Cherish This Moment...

Bathroom Re-do

2012-01-23T07:14:00.000-08:00

I spent one day last week painting bathrooms at my besties house. We had a great time--I had to leave before the tape came off one of the bathrooms, and before everything got put back together so I can't wait to head her direction and check it out totally finished! Yeah for color!!

This got me thinking about MY bathroom--I think it needs a re-do too! Bathrooms are not on the organization list until later in the year, but I'm thinking they should move up on the list and that the list should now include a little painting party!

I'm also thinking stripes...what do you think?

My bathroom has this GREAT towel rack, I LOVE IT! This will be staying--everything else can change.

The headboard, rugs, and shower curtain (which, btw, since the time of this pictures has been ironed, as well as goobered up by baby hands) are that sort of green-blue color that big this year. The other decor I have, which I really don't love, is black and some chocolate brown. So, what color would YOU do stripes?

I like these ones in the gray/blue family...

But, I also love brown with my whole soul...

And then, everytime I look I see something totally out of left field that might be fun--but might be just crazy?! Yellow?

Once I finally decide on a color, now I have to decide on direction, and on how many, how thick, design, etc. Whew!

Obviously not green, but up and down stripes? I did this in my guest room in our Houston house and LOVED it, but maybe the bathroom is too small? And too short of ceilings?

Or like this? Neat!

Or this?

Oh man! Decisions!! Send me your thoughts!! Anybody want to come and play painter? :)

Kairos

2012-01-18T07:42:00.000-08:00

I loved this article I read this morning. So applicable to my current day-to-day. Glad to know I'm not alone in the fight! ;) And I'm especially glad for those 'Kairos' moments...such a great thing to remember!

Every time I'm out with my kids -- this seems to happen:

An older woman stops us, puts her hand over her heart and says something like, "Oh, Enjoy every moment. This time goes by so fast."

Everywhere I go, someone is telling me to seize the moment, raise my awareness, be happy, enjoy every second, etc, etc, etc.

I know that this message is right and good. But, I have finally allowed myself to admit that it just doesn't work for me. It bugs me. This CARPE DIEM message makes me paranoid and panicky. Especially during this phase of my life - while I'm raising young kids. Being told, in a million different ways to CARPE DIEM makes me worry that if I'm not in a constant state of intense gratitude and ecstasy, I'm doing something wrong.

I think parenting young children (and old ones, I've heard) is a little like climbing Mount Everest. Brave, adventurous souls try it because they've heard there's magic in the climb. They try because they believe that finishing, or even attempting the climb are impressive accomplishments. They try because during the climb, if they allow themselves to pause and lift their eyes and minds from the pain and drudgery, the views are breathtaking. They try because even though it hurts and it's hard, there are moments that make it worth the hard. These moments are so intense and unique that many people who reach the top start planning, almost immediately, to climb again. Even though any climber will tell you that most of the climb is treacherous, exhausting, killer. That they literally cried most of the way up.

And so I think that if there were people stationed, say, every thirty feet along Mount Everest yelling to the climbers -- "ARE YOU ENJOYING YOURSELF!? IF NOT, YOU SHOULD BE! ONE DAY YOU'LL BE SORRY YOU DIDN'T!" TRUST US!! IT'LL BE OVER TOO SOON! CARPE DIEM!" -- those well-meaning, nostalgic cheerleaders might be physically thrown from the mountain.

Now. I'm not suggesting that the sweet old ladies who tell me to ENJOY MYSELF be thrown from a mountain. These are wonderful ladies. Monkees, probably. But last week, a woman approached me in the Target line and said the following: "Sugar, I hope you are enjoying this. I loved every single second of parenting my two girls. Every single moment. These days go by so fast."

At that particular moment, Amma had arranged one of the new bras I was buying on top of her sweater and was sucking a lollipop that she must have found on the ground. She also had three shop-lifted clip-on neon feathers stuck in her hair. She looked exactly like a contestant from Toddlers and Tiaras. I couldn't find Chase anywhere, and Tish was grabbing the pen on the credit card swiper thing WHILE the woman in front of me was trying to use it. And so I just looked at the woman, smiled and said, "Thank you. Yes. Me too. I am enjoying every single moment. Especially this one. Yes. Thank you."

That's not exactly what I wanted to say, though.

There was a famous writer who, when asked if he loved writing, replied, "No. but I love having written." What I wanted to say to this sweet woman was, "Are you sure? Are you sure you don't mean you love having parented?"

I love having written. And I love having parented. My favorite part of each day is when the kids are put to sleep (to bed) and Craig and I sink into the couch to watch some quality TV, like Celebrity Wife Swap, and congratulate each other on a job well done. Or a job done, at least.

Every time I write a post like this, I get emails suggesting that I'm being negative. I have received this particular message four or five times -- G, if you can't handle the three you have, why do you want a fourth?

That one always stings, and I don't think it's quite fair. Parenting is hard. Just like lots of important jobs are hard. Why is it that the second a mother admits that it's hard, people feel the need to suggest that maybe she's not doing it right? Or that she certainly shouldn't add more to her load. Maybe the fact that it's so hard means she IS doing it right...in her own way...and she happens to be honest.

Craig is a software salesman. It's a hard job in this economy. And he comes home each day and talks a little bit about how hard it is. And I don't ever feel the need to suggest that he's not doing it right, or that he's negative for noticing that it's hard, or that maybe he shouldn't even consider taking on more responsibility. And I doubt anybody comes by his office to make sure he's ENJOYING HIMSELF. I doubt his boss peeks in his office and says: "This career stuff...it goes by so fast...ARE YOU ENJOYING EVERY MOMENT IN THERE, CRAIG???? CARPE DIEM, CRAIG!"

My point is this. I used to worry that not only was I failing to do a good enough job at parenting, but that I wasn't enjoying it enough. Double failure. I felt guilty because I wasn't in parental ecstasy every hour of every day and I wasn't MAKING THE MOST OF EVERY MOMENT like the mamas in the parenting magazines seemed to be doing. I felt guilty because honestly, I was tired and cranky and ready for the day to be over quite often. And because I knew that one day, I'd wake up and the kids would be gone, and I'd be the old lady in the grocery store with my hand over my heart. Would I be able to say I enjoyed every moment? No.

But the fact remains that I will be that nostalgic lady. I just hope to be one with a clear memory. And here's what I hope to say to the younger mama gritting her teeth in line:

"It's helluva hard, isn't it? You're a good mom, I can tell. And I like your kids, especially that one peeing in the corner. She's my favorite. Carry on, warrior. Six hours till bedtime." And hopefully, every once in a while, I'll add -- "Let me pick up that grocery bill for ya, sister. Go put those kids in the van and pull on up -- I'll have them bring your groceries out."

Anyway. Clearly, Carpe Diem doesn't work for me. I can't even carpe fifteen minutes in a row, so a whole diem is out of the question.

Here's what does work for me:

There are two different types of time. Chronos time is what we live in. It's regular time, it's one minute at a time, it's staring down the clock till bedtime time, it's ten excruciating minutes in the Target line time, it's four screaming minutes in time out time, it's two hours till daddy gets home time. Chronos is the hard, slow passing time we parents often live in.

Then there's Kairos time. Kairos is God's time. It's time outside of time. It's metaphysical time. It's those magical moments in which time stands still. I have a few of those moments each day. And I cherish them.

Like when I actually stop what I'm doing and really look at Tish. I notice how perfectly smooth and brownish her skin is. I notice the perfect curves of her teeny elf mouth and her asianish brown eyes, and I breathe in her soft Tishy smell. In these moments, I see that her mouth is moving but I can't hear her because all I can think is -- This is the first time I've really seen Tish all day, and my God -- she is so beautiful.Kairos.

Like when I'm stuck in chronos time in the grocery line and I'm haggard and annoyed and angry at the slow check-out clerk. And then I look at my cart and I'm transported out of chronos. And suddenly I notice the piles and piles of healthy food I'll feed my children to grow their bodies and minds and I remember that most of the world's mamas would kill for this opportunity. This chance to stand in a grocery line with enough money to pay. And I just stare at my cart. At the abundance. The bounty. Thank you, God. Kairos.

