CALLISTER FAMILY: Early Halloween for Ayden

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Early Halloween for Ayden

In advance of Ayden's surgery, we sent a flyer around to all our neighbors in our cirlce in an effort to have an early Halloween for Ayden. It was great! If they were going to be home, we asked them to put a ghost on their door, and when we got home that eventing almost every door on our street had a ghost. The neighbors really helped it feel like it was Halloween night. We live in one of the most wonderful neighborhoods in the world, and our surrounded by such great people. Thanks to all that made the night a special one that we will never forget.

Here is the flyer we sent out:

As you may or may not be aware, our son Ayden was diagnosed with congenital heart disease shortly after being born 3 years ago. The most prevalent of his disorders is known as hypo plastic left heart syndrome, which will eventually require our little Ayden to endure a heart transplant.

His doctors at Primary Children’s Medical Center refer to him as their “superstar” because of his unique diagnosis and ability thus far to recovery from many procedures so quickly - despite coming so close to loosing his life.

While Ayden has been through 3 open-heart surgeries and numerous catheter operations, he has yet another difficult open heart surgery upcoming on October 21st, just 10-days before Halloween.

Ayden may be in the hospital for several weeks after this surgery, and will still be recovering by October 31st. As Ayden has been so excited about being “Buzz Lightyear” for Halloween this year, we can’t bear to see him miss it!

So...we are soliciting your help in celebrating a
Happy “Early” Halloween for our little superstar.

We would simply like to bring Ayden Trick-or-Treating to your door sometime between 6:30 - 7:30pm on Saturday October 18th. If you are going to be home and this would not be too much of a burden, please place the GHOST on the other side to your front door before 6:30pm the night of the 18th.

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4/29/12

We were getting in the car and I was putting the extra booster away and Saige grabbed it and said, " I like looking taller, it makes me look more athletic."

4/26/12

Addison was outside riding her bike and doing jumps. She gets off her bike and says, "I need to take a break I have a heart ache."

4/24/12

I was helping Ayden with some math and he says, "I can do hard things. Mom, (short pause) first graders can do hard things."

4/22/12

Addison: "Do you know were Saigy is, sometimes she just runs away."

I had made carmel corn and Saige walks in the house and says, "Oh, it smells like grandpa Stephens house."

4/16/12

Ayden and his friend are in the back seat talking about crushes and he asks me, "how old are you when you can get married." I replied not until your at least 21 after your mission. He then says to his friend, "There 6 and 7 they're not supposed to be in love yet."

4/15/12

Ayden wanted to spank his dad, however Chris didn't know his intentions when Ayden told him to roll over. Chris asked why and Ayden says, " I want to tickle your back", so Chris rolls over excited to have someone tickle his back and ka-pow a big spank on his bum.

3/18/12

During stake conference Kelton turns to me and says "we have a lot of kids."

3/3/12

It's a Saturday morning around 8:30 and the kids are being loud and playing the piano and guitar. Saige says to me " I bet we're waking up the whole neighborhood." and to the kids she says, "You guys, you guys, you are way too loud you need to calm down.

2/15/12

Addison: Mom did you know that snow and rain can be friends in the sky?

2/2012

Addison was on the phone talking to grandma. Grandma had asked if the snow was snow on the ground and Addison replied, :only on the potato chips (wood chips)."

Addison was in the bath and asks, "Mom why do we have frogs in our legs?' I asked what she meant she went on to tell me that her calves looked like frog throats.

2/15/12

It was the Blue and Gold Banquet and they served us a yummy dinner of hot dogs (our families favorite ha ha). A few of us chose not to eat. When we got home Saige asked her favorite question "what's for dinner." I told her it was the hot dogs she didn't want to eat but we could do something small and simple. So when Chris walked in the house she said, "feel free to make yourself something." (check on chris's computer for exact wording)

2/11/12

Kelton- (asking mom) Well do you have a brain?

2/9/12

A couple months ago the Chick fil a cow came to Aydens school and he was really nervous. He was coming again so they thought they would warn him ahead of time. As his teacher is warning him he said, "uh... not anymore that's when I was little."

11/2/11

Kelton and I were running back to the house and he says, "you still run fast for being pregnant and a girl."

