MAYLIN2007

My little boy has now joined the ranks of the older two; as a teenager! My dad came to celebrate too, as he and Alex share a b-day. My dad turned 83. Their b-days are Oct. 29! We started celebrating on the 28th with grandpa arriving. We went to football, had a b-day dinner and cake and presents. The next day, the day of, we went to Alex's last football game, to IHOP for b-day breakfast and then grandpa had to leave, but we kept partying with dinner later at Joe's Crab Shack and a pumpkin/haunted forest thing. It was a fun day. On the 28th, Alex didn't have school so we went shopping together, got pretzel bites and he picked out a white-white chocolate cake from Nothing Bundt Cakes. I think that was my favorite part. We don't get to spend much alone time together so it was awesome! We had a good time. Alex loves Boise State so I bought him a lot of Boise stuff. For Grandpa, we bought him all his favorite treats he usually won't buy himself. It was great!        

Since Austin's mission call things in our world have moved on. We have begun to shop for all the things he needs for his two year journey. I have tried to break up the list so I can spread it out over the next few months rather than spending a huge chunk this month. We have purchased his white shirts and ties and small supplies like a hymn book. In November we plan to buy the 5 pair of pants he needs, his preparation day clothing (exercise), and his rain/dress coat and other small items that are on the list. In December we will buy his 2 suits and his umbrella and in January buy any other last minute supplies that are on his list. I am hoping this plan will keep us from feeling overwhelmed both emotionally and financially. Austin is super excited. He hasn't been feeling well lately and the doctors think they need to change his heart meds. He has a stress test today. Football ends this week. I am sad, for Alex has loved it and has had a great year, but relieved too! It is sooooo...

Last weekend we went to see the Passeys (we traveled to China together) to meet their latest addition, Kai! They adopted him from Taiwan. He is a year and is so darling. It was great to see them function together as a family! It was fun for us to see that the Passey's who were going to China to get their first child with us, now have as many as we did back then....3!! It tickles me to see Bret with his boys. Alex about pushed Bret over the edge when we were in China and I am thinking they have an "Alex" of their own now. At least one of their boys seems to enjoy mischief too! It is so sweet to see Bret play with them. He is the best daddy. We had great Chinese food. Thanks for feeding us! It was so great to visit and catch up. Our kids played tag together outside. Austin really had fun with the boys playing trains and dragging Kai around on the top of a rubber maid lid. Kai really liked Austin and would climb up on the couch to sit next to him often. Emily and Maylin are ...

After several trips to the mail box today, the mailman finally delivered at about 1:16 p.m. See the photos of the call in the mailbox. Okay, so none of you really care about those shots, but me as the mom....I care a lot! I was shaking all the way to the box and after I got it. I called Austin right away and he was so excited. Jay was thrilled too and started to go home to see if he could steam open the call. I knew he would do that so I took the call with me to the kids' school. Jay was quite disappointed. I know him too well. We all gathered with friends and family at 7 p.m. to open the call. We had grandparents on home and cell phones. It was funny. Austin was so nervous. We all put our guesses on a map of the U.S. I do have to say that I was right. So was Jay's nephew Jason. We guessed his mission to a tee! Austin is excited. He is going to the Oakland/San Fransisco Mission Spanish speaking. He goes into the MTC January 18, 2012. He is a little nervous about learning a lan...

Based on information from our church leader (who has access to what is happening in the mission department), Austin's mission call should arrive in the mail tomorrow. Of course, the post office has been known to not be on-time, but if all goes well we should know tomorrow where he will be serving. We will post when we know.

Kenzie has developed a rash. It is a horrible rash. It itches and burns and is swollen and bleeding. I took her to the doctor. Apparently, she is having an allergic reaction to her own self..... Really? Really. To help clear it up, we are having to change detergents, soaps and she can't use anything with perfumes or dyes. She is supposed to apply shortening to the affected areas since lotions will make it worse...... If this doesn't work, we will have to go to steroids. Wow. You learn something new everyday. Don't cha now?!

Our family photos are done. We are now going through the 400 shots the photographer took of us. She put a few of them up on her blog if you would like to take a look. There are so many cute ones out of the 400, and obviously I can't get them all, so I have my work cut out for me. Take a look at her blog and let me know what you think of the few pictures that are there. I think they look great! Click on the link below. PHOTOS

Maylin: Kenzie can I use your make up? Kenzie: No. I am leaving and I won't be able to watch you with it or help you. Maybe later. Maylin: Fine then! I am not your best sister anymore!! Kenzie: Maylin don't hate me. Maylin: I don't hate you. I am just not your best sister. We are just sisters. That's all. Kenzie: Well, I love you. Maylin: You can't love me. I set the rules and you can only love me a little since we aren't best sisters anymore. Kenzie: Well I am going to break your rules and love you a lot. Maylin: I am telling mom. Mom: Spends a lot of time trying not to laugh.

I don't know what is going on this week, but I am just eating everything. Even when I am not hungry I am sticking something in my mouth! It is terrible. I am committing to be better next week. Holy cow, something has to give. The night I stayed up until 2:30 a.m. doing fruit leather....it turned out great, Maylin woke up at 3:15 a.m. vomiting. Needless to say, I am still tired from that night. That was the only time she threw up, but she kinda laid around all day. We were scheduled to have our family portraits taken that afternoon. Half way into it, Maylin was so tired she was floppy. Not sure how the pictures will turn out. I couldn't reschedule as the lady was booked until December and with every one's schedule I knew we couldn't find another time.I guess if she looks floppy and sick, it will just show the real working of our lives. Kenzie is frustrated with school. Lots of work. She is having a hard time keeping up and she hates all the time she spends with a tutor a...