Happy Birthday Dad!

Sunday was my Dad's Birthday he turned 61. I just had to wish him a Happy Birthday even though I am a few days late. Here is a few things about my dad...

1. He cares a lot about his family.

2. I know he would be at my door in a moments notice if I needed him.   

3. He is really enjoying his new/old brown truck.

4. He loves to ride horses and fish.

5. He is awesome Grandpa! 

6. And the best thing I know about my dad is... he really loves my mom. 

Dad, Happy Birthday. I love you more than you will ever know. Thanks for all you do for us. 

Swiss Days

Swiss Days was last weekend. They moved all of the events into the valley because the new Town Hall was completed and so was the streetscape. The parade was changed to go right down Santa Clara Drive so we figured we better have a float. It was great because it went right past the Fruitstand so Grandpa and Grandma Frei could sit right on their porch and watch. 

The float turned out really pretty cute. Lucky enough we kept the Fruitstand that Bradi built a couple years back. All it need was a little paint and it was good to go. The fruit around the float always makes it so bright and colorful so with not a lot of work we had a nice float. 
The kids like throwing candy and eating the apples out of the baskets. Wes threw an apple to Jake Erickson on the parade route and pegged Dave Frei right in the head. Who knew attending the Swiss Days Parade was a health hazard!?!  

Addie sat in her bumbo chair for pretty much the whole route. She loves that seat! I thought she looked pretty cute on the back of the float with her cute shirt and chair. (But I am the just the mother!) On the way back to the Fruitstand after the parade she finally fell asleep right in the bumbo. You know parades can take it out of ya! 
The best thing about the whole parade was all the comments about Gavin's pick up. Nobody knew who's it was because it was so clean. Everyone kept asking me "Who cleaned this truck?" or "Who's truck is this?" or "I have never seen this truck so clean, I hardly recognize it!" I kept laughing, because I cleaned it. (With a little help from Fabulous Freddies!) Maybe we will have to wash it again before another 6 months passes!! 

On Friday afternoon we went to Hands On at Heritage Square. The boys love to "Milk a Cow," brand a piece of wood and make rings out of horseshoe nails. I love the friday activities because they are free and the kids get to learn a little bit about their ancestors. Swiss Days was great and like Britton Webster it is one of our "favorite holidays," too! 

Roundup Time!

The Dixie Roundup Rodeo is more like a family reunion than a rodeo to me. We go every year, sit in the same seat and attend all 3 shows. The Roundup has been around for 74 years and I bet my family have attended almost all of them! 

This year Gavin and I weren't all that excited to go to the rodeo. I don't know if I was tired, or if 3 kids has just taking it out of me. To say the least, I was not thrilled to go. Although we had  2 little boys who were very excited, so Gavin and I put on our game face and headed to the rodeo, with 3 kids, 2 bags (1 diaper, & 1 camera) 3 lawn chairs, 1 cowboy hat (we had to turn around to get it) 3 belt buckles, 8 cowboy boots, 5 pairs of wranglers and 1 headband that Addie liked to pull off! Once we got to the rodeo, I remembered why we go every year. It isn't about what is going on in the arena, it is about all the friends and family you get to see while you are there. It is about eating peanuts and cotton candy, drinking watered down coke and watching the kids enjoy the clowns, bucking horses and bulls. I complain about going to the rodeo, but I really don't know anywhere I would rather be.  Thank you Lions club for keeping the tradition alive! 

Friday night "Pink Night" at the rodeo. Gavin really is tough enough to wear pink! 

Preston being a great big brother. He insisting on holding Addie to let her watch the rodeo.

Grandpa showed me in the rodeo book that the second Dixie Roundup Queen was named Addie, so maybe someday our Addie will be a rodeo queen! She all ready is the queen of our house! 

These 2 think Ad's is pretty special. 

Lots of family photo's takin' at the rodeo. 

Landon took Braxton on Saturday night. The two of them were so cute, they clapped for every queen in the grand entry, and every cowboy when they were done competing. These two are true fans of the rodeo! 
On Saturday night there was A LOT of people at the rodeo. It was probably the biggest crowd the Lions have ever had. The Irvin's couldn't find a seat so they squeezed in with us and it was great! Preston and Carson looked like true cowboys in their plaid shirts and boots. 

Well another year has come and gone for the Dixie Roundup. Lots of memories have been made at the Sunbowl and I am sure many more will be made in years to come.  Like the song says as you head to your car after of the rodeo..."Happy trails to you, until we meet again." 

Soccer Season

Soccer Season is in full swing  at our house. The boys have had two games so far and are loving it. 

