Christmas...we really did celebrate it at our house!

Well I am finally getting around to posting Christmas.  It was a fun Dec.  A little more challenging to do all that I had planned with a newborn in tow, but I think we still made some fun memories.  Here are just a few of the things we did.

Decorating the tree.  Each year I envision this lovely family night decorating the tree.  And I am pretty sure 9 of the 10 years we have been married I have ended up doing it alone.  Well not this year.  I put on the Carpenter's Christmas CD and we attempted to decorate together.  I think it was pretty close to a success:)! 

 Carter attempting to put on the star as a final touch. It was a no go....

 So Camden tried....a no go again.  No worries, mom saved the day!

 The annual trip to the mall to see Santa.  Surprisingly there were no tears this year.  Even Dawson was a trooper.

 Christmas eve.  All of the Parson grand kids minus Max(maybe he is to old:) Camden, Carter, Dawson, Gabrielle, Myah, Clara and Grady.

 My dads favorite thing to do!

 Surprise!!!  Pajama's!

Can you believe these two are only one year apart(just two weeks shy)?!? Lesli makes them tall and we make them short!

 I just loved this picture of Dawson.  For some reason my family always thinks my babies are overdressed and they always end up naked!

 Christmas morning.  It couldn't have come soon enough for this kiddo!

 Carter the builder.  I think "Bob" would have suited him better as a name!

 Even Darin had a smile.  Santa brought him some new suits.  The first in 10 whole years!

 Our little monkey!

 Christmas just wouldn't be the same without a little dish of "girl"!

 and a girl she is!

The rest of the day was spent with the Chase family.  Surprisingly I didn't even pull out the camera.  I guess we were having to much fun!

six

He's had us all smiling for six whole years now!

Happy Birthday Carter!

Fun Carter facts:

I wish I had his stats....first b-day with no well child visit.  But he's little....quite little.  He can thank his dad for that:)  His smile still gets me.  He loves to build things.  His favorite show is Wild Kratts.  His favorite food: Quesadilla's and apples (he eats at least two apples every day).  The phrase most often used for Carter "Don't cry before you try". He is a good little reader. His best friends: Lewis, Gabe, Kyler and Clayton. He is as slow as a turtle, especially in the morning.  His feathers don't get ruffled easy but when they do,  watch out!  He love Lego's, the wii, playing the computer and watching PBS, but most of all he LOVES playing outside.  He will be out there for hours.  He loves to snuggle, listen to stories and fight with his brother (I hope that is there way of showing love).  He learns like a sponge and loves to teach us everything he knows.  He isn't in any hurry to grow up and I am just so thankful each day for this little man!  Happy Birthday Carter!

Desperate

Last night the boys all went to the basketball game and I had convinced Myah to stay home with me and Dawson.  I told her what a fun girls night we would have watching Tinkerbell and making cookies for the boys.  She was pretty excited, especially for the cookie making.  I always envision my fun nights I have planned going smooth sailing.  Well there ended up being a few bumps in our night.  First the pizza man didn't ever come.  After an hour and a half wait, Darin called wondering were in the world our dinner was.  They had some how lost our order.  They said they could have it to us in 30 min. The Aggie game started in 20.  Darin told the boys to get in the car and they could get pizza at the game. Myah really wanted pizza too.  I tried pulling out everything in the fridge I thought she would like, but it just wasn't fair.  She wanted pizza.  So I bundled the kids up and we drove to Little Caesar's. Thank heavens for the drive through.  By the time we got home it was 7:30.  We hurry and ate...actually I did.  I think Myah ate about a half of a piece...her diet is very finicky these days.  By the time I cleaned her up and bathed her it was already 8:00.  She hadn't had a nap and she was really tired.  Dawson was reaching the end of his rope as well.  He was tired and still needed a breathing treatment before bed (darn bronchialitis).  I told Myah we would have to make cookies in the morning. MELT DOWN.  By this point I was tired too. My arms hurt from carrying Dawson around all night and emotionally I was feeling a little spent from dealing with a sick baby for the past 4 days.  I sighed and pulled out the mixer.  I thought it would be quicker to just make the cookie dough than fight her about it.  I went to get out the ingredients.  No eggs.  I was sort of relieved.  I didn't really want to make cookies anyway.  I calmly explained to Myah that daddy would have to pick up some eggs on his way home and we could make cookies as soon as we got home from church.  MELT DOWN.  At this point I wanted to just melt down too! Myah was crying, Dawson was crying and I was doing my best not to cry too.  Then all of a sudden, mommy brain kicked in.  Quickly I grabbed a frozen pancake, a tub of honey and a bag  of  conversation hearts and told her to decorate to her little hearts content.  She was THRILLED.  She could hardly wait to show her daddy.  Then we all went to sleep :).  The end.

