We've hit a wall...

Literally!

Aliyah was playing in her room and somehow ran right into her cinder block wall. The doctor told us she would be fine, she would get a black eye, and if she started to act goofy, bring her back in. Anyone with kids has to laugh at that last bit of advice.

Here is her TWO black eyes a few days later, now people really think we beat our kids!!!

P.S. She is really enjoying having a battle wound!

J and the Tooth-fairy(again!?!)

Here are some pictures of us all, while Aliyah is at school and J is here to play. J loves playing with "big boy toys" and Rylee loves to cheer and love on everyone! Lizzy was done with loves in the couch picture :)

And one last time for mouth pictures for awhile!!! Two teeth gone, two teeth in, many more to go... (Oh and Bubba wanted a picture of her mouth taken, too. She laughs and sticks her tongue out when she looks at this picture :)

Ta-Da and Toothfairy!

Well, it happened! Aliyah played with her tooth enough that it feel out! Yesterday around 4-ish, Aliyah turned to me and said, "you're right mom, my tooth is so loose it's almost going to fall out." followed 10 seconds later by, "Mom! my tooth is out, look mom, look!!!"

Later we were discussing the tooth-fairy and she let me know that if she woke up and there was money she would know that the tooth-fairy was really real, but if she woke up and the tooth was still there she would know that there wasn't any tooth-fairy at all.

Turns out there is a tooth-fairy, and just like Aliyah had told me, when you loose your first tooth, she brings you a toy and money, it was even the dinosaur Aliyah had hope for. ;) It's so fun having kids around!

And finally... Aliyah's Birthday!

Aliyah had a special fun party with her friends, Natalie, Sy, Carly, Zahne, Korrine, Myra and
Said (he came after the camera died):We played pin the tail on the donkey and a pass the present game, everyone got a little dollar gift, then the kids watched "Barbie and the Three Musketeers".

Then next day, since Nama and Papa didn't really want to join in the kiddie party, we took Aliyah out to lunch with them and Aunt Sandy's family.

J, Anya, Christy, Sandy, Steve, Clark, Lana, and our little family all went to The Golden Corral where the kids all had way too much sugar and fun!

Water and Fluoride?

Jed and Aubrey came up for a visit just before Christmas, during their visit they asked if our water was bad because we were drinking bottled water. My answer was "sometimes" and this is what I meant:Two gallons both filled from the same tap on the same day. Can you say "???"
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And in other, completely unrelated news (I hope), Aliyah has something exciting to share:

Not only does she have a loose tooth,

She has TWO loose teeth and the new ones are already on their way in!!!

Busy busy busy!

I thought I would take a quick break from school work to update the blog so that it isn't another semester before I post again. We've been pretty busy since about the middle of January. Aliyah is still going strong in her learning at kindergarten, and since Ryan got changed to the graveyard shift -again:P- I have been lucky enough to be able to go with her to class on Fridays. Ryan and I are both back in school this semester, and the roles kind of switched a little with the graveyard schedule. Ryan has mostly History classes online and I have mostly English classes at the University. We are blessed to be able to switch babysitting with Anya -J's mom- so that she and I can both attend daytime classes during the week. Other than my one day time class, I have forced myself to take a fitness class along with some night and Saturday classes. The girls love having J come play with them and they love it when Anya stays, too. Rylee and Lizzy are learning how to get along with each other while Aliyah is gone -right now they are tackle-hugging each other yelling "mine". We got released from nursery, and put on the activities committee. We finished our season of birthdays with a big number 6 for Aliyah (pictures will come someday). And this afternoon, Ryan will be going out to Meridian to meet the boys he will be coaching at the high school! I've probably forgotten something, but it's time for me to get back to my homework before Aliyah's bus and J come! Hope you all are doing well!!!

Christmas!!! (finally)

Christmas this year was simple and nice, we stayed in Boise, had dinner at Ryan's Aunt Sandy's - an nontraditional but ever so yummy lasagna (my mouth is watering just thinking about it!) - and then Ryan's parents came to visit.

When we went to bed, the floor was clear and the tree only had candy canes on it - couldn't find our decorations - when we woke up, as Aliyah puts it - "Santa brought presents and found mommy's decorations too!" What a sweetheart that Santa is... (And I was very exhausted the next day, too!)

