’t try and have a photo session during nap time! Ha! Ha! I think they still turned out cute! She’s getting so big!

The rest of the photos are coming soon! There are so many to sift through.. but they are worth waiting for! ha! ha! At least I think so! I'll get them on here monday.. they are on my other computer!

Finally Done! Yeah!

2009-02-03T17:09:00.000-08:00

Okay! So the decorating and putting the rooms back together is FINALLY DONE! I am so glad! Here are the photos of the kids rooms! Enjoy! I hope you like it! You'll have to let me know what you think! There is a cute little funny below the slide show.... Our little Avery just keeps us cracking up!

On an end note... Last night Nick and I were watching the Bachelor.. WAY TOO INTENTLY! ha! ha! Anyway.. we heard some papers wrestling around and we looked over and there was little Miss Avery.. in her favorite spot.. the laundry basket.. where she watches Barney.. or just sits and plays with toys, reads books.. you name it... anyway... this is what she was doing! Can I tell you... Nick was a very proud father at this moment! He said this is a moment when she is just like her father! Okay! What ever! ha! ha! He thinks she's going to be this little Miss Fisher Woman when she grows up... who knows.. maybe she will! She LOVES to fish and gets so excited with Fishies... as she calls them! Pretty cute though huh? She was very intent with this paper.. and talking to all the fishies that were in it! We got a good chuckle out of it and thought those who know our family so well would too! Like father like daughter I guess!

Here's a Sneak Peek!

2009-01-31T16:39:00.000-08:00

Okay! So the building and painting is FINALLY DONE! Yeah! I can't even tell you just how big of a project this turned out to be! After 4 coats of Brown, 5 coats of Red, 3 coats of White and two falls off the ladder.. it's finally over! I am so excited! Yeah! I fell of the ladder twice.. once with a whole thing of paint in my hand.. I'll tell you what.. this project was a trial for me! I've been getting really bad migraine's and getting very dizzy and blacking out... and even passed out twice.. any way... I got really dizzy and blacked out while on the ladder and fell off... I'm okay! No worries.. the second one I really tweaked my back though... so I've been a little sore.. thank goodness Nick and I are going to sit in the Hot Tub tonight! Yeah! I'm going to sit and soak! :) I let Preston pick out his color so he would feel involved and seeing how he's a teenager now.. I thought it was important that he got something he liked... and in Avery's room.. I went with the Red... I was a little nervous because I am not a very BOLD person and I thought it might be too bold for me.. plus a few of you said you didn't think it would look good... I do have to tell you I am so glad I went with the Red... I LOVE it! I think it looks so good! I'm very excited how it all turned out! I couldn't have done this remodel with out my Dad helping me build the shelves and putting them together.. that took ALL Day.. and my Mom coming to help me put a coat on them as well! Thanks Mom and Dad! I love you guys so much and don't know what I would do without you! I will post more photos when I get the shelves totally decorated and the rooms put back together too! I just wanted to show a sneak peek for all of you who keeping wanting to see photos! So here you go!

Here's also a little update of the things besides remodeling... that we've been up to. Avery can count to 13 all by herself! Sing her ABC's ALL the way through... All by herself... and is trying to show us all that she is the boss of the house.. that doesn't fly well with me as most of you know! ha! ha! The other night.. I called Preston to dinner... she goes to the stairs and says, "Peston... come eat Now! Mom Said!" Okay.. she's not even two yet! Then she wanted me to come here and I was right in the middle of something... so I told her I would be there in one minute... she furthers to say.. "Come here NOW!" and points her finger to her side! Oh Yes She Did! I about died.. she usually isn't so bossy... it's all just started here in the last few weeks... I'm besides myself because Preston was so mellow... and how many of you have called me the Nazi Mom???? Okay! I'm thinking Avery is going to give me a run for my money and get in trouble more that I can even imagine... She can be so sweet... and usually is.. she loves to say Please and Thank You. Yet I think she's still going to have a rude awakening! ha! ha! She is talking so much and I can believe the funny things that come out of her mouth.. she is still a little cleaner.. sometimes.. TOO MUCH! She loves to clean which normally is great.. but not in a NON childproof home! She keeps us all rolling.. has the cutest expressions and still is the apple of our eye...

Preston has been very busy still playing basketball and baseball.. a normal night for us is going from basketball to baseball... He's still doing very well in school and loving the thought that he's going to be in 9th grade next year! His basketball team is doing very well... and he loves being on a team with his close friends and winning... He's growing into a great young man. I am so proud of him! I am just having a really hard time he's growing up so fast... between the deep voice and finally being taller than I am... really has hit home!

These photos of Avery are after she's been helping me with the remodel... I think I got all the paint off her! :) I can't believe she is going to be two years old here in another couple weeks! It makes me want to cry! We are very excited for Grandma Ramona to come in town from South Dakota... she's also going to be celebrating her 80th birthday while she's here... I'll have more photos of that. We are having most of Nick's family fly in for the weekend of Valentines and Avery's Birthday to surprise her. She has NO idea! She just thinks she's coming for Avery's birthday! Little does she know! ha! ha! I'm so excited for everyone to come! It's going to be so much fun!

A Tribute to My Brother Shayne

2009-01-11T17:23:00.001-08:00

So today is another Anniversary mark of when my Brother was killed in the Air Med Helicopter crash.. does it ever get any easier? It seems that no matter just how much time goes by.. you still miss them SO MUCH! Life goes on and you learn to cope and live.. but the pain never goes away... there are still so many reminders and still so many times the crash gets put on the News.. or in the paper... which seem to bring that horrible night all back. As most of you know, my Brother was my Hero! The one person I wanted to be like when I grew up! He was an AMAZING man and I only wish I could be like him! Those of you who knew him, know that there just aren't too many men like Shayne Carnahan!

I know that there are several of our friends and loved ones who have also gone through a tragedy and lost those you've loved... some recent and some in the past.. So many of you know what a heartache it is! Thanks to our family and friends, we are able to get through it! Many of you also lived through the Tragedy with my Brother... those of you who are family know what a horrible loss it was and many of our friends were also there for me and my family.. we wouldn't have been able to make it through with out all of you! Still to this day, your memories, your love and your support are what help keep our spirits up! I know I say this a lot, but I truly mean it! I am so lucky to have such great family and friends. I have the best family EVER! Including Nick's Family! I honestly couldn't ask for any better.. on either side! I love you all so very much! I have so many friends who have been in my life since I was very young... who have been there for me through all the good and bad in my life.. there are also several wonderful friends who have been in my life more recently who I also wouldn't have been able to make it through the trials in my life without. So it looks like I am a lucky girl! Thanks for being such great people! We truly are very grateful you are all in our lives! You are what makes it possible to carry the trials life brings and you are what helps get us through! We love you!

We know where he is and what he is doing. He's in a WONDERFUL place, it's those of us who are left behind that are suffering.. I'm just grateful to know what kind of person he was and the way he lived his life. I just miss him so much and I can't wait for the day that I can hug him and pay him back for all the little tricks he played on me while we were growing up! Little does he know.. I have several things up my sleeve! :)

The song, "Angels Among Us" is one that is very special to our family. KBULL 93 Dedicated this song to the Air Med Crew when they were killed... now, every year we dedicated it because Shayne will always be an Angel Among Us! Also, "The Dance" by Garth Brooks is also very important because that's how Shayne's life was. He was grateful to have the time he did with his family and friends. Shayne lived his life helping not only those in need, but everyone around him.. he died doing on of the things he loved the most... Saving Lives! To A Great Man! I LOVE YOU More than you will ever know!

Trying to Catch up on Life.. and a BIG Thank You!

2009-01-05T12:16:00.000-08:00

Okay! So my life has been so crazy this past month! Man, Oh Man! Between the Holiday's, Parties, Sports and my Sub-for Santa Project... We had a great Holiday Season! We were able to have our Fikstad Family Christmas party where all of my Mom's side of the family gets together and has a great time visiting, eating, visiting with Santa and enjoying each other! I was a little worried just how Avery would take "Santa". All month we have been talking about Santa, watching Santa shows and talking him up... hoping.. just hoping she would take well to him! Boy... did she ever! She was a Crack up! Santa walks in and she YELLS, "SANTA! OH SANTA! HI SANTA! LOVE YOU SANTA! SANTA! SANTA! SANTA! We were All cracking up! She wouldn't leave him be! Poor Santa.. she ran up to him the whole time he was giving out gifts, hugging his arm, telling him Hi over and over and over! Santa would hug her and pick her up and put her on his lap in between kids and talk to her.. even though it wasn't her time to get her gift! What a great guy he was! Thanks to Santa for making her experience a great one! Some Santa's would have just ignored her or would have gotten tired of this little girl bugging him... not our Santa! So Thank You Santa.. if you are reading this! I really appreciate you for making Avery's experience such a delight! You will have to see the photos... then you'll know what she was doing! We got it on video.. it was great!

The kids and I slept out under the Christmas Tree again this year.. waiting for Santa! Nick didn't want to sleep on the floor... so when we woke up.. we had to rush into the bedroom to get him so he wouldn't miss her face when she saw that Santa came and left presents, ate his cookies and left his little special surprise... So I'm not sure if we will be able to keep that Tradition up... we don't want Papa to miss out on the excitement! We might just have to bring in his cot and let him sleep on that! ha! ha! Christmas was Great! We had such a great day! Christmas Eve we went over to my parents house to have our Annual Christmas Eve Party! So the kids got to play with their cousins and open their Christmas PJ's.. then when we got home, Uncle Bub came over to visit for a while.... then also came back in the morning to watch the kids open their presents and have Christmas Breakfast with us! We love Uncle Bub so much and are so glad he's here to share in our special times.. my Mom and Dad came over to see what the kids got and then we went to visit my Aunt Julie.. so all in all.. it was a great day! The kids had a great time!

I just wanted to say thank you for all of you who helped with our Sub-for-Santa project! I was so stressed out about it this year, with the economy the way it's been. I scaled way back and still didn't know if I was going to be able to get them all taken care of. I lost several sponsors this year, and other's had to scale back because it has just been such a hard year for everyone... which I totally understand. There were several generous people in my life that stepped up and helped me make this a success and I am very grateful! This year we were able to provide Christmas for 27 kids! What a great experience it was. So Thank you, to all of you who helped make this happen. This is such an important project Preston and I do every year and have done since he was just little. There are so many people out there who are suffering and need help so seriously, Thank you for helping us touch those children's lives! You all mean so much to me! We are so blessed to have such wonderful people in our lives... you always help us in our little.. and sometimes big Service Projects! It means so much to me and I love you guys all so much!

