Spoiled Rotten

Grandma had flown in Saturday, October 10th for the dancing event and was flying home Monday. We had a very quick but great time in which she spoiled us!!! Sunday Grandma joined us at church while Bill left on a trip. Monday she took Aaron to school with me and then went shopping for some goodies for the kids. She bought the little paddles with the rubber ball attached, they lasted for all of an hour before they were broken. Before the bus was to drop Aaron off at home, the two of us walked to pick Olivia up from school. Aaron arrived home and then Grandma surprised us all with lunch at the kids favorite, "Red Robin"! Thank you so much. Anytime spent with you is so great and especially when Bill's gone, it makes it much easier.

(Funny occurrence: Mom loved seeing/meeting our new puppy, Annie, but didn't quite know how to handle things. At one time Mom was standing next to Annie in the kitchen looking down at her and said, "Uh, the dog's peeing." Didn't do anything, just watched. The next morning, perhaps to redeem herself, Grandma took Annie out back to go potty. She wouldn't go and so, "I put her in the garden box to see if she'd go in there." Oh mom,... I love you. You make me laugh! Can't wait to see you again. Papa T we sure did miss you!

Dancing For the Stars

Several weeks ago Olivia was chosen for a charity fundraiser supporting the American Cancer Foundation. A non-profit organization called "From the Heart" was sponsoring the event. Livi was chosen to be one of 10 childhood cancer survivors/"stars", who would have a dance performed in her honor. The tickets were quite pricey(Livi + one was free) but we got some

discount for additional tickets and Grandma flew in for the

occasion... at full price! It was a very extravagant evening with hours'-devours, sparkling cider/champagne, and a full 3 course meal with "Fancy Nancy butter!". I finally was able to try flan... I rather enjoyed it.

Nurses and doctors from throughout the valley had teamed up to learn professional dance steps and even wore the typical costumes that one would expect to see on "Dancing With the Stars", but unfortunately not all the bodies were as glamorous. Let's just say a nurse in her late 50's shouldn't be parading around in hot pants and a leather bra with cowboy tassels. I'm pretty sure you could see her zipper scar from a decades old cesarean. (EWWW!)

Our favorite dancing was done by our kids. Livi and Aaron, having just brushed up on their

skills the previous weekend at the wedding in San Diego, were on the dance floor constantly. No one was dancing but that didn't stop them. During hours'-devours, dinner and after, they were struttin' their stuff. What Bill and I think is the funniest thing about this is, deep down Olivia is shy. She hates it when all the attention is on her. This doesn't seem to make sense considering all the public attention she gets herself into. Let me explain. Whenever she is to be in a so called "public" setting she gets defiant and most of the time starts crying. I know her limits and know her well enough to know what she will enjoy, so I push her. ie. the "Survivor" sash that she's wearing. She wanted nothing to do with it because it was "going to make people look at me!". I convinced her that it was part of her responsibility so that the people that paid money to come could see what a fighter she was. We were also able to show her the few others that had them on. There were about 20 tables with 10 people at each, surrounding the dance floor, and she was out in the middle dancing her heart out. I explained to Bill, "Watch her. She never looks around at the other people when she's dancing. She's completely focused on herself. In her mind she's not in front of a crowd, it's just her. She helped present an award to another dancer-terrified. She received her trophy- it was only her in the room. Funny little girl.

Each "star" had a picture slideshow put together in their honor and during Olivia's I'm pretty sure mine weren't the only moist eyes. As they showed Livi's pictures one flashed of all the princess kisses on her face from Disney World and the table with her oncology nurses cheered loudly.

After the dancing competition they presented trophies to all the cancer kids. Olivia was so very proud of her trophy. Aaron understandably was a little upset to say the least. (In his mind I'm sure he thinks, "Livi gets everything, trophy's, presents, sashes, cancer...!") With Olivia they reiterated the theme and said, "Our biggest Star, Olivia Ellison." (She was the youngest one there to be honored, but not the youngest diagnosed.) The women hosting the event had told me that she had the best pictures and had been the sickest. That was hardly palatable as some of the other children had lost their eye sight, or even limbs!

After the event one of Livi's oncology nurses, Kendra, approached us and said how hard it was to see the picture of Livi laying in the hospital bed with all the machines. She recounted that memory with me.

"You had brought her in to the office that Friday and I knew she didn't look good. And then they admitted her and I went away for the weekend. Jenny (the NP) called me Saturday and told me 'It's about Livi, we don't know if she's gonna make it.'."