Or when I curl up in my cozy bed with Theo asleep at my feet and Craig asleep by my side and I listen to them both breathing. And for a moment, I think- how did a girl like me get so lucky? To go to bed each night surrounded by this breath, this love, this peace, this warmth? Kairos.

These kairos moments leave as fast as they come- but I mark them. I say the word kairos in my head each time I leave chronos. And at the end of the day, I don't remember exactly what my kairos moments were, but I remember I had them. And that makes the pain of the daily parenting climb worth it.

If I had a couple Kairos moments during the day, I call it a success.

Carpe a couple of Kairoses a day.

Good enough for me.

-Glennon Melton

Far too many moments of the day are like this:

but the ones that are like this make it all worth it!

Agency--

2012-01-16T13:55:00.000-08:00

Katelyn got to give a talk yesterday. She rocked it!! So proud of my little girl!! :)

Sorry for the screaming in the background...! Here is our last run through before church. In case you can't hear past the Luke-ness monster, Here's what she says...

"Agency means we get to choose. Heavenly Father and Jesus are happy when we make good choices. Heavenly Father and Jesus are sad when we make bad choices. I can make good choices when I go to church. I can make good choices when I serve. I can make good choices when I pray. Heavenly Father and Jesus want me to Choose the Right."

She and another little girl in her class were fabulous--each giving their part mostly unaided (I held the pictures up; Millie's mom pointed to each line of the scripture). It's amazing what the little tiny people are capable of! :)

Organized in 2012!

2012-01-11T15:10:00.000-08:00

I will get organized this year! Room by room, month by month, this year I am cleaning out, getting rid of, saving, storing, using, and making things accessible. We are off to a good start, and I thought I'd share my plan with you! Send me your favorite ideas, links, blogs, and stories! Keep me accountable! :)

Get Organized in 2012!!

January-Family Room
February-Office
March-Closets--sewing, 2 hall closets
April-Kitchen (if I have the $ saved for the remodel by then!)
May-Katelyn’s Room
June-Our Bedroom
July-Josh’s Room
August-Carport
September-Shed
October-Bathrooms
November-Storage Room/Laundry
December-Free

Family Room List

Move hutch to office
Clean out/sort/set up rotation for toys
Remove shelf with printer
Set up new print server
Battery in clock
Sort and organize DVD’s
Return borrowed DVD’s
Curtains up
Desk Re-do
Hide all electronics
Sort blanket closet
Replace light bulbs
Decide on couch placement
Re-do bookshelf/bench
Clean out end table
Update pictures
Finish Flylady
Office

Clean out, alphabetize, sort books (all fit in ONE bookshelf)
Sort through gift bags and wrapping paper.
Organize Files
Start a file drawer for each person
Clean out/sort vinyl scraps
Hang pictures
Change light bulbs
Sort closet
Make a timeline for unfinished craft projects
Totes and boxes for misc. items--all fit in the hutch bottom.
Hanging solution for airplaines
Closets

Sewing Closet-
Fabric wrapped on the foam
Scraps put into jars
Notions in jars
Stuff in drawers etc.
Place for sewing machine
Light installed

Coat Closet-
Install shelf
Install Coat hangers/rack
Bathroom organizer on the back of the door
Repaint (in stripes, polka dots, something fun...?)

Hall Closet-
Install a lock doorknob
Sort/DI/garbage
Multi-tiered units
Label
New hall air returns
Kitchen
Katelyn’s Room
Our bedroom
Install new lighting
Clean out hope chest
Clean out nightstands
Organize closet-multi shelving units
Sort/DI/garbage clothes
Clean out under the bed
Clean stickers off the lamps
Josh’s Room
Carport
Hooks on the walls and ceiling for bikes, shovels, trellis’s.
Organize tools
All wood to shed
DI/Clean
DI/sort attic
Shed
Run power
Set up woodworking stations/camping station/gardening station
Tools on pegboards
Bathrooms
Repaint upstairs in stripes!
Storage Room/Laundry

You'll see 'DI/garbage' a lot on that list (obviously, I've got more to fill in!). I'm am convinced that the answer to less craziness is less stuff. The pictures that I love to look at--the pictures of beautiful kitchens, or clean closets, or organized offices--are pretty because they have less stuff everywhere. So this year we are going to be streamlining, throwing away, DIing and making sure the the things that we choose to take up space with are the things that are really adding value to our life. Wish me luck!!

Home

2012-01-05T07:34:00.000-08:00

I came home last night from Relief Society to a sweet little video Mike had made. It was a good reminder of how much I really do love my life. Love my home.

Yesterday wasn't a bad day. It was a good day--but still, it's good to have the reminder to really take in each and every moment, cuz I'm pretty sure they are fleeting.

Primary Program, 2011

2012-01-05T07:09:00.000-08:00

I missed a lot of updating in 2011, but one thing I knew for sure that I would come back to was the Primary Program. Last January we set a goal to have Katelyn learn all the Primary Program songs in time for the program. Mostly, she did this herself, with help from a great song leader at church, but we also worked on the songs for FHE. She learned them all! This year, we have the same goal, but have decided to make sure she knows all the verses to all the songs. (We've already started by making a CD of this years songs. Did you know you can download them all from LDS.ORG. This year there is a song I've never heard!)

This girl loves to sing!

We practiced and practiced her part and she got asked to sing the 2nd verse of "I Love To See The Temple" with some other girls in her class...so we practiced and practiced that too. And then, at the Saturday practice of the Primary Program, she got asked to sing "I Pray in Faith" all by herself. Solo. Just her. Both verses. I was so excited. And nervous. She was just excited--and did great!

So, check out this video of her the morning of the Program doing one more practice before the big event.

Primary Programs are always one of my favorite Sundays. They are even more great when your own kid is in them!

15 minutes a day...

2012-01-02T20:10:00.000-08:00

"This is a lifetime habit your children will thank you for starting...today!"

This year, we are going to spend more time outside. In fact, the hope is to get 15 minutes a day, everyday, outside...rain, snow, or sunshine! Wish us luck!!

I know we aren't going to make everyday, but hopefully we will make most.

We're excited!

Happy New Year!!

2012-01-02T19:53:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! I feel like 2011 may have kicked my hiney--ring in 2012~!!

Merry Christmas!!

2011-12-27T15:12:00.000-08:00

I sure hope that you all had a great Christmas, like we had a great Christmas. Family time. Yummy food. New toys. Magic. It was great--I only was sad we didn't have snow! Here is the highlight reel...enjoy!!

We started out our Christmas fun with a Thursday evening party at Aunt Ev's. This lady is a giver--you should have seen her face. What a generous woman--we had a great night! She single handedly made our Christmas fabulous, and (my family at least) is having a glorious time playing with our new toys!

We celebrated Christmas Eve with half of the Wood clan and Grandma Williams. Tamales (not so stellar), enchiladas (awesome!), salsa (YUM!) and flan. Perfect! A good bit of chatting and gift exchanging made for a very happy day.

The Elves (aka, parental units) on Christmas Eve. We set up the camera on a tripod this year, and just snapped away with our remote. It was great!!

Ah! The Magic of Christmas morning! There's been some talk this year of not taking pictures of Christmas morning present opening, due to the fact that this is not what Christmas is all about. There is truth in that idea, but the magic of this morning brings out the little kid in everyone and the joy that is found in family rooms all over the world is worthy of capturing. We loved having the camera going with the remote and I swear Christmas gets better and better every year, as my little munchlets get bigger and bigger!

We made a movie of our morning--1 hour condensed into 2 minutes. Fun!

I love the growing pile of garbage! :)

By the way--Luke slept through our morning of fun~! But he was there, eventually!!

