Anyone else totally tired and not feeling like blogging even though a million things have happened!? I have so much I should blog about for journal purposes....but I got a new book for Christmas (okay...I bought it for Brandon and I) and it's a good one. It's the kind of book that makes the laundry wait and eating seem unimportant...but what else would you expect from Gerald Lund?

I have 190 out of 802 pages read.Seriously...if you haven't started this book...DO...don't let the number of pages scare ya!

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve! Already!? Then Christmas...then New Years...then the little feelings of disappointment that the holidays are over.

I LOVE this time of year! I love every little thing about it...I love the traditions that Brandon and I carry on from our childhoods for our kids and I love the new ones we have started for our little family! I love shopping, I love decorating, and even though I sometimes dread it, I love baking and taking goodies to our family and friends. I love watching my kids get more and more excited as Christmas day draws nearer. I love talking to them about the birth of our Saviour and even more, I love hearing them talk about Him. I love the songs, the food, Christmas Eve at Brandon's parents house, watching the kids act out the night of Christ's birth and all the family singing together! I love Christmas morning...the enthusiasum from the kids... and wishing there were just one more gift to open. I love eating taquitos and tamales with guacamole on Christmas day. There's so much to love about this time of year. Mostly I just love being with my family and feeling so much love for and from them!

I hope you are all loving this time of the year too!

Merry Christmas to you all!

(yes...this is your Christmas greeting from our family this year...you know you love it!)

WOOHOO! I am 20 weeks! Half way there!...but, I don't know how I am going to manage being bigger than I am! (yikes)

Okay...I have to tell you something funny that Adelin said. We were baking homemade oreos last night...the kids were helping...and you moms know how "fun" that can be. I was getting a bit frazzeled by the kids being on the counter and sticking their fingers in the mixing bowl and I let out a, "Geez Louise!" Addie's calm reply was,

"Geez Louise? That's a new one."

LOL ;)

...bitter with the sweet...

What an exciting day today is! I recieved a text at about 7:30 a.m. from my best friend Kristin. Her little guy finally decided to make his grand entry into this world! I am so excited for her and her family and I can't WAIT to see pictures of little (9lb) Makai and to talk to Kristin and see how things went!

Then, about an hour later...I got a text from my brother in law. It was a picture...but my phone doesn't recieve pictures. Anyhow...My sister in law Teresa gave birth (via c-section) to a little boy this morning too! I don't know any stats on my new nephew....but hopefully I'll get to see him soon and find out all that fun stuff!

Two babies in one day! How fun is that!

There's also another little baby to tell you about. My sweet cousin Carrine who lives in Utah just recently found out that her baby (who is due around the same time as ours) has a congenital heart defect. (Those three words make my heart sink to my toes and a lump come to my throat.) The preliminary diagnosis is tetralogy of fallot...click HERE for a simple explaination of what that is. She will be having a fetal echocardiogram  and meet with a genetic counsler on Jan. 5th...she will get some more definate answers then, I hope. I know that this is going to be a long journey for them and hope that you all will remember her and her family (hubby and 2 little kiddos) in your prayers. I also know that prayer, along with fasting is a wonderful tool our Heavenly Father has given us and if you are able to fast, they are a family that could really use that extra strength from above that it would provide them.

Oh...just got another text (Brandon's not gonna be happy...we don't get free text...but what can you do? Get a texting plan maybe?) My little nephew is 9 pounds 5 ounces and 20 1/2 inches long! Definately a Flake baby! (bet she's glad she didn't have to push that guy out!) Don't sure on the name yet though. They all (mom, dad and 6 other kiddos) have names that start with "T"....so I am interested to see what they name him! I vote for Tarzan! ....hey why not!?

The Real Meaning of Christmas...

If you have little kids, gather them around the computer to watch THIS. Addie snuggled up next to me and we watched it together. It is the Christmas story, narrated by a child. I loved it.

Click here

"What all of us long for in our hearts, at Christmastime and always, is to feel bound together in love with the sweet assurance that it can last forever.....It is through the Savior’s life and mission that we have the assurance that we can be together in love and live forever in families."  (Henry B. Eyring)

To read the whole article go HERE.

I think about Mary, the mother of Christ...as she peered down at her perfect newborn baby boy...I am certain she knew that He was not just hers....but did she know what He would go through....for us....for her? I imagine that "Silent Night" was filled with silent tears streaming down a mother's face as she cradled her child in her arms and wondered..... 

