Festive Friday

Let me preface my preface by saying

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DARRIN!

(he's my BIL & we luv him!)

***

Let me preface the story of this post by reiterating that Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I married into a family that doesn't make it a big deal, but they LIVE with Thanksgiving, so I have learned to adjust. I love Turkey. I love North America, my Land Bountiful, and its history. Also, as a grown up with my own house to manage, a certain rhythm has developed in our traditions. One of those beats is that we decorate for Christmas the day after Thanksgiving. Some people think this takes away from TG, but I feel like it's a natural progression. Because if I count my blessings countdown-style, number one always ends up being my faith/ the gospel of Christ, and how appropos to begin to celebrate His birth and all He's made and done for us on the day after Thanksgiving (after we've been pondering providence and abundance from His hands).

Okay, so one thing that will NOT be a tradition with us in Black Friday shopping, although it was fun to try it out this morning. Grandma Melin had the kids sleepover at her house after TG dinner last night, so Rich and I came home, planned out our routes and lists (we had subscribed to bfads.net a few weeks ago), snuggled up and watched a movie, slept a little, then headed out at 2:20am to our first stop (Old Navy at 3am...Rich took a picture and I'll post it here when I upload it). We finished there by 3:25am and stopped at IHOP for crepes (and watched an episode of Arrested Development on Rich's phone) before the 5am openings of Walmart and Target. We got to Walmart at about 4:15 am, rocked it by 5:20, then stopped by Target (which was INSANE, so we didn't buy), and made it to Michael's for the door opening at 6am (where we met up with Aunt Debbie and her girls). We finished at Michael's at 6:40, grabbed some envelopes at the Staples next door, and were hiding the loot in our room by 7:26am! So I have now been awake for 33 hours with only 21/2 hours of sleep. Yay, me. But, like the kids on the DisneyWorld commercial, "I'm too excited to sleep!" And WHY, you ask? Because I'm in the middle of THIS:

Decking the halls and fluffing my fake tree so the kids can decorate it when they get home from Costco with Rich & Uncle Mike!

***

When Rich started bringing the Christmas boxes down from the attic, Heidi started making a decoration cheklist for us. It was so amazingly adorable, I scanned it so you could see it, too (click to enlarge).

I LOVE THAT GIRL!

She was serioulsy standing in the living room with her marker making check marks as we unpacked her favorite things--so funny! She inspired me to post a few of my favorite Christmas things...

[Heidi's self-portrait with her Christmas bear]

I found this box of ShinyBrite "unbreakable"ornaments in my Grandma Layton's closet the evening after her funeral in Thatcher (Feb 2007)...I love the packaging even more than the bulbs, so I just set them out in their cute vintage box and think of my cutie "unbreakable"Gram.

I love my Baby Jesus.

I love that he comes out of his manger, because when I was little, I loved to sit and hold the Baby Jesus from my Grandma's nativity in my hand. Now my girls do that, too.

I love this vintage Christmas card. Three years ago, I visit-taught a much older sister in my ward (she's great-grandma to my local nieces & nephews) who lives out on a ranch. She always gave me preserves in vintage jars, and she gave me this super cool card for Christmas 2006. I hang it up every year.

This is another favorite card from Tryst Press which I treasure--love, love, love it! I had it in a frame, but it just wasn't right, so I hung it up this year where people will see it and read the beautiful poem ("Love came down on Christmas/ Love all lovely, Love divine...").

...and I love my Fisher-Price Little People Nativities...how can you not? We have two sets--one with music, one without, and the kids have fun playing with them each year (remember THIS?). They are so cute!

***
I forgot to post this picture last week with Addie's bday/baptism pix...

This was taken Sunday morning 11/22 as Papa Jim and Gramm Becky Layton were heading back to Idaho, and Addie was heading for church. I love it; so glad they were here for her special day!

***

I'm gonna go try for a nap B4 the kids get home...hope y'all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Not Feelin' So Hot at the Turkey Trot

So my sinuses are nigh unto exploding. My eyes, ears, and teeth hurt from the pressure. BUT--I got up and had fun with my kids this afternoon. First, we had popcorn and watched the end of the Mayflower show on the History channel. Then they all started fighting and had to have time-outs and I yelled at them and had a time out, too. Then we went to watch Heidi's "awesome" Kindergarten Thanksgiving Play at 5pm. Then I went to Community Children's Choir with Addie. Now we are all DAWG TARD. Here are some great pictures I stole from my MIL's camera...

