Christmas Day at the Chidesters 2008

Chidester Family Christmas Letter 2008

Emily is nearing 14 and will be able to go to teen dances next month. She is doing quite well in eighth grade and is currently the Beehive Class president. She is still as sweet as ever. She has had her nose buried in the Twilight Series the past few months and when she is not reading or listening to her ipod she is doing homework. She is a deligent student and it shows in her grades. She really looks like a teenager now and I think I'm going to lock her up to keep her away from the boys...
Alyssa is a busy 15 year old girl and now officially taller than all the other women in the house. She takes dance lessons, works hard in school, has weekly vacuuming job, and is now and alternative on the drill team. She and Emily have enjoyed redecorating their bedroom the last couple of months. We are still having some health issues with her and she has been a trooper with tests and doctor appointments. We pray we will soon get some answers. She is also busy at the orthodontist office lately and will soon have her braces on. She is excited to have her drivers permit and will begin driving lessons this month...you have been warned!
Chelsea is nearing 18 and excited to be an adult soon. She is enjoying her freedom as an official driver of all ages! We are doing the whole Senior thing. Portraits, Grad Night, Announcements....the list goes on. She is Laurel Class President and is counting the days until she can officially be a Young Adult...AHHHHH! She is a beautiful, kind person and we are proud of the wonderful "Adult" she has become.
Jenny and Paul are enjoying working at home together...did I say "enjoying?" I meant tolerating. Since my parents moved close by, I am trying to be more available to take care of my Father by working from home. I treasure the time I get to spend with him, even though at times it is exhausting. It is also a blessing to have Paul at home at times when I need help with Dad. We are grateful to have both of my parents close by. With the economy we are both grateful to still be working and making an income. These are some of the costs of our household this year...
A Tank of Gas...$1.57
A Gallon of Milk...$3.59
Dance Lessons...$55
Piano Lessons...$60
Drivers Training $75
Junior Prom, Senior Ball,and Homecoming ...$250 each
Girls Camp, Lake Barryessa Boating Trip, Girls Trip to Aunt Donna's in Nevada City, and The Annual Graeagle Christmas Tree Trip...Three Beautiful, Healthy Obedient Daughters...Still in Love after 20 years of marriage.....Surrounded by treasured Family and Friends...A knowledge of a Loving Father in Heaven and of his Son, Jesus Christ:PRICELESS!
We are blessed! Happy Holidays!
Love, The Chidesters

Our Annual Christmas Tree Hunt

We've lost count, but we think we are on about our 7th or 8th year of going up to Graeagle to cut down our Christmas Tree. Many people ask us, "why do you go all the way to Graeagle? ...And where the heck is Graeagle?" It's about a half hour North West of Truckee out in the middle of now where. If you sneeze you will miss the entire town. We love it. We purchase a permit for $10 to cut down a tree.
We spend the night, play in the snow (if there is snow), four wheel drive in the forest and search and search for that perfect tree that never exists. We usually stay in Truckee the night before, but this year we tried a new adventure and loved it. We rented a cabin with the Sirmans right outside of Graeagle overlooking the Feather River. We left Friday afternoon (ok it was actually evening by the time we left). After getting lost for quite a while we finally arrived about 10:30. The Bair family met us the next morning to join us for the day for the Christmas Tree hunt. I think they thought we are a little nuts at first. But, we all found great trees and had a great time. We came home to a BBQ Tri Trip dinner followed by lots of laughter. The next day we all slept in and then enjoyed omelets made by Mark (although they didn't flip very well in the "no-stick" pans, they tasted delicious). We lounged around and left for home in the late afternoon. All the kids had a great time and enjoyed eachothers company, even their own siblings. I heard a lot of giggling going on late at night. Our daughters beg us to go back to Graeagle every year, so I'm sure the cabin thing will be an addition to our much loved Christmas Tree Tradition. In fact, we think we may go back in the summer to Graeagle...maybe we will mark our tree then!!

The Christmas Tree

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Rudolph by the Chidester Girls and Daddy (singing)

Make a Smilebox postcard

The Chidester Girls Sing...turn your speakers on

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Excellent Young Women

Young Women's in Excellence

Last Wednesday I attended our Ward's Young Women's in Excellence with my three girls. They all had a part in a fairy tale of princesses tying in the Young Women's Values. Chelsea was one of the leads, she was cute, but being on stage is not her favorite thing. Alyssa on the otherhand was quite the ham. Emily was cute as always. They displayed projects they did throughout the year. I am so grateful to have the Young Women's program for a guide for my daughters. I am so grateful for the Strength of Youth pamphlet that answers so many questions they have during their teenage years. I really am blessed and I have excellent daughters. I am grateful to their leaders and all the other wonderful people who play a part in their lives to help them through the rough spots!