Adelin Dee...the 4 year old!

4 years ago?! That was a busy time in our lives....lots of change going on! New job, new (to me) town, new (to us) house, new ward, and then...a new BABY!... Addie took us by surprise being born 2 1/2 weeks early. Her mama was not prepared! But...Addie was so ready to come, she blessed me with a 2 1/2 hour labor and delivery! She was such a pretty baby! One thing that I remember about her being born is that she licked the nurses hand as she was wrapping her in a blanket.

Why does 4 years seem like so many!?

Now, Adelin is a fun, energetic, loving, sometimes crazy, always sincere, never unforgiving, compassionate, playful, helpful, self assured, beautiful little girl who can leave me in awe! She loves to help me cook. She loves to play Barbie's and she is the best little mommy to her baby doll "Sally". I've loved seeing her grow and become a best friend to her sister....and now that her sister is at school most of the day, she's become a best friend to her brother. I admire how easily she makes a friend and consider myself one of the luckiest people alive because I am her mommy!

We sure love ya Ada-girl!

Baby update...

I had a doctor's appointment today...and before that, I had an ultrasound! Brandon was able to come...so it was kind of like a date! :) We got Kaitlyn off to school...(SO nice to have Brandon home to help with that!)...then dropped the other two off at my mother in laws.

It is always very reassuring to have an ultrasound when you are pregnant...to see all the vital organs developed and functioning...two arms and two legs...fingers and toes. Thankfully, that is the case with this baby. So far, everything looks good! I am still measuring about a week bigger than what I should be (according to my dates)...so I guess I will go with their due date which is May 11th. I just realized today that there's a very good chance that I could be in labor or delivering a baby on Mother's Day next year!

So...I guess you might be wondering if we are having another girl or boy. I am not very clever about announcing these types of things. Making you

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anticipation

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used. SO I will just say it! We're having another BOY! :) And we're excited as can be. We've talked about names a little and we all still like Connor...which is the name we almost named Weston. But....we still aren't dead set on it.

Well....there's our news! We will have equal amounts of testosterone and estrogen in the house! Should be interesting!

I have so many neices and nephews on the Flake side that it's easy to lose count....but my 2nd nephew on my side of the family was born this past Tuesday! I haven't seen him yet....not even in picture....but...from what I hear, little Cooper Christopher Barrett is a cutie! I talked to Eric right after he was born and he was maybe in a state of shock or something. He didn't say much! But he called me yesterday (which tells you just how excited he is) and talked to me about little Cooper for a few minutes. Kim had a c-section...Eric says she's doing pretty good...which I hope is the case! It's so funny to think that my little brother (who I remember my mom going into labor with) is now a daddy! I know he will be a great dad! Talking to him yesterday brought back memories of when we had our first baby. You think you know what you're getting into....but nothing can prepare you for not only the task of taking care of another person who relies soley on you...but for the instant love you feel and the instict you have to protect your child from anything that could possible hurt them. Those are some of the strongest feelings I think a person can have!

I can't wait to meet Cooper and hopefully I'll be able to snap a few pictures of him when I do!

P.S. I'll be posting about more babies soon. I have another nephew scheduled to be born on the 18th and my best friend Kristin is due any second too!

I have dinner in the oven (chicken pot pie)...a salad in the fridge...kids playing nicely (not trying to brag)...my dishes are done and the little bit of laundry I have to fold can wait while I do a little blogging update! (didn't mean to ryhme there!)

So...other things have gone on other than Weston's herpetic finger...although worrying about that has been somewhat comsuming. I took him in to have it looked at again on Monday, just to make sure it was healing and that I am taking care of it correctly. My kids were Awful (notice the capital "A"?). I could barely talk to the doctor and I am pretty sure he's wondering why on earth I am having another baby when I can't keep the 3 I have under control...well at least never in his presence and not too often otherwise. Weston was turning the lights off and on, Adelin and Kaitlyn kept pulling the stur-ups in and out of the examination table LOUDLY...and then they went and hid in the corner behind it. Needless to say, all three of them had a time out when we got home. I sat them each in a differnt spot of the kitchen and stood there and watched them to make sure they didn't budge...and when they did...the timer started over. Then they got to hear me talk about how much it costs to go visit the doctor and how it's a waste of my money when they misbehave while we are there. (lucky kids huh?) It was one of those moments...you know the kind...but they're being good right now...and really...I have forgiven them!

