I don't even know where to begin since it's been months since I've updated the blog. I guess I will start where I left off...

OCTOBER-

October was a crazy month for us as months go. Vern and I both had to speak in church (this was traumatic for us), we had the primary program, the ward trunk-or-treat that the primary was in charge of and Halloween festivities.

Han Solo and Jesse

NOVEMBER-

November was an interesting month. We finally had the Perry family pictures taken with all of Vern's family. They turned out great! We also got a dog, who we named Scooby. We got Scooby from a shelter in Gilbert call Friend For Life. Many of you know, Mattie is seriously afraid of dogs, even little teeny tiny ones. I'm not sure why, but we decided to get one anyway. Mattie got used to Scooby and was crazy about him. She wouldn't leave him alone and much to our dismay would even lay on his dog bed with him. But Scooby had some problems. I took him to the vet several times in one month and on the last visit they said his prognosis didn't look good. I didn't want him to pass away at our house so we took him back to the shelter. The shelter took him to their vet and he was put to sleep. Poor Scooby. He was really a sweet dog. We went to Show Low for Thanksgiving and had a nice time with family.



DECEMBER-


Riley had his kindergarten Christmas Concert in the beginning of December. We really enjoyed it. We were able to participate in the Globe light parade this year. It was pretty awesome. Vern's dad borrowed little train cars and hooked them to my dad's Ranger. The kids had a lot of fun and won the "Holly Jolly" award. Mattie and Maddux's picture was even in the Silverbelt (the Globe newspaper).







































































We went to Vern's company Christmas party and it as incredible. We were all able to get a ride in a R44. Riley went with Degen and Breanna and Mattie was with me and Riley. This was the first I had ever been in helicopter. Vern has been flying for 5 years and I've never gone. It was kind of strange to me and a little unsettling. I guess if I did it enough I would get used to it? I still can't believe that Vern is flying a helicopter everyday.



























Vern had had no time off for quite a while we decided to stay in Globe this year for Christmas instead of bouncing around back and forth between Mesa and Globe. It was a really nice Christmas being able to be in one place and spending time with family.








I was released from my calling, the 2nd counselor in primary. I really miss being in primary! I did get two new callings- Wolves den mother (?) and I lead the music in Relief Society. Vern also has two new callings: he teaching in Elders Quorum and is the ward employment specialist.

I have quite a few Mattie stories but I will just tell a few. I was upstairs and I heard a loud crash. I yelled down and said, "What was that?" I yelled it again. I knew everyone was okay because there was no crying or screaming. Finally Mattie answers, "It was nothing". She had dropped something off the counter.

Mattie has also developed quite a vocabulary. Her catch phrase is, "Oh no peanuts!" when something goes wrong. She does things all day long that you shake your head at and say to yourself, did she just do that? She got a doll pack -n-play for Christmas and I keep catching her in it. Yesterday she said that she had to get in it because her stuffed animal bunny was crying.






She dumped almost an entire bottle of ranch on her plate.

I am excited for 2012. It's going to be a great year. I got a small video camera for Christmas called a "bloggie". I hopefully will be putting lots of videos on the blog so look for them in near future!

Watches and Croutons

Fall is in the air. Okay, not exactly in the air where we live but one can hope right? This weekend will be the first weekend in October so hopefully fall will be approaching soooon. I love fall. I love the colors~ the oranges, browns, reds, greens and gold. I love pumpkins, candy corn, leaves and costumes.

I went to Riley's parent-teacher conference today. I have been nervous about it not knowing what to expect. Apparently, he is a good student and is behaving himself at school (I was worried about the second one). We told him he could pick something out for having a good report card or go somewhere fun. His choice was a watch. He already has three watches. It's so funny because he really has a thing for watches and shoes.

Tonight we were had dinner at Village Inn. Riley complained about his food and tried to describe something else he wanted. Here's how the conversation went:

Riley: Its square

Me: A waffle?

Vern: Cantaloupe?

Riley: No its like this but different (he picked up one of the square potatoes on Vern's plate)

Me: Is it a fruit?

Riley: No

Me: Bread or toast?

Riley: No. You know, we get them somewhere else with lettuce.

Me: Oh! A crouton?

Riley: Yes!!!

