Thanksgiving Shmaksgiving

This year for thanksgiving Tanner is gone and Sara is gone so the family participated in a 3 family thanksgiving extravaganza. Can you say Party! Its been enjoyable not having to go to school(this is katie) but i wish sometimes my sisters were in school haha. We have so much to be thankful for its amazing, that we even have like lights or food or anything. You would never know that i am thankful for those dumb things but i am. My mother has been very busy catering for a wedding and a big birthday thing, she is quite the lady always figuring out another way to be creative. My father is still the same, special man he has always been. I am going to play the piano for Evergreen Junior High's musical Peter Pan, that should be interesting. I have a chorus concert on Wednesday so if you want to come 6:30. The girls just love William Penn, especially because my mother is the PTA president. We are all ready for christmas, 25 days!

Hmph!

Ok so I don't know how to load new photos. And I really don't know how to add a post here without the whole page being uneven. Like, all the posts on one side in a big long list, and all the photos..in a big long list. Bugs!

Perhaps someone could come give me a private tutorial? I will bake for you if you'll blog for me.

And the update is:
Mat and Chloe are in Sun Valley helping Marvelous winterize the cottage. (I think I am hilarious calling that home a cottage) Mostly they are eating well, enjoying the out of doors (Chloe learned to fish.) and I heard a rumor that they went to a movie.

Tanner got the package with meds for his scalp crustacians. Not sure how to help with the stomach issues. Pretty sure he gets his own bathroom when he comes home.

Sara is on the countdown. 59 days. And all the while she talks about missing us and being homesick, she is talking about going back as a head teacher...perhaps Finland...or nannying in Germany. Huh? I'll wear a dierndel (sp?) and make a mean streudel if she'll stay home!

Katie is bossing us all around as always. She is stoked to try out for Peter Pan the Musical at Evergreen.

Meg and Mati are both in love with Troy Bolton, although I prefer his friend, Chad. We've seen HSM 2ce (well some of us 3 times) and we are proud of our love for HSM and are not hiding it.

Halle is still everyone's joy...pushing up on to all 4's. Doing a quick army crawl around the room, but still no regular crawl. That's ok. She gets to do whatever she wants whenever she wants.

Now...someone come help me learn the art of blogging. MWAH!

School's in session!

So the 2008-2009 school year is in full swing! Katie headed to her 9th grade - and final year- at Evergreen (Go Eagles!) She is taking some fun classes, and hoping to play the piano more this year. The rest of us - me included - are at William Penn. I am PTA co-president w/ Ami Neff. I have no words, except whew. It's been a lot of work so far, and we're only 2 weeks into school. Chloe is in Ms Graham's 3rd grade class, Meg is in Ms McCullough 2nd grade, and Mati is in Ms Foulke/McGavin 1st grade Spanish immersion program. She would prefer if we speak Spanish to her, but that's been difficult since none of us habla. Halle is growing and doing so well. She is over 10 lbs and pushing up on to all 4's. She is a little punkin and we are all more in love with her than ever.

Katie Here

So this is the favorite child here again taking over the duties for my mother. The things i do out of love haha. Anywho school starts Monday and i am kinda having a brain aneurysm about it. Summer just seemed like it was way shorter then it should have been, i am just getting into my "ready mode." Ya know? But ya it starts on Monday and my sisters are excited about their new teachers.
Tanner is doing really well, he has the language down, he writes home telling us how much he loves the people, and it sounds like he finally is a true missionary. I know everyone out in the field is a missionary but there is a certain point where they like get into the full mode, well he is there.
Sara is loving China, sorta. She is homesick but that is to be expected. She can say a couple of things in Chinese, just enough to get by. The group she is in isnt allow to go to any Olympic activities so they know just as much as we do. She sounds excited to teach the kids now.
I am so sad school is starting. I really don't want to go, not because it wont be a learning experience i just love the freedom of summer. I babysit all the time, and i love it. My life seems so boring to other people but i am very content just doing what i do.
The littles are just being little girls. They are so ready for school, we are all ready for them to go to school too :) They just are really active children, running, screaming, playing, screaming.... just normal kid stuff.
Halle is the "Mirical" child. She can roll from her stomach to her back and from her back to her stomach. She can reach for toys, lift her head. Her doctors are just amazed at the things she is doing. She is a really funny gal, we sure love her.
My parents are so boring. I guess that is just what happens what you get older. My mom is going to be the co-PTA president at William Penn this year. She is really "busy" with that. My dad works out of our house, enough said. Our house still functions with me being the oldest so i am thinking it should be permanent. Thats just what i am saying

Joi Gin, Sara!

