Let it Snow!

This was the 1st time Tyler saw it snow fall.

Snow falling

The next morning.

So when was the last time it snowed in Sanchez, Arizona....well, my dad said 2 years ago but I wasn't here so I will say I can't remember. So here are a couple of pictures of the most recent snow that didn't stick.
I think someone is trying to break us in and say welcome to Colorado.

Congratulations Brad

On Friday, Brad GRADUATED! YEAH!!! He is an official
alumni of ASU. It was a great graduation. (because brad graduated)
He graduated with a bachelor degree in
Computer Systems Engineering.
He is now prepared to enter
the work world and conquer all.
Ira Fulton, whose name the engineering department is named after,
spoke at the graduation.
He once said:

"Our future
Lies in our ability to dream.
What we dream
We can create;
What we create,
We can become."
~Dr Ira A Fulton

Christmas came a little early

Christmas came a few days early this early thanks to Grandma & Grandpa Bastian. They came for Brad's graduation so we opened some presents early. Tyler got a Smart-Cycle. Ever since he opened the present he has wanted to play with it. He finally got his wish today. As Brad was putting it together these are some of the questions Tyler was asking:

Where's my MOTORBICYCLE? A motor cycle has always been called a motorbicyle by tyler. its his new invention

Are those my pedals?
What are these?
Is this pedal for my bike?
Is this going to make loud noises?
Is this a....I don't know what these are?
Is it a key?
What are those?
Does it go right here?

Brad's response....
I don't know. Don't touch those. Can you help mom.
I don't know. I don't know.
Tyler no.

and it continues on.

Christmas Atire

So I still think I have the cutest kids in the world. You may not agree with me
and that is okay. I still know the truth that you think yours are cuter but you
have to say that. So with that being said take a look at these faces.

Now tell me those aren't the cutest kids in the world.

Tyler's Fall

Last night while at Reed's house (Brad's brother), Tyler was walking down the stairs and about the 4th to the bottom, he came crashing down. Don't know what happened but he cried and cried. Then we realized he had cut his forehead. I felt so bad for him.

This was taken the day after. It seemed to close fairly well.

Cute Kids

Look at that HAIR! I never thought Katie
had any hair until this picture.
She is one cute little girl...
okay so I am a little biased.

She has that sexy look over the shoulder.
They sure do learn young.

Tyler has his cute smile accompanied by an OREO face.
Gotta love those OREOS!

Tyler's Christmas'

Look at how Tyler has changed over the years and grown to LOVE Santa Claus. He was such a small little baby for his 1st Christmas.

2005, Tyler just hangin' around

2006, He put something on my shirt

2007, Why won't my daddy save me?

2008, Can I have a yo yo for Christmas?

Katie is wondering, When will this be over?

Christmas Tree

This year we decided to get a small tree since we wouldn't be here for Christmas. Tyler was so EXCITED to decorate it. We picked out our tree, set it up, put the lights on and then Tyler decorated our tree. He would put the ornament on a limb and it would fall off. That happened several times. I think his favorite was putting the star on top of the tree. When he talks about our tree he talks about the STAR. We had a great time. Every time we come home, Tyler wants the lights from the tree turned on. I think he is really going to enjoy Christmas this year.

Cereal

Katie ate her 1st bowl of oatmeal cereal this morning for breakfast. We have tried in the past but she wasn't interested. Today, she kept opening her mouth to eat! YEAH!!!! Hopefully she won't be like Tyler and will eat her food. We are hoping that we are getting closer to removing her feeding tube. We discovered her reflux medications were not strong enough for her and she was throwing everything up. We have changed it and she is eating better and hasn't thrown up yet. Lets keep our fingers crossed that was the problem. Now if we could only get her to gain more weight. Hopefully with the cereal she will start to put more weight on and start looking more like a 7 month old instead of a 4 month old. Either way we are really excited to see her progress.
She rolled over the on November 25th for the 1st time. Her tummy time is getting better. She doesn't mind it so much anymore and actually is pushing up on her arms and holding her head up. One step at a time right....
The trials preemie babies go through are so amazing. The smallest things we take for granted are sometimes so hard for them.

Katie's Blessing Day

We decided to bless Katie the day after my parents 50th wedding anniversary party back in September. I know this is a late post but I just got the pictures from it.
Brad did such a great job. He gave a beautiful blessing to our precious little girl.
The power of the Priesthood is very real.
Katie's beautiful dress was made by my good friend Stephanie. She did a great job and I thought Katie looked great. Thanks Stephanie.