Me: We didn't order anything that came with croutons. (We all had breakfast stuff)

Then Riley started pouting.

Vern: What's wrong?

Riley: I can't say that word

Vern: What word?

Riley: I can't say crouton

Vern: You just said it

It may not sound funny reading it but it was funny when it was being said.

The Misadventures of Mattie

My mom, Mattie and me were shopping last week while Riley was at school. Mattie picked out an outfit that was really cute. Then we went to Dilliards to find Riley something. In the dressing room while my mom and me were changing, Mattie decided to strip down too. She took everything off and the proceeded to pee on her diaper (her diaper was laying on the floor). I didn't have another diaper with me, so she put on the new pj's she had just gotten without a diaper. We went to the little boys section to look for something for Riley. Well, you know the clothes racks and how kids will sometimes hid/play in them? This time, Mattie decided to change in them. Except, because we were in the kid section, only her head was hidden. I looked up and there she stood completely naked. She wanted her other outfit on. There's never a dull moment when you're with Mattie.

Yesterday I was scanning some documents on the computer and making some phone calls. Where the computer is in the house is like feet away from the kitchen/living room. I walk in there and she has a crate of yogurt with 4 cartons open and smashed into the carpet. How did I not hear her? I don't know. So while I'm getting stuff to clean it up, she gets on the computer desk and apparently touched the screen (I didn't actually see her do this) and we now have three huge long smudge/fingerprints going down the screen. I'm guessing she had yogurt on her hands.

I had a funny conversation with Riley this morning. Here's some background info, last week some kid hit Riley and the friends he was sitting with on the bus. This kid is a second grader. To make long story short, I called the school and we haven't had any another issues with this. Here's how the conversation went:

Riley- Well sometimes he plays with girls at school.

Me- Oh. Okay.

Riley- Well I'm not worried about girls Mom.

Me- That's good

Riley- I'm worried about getting beat up

Me- Riley! You shouldn't be worried about that. Why are you worried about that? Did something else happen at school?

Riley- No Mom. I'm worried about getting beaten up by Mattie

I seriously think I could enter Mattie in a wrestling competition. Not that they have those types of things for 2year old little girls. I'm just saying. She does moves on Riley that are unreal for a 2 year old. Where did she learn this I'm sure your asking yourselves. I haven't the slightest idea. You need to watch her in action sometime. You won't believe it. We also have no idea what to do about it.

On an ending note, we have a new roommate- Degen, Vern's little brother. The kids love having him here. I think he gets a kick out of the kids. Especially Mattie's stunts. Whenever Degen leaves Mattie will yell, but in also gruff voice, "Bye DEGEN". It's his special goodbye from her. Today she actually didn't do it and just said a quiet, polite "bye". Degen was like, what she didn't do it? Then he said bye to her again, and she said, "Bye DEGEN".

The Mean Pooper and the Wipeout

We survived another week. Mattie seems to become more impossible each day. Don't get me wrong, I love her and she can be really sweet. But, she has a mind of her own and does not listen to me and did I mention she is stubborn? I guess she is the definition of a two-year old. Mattie knows exactly what she wants and thinks she can do whatever that is, when most of the time SHE CAN'T. Whether it be sit in the chair Riley is already sitting in, pushing the basket at the store, brushing her own teeth throughout the day or my favorite, taking vitamins. Every time she passes the cupboard with the vitamins she yells, "Bitamins! Bitamins" The bad thing is that she can only take them once a day. And then after that, she has several fits a day over her "Bitamins" that she can't have any more of.

Mattie has earned herself the name of the "Mean Pooper". You know on Seinfeld where they would categorize people like she's a "low talker" or he's a fast talker" well Mattie is a mean pooper. We know something is amiss when if we try to talk to her or go by her and she says, "No Mom! Go away Mom!" while she is shaking her finger. Then, she will start throwing random items she happens to be near. This is how we know she is pooping. We all know not to mess with her while she is pooping!!

