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On Friday, my good friend Sara, let us borrow her children for a playdate here at our house.  The kids had such a great time.  

While some laid train tracks & built cities.
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Others competed to design the best artillery.
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And then there were those who played with a softer approach. But they were too quick and light on their feet.  Because when I came to take a picture of the girls playing all they had left for me to find was this:
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Dolly had said that I had just missed them and that they were all getting ready to sit down for a spot of tea.  She then asked whether I could join her and her striped tiger cub and their other guests while I waited for them to return.  Since I hesitated to answer her, I had secretly hoped to find the girls to have returned to the scene by then, to continue their play but it never happened.  What with so much for them to do, it didn't surprise me that they never came back.  And yet, I politely refused the invitation as I was distracted by a dreadfully sad noise.

That was tragedy calling me out to find this little guy.  Why is it that no true playdate is complete without somebody getting hurt?  This "not so lucky" little guy just had to be the one this time around.  We even captured a tear on his cheek.  I'm not sure but think it may have been a bit crocodilian.  But then again most of them usually are amphibious.  I've always said this little guy has got the best "Boo-Boo" face around. I may just end up having to make a post on only him with a slide show of all his "Boo-Boo" faces.  Wouldn't that be a hoot!?  But that's another story for another day.  And by looking at his face, what Mommy can resist it?  I mean, really?  This one can't.  He is just too darn adorable for this Mommy!
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Soon after we got his finger all wrapped up and kissed, he was back "on-the-go" but only after pausing just a moment to capture his battle wound.  And, I think if you look closely, that might just be his tear that has run down his cheek.  Yep, definitely amphibious. 
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But that's nothing a popsicle won't fix, right?!  At least that's what I always say.  And what's more fun than sharing one with your friends? 
There now...the more, the merrier!
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Oh wait, we wouldn't be complete without mentioning or capturing a moment with this adorable little guy!  I think he must be teething again.
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All better!  Thanks Sara!  We all had a blast!
 
Here are a few Christmas-time shots of the family put into a slide show that I forgot to post (amongst numerous other posts waiting in cue).

 
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The Boy is officially Eleven!

Yesterday marks the day that we have been blessed for the past 11 years with such a remarkable child.  Devyn, once again, you have proven to be such an exceptional addition to our family!  And what a remarkable date too,

One, 11, Eleven

And on this date, 1-11-11, you became 11. 
Definitely a date to remember!

We truly are blessed!

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Implementing our new guideline for gift giving...
4 Gifts
A Want
A Need
A Wear
A Read

This was a date to remember.
You had been wanting to go see Tron and needing to spend some one-on-one time with Mom...
so we took off and saw TRON in 3D.  And what a fun time we had watching and discussing the movie...very cool special effects...and those Tron bikes...WOW!

WANT & NEED
check.

On the way there to fulfill your READ we stopped off and picked up the first of the book series
How to Train Your Dragon
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All that was left was something to WEAR.
That, we had planned to go & use your Target Gift Card. 
On another day perhaps...we ran out of time.

I really enjoyed spending time with you, just the two of us.
It was like old times when we could sit and talk for hours.
I love you buddy!
Love, Mom.
 
Devyn's Winter Band Concert (on 12/7/2010) was a hit!
I wanted to post a picture of the Concert Program but it managed to get mauled by Daxyn and really wasn't legible afterward.  What is it with babies & paper?  At any rate...enjoy the pictures!

This first one is of Devyn with his Music Teacher, Mr. Steve McAllister.  Mr. McAllister is a very accomplished musician and has played with a multitude of famous artists as well as the Phoenix Orchestra Symphony
He has a website called, Arizona Music Teacher that lists these artists as well as provides some sample musical numbers that can be downloaded onto a mp3 player. 

You should check it out...very cool stuff!
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Mr. McAlllister & Devyn

 
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Devyn has been practicing his part and is getting geared up for his School's Winter Band Concert 
Tuesday Evening
December 7th, 2010
@ 6pm

All Family and Friends are invited to come.