She did it! Sara left for her 5 mo. adventure in Zhongshan!

She was packed and ready to go Wednesday, so Thursday morning, all her friends came over for a crepe fete. It was lots of fun, lots of crepes, and so fun to see all these kids together. She got a call that her flight had been bumped up a few hours, so we scrambled to throw last minute things together, and headed to the airport. We didn't even get to go for our leisurely last supper out, but I don't think we could have eaten anyway. The little girls struggled saying goodbye---esp. Chloe. She just sobbed. Sara is so good to her. They went with the Winegars while we took Sara. So Mat, Katie, Halle, Joey, and I were the farewell crew. Sara was brave and off she went. We will miss her terribly, but are SO excited for the adventure ahead. She met Breanne in Hong Kong and I am relieved they are together now.
Her email is sara_j_andresen@hotmail.com , and I am quite sure she'd love an email now and then....

Fun Weekend!

What a great weekend we had! On Saturday, Mat and I enjoyed a night out with some friends at The Police concert. It was a perfect night for sitting on a blanket and watching STING and enjoying some good 80's music. Bonnie scared us by having some premature labor, but she was kind enough to curl up on the blanket til the concert was over. :) We dropped her off at the hospital on the way home. Fortunately, she was discharged in the morning and all is well so far. No Baby Boy Burton No. 4 ... yet! I think he is just a big Sting fan, too, and wanted to come out for the concert.

Then Sunday was Halle's blessing day. It wasn't fast Sunday, but we realized that Sara only has 2 Sundays left with us before she leaves for China ...til December! So we decided to bless Halle so Sara could be here with us. (It's hard enough having Tanner gone!) Mat gave her a beautiful blessing, and we were so happy to have the support of family and good friends. We had a little bagel bust afterwards...bagels & schmears, fruit, Italian sodas, etc. The Stephens, our awesome next door neighbors, are in Chicago this week, but they just finished their incredible deck and backyard, and offered to let us party there. It took all stress out of the day for me, and it was a beautiful place to enjoy breakfast. (Except we missed the Stephens' being there!)

I posted a million photos, but Halle is just so darling, it's hard to choose only a few. You have to keep scrolling down to see them all :) Her dress was made by my friend, Mindy Myers, and was absolutely gorgeous.

Thanks everyone for coming and making it such a special day for our family.

Mid Summer!

After much fun and driving....we are already mid way through summer. We kicked off Summerfest '08 with Sara graduating from Oly. She barely made it. Whew. Lots of cheering through the years...and we almost forgot to get credits in.

We spent the 4th of July in Sun Valley with the Melville side. We had a grand time as always. The 4th was spent at the Hailey Rodeo, where Meg represented us all well in the Mutton Bustin' competition. She rode that sheep right into the ground. She was proud as can be, and I am pretty sure she is the first black cowgirl to compete in the Hailey Rodeo. We had a fabulous Family Olympics, (thanks, Brad and Mindy!) and my personal favorite, riding the River Run Lift to the top for lunch. Monday we centered ourselves with a private yoga class by Grandpa Marv's yoga instructor, Master Richard, and we were all at one with the universe prior to our road trip home.

As always it was fun to be all together. It is so rare anymore.

Big Day, the 8th of May....

Mati and I began our day at the zoo...yes, the long awaited Kindergarten Zoo Day. Of course, I signed up to be a chaperone, but I always make Mat go. I HATE the zoo. Mat went to Dallas. So...I was the Zoo Mom. It was far less painful than I remembered, and the kids liked the train ride best.

Then we headed to Hires for lunch with Aunt Shari, Aunt Mindy, Cousin Sally, Heather, and Jalane. Mindy and Shari gave Halle the initiatory "Oh, Cuddie, Cuddie, Cuddie" with the traditional finger tickle. And who should we run into, but Jodi's mom, Deb, and Grandpa Lowell. Aw ...good times at Hires.

To finish off a fun filled day....HALLE smiled! Her first real smile! We were all so excited, and she is just the cutest. Hurray!

Sara's Senior Prom

Friday night was Olympus High's Senior Prom. Sara went with her BFF and current love interest, Joey Cardenas. They went with a huge group of kids and all had a grand time.