6/30/11

I was asking the boys what our job was as parents, and cute Ayden answers, "...to deal with us."

6/19/11

Chris was sharing with the kids some of the things he liked most about being a Dad. One of the things he mentioned was I like putting you guys to bed at night. Kelton then quickly replies, "it doesn't seem like it."

4/9/11

After Kelton's baptism he said "I feel happy." During Uncle David's talk he said "I felt sad. I got tears in my eyes, my spirit was happy." He also said I felt good during my confirmation.

Kelton explained he got happy tears but didn't want to cry in front of everyone so immediately after the closing prayer he said he needed a drink. He made sure that he clarified that he really did need a drink also.

3/15/11

After reading scriptures in the morning, Kelton walks downstairs and says, "my brain hurts." When Mom asks why, he says, "I hurt my head yesterday."

3/5/11

We know that Saige is growing up when she says, "Mom and I have girl moments, when we cry and we don't know why."

2/14/11

While getting Addison dressed today out of the blue she says, "don't hurt me, I like my life."

2/8/11

I was talking to the kids about Grandma Flo. She moved to CA almost a year ago and the kids haven't seen her since. As we were talking Kelton said, "what Grandma?" I told him Flossy the one we used to play games with he then said, "I thought she died."

1/20/11

Addison: Mom look it, I awesome"

1/14/11

Ayden - I think I am going to have to live with Anita because no one shares with me.

1/13/11

Addison- Ayden you my friend?

Ayden- Right now I am.

1/13/11

Kelton - "Mom Kambrie's really good at staring contests, I always have to blink, my eyes start to hurt."

1/9/11

During sharing time one of my primary kids was picking there nose and eating it. I told her that was gross and she shouldn't do that. She goes on to tell me that they are nummy and that she eats her eye boogers also. I then said, "ew gross... your going to make me throw up."

1/4/11

I was putting Saige to bed and her Julie doll was laying next to her. Kambrie pointed to the doll and said, "my baby."

1/4/11

Ayden was mad at me because I had told him the kitchen was closed he then says, "mom (pause) Jill, your a rude mom."

1/1/11

We went to see Secretariot tonight and during the movie Kelton says, "I know the horse is going to win because they always have happy endings."

12/30/10

I had my hair wrapped up in a towel and had just taken it out Ayden looked at me and said, "your hair looks funny" ... "right now you don't look like a princess."

12/25/10

Mom asked Addison, "...did Santa come last night?" Addison responds with a "no." Mom then asks, "then where did all our presents come from?" Addison says, "...From Grandma's house!"

12/24/10

On the way home to our house from Grandma's, Kelton and Saige thought they saw Rudolph's nose and Santa. After Mom says we better get home and get to bed before Santa comes, and the kids are frantic, Kelton responds, "...you don't have to put us to bed tonight, we will do it ourselves."

12/24/10

As we were getting ready to leave our Christmas Eve party with Grandma and Papa, Kelton had come up stairs and said we needed to hurry home because Santa was in "Ohimo." He quickly corrected himself, but then a few minutes later, Addison says to Mom out of the blue, "hurry hold my orange Santa's in Ohimo!"

12/22/10

I was outside building a snowman with the kids. Kelton and I were talking about the shape of the head and he says, "you're right mom, I'm wrong." I was shocked those are words you don't here come out of Kelton's mouth.

12/5/10

Today Ayden was complaining that his stomach hurt and as a result was having a little diarrhea. After a while Ayden says to Dad, "...you know why I have diarrhea Dad...because my tummy says so."

11/18/10

Ayden had parent teacher conference today. While we were waiting for our turn, I was asking him what he thought his teacher would tell me. "Will she say you are good or bad?" He said, "not good, I don't listen very good because my friends start talking and it makes me talk." Luckily, she still had a good report for him...and laughed at his comment.

11/17/10

Kelton had one of his girl friends over playing. While they were playing I found a picture of them from last year. Kelton looks at the picture and says, "you looked better last year."

11/7/10

After Stake Conference I asked Kelton what he learned at church today? His response, "What, ...we didn't have class."

11/5/10

Braxton taught my boys this little chant last year, BYU smells like poo. On the way home from dropping the kids off at school today I hear Addison sing, "BYU smells my butt."

