halloween.thanksgiving.christmas....o my!

*Just a warning, this post is super long! So, thanks for reading in advance*

Today while the kids are napping, I decided I should try and catch up on blogging, so in my attempts to blog, I started going through all of the thousands of pictures we have, and I don't have one single picture from Halloween. I don't know why, but....o well. Since Halloween was on Sunday anyways, we just stuck with trunk or treat. :) Kaden was woody, Meikle was buzz, Sydney was Jessie (I made her costume, and it was frickin adorable if I do say so myself.....I KNOW I had a picture of it.....) and I was going to try to be Bo Peep.....but, an hour before trunk or treat decided to go with Barbie (she's in all 3 toy story movies, so I tried to pull it off.....I don't know if anyone got it) So, the rest of the family looked cute, and I just got weird looks :) O well.....so, Halloween was pretty uneventful.....I went over the top with decorations, but....hey, I LOVE to decorate for Holidays :) But here are a few pictures from October :)

The weather has been up and down and up again.....but with that, we've done a TON of park days :) Here's Sydney and mommy with our friends little baby Paige.

We've been trying to grow a garden.....we have NO experience....well, I have none, Meikle surprises me everyday with a skill he randomly "knows" how to do....haha. But the kids LOVE to help.

Kaden usually always has a smile on his face.....as big as this one....while Sydney is into anything and everything....

*Moving on to November :)*

.....yet again, we have NO pictures from Thanksgiving hahahah. I don't know why, but....cool.

Anyways, it was cooler this November than usual, so we tried to find fun activities indoors....One of our favorites was our visits to Peter Piper Pizza ($5 lunch buffet.....booyah!)

Meikle and I celebrated our 4 years on the 11th as well.....although, no pictures yet again...I'm starting to see a random/weird trend here with important dates....

This trip was full of jackpots.....this was my jackpot win, first try, first game :) (Bass pro fishing game hahah)

Little miss Sydney Sue loved everything here! She ran around pointing and signing lights and clapping....

Kaden's favorite games were Ski-ball and driving the "race cars"

Kaden won a jackpot all on his own!!! On this game that you push a button to drop the ball and land it in a circle (his first try, first game)

Meikle also had a Jackpot win, so we came out with like 500 tickets. It was bizarre, but we spent all of tickets on 5 ticket army men, and 2 suckers. You can imagine my excitement of the tons of army men that are scattered around our house.....

*Six Flags*

We had the chance to go to Six Flags this year too! We were chaperones for a high school Winter Formal group that our friends Kyle and Camille hooked us up with. I've never been, and we had a chance to go a few years ago with some friends, but we were like 8 weeks pregnant with Sydney, so we missed out :/ But, we were able to go this time. Unfortunately, it was pouring rain the entire time and freezing. We luckily found a Target close and bought Poncho's, beanies and gloves. (We're sissy's) But we had a BLAST! and can't wait to go again!

Daffy Duck and Bugs Bunny!

Raining like crazy.....

I'm kind of a sissy when it comes to rides, I went on almost everything, but this was my face waiting in line

Kyle and Camille :)

He's my favorite!

The jeep in front of Terminator

Lunch! :)

And goodnight Six Flags!

*Moving on to December/Christmas! :)*

We stayed home this year in our own house and had such a great time. Santa was excited this year and over-did things a little....but even Santa can get carried away....

I tried to do 12 days of Christmas kid's activities with Kaden, we did like 3 days and then it got crazy as the Season always does....

Our first craft! Gingerbread guys and gals!

Decorating the house. Don't worry, I have like 9 tubs full of Christmas stuff :)

The kids favorite decoration every year....

I love this guy!

At Bass Pro, they had this "North Pole" set up the whole month of December. Every Tuesday was kid's night, and everything was FREE :) our kind of fun! So, we went almost every week and had frequent talks with Santa :)

Shooting range at the North Pole :) Kaden loves his daddy!

We adopted a few kids when our friends went to help at Temple Lights, so we had 6 kids for a night, so I made some delicious Gingerbread cookies and we decorated the night away!

Sydney on Christmas Eve.....we had worn the kids OUT and they were both in bed before 8....

Kaden was ecstatic to put out cookies for Santa. We left out cookies, and carrots for the Reindeer, and juice. (Kaden did NOT want to leave Santa milk...) And I made him put out cookies, his idea was a hot dog.

