Our poor Spencer boy

All of Spencer's life his has been a snorer. Honestly, from the time he was an infant he snored, and being that he was my first child I didn't think anything of it. Until two years ago when a doctor asked me how bad his snoring was at night. How could they possibly know about his snoring? I let the doctor know that he snored quite loudly at night and asked why he would even question this. He said it was because Spencer has very large tonsils. He went on to ask lots of questions about Spencer's sleeping, snoring, breathing, eating, even his behavior. At that time, yes his snoring was bad, but he didn't seem overly tired. He was a great eater, he loved running around and didn't seem to have any problems with his breathing or behavior (have I ever mentioned how Spencer is an angel child?). But slowly things have gotten worse. Around 6 months ago we noticed that Spencer would occasionally stop breathing between snores. Nothing too long, maybe 10-15 seconds, but we took him to get checked out anyway. The doctor said that he was a candidate for a tonsillectomy because of the size of his tonsils (they literally touch in the back of his throat. I would compare them to the size of a ping pong ball, one on each side of his throat), but it wasn't completely necessary at this point because his sleep apnea (periods of not breathing during sleep) were not long enough. A couple of weeks ago things started to get worse and the length between snores got longer. We took Spencer in on Tuesday and they decided that he should get his tonsils and adenoids out today. I wish that I would have taken our camera with us to take a picture of him in his surgery gown because he looked so cute. All the nurses kept walking by and smiling (even though you could see sadness in their eyes for Spencer). The doctor said that the surgery went really well. When he came out to talk to me afterward he said Spencer definitely needed to get them out and that he will sleep much better now. I almost started crying when I went to see him after the surgery. He was still very sleepy and looked so helpless. When he did finally wake enough to talk he asked me when they were going to take out his tonsils. I let him know that they had already done it and Spencer with a half smile let me know he didn't feel a thing. How grateful I am for that! All of Spencer's nurses kept talking about how well Spencer did and what a happy, easy-going boy he is (I could have told you that). He is doing well tonight. In a little bit of pain, but I think he still has some of the anesthesia from the surgery, so I can only imagine it will get worse. The drive home from the hospital today was weird. Normally in the car Spencer can't stop talking, but today he was very quiet and has been all day. Talking is the one time that he says that his throat does hurt. We will keep you informed on his progress, but everything went well today and can only imagine that it will stay that way.

What a deal!

Go shop at Oldnavy.com today and save 20% and get free shipping. No lines, no gas, great prices. Just make sure to do it today because it is a one day thing. 

Soccer is over

Spencer's soccer season is officially over. We had his team party on Saturday and he had so much fun. The boys on the team made the year a blast.
Here is Spencer with Coach Mike and Coach Scott. Coach Scott was a hard core coach, and although at times I got frustrated with how he ran the team, he taught the boys a ton.

Spencer was the last to get his trophy and was so patient while he waited for all the other boys to get their trophy. He loves his trophy and proudly has it on display in his room. It is actually pretty cool. The head and body bobble on the leg that is attached.
Spencer is going to play T-ball in the spring and is already talking about getting a trophy from that. Oh, the pleasures we have as little children.

I love sunsets

We have had the most awesome sunsets here lately. They start off with the sky on fire like this and then move on to be a deep red like the below picture. I love the location of our house so that we can enjoy sunsets on a daily basis.

Tanner Boy

Our Tanner boy is walking. All over the place in fact. He has been taking steps for a long time now, but the past week he has been walking everywhere. It is so nice that he has this new found freedom. He seems so much happier and content with life.I put this picture up to show you how little Tanner is. He is actually back on the charts (at his 9 month check up he wasn't on them), but only in the 3rd percentile. I don't know how this can be because he is an incredible eater. Just has a great metabolism I guess.
Along with his walking, he has decided he is a climber too. He loves to get up on our glider. . .

. . .and then sit on the desk with me while I am on the computer. Brett doesn't like it too much though, so I need to put a stop to it. It is hard when it is so cute that he wants to be with me.
I thought this picture was a fun picture of Tanner with his friends Parker and Dallin (Sarah's boy). There have been a couple of occasions now when I have watched both these boys while their moms have been out. I can only imagine what having triplets would be like. But Tanner loves hanging one by them (they don't really interact, just play next to each mostly).
And this last picture is just too cute not to include. This is my sister Sarah's boy Dallin. You can't tell me you don't smile when you look at that!?!

Our fun (but not so fun) camping trip

We went camping this weekend with the kids to celebrate the end of elections and to finally have time to spend as a family. We were going to go up the Ortega to the mountains to camp, but none of the campgrounds that direction allowed fires so we decided to stay close and go to O'niell. It is literally 10 minutes from our house. We had no clue there was camping so close. The night started out with yummy foil dinners. I don't know why I never make them at home because they are sooo good and so easy to make. . .. . .and the kids love them. We couldn't get the food fast enough to Tanner's mouth so he decided to take matters into his own hands, literally.The kids had so much fun helping up build up the fire. Natalie was more the observer, but Bailey and Spencer were constantly finding leaves and twigs to "make the fire really big" (in Spencer's words).

