Parker's Birthday!!!!!!

Today was our Parker's 6th Birthday! I know I say this every time one of my kids has a birthday, but man I cannot believe that he is already 6 years old. The kids did not have school today so, it was kind of a long day that was filled with arguing and fighting. However, Parker was so excited that it was his Birthday. He kept saying, "I'm 6 now" it was so darn cute.

For his Birthday we decided that we were going to go to the movies. I knew it would be easier then a Party at home (not necessarily cheaper though). He has 2 little friends in his Kindergarten class that he just loves and he always talks about them so, I told him that he could invite them. Also, he has a friend Lucas that he loves playing with and Lucas has a brother who is good friends with Bradyn so, he invited both of them too. It was my brother's weekend to have his boys Jackson and Wesley so, luckily they were able to come too. The boys have been so excited all week for this and I was too. I knew that we were going to have a ton of fun. We decided to make a goody bag for each child to have during the movie. We had paper lunch bags with some candy, each boy got their own pop and we also had lunch bags that we filled with popcorn. It was great!

The Birthday Boy with his Buddies

Bradyn with his Buds

Even Logan had a friend there (his cousin Wesley)

The Whole Crew After the Movie

After the movie we brought all the boys back to our house for cupcakes and presents. However, as we were getting in the car to go home Parker had been complaining that he ate to much and that his stomach hurt. While I was loading my car (we took two cars since I can't fit 9 boys in my van), I could tell in Parker's face that he wasn't doing well. I asked him if he was going to throw up and he nodded yes. I hurried him out of the car as quickly as possible and just barely got him out before he totally threw up. I felt so bad that this happened to him on his Birthday, but I was just so thankful that we weren't still in the Theater and that we hadn't started driving yet. After he threw up he felt much better and said that his stomach didn't hurt anymore (well of course not, since the contents of it was now on the ground in the parking lot).

When we got back home he perked up for presents. Grandma was there because she was watching Audrey (Thank You Grandma) and Grandpa was there because we had him come with us to the Movies (this way there was one more adult amongst the sea of boys). Uncle Jason and Aunt Crystal came to pick up Jackson and Wesley and Melissa and Jim came too because they just plain love Parker. We had a great group there to sing Parker Happy Birthday and I think he loved it. I am so happy that his friends, brothers and a couple of his cousins were able to come with us tonight and help Parker have a very fun Birthday (except for the whole throwing up thing).

For anyone that may be wondering, the boys were awesome during the movie. So well behaved!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PARKER!!!!!!!! WE LOVE YOU AND ARE SO HAPPY THAT YOU ARE PART OF OUR FAMILY!

the scare

I had my first scare last night. I was at work and out of no ware I got a very bad mygrain head ache. It started about 2:30. So I took some meds, and it did not help. And by that point my left arm started going numb. And that is not a good thing when it come to me. So I decided to go to the ER in Howell. The took me up to the meatarony word and hocked up to the baby monter and see if Anne was okay. And happley she was. So they gave me a shot to get ride of the mygrain and it did. And I was told that Anna would stop moving for a while but no she started to kick and move more lol. So I was home buy 9:30 and I went to bed until this morning. I did say a few prays to just make sure Anne was okay.

My Trip East

So, it is time to catch you all up on what has been happening. In December I graduated with my Bachelors degree in Elementary Education from BYU and I actually received my degree in the mail earlier this week, so it is official. On my last day of class Mom flew out so that she could drive back east with me. Before we left Utah Mom and I made a trip to Temple Square with Grace and Rick to see the lights.


It was quite the challenge to get everything in the car. Actually everything did not get in the car and it was still a very tight squeeze. What I couldn't fit in the car went to Jen, so it was like an early Christmas for her. The trip was eventful. Traveling cross country in the winter time isn't the best idea, but it was necessary. Mom and I headed out on Sunday and it took us 2 miserable hours to drive through the canyon. The roads were horrible and so snowy and an accident happened right in front of us. Later that day we stopped for gas and to use the restroom. We stepped out of the car and antifreeze was pouring out of the car. So we made our first call to a towing company. Luckily there was one shop opened on Sunday and we were able to take the car in. The Lord definitely blessed us because all that needed replacing on the car was a new cap, the other cap wouldn't stay sealed and that is why we had a problem in the first place. The car was able to get fixed fairly quickly and then we were off on our journey once again. On Monday Mom and I once again had to call a towing company. We had just been driving for hours on slick highways and we pulled off to get gas. As we were turning to go into the gas station we hit a patch of ice and went off the shoulder. There was just enough of ledge that we couldn't get the car out on our own. Tuesday was a great day because we didn't have to call for a tow truck and we finally made it to West Virginia.




For a little bit more check out my blog.

Filling up space on our boring blog

So I thought it would be nice for a new posting on our blog so I'm just going to give some random updates about how are family is doing right now. Sorry it's so long.

