Kristi's Home & Happy Thanksgiving!

The Friday before Thanksgiving, Sister Tucker arrive home from her mission to Des Moines, Iowa.  We have all missed her so much and are so grateful for her service these past 18 months.  The whole family (including Rob's from San Antonio) went to the airport to meet her off of her plane.

 There were so many other families there waiting to meet their missionaries.  I think we counted between 10-12 huge groups waiting just like us.  Here she is ready for the biggest hugs ever.

 Everyone was sooo happy to see her

 especially McKenzie.  We didn't realize she was going to have this kind of reaction, but it was soo sweet.  She really missed her aunt.

 We found out that one of the reasons there were so many people waiting for their missionaries, is Des Moines sent home these awesome servants at the same time.  

 Kristi's MTC companion who went to West Virginia (I think) also arrived at the same time, so they got to see each other again.  Her name was Sister Tucket.  How crazy is that?

After we were done wiping our eyes, we went out to lunch to a diner in Kaysville.  It was really yummy, way too much food, but soo good.

 These were the babies that were born while she was gone. (Well technically,  Felicity was born about 1 month before she left, but Kristi has not seen her grow).

 The cousins had so much fun playing together, sometimes a little too much fun.  Holy makeup batman.

 That weekend was really busy getting ready for Kristi's homecoming and Bacon's baby shower.  She came down for a wedding on Adam's side and her MIL wanted to throw her a baby shower while she was here around a lot of family so I hauled the Tucker girls to see her and help her celebrate her new, upcoming arrival.  One of the games was to make a baby out of playdough for Bac to judge.  Alina and I won 1st and 2nd (I kicked everyone's trash).  Alina's was very cute, but mine just had that "I'm her sister" factor to it.  I gave it an umbilical cord and it was anatomically correct. (for a girl).  She busted up and didn't have to look any further. :)

 We went home for the week so the kids could finish their last few days of school and Randy could work before we headed back for Thanksgiving.  I (because I'm me) didn't get anything from that  except a couple of Masie enjoying the baby swing she once loved so much.  Kendra and I stayed home one evening to watch the kids under 8 so the rest could go see Savior of the world.  Being pregnant and having seen it before, I opted to let those who hadn't yet seen it go while I lounged on the recliner and bribed the kids with movies and popcorn.  I'm a good babysitter I tell ya.

Masie was in heaven rocking about.  The funny thing is she is still light enough to be in there.

After it was all over and we had to get back to reality, it snowed for for 2 or 3 days straight dumping about 10 inches on us.  It was beautiful. . . 

 but I don't like long storms.  I like it to dump in a day or less and then melt off the streets so I can get back to my normal life.  This was in the middle of the storm, we had to shovel a few more times before it stayed off.  

It's only the middle of May!!!!!

I can't even describe how busy it has been already this month and we haven't even gotten to all the end of the year hoopla.  I figured if I don't want to get backed up I better get some of this stuff posted quick or it'll never get done. 

First, one of our neighbors that graduated the same time Randy did, became a Chaplin for the military.  Shortly after graduation they moved and will be stationed back east (sad for all of us).  There was an little going away party for them.  We'll miss you Reed's.

 They have 3 little kids, here are the 2 oldest.  The one on the left is Malia's age, actually older but you'd never know seeing them next to each other cuz Malia is a giant compared to this petite little thing.

 The next week was "Mad" week.  It started off with Malia's preschool going to the aquarium and I got to go along.  Good thing it's a small little place, a little less chaotic chasing around a group of 4/5 year olds.

 Here's her class, well both classes actually.  There's an AM and PM class.

 Morgan's ecosystem project presentation was a few days later, which was also the same day as the 1st grade zoo trip. Randy went on it with Micah but didn't bring a camera so I don't have any shots.  Anyway, Morg chose the Ocean for her project.  We had been so busy with everything else that we raced to get her stuff put together.  I felt bad but hey it turned out great.

 Then the next day was the last day of soccer, Yippeeeee!!!! (for me)  The kids had a fun season and scored lots of goals.

 Randy coached both teams both fall and spring season.  He had fun, it was stressful during practices since he combined the two together, but he really enjoys coaching.

 Right after soccer, Gma and Gpa came down for Gpa's birthday "linner".  We went to Applebee's then came back and opened gifts.  We weren't able to go up there considering all of the fun we were having down here, lol.

 Then the next week, James received his mission call.  We were going to have it sent to my house, but since we really had no idea if we would be living here when it arrive (just in case it was late) we had it sent to Billy's house and drove up there to open it up.  We were all guessing outside of the U.S. but. . .

