Easter 2012

Marcus's shirt is a contradiction since it claims he only stays indoors and he is in fact running around outside. The eggs my kids got had to be taped shut because the Easter Bunny did not want any half filled bags of candy hiding in his closet.

Tater had to play a game of Hot and Cold to find this silver egg that her Easter Bunny hid inside a silver rim of the truck behind her. Seriously Easter Bunny? That's like hiding the camo eggs in the grass and bushes.

Wy Guy running around. He kept dumping out his own basket so that he could gather his own eggs again!

Madison. Finally participating, but only because the Easter Bunny may or may not have hidden Tayler Lautner in one of the eggs.

Joshua, cool as ice.

Crazy crew.

The girl's haul.

The boy. He is obviously obsessed with Diary of a Wimpy Kid.

Tonsillectomy

Marcus got his Tonsils out in March. Hopefully this will help him stay healthier during the year. He's had strep or tonsillitis once a month since September. He was actually very excited to get his tonsils out.

Ready for surgery. His doctor Erik Lyman was amazing. He came in before and spent almost 20 minutes with us explaining exactly what would be done and how it would be taken care of, the anesthesiologist came in and explained his part and Marcus was completely relaxed and gave us a thumbs up as they wheeled him out.

Just out of surgery. It was pretty fast. The doctor came out and talked with us about every step of the surgery and answered some other questions we had. He really made the whole thing less nerve-wracking. Because let's face it, I don't care where we had this surgery, there is some nervousness involved.

After the kids wake up more they have to get up and walk around, eat a popsicle, and use the bathroom. Marcus was ready right away for his popsicle and we were up and out of there in less than an hour.

Ready to leave. The nurse came in and disengaged him from his attachments. We got home and the very next day I got a call from one of his nurses from the OR asking how his night was and she had me describe what his throat looked like and reminded me of a few things to look for. I felt supported and encouraged. And then two days later we got a Get Well card in the mail from the nurses staff with everyone's signatures and little notes specific to Marcus's experience. I thought that was so thoughtful. Anyone who says Castleview isn't a good hospital or that they don't have good staff is seriously disturbed.
Word to the wise: about 5 days into this whole thing I had to call my Dad down again and have him give Marcus another blessing while I sobbed in the other room. 5 to 10 days in is actually worse than right after the surgery. But, once we got through that part it was pretty easy. He's doing fine and back in school and going to ball practice and Karate.

New Years 2011

We spent another great Holiday at the cabin this year. We did Fondue, ate Wontons, and played Minute to Win It while we waited for the countdown. We set off some sweet fireworks right at the end of countdown. It was perfect. The kids did a ton of sledding and playing in the snow, we hardly ever saw them!

New Year's Toast at the Cabin.

Madison and Papa waiting for the fireworks.

The girlies.

Ali playing Minute to Win It, passing the time before New Year's.

Um....I don't think it's Halloween anymore.

It's funny when the cheerleaders get turned into Zombie Scarecrows.

We went to Thriller last night in Provo. Thanks Miss Julia for arranging for us to go! Being the sister really has it's perks. I drove Madison and two dancing friends up. We ate awesome food at the Brick Oven and then headed to the theater where we were repeatedly terrorized by this: Gorgeous?

One of our favorite dances was the Jason dance. It was seriously funny and freaky at the same time. At one point during the dance they point out possible victims and since we were on the front row, they started pointing to Madison. Since she can't smile at the moment, she just sat there with her hand over her mouth. Luckily they didn't come to get her, she would have been in serious pain because the girl they did come to get was utterly freaked out.

After the show we crowded the girls and some random dudes on the side of the stage for pics. Note Julia in the middle, who was in "happy tears" mode throughout the performance. They really were that good.

(the pics are off a cell phone so they're a little scary, the flash made everyone's eyes white so they all look possessed)

Then we took a "Scary" pic. Madison's face looks exactly the same in both because she can't move the left side of her mouth. So happy, sad, and ferocious all have the same facial expression.
Of course, Julia in the middle takes it all to the next level.

Here's another dance they performed. The mummy dance. There were actually 4 mummies to begin with, but in the middle of the dance they unzip their costumes and become Egyptian goddesses.

Cameras were not allowed in the theater so we didn't get pics of any dances, these are off their site, but they did a really cool Salem Witch dance where the white witches are hung and the demon witches come out. Cool pyro during that one. The little Chuckies were pretty funny, little kids with knives. Bubbles the clown sang "People Are Strange" by the Doors and I have to say that was probably my favorite part. I LOVE THAT SONG. The tap dance/black light/skeleton dance was really awesome too though. There were also really creative video segments to watch while the dancers changed costumes. The first one was probably my favorite, set to "This Is Halloween" the dancers moved in and out of frame and the effects added later made everything look like a kaleidoscope. Jason playing patty cake during that part was hilarious.
Seriously, if you have the chance to make it to this production please go!!! Don't take kids younger than 10 though because it's a little scary.
And if you have no sense of humor you probably wouldn't like it either.
Really people, it's funny when River Dancers and the sugar Plum Fairy get shot.

