Rader Rendition

Leighton is five!

2012-01-31T18:07:00.005-07:00

We celebrated Leighton's fifth birthday on Saturday. This was his first real party inviting over his friends. He had a blast.

I can't believe I have been a mother for half a decade. I am starting to feel old. I am so grateful for Leighton. He is smart, sweet, loving, full of energy, spiritual, and 100% boy. I love him and I am grateful to be his mother.

Fun at the Show!

2012-01-19T07:35:00.007-07:00

Disney characters and artwork ©Disney, Disney/Pixar characters ©Disney/Pixar

So last night was Disney On Ice presents Disney•Pixar’s Toy Story 3 at the United Airways Center in Phoenix. It was a late night but we had a blast.

The show featured the whole gang from Toy Story. In the above picture you can see Bullseye, Rex, Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head, Buzz Lightyear, and Jessie. The costumes were awesome, and the kids loved every minute of it. It is amazing how captivating the show is for kids of all ages. My oldest is only almost 5, but I saw even teenage kids enjoying the show. My niece was there. She is only 16 months but she was dancing to the music. I laughed so hard. Ryland was dancing too. I was watching my kids faces half the time because I loved to see how thrilled they were.

Here is a pic of their open mouth captivation. Enough said...

Here is another fun picture of the show. The army men were fun.

I thought the show was so fun. I especially liked the black light with the alien toys. They even had "the claw." I was amazed at how they covered so much of the story line during the show. The skaters were enthusiastic and flawless from my perspective. Our seats gave us an awesome view of the show. Though I am tired this morning (which results from trying to take 4 young kids anywhere) I would go to the show again in a heartbeat.

Times for the show if you still want to go:

Wednesday, January 18th – 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, January 19th – 7:30 p.m.

Friday, January 20th – 10:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, January 21st – 11:30 a.m., 3:30 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, January 22nd – 1:30 p.m. & 5:30 p.m.

It is at the US Airways Center – 201 E. Jefferson Street, Phoenix, AZ 85004

Ticket price levels are $14, $18, $25, $40 (VIP) and $68 (Front Row).

Tickets are available online at Ticketmaster.com, by calling 800-745-3000 or at the venue B.

Don't forget the deal on tickets. Use the code MOMMYDEAL.The deal is 4 tickets for $44 and is good only on the $18 and $14 price levels.Valid only on Thursday 7:30 p.m., Friday 10:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m., Saturday 7:30 p.m. and Sunday 5:30 p.m.

This code can be used online, at the box office, and by phone.

STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS TO USE CODE ONLINE:Log on to: http://www.ticketmaster.com/Type Disney on Ice and click the red search buttonScroll down to any of the following showtimes:Thursday 7:30, Friday 10:30 and 7:30, Saturday 7:30 and Sunday 5:30Click “Find Tickets”Go to the “Advance or Promotion Ticket Selection”Click how many tickets you would likeClick either the $14 or $18 price level (MUST SELECT ONE OF THESE PRICES TO GET THE DEAL)Type code: MOMMYDEALClick the red “Find Tickets” buttonType in the security wordsClick ContinueSelect Delivery method, click continueLog in or create a Ticketmaster account, click continueEnter payment information. If you click under Price Details, you will see that it is an $11 ticket (plus facility fees and convenience charges)

I am a Feld Family Ambassador, and in exchange for my time and efforts in attending shows and reporting my opinion within this blog, as well as keeping you advised of the latest discount offers, Feld Entertainment has provided me with complimentary tickets to Feld shows and opportunities to attend private Feld pre-Show events. Even though I receive these benefits, I always give an opinion that is 100% mine.

Last Chance for Tickets

2012-01-17T21:22:00.006-07:00

Disney characters and artwork ©Disney, Disney/Pixar characters ©Disney/Pixar

My kids are so excited. We've informed them that there is a surprise in store for tomorrow night. I couldn't tell them too early or it would be torture for them to wait. I have Toy Story pajamas that look like Buzz Lightyear and Woody costumes for the boys to wear. Savannah will just have to wear her Ariel ones, because they don't carry Jessie ones. I can't wait to see their faces when they watch the show.

So if you haven't gotten tickets yet for Disney On Ice presents Disney•Pixar’s Toy Story 3, it isn't too late. Visit this link to see an exciting clip of the show! http://www.disneyonice.com/ and click on Toy Story 3 to see the video!

The show starts tomorrow night and runs through January 22nd. Here are the show times and dates:

Wednesday, January 18th – 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, January 19th – 7:30 p.m.

Friday, January 20th – 10:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, January 21st – 11:30 a.m., 3:30 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, January 22nd – 1:30 p.m. & 5:30 p.m.

It is at the US Airways Center – 201 E. Jefferson Street, Phoenix, AZ 85004

Ticket price levels are $14, $18, $25, $40 (VIP) and $68 (Front Row).

Opening Night tickets available for "Buy One Get One Free" (excluding Front Row and VIP seating areas and limited to 6 per order). Tickets are available online at Ticketmaster.com, by calling 800-745-3000 or at the venue B.

Don't forget the deal on tickets. Use the code MOMMYDEAL.The deal is 4 tickets for $44 and is good only on the $18 and $14 price levels.

Valid only on Thursday 7:30 p.m., Friday 10:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m., Saturday 7:30 p.m. and Sunday 5:30 p.m. This code can be used online, at the box office, and by phone.

STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS TO USE CODE ONLINE:

Log on to: http://www.ticketmaster.com/

Type Disney on Ice and click the red search button

Scroll down to any of the following showtimes:Thursday 7:30, Friday 10:30 and 7:30, Saturday 7:30 and Sunday 5:30

Click “Find Tickets”Go to the “Advance or Promotion Ticket Selection”

Click how many tickets you would like

Click either the $14 or $18 price level (MUST SELECT ONE OF THESE PRICES TO GET THE DEAL)

Type code: MOMMYDEAL

Click the red “Find Tickets” button

Type in the security words

Click Continue

Select Delivery method, click continue

Log in or create a Ticketmaster account, click continue

Enter payment information. If you click under Price Details, you will see that it is an $11 ticket (plus facility fees and convenience charges)

See my last post for more about the show:http://raderrendition.blogspot.com/2011/12/disney-on-ice.html

I am a Feld Family Ambassador, and in exchange for my time and efforts in attending shows and reporting my opinion within this blog, as well as keeping you advised of the latest discount offers, Feld Entertainment has provided me with complimentary tickets to Feld shows and opportunities to attend private Feld pre-Show events. Even though I receive these benefits, I always give an opinion that is 100% mine.

