Picture overload coming

Part of the reason I have this blog is to keep my wonderful grandparents who live out of state updated on the life of Peyton. As you can tell from my blog this hasn't really happened lately. I've been laying around feeling sorry for myself that I am sick and haven't been LIVING. So yesterday I became determined...sick or not...to get up and get things done each day. Things may or may not change for the next 5 and a half months, but at least my attitude can!

We have LOTS of fun things coming up starting Thursday and well into the beginning of the year. You will be seeing many pictures to come and many memories made at the Ercanbrack household. I am really looking forward to this holiday season...really...

The only sad note to the beginning of it all is that the beloved BYU football team lost. There's always next year at home I guess. Can't win them all at the last second right :) And the Jazz lost a last second game last night...nothing I dislike more!

Today I'm going to gear up and find a few finishing touches for my Christmas decorating. It's all going up Friday! Yeah! And I get to see Twilight tonight (I think I'm one of the last women on the planet to see it though). I'll give you my review tomorrow.

Deck the Halls

So we found a tree. And not the 9 foot tree I was dreaming of...no no no. This is a 12 FOOT TREE! I am so excited! It pays to bring your loving husband along who convinces you that it's OK to get the much larger tree because it will look so much better in our two-story family room! So yeah for Christmas. I just hope I have enough decorations this year to fill it enough. Oh and one more perk...it's pre-lit! If you are in the market for a tree this year, we bought it at Taipan...they have a 25 percent off coupon on any Christmas item and trees are included! We saved a ton of money!

ALSO...I am on the lookout for the 20 percent off coupon for Toys R Us. It came in the holiday gift book which I DIDN'T GET! Sad day. We are buying the big kid Little Tikes slide for Peyton for Christmas and I'd love to save some money on it. If you aren't planning on using your coupon and have one, let me know!

AND ONE MORE THING...I am still yucky sick and I'm trying to figure out how to help myself...Things not working so far: Unisom and B6 and Prevacid. I think Zofran is my next step and I don't know what the next steps are after that. I really just need to feel good for the holidays! ANY SUGGESTIONS ARE WELCOME!

Love you all!

Is it that time again already?

I am SO looking forward to the holiday season. I really think there's not much I love more than a home filled with Christmas decorations. I am THRILLED to have a high ceiling and room this year to put up a big Christmas tree! I bought a round of decorations soon after my birthday (I know...a little excited :) and I just need one more round probably and it will be ready to go! My house is pretty much ready the day after Thanksgiving. I LOVE IT! Now if I can only teach Peyton to leave it alone...that will be the challenge this year.

Also, can't believe it's time already for baby #2. Will be born end of May/first of June! (Due date is June 4th but if I'm given the option to be induced at 39 weeks, I'm taking it!) Aside from being sick, we are so excited and can't wait for a brother or sister to join Peyton.

Happy Halloween

I love thinking of fun things to dress Peyton up in. I better enjoy it while he doesn't have an opinion.




















Little Peyton Manning















Peyt's little cheerleader Addie. Jessica made Peyt's cute football pants for me and her little baby Eliza also had a darling cheer outfit on that matched her sister. So talented!
















Kids minus Peyt. He always seems to be sad at the Halloween party! These girls are all so cute though!
















Our visit to Dad's work on Halloween. These two cute boys aren't too far apart from Peyton.















The cousins at Grandma and Grandpa Shoell's.

Hope you had a great day too! We had SO many trick or treaters I couldn't believe it. So much fun to see all of them though!

Heart Happy

Two stories that touched me in the past two days...

As I mentioned before I've been so impressed with the story of the Nielson family who were in the tragic plane crash in Arizona leaving husband and wife badly burned and requiring months and months of treatment. They had a fund raiser concert for them last weekend in AZ featuring these two sweeties...Stephanie Nielson's daughters...I read on her blog that she sang this to her children at night. I think this is a new favorite lullaby :) And the older one's name is Claire...my favorite name for a girl.

http://www.eastvalleyproductions.com/player.cfm?media=/movies/Nie/Glendhill

I watched yesterday's Oprah about children who've done incredible things. They told the story of the little 9-year old boy who marched into the Olympic stadium with the Chinese athletes this summer. His school was demolished during the massive earthquake earlier this year. Many of the students in his school were killed. This little boy escaped and then went back in to help save two of his classmates. Later when asked why he did it, he simply said he was the hall monitor and he just needed to do his job.

