The Sherwood's visit (Tegan)

Tegan has been coming in the summer to visit with us for a few weeks. She currently lives in Nebraska while Nathan is attending, his now 4th year, of medical school. This is usually the only time we get to see each other during the year, at least have the kids get together. I LOVE IT!! She stays at my house in the office with an air mattress and at least one baby, usually two. Then her other kids just pile in where ever with my other kids and it was WONDERFUL!! I did not take as many pics as I should have because I just thought, I'll do that later. With 9 kids under 9 in a house, it's amazing how the day went by and we felt like we did nothing. Sometimes I felt like I hardly even talked to Tegs. We didn't go on many 'adventures'. Actually we didn't go on any. But taking them swimming every day was adventure enough beleive you me! We did spend a day shopping and that was fun and then Uncle Steve and Aunt Cindy braved a movie with all of them (G-Force). But we mostly just stayed around home and let them play and hang out. Was it insane and crazy? How could it not be? But I would do it again in heartbeat. And after we bawled our eyes out when Mean Nathan came to take them back home, it was a little nice to have the house back to normal and I can say that because I know she feels the same way. So here are the pictures.

HERE THEY ARE (minus the baby Creighton)

below Annie, Sam (in orange), Teila, Kate, Joey, Brennan (behind), John, Kenzie

The baby Creighton (named after the medical school that Nathan attends). He is 8 months-ish. Very cute. I thoroughly enjoyed him. Even if he was teething almost the whole time. He was delightful. (my brother Steven is holding him)

I think it's safe to say that I am Creigh's favorite Aunt. He practically lived in this thing!

Meet my Sammy boy. Samuel is something else. But we seriously bonded on this trip. Not like last year. It looks like I am making him take this picture and he's not happy about it, but the picture isn't totally accurate. He really loves me. He even called me today. We didnt' talk much because he was chasing a bouncy ball, but I think it's pretty clear, I'm the favorite.

It was darn near impossible to get him off this scooter. Imagine how fun that was for me and Tegan to constantly be dodging the scooter all day long. (blast laminate floors all over the house!) But he loved it.

Annie and Sam (almost 2 and almost 3)

The story of their time together: playing happily one minute...

arguing the next. And it's not fun when these two stubborn kids have different ideas...

They could have some great fun though. Good times, good times!!

Yea, that's them alright.

Makenzie (Kenzie), Teila, Joseph

Kenzie and Joe were buddies the whole time. They got along really well. They are both 4 and about 5 weeks apart. Kenzie shares my birthday, and Tegan's and Nathan's. The lucky girl! These two played, and played and played. What did they play, I couldn't tell you. But they did it for long periods of time (hooray!)

LOVE THEM!! And they really love each other. Joey misses Kenze a lot and talks about 'his cousin who is 4' often. Or asks if Kenzie is going to go to school with him.

Kate Frances Sherwood. She just turned 7.
Kate is a near perfect child. She and Teila are great friends. Which puts her high on my 'near perfect child' list. She is soft spoken and kind (a lot like Tegan) but don't get her upset, it's not pretty (a lot like Tegan). And please no comments, like "oh no, not Tegan! She doesn't act like that." "I've never seen Tegan get upset at anyone." I know some jaws have probably dropped and frankly, I'm glad I can't see your shocked looks, it would make me sick. The Tegan you think you know is not the real Tegan. Sure she is nice and talks soft and acts all friendly and is a great mom and all that. But please let the record show that Tegan is NOT THE NICE SISTER! I AM! IT'S ME! and I personally feel, the sooner people realize that the better. Not to take away from Tegan's wonderfulness, I'm just saying.This is Teila's baptism. All my kids plus Kate.

Here is Annie and Creighton. This happened often too..
First the cry (who knows why)

Then Annie wanting to give comfort...

Then the (usually unwanted) hug. And usually some tears after. But Annie loved the "baby". (I'm thinking this is effective birth control)

Brennan is 9 just like Teila. Born the day after Teila for those who didn't know or remember. He is so talented at so many things. I really enjoyed getting to know him better and have conversations with him. He is a reader and has a great imagination. He read all kinds of books while he was here. He introduced Johnny to computer games this summer (thanks a lot). But he is a good kid and very smart.