Kaden's "bike"

Sydney wanted Kaden's bike.....hers was not as cool I guess....

All of Sydney's gifts :) Her favorite: her baby dolls

Kaden's gifts :) His favorite, his bike and toy story games

*Overall we've had a GREAT holiday season! We have a lot of blessings that we are so thankful for. A few trials that through the Lord we've been able to get through, and have taught us amazing lessons in life. We are so blessed with wonderful family and friends that have really been there for us amongst this crazyness that we call life*

Dear Darla, I hate your stinking guts. You make me vomit. You're scum between my toes! Love, Alfalfa.

Our little "Spanky"

Happy new year!!! :)

We celebrated it this year with Meikle's family in Safford....while the adults were playing games, this is what the kids were doing.

A few of our New Year's Resolutions:

*Have Family Home Evening regularly

*Read Scriptures as a family more often

*Enjoy spending time together without having to spend a lot of money

Love,

The Garrett Gang :)

HaPPy BiRThDaY!

With all of Sydder's crazy allergies......I made these cupcakes from scratch. They were egg, nut, dairy, wheat, and soy free! :) They tasted pretty dang good though! (I was a little weirded out at first though, because they had vinegar in the recipe.....(I guess it asks like an egg would, but gross sounding).

Here's one of the few pictures I got of Sydney actually opening one of her own presents. We had a lot of friends come with their little ones, and when it came to opening presents, it was kind of a free-for-all.....Thanks for all the wonderful gifts though! (And, sorry I'm such a slacker, keep waiting for thank-you cards, I promise, I'll get them done soon)

Here's my little baby girl with her new sippy!!! She LOVES it!!! Can't believe our baby is 1 already!!! What the heck?!?!

Sydney:

*absolutely LOVES her brother.....everything he does, she wants to do

*says ma-ma, da-da, bye-bye and dog.....she has some form of word for Kaden too

*is walking like crazy!!!! She started at about 10 months and is a walking fool now!

*LOVES animals.....she see's our cat, and freaks out with squeals of excitement

*is a major Daddy's girl, and pouts anytime he leaves and doesn't take her too

*is an eating machine. She's gained 3 lbs since she got out of the hospital in a month and a half.

*loves to play with her doll. She feeds her, and helps her "eat".....the only thing is when she's done, she just throws her, like, "o, that was fun.....what else do we have".

*is such a diva. She adores shoes and constantly carries around nail polish

*hates to nap, but when I force her to nap since she's way too young to avoid that, she sleeps great!

*is still sleeping through the night.....

*finally got 3 teeth like a week ago

*want to wear skirts everyday and boots with everything!

*has such attitude....and fake pouts everyday. But, Meikle and I just look at her and tell her to stop, and she just laughs....

*is the most amazing sweet little girl we could ask for!!! We just love her to death!!!!

Thank you everyone for coming to our sweetheart's first birthday!!! We had a great turn out, and a ton of fun with everyone!!!! We love you all and feel so blessed to have such great family and friends!!!!

Free Photo Shoot!!!!

Alissa Melody Photography is giving away a free photo shoot!!!! :) Hooray!!! It's been a year since we've had family pictures, and would LOVE the opportunity to win!!!! :) I'm posting this so I can have the extra entry just in case.....Not sure if I can win, but, worth a shot!!! :)

$30,000 and a surgery later.....pt. 2

Dear Doctors,

Thank you for being stupid at times.....I don't mean that to be rude, but, sometimes I wish you would listen to Mom's or Dad's when they bring in a concern and ask you to do something for 7 months in a row. For instance, when our little girl's tongue is not able to touch the roof of her mouth, and it makes her aspirate, leading her to throw up anything and everything, and leading us to a $30,000 hospital bill on top of the horrible sight of seeing your daughter throw up for 2 months straight.....just listen next time please :) I'm not mad, and not bitter, although this may sound a little of both. But, just step down off of your pedestal, and realize you're human talking to other humans for the well-being of a baby. I'm not saying I'm as smart as you, or that I know more than you, but.....take one for the team in admitting that doctors are wrong all the time. They do call their work a "practice". That's all. =)

Dear other Doctors/Nurses,

I LOVE that their are people willing to dedicate their lives into saving others'. And you guys are amazing! So, thank you to all of the others out there that were there to help fix our problem when we were at one of our worst lived fears. Thank you for clipping her tongue and helping our daughter be able to eat on her own again without depending on a tube. You guys helped us through a lot in our time of trial, and we deeply appreciate it.

