Pheasant Fever

Just some fun pictures from this year's pheasant season. Spencer got to go for the first time and Nicole got to carry her own gun this year. Here they are on opening day with their lone rooster. 

The good old Red Ryder...thank goodness he didn't shoot his eye out.

Love him!

This is a couple weeks later--Nicole, with her first bird.

Halloween 2012

Well, here they are. My little monsters ready for the big day. 

For the first time in several years the school changed their policy and let the kids wear their costumes to school. So it was an all day celebration! 

Spencer

Paige

Paige during her class Halloween party

This was probably Paige's favorite part of the whole day. Getting to hold her new baby cousin, Maiya, while trick-or-treating at Grandma and Grandpa's house.

Princess Claire

Claire at her preschool Halloween party

Paige, Spencer, and Claire ready to trick-or-treat with Dad while I stayed home to hand out candy.

Nicole dressed as Black Widow from The Avengers. 

We couldn't find a wig that we liked and I refused to spray all of that pretty blonde hair red. 

Corinne

A rare moment of solidarity between sisters

The teens roamed the neighborhood for a while and then ended up in our basement wrestling and eating candy and watching AFV. 

It was a fun day!

Then & Now

What a difference a year has made. 

From this:

October 29, 2011

To this:

October 29, 2012

 We had a fun and happy Family Home Evening carving pumpkins last night.

 

Have a Happy Halloween! 

Gone fishin'

Matt and Spencer had their priorities in order when they took the time a few weeks ago to soak up those last glorious fishing days of Fall. 

Got one!

And another one!

I love, love, love this picture!! 

Paige's Birthday

A very happy, very belated, birthday post for my Paigie-bug! Paige turned 9 in August and it was a great day! Here is a picture of her ginormous cake:

Opening her presents:

She has become quite the easy-baker so we needed to restock her pantry:

Paige is lucky to have a birthday that happens to fall on or around family gatherings every year. This year was no exception. Her birthday was the first day of our big reunion (post pending) so she had 41 grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, siblings, and parents to help her celebrate: 

I love you, my beautiful girl!

Liver Mystery

Spencer had another biopsy last week on Tuesday. This was different than the others because they not only went into his heart for tissue samples* they took some tissue samples from inside his liver as well. The last couple months his liver enzymes have been elevated. His doctors have adjusted meds and experimented with different ones to see if the problem is due to medications. They've also tested him for dozens of infections to see if he's fighting something. A couple of weeks ago at a blood draw they drew TEN vials of blood. So far, all of their investigating has turned up nothing. His cardiologist has brought in a Gastro-Intestinal specialist as well as the Infectious Disease team. They are putting their heads together and trying to figure this out. Thus, the biopsy. I waited to post this because I thought I could put the results of the biopsy on here as well, but nine days later and all they can tell me is that his liver definitely has some inflammation but they are stumped. 

The bright side to all of this is that if something is going on, so far it's all just on paper. He feels great and has plenty of energy for school--with enough left over for hours of silliness afterwards. 

I mean really...does this face look sick to you? :)

*Heart biopsy results--perfect!! No rejection!

First Day of School--2012

Nicole-9th grade

Corinne-7th grade

Paige-4th grade

Paige walking up the steps to the school and none to happy with her camera-happy mother.

Spencer at the front door of the school

Spencer-1st grade

Because Spencer had a doctor's appt. on the first day of school he got to school about 40 minutes late so we were able to take him to his music class. Of course I took that to be another photo-op. 

Here is my cute little Clairey-Berry on her first day of preschool. 

She was so excited! 

She loves preschool and her new "pack-pack". 

I'm such a lucky mom--just look at that cute face!