Later that day...

So after a quick party clean-up and then a Junior Jazz game for Brady, we came back to the house and had a family party for Danno. Grandma and Grandpa Bezzant came over and it was a great time. The three big kids all got I-Pod shuffles from Grandpa and Gradma for their birthdays this year and Danny wanted one so bad. We told him he was too little, but Grandpa and Grandma came through and he got one too. Look at this face!!!! Pure bliss!We gave him a giant elephant and a battery powered light saber.

Grandma and Grandpa sent their traditional "green gift." Check out the expression on Dan-the-mans face as he see's big money just for him!! Later at the Bezzant Family Christmas party Great-Grandpa Dick gave him a 20 dollar bill. Over Thanksgiving Grandpa Fish gave him a five dollar bill just for fun. So when Danny totalled up his recent earnings he was thrilled to hear that he had $45. I asked him if he wanted me to take him shopping on Monday to spend his money and he gave me a look that said "You've got to be kidding." He actually said, "I'm saving my money, Mom!"

Danny's birthday!

Our baby is FIVE!!!

December 20, 2003 was a great day! I had been on bed rest for four weeks and thought I'd be for another two. When my check-up showed that I had a HUGE baby inside the induction began! Several hours later here he was...all 9 pounds 6 ounces of him! Can you imagine if I had gone until January 7th? Me either!

Danny has been a joy since he arrived. Wait...Danny has been a joy from the age of 16 weeks. For the first three 1/2 months he WAS NOT a joy. He never stopped crying, even when he was asleep he wimpered. But from 3 1/2 months on he HAS been a joy. HE is a big lover. He kisses and hugs me all day long! He is such a sweet boy. He is nice and loves to be with his family. He thinks his sisters and brother couldn't be more cool!!! He love to play board games with anyone who will!

We love you Danny Boy, Handsome Dan, Big D, Danno!!!

Der and I decided to throw him a party. He's seen the bigger kids have parties and figured why not. So here are some cute pic's of yesterday when we had 9 four and five year-olds at our house for an hour. We had a pj party at 9am and served them pancakes. It was a bunch of fun.

While the guests arrived Nat played a variation of "I had little doggie..." She played with a jingle bell and they said ,"I have a little jingle bell and it's not for you, it's not for you, but it is for you." You know the rest. IT was very cute.

Next, Lolly had them play "Ring the Deer." They tossed rings over the deers antlers.

Then Brady headed up "Pin the nose on the Snowman." It was so cute.

After pancakes Danny opened his gifts.

These are his friends L to R:

Ryan, Caroline, Danny, Cody, Jake

Katie, Lainee, Duntin

(Jason left early)

It was so much fun. Danny was pleased and that's what matters!!

Two weeks at a glance

It's that busy time of year (when isn't it that busy time of year?) We've been running to this performance or that performance throw in Junior Jazz and a few community events, two jobs, two callings and two birthdays, then sprinkle on a few Christmas party's and we're here, December 21st...4 days before the main event!

Junior Jazz time is back and we are loving the bigger kids this year. The games are fast-paced and there are a LOT of them. Brady is in heaven. He's lucky number 22 again.

Laurel's grade sang at Cyprus earlier in the month. All the other Elementary in the area were there as well as both Junior Highs and Cyprus too. It was a lot of fun to be back in the old High School Gym. It's been 14 1/2 years for me. Lolly is in the upper right with a Santa cap on her head.

We also had Nat's Christmas Concert for her performing choir, Pizazz. This is her best friend Rebekah.

I had to work on the performance day at the elementary. Yep, I cried all the way there. Most days I LOVE my job. This day...I hated it!!

Danny was convinced that he had to sit on the stage because HE was in the program (his first time ever on any stage.) So when he and my mom got there to get a good seat 40 minutes early, he walked up to the stage and stayed there.

Here's Brady with his best friend Zack on the right. You can see that they are two of the biggest boys in the class. I think they look so cute in their red sweaters! They are on the top right.

Lolly with her best friend Kylee in the glasses.

Danny with his buddy Dustin. Dustin is wearing the sweet TMNT t-shirt!! Danny was so excited to be performing this year. He was all business though!