She did her own hair and make up and the little girls LOVE watching Sara get ready...especially when its a dance. They idolize her and she is so cute with them.

Joey took Sara to The Roof for dinner, then headed to the dance at the Capitol Rotunda, then rounded out the night with an Iron Chef competition at the Gochnour's. She looked beautiful as always. I can't believe she will be graduating. Sniff...sniff....

Last week Katie spent some time in Hawaii with the Matheson's. They had a great time celebrating Stuart's wedding. Katie loves the Matheson's- they are so good to her. She had a little spell with a headache, and had a fun ambulance ride to the hospital, but all is well and she's feeling much better. ALO----HA!

MAT IS OLD!

Today is Mat's 43rd birthday. Wow he is OLD. He has spent the morning snoozing in the lazy boy, after another sleepless night for us both with Miss Halle. She is so darn cute, we don't really care that she does not sleep. Much.

All well on our home front. We are anxious for Spring time weather to continue. Kids love being outside.

Tanner is doing great in his new area, and really likes his companion. It is amazing to see the growth in him as we read his emails. Admittedly, I am looking forward very much to my Mother's Day phone call. I think Breanne is, too!

Sara is busy wrapping up her graduation plans and requirements. She has done so many great extracirricular activities that it has been a bit of a scramble to make sure she has all the required credits. She loves the Lion House, mostly her boss, Julie Ulrich. But in any case, she likes going to work.

Katie is in Hawaii this week with the Matheson's. I am drawing up adoption papers for Katie and myself if possible. Mathesons are so good to Katie and we are so grateful for their influence on her. I would like to be influenced by anyone in Hawaii, so let me know....

Chloe is as busy as ever. She is a great student and very sensitive to everyone around her, which is good...and bad at times. We are working on ignoring those things that bother her and hurt her tender feelings. Meg is doing ok in school. It's a struggle for her, but she tries so hard. She is so fun to be around and a happy kid. She has a little creative/imaginative side emerging which is so great to watch. Mati is still smart as a whip and doesn't understand why 6 yr olds can't do everything everyone else does. She watches Sara like a hawk and wants to be just like her.

Halle is amazing. She is just so sweet. She loves to be held. Dr. Owens put her on some reflux meds and we hadn't seen much difference til the past few days when we changed it up a little. She loves when her physical therapist, Pat, comes on Thursday mornings. She loves the massage and sleeps the rest of the day. She just gets so relaxed. I think she is just about ready to smile and we are all watching every second for who gets the first grin.

Tonight's our ward party, just how Mat wants to spend his birthday. Chloe signed us up to bring Jello and is very excited to make her appearance with her contribution in hand.

Signing off til the next time I have a few minutes of time, with nothing really to say....

Halle's Home

Katie here, my mother is just so busy she cant update her own blog! As the favorite child and the most responsible, i desided to make my own blog! Halle came home on April 4, and is such a funny girl! She will sleep FOREVER and then she wont go to sleep. But she is so cute that it doesnt matter.
My parents are head over heels for her, and they try their hardest to make our house quiet but with 5 children running around and a little baby trying to sleep, i dont think they get their job done.
Sara is still cheering up a stupid storm and just loves it. She works at the Lion House, and i am waiting for her money to start coming in becuase with all that work i think i should reep the benefits too.
Tanner is doing really good, he just got transfered to a new area and he loves it. He is safe and happy so i guess that is all that matter.
Chloe, Meg, and Mati are doing well, they just love to look at Halle and want to help, but we have to remind them to BACK OFF! But it's ok because we know they mean well.
I am doing good, i just want to go to Hawaii today and not come back, i think spring is depressing me and i just want Summer.
I am guessing it will take my mom 2 weeks to discover my little entry, maybe when she does i will get a second job, updating the family blog, you never know!

March comes in like a lion....

OK that may be a lie. It's not that windy. But for Sara, the lion part means...
NEW JOB! She got a job at the Lion House. She is not thrilled about the pioneer garb, but hey, it will give her another chance to wear her lovely Trek outfit. She starts next week, so watch for her tripping with a tray at the next event you attend at the Lion House.

Tanner is happily working and serving in Indonesia. Luckily Breanne still claims us and we love her more every day.

Katie went to Rascal Flatts last night and had a grand time. She heads to Hawaii with the Mathesons in a month. Lucky girl!

Chloe, Meg, and Mati went to a little class at the NICU to help understand what is going on with Halle and why Mom is going there. Since we are mid-RSV season, no one under age 14 is allowed in the unit, so the littles haven't even been able to see her. Just photos. They loved the class, and wondered why they couldn't go again this Saturday.

