Another First

Courtney was 16 when Zac became a part of our family. In other words we were past all of the childhood firsts in life. Halloween costumes, elementary programs, diapers, potty training, sleepless nights, babysitters. Rick and I were well on our way to 'empty nesters'. Then along came Zac. we have never once regretted our decision to adopt him and call him 'Son'. After all we had been through with him I couldn't just let someone else raise him and never know what happened to him. We love him with all of our hearts! So Zac has been eagerly awaiting all of the childhood adventures and this morning he was brushing his teeth and came in yelling, 'I have a loose tooth!' Ever since he started school and going to the dentist he asks, 'when am I going to have a loose tooth?' I think part of it is the tooth fairy aspect. He has seen his friends get a bundle from the tooth fairy and has eagerly awaited his turn to drain the fairy financially himself (what happened to quarters for teeth?) So being a dutiful mom I had him open his mouth and checked for myself. Sure enough one of his tiny little baby teeth right up front are loose. We'll see how long it takes to actually come out and if Zac thinks it's all that fun after!



Aren't those nice teeth?

Cold, Cold, COLD!

Yes it got really cold this week. Although I have to admit it's not nearly as cold as last year at this time. So we went to SLC for the annual Glad family Christmas party. Mom's condo has a really great club house that can be used for these type functions. We started utilizing it last year and it's a great place for our family. Lots of room for the growing GLAD clan. It was really great to have so many of us at the party. Some of my nieces and nephews that don't always make it to functions were there. All of my children were there and that was just fantastic. We read our family Christmas stories, now htese aren't your 'normal' stories. The history is this; when we were kids my Dad would read to us every Christmas eve. While he was reading he handed out See's suckers to keep the masses quiet and occupied. We have continued that tradition. With the exception that the Uncles or Grandsons now read the stories since Dad's passing. It's special to see the stories carried on by Dad's posterity. We all have such fond memories of Christmas eve's past spent together as a family, our parents always emphasized the importance of family. A good time was had by all!
I realize I didn't take as many pic's at the party as I thought I had. Hopefully Betty will get the ones they took to me as well as everyone else.

We also gave the kids and grandkids their presents. Rick had them convinced they had to wait till Christmas morn to open them. Luckily Grandma didn't make them suffer long. I think everyone was very happy with their gifts. at least no one complained or looked disappointed.

It did snow for the party, it was beautiful! I love the snow! Everything was white and clean and COLD! Everyone should have snow for Christmas.

So here's just a bit of our fun weekend. Hope you enjoy.

Wrestler's

So this is the team after a long day a wrestling. The coaches get them checked in..... remember wrestlers don't eat so there was no stop for food. The team then goes to work out and swim.... no rest for the weary but lights are out at 10:30 PM since they have a 7:00AM weigh in.

Courtney and the kids made it to the hotel and we settled in to watch Shrek 3. It was an ok movie. Lexie and Conner thought it was lots of fun to stay the night with Grandma. Problem was they didn't want to go to sleep. After lots of threats by Courtney to go home we all finally went to sleep. My alarm went off at 5:30 AM so I could shower and get the bus ready to go for 7:00 AM leave time. I found the team in the lobby of the hotel smelling the continental breakfast they provide. I say smelling because of course wrestlers don't eat! I did however and off we went to Layton High School for weigh in. Then I am on stand by till they are done. I wisely went back to the hotel and back to sleep since everyone else was. We all got up about 10:00AM (John had called and cancelled). and went off to visit my cousin that lives in town. We had a nice time visiting until I had to leave to fuel the bus and be ready to go when the team called. Which they did just after I had left Nancy and Darrell's. Lost their matches so it was time to go home. The upside of leaving early was that we got home in time that I could go with Rick and Zac to the Elko Lights in the Sky event. Every year at the Great Basin College campus they hold an event to raise toys for needy families. Local business's donate chili and hot choc. and Santa is there and they have carols around a great big bonfire and the topper of the night are the fireworks. All you have to do is bring a present for a child to donate. It's really cool and the fireworks were amazing. What a great start to the Christmas season. We had such a great time. i was really tickled to make it back in time. Zac talked to Santa twice because he had forgotten to mention a few items to him! So what are you doing special for Christmas? What are your family traditions?