And then we had the best part of the night, s'mores! Dad, Spencer and Natalie all enjoyed the s'mores, while Bailey, Tanner, and I ate all the ingredients separately. I don't know how I can enjoy graham crackers, chocolate and marshmallows separately, but not so much together. I am glad that I have someone else on my side, even if it is a two year old.

As soon as Natalie finished her s'mores she asked if she could go to bed. Wait, did I say that right? Yes, Natalie asked to go to bed and it was only 7:30! She said that her ear was bugging her and she wanted to go to sleep. And Bailey followed in her footsteps. So we put the girls and Tanner down for the night and enjoyed some two on one time with Spencer (he rarely ever gets that luxury). Around 8:30, as we were rounding up the night with Spencer, Natalie started to cry, this time saying her ear was really bugging her. Bonus #1 of staying so close to home: there was a grocery store right around the corner. So Brett went and picked up some medicine for Natalie while I held her and tried to keep her quiet. So we gave Natalie some medicine, and then went out to let the fire die and enjoy some one on one time and then headed to bed ourselves around 9:30. At 11:30 Natalie woke up again, but instead of just crying she was screaming, so Brett gave her and blessing and we decided that keeping the entire camp awake was probably not a good idea. So bonus #2 of a close to home campground: Brett took Natalie and Tanner home, while Spencer, Bailey and I stayed to finish out the night in the tent. Poor Brett and Natalie were up almost the entire night. When the first morning light hit the tent, Spencer and Bailey were up and rearing to go, but unlucky for us, Brett had taken the truck which had the firewood in the back. So we stayed in the tent and talked, while I packed up sleeping bags and what not (I had no clue when/if Brett would be back). Bonus #3: Around 7:00 we heard the truck pull up, so we made a fire and cooked up some pancakes for breakfast, and then hurried to clean up camp and get out of there so we could take Natalie to the doctor. It ends up she has a double ear infection the poor girl. Saturday afternoon one of them ruptured, which actually brought a lot of relief. So, to make a long story short, we had so much fun before bed and even in the morning, just not so much fun in the middle there. Hopefully our next camping trip will go smoother, but to say the least, we may use that campground again, just in case.

Sudoku

I know that for a while Sudoku was the game to play, but it seems to have sizzled out for most people. Not for me. I play almost daily on MSN Games. They have a daily puzzle ranging from Easy to Diabolical. It is nice because I can get my fill without getting dragged into playing for hours on end. When I first started playing, I wouldn't even try the hard or diabolical, but now that is what I get excited to play. I know, I know, it is a silly obsession, but when I just need a break and time to think like an adult, I know I can count on Sudoku being there for me.

Lovin' it!

A couple of weeks ago at Spencer's soccer game, we picked up our blanket after the game to find a wad of gum stuck to the underside of the blanket.  We promptly took off what we could of the gum, but there was definitely a lot left that was embedded into it.  The blanket got folded and put into the back of the car and forgotten until today.  I pulled it out, remembering the gum and thinking about how sad I was that our beach/park/soccer watching blanket was ruined (Ok, I know ruined is a little extreme for a spot the size of a golf ball on a big blanket, but that is how I felt about it).  But then I remembered about the Goo Gone that has been sitting in the back of my cupboard for who knows how long and I thought that I would give it a try.  I sprayed it on and honestly, almost instantly, I was able to wipe the gum entirely off.  No more gum.  Period.  It was awesome.  I have used it a couple of other random times and been just as pleased with the results.  No, it is not something that I use very often, but when I do need it, I am so grateful it is in the back of my cupboard.

It's finally over. . .

. . .and we did it.  As Brett and I fell to sleep last night be had to breathe a sigh of relief that the elections are over.  It has been a long month of walking the streets, waving signs, calling homes, and just being stressed over Prop 8.  But the battle is over.  And not only is it over, but for now, marriage will still be defined as a union between a man and a women.  The results were a lot closer this year than in 2000, but we'll take the 52% to 48% victory!  For a brief second Brett and I wondered what we were going to do with all the spare time we will now have, but then we thought better of it.  There is will always be something else to do.  If it is not Prop. 8, it will be Scouts Rechartering, the Holidays, Christmas shopping, the list goes on and on.  But for now, we can sit back and know that we did all we could do and in the end we had results that we couldn't be more happy about.

Tired Bailey Girl

Eating dinner the other night I looked over to find Bailey fast asleep. She hadn't had a nap that day and was extremely tired. I can't even imagine how tired one would have to be to fall asleep sitting up at the dinner table, but she was there. After we took this picture we took her up to bed and she ended up sleeping 13 hours that night. I guess she really needed it.

Don't forget to VOTE!

