Thank you Kath for teaching me how to sew!

This fabric was purchased at Britex two summers ago when Evelyn was a baby. I can't believe I waited so long to use it. It's this fabulous Japanese brocade that is reversible, so Happy Easter Evelyn! This is the purple side. None of the white side pics turned out too well.

I have to say, although I am nowhere close to comparing to Aunt Kath, and I don't use patterns (cringe) it's so mind-releasing to get out my sewing machine and make something. The ironic thing is that usually it comes out when I already have too many things on my plate and shouldn't start another project. However for some reason it always clears my mind!

Thanks Kath for giving me sewing lessons in Kindergarten, altering dance dresses, and to mom for letting me go at it on your amazing Phaff for all those years! You both put a lot of trust in my crazy creative ideas!

Big boys

It seems so weird to me that when we first got these jammies from Sharon when the babies were born, I had Cash wearing a pair of the smaller ones - and I can't believe these boys fit in them already! I took them to the doctor for their one year check-up last week and when I walked in the nurse said, "Wow, they're big for twins!" I said I was pretty sure they were big for non-twins. Yep. Ashton is 26lbs and Phoenix is 25 and they're both 32". Basically 90-95th percentile for everything.

And yes, our house is over-run with high chairs. Along with about a million other baby items.

Pre-diagnosis, Post-diagnosis

I was cleaning out my hard drive today and found these three photos of Dave. One you'll notice from the Christmas card. They were taken in order from Left-Right:

Age, turned 4 on September 13th.

Left Dave - July, shirt size 2-3T

Middle Dave - September, shirt size 2T, short size 2-3T

We have only bought 2 pairs of 4T pants in the last 18 months and they had to be cinched with a belt to fit.

Right Dave - January, shirt size 5 BOYS (bigger than 5T) and pant size 5 Boys. He now measures in the 50% for weight, and 65% for height. This is the largest margin he's ever had since birth, with the exception of 75% height when he was 12 months old. 

Since he's been on insulin he's gained 7 lbs, putting him right at 40 lbs, which means he can graduate from a car seat to a booster seat.

 

He has grown 5" totaling 42" in hieght, which means by his birthday, maybe, he'll be tall enough to ride the big rides at Disneyland (48"), which means we better get saving our cash.

And he's a much happier boy (except when he has to have injections, but he's trying his best).

I feel so stupid that I didn't notice the signs sooner, or didn't trust my motherly instinct and request to have him tested sooner. I've been considering it since the end of the summer, but didn't pursue my suspicions until it was almost too late. Thanks to everyone who helped out in December with flowers, notes, phone calls and just being supportive. We have such a great family and I wanted to thank everyone for all of their love. 

Howdy!

I was shooting some product this morning for my new wholesale catalogue and Evelyn came over and wanted her picture taken. Every time I told her to "smile" this is what we ended up with. Excuse the runny nose, we're getting over colds at our house! Linda, thanks for the adorable turtle neck, this one gets worn about once a week!

Rebekah's First Year in Review

Mostly I just wanted to share, through some priceless photos, the fun year that we have had with Rebekah, and specifically how much Jane has embraced her role as the big sister. These pictures are in chronological order.Just a few days old.Jane is initiating Rebekah into her life by letting her snuggle with her animals and blanket. I think this is in the first two weeks.Rebekah slept through this adventure of Jane discovering the postage stamps and attempting to ship her new sister off somewhere. I can't remember what I was doing...Sisters.Halloween. Jane is a rabbit (thanks to Grandma Stott) and Rebekah is a strawberry.
Jane's 3rd birthday, a signature Hugh Yancey photo

I had Rebekah safely strapped into her seat and Sleeping Beauty playing and thought I was safe to take a shower, but when I came out I realized it's not a good idea to leave Jane unattended with the water colors.Rebekah didn't seem to mind. Future partner in crime?...
What a sweet girl! We are so grateful she is a part of our family! We are equally grateful Jane is a part of our family. We love them both so very much!

Rebekah's 1st Birthday

The Stott family will now celebrate Isaac's birth on February 5th, Rebekah's birthday on the 6th, and our anniversary on the 7th (not to mention Josh's birthday on the 15th and James' on the 23rd). So it was a fun weekend with my parents down for the birth, and Jan's parents down for Rebekah's birthday. Uncle Hugh came through, as usual, with some wonderful pictures from the little party we had Friday night:Jane and her bosom friend Bethany (I know I don't need to make excuses for my child... but Jane likes to do her own hair these days and we hadn't gotten around to wiping the pizza sauce off her face yet... that's all.)
Grandma and Grandpa Stott with four of their five grandchildren
The Birthday Girl wearing her new hat
The birthday girl with her mom and dadCake!

Father and Son

And one with Grandma. . .

Grandpa and Grandson

Grandma has been working on this blanket for weeks, knowing that the baby couldn't come until it was finished. I worked on it all morning and finished it about three this afternoon. Whew!

9 lbs. even

21 inches long.

All is Well

He's here and all is well, though it's all so new he doesn't have a name yet and hasn't been weighed. Steve and I were just pulling out of the driveway when James called to say Angela's water had broken, and we arrived in Cedar City5 minutes after he was born at 9:32.

Helicopter Pilot

Nate has begun training to become a helicopter pilot so Steve and I went to see what it was like. On Saturday we got our first glimpse of the black dragonfly that carries our son around the city, and met one of his flight instructors.

There were four helicopters ready to take off. Each time one started up it felt as if the wind chill factor dropped the temperature 20 degrees! Steve and I had to climb inside to warm up!

Nate has to check off all sorts of things, and all the buttons and switches before they can take off. Here you go!

Happy Retirement Day Carolyn!

I'm sure they'll miss you after 17 years of hard work!

Hunsaker Happy Holiday Happenings

Christmas Morning

We treasure the time we were able to spend together as a family this Christmas. Thanks to the Ures and the Millers for the long drives. Thanks to the strong sons and sons-in-law for all the snow shoveling. Thanks to the wonderful parents of our grandchildren, who are all great examples as well as great teachers. Thanks to sons who moved out of rooms and who shared bathrooms. Thanks to everybody for getting along so well with 13 people in five bedrooms, using 3 bathrooms. You are all well loved!

Just a few shots of the usual Christmas morning j0y. . .

Much thanks to the Hayes family for facilitating such a large family gathering. It means so mucn to get everyone together.

Christmas Eve with the Eggertsens at the Stott Home

While chatting a few days before Christmas, Mary and Susie thought it would be grand to get their families together on Christmas Eve for a soup supper and sing along. We enjoyed Clam Chowder, Minestrone, salad, and various crackers with cheese balls, etc. Dinner was followed by reenacting the nativity (following blog) and then, as is tradition in the Stott home, a rendition of Sleigh Ride, with the accompanying sleigh bells (a gift from the Eggertsens in years past), clip clop glasses with wooden Spoon, (Tom)belt/whip, (Katie) and horse whinney, Mimi.



















Following Sleigh Ride Mimi and Liz played Santa Clause is Coming to Town, which Susie remembered Martha and Mimi playing in years gone by. . .





Since the Stotts are the lucky recipients of a coveted copy of Eggertsen Musical favorites, we proceded with a general sing along including "The Spirit of Christmas", "Christmas Island", "White Christmas", "Silver Bells", There's a Christmas Tree in Heaven", etc., all with various accompanists. I must say it was grand! Hyms singing followed, as well as some songs played with chimes. It was a most memorable evening.

Poor Steve, who was quite sick, slipped out of his self imposed exile to view some of the proceedings from the stairs.