This performance at the Elementary school is so cute. Every grade prepares two or three numbers and then on Tuesday they all sit in the gym and sing to each other. On Thursday they all stay in their classes and the parents and family get to fill the gym. One grade at a time they come onto the stage and perform for us. I was so sad to miss it. Luckily Der was able to get off work and see it!! He's a good daddy!

Wonderful Weekend

We had a great weekend. We hosted Thanksgiving this year and had 35 people at our church at noon! It was so much fun. Derek and I are a great team and he makes a LOT of work a BUNCH of fun! We did so much laughing and goofing off as the two of us prepared and cooked two 20-pound turkeys, a 10 pound ham, peeled and cooked 40 pounds of potatoes and various other set-up tasks Wednesday night and Thursday morning. He is so wonderful!!! Saturday morning was the day Brady was baptized!!! It was a wonderful day!! He had great support from friends and family and the guests totaled nearly 70!! Great-Grandpa's Dick Bezzant and Wally Atkinson witnessed his baptism and Great-Grandpa Carroll blessed the family and food before we ate. Aunts Aundrea and Andrea handled the music and his sisters sang a beautiful medley of two primary songs. Dixon gave one of the prayers and Grandpa Fish and Grandma Bezzant were the speakers!! It was a wonderful day and we enjoyed it immensely.

Brady's buddies

Evan, Dennis, Zack (BFF), BONES, Dixon, Ryan

Brynne, Annie

The happy family!!

We had a hard time finding a suit for this boy! First, he is just plain hard to fit! Second, he wanted a blue pin-stripe exactly like Dad's. He finally found this one and was happy as a clam! Derek is a babe!!!

Happy Anniversary to us!!

Tuesday, November 4, 1994 Derek and I were married in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. The weather this year has been just the same. Warm fall, warm Halloween, and then on November 4th SNOW!!

So now 14 years later I can't believe we're already here.

This has been a charmed life so far.

Being married to Derek is the easiest thing I have ever done. Life is so happy and parenthood couldn't be any better!! I had great neighbors growing up, the Hansen family. Well, I always knew that I wanted to have a life with feelings and experiences I observed in their home. We didn't have seven kids, only four, but I think we are giving our children the childhood I enjoyed thanks largely to the Hansen's.

We have such a FUN life. If you can't laugh at yourself (and everybody else) this probably isn't the place for you. We do so much laughing around here. Derek is so funny and he makes us all laugh all the time! We also love watching other people and we have a great time laughing at them (maybe I shouldn't admit that!)

Derek has always loved me 100%! I don't look the same as when we met and his feelings haven't diminished one tiny bit!!! He, however, is as handsome as ever and just keeps getting better looking with every year!!! What a blessing to have such a wonderful, loving, handsome, selfless, humble, spiritual, generous, and AMAZING man to call mine!

I love you babe!!!

Halloween

We had a great day. We carved pumpkns and then went to chili dinner at my folks place. Then we came home and Der took the three youngest out to trick-or-treat. Nat stayed home to pass out candy with me. She had three friends over and they went downstars to play games. It was a great night.

Brady is a greaser. His jacket even say's Thunderbirds on the back. Danny is a ghost (duh!), and Lolly is a gypsie. Natty decided to wear last years costume and be a jail-bird! Here's a great shot of our jack-o-lanterns glowing!

Off Track

I love year-round school. The middle kids (Lolly and Bones) head back to school Monday after a two-week off track break.

We try and do some fun things while they are off track and we kicked this break off with a bang.

The first day my folks took us to see WallE. Uh...okay I get it, don't litter! Gosh!

The next day I took the kids to the Zoo. This is one of my favorite places. My mom came along and that was so nice. In case you're wondering where the blondie came from, that's Lainee. She's on loan to us Mon-Fri when her Mom, Demaree, is at work.

We worked on the PTA Reflections contest entries for the kids. They both wrote poems and also took pictures.

Brady took a picture at sunset from the marina at the Great Salt Lake. Lolly caught a great shot of Antelope Island.

We went to Thanksgiving Point and Gardner Village. We had a fun photo shoot there.

I also started my job a few weeks ago. That has been interesting.