It is election day.  It's now or never.  This year we are voting upon one of the biggest moral issues that our country has ever faced, that of the definition of marriage.  Eight years ago we voted on this very issue and were able to succeed with a 61% victory to define marriage as being between a man and a women, yet in May of this year with a 4-3 vote the California Supreme overturned the opinion of the people.  On the ballot today we are voting upon a constitutional amendment to once again define marriage between a man and a women.  Many people are trying to treat it as a civils right issue, comparing it to when African Americans or women didn't have the right to vote.  But it is a moral issue.  We are not taking any rights away from individuals that want to live this lifestyle.  They have all the rights that we have in a civil union.  But they want to change the definition of what marriage has been for thousands of years.  Marriage is a union between a man and a women and that is how it should stay.  There are so many other issues that could arise if this proposition doesn't pass, but I am sure you have heard them all.  For our children, for this country, and to protect our rights, get out and vote YES on PROP 8!

Happy Halloween

We had so much fun on Halloween. From the time that the kids woke up in the morning they were constantly asking me if it was time for Trick or Treating yet. To pass some time we went over to Grandma and Grandpa Higham's house. Sarah had made some Halloween Sugar Cookies for the kids to decorate. So the kids decorated cookies and played with cousins. We were able to get home just in time for Grandpa Bruschke to bring in some pizza for us for dinner. Spencer was so excited to go Trick or Treating that he inhaled his pizza. The girls still took their time in eating, but were finally able to finish without too much persuasion. Then on to the fun part, Trick or Treating.Spencer was a "green dinosaur with horns".Natalie was a dragon.Bailey our little Tiger.

And our bumble bee Tanner.
The kids seemed to get the hang of Trick or Treating quickly. Spencer and Natalie were cute to encourage Bailey to the next door, even if she did slow them down a little.
Grandpa Bruce kept us company around the block. It was nice to have another set of hands. He pushed Tanner around and made sure to point out all the cool decorations to him while I stayed with the other kids. The next three pictures are the kids with their candy. Way too much if you ask me. By the end Bailey was complaining about the weight, but Natalie and Spencer probably would have gone on had we not finished all the houses in our neighborhood.

And these last three pictures are from cookie decorating earlier in the week. The kids love decorating cookies, and eating them of course. If it weren't for the mess, I would make them all the time because it keeps them entertained forever. Don't they look so proud of their work?

Carving Pumpkins

We carved pumpkins with the kids tonight and we had a blast. We had one pumpkin for the boys to carve and one for the girls. The kids are the ones that designed the pumpkins and I think they did an awesome job! As is tradition in the Higham family we ate caramel apples when all was said and done. Yummy! Here the kids are getting ready to carve (or rather watch Dad and Mom carve), one of the only times they are allowed to sit on the table.

Pulling out the "guts". I was actually surprised how well they cleaned out the pumpkins and how much they enjoyed it. I remember hating the feeling on my hands, oh wait, I still hate that feeling.

Even Tanner got into it and "helped" out, although, it was more just moving the seeds onto the table.

The kids with their finished products. Spencer designed the one on the left, Natalie the one on the right.

Fun family picture. Amazing that our kitchen table can hold the weight of our entire family!
An up close view of our work.And one of my favorite pictures of our jackolanterns.

It was a WICKED night!

On Friday night Brett and I had the opportunity to go see "Wicked" at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood. We have talked about seeing it for a long time now and finally found a great deal on tickets that we couldn't pass up. We went with four other couples from church (three of which the husbands work with Brett). The night started with the drive up there of course. Funny that I have lived in Southern California nearly my whole life and have never seen the Hollywood sign before. Our group all met up for dinner (we had driven two separate cars) at a little restaurant called The Velvet Margarita Cantina. It is just a couple of blocks from the theatre and you honestly have to wonder as you are walking to it if you are in the right place. The big steel door you walk through makes you feel like you are walking into a bar or something. But the atmosphere was so fun.
All the walls are covered in some kind of velvet covering. In this picture you can kind of see the the walks around us are blue velvet.
Brett and I are at the left hand side, following around are Aimee and Jason, Nick and Kim, Tiffany, Stacy, Chris and Matt. The food was yummy too! They start you out with all you can eat chips and dips including beans, salsa, and pico de gallo. Brett ordered a salmon dish and I got the chicken burrito. Only order the burrito if you are absolutely starving and haven't eaten too many chips. It is big!

Following dinner we walked back to the theatre and enjoyed an excellent performance of Wicked. It is the story of the Witches from the Wizard of Oz. Great storyline and message about how you can't judge someone by their actions.

Brett and I snuck in a picture during intermission, which is strictly prohibited I guess. We got in trouble by one of the ushers. (By the way, do you like Brett's new glasses? He got them a couple of weeks ago and I am loving them. I am a little bias though!) But anyway, overall is was a wonderful night with great food, an awesome show, and fantastic company. Maybe we will be able to save up some money to do this again in a couple of years!