Life

 I still haven't posted Christmas....

I have just learned how to use a nebulizer (spelling?)....RSV stinks...

My house needs cleaning...again...

My kiddos are about ready to burst.  They are really counting on Phil's prediction that spring will be here soon...

But I did squeeze in my first shot at taking newborn photo's.  Someday I will really learn how to use my camera so don't compare me to those who do.  However, I think they turned out pretty cute for my first time.  It helps to have such a cute baby.  We love our new nephew.  Here are a few of my favorites.

baby Parson

 This is me (with really bad 90's teen hair) along with my two little sisters.  My baby sister Ashley,I will always think of as this cute little girl with tons of sass...

Well, she is no longer that tiny little thing.  In fact she towers above me now.  And amazingly this once little girl just became a beautiful mama today!  I'm so proud of her.

 And here is the tiny little creature she created.  Isn't he cute!  Welcome to the family little Pars!

He was 2 1/2 weeks early (why am I the only girl in my family to be unable to get a baby here so soon, actually I can't seem to make them come on my own at all!) and this stubborn little guy had to come c-section because he was breech...even with lots of coaxing he just wouldn't flip.  Both mom and baby are doing great!

Big Sister

This morning, Myah called "Mommy, come look!"  I found this sly looking little face...

...and this look of complete disbelief saying "Mom, how could you let this happen!"

Here is to big sister's....this poor little guy is in for it I am afraid!  My other boys never were so lucky as to have an adoring older sister!

4 months

Our little monkey has already hit the four month mark!  It is amazing how fast time flies once they are here and how slow it goes getting them here.  He is so much fun and just as cute as can be.  He is finally getting on somewhat of a schedule, he actually has put himself to sleep for naps a few times (yea!!!) and he smiles more than any baby I know.  Today we went to the doctor for his checkup and even after the nurse gave him his shot he flashed her a big ol grin.  He reminds me of his dad that way.  I'm so thankful to have this little guy.  He got his first ear infection about two weeks ago and after holding him all night watching his little body fighting a fever of 103, I knew I just couldn't imagine life without this little guy. So with all of the chaos four kids has brought....it has brought a lot more love into our home as well! I'm grateful to be such a lucky mama!

4 month stats:

weight: 13 lbs. 10 oz. 30% (still the runt of our boys however Myah was only 12.6 at the same age)

Length: 24 1/2 inches 45% (doing much better than last time...must have had a growth spurt)

Head: 16 1/4 in. 25%

(now I need to get all of my Christmas pictures on here....sigh....someday!)

Happy 32nd Birthday Joanna!!

Darin here--Just thought I'd make all of you readers out there aware that it is Joanna's birthday today.  She turned the big 32 today.  Also wanted to shout out to everyone that I LOVE HER more than any of you will ever know.  She is my best friend.  She has been at my side through everything going back to our high school sweetheart stages.  I will always love her and appreciate her for her kindness, caring, patience, thoughtfulness, friendship, understanding, and compassion.  I'm sure all of you would agree!  (Please give her a shout out happy birthday all of you out there.  She deserves it.)  So, Joanna--have a spectacular day!! I love you so much!  Thank you for being you!  LYMYB and LYAAF--DC

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!  I did get cards out but no letter...good intentions seem to be the story of my life these days.  So here is just a little snippet for those who read my blog.....

Darin:  Always busy doing something.  Best dad around.  Constantly throwing a ball, playing the wii, snuggling or taking the kids on an adventure.  I truly feel our kiddo's couldn't have been blessed with a better dad.  When I am tired and ready to give up for the day Darin is always there to play with the kids...for this reason I am sure they like him more than me:)  He is a hard working both at work being the greatest Physical Therapist in Box Elder county...(yes that is where he works but I refuse to live....what can I say, once a cache valley girl, always a cache valley girl.) and at home doing my never ending list of honey do's.  He is currently in the elder's quorum presidency and is great at helping others.  We are all pretty grateful to have him around.