I know we lived through it, but that was tough to hear. More than a year later, it seems like a fading memory that at times I wonder if it ever really did happen as seriously as I remember. When I hear medical staff saying these things I am reminded to once again thank my Heavenly Father for my daughter's life here with us.

LEGOLAND, CA

While we were in San Diego, we decided to take advantage of some free park passes we had received from our stay at Give Kids the World in Orlando for Livi's "Wish" trip.

We ate breakfast at our... humble hotel and then headed off to the park.

The animals and other things built out of Lego's were incredible. But the most fun was the fact that our kids could ride almost every ride. Aaron was 1 inch shy of the big roller coaster but Livi and Bill loved it.

Aaron taking his turn controlling the wind surfers in the "Pacific Ocean".

Livi enjoys her Lego's at home, so she enjoyed the Duplo building stations.

"Rarrr"

It was funny to let Aaron have complete control of the boat. It took a while to get through the course, but it was fun.

The airplanes had just the right amount of "zoom" around the corners to really get the kids laughing.

Jousting with Dad and Livi

This was the "Beetle Bounce". Whoa, did my stomach ever jump. The kids loved it.

We even toured Lombard St. in San Francisco, LA's "Mann" theater, "The Strip" in Vegas, and DC.

The best was seeing President Obama's inauguration.

Check out the lines to the bathrooms!!! That's some stink comin' out of there!(Green flames out the top of the port-o-potty's.)

After the park we headed home. Thanks to Redboxes between San Diego and home, we had a good drive. Dad even surprised the kids with In and Out. Shakes and all... a great weekend trip!

Ellison Wedding

On October 2nd Bill and I took our family down to San Diego for the weekend. We were excited for the events that lay ahead... Bill's cousin, Wyatt, was marrying Brigid Shaw, his sweetheart of several years and Livi had been asked to be the flower girl. We arrived just in time to throw our stuff in the hotel, get dressed and head to the rehearsal. They were getting married at Brigid's parents' house in Ramona, CA. Beautiful place. On the way driving to the site we even saw a rainbow, Aaron's first. Our nephew Josh was to be the ring bearer but his nerves got the best of him and Aaron anxiously accepted the offer to jump in. We were so proud of him and he was SO PROUD of himself. At one point during the rehearsal he told me that he had to go tell Dad something. When I questioned him on what it was he said, "I have to tell him I'm doing a good job." Everything went well and then all were treated to a fabulous mexican dinner at a friend's house.

The next day, Saturday, October 3rd we had a lazy morning had somewhat of a picnic at a park

nearby our hotel. It was fun to play together as a family. (And, thank goodness for Mary Kay... I forgot my foundation at home and called a local consultant from the internet who agreed to meet up with me to give me the product I needed.)

The rest of the day we rested and got ready for the wedding that evening. When we arrived Livi was so tired that she all but gave up being the flower girl, but through explaining to her how important it is for her to accept her responsibilities she perked up and became very excited like expected. Aaron was very excited once he slipped the tuxedo on. It was originally purchased, of course, for Josh, so I was relieved when it fit Aaron just right.

As everyone walked down the aisle it became apparent that the

groom was missing. Us knowing Wyatt, knew something funny was going to happen but no one could guess what came next. The person performing the marriage stood with his back towards a beautiful canyon and just as everyone was wondering, "where the heck is Wyatt?" Indiana Jones music starts playing and in saunters Wyatt appropriately posing at counted intervals to look off into the distance. Too funny. Aaron and Olivia did so great during the ceremony. Aaron, at

one point seemed to have issues with his ear itching and Olivia

discovered the velvety softness of rose petals, but it was perfect.

The ceremony itself was great. I guess when two performing artists get married there's bound to be a show and they did not disappoint. At one point they broke into a "show" song about "...I love you more..." SO MUCH FUN!

At the end of the ceremony the DJ played the current hit "Tonight's the night" and the bridal party danced back down the aisle. Livi and Aaron danced too. As pictures were happening appetizers were served and everyone mingled. Olivia and Aaron, every time they heard a wedding party or Ellison picture being announced sheepishly sighed and ran over to do their duty (although I'm sure half the time they didn't mean them).

The rest of the night was filled with so much fun. Great food, fun family, lots of dancing, and some performances by the bride and groom and the groom's brother, Matt, and him doing a Blues Brother's song. Livi and Aaron danced the entire night.

Olivia mostly danced with Josh who enjoyed her picking him up and just standing together. It

was funny to see Livi take charge so much on the dance floor. It's a lot like Bill and me. I was thrilled when Bill came out on to the dance floor to join me and his step brother and sister, Justin and Cara. We all had a great time.

