Christmas Eve '09

Christmas Eve was spent at Uncle Luke's and Aunt Jill's with Ben, Alec and Ty. We did the Randall Family tradition of San Francisco sourdough waffles with strawberries and green whip cream. Very festive. We played some games and let the kids exchange cousin gifts. They had a great time. Best quote of the night, after Cade opened his "bendaroos"......."I've been waiting for these my whole life!" It was a great night and we are so happy to have family to share holidays with!

Later we opened one gift, a Byram family tradition, and all put on our new PJ's. Incidentally, we didn't take them off at all on Christmas day. The Christmas day photos were all taken with my new camera, so once I figure it out I will post more! We had a fantastic day and hope you all enjoyed yours too!

7

December 28, 2002

5:17 am

7 lbs. 10 oz.

21 1/2 in.

Where have the last 7 years gone? Today my baby boy is 7 and as I watched him this morning tears came to my eyes. What a blessing Cade has been in our family. He has grown into such a good kid. He is very kind to his sisters and very protective of them. When Annie was sick he asked every single day when she was coming home. He loves to play with Molly and make her giggle. He has been great fun. I love watching him play sports. He has such a competitive spirit, wonder where that came from! I love playing the Wii with him, even when he tells me I'm not very good! I love his fun personality and his amazing laugh; hearing it makes me laugh. Happy Birthday Cade! I love you.

crazy weekend re-cap

What a weekend! It was full of Christmas programs, basketball game and party, playing in the snow, playing in mom's boots and The Princess and the Frog. It was super busy but we had a great time with it all!

These boots are made for walking!

The Randall and Jones kiddos
Molly enjoying her first snow!

The Jaguars pizza party!

Go team!

The final game, Cade tore it up!

9 baskets

lots of steals

several rebounds

priceless.

BF '09

BF '09.......Black Friday, 4:30 am, Erika, Alison, Andrea, Kristen, Lindsay, Idaho Falls and bazillions of others, equals the BEST time!!!! Big cheers to the lady at Target who hurdled the yellow caution tape and blew past a security guard to get in the door, I sure hope she got what she wanted. Erika, post that video on you tube. Sorry to the man whose cart I stole. But really, you shouldn't have turned your back. Sorry to the poor woman Kristen yelled at......and about your vest. Sorry to Perkins, we were really loud! Sorry to Ali and Lindsay for the lady at Wal-Mart who wouldn't leave you alone and talked right into your face. Littlest Pet Shop isn't stupid and who cares that Sam's Club was serving free breakfast, it is called personal space. You should try giving people some. Sorry that Kristen called you useless Erika, but way to keep our spot in line holding a $7 sweatshirt you didn't even buy. Honestly I don't know how the shopping frenzy turned us all into lunatics but I can't wait for next year! A HUGE thank you to Lindsay for making us all go and experience the magic. You are an amazing team leader. Here's to Black Friday 2010, only 357 days to go!

wwf randall style

I love how ingenious my kids can be. We have a room FULL of toys, books, puzzles, board games, card games, craft projects an so on. Sometimes these items actually get played with, but often they make up silly games that require imagination only. Lately they have been in to making forts, using EVERY blanket, towel, pillow and sleeping bag we own. Then one day it got dangerous. Sliding down the stairs in the nylon sleeping bags........honestly it is an accident waiting to happen but whatever, they were having fun. Then the fun escalated. Thanks in large part to dad. The items mentioned above all ended up in a heap on the landing of the stairs. Cade and Annie began jumping from the top steps into the pile. Micah turned it up a notch and started throwing them into the pile. He did exercise some parental caution and only launched them from about four stairs up, not the top. Good times at the Randalls. St. Lukes here we come.....again!