At the beganning of this week, I looked at my calendar and this week was pretty much blank. It's amazing how when I look at it today...all the days are filled in with things...well, tomorrow isn't....yet. Monday I went to the above mentioned doctors appointment. Before that I had gone to ED's to get a few things and you all know how I feel about shopping with kiddos! Then Brandon and I (I think I helped...although I can't really remember) whipped up a delicious and not so nutritous dinner of chili dogs (there was a side of veggies)...then we went over to my mother in laws house and made popcorn balls! I guess this is becoming sort of a tradition since I have convinced Mary Louise to make popcorn balls with me two years in a row now! It's my favorite recipe...one her mom used to make. We grown ups did the cooking part and the kids made them into balls...with me reforming them. It was fun! Oh...and it even snowed a little that day. Then in the middle of the night these howling winds picked up. I was really hoping it would result in a "late start" for our schools at least...but nope...even with icy roads...school was on schedule! (darnit) Tuesday turned into another busy day somehow...we went and looked at a few houses then had tithing settlement. (oh...I found out that Bishop Bailey and I are relatives through a great+ grandfather Andrew Hunter Scott...who happened to be the next door neighbor of one of my mother in laws relatives!) Yesterday was busy too...I did tons of laundry and went to Mutual.

I guess it's all the regular things you do that aren't written down on the calendar that fill the days up. The cleaning, cooking, dishes, laundry, spills, crying, bathing, driving to and fro, drying tears, etc, etc, ...and I am glad for it...most days!

Kaitlyn and I are VERY ready for Chirstmas break. We both can't wait to sleep in. (only 5 more days of school to go!) She has been busy at school rehearsing for the first grade Christmas Program. She has her part memorized...and I am excited to get to see her perform next week.

Adelin thinks it's still summer. She's spent most of the last two weeks in her swim suit. She even wore it under her clothes to the doctors office. (I didn't find out about that until she had to use the restroom there) She's also loving Christmas music and has me turn it on so that she can dance to it...in her swim suit with her "high heel" church shoes on.

Weston is doing good. His finger doesn't bother him unless the bandage is off. It's hard to get him to go without it at night so that it can get some air. He usually asks for me to bandage it back up. Oh and he's been so cute lately too. The other night, I was saying prayers with him. He wanted to do it himself. His prayer went something like this, "Heavenly Father, taint-to for the day, taint-to for horses, taint-to for prophets, taint-to for cows...." It was so cute, felt bad that Brandon missed it. The other day we were sitting on the couch, sharing a blanket, and he looked under the blanket, touched my belly and said, "your big belly is huge". I told him, "Real men lie and tell girls they are skinny no matter what." Then he said, " Oh...you skinny and beautiful." (gotta train 'em while they're young!)

Well...I think I have used up my blogging time! Hope you're all keeping warm! (it's COLD here!)

(Here are some pictures of me, Addie and Weston enjoying our popcorn balls!)

don't be jealous

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I am sure that by  now you are sick of the "play by play" of Weston's finger situation...but a couple people told me that they want to see what it looks like now.

This was the only pictures he wanted me to take...

                                               

I guess wheter or not his finger is looking better is debateable. It did seem to swell a little after I took his bandage off. But for the most part, I think it is improving.

added later: This morning while I was getting Weston dressed I told him that I would be carfeul with his "big finger". He told me, "It's not a big finger...it's a mountain...kids can climb on it." How can you  not love that adorable imagination!?

(This picture is obviously not Weston's finger...but that is what the outbreak on his finger looked like at one point...before it mutated and got really nasty.)

My doctors nurse called this morning to give me the diagnosis....herpes simplex...same virus as your common cold sore. In this form, it is known as herpetic whitlow. It is something that you'd see more commonly happen to a dentist or dental hygenist...but evidently, it happens to little two year olds as well! I was talking to a dentist friend last night and he said you can get whitlow from just having a little sore on your finger and then touching a cup or drinking fountain that someone who had a cold sore drank out of. I also have a friend whose hubby is a doctor and he suggested that since all of my kids have had severe reactions to the herpes virus (they've all had terrible outbreaks at age 2...but Kaitlyn's and Addie's were in their mouths) that I should get a consult from in infectious disease physician..which I hope to be able to do. I am so glad for people in my life who can give me professional medical advice!