Turkeys and Eagles singing about Pumpkin Pie

(the premise of the play is turkeys and eagles vying to be the National Bird--eagles win, but they console the turkeys with the fact that they are all over the newspapers and decorations every November, and they sing a couple of songs about it).Heidi flappin' her turkey wings

Heidi with her teacher, Mrs. Thums, aka Mama Turkey.

My three turkeys
(the other two are incognito)

***

I also uploaded a few pix MIL had of my nieces' birthday party on November 14th. Last week, Hannah turned 2 and Rosalie turned 4, so their fun mama (Rich's sis, Angie) had a fun party for them.
The fabulous Candyland Cake Angie made
Hannah & Rosalie get ready to make wishes

Hannah likes cake!

Rosalie loved her Furreal pets and headband.

Baptism Weekend: SATURDAY MORNING

Saturday morning Rich and I woke up to the realization that we had no sausage to feed the masses, and what's a pancake breakfast (especially for Miss Adeline, birthday girl and sausage lover) without sausage? So Rich ran to fetch sausage at 8am and I started cooking pumpkin pancakes and the turkeys for our family dinner. The birthday girl and her cousins were soon up, dressed, and chowing down! James, Ben, Heidi, Jack, and Jared
Marshall, Abby, Belle, Addie, and Ally
(with Rich, Jill and me working in the kitchen)

Jill making pumpkin chocolate chip cookies for the post-baptism bday gathering

After breakfast, Addie opened some birthday gifts. This one was from Aunt Amie & Uncle Matt--a beautiful bracelet and pocket mirror from Pier One.
Uncle Matt was waiting around to rough up bad guys.
Addie got a beautiful letter and cute pictures from Uncle Mark, Aunt Elena, Liana, Sariah, and Jared down in Texas. It was wonderful to start off her special day by reading the testimonies in that letter--thanks, MarLena!

Later, after some more cooking and football-watching, we loaded up the vans with food and kids and went up to the church to share a family turkey dinner (35 people were there!)

Here are Jack, Ally, and Jake ready to go.

Nana & Gabriel

Laura & Nana

Our delicious spread!

Aunt Amieand Addie=LOVE!

Ally & Nana fold programs

Papa Mark, Nana Lyndi, Gramma Becky, and Papa Jim visit after dinner...

A WONDERFUL FAMILY TIME!!!!

We missed all of you family who couldn't come!!!!

Baptism Weekend: The Baptism & Party

At 4:45 or so, we all headed into the chapel to prepare for The Big Event--Addie's baptism. But first, Uncle Mike took some shots of Addie, Dad, and me... Rich & Addie
Proud parents of a sweet girl

Daddy & Addie
***

There were two really super sweet moments between dinner and the baptism. First, I looked all over the church for Addie, Ally and Abby, and I finally found them in the girls' restroom locker. Ally and Abby had helped Addie find the best fitting bapstimal clothes in the cupboard. That was so cute of them to just sneak off and do that by themselves.

Secondly, I was busily trying to get my kids to sit down and be reverent when I turned around and noticed the whole chapel was full. FULL. I kid you not! Just turning and seeing SO MANY faces of people I love and who, most importantly, love my daughter, who have and will support and sustain her throughout her life...well, the sight just filled my heart to overflowing. (If you were there last night as part of our blood family or part of our ward family, please know how much your presence meant to me and to Addie; we are so blessed by your love).

Brother Dave Bowden, our ward mission leader, conducted our baptismal service. His daughter Chelsie led the music and Sister Westenskow played the piano. The opening song was "I Know That My Redeemer Lives" and Grandma Melin said the opening prayer. Then Uncle Drew talked to us about baptism and following Christ's example in our daily lives. All the cousins sang "I Am A Child of God" and we all went out to the font where Addie was baptized.