CHLOE WAS BAPTIZED! She looked so pretty and was so excited and ready for her big day. We are so grateful to our awesome families and friends who made it special for her.

Meg is making big plans for her birthday, and has asked if we can take her whole class to Disneyland for her party. I said no. She said "Then can we take them to Magoon?" Yeah...let me think about that....

Mati is still busy as always. Nuff said. And Hooray for Halle...who weighs 4 lb 4 oz! She is taking 2 bottles a day (nearly 2 oz each time) and is more and more alert. She could be discharged in three weeks. Keep praying for her! All she has to do is learn to eat and hold her body temp. She is off oxygen and all medications. She is a trooper.

Last Home Game

Tonight was Sara's last home game at Olympus! She danced at half time and then the players gave each cheerleader a boquet. Sara was thrilled to receive hers from her favorite coach, Craig. They do get to go on to playoffs so it's not the last game she'll cheer at, but it's getting close.

Tanner is doing well in Indonesia. He gets to travel now he's a Zone Leader and he loves that. He is so good with people and loves being with them. It's amazing to see the growth in him in just 8+ mos. Katie gets to go to Sun Valley and spend some time with Grandpa and Grandma this weekend. She is a girl who gets around!

Chloe is doing great, Mati is doing great - they all love being outside a little with the slightly warmer weather. And Meg spent last night in the ER with asthma, poor kid. It just wipes her out. I knew we had to go get help when she said, at about 1am, "Mom, let's go outside. There's not enough air in our house". HELLO! Off to the hospital we go!

Halle is just amazing. She is just over 3 lbs and learning to suck and swallow. I drip little drops of milk from a syringe into her mouth while she sucks a binky. It's like feeding a kitten. So I hear. I haven't ever actually touched a feline, but I think that's how they would do it. She is so sweet and I am amazed at her will to live.

Today I we had a PTA meeting trying to set up a board for next year. Which is code for Ami Neff and I (the co presidents for next year) try to scrounge up names of people we can beg to help w/ PTA. We came up with some good names and I am prepared to do some serious baking as bribery. Mat goes to IA for a few days tomorrow, so I am on my own around the homestead. Which means McDonalds and nothing other than sweats to wear. And the good times just keep on coming!

CHLOE IS 8!

Eight is great! I can't believe it was 8 yrs ago that Chloe joined our little family. We had a little celebration yesterday -- Feb 10--- the real day. She got a new outfit and I made the favorite birthday dinner. Winegar's, Breanne, Jason, and Grandpa & Grandma came over for cake. Chloe is having a Lion House birthday party on the 28th so that will be the 'real' celebration. She will be baptized on March 1st. It will be a big weekend! Chloe is such a good girl and so helpful. We love Chloe!!

Saturday we had a nice evening out with Grandpa & Grandma, Kindall & Izzy, Whitey and Amy, and Joe. We ate at the lovely IMC food court and then took turns visiting Baby Halle. We are all in love with her. She weighs 2 lb 12 oz and is down to 1.5 litres of 02, so hopefully she can make the transition to a nasal cannula in the coming week. She is a fighter and doing so well. I haven't been to see her for a few days, since I have a nasty cold, and I am missing her. Please continue to pray for her. She is doing so well...(knock wood)

February 5

Just a little update...All is well on our homefront. Despite being pounded with snow, everyone is healthy and happy---and safe. Mati and Meg are loving it. They love going sledding and just playing in snow. Chloe is very busy inside doing art and writing. She is a girl after my own heart---no outdoorsy activities. Katie has a new favorite movie---"Juno" ---and had a great day skiing this weekend w/ Grandpa Marv and the cousins. Sara still crazy busy with cheer and trying to get her stuff together to go to China in August. Tanner is doing great---despite the outbreak of typhoid or some such disease. I am so glad that MTC immunizes. Halle is on high flow nasal cannula and doing great. She weighs 2 lb 7 oz and loves her binky. Good girl!

Baby Halle

We have temporary custody of this beautiful baby, Halle Jae. She was born at 24.5 weeks gestation. She was due April 10, but in the bustle of the season, decided to come on Christmas Day. She has tried breathing off the ventilator twice, but is just not quite strong enough to do it. She was reintubated this morning at 6 am and is stable. She weighs 2 lb 2 oz and is just beautiful.