Big Boy

Ok, Yesterday was Christmas- Today Noah can ride his bike all by himself- no parent and no training wheels! We took him to the church parking lot and 2 seconds later he was off on his own. He crashed a few times- a couple into Daniel. Noah thought that was great and wanted to run Daniel over some more. Noah almost took out Jodi a few times too. Noah loves his bike and thought it was the most wonderful thing in the world. We still have to teach him how to stop without dumping the bike or running into curbs, but that won't be as hard as the riding. We still can NOT get Daniel near a big boy bike. He is MOST content just sitting on Jodi's push bike for which he is much TOO big for. I'm sure the bike bug will get him sometime- I hope!

Christmas Day!

We had such a wonderful Christmas. We had a great time Christmas Eve getting the kids ready for the big day. We acted out the Nativity story as part of Family Home Evening. The kids had fun and were so adorable. We then watched "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and the church's production, "Joy to the World." We wrote letters to Santa and got the cookie plate ready. Then, we read Christmas books, ending with the pop-up "Twas the Night Before Christmas." Then, as our nightly scriptures we read the Nativity story again in the Children's Scriptures. They knew the reason for the special night by the end! It was really fun. Then, Dustin and I enjoyed the Mormon Tabernacle Christmas concert on PBS while we put toys together.

The boys woke up bright and early and were super excited to see what Santa brought. Noah loves his bike and in a few days should be able to ride all by himself. He can go a little ways on his own already. He does swerve a lot and will get better the more he rides. Daniel loves his Tonka fire truck. It's big and strong like him! They had such a good Christmas. Jodi's favorite presents so far are the Jack-in-the-box and the cloth tea pot set.

The funniest Christmas moment:
Daniel and Noah both received nerf ball guns. Jodi, the tea pot set. Jodi was running around with the guns as the boys were having a tea party on the floor!! It was the funniest thing!

The worst Christmas moment:
Daniel was so mad when there were no more presents to open. To pout, he picked up his new Little People Farm and threw it at Noah! Yes, he did. That boy was IN trouble!!! It was a rough day for him, but we got through it smiling at the end. A good end to a wonderful day.

Christmas Letter

Dear family and friends,

It has been another eventful year for the Frier family- I don’t think there is ever an un-eventful year! So much has happened that we can’t share it all with you, but here are the highlights:

Jodi turned 1 in July. She has been a walker since May and is a very good climber (and faller)!! She loves to be anywhere and everywhere Mom goes- especially in the mornings when Mom is blow- drying her hair. Jodi wants to do anything and everything that the boys do. If they can do it, so can she! Jodi absolutely adores Noah and will wrestle him any chance she can get. She loves cars and trains and Weeble Wobbles. She gets to go into nursery (a Sunday class for 18month to 3 year olds) in January. We are very excited- no more running after the munchkin during our meetings!

Daniel is a very emotional 3- year old. He loves his truck and loves to pester Noah non- stop. Will the arguing ever stop? Daniel loves animals and is a great big teddy himself. He has the most infectious laugh. It is hard to get mad at him when he is so goofy. His laugh truly makes me smile. Books, games, toys, and the park: you name it; he loves it.

Noah will be 5 in February. He had his first Primary program (a Sunday program with speaking parts and music for ages 4- 11). He said his part very well and got very shy at the end. Noah is my little singer. He is always singing and making up words to songs. He sounds just like his Grandma Joan- always humming and singing. He is getting so excited for Kindergarten next year. He is making lots of friends and is always asking to play with someone. He loves pirates- we have 3 pirate boats and he still wants more. He says 7 at least! Noah loves to read, color, glue, and cook. He loves to ride his bike and play at the park. No wonder Mom is always so tired!

Dustin has been a busy worker and student. He completed all of his prerequisite courses for the nursing program in May. We found out in October that he was placed into a nursing program for January! We are so excited- Dustin is very nervous. I know he will do a great job. This is what he has been working towards for so long. It is an accelerated program at Scottsdale Community College, although come May, Dustin will opt out of that program and move into a traditional program so he can work over the summer and spend some time with the kids. Dustin has discovered a new hobby- woodworking and looks forward to a time when he will have time and space to pursue that hobby. It is fun to look at the projects and dream of the future. Dustin is also a Primary/Sunday School teacher for the 10 year olds. He seems to enjoy it.