Lastnight I was in charge of a PTO activity for moms and their sons. We decided to do dinner at the highschool and then have everyone watch the varsity boys' basketball game afterward. I put together some goodie bags for the boys and we had pizza. I think it went well and Merrit seemed to have fun, although, because I was in charge I didn't get to spend time with him until the game. Next year I'm going to make some changes so that I can spend more time with him. I think I'm going to ask for father volunteers to serve food and collect money so the moms can just enjoy themselves. I knew this year would be the learning year since it was the first time the PTO had done this. Next year should be much better. I'm just glad it's over now.

Wrestling is almost over. Hurray! There is about a month left. Unfortunately, there is an all day tournament on my birthday. YUCK! Right now is mid-term time. I'll probably be helping Charlie grade tests tonight so that he can get all his grades in before Friday. If he does that, his principal told him he could go home early on Friday. We want to go to the Frankenmuth Snow Festival that day, but because of wrestling practice in the evening, we'd have to go during the day. The kids have no school and Lexi has a half day. It would be such a fun family activity. Hopefully it's not too cold.

School is going well for me. I'm so glad I decided to drop back to half-time again. I feel so much more in control of my life now. Things are running much more smoothly. I've rededicated myself to Weight Watchers. I thought I should do something since I gained everything back that I had gained in that weight loss contest I had with Jana. My goal is to be at my goal weight by June. Last time I did Weight Watchers I lost 35 lbs in 6 months, therefore I should be able to do it again, right? At least that is what I think. January wasn't such a good month for me for staying on track, but I've added cardio workouts at U of M to my exercise regime. This should give me some needed help to burn calories.

The kids are all doing well. I had to laugh when I thought about listing the words that my kids can say :). I feel a little left out of the mile stone mapping. I guess I could say that...

Jaxson is learning how to write his last name. He has his first name down pretty good. He is speaking more clearly since being in school. His pronunciation is much better. He is such a funny kid because every morning before school he whines about having to go to school and how much he hates it. Then when I pick him up, he whines that he hates going home and wants to stay at school. I'm not kidding, this is almost a daily ritual.

Chelsea is reading pretty well now and loves to read scriptures, all by herself, with us before bed. In fact, some nights she is the instigator to read them. Chelsea has started taking piano lessons.

Makayla got her first love note today from a boy in her class names Diego. Her friend told her that he slipped it into her desk when she went to the bathroom. She said it makes her feel embarrassed. She told that to Diego and she said that he told he that it made him embarrassed too. She has started to like cooking. She asks to help me with dinner quite often. I need to take advantage of that more often. Unfortunately, I don't.

Merrit has earned his Weblos badge and almost has his Arrow of Light badge and will hopefully be receiving them at the Blue and Gold banquet next month. I'm so proud of all his hard work. Since being released from Cub Scouts, I haven't really thought much about his badges, but he has been very motivated to earn them and has persisted, much of the time on his own. The last thing he needs to do for his Arrow of Light is to have an interview with the Scout Master, which he scheduled (all by himself) for tonight after activities. He is struggling with spelling, which I can sympathize with because I did too. He works hard though and even does extra spelling homework every day, but he still can't seem to pull of an A on his spelling tests. I'm glad he keeps trying.

Alexis is still doing well in her classes. I think she is making friends now too. She didn't seem that interested in having friends at the beginning of the year, but she now mentions doing things with her friends at school. I'm glad for her. The world can be very lonely without friends. She continues to perfect her piano playing talents. She played a piece, piano solo for Silent Night, in sacrament meeting for Christmas and did very well. She would probably tell you differently though, because she did make a few mistakes, but they were mistakes that only those who knew the song would have known. She plays way better than I do. She can sight read fairly well; something that I can't do.

Thanks for bearing with me through this long posting. Sorry I didn't include pictures to make the reading more interesting, but it also would've been way longer. Maybe I'll do some pictures later.

I am still alive

Have no fear my family. I have been in Flint for about 3 1/2 weeks and I am still alive. I am rather enjoying living on my own. I have spent a lot of time cleaning and the downstairs is almost completely cleaned, I just have to finish scrubbing the floor in the dining room. I am sure I would still have a lot to do if Hillary hadn't been so wonderful and helped with the cleaning. I can't tell how often I will be posting because I still don't have the internet at home. Once I get somewhat of a study flow of income getting the internet will be on the top of my list of things to do. So please pray with me that I will get calls to substitute teach. I have gotten one call so far for the 25th, it is only a half day but I am excited that it is at least something. It is a foot in the door.

I found out yesterday that I'm having a girl. The boys are happy they are going to have a little sister. I think she will kick there butt when she get older lol. She is a Hicks for sure. I was going to put her new pic up but she didn't want any more pic taken. She started kicking and punching the alersound thing. As the tech went to find out what I'm having the baby starting to hide under my belly button. All I could do was laugh.We are going to name her Anna Marie.

Christmas pictures

Here are our Christmas pictures. Our kids had kind of a drawn out Christmas, being able to open presents three different times. They loved it all. But the last time was our own Christmas, which actually happened the morning of the 31st. By then Charlie and I didn't really want to wrap all the rest of their presents, so we just stuck them in big boxes and had the kids pull them out. The kids don't really care about the wrappings anyway, right? We really had a great Christmas. It was fun to see everyone in West Virginia.