When I grow up...

I want to be just like my Mom. Well, in one sense I have accomplished that task. For several years, my Mom worked for a company that made very high end baby products. She would sew quite a few of these products and has learned a lot. Here a while ago, the company she worked for went out of business and the owner gave her thousands of dollars worth of fabric. One of the things that she would make is a baby blanket called a swaddler. It has a strip of chenille around the outside and then the rest of it is made of a coordinating gingham flannel and a percale flower print. Well, I have finally learned to make these from some of the scraps that she has given me. I have to admit that these turned out so well, even my corners match perfectly, if I do say so myself...thanks for being such a wonderful teacher, Mom!

The pink one below is for Mat's sister Wendi, who is having her second girl.

The blue one came about as a last minute baby gift for someone in my ward. This one doesn't have the chenille around the edges, just flannel, but it will be perfect for summer.

Where's my best friend?

So I was doing the dishes and Joseph comes running in and asked "where is my best friend?" Thinking that I had misunderstood him I was sorting different ideas out in my mind...What's a best friend? Who is my best friend? Having none of that really make sense to me, I asked what he had said. His response was "where is my best friend?" Being that the only people in the house were immediate family his question confused me. He finally answered by replying "my football!" He had misplaced his football and was trying to find it. He got a nice leather football from Grandma Crofts at Christmas. Needless to say that he loves it. Every night we find him tucked in bed cuddled up with his football. After all, what more could an active eight year old boy like than a football?

The fun of having children

Does this contraption look familiar to anyone? If you know what it is, and have used it before on a child, then I have sympathy for you. In the past seven weeks, we have been to the doctor with Spencer a total of six times. If you take the time to do a quick bit of math, that almost averages out to almost once a week. Between the co-payments for the doctors office and antibiotics we have spent lately, we have spent a small fortune. So you may be wondering what is wrong with Spencer. Our first visit was on the Saturday after Christmas and we took both Jacob and Spencer into the doctor because of pink eye. Turned out that Spencer had ear infections in both ears, and continued to have them every time we went in. It was seriously looking like we were going to have to put tubes in his ears. Amazingly enough, or just enough serious prayers, we went back last week and were told that his ears are clear. (For the first time in almost two months.) I was shocked. I was finally coming to accept that we would have to have it done. The doctor then went on to tell us that the next time he gets sick he will probably end up with another ear infection and that is it. We will then be making an appointment with an ENT. So pray for no more ear infections for the little guy! Now returning to the picture. The second visit we paid the doctor was because of extreme wheezing. His oxygen level was borderline (not good). We were sent home with a nebulizer. We spent the next week giving Spencer treatments with albuterol. Lets just say that holding an eighteen month old for seven minutes is definitely not my idea of fun. It took both Mat and I to do the task. Doing it four times a day for several minutes was hard on all of us. This picture was taken about five days into his treatments, he started to pick up the top part and play with it, when it was not on. One night I was not home to assit Mat in the actvity before bedtime. Mat gave him this little pep talk about how he could do it, etc. He entertained him, played, sang songs and from then on it was amazing. After being on the nebulizer for about nine days, we finished it, returned it to the doctors office and all was well for a week or so. Then he started to wheeze again. So once again we took a trip back to the doctors office. This time he wrote us a prescription for one and told us to go purchase one. Chances are that his respitory problem will happen every time he gets sick this winter. So if anyone out there needs a nebulizer in the future, we have one! I truly hope you never will need it! Spencer does so well with it now, will sit and will even turn it on himself! It has also been a great time to just sit with him and play and sing songs.

Joseph's first Pinewood Derby

What boy doesn't dream of his first Pinewood Derby? Okay, I don't know about if the boys really understand the joy, but the fathers sure enjoy the event! Mat and Joseph spent several weekends sawing, sanding, and painting the car. The evening came and fun was had by boys big and small. There were a total of eleven boys that participated. Awards were given to all, Joseph received the "Most Futuristic" award.

