Dear Santa,

In the Spirit of Christmas Miya thought she would leave a pass along card with the letter for Santa. I hope there are missionaries at the North Pole.

Grandma O'Brien

Well Grandma O'Brien passed away late Sunday night. It really has been a long time coming and I will dearly miss her, but I am so glad she is back with my Grandpa. Grandma O'Brien made the best rolls for Thanksgiving dinner, she could out stir all 5 of us girls combined when making candy (and she was a tiny lady) and she always had something great waiting in her cookie jar. My grandma lived ten minutes from me growing up and we always made a trip to her house for a Sunday evening treat. She had connect four in the extra bedroom that my sisters and I played and fought over for hours. I loved being at her house unless I was asked to get something out of the basement. Seriously that place scared the pants off me. Even when we would move the wood from the shed to the basement it was better being in the old stinky shed then down in the basement. I remember her little stuffed Christmas tree that she always put the kids Christmas socks on each year. She had a strong testimony and even after Alzheimer's set in she couldn't remember who you were, but she was happy and kind to everyone. I love my grandma.

Cannon

Yesterday Cannon was running around the house, stopped and said his tummy hurt. He laid down on the couch and I heard from the other room, "Mom your chest hurts when you have a heart attack. My chest hurts. I am having a heart attack, but it isn't serious because I am not dying."
My response went something like, "your chest can hurt from other things too, not just a heart attack."
He followed up with, "Nope, pretty sure it's a heart attack." Not two minutes later he was up and running around again.
I am pretty sure I had a heart attack this morning while doing my Plyometric workout. I will have to ask Cannon when he gets home from school.

Dear Barbie,

Dear Barbie,

I felt I needed to send a quick thank you note to tell you how much I appreciate your move to the big screen and your great acting in The Princess and the Pauper. I loved playing with you as a child mostly many hours building your dream house and was pleasantly surprised to see your career move to acting a few years ago. I know that this movie was one of your first, but may I say that I think it is some of your best work. I can see that you have spent years learning dancing, singing and acting. This practicing has really paid off. Not only are you a great actress, but you are also a great babysitter. That's right your movie is the only one my Lyla will watch. We have spent many hours over the last month with your singing in the background.

My daughters have greatly appreciated your guidance in becoming a princess. Lyla has now learned to sing and dance just as a princess should. Please send my regards and warmest wishes to all the others that played a role in making this great movie.

Thanks again,

Jamie Combs

P.S. We have lost our Twelve Dancing Princesses, could you send one for Christmas if you have extra copies.

Birthday Girl

Well my little girl is now 7 and I can't believe how lucky we got with such a great little girl. Miya has always been kind with just a little bit of fiesty edge she only shows at home. Miya is a great big sister. Cannon was born when she was only 18 months and I remember her getting the diapers for me when he needed changed and she just loved to help with her little brother. She is that way now with all little kids. She really loves to help out (and she also likes to be the boss). She is great at thinking up games for the kids to play and she loves reading to Cannon and Lyla.
Things Miya loves to do now:
Read and learn new words.
Sing. She has always loved singing and would make us songs almost as soon as she started to talk, but now she can read the words at church and she might be the loudest person singing the hymns.
Running. This is just mostly laps around in the house now that it is cold outside, but she loves to be moving.
We are so happy to have Miya in our family. I thought I would include a picture that I found of Miya when she was two just to remind myself that Miya and Lyla are little twins born 4 years apart.

Thankful For...

Well before we head off to Vashon to stuff ourselves full of yummy food I thought I would sit down and document the things I am most thankful for this year:

• My family. I have three beautiful, happy, healthy and wonderful children. A hard working, loving, kind and thoughtful husband.
• My health. I am so grateful to have a body that is capable of getting things done.
• The Gospel. I love having the truth and light in my life and for the blessings of peace I have had this past year with all the other things going on.
• A home. I am so happy to have protection from the elements and a safe place to put my kids to bed every night.
• Nature. Living on a lake I feel I get to enjoy so much nature just in my own backyard and it is a wonderful blessing.
• Life. I am happy to be having experiences that teach me to grow and become better, but also just because life is good and fun.
• Laughter.
• Friends and all my other wonderful family. Wonderful sisters that are both friends and family. Parents who are always great examples and friends.

Parent Teacher Conference

This week we had conferences for the kids and was interesting to hear what the teachers think of my children.

