Merry Christmas!

Well, this year this is as good as it is going to get for Christmas cards... I have to admit that I got a little caught up in my Christmas sewing and just didn't get around to it like I had intended to... James informed me tonight that he is "Tired of being a sewing widow & it's time to put the sewing machine away"! Maybe when the boys Christmas pajamas are all done...


This was our best attempt at a family photo... I guess that two out of three kids looking at the camera isn't all that bad! And by the time we got to just the kids Cannon had had more than enough....


With Christmas just a couple days away the boys are more than excited. They REALLY get it this year and that makes it very fun and exciting for James and I. But, more important than that McKay really understands this year the real meaning of Christmas & for that I am even more grateful. We had the opportunity to take McKay and Carter to Temple Square last night to look at the lights. We met Jason and Kristin and their family and had a really nice evening. On our way home James asked McKay what his favorite part of the night was... It wasn't riding the Trax (which he loves) or hot chocolate and cookies (which he loves) & it wasn't even being with Gavin (who he REALLY loves!) It was "Seeing Jesus" & that was the answer that I loved!


I am grateful this year for so many things. For James & my boys, for my family, for good friends, for our health, for my Brother and Niece's lives being so miraculously spared... But, most importantly I am grateful for my Savior & I am grateful for a Father in Heaven who truly knows me and blesses me so abundantly. It has been a long year with many ups and downs... But, through it all we were blessed and I know without a doubt that the Lord has truly carried us in the hallow of His hand.


I look forward to the new year with much excitement. Life is good for my little family and I am truly grateful. I wish you all a very MERRY Christmas and I pray that you will be blessed with much love, happiness and prosperity in your lives.


Merry Christmas,

James, Erin, McKay, Carter & Cannon

It's Their Story

I have received emails over the last few months asking about my Brother Travis's accident. When the accident happened I didn't give very many details. I didn't feel as if it were my story to tell. I still feel as if it isn't my story to tell. However, I can share with you my Sister-in-law Rebecca's (Travis' Wife) account of that day as she posted on Travis's blog.

"June 10, 2009 was a day that changed our lives forever. The day started like any other, but ended upside down. Travis has always been an involved and loving father. He loves to take his girls with him fishing and hunting. He purposely seeks for one-on-one times to make them feel special. This was one of those times. It breaks our hearts it ended so traumatically, but we are lucky to still have our Travis--husband, father, brother, son, grandson, friend, and teacher. Travis and his daughter Emily were on a date. The motorcycle was always a fun one-on-one way to be together. They planned to go to Reed's Dairy, then out to Army Surplus. Emily still remembers eating a chocolate shake and buying her dad an ice cream cone. She does not remember anything afterwards. For that we are grateful.

The accident occurred by Dad's Truckstop. A left-turning truck pulled immediately in front of Travis and Emily who were southbound, heading for Army Surplus. Several people saw the accident and said Travis threw his arm back to protect Emily. Through miracles, the right people were there for them. Travis' leg was bleeding profusely and a man almost immediately on the scene, who had some medical training, was able to stop the bleeding with his belt. The belt had holes all the way around it--a belt he rarely wore. He saved Travis' life. We are forever family now.

Both Travis and Emily ended up in ICU. Both had head fractures and bruising. Both had severely broken right legs. Travis' was so shattered and the bleeding so unstoppable that his leg was removed to save his life. We are devastated for him, but every cloud has a silver lining. We can get him a new one.

Emily ended up with a plate and 10 screws in her right leg. She has steadily improved. She moved up to pediatrics two days after the accident. She was able to leave the hospital a week after the accident. She sees double at times, but that is improving. She will have her leg wrapped up/cast for about 6 more weeks.

Travis' injuries are extensive. The main focus has been his head injury. Everyday has seen small improvements...baby steps always in the right direction. Hope shines out. Know that your prayers are carrying us. There has been a tremendous outpouring of care and concern. We have been rocked in a cradle of love".

So, as you can see my family truly does have much to be grateful for. Rebecca has kept a blog since the accident to follow their progress. The address to that is www.walltravis.blogspot.com.

What A FABULOUS Thanksgiving It Was!

Ever since Travis and Emily's accident in June we as a family have said "Won't this years Thanksgiving be amazing"! We have looked forward to it for the last 5 1/2 months!!! And I can tell you it WAS as amazing as we had only hoped it could be! We truly are blessed to have our family together when it came so close to being so tragic... I thank you again for all of your thoughts and prayers - they have truly been appreciated more than I will EVER be able to express. This year I have truly seen miracles worked in so many different ways by so many different people. I have been touched by complete strangers that by just acting saved my brothers life to strangers that showed me such kindness as I spent weeks with him in the ICU. People who never expected anything in return and just acted out of true goodness - To these people - so many of them that I will never be able to thank... you have truly changed my life. But, to one man in particular THANK YOU for giving my family our life. Because if you had not acted as you did on June 10 my family would have had an entirely different Thanksgiving this year. I have thanked you several times... But, will truly NEVER be able to thank you enough. As you have said: "We ARE family now". I hope that I will be able to appreciate the meaning of the holidays every year as I will this year.

Travis has always taught his nephews to say "Uncle Travis is my hero"! From the moment they start to talk he is teaching it to them! We never knew it would have such a meaning as it does now. My Mom had shirts made for all the boys that they wore on Thanksgiving day that said "Uncle Travis is my Hero"! And as he realized what their shirts said and as his eyes turned red I realized once again that nothing will stop him... He truly is our hero!