Leave a comment below
and I will let you know all the details.
 
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It is amazing that we have been blessed with YOU, this wonderful spirit in our family.  And it is amazing that it has been for a decade now.

The first day I laid eyes upon you I was tickled by your ability to make me laugh.  You looked right square into my eyes and smiled your gummy smile and with all that hair & without any teeth, I pictured a tiny little man {a munchkin, my lil' munchkin} . 

Whether you knew it or not... that moment, I knew you were sent here to me to help keep my spirits up & everybody smiling.

Throughout your life you have strived to keep that role.
You have ALWAYS & will continue to make me smile.
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Happy 10th Birthday My Lil' Munchkin!
I hope ALL you wishes come true.
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The Primary put on a wonderful program this past Sunday.   Everyone was a bit concerned whether or not it would be pulled off well since the recent changes our Stake underwent with going from 9 Wards to 5.  Part of the reason why we didn't send out invitations to family/friends this year...just unprepared & without enough time.

We ended up having 3 of our 6 children in the Primary Program this year.  Dyson is in Sunbeams (his last year), Dagyn is in CTR 5-6 (her last year), & Devyn is in Valiant 9-10 (his last year).  All three of them did such a wonderful job.  Dyson had a bit of stage fright when it came to saying his lines but he did an excellent job at his favorite song..."I am a builder, working at home to build my family.  And I will do the best that I can to serve my family!"  I'm holding them all to that!

Throughout the program, Dyxon kept wanting to go up to sit with Dyson.  I'm thinking to help him out & to show him it's not so bad/scary!

On a side note:  The Primary had their Activity Day the day prior which included a practice for the program, treats & a game.  The kids had a ton of fun!  They played this fun balloon game where you tie a small balloon to your shoe/ankle and run around trying to pop someone else's balloon by stepping on it.  Our kids just decided it was just as much fun to run around twirling theirs in their hands.
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Next year we will have 4 in Primary (Dyxon will be joining them in Sunbeams next year).  We cannot wait for next year's Primary Program!  Hope to see you all there next year!...granted we don't undergo any more changes. ;)
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"Bad Boys, Bad Boys, Whatcha you gunna do?  Whatcha gunna do when they come for you?..."

You all know the song & if you now have that song stuck in your head...You can blame me for that.

Well, this past Wednesday we found out what happens to those who are not so nice...The Good Guys come for them...and this is their story...well atleast one of them...our Uncle Clyde.