11/3/10

After talking about the big Utah game this weekend, I asked Jill who she thought was going to win. She respond with, "let's see, they are playing TLC, right?" It is a good thing the Utes are going to the Pac12 next year...we need to get out of this conference where we play Tender Loving Care each season.

11/2/10

I was talking to Addison and she says, "the Grinch came in my room yesterday, ...he looked at me and talk to me." What did he say, "ha ha ha haa haa."

11/1/10

Ayden's friend came over to see if he wanted to play this is how the conversation goes:

Jaden: Do you want to play?

Ayden: No, I want to play with my mom.

Jaden: Why do you want to play with your mom, I want to play with you.

Ayden: My mom is funner.

10/19/10

Tonight Addison wanted to listen to "A happy little working song," on iTunes from the Disney movie "Enchanted." The kitchen needed to be cleaned up from Dinner, so Dad said, "...let's listen to it really loud, while we clean up the kitchen." He then pretended to prance into the kitchen with Addison, and she responded by saying, "Daddy, you look like a girl!"

I just remembered something I wanted to write down that Saige would say all though it was not recently (last year). She has the tendency to get stung by bees and this is her reasoning. "The bees are attracted to me because I have honey brown skin."

10/7/10

Kambrie was being overly sensitive. I looked at her and said, "you are so tired." Addison then says, "you need a boobie?"

10/4/10

We were asking the kids what they learned at school, when it came time for Ayden he said, "we don't learn anything, we just work."

10/3/10

During family scripture study tonight Addison looks at the open book and points the the middle of the book and says, "bum cheek" she must be obsessed with bum cheeks these days because anytime she sees two thing separated by a straight line, "bum cheeks" is the first thing out of her mouth.

10/2/10

Saige was behind us pretending to cry, Addison hears her crying and says, "whats wrong babe."

9/26/10

Kelton: I'm so funny tonight, am I drunk?

9/25/10

Addison was begging to go outside to ride her bike while I was getting ready for the General Womens Confrence. I had told her I would take her outside after I finished my hair, and she waited very patiently. When I finally I asked if she was ready to go outside, she was so excited and then said, "wait I have to pull up my pants." She had some leggings on under her dress and they weren't pulled up all the way, so her little bottom was showing. I told her, "you better pull them up because that wouldn't be good," and in her sweet little voice she replied, "but Nita does." It was a reminder to me of how much our children learn from our actions and not just our words. They see and internalize so much more than we give them credit for.

9/19/10

I just bought some peaches and nectarines from Costco and I have them sitting on the counter to ripen. Addison looks at them and says, "they look like bum cheeks." Ayden clarifies for her she thinks they look like bum cheeks because, "they have a little crack."

9/3/10

I hopped in the bath this morning to find my diamond missing out of my ring. After a prayer and some searching I found the diamond a few hours later in the diaper bag. Ayden noticed me kneeling down next to the table and asked what I was doing. I then told him I was praying to Heavenly Father and thanking him for answering my prayers. I then took the opportunity to teach him and bear a simple testimony. He then said begrudgingly, "Heavenly Father didn't answer my prayer." I asked him about what and when He said, "when I lost my money at Grandmas in the backyard."

8/15/10

Ayden, mad about being told he could not take a second bath in the morning, told his Dad that he did not like him anymore. Dad told him, "I guess I will just spend all day at work then and never come home." Ayden replied by saying, "Dad, people say 'I don't like you' all the time...to get them to change."

8/1/10

We overheard Kelton talking to his Papa Dave saying, "I will probably just go to Utah like my Dad, because BYU is too hard to get into." This was music to his Grandpa's ears, and poison to his Dad's.

7/31/10

I was away for the weekend and when I got home I asked Ayden if he missed me? He said, "not that so much." If it came from any other child I would have taken it personally but not with Ayden.

7/28/2010

While at Grandmas, out of the blue - Kelton asks, "when I am resurrected, do I have to wear the same clothes, or can I change them?"

7/22/10

Saige was watching Kambrie nurse and says. "she's so chubby, she needs to lay off the boobs."