Great Deal on a Great Show!

2011-12-26T15:29:00.004-07:00

Disney characters and artwork ©Disney, Disney/Pixar characters ©Disney/Pixar
I am so excited (especially for my kids) because Disney on Ice is coming back to Phoenix. This is one of my kids favorite things to do. We have been several times, and the kids look forward to it every year. This year's show has some of their favorite characters.

THE TOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN!

DISNEY ON ICE PRESENTS DISNEY•PIXAR’S TOY STORY 3
IS COMING TO PHOENIX, JANUARY 18 - 22!

WHAT: Toy Story 3, the Academy Award®-winning smash hit blockbuster, is so hot it’s cool as

everyone’s favorite toys take to the ice in Disney On Ice presents Disney•Pixar’s Toy

Story 3! An accomplished creative team and a cast of world-class skaters are bringing

Woody, the pull-string cowboy; space ranger Buzz Lightyear; Jessie, the yodeling

cowgirl; and the rest of the Toy Story gang to fans and families around the country in

this all-new, high-energy ice spectacular.

Inspired by the #1 animated movie of all time, Toy Story 3, and memorable moments from Toy Story and Toy Story 2, everyone’s favorite characters are hitting the ice in this sensational live production coming to your hometown! Catch all the heroic action when Buzz Lightyear, Woody, Jessie and the Toy Story gang escape from the rambunctious tots of Sunnyside Daycare and race for home, in their most daring adventure ever. Plus a few new faces join the fun, including Barbie’s groovy bachelor Ken and Lots-o’-Huggin’ Bear. It’s the biggest Toy Story experience ever on ice, jam-packed with fast-paced adventure such as Buzz’s galactic battle with Emperor Zurg and a hoe-down on the set of "Woody’s Roundup." Relive the humor, friendship and charm of Toy Story when Disney On Ice presents Disney•Pixar’s Toy Story 3 takes family fun to infinity and beyond!

WHEN: January 18 – 22, 2012

Wednesday, January 18th – 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, January 19th – 7:30 p.m.
Friday, January 20th – 10:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, January 21st – 11:30 a.m., 3:30 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, January 22nd – 1:30 p.m. & 5:30 p.m.

WHERE: US Airways Center – 201 E. Jefferson Street, Phoenix, AZ 85004

TICKETS: Ticket price levels are $14, $18, $25, $40 (VIP) and $68 (Front Row). Opening Night

tickets available for "Buy One Get One Free" (excluding Front Row and VIP seating

areas and limited to 6 per order). Tickets are available online at Ticketmaster.com, by

calling 800-745-3000 or at the venue B

Visit this link to see an exciting clip of the show! http://www.disneyonice.com/ and click on Toy Story 3 to see the video!

The best part is that I have a great deal on tickets if anyone is interested.The deal is 4 tickets for $44 and is good only on the $18 and $14 price levels.
Promo code – MOMMYDEAL
Valid only on Thursday 7:30 p.m., Friday 10:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m., Saturday 7:30 p.m. and Sunday 5:30 p.m.
Online, box office, and phones
Restrictions – no double discounts, not valid on previously purchased tickets or group sales. Additional fees apply.

STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS TO USE CODE ONLINE:
Log on to: http://www.ticketmaster.com/
Type Disney on Ice and click the red search button
Scroll down to any of the following showtimes:
Thursday 7:30, Friday 10:30 and 7:30, Saturday 7:30 and Sunday 5:30
Click “Find Tickets”
Go to the “Advance or Promotion Ticket Selection”
Click how many tickets you would like
Click either the $14 or $18 price level (MUST SELECT ONE OF THESE PRICES TO GET THE DEAL)
Type code: MOMMYDEAL
Click the red “Find Tickets” button
Type in the security words
Click Continue
Select Delivery method, click continue
Log in or create a Ticketmaster account, click continue
Enter payment information. If you click under Price Details, you will see that it is an $11 ticket (plus facility fees and convenience charges)

I am a Feld Family Ambassador, and in exchange for my time and efforts in attending shows and reporting my opinion within this blog, as well as keeping you advised of the latest discount offers, Feld Entertainment has provided me with complimentary tickets to Feld shows and opportunities to attend private Feld pre-Show events. Even though I receive these benefits, I always give an opinion that is 100% mine.

Baby #4

2011-06-05T21:14:00.003-06:00

We are so excited to be expecting our fourth child. I am now 13 weeks along and the baby is due December 11th. Yes, we are crazy enough to have 4 kids four and under (for a month and a half). We are thrilled and so are Leighton, Savannah, and Ryland (well, I guess he doesn't really get it but he will soon enough). Leighton has all kinds of fun questions. And Leighton and Savannah were fighting about whether it is a girl or a boy. Doesn't this baby look like it is sucking its thumb?

Ryland's first birthday

2011-04-12T15:38:00.008-06:00

Well blogging the last year and a half has been almost non-existent. The last you saw of Ryland was the post we announced his birth. He was nine pounds. Well our baby boy turned one on February 24. He is now almost 29 pounds. A lot has changed. But he is still the sweet easy going child we brought home from the hospital. He wants to be big just like his older brother and sister. At times he demands to only eat from a fork without any help. He tries to brush his own teeth. He says mama, dada, byebye, night night, look, Savannah (nana), banana (also nana), up, Leighton (which is sounds like DatDan) and others I just can't remember. He is extremely loving. He loves to give kisses, opened mouthed and slobbery, over and over again. He loves to carry around two like objects in each hand and holds them out to show you, like two balls, two blocks the same shape. It cracks me up. He loves to do the sit and spin. He loves to sit by the bookshelf and read book after book. He just started walking shortly after his birthday and he can open doors. If I forget to lock the garage door, he will try to sneak out to sit in the bike trailer. He loves his daddy more than anyone. You should see him book to the door when daddy comes home. Ryland, we love you. Happy Birthday.

Disney Live! Mickey's Magic Show

2010-10-15T22:11:00.002-06:00

It has been a blast going to several shows from Feld Entertainment over the past few years. They haven't let us down yet, from Disney on Ice to Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey. I am happy that we get to go to another show tomorrow, Disney Live! Mickey's Magic Show.

The show is coming to the US Airways Center October 16th and 17th. Go to www.disneylive.com for tickets.

I have the code for the deepest discount available for the show....

$5 off all performances, excludes front row and VIP seats

Enter MAGIC as a coupon code at checkout. But tickets now! Your kids will thank you.

The Circus!!!