We headed to my parents house to enjoy more frivolity and family time. Church was awesome (I love lots of music in Sacrament meeting...and let's be honest, all the extra hands to help with the bambinos made it extra nice!). Take special note of Katelyn's dress--made by yours truly. The boys vests are a happy Walmart special, as their homemade Christmas outfits ended up being an epic fail! :) We loved having Christmas on Sunday and hanging out all together with family.

Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-18T20:24:00.000-08:00

So, although I've got lots of posts hanging over my head, waiting-waiting-waiting to be posted, it looks like I'll be skipping them for now. Hopefully I'll come back to them early next year (CRAZY to say that!). In the meantime, enjoy our Christmas Card. It's not getting sent out this year folks, :(, so enjoy the digital version!

We'vehad a whirlwind of a year in 2011, allow me to give you the recap!

January

Lotsof family fun: bowling, sledding, building snowmen, trips to theDinosaur Park and the Childrens Playhouse. Pregnancy was juststarting to get uncomfortable again, and the countdown to baby daywas on!

February

Mikeand I took a trip to St. George with some friends. We hiked, ate,slept, and were kid free for a weekend. As a family we played somemore, celebrated Valentines Day, and we gave Josh his first haircut!

March

BabyMonth!! We had to wait the whole 31 days before Luke Joseph Williamsdecided to make his appearance, but it was well worth the wait. Weighing in at 8 lbs, 3 ounces and 21.5 inches long, he was instantlyadored by both brother and sister, as well as Mom and Dad. What ablessing a new baby is!

April

Webrought home baby Luke, put our new minivan to good use, adjusted tono sleep, celebrated Easter with new outfits and lots of candy, andplanted the cold crops in our garden.

May

Maybrought us warmer weather, our 5th anniversary, a more alert andhappy Luke, date nights and picture taking fun. We spent a lot oftime at home hanging out, laughing, and being such a happy family.

June

Weblessed our sweet Luke in June and Mike's mom flew out to Utah tostay with the kids while I went to Girls Camp. Sure love GirlsCamp!! We pulled out the swimming pool and prepped for familycamping trips.

July

Camping,camping, camping! We went with family, with friends, and with familyagain--we love camping! The kids went fishing for the first time,and we found out that sleep was a bit illusive in our tent.

August

Augustwas our miracle month. We headed to St. George with my family for afamily vacation and on our way home Luke fell out of a shopping cartand literally cracked his head open. By the end of the evening hewas being prepped for lifeflight transport to Primary ChildrensHospital and once there underwent emergency brain surgery. We spenta tenuious 6 days at Primary Childrens, and in the beginning therewere times that I was sure we were going to lose him. He finallygained consiousness again 2 days into our ordeal, and from there themiracles just kept coming. Today he is happy, healthy, and perfectlynormal.

Weare so blessed!

September

Wespent September putting our life back together after our crazy summerand enjoying BYU football on the weekends. Luke passed hisfollow-up nuerological examinations, Mike spent hours developing anew hobby--RC Airplanes, family came to town, we took familypictures, and spent hours holding our kids just a little bit closer.

October

Weenjoyed General Conference, BYU Homecoming traditions (the bestparade, ever!), football games, watching Luke learn how to crawl,sending Mike's youngest brother off on his mission, and Halloween--wewere the Incredibles!

November

Weplayed in the leaves and in the snow (gotta love Fall in Utah!),hosted Thanksgiving at our house with Mike's family, Katelyn found apair of scissors and decided to give herself a haircut, Luke learnedto cruise around furniture (which causes me stress due to my fallfear!), Josh moved into a 'big boy bed', and we prepped for theChristmas season.

December

Bythe time everyone gets this, December will be almost over! We havefamily parties, adeventures in the snow, and Christmas morning athome planned. We are excited for 2012 and hope that it will bringless change and craziness!! Hope that your year was as great asours, and hope you know how much we appreciate and love you all!

Merry Christmas!!

So Blessed....

2011-12-03T15:57:00.001-08:00

I went to Festival of Trees today for the first time. I was actually a little teary as I walked around and wondered how many of the trees came out of stories of tragedy, and how many came from stories of miracles (although, I know that you can truly experience miracles, even through tragedy).

I couldn't help but think that our story could have turned out so very, very, differently.

We are so blessed!

I hope they call me on a mission!

2011-11-28T18:57:00.001-08:00

So, we are all out of order, but by golly--I will post before December! :) And so, a quick FHE post is born!

I stumbled upon a fabulous blog. This lady, truly incredible lady if you ask me, has organized and planned out family home evening, each week, FOR THE WHOLE YEAR! And, perfect for us, it's catered towards little kids. I've found lots of great FHE sites, but most are for older kids--that doesn't work for us, as we've just got little kids. I love this site. Seriously, I click a link, print it off and I wouldn't have to read it or look at it again until lesson time if I didn't want to. Love it!!

Check her out!

We talked about missionary work tonight. It was great! Katelyn informed us that she doesn't want to be a missionary, she wants to be a 'missa-girl' and she is going to go to Idaho. And, it just melts my little mommy heart, but she and Josh were so sad to leave each other to go on missions. They kept saying over and over that they would miss each other. Yeah!! Maybe they do like each other! :)

We wrote Uncle Tommy, we sang missionary songs, and we wore pretend missionary badges. It was great! Gotta love Family Home Evening! :)

Lookin tired at the end of the day--10.5 hours of mental brain power for Mike; teething, cranky, no sleep baby for me. Whew!

Last Month in Pictures...

2011-11-13T13:57:00.001-08:00

So, I'm a slacker. Enjoy the latest update--with minor words and major pictures!! :)

Halloween...it was 'Incredible!'

Applesaucing...always a joy. This is only half the apples. A LOT of work!!

Fall came...and went!

Katelyn found scissors...before-

After: (way cuter after!!)

He sits!!

We love Trains!

Winter came, and stayed...

We had a birthday party for a really old lady. It was really great!

We projected....

Before:

After:

We played. (and slobbered)

We dated.

Super cute!!

2011-10-16T15:25:00.000-07:00

I've been pinteresting...a lot. And I'm updating my family room pictures because of it. I'm adding this picture....

and last night my mom and I developed this one....

I LOVE it!! Thanks to Chelsi for taking the great photo!

How could I forget!!

2011-10-16T15:14:00.000-07:00

It appears I forgot to blog about Homecoming! Tragedy!!

We went down to Provo for Homecoming again this year. This is probably one of my favorite days of the whole year--so. much. fun.~! We hit up the parade...complete with LOADS of candy and Cosmo....and enjoyed yummy blue pancakes at Jennifer and Becca's apartment. This turned out to be a brilliant idea, as it bought us several extra hours of sleep and kept us warm and toasty.

The Parade...

Like I said...lots and lots of candy. The kids were in heaven!

We LOVE his beanie. Thanks Nicole!!

The whole crew. It was cold.

Ben, Marilyn, David, and Ryan. One of Mike's best friends and his family. We also got to enjoy dinner with Mike's other best friend, Dave, and his wife Lisa. So fun!!

Sure love these girlies!! I think they should never leave--and certainly not move to Texas like their parentals. That was a lame trick!

Becca, blue-chocolate-chip-pancake-maker, extraordianire!

Yum!! (With some sass...of course!)

Later in the day Mike and I got to go to the Homecoming game. It is so much fun to be in the stadium with all the fans. Football is way more exciting live, at the stadium, with your man. I loved it!! Too bad I don't have any cute pictures--but trust me, it was great!! We didn't stay the whole game--darn ESPN who scheduled the game to start at 8:15, but the first half was fun and listening to the game on the way home helped Mike to stay awake for the drive.

The one picture of us--poorly taken, on a lame cell phone camera. (But not for too much longer...new phones next week, and the camera on those babies is SA-WEET!)

Sure love that good-ol Provo and BYU.

Go cougars!!

He's FINALLY a pilot!