7/17/10

If addison's milk has been sitting on the table and is no longer ice cold she'll ask for another one because "thats been melted"

6/8/10

I walked into the kitchen to find Ayden cutting Kelton's letter to the tooth fairy. I say Ayden don't cut Kelton's letter that''s not nice, "thats why you don't leave papers on the ground"

6/8/10

Addison had dropped her markers on the floor so I asked her to clean them up. "I don't want to clean them up" she says as she walks away from them and for the stairs. Addison clean them up so we can color; she responds with "I'm mean, don't talk to me"

Ayden wanted to play with Saige and Kelton and be the bad guy. Saige and Kelton were playing dog trainers and didn't want any bad guys to be apart of there game. Ayden then goes on to tell us how good guys are boring and that "dog trainers are boring there just old mans".

6/1/10

One of Addisons new favorite past times is coloring. However, she always wants someone to color with her and is very demanding ordering me to "sit and color" or "sit down" or "color with me". When I take the time to stop what I am doing I can't help but smile as I listen to her encouraging words such as "mom, you color so pretty" or "thats so good mom"

5/31/10

We were on our way to my parents to go swimming. We were a couple minutes from arriving when Ayden excitedly announces that he forgot his swimsuit. I reassure him that it was at grandmas from the other day. He then lets us know that he doesn't want to go swimming. I tell him he is. His response, "I'm going to tell grandma, Ill just eat all day."

5/26/10

I was driving and had to swerve the car. Cute little Addison says, "WOW mom, thats so awesome."

4/2010

While watching the movie, Princess and the Frog, Kelton turns to mom and says, about the Shadow Man, "...he looks better in his mask, that's weird!"

4/1/10

Addison went potty in her potty chair and she was so excited she came up and gave me a big hug and said, " I'm so proud of you, thats so good."

4/1/10

Ayden has been coming into our room ALOT lately at night. This morning I was asking him why he keeps coming in my room and he says, "because the closet doors are open." I tell him that its not scary and that it just has his clothes and toys in there and he say, "but they turn into big eyes."

3/8/10

Tonight while saying our closing FHE prayer, Saige prays, "...and please bless us that we will have good nightmare." After laughing through the entire prayer, Jill and I figured if you're going to have nightmares, they might as well be good...

3/8/10

Before leaving the house for our FHE activity, Dad was handing out fruit snacks to the kids. When he handed one to Ayden, our little guy turned Dad down, saying, "I already snuck a pack earlier today." You have to give him credit for being honest...

3/6/10

Kelton got new basketball shorts for this birthday, and on the way to his basketball game I hear him talking in the back of the car saying, "everyone will say...WHOS THAT NEW GUY!" We didn't have the heart to tell him that boys generally don't notice those things about other boys. He get's so excited about new sports clothes, he later asked, "Do you think I'll be able to run very fast with this stuff on?" Yes Kelton, it is all about how you look...

3/5/10

This morning, Grandma Terri called, and Dad said that "oubachan" was on the phone. Saige and Kelton asked what that was, and Dad explained that it was the word for grandma in Japanese. Kelton then said, "oh cool...I can count to 10 in English!" He then ran and got a paper from his backpack on how to count to ten in Spanish.

2/25/10

Addison had set her granola bar down so I picked it up and took a small bite. She quickly says, "that's mine stinker stinker."

2/22/10

Mom noticed Saige was sitting on the counter top while brushing her teeth and she had spilled toothpaste all over her foot. "Saige, that is why we don't sit on the counter," Mom said. Saige quickly responded, "Mom...that is only one reason why we don't sit on the counter, there are lots of reasons we don't sit on the counter."

2/22/10

Tonight while at dinner, Mom noticed Ayden's shoes, and said, "Ayden, we need to teach you how to put your shoes on the right feet." Ayden looked down at his feet and then promptly crossed his legs to fix the problem...

2/18/10

Most every night, Dad asks the kids if they served anyone today. Tonight, Kelton said he had. When asked about it, he said he served a friend who had fallen down. It was vague enough that Mom asked what the friends name was. Kelton blushed a bit, smiled, and said, "...let me think, just kidding, but I had a dream about it last night."

2/2/10

Last week I was in the middle of feeding Kambrie and Addison wanted something right then and I told her she had to wait. In turn she stomped out of the room pouting while yelling "I don't like you mom, I don't like you mom..."

