Family Traditions....

For the past couple of years, we have made a trip to see the Salt Lake City Temple at Christmas time. The last two years, we have parked in Ogden and rode the Frontrunner Train to SLC (Cost of $12, and so worth not dealing with driving & parking). We always eat at JB's and walk around the temple grounds. We love this and we are so lucky to be able to do this. Nick's birthday is on December 20th, so we try to make it extra special for him. This year, I made a decision to take the kids to Build a Bear. I normally wouldn't do this because it is very expensive, but I already told Nick I would.


Nick picked a camo bear and camo clothing. He loves this bear. I think you are never to old to play at build a bear. Ashley & Ryan made two bears also. (One a gift for Ryan's sister and the abomidal snowman for themselves).

Bailey bought the ipod bear that acts as a speaker. She loves her bear and has it hooked up to her stereo.

We had an awesome time. Nick did get a bad tummy ache at the temple though, but he still wanted to walk around the visitor's center. Every year we have gone, the Westside High School Choir has been there singing. Nick wanted to listen, so we watched them perform.

The weather was horrible going and coming home. It was snowing badly when we left and raining badly when we came home, making the roads slushy and messy. Still worth the trip and Nick & Bailey love there bears. I also bought a bear for Haiden. I seriously miss him when I don't see him every other week.

Other things going on this week: Last week Nick had some teeth extracted. Then he got strep. On Tuesday, he was not better and his fever was high, so we ended up in the ER on Tuesday night. The doctor gave him a shot of rocephin and a new antibiotic to help him kick the infection. He finally showed signs of feeling better on Thursday. This was been a horrible experience for him and he may never go to the dentist again :) He will be going to the orthodontist in a couple of weeks to have his quad put in to straighten out his cross-bite.

Friday, the kids had a school Christmas Program. Nick had missed school all week and was not wanting to go, but his sweet teacher talked him into dancing with the class. He did very well. Bailey's class sang a couple of songs too and she did very well. She loves to sing and dance. She blew kisses to the audience as she exited the stage. She's a funny girl.

Ashley and Ryan are still waiting to close on their house. It has been a stressful time for them and a bad experience. I'm hoping she gets in by Christmas.

No real news on Michael. I invited him on our trip to SLC, but he said he had plans to go snowboarding. We are hoping he comes to our Christmas party on the 24th. We will have to see. We really miss him and wish him the best.

Crazy Week.....

This week has been so crazy. Nick had dental surgery on Friday. It was tramatic for him and tramatic for me too. He is extremely difficult when it comes to the dentist. I took Friday off work because I knew it would be a tough day. When I tried to get Nick ready to go, he locked himself in my bedroom and refused to come out. I bribed him an.d gave in to giving him one of his birthday presents. I gave him the DS game I was going to give him. That got him into the car. He asked lots of questions about what was going to happen (1 impacted tooth (extra permanent tooth and his 2 eye teeth). When we pulled into the dentist office, he freaked out because he thought we were going to the orthodonist. He hates the dentist. So when I parked he got out and ran from me. I spent five minutes chasing him and then I called Rick to come help me. Rick got him into the office. The dentist stayed hidden because he knows how Nick is. The anesthesiologist put Nick out and the dentist pulled the teeth. When Nick was done, he was extremely out of it. He was so cute though, he kept telling me he loved me and wanted hugs. He also wanted Bailey. The nursed asked him to bite down on some gauze and he bit right into his lip. Rick had to take off work so I could watch Nick on the way home and stop biting his lip. He slept most of the day.

On Saturday, Ashley, Bailey and myself went Christmas shopping for most of the day. It was fun, but Bailey was super whiney. By the time we got home, I was iritated with her. She had picked out her new bed sheets and comforter for her new room. She was very happy about this. I checked on Nick when I got home and he was running a really high fever. I gave him some tylenol and he went back to sleep. After a couple of hours, I checked his temperature again and his fever was still high. I called over to the hospital and they said I should bring him in because he shouldn't be running a high fever. I took him in and they found that he had a strep infection. So not only did he have dental surgery, he has a bad strep infection. He slept most of Sunday and is not fever free. Bailey also woke up Sunday with a bad, bad sore throat and headache. I am assuming she has developed strep throat too.

I went to church and taught my Sunday school class without Rick. Rick felt pretty lucky. The lesson was a good one though, so I didn't mind. Only three of the kids showed up, so it was fun. Bailey had found an old book of Ashley's on how to make friendship bracelets, so after church, we put in Ramona and Beezus and made some bracelets. It was fun. I wish I had had the patience to do this type of stuff with Ashley when she was younger. I think its something I've learned as I've gotton older...take the time to learn and do fun things with my kids.

