Birthday!

First of all,
Thanks for all the kind Birthday wishes!
I had a great day!
After celebrating last weekend, today was a nice simple day!
When I got up this morning (after my kids woke up at 6 am to watch cartoons!) I actually forgot today was my birthday (you KNOW you're getting old when...), until Tyler came in and wished me a quick "Happy Birthday Mom!" I had to stop and think, "Is today my birthday? Oh yeah, it is!" Then it was back to being the mom and getting the kids ready for school, fed and out the door. I got several birthday calls and messages from my family, many while I was talking to Chantelle long distance, so sorry I didn't switch over, but Thanks!

After Mckay got home from pre-school, Megan watched the little boys for me while I met Kenny for lunch at Chili's. Megan also made me a cute recipe holder for my kitchen.

Tonight when Kenny came home from work, he surprised me with Rubios (even though Mindy had already dropped off chili and cornbread for dinner group) and ice cream (since I don't like cake much). He also surprised me with roses, and a birthday card with my Twilight ticket for Thursday night. After dinner, we took the boys to the park to play with Mindy and and her kids.

It was a nice, simple and sweet day!

Birthday Weekend Getaway!!

Kenny surprised me this weekend with a wonderful Birthday Getaway! For my 30th birthday next week, he wanted to do something really special. He arranged for my sister and her hubby, Krissy and Taylor, to watch the boys for a couple nights while we ran away to Scottsdale! Earlier, he had to tell me he was planning something because our ward's Super Saturday was this weekend, and I was planning to sign up for some crafts. But he didn't give me any details.



Friday morning, he left me an envelope on the kitchen table before he went work. I waited until the boys were dressed then opened it during breakfast. It was like a scavenger hunt, set like the Amazing Race. We don't usually like the same tv shows, but we have been watching Amazing Race together, so it was a lot of fun to see it set that way. He first arranged for Mindy to watch the little boys while I went with Krissy for pedicures (also a little thanks to her for watching the kids over the weekend). He later sent me home to pack and give me more details for our trip. He came home early from work to help get everything ready to go. Once Taylor got home from work we left and checked into our hotel in old town Scottsdale. Kenny knew we didn't have much time, so he wanted to go somewhere close. It was nice to get away without having to waste time traveling. After we checked in, we went to dinner at Claim Jumper. (Thanks Monica for the gift cards, they came in real handy!) We were so full after dinner, we went back to the hotel for bed!




Saturday morning, we wanted to go to the temple. It's hard to find the time and sitters to go to the temple together, so this was the perfect chance. We were planning to do a session, but had talked about wanting do sealings so we could spend more time together. As we walked in the doors, they asked if we would be willing to help with sealings, PERFECT! We had one of the funniest guys doing the sealings, not like any other before! What a great way to start our day! After the temple, we were starving so we went to Red Lobster for lunch. So yummy! Then we went back to our hotel to change and then spent the rest of the afternoon shopping at Scottsdale Fashion Square Mall, and the Pavillions. We also wanted to see a movie, but weren't interested in anything playing. By the evening we were worn out, so we picked up some dinner at 5 and Diner and headed back to the hotel to relax for the night.





Sunday morning, we slept in and ate a late breakfast before coming home. It was such a peaceful, relaxing weekend! So rejuvenating! I'm so greatful for my wonderful husband! It was so great to spend the time together and so nice of him to arrange for such a special treat for my birthday! Love you Babe!
Also, BIG thanks to Krissy and Taylor for watching the kiddos!!

Mckay & Brayden Dr Appointments

Mckay and Brayden both went to the Dr on Monday. With the change in jobs and changes in insurance, we also had to change pediatricians, so I finally made the appointments for their 1 year and 4 year well checks (2 months late but whatever!). Because of all the changes, they hadn't been to the Dr since March, so we had to catch up on a lot of things like measurements and immunizations.

Brayden has always seemed small, but all my boys have been tall and skinny (like their dad!) so it makes them look thinner. They are usually around the 75th percentile for height and 25th percentile for weight. At 14 months, Brayden weighs 18.5 pounds, below the 5th percentile, and is 29.5 inches tall, about the 10th percentile. Because this was the first appointment with this Dr, he didn't have anything to compare it to yet. The Dr wasn't overly concerned though because he is proportionate, and developing well but I'm sure we will keep an eye on him. Trying to catch up on immunizations, he had to have 2 shots in each leg, including a flu shot, and we'll be back next month for the next round. He was not happy and quickly fell asleep in the car on the way home!

Mckay is doing great! He was small at a year old as well because he was allergic to milk and milk products, so it was hard to feed him and find things to fatten him up. He's since grown out of that and is growing really well. Mckay weighed 35 pounds, between the 25th and 50th percentile, and is 40.5 inches, in the 50th percentile. I had told Mckay that he may need some shots and it would hurt for a minute, but then they would give him a band aid. He told me "it's OK if they give me shots 'cause I want bandaids." He was so brave the whole time talking about the shots, when it was time I went to hold him and turn his head, but he said he wanted to watch the shots go in! YIKES! I even asked the nurses if that was common and they both said, NO! He had to have 3 shots in the left arm, including the flu shot, and 2 in the right. As soon as the first one went in, he started to cry and I had to turn his head. He was less than thrilled for the 2nd arm and tried to slide off the table. When he was done, I gave him some smarties to calm him down, and the nurses gave him several stickers. By the time we left, he told them thank you for his stickers and bandaids!

Strep Throat

All day Friday while I was cleaning the house and getting ready for Kenny's graduation, I had been feeling sick. My throat was really sore and my back ached, but I had a lot of things to do and just kept trying to tough it out.