2011-10-16T14:52:00.000-07:00

Last Christmas Mike got a remote controlled airplane. We went out on Christmas day to fly it; he got it in the air and it was great...for about 30 seconds. Then, CRASH! Apparently, this is the way these things go, and so my problem-solving husband was not deterred. And here we are today, 10 months later, and he's finally officially flying an airplane!! Not the original, no--that one was not a beginners plane, we came to find out. Not the second one, no--that was too flimsy. But the third plane--that was the success story! Wahoo!!

Plane Numero Uno: Christmas day, 2010. Look at my handsome, happy man. So cute!

Plane number two: The glide test...will it fly?

It does!! Time for a test run at the real field!

Plane number two: Hand built and fortified...so excited! This was the first trial run!

FAIL!

Plane number three. Went with a assemble yourself plane, as opposed to a build yourself plane.

Battery charged? (Three previous attempts at flying proved that this step was important!) Check. Propeller attached? (Also important, go figure!) Check. Wings sturdy? Check, check.

Attempt one....oops! "Lawn-mower"

And then, ladies and gentlemen....success!! The moment arrived!! An airborne, for a long duration, airplane!! Wahoo!!!

Introducing....

2011-10-13T08:44:00.000-07:00

And EATER!! Yeah!! Luke has taken FOREVER to figure out eating. Seriously, forever!! We usually start solids (or semi-solid food product) at our house as quick as we can, sometimes as early at 3 months and 3 weeks old. We started Luke clear back at his 4 month mark, and just yesterday he finally got it figured out. Sheesh!! Took long enough! Yeah for real food!! :)

There's a tooth in there folks--FINALLY!! He's taken the longest to get teeth too...maybe the two are somehow connected. Whoop!

Good-bye Elder Williams!!

2011-10-13T08:39:00.000-07:00

Mike's littlest brother, Tommy, went on his mission yesterday! We have sure LOVED having Uncle Tom be so close the past two years while he's been at BYU. Katelyn and Josh have already started to pray for Uncle Tommy on his mission, and we are planning our first package to the MTC--same day shipping may allow for still warm cookies!! :) He is headed to Mike's neighboring mission, so come two years we'll have TWO returned missionaries from Chili in the family! We are so proud of and excited for Uncle Tom!!

I'm thinking that Uncle Tom can't do a normal smile... :)

Oh wait! Here's one! :)

Good luck!!

Family Pictures (take 2!)

2011-10-06T14:33:00.000-07:00

I didn't love our first try at family pictures, so lucky for me, our amazing photographer took us again! :)

LOVED these ones!!

(Darn slobber!)

Sweet Joshy

Sweet and Sassy!

Ah, cute!

And the whole fam...

Poor Kyron... :)

The Siblings...

The Parentals...

Kasey, Chelsi, Auklin, Kanyin

Jillisa and Austin

Brielle and Matt

Kyron

Katelyn's First BYU Game!!

2011-09-30T21:21:00.000-07:00

Mike took Katelyn to the BYU game tonight--what a great Dad!! (He didn't even stay the whole game, even though the end was AWESOME...he left when Katelyn was ready to go. Had to listen to the awesome turn-around in the car on the way home...what a great guy!) She was excited about it all day and looked so stinkin cute. Mike appeased my need for pictures and was able to snap a few of their fun--I get to go to the next game!! :)

She could pick any treat she wanted...what was it? Pop! (Or Soda, if you're Mike...he, he, he--I'm winning the battle with the kids on that one though!)

Aunt Meg and High Tea

2011-09-28T05:35:00.000-07:00

Aunt Meg came out to visit this week!! We picked her up from the airport on Thursday night (my kids LOVE going to airport!!) and spent the evening with her. Friday we enjoyed Mike's yummy waffles and then spent the day in Utah county playing games, chatting, cooking, oh--and of course eating! I tried Kale for the first time, and I actually liked it (although it was covered in bacon, so perhaps that helped!)

And then Tuesday, the highlight of the visit (for Katelyn) was High Tea at the Grand America hotel. So fun!! Katelyn and I spent the morning decorating our hats (did you know that black boas will make your hands and clothes filthy?!) and practicing our best princess manners.

We headed down to a lovely event--cousins, aunts, grandma great, and yummy food. Katelyn was excited to drink out of the 'royalty' glasses, and everyone looked so great. It was so fun!!

Thanks Aunt Meg--for the visit and for High Tea! We love you!!

Proud to be a Cougar...

2011-09-23T20:02:00.000-07:00

We are die-hard fans, through and through (even through a terribly embarrassing and depressing game last week).

Tonight reminds us that it's good to Rise Up!

Happy Pumpkins...

2011-09-22T15:27:00.000-07:00

So...crafting is always better with a friend. We may have bit off more then we could chew today (a total of 8 kids running amuck!) but it was worth it. We had 3 pumpkin projects we were aiming to finish, but only finished one...more for another day, I guess! I'm so happy to have something cute on the front porch...need to have fun stuff for every holiday!! (And stay tuned for our great idea as to how to re-use these puppies for Christmas...whoop!!)

Anywho, people have asked for the dimensions, and although I don't really know, I'll tell you what we did. We took 6 kids shopping to Home Depot (PURE CRAZINESS) and found a steal of a deal of a half sheet of MDF in the Kohl lumber section (*love it!!*). Brought it home (or rather to Mom's house) and chopped it down...each side is 6 inches wide with varying heights (like probably 10 inches, 15 inches, and 20 inches). Nailed them all together, cut a top (they are hollow on the bottom) and used some left over piece of 1X1 for the stem. Orange paint, little bit of stain, raffia....ta-da~! Love it!!

Are you prepared?

2011-09-18T17:21:00.000-07:00

So, I am participating in THIS! I'm loving it!! I have learned a lot of things--the least of which? If there were a real disaster we would be basically dead. I knew that this would probably be the case, as I was hardly prepared to begin the 7 day challenge, but I decided to venture forth anyway and learn what I could.

Day 1, Sanitation Crisis, was basically a flop. I had a very busy day full of things that would normally be cancelled if there were a real emergency (but which were not cancelled, seeing how the rest of the world didn't have an emergency), and so I just skipped it. I thought about it though--which is actually totally against the rules--and realized that water storage at my house is lame. Big thumbs down.

Day 2, Powerless Cooking, was much better! We actually had friends come over for dinner and were able to make a whole yummy dinner--one of my favorites!--totally outside, despite the torrential downpour that decided to grace us with it's presence. The verdict? Yellow squash is yummy on the grill, spaghetti squash not so much (although still edible) and dutch oven cobbler needs more coals then you think when the apple filling is frozen. Also, we realized at the end, we have a gas oven and stove and so powerless cooking would be a snap--although I have to learn how to light the burners and oven if the automatic one didn't work.

Day 3, Evacuation, bit thumbs down! First off, even though I should have been participating whole heartedly, I read the e-mail at 6 am and refused to break my cardinal rule of not waking up the children! (I was supposed to be up and out of the house within a half an hour, ready to walk away as if my house would not be there when we returned.) I realized that our 72 hour kits are miserably put together and located, but that our 'to grab' list is actually quite short and that there is little we couldn't replace. Wanna hear my list?

Camera

Important Documents

Computer

Baby Blessing Outfits (this is purely emotional, but as I thought about what I would be most sad about if it were gone, this was it.)

Scriptures

My emergency binder (contacts, addresses, lists, etc)

Cell phone chargers

After we gathered those items, we'd either beat the traffic or fill totes with as much clothes as we could so we wouldn't have to try to figure out a way to wash.

We decided that even though we have a truck, we'd rather be together as a family during a crisis then have more room to haul stuff, and that if we spend some time to get our insurance info ready, replacing ruined items wouldn't be too horrible.

Todays emergency preparedness task is to make sure our affairs are in order. They are not, so right now if Mike and I kicked the bucket our kids would be wards of the state and have lots of debt they would need to get jobs to pay off. Guess we should work on that!

So anyway, I'm really liking this. Although we'd be dead now if any of this were real, it gives me a pretty good look at where we need to improve...(the answer is everywhere, in case you were wondering! ;)

This is good to remember

2011-09-15T13:48:00.000-07:00

Remember how crazy my Josh is? I'm printing this out and posting it somewhere where I can see it a lot--so good to remember.