Way to go Nat!!

Grades 1A. FAM/CONSUMER SCI EXPLORATION - A (98.86%) 2A. MIXED CHORUS - A (100.00%) 3A. INTEGRATED SCIENCE 8 HONORS- A (100.00%) 4A. ALGEBRA I - A+ (101.25%) 1B. EXPLORATORY STUDY SKILLS - A+ (107.04%) 2B. EXPLORATORY HEALTH 8 - A (100.86%) 3B. ENGLISH 8 HONORS - A (96.55%) 4B. UNITED STATES HISTORY I HONORS- A (100.00%) Term GPA: 4.000 This kid is a breeze!! We haven't had to ever ask "Is your homework done?" Could this kid really be mine? This takes me back to our first Sunday in this ward and imagine my surprise when Brent Maxfield, or "Max" as we called him in high school, was in our ward. Now "Max" was my substitute teacher in Mrs. V's science class. Remember her? She loved Star Trek (that say's a lot about her!) Well she was on an extended absence and we had "Max" for several months as I recall. Well the big test day came and I hadn't studied (shocker!) but I knew that the earlier class had already taken the test so I just grabbed someone else's test and copied the answers and stapled her notes to my test. Hey, before you get all angelic on me, sophmore year was a rough one (at least the parts I remember!) I didn't realize that her name was on her note cards. Well, I totally got caught by "Max" and I remembered him the minute I saw him, unfortunately he remembered me too!!! He never hesitates to bring it up!! This experience of mine has been used over and over for various FHE lessons!

She's definitely on the fast track for BYU (sorry Monsen's!)

So, bully for you Nat with the straight A's and dedication. You didn't get it from yer ol' mom!

Please don't ________________!

Please don't jump off the couch and land on your knees. You'll need them when you're older Please don't run into my back end and tell each other how soft my bum is. I already know! Please don't release the spider back into the wild. KILL IT!! Please don't drag your jacket like a tail ever, but especially never while crossing the road. Please don't fight over who gets to be the mom and dad when you play house. Boy=Dad Girl=Mom Please don't tell the other kids in primary class that I always run red lights when the lesson is on obeying the law! Did I mention I'M THE TEACHER! Please don't remind me about the "eye for and eye" lesson when I hit you with a ball after you threw it at your sister. Please don't remind me that I said you could have ice cream after dinner when we all forgot and you've showered, brushed your teeth, and I'm tucking you into bed. Please don't tell your friends that I told you the truth about the tooth fairy so I can just hand you a dollar every time you lose a tooth (this was with Laurel, Brady still believes!) Please don't tell anyone whose seen Goonies that I can do a wicked "truffle shuffle!" I promise you I'll never show them!

HUGE UPDATE!!!

I have so much catching up to do I hope you’ll bear with me. Laurel’s trip to Washington DC was a huge success. Over the last several weeks she has remembered different things that she saw, or learned, and it has been so fun to hear all about it. Thank you to everyone who helped make it possible. Now that she is off track we’ll get serious about sending out her follow-up correspondence. Natalie is an official teenager. She turned 13 on October 2nd. I can’t believe it. Her birthday seemed so small compared to last year when she got the laptop and so many other things, but she is such a sweet and gracious girl. Derek had Bishop’s training that night so we had an early dinner of meatloaf (Nat’s favorite.) Then we just hung out. Sunday night we had cake and ice cream with Grandpa Dick and some friends. He brought his traditional “green” gift. Then on Tuesday my folks came over and had some pie. They had been in St. Louis visiting Brandon’s family. So the birthday was a week long affair.

I got a part-time job. The time has come. With the Boeing strike still going on in Seattle, Der’s future workload is uncertain and with three birthday’s, Brady's baptism, our anniversary, Thanksgiving, and Christmas before the end of the year, we figured now was the right time. Plus, we have really made a big push to stock up our food storage and get a wheat grinder and deep freeze, so this will allow us to do those things too. I have been making our bread for the past 4 months and my friend Becky keeps grinding our wheat.

I work on Thursdays and every other Tuesday in a dental office. I've been training the last two days and it has been kind of overwhelming. I haven't worked for nearly eight years and it was a little intimidating. But the schedule is perfect and the pay is great! So it will be a blessing for our family.

