So much to be Thankful for!

I know it's been awhile and there's been so much going on that I do need to catch up. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving in Arkansas with my family. We flew from SLC to Memphis through Denver and the boys were great. Even though we were the doctor's office two days prior with bad colds they either slept or played the whole way. They did get a little off schedule but that's to be expected. Colby ended up with an ear infection but with some antibiotics he was feeling much better the next day.

It was so good to see all of our family and friends since we will be Utah for Christmas. We even got Daddy's tree up before we left. As usual we had tons of food and ate way too much while we were gone. We've hit the workouts though since returning home.

We took the boys to the cemetary to visit their grandma and all weekend I had been trying to get Austin to show Aunt Anna how to say pretty in sign language because it's so cute. He never would do it. As we put the flowers in her vase Austin was standing there and totally on his own he said "pretty" and signed it as well. Needless to say my eyes welled with tears of pride and sadness all at the same time.

Last week the boys had their 18 month check up. They are doing great. We have been concerned about Colby's weight but Dr. Cox didn't seem concerned. He said this is not a big growth time anyway and if we didn't have Austin to compare him too we wouldn't be as concerned. He did say there are some tests we can have done to make sure everything is ok so I think we do plan to get those done.

Colby was in the one percentile on weight and height but the 90th percentile on head size. Yes, he has a big brain. Austin was around the 50th percentile on height and weight and about the same on head size. Colby was a little over 19 pounds and Austin was a little over 22 pounds. For those that have seen them lately there is a distinct difference in size. Austin is in 12 mo clothing and Colby in 9 mo some 12 months if they run small.

Yes, Colby is digging for gold.

We are gearing up for Christmas now with our tree up and house decorated. My favorite time of the year so I enjoy it as long as I can. We got a huge snow this weekend so I am glad everything is up outside or it wouldn't get up now. Pat and I have been discussing what new traditions we want to start with the boys as I know these are the years that they will remember. I want them to say "when are we going to do this or that?" I want them to look forward to certain things in our home with our family regardless of where we are for the holidays.


We hope you are all staying safe and healthy through this holiday season and we wish you a great holiday season.

Beware of co-workers

What a great birthday I had yesterday. I just had to post some photos of what my 6 male co-workers did to my office area before I got into work. If you look closely Dora has the correct rank on and she has a propeller hat with the tiara to show who is queen. The brownie they had waiting for me showed I apparently turned 43 instead of 36. I could not even find the stuff on my desk and to top it all off one of them was waiting in my office with the video camera to capture my initial reaction. You have to be careful with some co-workers.






I got a new camera for my birthday. It's pretty awesome I must say. I got the Nikon D80 with two lenses. I did take some pictures with it but I have to figure out how to download them to my computer. Natalie and Sean came over for about an hour and a half for pizza and cup cakes. It was nice to see them even if for such a short time. Austin and Colby were of course right in the middle of all of it and we wouldn't expect it any other way. Pat promised next year I might even get to go to a restaruant for dinner. I was very happy to be home with my pizza and family.

36 years ago today!

This is my mom pregnant at 8 months with us. All my Daddy could say this morning about that picture was "she sure got a lot bigger over the last month".


36 years ago today two angels were born in Jonesboro, Arkansas to John and Joyce Gregson and big brother Johnny. I was born at 2:32 am weighing 6.6 lbs and my twin sister, Ann-Marie was born 6 minutes later at 2:38 weighing 6.13 lbs. Mom delivered us naturally though she passed out due to pain and didn't remember Ann-Marie being born. Sorry Anna! She actually went 2 days past her due date of November 4th. Guess my boys didn't get the same message that we got about going full term or at least close to it.


People always wonder what it's like to be a twin. I can only say I can't imagine not being a twin. I hope my boys have the relationship and friendship that we've had over the years and contiue to have. It's was always nice to have someone to play with even though we always had different ideas of what to play. I was more into playing school, house, beauty shop and Anna was more into catching bugs, climbing trees, or playing a sport of any kind. We were so different in many ways growing up and it's nice to see how similar we have become over the years. Ok so maybe being in the Army and being a Doctor is not similar but neither was me getting my ears pierced for my 6th birthday and she got a pocket knife.

Just some funny facts that some of you might not know but those that grew up with us will for sure get a laugh or two.

* I loved having curls in my hair and wearing dresses. Anna would only wear a dress to church if she had to and she usually changed straight into jeans.

* Anna was always the one you would see playing sports with the neighborhood kids and I was usually a cheerleader on the side.

* Anna would always pay me to eat her Broccoli and Rice casserole.

* My mom watched one day from the kitchen window as we played out in the driveway so nicely. Then she noticed Ann-Marie getting one of our tricycles and the little red wagon. I apparently stood by and watched as she balanced the tricycle on top of the wagon. I remember her telling me since I was older I could ride first and she would pull me. So I carefully climbed on top and with the first pull from Ann-Marie I went tumbling off the back. Needless to say she never took her turn riding.

* Anna won the bicycle at the Enchanted Forrest in Memphis while visiting Santa. I never won anything!

* One year I wouldn't have my photo taken with Santa so Johnny and Anna had it without me.

* We decided to make cookie dough one day just to eat and since Anna is not Betty Crocker she put corn meal in the mix instead of flour. Needless to say it was awful.

* Anna convinced me to stick a double peanut (shell and all)up my nose. It was soooo stuck that Mom and Daddy could not get it out so they had to take me to the Dr. Of course all the crying helped it come out in the office and so my Mom had us get shots while we were there. Anna wasn't laughing then.

There will always be stories and memories to talk about and I can't think of a better person to do it with than my sister.


My Sister
She knows the things I dream of,
the places that I've been,
she accepts the person I've become,
she's a very special friend.
She's always been there for me
no matter where I roam,
and whenever we're together,
it's just like being home.

I would just like to wish my sister, Ann-Marie a very Happy Birthday and many many more to come. Love ya!