1/27/10

Tonight while asking Ayden what he wanted for his Hope Kids birthday gift, he said he wanted Clone Wars, but when I asked him what else he wanted for his birthday, he came over to me, looked me in the eyes, and said, "I want you."

1/26/10

We were at the table eating and Addison sneezed Ayden said,

"her sprayed me, it was like raining."

Kelton and I came home from basketball practice in the van tonight, and when we opened the garage door, Kelton said, "Ah...Dad, everyone left us, where did they go!" I reminded Kelton that we had the van, so obviously there was no car in the garage. "oh...yeah, that's right," he said relieved.

1/23/10

Ayden said he had a dream about dogs. I asked if it was a good dream or a bad dream. He says, "the dogs bit me." So I ask if that is why he came into our room last night. He says, "yes, my eyes had the dream."

1/22/10

I had just gotten Kambrie out of her jammies and ready for the day and Ayden walks up stairs and says, "baby Kambrie looks more beautiful."

1/14/09

Saige stayed home from school today because her stomach was hurting. I kept teasing her and telling her she was faking in which she would reply, "Mom my stomach really does hurt." After going back and forth and few times she said, "Mom you're making it worse" I asked how and she said, "the argument."

1/6/10

Saige and I were talking in her room with Kambrie. After talking for a while I told Saige to get her jammies on. While she was changing she told Kambrie, "Kambrie don't look at me it's probably embarrassing for a little girl that just came down from heaven."

1/3/10

Ayden: Baby Brecken is so funny cause he like has a big head and baby Kambrie is so cute.

12/29/09

After repeatedly telling Kelton to stop teasing his brother while in the tub and to get washed I raise my voice and say "Kelton James I don't want to yell". He then tells me to "calm down my temperature."

11/26/09

Chris went to play football this morning. Saige came in and asked when dad was going to be home. I told her not for a while since he was playing football. She responded, "I don't get why he would want to play football on Thanksgiving, instead of spending time with his family."

11/25/09

Addison wanted to watch the Grinch Who Stole Christmas, and we asked Saige to help her put it on the TV. Saige asked if Addison could watch it on the computer instead. When Dad asked why, Saige said, "because we are playing and we might get distracted!"

11/5/09

My mom was cutting up mushrooms in the kitchen and Ayden said, "we see those outside on the grass." My mom goes on to explain that we never put those in our mouths because they are poisonous and you could die. She then tells him he should never let Addison put them in her mouth either. Ayden responds by saying, "we'll always have our other baby."

10/28/09

My mom took the kids to get donuts after their famous history parade. On the way there the kids were telling us what kind of donuts they wanted and Kelton said, "I want a maple bar the one with skin colored frosting."

Addison was upstairs in her room playing and she turned on her fan then quickly turned it off saying, "ooooo... it's windy."

8/28/09

While trying to get Kelton to hurry and put his shoes on for school in the morning, Dad told him to "focus." Kelton responded by saying, "I am...I just can't concentrate!"

8/18/09

Before saying family prayer, Kelton kneels down and says to Mom, "make it a quick prayer, because I am dead tired!"

8/15/09

Ayden made a mess with some game cards which we told him he needed to clean up. He kept trying to say it wasn't his fault, when we pressed him further he finally told us it was Addison's fault. The funny thing being Addison isn't home since she and Saige are having a sleepover at my sisters.

8/14/09

On our way home from Colorado Kelton woke up from a nap and asked, "Is this our world". I asked him what he meant and he replied, "Is this Utah".

6/24/09

The Boys had there first t-ball game tonight. They were both so excited. After batting and running the bases Ayden comes to me and says, "I didn't get too tired running".

6/22/09

Ayden was looking through a Pottery Barn catalog and came across a sleigh bed. He turned to me and said, "look mom it's a Santa bed".

6/15/09

I took the kids swimming today and for some reason Ayden 's not so sure of floating around in the water this year. So I made him get his floaties on and took him in with me. While trying to get him to swim around while crying, he says, "I want to be grounded."

6/10/09

Saige: What are you making?

Mom: strawberry jam

Saige: I would have been impressed if it were strawberry pie.

6/7/09

Saige was singing the song "Popular" from the Wicked soundtrack, ...it's all about popular, she stops in the middle of the song and said, "no, it's all about choosing the right".