Laura has had quite the year herself. In March, she welcomed a new addition to the family- a brand new professional flute. It is amazing and is so awesome to play. Timing was everything and it all worked out that we could make this investment. Laura’s Mom drove down from CO to help in the selection. It was a great trip! In August, I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. I feel pain all the time and don’t sleep well. Sleep aides seem to have helped some with the fatigue. I have good and bad days and I am learning to pace myself and learning to rely more on Dustin than I ever had. It has been hard to say “No” and to not do it all. I am learning to let go and trust in others and especially the Lord. Besides running after 3 children, i am also the Primary music chorister (4-11 year olds). I love teaching music to the kids and somehow find the time and energy for that as well.

Dustin and I celebrate our 10 year anniversary on the 20th. I can't believe it has been that long, as well as only 10 years. We were definitely made for each other. We suit each other so well. He is so supportive of me and we still make each other laugh. We still enjoy the same things and are perfectly happy enjoying those late night movies- no matter how late it is. We pray with each other every night, and I know it is this that has kept us so strong and still in love with each other.

I am grateful for this Christmas season when I can share with my family and friends the knowledge that I have that our Heavenly Father loves us and knows each of us. He knows our needs and when we have faith and trust in Him, he will bless us. He loved us so much that he sent his Son to come to earth to show us the way back. I am very grateful for the love He has for all of us.

Merry Christmas to all!
Love, The Frier Family

Hilarious!

Ok, so we took the kids to the mall last night. We were leaving and walking by the escelators. Daniel and Noah had to go up and down them. Dustin, Jodi, and I waited for them at the bottom. Noah was a little monkey and started running up the steps. he tripped and scraped himself. Dustin had to go up and get him. Daniel, meanwhile, had come back down and thought he could go up again. He had just gotten on the escelator when we told him to come back. Daniel turned around on the up side and tried coming down the steps. It took him a few steps to realize he wasn't going anywhere. He started crying and all Dustin and I could do was stand and laugh at him. He even got a crowd watching Daniel try to come down on the up-side. They must have thought we were so mean, but it was hysterical!!!

Noah did something funny too, but now I can't remember it. I'll post it when I think of it.

We went to the "Farm Park" in Chandler yesterday and IKEA. The kids were so tired when we got home. They slept until 5pm!! Then, today we went to the Phoenix Zoo for Dustin's company picnic. We ate some good BBQ and saw the animals. It was so crowded at the zoo- we ended up parking VERY far away. We parked at the trail head to the Hole in the Rock, and so we hiked there and got some good pictures- we'll share those as soon as we get them developed.

It's been a crazy weekend. The kids are in bed at 6:30 tonight, Dustin's working. I'm thinking it's a Chick-Flick night!

Daniel's Birthday

Daniel had a great time at his birthday. He loved his pirate boat cake, which I thought turned out pretty good! He loved his presents- Peter Pan figurines, the Peter Pan Indian Camp, Batman Hot wheels, A Tonka Airplane, Meet the Robinsons, and books from Grandma and Grandpa.

Noah was sad that we wouldn't let him play with Daniel's new toys. Such is life.

Trick or Treat!

The kids are definitely all Halloweened out. They had a costume birthday party, the Ward Trunk-or-Treat party, a play-group costume party, and Halloween night. They had tons of fun. They got way more candy than is good for them. This is the first year they have even had a bite of candy- other than suckers. It was a good run and we knew the "No Candy" would never last.
Jodi was too young to really get into Halloween. I wasn't going to put forth the money or effort on a costume. She did look cute in her Halloween shirt and skirt though. Noah and Daniel kept trading constumes. They were a pirate and cowboy. They were really cute and had so musch fun. We watched Charlie Brown's It's the Great Pumpkin last night after trick-or-treating. They all 3 woke up so crabby today. We all needed the naps. (Maybe it was sugar withdrawl!!)

New "Portrait" Pics

We decided to go cheap to update our kids portraits this year. The pictures turned out ok, we did it right after church, but the sun was going down too soon (church gets out at 6pm!). The pics still turned out adorable though!