I think pictures of Weston's finger belong in a medical journal! The great news is that last night, when we changed his bandage, he was crying because of the pain. I was a little worried that his finger had gone numb because of how he didn't react at all to the doctor lacerating his finger and hadn't complained about pain after not being on any pain killers for 24 hours. His finger is looking better...still ugly but definately improving. I will try to remember to take a picture tonight when I change his bandage.

Thanks for all your prayers and concern!

Love ya!

Finger update

Well...there's really not much to tell. Dr. Peterson has never seen anything like whatever Weston has. The labs are not done. The lab tech said that the bacterial one isn't growing...which to me is good news. I am not sure, but I think a bacteria is harder to get rid of than a virus...because a virus will basically just run it's course. Dr. Peterson cut a little "window" into Weston's finger and drained a bunch of fluid off. He hopes that it will continue to drain and not get as swollen as it was. This morning, if you can imagine, it looked even worse than the pictures I posted. Weston was a trooper at the doctors. He sat on my lap munching away on his granola bar, not even flinching while the doctor took a razor to his finger. I, on the other hand could bearly breathe and had to close my eyes...me and needles and poking skin just don't mix. Anyhow, we hope to know by Thursday what this is. Then we can maybe switch to a medicine that is better able to fight it. My neighbor suggested swabbing it with bleach then rinsing it off. She said that worked to kill some crazy thing she had on her finger once. Maybe I'll give that a try tomorrow if things are still looking bad.??? The good news is that it doesn't seem to be spreading to his hand or any other part of his body. But after seeing the doctor drain the "blisters", I think it's going to be a long time before his finger looks better...even after the illnes is gone because the outter skin will most likely sluff (sp?) off and then new skin has to grow.

That's all for now! Please keep this little guy and his yucky finger in your prayers!

Weston's poor ugly finger

This is gross...I know...Weston started showing signs that his finger was bothering him on Thanksgiving. We looked and it was red and swollen but didn't really think too much of it because we figured if he'd smashed or burned it, he would have come crying to us. Well, it's progressively gotten worse. We have no clue what caused this or what it is. He's been on anti-bacterial and anti-viral medications for 24+ hours and this is what it looks like now.

I am going to take him in to see our family doctor tomorrow. I am hoping that the labs are back and to get some sort of an answer as to what this is. I am worried. But, other than having his finger hurt, Weston acts fine. He climbs and does his usual things which means he bumps and hits his finger on things, then cries because of the pain. I feel so bad for him.

I took Weston in to see the doctor yesterday. He has this nasty SOMETHING on his finger. The dr. did a couple cultures that I took over to the hospital lab. As Weston and I were leaving the hospital, we walked past the old O.B. unit and I looked through the glass door and told Weston that that's where he was born. He said, "YES! I was born!" (if you know Weston, you know how enthusiastically he talks). Then he said, "The food there is gross". How funny is that!? I so I don't know where he got that from...ecspecailly since he was breast-fed...but it was funny!

Accomplishments!

The kids have made a few note-worthy accomplishments lately that I need to record!

First off...Weston weaned himself from the pacifier! He bit huge holes in his paci's and we had to throw them away. This was last Thursday I think. He's only asked for his "pappy" twice since then! This is amazing! He went from having that thing in his mouth ALL the time...to quitting cold turkey. "mommy I love you"  (Kaitlyn typed that while I was away from the computer! Oh! She just told me that she first wrote "Kaitlyn is a little lovely girl. I love her" lol!) So anyhow...Weston is paci free! He does however whine to me, "I need...I need...I need something" quit often throughout the day!

Addie's accomplishment is that she wrote her name all by herself and it looked really good! It was during preschool at our house last week. (I need to take a picture of it so that I don't have to keep the paper)...but she had traced her name twice. Then I told her to write her name at the top of her paper and she did it!

Kaitlyn is our little book worm. She loves to read and take AR tests at school. I had challenged her to finish all the books in the crates that her teacher has by Christmas time...and she finished them last week. I think she has now read and taken tests on over 80 books. Her teacher had told me that when she finished those crates, she'd be in the 2nd grade books! I love that she loves to read...because I do too and so does my mom. When I lived at home, my mom and I would be reading the same book at the same time...and we'd have to steal it away from eachother!