Our New Year's ended up to be pretty relaxing.. we were going to go to Nick's Bosses get together, but I haven't been feeling the best lately.. plus Preston was going to be home and we decided to let him have some friends come over and celebrate... plus we are drags I know, but we hate to leave Avery too! We are getting to be old and boring! ha! ha! So we stayed in, got pizza, watched movies and Nick blew his duck call at midnight! Even little Avery stayed up to enjoy the festivities! It was fun!

As I look back on this past year.. there have been lots of ups and some downs... isn't that how life has been lately for everyone? There are several of you who have also had some major trails in your lives and I hope you know that we will always be here for you! We have such great family and friends and I don't know what I would do with out all of you! Thank you for being such a great part of our lives and making such great memories for us and our kids! Life will always have trials and disappointments.. but it will also have such great times and joys.... one thing I am working on and trying to remember is.. it's those around who, who will help get you through.. good or bad... the people in your lives are the ones who help make things bright. Like one of my favorite quotes... "Life is what you make it!" We can get up each day, face the things going on with our day, no matter if it's good or bad with a smile or a laugh! There are so many things in our lives that we can't control... they are going to happen no matter what we do... so why not smile and laugh and make Enjoy the Journey NOW! Don't miss out on life or the joys it can bring... cherish your kids, your family and friends... enjoy the love and friendships you have and try to make everyday a better one than the day before! I hope you all have a great 2009! We love you guys so much and are so grateful that you are a very special part of our lives!

Potty Training... Yeah!

2008-12-09T18:12:00.000-08:00

Okay! We have big news at our house! Yeah! I'm so excited! Avery went pee on the potty tonight! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! She has been mesmerized with the potty for quite some time now... she has been able to tell us if she has gone potty for a while, so we thought we should try and see what she'd do if we put her on the potty. LaLena, Nick's Niece from Washington sent us this really cool potty that flushes and makes noise... so we've been sitting her on the potty the last few days and she LOVES it! She doesn't want to get off.. well.. tonight she went in the potty! So I had to take photos of course! ha! ha! Maybe she'll be potty trained by the time she turns two! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! ha! ha! We have a few months, so we'll see! It's a Bitter Sweet thing for me! I don't want her to grow up... my baby is now gone... she's turning into a little girl! I waited too long to have her... to have her be getting so big! ha! ha! She is very proud of herself though... how can you NOT love that? Here are some cute photos... look at her face! I have to bribe her to get off and put her diaper back on! What a big girl she is! We are so excited!

Thanksgiving... and Christmas Lights

2008-12-06T18:25:00.001-08:00

We had such a Great Thanksgiving Holiday! Nick's Mom and Step-Dad came into town from South Dakota. We love it when they come! It always seems like the time goes by so fast before they have to leave. This Thanksgiving we spent it with Nick's family up in Lava at his Brother-in-law's (Rex) house. What a great time we had. It's always sad when we can't be with both families on the Holiday's but we sure had a fun time with them in town. It was Richard's birthday while they were here, so I baked a cake for him and we had Uncle Bub (Nick's Brother) over too and we had dinner and celebrated. HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDPA! Avery LOVED the cake.. as you will be able to tell in the photos below! It was pretty cute! We also decorated the Christmas Tree so they could experience a little bit of Christmas with us too where they won't be back for Christmas.. they got both Holiday's. The house was decorated for Thanksgiving when they got here and Christmas when they left! Avery Loved helping decorate the tree. Seneca (Nick's Nephew) and his girlfriend Mandy also spent the weekend with us too! It was great family time! We are so blessed to have great family on Both sides.. It was hard to come home back to reality. Nick and I went for a great 4 wheeler ride too up to the top of Baldy Mountain. We hit snow and the temp. dropped immensely by the time we got to the top. Of course I didn't have a coat on! Me and my never getting cold! I was still pretty warm though.. Nick got the blunt of it being in front! Sorry Babe! ha! ha! We were hoping to see lots of animals.. Elk, Moose, Deer, Coyote, Grouse... seeing how they are usually all over.. needless to say, because I was there.. we didn't see any! It was fun to watch Avery with her family... she has everyone wrapped right around that little finger of hers!

When we got home, Nick, Avery and I along with Mom and Richard went to see the Christmas Lights at Christmas Village. It was so much fun! Avery loves the lights. It was the night of the lights parade and after there was a horse at the lights that was all lit up.. Avery Loved the Horse. She kept calling him buddy! It was so cute! So we had to pet him.. and pet him.. and pet him! ha! ha! We need to go again because Preston went with his Dad for Thanksgiving to spend some time! He had a great time with his Dad and Brothers, being with his Melle side of the family. I don't think he's ever spent Thanksgiving with his Melle Family, so it was really nice for him! We missed him very much though.. that's the hardest part of split families... having to share the kids, the Holiday's and the memories... You just have to make the best of it!

Rex's house is so nice! It's up by the mountain and on the golf course in Lava. We hung out on the back patio and enjoyed the scenery. He had heater tables that are really nice.. we deep fried the turkey which was delicious and watched scary movies. All in all.. it was a great weekend. Avery loved being outside running around everywhere... looking at her big shadow on the wrap around deck... and playing with Gunner.. the dog.

Today Preston had his first wrestling meet! He took 3rd Place! Yeah! He got a medal and everything! Then he went to Logan with his Dad and got his hunter safety all finalized so he can now officially hunt with his Dad and Nick. He's very excited...

Today was the day I finally got to see "Twilight". Can I tell you, it was the longest two weeks! My Mom, Kaitlynn and Emily, (My Nieces) My Grandma Fikstad, 4 Aunts and 6 of my cousins all went along with Avery and I. It was lots of fun. Then we went to lunch! Avery was so good in the movie.. it was a great day spending a girls day with my family.... I LOVED the Movie! It was soo good!

I hope you enjoy the slide show... Avery is such a crack up! She loves the camera! She is talking SO much.. can I tell you a funny? She can say all of our names but Nicks. When we tell her to say Nick... she calls him "Dink". ha! ha! How funny! So Nick now has a new nickname! ha! ha! You are all now allowed to call him... "Dink"!

New Craft Blog

2008-11-18T17:21:00.001-08:00

Hey guys! I just wanted you to know I made a new craft blog! It's Kerrie's Simple Treasures http://kerrieskrafts.blogspot.com/. I have some crafts already on there... I'll be loading more soon. I have several great ideas for Christmas Gifts for family, friends and even neighbor gifts for real cheap. I even have several every day decorations for your house! Hope you enjoy! Don't forget to look at the Sub for Santa post below! We still need lots of help if you'd like to participate! Thanks so much!

Our Sub for Santa Project

2008-11-17T17:07:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone,

I am getting my annual Sub for Santa started and wanted to see if there are any of you who are interested in helping participate. I have had several people wanting me to let them know about it... so I thought I'd share it with everyone again this year. I am staying with North Park Elementary because they have one of the highest poverty rates and also, after helping them last year.. seeing the families... really touched my heart. These are people who are in real need and very grateful!

Right now I have 5 families, but 5 families with lots of children. We have lost some of our sponsorship money due to the economy so we are going to really struggle to get these 5 families taken care of. I am getting the ornaments ready right now... so I just wanted to let you know, if you would like to get an ornament we would love your support. There are very simple & in-expensive things on there this year. The children have only asked for 1 toy along with the outfit and coat we get them.... we're talking things like, an Elmo doll, Barney Doll, Skate Board, Soccer Ball, Pet Shop Pets... I will have the tree at my office at Century 21 Golden Spike Realty. If you want an ornament and can't come in to get it, give me a call and I can get you one you want and mark you down on the sheet! I will do what ever is easiest for you!

If you and your families enjoy doing these kinds of things, even helping purchase one ornament will help immensely! Let me know if you have any questions. If you'd like to help and don't want to do the shopping, I have some who donate the money and I take the ornaments and purchase them for them. I do almost all of the leg work, so if there are any who would also like to help, you are more than welcome! It's such a rewarding thing my family and I are able to participate in... I'm just so glad we have so much support to help make it a success! This year is a little different than ones in the past because we have always been able to help 10-15 families. We understand this year is different with finances, but there are so many more people who need help this year, it breaks my heart.

Thank you all for your time! I appreciate all you guys do to help support me and the kids in all of our little projects! It's a great way to show them what the true meaning of Christmas is all about. Plus it teaches them love and compassion for those in need and who are less fortunate than we are!

Love you guys! Let me know if you have any questions!

Nick's Collared & Banded Swan

2008-11-13T20:27:00.001-08:00

I had to share with you all Nick's Swan! This isn't just an every day ordinary Swan I'm told... he got a Swan last year too.. but this one's different! :) See the band around his Neck... well, I guess that's a big deal! There is also a band on his leg too! So I thought I needed to share my husbands great accomplishment!

So here's what I know so far! Nick and his friend Chad went out to the Bear River Bird Refuge last weekend to try and get his Swan for the year... It's rainy and cold, but this doesn't stop these avid, die hard hunters... So I get a call and Nick's all excited! I tried to share in his excitement, but I didn't understand why this one was so different than the one in the freezer we already had! ha! ha! So here's some important info on this particular bird. He even had to take it up to the fish and game to get these bands called in and the bird measured. They even said it's the biggest one they've seen so far! So imagine his excitement then! :) This particular bird... we'll call, Wilford.... was collard and banned in Koyukuk Drainage in the middle of Alaska. The day it was banded there were 51 Swans total that day that got banded there. It was sometime between 2006-2008. It also had a stainless steel leg band, which are very rare. We will have more info on it in a few weeks when we get it back from US bird banding. Pretty cool I guess! So here is my husbands big deal Swan, Wilford! Good Job Honey! Poor little Wilford! Avery was excited to see the "Duckie"... but she didn't understand why Wilford wasn't quacking...

All I have to say is, "Poor Little... I mean Big Swan, flew all the way from Alaska just to get taken by Mr. Hunter." Just kidding Honey! I'm really excited you got your Swan! We are even going to make a nice little mount for the bands for him! :)

Halloween Photos & Boutique

2008-11-06T10:53:00.000-08:00

Wow! What a few weeks it has been! Between Halloween festivities and getting ready for my Boutique.. I have spent countless hours running and staying up all night painting! It was so nice to go to bed last night at 8:30 PM... yep! I said 8:30! and Avery and I didn't get out of bed until 9 AM this morning! I was up of course running Preston to school.. but went right back in and cuddled with my favorite little girl and watched cartoons! Running on 2-5 hours a night of sleep for the past 2 weeks has really caught up with me! So now today, it's cleaning this house! I set up for my boutique last night so the crafts are out of my kitchen and dinning room and it's time to scrub and clean everything up! Yeah for me huh? ha! ha!

