Thanksgiving, and Super Doug to the Rescue

For Thanksgiving this year the kids and I went to CA, while Jim stayed home to work. He did go shooting and eat turkey with his family, it wasn't work EVERY day - just most of them. We had a great time in CA. The boys went mini golfing with Papi, had slumber parties on Friday nights with Maddie (Megan's oldest), made a movie with Uncle Chris, painted with Harrison, and just had tons of fun. I had a great time, too...we O'Neil ladies keep ourselves busy! Check out Riley and Jill's blog http://rjoneil.blogspot.com/2008/12/thanksgiving-with-oneils.html for pictures and a list of all the fun.

It was such a nice treat to be able to go home, despite all of the sickness we all had during and after the visit. (Sorry, and thank you, again, Mom-O for all of the extra wash and cleaning you did because of the sickness) It was really nice to be home and get everyone (except Jim) together again. Good times!

Jim picked us up at the airport and we drove home, to have the car die pretty much as it made it into the garage. We were very blessed to make it home, with our battery light going on and off the whole trip. We thought it would be something like the alternator going (again), but then as we turned off the freeway and heard the sound and felt the shake of the car, we knew we were in some other kind of trouble. To make a long story short, I was stuck at home for a few days (which was fine, cause I broke my toe the next AM and wouldn't want to go shopping anyway) - until Jim let out an SOS call to Uncle Doug....who came to the rescue when Jim was only 2 freeway exits from home and the car was dead (on the way to Uncle Doug's house for repair help).

The problem: the spring on the tensioner was gone. Repair: new tensioner and a belt while we were at it. Cost: $20 for car repair manual, $80 for parts, and being forever in debt to Uncle Doug who came to the rescue. Thanks Uncle Doug! Here are a few pictures of our superhero at work.

Sibling Pictures

November 16, 2008

I decided that it was time for some pictures of the kids all together, looking respectable. I started with a few shots of Kate by herself, in her new purple dress with brown polkadots (that has a matching brown sweater that just makes it so adorable!) I guess I'm way into her clothes because they are so cute! I've always said that it is boy toys and girl clothes....and now I have a girl to talk about her adorable clothes. But, we digress... Here is Kate, ready to go to church.I love this picture. The buttons on the dress are flower shaped! (those adorable girl clothes...) And, I just like this picture with her feet sticking out.

Then, enter the boys. They did pretty good, all considered. Its not that easy to get 3 kids to all be looking good - or even normal - in a picture. I have chosen a few pictures to share that highlight their personalities.

Eric - trying to do what I ask. Michael - chumming it up.

What a sweet little boy Eric is!
Michael - as if he's telling us the true story, while Eric opens his eyes on command.

Kate's starting to loose her cool while Michael gets fresh - and Eric has that cute look in his eyes!

Here it is - on the of the last shots, and the one that I would most likely frame and put on the wall. Look at those blue eyes and happy smiles!

Those were all taken before church - which starts at 1:30 pm. After church we usually come home, change, and eat fast. We were on the fast track to dinner when we realized that Michael was missing, and didn't respond to us calling him. Then I realized...I told him to put his shoes in the shoe closet (aka the coat closet), and he never came back. This is how we found him - in the closet, with the door closed, asleep. He doesn't nap anymore, so he must have felt like it was a long day!

First Bath and Trip to the Park

On November 3 we (I) gave Kate her first real bath, since her cord was finally gone and daddy was finally around to take pictures.

Before bathtime, I took a few pictures of her...look how cute she is! And, see her good neck muscles! Maybe you are distracted by her blue eyes?Bathtime started out nice and leisurely - and in true O'Neil fashion - in the kitchen sink! She seemed to enjoy being in the water.She started to get a little concerned when I put soap and water on her head.Here she is, all "safe" and dry - and clean!

November 8th was Kate's first trip to the park. We went with the Farnsworths and had a great time. Here is Kate, soaking up some sun to help with her Jaundice. She did eventually get out from under the blankets, but not for long because it was a little chilly.The boys both enjoyed the swings. Here is Eric.

They were climbing the tree. Boys will be boys. The funny thing is that they were holding pieces of bark that they got off the tree (or the ground), and using it as a little pick axe, thinking it would help them climb. Eric, Michael, and Arhan - I think they were also trying to climb up to the squirrel that we saw. (The squirrel later climbed into the trash can and was thumping around, and the kids all surrounded the can trying to see the squirrel)Caper, after eating some cheetos.Michael, on the staticky slide.

Kate's Blessing

We blessed Kate on November 11, 2008. It was nice to have family and friends join us. Grandma and Grandpa came down, and brought Brian, Matt, Suze and Alex. We were also lucky enough to have the Seavers come down to join us for the event. Kate was blessed by her dad with Grandpa, her 2 Vinton uncles, Jay Seaver, Matt Farnsworth (our neighbor), and Bishop Hatch. It was a nice blesseng - as far as I could tell. I was very frustrated that the microphone was not close enough to Jim's mouth for us to hear. I think we would have been ok if it weren't for some very loud children in the crowd behind us. It was a sad thing for me to have to struggle to hear, and miss some of her blessing. But, all in all, it was a nice day. It was really good to have friends and family join us. We didn't get pictures taken of everyone - shame on me! But, here are a few of Kate.

Here she is in the dress Grandma made for her.Here we are, staring at each other. I thought it was cute that Jim got this on camera - I love how she (and all babies, but you know) will just stare at and study my face!Here she is on dad's shoulder. How cute! There is something just adorable about a baby looking over a shoulder - especially my cute little Kate and her dad! So, here is the rest of the story. She messed her pants, and the onesie, and the dress - before I got very many pictures taken. I never did get "the picture" of her in her blessing dress that day. So, a week later I put it back on her and took some more pictures. I'm still not sure I got "the one" but at least I have some! Here is the full view.And, this is her little bracelet that Aunt Jenny made for her. Adorable! (I have one to match! Thanks Jenny!)