Kason's Baptism

Kason was baptized Saturday, November 26 as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It was a very special and spiritual occasion. Aunt Rachel played and Grandma Hazleton lead the music. Grandpa Taylor gave the opening prayer. There was a talk on baptism by Ashton's great grandfather, and a talk on the Holy Ghost by Kason's Grandpa Hazleton. Kason & Ashton sang "When I Am Baptized" together with Ashton's dad Sean accompanying them. It was amazing and you couldn't help getting choked up as you listened to these 2 sweet boys smiling and singing loud about how they want to be the best they can and live with God again. Kason was baptized and confirmed by his dad and then we home for a family lunch.

Family and friends who attended his baptism were:

Mom, Dad, Abby, Taylor

Grandma & Grandpa Taylor

Grandma & Grandpa Hazleton & Calvin

David, Cristal, Bryce, Alayna, Ethan

Clark, Char, Brock, Paige, Josh, Katie

Andy, Rachel, Ryan, Colton

Jeff, Melenie, Adam, Noah

Bishop Denos

Brother & Sister Carlsen

Sister Pam Ruesch

Primary Teacher Becky Woodbury

Thanksgiving

We had a lovely Thanksgiving in Cedar City with my family. Everyone was there including the 14 grandchildren, 9 of which are under the age of 3. Whew! Lots of little kids, which made it noisy, but lots of fun. I heard a saying that "Grandma's House: where cousins become best friends." That's true. The kids couldn't have had more fun together. We packed a lot into one weekend!
Cristal made these lovely pilgram hats for the kids. Taylor promptly climbed his little self up on the table so he could help himself to one (or two!) I think he's too little to do this, but he doesn't share that opinion.

Grandma and her finished turkey. She's the best cook around. And the best host--giving up her own bedroom and never sitting or resting, just making sure everybody is fed and happy. She is very selfless. Wish I could be more like her.

My handsome husband. And one of the things I'm most thankful for!

The big kid's table!

Taylor gobbling up Thanksgiving dinner. The 12 layer rainbow jello I made was a hit. He had several helpings as did Abby and most of the other kids. Mom said I have to make 2 pans of it next time. I don't think so.

Dad & Mom. Dad wore his Irish rugby shirt and hat he picked up on their summer cruise.

And here are my 4 brothers and their wives...I realized when posting this I should have had a picture of Tige & me too. Oh well.

After dinner Cristal had games for the kids like "pin the football on the goalpost." Kason kept trying til he got it in the middle of the goal post.

Clark's new baby

and Andy's new baby

Abby insisted on sharing her ice cream and pie with Ryan. First she set it on his plate, then she started putting it right in his mouth. So cute.

We also went and played at dad's elementary school and went swimming in the new aquatics center in Cedar City. The kids had a fabulous time swimming together!

Taylor sure has a big smile on his face!

3 best friends!

We topped off the weekend with Kason's baptism on Saturday. I am a lucky girl with much to be thankful for. Especially for my husband and my precious kids. I have 2 cousins battling health problems with their kids these past few weeks. Ali's little girl had a large tumor on her spineand brain stem removed and has been in and out of PICU with surgeries and infections and therapy to try and regain use of her left arm. And Ryan's newborn baby has been in surgery and the NICU wih bowel issues. They have both been in our thoughts and prayers and has made me even more thankful for my healthy kids and for the many, many blessings I have.

Kason is 8

Kason had a great birthday. It started out with me volunteering for the PTA to mark laps as the kids ran @ lunch recess. Kason loves this, and was completely excited that the day I was assigned happened to fall on his birthday. Then I brought treats to his class (doughnuts), and he got a card and notes from him classmates.

After school we took 8 friends to a trampoline arena called AntiGravity. They have wall to wall trampolines, as well as some other inflatable things. The kids had a blast jumping, and then we headed to a park for pizza and ice cream. Kason's birthday falls after the weekend of the time change, and his planning his parties, I always forget that it's suddenly going to get dark around 5:30. When he doesn't get out of school til 3:30, that doesn't leave us a lot of daylight. But after the kids ate pizza, they played and ran around until dark and we took them all home.

Lance, Ashton, Brock, Paige, Dad, Cami, Kason, Nathan, Taye, & Caileb

After dropping everybody off we came home and Kason opened his presents from us (a coat, some clothes, a book about shark anatomy, and a sparking scooter). Then we enjoyed some cake. He requested a lizard cake, but that just isn't in my cake repertoire. I'm not a cake decorater and never professed to be. It's just one of those things that comes with motherhood. Anyway, his 2nd request was a snake cake, which I thought I could maybe pull off. We all enjoyed it, especially Taylor who always manages to make an enormous cake mess!

We waited for many years to get this boy, and I can't believe he is now 8 years old. We love him so much and he is such a special, kind-hearted and enthusiastic boy. We are looking forward to his baptism in a few weeks.

Taylor Haircut

At 16.5 months, Taylor was finally ready for his first haircut. We just don't grow hair fast around here. Abby didn't have her first haircut til she was 2.5 years old! Taylor's hair was still relatively short everywhere, but it was long over the ears, a little patch in back, and right on top at the rooster tail area. I got the clippers out, and he didn't love it, but once he got a sucker, things were much better!

Piano Recital

In August, Kason started piano lessons, and his first recital was November 3. He played a song called "If I Had One Million Dollars" and did a fantastic job. Some days he's not sure he likes it so much, but then again, who does when they first start lessons? But he sure had a happy mom at his recital and I was proud of his persistence.

Halloween

We had a good Halloween. The day before the holiday, we finally carved pumpkins. Tige is not a very big fan of carving pumpkins, but was a good sport anyway.

We carved while Taylor was napping. Abby & Kason loved it and weren't afraid to get messy.

Wouldn't be pumpkin carving without pulling out the drill. Unfortnately, Kason just wanted to carve regular face so the drill went unused after all.

I talked Abby into ribbons on hers. Turned out cute and now I'm still using it for Thanksgiving decor!

Kason's finished product.

Pumpkin "ghost" pancakes for breakfast. Mmmmm! We also made orange scambled eggs, which the kids weren't sure they wanted after daddy told them they were goblin brains.

Trick or treating. We have bucket fulls of candy! Our ward rocks. We'll be eating it til Christmas!

Hope you had a Happy Halloween