Sadie turns "5"

"SADIE KATHERINE DEAN"

Sadie was born on January 13, 2004 @9:38 AM. She weighed 8 lbs. 6 oz. & 19 inches.She was our only baby born in the morning. She was due on January 29th. My water broke and I wasn't sure so I drove myself to the hospital about 2:00 AM. When I got there they checked me and said yes your water has broken call your husband. I delivered her at St. Mark's hospital with Catherine Wheeler as the doctor. My cousin Allyson was in nursing school and she assisted with the birth...it was quite a surprise to see her there but exciting she was able to help with the birth. Sadie was such a cute baby. She had the most hair of all our kids. You could almost braid her hair when she came out. Some other names we considered were: Bridget, Rebecca, Eliza, Kate and Chloe....we actually had narrowed it to 3 in the hospital Chloe, Rebecca and Sadie - Mike liked Rebecca and Sadie and I liked Chloe and Sadie so SADIE it was. She is such a fun person to have around. She is very funny and has a great laugh. She is a good artist. She is left handed like Jake which is weird because neither Mike or I are. She loves to play with her barbies and polly pockets, swim, dance, ride her bike and most of all play with FRIENDS!!!

It is so fun looking back at old pictures:
Here are the kids on Sadie's blessing day.
Rachel - 7, Jake - 5, Will - 3

That hair was truly amazing. It was so curly and was always changing colors.

Lovin the licorice.

At our old house on our deck.
We had the best view of South Jordan and the Jordan River Temple. There were 12 cows and 4 horses that lived behind us. Sadie loved to feed them.

I just want to squeeze her.

"The Birthday Girl"
Sadie's birthday celebration started on Sunday, January 11th
and ended on Wednesday, January14th.
She was very determined to have a smiley face cake.
We decided to make it a SUNSHINE smiley face.

The grandparents came on Sunday, January 11th for dinner and presents.
Grandma Ruthie and Grandma Judy

Grandpa Robert and Grandpa Roger

Monday, January 12th was Sadie's preschool birthday celebration. She took a poster that told things all about her. I went and read the children her favorite book. (Princess Smarty Pants Rules)

Sadie and Miss Denise

Tuesday, January 13th on her birthday I took Sadie up to Solitude with some other friends in our ward and they took their first ski lesson. She got kind of sad during the lesson so she sat with me for the last 45 minutes. Maybe if it would have been any other day I would have said stick it out and get back on the hill. I was a softy because it was her birthday...the good thing is she says she will try it again.

Dinner at Hires and presents from the family.

Wednesday, January 14th she had a birthday party with 6 of her friends. We played games, ate pizza and opened presents. It is so easy to please (7) 4/5 year olds.
(clockwise): Zaniya, Grace, Sadie, Allie, Graice, Ashley, Brooklyn

Happy Birthday Sadie...We love you!!!

PS. I am ready for a break: Jake B-day: November 19, Will B-day: November 27, Christmas, Will's baptism: January 3rd and now Sadie. Thank heaven Rachel's birthday isn't until June...YEEHAAA!!!

WILL'S BAPTISM

Will was baptized on Saturday, January 3rd, 2009.

He was baptized by his dad. It is hard to believe that now 3 of our 4 kids have been baptized. We must be getting OLD.

Will has always been our "worry" child. When he was 17 months old he had a febrile seizure that his body was in for 30 minutes. He was life flighted from our neighborhood to Primary Childrens Hospital. When they arrived with him at the hospital they didn't know what was wrong. We worried that he may not make it. They determined that it was a seizure from a high fever. He had to stay in the hospital for 10 days because while he was in his seizure he asperated and his lungs were filled with fluid so he caught pneumonia. He had to take anti- seizure medicine for 1 year but has had no problems since.
When Will was around 2 years old he set his hand on the top of my curling iron that was plugged in. He had a 3rd degree burn about the size of a quarter that we had to take care of at the burn unit at the U of U Hospital. We made several trips over a few months to the hospital so they could take care of his burn. He has quite the scar on the top of his hand. It is a good thing he is a boy...and scars are cool.
When Will was 3 years old a window at the Yellowstone Old Faithful Lodge fell and broke his femur in his left leg. We had no idea how bad it was so we drove ourselves to the hospital in Rexburg...about 100 miles from Yellowstone. When we got there they did an x-ray and said his femur had snapped and they would have to do surgery to put a plate in. They said we were very lucky he didn't bleed internally because I guess that bone is very serious to brake. He also has quite the cool scar on his leg.
So needless to say...we are very happy he was able to be baptized and make such an important choice in his life. I know the Holy Ghost has already blessed him alot and will continue to be there for him. We are so proud of him and are very grateful he is in our family. We love you Will.Grandpa Roger and Grandma JudyGrandpa Robert and Grandma RuthieWe had lots of family come and support Will. Logan Davies and Austin Little are Will's two best friends so they came with their families. Thanks everyone for coming.We took our little family to the Garden Restraunt in the Joseph Smith Building for dinner. I forgot how awesome the view is in that restraunt. It was a great place to help celebrate his baptism.Gotta love that view!!!

Winter Break 2008

What did you do over the winter break...2 weeks with kids out of school? Here are some things that kept the Dean's busy.

Sledding, Sledding, SleddingWe definately got alot of game playing in. Monopoly was one of our favorites...pretty crazy the new monopoly our kids got you each have a credit card instead of $. It is alot easier to keep track of everything but quite funny what society is turning into...lots of things are put on CREDIT. Jake and his two friends Brayden and Ezra got 5 foot unicycles. They spent lots of time out riding them. It didn't matter if there was snow on the ground or not...no stopping them.

The kids got a few movies that kept them busy.