Jill, Laura, Mom, and I got Addie ready to return to the chapel after she was baptized by her daddy.
The senior Primary Girls sang, "I Will Follow God's Plan for Me" after we returned to the chapel, then Uncle Matt talked about the Holy Ghost for a few minutes.
[Jenny, Cayden, Michaela, Cassidy, Hailey, Kelli, Gracie, Ally, Addie, Isabelle, and Abby]

Then Addie was confirmed by her Daddy, with Grandpa Melin, Papa Jim, Papa Mark, Uncle Drew, Uncle Matt, Uncle Davey, and Bishop Tyner. Sister Kim Strupp welcomed her to the senior Primary and Bishop George Tyner welcomed her to the ward, then we closed the meeting by singing "The Family is of God."

***

After the service, we went back to they gym and had dessert with our friends who came to the baptism. In addition to members of our ward family, Addie's first grade teacher came, Mike and Page Gilmore came all the way from Powell, Wyoming, and the Bates family came from Bozeman (with the great news that they will be moving back to Livingston, only 4 blocks up the hill from us!). Addie opened gifts and we danced and chatted and enjoyed ourselves for about an hour. Then the kids kept dancing and/or playing basketball and we started the big job of cleaning up after ourselves. Luckily, we were home in our jammies by 8pm!

Isabelle and Jill
(Jill, you looked so pretty this weekend! Love your haircut!)
Gabriel & Laura

Aunt Amie [aka Sherry Bobbins] entertains all the kids

Aunt Angie made these beautiful cupcakes for Addie...

Isn't she so talented?

Jill & Mark

Amie & Sam

Belle with her pumpkin roll and cupcake.

Amie & Matt

My "bio" Parents--Jim Layton & Lyndi Drews

Addie opening gifts--this one is a scrapbook from Aunt Jenn Claar.

My Mighty Heidi is next up for baptism (in 28 months)

...she's so fun! Addie looks pretty excited about this necklace from Aunt Debbie Holm!

Uncle Marshall looks on...so handsome!

More gifts from generous friends...

Sweet Cousin Ally

Addie loved her new scarf from uncle Mike and Christina

(check out Christina's Etsy Shop)

Heidi dancing "like a T-Rex" to "Single Ladies" by Beyonce.

(That's Sarah Bates busting a move in the background)

Addie, Ally, Belle, and Azalea dancing

Aunt Abby joined in the fun, "making a joyful noise!"
Beautiful cake tree!

Crowd dwindling in the gym...Rich & his mom are there on the left, with Mark Westenskow, Mick Carter and their wives in the background, and Jill and Drew. My dear friends Amy and Jenn are in the foreground, with Amie and Matt, and my Dad Layton's back.

Once the lights were back on and all the cookies and pies were gone, Uncle Matt broke out the basketball. It was fun to see my dad and stepdad shoot some hoops.

Basketball in white shirts, like missionaries (Papa Mark and Papa Jim).

It was a GIFT to me to see my parents having a good time together.

Back at home, we watched some DVR'ed Glee (oh-how-I-love-that-show!) episodes, and this is what the girls were doing while they were "getting ready for bed"...they are so dang funny! I am so glad they have each other because there is nothing better than cousin pals!!!

Baptism Weekend: FRIDAY

I got all my peeps off to school and work on Friday morning, then had to stop to get birthday snacks and deliver them to Addie's class. When I pulled into the parking lot of Town & Country market at 9:30 am, my sis Laura pulled up next to me, having just arrived from Helena. She headed to my house to start baking treats for Thanksgiving dinner and I joined her after visiting Ad's class. We basically cooked all day long. Then Dad and Becky Layton arrived from Pocatello. They checked in at the Comfort Inn and came over to share a lasagna dinner with us. After dinner we visited for a while and my bro Matthew and his family arrived from Helena. Matt is about to graduate from the police academy so he wore his uniform to surprise James.... Addue, Uncle Matthew, James, and Dad Layton as Matt arrives
Officer Post and his admiring nephew James

Addie tried on Matt's handcuffs and went to bunk bed jail

These four cousins are best pals! Jake + Heidi and Sam + James=SO MUCH LOVE!

***

Dad and Becky returned to the hotel and the kids played as we waited for Nana & Papa Drews and the Petersens to arrive from Utah. I didn't look at the clock, but it seems like my mom got here around 9 and Petersens arrived around 10. All the girls slept in the basement living room and stayed up til 12:30am or so, singing Happy Birthday to Addie at midnight and giggling themselves to sleep. I was pretty dang tired, but I knew I had one more day in me and I was so excited to spend Saturday celebrating Addie's birth and baptism with the whole fam damily!