I'm slipping

Do you ever think back to the days when you only had one child? Clean house, clean laundry, dinner on the table.....scheduled play dates, trips to the library twice a week for story time.......closets organized, garage organized and an overall calmer life? Back in those days I thought I was so busy, what an idiot I was. I LOVE my children dearly but life is much more chaotic (those of you with more than three kids please stop rolling your eyes) I'm not sure if my standards are lower or if I just care less, but either way I feel I am slipping a bit. Not so much of a schedule these days, laundry is usually done (NEVER the ironing!) we do eat but we have lots of pancakes and waffles for dinner, not much is organized and story time? Right. All I can say is that I am pretty sure the toilets had be cleaned in the last month. Lysol still works after a month right? I love my life.

downstaris bath looking messier than usual
Great, hand in toilet then in mouth. Delicious.

Oh well, she was happy as a clam!

Halloween

We had a pretty low-key Halloween this year. The kids were excited to go trick-or-treating, we let Annie go around to a few houses then Cade continued on with the neighbors. He was kind enough to share his loot with Annie. Molly was happy until her M&M's were gone. Cutest skeleton, witch, and ladybug I have ever seen! Happy Halloween!

A look back

Taking a look back over the last 10 days I really REALLY wish we only had the flu. Last thursday we took Annie to the doctor, she had been up early that morning and we could tell she was having difficulty breathing. She seemed to fight off whatever Cade and I had but then it hit her hard. We took her for a chest x-ray and the right lung was FULL of pnuemonia, her oxygen levels were also dipping well below normal. The doctor told us to head to the hospital and she might only have to stay 24 hours. (that may have happened for any "normal" family but not us!) Cut to Friday morning......

8 am chest x-ray was looking worse, a complete white-out

9 am CAT scan shows a HUGE pocket of fluid in her chest cavity that has collapsed her lung. It was a pancake right by her heart.

10 am I am told she needs to be in the ICU......

Later that day they sedated her and put in a chest tube and a PIC line (for antibiotics and to give her nutrition) The doctor told us how serious her condition was, very very scary. She remained in the ICU until Tuesday morning and then transferred to the regular floor were she stayed until Thursday. We have her home and she is recovering nicely. She is very tired, looks pale and has lost weight. My scale said 31 lbs. Her lung is re-inflated but it will take 2 months for it to heal completely. She ended up with Strep A, which generally causes strep throat but for some reason it entered her respiratory system. She also had Strep A in her PIC line which meant it was in her blood stream. She was a fighter through it all and should not have any long-term effects. We are so grateful for her recovery and grateful for the fasting and many prayers on her behalf. He was listening.

Fall/Floors/Flu

Fall has arrived, leaves are changing colors, the air is crisp and clean. I normally love this time of year but I must admit I was not ready to say goodbye to summer. I have resisted long pants and closed toe shoes for as long as possible but it is officially here. Along with fall coming to our house so has the flu. Yuck. Not sure if it was the dreaded H1N1 or just the regular but it was not fun either way. Cade was home almost the whole week, I came down with it mid week and Molly is currently dealing with it. Micah and Annie are in the clear so far. In the middle of all the sickness we had our new carpet installed. I don't like chaos and I don't like being sick or having sick kids. All three combined nearly sent me over the edge! It's a new week and I am resigned to give into fall, pull out sweaters and jackets and give up the flip flops, sterilize from top to bottom with CLOROX and in the middle of it all, take a nap on my fluffy soft carpet! It really is the little things that make me happy!

Let them eat cake!

We celebrated Molly's 1st birthday a few days after the actual day with a big party! Grandpa and Grandma Byram came, Rich and Lindsay and the kids and Aunt Jill and the boys all came. We had pizza, presents and of course cake! Molly LOVED the chocolate cupcakes with chocolate frosting. She was a bit hesitant at first but once she figured out how yummy it was there was no stopping her. That's my girl!