Halloween was so much fun.. except for the rain. Avery loved it! Absolutely Loved it! Preston spent the day with his buddies because they were out of school, then came home to be with his sister to go Trick or Treating... then we took him back to hang out with his friends. He didn't want to miss being with his sister! How cool is that, that he'd come home just to go with little Avery! What a great kid he is! So Preston, Mommy and Daddy.. along with Uncle Bub went out trucking around the neighborhood letting our little Caterpillar going door to door! She didn't want to stop! She'd knock on the door, say "Trick Treat" and then get her candy and want to go in and visit everyone who was home. She thought opening the door meant, "Come on in and look around!" ha! ha! It was pretty funny! Good thing everyone else thought it was cute too! So we had a great dinner, played with Uncle Bub and Trick or Treated with the family. What could be better?

Here is the info about the Boutique if you want to go! There are so many fun things.. even to just get out and look around! Plus Javier's will be there! Great Mexican food as most of you know! Yummy! Hope you can make it! Also, along with the photos of our Halloween night.. are photos of some of the things I've been working on for so long... many of you wanted to see what I was doing.. so here you go!

FESTIVE FOLLIES
St. James Catholic Church
495 North Harrison Blvd.
Ogden, Utah

November 7-8
10 AM- 8 PM

November 9
9AM-3PM

60 Booths filled with gifts for the whole family- Just in time for your Holiday shopping!

Enter to win Great Prizes!

HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

How Did It Happen?

2008-10-24T18:39:00.000-07:00

I got to thinking today about how lucky we are. I cant stop thinking about how blessed we are to have the family and friends that we do. Here is a summarized list of all the things that have been crossing my mind lately...

My Kids- I have two of the greatest kids I could have ever hoped for! I love them more than life itself! They are my World and there isn't a day that goes by that the love I feel for them grows even greater! Even when I feel it can't grow anymore.... my heart swells with the joys that they bring to my life... the love and happiness they bring to my life! Preston's great heart... so caring and compassionate... The amazing kid he is... always so respectful and loving to everyone. Always striving to be the best he can. Avery's cute little voice and discovering all these fun new words and watching her little personality grow... even the little attitude of being a female.. is kind of cute! Whether she's off to kill a bear, wanting nummies or having you read a book for hours, she is such a joy to our lives. There is always something everyday that makes me giggle! To have a son that is such a great big brother to his little sister who follows him around like a little lost puppy... a little shadow wanting to be with no one but him when he's around! There's no greater joy than watching your kids love each other and bond together they way those two do! Even listening to her running around right now singing Ei-Ei-O... how can you not smile?

My Husband- Even though we have the normal trials of married couples.. I love this man very much! He is always so supportive of everything I do! It means so much that he helps me and supports me. Deals with my stubbornness and understands my woman tantrums! ha! ha! Not that I have many! ha! ha! He knows how to put a smile on my face after a hard day, or a day when their might have been a hard trial.. or a sad trial.. or when I have something exciting... listening and caring... I love you!

Family- I have the best family ever! No one could have better parents! I have two of the most supportive, loving, caring and amazing parents a girl could hope for! They are such an important part of not only my life.. but my kids! They are so supportive of their grandchildren... everyone of them is their World and they would do anything for any of their kids! I don't know what I would do without them and can't imagine how I would have gotten this far in life with out them! I love them so much! My Brother.. even though he is gone... has been such an important part of my life. Every day I try to be like him.. so loving and caring to others, always willing to give of his time and trying to make this world a better place.. his wife and kids are very important and we love them very much! I love having them in our lives and being so close with my kids... to be not only cousins.. but friends. My sister and her family always keeps us on our toes! 4 energetic kids that are always up to something.. yet so cute and loving.. with my sister who has a heart of Gold and same with Cuncle Dusty! I love my family so much.. Nick's family is just like my own! I couldn't have a more loving mother-in -law and father-in-law. They are such wonderful Grandparents to my kids. The joy on their faces and the light that my kids bring them is so fun to watch... Nick's Brothers and Sister... I love you so much! You are such an important part of our lives... and to my kids! The love you show to them means so much to me! I love you as my own siblings and miss you so much when you are gone! You give our family so much happiness and love and I can't even tell you how much it means to me that you have treated me with love and kindness... We love our Family more than anything!

Great friends is what we have! New or old we seem to find the greatest people to be friends with, I don't want to mention any names, due to the fact I might forget one or two and that would be sad. When I found out I was having Avery I was so Excited and Scared. I never thought the day would come... I had waited for that day for 10 years... and the support and excitement you all gave is more than I could have ever hoped for! Even now, the love and support you all give me is something one only dreams of! I love you all so much! Thank you for ALWAYS being there for me, good or bad, no questions asked! I couldn't be who I am today with out all of you!

So how did it happen? I have an idea that my Heavenly Father was the one in charge, but to give me all of these great things, I am not sure why. I don't always feel worthy to have all these wonderful people in my life.. and I thank him daily! I truly couldn't and wouldn't be the person I am today with out all of you to help shape my life, give me great examples, love and the friendship you do. You all mean so much to me! Whether I've known you since I was a little girl... or as a grown woman... Whether I see you all the time or it's been awhile... you all hold such a dear place in my heart and I only hope I can give you all that you give to me and my life!

Here are some fun photos of some of the fun things we've been doing! Baseball Tournaments... Avery entertaining herself in the dirt, Preston's first Rabbit. Our Great friends, April and girls who come to spend time with us.. and just some very cute photos of the kids!

SNOW! SNOW! and MORE SNOW!

2008-10-15T14:28:00.001-07:00

Okay! So the other day.. I wake up and there is like 3 inches of snow on the ground! And me, being the dork that I am... didn't even know it was supposed to snow! So I wake Nick up... to come see all this snow! Then, it just kept snowing and snowing and snowing. It even snowed so hard you couldn't even hardly see out our window! It was Crazy! It went from Summer... a few days of Fall.. and then Winter all in a couple weeks! On the News, it said that our little town got 11 inches of snow in one day! Nick and I guessed about 10... but 11 Inches of Snow in October is NUTS! So for all of our family and friends who are out of State and didn't believe us... here you go! I stole this photo from my friend.. because with everything going on Sunday with Preston's big day... I forgot to take a photo! We had even more than this! Then today it's in the mid 60's, sunny and beautiful.. then this weekend... back to 70! Talk about weird change of seasons... so hopefully it stays good weather for us. Preston has a Baseball Tournament Thursday, Friday and Saturday.. plus we are supposed to be going to Lagoon on Saturday.. and having a Super Saturday Craft Day! Yeah! Nick would disagree with me.. because he is going Deer Hunting! Sorry Dear! I just wanted to share this snow photo.. so you would believe us! :) I'll get more photos of everything we have been doing later!

I'm trying something new!

2008-10-09T19:49:00.003-07:00

Okay! I'm trying something new.. I hope it works! Just a few fun photos from the past!

We Need Your Help!

2008-10-01T21:17:00.000-07:00

If you are interested.. all you need to do is click on the invitation and it will become larger! This is one of my really dear friends who is one of the most amazing people I know! She does so much for others with out even thinking twice! She is one who deserves so much! If you are interested in a participating in a great cause.. this is it! Hope to see you there!

Happy Anniversary.... and a FULL Weekend!

2008-09-22T11:56:00.000-07:00

I first have to say, "Happy Anniversary" to Mr. Nick! I can't believe how fast the time goes! You always sit and hear all this mushy stuff on anniversaries.. about how wonderful they are and just how much you love them! This is all true... but it's also some of the hardest times you face too! I forgot just how hard being married is! Especially being on my own with Preston for so long! I don't regret it though for one moment.. I have been looking back on our life and thinking about how bad I wanted to find someone to spend my life with, be a father figure to Pres, have more kids... I thought it would never come! That I wouldn't be able to find Mr. Right! I think I was living in fairytale land! ha! ha! Don't get me wrong... I LOVE my husband... but it really is hard to live with someone and the differences you both have! I have had to learn not to be so stubborn on certain things... have had to be a little more lax on the Type A CLEAN FREAK... realize what things are small things and learning to compromise and work together! It sure has made me grow! Yet the love that you share is so worth it! Times get hard no matter how great your marriage is! I've learned you just have to take it one day at a time, be the best you can everyday and work together so you can grow together! Thanks for all the ups and downs honey! They both just make us stronger!

Okay! So our weekend was one of emotional bliss and compassion! Friday, Nick and Preston went Antelope hunting.. and they got one! You would think I would get used to the dead animals hanging in my garage seeing how I'm married to Mr. Hunter! ha! ha! Talk about sick! Then he wants me to come sit and talk to him while he's skinning and cleaning this thing up! I have a pretty tough stomach.. but it's not the funnest thing to do! But like I said above... you have to work together to grow together! ha! ha! Do things that the other ones likes, even though it might not be your favorite thing! It shows that you care about the other ones feelings and likes right? ha! ha! Plus Preston got his first Cotton Tail! He was so excited... until he started to clean it and it had WORMS! I about threw up! I won't tell you what Preston thought they were... ha! ha! I was trying to be the supportive mother and help him.. until Nick came over and told us what that BIG thing moving around was! Then I was out of there! ha! ha! I made Preston disinfect over and over and over... and then scrub some more!

Saturday was the big "Race for Trace". Can I just tell you thank you to all of you who helped support this great cause! I can't even begin to thank you enough! The support that was received was tremendous! There were so many people there who didn't even know the little family! They just heard about their story and wanted to support them! It brought tears to my eyes! Tracy even walked and made it the whole way. Even after just having surgery a few days before! She is such a trooper! She amazes me! I am so proud of her! Her strength is such an inspiration! She has such an amazing outlook on this trial she is facing! Her attitude is so positive and loving! She is Tough as Nails and I only hope I can carry myself the way she does! Her faith is so strong! I am envious of how obedient she remains! What a great example she is to all!

Preston had baseball games all day Saturday and he did an amazing job! He's playing catcher a lot and can I just tell you he has an arm. He threw out 4 people Saturday! I was so proud of him! Good job bud!

We weren't able to go the funeral of the little baby that past away.. We talked to the family and they are so strong! Yet another inspiration! I have been in tears ever since I learned the baby didn't make it... Holding Avery and just crying! Yet here are two young parents holding tight to their faith and having the strength to turn it over to God! Nick and I have talked so much about this and I don't know how I could handle loosing my child! I watched my Mom when my brother died and I thought that was hard and he was a grown man. I can't imagine loosing a young child! It sure makes you realize just how important it is having faith in your life! It makes you realize how fragile life can be and not to take those your love for granted! I want my children, Nick, family, friends and everyone I come in contact with just how great they are... every day! It really makes you re-evaluate your life and realize just what's important! I hope I can work harder and be better at the things that matter most!

