Build a Bear Birthday!

Darby's birthday party was at Build a Bear! Such a fun place.... don't go in without your wallet because even as an adult you will end up wanting something! She had 7 friends she invited! Aubrey Durrett, Jacey Davidson (both in her primary class), Grace Bean (came straight from her baptism!) Darby, Millie (my cousin), Alex Rodriguez (old ward friend), Elaina Teran-Chavez (neighbor) , and Cara Boyer (old ward friend)! They were all so creative and different with their choices!Darby of course had to have her brothers there! They all talk about their birthday parties over and over and even hang it over each others heads at times! Max is at the stuffing machine and Dash is giving some attitude because he went over his budget with his animal choice and now doesn't get to dress his dog! To bad so sad!
The girls sat down at first to know how much money they each had to spend. Some girls brought a little extra. All the girls were GREAT to stay with in a budget!
It's hard to talk about the money side when you just want to go CRAZY!
Darby is great to entertain while they waited for everyone to stuff their animals!
When you are done stuffing you go on to "bathe" your new pet and then you get dress them and name them! Darby had a cute bunny that she named Stella Luna! Max had a dog that he dressed in a batman suit (daddy sprang for extra and went over budget....sorry Dash) and he named him Batdog! Dash got a puppy that was "naked" and he named him Braden! (His best friend that has white hair just like him:)
After the building of the bears we went upstairs to open gifts. Darby got a lot of fun things! Pet shops, Webkinz, Money, a diary, and some Polly Pockets!

It was then time to move on to the cupcakes and juice boxes! So yummy! For the first time ever mommy sprung for the store bought kind! Well worth the 11$! (I still struggle knowing that I could make them for 3$) She loved them though and it was a fun and needed change! Because we were at the mall there was really no clean up for us to do! AHHHHH!
Then to end the party they all got to ride the Carousel! Darby held on for dear life because she wasn't buckled and we all know how crazy fast a carousel can be! Daddy and Dash pose in the back!
Dash LOVES the carousel! He asks every time we go to the mall. He really only gets to on special occasions though! He always picks the cat so this was a big change to be on the ostrich!
Max is always cool! All and all it was a great day and Darby had a blast. When it was all over we were going to go to lunch just as a family. She was concerned that we had spent to much money so she said we could just go home. She is really such a good girl and we are lucky to have her in our family. I can't believe she is 8!

The big 8 year old!

Darby turned 8 last week on the 22nd! We took her to CiCi's Pizza for dinner and she got to open her gift from me and Brandon and her brothers. We gave her a Nintendo DS and her brothers gave her a game. I can't believe she is 8! She will be baptized the Saturday after Thanksgiving! She was REALLY excited about this game! It is called Babyz and is all about babysitting and taking care of babies.

Miz Jackson if your Nasty!

Last Wednesday Hil took me to the Janet Jackson concert! SOOOOO much fun! We had a great time together! I was ready to rock out but being 8 months pregnant the only thing that really rocks out is your bladder! Hil and I realized our age when we rushed to get on the road by 6:45 at the latest. We walked in at about 7:20 (the tickets said concert at 7:30). Forgetting from our younger more concert going years that concerts really start later than the ticket says. At 8:30 I yawned at Hilary and said I didn't know if I was even going to make it for Janet to hit the stage! I knew I still had an opening act then they would reset for her to come on. We are talking 10:00 at least. We both felt very old. I don't know what happened to the opening act but she came on at about 8:45 and was well worth the wait! She rocked it out old school with lots of her choreography from her videos that we used to copy in dance! My favorite of course was Nasty Boys! "No my name ain't Baby, it's Suzy, Miz Jeffords if your Nasty!" There was one section that I could have done with out (it was way over the top and super rated R). Hil and I left shortly after that. All and all it was a great night with my friend Hil and my girl Janet! I was a little sad to not buy a "Nasty Girl" tank top (40$) so I will make one with a sharpy! Thanks Hil.... I can't wait for ACDC!