Aaron, during the night learned that he had mad break dancing skill and so spent much of his time on the ground in one way or another. Too cute.

(Back row: Nikki, Cody, Sam, Bill, Rachel, Justin, Cara. Front: Josh, Livi and Aaron.)

It was so much fun to be able to see all of the Ellison family again. It's been a very long time since we've all been able to get together and have such a great time. While some members of the family were unable to attend, and for that were sorely missed, it was great to spend such a joyous occasion with the people we love.

Josh warmed up to the party and had a great time gettin' his groove on.

Grandpa Bill and Nana sat at the dinner table along with us and Cara and Justin.

Left to right: Aaron, Cara(step-sister), Wyatt (cousin/groom), Matt(cousin, Wyatt's brother), Justin(step-brother/Cara's brother), Bill, Sam(brother).
Our kids adore ALL their Aunts and Uncles. Especially Cara and Justin. They had a ball dancing with them.

It was great to have a great night together with each other and everyone else.

Everything is food to Aaron. Brigid gave Aaron a rose off of the wedding cake and of course the first thing he tried to do was eat it. After we explained that it was real, he didn't want any good icing to go to waste and so he licked it.

Livi and Josh waiting for the slide show to start. (Great slide show, by the way.)

Wyatt and Brigid, thank you for letting us be a part of your wonderful night and the start to

your amazing future together. You paid so much attention to the littlest details to make all of your guests feel so welcomed and important... keep that same attention for one another and you'll be great!

Losing grip

Yes, I do feel like I'm losing my grip on my journal. The end of September and month of October, while we are only 12 days in was FULL of stuff! So I will do an overview so as to catch up as I'm sure there will be much more "stuff" to come.

Since I got the new camera I was in fact able to take pictures of Livi at gymnastics. She really does enjoy it and we've already signed up for the next session.

Aaron is having fun but I think he is having some difficulty with his teacher. The week after one incident where the teacher was having a tough time getting the class to listen, Aaron said to me, "Maybe Miss Vanessa won't be there." I replied that I'm pretty sure she would... why would she miss? Aaron responded, "Maybe she's at the temple." This made me smile. (I've been attending the temple in the early morning so when the kids wake up I'm just getting home. I love that that is something that my kids can see me doing.)

While Bill was gone in New York for a couple of weeks at the end of September, the kids and I had the privilege of having dinner with our bishop and stake president. The bishop's wife and I are friends and they had invited us for dinner and a Family Home evening. They also invited the Stake President over cause his wife was traveling. And so as not to be awkward, they had a couple other couples over as well. It was great. The kids all had fun swimming beforehand, followed by a yummy BBQ and a fun FHE with President Tue sitting/singing with the kids as bishop Gardner played guitar to "I love to see the Temple". Not a very common FHE... pretty special. (Bishop Gardner, and his wife Liane have 4 children with a 5th on the way, but their two current youngest are Aaron and Livi's ages, respectively boy girl. So Livi love Ellie and Aaron is warming up to the idea of playing with the boys. Thanks Drew for being patient.

On September 23rd a friend of mine had her 4th girl! We were lucky enough, on the 24th, to be able to visit mom and her new baby in the hospital. When we walked in Mom, Kacee, was sitting cross legged on the bed looking like nothing had happened. So great! Aaron and Livi both were able to hold Malani and loved her. Aaron couldn't stop giggling. Very cute little girl, such a precious little angel sent from God's arms to earth.

Later that day Livi had her primary program rehearsal. I took the camera not knowing that Bill would be able to see the performance on Sunday. (He wasn't due back 'til Tuesday, but ended up getting home Saturday!) On Sunday, it was so fun to see her up on "stage". She sang her heart out. And more than once we could hear Livi's voice ringing clear above the rest of the primary. Her line that she "read" was, "I hear the words of the prophets when I listen to General Conference." It's funny to us how if she had to "say" it she would freeze. Buy because she can read it, she's perfectly fine and very capable of being in front of a crowd.

That same evening we went to Cold Stone Creamery to participate in the Make-a-Wish fundraiser there. Livi had volunteered to be one of the "honoree's" and so was able to scoop and enjoy her own ice cream. Aaron had an equal amount of fun. Our dear friends, and old neighbors, Elaine and Jan, even stopped by to donate to the foundation and hang out with us for a while. The kids had a lot of fun coloring and talking to some of the other Wish kids. (Yes, it was a very busy Thursday. Add to all this, Aaron's gymnastics, and pictures at the elementary school that I was to help with through PTA... I was glad to see Friday roll around.)

