Beautiful Morgan

I loved this picture of Morgan and Ty. Morgan is so good with him; she changes his diaper and comforts him when he needs it. Just the way she cradles him when she holds him shows her natural nurturing abilities. She never looks awkward or uncomfortable, she's a natural! She's going to be a great mom one day.

Brookey's Belated Birthday Party

We celebrated Brooke's birthday this weekend. We had a great time and I had lots of friends here to help me with Ty. Brooke was very patient waiting for her party to be planned. Since we were at the hospital having a baby on her birthday, she didn't do much to celebrate so we planned a belated party for her. I wish I had taken more pictures but I didn't think about it until it was time to sing happy birthday, oh well, the ones I have are cute.

Father and Son Campout

My boys love the father and son campout that the church holds every year. Last year they had an airsoft war out at the abandoned mental hospital that's not far from the campground. They went inside the hospital and explored, it had old beds and some equipment that had been left behind. They really think it's haunted. Well, this year it was boarded up so they couldn't go inside but still had fun nonetheless. I'm just grateful that Brian didn't let them build a fort out of poison oak vines this year. Brian was in charge of the breakfast, he did well, the only thing they ran out of was the orange juice. Cody was just a toddler when they went for the first time and they have only missed one year since!

Where has the time gone?

Troy Logan Addington

Wow, Troy graduates from elementary school in 3 weeks! Cody starts high school next year!!! Yes, I have given birth to a child that is starting high school! Where has the time gone? Life has flown by so quickly that I look back in a panic and think, "have I done enough, have I been good enough parent?"
Cody has already become a true teenager; we are very uncool and he doesn't want much to do with us. He's very sweet and respectful but very uninterested in us. Troy is not quite there but is well on his way. Troy still tells us everything about his life but would much rather "hang" with his friends then be with us. It's not fair, I just need more time!
I know most parents must feel this way but when it's all said and done I hope we will have had the time (and the skills) to accomplished what needs to be accomplished with our kids. Hopefully I'm not the only one who goes through these periodic parental panic attacks!

P.S. Click on the pic to read the poem, it's pretty.

Ty's First Bath

Here are some pics of Ty's first bath. It seemed like forever before his umbilical cord fell off so he could be dunked. The whole family was gathered around the sink for the event and Brian took pictures as he laughed his rear off.
It started out ok, then it went from good to bad to ugly! Ty definitely likes showers with Dad more than the bath.

Going good...

Still ok...

Starting the melt down...
(I LOVE this picture, Brian says he looks like Benjamin Button!)

Melt down has officially begun...

Melt down in full throttle...

Relief at last!!

Ty Daniel Addington...

Arrived on April 17, 2009
11:17am, 7lbs 20in.

As Brooke's birthday (April 17th) approached, Kelly and I realized that the 1 in 365 odds of Ty arriving on Brooke's birthday was fast becoming a possibility. Frankly, I liked the idea: one less day to remember, combined parties, you know, the whole two birds with one stone thing...

Then sure enough, about 4am on April 17th Kelly woke me up and said she was in labor. We drove to the hospital and by the time we arrived, she was dialated to 5cm and her contractions were only a few minutes apart. After one of Kelly's longer labors (this was her 5th) Ty Daniel popped out at 11:17am. The doctor said my hearing should return in about a week; yes her screaming was that loud. But after careful reflection, I realized that birthing a child is much more painful than surgery to repair a hernia!

Ty weighed 7lbs even and he is 20 inches long. Ty and Kelly are both doing great. I tried to get her to go see a movie tonight but she is too sore. Anyway, Kelly has a honey-do list she wants me to complete during my four-week vacation, yet she wonders why I never take time off? So I better get started, after a quick nap of course!

Brian

Just kickin' it

I think the nurse went a little overboard on the eye ointment!

Go ahead, take my picture if you must.

If that flash goes off in my face one more time...

It's been a long day for me and Mommy!

Kelly & Ty's Baby Shower!

Wow, what a night. I still can't really remember it, it went by sooo fast. For those who I was not able to mingle with, thanks so much for coming and I love you!!
Sabra and Stephanie did a fantastic job, it was the cutest cowboy theme ever and when Sabra's little voice was too quiet to be heard over the crowd we had Carolyn there to take over! Thanks Carolyn, I'm going to miss you!
I do feel so blessed to have so many wonderful, positive friends and family in my life! It's times when we get together like this that I look around and think "wow, these are my people and I love each and every one of them" and it reminds me that no matter how tough life gets, just how fortunate I am. Thanks again.

My hostess' with the mostess', Steph and Sabra. Thanks Guys!

Me on my throne.

My cute girls and I.

OH MY GOSH...look at all this stuff; Ty your one lucky boy (sure as heck better be a boy!!)

All in a days work...

(This was not from the same press conference, there was probably twice the amount of cameras at this last one!)

Brian's done many press release interviews but this weeks was probably the biggest. An Antioch police officer lost control of his vehicle during a high speed chase and crashed into a house in Pittsburg. No one in the house was hurt but the officer's car flipped over and caught fire. After Pittsburg officers extinguished the fire, the fire dept. had to use the jaws of life to remove him from the car and we found out later that the officer severed his spinal cord in the crash. The link below is Brian's press conference. He did a great job especially considering the poor guy had been up all night, I know how he looks when he's tired...he was tired!

http://cbs5.com/video/?id=47322@kpix.dayport.com

This is another news clip that shows a great, but horrifying, shot of the crash.

http://cbs5.com/video/?id=47340@kpix.dayport.com

Mormonism Q & A

This was a great video that Leah found, she did a great job and I thought it was worth sharing.