Quote of the day!

Darby hates to come home from school and have to do 1000 things. She just wants to cut loose and play! Mondays unfortunately are not the day to do that. We go straight to piano after school then off the the chiropracter. Then there is home-work, dinner and baths. Leaving hardly any time for play. We got wise though yesterday and she did homework in the car and read to her brothers for all her reading. When we pulled into our neighborhood I heard a big sigh and ....

Darby: "I am done with everything and I think when I go home I will have to dance around with glee!"

That is a pretty good feeling!

The Talented Mr. Max B

Max told Brandon and I that he knew how to tap dance. So we thought we would show you his natural talents in this field. This is not sped up in any way...he is really "that good"! We will be accepting calls from Juliard soon. Sorry there's no sound.

Welcome ROCCO!

Again we had to take a picture of a picture but I couldn't wait to show off my new nephew! This is Rocco Jeremy D'Anna! (Everyone goes to homecoming with Rocco! ... what a great name! :) He is Brandon's sister's new baby! Congratulations Wendy and Matt and big sister Olivia and big brother D'Andre! This picture doesn't do him justice because he really is the cutest little creature I have ever seen and I know how to make some cute little babies! He was born October 5th 2008. 8 pounds 5 oz 21 in. I am sooooo happy for them and the only sadness I feel is that we don't live closer so we could all grow up together! What a sweet little man!

I will totally understand if you want to scribble your mouse all over his face because he is soooooo cute! I know he makes me grit my teeth a lot and shake! That is one cute baby!

Another word by Dash!

COMPRISE! = Surprise!

Quote of the day!

I didn't really understand until today while helping out in Max's class where Max would get a question like he asked me. They are discussing mammals and nocturnal animals and all sorts of things like that. Is a bat nocturnal? Yes. Is it a mammal? Yes. Is an owl nocturnal. Yes. Is it a mammal? No. How do we know? It lays eggs.

Max: "Mom, did Miss Jennie Jo lay her baby yet?"
Mom: "What?"
Max: "You know! Did she lay her baby? Will it be at Gavin's birthday party?"
Mom: "No Miss Jennie Jo hasn't HAD her baby yet, it won't be at the party!"

Apparently Miss Jennie Jo is not a mammal.... I wonder if she is nocturnal!

My sugar cookie Hero!

Every year for Halloween and Christmas my dad would make home-made sugar cookie dough and let us pull out 16,000 different cookie cutters. He would patiently roll out the dough 1000 times and then let us cut them out. He would bake them and whip up all different color frostings and we would get to decorate them on our own! I had no idea how amazing that was! I started the dough yesterday (from a mix) then rolled the dough out. By the time I had 3 ghosts cut out I knew this would be a mommy only job! I had flour all over me and dough all over the rolling pin. There were words not for little ears and I only had to cut out 3 batches (about 12 ghosts)! This was all before the baking or decorating. When it was time to frost, there were no multiple colors, no sprinkles, buttons, or sparkles! We had BROWN ghosts only! They were lucky to get eyes!
Some didn't even look like ghosts....and I was the one who cut them out....not the kids.
At the end of the day though the kids thought I was a hero! If they only knew what a real hero was. The man, who not only one year but many years would dawn an apron, let the flour fly, not worry about time or mess and let his kids create masterpieces! Thanks Daddy! My Hero!

(I have no idea! Again....the best picture he would take. After the first set of laughs he just kept the faces coming!)

A bed for Callie.

Darby has been saving her allowance to take to her Build -a- Bear birthday party to buy extras. Yesterday when we went to Walgreens we saw this little cat bed and she insisted on spending her 9$ and borrowing $1 from me to buy it for Callie. I suggested maybe we come back and get it for Christmas for her but Darby wouldn't hear of it! Callie LOVES to sleep on stuffed animals. She digs her nails into them then nestles down to snooze. When she sleeps with Darby, she always makes sure Callie has a stuffed animal near her so she can rest peacefully!
Needless to say Callie LOVES it. We put her in it at first and she rested for a while. Then after I put the kids to bed I cam down stairs and found her asleep on her own this time! Darby is such a sweet girl to always think of her pet! What a lucky cat Callie is!

