It's Christmas Eve!!

Christmas time is full of fun traditions.  These are some of ours on Christmas Eve.

Frosting Cookies for Santa

We love having a fantastic Christmas Eve feast @ Grandma & Grandpa's:

Back home to act out the Nativity Scene & open a present each ... shh, new jammies ;0)

Another Great FHE

McKay & Abby worked an entire week on this fantastic lesson & activity.  It was based on missionary work.  McKay had cut a ton of houses out of yellow construction paper.  Then he cut a drew and cut a person for each one of us, including our name tag.  We then got our mission call and he flew us to our continent.  (Josie was my companion we served in Australia :0).)  We then had to knock on the doors and hope they would let us in.  We then would tell them what we believed in by reciting the Articles of Faith.

    

I am constantly amazed at my fantastic kids.

So Thankful!!

We recently had a friend in from Russia.  She was asking the update on Kimball's foot.  For a min. I wasn't sure what she was talking about.  Her daughter was trying to go into more detail about what it was.  Then it hit me.  How could something that was such a worry and blessing for me be almost forgotten.  

Kimball was born with a port wine stain on his foot.  This is not like a normal birthmark.  I hope I explain this right.  It is actually clusters of blood vessels close to the skin.  As the child matures the skin become darker, bumpy and ruff.  This part was not my concern.  With it being on his foot I figured it was just fine.  But... they can bleed easily if they get scratched or rubbed etc.  With it being on his foot of course it will get scratched and rubbed.  I'm a total research dork, so I hit the internet, books, people, our doctor.  What I found was there was a treatment that was done by lazier.  When it is fired (which feels like a rubber band snapping on you) it destroys the blood vessels.  It then turns to a bruise and heels and the younger the better.  It was hard for me to decide to get treatments at all.  "Will he think I didn't approve of him, will it hurt, then there was the whole thing about sedation.  There's only a couple in Utah who treat Port Wine Stains and they require sedation.  McKay has been under anesthesia a couple of time and neither time came out of it well."  Our pediatrician told us about the "Port Wine Doctor" in Colorado.  Of course I went home and researched him.  He had great reports, I called his office and got a really good feeling.  The more Craig and I talked about it the more we new medically he needed to have this done.  So we took the plunge.  His first appointment started in Feb. following his birth. Kimball & I flew back to CO every 6 week for treatment.  His Dr. was amazing.  I loved him.  He was kind, nice, fun, fast & always wore Converses.  That following Oct. he thought we should take a break.  Let it completely heal and start back up the in a year.  

As this October approached I knew it was time to schedule our appointment again.  I was hesitant.  He was older, would treatments be as effective, would he remember the pain more.  So I examined his foot to guess what the next little while would bring.  It looks like a dirty foot.  There are some small clusters in between his toes that when he was tiny they couldn't get the lazier in.  I couldn't believe it.  I don't know how I didn't pay more attention to it.  It looked great.  At his well child check our pediatrician looked at it and was astonished that it looked so well.  So we never made another appointment.

After our dear friends concern, it has been on my mind.  A few days later I was working on yet another project and was scrolling through older photos.  

I was scrolling quite fast, but these caught my eye: 

Oh how I'd forgotten.  To see these picture again brings tears to my eyes.  Not tears of sadness but tears of relief, gratefulness, thankfulness.  Knowing that the Lord has taken care of us.

I pulled out the camera to remember how good it looks now!

Isn't it amazing?  And truly a blessing from the Lord.  This was suppose to take three years at the min.  to treat.  I know the Lord guided us and directed us through this process.  I am so so grateful and I hope I won't forget this wonderful blessing again.  I know He loves us.

SANTA AT THE MALL

We were at the mall.  Kimball ran out of the line .  And when ever he did I went to get him.  He screamed.  But he like it till got on Santa's lap.  And the people who worked there got him to smile.