The BIG news for us is that our NOISY upstairs neighbors were evicted and they are GONE!! It is amazing how quiet everything gets once our kids are napping or down for the night!



Daniel's birthday is on the 23rd- tomorrow. I am making a pirate boat cake. He loves Peter Pan and is getting some Peter Pan toys. Daniel went to a friend's birthday party on Saturday and was quite upset that he didn't get any toys. He knows it is his birthday and he should be the one to get toys. Daniel is super excited for his own party. We will be sure to take lots of pictures and blog them.
Daniel said a cute word yesterday. We introduced the boys to sugar-free lemonade. They loved it. Daniel calls it "Yummy-ade". He cracks me up!





Noah is funny. He calls me "Crazy Woman" whenever we go to the park. I think he does it so I will chase him and pretend to be offended when he says it. He just says it more. Noah is going to be a cowboy for Halloween and Daniel is going to be a pirate. we of course will get pics of that too.






Jodi is super smart. She folds her arms when we pray- she puts her hands in fists and holds them to her chest. It is so sweet. Then she starts babbling to say the prayer!!! She is miss independent as well. There is no helping her with eating. She has to do it all herself. I wish I had a hose in the house for at meal times!! We pulled out the toy shopping cart for Jodi to play with. She loves it. We keep it on the fridge so the boys don't fight over it. Jodi will stand by the fridge pointing up and grunt to get the cart down. She pulls out all my dishcloths and helps me dry the dishes from the dishwasher. She is growing up way too fast!!

Oh, What Fun!

Ok this was too cute not to share. Jodi was playing with one of the die cast metal Thomas trains. She hit Daniel in the head with it. Dustin was just joking, but he told Jodi to go to time-out. Jodi stood up, walked to the time-out corner, and put her head against the wall. It was SO cute. We told her to go play. She had a big grin on her face. She is one smart cookie for only 14- months old! The weather is cooling off enough to bring the bikes out. Jodi loves her little scooter.



We got a good deal on the DVD Jumanji. We thought the boys would like it and they did. Except for the part with the spiders. i captured this moment on film. They both hid their eyes from the tv. It was very cute as well.



We had fun with the kids after watching General Conference (a weekend event of speakers from our church) on Sunday. Dustin blew up the airmattress. The kids used it as a slide and then as a fort. We had a great time playing and being silly.


Noah gives his first talk in Primary on Sunday and November 18 will be his first Primary program. He is very excited for both.

The Funny Things Kids Say

Noah has entered a new stage of life- the "talk back stage." I was getting quite upset at the way Noah was talking to me yesterday. He would be so snippy in his replies to me. I finally had had enough. My talking to him wasn't doing anything, so I sent Daddy to do some talking. Dustin told Noah he needs to talk to me in a loving voice. Noh looked at Dustin and then said, "I know Daddy, but I'm just too crabby today." It took a lot for Dustin to not laugh at that moment. Noah did come and give me a hug and tell me he was sorry. He is doing really well at saying his own prayers. He said breakfast prayer yesterday and brought me to tears. It was so sweet and heartfelt. He prayed for all the things he wanted to do that day- to play nice, to go to the indoor prark (the play area at the mall), and to watch movies together. It was very special.

Daniel is becoming more and more stubborn. I was helping him eat his dinner last night. He got super stubborn and wouldn't eat. I told him to eat and put the spoon up to his mouth. He turned his head all the way to the right. I held the spoon up to him again. This time , as he turned his head to the left, he opened his mouth really fast and snagged just a tip of food. I can't even describe the attitude and the face of defiance and the silliness of the act. It made me laugh instead of getting madder.

Jodi has entered the "I can do everything brothers can do" stage. She figured out how to climb onto the top bunk of the bunk bed!!! Luckily, I was in the boys' room as she atempted this stunt. We now stuff the bean bag in the ladder so she can't get up. That makes her really mad.

I have one more thing to share. Noah and Daniel have a new favorite show. They LOVE "Super Why" on PBS. It's a show that takes them into fairytales. The Super Readers have to change the story to solve the problem- like making a slide for Humpty Dumpty. The fairy tale story also solves a real life problem. Daniel is learning his letters and Noah is learning to read from it. They love it!!!

