November 2014 + Thanksgiving!

 November was a quieter month in regards to "stuff" going on. It was super busy with all of Magnus' treatments and therapy, but again, that will be it's own post.

We started out the month having the opportunity to attend my cousin Hanna's wedding. These cousins are my mom's brother's kids and they are some of my very favorite. I am way older than all of them, so I remember when each and every one of them were born and I used to babysit them when they came into town (they live in Oregon). I used to love going up to visit them and my Uncle Jim and Aunt Jill (who are sadly divorced now) were my absolute favorite aunt and uncle growing up.

Anyway, it was so much fun, and so crazy to see Hanna get married. I still think of her as a shy, little 4 year old who will barely whisper what she wants because she was so scared of everything :)

 The bridesmaids, Maddy (the younger sis) and Courtney (the older sis)

 All 5 sibs, beautiful bride Hanna in the middle (the boys, Hunter and Carson, are twins and could not be more different.) I just adore these kids like they were my own.

 This is my amazing Aunt Jill (not technically anymore, but I will always call her Aunt Jill :)

It was a lot of fun to have all of my family there (minus my two little sisters who came later to the wedding dinner)

Such a great night celebrating, laughing, visiting, and catching up. I loved every second. I adore my family and I just love weddings.

 Happy Couple! Welcome to our crazy family, Sean!

 This was the day of the Primary Program. I meant to take a photo f them right after church in their Sunday best, but sadly I forgot. I wanted to remember this year particularly because all 5 kids were in primary together this year. Andy and I got to sit by ourselves in the congregation and watch and be proud of our incredible kids. They all had parts and they all did wonderful jobs. We were worried that Magnus wouldn't say his part, but he did it perfectly and there wasn't a dry eye in the place. Everyone is just so happy at how far he has come.

 Had to be documented.... occasionally Magnus will request whatever it is that I am eating and I gladly oblige since he is so picky. It's weird though... he will say he loves it and eat it all and then the next day he will gag on it and say how yucky it is. This day he tried avocado toast and loved it. He has refused to try it ever since.

 This is in our Expedition aka The Beast (which has since surpassed over 200,000 miles!) I am so proud of this car! We got it when it had about 85,000 miles on it almost 12 years ago. It has been such a great car, I don't know if we can ever part with it!

 I debated on where to put this picture.... in the "Magnus' post that I will do someday, or in this post. But, here it is. This was M's End Of Treatment Party aka the We Did It party! We survived. Our family did it together. We fought along with Magnus and we all kicked cancer's butt. We had all of our family and some friends over for an ice cream party. It was a good night. I loved seeing everyone and everybody was able to sign a quilt that Andy's aunt made for us.

 Baron broke our family's streak of not getting a cavity for nearly 12 years. He is the first of my children to need a filling. Apparently it is really tiny and it's in between molars (from lack of flossing well). Still, I was annoyed. That stinker needs to take better care of those chompers!

Jonah played in a chess tournament and got 2nd place (out of 30 or something like that). What a smart little stinker.

A man with an apron on and a whisk in his hand. Perhaps one of the sexiest things ever.

This is one of my young women. I was her Secret Sister for an activity that the Relief Society teamed up with YW's to do.  It was so much fun. I love this girl so very much. Amy and I became very close while I was her leader and I am good friends with her mom. I adore her. She has a very special place in my heart because for her Young Women in Excellence project, she made the goal to become a volunteer at Primary Children's Hospital. She came with her mom to see Magnus while we were staying there and her heart was touched by all of the kids. She noticed the volunteers and her mom told me that on her way home she decided she wanted to do it. It is a very rigorous process and they leave a lot of the work up to you. You really have to want it. Most of the volunteers are college aged kids. Amy is one of the youngest they have at age 17. She is a busy high school senior but she still goes up there once a week to volunteer. She is amazing.

Andy's brother David plays basketball for Utah State University. Andy and the kids have had the opportunity to go to a few games and they say it is SO much fun. I can't ever go because of my school schedule, but I always watch them on TV. It is a lot of fun having a basketball star in the family ;)

Jonah and Uncle David

Baron was able to do a Thanksgiving simulation for school this year. He said it was really cool learning all about the pilgrims coming across the sea to the new world. On the last day, all of the parents come and bring food and dress up like Indians. The kids are the pilgrims, of course, and we all eat together and then play old-fashioned games.

