We've got ourselves a WALKER!

Yep, that's right, at 18 months of age, Peyton decided it was time to walk. He is so cute when he walks...check out the picture!

Also, do you see something missing from his nose? He has been without the feeding tube for a little over a week and he is completely off night time feedings! We take him in this week for a weight check to see if he has gained, lost, or stayed the same. That will determine if the tube goes back in or not. We are hoping that we don't have to put it back in. He was even eating grilled cheese on Saturday by himself!

We went to the Draper Temple Open House a little over a week ago. It is such a beautiful temple. And it's so small compared to Mt. Timpanogos. Mason loved walking through and seeing everything and Peyton loved to see all the pictures of Jesus! They were so cute and they loved the bus rides and the cookies at the end.




Montana and I had the opportunity last Saturday to have a double date with the Shaws! It's been all talk for a long time and finally we all got babysitters and took off. We went to dinner and then to the BYU Basketball game. We felt like teenagers again without a care in the world. It was so much fun! Thanks Kev and Aubrey for a wonderfully awesome double date!



And, some of the best news is that my brother Eric got his mission call! The boys and I were able to to be with him when he opened it. He is going to the Ecuador Guayaquil South Mission and he reports to the MTC on May 20 - Mason's birthday! We are so excited for him!


And here's a cute picture of Peyton that I had to add!

Prayers for Gracie and Family

If you find sometime today, please say a prayer for little Gracie Gledhill and her family. They have decided to take her off life support. If you would like to see her story, you can visit their blog at http://thegledhillfamily.blogspot.com.

Random Happenings...

I haven't posted in a little bit but I have pics on the camera that are blog worthy. So, here goes...

Peyton had his first Oreo the other day and he loved it! He was absolutely disgusting and he pretty much needed a bath after that episode. He even had Oreo in his hair!

That is NOT green beans around his mouth...It is chalk! (Thanks Mom for the chalk!) He's screaming in the picture cause I had just told him that he couldn't eat chalk. But I was laughing and just HAD to get a picture!

Mason got this Charlie Brown shirt for Christmas (Thanks Grandma Randee!) and he has refused to wear it since he got it. I made him wear it the other day and then he wanted to pose for pictures. And, of course, Peyton had to be in the picture too!

We have been working on recovering the chairs to our dining table that we got from my Grandma.

This is the chair before...we didn't care for the pink fabric...especially with kids!

This is Montana hard at work stapling the fabric down!

This is the after picture. We got a microfiber fabric and of course, plastic...to prevent kids from ruining the chairs.

We went to my Mom and Dad's last Sunday and the kids wanted to sing karaoke. Here's Mason, Alexis, and Ty-Guy singing to their hearts content! And then for Family Night, we took the boys to Chuck-E-Cheese! Mason loved it and Peyton preferred his stoller over anything at all!


We took Montana to the doctor the other day and Peyton kept watching the big trucks outside!

And, finally, the other day I needed to get a few things from the store so Mason asked if he could write the list! I figured it doesn't hurt for him to practice his letters but it sure did take a lot longer. I had to tell him every letter to every word and when he would finish with one word, he'd say, "What's next?". He really did a good job. Can you figure out what items are on the list?

Can you find: brakes, molasses, brown sugar, flour, motor, eggs, sugar, honey, meat, salad, and marinade?

CHD Awareness

I've been meaning to post this a few days ago and never got around to it. And I'm taking the poem from a friend's blog. This week, February 7-14, is National Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week. Most people don't know about CHD's unless they have to experience it. It is a very tough thing to go through with your child but being a "heart" mom has never brought more happiness to me! I love my little Peyton and all the fun things that come with having a heart baby! So, with that said, he's the poem.

Somewhere...someplace... today...
a family is waiting to hear...
Is something wrong with their baby?
The answers aren't quite clear...
This family has entered an unwanted world...
And they just don't know what to expect...
Somewhere...someplace... today
They first heard the words: heart defect.
And how they hoped this was not true...
And thought... this cannot be...
I too... know just how this feels...
For one day...this was me.