 He got called to the Porland Oregon Mission and will go into the MTC on August 15.  We were all surprised because that was the mission he was born in (At the time. Prineville was moved to the Eugene mission after I graduated from High School), so he won't be going back to his birth place, but he is awfully close.  The other funny thing is my sister lives in Vancouver just over the river from Portland but is in a different mission.  Do you see the shocked look on his face?

 Then the week after James got his call, it was Kristi's turn to report to the MTC.  We drove up Tuesday night to see her get set apart and then drove home and they came down to drop her off.  We ate at Pizza Pie Cafe.

Julie had to rush home so we took a quick shot before she bolted.

 Then with the new rules with dropping off, we decided not to chance not getting shots at the MTC so we stopped at the Provo Temple to get a few.  It's a good thing we stopped.

Malia's really good at being a ham and getting people's attention, can you tell?

Then it was time for goodbye's  There really wasn't any time for tears, which was good.  Just a quick hug then through the gate she went.  We are really excited for Kristi, she's going to be an awesome missionary.  She just kept saying how happy she was that day, and we are so happy for her. 

I know I still have Mother's Day to post and we have more school performances coming up and of course the traditional end of the year festivities.  I can't believe there are only 11 more days of school for these kids, NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!  Can't we just go a few more weeks?

Christmas 2011

We had a great Christmas at Gma and Gpa Tucker's home this year.  The kids got their pajamas. BTW McKenzie came to me the day before and informed me that she really didn't want character PJ's this year, like Hannah Montana.  She wanted me to do what I did last year with the PJ pants.  It's a good thing I already had done that.  I found these pajamas about 3 or 4 months ago for a killer deal.

 The Christmas pickle that my kids go nuts looking for.  Morgan found it last year, this year Micah was the big winner.

 Christmas morning the kids slept in until about 7 (which was a miracle I tell ya).  We even had to wake Malia up, can ya tell?  Oh and that is her hair sticking up on top of her head.

 The kids opening some family gifts from Santa.

 The kids got Angry Bird blankets from Gma and Gpa.  They are their new favorite blankets.

 Had to get one shot before the mess.

 Randy and his new BYU Santa.  Very appropriate I thought.

Kristi and McKenzie did this in the middle of the night for Gma and Gpa.  Kristi enlarged a recent family photo and changed it out for the old one and then wrapped the frame.  We wanted to see how long it was going to take for them to notice it was up there.  We had a good laugh.

After church and ready to play with their new toys.  You can just see the excitement on Malia's face. 

 Christmas is now over, everything is put away and we are ready for what 2012 brings on to us.  Happy New Years Everyone!!!!

I can't handle it anymore!!!!! (& cute hair)

I'm finished with sick kids. I thought that with this last ear infection that Malia had and Morgan now has we would have a break from illnesses. So much for that. So Malia had her 9 month check a couple days after she turned 9 mo, she had 4 immunization shots and right after that she started to get a new cold. She had this for about a week (just a dripping nose) and then Thursday night she vomitted in her bed (Poor Kristi was sleeping in her room and heard it all and came to get me up). She barffed her the contents of her stomach up and then dry-heaved for the next 8 or so hours. In between puking though she was happy and playing and having fun still. We fed her a little that evening cuz she went for a few hours without a hitch but then she upchucked in her bed again that night. Saturday she was miserable, lethargic and a had fever. So I took her in to the doctor and they ruled out and ear infeciton and thought that it could be a UTI because at the time she didn't have diahrea. So she had to get a cathedar to get some urine out (not a pleasant experience for anyone). That was ruled out and and so the doctor just said she had a gastro bug and we had to get her hydrated. (she wasn't dehydrated yet but she was heading that way with some of her symptoms). So we had to seriously syringe feed her pedialyte all day to trick her stomach into thinking there was nothing there. She was soo hungry at this point though and I felt so bad not giving her anything, but she would just throw-up everyhthing else. This morning she was still acting the same, I had a meeting to attend this morning and when I got back she was crawling and drank part of a pedilyte bottle. She was even doing well enough to try some saltines. It stinks seeing her like this. All she wants to do is be held when she is awake, she had been sleeping a lot though which is nice. So I am home from church, blogging instead, ya gotta love it.

This is my cute sister-in-law, Kristi. The pink shirt is her before picture with long hair, I helped convince her while she was here to chop it off and try something new. Don'tcha love it? I think it is sooo cute on her. Buffy, the girl who did my, and my girls' hair did Kristi's to. She was having fun with it right before they headed out to drive home to Oregon. She kept flipping it back and forth, not being use to the fact that it moves so easily, it was cute. My kids sure miss having her around.