The Pumpkin Patch!

On Saturday we did our "jobs" and then ran off to the Flower Mound Pumpkin Patch! It is all free and they have tons of fun stuff to do! Max (with the help of Dad) got on top of a GIANT roll of hay that was stacked up on TONS of hay bales! I didn't think he would dare but he almost didn't need help!
Dash had to pose this way because we have pictures from 2 years ago of him and I posing like this. He wasn't coaxed or anything! We tried to get him to sit on the pumpkin but he insisted on this!
Dash couldn't decide what window to get in and he just kept opening and shutting them. Max was sick of the sun in his eyes so this is what we ended up with!
The hay rides are always the parents favorite part. It's about 10 minutes of just sitting while someone else does all the work!
Sunglasses because when you are pregnant you forget a lot of things..... like make-up!
Dash was the most content on the hayride. He was too grumpy that day to even go in the bounce houses! He went in one for about 3 minutes. Long enough to have to take off his shoes but then have to put them right back on again!
We crossed over the fence to the neighboring pumpkin patch (I do not recommend that!) They had pony rides ($3.00/child). We caved and they all got to ride one time! The camera battery died when it got to be our turn to ride!
One of the most favorite parts is the hay maze! Max LOVES mazes of any sort and he went through it the most. They have this small one and this year they made an even bigger one. They don't allow parents in either. When we got to the entrance of the big one I asked Max to wait for Darby to go in with him and Daddy to position himself to be able to see them. The pumpkin patch was really busy and I was worried he would get stuck. He agreed and I turned to take a picture of Dash and Max was gone! I panicked and screamed his name! (He would never go in after I told him not to!) Sure enough Brandon was able to see his little head running through the maze with no help! Needless to say he was in a little trouble!
It didn't seem to dampen his spirits though when he came out of the maze! This is the small one. The big one stood taller than me so I couldn't see him if he was in the middle!
He was very happy to be able to take pictures with Darth and Yoda!
Dash of course had to pose by a PINK Backyardigan!
This is by far the best picture we could get of all three of them together! I can't wait for family pictures this year!

Favorite words by Dash!

These are my favorite things Dash says right now!

Chure (Sure). He says it very matter of fact! "Chure I will do that for you!"
Rally (Really). "Rally mom, Rally!"
Soooo (So). Everything is soooo cute or soooo fun!
Pooed (Pooed). "Mom I am done! I go Pooed!" "Mom do you need to go pooed?"

Quote of the day!

I am totally stealing this from my friend Alison's blog! She has the funniest things that her kids and hubby say now and again and she blogs them. I can't remember what my family says from the morning till night so I decided to hork her idea and start posting them so I will remember!

Brandon was taking a little snooze in the recliner and Max was looking a little disgruntled.

Mom: "Max what is wrong?"

Max: SIGH "It is just really hard to have a pregnant mom and a sleeping dad!" SIGH

What my name means!

I found this on Sharlynn's Blog! I am not sure I agree with all of it but it was kind of fun! What Suzy Means

You are the total package - suave, sexy, smart, and strong. You have the whole world under your spell, and you can influence almost everyone you know. You don't always resist your urges to crush the weak. Just remember, they don't have as much going for them as you do. You are a very lucky person. Things just always seem to go your way. And because you're so lucky, you don't really have a lot of worries. You just hope for the best in life. You're sometimes a little guilty of being greedy. Spread your luck around a little to people who need it. You are incredibly wise and perceptive. You have a lot of life experience. You are a natural peacemaker, and you are especially good at helping others get along. But keeping the peace in your own life is not easy. You see things very differently, and it's hard to get you to budge. You are a free spirit, and you resent anyone who tries to fence you in. You are unpredictable, adventurous, and always a little surprising. You may miss out by not settling down, but you're too busy having fun to care.