The Harvest Haunt we planned at Brockbank was a success. Brady is telling me it was "totally cold." I couldn't stay the whole time because I had to go to our RS Retreat at Heber Valley Camp where I learned the meaning of the word COLD!!

The PTA Reflections contest is coming to an end and I will be glad to finish that up. Sadly, PTA is coming to an end for me too. Now that I'm working part time I don't want to spend my other time away from home even more.

The kids go off track today and I am so excited. We always do a fun field trip day each week they are off track and that will be so nice. We're starting with the zoo this Friday. Throw in several library visits and some play-dates and it will be Halloween before we know it. This year costumes are a breeze. Danny wants to be a ghost, Brady want to be "The Fonze", Lolly wants to be a gypsy, and Natty is going to be a hippie! Easy costumes to put together.

The musical is in full swing and I expect to be sewing costumes here soon.

Today Brady has his class party and Natalie is headed off to Disneyland with her friend Rebekah and her parents. In the words of Napoleon Dynamite "lucky!"

This is my goony boy. Thanks to the White's for the hand-me-downs. Brady was stoked about the Halloween shirt.

Brady calls this pose "The Fonze." We'll have to teach him the real "hey" pose when he get's his cotume.

I think this brings us up to date. Kind of boring but that's our simple life!

Danny's First Field Trip

Yesterday was Danny's very first field trip. His preschool went to Pack's Pumpkin Patch.

Der took the day off to go with him. They had a great time.

The district made a mistake and sent a handicapped bus so there weren't enough seats for everybody, but Danny was a very good boy and a good sport. So they went in Der's truck.

The Pumpkin Patch had some cute activities for little guys. There were fun photo opps, and a little maze made out of hay bales.

They had a great time with their picnic lunch at a park afterward. It was a fun time for them both.

Just for Natalie P.

Yes, my Dad does still use that "nobby thingy!"

Lolly comes home today!!!

It's hard to focus on anything else! She's already in the air, her flight left at 9:45 which is 7:45 here!! Her two favorite dinners are homemade spaghetti and taco soup. We made her spaghetti before she left, and I made her taco soup yesterday so it could really soak in the flavor for today's meal.

More Laurel

Yesterday she boarded the motor coach for the Jamestown Settlement. This is a long drive, so she could sleep, listen to music or watch a movie on this scenic drive through Virginia. She got to learn about the people of 17th-century Virginia: Powhatan Indians and European and African immigrants. She was also able to explore the Powhatan way of life in a re-created village featuring reed-covered houses. She enjoyed the triangular wooden palisade of James Fort with wattle-and-daub structures topped with thatched roofs. Then she got to climb aboard the Godspeed at Jamestown Settlement’s pier and learn more about the four-and-a-half-month voyage settlers endured while sailing from England. Later they were able to journey to Colonial Williamsburg and meet the people, see the places and experience the life of 18th century colonists in the birthplace of the American Revolution. She had a great day and was very tired when she called. Today is another big day. She'll explore the Smithsonian Institution’s various museums and galleries. And then she'll visit and explore outstanding national monuments and memorials, such as: Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Korean War Memorial, and the World War II Memorial. She is having the trip of a lifetime. She has overcome her homesickness and we are so glad of that!!!

Fiddler On The Roof

Natalie got one of the leads as the oldest daughter, Tseidl (sp) she was overjoyed on the phone.

Her best guy friend Austin will play her fiance and she thinks that is HILARIOUS.

Homesick

Lolly called last night at 11:45pm (her time) in tears. She was in the bathroom (her roommates were asleep) and was very homesick. I've never felt so helpless. We said all the right things, but really they're just words and didn't really help her. I hope she was able to finally get to sleep. I had a hard time sleeping because I couldn't stop worrying about her. I've always been a very homesick person. Even on our amazing cruises. I just prefer to be home. So, will you all please keep Laurel in your prayers? Today she goes to Capitol Hill. They see all the sights on The Hill and then meet a member of congress. Then they have a dinner reception at the Embassy and have a special speaker. We don't know who. So it should really be a fun day I think. Hopefully she'll be so tired tonight that she'll really crash hard.