I can't believe it's Fall! Yeah! I love fall! I love the Holiday's! I love decorating my house, making crafts... everything that goes with Fall! I'm so excited! Plus I am enjoying the cooler weather! Happy Fall Yall! ha! ha!

I need your help or your opinion...

2008-09-20T18:12:00.000-07:00

Okay! So I am needing some input on what I should do! This is Avery's Nursery... and I'm trying to decided what to do with her walls. I have been having this hair to paint some walls in my house and I thought I'd start with Avery's room. I thought I'd like to paint one of her walls Red. Is that too BOLD? I was thinking probably the wall behind her bed... what do you think? For those of you who don't have a blog.. email me and let me know what you think. Would red look okay? HELP! ha! ha! I don't know what to do! That white stuff on the wall where Avery's name is.. really isn't there. I even went and took another photo.. but it keeps showing up for some reason. I thought it might be from the Scentsy Warmer in her room.. but I even turned on the light.. so just ignore it.

Preston also wants a wall in his room painted too.. I'll get photos for that too.. because I'm not sure what color to do in his. He's a BRONCO's fan and I'm sorry.. Orange or Bright Blue just won't cut it! ha! ha!

My Smile Award! How Sweet!

2008-09-11T16:45:00.001-07:00

Rules associated with this award:

1. The recipient must link back to the awards creator.
(http://www.thebabblingsofmere.blogspot.com/)

(A Student in Texas)

2. You must post these rules if you receive the award. (I did)

3. You must choose 5 people to receive the award after receiving it yourself. (check the list below and see if you are on it)

4. You must fit the characteristics of the recipient of the award, as posted by Mere. (Kelly, you ALWAYS know how to make me feel better!)

5. You must post the characteristics of a recipient. (Look Below)

6. You must create a post sharing your win with others. (That's what this is, I suppose)

7. You must thank your giver. (Kelly Walker, Thank You So Much! You have always been one of those... "One in a Million Friends". I am so grateful to have been able to have you in my life all these years.. through good times and bad! You have always been there for me.. No Matter What! I will always cherish our friendship!)

Characteristics for the Smile Award:

1. Must display a cheerful attitude (I think I do most of the time)

2. Must love one another. (I try to love others, treat them kindly and try to make their lives better!)

3. Must make mistakes. (I make way more than Most I'm sure.)

4. Must learn from others. (I try. Oh do I try. Not always quickly but that's ok, right?)

5. Must be a positive contributor to blog world. (I contribute. Hopefully it's positive.)

6. Must love life. (I LOVE life.)

7. Must love kids. (I LOVE kids. Especially my kids.)

5 Awesome Bloggers Who Qualify for This Major Award!

Audrie Terre:

You are one of the most generous and loving people I have ever met! No matter what I have been through in my life.. good or bad.. you have always been there to pick me up, brush me off and help me on my way! You are a great listener and a great sport! Especially when it comes to lotion fights in the dorm... late night breaks to the grocery store for ice cream and cookie dough.. then late night dancing on the couch having rock concerts or boxing! You will always have a very dear place in my heart!

Kelly Walker... right back at ya girl!

I know you already got this award.. but you deserve it again from me! You are literally one of those people who Inspire EVERYONE! It doesn't matter who's life you come into.. you always make everyone around you feel better! People are drawn to you.. even strangers go away feeling better. You have a smile that warms your heart and touches your soul! I have been very blessed to have you in my life! You always know how to make me feel better even after all of these years! You never cease to amaze me with all the kind things you do for others!

My Mom..

I know you don't have a blog.. but I know you read this... so now you'll know just how much of a support you have been for me through out my life! You are one of the kindest people I have ever met and I am so grateful to have you as my Mother! I love you more than anything... and I know there is NO WAY I could have made it through the trials I've had to face without you! You are my rock Mom! You would do anything for anyone and I'm so lucky not only to have you as my Mother.. but also my kids Grandmother! You are such a great example and strength to them and I thank you for that!

My Brother Shayne...

I have to give him this award even though he has past away because he was one of the big factors of who I am today! He has always been my HERO and the person I wanted to be like when I grew up! I love him with all my heart and miss him every single day! I only hope that he will be proud of me and when I am able to see him again... I will be able to make him smile! I will always love you Shayne!

Raini Tucker

You have one of the biggest hearts of anyone I have ever met! You have taken in 4 children as your own and love them with all your heart! Even though you've had to face some very hard trials in life.. you have taken them and touched the lives of 4 little spirits and given them something they never would have had! You are such an amazing mother and friend and I am so thankful to have you in my life! You are a true inspiration to so many! No matter what you are faced with... you take it head on, with such a positive attitude and a very pretty smile! You are so deserving of this award!

I had to do one more! This person deserves this award as much as anyone! I know Kelly gave her the award too.. but she also deserves another one!

Tracy Carrigan

You are one of the kindest and strongest people I know! Just being around you makes others want to be a better person! You have been faced with some very hard trials and yet you remain Tough as Nails! You have touched so many lives.. more than you will ever know and still remain to inspire so many! Today of all days you deserve this Award! I just want you to know how proud of you I am and I'm so very grateful to have you and your family in my life! You will never know just how much you have touched our lives! You are a fighter and I only hope when the time comes for me to face something hard.. I can present my self the way you have, have the Faith you've had and have the strength and endurance you hold! You are one of the most amazing people I have ever met! Thank you for always being so kind!

Remembering September 11, 2001

2008-09-11T09:15:00.000-07:00

This morning brought back so many memories for me! Nick called, and mentioned what day it was.. I was already remembering where I was 7 years ago this morning. I was getting ready for work, listening to the news. Then the breaking news report came on and I stopped everything and went into watch. I got there just in time to see the second plane hit the towers. I just sat and cried! Not believing this was happening! When I got into work, one of our agents brought us in a TV to watch.. and we did.. ALL DAY! My heart was breaking for all those families and the WHOLE city of New York!Then the Pentagon was hit and Flight 93 crashing... it was a day I will remember for the rest of my life! All those people on the planes and also in the buildings... the bystanders.. and ALL of America!

Last summer when we went to Cooperstown, New York to watch Preston play baseball we were able to go into New York City as most of you know. We visited the site of Ground Zero. They are doing construction there, still digging. We were told that they still find body parts. The whole city of New York still mourns this day and this action as I know America does. We were able to go the the church across the street from Ground Zero.. and to see all the memorabilia is amazing! They still have posters of lost people.. most who were never found... photos of these people.. there is so much stuff in this church. My mom, Preston and I just sat there in amazement and just cried. Even Preston was touched by this.. the understanding of what really happened hit us all! It's so different than sitting and watching it on TV.. it brought a reality that I never imagined. Our tour guide also got teary talking about it! It was very real to her because she lived through every bit of it. I also was able to go to New York when the towers were standing tall... I couldn't believe the difference with them gone... the hole is amazing... and heartbreaking when you think of what made the hole and also... the thousands that lost their lives in that hole.. in the Pentagon and in the field. My heart goes out to all the families who lost their loved ones.. I know how hard it is to lose someone you love, not knowing if they suffered and have it so public. God Bless America and everyone who is hurting today!

I also want to send a heartfelt note out to some of my dear friends today.. you know who you are! Tracy, my friend who was diagnosed with Breast Cancer is having her surgery today and finding out the outcome of it all.. My prayers are with you... we love you guys so much! For everyone else.. if you can make it to the "Race for Trace" on the 20th.. please come! There is more information below in another post!

Here is a great poem that I love! It brings tears to my eyes every time I read it! I hope you enjoy it as much as I do! .... GOD BLESS AMERICA!

'MEET ME IN THE STAIRWELL'

You say you will never forget where you were when you heard the news On September 11, 2001. Neither will I.

I was on the 110th floor in a smoke filled room with a man who called his wife to say 'Good-Bye.' I held his fingers steady as he dialed. I gave him the peace to say, 'Honey, I am not going to make it, but it is OK..I am ready to go.'

I was with his wife when he called as she fed breakfast to their children. I held her up as she tried to understand his words and as she realized he wasn't coming home that night.

I was in the stairwell of the 23rd floor when a woman cried out to Me for help. 'I have been knocking on the door of your heart for 50 years!' I said. 'Of course I will show you the way home - only believe in Me now.'

I was at the base of the building with the Priest ministering to the injured and devastated souls. I took him home to tend to his Flock in Heaven. He heard my voice and answered.

I was on all four of those planes, in every seat, with every prayer. I was with the crew as they were overtaken. I was in the very hearts of the believers there, comforting and assuring them that their Faith has saved them.

I was in Texas , Virginia , California , Michigan , Afghanistan. I was standing next to you when you heard the terrible news. Did you sense Me?

I want you to know that I saw every face. I knew Every name - though not all know Me. Some met Me For the first time on the 86th floor.

Some sought Me with their last breath. Some couldn't hear Me calling to them through the Smoke and flames; 'Come to Me... This way... Take My hand.' Some chose, for the final time, to ignore Me. But, I was there.

I did not place you in the Tower that day. You May not know why, but I do. However, if you were there in that explosive moment in time, would you have Reached for Me?

Sept. 11, 2001, was not the end of the journey for you. But someday your journey will end. And I will be there for you as well. Seek Me now while I may be found. Then, at any moment, you know you are 'ready to go.'

I will be in the stairwell of your final moments.

God

Fikstad Family Picnic some Baseball and Cute Photos of our Little Girl

2008-09-07T18:59:00.000-07:00

So it's been such a busy week... again! ha! ha! We happened to have a power outage so Avery and I decided to build some bracelets.... Avery was such a big helper... as you can tell! They sure turned out cute though!

Preston started playing baseball on his new team "The Sandlot". He's playing in the Rocky Mountain League again in the comp league. The team he's on will be really good for him! The coach is great and he really likes the kids! I'm excited to spend my whole Saturday's at the ball park again! ha! ha! It's fun.. I'm just not sure how Avery will fair.

We were able to get together with my Fikstad Family again for our annual Family Picnic at the park! It's always fun to get together and spend some time with my family! It's a big family.. but also a great family! We love you guys!

Avery likes the camera! She's such a ham! She already poses for the camera and yells, "Cheese"! She's walking all over, climbing up on the couch all by herself... talking up a storm.. learning her animals and sounds.. still counting and singing her ABC's. She even gets some of the letters right.. even though the tune is right on! She loves to sing... it's actually really cute! Her new thing is wrestling with her Brother! He thought that was fun.. teaching her to run and jump on him! I never knew two kids could have so much fun together... with 12 years difference! They are buddies.. it's a bond like no other! I love it!

Hope you enjoy the photos!

