September 12

Happy Birthday to my Dad today.  He is my hero.  I love my Dad and am so glad my kids and I get the chance to live with him and my mom.  We have been on several adventures from Idaho to Illinois and back several times.  He is always a good sport and has helped me in so many ways.  I have truly enjoyed our time we have spent together and look forward to many more years. 

Daddy and me - I was around 18 - 20 months.

At my wedding.

He is really good with my kids - he can make them laugh like no one else. They love to cuddle with him on the couch and watch television. Morgan loves to help Papa outside. 

Riding the 4-wheeler with Papa in 2007.

Yesterday, my sister, Michelle, was admitted to the hospital because she couldn't breath.  Come to find out she has pneumonia and an infection in the lining around her lungs.  She was in so much pain she couldn't even breath.  I feel so bad that she has to go through this.  They were able to drain the infection from her lungs.  She is still in the hospital today and hopefully she will be able to come home tomorrow.  It is driving her crazy because she likes to be busy all.the.time. and when you are in the hospital, you are very limited in what you can do. 

Michelle - Christmas 2009

Michelle and I - June 2011

It was extremely difficult for me to find a picture of us together...  Guess what we are gonna start doing Michelle?  Yep, your favorite thing - taking pictures and I won't take no for an answer!

It is scary having her in the hospital.  I know she is okay now, but it makes me really appreciate the time that we have together.  I am so glad, so glad, so glad that we live here in Idaho again.  I love living by my brothers and sisters.  My sisters, mom and SIL's are my best friends!!!  I love my family and love the opportunity my kids get to be with their cousins for special occasions and just because.  We have a great life.  I could not ask for anything better.

A blast from the past - Summer 2007 @
Tautphaus Park Zoo.  Chase, Olivia, Carson & Cody

Carson, Abby, Olivia, Chase & Cody
January 2008

Day 71 of 365

10:00 am.

Day #3 of Migraine headache.  Carson made it out to the couch.  Another good sign.  She rested and was able to watch some television.  She has been eating more, always a good sign.  Before the migraine, we had plans to go to Wellsville to visit our friends, the Noble family and attend the Labor Day parade and have a fabulous bbq get-together.  I was unsure if we would be able to attend.  Carson has been feeling better, if she can take a shower, we should be good to go.  We'll see.

3:00 pm

Carson keeps telling me she wants to go to Wellsville.  I told her that unless she takes a shower, we can't go.  Now that she is older and smellier, when she hasn't showered for three days, it is not a pretty sight.  Fred the midnight hairdresser has wreeked havoc on on her hair.  I don't even know if I can get the tangles out!  After much discussion, she decides that she can stand up to take a shower as long as I don't spray water on her forehead.  I am happy to oblige.  We get her showered, lotioned up and smelling pretty darn good.  I was even able to untangle her hair.  It is time to go!

4:00 pm

I am in a hurry to pack for all three of us.  I did pretty good for the kids, but for me, not so good.  I forgot some key items in my quest to hurry and get on the road.  I am getting old!

5:00 pm

We are headed down the road to Logan/Wellsville.  So excited to see our friends and hang out for awhile.  Carson survived the trip and is excited to see Brigette and Gabby.  We stay up way to late talking and get the kids to finally go to bed around 11 pm.  Looking forward to a relaxing day tomorrow.

Morgan tried sleeping with the girls for
about 15 seconds.... then he snuck in with me.

Brigette couldn't sleep - Gabby
and Carson are fast at it.

Day 70 of 365

Day #2 of the migraine headache routine.  I am tired.  I don't know why it wears me out, I'm not the one in pain.  But I am tired.  I slept as long as I could.  Carson continued throwing up for awhile and then stopped.  At this time, she is very hungry as she hasn't kept any thing down since Thursday evening.  When she starts eating, she is on the better side of the headache.

Maggie came over for a little while.  To keep her and Morgan busy, I gave each of them a camera and let them take as many pictures as they could.  Am I awesome or what?  This is what they came up with (drum roll please....)

Looking so enthused!

The lovely light in our family room.

Half of Maggie and Papa, Morgan taking this shot.

 

Morgan taking a picture of Maggie taking a picture of him.

Maggie's so cute toes.

Maggie checking out her camera.