2010-06-21T23:31:00.004-06:00

Yes, I promise that I will eventually do a personal post about our family. However, we are very excited this week to go to the circus. Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey is coming to the US Airways Center in Phoenix this weekend. We are so excited to go again this year. Leighton has been talking about it for over a month (since we told him that we would be going). And he seriously remembers the show from last year even though he was only 2 then. The best part is that I have a great coupon code to anyone who wants to get a good deal. Anyone who knows me knows that I love a good deal.

Here is some information about the show.

Show Times:

Wednesday June 23rd 7pm

Thursday June 24th 11am, 7pm

Friday June 25th 11am, 7pm

Saturday June 26th 11am, 3pm, 7pm

Sunday June 27th 1pm, 5pm

Doors open early for the All-Access Pre-Show, free to all ticket holders. Come down to the arena floor and visit with the performers, get autographs, try on costumes, watch an elephant paint and more!

Tickets are $13, $17, $24, $40 (VIP), $54 (Front Row), $85 Circus Celebrity. Tickets are on sale at the US Airways Center Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, http://www.ticketmaster.com/, or call 1-800-745-3000.

BUT, Here is the special discount. This is the BEST price they have out there for this show.

BUY 4 Tickets for $44. Additional tickets are only $11! Just use the code MOM online, over the phone, or show a flyer at the box office.

This is good for any show but is not valid for VIP, Front Row, or Circus Celebrity tickets. A minimum of 4 tickets is required. No double discounts, service charges and handling fees may apply.

Ladies and Gentlemen...Children of All Ages...The Greatest Show on Earth just got GREATER with Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Presents Barnum FUNundrum! Featuring 130 performers from 6 continents, almost 100,000 pounds of performing pachyderms, cowboys, pirates, and mermaids, Barnum's FUNundrum! is a supersized spectacle so massive you just can't miss it!

This monumental, once in a lifetime event celebrates the 200th anniversary of the birth of the legendary P.T. Barnum, the greatest Showman on Earth! and can only be experienced at the Greatest Show on Earth, Barnum's living legacy! Get your tickets today!

Disney on Ice

2010-03-31T09:15:00.005-06:00

Last year we were able to go to Disney on Ice in Phoenix at the US Airways Center. I was afraid the kids might be too young to enjoy it, but boy was I wrong. Leighton was barely two and he still talks about the show. It was his first introduction to Mickey and Minnie and many of the classic Disney characters, but he loves them now. I am so excited that Disney on Ice is back this year and we get to go again courtesy of Feld Entertainment! This year they are celebrating 100 years of Disney Magic. I am so excited for the kids, but it is even a fun experience for adults, especially if you love Disney like I do.

Join the celebration as 65 of Disney's unforgettable characters from 18 beloved stories come to life in Disney On Ice celebrates 100 Years of Magic! You'll be captivated by the one and only Mickey Mouse, the irresistible Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Donald Duck, Jiminy Cricket, Pinocchio and many Disney Princesses. Be thrilled by exciting moments from The Lion King; Mulan; and Disney/Pixar’s Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, and Toy Story films; in a skating spectacular filled with magical Disney moments you'll remember forever as Disney On Ice celebrates 100 Years of Magic!

Playing April 1 - 4 at The US Airways Center! Get your tickets today!

Thursday, April 1 @ 7:30PM
Friday, April 2 @ 10:30AM & 7:30PM
Saturday, April 3 @ 11:30AM, 3:30PM & 7:30PM
Sunday, April 4 @ 1:30PM

Tickets are $13, $17, $24, $40 (VIP), $55 (Front Row)

Tickets are on sale Saturday, Feb 27th at the US Airways Center Box Office, all Ticketmaster Outlets, www.ticketmaster.com, or call 1-800-745-3000

Also, I have a great coupon code that makes the show even more affordable for families!

Buy 4 tickets for only $44 when you use code MOM online, over the phone or show a flyer at the arena Box Office.

Good for any performance, not valid on VIP or Front Row seats. A minimum of 4 tickets is required; additional ticket can be purchased at $11 each. No double discounts, service charges and handling fees may apply.

Go to http://www.ticketmaster.com/venueartist/246098/830558 to puchase tickets. Or click on the image above.

Ryland David Rader

2010-02-27T20:38:00.006-07:00

Well, to say that a lot has been happening since I last posted is quite the understatement. Sorry to those of you that thought we may have fallen off the planet. Since our last post we visited California, Utah, Tennessee, and Georgia in one summer, found out we were expecting our third baby in three years, celebrated 4 years of marriage, potty-trained two toddlers, started Jonathan's masters degree, gotten several new church callings, had more than a handful of house guests, and planted our first garden, among many other noteworthy events. So we have been a little busy.

We didn't want to miss announcing the birth of our third child, Ryland David Rader.

He was born on February 24, 2010 at 12:15pm. He weighed 9lbs 4oz and was 22 inches long.

He is the sweetest little boy and is adored by his older brother and sister to a dangerous level. They always want to hold him and touch him and check on him. I am hoping that they will get used to him very soon.

Leighton said, "Mom, Ryland is crying. We need to take him to the doctor."

Savannah held up her baby doll with a pink outfit and said, "My pink baby, your green baby," pointing to Ryland in his green outfit.

For those of you who want to know about the birth...

I was having contractions very consistently Tuesday evening for several hours. I had been to the doctor that day and was still just dilated to a 3. I had been scheduled to be induced on Sunday, two days past my due date. Around midnight we decided to go to the hospital. We live very close to a new hospital which unfortunately hasn't opened yet, so we were over 30 minutes from the hospital where we were going to deliver. We didn't want to take any chances with the baby coming too fast. A wonderful friend came to stay at our house with Leighton and Savannah, and we headed out. My contractions slowed some on the way to the hospital and basically stopped when we got there and I was sitting in the hospital bed. I was very frustrated. I was still only a 3. They had me walk for one hour and I had contractions and progressed to a 4. Because I had progressed in one hour I was considered to be in active labor. We were admitted. Then my contractions stopped again when they had me in bed. I had to wait till almost 9am when the doctor came in. At that point they broke my water and started me on pitocin. The nurse later said I probably only needed my water broken, because my contractions picked up right away. I delivered at 12:15pm. We only stayed at the hospital one day. Ryland is doing great. And I am glad not to be pregnant anymore.

The Greatest Show on Earth...