5K Race for Trace

2008-09-05T18:27:00.002-07:00

Date: Sept. 20, 2008
Place: Fremont High School (west side)
19oo N. 47oo W.
Plain City, Utah
Directions: Take the Slaterville/Marriott Exit # 346
Head West to 4700 W.
Turn right-go north for 1 block to Fremont High
Time: 9:00 a.m. start time
Registration day of race from 8:00-8:45 am
Cost: $15.00/person $50.00/family
(Cash or check only, please)

Donations to help the family are being accepted at any Zion’s Bank. Those wishing to contribute to the Carrigan family can donate to “The Race For Trace” account.

If I have any blog readers that are interested in doing something for a good cause, DO THIS! Tracy and her husband Kris are great friends of mine, and the most genuine, thoughtful, and friendly people you will ever meet. Tracy was recently diagnosed with breast cancer, and the bills are adding up. I just thought I would post this to give it the most exposure that it can get.

A Week with our Family, a Fun Trip to Lava Hot Springs.. and AVERY IS WALKING!

2008-08-29T19:22:00.000-07:00

Okay! This week has been so fun, yet so busy! You know we had our family reunion of my side of the family... this week.. we were able to have a great week with Nick's Mom who was in town from South Dakota.. his sister Kathy and Niece Carlin who were also in from Denver. This week went by so fast! It makes me sad because I miss them so much when they are gone! We were able to go up to Rex's house in Lava for the weekend! Talk about fun! (Rex is Nick's brother-in-law.) He owns a home in Lava on the Golf Course that has views to die for! It was so pretty. We stayed up in the loft and were able to look out over the golf course because the whole front of the home is windows! We went swimming at the pools, Carlin, Nick and Preston went off the high dives... I was going to, but Chickened out! ha! ha! I even went up there to jump and as Nick went... I bailed! I can't believe I didn't dare do that anymore! I used to go off the high dive ALL the time! Now I'm a CHICKEN! ha! ha! Bock! Bock!

When we were getting ready to go.. Avery fell asleep in her High Chair! So of course.. I had to get photos.. once we got up there we were able to veg out and watch TV and just relax! Nick went 4 wheeling with Rex on Saturday, so Carlin and I along with Preston and Avery went to the pool! It was lots of fun! Nick's nephew Seneca came up on Saturday too.. so we had a great time hanging out with the family! Later that night Kathy played on the 4 wheeler along with Preston.. and then they all went golfing. Avery, Nick and I watched them out the window.. It was pretty cool! Sunday, it was back to the pool for some more fun! This time Ramona (Nick's Mom) and Nick went with us! Then Kathy and Carlin came and hung out at our house for a few more days while Ramona went and stayed with Bubba, Nick's brother. We were able to have lots of family dinners during the week.. so we had some great quality time! It was very sad to see them go! I'm such a baby because I always cry! I just wish they lived closer so we could see them more often! I love them just like my own family!

We have some great news! AVERY IS WALKING! Yeah! ha! ha! She has been walking all over the house today! We are so excited! We only wish that Nick's Mom and Sister could have stayed a day longer! So we had to make several phone calls! It's so cute! She thinks she's so BRAVE! She's been taking steps for a few weeks now.. but she is walking all over tonight! We are so happy! She looks so cute and loves it when you say, "Yeah!" She starts clapping and yells, Yeah too! We love that little girl so much! Hope you'll agree just how cute she is!

Preston started school! I still can't believe that he is in 8th Grade and taller than I am! He's going to be playing comp baseball again for a new team. He's way excited because the coach is really great! The team name is kind of cool too! It's "The Sandlot". Fun huh? Especially where that is one of our all time favorite movies. He's excited because The Sandlot is also a baseball facility where they teach Hitting and pitching too! It's a really neat facility with great coaches.. so to be on the team will be a great help for Preston. I think he's going to learn even more than he already knows. So it will be exciting to see him progress even more!

Nick and I have just pretty much been doing the same old same! Enjoying the kids, working and trying to keep up with all the things that go on in our lives!

We just want all our family to know just how much we love them! We both have great families! I don't know how we got so lucky! We love you guys and miss those of you who are far away VERY much! Thank goodness for email, phones and BLOGS! ha! ha! Love you guys!

Fikstad Family Campout and Avery's Cute Hair

2008-08-19T15:52:00.000-07:00

So after 5 days up camping.. in a tent and in the dirt.. it sure was good to be home. Being able to shower was to die for! ha! ha! We went Wednesday and came home Sunday from our annual Fikstad Family Camp out. We camped up at Memorial Campground up by Causey Dam. The kids had a ball floating the river, playing night games with their cousins and just camping! It was so much fun being able to see all my Aunts, Uncles and cousins. Can you believe that my Grandma Fikstad has over 100 Grand kids... including Great and Great Great... Yes, we have a large family! But as I've always said.. the more the merrier! Can I just tell you though.. it's so hard to go camping in a tent with little Miss Avery! Man.. I had to take everything but the kitchen sink.. and wouldn't that have been wonderful to have! ha! ha! If it would have been able to have running water! I kept taking Avery down to the little dam that was by our campground and she kept wanting to get in the water! I thought it would be way too cold for her, but she kept wanting to get in it. I put her feet in it thinking that would cure her! Boy, was I wrong! She kicked and splashed and cracked up... so we trekked back to the tent.. put on her swim suit.. and headed back to play in the river! She LOVED it! After about 45 minutes I thought we'd get some lunch and a drink because it was really hot up there.. anyway.. when I got her out.. she freaked out! She didn't want to get out! As you will be able to tell by her face.. she was in hog heaven! She loves the water! Preston gave me a scare on Thursday... he, Parker, Kaitlynn and her friend Kaylee went tubing from Causey down to the Meadows Campground... it takes about an hour and a half, so my dad was going to take the truck down to pick them up.. they never came back... and they never came back. They were over an hour an a half late... so my sister and I went looking. On the way down, we passed my dad with NO kids. I freaked. He said he couldn't find them. So Christy and I went looking in every campground even though my dad already did... still nothing. I was a bit of a wreck! Finally my dad found them down at the Meadows... they had a tube pop and had to walk at least a half mile down the river.. got leaches on them and were tired and scared. It was getting dark and I was in a panic.. they were all okay Thank Goodness!

We always have a dutch oven dinner on Saturday where pretty much everyone makes something.. I even took the task to make potatoes.. that were yummy! Thanks so Nick and my Dad... Nick whipped it up for me and my Dad watched the coals! ha! ha! I really was going to do it by myself... but I was helping giving out prizes to the kids after the water games! It was a good weekend... even though I didn't get to relax too much! Nick didn't come up until Friday night so I ventured in the tent alone with Avery. Preston slept in Parkers tent with him.. so he thought that was cool! He looks up to his cousin and they are good friends. I was really excited to read my Breaking Dawn book seeing how I got it over a week late.. .but I didn't get much reading done! So I'm now one of the last ones to know how it ends! ha! ha! We also had several Humming Birds that fed in our campground. Mom and Dad brought up a feeder and there were about a dozen birds who camped with us all weekend long! I got some photos... it was really neat!

Today I took the task of putting Avery's hair in pig tails.. I thought it would be a task.. but she sat so good! I turned on the sink water and she played.. go figure.. in the water while I did it! I had to show photos! It looked so cute.. I had to share!

CHRISTMAS BOX HOUSE SERVICE PROJECT

2008-08-04T09:03:00.001-07:00

Okay... here is the latest for our Andrews Family Service Projects... It's so fun to have Nick and Little Avery helping do them now with Preston and I!

I have a very dear friend who's sister lost her life as a victim of Domestic Violence. She was an amazing woman and didn't deserve the fate that laid before her. "In remembrance of Natalie, a tree was planted on the grounds of "The Christmas Box House".... a shelter for children who are victims of Domestic Violence. During a tour of the facility it was mentioned that one item usually in short supply at the center was underwear. Hearing this, Natalie's father made a comic remark about his grandson, Carter who loved to joke about underwear. He also remembered that his granddaughter, Clara loved all colors of socks. Natalie's father went on to say that he felt his grandchildren would love to know that the kids that came to stay at the Christmas Box house would always receive new underwear and socks. Natalie's family wanted to establish a memorial in memory of Natalie and in honor of her children that would help people in need. A dresser was chosen as the symbol of this loving memorial. A professional artist came and painted this dresser in honor of Natalie and a plaque now resides next to it.. the name given to the dresser is.. "Natalie's Dresser". This family has been very important to me for several years and we love them dearly. Several times, Preston and I have taken underwear and socks to the Christmas Box house in honor of Natalie... but we realized that there are several other items also very much needed. So, with the permission from Natalie's family... I thought this would be a great project to take on to help these kids who are victims of such horrific acts. I thought if I could get the word out... and get the help from our great family and friends, that this project could be as successful as the ones we've taken on in the past. If you would like to help us in this great cause we would appreciate your kindness. Below is a list of items that are needed. You can drop them off at the office for me or my home. If needs be, I can also come pick them up. If you have any questions, please let me know! You can contact me with a remark on the blog.. or email me at kerriegirl04@Msn.com. Let's help support this wonderful organization and give these kids a little bit of love in their lives. I will be taking donations until Sept. 1. 2008 .. I'd like to have everything in so I can drop it off no later than Sept. 2nd. You can check out the Christmas Box House website at www.thechristmasboxhouse.org. If you go to "How to help" You can click on the location. I am going to be helping the Ogden location.

WISH LIST - CHRISTMAS BOX HOUSE SHELTER

We are in need of new items for children and teens.

Children's Clothing (all sizes)
Pajamas, Summer & Winter (all sizes)
New socks & underwear
Shoes (all sizes)
Large size diapers & Pull-Ups (sizes 3,4,5)
Baby formula (Enfamil w/iron LIPIL most used.)
Baby Wipes
Trial size tissues & wipes
Clorox Wipes
Rubber gloves
Sun Screen
Lotion, soap, hair care items
Children's Shampoo
Children's toothpaste
Craft kits/activities for all ages
Puzzles (New)
Glue Sticks & Markers & Ink Pens
Spiral Notebooks
Scrapbook supplies
Birthday wrapping paper & ribbon
Birthday kits (cake mix, frosting, etc)
Children's DVDs & VHS
Infant Toys
Kid's music CDs
Kid's exercise videos
Soccer balls, volleyballs, basketballs, outdoor balls
Water fun toys
Large & small plastic totes
Bed Pillows (standard size)
Portable radios/headsets
Paper plates
Backpacks
Snack foods and Juice Boxes

Thanks so much for your help! You will never know just how much your kindness can touch the lives of others!

Our Camping Get Away and a Trip to the Pool... Plus a 1st Place Win for Nick! Yeah!