How Do You Pinterest?

2011-09-09T16:13:00.000-07:00

Have you discovered Pinterset? I LOVE it!! It's like bookmarking--only on steroids! Everything is organized and lovely, in sections and just how I like it. I have this really great cousin who introduced me to the wonder that is Pinterest, and she has some 'pinning' anxiety--feels it's such a commitment. Not me, man! I just 'pin' away--! Anyway, after seeing so many cute things--and feeling so crafty even though all I had done was sit on my tush--I decided to put some things into action. I love it!! :)

I've got some current projects in the works, so expect another post in a few day (weeks, or months!), but here's some of my pinteresting fun put into action!

Did you remember that the boys' room is BYU? I thought it just had to include this lamp...

Sta-da!

And who HATES how their jewelry is organized. I dream of owning a full length mirror with a hidden cupboard behind it for all my jewelry fun, but in the meantime, I LOVED this idea...

Here's mine. I'm not sold on the brown--but I'm thinking of re-doing my room so I didn't want to paint it and commit to a color before I was willing to commit, ya know?

Katelyn and I had a GREAT afternoon making these beauties yesterday--and playing in them today. So fun!

We've done lots of hairstyles--

And this little piece of fun has been great--took a week or two for Mike to catch on that he could write on our board too, but now I often wake up with little messages like, "you've got great legs" or "you melted our thermometer" or "you do all the laundry." I love it--and I love him!

Pinterest has brought lots of cooking adventures--my FAVORITE of which is the Big Kahuna burgers. So easy--and SO GOOD!

And what about this little fun idea--? Keep my destructive Josh and curious Katelyn away from my makeup? Yes please!

Take a regular medicine cabinet...

And who wants to ignore the pearls of wisdom I've learned like:

I've decided that creativity isn't always coming up with your own idea--it's often just finding a great idea to steal!! Thanks Pinterest!.

He's two!!

2011-09-09T13:35:00.000-07:00

Timing is a funny thing--I think Heavenly Father knew we needed Luke good and here before Josh turned two, cuz if not...we'd be done having children! Bless my little man--but he is DESTRUCTIVE! I keep thinking that Katelyn gave me a run for my money while she was two (and really, while she was a baby all the way THROUGH two) but I think she has met her match! The problem is, my Josh man is just so darn cute he tricks me into believing, again and again, that he's still my angel child! Oh well...two can't last forever, right?

He is all boy, this one. Cars, balls, trains, trucks. It's innate folks--we were made differently from the beginning, us males and females. Totally different from the get-go! It works out nicely that Katelyn has a good streak of 'tomboy' in her cuz she and Josh get along great. We've had many, many, MANY hours of fun playing cars and trains and dinosaurs around here since Josh's big day, and I anticipate many more! :)

We actually got to celebrate his birthday on his actual day of birth!! I had thought we would probably still be in the hospital, but we were home! He got lots of really great things--balls, bats, cars, cake. It was a success!!

Sure love my little Josh man! :)

Moving on...

2011-09-05T09:41:00.000-07:00

So, we've had some fun around here, and I really should start posting about someone beside Luke--and I'm sure I will, one of these days!! I just can't seem to finish it all up, just yet. Sometimes (most times) when I close my eyes I see horrible things--things made of nightmares. Nurses pumping the oxygen to keep him alive. The words, "Make him cry, Mom. Crying babies are live babies." Watching him being wheeled into surgery. That blasted waiting room phone. CT scans and scared, swollen shut eyes. And maybe the worst, my sweet boy hitting that floor over and over again. I've been singing a lot of primary songs in my head these days--if primary songs are the trick to getting bad thoughts out of you head, they'll work in this situation too! And you know what, I've also been having lots and lots of happy pictures replace those scary ones. A sweet, smiling baby. The sight of my Dad coming to visit over and over again. Late night hour long hospital visits from my brother and his wife. Finally getting to hold my baby. Finally getting to hold my baby when it doesn't hurt him anymore! Playing with Katelyn and Josh in the sibling rooms. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner with Mike outside, eating gross hospital food. Katelyn's prayers for Luke. Pinteresting the hours away with Mom.

Yesterday was fast Sunday, and is it any wonder that both Mike and I fasted out of gratitude. It was an emotional day for me, thinking about where we were 3 weeks ago and seeing where we are now. Last night we had our quarterly family fireside and talked about tender mercies and miracles. We talked about how even trials can be tender mercies and that if we have the eyes to see and the heart to feel we can see the Lords hand in our life and feel the peace that He so badly wants to give us. I know that's true. As I reflect on our whole experience, I find something new each time that tells me that there were tender mercies all throughout. The timing of the whole thing. The nurse that was on duty the first night I left my sweet baby there alone. The friends who called, texted, brought dinner, watching kids. All the times people told me about the prayers their children were offering. The trauma admit program at the hospital. The social worker assigned to our case. Our proximity to the hospital. The availability of a life flight helicopter. The fact that they serve cream of wheat for breakfast. Hugs from my favorite people in the ward. We were so truly and deeply blessed it's overwhelming.

Luke is doing great. Really, really great. It's going so much better then I had planned on, I feel downright spoiled. Sleep is a bit of an issue, but I don't know how much of that is due to pain or due to bad habits being formed. He's playing well, is really happy most of the time, is eating good and still hitting all those neurological goals. His stitches are starting to come out and his incision looks really great. We can finally get it wet so he's not quite as smelly anymore either! :) The olders are doing great too. We're taking more of those little moments to play around here--Mike and Katelyn has been throwing a lot of paper airplanes and Josh and I are reading a lot of books. My house is slowly coming back together after our CRAZY August, and we've been canning like it's our job! Everyday I look at Luke and thank Heavenly Father for the miracle of his life. And, what is more, I thank Heavenly Father for the things I've learned and felt, for the way we've grown. One of these days I'm going to be able to close my eyes and not see horrible images, but in the meantime they serve to remind me how blessed we are!!

Our Luke...

2011-08-29T13:23:00.000-07:00

Before I move on to all the other fun things that have been going on (St. George, Josh's birthday, Pinteresting fun) I thought I'd finish up about our Luken Guken. Bless his sweet little soul--! We've been home for the weekend now, and it is going so much better then I had feared. Just got back from the follow-up appointment with the Pediatrician and he got a clean bill of health there too! The stitches will probably take about 6-8 weeks to dissolve, but that's fine with me. I'm taking that as a good thing cuz I'm all about his little head being good and sealed before those puppies come out!

I've fretted all weekend about doing more posts due to a nasty comment left on my blog by some random person (never before thought about going 'private' but I do now!). Something about negligence and self righteousness and miracles not being real. Well, I'll own up to the pieces of that comment that may be true, but I'm not going to let the false ones bug me anymore. Miracles are real and negligent ?--sure. Perhaps. Knowing what I know now would I have ever put him in that car seat unstrapped? No way! But, if I was doing it all again without the same 20/20 backwards vision I'd probably do the some thing again. (To clarify, he was in his car seat, unstrapped, which was clipped into the shopping cart. When I went over a piece of molding on the floor to see a display better, the cart jigged sideways, causing the car seat to slide to the left, causing Luke to be vaulted out of this seat, and right onto the floor.) As for being self righteous, I'm not sure what that exactly means but I sure don't think that I have done anything to warrant so many blessings--but I am SO INCREDIBLY grateful that we were blessed with our little Luke. Someone told me that perhaps Heavenly Father has something big in store for my little man--and I'm going to hold on to that idea. He's got some big blessings to live up to!

Since coming home, Luke has been doing awesome. He's sleeping good and is a bit more clingy then usual, but I don't mind it--I'll snuggle that boy as long as he'll let me! I think we are slowly getting the olders back to normal too: Katelyn has stopped waking up at night saying she wants to go home, and Josh is less whiny today then he was yesterday and the day before. We spent the morning at home today--cleaning, reading books, playing cars, playing beauty shop and just hanging out. We hit up the pediatrician and then were right back home for afternoon home-ness.