2009-06-26T16:03:00.006-06:00

Well, last night we got to go to the Ringling Brothers and Barnum Bailey Circus and it really was the greatest show on earth. This weekend they are at the Phoenix US Airways Center where the Phoenix Suns play basketball. We got there early because they have an All Access Preshow that starts one hour before the show. It is so neat because you get to go out on the floor, meet some preformers, try on their costumes, etc. They even had a little tightrope that was about two feet high that the kids could walk over while holding hands with the performers. Leighton loved that. It isn't the greatest picture because we didn't get the tightrope, but here is Leighton walking across it.

The picture above is of the family in our seats before the show looking somewhat tired and bored.

The picture below is of my sweet Savannah watching in amazement at the show.

All the acts were amazing. It is a great show for kids of all ages. Mine are 14 months and 27 months old and they loved it. Especially Leighton, the two year old. However, it is very entertaining for adults too. I saw numerous adults there without any kids. Jonathan and I enjoyed watching it too. It is great to find some fun things to do together as a family that everyone will enjoy.

If you haven't been, you NEED to go! It is so fun. And there is a great coupon code where you can get 4 tickets for $44. Additional tickets are only $11. Just go to ticketmaster.com and use the coupon code MOM.

Twitter Backgrounds

2009-06-23T10:25:00.002-06:00

I am not up to date with social networking at all. I don't do Twitter or any of that. But if you do...Check out tweetestbackgrounds.com for free twitter backgrounds.

Winner...

2009-06-17T08:47:00.003-06:00

And the winner of the 4 pack of tickets to opening night for the Ringling Brothers and Barnum Bailey Circus in Phoenix is

Crystal Hunter who wants to give the tickets to her sister in Arizona.

If you missed the giveaway, or you didn't win, don't forget to use the coupon code of "MOM" on the Ticketmaster website. It is a great deal for your family.

The winner was chosen using random.org. The Results: It picked number one out of three.

Crystal, please email me within 24 hours to claim your prize. If I don't hear from you, another winner will be chosen.

Ringling Brothers and Barnum Bailey Circus!!!!

2009-06-11T14:21:00.007-06:00

I don't remember exactly how old I was when I went to the Ringling Brothers and Barnum Bailey Circus as a child. But I remember the show and that I wanted to ride the elephant so badly. I want to create wonderful memories for my children. A few months ago we went to Disney On Ice at the Phoenix US Airways Center. Though Leighton was barely two, he still talks about the show all the time. He calls it Disney on Icing. He pretends to "scape" or skate around the house.

Now the US Airways Center is hosting the Ringling Brothers and Barnum Bailey Circus. The show is called Zing Zang Zoom. We are going on opening night, and we are so excited. My sister went recently to see this circus in New Jersey. Here is a link to what she said about it. It is "The Greatest Show on Earth." Thanks to Feld Family Entertainment and Mom Central....

I have four tickets to opening night to give away!!!!

That is a family 4 pack of tickets for June 24th at 7pm!

And....

I have a great coupon code for everyone else. This will be an awesome show at a great price, so get your tickets soon.

**Get 4 tickets for $44 by entering the code “MOM” in the MC promotion code box on Ticketmaster.

Minimum purchase of 4 tickets required; additional tickets above 4 can be purchased at $11 each. Offer not valid on Rinkside or VIP seating. Cannot be combined with other offers. Service Charges, facility & handling fees will apply.
Come experience the all-new Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey
presents ZING ZANG ZOOM
playing US Airways Center with your family!

A SPECIAL OFFER FOR YOU!

Purchase a 4-pack of tickets for only $44 by logging onto
www.ticketmaster.com and entering the coupon code: MOM.**
Show Dates:
Wednesday June 24: 7:00pm
Thursday June 25: 11:00am, 7:00pm
Friday June 26: 11:00am, 7:00pm
Saturday June 27: 11:00am, 3:00pm, 7:00pm
Sunday June 28: 1:00pm, 5:00pm

This is how it works...Leave a comment to be entered to win. You get five extra entries for emailing information about the coupon code to at least two people you know. Just leave a second comment saying that you did. Contest ends on June 16th at midnight. Winner will be chosen using random.org. Winner will be contacted using email address left on comment entry. Winner must reply within 24 hours or another winner will be chosen.

Happy 1st Birthday, Savannah!

2009-05-05T23:59:00.011-06:00

Can you believe it? My little baby is already one. It seems like yesterday that we first held her in our arms. When Leighton was one, I was already 6 months pregnant with Savannah. In a way I was okay with him growing up, turning one. But it seems strange to have my little baby talking, almost walking. I know she is still a baby, but she doesn't know that.
Savannah- a few days old

Her birthday was actually Saturday, May 2nd. We didn't celebrate then because we were driving back from my sister's wedding in California, and we were all extremely exhausted. I took a few pictures of the kids at the hotel that morning before we left so that we would have a few real birthday shots. Savannah has been teething with her 1st molars. She ended up in the bed with us which we never do at home. We didn't want her to wake everyone up.

The kids were exhausted, as you can see.

Bathtime at the hotel

While Jonathan was taking some of my family to the airport, he took the carseats out and put them in the hotel room. Savannah crawled up into her carseat like she was so ready to go home.

Well, we finally got to celebrate today. I made her strawberry cake with vanilla icing, and we had a nice family birthday party at home.

Thanks to our wonderful families, Savannah received several beautiful gifts for her birthday including multiple cute outfits. Thanks guys! But most of all she loved her baby dolls. From us she got twin babies with a double doll stroller. Aunt Paige also got her a doll, and she was elated...until her brother kept trying to steal her dolls. Both Leighton and Savannah love baby dolls. It was interesting trying to explain to him that these were Savannah's but he could play with one of them. He wanted all of them of course. What else can you expect from a two year old.

Savannah is an angel. She is always quiet and mild. She is happy to accept any attention that comes her way, but she is not demanding at all. She plays very well with her brother or herself. She speaks several words well, but she is not as verbal up front as Leighton is. She is somewhat shy, seldom speaking around strangers but always willing to give them a big smile. She has this gentle way of communicating with her eyes and motions that helps you see how much she understands.

Savannah is a snuggler. Especially when she is tired or not feeling well, she loves to climb up and lay her head in the crook of my neck. It truly melts my heart everytime. She is continually affectionate to her family and her dolls. I know that she will be a wonderful mother some day. One of her favorite things to do is to give kisses. This evening when I was putting her to bed, I was feeding her and she was almost asleep. She stopped abruptly, put her hand to her mouth, and blew me a kiss. She kisses her dolls and even pictures of babies in some of her books.

Though Savannah is mostly mild, she can stand up for herself. She happens to have an older brother close in age that has a tendency to strip her toys away from her and be rough at times. She will fight back, which I am trying to stop her from. But I like the fact that she has some feistiness. I think you need some guts to survive in this crazy world. You have to stand up for what you believe in. Savannah has the strength to do that.