Somewhere...someplace...today...
A man and a woman embrace...
Their baby is in surgery...
They long to see his face...
They haven't got to hold him yet...
Without...a cord or line...
They pace the room awaiting news...
And hope he'll be just fine.
Prayers fill this busy waiting room...
And mom and dad are scared...
Somewhere...someplace..today...
The tiniest hearts are repaired.

Somewhere...someplace...today...
A child's growing fast...
Smiling, laughing, thriving...
His mom thinks...can this last?
It's almost easy...to forget...
That anything is wrong...
Somewhere...someplace..today...
Her child seems so strong.

Somewhere...someplace... today...
A little boy fights...just to live
A father holds his tiny hand...
His love...all he can give...
The doctor's are all baffled...
They fear that he might die...
Somewhere...someplace...today...
A family says goodbye...

Somewhere...someplace...each year..
More than 40,000 families will see...
What it means...when something's wrong...
They'll face a CHD.
Today...for just a moment...
Stop...remember...reflect...
Make time to tell someone you know...
"I've been changed by a heart defect".

Author - Stephanie Husted

(Sorry, it won't post with the spaces and the layout that I wanted)
Can you believe we've made it from this...

To this!

Cute Bags

My sister-in-law is making the cutest bags you have ever seen! They can be used for church, vacation, anything really. They hold crayons and toys and coloring books, etc. You can see them and purchase them here. If you are interested in one, you can let me know and possibly get it without having to pay for the shipping!

Congrats Ash!

I just got an email from my mom saying that Ashley and Kaylee WON the Nashville Nights Competition that we went to last weekend. I am so excited for them! They will perform again in April at the "Best Of" Show at BYU-I. Another girl's night anyone?!? Congrats Ash! We are so proud of you!

Rexburg Trip

This last weekend, my sister, Ashley, invited me, along with my mom and some other girls from the family, to come to Rexburg and watch her perform in "Nashville Nights"! So, of course, I took the opportunity to get away from the kids for a night while Montana stayed home and played "Mom". We were gone for a little more than 24 hours and we had so much fun! It was really weird just sitting around and not having kids to chase after or attend to. Montana enjoyed his time with just the boys and they all seemed to do well. They were excited for me to be home but they definitely do fine on their own. Anybody up for another girl's weekend?

Peyton's Super Bowl Pick

So Grandma Randee called a couple of weeks ago and asked who we would be cheering for in the Super Bowl. Here's your answer Grandma. GO STEELERS!!




WE'RE #1

There IS a light at the end of the tunnel! And everything else...

So, Sunday, we saw Peyton doing this...

That's right...he's drinking from a sippy cup! We decided to put PediaSure in the sippy cup and see how much he would drink. We got 5 oz down him on Sunday as well as 5 oz on Monday...all by mouth. I never thought this day would come. So, today I decided to count his calories and not give him any milk through his tube. And, of course, he is a stinker today and he hasn't hardly touched his PediaSure...or his juice! At least I know he will drink from a straw so we are definitely making progress. Also, Peyton had his first hair cut a little over a week ago. He screamed almost the whole time. But now his hair is controllable!



Mason had his very first dentist appointment last week and he was scared to death to go. He watched me get my teeth cleaned first and finally let the dentist look in his mouth and count his teeth. And he eventually got in the chair...without me! He is growing up so fast!