What's Your Name's Hidden Meaning?

Piano lessons begin!

Darby had her first piano lesson today and she LOVED it! She is taking from Sister Butler in our ward and I don't think there could be a better teacher for her! Sister Butler is trading lessons for a portrait from Brandon. She is excited to be receiving art work and we are blessed to have her be so willing to trade! Darby has to practice the lessons she gave her 5x each every day (about 15 mins). She came right home and started . She got a little discouraged towards the end because it felt like soooo much but she is a really hard worker so I know she will be o.k. We are so excited for her!

School Pics!

These are actually pictures of their pictures because our scanner isn't hooked up and I couldn't wait because I thought they turned out soooooo cute! They both show their personalities perfectly! Who made those cute babies? :)

Calgon, take me away!

Today was a grocery store disaster! Grocery shopping with all 3 is never fun but always has been manageable. Todays adventure ended in tears (mine) and spanking (them) then phone calling (Brandon) to let him know that the boys would be at his work with in the next hour or so for him to do what he pleased with them! Max yelled (at me) really mean things that I wanted to yell back but didn't! He even said he was marking me off his chart with 3 x's! I don't know what that is but it is really bad! I couldn't talk to anyone and if Darby didn't have piano today they really would have ended up with Brandon! I am sure it's a phase, I am sure it's a phase, I am sure it's a phase!

Over the river and through the woods, Nana is coming to our house!

Nana's Coming! My mom bought her ticket this weekend to come out to help with the baby! It always feels more real when the ticket is purchased! Now it's just the countdown! She gets to come the Saturday before Thanksgiving and leaves the Sunday after Christmas! During that time we get to have Thanksgiving, Darby's baptism, decorating, shopping, lunches at school, playgroup, lots of fun, a baby and maybe even a baby blessing. I am so lucky she gets to come for so long. It is a sacrifice on everyones parts because she helps take care of my brother's kids too. My dad and everyone won't have her over the holidays. Thanks to all of them we get to hog her for a whole month! We can't wait!

Conference Weekend!

I was just talking to my friend Natalie about how I was so worried about the economy, the upcoming election and what it meant for me and my family. She said something that gave me great peace..."I feel like were being lied to every time we turn around but aren't we lucky to have General Conference this weekend where we will here only the truth!" I love her and General Conference. A weekend with just my family and the guidance of the general authorities. My kids played conference bingo, one of the greatest inventions ever! During the Gen. Y.W. Pres. talk Darby said "She sure likes the word VIRTUE". That was not a word on the bingo chart and they were listening intently so they could cross it off! I didn't know if they heard a lot but after that comment I knew they heard enough. Dash needed only little bits of help! Max was able to learn all the Apostles names by a matching game and now he knows them better than me or Brandon. It was great to hear him tell Darby "that one is Elder Bednar or he is President Uchtdorff" That was his favorite one to say and until he could say it he called him "dorkdorf"!

Another part of our conference weekend is lots of treats. We have always had friends over because we have satellite. This year all our friends had it too. I was sad because they bring such yummy treats and fun company! The Boyer's still came over with her yummy orange rolls in between sessions so we lucked out there. I said the morning of Sunday that I really missed Jennie Jo's homemade kolachis (Sp?) About 30 mins later there was a knock on the door with a super yummy WARM delivery! What good friends we have! I didn't get very many because my kids LOVE them too. Dash calls it a "hot dog sandwich" and would steal what ever you had in your hand if he didn't all ready have one! Darby said she was sure they would be easy to make but I will just continue to let Jennie Jo handle that "easy" tradition and offer a prayer of thanks every conference that I get to enjoy her "ease" !
I am so grateful to have the truth and to be able to have it fill my home! I was filled and comforted this whole weekend and now have hope and peace that replaced the fear I felt before!

Enjoying Miss Jennie Jo's Kolachis!