We're Moving

Yes! You did read that correctly. We are moving and we are moving far away. We are moving to Colorado Springs, Colorado. Brad has been offered a job at Progressive Insurance as an IT Applications Programmer. We are very thankful he has a job, but at the same time sad to leave so many memories and friends behind. Brad will be leaving the end of December, and the kids and I will join him mid February.
You are all welcome to come and visit us as we would love some company.

Happy 5th Anniversary

Happy 5th Anniversary

Brad and I just celebrated our 5th anniversary. It has been 5 great years! We have 2 beautiful children, Brad will be graduating in December and we will be starting a new chapter in our life.
We celebrated by going to Disneyland. My parents were kind enough to watch Tyler and Katie for us. We had a great time and it was a great time to visit. We never had to wait in line. We rode and rode and rode. I think our favorite is Space Mountain. I think we rode it about 5 times.

I can't believe how blessed I am in my life to have Brad. He is my rock! I have learned so much from him and I am so thankful to know we will be together forever.

I LOVE YOU BRAD! Thank you for all you do for me and the kids.

Enjoy our pictures from Disneyland.


California Screamin'

Dessert at Steakhouse 55

On our way to "Honey I Shrunk the Kids"

1st in line to enter the park

Hello Goofy!

Katie is such a fun baby. She is just now starting to smile and laugh out loud.
She loves to talk and enjoys singing very much.

Tyler's MRI results

When Tyler was born, he had grade 3 brain bleeds. Fortunately for us, they seemed to resolve itself before he left the hospital. When Tyler got his trach out in February, we noticed some tremors. We took him to see a neurologist and she did an MRI on him. The results have come back. Tyler's MRI came back that there are no problems at all. She said his brain looks perfect. She said it is a miracle because with the degree of bleeds he had, he should have scar tissue and he has none. She said he should out grow his tremors which they have decreased quite a bit. We have been truly blessed once again.

Gila Valley Temple

Preliminary drawing of Gila Valley Arizona Temple

I am so excited! A new temple is being built in the Gila Valley. It will actually be built at the central ball fields between Thatcher and Pima. Mt Graham will sit behind the temple. Ground breaking and site dedication are anticipated for January 2009. This will be the 5th temple to be built in Arizona. Currently there are 2 operating temples: Mesa and Snowflake. Two other temples have been announced, one in Phoenix and one in Gilbert. This truly is a blessing to all.

Happy Halloween

We had our annual trunk-or-treat again this year. We actually were able to go to 2 trunk or treats because our ward and our old ward were on different nights. I think Tyler had a great time. He was able to run around and get candy. He mentioned several times when he would see some costumes how they were scary. Tyler has a very tender heart. Overall, I think he had a great time. Katie was just along for the ride.

Family Home Evening

Last night for family home evening we
went and got a couple of pumpkins
so Tyler could paint them. He found a
pumpkin for Katie, mom and dad, and himself.
He was so excited to paint it. It started out fairly
clean and he had a nice face on it but then, well
you can see the pictures for yourself.
He had a great time.
We tried to put Katie's footprint and hand print
on her pumpkin but it just smeared and you couldn't
tell it was her foot print so Brad wrote Katie Bug
on it.
Maybe next year we will try carving the pumpkins.

Happy Day!

This is a great day! Katie went to see Dr Panesar, her pulmonologist, and we got great news. She is no longer on the apnea monitor, no longer on sodium chloride, aldactazide, and more importantly her oxygen. We have been waiting for this day for a long time. Okay really only 2 months but it seems like forever. This means when we travel one less bag to take with us and we don't need to worry about not having enough oxygen. Now we just need her to eat so we can get rid of the feeding tube. It is really nice to carry a baby around not attached to anything.

how i have grown

So I was sitting here thinking I wished I had taken pictures of Katie when she was in the NICU with an object that I could compare how she has grown. As I looked at my finger I realized, I did! When Katie was 7 days old I put my ring on her arm. She was so tiny, it fit like a bracelet. Now 5 months later, look how she has grown.

Thank heavens for little miracles.

Katie at 5 days old in the NICU, moms' ring.

Katie, 5 Months old, holding mom's ring.

Mom & Dad's rings on her toes. Look how I have grown.

Little Princess

Katie continues to grow and get bigger every day. At her weekly weight check she weighed 9 lbs 13 oz. She has gained 3 lbs in 2 months. We hope she will soon eat all her feeds from a bottle so we can get rid of the NG tube. During the day, she is able to come off her oxygen. She is a very cute baby when there is nothing on her face. She has the cutest smile.