Landon is playing a little stiffer competition this year and doing great. He was playing a little scared the first game but last week he broke out of his shell and started being aggressive. He almost scored a goal, it just bounced the wrong way off the goal pole. He is hoping to score one at his next game! 
Preston has made a complete turn around from last year. He is actually playing not just standing on the field watching grasshoppers! He has scored a couple goals in each game and doing great. He loves to "sprint" down the field and guard the goal so the other team can't score. His team has been really fun to watch. 
Preston's games have been right in the middle of the afternoon heat so Gavin brought the squirt bottle to cool him off. He loved getting a little squirt when he came off the field. 
I love watching the boys play, it is neat to see how excited they get before the game. They like to get out their water jug  and find their chin guards and cleats for Gavin to put on. They are growing up and I love being apart of it. 

Back To His Old Self

Gavin walked in the kitchen a few minutes ago and said "If this is not a picture, I don't know what is!" So I took a picture... I love to take pictures!! I decided to post it tonight so all can see Preston really is back to his old self being funny as ever. The contraption he has is his "Cell Phone" and he is calling his "work guys" with it just like his dad. (Gavin uses a headset when he is at home working.) Preston found this out of the Halloween box and decided it was perfect for him to be the next Sysco salesman or a cop he can't decide.  The pencil idea comes from his montessori teacher Miss Janae, she always has a pencil in her ear. I crack up at the things kids pick up on! 

Also, one more thing Preston has started doing... selling all his books for money. He walks around the house yelling "Books for Sale!" Gavin and I are the only suckers so far. We have bought the books we bought him in the first place for a quarter a piece! 

A Day We Will NEVER Forget!

Today is was a day in the Frei Family that we will never forget. This morning started off just like any other, wake up, and eat breakfast. After breakfast I was feeding Addie in the living room and Landon and Preston were playing Jakes Xbox in his room. All of the sudden Preston comes running out screaming "Mom I swallowed a penny, I am so sorry, Mom I swallowed a penny I am SORRY..." I started to freak as usual. I didn't know what to do, he could breath and talk so that was good, but I didn't know how to get it out.  Gavin and I decided to called Dr Thompson and Sam told me to come right over and get a X Ray. Dr Thompson figured it was probably in his stomach, but we just had to make sure. So we went and had the X Ray and this is what we saw.... 

Holy CRAP! I could not believe it. It was still in his throat. When we went back in to see Dr Thompson I started crying. I was trying to be so strong for Preston but I couldn't believe that was a penny in his throat.  Well needless to say we went straight to the ER where they could monitor him while we waited for an Operating Room to remove it. 
Here is Preston in the ER waiting and waiting and waiting. We got to the ER around 11:00 a.m. and they finally took us up to the O.R. at 2:00 p.m. They didn't end up taking him in until about 2:40 p.m. He had that NICKEL (he finally came clean and told us it was a nickel not a penny.) in his throat for a little over 5 hours. To remove it they put him to sleep, and took a scope and went down his throat and pulled it out. He was only under for about 25 minutes total. Dr Haddu was the pediatric GI specialist that removed it. He was very kind. We got to go in and see Press about 20 minutes later, once he woke up. He was a trooper, he said his throat felt a lot better and he wanted to go home with Grandma Katie! (She had stayed with us in the ER and through the surgery part.) Lex also came to check on us, it is kind of nice to have a brother that works right at the hospital! 

 I am so grateful we live in a day and age that we can go to hospital and have a nickel removed. I am grateful for skilled Doctors that care enough to go to years and years of schooling, so when my son swallows a nickel they will be there ready to help. I am grateful for prayer, and I am also grateful for family and friends. Thank you for your concern and support.  Preston is doing great now. He is back to his old self running around, laughing and doing dance moves. We love Preston so much and are so thankful he is in our family. He is such a sweet spirit we don't know what we would do without him. We love you, Preston!

Are You Ready for Some Football?

It is the opening week of the NFL Football season and we are ready! Now the weekly rituals begin... muted T.V. during Sunday dinner and of course the opening song for family home evening will be sung by who else, Hank Williams Jr!  

 Last night the boys were playing tackle football in the living room and Preston decided he was getting hurt, so he ran in Jake's room and came out with his helmet and pads on. It was pretty funny, his only problem was when Landon tackled him he couldn't get up! He did do a touchdown dance I wish I would have had on film. It was the disco finger move, except his arms couldn't go above his waist and he was flicking his little foot. It was a crack up!! 

To all of you NFL fans Happy 2008 Season!