Mommy's Wishlist

My emerging crafty self needs THIS.

Necklaces found here.

Rings found here.

I want mine to say MAMA
I found a rug I LOVE for the downstairs family room (2 years of looking=lots of carpet stains). The photos won't upload, but here's the link. And I need a nice chrome-ish one of THESE.
Also, health for me & my family and peace at home will do just fine :)

Saturday Sledding

We had a lovely weekend here at home. It was sunny, so it was slushy outside, but cozy and spicy-smelling inside. We did chores Saturday morning, then James and I took a nap and Rich took the girls out back to sled and practice cross-country skiing. Ad did great on skis; Heidi will take more practice. But they both sled like pros!

Only a Day Away

I watched "Annie" the movie with my girls last night and sang every song. I told Addie that Annie was about my same age (she couldn't believe it) so we looked her up and this is what we found:


oh, the memories.

Sunny with Snow

I've been a busy bee the past 24-hours(I only slept from 2-7am) and I plan to keep goin' as long as my ol' body can keep up! I came up from the basement to post a greeting for my dad and a picture of my projects, so...

Here's a picture of what got wrapped today--made "from scratch" by yours truly:
I plan to keep sewing, but for now it's time to do reading with the kindergartners, so smell ya later...

O The Weather Outside is Frightful...

...but from my front porch it's delightful!

And since I've no place to go,

let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Ok, but I DID have somewhere to go (helping with reading and composition time in Addie's class) and when I got home, I had my first "Snow Incident" with my car (I know! I have been here 7 years and this is the first time I have been stuck! That's my van stuck out on the sidewalk in the pictures). Luckily, I got stuck at the bottom of my own driveway, so I just parked there and came in the house. Rich just dug me out on his lunch hour and put my car back safe and dry in the garage. Because he's a superhero like that. And I have that awful snow allergy.

James took this picture of me [makeup-less] while he was dancing on the table.

This one is for all those sillies who say I haven't aged, cuz...holy cow!
James and cousin Rosalie played remote control cars over the weekend.

I thought James looked like quite the metrosexual fashion plate on his way to preschool last Wednesday, so I snapped this picture.

BEST NEWS EVER: My mom (pictured above with Addie at our lagoon in 2004) is feeling better and came home from the hospital with her fancy new red blood yesterday. YAY, NANA!

While I was making a photo collage for Addie's baptism, I found this cutie of Addie, Ally, and Isabelle from September 2003 at Peteresen's house. Aren't they so cute? So cute I almost cried!

***

Well, I'm off to play Santa's workshop downstairs and watch 30Rock on DVD. That's what I have been doing all week and I am totally enjoying myself. You are welcome to come, too! Wear something cozy and don't do your hair! ;)

mom update

Hey, I haven't had a chance to call mom, but Jill and Lisa have called me with news. Mom's doctor says there is no way she has leukemia. THAT is good news. They are still figuring stuff out, but she is doing better. Give her a call! 801-855-2156...HUGS!

Hangin' Around, Bein' a Nerd

Update, 11pm: Sorry I had to turn word verification back on cuz I been gettin' crazy comment spam again. Also I just watched The Unsinkable Molly Brown at the Firehouse 5 Playhouse and there is a ton-o-talent around here...very fun! Happy Birthday, Angie!

While I am simultaneously trying to prepare to teach RS and hand off Primary choristering tomorrow, getting ready to go on a date while I feel like poo, and waiting to hear news about my mom, I am doing some research on her condition. If there are any doctors out there who want to translate any of this for me, feel free.

Here's the sitch: Mom has a sucky immune system. She was diagnosed with Spru in 1987, fibromyalgia then RA around 2000, then diffuse large B cell (?) lymphoma in 2008 for which she underwent chemo and radiation. In September she was treated with transfusions for hemolytic anemia from which she never recovered and has been admitted again for another transfusion, 8 weeks later. She has new doctors because she moved from Vancouver WA to Utah, so they are figuring out what's wrong and today's guess is leukemia. Here is what I read about today [my comments are in brackets]:

[This type of Leukemia seems most likely to me—totally untrained in medicine—only because her lymphoma was a B-cell lymphoma…]