School updates/Playground rules

I have decided one difference between boys and girls is.......COMMUNICATION! It shouldn't be that big of a shock since I have lived with your basic non-communicator for the last ten years! A typical conversation with Cade goes something like this:

How was school?
fine
What did you do?
learn
What did you learn?
just stuff
How was recess?
good, I just played
With who?
lots of people

Then there is a typical conversation with Annie:
How was school?
It was so much fun, we sang songs, colored pictures, had a snack, it was juice and string cheese, I listened to Miss Denise but some of the kids didn't. Insects have three parts to their bodies and six legs. I looked so cute today, my hair was curly not straight. generally she gets through this in one breath!

Tonight at dinner I did get a few minor details from Cade about recess. He plays chase with some boys and girls. I asked what happened when he got caught, praying is was NOT kiss tag. He informed me that kissing was not allowed and that nothing happens to him because he is way to fast to get caught. All I can say is KEEP RUNNING!

Look how far you've come

September 23, 2008 5:00 am 5 lbs. 17 in. 35 weeks

It seems like it was just yesterday your sweet spirit came to us, such a beautiful baby, tiny but perfect. From the very beginning I knew you were something special, such a fighter, hanging in there so strong when my body was giving out. Feeling you move and kick I knew you were going through the journey with me and if I could be strong, you would make it. We worked hard together, hoping and praying you would be safe inside me for as long as possible. The doctor didn't think it was possible but we knew better. So many prayed for a miracle and we got one, Molly Violet Randall.

The past year has flown by and I can't believe how you have grown. You have been such fun! Cade and Annie have given too many hugs and kisses to count! Every time you did something new I would remember the journey and be so thankful you were here. I love you so much, happy birthday baby.

Cunningham Cuties

We had a great Labor Day weekend with a visit from Uncle Scott and Aunt Kristen, the Cunningham Cuties! We had a great time going boating, bowling, shopping, out to dinner and just spending time together. I am pretty sure Scott was ready to go since Annie wouldn't let him out of her sight the entire time he was here. I think you have a new best friend Scooter! Thanks for making the long drive to come and see us! We love you!

NO MORE GUM

Sunday morning.......rushing to get out of the door........Cade pops in some gum and it accidentally falls right into Molly's hair. Wouldn't come out without the aid of scissors. Molly had her first haircut and I couldn't even save any hair!

Gum story #2
We were in the boat and Annie had gum, spit it out for a snack (big surprise) and it suddenly was smeared all over the boat. Annie's story.....I spit it out in the water and a fish got it, he chewed it and spit it back in the boat. Seweously mom! Seriously Annie, its a good thing you are cute!
NO MORE GUM!

Annie's first day

All preparations were completed last night. Pick outfit, paint nails to match new dress, name on backpack, decision about what to have for lunch, and how to fix hair. Lots more details with a girl! Annie was very excited to go to preschool, she has the same teacher Cade had so she couldn't wait to go see Miss Denise. She made some new friends and her favorite part was doing the gingerbread man. When she got in the car she wanted to eat him so I opened the bag and passed him back. 10 seconds later the bag came back to me, she told me to close it so he wouldn't run away! I can't believe she is old enough for school! I love you AJ.

First day of 1st grade

6:55 wake-up

7:10 breakfast of champions, oatmeal

7:25 teeth brushed, hair combed, new clothes

7:35 Transformers backpack on, lunch in Transformers lunch box

7:37 photo-op

7:38 "mom, stop taking my picture, it's go time!"

7:39 me, trying really hard to pull it together!

The morning rush flew by and Cade was super excited to get to school. He actually wanted me to drive him this year, last year I was told "don't come to my school" so I felt pretty good. On the way out he told me he was glad I was his mom. PRICELESS.

*3:30 pm Q&A, best part of the day? 3 recesses. That's my boy!

Last day of freedom

Since tomorrow is Cade's first day of school (pics and the story of me crying as he leaves to follow) we decided to take our last day of freedom and head to the lake. We have LOVED having the boat this summer, it has been lots of fun for our family. Here are some of the highlights. Thanks Richardson's for coming to play with us!

Last photo of the day, Annie and Sydney completely exhausted!