No pictures this week, I can't find my camera. All I want for Christmas this year is a new camera! Seriously need one before next weekend. We are holding to our family tradition of going to the SLC Temple and seeing the lights. So Excited!

Week 3.....

Wow, I've been typing this blog for three weeks. So much fun for me and it makes sure I follow through on my commitment. Now I just need to be better commited to some more goals in life. This has been a crazy week. I went back to work on Monday. I cried all the way to work. I used to love my job, but now, it is just a job. I think that there are more important things in life then spending 50 hours a week working with people that don't want to be there either, plus the 7 1/2 hours driving every week is getting on my nerves. Oh well....not much I can do about that. I need money, so work is a necessity.

On Thursday, Kortni texted me and asked if I could watch Haiden this weekend. (I'm always glad to see by grandson). We made arrangements so I could have him all weekend. I picked him on on Friday and I will be taking him to his Grandma Stacey's this afternoon (he finally fell asleep from total exhaustion). I love to see him and get to spend time with him. Kortni is such a good mother and Haiden is a supreme little guy. We took him to my work Christmas party on Saturday morning. This was the first time he has ever been to the movies. We saw Despicable Me. We all liked the movie (Nick said he loved the movie). Haiden ate popcorn for the first half, then he got a little fussy and went to sleep. He was very good. We then took him to church on Sunday for all three hours. He was very good during Sacrament meeting, but he refused to go to nursery. I just kept him with me through Sunday School and Relief Society. When we got home from church Bailey, Haiden and Nick played and watched Avatar and ate lots of cheetos. Ashley and Ryan came to visit and brought a bazillion k'nex to everyone to build stuff. Haiden was getting tired so he laid down with grandpa Rick and fell asleep. I should mention that while all this playing around is going on, I made bread, pumpkin bundt cake and put beef stew in the crock pot :)

Michael called at the first of the week and wanted me to bring him his birth certificate. He said he is joining the Army. We hope that is the truth and he does go into the army. We want the best for him and I hope that is what he needs to get his life on track. Nick was so excited about that news that he told his whole class that his big brother was joining, so I hope he does.

Ashley & Ryan are still not in there house. They are hoping soon to get closing done. I hope soon for them also.

Nick visited the orthodonist this week and it was decided that he needs to have some dental surgery to remove three teeth. In two weeks, he will have a quad put in so his teeth can start moving to where they are supposed to be. He was very good during the process. He has reached his 50 point mark for A/R Reading (no pictures...I need a new camera). He missed the big hall walk, but they are going to let him do it next week.

Enough for now....

Bailey has been good all week. She was excited to see Haiden this weekend. She has played and played and played with him since we picked her up from school on Friday. She really loves kids and ecspecially her nephew.

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Another week has gone by at the Morriss household. I was again on vacation this week and Rick & the kids were supposed to be at work/school. We got a big snowstorm on Sunday, which meant me and Rick had to go Monday and buy coats, gloves, & boots for the kids. We enjoyed the day in Logan shopping and went to lunch at Costa Vida's. After the kids got home from school, they played outside for a couple of hours. I am thankful my kids love snow! Then came the Blizzard of 2010. I was concerned Monday night that the kids may need to stay home from school on Tuesday because the weather people kept saying we would have a blizzard around two-ish on Tuesday. Rick got up and left for work at 5:00 a.m. and I got up and turned on the news. It was extemely windy, but we didn't have snow. Around 6:30, Rick called me and let me know school had been canceled. The kids were super excited to miss school. They couldn't go outside though, because it was too cold with the wind blowing. Me and Bailey decided it was the day to clean out Ashley's old room and start priming the wall for paint. We accomplished this all by 2:00 p.m. I put one coat of primer on the wall and then we came upstairs to see how the blizzard was proceeding. It came in fast & hard. We couldn't see the road in front of the house. Now, we just had to wait for Rick to get home. The university closed at 2:00 because of the weather, so we waited (impatiently) for Rick to arrive. I talked to him as he drove through Trenton and he said the weather was fine, but then as they kept driving north, they drove into the wall of snow. He made it home after 3:00 p.m. The blizzard lasted a couple of hours and then the freezing cold weather settled in (-8 Wednesday morning).

