Good night

Yes it was........
Bethany cancelled :(..... and I was seriously sad.....
But, that did mean I was able to go with the family to my mom's for dinner.  She really goes out of her way to take care of all of us.  I know it's a lot of extra work, but the love she and Dad have for all of us is evident.
Ham, creamed beans, corn (frozen from Dad's garden), homemade rolls, with butter and jam, augratin  (sp?) potatoes, red jello, with and without mandarin oranges, and of course, pumpkin pie with whipped cream.  Who else's mom makes three pumpkin pies, one for dinner and two to give away, when it's not Thanksgiving??  She. Is. Awesome.

After dinner, we all hung around, and watched the little boys play and squeel, and laugh, and try to walk.  It was so much fun.  It was Thatcher's actual birthday, and he was in FINE FORM.  Payson was all giggly too, and as I bounced them on my knees, singing Pony Boy, and then put them down and they hugged (as well as one year olds can do), I couldn't help but feel so very blessed.
  It was a great night.

After I came home, I helped Annette with Karly's blog.  She went to the MTC today.  She will be a great missionary, and I'll get to help chronicle it ! Yahoo.....you know how I love to blog :)

All in all it was a great evening !

Birthday Boys

Tagg turned 5 a couple of days ago on the 8th

Thatcher turns 1 on the 13th

They did a combined birthday party celebration for the family last night.  CJ worked so hard on it (as she usually does), and everything turned out just wonderful.  We all gathered together, opened presents and had sloppy Joe's

Tagg's theme was Jake the Pirate, and he was so cute.  The cake was awesome with sand, and buried treasure chest filled with edible treasure !  

Payson didn't know if he liked all of the commotion !

Tagg was sure excited for Treyson's present

A roaring, moving, blazing eyed T-rex.  Didn't faze Thatch  (with ball in mouth) at all :)

One of my favorite moments of the night was when Tagg was looking at the "The Year I Was Four" book I made him, and as he kept turning the pages and looking at the pictures, kept saying over and over, "That was good times..... That was good times......."

Thatch LOVED his cake - he was all sorts of SERIOUS with it.  It took him a little while to get going, but boy when he did, he loved it.  (see video below) 

All better - Thatcher's burned hand

This picture was taken December 19, 2012 - about 6pm
He's fairing much better than a few hours ago.
He's loaded up on pain killers, and he's smiley as can be.  Maybe a little woozy, but smiling none the less.
Earlier in the morning he touched the glass front of the gas fireplace.  It. Was. Bad.
I guess the few hours after that in the Morgan Clinic were EVEN WORSE.  Grandma Shirlee and CJ got to experience that, and it Was. Not. Good.  Hours later, there were still tears being shed by the adults.

I didn't get a glimpse of the damage until 2 days later.  I was just SICK, it literally made my stomach turn, and it was all I could do to keep from crying for him.  How it must have hurt.  I can't imagine.  All I could think of was Nie Nie, and how did she stand it.  CJ had to change the bandages twice a day for a week.  That night during the Dickson Party (see video below) - we unwrapped it for a look.  As soon as the air hit it, he started squirming because it hurt.  It literally took three of us to bandage him back up.  Kacey held Thatcher, I held his arm still, and CJ did the wrapping.  I was sweating bullets, and thought I was going to pass out before it was over.  So So Hard, and that was just on me !

Everybody felt bad, but especially MOM.   It was a total accident, and no one is to blame, but you know how mom's are. They especially hurt when their babies are hurting.  

A week later, and he's going strong !  He played all day at my house, and was using his bandaged hand really well.  His little fingers were sticking out, and he was playing with the blocks pretty rough and the blisters on his fingers started to break open.  Then he became fascinated with the hanging skin, and he started gnawing at them.  Eeek!!!!

Now 5 weeks later, he's all better - good as new :)  I personally think it's due to the good and diligent care that his mom gave him with the wrapping and medication.  Also, he was so cute crawling around.  The first week, he army crawled on the one side, but by the 2nd week he was putting his knuckles down first (like a monkey), not his palm.  So so cute.

Still can't get a totally great shot of his little palm, but there is no lasting damage, and we are so very thankful for that !!

First Steps

just about the cutest thing ever


Sent from my Samsung smartphone on AT&T

St. George Half Marathon

On the road down to St. George, these two monkeys were kept entertained by their electronic devices.  Overheard:   Zac: Keep your fingers out of your mouth Tagg, you are getting red gunk all over the Leapster.   Tagg:  But Dad!  I have licorice stuck in my teeth !   Zac:  Just use your tongue to get it out    Tagg:  But Dad !  My tongue doesn't have a claw, and my fingers do !!

Just before the half marathon at 9 am.  It is 23 degrees !
Landon, Kacey, Jennie, Stan, Zac   (Stan didn't run)

Waiting at the finish line with Grandpa Roger

10 minutes after they started the half, I ran/walked in the 5K.  This was my view.  I completed it in about 50 minutes. 

Way to to Dad !!

Zac finished in 1hr 31 minutes, and was #88 out of #1238 runners
Landon finished in 1hr 52 minutes, and was #411
They were both #13 in their respective age/gender categories

Kacey finished in 1hr 58 minutes and was #549 overall, and10th in her age/gender !!
Poor Jenni was sick and didn't run her best.  She came in at 2hr 6 minutes, and was #716 overall, and 24th in her age/gender

Watch the boys bring their dad home here
Watch Landon finish here
Watch Kacey finish here
Watch cute kids here

One year later

Still missing you ! 

New Years 2013

The little boys had a fun time being pulled on the sled.  They sure looked cute in their ANGRY BIRDS hats. Grandpa Roger built a little fire, and we roasted some hotdogs in the sun. 
It was beautifully sunny, but sure cold.

Babies at 10 months

Payson - So, are you just gonna hold that ball, or are we going to play with it?
Thatcher - Aw, you are the best cousin ever :)
Payson - I'm trying to watch TV, quit pullin' my ear !
Thatcher - Seriously, if I pull hard enough, he'll come to you Grandma :)

Merry Christmas

Love to all of you from our entire family
Brrr....it's cold outside :)

Party on - Rich Style

Payson and Thatcher didn't mind Santa one bit.
Just wait till next year !?!

Treyson told Santa he just wanted his family
to be HAPPY for Christmas.

HO HO HO from the Rich Family :)
Thatch is fascinated with Santa's hair !

Zac wrestled this little one around most of the time while Santa was visiting.  I took a bunch of pics, but this is the only one that remotely turned out.  I'm still trying to get the hang of my new camera.

Roger D. and Payson .  Sorry I didn't get a picture of YOU Kacey !  Landon was at work, and couldn't make the party :(

All of the kids with Santa except Trapper
(he had a MAJOR melt down poor kid)
Thank you SANTA - you are truly the very best !

FIVE GENERATIONS
Kelsee, Brenda, Autumn, Ben, Linda

 Tagg has been such a stinker lately. CJ was Santa's helper, and she made sure he was the very last kid, and told him there wasn't any presents from Santa because he had been naughty. He was feeling pretty bad. That's why he doesn't look too happy on Santa's lap. If you listen closely, you can here Santa telling him, that he was sure he had been TRYING to be good. Finally, miraculously, a present appeared. He was sure relieved !! Bad Mommy, Bad Mommy (just kidding CJ)