Cannon:
Always trying really hard to master whatever is being taught. (You should have seen how he practiced tying his shoe during church since his dad showed him on Saturday.)
He brings up great questions in class.
He is friends with everyone.
He isn't shy like Miya. (He has her teacher from last year)
He is wonderful to have in class, but he has had to stand on the line for time-out a few times at recess. (I have talked to him about this and the rule of no touching other kids. He loves to hug and so does his best friend in class, but it always turns into wrestling and then time-out.)
He is very respectful of his teacher, Mrs. Jones.

Miya:
She is a great reader.
She is SUPER quiet.
She is always helpful of other students in class.
She loves a challenge.

I am just glad they are both really liking school and we are excited to not have anymore half-days this next week.

Cannon

Well, where to begin? I guess to start a couple of weekends ago when Cannon was sick. He came home from school on Friday not feeling well. Cannon can NOT handle having a stuffy nose. It drives him crazy. He can't sleep, he can't stop sniffing (even though it does nothing), there are lots of tears and screaming and then finally there is a discussion with mom or dad. Everyone in the house hates it when Cannon gets sick. He is not a silent sufferer. Miya can get the stomach flu and you give her a bowl and she just does her business empties her bowl and goes back to sleep. You don't even know how sick she was until the next morning she tell you how many times she was up during the night. Cannon lets everyone know when something is bothering him and he doesn't stop until everyone no longer cares that he doesn't feel well.

Well I kept him home from school on Monday just to be on the safe side. Even though his fever (101.5) was long gone and his cough had settled down. On Tuesday morning I gave him the "sometimes it just takes positive thinking to get feeling better" he just rolled his eyes at that. He had been doing the international sign for choking the entire weekend because his cough was irritating his throat. I told him he needed to put on a happier face to go to school. Well less then an hour later I got a call from the school to come pick him up. That day he tried as hard as he could to act sick...he laid on the couch as long as he could (30 minutes) then he was up and ready to play. This pattern continued on Wednesday with a call from the school. Thursday and Friday he wanted to be at school because he had Fall parties and the ward party on Friday that he knew he couldn't go to if he missed school.

The weekend he was fine. Yesterday I took his temperature before school because he again had on his sick face. 98.6 and off to school we went. The phone rang an hour later...Cannon has a temperature and needs to be picked up. What? Okay. He does have on his sick face when I pick him up and we go talk to his teacher who says, "Cannon said he couldn't go home because he would get in trouble." Me trying to act like he didn't get in trouble last week when he came home and really wasn't sick tried to laugh that comment off. When we got home he ran to the bathroom and went potty. Now Cannon likes to have his time in the bathroom and doesn't really like going at school. (Reason #1 he came home) He came out and asked if he could have some of his candy. (Reasone #2) No. Then he did his homework and started to play. (Reason #3) I started putting two and two together and started asking questions. Cannon did you have PE before they took your temperature? Yes. Did you go straight to the office from the gym? Yes. Where you hot and sweaty from PE? Yes. Now my kids don't normally get super high temperatures, they do however get super hot and sweaty at PE. Cannon's temperature at 103 was the highest he had ever had. I took his temperature at home, it had now been 40 minutes since PE and he was at 98.6 AMAZING. So I did what we all do just to make sure our kid can't pull the sick card for the rest of the year and took him to the doctor.

Now I know that Cannon wasn't sick anymore and while we waited in the waiting room at the dr. office (with people seriously looking like they might die) Cannon was jumping off things and running around. When the doctor came in the room I said, "I am sorry we are here but Cannon needs to hear that everything is okay." Surprise Surprise, Everything was okay. I called the office this morning to let them know that Cannon didn't have a fever yesterday and that I was bringing him back to school this morning. When I told Cannon to get dressed he once again tried to put on his sick face. I informed him that if he wanted to keep staying home from school, home would become a much less fun place to be. He raced to his room, put on his clothes and he has been at school for over an hour now and no call from the office. I still have my fingers crossed.

Tree Removal

So after a few hours and a couple of chainsaws this tree became...

Thankfully Phil's brother Aaron came over on Saturday to help Phil get this tree chopped and out of the water. We started out dry, but it was just a matter of minutes of Aaron arriving that he was wet up to his waist. Phil only has a little electric chainsaw that he had started with before Aaron got there. We laughed at the struggle it had getting through the small branches and that it would have taken years to get through the tree with that thing. Aaron showed up with his big manly gas chainsaw and really got to work. We were super glad the weather was beautiful because the water was pretty cold.

Now we just need to get a chipper and get rid of the piles of tree we still have down on the beach, but we were happy to get as much done as we did before taking the kids out to trick-or-treat.