Oh...Brandon had an accomplishment too. He succesfully removed and replaced out hot water heater. I had just gotten the last preschool kid out the door last Thursday and I heard this noise coming from the laundry room. I walked in and saw water spraying out from the bottom of our hot water heater! I was able to turn the water off and luckily Brandon was able to leave work to come home. He is my hero! He drained it...carried it out the door and put it on his truck (with no help from me) and then he took Weston with him to buy a new one, installed it then stayed up late getting all the little kinks worked out. It is really nice to have such a handy man has a husband. I tell him that he can fix or do anything. Kaitlyn tells him that he can't make a pencil!

Sam+Laine

November 21, 2009

(...another Barrett family was created!)

The long awaited wedding is over! Sam (my oldest brother) and Laine (his  beautiful wife) finally tied the knot! You couldn't have asked for more perfect weather and everything turned out so nice. The food was SO yummy...carne asada and chicken...you know...the whole mexican feast. I was too busy eating and trying to get my kids to eat to take pictures of it...oops. Anyhow...here are a few photos of the day...for some reason, even though I edited them...I uploaded the unedited versions to my blog...oh well. It takes too long to upload pictures for me to go back and do it again. :)

I loved Laine's "something blue!"

This image looks much better edited...but,

I thought I better include a picture with Sam's face in it!

tell me if this sounds familiar

So...I really want to post about the gloriousness of my past 14 weeks of pregnancy...but first...I need some validation from you moms out there on a different topic....it's called (menacing piano plays "dundundundun") "shopping with kids".  Ahhhhh!

This is totally something that feels like it takes up my whole day and every ounce of energy I possess! I don't like it! If I can pick and choose the combination of kids I could shop with...it would be Addie and Kaitlyn. My first choice would be to shop alone...second would be to shop with Brandon+kids and third would be any combination of kids besides Addie and Weston! He can't stand being restrained to a cart...and Addie can't stay by me to save her life! Here is what a typical "darn, we're out of toilet paper...I have to go to the store" kind of day would be like for me. First...I have to come to the realization that there is no way out of going to the store...

Then...I mental prep....seriously...I am just going to go to the store, get what I need and leave.

But first...I have to eat breakfast, get the kids to eat breakfast and stick them in front of the TV while I sneak off to take a shower...which can take anywhere from 10 minutes too FOREVER depending on if I can keep child #2 and #3 from joining me. Then I have to find something to wear...check on the kids...get them whatever it is they need or clean up whatever mess they made, OR if they got in the shower...get them dried...dressed and happy. Then I blow dry my hair and if I am really lucky one of the kids will try to help me and make the process take 10 times longer. Then, if I am really feeling impressive...I will straighten my hair and maybe brush on some foundation...but quick trips for toilet paper aren't impressive occasions...so I opt for a pony tail. Then, if I didn't do it already, I have to get the kids looking half way like somebody cares about them...(this means it's okay for Weston to wear sweat pants with cowboy boots)...and then make sure I have everything I need in the diaper bag...then change Weston's diaper that is probably poopy...then make sure Addie uses the bathroom which can take 2-20 minutes...THEN I can corral the kids into the van and restrain them in their seats...and turn on my soothing sounds of Hillary Weeks to calm my nerves only to look at the clock to realize that somehow it's already after 12:30 p.m. and I didn't even feed the kids lunch! (Good thing the grocery store gives out free sample cookies...that otta hold them over). So..the speed limit is 35 here...which is slow no matter where you live...so when I finally make it to the store I have to try to divert the kids attention from the huge double decker 2 seater shopping cart and the one dirty germ infested cart that looks like a rocket ship and takes NASA training to manuver. Then it's: strap one kid into the cart and pray they don't undo the clasp and climb out....but they do and they want to sit in the back of the cart...so I let them...then tell the poor kid 15 thousand times to sit down. {I have seriously had older people tell my kids they need to sit down so they don't fall out. "Seriously! Didn't you just hear me tell them that?! I was only standing right beside you! Time to check that hearing aide battery."...but of course I don't say that...I act like I am so greatful for their concern and kindly try to get my child to cooroperate.Honestly...I have had the same person tell my child they need to sit down more than once!)}  Then, it's Addie's turn. On a good day...she will wander ahead of me or lag behind but she will listen and stay by me when I remind her to. On a bad trip...she will be like a walking circus act! I promise you that if I let her...she could climb under the cart, around the front, over the top, down the back and then under again all while I am pushing it...if I let her...and someday I might...just to see what kind of comments the old people will give me for THAT!