I got in contact with IKEA. They seem like they are going to be great to work with and I'm hopeful that their insurance will help to offset some of our medical costs. They aren't specifically at fault, I'm not specifically at fault but between a good deal of bad luck, stupid wheels and buckles, unbuckled babys' and great things to see we landed ourselves in the ICU and I would love to use our extra money each month to save up and take a trip next spring instead of paying off our baby Luke for the next few years of our life! I guess we'll see!!

We came home from the hospital Thursday afternoon. Thursday was a tough day for me. Leaving home Thursday morning with Katelyn crying just about did me in. I got to the hospital and heard the news that we were going to get to go home and finally broke down. Crying is very therapeutic! :) We hung around for several hours picking up prescriptions and copies of the scans, fixing information in the computer, getting all the discharge info, and just being so amazed at how well our Luke was doing!

Hanging out with Daddy after we got out of the ICU...

Mom's shoulder is the best place to sleep!

Finally totally detached!!

Headed home!!!

We were home just after lunchtime and spent the afternoon chilling--sleeping, watching TV, reading books, just enjoying being all together! We built forts in the living room and had yummy dinner-which I didn't have to prepare!

Everybody home and ready for bed--all under one roof!!

Church yesterday was tender. Seeing all the people who have been praying and thinking about us was so good for my heart. It's so good to be in a ward full of such great people!! The songs in sacrament meeting made me teary, the YW in class made me happy, and all my friends made me feel so loved. It is still unbelievable to me that this time last week I was still having some moments where I thought we might not be bringing our Luke home. We are so blessed!

I heard a quote during all this that is beginning to make more and more sense. "I have learned that faith means trusting in advance what will only make sense in reverse." -Phillip Yancy. Lots of things are beginning to make more sense through this lens...the timing of the whole ordeal (most Dr's, I'm told, won't do CT scans on head bumps unless there is great reason to), for one. I'm practicing not asking 'why' but to ask 'what can I learn.' I think that it's safe to say this was a life altering event that will change how I look at things from here on out.

Love our little Luke!!!

Birthday Boy!!

2011-08-26T13:19:00.000-07:00

With all the hub-bub around here, let's not forget we've got a birthday boy at the house this week! Sunday, this kid turns the big number 2!!

Sure love him!!

We're home!!

2011-08-25T13:54:00.000-07:00

I didn't know somebody could cry so many tears--and still have tears left to cry! There are happy tears, sad tears, tears of gratitude, tears of frustration, tired tears, and sympathetic tears. I'm sure I'm not done with my share of crying yet, but for now...WE'RE HOME!! All of us. Under one roof. Unattached to wires, machines, and IV's. Sitting on comfy couches and building blanket forts to have a movie afternoon.

This morning was rough, but once I got to the hospital and found out we were headed home, it felt like Christmas!!

Our movie is about to begin, so I'm sure we'll talk more later, but for now, I'm going to enjoy the simple joy of home.

Things I've learned

2011-08-24T14:34:00.000-07:00

We just got word that Luke gets to leave the ICU today--really, any time now. What a relief! What a miracle! Would you believe its only been 4 days? Brain surgery folks--really, truly, skin pulled back, skull sawed open, brain exposed brain surgery. How can you not say that miracles happen?

I've learned some things here; while we wait I thought I'd share!

*NICU/PICU cribs are really great--they roll, they drop down on all sides, they elevate either or both ends. Sort of ugly, but really functional!

*Hospital residents and fellows never leave. I mean never. I have a new appreciation for spouses and families of these dedicated healers (thanks Elena!!)

*Seeing life flight helicopters makes me literally sick to my stomach

*Miracles happen a lot--both big and small.

*I am not a Hispanic person who lives in a trailer home in Pocatello Idaho, unlike all my hospital paperwork says

*Our adventure is going to rack up a lovely total of $70,000 +

*Lonely hours are best spent with a hubby and a mom--one should never be here alone with your sick baby

*The parent sleep rooms are really dark, and earplugs are required at times to drown out the crying

*You cannot get cell reception in the halls, in the waiting rooms, in the cafeteria, or parking structure--just in

the patients rooms and outside

*My very favorite nurses here in the PICU have been males, except one, who was female (obviously)

*They have bathrooms all over this place!

*I LOVE the hand sanitizer they have--it's lotiony!

*These rooms are freezing! Pack a jacket if you come to visit

*Lots of people love my little Luke--and, I guess, me too!

*People will come out of the woodwork to help--meals, mowing lawns, watching babies, taking over events, phone calls, texts, emails, prayers--everybody wants to do something to help.

*The Spirit is stronger by a NICU crib

*The two hours spent waiting to hear if your son has survived brain surgery are the worst two hours of ones life.

*The 27 minute drive to the hospital to find out if your son survived the helicopter ride are the worst 27 minutes of ones life.

*Time seems to change in the PICU--it feels like we've been here for weeks and weeks, and yet, hours seem to pass really quickly.

*The rooms across the hall have a better view

*There is ice cream in the fridge in the hospitality room--and slurpees!

*Having your family divided is rotten

*Hearing your 4 year old pray for your baby is too tender for words

*Grandpa's have a hard time focusing on teaching the first day of school when things aren't going so well at the hospital; Grandpas are also the best at asking questions

*Everything in the hospital beeps--everything!

*Reading scriptures is more powerful and effective after a good cry

*I miss my YW

*Husbands are absolutely essential to survival

*Baby smiles ARE. THE. BEST

*Aunts from far away send the best presents!

*I am blessed far beyond what I deserve--I've got a lot of work to do to give back!

*The human skull will grow back together with just a few stitches

*Throwing up after a head injury means go to the doctor...NOW!

*Prayer works!

*Harry Potter is good reading for getting your mind off things for a bit

*Sometimes crying is the best thing you can do

*The night nurses are the best

*Luke likes his eyebrows rubbed

*Luke does not like his IV's

*Every diaper is weighed before it's thrown away

*Peace is a feeling that can be ever present, ever powerful, encouraging, and strengthening all at once.

*Faith is powerful

*Families are Forever: this is true now, but it would have also been true if Luke had left his earthly home

*Bathrooms are the most effective place to pray

*Grandmas are tirelessly supportive and attentive--they are a must as a hospital side-kick!

*Sleep is a good and bad thing

*Pinterest is good for passing hours of boredom

*The best sacrament meetings I've been to have been times when I'm wearing street clothes

*Priesthood blessings heal, and bring comfort

*Scarred heads get the girls!

*Miracles don't have to be big to be miracles--have you ever thought about the miracle of sleep? Or being about to smile? Or being able to stand up? Or cell phones? Or salt?

*Contacts are not compatible with no sleep and tears

*Soups are okay, but don't buy anything else from the cafeteria

*Heavenly Father blesses the siblings too

*Swelling goes up before it goes down

*Sodium is apparently really important to the human body

*Sleep apnea is scary--I think it's scarier when it's watched on a monitor

*Human touch is powerful medicine, for all ages!

*UPDATE! Leaving your baby alone in the hospital is the pits--! :( He has moved floors and we were certainly spoiled in the ICU!! We are waiting on one more test--results coming at 6:30 in the morning--and then I'm fighting to break free baby!! Let's bring my baby home!!

Thankful Tuesday...

2011-08-23T14:57:00.000-07:00

This makes me happy today...

Luke's Adventure!

