Halloween 2009

Chris, the pumpkin wagon navigator

Kids playing in the corn bath

Lani carrying a pumpkin as big as her!

Pumpkin Patch

Searching for the perfect pumpkin

Anthony

Alison deciding if she sees one better out there

Anthony, the team's kicker, just after kickoff.

Lani couldn't decide on the face painting.

Alison getting her face painted at the harvest festival.

Alison at the school Harvest Festival

Lani at the school Harvest Festival

Halloween came so fast this year. It didn't help that I (Christy) have been sick for a week after getting the flu shot! Go figure. Luckily we all were able to get the regular flu shot and the H1N1 before Kaiser ran out.

Grandma Fawson made Ali and Lani's costumes this year. Alison was a candy corn and Lani was a devil, which Anthony and Ali liked to constantly tease her that she didn't need to dress up to be a devil! She didn't like that teasing too much.

Anthony had a football game on Halloween, the Black and Orange Bowl. This is where the Vacaville Bulldogs play the Vacaville Bengals and both their team colors are black and orange. They always play on Halloween and we, the Bulldogs, host a harvest festival as a fund raiser. His team unfortunately lost in overtime 12-6. Good Game!

We had so many activities this year for Halloween. The girls went to two parties at friend's houses, the girls had parties at school (that I of course volounteered at), and then we had the church harvest festival, the school harvest festival, the football harvest festival, (by the way "harvest festival" is now the politically correct term to use now) and then Halloween itself. We also took the kids to the pumpkin patch in Dixon where you can pick and cut your own pumpkin. I am glad Anthony doesn't feel too old to participate yet. However, he did pass on trick or treating this year and decided to stay home and pass out candy while scaring kids with his scary mask from the movie SAW. He had a strobe light going on the porch for effect. He had a blast making little kids scream and cry.

Maybe it is just our area, but it seems like less and less kids are trick or treating each year. The other thing I noticed is people drive to our neighborhood to go trick or treating....do they think just because we live in a nicer area, we give out better candy?? Everyone is poor right now!

That being said, I am glad the holiday is now over and I can breathe for a couple of weeks ...until the next one.

Lani's Baptism

Lani in her confirmation dress
The Family

Lani and Grandpa Fawson

Lani was baptized! Grandpa Fawson did the honors. She was able to wear the dress I (Christy) wore when I was baptized. Both Lani and Alison wore it to be baptized in. Her confirmation dress was made by her Grandma Fawson.

David, Julie and their girls also came down from Sacramento to be there. There were four other kids being baptized that day so it was standing room only!

Sorry that some of these pictures are a little blury.

So one thing we did this summer was ventured into the world of dogs. Not only one, but two puppies! We started with wanting just one. Leilani is a shihpoo (a Shitzu Poodle Mix). She looks like a shitzu but because she was bred with a poodle, she won't shed! Fabulous! While waiting for her to be ready to be weaned from her mom so we could pick her up from the breeder, the neighbor brought over a Min Pin puppy. It was love at first sight and we got him too. His name is Tank. We wanted a big mean dog name because he thinks he is big and mean. He is not! They are opposite in personality. Leilani is so laid back and Tank is a little firecracker. However Tank is the first to climb on your lap and fall asleep. They were born two weeks apart and have become the best of friends. They commonly fall asleep on each other, provoking yet another kodak moment. They have been great fun for our family.

October 1, 2009

What a crazy summer this has been! First of all I (Christy) have been in a non-weight bearing cast for three months now. October 7th I finally get it off. It got really old about two months ago. I never realized just how hard it is to do things without the use of one leg. Chris and the kids have been very supportive, however I am sure they will be glad when I can be more independent. At first it was fun to help mom, but now it is getting old. They all cringe when I call their name.

Chris is now off work for the month. He had carpal tunnel surgery on his right hand. It was so bad his hand was going numb just brushing his teeth! So between his one hand and my one leg, we make a whole person!!

The kids have all started school and are doing well. This year Anthony is doing school at home online. California offers online schooling to a limited number of students in each district. It is called California Virtual Academy. It is pretty cool. They sent us a computer, printer, all the text books, science experiment kits, art supply kits, and teacher edition books so I can teach Anthony further if he is stuck on a subject. Everyday he logs online and takes lessons, takes online tests, and attends virtual live chat/classroom instruction. It is amazing. Although he is having stress wondering about the most important thing in a 13 year old's life...how am I going to find a girlfriend by not attending public school????Oh what is he going to do!