B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL), also known as chronic lymphoid leukemia (CLL), is the most common type of leukemia. Leukemias are abnormal and malignant neoplastic proliferations ("cancers") of the white blood cells (leukocytes). CLL involves a particular subtype of white blood cells, which is a lymphocyte called a B cell. B cells originate in the bone marrow, develop in the lymph nodes, and normally fight infection. In CLL, the DNA of a B cell is damaged, so that it can't fight infection by producing antibodies. Additionally, they grow out of control and accumulate in the bone marrow and blood, where they crowd out healthy blood cells…
…Although not originally appreciated, CLL is now felt to be identical to a disease called small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL), a type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma which presents primarily in the lymph nodes. The World Health Organization considers CLL and SLL to be "one disease at different stages, not two separate entities.”…
…CLL treatment focuses on controlling the disease and its symptoms rather than on an outright cure. CLL is treated by chemotherapy, radiation therapy, biological therapy, or bone marrow transplantation. Symptoms are sometimes treated surgically (splenectomy removal of enlarged spleen) or by radiation therapy ("de-bulking" swollen lymph nodes).
Initial CLL treatments vary depending on the exact diagnosis and the progression of the disease, and even with the preference and experience of the health care practitioner. There are dozens of agents used for CLL therapy, and there is considerable research activity studying them individually or in combination with each other.[16]
Decision to treat
While generally considered incurable, CLL progresses slowly in most cases. Many people with CLL lead normal and active lives for many years - in some cases for decades. Because of its slow onset, early-stage CLL is generally not treated since it is believed that early CLL intervention does not improve survival time or quality of life. Instead, the condition is monitored over time to detect any change in the disease pattern. [CLICK TO READ MORE]


[But there is also this kind of Leukemia, which I found most often in my “hemolytic anemia” searches]
Accute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)
In ALL, very immature leukemia cells accumulate in the bone marrow, destroying and replacing cells that produce normal blood cells. The leukemia cells are also carried in the bloodstream to the liver, spleen, lymph nodes, brain, and testes, where they may continue to grow and divide. They can irritate the layers of tissue covering the brain and spinal cord, causing inflammation (meningitis), and can cause anemia, liver and kidney failure, and other organ damage.
Prognosis
Before treatment was available, most people who had ALL died within 4 months of the diagnosis. Now, nearly 80% of children and 30 to 40% of adults with ALL are cured. For most people, the first course of chemotherapy brings the disease under control (complete remission). Children between the ages of 3 and 7 have the best prognosis. Children younger than 2 and older adults fare least well. The white blood cell count and particular chromosome abnormalities in the leukemia cells also influence outcome. [CLICK HERE TO READ MORE]


[…this goes on to say that chemo (at least 2 rounds) and stem cell transplants are the treatment…]

[Here is the conclusion of a study of the anemia associated with the leukemia…]
…This study indicates that in CLL (chrionic lymphocytic leukemia) AHA (accute hemolytic anemia) is a rare event with no independent effect on survival for which steroids, associated with CB (medication) if required, and a careful management of infections may successfully control the 2 conditions. Cooperative studies are needed to better define the optimal steroid schedule and the therapeutic role of other immunosuppressive agents and splenectomy. [CLICK HERE TO READ MORE]

Won't You Be My Neighbor?

I'm feeling a little haggard today. I had a hard time falling asleep last night because my body is doing that whole inflammation thing where, when I catch a new bug, my joints and muscles cease to work. After dropping a bunch of stuff and twisting my knees a couple of times on the stairs, I retired to the tub for a hot bath. I got engrossed in what I was reading and I kept reading it until midnight when I heard Heidi having a coughing fit. I slept by her until 2am then went to my own bed. A few minutes later Addie came to our bed with a fever, stuffy nose, and tummy ache. We gave her some medicine and got her to sleep, then James came in and Rich went up to Addie's bed.

James & Addie are still asleep, I am just up to take my own meds, help Rich shave his head, and see Heidi off to school. Hopefully I'll get back to bed! Dang this cold & flu season!

(I would feel a lot better if "Glee" had been on. Hope you baseball people are happy with yourselves.)

In my inbox this morning I got a fare alert from kayak.com to tell me that I can fly Billings to London for $798...mmm. Also, the house next to ours is for sale...anybody wanna be our neighbors? Click here to check it out! Gotta run...