Rick went in at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday and me and the kiddo's hung out at home for the day. Thanksgiving was fun this year. I had (forced) the kids to help cook. Bailey got up early and helped me clean the kitchen and clean the turkey. She made the stuffing and helped stuff the bird. Nick did the rolls (which consisted of spraying butter spray in the muffin pan and placing frozen rolls in each spot). I made the fruit salad. When I opened the first can of yams, it ended up being pumpkin pie filling. I've sent an email to Western Family, but so far I have not heard back. We only had one can of yams this year...oh well. Michael wasn't around to eat them. Ashley called and said she and Ryan were coming over. I wasn't expecting them because I had claimed Christmas was my holiday, and she could spend Thanksgiving with Ryan's family. Apparently Ryan's family doesn't celebrate Thanksgiving, so they came over and ate with us.

After dinner, Ashley and Ryan went through all the newspaper ads and decided to start Black Friday shopping at Midnight at Walmart and then they stayed up all night to hit the morning sales. I took this opportunity to give Ryan and Ashley some money to do some of my Christmas shopping too. Saved me from getting up at 4:00 a.m. in the below zero weather.

Nick got up Friday morning and decided that Bailey needed her own sled. Over the last two weeks of my vacation, I have been cleaning out drawers, closets, Ashley's old room and the bookcases. So we went an donated a truck load (yes, it was a truck load) to the DI, then the Library (which was closed) and then bought Miss Bailey a new sled. The kids again played outside all afternoon.

On Saturday, I planned my weekly menu and grocery list and planned on heading to Logan for some shopping. Rick wanted to go (Lowe's), and we knew there would be a fight forcing Nick to go. To our surprise, Nick wanted to go with us! We were shocked and thankful. We had a good trip to Logan and got our shopping done. Nick was a little grouchy towards the end, but it was a good trip. Rick got a call to go to the University for a heating problem. Nick wanted to go and he volunteered us to eat at Golden Corral. Nick loves eating at the Golden Corral. He eats several plate loads of food. (Nachos, spaghetti & pizza).

On Sunday, we went to church where it was my turn to teach the Sunday School class. I am terrified of teaching teenagers. When I was younger, I wanted to be a High School teacher. I am fearful of teenagers though! The lesson was on Ezekial and the gathering of the sheep. I am so lucky to have a great class though. I get to teach kids who listen and are so knowledgeable of the subject. It was not so bad. Our Relief Society lesson was on 'Grattitude'. I always think of the saying 'you need to have an attitude of grattitude' That lesson is so good. I am so thankful for all I have in this life. I have Rick, who I love soooo much. He is a good husband and a good father to my kids. I am thankful for Nick. We went to Logan twice in one day withough complaining. I am thankful for Bailey. She is the sweetest, kindest child. She loves people. She hugs people and makes them feel extra special. I am thankful for Ashley. She has grown up so much and is a good-hearted person. She stays close to our family and is good with Nick & Bailey. I am thankful for Ryan. He loves Ashley so much and is so good with Nick & Bailey. I am thankful for Michael too. Even though are growing further and further apart, I still think back to all the fun times we had. He has the ability to make people happy and to be kind. I miss Kortni very much. She is such a smart, sweet and kind person. She is a good mother to my grandson Haiden. I love, love, love Haiden. I didn't get to see Haiden this week at all. I so miss that little ray of sunshine!

I decided I needed to add a picture of the kiddo's each week. Here is our before church chess match. Nick loves chess, Bailey can care less.

Thanksgiving 2010

It has been a bitter cold couple of days, but that doesn't stop the kids from playing out in the snow.

A New Goal

I have decided that I need to write a weekly Blog so I can keep track of the kids and so they will have memories of growing up. I am not good at remembering things and I am not a scrapbook kind of person. However, I do love reading other peoples blogs and decided that Sunday afternoon is a perfect time to blog about the weeks happenings. We have received many, many inches of snow today. The picture is that of my wonderful husband Rick cleaning off the satellite dish. Can't watch television with all the snow on it :)

November 21, 2010-We will start oldest to youngest this week.

Michael - We haven't heard from Michael this week. He didn't even call his sister to wish her a happy birthday yesterday. He lives in his own world and his friends are still more important to him than his family. We still love him, but we wish he would make some positive changes in his life.

Ashley & Ryan - they will be included as one :) Last Sunday evening Ryan & Ashley came over for dinner. I made chili, which is Ashley's favorite. She has been looking for a dog for a couple of weeks now, and haven't found anything they like or can afford. Ashley mentioned she wanted a boxer, so I looked on KSL.COM and found a free boxer. The dog was located in Logan, so it was close by. On Monday, they went and looked at it and decided they wanted the dog. They now have a boxer that is 10 months old and her name is Jessie. Ashley has brought her over several times this week, which she has poo'd on the floor each time. Ashley and Ryan also made Bailey a birthday cake (picture was deleted by Bailey) of a camera. Bailey wanted a camera really, really bad for her Birthday, but I said no. Ashley and Ryan bought her one. She was very, very happy. Ryan also told us that they would be closing on their house in two weeks. They have been living with Ryan's parents since they were married.