Shouldn't you be at work?

I took the day off. To go to the dentist. It sucked. I have the WORST dental insurance of all time, and by worst I mean the kind that DOESN'T COVER ANYTHING. Really, stupid insurance people? I pay you every month so that I can go to the dentist and pay them what you're supposed to pay? Really? I could have been saving that stupid payment every stupid month for the last stupid three years and paid the stupid cash up stupid front. It's so stupid!!!!! TDA I DO NOT HEART YOU.
There, it's all better now and I'm sure that when someone from TDA finds this post they'll feel thoroughly chastised and change their policies.
On a more cheerful(?) side note: Madison got her braces. I have never seen someone so excited to have their mouth stretched 3 times it's normal size. And she's not done folks, we still have to visit the oral surgeon in a few weeks to do something about that tooth that's growing out of her nose. Just kidding, it's not really growing out her nose, but on the x-rays it's right behind her nose. It will come down by itself eventually, but it's going to take out a front tooth on it's way. I've decided that there would be no point to braces unless we're going to put the teeth where they are supposed to be so they're going to pull some teeth, hook a chain to one, and crank that sucker down. Sounds peachy.
And I found out that I have 4 teeth to fix. Yay me! (That's sarcastic by the way. In case you don't know me.) I am sucky at the dentist. The Novocaine makes me nauseated. But I'll cowboy up. So the reason I finally went is because I haven't been for like 4 years and because I've been having some tooth pain. But I get there and the tooth that hurts is not the one that needs fixing. It's weird to go to your cousin and have him poke around in your mouth and see how truly disgusting you are because you "don't floss regularly". And by the way, when the hygienist is reading off numbers like 2, 3, 2, 4, 3, while she pokes your teeth, THE 4 IS BAD. 4 means Gingivitis. Sick right? It's so disgusting. Oh my gosh I wanted to die. Granted, a 4 means that you have to floss daily and go to the dentist, and not that your teeth are going to fall out, but still she said GINGIVITIS. You don't use that word unless you hate the person. So she hates me. And she thinks I'm disgusting and that I don't brush my teeth. I can feel the bacteria feasting on my enamel!!!!!
So here is something that I found while looking up informational text on the platypus. It makes 5-6 years olds happy so I figured it'd help me too.

Platypus Song

From 0 to White Trash in 60 seconds or less

This stunner is turning 12. She is really starting to turn in to a beautiful young woman.

Madison woke up and decided she wanted a peace sign cake. So I tried to figure it out. I did make homemade buttercream frosting though just like last year.

Sweet dancer jacket!!

A hunting game for the Wii complete with big game and a dangerous mountain lion that attacks and eats you!!

The ever popular cash in a card.

A priceless work of art created by Miss M.

It was International Days again and of course Encore Dance Studio stole the show. Julia had her dancers learn the National Dance Day routine that dancers from around the world were learning and performing. They did the dance all along the parade route. It was really cool to see them!

Julia put her Encore Dance Studio float in the International Days Parade. We don't know what the theme was, but for us it was National Dance Day!!! Tater is right there front and center!!

Marcus spent the parade clapping, grabbing candy, yelling, and waving. He's a fun dude to have around.

Tater is in the middle right above the "t" on the Celebrate sign.

Madison walked the entire route!!! They did the Nappy Tabs dance from the beginning to the end.


Madison also went to Dance Attack again this year and it was so much fun!!! Sad story though: We got there at like 9:30 pm and went over to the grocery store for snackies. We filled the cart, stood in line for like 20 min. and then went to the car to load up. I get all the groceries in the trunk and then suddenly it won't shut. So long story short, two hours later I tied my trunk shut and we go back to the hotel. I was up every hour making sure that it was still shut. So Mark comes up and helps me get it all tied up and then I went back over to the store and bought clear duct tape. I duct taped my trunk shut in the parking lot of a Fresh Market. I went from 0 to white trash in a minute flat.
Anyway here are some pics of what happened at Dance Attack.

Marcus and Choreographer Dana.

Madison and So You Think You Can Dance choreographer Joey Dowling.

Marcus with his crush Joey.

Miss Dana with the Encore girls.

Choreographer Jackie and the Encore girls.

Madison and Connie, director of the Winner School.

The Encore girls and Joey after class.

The girls and Nicole who auditioned this season for SYTYCD and made it to the very end before being let go. She says she'll be back though.

Choreographer Will Wingfield who was on SYTYCD with Twitch who is currently on this season as an All Star. Will danced with the Alvin Ailey company.

New choreographer Matt with Madison and Taylor. He was definitely a favorite this year.

The girls after class.

Madison showing off one of her Jo & Jax outfits. They are stinkin' cute!!

Marcus getting launched into the air by uncle Mark. They spent about an hour together in the pool wreaking general havoc.

Our neighbors on their roof shooting their bows and arrows. This has nothing to do with anything except for the fact that I know where my food will come from when civilization as we know it comes crashing down around us. Fun huh?