Smilebox for Chelsea's Homecoming

Click on link to view the smilebox that Nick's Mom made:
http://secure.smilebox.com/ecom/openTheBox?sendevent=4e446b324d7a63794d673d3d0d0a&campaign=blog_playback_link&blogview=true

Homecoming for Chelsea

Homecoming Dance at Bella Vista 10/11/2008

Last Night was Homecoming for Chelsea at her High School Bella Vista. She asked Nick Sirmans by baking a little cake and laminated a card and stuck it in the middle of the cake with icing. Annie helped her decorate it. It was almost too cute to eat, but he did and managed to find the note. He answered her with with a cute poem and her favorite ice cream (Hagen Daz Strawberry). He obviously said "Yes." Now days, it's night right to just "ask" someone to a dance, you have to find a creative way to ask and then to respond in another creative manner. After the dress hunt, and it was quite the hunt, she finally settled on a dress that we all agreed on and Grandma D. altered it to make it just right for her. After shoes, tan, nails, hair and make-up she looked stunning. Well, it really doesn't take much to make her look cute. Don't they look adorable? Both so sweet and adorable. We met at the Sirmans for pictures then they went to dinner, took professional pictures and to the dance. They then went to the movies and had a great time. ....I knew I should have locked her up years ago and now it's too late! She just gets prettier everyday and the boys have definitely figured out that she's not just another pretty face.

Our Sacramento Temple

The Sacramento Temple Celebration- September 2, 2006

Alyssa's Ballet Performance



And the crowd cheered.....

As I watched President Monson today during General Conference, I was reminded of an incredible opportunity I was involved in just two years ago. I was Young Women's President of the Fair Oaks 5th ward, which enabled me to be so involved in the Temple Celebration that President Hinckley asked us to perform before the dedication of the Sacramento Temple. As if having a new Temple only five minutes away was not enough, we as youth leaders and youth of the the Temple district we blessed to celebrate this long awaited event. We began practicing music and dancing for the celebration in May of 2006. When I say "we", I was put in as a "boy" dancing partner so many times, I nearly ran out to dance with the entire group I chaperoned. I knew the dance well and could step in at moments notice at any practice. The music and play was written by local people and was obviously inspired. I was touched by the spirit so many times during the singing practice, I wondered how I would be able to actually perform it someday. Alyssa and Chelsea were both in the dancing and singing. Which was a great experience for all of us. Very few were even able to attend but Paul and Emily were lucky to both get tickets. I will admit, it was a long stressful, exhausting day. But, we were priveledged to have both President Hinckley and President Monson attend the celebration. Prior to the event President Hinckley addressed the Youth of our area. The youth were all gathered on the floor of the Arco Area. We adults were in the balcony seats. As the Prophet entered the room the Youth arose to their feet and cheered as our beloved prophet walked into the room. As her raised he cane they cheered even louder. Tears were streaming down our face and once again they are as I remember the incredible spirit in the room. Then again as President Hinckley addressed us, they rose again and cheered for him. It was so overwhelming. I found out later that President Hinckley was not well that day, and he would never return to our area before his passing. I happened to be down in the basement after his address when they were carting him up to his reserved box seating to watch the "Celebration". I was only but 6 feet away as he rode by in a golf cart and waved at me and a few youth. Once again I was in awe of this man. I am so grateful for this experience, I was released soon after the event and I feel so blessed to be a participant in this once in a lifetime event and to be their with my two daughters. It will always be a sweet memory in my mind and in my heart.

Our Emily 10/2008

Emily (third in from the left) is just a few months away from being 14! She has become such a beautiful young women with such a sweet kind spirit about her (that hasn't changed though). She has changed so much just over the summer. She is a great kid and really besides asking her to keep her room clean she really is an easy child and always has been. All those prayers worked when I was pregnant with her. I was sooooo scared when I found out I was pregnant with baby #3, I really did pray through the whole pregnancy and on the way to the hospital. She was the only birth I was able to receive an epidural, which is the way God intended it to be!! She is a gorgeous girl, with an incredibly beautiful spirit to match. She is inching up to be as tall or taller than Chelsea, which isn't hard to do but exciting for Emily none the less. Alyssa still remains the tallest though. She is a very sweet and thoughtful friend. She is a dedicated student and works hard at doing her best. I am quite afraid to send her to the teen dances, she is so cute. The boys will gobble her up! The above picture is her at a Beehive activity with friends and leaders she loves. And they love her! Well, who doesn't?