What did the boys do? Pretty much this, video games, computer games whatever. Of course they did different things, like Tegan and I would just let them play computer games all day. Honestly! I just didnt' get pictures of anything else they did. But they were pretty happy with this. (the other little boy in the picture is Steven, Eddie's youngest brother.)

I just think Creighton looks so cute in this one. I tried to get them to all look and smile, but you can only do what you can do.

Sam, Brennan, AnnieSam didn't ever get in the water until the last day when he actually got wet. Tegan thought to play this game with him where he would run back and forth and she would try to 'ring' him. He thought it was great and I was totally entertained.

Sam

Kate, Kenzie, Teila, Joey

Teila and Heather

This is Heather and her now husband Brandon with Teila. Heather was Teila's respite person this summer. She would take Teila 3 times a week for 2-3 hours and do whatever. She was WONDERFUL!! We just went to her reception on Friday and Teila wanted me to post this picture.

Annie's new look-

There are times when sometimes think it might not be such an awful thing that Eddie leaves his socks all over the house...

Please note: the no shirt isn't part of the 'new look'. Annie is occasionally without one though and I wasn't about to put one on just for a picture.

New York...NEW YORK!!! Johnny's trip

john and charlie

So I think most people have heard that my little 6 year old Johnny went to NY this summer to visit his cousin Charlie. They live right in Manhattan. John said he wanted to go in the Fall so Eddie told him that was great and all he had to do was earn $300 to go. Sheesh, he was only 5. So he decided to have a yard sale inspired by Eddie's brother Steven. John called family and friends and asked them if they had anything to donate. Not easy for him to do. Everyone really came through. We had tons of stuff. He helped me organize and clean it all and he earned enough money to go! I was a little shocked actually.

So Auntie Lydia who is 17 and goes there every summer, flew out with him. John was perfect on the plane. He just sat there and looked out the window. He wasn't scared or nervous or anything. John stayed there for just over 3 weeks. A bit long for a 6 year old you say? Maybe. Did John have a hard time or miss us? No. Seriously. He barely thought about us. And when we skyped with him, we mostly talked to Charlie because John was too busy playing. Eddie went out there to pick him up at about 2 1/2 weeks and stayed 5 days. But really John didn't miss us.

He was in very good hands with Iris, Tim, Auntie Lydia and Charlie to show him the ropes on subway

So what did Johnny do while in NY with Charlie?

played with Uncle Tim..

bonded....

played at the park...

bonded... who knows what they are 'discussing'



They dug for worms which I personally think is pretty gross and I'm glad he did this with Iris and not me. I just have to put up with Charlie and John catching lizards.

played with Dad...

bonded with some pretty cute little girls (2 of the cutest cousins you could ask for)

had an indoor campout because the Fathers and Sons got rained out...

and one of the greatest things is Charlie got baptized while his cousin could be there..

rode the ferry and saw The Statue of Liberty of course...

visited the Museum of Natural History several times which is where they found... Charlotte, Dragon and Fireball.

The Boyles' have amazing playful imaginations. These slithering friends were discovered at the Natural History Museum. Charlotte and Dragon got married while Johnny's was there.

went to a ward family picnic...

saw a Cathedral while Eddie was there. He is quite obsessed with them (Eddie that is)


and in general had a FABULOUS time!! Thank you Iris for letting Johnny come and stay with you. What fun memories he made. And even though he didn't want to watch a movie in the afternoon when he got home, which means Joey didn't want too, it was still worth it!!


Is this an extremely long post? Yes, but it's archiving for Johnny's sake... Sheesh. Plus I love it!!

Teila

(This was a tribute Auntie Beth did for Teila on her blog and I totally copied it because it was so beautiful. Thank you Beth!)

Teila has decided to be baptized!

