Thanksgiving

We had a great Thanksgiving. The kids were out of school on wednesday.  Cali and I went to the mall in the morning to get tickets to the BYU basketball game.  (free with our pass of all passes)  It was nice being at the mall with just Theo and Cali...we looked around a little and didn't want to go back home. Haha.  Then we went back to our own homes and I had GG and CC come over for awhile, while Oliver went to Cali's house.  It was a great relaxing day.  That evening I got started on my grandma's orange rolls, the stuffing and the cranberry sauce.  I got in bed around 1 am.  

The next morning I had to wake up at 6:30 to get the orange rolls raising.  I was so tired.  It was a REALLY long Thanksgiving day.  Cali, Dad and I cooked all morning and I went back and forth between our houses.  It is really convenient living so close.  We were working on cooking the rolls (7 dozen orange rolls and 4 dozen regular rolls...KaeLynn made another 4 dozen), cooking the turkey, the ham, pecan yams, mashed potatoes and stuffing.  It was a lot of work but it came together deliciously.  (SOO much work)  It was great to have mom and dad there helping.  

Finally at 1:00 it was time for Thanksgiving dinner, we had Keith and Vickie and their kids Rachel and David plus of course grandma Jones, Jason and KaeLynn and kids, Dougie (Justin stopped by for a little while...Marion got released from the hospital earlier that day), Mom and Dad, and Isaac and Linh. We had some last minute Thanksgiving miracles because Jason and KaeLynn AND Isaac and Linh were going to be out of town... I think we were all ecstatic when they decided to stay.  Linh brought prime rib, chicken wings, and green beans, and KaeLynn brought rolls, green salad, veggie tray (and not just the costco one...nope it was her own with everything cut real cute), two fruit salads, and some pies.  Joey made some homemade ginger ale with fresh pressed ginger.  We had AMAZING amounts of food.  Cali and I were so worried we wouldn't have enough but we had tons.  

Thanksgiving was also Theo's birthday...we were so busy though so we didn't celebrate.   I did however snuggle him all day and remember about the day he was born.  I will post more about him tomorrow I hope.  

Linh and Grace (poor linh wasn't feeling very good)

I love this picture...something about seeing our profiles right next to each other.  I LOVE MY MOM.  I was sooo happy they came.  

The boys talking intensely...and a couple of babies. 

The only picture we took of Theo, our birthday boy. 

Pretty Brooklyn.  She hung out with the moms a lot.  She is so fun to have around. 

Cutlers

Rob bothered me the whole time I was cooking to change into play clothes.  I finally gave in and let him after the prayer. 

Daddy.

Sisters.

I love this funny picture of Jack and Tyson and Henry. 

Mmmmm the orange rolls were to die for. 

Willie mays. 

Cortney took some random time lapse pictures while we were getting ready.  I loved this one...especially Isaac lifting Theo up all the way to the ceiling. 

I like this one too because you can see Cortney taking pictures. 

After dinner/lunch we basically sat around and vegged all day.  The kids were really good too.  Cortney interviewed all the kids on camera.  It turned out awesome.  Jared and Lindsay and kids came by in the eve, it was great to see them and our kids always have a fun time together. 

In the evening the sisters (Cali,KaeLynn, Brooklyn, Mom, Vicki, Rachel and I) went shopping.  It was crazy.  I was EXHAUSTED.  Exhausted.  We hit up walmart, kmart, and target.  I didn't really buy anything but it was fun being girls only.  I think we got home around 1 am.  

The next morning the same group went out again.  This time we went to the mall.  I got Christmas Pajamas for the family.  

Then it was back to Cali's for left overs.  Yummm.  I love thanksgiving left overs.  

In the evening The boy cousins (minus Rob) came over here to my house for a slumber party.  The girls (plus rob) went over to KaeLynn's for a slumber party.  

The adults went over to Cali's to play some games. We also had some finger foods.  We played reverse charades....which as always was hilarious.  Then we played don't guess the number...if you guess the number you get shot in the face with water.  It was hilarious.  I love playing games.  We stayed until midnight and then went home.  The boys were still up and being wild, so I had to bring out Mean Momma.  The boys are good though and they eventually went to sleep and stayed in bed until 8.  

Saturday at 10 we went to KaeLynn's house for pancakes.  Yummy.  Then we went to the Lehi Legacy center to go swimming for a couple of hours.  Henry and Theo thought it was so amazing.  Theo was splashing like crazy the entire time.  Afterwards we all went to our own homes.  I was so tired.  The kids were so tired.  We all rested for a while and then we went to the BYU basket ball game.  I really didn't want to go and take the babies but I finally decided to just do it.  We actually had a great time.  THe kids loved it.  We sat with Tyson, and KaeLynn's older kids, and my Mom.  The arena was filled with tons of people...and we were all dancing and pumped up.  It was a great game.  BYU won. 

That was the end of our fun filled Thanksgiving.  It was exhausting.  I was grateful for today to rest...my kids are so grouchy, I had them in bed by 7:40 tonight.  

I am so grateful for my family.  (both sides)  I am so grateful to be a mother. I am so grateful to have a partner to go through this life and the next with (cortney...hahaa), that loves me and always has my back....always.  Life is good.  

naughty theo

Tonight while I was at mutal, Cortney realized that he hadn't seen Theo in a while.  He went into the kitchen and Theo was sitting on the floor eating brown sugar as FAST as he could.  Hilarious video.  I love it.

