O Christmas Tree

We finally got our tree all decorated. We set it up on Sunday, but didn't finish decorating it until tonight.

Jackson and his 101 Dalmatian ornament.
Maddie and Ariel.

Aidan and Pluto. Boston had fun watching. I didn't think it would be a good idea to have him touch the tree to put ornaments on, but then try to tell him "no, no" when he touches the finished product, maybe next year!!:)
Our beautiful tree. I love it. It's officially the Christmas season!!!:)

So much to be Thankful for

Aidan came home from school yesterday with a turkey. On this turkey's feathers were written the things that Aidan is most Thankful for:

My stuffed animal dog

Pumpkin Pie

Water

My house

the sky

Jesus, that he died.

So simple. Ahhh the mind of a 4 year old. It got me to thinking about all of the things that I have to be thankful for. Sometimes I think I loose perspective. I start thinking about the big things too much, and get too down on myself, and the way that things are going in my life. When really there is soooo much that I have to be thankful for. I am so thankful for a kind and loving Heavenly Father that has given me exactly what I need. As long as I have my family I will always have enough.

Happy Thanksgiving from Melanie Lindell on Vimeo.

Happy Halloween....

I decided that I needed to get these pictures on here since Halloween was almost 2 weeks ago!!

My cute kiddos at the Lloyd Family Party.
I don't know how he kept his mask down because it was so close that it smashed his nose, but he loved it!!
Aidan the Clone Trooper
Boston, my cute little lion!
Jackson the Storm Trooper at the school Halloween parade.
Maddie the Witch, and Aidan at the school Halloween parade.
Maddie was Tinker Bell for the family party, a Witch at the ward party and school, and on actual Halloween she just wore her pjs and we pushed her around in Great Grandma's wheelchair. Poor sick girl!! Sadly, I have no pictures of the actual Halloween. Justin and his kids were here and so was Amy, so we took the kids trick or treating around our neighborhood. They had a great time, and they looked so cute!! I'm not a huge fan of Halloween, but love this time of year, and that it is the kickoff for the holiday season!!
Next up: TURKEY AND PIE!!!
(I already have the Chrismas music going in my house...too soon?!?!:))

What matters most...

11

I can't believe that my baby turned 11 today!!! Here are some pictures of the celebration!

MarioKart for her DS

Hannah Montana movie (and Jackson the creepy stalker!)

Barbies..(I was happy that she asked for these.. it makes me feel like she is still kind of a little girl!)

Jonas Brothers sheets and blanket.

The best part of the celebration was that she actually felt like getting up and moving around! HOORAY!! Happy Birthday Maddie girl, I love you!!

P.S. I have to share the video because Jackson totally cracks me up in it!! Enjoy!

Appendix

Poor Maddie had a really eventful weekend. Friday around 4 she started having A LOT of pain. Jac took her to the Dr. and her white count was elevated, so he sent us to the hospital for a CT scan to check her appendix. Around 9 PM they finished the CT and the Dr. said that the appendix was inflamed and full of fluid, and sent us to the surgeon. The surgeon came in around 10 and said that the CT results were inconclusive, so it was up to us. We talked about it and decided to go home and play the waiting game. We got home around midnight, and she seemed to be doing much better. She kind of went in and out of feeling crappy all day Saturday, and she ran a low temp all day, around 99.6. We caved in and let her go trick or treating as a hospital patient. She kept on her jammies and we put her in a robe, and blanket, and pushed her to a few houses in Great Grandma's wheelchair. By Sunday morning her fever spiked to 101.7, and she started to have some pain again along with all of the other symptoms on the list except for vomitting. We decided that we had better go back to the hospital.

Poor girl had to do a repeat CT scan, this is waiting for the scan. This is the part that took the longest. We had got back to the hospital around 11:30 AM and by 5 PM the surgeon was back and we were preparing for surgery. They took her a little before 6, and it took just over and hour. The surgeon came and talked to us to tell us that everything went well a little after 7. They had her to her room by 8.
This is what she looked like for most of the night... when the nurse would let her. They come in to check vitals, and temp A LOT!!:)

She is still running a fever, and they want that to come down before she can go home, so here we are today. Hopefully we can get the fever down and go home first thing in the morning!! Poor girl!

From the mouths of babes.... Reindeer

Aidan got to spend Thursday with my mom and dad while I was helping at the school for the Halloween festivities. This is a conversation that took place between my mom and Aidan. They were taking Aidan in Grandpa's truck when Aidan found some antlers in the truck.

Aidan: What are these?!

Grandma: Those are deer horns.

Aidan: Can I touch them?

Grandma lets Aidan see the antlers, and he is fascinated by them. He makes comments about how they are hard, and counts the points on them, and asks something about where they got them.

Grandma: Grandpa found them on the mountain and we're going to take them to the cemetery to put on Great Grandpa Frew's grave.

Aidan looks completely confused.

Aidan: Why? So that when he wakes up again he can be a reindeer?

I love the way that kids minds work!!!:)

Favorites...

I could have picked A LOT more, but these are a few of the faves.

They were taken by Terra Cooper of Magnifique Photography. To visit her site click here.

Family Pictures!

Click here to look at a slideshow of my family pictures. My friend Terra Cooper took them, and I love them!! I will do a post of my favorites soon!