Alison is in the 6th grade and her teacher has moved up a grade with the students yet again. This is the third year in a row she has had the same teacher. This is actually a good thing, since she likes him. I think it is great because he already knows the kids really well and their learning styles.

Lani is in 3rd grade this year. Her teacher Anthony had for 4th grade so we are aware of how great she is already. Lani loves school and is excited that she is getting baptized on October 10th!

July 2009

Ok, ok I know I haven't been very good at keeping up on this. Now that I am immobile, I may be able to keep up on it a little better. I have a lot to catch everyone up on.

I (Christy) had reconstructive surgery on my right foot on July 2. I will be in a non-weight bearing cast for three months!! How can a busy mom survive without being able to drive?! They put screws in my foot, lengthened a bone, took a bone out, reattached ligaments, and lengthened my achilles tendon. Can you say ouch! I even have a pin sticking out of my foot right now! I almost passed out when I saw it Thursday as they changed my cast and took the stitches out.

Chris has been VERY helpful taking on extra responsibility to make our house function. He is realizing just how much I do around here :) as he crashes every night into bed, grateful another day is over.

This month we also added two new members to our family. We got two new puppies. Leilani is a shipoo (shitzu poodle mix) and Tank is a Min Pin. They have been keeping the kids occupied since mom can't entertain them very much this summer. They are a lot of fun and the kids are excited to finally have dogs.

Earlier this week, my real estate partner thought she would help me out by taking my kids for a couple of days. I was so excited. What mom wouldn't be excited to have a break for a couple of days...right? Well as my first day alone started, I soon realized...what was I thinking? I couldn't take the dogs out, I had a hard time getting around, and after making myself lunch I stood there at the counter thinking ok so how am I going to get this plate to the table with me using crutches. It made me thankful of just how much my kids do for ME. I couldn't wait for them to get home!

March 24, 2009

Ok so I thought I would create this blog to better help me keep friends and family up to date....this is pretty pathetic. It has been since October that I last updated this! Does that give you any indication of how hectic my life has been? Well here is a run down of the crazy past few months.

In Sept 2008 we started the roller coaster that I may have cancer. After a couple of trips to the ER hemmoraging, and a biopsy of the cervix and then another of the uterus (which by the way hurts really bad!) I don't have cancer YET! I just have cancer causing cells which are wreaking havoc on my body! Long story short I have Kaiser. I want my cervix out but Kaiser thinks they know better of course! Why be a ticking time bomb? Who am I to question their great knowledge.

Then on top of that, my right foot has been hurting really bad. After jumping through all of Kaiser's hoops I finally make it to the Podiatrist. After x-rays and catscans of my foot, I now need surgery. My achilles is too tight, so they need to go in and cut it to lengthen it. They also said I have an extra bone in the arch of my foot. The tendon that gives you the arch is attached to this bone, and it shouldn't be. Due to these two issues, the rest of my foot has had to compensate, thus giving me moderate stage arthritis on the top of my foot! So they will go in and take out the bone, reattach the ligament to the correct bone, cast me for six weeks and make me take off 3 months of work! Yeah right! I WILL be learning to drive with my left foot.

Enough of me, Christy. On to my wonderful husband. In November he graduated with his AA degree in Business. We are all very proud of him for accomplishing this. AND he graduated with honors. But he didn't stop there. He immediately started the BA program for Criminal Justice and loves it!

Another good change is he decided he finally needed a break from the road, and took a desk job for one year. I know....those of you that know him are shocked! He got off the motorcylce that he so dearly beloved. That is so unlike him. But he is now the training officer and loves it.

Anthony just turned 13! I can't believe my baby is a teenager. Sunday we had family and friends over for a BBQ. He opted for extra money in lieu of having a party with friends. He is saving for an iPhone. We will be taking him this week to get it. You would think he has died and gone to heaven. Typical teenager already!

Alison and Lani ....well what can I say. These girls give mom a reason to stay on her toes. Boys already calling!

So I hope that my next blog will be sooner than Christmas. I will try and keep up better.