Paul is finally as old as me!

Last Friday Night, Paul celebrated his 42nd birthday with just a few friends. I wanted to keep it low key. We went to the Sirmans and had Tri Tip with some yummy side dishes. The Skinners, the Taylors and my parents joined us. The steak was soooo good, I just got it from Raleys. It must have been the chef, Mark. We had a delicious dinner and Annie made a strawberry cake that mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmelts in your mouth. It was sooo good. We really enjoyed the company and had a lot of good laughs. "Have you seen Carrot Top lately?" I blurted out randomly during our dinner conversation. I was teased the entire night about that. But seriously have you? He looks very strange. It was a good time with lots of laughs. We enjoyed the company and feel blessed to have some great friends and family to celebrate with. Paul is about three months younger than me so now we are the same age for another 9 months.

Lucky

Bailey

Our Story

Our story began in Primary when we were seven years old, in the Sacramento 7th Ward. Although we didn't really get to know one another until we were teenagers and began hanging out with the same crowd. Then in High School we carpooled together and soon became very good friends. Although we never dated we spent a lot of time together. I actually dated several of his friends and ended up dating one for two years before they left on their missions. I wrote both of them and thought I would actually marry his friend. After they both returned home, my boyfriend and I decided we needed a break and he moved down south to be with his family. A week later, on New Years Eve, Paul and I went to dance with another couple. During the night something magical happened and we found ourselves in eachothers arms which ended in a kiss. A few days later we knew without a doubt we were getting married and announced to our families the big surprise. Never in my life had I been so sure about something I needed to do. We became officially engaged a few weeks later and married in the
Oakland Temple five months later on May 20, 1988. We lived in the same ward that we grew up in until we bought our first home in the Sacramento Area near the Elk Grove border. About six months later we welcomed our first born, Chelsea, into the world on February 16, 1991. She was a little peanut and such a good baby. We enjoyed being buddies together. Two and Half years later, Alyssa was born on May 21, 1993. She just missed our 5th Anniversary! Her and Chelsea were great buddies. Just about the time we decided to move out of the area, we discovered that I was pregant. Alyssa was not quite a year old. We were stunned. We soon moved in with my parents for two reasons. Our house was too small for three kids and the area was not where we wanted to raise our daughters. We ended up being there almost a year. Emily was born on January 22, 1995. We lived there for five more months until we finally decided to move to Orangevale near my sister Kathy. We lived in three different homes until we finally purchased one in the same area and same ward. We have now been here for six years. Orangevale has been a great place to raise our daughters. We are surrounded by great friends and family is close by. They have attended great schools and have wonderful friends in and out of the church. We feel fortunate to live in such a great area to raise our daughters.