2008-07-17T20:43:00.000-07:00

Well... we've been so busy doing fun things that I had to add two things to one post! Last weekend we went up camping with my Sister Christy and her husband Dusty and their kids! It was a riot! It was so nice to get away and just relax and do NOTHING! I can't even tell you the last time I was able to just sit around and relax and read a book and enjoy myself! The only thing that caused a little problem was my allergies! Man, those dang cottonwood trees! My eyes were giving me greif, but we managed thanks to the Sis and Brother-in-law... or Cousins.. it depends on what side of the family you look at it! ha! ha! I love you guys! How many people have a sister and brother-in-law on one side... and then have them be your cousins on the other! ha! ha! My sister is my cousin! ha! ha! Anyway, we were in the best campsite... lots of shade and there was even grass so we could put a blanket down and let Avery play! She had a ball with her cousins too! Thanks Chris.. and Dusty for letting us come on your little family get away!

Then... a day later.. back in the real world.. we took another little break and went to the pool! Man, it was HOT! So the water felt very nice! I got a bit of a sunburn.. imagine that! ha! ha! and I even used strong sunscreen! It never fails... the sun and I don't get a long well! ha! ha! Thanks Dad for the fair skin! ha! ha! Avery is such a little fish! She had a ball! As I've told you before .. she loves the slides! It was lots of fun! My mom went and took my sister's kids.. and also my brothers kids! So we had the whole clan! Preston was glad that his buddy Tucker went too! Preston and Tucker had their golf league and then headed over after. It was fun.. he loves hanging out with his cousins.... so we had a great day! They boys kept going down the fast slide to see how far they could soar.. they flew.. it was pretty fun to watch! I have such a good family.. on both sides! Mine and Nicks... I don't know how we got so lucky!

Also.. I have to mention! My hubby had a fishing tournament this weekend.. so it was just me and the kids that went up with my sis camping... anyway.... he won 1st place! Yeah! Honey! It was a nice win for him and we are all very proud of you! We have another plaque to hang on our wall! He's been placing in all of them, but to win it against all those other anglers is a great accomplishment! Way to go Baby!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HONEY!

2008-07-07T19:14:00.001-07:00

I just wanted to tell Nick Happy Birthday! Today's the special day! I love you!

4th of July Photos.. Check below for more!

2008-07-07T06:55:00.001-07:00

Wow! What a fun day! The 4th of July is one of my all time favorite holiday's. Last year at this time we were in Cooperstown, New York! I can't believe it's been a whole year. We went to New York for 2 weeks last year to watch Preston play some baseball in Cooperstown! It was amazing... plus we were able to travel around a little bit and see all of New York City... and Queens! ha! ha! So it was good to see the fireworks this year seeing how we were on our way to the airport last year while they were going off. The fireworks are my favorite part.

This year, as normal we went to Plain City Days. Nick took Avery and Preston in the parade on the 4 wheeler. Preston was glad he got to ride this time instead of pushing her... even though he was kind of excited that he might get to pull the wagon.. we thought we'd do something fun though and decorate the 4 wheeler and ride. Avery was a crack up as usual! She was waiving and blowing kisses! She is such a ham! Preston quite enjoyed seeing lots of his friends... yelling and waving at him! He's quite the shy guy... so he gets a little embarrassed. It was way fun because they were their own little part in the parade and didn't have to ride with anyone else... so people all over were waiving and saying hi! It was pretty neat! After the parade we played at the park for a while with all the family... had our annual Taylor BBQ with homemade Ice Cream at the parents house.... played a little Wii, went home with two added children... Parker and Kaitlynn (my Nephew and Niece) who we love very much... and love to have over... watched a Scary movie and then headed off to Hooper Park to watch the fireworks. We were going to go up to the dam and watch Huntsville's fireworks on the boat, but with the wind we didn't know how that would fair with Avery... so we watched them with my sister Christy and her husband Dusty... who is also Nick's cousin... we like to call him "Cuncle Dusty" ha! ha! Because he is my kids Uncle on my side of the family... and their Cousin on Nick's side of the family! I know! I know! We like to keep it in the family! ha! ha! He was just to great... we had to add him to my side too! Then we all went back to our house and lit off fireworks.... Got spot lighted by a Police Officer... because for some reason our fireworks were shooting in the air. I don't know what got into them... but man they were going high! ha! ha! They sure were pretty!

I'm going to try something I haven't ever tried.. but seen on so many cute blogs... A Slide show of photos. I think it will be a lot easier for me because I'm so Anal and have to have my photos all lined up just right and it takes me FOREVER! So this will ease all of our pains! ha! ha!

I have to share a photo with you though... FREAKED me right out! We were down at Hooper Park and you know me... Camera Girl... anyway, I took this photo of Avery and there was someone kneeling behind her! A Transparent someone! It is so freaky! I can't tell if it's a woman or a man.. but it looks almost like they are in old pioneer clothes or something! It is clear as day! RIGHT BEHIND HER.. like he's holding on to her or something! Look at this photo.... If any of you know this person ... please let me know because I'm a little nervous about it stalking my baby! ha! ha!

Summer Days

2008-06-20T16:42:00.000-07:00

Well... I can't believe it's SUMMER! Yeah! ha! ha! It's finally warm enough to be outside and swimming! Can I just tell you that our little Avery is a little Fish! Man, that girl loves to swim. We went to the Roy Pool this week and she didn't want to get out of the water. I took her on the big twisty slide and she loved it! She cracked up the whole way down the slide and when we were done.. she would point to the slide and make her little moan when she wants something. She didn't want to stop! It was so much fun! Preston got a little burnt... but he was so cute with Avery. He kept taking her out to play and swim. We had a ball! Plus we've been out in our pool almost every day for a week! I can't get her away from the water! It's been fun though. We've roasted hot dogs in the fire pit, ate outside on the deck and swam like no tomorrow! It's been a great week to spend with the kids and veg out!

A couple weeks ago we went to East Canyon and stayed in a YURT! It was so much fun! We went fishing, played games, caught craw dads and BBQed. It was a riot!

It was mine and Preston's birthday's along with Mother's Day, so we decided to take a little break and go way for the weekend! I can't believe Preston is now 13! Holy smokes! He's as tall as I am and now officially a teenager! It seems just like yesterday I was bringing him home from the hospital and changing his diapers! Now he is a grown up little bugger! So polite and respectful! I love that boy so much! I'm very proud of the young man he's turning out to be!

We've been going to lots of baseball games too. Preston has been having so much fun playing.
He's been pitching a little more this year and he does really well. Being the protective mother and growing up playing competitive sports... I'm a little nervous about him hurting his arm. He really enjoys pitching and he does well... so I've had to chill out a little bit! ha! ha! I think where I threw my arm out in High School... it just makes me nervous! I'll tell you what... that kid isn't afraid of anything! It's so fun watching him! He had a game last week and he was playing in the infield.. he had a little blooper that was coming his way.. and it wasn't very high off the ground.. he dove, head first.. totally laid out and caught it! Everyone was cheering so loud! Then he got up on one knee and nailed it to second base because the kid also thought there was no way he would catch it.. and threw him out too! One of the boys dad's came up to him after and told him that watching that play was worth coming to that game. It was almost 10 p.m. before it even started.. so it was a late night! Preston and I both had to drink an energy drink so we could stay awake for it! ha! ha! Needless to say the game just kept going and going and going... until the sprinklers came on and drowned us out! I was very glad.. it ended that game! ha! ha! We got home that night about 12 P.M. Boy were we tired! All the little girls at the ball park.. the little sisters.. love to take Avery and walk and play! They are so cute with her... and she just eats it up!

Preston left today with his Dad for two weeks! I've been so emotional all day! I miss him so much when he goes! I know he needs to spend time with his dad too... but I really hate sharing him! My kids and our little family are my life... so it's so hard to have him gone. They are moving to Evanston, Wy so Preston is going to help them move. They are also going to take a week and a half and visit alot of the State Parks and site see. He'll be home for the 4th though, so I can't wait. We always have a big tado on the 4th, so it will be fun! Plus he wants to be in the parade with Avery, so we should have some fun photos. He sure loves that little girl! Today when we got home Avery went right into Preston's room calling for bubba... it made me cry! This morning when he was saying goodbye to her I bawled! I'm such a boob! ha! ha! We all can't wait for him to get home!

I'm going to start another blog... more of a craft and inspirational one. I have been doing several things to help people with some things and I've been getting lots of ideas to help people with several different things. I am in the process of helping a friend of mine do her daughters wedding. I'm excited! I know her daughter well, so it will be lots of fun. This family has gone through so much turmoil and I really feel they could use someone to help them and be there for them to make things a little easier. This will be the 4th wedding I've done, including my own.. so it should go pretty smoothe.. I hope! ha! ha! Plus I thought I'd like to help find people in our community and in our circle of families and friends who deserve a little spotlight and just a little something to let them know they are appreciated. There are so many bad things in this world and I thought it would be a great way to bring something good into our lives. There are so many people out there who inspire me and I thought it would be a great way to share thoughts and ideas with others. Hopefully it will be something you all think is worth while! ha! ha! Plus it might be a way to share some fun and inexpensive craft ideas with everyone. I've been asked also to help with some craft groups and share and teach some things I've done. If any of you want to share some ideas you have or have seen... feel free... I don't have a limit on the things I want to put on there... so I think it could be a free for all! Different ideas on all different kinds of things... Let me know what you all think!

Here are some fun photos of our little munchkins and our summer so far! I hope you guys know how much we love all of you! We couldn't ask for a better family or friends! Thanks for being such an important part of our lives.

Where Has The Time Gone?

2008-05-01T17:06:00.000-07:00

Man... I can't believe again, that it's been forever since I've updated this! Wow!

Okay! So Preston made the Jr. High Baseball Team. He's a Red-Shirt... but he's still tickled pink. He's also started playing with his new Comp Baseball Team too... so most of his life is... baseball, baseball.. and more baseball! ha! ha! He loves it, so that's all that counts. He is playing with the Thunder this year and loving it so far! All of his friends from school are on the team and they are the neatest kids. They have so much fun together, so I'm excited. I know there are lots of great teams out there with great kids.... I'm just glad he's having so much fun. I think it's going to be a great year. It's kind of neat.. all the 7th graders that made the Jr. High baseball team are all on his comp team too! Goes to show... ha! ha! Not only are all these kids good kids.. they are ALL good baseball players too.

Avery is also doing well! She is getting so big... she still isn't crawling or walking.. but she talks up a storm. We've tried and tried to get her to crawl and walk and she just won't do it. She loves to walk non-stop all over the house. She just won't let go!

Easter was lots of fun! Dying Easter eggs, searching for them at the big Easter Egg hunt at Grandma Taylor's house with all the cousins.... then searching for the baskets Easter morning.... trying to find where Mr. Easter Bunny hid them was great fun! It's a great time to also remember our Savior and what he sacrificed for all of us! He gave his life so we can live again and I am so grateful for that! That our sins can be forgiven means more to me than anything! I love him very much for all that he did for me!