Nick - Nick is hard to write about. He is mostly quiet. He did go to scouts this week. Nick spends lots of time playing WII, Playstation 3, You-tube and playing with legos. He did get excited to go to the Westside foot ball game to watch the team beat Malad 14-6 and win the State Championship game. It was much fun. Nick had a few blow ups in the truck on the way to and home from the game. He does not like to travel at all! He finished reading Diary of a Wimpy Kid-The Ugly Truth and got 10 out of 10 on the AR test. He is such a smart boy. This morning he went to church with his dad. Mom and Bailey stayed home because Bailey is sick and running a fever. (Nick had the same thing last Sunday and missed church. This is the most current picture of Nick that is on my computer. He isn't wearing his glasses. He lives in his jacket.

Bailey - This week has been very eventful. Bailey had her 7th birthday on Saturday. She was very, very excited. She had a party at school on Friday. I brought her class homemade cupcakes and talked about her favorite things. I learned that she is very shy. She has very good friends. Her bestfriends are Abby, Dominique and Jackson. She wants to be a babysitter when she grows up and she wants to ride a horse. On Saturday, I let her open one birthday gift. She received a doll she has wanted: She also received a camera from Ashley&Ryan, the outfit she is wearing in this picture and the big stuffed bear from Grannyma & Grandpa Gene. I also bought her a sweater dress from Children's Place and a shoe carosal for her doll. Nick bought her a little dog that goes with her doll. She had a very good birthday. She woke up Sunday morning with a fever, sore throat and ear ache. She has spent most of this Sunday in mommy's bed watching the Bee Movie.

The rest of the family is doing good. The car is on the fritz. I was hoping I could make it until February before having to buy a new car (used mini-van), but it may have to arrive before Christmas. I can't afford to drive the truck to work. I am on a two-week vacation. It has been so nice to not have to drive to Logan everyday. This coming week I hope to get some painting in the house done. I have been reading other peoples blog and I see a lot of decorating ideas. I have lived in this house for 22 years, and I need to make it homey!

Bloomington Lake 08-07-2010

Yesterday, Rick suggested we take a trip up to Bloomington Lake. Since our summer is about over and we've been busy with Ashley's wedding for the first half, we decided it was time to do fun stuff with the kids the last half. Nick is also working on his Scout merit badges, so we thought it was the perfect opportunity. Nick planned the lunch (tuna sandwiches, doritos and chocolate chip cookies) and off we went. We haven't been to Bloomington in years....there is a debate to when the last time was, but I say it's been about eight years. I can't ever remember taking Bailey. The trip started off very well. Nick had the GPS and enjoyed telling his dad when each curve in the road was coming up. Bailey had the tom-tom and helped in the driving directions also. There was a little rumblings about tummy aches from the bumpy drive up. When we arrived at the trail head, the kids were excited to begin the trek up. Nick enjoyed keeping way ahead of us and Bailey just wanted to get in the water. Once we passed the two ponds and finally reached the lake, Bailey was out of her shoes and socks and in the water. (No pictures....I'll explain later). There were plenty of people jumping off the rope swing and people cliff diving. We spent a while watching, but Nick decided the Cliff was the ideal place to go and take pictures. We proceded to rock climb to the top of the cliffs, which is just gorgeous! Nick was a mountain goat! He just kept climbing higher and higher. If you know Nick very well, he is not an outdoors kind of kid. He prefers the video & computer games. The fresh air was treating him well. Once he got to the very top and Rick was tired of following him, we climbed back down to the rope swing and proceeded to get in the water once again. We watched the crazy people swing into the freezing lake and had enjoyed the views. Once we hiked back to the trailhead (much whining due to having tired legs from the cliff-climbing) we had lunch and headed out. Bailey was a little on the tired and very grouchy side. At some point she was looking at the camera and decided it was a good idea to delete all the pictures with her in it. Coming through the canyon, a momma and baby moose crossed the road right in front of us. We got a close-up view (thought the sd card in camera was full, so no pictures). It was exciting because we had talked about wanting to see a moose at the Bloomington ponds. We ended up seeing two on the way home. Nick rates the trip as a 9 out of 10, the rock/cliff climbing as a 10 out of 10. This will mean we will be going up there again.