Alyssa's Surgery Story August 2007

I changed my font at pYzam.com

On the night of July 4th 2007, Alyssa (14 yrs old at the time) was complaining of pain in her "stomach" after being sick since the previous Saturday night (4 days). She actually had been having stomach pain for about 5 months. We had tried everything we could think of. Took her to the Doctor. Took her off of milk, had her try to eat more, eat better. I honestly thought she was complaining too much at one point. After everyone else went to bed I questioned Alyssa about her symptoms and looked on line for various things it could be. It just confused me more. So I sent her to bed and told her to wake me if she it became more painful. She came back a few minutes after we had both gone to bed and said she had prayed about it and felt we should go to the emergency room. How could I argue with that? I thought, wow I was too tired to even think to pray, but things happen for a reason. We arrived at 1:18 in the morning at Folsom Mercy Hospital. Luckily no one else was there so there was no wait. They ended up doing an ultra sound and blood work and decided she had a large cyst on her ovary. We were sent home at 4:30am and told to call the OBGYN in the morning for a same day appointment. The next day, July 5th, Alyssa and I slept in and Paul called and made an appointment with Dr. Finta at 1pm. As soon as Alyssa and I left for the appointment she began to be in a lot of pain. When we arrived at the Doctor's office which was only 10 minutes away she was in a lot of pain. The office told us the Dr. Finta was in an emergency cesarean. So we waited 45 minutes while Alyssa suffered in pain. It was so difficult to watch her in so much pain and knew I couldn't do anything for her. When the Doctor finally returned she knew immediately that Alyssa was in severe pain and announced that she would be having surgery the next day. Alyssa and I both began to cry. She cried for the next few hours and I was quite concerned and emotional. They thought she had a large ovarian cyst, the size of a grapefruit. So they would be doing laproscopic surgery going through her belly button and a small incision at her pubic bone. Her surgery was scheduled for noon the next day. I went alone with her because Paul had an appointment. He would meet us there. Annie and Tammy were coming also. As time went by I all of a sudden had this feeling that I shouldn't be alone. I called Paul and told him to not stop at home but to come here as soon as he could so he wouldn't miss her going into surgery. And he did. Then I texted Tammy and Annie and asked them to come as soon as they could. Tammy showed up right before they took her in also. I was the only one allowed to go with her. She was soooo brave. When they gave her laughing gas she was so hilarious, she just started laughing. I then went to the waiting room and Annie and Lori arrived by then with some lunch. Paul had gone to Target. About a half hour later the Doctor poked her head in and asked me to come out. She began to tell me that Alyssa didn't have cyst but a rare uterine anomaly and would need to see a specialist most likely out of the area and have more surgery. I felt as though I was going to faint about half way through her explanation and Annie came out and joined me and then Tammy and Lori were there and soon Paul came too. It was kind of a fog for me I felt very faint, overwhelmed and emotional. What did this all mean? All I heard was major surgery and that we would have to take her out of town to have it done. They then called me in to the recovery room to see her so I dried my tears and walked down there. She was in and out of it and when she would fall back to sleep I would begin to cry some more. The nurse told me that I didn't look well and that I wasn't doing Alyssa any good standing there crying and told me I should go sit down. So she walked me back to the waiting room and we sent Paul to be with her. I sat with my friends and cried as they comforted me. I found out later that Paul went into the recovery and began to cry also they sent him out too. Shortly after they took her to her own room and we both joined her. She was anxious to go home. I drove her home and had to tell her that this wasn't the end but just the beginning. She was so angry. I felt so alone having no idea what was in store for her. The Doctor didn't even stay afterwards to explain to her what was going on and then didn't call us for a week and a half. I cried for a week straight, so confused and distraught not knowing what was going to happen. I went to the temple with my sister and was able to sit quietly in the celestial room and pray. I had an overwhelming feeling that I should trust in the Lord and that I would be guided to do what was right for Alyssa. So I began to spend a lot of time on the Internet researching every where I could think. Trying to find the right doctor and as much information about her condition (which I really didn't understand in the first place). I stumbled upon Standford University Hospital and felt drawn to their OBGYN department. After being on it several times a came across a doctor specializing in adolescents and in abnormalities. "Wow, there was no way we would be able to get in to see her" I thought. But I called anyways and they got us right in. In fact the original Dr. finally called and was shocked that we got in. We had been waiting for Dr. Finta to prescribe something for Alyssa but it hadn't been approved by the insurance yet. I was getting quite concerned and apparently the drug they were going to put her on was heavy duty and very expensive. I felt very impressed to email Dr. Lacy at Standford University Hospital the Thursday prior to Alyssa's first appointment with to update her before we arrived that next week. An email message came back immediately stating that she was on vacation. The very next morning Dr. Finta called and said that Dr. Lacy had contacted her and prescribed a different prescription and also got the MRI scheduled at Stanford on the same day as our appointment. Things were really starting to fall in place. We went to Stanford the next week and spent the night with Paul. I was really nervous that morning, but when Dr. Lacy walked in, I knew we were in the right place. She pretty much knew already what was wrong with Alyssa and did an exam and had an MRI scheduled for that afternoon. She then called that Friday to confirm what she already had suspected was Alyssa's condition. She also informed us that because of the anomaly Alyssa only had one kidney. And Alyssa would only need a simple surgery. Dr. Lacy had already scheduled the surgery and had asked the head OBGYN of Stanford to assist her. How lucky were we. The surgery was a breeze and Alyssa did great. Dr. Lacy was amazing and we were so blessed to be in her care. We now are finding out that more and more girls have rare things like this and so many are unaware of them involving the female anatomy. I am grateful for the guidance of the spirit leading me to those who knew how to take care of my sweet girl and make sure her body worked correctly so that someday she could bare children. This was a growing experience for us all. I saw Alyssa's strength and pure childlike faith that everything would be ok. Many times she was stronger than I was. She was such a great example to us all. I saw her confidence and testimony grown and for that I will be forever grateful. From the day I went to the temple I felt guided by the spirit throughout the rest of the process. I am so grateful for that guidance, I felt so helpless at times when no one could answer my questions, and then once again the peace would come and I would find the right answers for my Alyssa. There is no doubt in my mind that a loving Heavenly Father guided me to the right doctor. For this knowledge, I am grateful and we have been blessed.