Who is Uncle Clyde you maybe asking yourself?  Well, he is none other than the COOLEST Sergeant at the Apache Junction Police Department!
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See...I told you!
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And he likes us SOOOOOO much that he gave us a personalized tour.
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Clyde is very impressed that Devyn aspires to become a police officer someday...and introducing him as such, Devyn was quickly given advice by a fellow officer to become a fireman...jokingly he said, "everybody loves firemen".   Call us biased, but we have a special love for the men in blue.  I mean, come on...besides the fact that they all love donuts...who wouldn't love those who serve & protect us!?! 
What's that?  No Donuts?!  Dyxon is going to be upset!
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Because I LOOOOVE CSI...Forensics was my favorite part of the tour.  Here we met the resident Forensic Scientist and discussed the different jobs they perform plus we got to see a dismantled atm that was brought in for fingerprinting...pretty cool stuff.
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Now you don't want to go venturing into this area w/o a key.  We found out that you get absolutely no privacy when stuck in a jail cell.  The toilet is in plain view of the 4 bunks that are stuffed within these small quarters....AND...to top it off... there is a camera watching your every move!
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And if you are REALLY bad...you get strapped into this wheeled chair.  The hard part, we were told, is getting the "bad guys" into it!  They don't go quietly or without a fight!  But, once they are in there, they can easily be wheeled (transported) around to places like the court room.
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The K9 Unit w/o the K9.  We found that the K9 was locked inside an office for safe keeping.  OUR Safe Keeping!
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K9 Unit
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and the K9...LOOSE in the office!!!
That's one door we won't be venturing through...
But, the door that leads to the yard was full of fun stuff!
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you can't see them but the lights were flashing on the patrol car
And then...right up Devyn's alley.... (because they are just as [crazy] as he is) were the Special Weapons And Tactics (aka: SWAT) vehicles.
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SWAT truck...Very cool!
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Special Assignments Unit...Totally Awesome!
After viewing the motorcycles, Devyn decided he did not want to be a Motorcycle cop anymore based upon ALL of the buttons on it.  I think he was a bit overwhelmed.  And then to top it off, while I was busy trying to take pictures, Uncle Clyde turned on the siren...scared the tar out of me.  Yes, I screamed!  Hey, you would have too...it was LOUD!!!
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Training (Left) & Official (Right) Police Motorcyles
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Bike cage
And what tour of police vehicles would be complete without the "paddy wagon".  Denym climbed right up inside...silly girl.
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For those of you that even think you could even steal the entry code to any secured area...think again!  Devyn tries to copy the code he witnessed being punched in...but to no avail.  The #s change every time it is used...HA!
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What!?!  You were caught trying to break in to a secured area?  Great, now you must go through interogation. Busted, Devyn!  I told you to not go messin' around with that keypad.
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Now Devyn, you must get your fingerprints done.  Hold still & relax your hand.  This is NOT going to look good on your record.  Unless of course this was intended all along to obtain your Cub Scout Bear Achievement Award for "Law Enforcement Is a Big Job"...which it was.  No worries Gma's & Gpa's.
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I think Dyxon is STILL wondering where they keep the donuts...
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And that concludes our tour of the Apache Junction Police Dept.
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THANKS SO MUCH UNCLE CLYDE!!!  WE LOVE YOU!!!
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The Ancient Egypt party was a blast!  The kids wrote their names with the use of Ancient Egyptian writing called heiroglyphics onto peices of paper cut out into little tablets...very cute. 
Here is a picture of the hieroglypic symbols we used:
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Then they made little mummies to go inside an egg carton sarcophagus....another creative idea:
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While they were making their mummies, we dined on Egyptian foods.  Such as figs, dates, grapes, pomegranates, raisins & and other dried fruits.

The kids gobbled it up before I could take a picture of everything...but here's what was left:
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Our activity was last and ended up being fun for all the kids.  First we talked about the 3 different types of pyramids:
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STEP PYRAMID
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BENT PYRAMID
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and TYPICAL or STANDARD PYRAMID
Then we discussed the structure of the pyramid and passed out our pretzels & marshmallows to begin construction.
Here is Dagyn's ...she's so proud of herself.  It wasn't an easy thing to do...the pretzels didn't always want to stick to the marshmallows.
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And here are Dyxon (left) and Devyn (right) making theirs.  Notice Dyxon's concentration....tongue sticking out!  He gets that from his Daddy.  ;)
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And here is Dyson in the lower right-hand corner concentrating very closely on his pyramid construction. 
Denym is being held by my friend Aubree in the background on the left.  She was so good for Aubree too.  Which helped me out a lot since I was running around assisting the children with constructing their pyramids & passing out more marshmallows.  For some reason they kept disappearing...hmmm?
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And a party in the Arizona heat would not be complete without WATERMELON....YUMMY!!!
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It would be OK to say that the kids had fun.

Next month we are traveling to ANCIENT CHINA!
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Having 6 children, more than 1/2 of them under 5, there was NO way we were going to be able to make it to Midnight.  So, we decided to celebrate Mormon Style with sparkling apple juice & a countdown at 10pm (and that was stretching it).  Towards the end, I wasn't quite sure if I was going to make it either.  We may be shooting for 9pm for 2010's celebration.

As you will notice there are no pictures of Devyn.  That is because he was not there.  He was spending time with his dad, Wayne this year. 

I was there however.  I am in the last picture (well, my hand is).  I was taking the pictures of our family's event so you will only get a glimpse of me.

Enjoy!