Last night Riley had his first experience with stitches. He was jumping on a trampoline with a bunch of kids and somehow fell/jumped off. Poor guy. Vern and I were inside and I heard Riley screaming, and it was a hurt scream. John and I rushed out and Riley had blood running down his face. John's a nurse and was in total control and calm thank goodness. Riley being the drama king he is kept saying stuff like, "I"m dying, I'm dying" and "I'm never going to do anything again". I knew he was going to be okay but I knew he was going to need stitches. Which, was not okay with Riley by any means. Riley doesn't even like to see blood on a little scratch or paper cut. Vern and I took him to the Phoenix Children's Hospital Urgent Care. They were not busy at all and got us right in. Riley was such a good boy. Luckily they didn't have to give him a shot to numb him, they put on some really cold gel instead which he did great with. I know a shot wouldn't have gone so well. Then, a nurse cleaned it out, I couldn't watch any of it. The the doctor stitched it up. Riley had no idea that he had gotten four stitches. It was a little puncture wound towards the bottom of his hair line. When he talked to my mom on the phone she asked him about his stitches and he told her adamantly that he did not have any. Vern and I looked at each other, how were we going to break it to him that he them? We finally told him this morning. He is doing great and has been such a trooper. My poor baby! I don't know if I can ever let him jump on a trampoline again!?!

You can't really see his stitches in this picture, its under his hair above the cut that you can see.

Riley Started Kindergarten!

I'm not really sure what I am going to blog about. It's been awhile since I've updated so there's a lot to cover and yet at the same time I don't remember half of it.

JULY~ We went to Tuscon with my mom for the 4th of July weekend. It was fun. We stayed at Lowes Ventana Canyon Resort. We also went and visited my cousin who was staying at the Ritz Carlton at Dove Mountain. That is my new favorite resort in Tucson to try and get on priceline. It was awesome. Someday we'll stay there :) We watched fireworks at Vern's work- Quantum Helicopters. We couldn't see the fireworks that great but it was nice to meet some of the people that he works with and put some names to faces.

Riley and Mattie at the Tucson Children's Museum

Riley is the cashier and Mattie is buying groceries

The vet

The other vet

Mattie and Riley at "Little Tucson"~ Trail Dust Town

Our only family picture in which most of us were looking at the camera

The only 4th of July picture we took!

We also went up to the White Mountains for several days. We meaning the kids and I. We stayed with my aunt and uncle for a day and night. It was super fun. The kids roasted marshmallows, made monkey bread, goofy golfed and drove the go-carts. Then we went up to Greer and had fun with grandma and grandpa and Verlynne's three youngest boys.

Riley and Mattie making monkey bread with Auntie Robyn

Mattie in Greer helping grandpa at Aunt Isabelle's after her house and yard flooded because of the fire.

Our ward was split towards the end of July. I am still not okay with this. I am trying to accept it and get over it but its just not happening. Some of my really good friends and Riley's friends are now in the other ward. They split our subdivision. The first two streets are now in the other ward. Each Sunday I go to church expecting to see my girls- Stacey, Sarah, Teresa and Erin in primary as normal. But then, its just me and Sarah left in primary. Its been just the two of us for the past few weeks but we now have a full presidency back and a chorister! Thank goodness because it was getting a little dicey there. Its difficult for me to meet people and then even more difficult for me to become actual friends with anybody. I think maybe that's why when I make a friend I try to hold on to them or should I say want to hold on to them. Anyways- enough about that. I need to get over it.

Mattie in dress up clothes

AUGUST~ Riley started kindergarten last week. He really likes it. I think one of his favorite things is riding the bus. He rides the bus home and then I pick him up at the bus stop. The first day the bus was 20 minutes late and I was nervous because I wasn't sure he would get on the right bus or off at the right stop. I was soooooo glad to see him get off the bus. Mattie of course wants to go to school too and cries every time we drop him off at school. Riley is allowed to take a water bottle and when they get to school they put the water bottles in a certain place. Mattie demanded to put her water bottle where Riley's class was putting them. She had a fit because I wouldn't let her. Sometimes I don't know what to do with her. Well most of the time I don't know what to do with her.

Riley's first day of school

At Caeson's baptism- cousins with tootsie pops that grandpa gave them

On Sunday morning we were driving back home from Globe to go to church and Riley was drawing on a notepad. He handed me the drawing and it was of a hand with lines on it and sharp nails. He said it was a tiger hand. A few minutes later he said mom I have tiger hands. I said what and looked back and he had drawn lines/stripes with a pen up both his arms and all over his hands. Nice. Right before church.

