Call Family 2011

We hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and here's to a great new year!

Tebowism

We have found a new hobby that we all love!  It's watching the Denver Broncos and Tim Tebow.  It's brought us closer together as a family and a team to cheer for.  Thanks Tim!

My Baby Turned One

Ryder turned one while we were celebrating Thanksgiving in Vegas with all of the Calls.  We love this little guy so much and we are so happy that he came to join our family.  Thanks to my sister-in-law Kelsey ( of Kelsey Call Photography) for snapping a few shot of Ryder for me.

It doesn't get any better than this!

Tanner was shooting off a rocket in the bathroom and Ryder loved it!  I just love my kids!

The Party

One month ago my mom turned 60! The sisters that live here in Colorado planned a party for her.  My mom and dad flew out for the weekend.  The weather did not cooperate but we had a great time.  The party was on Saturday night followed by a sleep over.  It was fun to have everyone spend the night and be together in the morning too. 

 The decorations were 50's style since she was born in 1951.  

 The adults enjoying some ambiance while eating in a room separate from the kids.  We had a Cafe Rio style meal.  It turned out delicious.  And we even had enough leftovers for the next day.

 Kids awaiting for the party to start!

 Carin was in charge of the games.  It was so much fun.  One game was family feud.  And of course it was boys vs. girls.  This is Haylie and Cade trying to hit the buzzer first.  The questions were all about mom and we had answered the questions a few weeks before.  It was fun to hear what everyone thought about mom.

 Time for presents!  All of the kids crowded around to watch her open the gifts.  It was just like at a little kids party when everyone wants to see what the birthday person is opening up.

 We made my mom a Shutterfly book.  The book was "The 60 things we know and love about mom!"

Happy 60th birthday mom.  We love you!

Pumpkin Patch

Last month Matt's parents came for a visit.  We had so much fun with them here.  On Saturday afternoon we went to a local pumpkin patch.  It was the best pumpkin patch I've ever been to.  There were so many different activities.  We had fun going through a corn maze.  This was something I had never done before.  Everyone got to pick out their own pumpkin.  Haylie wasn't with us because she was busy getting ready for the Homecoming dance.

Homecoming

So I'm a little behind with my blogging so I'm hoping to catch up.

Haylie wanted to go to Homecoming with some of her friends from church.  I knew it was going to be hard to find something modest.  I thought Haylie looked beautiful and I am so grateful that she knows who she is and that she had enough confidence to be beautiful and modest.

First snow

The kids couldn't sleep last night.  They were so excited for the first snowfall.  They were dressed and doing snow angels by 6:15 am.  It was still totally dark outside.  It was the funnest thing I've ever seen.  After school the boys went sledding and they had a blast.  There was at least a foot of snow that fell today.  All of the trees still have their leaves on them and so the trees really suffered.  They were completely sagging down to the ground.  Tonight Weston said that it was the coldest and funnest day of his life.

Worst nightmare

 So I never thought I would ever have to write about something as horrible as this.  I'm mostly writing all of this down so that I don't forget the details of this day.  All of the pictures were taken from my phone.

Wednesday morning, September 28th started off normal.  I got Haylie off to school for 6 am seminary.  Matt left earlier than normal for work.  He was gone around 6:45.  The boys were up early too.  We are reading Harry Potter right now so I read to them around 7:30 am while they were eating breakfast.  We read our scriptures and said family prayers.  I took Cade to school.  I got home around 8:05.  Weston and Tanner love to play outside before school starts and the weather has been so awesome lately that they ride their scooters or bikes around before leaving for school.  I got home from taking Cade and Tanner was not home.  This is not unusual.  He often goes to the park which is across the street to ride around or catch bugs.  I started picking up the house and doing the dishes.  Ryder was with me in the kitchen.  Weston said, "I'm going to go find Tanner."  Looking back now I have to think this was a prompting that he listened to.

Minutes later he came running through the door out of breath yelling that Tanner had been hit by a car.
I asked him where he was. The park he said.  I told him as I ran out the door that he had to watch Ryder and that he could put him in the stroller and find us.  I ran as fast as I could.  I rounded the corner and I couldn't believe what I saw.  A firetruck, ambulance, police man, all sorts of neighbors, cars parked everywhere, and my little Tanner in the middle of it all being huddled over.