Zach, Alex and Cade

Cade on the water ski board

Annie on the ski board. (notice mom in the background cheering her on!)

Annie getting ready, she was a bit afraid so I got in with her

What to say about this look? Cracks me up every time he

puts those things on!

Getting ready for a wild ride!

I just realised that the pictures of me doing a backflip on the wakeboard didn't make it, next time for sure! :)

All in a decade

Aug. 20, 1999

The day it all began.

I married my best friend.

I love you.

Am I being punished?

It has taken a couple of weeks for me to get up the courage to post..... On the day this occured I felt as though I was being punished..... even now, weeks later, I am still upset. Why did this happen so soon? My baby is CRAWLING! Molly apparently didn't get the memo, NO CRAWLING until at least one year old. She has extremely good control over her body and if she is walking by Sept. 23 I may need to be hospitalized.

July 4......on July 21

Again I apologize for the late posting date but here is our 4th of July wrap-up. We went to Rigby for the weekend and were able to spend time with lots and lots of family! The kids rode in the Menan Parade in a wagon pulled by horses and threw candy. They loved it, but we found out later they didn't throw much candy....too busy eating it! Molly loved watching the parade and was completely happy the whole time. She did have a 4 1/2 hour nap before so that may have had something to do with the happiness. After the parade we had a fun BBQ with some family friends and then topped the night off with fireworks and homemade ice cream! We LOVE that Randall tradition!

Connor Taylor (Canadian) with his flag shirt and Molly's purple hat

such a cute boy!
Happy little Molly-pop

Grandpa Jesse, Chelsea, Erika, Kristen, Cade, Annie, Scott and Clay

Cade's loss is Molly's gain

Apologies, it has been a really long time since I posted. Life gets busy. Cade was DYING to loose a tooth in kindergarten so he could make the tooth chart. After lots of false alarms he finally had a tooth that was wiggly, slightly, about a month before school got out. Sorry, a month isn't long enough to loose a tooth but he FINALLY lost it on Father's Day. (Wow, sorry about the late post!) The permanent tooth was already in behind the baby tooth so it took a bit of tugging with the pliers. Go Micah. Cade asked me tonight if I was going to put his tooth in the computer. So here it is!

The first one in was also the first one out!
He was freaked out but so proud of himself for letting Micah pull it. And yes, I almost cried! As soon as he lost it we noticed that Molly-pop was getting them in! She has 2 on bottom and 3 on top with one more ready to poke through. I would have done photos but she is asleep!

EARS...they don't just look good!

Sometimes I wonder if my children have something wrong with their ears. "guys........guys......guys.......GUYS!" "HEY YOU TWO..." By this time I am usually at top vocal force, and that can get real loud! All my fears were put to rest yesterday after a trip to Costco. I needed a few things and we needed to leave the house so I thought, sure no big deal. Three kids by myself, piece of cake! (actually it was fine, Molly is even big enough to sit in the cart!) So just as we are finishing up we pass a stand where they were giving samples of a specialty juice. I think, because I was paying attention to what the kids were doing, not the lady giving the samples. So, as we walk by Cade asks me what it is. I reply, "juice" Annie jumped in fast as she could and says, "it aides in digestion." It is a miracle. SHE CAN HEAR!

Annie Jane is 4!

After weeks of anticipation Annie's big day arrived! She was so excited to turn 4 and have a birthday party. She had her list of things she wanted by the 1st of April and she knew she wanted to have a "Fancy Nancy" party. For those of you who don't know, Fancy Nancy is a cute little series about a girl who loves to be a girlie girl. Think lots of pink, crowns, feather boas, gaudy jewelry and plenty of accessories. She had a great day, and it was the first birthday of hers that I didn't cry over! We love you Annie!

Blowing out the candles (a crown, a purse, a high heel and a heart)
Party girls with their manis and make-up

Taking a break from all the pampering

Annie with her b-day loot

The big 4!