I love the way her bright blue eyes light up. Whenever her brother comes down from his nap, when you go get her in the morning, when she discovers something new, when her daddy comes home, when you read her a book. That light reflects her spirit. I just can't wait to get to know her even better through the years.

I love the way she loves her brother, following him around, giggling with him after her bath, playing trains together, holding hands in the car, showing true concern for him whenever he cries, clapping for him as he kicks the soccer ball outside, waiting patiently as I take care of him.

I love the way she is mine, my sweet little girl. I must say that she is a momma's girl. I know that has something to do with her age. But I hope that we will always have the bond that we have today. I hope that she will trust me as she does now. I hope she will want my help when she needs it. I hope that I can teach her things that will help guide her life.

I love you, Savannah! Happy Birthday, my chubby monkey.

Mamalicious Monday- Spilled Milk

2009-04-20T23:49:00.005-06:00

Last week I won the Mamalicious Monday post on The Gift Closet! I was so excited. I am going to get a great vinyl wall art from Inspire with Style for just writing a mom related post on my blog. I love to win things. Just ask my husband. He says that free is my favorite word. Here is my Mamalicious Monday post for this week.

I am the kind of person that doesn't often share my inner thoughts and feelings. This can make me somewhat boring to most people I presume. I have always been so shy and reserved from infancy on I think. But today I feel like sharing my feelings. I have a two year old and an eleven month old, and things don't always run smoothly in our house. This is not because my kids are wild, but mainly because I am trying to learn to be a mom. And on days like today I feel like I am utterly bad at it. All day I have these ideas about things I should accomplish, but don't. This morning I took the kids to Walmart to do some shopping. We really needed groceries. I think that one of the best inventions is the cart for two children. My son really likes the ones that look like a car, but I don't care what they look like as long as they work. But it seems that the ones at Walmart always have broken straps. The one we had today had one working strap and one broken. Leighton of course had to have the broken one. This would require him to sit down in his seat the entire trip. I will leave the majority of the experience to your imagination, but after about 20 minutes of fighting with Leighton, I had to take Savannah out, strap Leighton into the working straps and carry Savannah the rest of the time while pushing the cart. It wasn't exactly easy, but we did somehow make it home with a little popsicle bribery (I'm awful, I know.) I fed the kids lunch and got them to bed. Today I really wanted to clean my house because it really needed it. So I worked the entire time my two little ones were napping simultaneously on laundry, dishes, straightening up, and sweeping and mopping my floor. Now, I hate mopping. Well, actually I like to mop, but I struggle to get to it because I usually have to have everything else clean first and it is impossible to accomplish it with two little ones running around. So I have to spend precious time when the kids are napping to accomplish it. My 11 month old little girl, Savannah, has just started going to one nap, which has been helpful because she can nap at the same time as Leighton, my son. But this makes this nap time especially precious. So I finished all my housework today and was especially proud of myself. I finished just as the little ones were stirring upstairs. The day ended with some frustration resulting from numerous spills on my newly cleaned floor. I must say that you may not even know that I cleaned it. But at the end of the day, I look back and see that it didn't really matter. I end up wishing I hadn't fussed at my son for dumping the entire bag of popcorn on the floor. I feel incredibly selfish and humbled when I see others who have true difficulties, not simply a messy floor. I see that I could have been a little nicer, kinder, gentler. Hopefully tomorrow I can remember that there is truly no use in crying over spilled milk.

Easter

2009-04-17T15:07:00.011-06:00

To kick off the Easter season we went to the Mesa Temple Easter Pageant the week before Easter. It was a wonderful experience. The performance didn't start till 8pm so we were tentative about taking the kids. Savannah did get really tired, but she fell asleep. Leighton loved the whole thing and was bawling when we left because he didn't want it to end. The pictures aren't great, but if you ever have the opportunity it is amazing. It really got me into the spirit of Easter. I took more time this year to reflect on the mission of our Savior Jesus Christ.

Here are a ton of pictures from Easter morning. The Easter bunny left a trail of eggs to the kids' baskets. Savannah woke up first. Savannah loved the eggs. She didn't care about the rest of the basket.

Savannah's Basket

Leighton's Basket

Then Leighton woke up.

These pictures are from after church. Leighton didn't wear this outfit to church. We just didn't get any pictures all together in our church clothes. The kids were digging in to the baskets.

We got to spend the evening at dinner with two families in our ward that were so kind to invite us. It was fun, but unfortunately we don't have any pictures of that. It is probably good since we were so full from all the wonderful yummy food.

Savannah is growing up...

2009-04-17T14:48:00.007-06:00

As you can see from our pictures, Savannah is growing up. She is almost one and we cannot believe it. This has been such a crazy year, and time flew by. She is our little lady and we love her so much. She is very sweet, but she surely has a spunky side, especially lately. She has decided that she is too old for us to help her with things like feeding herself. It results in catastrophic messes as you will see in the following pictures.

I can't remember what she was eating here, but it was messy.

Here she was eating grits.

This was refried beans. Yep, she loves refried beans.

The funniest thing is that the worst messes have not been documented because I am too busy cleaning it up.

Here are a few more cute pictures from recently.

The Phoenix Zoo...

2009-04-17T14:12:00.004-06:00

We took Jonathan's last day of spring break, March 20th, to go visit the Phoenix Zoo.

Savannah was asleep by the time we got there. But she woke up to see the animals.

Here is Savannah in the stroller, squinting in the sun. I was quite warm. I got sunburnt that day.

Leighton loved the tigers.

The orangutans were fun too.

This is Savannah and me as we were leaving. Savannah was wearing one of Leighton's old baseball caps. We need to get her some cute girl hats that she will keep on her head.

The kids loved the animals and were exhausted on the way home. It was a nice day.

Mamalicious Monday- Disney on Ice

2009-04-13T09:14:00.004-06:00

On The Gift Closet, there is a give away for doing a mom related post on Monday. Well this is my mamalicious monday post. Thursday night we went to Disney On Ice with the kids at the US Airways Center in Phoenix. The show didn't start till 7:30pm so I was afraid Leighton might fall asleep before it started. Savannah I wished to sleep as much as possible. Well, Leighton made it and Savannah slept. Beautiful. The show captivated his attention the whole time, even at 2 years old. Leighton loved that it starred the Incredibles as the main characters. I mean what kid doesn't like the Incredibles? Leighton also has a new love for Mickey Mouse. He had a stuffed Mickey that we got that night, and whenever he saw Mickey on the ice, he would hold up his stuffed animal Mickey and scream, "Mickey Mouse." It was adorable. Even Savannah woke up for a little while and watched the show.