2011-08-22T21:00:00.000-07:00

So, a lot has happened since my last post. I love chronological order, but I suppose heart order should come first. I'm sitting here in the PICU (Pediatric Intensive Care Unit) watching my sweet little Luke finally sleep. Saturday around 4:00 he fell 4 1/2 feet out of his carseat from an IKEA shopping cart. He appeared to be totally fine, just with a lovely goose egg. Around 6:00 he started to throw up and that was our cue to not wait to hear back from any doctor or friend, but to just go to urgent care. Urgent care sent us to the ER, and within 15 minutes he had stopped breathing, was intubated, had an IV (or two) and was being prepped for his very first helicopter ride! He arrive at Primary Childrens' Hospital and was in surgery by 10:08. Two grueling hours later we got to talk to the neurosurgeon and found out that everything went fabulously and he was expected to make a full and complete recovery. He had unluckily landed in the one weak spot on a babies head and had a crack in his skull about 4 inches. He had also nicked two arteries and was bleeding into his brain. Babies have about 4 cups of blood in their bodies, and the surgeon suctioned 1 1/2 cups out--just from his head. They actually sawed off the skull, cleaned out around the brain, and put everything back together again. Talk about humpty dumpty!! The surgeon informed us that if we had been two hours longer we wouldn't have a baby to take home.

We set up camp in the PICU and his recovery has been slow, but steady. We've battled some apnea issues, decreased sodium levels, head leakage, lots of sleepiness and MAJOR swelling. He looks like he got in one heck of a fight with somebody! He's eaten on his own--YEAH!-- and has finally found his thumb so is thankfully sleeping as soundly as he can. He's passing all his neurological tests and he's hitting his goals. I don't think we will be getting out of the PICU tomorrow, but we're optimistic about Wednesday. Things can always change, and can change so fast, but currently the talk is that we might be home by the weekend.

Thanks for everybody's thoughts and prayers. There have been tears all around, and quite a few of them have come because of the love and support from everybody. Offers to watch our kids, water our garden, feed our fish (which consequently bit the dust during our St. George vacation), bring us food, books and reading material, sit with us, sit with Luke....they have been so appreciated and helpful. Knowing that there are prayers going up to Heaven all over the nation for our little Luke really touches our hearts. I had a conversation with Heavenly Father (I've had lots actually) and I was willing to give him up, but feel so thankful that I don't have to.

Our Luke, one day before the accident. Look at that beautifully shaped head! :) Mike gave him a blessing before we left for the hospital and promised a full and complete recovery. This is the Luke that is going to be coming home with us!

At the hospital, before everything went absolutely nuts. I still thought at this point that they were going to send us home thinking I was some crazy over-protective Mom. We had been watching for all the signs--pupils, funny behavior, sleepiness, etc. Until he threw up the first time, he was just normal as could be. Within 45 minutes of throwing up, however, his hematoma had almost quadrupled and he was on his way to Primary Childrens. I can safely say I am sure those hours were the worst I've experienced.

After surgery. They weren't sure about neck and spinal injuries, so he was in his neck brace for a while. This was the first time we got to see him since he was being wheeled into surgery. Brain surgery on my fourth month old...

Bless Primary Childrens' Hospital. They have trauma down to an art. They checked him in before he had even arrived at the hospital, only under a fake, computer assigned name. This allowed them to have everything ready to go--no papers to sign, no questions to ask, the blood bank was already ready, the surgeons were waiting. This was a miracle in and of itself. Luke is now nicknamed, "Triple Z!"

He's free of the neck brace! Yeah!!

This was a good moment. After waiting all day for him to wake up enough to remember to breath on his own, the ventilator finally came out! Hurray!!

Avert your eyes, oh ye weak of stomach! This is one narly scar!!

Too many things poking out of this baby! So sad!!

The swelling, as it was supposed to, just keeps going up and up. All the cat scans and CT scans (are those the same things?) come back totally normal and look great. The human body is so amazing! As of tonight, he can only open one eye. I hope the swelling goes down enough soon for him to be able to open both.

He found his thumb. So soothing!!

Milestones...

2011-08-14T15:34:00.000-07:00

My little man is growing up...yeah! We have passed the fussy baby stage...thank heavens for the bumbo seat which got us through the last two months. Now he'll play on the floor, in his sit and spin, in his crib, in his high chair--it's glorious! Let's hope the next baby is just happy-go-lucky like Josh was. I'll take every-other crying babies!

In other news, we've started solid food! I'm actually late in posting this, and we haven't been real consistent, but for posterity sake we've got to blog about the milestones as they happen, right? (Did I tell you he's already rolling?)

Sure love my cute little man!!

Grandpa came to visit!!

2011-08-14T15:28:00.000-07:00

We got a special birthday visitor on Katelyn's birthday. Grandpa came to stay with us, and we had so much fun!! We missed welcoming him at the airport, since we got there late, but we spent 3 glorious days playing and totally enjoying ourselves!

Mike and Dad got in a round of golf on Mike's birthday, we hit up the treehouse museum, we picked and canned beans, we tried out the new tools, we played games, and we ate food. It was great!! Thanks so much for coming to visit us! We sure love you!!

Backing Up...Birthdays!

2011-08-14T15:17:00.000-07:00

We celebrate two birthday at our house, right back to back. So. Much. Fun! (So much work!) I sure love my two birthday people, and if I do say so myself, I think this year was a success!

Katelyn is first...good thing too, cuz these days she's throws all sorts of tizzy fits if she doesn't get to be first! Mike and I were so excited for her birthday-maybe even more excited then she was! We decorated her room with floating balloons, decorated the house with signs, and decorated a princess cake. She got the pillow pet she's been wanting...FOREVER...and lots of other fun stuff. One month past the birthday, the most beloved presents are: still the pillow pet, her magnetic dolls, and her bike accessories. I personally love her new clothes and dresses.

We all love our little 4 year old...!

Super fun to wake up too!

Birthday Lunch with Grandma and Grandpa

Her princess castle cake...

Birthday dinner...as requested, hot dogs, pop, and applesauce (YUCK! :)

The Pillow Pet!! :)

Thanks Aunt Linda!

Blowing out the candles...

Mike gets to celebrate his birthday the next day. Not as much decorating went into his birthday, but he did get the cake he wanted (which looked HORRIBLE, but tasted AWESOME), he got some golfing in with his Dad...so FUN to have him here...and finally got to open his presents which I had been saving for and scheming about for months. Nothing says I love you like power tools, and at this house, nothing says power tools like Dewalt! Sure love my handy man!

His pile..I schemed and planned and saved for months! Success!!

I love this picture...

It's a planer! Whoop!!

Phone calls from out of town family...

The sad looking, but totally divine cake!

Happy birthday to my birthday people! And thanks to everybody who came to help make it a party! :)

We survived!!

2011-08-09T08:55:00.000-07:00

The wedding was last weekend (with a reception again this weekend) and it was perfect and beautiful and happy. Yeah!! More pictures and details to follow, I'm sure...but, here's the happy couple (and Jennifer and I's bomdiggity cake!) Yeah for love that lasts forever!

Camping, Take Two!

2011-07-26T06:14:00.000-07:00

We hit up another campground last weekend. Affleck Park in Cottonwood canyon--and, it was actually really, really nice. You have to bring in your own water, and there are some funny watershed rules, but it was a great location, had lots of shade, and decent bathrooms. We loved it!

We headed up with Davis and Holly *Mike's cousins, whom we LOVE* and, just like last year, it was totally awesome! We did fishing (14 fish caught, if I have the number right!), dutch oven cooking, a pioneer hike on the actual pioneer trail, game playing (after 5 years, I would like to proudly announce that I FINALLY beat Mike in Canasta...thanks Holly!), and just general mayhem. It was perfect!

Sweet Luken!

Some of the munchkins

Fishing success on trip number one. Sa-weet! Thanks Al, (Holly's brother), who is SERIOUSLY a fish whisperer!

The bumbo boys...next year they'll be running! Crazy!

My cute boys!

Gamers

Davis and his Dutch oven gloves...gotta get us a pair of these puppies!

My kiddos, in the 'play tent'

Aren't we so cute! :) Love this guy!

Warren LOVED the hammock with his Momma

Bubble fun! I think Matt's face is my favorite--you don't get many moments of real joy caught on camera!

The hikers (plus Mike, who was taking the picture). I'm amazed that we got everybody looking!

On our hike--the timing was perfect, as we walked some of the original pioneer trail on Pioneer Day Weekend.