Andy and I didn't do a great job of dressing up. It was a lot of fun anyway!

Laylah and Jonah participated in an after school activity called Creative Pursuits this year.  They each had teams and had to come up with a new idea for an educational game, make the game, and do a skit advertising for the game. Both Laylah and Jonah's teams made it to district (only 2 teams from each school were there.) Laylah's team ended up winning 1st place! And her best friends from our ward ended up winning 2nd! They both would move on to the state competition. Jonah's team took 3rd which meant they were the alternates should anyone have to bail out.

 1st place, 2nd place, and 3rd place winners!

After the competition we took all of our kiddos out to eat for lunch and to celebrate. Jaime and I realized we were twinners. Red coat, striped blue and white shirts, jeans, and boots. Pretty funny :)

 All of the awesome competitors! Even though we don't go to the elementary school we are supposed to, it is so nice to live in such an awesome neighborhood with great kids who are all the best of friends.

One night my mom and sisters and I went to Gardner Village for Midnight Madness and we shopped for a long time until all of the stores were closed. I always, always have a fun time with my mom and sisters. I love them (as if you didn't know... ;)

Jonah was giving a speech in scouts at pack meeting about ice cream. It was pretty funny.

Twinners! We finally shaved M's head because his hair was just falling out in chunks. He has 4 very large bald spots due to the radiation therapy. It should grow back, but there is a slight chance it won't. Only time will tell. Until then, he doesn't mind it one bit. He loves looking like his daddy :)

I got new glasses and I could see again! Miracle!

I also got a new job to start getting some medical experience. I am a CNA on the weekends and I only work one day a week at the salon now. I was going to quit but I love it so much. it is a fun job and has awesome perks. But I love my new job too. It makes me very excited to become a nurse. Scrubs suit me, no? Hahaha

And then we celebrated Thanksgiving at my mom's house with dessert at Andy's parent's house. It was such a lovely, relaxing day. I am so thankful for so much, namely this little family of mine. 

And to end off that awesome month of November, I leave you with a crazy date night pic. 

We are awesome.

Hey, guess what?! It's Christmas month next!!

Happy 4th Birthday Magna-Doodle!

 Well, my baby turned four years old on November 1st. I can't imagine not calling him my baby. The poor guy will probably be mortified when he's 18 and twice my size and I'm trying to still call him my baby. Too bad, so sad.

Anyway! We had us a little celebration. We had birthday pancakes, and opened a gift in the morning.

 That evening we headed to Cafe Rio because all Magnus wanted was a "Rio Quesadilla!" And that's what he had.

 Grandparents came over, he opened lots of presents, and we had cake and ice cream (A Mario cake, to be specific). It was a fun night celebrating this incredible boy and all that we adore about him.

 Being 4 is hard work! So is opening presents! He got games, toys, clothes, and a movie.

 Happy Birthday, my forever baby.

Magnus at age 4:

I mean, what can I even say? This child has had my heart from the very beginning. I knew he would be my last baby, so I basked in the newness of him and didn't take one second for granted. My other kids even accuse me of loving him "the most" on occasion. It is completely untrue, of course, but I can see why they might think it. Any parent will tell you that they love all of their kids equally, but in different ways and for different things. I love Magnus for being my baby and having the sweet, easy-going personality that he does. He definitely gets away with way more than any other kid did. He sleeps in my bed on occasion. I don't make him eat his vegetables. I give him way too many treats. He doesn't get in trouble as much as everyone else. He is, quite frankly, spoiled. And I don't care.

Like I mentioned, Magnus is very easy-going. His brain surgery changed that about him, but I can slowly see him coming back to himself. He plays quietly and happily by himself. He has quite and imagination and I love it. He can make a game out of anything. 