Dear family and friends,

Your prayers and thoughts for little Sydney girl were such a blessing! Thank you for all the love and support. We feel very blessed to have each and every one of you in our lives! :)

$30,000 and a surgery later.....

Dear little Miss Sydney Alyse.....

Thank heavens that you are feeling better and out of the hospital!!! We were only there for a week, but that was longer than a lifetime to have our little precious baby couped up in a little room with a feeding tube, and stuck to an I.V. You were a little trooper though. The last few days that we were there, you actually started pushing your I.V pole around with you, like it was a new way of living. But, as soon as they taught me, your mommy, how to put a feeding tube in your nose, we left!!!! You had a very ecstatic look about your face when I took you out of the hospital and we got into the car seat. You didn't even care that you had to be buckled....you were glad. We got home that night, and you got to play with your own toys, and see your favorite person of all time.....KADEN. :) I love that the two of you play so well together!!! When the time came for bed, you almost leapt out of my arms for your own crib, and drifted off to sleep.

6 A.M rolled around and I got a kiss on my cheek from your daddy. Time for work....but, all of the sudden you were screaming bloody murder. We both ran to your aid, to find milk all over your bed, and an enormous grin across your face with your feeding tube out and in hand. And ever since that day, you've been drinking your bottles fine.....no more throwing up, and definitely no more feeding tube. It was that day I realized, I was in trouble.....You are the most determined not even one year old I've met! You will do amazing things in this life, and I have no doubt that you'll succeed. Each morning you wake up with a smile on your face, full of love and joy for what the day will bring. I admire you Sydney Sue.....and love you more than you will know. Keep it up, but NEVER forget, mommy is always here for you! =)

Sydney Sue's Hospital Extravaganza......

Ok, here's the story on how poor little Sydney wound up here in the Phoenix Children's Hospital. Around July 12th-ish, Sydney, who is the best eater that ever lived, started to spit up a little after she would drink a bottle. It wasn't everytime, or a lot or everyday. She didn't have a schedule of when she would or wouldn't, but it just was interesting because she was not a spitty baby. So, after a week, we went on vacation to Utah. Sydney was a fantastic little traveler, and once we got to Utah she started to throw up a little more. After she would drink a bottle she would throw up pretty quickly after. And, it wasn't every bottle, or at a certain time of day. But, just kind of odd. Then around the next week, she started throwing up more and more....and then it slowly progressed to anything she drank. Milk, water, or juice. So, I felt it was strange, but the doctor wasn't too worried. So, she continually started to get worse, and drink and then throw up. But, slowly anything pureed that she ate she would throw up. And it just progressed to where she couldn't eat anything without throwing up. Which still didn't concern the doctor, but yet her Ezcema did. Weird, but.....o well. So, our pediatrician sent us to the allergists. They tested her and she was allergic to milk, soy, wheat, eggs, peanuts and cashews!!!! Crazyness, but I stopped feeding her those things and the allergist mentioned she might have a disorder called E.E (Eosinphillic Esophagitis). He gave me a pamphlet and sent me to a pediatric GI. So about a week later we saw him. He thinks she might have E.E too, and thinks she's throwing up because of allergies. But, who knows?!?!?! So, my little Sydney hadn't had a wet diaper from around 4a.m-11a.m, which was crazy for a little girl, so I brought her into the ER with Meikle and we were there until around 6:30 pm this last wednesday. They admitted her to the hospital, and here we are still. She's still throwing up, and not drinking anything, so they gave her a feeding tube and IV. My poor little baby is still so sick!!! And, Kaden is having the HARDEST time understanding what is going on! It's soooo sad. Today when we came to visit, on the way over, we had this conversation:
Kaden-"Mommy, are we going to see Sydney Sue?"
Me-"Yup, and Daddy!"
Kaden-"Is Sydney Sue all better?"
Me-"Not yet....She's still sick."
Kaden-"Mommy, Sydney's broken. She needs new batteries...."

I feel so bad! I wish it were that easy!!!! And I wish that Kaden can stay calm, and understand, but he's only 2, so he can't quite get it.....

But, anyways. We are holding up, and doing well. Tired, and having a hard time spreading our attention between the kids/work and driving back and forth to PCH. But, Sydney is sleeping, and so I'm getting my rest that I need now too!!! Just wanted to keep everyone posted!!! :)