Alyssa's Surgery Stanford University 8/13/2007

Back to School

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Nevada City/Donna and Mike Dahle's House

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Trek Pictures

Sending Your Children Away...

We've known that our oldest two daughters were leaving on a Pioneer trek for months now. But we have been busy with end of the year stuff, Girls Camp and a family vacation. So here we are last night at 1:30 in the morning (only because they HAD TO GO to the Jonas Brothers concert) packing last minute items. They had their list, and I had bought all I could buy. I followed them around making sure they had everything. Of course they could have packed earlier, but well, let's face it some do, some don't. But now they are off on their excursion. Something they have never done before, wearing strange looking clothes in California weather and especially in our day and time. Paul said they looked like they were in a cult as they got out of the car this morning, thank goodness it was so early in the morning. Their costumes were hand made with love and are absolutely beautiful. I hated to send them off in the dirt with them. I have thought of my two daughters through out the day and worried a bit. "Are they tired?" Of course! "Are they eating well?" There is no way to even contact them. So, is this not much like sending them off on their own? At the last minute we scramble so concerned that we have prepared them well. Worrying does us no good, they have been trained and prepared all leading up to this event. No one could really prepare them for this. I didn't even know what they were getting themselves into, I could only imagine. I just trust those who are watching over them will take good care of them and I will enjoy the quiet while I worry just little. I know this will be a learning experience for all. I know the time will soon come when I will really be sending them off on their life journey and I worry if I have prepared them well. Have I packed their bags with essentials tools to survive on their own? Are they grounded enough in who they are and their relationship with their Heavenly Father? Did they pack enough courage, confidence, wisdom, strength, obedience etc. It seems I have much more to concern myself with then socks and bug spray. As the Beatles sang "IT WON'T BE LONG," pretty soon it will be the night before and I don't want to be up all hours of the night preparing for their departure. I think I better get some rest before they come home! I have a lot of work to do! If you would like to see pictures of the Trek click on "Tammy" under friends to the right. -----May have asked what happened on the trek?? How did they do. Fabulous I might say. Chelsea tried to drink as much water as possible and follow all the advice to keep from getting sick and ended up with Altitude Sickness the first night. The following morning she tried to tough it out and they ended up keeping her back at camp with the EMT. She laid there sick all day and finally got to come home about 10pm. As soon as she got out of the car who brought her home I could see her face was not right and she was really sick...although her eyes her stunning with all the mascara she managed to get on out in the middle of no where. She was so sad to leave her friends and send them away to continue their Journey but she was sick for three days. Now Alyssa prepared also as Chelsea did but she survived the extreme altitude and then some. Reports came back that she never let go of the cart, never complained, and kept up with the boys. So I guess I prepared them better than I thought! It was an unforgetable experience for all!

Lake Berryessa

Make a Smilebox slideshow

If you would like to see more pictures click on "Tammy" under friends to the right.

Nick's Senior Ball

While I was in Indiana, Chelsea had her first experience of getting ready for a "Big" dance on her own. I arranged everything before I left, and left her in good hands. But it always makes you a little uneasy when Mommy isn't around. I was only a phone call away. I let her get out of school early to get a spray tan, get her hair and make-up done and get ready. We could tell she was more nervous than normal for this dance. My good friend and co-worker, Jen Favour, did her hair and make-up and made sure received a good spray tan. I waited that night for pictures to come over the internet. I was shocked! She looked so grown up and so beautiful, she always looks beautiful but she really looked special that night. She had a great time with Nick and friends. It was Nick's Senior Ball and I suspect he felt pretty lucky with Chelsea on his arm all night. Well, she survived without me, I think I felt more left out though I survived too!

Race for the Cure May 2008

Make a Smilebox photobook

Chelsea's Junior Prom April 2008

Make a scrapbook - it's easy!

Where Did My Babies Go?

You turn around one day and realize your babies are all almost adults! How did that happen?
I told them not to grow and not to get older, why, why? I even threatened to lock them in bed and put boards at their feet so they would stay the same size...but it happened. One is even taller than me now and they are all smarter than me. I can't even help them with their homework anymore. How I miss the days when they would fall asleep in my arms with sweat dripping from their frog hair and their sweet breath sweeping across my chest. When you couldn't hug them enough or even get away long enough to go to the bathroom alone. And they would like you to stay while they went, they couldn't do it alone. Now, they yell for toilet paper and make you leave it at the door...they couldn't have you see them sitting on the toilet. Oh, I miss my babies yet can't wait (actually I can) for them to bring their babies home to me!!