"100 Day"

Today was "100 Day" for Brian at school. Apparently they have been in school for 100 days today. To celebrate he had to wear something that pertained to 100. So it was suggested to create a shirt that either had 100 things on it or had the number 100 on it and we were encouraged to be creative. When I asked Brian what he might want to do I was explaining to him how we were going to make something on a shirt about it. I reminded him how we had made his Seattle Seahawks shirt for the day he had to wear a shirt for his favorite sports team. His eyes got big and he explaimed, "I want 100 Seahawks!" Well I did my best to accomadate his request. Instead of 100 Seahawks we ended up with 50 football helmets and 50 footballs (thus equalling 100) pinned all over his Seahawks t-shirt. He loved it. We cut them out of felt. Thanks to my Sizzix die cut maching it was easy-- I love that thing! Here are some pictures:



He really is a Seahawks fan-- self proclaimed, as he decided for himself that was his favorite team. We think it has to do with the fact that while we lived in Washington was when the Seahawks made it to the Super Bowl so we watched them on TV all the time and that's who we were cheering for. At least he didn't pick one of the big rivals of his Daddy's favorite team the Raiders. I don't know what might happen if we ever end up with a Broncos or Chiefs fan. Anyways, he loves his Seahawks shirt and is very proud of it. As I said we made it. It's pretty hard to find Seahawks stuff in the east-- go figure! It was a plain white t-shirt. We went in on the internet and found a picture that he liked, added the words, printed it off, and ironed it on. Now Andrew keeps reminding me that he needs a Raiders shirt-- his favorite team. Now he has even decided that he needs helmets and footballs pinned to his too. Maybe Brian will have to share even though they will be the wrong color. When it comes to favorite teams I guess poor Timothy doesn't have a choice. Brian and Andrew have both told him that he is a Cardinals fan. Not sure where that one came from but they consistently say that. So I guess at our house we say, "Go Raiders, Seahawks, & Cardinals!" But in the case of the Super Bowl this year all the boys were happily cheering for the Giants with Mommy. They even danced around and did a little victory dance when they won. Silly kids!

Happy Birthday Daddy!!

Today is Derek's birthday. His second one in Afghanistan. He has now spent 5 of his birthdays in a forgein country. Crazy!!
Here are the boys singing him a special birthday message.




We love you Derek!! Hope you had a great birthday.

Lightsabers

For Christmas the boys got lightsabers. They were so excited to show them to their two little friends who also had lightsabers. They took them outside to show them off and play. I came in the house and when I came back just a few minutes later there were 12 kids out there all with lightsabers playing Star Wars. It was so cute! After that for the next few days it was the big thing and everyone would congregate on the playground behind our house with lightsabers in hand to play Star Wars. Timothy wanted to play so bad-- he thinks he's big enough. So one day when there were only my boys and their two friends I found him another play sword and let him go out to play too. He was in heaven! He ran right over and jumped right in. He knew just what to do. Once again-- It was so cute! And the bigger boys were so good to let him play too. They all had so much fun.

Finally another post!

Well now that its been over a month since I really posted anything I guess its time to get in the go of things and get something posted. So here's an update of what's been going on in the last month or so.

Here's some pictures's from Brian's school Christmas program. They sang some songs and then we shared family holiday food traditions. We shared chocolates. We told them about how Brian's Daddy's family gets together every year and makes homemade dipped chocolates. We aren't there to participate so we have to make them on our own and ours are very special because they don't contain milk, eggs, or nuts so Andrew can eat them. Everyone was surprised at how good they taste. This tradition was started with Derek's Great-Grandma Bayly so Brian is the 5th generation to participate in this tradition. WOW! Anyways, Brian was so cute in the program. He has recently learned to wink. He was standing in the middle of the front row. In the middle of the songs while everyone else was doing actions and singing he would stop, look over at me with a big smile, and give me a big wink. It was so cute!!

We had a great time visiting family over the holidays. It was a long flight to get there but the boys did so good. Several people who saw us commented on how brave I was to fly with three little boys all alone but hey-- you do what you have to! Christmas was lots fun and Santa was very good to the boys. Hmm. . . maybe he didn't check his list twice! LOL!! Anyways, here's some pictures. There are too many to show them all so I tried to pick just a few cute ones.

While we were in Idaho the boys were excited to have snow and to get to play in it. Sledding was something that has been planned every since they knew we were going. So it's a good thing the weather cooperated and we had snow. Here they are sledding.

The boys got some new suits for church. Andrew's had to be hemmed all over including like 6 inches on the pants-- hmmm, maybe that means he's short. Here they are looking pretty handsome.

Derek has played Fantasy Football almost every year since he was like 10. Back then he had to calculate all the scores by hand himself. Now its all done on the computer-- so much easier. After running his teams for him while he was in Iraq I got brave and had my own teams the next year. It was actually quite fun and I enjoyed it. So, this year I played again even though he was gone. It was a little scary as I had to draft my players and manage my teams all by myself. I had done it myself the year before too but I always had Derek to consult with too. He wasn't around to consult with this year so I was totally on my own. But I am happy to report that I had three teams all of which made it to the play-offs and one even won the championship game! That's right-- I won!! The particular league I won in I had to get special permisson to join. It's filled with pretty die-hard players and the guy I beat is the reigning champ of like 2 or 3 years. Go me!! I also wanted to point out that although Derek makes it to the championship game almost every year and has played since he was 10 he has never actually won a championship. I, on the other hand, have only played for two years and I have two championships under my belt (I won one last year too). As I said-- Go me!!! But don't ask my anything about football cause I still don't know anything. But I can fake it sometimes cause I know the names of players and teams. (HE! HE!) The league is made up of Raiders fans so I am the Powder Puff Pirate.


While we were in Idaho we got the wonderful opportunity to attend the open house for the Rexburg L.D.S. Temple. I was so excited as I lived just outside of Rexburg as a little so its partly home to me and my grandfather always said there would be a temple there someday and it was even built in the sport where he said it would be. Cool! It was beautiful and the boys really enjoyed going too. Here's some pictures.





And lastly I just had to post this picture because I think its so cute. Here are our two Kendalls-- Great-Grandpa Kendall Davidson and Andrew Kendall.


And now we are back home and settling in-- it takes awhile to adjust to the two hour time difference, especially when you are a night person. But we are trying! We are so excited for it to finally be 2008 as that brings us ever closer to Derek coming home. Can't wait!!

One Year!

Well today marks exactly one year since Derek left. Some moments it seems likes it been forever ago and some moments it seems like it has gone fast-- I like those ones the best! It has been a busy year with many ups and downs but we have made it though none the less. I know that it is with the help of our loving Heavenly Father that we are able to have the strength to make it through each day. I have felt that strength many times boost me and encourage me on when the way is rough. We have just three more months left-- so close and yet so far away! But I know we can make it. I look foward to when its all over and we can look back and say "That wasn't so bad. It went by pretty fast." Why is it that you always have to wait until something is over to realize that it went fast? Funny how that works. Here are some fun picture of Derek: