Morgan was so excited to start kindergarten today. She has met the teacher, and even got to talk with Mrs. Hyer a little bit more the other night at Grandpa's 50th birthday party. (Mrs. Hyer lives in my parents ward & is good friends with them-ironically, my kindergarten teacher also lived in my grandparents ward) Anyway, she woke up early this morning, got dressed, & added stickers to her chart (something we started to make the morning routine go smoothly) & was all set to get her picture taken out front.
Morgan was so anxious & happy at the school. I could tell she was excited to start school, and this is the same school that Daddy went to kindergarten & all of elementary when he was little. So we walked into the school and went to her class.
















After finding her spot at the table, I took one more sweet little picture & I then I said I would be back in a little bit to pick her up. At this point, the tears came... nope, not me... HER! Morgan reacted completly different than how I thought she would. I thought she would be happy, quickly say goodbye, & then color and start talking. Boy was I wrong! I looked over and saw these big crocodile tears forming and her clinging to me saying, "Mommy, please don't go!" I tried to reassure her that everything would be fine, and that Mrs. Hyer would take good care of her. This helped a little, but she still would not let me go. At one point when she was distracted I tried to sneak out of the room. Right when I reached the door, she saw me and came running, while sobbing to me. Now, I had always thought that you just leave them, and they'll be fine, but that is much easier said than done, especially when you're trying to reason with a 5 year old. So Mrs. Hyer said I could stay until they moved to the carpet for a story. I tried to figure out how to leave in the short amount of time without causing any more drama. Morgan kept quietly crying as she colored, checking back every 2 minutes to make sure I was still there. I felt so bad for her. Here she was in a new place with kids she had never met, other than 2 in our neighborhood, and I was just leaving her. My eyes kind of watered because I knew she was hurting, nervous, and afraid, but I knew that she needed to stay & that everything would be fine. I tried to think about other things so she wouldn't see my eyes watering, I'm sure Mrs. Hyer did not want 2 Nuttall girls crying in her class. :) I decided to start quietly talking to the kids at the table, and make new friends. Wow, they had a lot to say. A girl at another table informed Mrs. Hyer (as they were building little families with little people) that she didn't have a Dad anymore because her mom didn't want to live with him. Mrs. Hyer was very sweet and said, "well that's okay" then at Morgan's little table I asked the kids how many people they had their families. One little boy said, "We have 10, but that's because we have grandma's & grandpa's!" I said "wow, that's a lot of people." He then said, "Yeah, but my grandma is always smacking my grandpa." I said, "Oh, that's not good." He replied, "It's because he's always pooping his pants!" I tried not to laugh. Mrs. Hyer must have a whole book of funny things kids say. So after about 15 minutes, I tried to leave, and finally came to bribery. I told Morgan after school we could go and get icecream- that didn't work, I told her we could go and pick out some new underwear for her (I figured since she is 5 now she we should get her a bigger size than the 2T-3T, and she is actually excited to pick it out)-that didn't work either, so I finally said, "Morgan, I need to go home and check on Hallie" to which she agreed as long as "I promised to come back & pick her up" with one final big hug, I left and went back to pick her up 1 hour and 45 minutes later. (On Wednesdays they get out earlier) She was sitting by her neighborhood friends & as happy as could be. She had so much fun at kindergarten, and can't wait to go back tomorrow. Thank goodness! What a dramatic morning. :)

The day has come, and I have wondered, "Am I ready for this?" Tomorrow I will be taking a diving class, only in this class, I am not instructed on how to dive, or even swim. I just show up & dive right in the water, with no looking back, but my focus in a new & different direction. I always knew this day would come, the day my baby would go to kindergarten, and I always told myself I wouldn't cry because I would be so excited for her & all that she would learn. The excitement is still there, but the questions keep going through my mind of - Have I taught her what she needs to know to make friends on her own? Have I taught her enough of who she is, and how to handle things alone, and with out Mom or Dad right by her side? Have I taught her how to treat people kindly and accept everyone, even though they may be different? Have I taught her how to be respectful towards everyone, especially adults? and Have I taught her that home will always be a place she can come to for love & peace? So many questions run through my mind, and I think am I really ready for this? I know that we both have so much more to learn together, & that all of these questions take time, but for now, if I'm ready or not, tomorrow is coming, and it's time to dive in.

Today I took Jackson to the doctors for his 3 week check up. He has now started walking on his cast, and because of that, the bottom of the cast is getting a little worn down. The doctor took x-rays, and his leg is healing really nice. He then told us that he would put some more wrap on it to make the bottom stronger. So Jackson got to choose what color he wanted. This time he wanted green. I think his leg looks like a big dinosaur. :) He loves it and is so excited to show Daddy when he gets home from work. While we were waiting in the doctor office he said, "Mommy when you have the baby at the hospital, can I come and see Spiderman!" (what he insists on calling the baby) I told him of course he could. :) The other day my sister in law was asking him what all of the middle names in his family were. Jackson told her all their names and then said, "And the babies name will be Spider Man" (man being the middle name) Today when I tried to ask him if he liked other names, that I like, he said yes on a couple, but then said, "No I want to him spiderman" I asked if we could name him something else and call him spiderman as a nick name and he said "okay, we can name him Lightening McQueen!" So now, the baby is Lighting McQueen. :)
The cool green cast come off in 2 weeks! Yay!!!!!!!

Yesterday my Dad turned the big 50! Kaylie also her birthday, and is now 17. Jen made their cakes and they looked wonderful & tasted wonderful. My Dad had a big party & served cake & ice cream to all their friends. It kind of felt like a ward party in my parents back yard at one point because so many of their neighbors had come to say hi. My grandparents ended the night by giving him his diploma & congratulating him. It was a great night with lots of family & friends.
Jen & her girls came to stay at the house, and the kids loved having a sleepover every night with their cousins. We have had such a good time with them.

Brian had been gone since Thursday morning on a fishing trip up in the Uinta Mountains with a friend from our ward, some of his friends, and his brother Jeff. They had such a good time & Brian said the fish were biting so fast he could barely keep his line out. He said he caught around 150 fish-probably because know one really knows about this hidden lake, and it's about a 3 hour hike in. As he & his friend were making all the plans, his friend Cort mentioned that it would be nice, quiet, relaxing, nothing to do, no where to be, you could take naps, explore, or just sit and do absolutly nothing! They then asked me if I wished that I was coming. I told them that I would LOVE to just sit and relax with no noise & nothing to do for a couple of days, but that I didn't really want to hike in with 100 lbs on my back for 3 hours. I'll find my relaxation another way. :) Brian had such a nice time, and it was a much needed vacation. We he met us at my Grandparents house in Heber on Saturday, this was Hallie's reaction. She definatly missed her daddy and laid like this for a little while. I wished I could have jumped in his arms and had him hold me like this too.... Aaaahh Don't ever leave me again! ha ha ha :) Brian came in perfect timing for the big 50's anniversary party for my grandparents.
My mom & her siblings and planned an old fashioned "Soda Shoppe" for the big day. We first all met in Midway to surprise my Grandparents at their hotel for a nice breakfast on the patio. Then we headed to their house to decorate and get things for the party. My grandparents love the 50's. They even have a shop next to their house where my grandpa has fixed up 5 or 6 cars to look & run like they used to. The whole theme inside the shop makes you feel that you have just stepped back into the 50's. The party was a HUGE success & so many people came. It was a great way to celebrate their 50th anniversary.
After the guests had left we all danced to the 50's music playing. Morgan loved dancing with her aunts & uncle, and even Hallie started moving around to the music.
My sister made the cake and it was the best wedding cake I have ever eaten. It was so fun watching my grandparents cut & serve the cake to each other. They are such a huge inspiration to all of us, and it was wonderful being a part of their special day.

I couldn't help but post these pictures of Hallie becuase she is so stinkin' cute! She LOVES her teddy bear and is constantly dragging it around with her.
The only way she would sit and smile for this picture is if the bear was sitting next to her.
The poor baby went to bed with a rash on her tummy on Wednesday night and when she woke up on Thursday, it had spread all over her body. I had to take Morgan to her kindergarten testing, so I left Hallie and Jackson with a neighbor. When I came back home, the rash looked worse, & my neighbor wondered if it was chicken pox. (Hallie has not had her shot yet for those) So, after having a brief panic attack (Brian was gone on a fishing trip for the weekend, we had my grandparents 50th anniversary party all day on Saturday, and Jen & her family, which includes 4 little girls, were coming to stay with us) We definatly did not need chicken pox to visit our family right now. I called the nurse and they told me to give her benedryl, so let me give you this fun little image.... Imagine a mom who is pregnant, holding a baby with red dots all over her face, another little boy with a broken leg in her other arm, and a 5 year old tagging along walking into the grocery store for benedryl. We get in the store ( I had a cart a this time) and they don't have any baby benedryl, and the pharmacist behind the counter is "just helping today, but doesn't know where the medicine is, or how to use it" WONDERFUL! On the box of benedryl, it says, "DO NOT GIVE TO CHILDREN UNDER AGE 2" The nurse had told me to give her 1 tsp. which according to the box is what you give a 6-12 year old. So we didn't buy it there, but went to another store, my favorite grocery store-Maceys-and once again went into the store with all 3 kids. I LOVE Macey's! The people are always so friendly and help you find what your looking for. So after a quick stop at the icecream counter for cheap & yummy icecream we were on our way to get bendryl. The pharmacist was so helpful & told me exactly what
to do. Within a couple of days, Hallie's rash had cleared up. It made for a long day, but ironically somewhat enjoyable. :)

Hallie was doing so good at going to sleep at night, however, when it's nap time, in her mind, it's play time. This is how I found her yesterday when she was supposed to be sleeping. All the drawers pulled out, along with the stuffed animals, and she was sitting under the changing table. When I went to get the camera, I came back and found her sitting like this. Funny Girl!

I found this picture of my dad when he was younger, and couldn't believe how similar he and Hallie look. Hallie has her Daddy's eyebrows & dimples, but the mouth and lips & blue eyes are definatly like mine & Grandpa's. They both look full of it don't they. :)
Hallie is now 18 months. I can't believe how big she is getting! She loves to go to the wall & pose while saying "cheese" as soon as she sees the camera. She is talking a ton now, and actually NEVER stops talking. The other day we had gone 20 minutes north, and on the way home, Morgan & Jackson were quiet and looking around while Hallie talked about everything (of course not really being understood) :) She says, apple, ball, mornan, szakn, (jackson), carkee, kaykee, (carly&kaylie) papa (grandpa), choo-choo, ink (drink), and of course lots of words that we don't understand. We wonder what she'll talk about when we can understand everthing she says. :)
The other night Hallie tried to climb out of her crib, thanks to Morgan & Jackson teaching her how to do it. Thankfully she didn't fall out, but we decided to switch to the crib day bed so she wouldn't fall out and get hurt. She did amazingly well the first few nights, and then she realized that there were toys her in room, and drawers full of clothes to full out, so she had to keep busy instead of sleep. This is how we usually find her. Last night I woke up at 2:00 and went to check on her. She wasn't in her bed, and I looked all around the room, and couldn't find her. I thought maybe she had walked into Morgan & Jackson's room, but before I left I looked under the bed and she was asleep exactly like this with her feet towards me. I pulled her out, changed her bum, and laid her back down and said, "Go to sleep okay" she looked at me with these sweet tired eyes and said "k" I love her so much!
My 2 girls LOVE posing for the camera. They were sitting like this and Morgan said, "Mom, hurry quick! Come and take a picture!" They are so much fun!

It all started this morning at 5:30 when Jackson yelled from his room "I need to go potty!" I quickly helped him to the bathroom & then Brian gave him some medicine. Brian went to work and Jackson & I fell back alseep at 6:30 and woke up at 7:30 to Hallie yelling "MMMMAAAAAAAMMMMMMAAAAA!!!!!!" I got the kids breakfast & let them eat in our bed while watching Curious George & Clifford while Hallie and I ate in the kitchen. Poor Jackson can't move at all, and says that his leg feels that it is on fire. (Brian and I think it's still kind of swollen) He played a couple of George computer games while Hallie slept and Morgan and I made bows for her hair. Then Jackson watched a movie with Morgan while I worked on a project that had to be done today, and then we ate lunch to which Jackson ate 2 corn dogs. He hasn't really eaten anything the past couple of days, so when he said he wanted 2, I let him have it. We then we went outside and ate popsicles and blew bubbles and I made Cinnamon Rolls. So at this point the day had been pretty good and calm. I gave Hallie a bath and got her ready for a nap, finished the cinnamon rolls, and then came back to find Jackson like this... I think he had been really bored, found a highlighter and decided to at least do something creative. Then he said he needed to go to the bathroom. For the past couple of days I have him sit backwards on the toliet so I won't get sprayed on. Today I forgot that rule... plopped him down, and before I knew it, the wonderful liquid was all over me, my jeans, my arm, Jackson's cast, his thigh, the seat, the floor, the toliet, and a little bit in the water. At this point I kind of lost my patience. I tried to tell him to aim down, but to a 4 year old who is just learning what aim means... he didn't quite understand, thus, it went EVERYWHERE!!! I got upset with the urine all over, Jackson was crying because he was hurting, and I think he felt bad that he hadn't made it all in. Poor kid! I cleaned everything up and then gave him a bath. For casts they give you a big leg bag that closes at the top so no water will get in. I've used it in the past and have had no problem with it, and no water has ever gotten in. So I strapped it on Jackson and put him in the tub to relax for a little bit since he hasn't had a bath since Friday. Well, I took him out of the bath, and started to take the bag off, when all of a sudden more than 2 cups of water dumped out of the bag and all over him & the floor. I then got him dressed, and went and put him on the couch and cleaned up. I came back and there had been more water in the cast that had dumped all over him & the couch, so he was all wet again. Thankfully at this point Brian came home & made dinner for us. Jackson fell asleep at 6:30. I think he was one tired boy. It was a long day for both of us. He is such a little sweetheart, and I feel so bad he has to go through this. He is so active, that I think he is just going nuts to be sitting all day long. I think tomorrow will be better. :)
The kids eating breakfast in our bed. Jackson said today when we were getting ready to eat lunch, "Mom, can the broken leg boy say the prayer?" What a cutie!
Hallie decided to join in the fun. Jackson is so blessed to have these 2 sisters. He constantly has one or the other playing with him or watching a movie with him and just keeping him company. He is such a good brother to them & they take such good care of him.
I love my girls & their "cheeeese"

Yesterday we had the most enjoyable time at the doctors office. The receptionist told us our wait would be 1/2 hour. Brian quickly found an entertaining magazing (National Geographic) while I searched for something other than "Sports Illustrated" to read. I kept wondering why they didn't have anything else to read, and then remembered I was in a Sports Clinic. I'm used to the obgyn and their many entertaining magazines, which includes the Ensign (I know, only in Utah) :) So, I finally found a magazine for Jackson and I to read (a kids magazine... Highlights or something?) and we began reading after my quick trip to the Vending machine to get a snack for us. Jackson did really well sitting on Brian's lap. When he had to go to the bathroom the 2nd time, I asked Brian how long we had been there. Thankfully by this point we had only been there for 1 hour and 30 minutes!!!! Seriously!!!!! Not to mention, there wasn't anyone else in the room. I asked Brian if we were waiting for a surgery to get done. Brian is so patient. I on the other hand was trying to entertain myself and Jackson. I quickly pulled out my animal friends (Brian doesn't like any of them) I have Sylvester (the snake) who slithers along your arm and attacks you when you least expect it, :) then there is Sally the spider who crawls along your leg, but if you scare her she will bite you... usually in the side or neck, and yesterday I introduced Brian and Jackson to Foo foo the bunny who likes to tickle you with her ears. Brian jumps if he even thinks one of my animals is going to tickle him, which makes the game more fun. He kept trying to kill Sally before she even had a chance to give anyone a little squeeze. Brian said to me (which just makes me laugh) "keep your spider/animal away from, or it's going to die! " Of course that eggs me on. :) It was very entertaining for all three of us though, and made the time go quicker, plus we were all laughing which is always a good sign in a doctors office. I think I had been there for too long when I started wondering what life would be like as a fish... and which fish in the fish tank I would like to be. :) We finally got in to see the doctor, and guess what... yep... Jackson's leg is broken. It's actually a spiral fracture on the tibia, and a small fracture on the fibula. So he gets to wear the cast for 6 weeks. We kept teasing him about getting a pink cast, but he wanted blue.
This is before they put the cast on him. He was shooting his spider web at me.
I love this little face!
A nice navy blue cast, and the doctor was really nice and gave Jackson and I (well one of us was supposed to share with Brian) a package of peanut butter M&M's as a pick-me-up for the end of the day. What a nice doctor... totally worth the wait of 1 1/2 :)
So here he is with the blue cast, walking shoe, & M&M's. ;)

Yes... another broken leg. Maybe I should start a photo album of all of the kids broken legs. :) Yesterday Brian took Morgan & Jackson to their friends birthday party. I needed to work on some stuff at home and run some errands, so Hallie and I stayed home. The 3 of them had a blast at the party, (which happened to be a slip-n-slide like the one we do in the past.) They loved playing in the water & Jackson's favorite part was having Spiderman cupcakes which included a Spiderman ring. They were all cleaning up the tarps, and Jackson was playing with all the kids at the bottom on the last tarp which was full of water. Somehow, he slipped on the water and fell down weird on his leg. Brian ran down & scooped him up and then Ben (our good friend) carried Jackson to the van. After Brian had cleaned up all the towels, etc. he & Ben gave Jackson a blessing. Brian then took Jackson & Morgan to the ER, which happened to only be 2 minutes away. The leg is broken in 2 places. The Tibia & the Fibula (the front and back bones of the lower leg) It was really swollen, and because of the cry and the way it looked Brian knew right away it was a break. Hallie & I got to the hospital & the nurses & doctors were so nice to Jackson & all of us. They gave Jackson a blue bear, stickers, and suckers, & of course medicine.
Jackson broke is right leg in the same place last summer, ironically a couple of days before we went to Fish Lake. (We're going to Fish Lake this weekend) We are grateful that it isn't worse, and that it happened towards the end of the summer & not the beginning. Brian, Morgan, & Jackson all have something called Osteo-genesis Imperfecta (Brittle Bones) which runs in Brian's family. Our kids have a very mild case. (yes even Morgan breaking 4 bones in a year is mild) & we are so grateful for that. Morgan & Jackson can do everything else, except most sports, & jumping on the trampoline. Hallie does not have it. (It's a 50/50 chance of which of our kids will have it) We can tell she doesn't have it because her bones are a little bit bigger & the sclera (white part of our eyes) is white, where as Morgan, Jackson, & Brian's is all a really light blue (which is one of the main signs.) Santa Claus mentioned that he wanted to get the kids bikes for Christmas, but even that makes me nervous. However, I don't want the kids to live in a bubble & never learn how to do anything because of fear. The broken bones are hard, but we are so thankful that there isn't something worse, and that it heals in 6 weeks. So we keep on living, when the breaks come, we have LOTS of quiet sit down activities. :)
Jackson has been such a little trooper. He kept showing me his spider man ring over and over. Last night he laid in our bed with Brian and I slept in his bed. In morning when he woke up and could hear me talking to Brian in his bed he said, "Mom, I want cheetos & I want a hug!" Then when I didn't come right away he said again 2 more times, "Mom! I want a hug!" Morgan was really sweet & picked out a coloring book for him. When I gave him the tray for breakfast Morgan said, "Hey, I remember when I used that tray" Jackson said, "Yeah, and I took good care of you, and now you are taking good care of me." They are so good & sweet to each other. I am so grateful for Brian & the great Dad he is and how he takes care of our family. I am so grateful to both him & Ben for being worthy to give Jackson a blessing when he needed one most. Brian does everything for all of us, and makes life much easier.
Here's the leg before the cast. They put a splint on it to keep in stable, and then he'll probably get a cast on Wed. or Thursday. He wants blue of course. :)