Two Birthday's This Week!

2011-07-23T21:03:00.000-07:00

Sure LOVE my birthday people!

Wow!

2011-07-17T20:31:00.000-07:00

Has it really been a month...I must be busy! ;) Wedding prep is fun--and time consuming, so let's just say that's where all the time is going! I have been waiting and waiting for girls camp pictures to post too, since I like everything to be in a nice, neat, chronological order...but I'm done waiting and its time to get caught up. In case I don't get back to it, girls camp was AWESOME! (As it usually is!) I loved the Spirit, the fun, the laughter, the tears, even the drama--(they STOLE our color!). And, after recent switch-ups in YW, I feel super blessed to still be with all those YW spiritual giants!

Our garden is growing beautifully...can't wait until we get all of our fresh-grown yumminess~! It's so fun to spend time outside in the yard and see all of the hard work coming to fruition...yum! :)

So, in other news...

Check out the following posts to see what's been going on... :)

Fourth of July *soon to be added!*

Camping with family at Perception Park (LOTS of pictures

Good Ole Friends

Guess that brings us up to date...except not--so many things I'm forgetting: zoo trips, picking strawberries, birthday parties, temple trips, YW movies night. But, have I mentioned there is a wedding happening? I don't feel like I've been doing much, but I'm having a glorious time spending time with my mom doing various odds and ends--the wedding video is almost done and it's SO. STINKIN. CUTE! Mike and Katelyn have birthdays next week so I've also been doing some serious birthday scheming...it's going to be a good one, if I do say so myself! Whoop! :)

Happy Fourth of July

2011-07-17T20:30:00.000-07:00

So, I'm waiting on pictures, then I'll update this post! :) Our fourth was awesome...how 'bout yours?

Camping With Family At Perception Park

2011-07-17T20:26:00.000-07:00

We've had a lot of fun playing outside in the nice weather--swimming, bike riding, neighborhood block parties, and camping trips! We hit up Perception Park up by Pineview and had a fabulous weekend with my family. We're headed out camping again this weekend and can't wait! This park was hard to get into, but awesome! I would highly, highly recommend it! :)

Get ready for loads of pictures...and family, I need copies of YOURS! :) (And from the 4th of July too...please?!)

Cooking with Grandpa

Ky and I...sexy nose shot! :)

My sweet Luken...the bumbo is my new favorite friend! I get 20 minutes of happy, alone Luke when he sits in the this thing...20 minutes folks! Whoop!!

Playing games...

Chil-laxin in the hammock

Kasey and Chelsi brought up fourwheelers and shotguns--SUPER fun!!

Kasey and Auklin

Mom and the Craven grandbabies

Mike took Katelyn fishing...they didn't catch anything, but had LOTS of fun!

Jilli and Austin

Watch out! She's going to get you...

More gaming

Josh LOVED the water...most times, he could be found doing this

Good Ole Friends...

2011-07-17T20:01:00.000-07:00

I got the chance the spend an afternoon with a very old, dear friend. You know the saying..."Make new friends, keep the old. Some are silver and the rest are gold." So true!! I sure love this girl...and as we were leaving, it was mentioned that it's so nice to have friends that even if it's been years, when you get together it's just like it was yesterday. Driving up to her house brought back all sorts of fun memories: carpooling to LDSBC while reading our scriptures, painting toenails on the kitchen, early morning Tae-bo workouts, daydreaming about our prince charmings, lots of fun and laughter! Thanks Lorene for all the fun! (And I'm serious about coming to Cali next summer to see the redwoods...!)

He's official!

2011-06-19T21:47:00.000-07:00

Well, he was official before, but now he's been blessed. We had a great day and it was a beautiful blessing. So proud of my two studly boys! Thanks to everyone who came and helped to make our day so great! :)

See how small his outfit is? If there was any question that Luke is bigger, it should be answered now. We blessed Luke a month earlier (in age) then we blessed Josh and Luke is bursting out the seems...literally! We couldn't completely button the back and it's about an 2 inches too short! He, he! :)

So...I'm bummed!

2011-06-15T15:09:00.000-07:00

We went to the dino park yesterday. Awesome! We love the dinosaur park. I took tons and tons of pictures and couldn't wait to get home and get them edited and all blogg-ified...and guess who lost the camera?! Me!! Somewhere between the picnic table where we sat and watched the kiddos play and my house is my fabulous, beautiful, perfect for outings point and shoot camera. Sure, it's under $100 to replace, but 100 bucks is 100 bucks! Man! I hope, hope, hope someone finds it and turns it in. (This is the incredible re-appearing camera, afterall. I've lost it TWICE before and it's always shown back up). I just hope it shows up before girls camp next week!

Recent Happenings...

2011-06-04T13:54:00.000-07:00

Does anybody else get bummed when you open my blog and it's the same thing...again! Well...it's time for an update! :) We've had fun--Luke is finally turning a corner. The crying all day boy is slowly but surely heading out the door, and left in his place is a smiley baby who can handle being by himself for more then 12 seconds. Whew! I thought that it was never going to end! :) He's fun to have around now--where as before he was fun to mostly cuddle. Still no giggles yet, but I'll take smiles for now!

Josh is talking up a storm. It's crazy to think that just a few month ago he could only say 'ball', 'dad', 'no'. Now we get all sorts of words and phrases. It's a good reminder to try to achieve good parenting when you have a parrot around.

I'm trying to upload a cute video of Josh, but to no avail! Just imagine how cute he is! :)

Katelyn is almost 4! Crazy!! She's given her first talk in primary, which we re-recorded at home for your viewing pleasure. It was great--she did it mostly all by herself. She's actually a big helper with her brothers and is quite the little social princess--even passing random children as we drive she wants to 'stop! I want to know their names!'

One afternoon, while waiting for Dad to come home we pulled out the camera for 'funny faces!'

Can you stick your tongue up your nose?

Her primary talk...Joseph Smith restores the Church

We've spent fun times at the dinosaur park, 4-wheeling, and the zoo and currently we're working on a fun weekend project...replacing our patio door! We've all had nasty colds and Luke passed his 2 month check-up with flying colors (the first of my babies to be over 50%tile in weight at 2 months). We're looking forward to camping and playing LOTS this summer, so stay tuned for more fun!

Preview of the door project! Whoop!!

BYU Rugby

2011-05-24T10:21:00.000-07:00

We headed to the BYU Rugby National Championship game on Saturday. It was SO FUN! Mom and Dad came with us, and although Dad played Rugby as a kid, none of us really knew what was going on! It was the end of the game before we started to figure things out--but nonetheless, we had a great time. Thanks for joining us Mom and Dad--we'll have to go again next year!

We had 3rd row seats, on one of the endzones. We were so close to the action--could actually hear them hit each other and see heads getting stepped on. This is one intense sport!

I would be interested to know that the average amount of injuries is after a game.

Yeah for date night!

Cherish This Moment...

Bathroom Re-do

Kairos

Agency--

Organized in 2012!

Home

Primary Program, 2011

15 minutes a day...

Happy New Year!!

Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas!

So Blessed....

I hope they call me on a mission!

Last Month in Pictures...

Super cute!!

How could I forget!!

He's *FINALLY* a pilot!

Introducing....

Good-bye Elder Williams!!

Family Pictures (take 2!)

Katelyn's First BYU Game!!

Aunt Meg and High Tea

Proud to be a Cougar...

Happy Pumpkins...

Are you prepared?

This is good to remember

How Do You Pinterest?

He's two!!

Moving on...

Our Luke...

Birthday Boy!!

We're home!!

Things I've learned

Thankful Tuesday...

Luke's Adventure!

Milestones...

Grandpa came to visit!!

Backing Up...Birthdays!

We survived!!

Camping, Take Two!

Two Birthday's This Week!

Wow!

Happy Fourth of July

Camping With Family At Perception Park

Good Ole Friends...

He's official!

So...I'm bummed!

Recent Happenings...

BYU Rugby

He's FINALLY a pilot!