THE EVERETT FAMILY

Newport Beach

Crystal Cove State Beach, December '09

I loved these colors! Which one would look good on our family room walls?

One of the perks of coming to the beach on a cold and drizzly day in mid-December: a lot more seashells to find.

I gather by his face that Todd suspects me of taking a few too many photos.

I really was freezing. Todd graciously said that I looked like a nun? after my first picture, so for this shot I took off the hood I had cinched around my face. It's actually reminding me of most of my mission pictures taken between Nov. and March; scarf, pink nose, same coat, same damp cold, same forced exposure to the elements.

And this just reminded me of a funny story: A few weeks ago at dinner, Todd mentioned the MTC and then explained to Parker that the letters stand for Missionary Training Center. After a pause, a big, "OOOhhhhhh!" from Emma. "All this time I thought it was the empty sea!" And she started laughing. "I thought you were just out in the middle of the ocean, paddling this tiny boat all by yourself!"

It was pretty funny. And could this possibly be a reason why whenever I've asked if she wants to go on a mission, I get a very quick "no"?

We spent a long weekend in Newport Beach in December staying at a Marriot timeshare we had first booked around 18 months ago! We had various postponements, but finally had to use it or lose it. Except for the almost non-stop rain, we had a great weekend. In addition to the beach, we went to the Irvine Spectrum where Emma got to try ice-skating for the first time. The boys and I watched, and below is a picture of Truman giving fives to the skaters as they came around. At first he would duck down so that only his arm showed when anyone skated by except for Emma and Todd. He gradually got to the point where he would show his face as strangers gave him five.

Cute father/daughter moments. Todd wore out before Emma did. The other kids and I killed time by eating funnel cakes and looking at puppies in the pet store. They were so adorable that I actually got to the point where I was 25-30% in favor of getting a dog.

I also lost Truman and was completely stressed out for five minutes. That has got to be one of the top ten worst feelings as a parent when you've been looking for a few minutes and you really have no idea where your child could be. Anyway, sorry to taint the good times. We eventually found him! Yay!

No triple Salchows yet, (and yes, I just checked the spelling on that) but she had fun. Can't wait for the Olympics!

This year was our first with two Christmas trees. Some girls in our neighborhood were fundraising by selling trees, so we got a tiny, real tree that the kids were in charge of decorating, and set up our pre-lit beauty in the living room. It was so nice to have the smell, the colored lights, and the keepsake ornaments on display.

Graham's first Christmas!

(I still want to paint the family room, so I'll take any suggestions out there. The living room is Benjamin Moore Philadelphia Cream, but I'm leaning towards something cooler here. Thoughts? The sectional is kind of a moss brown.)

Emma's Webkinz get taken for a ride. They are like family since we know them all by name and celebrate their birthdays, as well. Emma's two best friends are also Webkinz fans. They have a club where they communicate by mail (the stamps are disappearing) mostly about what they have made or will make for their pets to wear, or when the club will meet again. The penguin shown here was a visiting friend.

Thanksgiving 2009 in St. George: Perry (a second cousin), Truman, and Tyler at the little, little kids table.

Emma, Makayla (Perry's sister), and Parker at the young-ish kids foosball table, and Todd and I rounded out the mid-adolescent to teenager table, while everyone else was grown up.

Parker got a place on "The Pyramid of Success" at school for "Hard Work." When I can find the paper in my oh-so-organized filing system, I'll share what his teacher wrote about him.

Fall Happs

Okay. Here we go.

Parker and Truman: Halloween night. I loved taking these boys trick-or-treating. They looked so cute as I watched them trotting up and down the sidewalks of the neighborhood. They commented on all the decorations at each house, and I could tell they loved the excitement in the air and being outside after dark. Parker actually considered skipping the outing because he wanted to be home to pass out candy and see the other kids' costumes, too. Parker wore Darth Vader to our ward activity, so they made a cute duo that night.

Emma, sporting the scarecrow costume that Grandma made for Aunt Janelle twenty-odd years ago. Lesson learned: if you hang onto something long enough, you will use it again one day! Emma was thrilled that we let her go trick-or-treating with her friend, Heidi, this year. She is the youngest in her family, so there were no little ones to slow them down.

I know. Grow up. My mom made this for a dance at BYU back in the day. Honestly, I just didn't want to buy a costume for Graham and thought he'd be more recognizable as Dopey next to Snow White. I was a little worried I'd be conspicuous dressed up at our ward's trunk-or-treat. No sir. This new ward was over the top. It's a very dramatic bunch. I'd bet 60% of the adults were in full, good costumes.

Here we have several photos of our favorite baby. I just love to see his chubby face and round head over and over. He is growing so fast. He wears mostly 9 mo. clothing and I think weighs around 18 pounds. He loves to smile at people who talk to him. He laughs easily and makes us happy by just being here. The kids still fight to sit next to him or hold him and he now goes by Graham, Gramby, Grambo, Baby G, Graham-o, Grammy, Ram, and Rami (Truman can't pronounce his "G's"). Also, Bubsy.

There was another photo of Todd holding Graham that I titled "The Double Double". ha ha. I wasn't sure if Todd would love to have me post it, but for the record there is a distinct chin commonality between these two boys. Would you also take a look at that meaty fist? Graham can get up to 8 of those fat fingers in his mouth at one time. I've never had such a suckster. He will sometimes pull out his binky to suck on his thumb.

Here is Parker's kindergarten class as they perform in a "Harvest" program. Parker is top left.

Five little pumpkins.

Truman as Yoda with his preschool buddies, minus one who was too shy. See the video below.

Todd's 37th. I love you!
Normally we do serve birthday cake out of the pan, but this new mix had choco chips that sank to the bottom of the pan and never let go. Fresh and Easy brand - don't try it.

Truman does some sort of pumpkin jig at the farm.

Emma spent the evening taking pictures with an old, disconnected cell phone Todd gave her. She asks me seriously when she's getting a real one! What!?

Soccer season is wrapping up. Don't you love how there are ten kids within ten feet of the ball? Parker scored his first goal last week. Way to go, Parker!

And now back to Labor Day. We drove to Janelle and Rob's near Carson City and had a really great weekend with them. It was our first visit to their new home, or any home of theirs, actually. Thanks you guys for having us! The kids are still talking about that high-tech toilet!

Truman and Jett go around and around and around. Beautiful setting as backdrop.

Daisy Faye and Graham are one day apart. I would call them Irish twins, except that means siblings born within the same year. Hmm. Irish cousins? no, I mean twin cousins . no. Oh dear, I am getting really tired.

"I love you little cousin. Ka-Pow!"