I remember 9.9ish years ago just weeks after they were married Tecia whispered in Eddie's ear at Tantrum and he said..."tell her" and she did.... "I am pregnant!"
I remember being excited and weirded out that 1st of all Eddie was going to be a dad... that was the weird part... and YAY I was going to be an Aunt.
I remember deciding what I wanted to be called... because yes that was seriously important!
I remember Eddie telling me in no way were his children going to call me Auntie (with the "A" sound pronounced like the "a" in Saw...)
I remember it taking me a few months to reconcile my self to the other Auntie ( "A" sound like the "a" in sand)
I remember the anticipation of Tecia and Tegan being due within a week of each other.
I remember shopping... and more shopping.
I remember in NO UNCERTAIN TERMS was Eddie's Daughter going to be named after a HE-MAN character.
I remember the excitement of knowing the birth was any hour.
I remember rushing to the hospital because she was HERE!
I remember her 2 grandmothers sitting side by side outside the room.
I remember asking my mom if she was beautiful.
I remember my mom having something in her voice I couldn't read when she answered me.
I remember seeing her and being surprised that she looked different than I had anticipated.
Now knowing that she looks exactly like her mother... but also that Heavenly Father had a different path for her.
I remember seeing my brother (her father) hold her with a look I couldn't decipher... not of the usual excitement but with a solemn knowing look.
I remember leaving and wondering... wondering... praying that everything was ok.
I remember hours later finding out that Teila our sweet highly anticipated 1st Grandbaby had a 99% probability of carrying an extra chromosome on her 21st chromosome that would label her with DOWN SYNDROME.
I remember the heavy devastating emotions that I carried.
I remember not sleeping... (I who was just the Auntie)
I remember the advice and the questions.
I remember how uniformed I was about trisomy 21.
I remember how little attention I had ever paid a person with Down Syndrome.
I remember the 8lb 4oz baby laying like a large marshmellow next to the 2lb baby in the NICU of Desert Samaritan Hospital.
I remember every little milestone.
Eating enough food so she could come home.
MY mom finding out that she was pregnant... (people with flu like symptoms are NOT allowed in the NICU)
I remember how little she was when she finally came home.
I remember her little jarman aunties full of nerves and anticipation about how she would look.
I remember one little auntie seeing her and in relief commenting... "oh she is just a baby"...
I remember how much fun it was to hold her.
I remember that crazy crazy hair.
I remember how beautiful she was.
I remember how people stopped you to admire her where ever she was.
I remember those pigtails!
I remember her crazy way to crawl.
I remember her first steps and her first teeth.
I remember that she called me Beh... instead of Auntie (that came later)
I remember she loved to wrestle.
I remember she was always dressed to the 9s.
I remember our first pedicure... first trip to build a bear ( I waited sooo long for this one)...shopping... shopping...
I remember haircuts and how Tantrum embraced her.
I remember being accused of favoring her.
I remember last year when she was getting close to turning 8 and thinking she wasn't emotionally ready for baptism.
I remember her 9th birthday that "Only Girls... NO BOYS... were invited to.
I remember last month when Tecia called and told me her little girl wanted to get baptized.
I remember being so happy for her and her family for reaching such milestones.

We are so proud of Teila for wanting to make this covenant .
For knowing that we get baptized because Heavenly Father wants us too.
For knowing that we will be promising to choose the right...to be nice to others and do what our parents ask.

Pampering

For one of Teila's Activity Days activity, they did a pamper night with mom, where us mom's got to eat a lovely spaghetti dinner made by the girls and be pampered by our daughters. After we took a quiz on how well you know your daughter, (who knew her favorite pet was a fish) Teila and I were tied for first but lost the tie breaker of a number behind the back trick. I should have known her favorite primary song was "A Happy Family" and not "I am a Child of God" how unoriginal of me to guess. Anyway, we had a good time. Teila esp. We were encouraged to have an open mind, a 'clean slate' and to have fun. Something about it being more fun for the girls or something if we had good attitudes.




Teila put my hair in a pony tail first thing. Her ideas are so radical sometimes!! Then the eye shadow as you see. We also did blush and she painted my nails. She actually did a pretty good job. All those ballet performances have paid off. You should have seen some of the other mom's!! She did try a bit of mascara and only stabbed each eye once!


The end result.


When I got home Eddie looked at me and when I made some comment about what Teila had done he said "oh that's where you were. Whew, I thought maybe you had lost your marbles." No seriously, he said that. I think Teila should be offended. But I guess at least he didn't make a rude comment to me. I think that says something about him.