Festival of Trees

Every year @ Christmas time the Baird extended family puts together a service project.  It rotates through the 8 siblings.  This year my Uncle Dennis & Aunt Christine were in charge.  They chose to decorate and donate a tree to the Festival of Trees.  It then is sold at a silent auction.  All proceeds go to Primary Childrens Medical Center.  Each family had an assignment.  All of the married grandchildren (17 of us) donated a birdhouse for it.  When I heard this was what we were doing this year McKay was so excited.  He had just helped me collect Pennies By the Inch for Primary Childrens the week before.  He had been very interested in what else we could do to help these kids.  So instead of us going out to buy a bird house he decided to make one.  

It turned out pretty good.  He painted it red because he thought that with the festival in Salt Lake they would like it to be University of UTAH colors.  Once it was all said and done we went up to look at it to see the finished product.  Everyone was excited to go to the festival of trees prior to arriving.  As we walked around I  put Kimball onto my shoulders so he wouldn't keep trying to get into the trees.  Kimball has gotten into cars, trucks, trains etc.  Every time he sees one of them he screams out.  This normally wouldn't be a problem, but he can't say his tr's instead he replaces it with the f sound.  So as we were walking Josie of course holding onto my leg wanting me to carry her & crying, Kimball sees a fire truck and starts to scream it at the top of his lungs.  Keep in mind he's on my shoulder so the word carries to all round.  You might be wandering why doesn't she have them in a stroller.  I forgot it.  We had cleaned out the car & forgot to put it back in.  BAD MISTAKE!! After an hour and a half we found the tree.  By that time the kids had had it.  We finished with some yummy scones & cinnamon rolls they were selling.  They were great!  As we left Abby asked if we can go again next year.  I had told her that we'd talk about it in a few days.  After a few days, ya I'd take her again.  But I'll bring the stroller, DS and IPod as well.  Really, we will go again, just a little 

more prepared.  Craig's favorite tree was a Game tree which had a bunch of games as presents, McKay favorite was decorated with sports cards, Abby, who was asked last, said her favorite was "McKays Tree".  It became nicknamed that at our house because he had made the birdhouse.  Josies was the DIVA tree, covered in pink pink pink.  Kimballs loved the Fire Truck tree, & I loved the tree blown from glass.  It was cool.  

The bird house finished hanging on the tree.   Doesn't it look good!!

I couldn't get Josie to get into the picture.  She was tired & crying.  Do you love Kimballs scowl. 

"We are a happy family"

As you can imagine everyone around found humor in our family photo.

I grabbed these last two from my cousin Ashley.  Thanks!

P.S.  I found out that everyone else knew it was located on isle O tree 18.  It was for Vickie's Birthday.  (my aunt that past away at the age of 15)

Thanksgiving

The kids could hardly wait for Thanksgiving.  Abby had a little count down going on.  That morning she couldn't stop talking about it.  Josie joined her after a little while to eat breakfast.  She asked Abby if it was Thanksgiving today when she told her it was she throw her fists straight up and screamed "BINGO!".  For those who don't know my mom is over our extended family Thanksgiving & our traditional Bingo game.  There is so many of us that we have to rent the church.   We always have such a good time.  McKay was so excited about the bingo game he started to clean up peoples plates even though they were still eating.  He tried to be patient but it was so hard for him.  Craig had the job of carving the turkey this year.  He found the wish bone and pulled it with McKay.  McKay won but wouldn't share his wish with us.  Abby followed the younger kids around to make sure they were okay.  She took good care of them all.  Kimball loved the traditional slush drink.  It was such a fabulous day!  

Leaves Everywhere!

With all our trees it takes us quite a while to rake & bag all our leaves.  We enlisted the kids for help.?.  They always make it fun & a little crazy.  It took us 3 full days.  The older two helped/played, Josie had imagination time & played with Luna, Kimball pulled bag after bag to the side walk.  When the kids laid in the leaves you couldn't even find them they were so deep.