Funny baby.  (he turns 1 on turkey day)

brown sugar from ashley boice on Vimeo.

extra pictures

I found some more pictures from our night at Tucanos and the BYU game....they are from the go pro but they are funny/cute and I wanted to include them.

Also today Cortney and I are sick...with the stomach flu.  Not fun.  It is really hard to have a baby when you are too weak to pick them up. It has been a long day.  I am hoping to feel better tomorrow.  I have to give a young women's lesson on Drug addiction.  Ughhh.

 we were pretty serious about our eating. 

 I love this one because Henry is eating with his meat tongs.  The only thing he ate was grapes and mandarine oranges. 

 Blickenstaff's...and this is after Henry peed his pants. 

 in the car (in our driveway...so Oliver was unbuckled...)

 A blurry picture but awesome because you can see Jackie with his balloons...Joey with his vibrant blue snow pants and Cali and I so happy to be there together!

 I love this stadium. (cali and Joey's tickets are right in front of the box where the general authorities sit. It is hard for me not to just watch them the whole game.)

 I had to include this picture because I traded coats with Cortney because I was cold...what a nice hubby. 

Cold Jack.  (the boys were throwing tantrums about wearing coats and snow pants.  They were grateful by the end of the game...look at that snow!!)

I was grateful to go to the last home game.  (we are getting beat right now as I type....ughhh)

Rob turned 7

First off...it snowed this last week. Tons of snow.  It was awesome. 

The 11th was Robert's birthday.  We spent all weekend celebrating.  Saturday we went to  Tucano's with a birthday coupon.  My kids love that place.  They tried every kind of meat and went through the salad bar numerous times.  It was great family fun.  Cali watched Theo (while he slept) so we were able to go without being too stressed out.

After Tucano's we went to Blickenstaff's...Rob had some cash from my parents and he picked out a mini measuring tape (of course) and a pen that can write in 10 colors.  While we were there Henry peed on the floor.  It was everywhere.  I tried to clean it up with Oliver's jacket but it was just smearing it everywhere.  Ahhhh.  So I had to go up to the counter and ask for paper towels.  I told them Henry peed on the floor and they gave me some Kaboom to clean up the mess with.

Tucanos

That night Cortney and I went with Cali and Joey to the BYU game.  It was soOOOO cold out and the stadium was covered in snow.  We wore snow clothes and still had a ton of fun, but came home a little after halftime...BYU was super ahead anyways. 

 Sunday, Ty, Cameron and Leah came over and we had dinner and dessert to Celebrate our Rob.

Monday after school I picked up Cali's kids and took the 6 oldest to Trafalga.  Cali stayed home with the 4 babies and I think she definitely got the short end of the stick.

 Rob made it to the top a million times. 

 The group.

 Once we got home I ran and picked up a cake. 

Rob is growing up.  It is hard to believe really.  He is learning to help, to share, and to take care of his brothers.  He has a very special relationship with Theo.  They just get along so well.  They look so much alike too.  He is really starting to read, and I get the opportunity to help his reading group on Thursdays and help again in class on Friday.  He loves when he sees me at school.  He is so much like me (in good ways and BAD).  He loves loves his taekwando and does the splits non stop.  He loves his teacher.  He loves bacon and soft pretzels with cheese.  What a good boy.  

In other news....

I sit around doing this all the time...

This dude just wants me to sit on the floor so he can crawl all over me.  If I sit on the couch or bed he isn't having it.  What a cutie. (he is turning 1 next week) Sooo thankful for him. 

Thankful

I have been really thinking all week about gratitude.

Last year on November 1st I first found out that Theo was going to be born with complications.  As I went through Halloween, and the day after, I thought constantly about my feelings on that day so long ago.

It is strange at this time that Marion's tumor was found at almost the exact same time as Theo's brain problems were found.  I have felt very similar feelings of fear, stress, sadness, hope, faith, love and worrying that I felt last year.  Honestly I am so grateful for Theo's miracle...and the reminder it is for me that Marion can have a miracle too.  I find myself turning to the same conference talks and scriptures as I did a year ago for comfort.  It has certainly been a strange feeling.

Even though Theo's brain appeared normal on the post birth ultrasound...his doctor has been extra concerned about Theo hitting his developmental milestones. He has been a little slow.  He just started sitting up September 24th right around his 10 month birthday. Since then he has just EXPLODED with new developments.  In the last 2 weeks he has started sitting up on his own from a crawling position.  (amazing)  He has also started pulling himself up on the couch and taking a couple of steps along the couch.  Then this week he started trying to climb up the stairs.  I cant believe the change in him.  He really truly a miracle baby.

As this month of Thanksgiving has been passing by I can't help but stare at Theo everyday and be so thankful for him.  Everyday I have been holding him close and watching in amazement as he progresses more and more everyday.

I want to teach my children to be thankful for things.  I really do.  Hopefully November in our house will be centered around all of our many blessings in life....and I want to post  about some of the many blessings we enjoy...  we will see how it goes sometimes my intentions are good but little comes from them.

Tonight I sit with my baby Rob next to me.  He has thrown up many times.  When he was a baby he would say "im bout to baaaarrrf"  all the time.  Every single day, multiple times.  He has only thrown up one or two times in his life though.  Today has been a really hard one for him.  He really wants to go to the emergency room. Poor baby.

I am really grateful that he is old enough to make it to the bathroom.