Day of Faith: Personal Quests for a Purpose - 3. Rachel Esplin from Harvard Hillel on Vimeo.

I finished the Nursery!!

I FINALLY finished the nursery minus a few minor details. Ty's rope art for above his crib will be here on Wednesday. It was long and exhausting but well worth it; you'd never know it use to be a Hawaiian tiki room.

BEFORE

Brian, Kelly & Ty

We had maternity photos taken today. It was fun, we've never done them before and they turned out pretty cute.

Snow Day!!

We had a great Valentine's day weekend up at Gramma & Grampa's! Two big storms came in and we were able to take the kids to the snow to play. Brooke has never seen real snow and if Morgan has, she was a baby. We got there Saturday evening and by 7am Sunday morning, Brooke and Morgan were in our room giving us our "5 minute warning" to get out of bed (I give them a 5 minute "warning" every morning before they get out of bed for school.)
They had so much fun; Brooke was the last one back in the warm car because she could not get enough of it! We were soaked and tired by the time we were done but Grampa had hot chocolate ready when we got back (he wasn't foolish enough to actually go, it was actually pretty stormy.)
It definitely makes for a messy play day, my car and every square inch of my children were wet and a little muddy. We will still make it a priority to go for a weekend every year from now on!

Troy's 12th Birthday!

Troy had a great birthday. The day before his birthday he celebrated with a group of friends by having an airsoft war. We took him and his buddies up to Uncle Harold's property and Brian drove them up the hill to have their war. I'm so happy to see him having old fashion "boy fun." Seems like in the world we live in today, the opportunity isn't often there. All the boys had a blast; definitely one of the best birthdays ever!

On his actual birthday Troy received the priesthood at church! He was so excited and he is now passing the sacrament with his brother. Just a few weeks ago, he and Cody had the opportunity to help pass the sacrament to over 1200 people at our special Stake sacrament meeting that we had. They did a fantastic job, it was breathtaking to see all these young boys pull off such a feat!

The Nutcracker

Yesterday we took the kids to San Francisco to see the Nutcracker. Brooke's favorite part was riding Bart to the ballet, the boys kept asking when the dancers were going to start speaking and all Morgan could say was that we were sitting so high she was sure her nose was going to bleed! Needless to say we are probably done with the Nutcracker.

Anyway, funny tid bit today; Morgan mentioned today that she was surprised at "how many people in San Francisco don't have houses." Brian, trying to teach her correct terminology, asked her, "what do we call those people Morgan?" She responded quite confidently, "Hobos." After a quick laugh, he corrected her and told her we should probably call them homeless not hobos; too funny.

Alice in Wonderland

Here are some pics from Brookey's first play! She did great and looked so cute in her flower costume. Hollywood...here we come!

Our baby boys first photos!

Our blog at last

Well, here we go; our first blog entry. I am very excited about our blog; what a great way to keep family and friends updated on our lives. Hopefully both Brian and I will be blogging so it may get a little confusing although I don't think it will be too difficult to determine who's point of view is being expressed! For example, when Laura asked for our opinions on essential baby items she will need, I responded, "a rocking chair and boppy" and Brian responded," Earplugs and Tylenol." Thank goodness he's still a man! I do have to say his grammar will be much better than mine.

New to our lives, a baby is on the way! My due date is April 22, 2009 and on November 21st we found out we are having a boy! Oi vay; a boy! I haven't "done" baby boy in 12 years; it's been all about little girls for the past 9. Now that my brain has shifted gears we are very excited. I'm very tired this time around but I guess managing the lives of 4 other children at the same time takes it's toll.

Thinking of a name, also very tiring. So far we have it down to Luke, Ty and Blake. I really like Blake but apparently there was a soap opera star from Dynasty named Blake Kerrington so Blake Addington is out of the question for Brian. I've never heard of the character so I could care less but apparently everyone else has including the guys at the PD...sad! Oh well, I'll win in the end so I'm not too worried.

The other kids are doing great. School has been challenging now that the kids are getting older but they really enjoy their schools and have lots of good friends.

Cody did great in soccer this year and plans on joining the track team in the spring; he's running a 6:54 minute mile. He's also Deacons quorum president at church and we've been told he's doing a great job and setting a great example for the other boys.

Troy also did well in soccer this year and was awarded the "best teammate" award. He is still jammin' on the electric guitar and getting really good. I'm trying to appreciate hard rock a little more since one of his best songs is by Ozzy Osbourne. He's also playing piano and is begging to take up boxing!

Morgan is usually the angel of the family. She loves to cook all on her own although the other day during a brain lapse, she thought 2 1/4 cups meant 21- 1/4 cups of flour; needless to say we could have broke a window with her cookies! She also plays the piano and loves to write songs.

Brooke...the princess. Grandpa calls her "Hollywood" and she loves that. She's quite the diva! Thank goodness she won't be the baby of the family for long. She's very cuddly and sweet but very outspoken as well. All the boys chase her at school so we're already dealing with boy "issues" and she's 6! She played soccer this year too and is in an Alice in Wonderland play at school this month.

Kristina turned 18 last month! The rest is a mystery...stay tuned.

Last but not least, Brian and I.

Brian is busy, busy, busy. He's still a lieutenant at work, he's Elders quorum president at church and is busy finishing up his masters degree which he'll be done with by June.

I guess I'm just as busy. I'm a domestic engineer(lol), taxi cab driver, chef and personal assistant to a family of 6, president of the PTA and I teach Sunday school to the 6yr olds.

That's us right now in a nutshell. Laundry is calling so I'll post more later as stuff happens. Sorry to write a novel but our family is big.