Here's our loot! "Santa" - were not sure who - brought some really nice stuff for the girls, boots, clothes, gloves/hats, and Aliyah also got (top-middle) an awesome blanket that turns into a pillow!!! Of course mom and dad only got one present each for Christmas, since each was $$$. Well, I guess technically I got two because Ryan won a Wii a month earlier, and yes I couldn't wait an entire month to open the giant box he brought it home in on NOV 30!!!

And finally to finish the day off, after we got home from dinner, Ryan's parents showed up with a whole new load of presents! My camera died before we could get pictures of the opened presents but here are some fun ones from before they were opened and after the girls opened new coats and Rylee opened butterfly wings! Lizzy was so intrigued when Rylee suddenly turned into a "fu-hur-fy", oh and Rylee had to show off that Santa brought her a matching outfit for her barbies, too! Now our house, that was packed with toys before, is bursting at the seems with them. I am a lot more encouraged to let go of anything!!! We even took a couple nice -old, but nice- toys over to Aliyah's friend Saidi and his sister (a refugee family new to the US).
What a fun Christmas we had!!!

School Break Fun!

More fun from picnics to parties to parks!

We love picnics in the living room, and playing on the playground outside!

Papa and Nama bringing gifts for Rylee and Lizzy's birthdays, and for Aliyah 'cause she's cute, too! (And the girls helping Daddy clean:)

Family night after the girls decorated the tree with candy canes - apparently an exhausting event - and before going to see Christmas lights. Lizzy was so sleepy, she didn't even flinch when I kicked her shoe to the side.

Christmas Programs and Parties!

Here is more Holiday Season fun...

These are some of our friends and a picture from Lizzy's quaint party - it was just the five of us.
Top-Left: Lizzy; Top-Right: Christian, Lizzy, Rylee; Middle: Makaila; Bottom-Right: J; Bottom-Left: Saidi, Aliyah.

These are from Rylee's first party with friends! Thanks Anya, Karrena, J, Kate and Makaila for coming!

And these are some horrible, but still kinda cute, pictures from Aliyah's school Christmas Program. Aliyah is in the front row next to the kid in the white shirt - Jon... who she thinks is nice... :)
Next to come: More Holiday Fun!

The Holidays, Part 1 - Halloween

Okay, so this is way late, but still cute! Grandma Alvey came to visit us for Halloween this last year. The girls loved taking Grandma trunk-r-treating at their cousin J's ward and loved having a weekend of sleepovers with Grandma too!

Here are some pictures of the girls with Grandma, J and his mommy Anya, and the girls digging in to their candy!

And here are some pictures of the girls in their costumes and visiting with their friends Christian and Makaila.
Next up: Christmas programs and school break fun.

Fun with J

Okay, I finally uploaded Picasa on my mini laptop so I will be more encouraged to play with my blog and post more frequently, hopefully!
These are from a few months back but they are so fun and cute, I couldn't resist!

Here are some pictures of the Rylee and Lizzy with their cousin J, he comes to visit a few days a week when his mommy goes to class.

These were taken the same day, J just didn't have enough hair for the flower clip! My girls love being girly-girls... sometimes, so I gotta be quick with the camera - and for once I was!!!

Missing Persons

I've been following a couple missing persons cases, one because it is very public and one because he is a relative's relative. I have decided to help and try to get the word out so if you can send messages out to people or post these where ever you think they might help... I know I would want people to do the same for me if I went missing.

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Steven Koecher

He was last seen on December 13 in Henderson Nevada, a suburb of Las Vegas. He is 5'11" and has blonde hair and blue eyes. If anyone has seen him or heard from him PLEASE give any of these numbers a call.

Contact info:
Henderson Police: 702-267-5000
St George Police: 435-627-4300
KC Naegle : 801-231-2395

Even if you don't know anything please
join this group long enough to invite others
who may be able to help. Thank you!

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Susan Powell:

Susan Powell was last seen at her home in West Valley City, Utah on Sunday night, December 6, 2009. Anyone with information about this case should contact the West Valley City Police at 801-840-4000:
http://tinyurl.com/West-Valley-City-Police