Noah and Daniel had fun being "Pillow People." They really liked bumping into things without getting hurt!






It's funny how the kids all have to be doing the same thing- even eating their snacks together.






"You got me!" The boys love their foam swords.







This was Noah's first person drawing! He's pretty good, wouldn't you say?! He drew himself fishing.







Jodi is now a climber! She got on the chair all by herself. Nothing is safe anymore!

Some More Noah-isms

Noah is too cute with his words. We were coming back from an outing at night- well past bedtime. I told Noah as we were driving home that we were going to read one book and then it was bedtime (we usually read 5-6 books before bed every night). Noah piped up from the back seat, "I'm too wakey to go to bed."

On Sunday, Noah whispered in Dustin's ear,"I have a secret Dad. I'm going to take my under-water guy with me to church. I'm going to keep it in this hand so Mom won't know. I'll sit by you and we can play together at church. Don't tell Mom." He did take the under-water guy with him, but he didn't play with it and he never sat by Dustin the whole meeting. It was amazing to see his mind thinking. We have been reading books where the main character tells a secret. It's funny to see Noah doing the same.

My Apologies

Wow, it has been awhile since I posted an update of the family. So much has happened and gotten in the way. Let's see: Once I got Daniel through the poty training, it was time for Jodi to make some milestones as well. She started really walking in June at only 11 months. We got her switched off of formula at 10 1/2 months- I was tired of the mess and expense! She loves her new found independence and is exercising a strong will with it!

We took a trip to CO for the 4th of July to celebrate all the July birthdays- Mine, Jodi's, and Dustin's. It was good to be in CO. We thought we were leaving the heat behind us, but we were wrong. It was the hottest summer in Craig. I got really sick while there and was miserable for much of the trip. We were scheduled to go camping for 2 days and ended up camping for only one. I was still feeling really ill and Daniel developed a severe eye infection. He couldn't even open his eyes from all the goop. He was miserable. Jodi couldn't be as free as she wanted to be with all the dirt and camp fires and stuff. So, we packed up and went back to vegg at Grandma and Grandpa's.

We enjoyed the awesome fireworks display in Craig. They really do put on a good show. We had a great time celebrating Jodi's birthday. She does not like cake, but loves her new Little People doll house.

Noah and Daniel are growing so tall. Noah wants Daniel to play with him more, but Daniel doesn't know how to play WITH someone. He does fine playing near Noah. They sure do fight a lot and I know they will grow in and out of the fighting as they grow. It makes me appreciate the patience and love my parents had with my younger sister and I. I suppose it is also pay- backs for all the fights we had growing up! Pay- backs are no fun!

Daniel is super lovey- dovey. I think it must be because he is the middle child. Noah loves to wrestle and play pirates and Army guys. He has a very active imagination.

I am still busy with our church's Primary music- music for 1 1/2 to 11 year old children. They keep me on my toes. I have managed to play my flute some and even performed a song in June for our church.

Dustin is busy working and waiting. We don't know how long we will have to wait for him to be accepted into nursing school. We hope not long. I hope to be able to work at keeping this blog updated. The summer was bad, but I hope to be better in the future.

Busy Week

Wow it has been a busy week! We were supposed to go camping near Payson to celebrate ustin's end of the semester. But, where we wanted to go was surrounded by forest fires. So, we went to Kingman instead to visit Grandma Joan. We went through Flagstaff, which really made us want to be camping. Then, we drove to the Grand Canyon Caverns. It was a fun trip for the boys. They sure wanted to be out of the car. They had fun exploring the caverns. It was here that we discovered a career for Noah- modeling. The pictures of Noah with the giant dinosaur are all his "poses" as he told Daddy.

The kids had a great time in Kingman. we took them up to the Hualipi mountains and went on a very short hike- it would have been longer had I remembered my tennis shoes. I only had 2 sets of flip-flops the whole trip. It was a beautiful area and we hope to go camping in it this October. The kids loved playing at Grandma's house- especially outside in her bird bath and fountains. My pretty little princess was the dirtiest I have ever seen her!!!

