After a long time on the waiting list, my sisters and I got tickets to the Ellen Degeneres Show. It was her Halloween show, so we had to go in costume. We decided to dress up as the the Early Beatles! Ellen's staff loved our costumes and took us in first to be seated and Ellen actually interviewed my mom on the show. The show should air on Wednesday, October 31st. In LA, it's on NBC, channel 4 at 4:00 pm. Look for the 4 black haired "mop-tops!" Hopefully we didn't make too big of fools of ourselves!

My sister, Danielle, actually won the audience dance contest-which is done during the commercial breaks. Which is funny, since between the 4 of us, she is the only one that doesn't dance. (well, not since she was 10). But we think you'll see a glimpse of her incredible moves when the show comes back from one of the commercial breaks. Watch closely! Go D-Bert!

We are fine...Thanks for asking!

A few of our out-of-state friends and family have called and sent emails asking if we have been affected by the So. Cal fires. Well, besides the bad air quality, luckily, no! It has been on the TV a lot here and I have actually had to turn it off on occasion because Tanner gets a little worried for the people that have "burned up all their stuff, even their toys". (He is my sensitive one). As I sat and watched a mother of 4 being interviewed after she had been evacuated, I couldn't help but to put myself in her shoes just for a moment. I know that the safety of your family is the most important, but I look around at all of our memories in our pictures and scrapbooks, that would break my heart if they were to be lost. I started making a mental list of what I would take and what Jake would be in charge of if anything like this ever happened to us. But after each of us grab a kid and a half, we wouldn't have much left to grab any possessions. So what would I take and would would get left behind? I am grateful that I don't have to make that decision right now. I decided to type up a emergency list and hang it on the fridge so that everyone knows their responsibility "just in case". I hope that all of this comes to an end very soon. My heart breaks for all those unable to sleep in their warm beds tonight and even more for those that will return to no bed at all.

Mr. Bones Pumpkin Patch

Happy Halloween!

"Hey, Jake, can you feed the baby while I put the boys in the bath?..."

When I came out and looked puzzled at how Jake was "feeding the baby", he said, "What? He likes it that way. It's a lot better than being strapped in to an uncomfortable chair."

We finally have a surgery date for Logan...

November 7th!

YEAH!!

Has it really been ten years?

1997

2007

So...the big reunion was this past weekend in Las Vegas. There was a tailgate Friday night before the Homecoming game, then a big dinner/dance at a nice country club Saturday night. Even after dragging Jake to the event (It was the same night as the BYU vs. UNLV football game, so his mind was somewhere else), we ended up having a good time. I think most of us were eager to see how everyone has changed over time, when in reality, 10 years doesn't really change anyone at all. I was officially voted most unrecognizable, and don't know if that was good or bad! :) All in all, it was fun to see everyone trying to be all "adult like" and enjoy a few good memories.

Bonanza High School--Go Bengals!

The Reunion Committee

*I asked Jake to take some pictures...and this is what I got:

Another great conversation...

Tanner: Will I be a Dad one day?

Mom: Sure, after you get married (got to teach them young)

Tanner: Well, do you think my wife will let me have a beard, I like beards. How old do you have to be to have a beard?

Mom: She'll probably let you have a beard and you have to be a grown-up to have a beard.

Tanner: Good, because I only want to be a dad if I can have a beard.

Mom: Your wife probably won't like it when you give her a kiss when you have a beard.

Tanner: Get serious, Mom, I'm not going to ever kiss my wife, that's gross.

Need a good pick up line?

Tanner has made some good friends that live near us. One of them is Natalia, a 4th grader. We love Natalia. She is always so nice to my boys. She knows a few signs and signs to Logan often. She is protective of both Logan and Tanner and is kind of known as the "tough girl" on the playground. She works with Tanner on his "soccer skills" (that's what she calls it) and threatens to beat up anyone that makes fun of Logan's hearing aids. A good person to have on your side! Anyway, Tanner came home from school last Friday and said, "Guess who was 'tray leader' during lunch today?" The tray leader goes around the lunch tables and helps the kindergartners with anything they need during lunch. "Okay, you don't have to guess, it was Natalia. I wanted to say hi, but I was too shy, so I acted like I couldn't open my juice box so she'd come over and help me, but I really can do it by myself, don't tell Natalia." Jake would be so proud!

This is Tanner asking Natalia if she can come out and play!

Just like Romeo did to Juliet!

Florida...Here We Come!!

Well, after 2 LONG weeks of deliberation trying to decide between UCLA and Univ. of Florida we have come to a decision.... (Do I need to tell you or did you already see the Gator up top?) Jake will do his 2 years of residency in FLORIDA!! It was a harder decision than we thought it would be, but we are excited and hopeful. For two weeks the spirit has been telling us Florida, but we continued to fight it. To stay here was more convenient and a bit more cost efficient, but by going to Gainesville we could possibly get into a little home (with a backyard and a washer and dryer...YEA!!) UofF's Program Director was nice enough to give Jake two weeks to think it over and when we reached our deadline, everything just screamed Florida. We will leave in June and Jake's program starts the beginning of July. We will be sad to leave UCLA. They have been really good to us and we have made lifelong friends here in good 'ol University Village. When I told Tanner the news he said, "Mom, are we going to live in a place where the garage touches the house!" If only all of us were so easily satisfied. :) Anyway, thanks to all of you who have been so excited for us. We have been getting daily phone calls and e-mails inquiring about our decision. I can't believe it's only nine months away, I better start packing...

Yes...it was as scary as it looks!

So, I guess my last pregnancy cracked my tooth (one of the many effects of carrying a person inside you). I had to get a root canal on that tooth and have been in need of a crown for over a year now. I've been putting it off, with good reason. Jake had an opening and forced me to get a baby sitter (thanks, Jackie) and dragged me in his dreadful chair. He was definitely the best looking dentist I've been to, but the experience was...not fun. I guess having a crown prep done never is. I probably was a terrible patient, but it was nice to spend some alone time with my hubby--even if it was while I was numb and in pain! Thanks Dr. Cragun!

Thanks, Dr. Morris for the pic!