Our 5 year anniversary was Saturday and Montana and I had decided that we were going to go to dinner and see a movie. Well, Montana blindfolded me on Saturday morning and put me in a car with a friend and said, "See ya later...have fun!" Kassie took me to a number of places that had meaning to us while we were dating. It was fun spending time with Kassie and being away from the boys. Montana met us at the last place...RC Willey...where he proposed...and asked me to marry him again! (I only got a ring pop this time!) Then, he sent Kassie to meet her husband at our house and to babysit the boys for the rest of the day! Montana and I went to Gardner Village (It was cool but sad cause we are poor and you need money to buy stuff there!), Temple Square to take a tour of the Brigham Young Home, then we went to play mini golf, went to dinner, and then to a movie. It was so fun to get away from the boys for a day and not know it was coming. But I was happy to get home and see them again too! It was a great day and I still can't believe it's already been 5 years!

In Memory of Tyrel

Tyrel Nichols
(1983-2009)

This past weekend we went to Snowflake AZ. to the funeral of Montana's cousin Ty. Ty passed away this past week and will be greatly missed. We are so grateful for the Gospel and the knowledge that our family will be reunited together again.

Helmet is gone for good!

Just wanted to post and say that Peyton went to the helmet doctor today to have his head scanned again. Being without the helmet for a month, his head shape has changed about .003 which means he is done with the helmet FOREVER. He even got a minor haircut tonight! We didn't want to chop it off but it needed a little bit of help since he always looks like we never do his hair. Also, Montana started school today and it looks like it's going to be a good semester. He's way excited and we hope that excitement continues! And, just so everyone knows, we are headed to Phoenix this weekend for Montana's cousin's funeral. We found out last Sunday that he commited suicide. It's not a fun reason to go but it will be fun to see the family. Hope all is well and I will post pictures of the haircut later!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

This is what Peyton thinks of the snow! We're gonna have to change that!
So, I'm finally going to post pictures from Christmas. I'll give an explanation of them if needed. We had a very enjoyable Christmas and had fun spending time with family. We are excited for the new year and hopefully we can keep our goals! Enjoy the pictures!

Playing Bingo! (Thayne family tradition)

The kids playing their game to exchange gifts

Ashley and Peyters


The family in our Christmas jammies - Thanks Grandma Randee!

The boys in their new Sunday outfits

The boys playing with their easel - Thanks Grandma Thayne!

Waiting on the stairs to see if Santa came!


Montana with the quilt I made him from his Grandpa Halladay's old clothes.


This one's for you Shelise - He's so excited!

Happy Holidays!

(This is our Christmas card for the year!)

Happy Holidays to all our friends and family!
This year has been a very good one.
Montana started working for Provo Canyon School in June. It is a school for troubled teens. He absolutely loves it and loves the boys that he works with. We think he has finally found his niche. He was released as the Elder’s Quorum President and asked to serve as the Gospel Doctrine Teacher. He loves to be in front of people teaching and this calling fits him perfectly! He will begin school in January at Utah Valley University and he will pursue a degree in Secondary Education.
Melanie is busy at home with the boys. She keeps everybody fed, clothed, clean, and happy. She was released from her Primary calling and then called as the Ward Music Director. She also continues to accompany the choir as well as play the organ in Sacrament Meeting. The ward definitely keeps us on our toes!
Mason turned three in May and started Preschool in September. It is a Preschool where the moms take turns teaching the children. There are five children in the Preschool and the moms teach every fifth week. It has been working very nicely and Mason loves to learn and play with his friends. He is getting ready to start Sunbeams in January.
Peyton is 16 months old and a huge blessing in our lives. He is truly a miracle baby. To see how far he has come since last Christmas is amazing. He is a totally different child. He has been to many doctors’ visits this year and they will continue. He wore a helmet all year due to having surgery on his skull. He got the helmet off at the beginning of December…just in time for Christmas! His heart is continuing to do well. He will be due for one more heart surgery in a few years. He continues to grow but at a slower rate. He is catching up developmentally and hopefully he will soon be walking.
We are very grateful for this time of year and for the opportunity that we have to reflect on Christ’s life and on the things he did for us. We are eternally grateful for his sacrifice. May this holiday season find everyone happy and well!

Love,
Montana, Melanie, Mason, and Peyton Page