We took the kids fishing up at Hyrum Dam which was fun! Avery has her own life jacket and fishing pole. She and I pretty much just vegged out while Nick and Preseton did the fishing. It was a very nice day and we had lots of fun out on the boat!
This past weekend was so great. Nick's Nephew Seneca got married and all of Nick's family was in from out of town. I got to meet two of his nieces and one of his nephews that I hadn't ever met before because they live out of State. You know... people always complain about their in-laws... I have to say I am very lucky! I love my in-laws and all that goes with it! Nick's sister Kathy and her daughter Carlin stayed with us and we loved it! I love them so much! Nick's Mom and Step-dad Richard were in along with his brother George and I was able to have another dose of acupuncture to help cure my horrible headaches. Thanks to George I'll be headache free for awhile! Hopefully! Last time he did it I went 6 months with out one.. and I usually have them daily! Can you believe I had all those needles sticking in my head? ha! ha! I have photos to prove it! I was a brave girl! Seeing how I HATE needles! It was so good to meet Niles and Michelle (Nick's Nephew) Iya and Lalena (Nick's two nieces) along with adorable little Mary Jane, Avery's 2nd cousin. I'm so glad all of you were able to come! Even though I miss you terribly, it was a great weekend and I can't wait to see you hopefully soon!

Nick had his first fishing tournament in Idaho... they didn't do very good. It was still way too cold. So hopefully this weekend will be better for him!

As for me, well... I'm still doing Home Mortgages...if any of you want to re-finance or are looking for a new home! ha! ha! I can take good care of you! I'm hoping to be able to get this going well enough that I can stay home from my other job and do it along with another business Nick and I are starting. We are starting a new online business and I'm very excited. It's like Amazon but we are the ones who get paid. It's pretty cool! Hopefully here in a few years we will be making enough that both Nick and I can be home doing this full-time. I'll probably still be doing loans because I am really enjoying it! Plus you know me... I love to help and take care of people.

I am trying to organize another one of my big service projects. I am trying to organize a day for under privileged kids to learn how to fish. Nick's Bass Club along with any other volunteers will take the kids out on the boats and teach them to fish. It should be really fun... giving these kids an opportunity that they wouldn't normally get. I am hoping that I can get some of these big outdoor stores to donate prizes and hopefully even get Reese Stein from Roughin' it Outdoors to come and do a show on it! It's going to be lots of work... but much worth the reward... just like they always do!

I hope you are all doing well and everything in your lives is Great! Here are more photos of our great family! We sure love all of you guys and miss you very much!

Our Life NEVER Ceases to Amaze Me!

2008-03-18T17:08:00.001-07:00

Well... you would think that things at the Andrews/Melle household could slow down and go with the flow... even for a day! ha! ha! Well... last night our little Car Cruiser... little dare devil.... or as Uncle Bub calls her... Our Little Thrill Seeker... drove her car down our stairs! Talk about freaking out! We knew we needed to get a gate, but where she isn't walking or crawling and as far as the car and lion go... she has only been able to go forward and backward... she didn't know how to turn the wheel or turn... or so we thought. Nick brought up some laundry for us to fold and she was right there... seriously with in seconds... it was as though the house was falling in! It was so loud and scary! My first thought was that Preston had fallen down the stairs with a whole handful of stuff... we jumped up and there she was, lying on the landing and her car upside down! Nick seriously flew down the stairs and Preston and I were there in seconds! It was the scariest thing. So off the to doctor we flew! She was okay thank goodness! I can't even believe it! I felt like the worst mother! She was right there and literally a second later there she laid... at the bottom of the stairs! I felt so bad! I thought Nick was going to fall apart! She is doing well and back to her joyful, funny self! So we are really glad!

I went to the doctor today to find out what my lump was. Well, it's not a hernia! It's a blood clot. There are actually several of them. So it's kind of scary! I have to be real careful for about 3 weeks he said. No heavy lifting or exerting myself. He said if I'm really careful they should go away. If not, If I'm my stubborn self and do things instead of asking for help... they could break off and go to my lungs or heart! So I think I will be humbled and ask for help! It really scared me! He said there was so much bleeding from my surgery and that is what caused them! So the next few weeks are going to be a little stressful for me! I know I'll be okay because I will follow orders this time! ha! ha! When it's your life that is involved and you have little kids and a family... the stubbornness needs to go on the back burner.

Then, there is our Mr. Preston! How proud of him are we? Well, he tried out for the Jr. High baseball team this week and yesterday he made the first cut! There were 50 7th graders and they only kept 12. Preston was one of the 12, so we were so excited! Several of his other friends also made it so it was pretty cool! In fact, most of his new baseball team made the cut. Then today, he made the second cut! Yeah! ha! ha! They only kept about 7 7th graders. Some of his friends got cut today, but the others are still there too! He's very excited! So he has to go back again tomorrow! I think he has a very good chance! He does very well at baseball, so hopefully he makes it! If not, he got very far in the try outs and he should be proud! Go Preston! ha! ha! We are so proud of you for even going out there and trying! I'll let you all know how it goes! Hopefully we have some really good news! That would do so much for him and his confidence! I think he's already proud of him self for getting this far!

I am still keeping busy as ever being Mom, taking care of the family, playing with the kids and working on my new adventure.... doing Mortgage Loans! I'm so excited to be working with Angie. She has been a very good friend of mine for a very long time, so working with her and spending time has been great! Plus I get to do the loans from my home and spend my days with Avery and soon Preston once summer comes! It would be really nice if I could just do this full time and be home with my kids all the time! Hopefully soon! ha! ha!

I hope you all are doing well and everything in your life is going good! Love you guys! I'll get some updated photos of the kids soon! We went and got their photos taken at Sadie's Photography and they turned out so good! I'll get posted soon! You'll love them!

The Newest Member to our Family..... Chloe

2008-03-16T12:12:00.000-07:00

Here is our little Chloe. Cute Little Chloe.She's already been out in the fields getting ready for the big day when she can go hunting with Dad and brother! ha! ha! Maybe Mom and sister too! She is so cute! Avery didn't know what to think of her at first... but now she loves her! That's her favorite word... dogie! When we go out to play with her or take her potty... the first thing she says is.. "Hi dogie!" and waives to her! It's so fun!

I Finally Did It

2008-03-13T13:58:00.001-07:00

Well... the last few weeks at our house hold have been pretty crazy! I went in for my surgery and things went okay! A little more complex than I and the doctor had hoped... but okay! I had my Hysterectomy. I have been dreading this for YEARS! Anyway, the Endometriosis had grown some of my organs together, so they had to cut them apart and lift the organs up and cut all the Endometriosis off. Then they had to cut two of the ligaments in my back to get to the Endometriosis that was clear down in my tailbone! Yeah! That hurt... and still seems to bother me when I sit too long! When I got out of surgery they had me on straight Morphine. Yeah, you would think that would be great... but for some reason it didn't touch the pain in my back. I couldn't lay on my back for pretty much the whole time in the hospital! Turning from side to side when I had that great big, long... scar across my whole belly... wasn't very pleasant! ha! ha! But we managed! I had to stay in the hospital a day longer than I had expected... but it was sure nice to get out! I really missed my kids! I was able to see Nick a lot because he spent most of his time up there with me. Thanks to my parents for keeping the kids. Avery didn't like being cooped up in the room very long and Preston was sick for two days. So my time with them was short! That was really hard too! I wanted Avery to spend the night with me because I hadn't been away from her like that ever, but there was no way I could have taken care of her by myself ! I was pretty out of it for a couple days! I took some time to try and recover before returning back to work, but I'm now back to the grind of everyday life! Still pretty sore, but doing okay! I have a lump on my left side that hurts pretty bad and I'm just not quite sure what it is. We are hoping it's not a hernia, and that I don't have to go back under the knife to get if fixed! Yikes! That would stink!

Avery is getting so big! She's finally said Mama! Yeah! It's about time! ha! ha! I came after, Dada, Bubba, Dog, Duck, Ca ca, Ca ca Bum... you name it! ha! ha! But finally, Mama! I love it! We got a new little Black Lab Puppy named Chloee and last night Avery started even saying Dogie and Dogie Ca ca! ha! ha! She went out with me to let her go potty! I can't believe she's starting to talk so well... even though she's still not crawling... or walking! ha! ha! She is scooting around on her bum and rolling all over! Uncle Bub and Grandma & Grandpa Taylor both gave her little toys she can ride a round the house on and boy does she ever! She gets on her Lion and Car and rides them ALL over! It's such a crack up to watch! We love her so much! She puts a smile on our faces and touches our hearts!

Preston is doing well in school! They just went on a ski day for Honors, so he was really excited! He is now getting ready to start baseball again! We are with another team this year so we will be able to have our weekends free to have lots of family time! Camping, Fishing, 4 Wheeling, you name it! Preston is still his little sister's best buddy. It's so funny! When ever he's around, she wants him and pretty much no one else! When we drop him off to school she waives goodbye and blows him kisses! Same when we pick him up! Then she doesn't want him out of her sight when we get home! What a good brother he is! He takes such good care of her! He wants to be with her just as much as she does him! I am so proud of the big brother he is to her and the young man he is becoming! I love him so much!

Nick is out of town this week and we all miss him so! He had to go to California for a few days for work... enjoying the warm weather... close to 80. Shorts and a tee shirt! He called us last night and sent pictures of the beach! I was jealous! Especially when he said, "Guess what I'm doing right now? I'm wading in the ocean!" Rude huh? ha! ha! Here it's raining and cold today and he's down in the warm weather rubbing it in! Thank goodness he comes home tomorrow! We miss our papa!

Thanks to all of you who were so concerned for me and my family. For the flowers, cards, visits, phone calls and emails! I really appreciate everything you all do for us!

Avery's 1st Birthday

2008-02-22T14:44:00.000-08:00

I can't believe Avery is now 1! Holy Smokes! ha! ha! Where did this past year go? We had a great day on Friday. Nick and I took off work and Preston came home after a half day of school and we went fishing! Yep fishing! ha! ha! Don't worry, we didn't go ice fishing... but we thought about it! We just went over to our loyal Roy Fish Pond. We caught some fish and Avery fell asleep shortly after we got there! ha! ha! It must have been from all the excitement! Friday night we got dinner and had some great family time! Then Saturday came and it was the day for the Big Birthday Party! We decorated, got a really cute Tinker Bell Cake and Avery even got her own Chocolate Cake all for herself. We put on her Birthday Princess hat, opened presents and then headed for digging in to the cake! What a crack up that was! ha! ha! Avery wanted nothing to do with it! She didn't want to get dirty... so needless to say Daddy got to eat her cake! She got her hands a little dirty... and she wasn't a fan! ha! ha! Notice the Mountain Dew Angie gave her for her Birthday... she's hooked! She wouldn't let go of it most of the night! Grandma Ramona was in from South Dakota and her Birthday was on Sunday... so Avery got to share her birthday with her Grandma! What a fun weekend it was! We all took Grandma to church on Sunday for her birthday and she really enjoyed it! I hadn't ever been to a Catholic Church so it was a new experience for me too.. but it meant the world to Grandma so we were happy to make her day special! Avery got so many cute things and we want to thank all of you who were there to share in our special day! We are so grateful for everyone who helped make her 1st Birthday Special! Thank you!