The Party NEVER Stops

Well it seems that Halloween in the longest celebrated holiday with parties starting the first week of October and extending all throughout the month. We had parties earlier this month, but just this last weekend we had a great ward Halloween party on Friday night. The kids loved all the carnival games and of course all the treats and candy they came home with. Plus we got Krispy Kreme doughnuts for the doughnuts on a string game (totally high class).
Miya was excited about her snow princess costume until she tried it on and it hit her mid-shin. She kept trying to pull it down. I kept trying to tell her that someday she would love having long slender legs, but she didn't believe me Friday night. Cannon really wanted to be a ninja, but we had this costume at home so he was forced to be a Power Ranger.

Lyla didn't really want to be anything and even when I told her she would get candy she just kept saying, "I don't like Halloween" I don't think I put her down for more than 3 minutes the whole party. We had a guy in the ward dressed up as Ronald McDonald (Phil thought this was the best) Lyla however wanted nothing to do with the guy. She doesn't like getting dressed up or seeing others dressed in costume. She still asks me where the Easter Bunny is from last years Easter Egg hunt. She is just making sure he wont pop up at our house unexpected.

Once we got her in costume she did turn on the smiles for the camera though.

Everyone yelling trick-or-treat.

Then on Saturday we went up to Seattle to the old Ward's trunk-or-treat and met up with some friends for food and a movie.

The kids wrapping up to watch a movie while all the adults went outside to watch a scary movie on our friends homemade movie projector. Of course Lyla didn't last long and we only got to watch about 20 minutes of the movie before we had to head home. It was great to see friends and hang out for a few hours at least.

Frankie, Will, Sophie, Miya, Lyla all hanging out watching The Little Mermaid.

The new costumes for Saturday night trunk-or-treat.

Weather Related

Well the last of our flowers have come and gone and I have been outside on the dry days cleaning up the garden. Yesterday I was raking and couldn't help but think about our poor tenants in Seattle that have to rake millions of leaves this fall. It was nice to just be out for a few hours and have all the yard raked off. In Seattle it took weeks and over 200 bags to get all the leaves off that yard. Everything always looks so beautiful in the Fall until all the leaves are gone. We had a big wind storm last week so most of the leaves have come down.

We have a really pretty tree in the front that looked like it was the "burning bush" for a few weeks.

On Friday during the wind storm Lyla and I were in the kitchen and heard a crash and looked down by the water to see one of the giant willow trees laying in the water. The tree was actually our neighbor's but it fell on our side. Plus the neighbor is like 90 years old so we will have to eventually get out there with the chainsaw and take care of this mess.

Can you see Phil in the tree? Seriously this tree is going to be a beast to get out of the water.

I heard the 8-10 year old scouts needed a service project...do you think this is what they had in mind?

Pumpkin Patch

The kids didn't have school on Friday so we went with some friends to the pumpkin patch. The day was cool and beautiful and the kids had a wonderful time. They loved the pig races and the vortex room and it was fun hanging out with friends. We took the traditional pumpkin patch photo...only wish Phil could make it in to one of these.

I got to be surrounded by all the kids.

Cannon on the cow train ride. They didn't look like they were having fun, but they all wanted to go again when it was over.

Miya and Lyla playing in the corn room. It was super dusty in there and the kids were covered when we came out.

On the bridge in the middle of the corn maze. We loved the maze until we hit clue number 8 and couldn't find our way out. Jennifer had Sara on her shoulders and she fell asleep and then Jen had to carry her the whole time we were lost. Luckily we survived.

Monkey Boy

Lyla has a new favorite book. We read this book about 5 million times a day. I finally said, "why don't you read it." It was so cute I had to record it for grandma and grandpa. Of course you get to hear her sassy attitude when she doesn't want to read it anymore, but that is just more of the fun of a two year old little girl :)

Volunteer

Yesterday was my first day helping in Miya's classroom and I had to laugh when I got home about how much movement there was during the short hour I was there. Kids where all over the place. They were working on their science journal and kids were EVERYWHERE. They had to get a different crayon from a different basket, they had to go to the board to look at the sentences, they had to talk to their teacher, they had to... It was 1:00 in the afternoon and by the time the assembly started somehow all but two of the kids had finished. Thank Heavens for 1st grade teachers. I don't know how they do it, continually bringing the kids back to the task at hand.
I am excited to spend more time in there this year.

Problem Solver

I picked Cannon up from school and his teacher said, "So today..." I tuned her out a little for a second to think, "shoot what did Cannon do today?" she went on, "Cannon helped solve a problem in the bathroom. Cannon, you will have to tell your mom all about it."