Christmas Letter

December 2007

Dear Family and Friends,

Most of my family has been fairly busy lately, as I am sure most of you are. Being nearly 17 months old, I have a little extra time between naps and meals, so I thought I would take a minute and write a short letter to everyone. I cannot yet speak intelligibly, but I finally started walking last week. Even though I am still a bit wobbly, I enjoy the new perspective of walking upright (the view is much more enjoyable than while crawling).

I am starting to figure out how things work here in our family (although I still have a lot to learn). Most days, Joseph and Matalyn get on the school bus after breakfast and it does not bring them home again until the afternoon. Joseph is in third grade and Matalyn is in first grade. They both enjoy school and like to read (although I find their taste in books a little beyond my taste). In the spring they both played soccer, and now they both take piano lessons. I can’t imagine having to do everything that they do … it wears me out just sleeping, eating, and walking.

Jacob and I stay home with Mom and do all sorts of things. Jacob and I get along pretty well most of the time (with the occasional brotherly skirmish). On some days, we go to the town hall and sing songs with other kids. Occasionally we drive into town and go to the store. Dad spends most of the day downstairs in his office working … I guess he accomplishes something worthwhile. He goes to the church on Tuesday nights to meet with the young men, and Mom and Dad both help with Cub Scouts on Thursdays. Dad recently got elected to the city council, so he is gone a couple of times each month to council meetings. He also helps coach and referee church basketball.

On Sundays, we all walk to church together. I sit with Dad during Sunday School while Mom does a great job teaching the class. I am looking forward to next month when I can start going to nursery. Jacob really enjoys nursery, but he will start going to Sunbeams a few weeks before I start going to nursery. Matalyn and Joseph both enjoy Primary. Joseph was baptized a few weeks ago and he is pretty excited about that.

Every once in a while we all pile in the van with lots of stuff and drive somewhere. Since I’ve been around, we’ve been on trips to Colorado (Yampa), Arizona (Page), and various places in Utah (Sandy, Murray, Lehi, Cedar Hills, and St. George). This summer we took our first family vacation to Yellowstone. It was really fun to see all of the animals and geysers.

We are grateful for all that the Lord has blessed us with. We hope that everything is going well for all of you. We wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Sincerely,

Spencer

Joseph's Baptism

Today was Joseph's baptism. We awoke to SEVERAL new inches of snow this morning. So much so that none of Mat's family from Sandy, Lehi, Eagle Mtn, were able to come. His brother Scot and his family were able to be here. Most of my family had come the night before so they avoided the storm. It was a new experience to have your first child baptized. I didn't think that it would be very emotional for me, but I have to admit that I did tear up and feel a bit emotional but it was a great event. Our ward was in charge of the Stk. baptism, so Mat and I both had the opportunity to participate. Mat was planned participation, he was asked to give a talk on the Holy Ghost. He did a great job, kept it simple for the children, there were six of them, and threw in a bit of humor for the rest of us. I had the opportunity to fill in and play prelude and the first couple of songs on the piano. The pianist ended up getting stuck in new snow and was very late. When I first started to play prelude music, the only Primary book I could find was the Spanish version. Well that worked just fine until they started the meeting. When they announced the opening song I panicked, not reading a word of Spanish and not knowing what page the number it was on. I was even getting to the point that I was going to get my Dad from the audience and have tell me, he speaks Spanish. I ended up telling the chorister about my predicament and she let me use her hymn book and she led without. Something I will always remember. Well enough of my memories....here are a few pictures of the great day.

Joseph turns Eight

Joseph has turned eight years old. Sometimes you think that these occasions are far from happening, but as many of you know, time has a way of creeping up on you. Because he will be getting baptized, we decided to celebrate this event with the purchase of his very first suit. He looked so cute wearing a real suit and a tie (that he is learning to tie himself). He was so excited. I snapped some photos of the lucky birthday boy with his wonderful father, and let me tell you, that the two of them look adorable.


Here Joseph celebrates his birthday with a giant cookie, ice cream and toppings. The best part of it all? The children enjoyed it for breakfast!! What better breakfast could you have on your birthday? Joseph, Matalyn and Jacob thoroughly enjoyed it and we look forward to doing it again.