Joanna:  Busy, crazy and tired.  That is me in a nutshell.  Having four kids has been an adjustment.  If only I had 6 more hours to my day I think I might stay on top of things.  Laundry is my nemesis.  I spend most of my day picking up after the kids and thinking of a million things I would like to do but just don't have time for.  That being said, I am grateful to be able to stay home with my kids and watch them grow up.  When the house is a disaster I just try to remember that someday when the house is clean again for more than 10 min. at a time I will probably lay on the couch and cry, wishing I still had little ones running around!  My kids keep me laughing and teach me new things each day!  I'm lucky to get to spend some time with the great YW in my ward and they help keep me in touch with the real world.  I also get to have some great girlfriends around me that keep me sain and love girls night out as much as I do!

Camden:  Sports, sports, sports...did I mention this kid loves sports?  He has played soccer, baseball, golf, swimming and basketball this year.  He would have played football if I would have let him....but I'm just not quite ready for that.  He loved them all...except for swimming...he is afraid of the water, but is getting better.  He is a great little student.  His teachers never have anything bad to say about him.  I think he bottles any bad behavior for home.  He is good, but loves to push all of our buttons!  He is funny and his smile and giggle can light up a room or make you really mad when he is laughing at something he shouldn't....he just can't stop.  He is a good big brother and is a great help around the house.  He loves to tease everyone but has one of the most tender hearts around.  He is 7 going on 21 or at least he would love to be.  His favorite morning show....ESPN sports center.  Go figure.  He loves to watch old Aggie football and basketball games that have been DVR'd.  He loves the wii and his book of choice for his 20 min. of reading each day...the Friend.  He wakes up at the crack of dawn and keeps us all on our toes.  He is a fun little kid to have around!

Carter: Carter is all little boy.  He loves anything to do with building, trucks, dirt and loves to play sports with his dad as well (just not as much as Camden).  He played soccer, t-ball, swimming and also did gymnastics.  He unlike Camden loved swimming this year and turned into a little fish.  We went to St. George this summer and swam a lot. His little body just wiggled like a tadpole...it was fun to watch.  He has a huge imagination and can be lost in his own little world for hours.  Our neighborhood is full of boys his age and in the summer they are off on adventures all day everyday.  Carter is pretty easy going but quick to throw a fit if things don't go quite his way.  He loves playing with Camden and Myah but doesn't like to be bossed around.  He has a smile that melts your heart and hair that blinds you!  He started kindergarten this year and is loving it.  He loves riding the bus and tells me all about what happens on it.  He is learning to read and write and informs us of everything he knows.  Like what inertia is?!!  We love having Carter around...you never know what you might learn when he opens his mouth! 

Myah:  Full of sass and cute as a button.  Myah is getting so big.  It might have something to do with Dawson coming around, but she is talking like crazy and just starting to act more like a little girl and less like a baby.  She is one tough little cookie.  Stitches, bonked teeth, bruises and cuts, she has seen it all this year.  She is getting a little bossy and lets us all know who is in charge.  She loves teasing her brothers and I am pretty sure she makes them cry more than the other way around!  She loves anything pink or fluffy.  She loves skirts and tutu's.  She loves Tinkerbell.  She is great at letting me do her hair...even though I usually have to promise a treat.  She is a great little helper and loves her baby brother...usually more than I like.  She is working on being potty trained...someday right?  She is still the princess of the house and we are all thankful to have her around!

Dawson:  Our little bundle of joy.  He is getting bigger by the second and I sure wish I could slow time down.  We all are in love with his huge smiles and squinty little eyes.  He has started to coo and loves to tell us all stories.  He loves his hands and drools like crazy.  He is a good sport with his older siblings and we all hope he survives without any serious injuries!  He was a little bit on the fussy side starting out, but once we got his tummy figured out, he turned into a sweetheart!  He still loves to be bounced to sleep, it's probably a good thing however since that is about the only exercise I seem to be getting these days. He is such a cutie and we are all so glad he chose to join our family!

We are so thankful for this Christmas season and the opportunity we have to reflect on the Savior and his love for us.  We hope each of you have a very merry Christmas and a wonderful new year!

Love, The Chase's

A decade

10 years ago today, I married the only man I have ever loved.  My high school sweetheart and best friend.  It was a day right out of my own little fairytale.  I look back on that day and think how simple our lives were...