In this picture Travis and Rebecca's family is the family on the left. I wish you and your family an amazing Holiday season!

Checking Out... for a little while.

So, with a move back to Idaho and the Holidays upon us... I am checking out for awhile. I'm excited to spend Thanksgiving with my family this year as the Wall's have MUCH to be grateful for.

I wish you all a very FABULOUS Thanksgiving and will chat again sometime in December!

Cannon 10 Months

Cannon is 10 months... the months seem to pass as quickly as days do. He has finally just in the last couple days decided to crawl... He has two brothers that give him everything he wants so he hasn't been very motivated! However, McKay was sick with the flu last weekend and wasn't able to be at his beck and call - So, he decided to crawl! OF Course it was right after Grandma left... So, here's a little video for her to see!

I LOVE how when I am putting Cannon down to sleep and I am done singing to him he starts to sing! Or, when I am carrying him around on my hip he will start to sing and waits for me to join in.

Cannon's favorite thing to play with is a piece of ribbon that McKay threaded buttons onto. He has also has started to love to play with the wheels on Carter's little match box cars. It's cute to watch his little finger spin the wheels over and over again!

When he hugs you he has started to pat your back.

He LOVES to have his teeth brushed.

When he is tired he starts to arch his back... you lay him in his crib and he goes right to sleep! That's it! As easy as that!

He LOVES to watch his brothers... Most parents tell their children not to run around in the house... However, I put Cannon in his high chair and tell the boys to chase each other because it makes Cannon scream with excitement! The faster they go the louder he laughs!

He has a new love of graham crackers right now.

We have been having a camp fire almost every night in our fire pit and he LOVES to sit and watch the fire.

When I carry him around he holds onto the back of my hair. He doesn't pull it... he just holds it in his hand.

I LOVE how he has started to sleep in the stink bug position!

He is our sweet little man that truly has everyone of us wrapped around his little fingers!

Oh, To Be A Child Again...

Our neighbors have this old boat junked in the back of their property. To tell you the honest truth I had never even noticed it before. Then yesterday morning I couldn't find the boys... and when I finally found them this is where they were! I told them that they had to go and ask if it was OK if they played in it. So, they both ran up to the door and my sweet neighbor made two little boys day when she said yes! Everything about their lives revolves around this boat right now! It is THE place to be! McKay had early school yesterday and when I went to call for him to come in and get ready I just couldn't do it! To see these two little boys enjoying each other and life so much just melted my heart! I decided that school could wait another day... But, today he was going to be a little boy! It wasn't even until later in the afternoon that he asked me about school!

So, other than that not too much is going on... just packing and preparing to move AGAIN! When I tell people that we are moving again I truly see the sympathy in their eyes!!!! This will be my third move in one year... The only good thing about this move is it is taking us home! So, we are trying to absorb as much warm weather as we can... Because as soon as we get back to Idaho it will be freezing cold! I took McKay to get a winter coat and he was totally confused! He said "But Mom it is still summer here"! It has been a crazy year in so many ways... Kinda one of those when it rains it pours years! With moving three times, having a baby, my Brother and Niece's accident, some family health problems, James' car accident... It has truly rained on my family as a whole this year... But, I am still choosing to look at all the beautiful things that we are blessed with! With each move I have met AMAZING people that have touched and changed my life, I have a beautiful baby boy that brings me so much joy and happiness, My Brother and Niece are both alive and as it has been a very difficult - more difficult than one can imagine - recovery for them... they WILL recover and live beautiful lives. Although James totaled our new car... He wasn't hurt and that is all that matters. My family is healthy and strong and my Boys continue to amaze me each day with their beautiful little spirits! So, I pack once again... happy to do so... Knowing that moving really is NOTHING at all when it comes down to it all! So, I just might let McKay miss another day of school so that he can be a boy once again in this fabulous weather!

Something Easy!

I bought one of these crayon rolls last year for the boys for their church bag. After a year of them fighting over it every Sunday I decided it was time to make them another one. The only problem with that is I can never just make one... When my Mother-in-law was here visiting she helped me cut out 20...... This one turned out cute and was for Miss Addy Beattie! I found my pattern at www.skiptomylou.org. They actually have quite a few cute patterns on their site that I am using right now. It is definitely a fun site to check out! I have also decided that you could alter the pattern and make one for colored pencils too - I just don't think that I am going to try and make 20 of those too!!!

Another Major Picture Overload....

Picking Almonds with Grandpa

Eating Almonds with Grandma!

What trick or treater's look like at the end of Halloween!



At the neighborhood carnival

Probably should have used a different backdrop so you could actually see McKay and Carter!

We went to the Tuacahn Market on Halloween

Carter LOVED the tamales!

Obviously he didn't think I was very funny! Lighten up Mr. Turley!

Buying Pumpkins to shoot in the cannon

They were launching pumpkins in this cannon against the cliffs!

Grandpa getting McKay ready for his school party

We baked pies!

We made home made noodle for soup!

This was the morning routine!

Cannon's first sucker!

Craziness!

Carter fell asleep to Grandpa reading to him!

I don't think Grandpa got much of this milk shake!

St. George!

The Boys going through the "Crack of Doom"

It was about a 100 yard crack between two rocks

Look close... that's the boys!

Me watching them coming through... hoping an earth quake didn't hit!

The crack

Starting them up the crack

Thanks Mom and Dad for coming and spending Carter's Birthday, Halloween and the week with us. We had a fabulous time and miss you like crazy!