High School Musical

Grandma Freestone has been wanting to take Teila to a play to be cultured or something. So she bought tickets to Thr Broadway Palm, dinner and movie theater on Higley and Brown to see High School Musical. Teila is all about music and dancing. It was late, but Teila had a GREAT time. And even though she fell asleep on Grandma's lap, she still woke up to clap at the appropriate time. It was fun and I would recommend it to others , esp. if you get good seats.
Oddly enough, Sharpay and Ryan were her favorite... hmmm....

Teila with Troy and Gabriella cut-outs. She's holding her hand. I think it's so cute. Troy didn't cooperate though.


One of the cheerleaders that came out before the show. Her name was Brooke.


My mom hates it when I take my own pictures like this, with my arm extended as far as it can go, but I've gotten a little better at it. And let's face it, if it bugs my mom it makes it more fun!

Latest and Greatest

This is my new haircut!! It's short I know, but like my sister Shyla says, you only live once! I really like it. You know it's funny, I want new haircuts but only on the condition I don't have to figure out new ways to style. Some people just don't have those skills. My rule is usually my hair can be whatever as long as I can wear it in a pony tail, but Shyla assured me I could just wear headbands when I'm exercising or whatever. I'm excited about it; it doesn't seem too difficult to do and it's similiar enough to my old style. Anyway, because Shyla whippped out this clever little poem, I'm posting... (and yes, I had Johnny take pictures and I emailed them to Shyla ok! Someone had to tell me they like it!) Thank you Beth!!

Ode to Tecia's New Haircut

There once was a girl with long hair

happy, but wanting a change.

So, full of determination and dare

she stepped right outside her range!

She put her hair in trustworthy hands

and sat back to wait for the new "do"

not caring where the scissors would land

as long as she got something new.

And wa-la! There it was

shiny and short, and in vogue

That stylish cut was the neighborhood buzz

and the girl looked hotter than hell!

Teila reading "Go, Dog. Go!"

This makes me VERY happy!

SHOPPING!

Some of you may or may not know that I enjoy shopping. Mostly when you can get really GREAT deals. So I went by the Tempe Marketplace Old Navy and they were having their 50% off all of their clearance. Of course I drive out to the O.N. on Frank Lloyd Wright because it has a better selection. And I was sure right this time. After 3 hours of shopping that felt like 1, I left with this...


7 bags! One bag is actually already gone!!! I dropped it off at my friends house on the home. Some of you may be shocked and unable to speak. But when you can get shirts for $1, and Slim jeans for Johnny for $4, you take advantage. And since I have people that I love, who like me, like great deals and need to save money, I shopped for them. The big one on the right is mine. Mostly Annie's winter clothes and baby gifts. Another one is pants for John. Then Mary had a bag, and a bag for Hannah, a bag for Steven, a bag for Tegan, and like I said I dropped off Laura's bag. Mary wanted to take a picture. This from a girl who didn't like shopping. That's right, "didn't". On the way home, she said that she understood why I liked shopping if I could find deals like that. AND I DO!! It is pretty exciting.

I had a cart and by the end of my trip little children were pointing and saying " mommy, look at all that stuff!" Really, several kids stopped and looked. The checkout lady was so nice. I had everything organized into family's so it would be easy and she rang it up and put it in all in different bags. They were really nice. I did have to tell some people behind us too that we were seriously going to be awhile.

AHHHH, that was a great shopping trip... How much did I spend? Well, after my additional 20% off for opening a card, I spent $300. But the people I bought for pay me back. So I didnt' spend that much myself. Although Annie does have like 12 long sleeved shirts. And then when I got home I was organzing trying to "regroup" as my mom says and see what else I needed to get for the school year, and I had forgotten about several other pairs of pants I had bought for John these past few months. And I kept finding more and more until I counted 16 pairs of pants for him to start the school year!! I had only bought a few on this trip, and at the prices I spent, it was hardly worth taking back. So we found new homes for them. And they are happy homes.

I know, I'm ridiculous. But I love it. And since Mary wanted to take a picture, I thought I should share. It's not as embarrassing as the graduation card for my nephew...