Overall I would say the kids absolutely loved it. I would recommend it to kids of all ages. And moms too. Once the story got started, the scenes were upbeat and captivating for the kids. I am so glad we went. Pictures will be coming soon. I forgot my memory card and had to get my friend to take some pictures for us.

I am so excited for the Barnum and Bailey Circus coming in June. I can't wait. One of my favorite things is to find things my children love.

And the winner is...

2009-04-01T09:03:00.002-06:00

Steph Hughes!!!

I will try to contact the winner today. If I can't reach her or she can't go, I will choose another winner.

Sorry for those who didn't win.

Disney On Ice Ticket Giveaway!!!

2009-03-26T09:47:00.006-06:00

Well, I am so excited to announce a ticket give away for Disney on Ice that is coming to Phoenix!!

The winner will get up to 4 tickets for their family to the opening show on Thursday April 9, 2009 at the US Airways Center courtesy of Mom Central and Feld Family Entertainment.

The winner will be chosen randomly on Wednesday April 1st at 8am, so you have about a week to enter. Enter by putting your first and last name and email in a comment on this post. Please tell your friends. You will get a second entry for telling your friends and telling me who you told in a new comment (accompanied by your name and info again, please). If they need an invite to see my blog, email me at hollynicole13@hotmail.com. For all those who may not win or can't make it that night, below this there is info about the show that includes a coupon code for tickets for 4. This is going to be an awesome show, so tell all your friends about it!

Disney On Ice presents a Disneyland® Adventure

Catch the next ride to laugh-out-loud fun with Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse on a trip to the park in Disney On Ice presents a Disneyland® Adventure. Swing to the beat on the Jungle Cruise™ with Baloo, have a blast with Buzz Lightyear on Space Mountain™, and take a wild spin on the Mad Tea Party™ with Alice and the Mad Hatter! You’ll see Snow White and Cinderella during the Main Street U.S.A.® parade and thrill to “Incredible” edge-of-your seat excitement when everyone’s favorite superhero family shows up to save the day!

Come experience Disney On Ice presents Disneyland Adventure Playing at Us Airways Center with your family!

A SPECIAL OFFER FOR YOU!Purchase a 4-pack of tickets for only $44 by logging onto www.ticketmaster.com <http://www.ticketmaster.com/> and entering the coupon code: MOM.**

Phoenix Show Dates:

Thursday, April 9: 7:30pm

Friday, April 10: 10:30am, 7:30pm

Saturday, April 11: 11:30am, 3:30pm, 7:30pm

Sunday, April 12: 1:30pm, 5:30pm

**Get 4 tickets for $44 by entering the code “MOM” in the MC promotion code box on Ticketmaster. Minimum purchase of 4 tickets required; additional tickets above 4 can be purchased at $11 each. Offer not valid on Rinkside or VIP seating. Cannot be combined with other offers. Service Charges and handling fees will apply.

Leighton is TWO!

2009-03-03T10:06:00.011-07:00

Okay, his birthday was actually January 30th, but if you can't tell I am trying to catch up. So about 2 years ago, Leighton Jonathan Rader came into the world at 1:29pm on a snowy day in Orem, UT. The doctor joked the day before that it would be funny if our baby was born at 1:30pm on 1/30. So close. I have been a mom for over 2 years and I still feel like I don't know anything at all about being a parent. Leighton has blessed these two years of our life with joy, including happiness, tears, smiles, laughs...I think that parenting encompasses almost every emotion. Leighton has brought us many happy and joyful emotions.

Leighton is the most social child I think that I have ever known. He is extremely verbal...a trait that he definitely gets from his dad. He first spoke at 7 months, and his first word was naturally "Hi." He hasn't stopped talking since. He spoke his first sentence at 11 months. It broke my heart that his first trip to nursery at church he wasn't sad for me to go. He was so excited to play with the kids. Each Sunday after that he would plead for nursery through the entire Sacrament meeting.

He is sweet, compassionate, and loves other children, especially his little sister Savannah. I am so glad that they are so close in age, because they are great friends. I love their excitement as their eyes meet after one of them wakes up from a nap. Leighton loves to show Savannah how things work. Recently he said, "Savannah, that's your momma. That's your daddy," pointing to me and Jonathan.

Valentine's Day 2009

Leighton is and has always been fascinated with the world around him. He shows careful attention to detail and loves to discover how things work. At 10 months old he noticed his reflection in a Christmas tree ornament. One of his favorite things to do now is to find lizards in our back yard. Jonathan tried to catch one once so that Leighton could see him close up. Leighton screamed, "No, daddy. Don't catch the lizard." "Don't be scared, lizard. Don't be scared." He loves animals even though we don't have any pets. He said recently, "My dog's at the playground. I'm gonna get a dog soon...when my birthday cake comes."
Leighton watching a lizard through our window

Leighton is sometimes too bright for his own good. He doesn't always want to go to bed at bedtime, so he started coming up with very inventive alternatives. They were always things that we wanted him to do, but not at bedtime. He would say that he was hungry and wanted to eat. My favorite was when he asked for me to cut his fingernails. He does love his big boy bed. He has a race car quilt that he loves. He has slept in it since 23 months.

Leighton loves sports. I always saw those sports fanatic children and thought I would not train my children to like sports. I would let them pursue their own interests. Well, we have. But Leighton is obsessed with every ball that exists. He has soccer balls, basketballs, footballs, baseballs, the whole works. We took him to a basketball game on his 2nd birthday. He has talked about it since. He was so excited that he cheered for both teams. Jonathan was trying to get him to cheer for the home team. He still says "I clapped the white team. I don't clap the red team." Seriously, he remembers the shirt he wore to the game and calls it his basketball shirt though it doesn't look like a basketball shirt at all. It is a collared button up shirt. When Jonathan's mom came to visit right after his birthday he made her play hours of basketball with him and his new basketball goal. Lately he begs to watch basketball on TV. He thinks that they have it on all the time. It doesn't help that it is March Madness and they usually do. He is very distraught when we can't find a game on. I do believe he will be our little athlete.

At the Red Mountain High basketball game on his 2nd birthday...

in his basketball shirt

And he loves music too. When he was about 9 months he saw the Mormon Tabernacle Choir on television. He saw the conductor waving his arms. Since then he helps lead the music, whether it is on TV, in church, or at Family Home Evening. Leighton thinks that the seminary where Jonathan works is a place we go to play the piano. Currently in church he demands his own hymnal, and he sings along with us. I'm sure it is very amusing for the individuals sitting in front of us.