We had no idea I would soon be trying to handle 120 eighth graders at my former middle school, that you would soon be applying for and getting into the first and only school you applied to,to become a physical therapist.  That it would take us longer than expected to have a baby which would turn out to be a boy!  That we would move to North Salt Lake and enjoy...no LOVE a ward we never thought we would.  That we would have a second baby much sooner than expected and it also would be a boy!  We didn't know what it was like to be parents. To send a child to time out.  To stay up worried sick about a fever that wouldn't go away.  To have a two year old.  To have said two year old stick a blueberry up his nose. To have a dog in a yard that was way to small.  To drive through Salt Lake traffic.  To stop in Salt Lake traffic to get oldest child to stop screaming and making baby cry.  We didn't know what it would be like to survive grad school.  The tests, studying, dissertation and internships.  We didn't know what it would feel like to want to just give up.  We didn't know what it would feel like to fight and wonder why in the world we got married in the first place:)  We also didn't know what it would feel like to make it through hard stuff and say sorry, and make up.  We had no idea we would end up in the same valley we grew up in and have the worlds greatest neighbors.  We had no idea we would get a daughter.  We had no idea what it was like to teach a child to ride a bike or throw a ball.  We had no idea what it would be like to put in a yard, or finish a basement.  We had no idea what it would be like to drive three kids to California and go to Disneyland.  We had no idea how to wipe away tears of a child whose heart had been broken.  How to survive stitches on our only girl.  I had no idea I would love having a little girl around so much and you didn't have any idea you would love your snuggle time with her as much as you do.  We had no idea we would have three boys.  We had no idea we would love it so much!  We had no idea being a parent, a husband and a wife would be so hard, so draining, so time consuming and so absolutely worth it.  10 years ago today we thought we were smart.....well that must mean today we are brilliant!  Happy anniversary to the man I adore and cannot imagine not having in my life.  I love you Darin.  Here is to many, many more!

I thought it would be fun to see a few pictures of our anniversaries over the  past 10 years.....what an adventure we have had! I wonder what the next 10 will hold?

Starting out...honeymoon key west Florida 2000

California 2001

Hawaii 2002

SLC 2003

apparently on our anniversary in 2004 I was too pregnant to want any pictures...Carter came that Feb. so this was as good as I could get!

Hawaii 2005

SLC 2005

Cove 2006

Our house 2007

Our house 2008

                                                                        Sand Diego 2008

                                                                      Logan 2009

2010

We are looking much older than 10 years ago, but I still think I have the most handsome catch around!

One more duck to my row...

A couple of years ago I did this post when Myah was born.  Thought I better do it with Dawson as well.  Kind of fun to see how much they all look alike!

 He is definitely a fun little duck to have around!



Halloween

Halloween came and went. 

We had a fairy...

 a football...

 A football team...

 and a player who apparently had come back from the dead! (really he begged to be a mummy at the last minute, but we had spent a little to much on his costume to not have him wear it, so we improvised)

 Darin was a poor sport for the first time in years!  I tried to get him to dress up as a referee for our football team, but he had lost the Halloween spirit...oh well, maybe next year!

 My mom however had not...she loves this holiday! (Notice Myah's fat lip...read post below)

Other than the rain and the fact Myah couldn't eat any candy (again read post below) Halloween was a success!  Nothing like candy overload and crazy costumes!

teeth

This little lady just got the bad luck jean of our family.  The night before Halloween she was getting out of the tub when she slipped and fell and landed on a stool right on her front teeth.  Once Darin finally got her to breath he tried to assess the damage.  He could tell her lip was bleeding but then to his horror saw that three of her teeth were bleeding and the front right tooth was displaced and pointing towards her throat.  I almost lost it just looking at her.  She finally fell asleep on the couch and we waited to hear from our dentist.  He finally called at 9:45 and said he absolutely needed to see her tonight(we are really so thankful...what a nice guy!)! So we woke her up and headed to the dentist at 10:00 p.m.  To make a long story short, he was able to pop her tooth back into place.  Now we just have to wait and see if the tooth lives.  Any of the front teeth really, they are all still a little loose.  We will keep our fingers crossed.  So far so good.  Hopefully we won't have to resort to those fangs anytime soon!  So even though she is our girly girl...don't be surprised to know she can be as tough as any little boy...she's been taught well!

pumpkin walk

It just wouldn't be Oct. without the North Logan Pumpkin walk!  I think they really outdid themselves this year!