Once in Mesa again, we took the kids bowling for the first time. Noah and Daniel had tons of fun. Noah's competitive edge came out. He would be quite upset if he knew he were losing to Daniel! They lasted all of a game and a half and then it was on to the arcade room. Dustin and I got lots of bowling practice in playing their spots as well as our own. We also got our exercise running back and forth from the lanes to the arcade. I was awesome and beat Dustin- even after his semester of bowling class!!

Noah thinks he has discovered how to get what he wants qithout actually asking for it. Noah had a homemade cookie bar earlier in the afternoon. Daniel hadn't had one yet and was having the pleasure of enjoying one after his nap. noah was playing and noticed Daniel eating a cookie. We told Noah he had already eaten his and he could have one later. The next thing we hear is Noah talking to Daniel saying, "Daniel, do you want me to have a cookie? Say yes!" Then Noah turned around and told us that Daniel told him he could have a cookie. It was too cute. I, of course, gave in- but I know the trick and am on my guard! Also, we were in the car and Dustin and I were just teasing each other/ mildly arguing when Noah pipes up from the back, "Will everybody just calm down!" I busted out laughing. Noah had to say it a few more times when he realized there was a reaction to his comment. What a ham!!!

Jodi is now drinking from sippy cups and going to sleep on her own- no more rocking chair. I miss those moments and am feeling not needed. It's silly, but I love those moments and truly so treasure and feel the loss of them. I can't believe how fast this year has flown and how much I have been blessed in that year. Jodi is such a joy and I can't imagine our family without her. It's like she always had a place and was just waiting to be physically in it. I hope that makes sense. Enough sap= We had a great week!

Big Changes!

Wow, Our little family is making some big changes! The first momentous occassion is that Daniel is now a potty-trained little boy! "They" tell you that potty training gets easier with each child. Noah took a long time of starting and stopping. Daniel took 3 days! He still wears pull-ups for the just in case. I hope to move him out of those in a couple of weeks. He picked up on it so fast. We spent one day with the potty in his room watching Disney movies all day and drinking fluids constantly. I spent the day sitting on his bed reading a book. Daniel has loved all the hugs and kisses that he gets when he goes potty. Noah hasn't like it one bit and has become super clingy and demanding. "Mom, I just want you to play with me." ALL DAY LONG!!! Daniel has grown independent over night. He is now the big protective brother of Jodi. He yells at her to stop doing something if he thinks she will get hurt. He is a big helper now around the house as well. He is getting so big!

Jodi, now 10 months old, is getting so close to walking. I have been working with her on standing by herself. She is a smart little girl. She knows when I am going to let go of her and she plops her bum right down. I know she is thinking, "I am not standing with out help- you can't make me." The little goober. She is happiest when I walk her through the apartment with her holding my fingers. She wants to go fast. Whenever I let go of her hand though, she stops and won't move on until she gets my finger back. I CAN'T make her do anything she doesn't want to. Oh, boy it's already starting. Like mother- like daughter!!

Noah is having fun just being a rambunctious 4 year old. He loves doing school work with Mommy and is getting better at writing and coloring and cutting. We have fun together. He still loves his trains and cars and Little People. We went to the zoo a week ago. They have a fun water play area and he had fun playing in the water. He didn't want to leave. He loves playing zoo and sets up a zoo with all his animals and Little People and Weeble Wobbles. He loves books and "reads" the books to Daniel and Jodi. He is loving Primary. I found him playing Primary the other day. He was teaching his pretend class the songs and giving them a lesson on the Holy Ghost. It melted my heart!!!

I am enjoying every minute I get of practicing my rocking flute!! I love it and get such great enjoyment out of it.

Dustin finished his last semester of pre-reqs with an "A" in bio 202!!! We are thrilled. Now it is a waiting game to see how soon he gets into a nursing program. We are hoping he will be in one by January. Keep your fingers crossed.

Pictures

Has Anyone Seen Sweet Daniel?