Leighton has been and continues to be a great joy to us.

Happy 2nd Birthday, my chickadee.

Leighton- 1 day old

Leighton- 2 years old

Merry Christmas...in February

2009-02-17T14:28:00.010-07:00

Well, yes, it is February. More than halfway through. But here are a few pictures of our first Christmas in Arizona. To tell the truth is was a little hard adjusting to Christmas here. I love Christmas, but nothing really felt like Christmas. The weather was still very warm. I know I will get used to it after time. It didn't help that we were moving. We moved December 13th, so I didn't have any Christmas decorations up until the 20th. It did help when we had family come into town. Jonathan's parents came the 22nd. My youngest sister came Christmas eve and her fiancee' visited a few days during the break too. We had a blast, but the break went by too quickly. Our Christmas tree

Savannah and Jonathan

Savannah by the tree...

...waving for the camera...

....being darling as usual.

Grandpa Rader cooking breakfast Christmas day

Grammi cooking hard too. We love Southern food.

Leighton and Aunt Blair

Leighton by the Christmas tree

Leighton-my little present

Savannah trying to eat the bow

Savannah and Holly

Our turkey that Jonathan gave "olive eyes" and said it looked like a frog

Blair and Matt

Savannah with her new baby from Grammi

Leighton feeding Savannah's new baby (he wants all her toys)

Jonathan putting together his new grill- a Christmas gift from his parents

Leighton after church

Leighton eating my birthday cake

Leighton checking out the sports highlights

Our family

Leighton is growing up. He is...

2008-12-10T07:53:00.008-07:00

Wearing Dad's clothes...

Watching football with Dad...

Making friends with his sister...

Fixing things around the house....

Baking...

Jogging...

Talking on the phone...

Using my debit card...

Using the potty...

Learning how to use my make-up.

And to think that he is not even two yet...

My first tag- Crazy 8's

2008-11-19T11:41:00.005-07:00

RULES1. Post rules on your Blog
2. Answer the six "8" items
3. Let each person know they have been tagged by leaving them a comment

8 FAVORITE SHOWS
Sadly, it's true. We don't have cable or an antenna, and I don't know when I would watch TV anyway. So I don't have one favorite show. Pathetic and boring, I know.

8 THINGS I DID YESTERDAY
1. Took the kids to a park without throwing up (Last trip I found out that I had a stomach virus by vomiting at the playground. Fun fun.)
2.Stalked the recycling truck with Leighton (He loves big trucks so each Tuesday and Friday we watch the garbage trucks come.)
3. Tried to contact a long lost friend
4. Decided I must get my haircut immediately because I haven't had a haircut since we moved here in July (which will happen this evening.)
5. Packed our first box for our (hopefully last) move in December!!!
6. Scheduled a time for us to sign our closing papers for our house.
7. Scheduled a doctor's appointment for Jonathan (He has a monster cough/cold)
8. Spent time with my wonderful husband, though it wasn't much because he was just taking a sick day from work and he slept most of the day.

8 THINGS I LOOK FORWARD TO (Maybe some of these should be on my wishlist)
1. Family coming for Christmas
2. Leighton being potty-trained
3. Losing weight
4. Having 2 cars
5. Feeling "in control" with 2 children
6. Being prepared and organized
7. Not moving for a few years
8. Continual weather with highs below 80 degrees (Nope, not here yet)

8 FAVORITE RESTAURANTS (I wish I had cheaper taste.)
1.Cheesecake Factory
2. Chili's
3. P.F. Chang's
4. La Cabana
5. Tucanos
6. Shoots
7. Outback
8. Macaroni Grill

8 THINGS ON MY WISH LIST
1. A photography book or class
2. A great family picture or two
3. A date night without the kids
4. Some clothes, especially some cute long shorts
5. A gluten-free cake on my birthday or any day
6. A vacation to see the Pacific for the first time
7. Patience in every circumstance
8. To live up to the expectations I have for myself

8 PEOPLE TO TAG- If you don't feel up to it, you won't hurt my feelings. Just thought it was fun.
1. Shayla
2. Sarah F
3. Deanna
4. Ane
5. Shannyn
6. Jen
7.Sarah R
8.Jacque

Savannah is 6 months!

2008-11-07T10:41:00.003-07:00

Amazingly, six months have passed since we became parents to our sweet little Savannah. A lot has happened since then but it feels like we are just getting to know her. She is very patient with us as we try to take care of our two little ones under 2. Basically, Leighton gets most of the attention these days, but Savannah doesn't complain. She is now rolling for a method of transportation. She loves toys more than any baby I've ever seen. She will be content for hours with a toy as long as she doesn't drop it. She loves shoes too. It is extremely gross, but no matter how far away our shoes are, if they are in the same room, she will get them and try to chew on them. She is almost eighteen pounds now, which makes her very heavy in her baby carrier. Very soon we will need to get her a new carseat. She just started eating baby cereal and is loving it. Above are a few pictures of her first real meal.

Halloween

2008-11-07T10:17:00.006-07:00

Well, Halloween was fun. I got some cheap costumes off ebay. Savannah was a giraffe and Leighton was a zebra. Unfortunately, even with nothing on under the costumes, the kids were too hot to wear them to our ward Halloween party. But Halloween was a bit cooler and we were able to go trick-or-treating. This was Leighton's first real experience with it, and we'll just say that "candy" is more recently a major word in his vocabulary. According to Jonathan, Leighton got an intense sweet tooth from me. Well, it was fun anyway.

2008-10-28T12:01:00.002-06:00

Find some really cute tutus at thenaulutribe.blogspot.com.

No, we haven't disappeared into the desert of AZ...

2008-10-26T23:24:00.018-06:00

...I am just not very good at keeping up with blogging.

The past twenty-three years of my life have been constant change. I first moved at 5 days old, and Jonathan and I are now preparing for our 4th move in our short three years of marriage. I couldn't tell you how many times I moved in between. Beyond just moving, life is busier everyday. I love the following quote because I am one of those people that keeps believing that someday things will slow down, life won't be as busy, though it never does.

"Time never stands still; it must steadily march on, and with the marching come the changes.
This is our one and only chance at mortal life—here and now. The longer we live, the greater is our realization that it is brief. Opportunities come, and then they are gone. I believe that among the greatest lessons we are to learn in this short sojourn upon the earth are lessons that help us distinguish between what is important and what is not. I plead with you not to let those most important things pass you by as you plan for that illusive and non-existent future when you will have time to do all that you want to do. Instead, find joy in the journey—now." President Thomas S. Monson-General Conference October 2008

I am trying to find joy in the journey though I feel like I never get everything done, including keeping up with blogging.