"Are you mom?" This was the first question I was asked.  I was grabbed by the arm by the paramedic and given the report.  I was asked his name and birth date.  I was so happy to see him screaming and being difficult for the people.  This is what made me know he was going to be alright.  He was being very vocal that he did not want the neck brace put on him.  They told me to try and see if I could calm him down.  He was in shock his poor little body was shaking.  He has to go to the hospital to be checked out is what the paramedic told me.  I wasn't allowed in the ambulance.  They whisked him away pretty quickly.  Someone on the scene called Matt for me.  Weston turned the corner with Ryder in the stroller.  Weston had some very teary eyes.  The neighbor that I sent to check on the baby was with them.  I found out later that the first people on the scene were a nurse who teaches CPR and first aid, and then a doctor.  Really?!? The miracles keep adding up.

I finally look around.  There is the car that hit Tanner in the middle of the street.  It has cracks all through it's windshield.  Dents on the side of the car near the headlight and a broken headlight.  Wow is all I thought.  The police man approached me and told me that the car had been going 20 mph and saw Tanner at the last second and realized that Tanner wasn't going to stop and hit his brakes.  It was Tanners "fault" because he had not stopped at the stop sign.

Matt gets home.  He is wheeling the bike and Tanner's helmet.  He was wearing a helmet!!!  What a blessing.  I show the neighbor where the baby's things are.  The principal walks Weston to school.  I call my friend Shannon from church to come take care of Ryder.  Matt and I drive to the hospital together. We get there and they escort us through some back door.  Tanner has all sorts of nurses, and doctors surrounding him.  They are doing an ultrasound to check for internal injuries.  It all looks fine they say.  An IV had been started in the ambulance and they begin to give him pain medicine.  This really helps calm him down.  He hates the neck brace and the Mickey mouse stuffed animal that they gave him.  Next is X-rays.  The doctor says there is a good chance that his right femur is broken.  That is the leg with all of the injuries to it.  All X-rays come back perfect.  No broken bones.  The cat scan is next.  Also perfect, no damage to the brain or bleeding.  The only explanation is a miracle!  It is finally quiet for a minute.  We are alone with Tanner and Matt is able to give him a priesthood blessing.

 His Phineas and Ferb shirt and the shorts he was wearing were cut off of him by the ambulance medics.  He was very concerned about his shorts and asked me if we could go shopping to buy some new ones.  I'd have to say that I think Phineas and Ferb have seen better days.

I talked to all of the kids on the phone while they were at school.  Tanner's principle had contacted their principals and they were taken out of class and they each called me.  That was some of the hardest things I did that day.  Each of their voices were very shaky.  It was hard to reassure them over the phone.  I told them they could pray.  I hated those phone calls.  It still makes me sick thinking about it.

 All of the siblings came after school to visit Tanner.  They thought he was lucky because he was getting "free" food.  Matt and I just looked at each other and laughed.  I thought this was the cutest picture of him and Ryder.  Tanner had so many visitors in the hospital.  His football coaches and teammates, friends from church, the principal, and his siblings.  He received letters and paper airplanes from his classmates.  Tanner and I stayed in the hospital overnight just so the doctors could observe him because he does have a concussion.

We came home from the hospital the next day at 10 am.  When Weston came home from school that day he had all sorts of trinkets from Tanner's classmates.  Some pieces of Euro in tupperware, a sweatband, more cards and this most adorable homemade teddy bear.  Tanner loves the bear.  And I can't believe someone I've never met would take the time to make it.  Isn't the world filled with wonderful people?  This is a picture of what Tanner looks like today with his new teddy bear.  3 days later.  Just a black eye.  He is still limping some but he is acting like his normal self.  We are so grateful.  There were so many miracles that day.  I am grateful that the Lord protected Tanner.  I know miracles are real.  We love you Tanner.

Fall

I can feel it!  Fall is in the air.  The mornings are crisp and the leaves are changing.  This is my front door.  I'm loving all of the the flowers and their bright colors.  I think this is going to be my favorite season in Colorado.

Steamboat Springs

We spent a week of July in Steamboat Springs Colorado.  This was a super fun week and we loved discovering this fun city.  This was the whole family except for Tim's family who is in London.
I seriously could move to Steamboat.

Matt and Sara on the Alpine slide.  

Sara, Sawyer, and Lilly on the way to check out the down hill ski slope.

Tanner on the fake horse outside a shop.  We all went horseback riding later in the week but he ended up getting off his horse because he was too scared.  You can't blame him,  he has been a city kid all of his life.

All of the grandkids bought this cute cowboy hats.  They wore them later on in the week to the rodeo.

I had the best steak at this restaurant but I also wanted to show the beautiful hanging flower baskets that were all over Steamboat.  They really were so beautiful.
It was such a fun week.
If you ever get a chance to go to Steamboat you have to go!