Girls Night Out!

Darby was invited to see the play "Cinderella" at a preforming arts school with our neighbor Alaina! It is a really fun theater because all the productions are put on by children 6-18 and they all the technical stuff too. She was so excited to have a girls night out! They dressed up for the night and she even got to put on perfume and lip gloss! The girls worked all day on a poster to take to the play for the cast members. It was Cinderella and her Fairy Godmother and it said "We hope you get to go to Broadway"! Dash REALLY wanted to go and thought that his "night time undies" were the appropriate attire!
I really wanted a picture of just the girls but Dash had other plans and Darby handled it with grace the entire time, never losing her cool!
One last photo of such a big girl headed out the door. Darby got to borrow and evening clutch of mommy's and she had her lip gloss and $2.00. (Dash is still clinging to the thought that maybe he can still make it! )
When Darby got home (after 9:30!) she had such fun stories to tell. Alaina's dad paid for them to attend the "Tea Party" at intermission where they had cupcakes with pumpkins on top and lemonade or tea. She let me know that she did not partake in the tea part and encouraged her friend not to either. (She also had to let me know that she had to keep her sweater on the whole time as to be modest..."good thing the theater was chilly"). At the tea party Prince Charming and Cinderella came in to greet their guests. The prince asked anyone if they wanted to dance and the only volunteer that was brave enough was Darby! They danced "like grown-ups" and he said he liked her shoes, her dress and her name and then it was time for him to go! After it was over they got to get autographs on their programs. Some of the autographs are barely legible because they are written by the "mouse" played by a 6 year old! Prince Charming was 17 and Darby recognized him as the Dentist from when we went over the summer to see "Little Shop of Horrors"! Darby had a great time and is even considering her options to attend the performing arts school there! :) What a big girl!

Cinderella.....

Our kids were playing at our neighbors and ran home to show me that they had dressed up. I should have known something was up when Max came home early and said he didn't want to play what they were playing. First Darby showed me her beautiful "bride's dress" then was Yarena's turn (the bee) and at last through giggles and a grand announcement............... CINDERELLA!

I was never so proud! The posing was even better. I got to see it in the privacy of our own house. Brandon was driving home (with his carpool buddies) and saw children frolicking up and down the sidewalk (I had sent them next door to change) in pretty dresses. To his horror and his friends enjoyment was his little boy/princess ready to pose for the cell phones!

Halloween, Halloween, So much fun on Halloween!

We decorated for Halloween today! SOOOOOO much fun! Here are the kiddos with Franky and Betsy the Witch. They both sing songs and the kids claim they are married!
Here are two little punkin's! Our scary candy dish sings when you try to get some candy! One time Tanner Thomas was trying to "sneak" a little piece of candy and the skeleton said "Hey! I ain't got no body...." Poor Tanner jumped down and started to cry. I felt really bad but Tiff and I had a good laugh later. Tanner didn't eat from that dish any more!
Dash was so warn out from all our decorating he had to relax on the couch with a blanket Nana made a us a few years ago! One of my favorite Halloween decorations is this hat that I made with Natalie and Tiffany. (We all made one for our selves and got the idea from a friend in another ward.) They are made out of a Cornucopia turned upside down and painted black. Then you decorate it with your own little bits of Halloween fun. It was a fun night with all of us together and so cool to see our different personalities in the hats. I would like to say it was a cheap little project but we couldn't get them under 20$ and that was with sharing some of our supplies! I guess you could make them any size though and that might help the cost. SO CUTE and worth every penny to make the memory with my friends!

Another favorite decoration I have is a hand me down from my parents. My dad painted this when I was in grade school. It used to be in my mom's house but she gave it to me one Halloween after I was married. I love the little details he put into it and it brings back fond memories of Halloweens at home. We hung some stuff outside and have a few more decorations around the house. At the end of the night the kids and I had a blast and now we just can't wait for Halloween. Darby said she was excited to decorate for Thanksgiving next!