Cannon was beaming at this point and couldn't wait to get to the car to tell me all about his problem solving skills. His story went like this:

Cannon: I went in the bathroom and you know the place that you go pee, not the regular toilet?Me: yes. (I really can't imagine what is going to come next, but I can't imagine the bathroom being very clean with urinals for little boys.)

Cannon: Well, a big kid was sticking a little boys head in there and flushing so his head got all wet. He asked (I am not sure he was really asking) me to do it to, but I said no and that he shouldn't be doing it to the other little kids.

Miya: mom we have a sign that says Be a Buddy not a Bully.

Me: Then what happened Cannon?

Cannon: I went to the bathroom and then went out for recess and told Mrs. _____ about it and showed her what boy it was that did it.

Me: Cannon how did you know that what was happening in the bathroom was wrong? Was the little boy crying?

Cannon: He wasn't crying, but he just kept sniffing his nose. It didn't seem like something that should be happening and so I stopped it.

Me: Cannon I am so glad that you didn't just join in on the bullying and that you helped the other little boy. I hope you know how great I think you are. I love you.

Cannon: Thanks mom. Mrs. ______thought I was pretty good too.

I love this little boy. I am a little worried about bullying at school, but I am glad to see how Cannon handled things.

September Weekends

Well the kids are excited to be back in school, but we have had great weekend weather the past few weeks. We have enjoyed some wake boarding, tubing, hiking, cookouts and a trip to the local gardens on kid's day. We have this little family hike up to a small waterfall out past Eatonville near our old cabin. The kids love it and it is easy enough everyone has a good time.

Phil took all the kids over and around to the cave under the waterfall.

Wishing we had a backpack big enough to put Lyla in for the trip back. She did okay and walked all the way there. We did carry her all the way back.

We love the weather in September, cool and crisp yet the sunshine is almost always out.

Kids day at the gardens. They had this swimming pool and it was all to tempting for the kids.

Miya and Cannon loved climbing in the fire truck and Lyla just screamed and covered her ears in case they started the truck and the sirens.

Part of the gardens.

The policeman let the kids get in the back of the car with the hard seats and a place for the hands in handcuffs. They thought it was great and they looked at the big guns he had in the front seat.

Notice no Lyla in the picture.

What a nice smiling policeman. Phil was teasing him about this being our family picture for the Christmas cards.

Miya E. Combs 1st Grader Toothless Wonder

So Miya lost her first tooth yesterday. We have been reading the Junie B. Jones books this past year and did the Toothless Wonder book for mother/daughter book club. Miya loves the books and has been dying to loose a tooth. This morning I let her know that she is now part of the Junie toothless wonder club and she was so proud. She wanted to take the tooth to school today, but luckily the tooth fairy already came last night and took the tooth. Miya thinks she is cleaning it to recycle the tooth in Lyla's mouth (who is currently working on getting her two year molars).
Here we head into the years of crazy teeth. Giant teeth coming in one tooth at a time.

First Day of School 2009

So the kids have been in school for the past 3 days. Cannon was so brave and didn't need me to even walk him in to class. I asked him at the end of the day what he learned and he said, "we learned about the letter A and the color red. All the stuff I already know." He loves his teacher and loves lunch. He has been eating a ton and falls asleep within minutes of being put to bed at night.

Miya loves her teacher too and has been enjoying school, but can't wait until she gets back into reading next week in class. It will be a good year for her and she is loving being back and seeing all of her friends from last year.

I have a new companion around all the time now that Lyla has no other people at home during the day. She is a pretty fun little buddy and loves helping with the dishes in the sink.

Wrapping It Up

Well we have been busy squeezing every last minute of summer we could out of this last week. There is a chill in the air that wasn't there just days ago. The kids are getting excited for school to start next week and we have moved from spending hours a day in the water to building sand castles up on the beach. FHE was spent watching dad swim (which I of course missed the actual jump picture and only caught the standing on the pole and the feet sticking out of the water) and building sand castles.

We took a few hours yesterday to go thru drawers of clothes, putting away summer things
and finding a home for clothes that actually fit and will keep us warm this fall and winter. Cannon went to church on Sunday in a 3T shirt he found in his drawer. Nothing like a little boy in a belly shirt at church. When I buttoned up his buttons on his sleeves they were 3/4 sleeves. We heard a lot of comments about that shirt and have since found a new home for it in the D.I. bag. There were some tears shed by Cannon when we placed it there. He sure does get attached to clothes and they are never the ones you hope he makes an attachment too.