The next day we were busy with the graduation and festivities. My throat was still sore, so I took some advil and sucked on cough drops most the day. My head hurt and I had chills through out the day. I knew I would feel better later when I finally had time to lay down and rest.

I woke up early Sunday morning with my throat on fire! It finally dawned on me that this may be more than a sore thoat, so I got up for a drink, and looked up Strep Thoat on webmd.com. When Kenny got up for Bishopric Meeting, I asked him to check if I had spots in the back of my throat, and sure enough, SPOTS. We thought I needed to go to Urgent Care for antibiotics, but when? He had meetings all morning and I also needed someone to sub my primary class. Finally, we decided Kenny would take the 3 older boys to church and sub my class, while I took Brayden to Urgent Care with me. I got the older boys ready for church and dropped them off. Then came home and showered while Brayden took a nap. I was able to make an appointment at NextCare (didn't know they did that before!) and was in and out in 45 minutes. It took longer to fill my perscription at Walmart because they closed for lunch. Sure enough, Strep Throat, Acute Tonsilitis, and Acute Pharyngitis. I got home and started making soup for dinner, just before they all came home from church. After we ate Kenny put the kids down to watch a movie and he gave me a massage to help me rest. I finally started feeling better with some rest and antibiotics, and advil in me. Why aren't Mom's allowed to have sick days like everyone else?

Kenny's MBA Graduation!

The University of Phoenix
Phoenix Campus
announces that
Kenneth Filetti Crockett
is a candidate for the degree of
Master of Business Administration
for Commencement Ceremonies
on Saturday, the eighth day of November
Two thousand and eight
at ten o'clock in the morning
University of Phoenix Stadium
1 Cardinals Drive
Glendale, Arizona


Kenny finished his MBA in July, but finally had his graduation ceremony on Saturday. He already received his diploma and actually have both framed on the wall. We are so proud of all his hard work and sacrifice over the last several years and wanted to celebrate his accomplishment. The ceremony was held at the UOP stadium in Glendale, then we had a luncheon at my parent's house. Congratulations Kenny!




Kenny's now studying for the CPA exam, which he hopes to take and pass this next year. This is a formidable task. They recommend you study 250-400 hours before taking the exam. The exam is held the first 2 months out of every quarter (Jan-Feb, Apr-May, Jul-Aug, Oct-Nov), and the results are announced the 3rd month (March, June, Sep, Dec) each year. There are 4 sections of the exam and they range from 2.5 to 4.5 hours each. You are allowed to take as many or few sections at a time, but you have to pass all 4 sections within 18 months, or you have to take that section again. Considering there is supposedly only a 40% passing rate for the CPA exam (while the Bar exam has an 60-80% passing rate!), and each section costs around $200, plus the $100 application fee just to take it, you want to be prepared!

New Office and Airport Open House

When Kenny was hired at Schmidt Westergard, he was told he would be working in a shared office, but on his first day they told him they had made a mistake and somebody else needed the office and he would be in a cubicle. He was a little dissapointed because he had been in his own office in both of his last 2 jobs, and it's hard to take a step back, and we had a very nice desk from his previous office sitting in our family room at home (which didn't make me really happy). But, the cubicle was fine and he really has enjoyed working there so he didn't think much about it. Until one of his co-workers was leaving the company and one of the partners let Kenny know he would be moving into his office! Hurray! So he asked if he could bring his desk from home because the current one was older and small. They thought it was strange the other firm had him purchase his own desk, but they were OK with the exchange. YEA! The best part is I finally got my family room back! We were able to move the recliner I used for nursing out of our sitting area in our bedroom to the family room! So much better! We had to put Kenny's laptop, printer and other equipment on the shelf, but we made it all work.

Before and After


Airport Open House

While Kenny was cleaning out all the old paperwork and stuff from his desk, I took the kids to an Airport Open House at Williams Gateway with my Dad and some of my family. My dad LOVES airplanes so he used to take us to airshows as kids all the time. This wasn't really an airshow, but there were several fly overs and they allowed the kids to climb around inside some of the airplanes and helicopters, so they had a lot of fun. Krissy and Brayden got hot and tired, so they went to sit down in the shade and he fell asleep. I got the other boys a snow cone and we had fun looking around. Tyler even bought a model of one of the planes we saw.

Halloween 2008

We took the kids to pick out pumpkins for FHE, but didn't have a chance to carve the pumpkins until they got home from school on Halloween. (Also, Mckay was excited to wear his costume early to Pre-school with Kelby. Cute kids!) Kenny's not a big fan of the pumpkin carving so he wasn't real disappointed we started without him. But, seeing how I would be carving 4 pumpkins by myself, we didn't get too creative, just basic Jack-o-lanterns around here. I let the kids pick the shape of the eyes, nose and mouth and they cleaned out all the guts, as well as poke out the shapes once I had cut them. It's always funny how they pick something like them. Tyler wanted glasses on his pumpkin, like him. So cute. Brayden's pumpkin had been mistaken for a ball several times throughout the week, so his was already a little cracked, which made it difficult to carve, but we made it work.




After the pumpkins we got the kids dressed in their costumes and headed to the ward trunk-or-treat. This year Tyler wanted to be Luke Skywalker, Ryan was Darth Vader (but no masks at the church), Mckay was Buzz Lightyear, and Brayden was a Lion (that didn't like his hat very much). We all had a lot of fun with our friends. The older boys spent most of the night hanging out with their buddies and almost forgot to trick or treat for candy until the very end. After the trunk or treat we went to my parents to visit and let the boys check out their loot. It was a great night!