 No wonder I crave chocolate. It's more like my brain is sreaming for relief! But...it's all good. Today, I managed to keep a positive attitude throughout the whole shopping experince (w/o chocolate...even though I did try to give my kids away once..but I did it in a nice voice with no exasperated sigh or rolling of the eyes)...and the kids even earned their fruit snacks. I however still had to come home, unload the groceries...because somehow I ended up with a whole cart full instead of just the toilet paper...and put it all away, get drinks for my kids and OH yeah...maybe some lunch for us...then herd them back out to the van to go get Kaitlyn from school.

...and it's only Monday...

Seriously...tell me this sounds familiar!

Some recent pictures...

...details to follow...

CHD

What is congenital heart disease? Click here for a great explanation!

Today marks one year since the Hodges worst fear came true for their little heart baby Kaiya. Angela's stregnth inspires me everyday. She has a superhuman heart and an amazing drive to endure.

I love this video...it's definately worth your time. Some featured continue to be survivors and some, like Kaiya got to go Home.

picnic and preg testing

I was excited this past Saturday to get to go to our Relief Society Meeting. We were having different classes and things like that...not crafts like I would have LOVED...but still...I was glad to go. It was fun to visit and eat good food. (Doesn't get much better than that right?) I was leaving the meeting and gave Brandon a call. He is so great...he had packed a lunch and took the kids out on the range for a picnic! How sweet is that!? I met them out there and we had fun watching the kids climb around and collect rocks. Then we drove over to the corrals and waited for the guy to come to preg test the 36 cows that were waiting. Everyone involved was glad to hear that all the cows were "closed" (pregnant). I didn't actually stay to watch the whole time. I got lucky. Addie needed to go #2...so I took her and Weston to Brandon's moms to use her bathroom...then they started playing and didn't want to leave...so I stayed there and let them play and visited with Mary Louise until Brandon and Kaitlyn were done. Kaitlyn was happy that she got to have a "job" during the preg testing. Her job was to poke the cows with a stick to get them to move up the shute. Seriously...I am glad I don't get treated like a cow! In fact! On Sunday afternoon...my girls pampered me. They got lotion out and they rubbed my feet and messaged my arms and hands. It was great! :)

Here a a few picture from Saturdays little picnic...and the kids loved exploring and collecting rocks!

                                                                                                           

Can't Sleep?

This is what I found when I went to check on Addie this morning while she was sleeping. I had to snap a couple pictures when she woke up! :)

Happy Birthday Kaitlyn!

(Kaitlyn wanted to make a few color changes to her collage! She wanted rainbow lettering...but settled for this. To enlarge the image, double click.)

November 3rd 2002, I gave my dad the ULTIMATE birthday present...his first grandchild! I missed having Kaitlyn and my dad together on their birthday this year...but we managed! Adelin and I had gone shopping together a couple Saturdays ago and bought Kailtyn's gifts. Addie pretty much told Kaitlyn what we bought...but luckily Kaitlyn was still surprised and happy with her gifts!

For her birthday, we took donuts and milk to her class (per her reguest) and we let her choose where she wanted to go for dinner. She chose to go to Pizza Hut. This girl LOVES pizza! I baked and decorated her cake while she was at school...and even though it was a little lopsided and far from perfect, she loved it. (phew!) She even told me that I make the best cakes. How sweet is that? Really...it's a boxed cake with store bought frosting and cool whip in the middle...no big skills required for that...but I am glad she liked it. Okay...enough about me. So...in our family, we don't throw a big party every year...we just have our immediate family and Grandparents if they are able to come. Kaitlyn wishes that were different. ANYHOW, we did surprise her and had Brandon's mom (who came to dinner with us) bring Taryn, one of Kaitlyn's favorite cousins, with her. Then while we were eating, her friend Emma who she's know since the day she was born (literally...she came with her mom when she was 4 months old and meet Kaitlyn for the first time at the hospital...I think Skye brought McKenna too)....anyhow...Emma called her from Texas and wished her a Happy Birthday and they chit-chatted on the phone for a few mintues. They'd probably talk for hours if we let them! Oh...and my mom called her early in the morning before she even got out of bed and wished her a happy birthday. It was cute to see her all cuddled up in her bed talking to her Grandma.


All in all...we had a fun day...and I am excited for next year when she turns 8! She'll get a big party to celebrate and then she will be baptized! WOW! I am really feeling old!