We went and paid my dear friend Ros a surprise visit. I worked with her at First Security Bank for 3 years almost 15 years ago. Everyone was so scared of Ros because she can be kind of mean at times. I never let her get to me, we were very good friends. I am glad to say she never made me cry like lots of the other tellers. She was so excited we dropped by. I haven't seen her in almost 8 years. I don't think Will and Sadie have ever met her. She was a very good sport to even let me take her picture. I am sure she has no idea it is now on my blog.

The kids were so good to just sit there and let me visit with her. One of my new years resolutions is to make more time to keep in touch with old friends and see them more often.

Rachel needed to attend a concert for one of her classes at school. We went down one day and listened to the Organ Recital in the Tabernacle at the temple. I forgot how amazing that building is. It was neat being on the temple grounds during the day with the kids.

We took some time and walked around and went into the visitor center. It was fun seeing all the brides that were married that day taking their pictures. Brings back great memories.

New Years Eve!!!
We rang in the New Year with Mike's brother John and his family. We played games, ate Chinese take out and ate lots of junk. It was a goodtime to spend with the Dean's. Thanks John and Tonya for having us over.

Will and Parker playing the WII

We got a new game for Christmas from my parents called Play 9. It is a golf card game. We played a few rounds. Good times.

Now onto 2009...BRING IT!!!

CHRISTMAS 2008

Christmas Eve Bowling with the Nelson Clan
(One of my favorite things about Christmas)

Sage, Jake, Adam, Will, Sadie, Alex, Chloe, Annie,
Lindsey, James, Rachel

(missing: Morgan, Cylia, Jaxon and Ellsie)

Melanie, Amy, Mom and Me

The Nelson Gang
(minus: Troy, Cylia, Jed, Mandy, Jaxon and Ellsie)
Christmas Eve Dinner at the Deans

Judy, Roger, Me, Mike, Spencer, Michelle
(John and Tonya were at the Wade's for Dinner)
So excited to go home and go to BEDChristmas Morning!!!My 7 kids:
1) Rachel, 2) Mike, 3) Diesel, 4) Jake,
5) Sadie, 6) Will, & 7) Baby Alive (Sadie's new toy)
(She really poops and pees so its just like having another child,
doesn't that sound fun?)Christmas Breakfast at the Nelson's

Us with my parents: Robert and Ruthie

Christmas Lunch at the Dean's
Judy and Roger with their 7 Grandkids
Parker, Will, Jake, Taylor, Rachel, Abby and SadieAs I was putting away the Christmas Decorations today I really had time to reflect and think about this GREAT Holiday we just celebrated. The parties are over, presents have been unwrapped and mostly put away, holiday treats are almost eaten and gone, Christmas cards are starting to fall off the door, husbands will soon be back to their regular work schedules, and thank heaven kids will be back in school soon, but how lucky we are to always have the gospel and The love of Christ in our lives.
I have a quote I keep in my kitchen:

"I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life"

I hope we always remember Christ and His great love and sacrifice for each one of us. I am so grateful for all of the examples of GREAT Family and Friends in my life.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Christmas Traditions...

My friend Nikki has been posting her families Christmas traditions for almost a week now and I have really enjoyed reading what they do. I decided to write down our Christmas traditions:

* The kids draw names for each other and we all go to the store and Mike takes 2 kids and I take 2 kids and they help pick a $10 gift for the one they picked. Mike buys a gift for me and I buy a gift for Mike. It is alot of fun especially trying to stay away from each other at the store.

* Bowling on Christmas Eve Day with the Nelsons. We have done that for as long as I can remember. My dad brings coins and gives money for strikes, spares, gutters, low score, high score. It is alot of fun. We all bring some snacks and hang out for a few hours. The funny thing is we see the same families there every year. I guess other people have the same tradition.

* We always put all our Santas on our fireplace. (I love how they are all placed together.) I always put the olive wood nativity I got in Jerusalem on the kitchen table so each meal we eat together we can be reminded of our Savior and why we celebrate Christmas.

* Christmas Eve the kids always open their present from me under the tree. It isn't too exciting because it is always pajamas. I sure love picking them out some new PJs each year.

* My mom gives the kids an advent calendar over Thanksgiving. It is fun to take turns opening a piece of chocolate each day until Christmas.

* Mike puts the lights on our Christmas tree and the kids decorate it all by themselves while I set up the Santas. I love to see what a GREAT job they do.

* We alternate Christmas Eve dinner with our families. If we have Thanksgiving with one family we have Christmas Eve with the other. It works out so nice because than on both days the kids aren't overly tired. (The year it is at my house we act out the Nativity)

* Christmas Day can be a little crazy but we love getting to see both families. We always go to my house for sweetrolls and Christmas egg casserole, than to Mikes for sandwiches and funeral potatoes. We try to get home around 5:00 so the kids can play with their toys.

* We always go downtown and see the Christmas lights at the temple. After we like to go and get hot chocolate.

9 Days until Christmas!!!

OH...Christmas Tree, OH...Christmas Tree!!!

This year we decided to go and cut down our own Christmas Tree. It actually was alot of fun and the kids had a great time walking around trying to pick the perfect tree. We took our snow clothes so they sledded/snowboarded while we were there. The tree sure looked alot smaller in the woods than when we actually got it in the house. I think Mike had to cut off almost 4 feet of the tree so it would fit in our front room. I sure love the smell of a real tree but I can't say I love all the pine needles that constantly drop and having to water it (kind of a pain).

RACHEL
JAKE WILL

SADIE Even DIESEL came along.

The finished product: The kids decorated it all by themselves. I think they did a GREAT job!!!

16 Days until CHRISTMAS!!!