Mag loves to be outside. He loves to run and hide, jump on the tramp, ride his bike, and go for walks to play at the park. He adores Liam, his favorite cousin ever. He also loves to play with a couple girls in our neighborhood, but they are a little younger than him. He will play anything anyone tells him to. Laylah and Daphne love to have him be their "baby" or "student" and he will do whatever they tell him to. He adores his big brothers and is their little shadow when they play in the playroom with toys or play anything outside. 

Magnus has always been a picky eater and had a terrible gag reflex (which, now we know was due to his brain tumor). Even though his tumor is gone, he is even worse now. Nearly every kind of food makes him gag, except for bread/cereal products. Andy and I were just talking about getting him some eating therapy because he obviously cannot survive on bread alone, and it is getting to a point where that is all he wants to eat.

Magnus will start preschool this fall. I am having him assessed for a special needs program because we still don't know much about how his surgery will affect him cognitively. Down the road, we will know more but I want him to have every opportunity available to him now. He is a smart boy, but he has trouble remembering things and still has issues with his speech patterns. All of these things will hopefully be fixed in time.

We love our little M more than we could ever say. When your child is faced with mortality, it is interesting to see how you treat them afterwards. Of course, we still discipline Magnus, and he still has consequences when he does something wrong, but we do treat him differently now. Especially me. I shouldn't, but I do. I have always adored this baby of mine, but now I cherish him even more. He is one of the best and brightest spots in my life.

Happy Birthday, M.

Halloweenie 2014

 I love me some Halloween! Dressing up, carving pumpkins (they smell sooooo good), scaring yourself to death, and candy! It's all just so much fun.

My mom has a Halloween party every year and it is a blast. Yummy dinner, fun games, and a Halloween movie to top off the night. The kids were excited to wear their costumes for the first time a few days before Halloween.

 Mario, a biker chick, Luke Skywalker, Ash Ketchum (from Pokemon), and an indian

Traditional witches brew

Baron and his cousin Ethan were both Ash. They are about the same size, so from behind, you couldn't tell who was who

All of the Jerman cousins

My cute mom and dad with their favorite grandkids ;)

I absolutely love Halloween. Andy... not so much. He thinks it's about the lamest thing ever. BUT, he loves me, so he humors me. We went on a SpOoKy date to This is the Place's Haunted Village. We have done this several times and it is always really fun and spooky. I think past years have been better than this one, but it was still fun and I almost wet my pants from getting scared so many times.

This is Halloween! This is Halloween!

Yes, the day arrived. We got up nice and early to get everyone prepped and ready for the Halloween parade at school. I was glad we didn't have anything that was too involved hair and make-up wise. Andy's parents had generously offered to take Magnus to his radiation treatment that morning (more on that in another post) so Andy and I set off to the school parade with our other four hoodlums.

I cannot tell you how happy this silly parade makes me. I think it is about the cutest thing ever and I love searching for my children in the crowds. We found them all! Although Laylah, just barely.

Andy's parents dropped M off right before the parade started, so I was very happy he could join us.

 I had volunteered to help with Daphne's class party. Her teacher always does these super fun Halloween houses every year. Jonah was able to do one too. They are amazing.

Daphne has a tight knit little group of girlfriends. They are so funny together.

 The party was great, adn then it was time to take kids home and carve pumpkins. We were super fast so we could get ready to go over to the circle for our traditional neighborhood soup feast.

Our little Satan... er... Sadie

Just some more cute pictures :)

Andy was Paul Bunyon. I was supposed to be Babe, his big blue ox. But someone dropped the ball on getting a costume together...

Our cute Jack-O-Lanterns

 I've said it before, but here it is again: I LOVE our neighborhood. We live right behind a cul-de-sac and every Halloween everyone brings a big pot of soup and rolls and we all eat dinner together before we divide up the groups of kids to take them trick-or-treating. All of the moms hangout with our bowls of candy in the cul-de-sac and the dads take the kids trick-or-treating. It is fabulous.

This year our kids didn't go very long. I guess they were all worn out from everything we had had going on. But around 8 they all came back to the circle and all of the kids played while the moms talked well into the night. I think I finally went home around 11 towing some sleepy girls. Andy had taken the boys home earlier.

It was a fun, crazy, busy, wonderful day.

Happy Halloween!