 

A nice picture of the fan (and a child's finger in the
top left-hand corner).

I think Morgan wears me out more than Carson.  I think in the last 24 hours, we have watched Tangled at least three times.  It is Morgan's favorite movie of the moment.  It is a cute movie, I just don't want to watch it again!  Melissa was so kind to let him go to her house and play with Max.  He came home after a couple of hours and was very hungry.  We ate corn on the cob together for dinner.  Morgan likes the corn on the cob - such a good thing since he is a picky eater and doesn't eat many different items.

I am starting to go stir crazy.



Day 69 of 365

Rough night last night.  Carson couldn't sleep so she kept waking me up.  Finally she was able to sleep for a short time when she woke up with the beginnings of a migraine headache.  Goodbye fun weekend plans.  Hello vomiting, dark rooms, no noise, carrying Carson around because she can't walk but most of all watching my baby in extreme pain and not being able to do anything about it.  We did get a prescription from Dr Clark for anti-nauseau medicine and it has actually helped with the vomiting.  The pain doesn't got away though.  I have to say my little angel is one tough cookie.  She has experienced pain that not many people do and she handles it like a trooper.  When I ask her how she is, she always says, "I'm okay, Mom."  She is t.o.u.g.h.

Day 68 of 365

This morning I waited for a few minutes and watched Carson get on the bus.  She is such a big girl now.  It is nice to have her ride the bus from home so I don't have to drive her anywhere.  She is the last one on the bus in the morning so she doesn't have a long ride to school, but it is fun.  Her bus driver, Mrs. Roberta Martin, was my bus driver when I was in school.  She has known our family for a long time, we were in the same ward for quite a while and she is always so good to our kids.  One of the perks of living here in my own home town!  Lovin' it!

We can watch for the bus from the house - when it
crosses the road and goes around the block, Carson
has enough time to go to the other side of the yard.

Happily waiting for the bus.

Getting on the bus and heading
to school.

Today was a crazy day at work.  I hope I make it through tomorrow.  Shireen has put in extra time helping me.  I just hope Friday isn't as crazy.  It always seems like Fridays are o.u.t. o.f. c.o.n.t.r.o.l.!

I was happy to come home and just relax with my kiddos.  Morgan has been begging me all week to just sit down and watch a movie with them.  We watched "Tangled", his new favorite movie!  It was nice to cuddle.  I think I slept through at least half of it but at least we were together.

Day 67 of 365

I am so sad.  It is the last day of August, the last days of summer activities, spending time at the beach, lazy days, fantastic evenings, the last of summer sunshine, beautiful sunsets and longer days...  Don't get me wrong - September is an awesome month - that is when my first baby was born and I do love fall, but there is something about August I will miss.  September heralds in cooler weather, hay fever, turning leaves, harvest, apples, football and shorter days.  I adore fall and all the activities it brings but I am gonna miss my summer months especially my August!  It always seems to me that as soon as September rolls around the year end just comes so much faster...  and unfortunately, it affects my psyche for the rest of the year.

Scenes from a Summer

From last summer...  June 2010

Memi and Papa - June 2010

I love this boy - June 2010

Fun at Island Park for my girl - June 2011

My little man - June 2010

Camping with cousins - July 2011

Jumping on the trampoline
August 2011

Playing at the beach @ Bear Lake
August 2011

Parades with family - July 2010

"August rushes by like desert rainfall,

A flood of frenzied upheaval,

Expected,

But still catching me unprepared.

Like a matchflame

Bursting on the scene,

Heat and haze of crimson sunsets.

Like a dream

Of moon and dark barely recalled,

A moment,

Shadows caught in a blink.

Like a quick kiss;

One wishes for more

But it suddenly turns to leave,

Dragging summer away."

- Elizabeth Maua Taylor 

"There's a time each year

That we always hold dear,

Good old summer time;

With the birds and the trees'es

And sweet scented breezes,

Good old summer time,

When you day's work is over

Then you are in clover,

And life is one beautiful rhyme,

No trouble annoying,

Each one is enjoying,

The good old summer time."