Friday night, we, along with our neighbors, took advantage of our season pass and went to our local high school football game. Bill had decided to take on this tradition, and we have enjoyed it. We picked the underdog team, unbeknownst to us, but it gives us a free Friday night whenever we want to take advantage. Go BULLDOGS!

Saturday Night, Miley Cyrus was in

town doing a concert. Make-A-Wish had given us 8 tickets when we went to the Cold Stone thing Thursday night and so we invited some friends and went. Thank you to Terry, my awesome neighbor for joining me. Aaron was the only boy and kept asking when Hannah Montana was going to sing, she did not make an appearance. (He doesn't even really know who she is.) We took our friends Marley and Macee Allred (their mom, Kacee just had the baby), and our neighbor Terry and her daughter Trinity. The kids were all very excited for the show. The venue was the

Thomas and Mack Center at UNLV and was pretty empty considering. So, our seats that were at the very top of the arena were quickly upgraded to front of the balcony. Besides the sound being way to loud and the singing being... well, she's no Cher, the costumes were interesting and... honestly it wasn't that good. It was nice to be able to take the kids to the event though.

And while they didn't love the concert either, pour little Macee

flat out fell asleep, they did love the idea of being there. We got pizzas from the food vendors and enjoyed dancing to the warm up singer which happened to be her older brother... who knew... I surely didn't. The best part of the night was coming home to dad! What a great surprise.

The following weekend, October 3rd, brought a trip to San Diego, CA for Bill's cousin's wedding

Wyatt Ellison was marrying Brigid Shaw at her parents' house in

Ramona, CA. LOTS more details and photos to come, here's the preview pic. So cute!

This final piece almost catches me up to current day. But I feel this part very much needs my attention. Many of you have heard me say that our family is complete and we are done adding to it. Well, I figured I'd better get this out there because it's going to be hard to keep hiding it for long. It's a girl and her name will be, or is Annie. Not Annabelle or Ann, just Annie. She's very healthy and about 6 pounds on delivery. We said we never would, but we did...

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. and we couldn't be more excited. When Bill was in New York the kids and I watched "Beethoven's 2nd". Afterwards, as most kids would, they started saying how much they wanted a dog. I said, "you know what, I kind of do too. You should talk to Dad." When we spoke to Bill on the phone we told him our idea and I said it would be nice for the kids to have that constant in their lives with him traveling for work, especially for Aaron who has a very difficult time when Bill is gone. To my pleasant surprise, Bill said, "start looking". Two weeks later we found a litter of English Creme Golden Retrievers in St. George Utah (an hour and a half northeast of here). Thursday, the 8th of October, I drove the kids up to St. George and after a hard hour of deliberation on which of the 10 to pick, we chose Annie. She was one of two very calm and gentle female pups, and of the two, she was a bit bigger. The trip home was good. She lay on my lap and drooled on my arm as she slept most of the way. Unfortunately I missed our exit and she ended up puking in my lap 10 min away from home... what can ya do?! I really love the idea of a big dog to cuddle up with the kids. I remember laying on the back of a mixed irish setter we had as kids. Bill and I both grew up with dogs and had decided it was time to give that bond to our kids. We love her. She isn't perfect, as we first thought. (The first two days she stood by the door whining to go pee outside, then Saturday she got all backwards and now comes inside to pee! But today is Monday and she is doing great. She only gets up once or twice at night to go potty. She'll whine in her crate, downstairs in the kitchen, until we let her outside, she goes out does her thing and then it's back to bed. Very much like an infant. Even so with the calming affect it has on me to have her cuddle next to me and sleep. Personality wise, she already has us very figured out. She loves to really play hard with Bill. Aaron, she pretty much teases with forward progression towards him as he thinks she's going to attack him. (He doesn't get scared... just not quite sold on the idea of a little hair ball invading his space.) Annie lovingly plays with Olivia and loves to climb on her. With me, well, as with any mommy figure I'm her nurturer. She cuddles with me and I discipline and give praise. After an accident inside she came up to me whimpering... when I got up is when I found the accident. As far as her name, I wanted a name that had something to do with where we lived when we got her. Red Rock didn't have any good trailhead names so I thought of our street, Anatolian... Annie, perfect! With this new addition will come a lot of needed discipline and even more fur to be shed, but we are excited for the love that will be shared throughout the years.