5/3/09

Kelton: "I hate flu shots, they are so spiky."

5/2/09

Ayden: "I want grandma to come watch me play soccer, I think she will be so proud."

5/1/09

I was talking to Ayden about how Dad flies home Sunday. He then says, "what if the plane breaks and crashes?" I go on to tell him that that wouldn't be good because Dad would break and crash too. Ayden then says, "but were not breakable Mom." I again had to explain that we are breakable, the rest of the day Ayden kept saying, "but I don't want to be breakable."

4/24/09

Kelton was saying our family prayer tonight and said, " please bless when mom tells us to do something, we will do it."

Ayden was having a hard time sharing and it was frustrating Kelton. Finally Kelton yells, "I don't like you forever Ayden! I wish you were locked up."

4/21/09

Ayden: I want a treat

Mom: I tell him his options

Ayden: He goes to the peanut butter M&M's

Mom: I grab 2 for him out of the candy dish

Ayden: not those 2

Mom: so I grab another 2

Ayden: not those 2

Mom: so I grab one of each color to have him choose

Ayden: grabs them all and walks away

4/18/09

Ayden is known for always letting his dad know when he gets home that he doesn't like him. This morning Chris left for India and Ayden said, "I'm sad I will miss him, I really will."

4/11/09

Today is Saige's baptism, so this morning Ayden asked if he was going to the baptism, and Mom told him he was. He then asked, "Do I have to get in the water?" Mom, said, "no," He then said, "oh yeah, cause I haven't turned that letter yet..." That is right Ayden, you do not need to be baptized until you turn the "letter" eight!

4/8/09

Tonight I was telling Jill how I had hit my head hard on the pantry door, and after telling the story, Kelton responded, "oh..poor guy."

4/5/09

I was putting Kelton to bed tonight and he turns to me and says, "my brain keeps telling me mom is stupid, but I'm not saying it." So I asked him if I was stupid, he said, "no, but my brain keeps telling me that your stupid." He goes on to show me with his mouth closed that he's not saying it, but that his brain is. It really got me laughing because he wasn't mad at me and I was just tickling his back singing him songs. So I explained to him that Satan will try to trick us to do or say bad things and that we need to choose the right. A few minutes later he calls me up to his room and tells me it was Satan behind him telling him to say it, but he didn't.

3/31/09

I was driving the kids to there well visit check up. I was exiting I-15 getting onto I-215 and Saige says, "Mom the speed limit is 50 how fast are you going?" I checked my speedometer and said, "65, I better slow down." Saige then said, "good thing I told you the speed limit or else you would have gotten a ticket."

3/18/09

Our neighbor Fro crashed on his bike this evening while showing the boys some of his tricks. The boys were really worried about him and wanted to go check on him. After leaving their house Ayden said, "Oh great! That's so sad."

3/17/09

Tonight at dinner, Kelton asked if afterwards we could build a Leprechaun trap. He kept saying, "can we...it is so easy." We replied that "if it is so easy, you can build one yourself." He then smiled and said, "but I don't know how."

3/13/09

Tonight while putting Ayden to bed, Mom was praising him for how nice he was all day, and Dad was trying to determine with him how many marbles he should get. After Dad asked Ayden if he should get five, Ayden responded, "Just get out of my room!" He was definitely ready to go to sleep and the nice-guy routine had worn off.

3/13/09

Tonight while watching a movie, the boys and the Meek girls were talking about how old each of them were, and then asked me how old I was. I responded that I was 31, and then Kelton asked, "How old is Mom?" I responded that she was turning 29, and Kelton said, "Wow Dad, Mom is catching up to you!"

3/13/09

I was pointing out a deer that had been hit by a car on the side of the road to the kids. After thinking about it for a few seconds Ayden said, "I don't think he's dead he's just tired from going up the hill." Cute little Ayden just thought the deer felt like him going up a hill or stairs.

3/13/09 Just minutes after picking Saige up from school she says, "aren't you going to ask me how my day was?" So I ask how her day was and she says, "not very good, somebody called me small and then said are you a second grader because you look like a first grader or kindergartener."

...later that night Ayden told Dad, "Mom always calls you small." I guess it runs in the family.