How I wish I was more like a little child...

Love Him

In twenty years, I'm not going to remember what my house looked like today...how clean it was, how decorated it was or how my coffee table was being used. What I'm going to remember are moments like these...




















































...and the pure joy on my little boy's face. I was in our bedroom doing something and heard the squeals and belly laughs coming from Peyton. McKay had propped our very dented/played on coffee table up to the fireplace and was driving Peyt's cars down it...much to his delight. It turned out to be a highlight of our week! This child brings so much joy to my life. No words can really blurt it all out...

I finally read through some of the entries about Christian and Stephanie Nielson...talk about putting your life into perspective. What an incredible journey they've been through. I was deeply touched and will keep my thoughts with them. www.nieniedialogues.blogspot.com

"Happy Day"

Sorry for blog slacking. Whenever I know I need to post a video it takes me forever because my computer is so slow and I don't want to do it...ANYWAY...here's something cute Peyton's been doing. He hit his newfound attitude stage about 18 months. It's been fun. When he gets really mad/sad I tell him to be a "happy boy". Somehow he got "happy day" out of that and will usually say it when you tell him to be happy. The video shows a few of his words thanks to my continuous prodding and repeating...so sorry about that!

This month has been busy and it's part of my slacking. I'm the primary chorister and it's the program this next week...also hosted a little party at my house, was in charge of a super Saturday craft, yada yada. I'll try to make more visits this week.

Thank You!

I have to say thanks to all my cute friends who came to the party tonight! It turned out great thanks to all of you! I was a little nervous because the party I did a few years ago didn't go as great as I'd hoped...but this one was so fun! So many of my cute neighbor friends came over...thanks girls! And I had a lot of friends who made the drive from various parts of Utah County to come...you girls are awesome! For all my neighbor friends...every six months someone needs to host one of these so we can always have some cute shoes to wear :) Any volunteers for next time? I'll get you Amy's info! Anyway...thanks again. I had a very fun night! I'll try and take pics of the cute stuff I got and post them.

Grateful for "Don"

There needs to be more Dons in the world...

I was stuck on the side of the freeway with a blown out tire. Luckily I felt it happen and quickly veered off the road. Could have been a disaster. Prayer answered #1.

Called McKay immediately and he said he'd be right there. Prayer answered #2.

As I'm getting the spare tire out and ready, Don shows up. Prayer answered #3.

He's driving a big construction/utility truck and offers to help. He checks the tire as McKay shows up and still continues to help. We realize there's a big gash in the tire (which by the way...if you know your tires are bad already, just get them changed!) He pulls his truck in front of our jeep and gets his air pump ready. In a matter of minutes, he has our car jacked up, tire changed and safely on, air in the spare tire etc. etc. etc. He was our good Samaritan. He did a job in five minutes when it would have taken McKay 30-40 with the lousy wrench and jack the car manufacturers give...not to mention greasy, dirty work clothes afterward. So thank you for being my answered prayer today Don.

Maybe all of us (myself with the finger pointed deepest) should find our own good Samaritan moments...I know people need our help!

P.S. - Love to see any of you who can come to the shoe/scentsy party tomorrow night. Should be fun! 6:30-8 p.m.

It's a PARTY!

I'm excited about the upcoming Sole Desires (cute shoes!) and Scentsy (yummy candles!) party I'm having! Here's the info...

Wednesday, October 8th
6:30 - 8 p.m.
My House - leave your email as a comment if you need address/directions

These companies both have great products and I'm really excited to have them over. Sole Desires has tons of cute shoes for women and children (even cute boy CHURCH shoes!!! So hard to find sometimes :) Scentsy also has a lot of fun new things including plug-in scents and car fresheners! Everyone is welcome and I hope to see you there! There will be at least five different kinds of cookies to eat too :)