So here is the latest news on the Raders...

We just made an offer on a house in Queen Creek, Arizona. Here is a picture, though it isn't a very good one. We should hear back about it sometime this week. We have been blessed to come to one of the only areas where we could buy a home right now. We'll see how it goes. We hope to be moved before Christmas.

We absolutely love Arizona; don't get me wrong. But being from the Appalachian mountains, I generally use the changing of temperatures and leaves to distinguish the change of the seasons. Yes, it is still pretty warm here, but who can say that they can wear shorts the week of Halloween and feel comfortable. It has been hard to get into fall festivities though. To try to improve the situation, we took the kids to a pumpkin patch on Friday night. It was fun, but my pictures aren't great. Jonathan and I were too busy trading off babies to have patience with good pictures.

And here are a few other cute pictures to catch up...

The summer continued...

2008-09-09T10:18:00.017-06:00

(Thanks to all those who posted comments on my last and first post. It gives me encouragement to keep this up.) And I apologize in advance for all the pictures. I just have so many to choose from.

Well, the waiting continued. We thought we would know where Jonathan would be teaching seminary by May 20th at his New Personnel Orientation. No such luck. But at that point we were just happy to be hired.

So around the 5th of June we recieved the call and were told that we would be in the Phoenix Valley area in Mesa or Gilbert, Arizona. We were elated, though we were sad to leave Provo, my job, and all our friends there. I immediately thought of Brother Ringer, the HR rep, asking us in our interview if we could handle the heat of Arizona. Maybe he knew something we didn't.

We traveled down to Arizona to find a place to live. This happened to be Jonathan's first trip to Arizona. Because we didn't know where Jonathan would be teaching yet since there are many seminaries in this area, we decided to rent for a while. We decided on a townhome community in Mesa in a central location. He is now teaching at Red Mountain High School Seminary which is less than four miles away. We are planning on buying a house in Queen Creek, AZ, a smaller outlying town, in December. We decided that we are extremely blessed to be placed in this area. We really like Arizona even though it is so hot. While in Utah in June it snowed on the mountains. Then we came here to visit that same month it was 113 degrees. Thank goodness for AC.

Well, our last big hurrah in Provo was the 4th of July. Here are a few pictures.

Leighton was scared to death of the fireworks. He kept burying his head into our chests as we held him. But at the end he got really excited and clapped his hands. I love the 4th, the wearing of patriotic colors, the flag-waving, the parades, and especially the fireworks.

Right before we left we celebrated my sister's 18th birthday because we were moving away from her 10 days before. We made Blair a turtle cheesecake, a family favorite. Leighton was covered in caramel. Leighton misses his "Aunt Bear" very much. He often pretends that he is talking to her on the phone.

The kids are growing fast. Here are a few pictures of them. Savannah is rolling over and loves to "talk" to us. She definetely knows when she doesn't recognize someone. She happens to be one of the most relaxed children I have ever seen. She is happy and loving and especially loves her brother. Leighton now knows his colors, the concept of "2", and is talking in sentences. He is full of energy, and I find that my hands are as full as ever. And he is very sweet. He is learning to pray and he loves to have group hugs. We live somewhat near the Phoenix airport, and we always see planes going in and out. He can spot them so far away. He is pure boy. He loves planes, bulldozers, trucks, and buses.

I love this picture. Leighton is "reading" his little Book of Mormon to Savannah. She looks to be thinking hard about it.

Summer 2008

2008-08-12T22:55:00.010-06:00

I happen to be one of the worst journal writers in history. Somehow I thought blogging would be different in some way. It hasn't been. I just get so caught up with covering everything that I don't even get anything done. And the perfectionist in me wants it all to look perfect. However, I am new at this. So, some wise friends of mine said that I must put something on my blog. So here goes...

Well, the procrastinator that I am has allowed me to go the whole summer without starting my blog. To our family and friends scattered across the country, hopefully you like this little view into our life.

This summer of 2008 has been crazy for our family. First of all Jonathan found out on Friday April 18th that he was hired as a seminary teacher. We were beyond excited, especially because that meant Jonathan could graduate from Brigham Young University the next Friday as planned. Leighton and I (and almost Savannah) were there to cheer him on. He graduated on Friday April 25th with a Bachelor's in philosophy. We were truly blessed that Jonathan could do what he has dreamed of doing.

Most likely due to the craziness of April check-outs as a hall advisor at BYU and the preparations for Women's Conference the next week, I went into labor one week early. I had worked all day on Thursday, May 1st. I started having some contractions around 7pm. They were not consistent for a while. I was rushing to finish my first summer schedule for my job as I was having contractions. Around midnight my contractions were about three minutes apart. The doctor had informed me that my labor would probably be twice as fast as my first. That gave me around 2 and 1/2 hours. So in fear of having my baby girl in a boy's dorm, we rushed to the hospital. Aunt Bridget (my amazing sister) and Uncle Kip (her husband) were able to rush over and stay with Leighton while Jonathan and I went to the hospital. After arriving at Orem Community Hospital, we settled in. My labor took much longer than expected. I thought they would break my water since I was fully dilated for a few hours. My water didn't break till around 5am. I later found out after our doctor arrived that they were trying to delay because they couldn't reach my doctor. His cell phone was malfunctioning and it was going straight to his voice mail. Oh well...everything went smoothly and our sweet baby girl was born at 5:21am on May 2, 2008. Savannah Jadyn Rader is the first girl in Jonathan's family in over 50 years. She was the exact same weight as Leighton, weighing in at 7lbs. 10oz. She is mild and sweet and happy to be alive. She is easy-going and adaptable which was so helpful during this crazy time in our lives. She loves her brother even though she sometimes takes a beating as he tries to love on her. Leighton is a good big brother.

Aunt Blair (my other sister) took care of Leighton while we were at the hospital. She bought him this blue balloon that day. Jonathan came home to get him up in the morning and to put him down at night. In many ways he was still a baby at barely 15 months old. He didn't quite understand what was going on. We went home from the hospital the next day. We had two restless nights but since then Savannah has been a wonderful sleeper. She slept 7 hours straight her third night home. Sadly, Bridget and Kip had to leave for an internship in San Antonio the next week. Then Grammi and Grandpa Rader came to visit. It was so fun to have them around.

To be continued tomorrow....