Wow

Wow is it Thursday already? Where has the week gone? It's been a slow week work wise. We're in between Football/Soccer/X-Country/Volleyball and now wrestling and B-ball are starting up. I get to take the Elko wrestlers to Layton tomorrow. I wouldn't normally do an overnight trip but this one is close enough that the kids are going to visit me. Courtney and the kids are going to spend the night at the hotel with me and then John & Ashleigh are having breakfast with us. It ought to be a fun trip. Rick told me he was a bit jealous that I get to spend time with the kids I told him I was sorry( hee hee hee). So it ought to be a fun trip. I'm looking forward to it. I also need to get dog food. I can't get the brand that I use here in the Elko area so I have to get it when we go to Reno or SLC. I use a higher tier food and none of the local places carry it. Go figure. I always wanted to live in a rural area and now that we do we can't get a lot of the products we use. So when we go on trips we stock up on stuff.

Quiet Sunday

Our family has a newsletter each month. My sis-in-law does all the putting it togther stuff. It's fun to hear about what everyone is doing now that we're all spread over the world. So this was my family's month to share what we've been up to. Each month we all take a turn so I've had to go back and think about what's bee happening in the last 8 months or so. It's intersting to think about where we've been and where we're at now. My it's been a busy year! I really wanted to say jkust go and look at our blog but that would be cheating don't you think? So I sat down and reminisced. It took awhile to write because I didn't want to miss any of the important things or what I thought was important. It's intersting that something that's terribly important to you might not be to someone else. Am I rambling? Thought so.

thought you might like to see how nice Chance looks after his bath.

Happy Thanksgiving

Is your bird in the oven? Zac has become quite the baker during the last week. His contribution to his class feast was pumpkin pie. and being the helpful 6 yr. old he, is I decided that he should help make the pies. He cracked the eggs and added the ingredients after I measured them and mixed it all up. So when it was tiem last night to make the pecan pies I decided to have him help. Maybe we have a gopurmet chef in the making? Rick is working today and I'm just about ready to get the bird in the oven and the rest started. Rick won't be home till about 6 pm so I've got plenty of time. What are you doing for Thanksgiving?

THOSE I'M THANKFUL FOR..........

MY FAMILY....OF COURSE

MICHEAL & LONAKA

JORDAN

SKYLAR

BRIANNA

JOHN & ASHLEIGH

AND THE NEW BABY ON THE WAY

COURTNEY

ALEXIS

CONNER

AND THE CHILDREN SHE GAVE LIFE TO

TIFFANY

MANDY

MOM & DAD

BROTHERS AND SISTER WHO I DON'T GET TO BE WITH NEARLY ENOUGH

NEICES AND NEPHEWS THAT ADD SPICE TO LIFE

WHO ARE YOU THANKFUL FOR?

Ode to a great guy

It's evening time and Zac is happily playing in the tub. Rick and I are watching the football game and the house is clean (almost dinner still needs to be cleaned up.) and quiet. I am always happier when the house is neat and things are in their places (go figure.) Rick was wonderful Sat. when I was picking up the forensic team from a debate in Reno. He cleaned the kitchen and folded the clean laundry and cleaned the toilets and basically tidied the house. I have such a great husband. He definitely does at least his fair share around the house. He unloads the dishwasher and I load it. I do the laundry and he cleans the bathrooms. If I leave before him in the morning he makes the bed. Can you get a better husband? I listen to some of the women talk and even though they are working full time jobs as well as their husbands they are still expected to do all of the house work. Not me. Rick and I laughingly joke that if we were to have had a pre-nup agreement it would only state that I don't have to cook (not one of my favorite pass times.) We've been trying to be better parents and get Zac working on his penmanship and spelling each night and Rick works his magic with his son and gets him writing each night. It just amazes me the way he can get Zac to cooperate when he is in a mood. well another week has started and it seems as if time is passing by faster and faster. Thanksgiving this week and then the frenzy of Christmas time so we're going to enjoy the peace tonight and face tomorrow in the morning.