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.