Where did my sweet teddy-of-a-Daniel go? He is exercising his will against mine and I fear I am losing the battle!! His terrible twos have struck with a vengance. He is extremelly defiant. Daniel has no fear of telling his Mommy "NO", even though he quickly feels the wrath of Mom. I finally rinsed his mouth out with soap after he bit Noah at the store. He seemed to understand that form of discipline better than any other so far. Time outs don't phase him. Takig toys away doesn't bother him enough to stop the acts long term. We just found out that he does hit in nursery. I don't know why we weren't informed of that before. (FYI to all nursery leaders- let the mom's know what their child is doing when Mommy isn't around!!) every time I go grocery shopping with all 3 kids, the older generation always says, "Boy, you have your arms full." There are days when I repeat that phrase to myslef as well!!


Jodi has discovered her little tongue. She loves to stick it out whenever she can. It is the cutest little tongue!! She is now only 17 pounds- only the 30% range for her age, but she is 28 inches tall- in the 70% range. She is a dainty little girl that is getting quick as lightning and getting into all sorts of trouble. Nothing is safe from her reach. Everything goes into her little mouth. But, oh, what a cutie!

Noah is learning so fast. He is piscking up on "pre-school" stuff quickly and is keeping me on my toes. I am having fun teaching him the things about the alphabet and he is learning and wanting to learn so much. I have to remind myself to keep teaching him and to not let "life" get in the way. How people can home school their children is amazing to me. Noah loves Animaniacs and the Rugrats. He is bored becasue we took away all of his buckets of toys, combined the toys, made 4 seperate buckets, and allow only one bucket out in one day. I may go back to the other way in a few days. I was tired of the mess and it would take so long for him to clean it up- Daniel is no help in that category yet. But, he really did "play" with those toys through out the day.

My life has gotten crazier. I have been asked to be the Primary music chorister for our ward. Until they fnd a replacement I am still the ward organist and am still the ward music chairperson. If things get to hectic I am totally delegating responsibilities!!! Until then, life is crazy! Dustin has 2 more weeks of school and 2 major tests BEFORE finals!! He has a very mean Biology prof. So that't the news from the Frier clan for awhile!!

Happy Easter

Happy Easter to all- a little late. The Frier's had a good time celebrating. The kids spent time with their favorite friends playing with squirt guns, jumping on a trampoline, egg hunting in an orange grove, eating BBQd hot dogs. They had so much fun and were well tired out when we got home. So tired, we didn't have time to decorate eggs. it's a good thing I bought plastic ones. i filled them with their favorite snacks and they thought it was great. Noah and Daniel each got 2 hot wheels and a giant dinosaur coloring book. It was nice and simple and worked great.

Noah and Daniel have their share of times when they play so great together, but when they fight- boy do they fight! Noah is learning more about the alphabet. he is learning all about the sounds the letters make and is still learning how to write them. I am trying to do as many fun activities through out the week as I can. We just finished with the letter "B". We went to the bank, bought jelly beans, played some balloon games, got free after- Easter helium balloons, made bubble paintings, learned a ballon song, etc. Now we are going to start the letter "C". The fun things is Daniel is learning right by Noah and is picking up on the alphabet quickly.


Daniel started to say meal prayers and always wants to say the prayer. It's fun to see the boys fight over who will say the prayer. I have thought about reading the Children's Scripure stories with Noah earlier in the day. He keeps complaining of nightmares. We just got done reading about Alma and Amulek and how the Lamanites threw the people into the fire. Noah ahad a dream that night that Daniel was thrown into a fire. He was really upset about it. he loves to hear the scripture stories, though.

I swore we would never go to the Easter Pageant again. We had to go this year. We used it as a teaching tool for Noah. He wouldn't believe us that Jesus Christ lives. The Pageant helped him see that He does. It was fun seeing it through the eyes of our children.



Jodi is growing like a weed. She has her 9 month check up this week. The doctor will see a little girl who crawls fast, who stands and walks along furniture, who loves to bounce, who has 3 new teeth coming in. Jodi is so sweet and loveable. Everyone at church just thinks she is the cutest. Her little Easter dress was a big hit- thank you Grandma!!!

I am finding time to practice my flute, practice the piano for the organ, and prepare to teach Primary music on Sunday, and set up musical numbers for Sacrament meeting and other meetings, and have time to keep my house looking somewhat clean. No wonder I am so tired at night!