Halloween 2009

My mom made the kids costumes this year. She took them to the store and let them pick out their pattern and material. The kids LOVED it and they looked adorable! Thanks mom!

Kaitlyn got to have three parties this year...one at school, one at her cousins (Keaton and Hayden's) house and the ward party. I guess Addie did three parties too!...Preschool....cousins and the ward one. Thank goodness none of these parties resulted in too much candy. Weston was just thrilled to be a cowboy and to be able to bring his stick horse to the ward party. Someone commented about Weston that, "He looks like he was born that way." It's true...being a cowboy comes naturaly to Weston. He loves cows and horses and "riding". I am sure that boy is gonna give his mom a heart attack once he's old enough to ride a horse by himself.

So...there you have it! Hope you all had a fun time too!

Happy 1st Birthday in Heaven Kaiya!

I have been thinking about what to say in this post...because I have known this day is coming up and I have wanted to say something...put my thoughts into words in a meaningful way...but I just am not sure I know how.

I can't help but think of what would be going on in Kaiya's life today if she were here. The party would be huge....family would fly in....I know I would be there....and we'd all sing to her as she wears a cute outfit with a bow on her head and the biggest smile on her face...or maybe not...maybe she would be really sick and not able to be around people, or in the hospital waiting for surgery. I follow enough families of babies living with heart conditions to know that things are HARD for them and their parents. Everything is "touch and go" and waiting for labs results and procedures to be done and hoping for the best and never being certain of what the future holds. I also know that these parents are more in tune to the Spirit and rely on their Savior in ways that amaze me...and they have peace and hope. I have often told Angela that she is a member of an elite club. One full of people that everyone revere but also one that no one wants to be a member of.

So...Kaiya....if I could....I would give you a big hug and kiss today and thank you for all you have taught me. If I had to choose just one of the life lessons that I have felt deeply because of you...it would be to enjoy every moment. That sounds so cliche...but if I could learn to savour every second that I have with my loved ones without worrying about the "what if's"...like your mommy did with you...I know I'd be able to have and share more joy...and my life would be more fulfilling because of it.

..Angela "introduced" me to....(through his blog), to Paul Cardall who is celebrating life with a new heart. If for you ever want to be inspirered about living life...visit his blog! I am going to pledgerize here for a second and paste in something from a recent post of his.

"Often, so many of us are oblivious to what’s happening next door or in our own homes.

I hope I never forget or lose sight of the fact that there are children and adults throughout the world in need of our kindness, love, prayers, and a little help.

My scars are reminders.

You and I can only do so much. We can improve the world by choosing to mourn with those that mourn and comfort those who stand in need of comfort.

I believe God will guide us to where we need to be to serve others.

If I've learned anything at all through my experiences it is that I know God is the Father of us all. He loves his children more than we can imagine. We can trust in Him.

No matter how much we do or try to do to help in the end it's the love of God that is going to help ease the pain and suffering of others. I felt His love through the kind acts of others.

Of course we need seasons to celebrate!"

I read this today and thought (amoungst other things) that..."Today is a day to celebrate!"

I bought some balloons...one for every color of the rainbow...because I remembered a post Angela did about Rylee seeing "rainbow clouds" and saying that it was from Kaiya.

I had wanted all three of my kids to let the balloons go...but by the time Kaitlyn got home from school...Weston was sleeping, so we just did it! It was sweet to hear the girls say good bye to Kaiya's balloons and speculate over where they might land. The yellow balloon, however, only made it to the neighbors tree...but that's okay! Kaitlyn hopes one of hers makes it to Spain. I just hope that someone will find one of them...and read the note...and get to know Kaiya a little and maybe want to become more aware of the people around them...like Paul said.

* Ang! It was good to talk to you today! You sound great and I hope you guys have a wonderfuly amazing family bonding time on the rest of your trip!...Also...I am worried that my description of Kaiya and her surgery that I put with the balloon isn't quite accurate...I should have called and asked you about it...sorry. Love ya! {[HUGS]}*

When I heard that there was snow in the forecast...I really didn't think it would snow enough for it to stick. But, I was wrong! How crazy is it that we got snow before Halloween!? There's enough to play around in...but it wasn't enough for the schools to have a snow day...or even late start. (darn). I hope Kaitlyn gets to play in the snow at recess...because it will probably be gone by the time she gets home from school.