Question of the day

Grandma: Hey Brady, what do you do if your clothes catch fire? Brady: Take them off and get new ones out of the 72-hour kit. Maybe we should have a FHE about stop, drop, and roll...

Last Night

Last night we had a combined birthday party for Dad and going away party for Lol. It was such a nice evening. After cake and ice cream we gave Lolly her gift from everyone there (our six, Mom and Dad, Grandpa Dick.) We compiled a picture album of the family and Lol's best friend Kylie. We had various pictures and also note cards that she could flip through. Well, i was dumbfounded when, before she had finished the first note, she was in tears. I think this whole leaving thing finally sunk in at that moment. Well she cried through the whole album. As soon as she finished Brady belined it for the house fighting tears. I just figured that he didn't want anyone to see him emotional. Well a bit later I went in to print some information for Lolly and he was in the office. Through tears he was making her a book. This is what he came up with (no help or corrections from me.)

(front page)

To The Sister Of Cash

A digest guide to being a good poet.

(page 1)

A laurels so dear

A laurels so nice

They help you when you need

some good advice

A laurels kind

I know she'll always be

A very nice sister and a

best friend to me

XO

(page 2)

Best Friend Forever

(page 3)

I love when you smile.

It makes me happy.

Like a candle that is still burning

thats what you'lle always be.

I love you so much

it makes me want to cry

I always feel good inside

when your close by.

(page 4)

I love you!

(page5)

Your like a candle

shining so bright.

You always make

some very bright lights.

When your gone

I wont get as much advice.

It will be like

a melting cube of ice.

(page 6)

he drew a picture of an ice cube melting

(page7) I

I love you so much.

Your so nice to me.

Theres no one as such

(page 8)

The End

p.s.

Roses are red

Violets are blue

Your a money erning sister

And I love you!

Love/Brady

You know at times I have wondered if these two even like each other.

I'll never question it again!!

I spoke with Lolly after she touched down in DC and she had found another girl names Alyssa in Atlanta wearing the same shirt (standard issue P2P travel wear). They were on the flight together. Once in DC she found 6 other girls. So she was doing better albeit a bit tired. Let the fun (and giggling) begin!!

Out of my hands and into a strangers...

Today is the day Lolly leaves to go to Washington DC. We had to awaken at 4:00am in order to be at the airport by 5:00am. Her flight left at 6:30.

She was pretty nervous. I was cool as a cucumber (on the outside). Inside I was dying!! Our daughter going across the country!! ALONE!!

Well, she was ready. We checked in with no problem. We went through security without a hitch. Then we were at the gate. We visited for about 20 minutes and then they called her name to board very first. At this point I decided to say goodbye so we wouldn't be rushed. I leaned down and told her all the right mom things. Then her eyes filled with tears. I still kept a stiff upper lip and told her to take a deep breath and enjoy her week. They FA came over and took her down the ramp and I was just getting ready to take a picture of her walking away from me (sniff) and then she turned around.

This is going to be an awesome week. I'm so excited for her.

.

Happy Birthday Dad!!!

My Dad is 60...

It is so hard to believe.

My Dad is the best guy around. He is liked by everyone. He has gone through much in his life. But he just keeps moving forward and keeps a smile on his face.

He and I have a great relationship. We are very open and honest with each other and I am grateful for that. My Dad is the very same person whether he is talking to the Prophet, the attendant at 7-11, or to my Mom. What you see is what you get and what you see is a first class person who is willing to do what it takes to make sure your needs are met. He is an amazing Grandpa. He willingly drives all our children to school every day. We call him Grandpa Taxi. These have been precious times for him and the kiddos. We are very lucky. My dad is a wonderful son. He takes very good care of Grandpa Dick. He is so happy when he can drive him here or there to this doctor or that doctor. My Dad loves to drive. That's the first thing he always offers if he thinks it will help. I'll often hear "Want me to drive ya?" I love you Dad. Happy birthday. I'm so glad Heavenly Father found a way to get me into your arms!!

Studying hard, or hardly studying?

You decide!!

(She's so happy that I'm posting this!!!)