Today I was trying to make a phone call and Mattie came into the room that I was in screaming. She said Riley took her goldfish crackers. I wanted the screaming to stop so I could make my phone call and I told Riley to giver her her crackers back. Riley was mad. I hung up the phone and went into the kitchen and Mattie had dumped the entire box of goldfish crackers onto their little table and was not letting him have any. I thought he had grabbed the crackers out of her hand or bowl or something. Nope. She had the whole box and he couldn't have any. Poor Riley. I bet he wondered what my problem was when I told him to give the couple of goldfish he had back to her. What can I say its been one of those days.

June's Come and Gone

Sad to say but June has already come and gone and not one blog post from me. This is going to be a conglomeration of some of the events that went on during June. The first part of June was our California vacation. It was so much fun we are hoping to do something like that again next year but stay a little longer. I don't want to bore anyone with too many details.... so I will show a bunch of our trip pictures.

The first day we met at Newport and ate at Perry's Pizza. We played at the beach for awhile and then went to the house we were staying at. It was pretty awesome. The pool was heated and it also had a section that was a hot tub. The next day Vern, the kids and I went to Disneyland with my mom and my uncle's family on Saturday. That night we went back for a BBQ with Vern's aunt and some other relatives that live in California and Cody's birthday. I had a terrible headache. We had plans to go back to Disneyland that night but I felt sick. The next day we went back to Disneyland with everyone at is was a blast! The new Star Tours ride was pretty cool. Riley loved it. We all wore green shirts that Lynne had sewn mickey ears on. You could see us all a mile away. It turned out to be pretty handy.

Perry cousins at Perry's Pizza

Burying Cody in the sand

On Small world with my mom and uncle and his family

Cody's birthday cake

Tea cups

Aren't the green shirts awesome?

In line at Splash Mountain! Riley loved it!!!

Mattie and Grandpa

Tom Sawyer's Island

Verlynne and Mattie

Downtown Disney outside the Lego store

The big boys building stuff at the Lego store

Outside the house before we went home

Riley did so well with swimming lessons with Mrs. Suzi that he did another session with her. He also had another Karate belt test and passed! He now has earned two black loops for his belt. His next test will be for a yellow belt, but it won't be for awhile. There are a few funny things that I can remember off the top of my head that happened during June~

We were in Globe at a BBQ and Riley was playing on a metal swing set. He ran and jumped trying to grab onto the traipse bar. He missed and fell. That is not the funny part. After he fell he was upset and then got angry. He kicked the swing set and was yelling. He said, "I hate Globe!" He got over it a little while later.

One night I was laying in bed with Mattie. She kept putting her finger in my face. It was dark so I couldn't see her finger and asked her if her finger hurt and if she wanted me to kiss it. Then I kissed it and felt a bugger stick to my lip! I screamed. Mattie laughed hysterically. She knew exactly what she was doing. If she ever comes up to with her finger, don't kiss it without a thorough inspection.

Riley- Hey mom that's where we got those doughnuts~ funking doughnuts

Me- what?

Riley- Funking doughnuts

Me- Dunkin Doughnuts!!! Not Funking Doughnuts because that sounds like you are saying something else....

Mattie is out of her crib and in a toddler bed sniff sniff. I was so upset when she came running into my room after I had just put her in crib. The first night in her toddler bed was a long night. Vern stayed in the room with her for over 2 hours until she finally went to sleep. Its progressively gotten a little better each night. Now, it usually takes around 10 minutes for her to fall asleep. But, bless her heart, she stays in it all night and so far, knock on wood has not come running into our room in the middle of the night yet. Riley is doing better at bedtime too. He goes to be when Mattie does and falls asleep before she does. He is even staying in their room all night most of the time.

Aubrie and Mattie

Vern's brother Jason and his wife Aubrie and their kids Conner and Cody have stayed with us a few times this month. The kids just love it. They have so much fun together. The play the Wii, legos, and sometimes just run around plain crazy. The other night they all had light sabers and were instructing each other on how to fight. Conner was instructing Cody and Riley was instructing Mattie. Then, Mattie went wild and kept yelling "fight fight fight!!!!!!!" and was hitting anything she could. I'm not going to lie, it was a little scary. Here is the video of what I could catch.