I also want to say a few things to so many of you who are so special in our lives. I know some of you know, but Monday I am going in for my big surgery that I have been putting off for so many years. It's now not an option and it has to be done. I'm very scared but I'm trying to have faith that everything will be okay! ha! ha! I'm grateful for all of you who are helping me stay positive and also for Nick for his great support of me and all my emotions. When something comes into your life that is serious and could maybe change your life and those around you.. you really realize how much you love all of those special friends and family who have made your life so wonderful! I just want all of you to know just how much you really do mean to me! There are so many of you who have given me so much support and love through out my whole life... You and your friendships have helped make me the person I am today! I look up to so many of you and am so grateful for everything you do for me, my kids and my family! Please don't ever forget how much you mean to me! You really do! I don't think you can ever say that enough! When this is all over, I hope to look back and laugh at how emotionally out of control I feel! ha! ha! To realize all this crying all the time... was over rated! ha! ha! I just wanted you to know how I feel before I went into this trial I'm about to face! I don't want to have taken any of you for granted and I knew it would help me to feel better letting you all know how special you really are to me!
I love you guys so much!

A Busy Few Weeks

2008-01-26T12:47:00.000-08:00

Well, time has flown by again and we can't seem to find where it went! :) Preston is busy playing basketball and enjoying spending time with his buddies! He is still doing fabulous in school! The school year is half over now... time really needs to slow down a bit! He did really well again this quarter getting a 3.7. We are all really proud of him!

Avery gave us a bit of a scare this past couple weeks. She started out having an ear infection and she ended up being allergic to the antibiotic and the doctor sent us over to the ER. It was pretty scary! We were lucky to be able to bring her home though with just added doctor visits. She was getting to dehydrated from throwing up so much from the allergy, her temperature was around 102.3 for about 5 days and we couldn't get it to break... then the fact she wouldn't eat or drink... so we had to feed her through a syringe to try and get fluids in her. They had to give her a little IV and take her blood... Plus the shot they gave her, the doctor said that it hurt worse than a Penicillin shot. So her little legs were pretty sour for a while. It was so sad! It made me cry having to watch all of that! She still isn't eating very good, but at least she's not getting sick and her fever is gone! So we are on the mends!

We hope all our family and friends are doing well! We love you all so much! Don't ever forget that!

January 11, 2008- 10 Year Anniversary of Air Med Crash- My Brother Shayne

2008-01-11T09:15:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone! Today is a bitter sweet day for me and my family. Today marks the 10 Year Anniversary of my brother Shayne's Death. I can't believe it has been 10 years... looking in the papers today makes it all seem like it just happened all over again. There is a big article in the Standard Examiner and also in the Deseret News. There will also be coverage on Channel 5 News today about the Air Med Crew who was killed. It's an honor to know Shayne was a hero to so many people... yet it's also so hard to know he's gone and not coming back! I miss him so much! My thoughts are with Tami and the kids.. and my parents today. I am so proud of how the kids are turning out! I love them so much! They are such good kids! I know for those of you who didn't know Shayne, might not understand what an amazing person he was and still is. Hopefully if you see the articles and see the news you'll understand what an impact he made on so many people's lives. I love and miss him so much! He truly is and always will be my Hero!
Don't ever forget to tell those you love and care about how much they mean to you. You never know what instance they will be taken from you!

A View of the Past Year

2008-01-02T12:07:00.000-08:00

This past year has been exciting and also rewarding..... Last year Preston and I did a tree for the Festival of Trees in Honor of my Brother Shayne who was killed in an Air Med Helicopter at Snowbird while trying to save an injured skiers life.... what a great time we had doing this and remembering our brother and uncle... our tree's name was, "Hero's Never Die"! Because as most of you know... Shayne was my hero and the person I wanted to be like when I grew up! He will always live in our hearts FOREVER! We did it in the Old Baseball theme.. because Preston Loves Baseball and also because... Babe Ruth said... Hero's Never Die!

Preston was also very honored to get an award from our "Blankets for Baghdad" project he and I did. We were on 3 news channels and with the help of people from all over Utah and some other parts of the country... we were able to send over 1,000 blankets to Baghdad to Orphanages, Children's Hospitals and some villages... He was awarded several awards from doing this with his mom. He received the Good Deed award from a local dentist and also the Good Turn for America Award from the Boy Scouts of America. To get this award you had to be nominated and also accepted. They only gave out 6 of these awards throughout the whole Nation! What a great honor this was! We are so proud of Preston and all of the great things he does!

Then.... February came and I along with my great husband and son made it through the past 9 months and were able to bring a baby I wasn't supposed to have into our lives and family! Little Miss Avery RaeAnn was born February 15th. She caused her mother a bit of trouble during the long 9 months... but she was well worth it! She has blessed our lives so much! She is literally a little miracle!

The next several months were full of Football, Baseball, Basketball and even a trip to Cooperstown, New York with Preston and his Cyclones Baseball team to play baseball and visit the Baseball Hall of Fame and tour New York City with Avery and I along with my Mom. What a great time we had! We were gone for 11 days and enjoyed almost every minute of it! Preston even made friends with the little man who runs the elevator and he let Preston run the elevator to the upper floors of the Empire State Building! We were able to visit all the sites in the city and spend a week watching baseball games all week long! The boys were also inducted into the Youth Baseball Hall of Fame! How cool is that? The boys had trading pins that they were able to share with all the other teams so he was able to get pins from boys from every state in the U.S. It's a once in a life time dream for these boys!

Preston also started Jr. High at Rocky Mountain Jr. High! This was really hard for me.. knowing he is getting so grown up! I want him to stay little! ha! ha! I tell him all the time to stop growing! Instead.. he's as tall as I am now! Not that that is hard to accomplish! ha! ha! He's loving school and doing very well! He made the High Honor Roll last quarter and is on his way there again this quarter! He's very dedicated to his school work. It makes me so proud to be his mom, knowing I have such a great young man as my son! What a great example he is going to be to his sister!

Avery loves the pool... we went swimming all the time last summer and you'd think she was a little fish! She also was able to spend some time with Nick's brother George who came to visit this summer and she was able to get an Indian Blessing. When she turns 3 she will be able to get her Indian (Sioux) name from Uncle George so she can keep her Indian Heritage going. She enjoyed her first ride on the boat, camping at our Fikstad Family Reunion, traveling to her brother's baseball tournaments, her first plane ride, traveling on the New York Subway... walking through Queens, Visiting Time Square, the Statue of Liberty... Ground Zero, a Horse and Buggy ride through Central park and even a trip to a New York Yankees Game!

The Holiday's came and we were lucky to have Nick's Mom ... Grandma Ramona come visit us and be with us for Halloween! She got to see Avery in her cute little Caterpillar costume and share in her first experience of Trick or Treating. We love Grandma so much and can't wait for her to come back and visit for Avery's 1st Birthday and have a birthday party for her also! What a great memory for Avery to be able to share her 1st Birthday party with her Grandma Ramona! What a great memory for Grandma too! (Sorry.. I couldn't get these to turn. Hope you can see them okay!)

Christmas time was a great time for family and friends and also our annual Sub for Santa Project Preston and I do every year! We were very busy from October till days before Christmas finding families... making an ornament tree.. buying, wrapping and delivering for 35 kids! Thank you all so much for all of your support and help! We couldn't do this many kids without you! It is such a great reward for us and knowing we helped make those kids and families Holiday's a great one!

Our first Christmas with Avery was a crack up! She loved the paper more than anything! Nick got to enjoy a quiet night in the bed alone while I slept out in the front room with Preston and Avery for our annual Christmas Eve Slumber Party waiting for Santa to come! Watching Preston and Avery open presents and see the excitement on their faces really made us realize what great kids we have. We put the wrapping paper in a sack after we opened each one... little Miss Avery discovered this and got her little hands on it and took out all the wrapping paper... crunching it with her cute little hands and covering herself totally up with paper! She just makes us laugh! We were sad to see Preston leave for Mexico for a week.. but we knew he'd have fun! We're just glad he's back home with us now! He sure missed his little sister! I think she quite missed him too! She loves her brother! I know this is long.. but I'll attach some photos to go with the story! It was a great day to spend with my Parents and Nick's brother... Uncle Bub and my Aunt Julie. Avery was sick on Christmas so most of our family came to us! We love them so much and appreciate all they do for us! (The Christmas Photos are on their way.)

Always remember we love you guys so much and are very grateful we have you in our lives! I hope your New Year will bring you all the happiness you deserve! I think we are ALL due for a great 2008! Don't you! :)

The Andrews Family Update

2007-12-31T20:42:00.000-08:00

I guess this is the next new thing for the times! So here we are, making it easier for our family and friends to keep up with our busy life! Preston and Avery are changing and doing so many new things that it's hard for Nick and I to keep up with it! Preston has spent the last week in Mexico. Yes, we are jealous! But it has been some good time for him with his dad and brothers. I just can't wait for him to come home!

Avery... she's a whole other story! She is keeping us on our toes every second of every day! She has grown so big... very fast! Nick and I wonder where this past year has gone! It seems we just were getting ready to announce her birth.. now she's getting ready to turn the "Big 1"! It seems as if we have just blinked and a whole year has past! It's so sad! She still wants nothing to do with crawling or rolling! She hates her belly! Which... we are okay with because we are hoping it will keep her younger longer! ha! ha! Even though it doesn't work like that! She's so funny! We tell her to clap for Baby and she claps her hands. It's so funny! She has 4 teeth already! I can't believe it! She is such a little sweetheart..... 98% of the time.... that 2%... watch out! ha! ha! She has her fathers temper! ...okay... Mom is kind of stubborn too! She does like to walk all over... with our help of course! She's so beautiful! She loves to snuggle and give kisses! It's great!

Nick and I... we're still doing great! Just enjoying being parents and having a great little family! I'll post some photos of the little rug rats so you can all see how big they are getting! We love you guys so much and hope you will enjoy our little stories! We'd love to hear from you! Have a Happy New Year! It's going to be a great 2008!