- Lyrics by Ron Shields, In the Good Old Summertime

There shall be eternal summer in the grateful heart. ~Celia Thaxter

Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass on a summer day listening to the murmur of water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is hardly a waste of time. ~John Lubbock

Day 66 of 365

Tonight these glasses caused quite a problem for my Princess Little.  Carson has had these for about a year.  I had her checked before she started kindergarten.  I was totally surprised when the Dr told me she needed glasses.  Probably shouldn’t have been since Bryan, Jordan and Rylee all wear glasses; however, I was still surprised.  We got these bad boys and for about three days she was happy to wear them.  After that, I couldn’t get her to wear them for anything.  She told me they didn’t help her see so she didn’t want to wear them.  I did try to get her to wear them to school but with kindergarten only two days a week, that was a joke.  Big Fail – I usually would remember on the way to the bus stop or when I was half-way to work.  I just gave up.

Fast forward to the first part of August– she started wearing them again and told me they actually made everything look bigger!  Really?  Isn’t that what glasses are supposed to do?  She has been pretty good at wearing them.

Tonight, as she was going to bed, I saw her case in her drawer.  I asked where her glasses were and as she opened the case, it was empty.  She searched her room and backpack to no avail.  Glasses thought to be lost.  We had a little talk about keeping track of glasses and she went to bed.  I decided to look around downstairs and it didn’t take me long to find them by the television.  So glad I found them, I didn’t want to purchase new ones!  Memi decided on a great place to keep the glasses so I’m hoping we don’t have this problem again for awhile!

I’m telling you – when she dumps her retainer in the garbage someday – I AM NOT LOOKING FOR IT!  SHE IS!

The infamous glasses

Day 65 of 365

Only 300 more to go!!!!  hee hee  Monday means back to work, back to school, and back to business!  The weekends are always so relaxing.  Some Mondays hit me like a ton of bricks.  On a scale of one to ten, ten being the worst – today was about four or five.  Not much to complain about.

Carson started piano lessons today.  I am really looking forward to her learning to play.  I took piano lessons for many years – too bad I don’t have much to show for it.  One of my goals in life is to pass on my love of music to my children.  We sing together, we make up songs, we listen to music in the car and sing our hearts out…  Music is such a part of me.  I can hear a song and it will remind me of certain times in my life.  I can remember my feelings at the moment and sometimes even the smells from the memory.  Music has healed my soul, strengthened my testimony, touched my spirit in many ways, bonded me to Carson and Morgan, helped me develop friendships, helped me develop relationships with Jordan, Rylee and Cameron that I hold dear to my heart, helped me express my feelings and calmed my insecurities.  Oh Music – I love you!

Carson and Marlynn - her wonderful music teacher.

Learning how to hold her fingers.

Day 64 of 365

Another full day…  We all gathered at Michelle and Todd’s after church to celebrate Todd’s Birthday.  As I’m typing this I just realized it was his 40th birthday.  We had no black decorations anywhere – there is always next year!

It was good time – the kids enjoy every second together.  We decided to take a picture of all the grandkids in birth order.  I actually got a picture of everyone smiling!  What a difference a year makes – last year when we were at Disneyland, it was like trying to pull teeth to get them in a group picture.  August, September and October are busy birthday months for our family.  Stay tuned for more birthday celebrations.

This is what it looks like when we are all together - trying
to get to the food!

Poor Caden stepped on a bee that Cody killed and it still stung him.

Celebrating Todd's Birthday with a round of singing and cake -
the reason for our gathering!

Mandee lining up the kids.

Everyone is smiling, thanks to Auntie Melissa and her
funny dance.  Next time we will do the picture in order
of heighth.

As soon as we were done, the fun began again.
Chasing, teasing and wrestling happened
for at least half an hour after the picture was over.

Grandma Bell, Memi and Papa

After all the fun, Morgan had homework
to do for preschool!  Seriously, homework
in preschool?

His completed coloring and cutting.

Day 63 of 365

Today was a full day!  Sam was baptized in the morning.  Almost everyone in our family was able to attend.  He was so excited!  No pics from the baptism; however, I’m sure Mandee will have them on her blog at some point.  Afterwards, we all went to Merritt and Mandee’s for some good food and good company.  The kids always have a wonderful time playing together.

Morgan, Carson and I had some family pictures in the evening.  My new friend, Jennifer Hill, who I just LOVE! took our pictures.  She is awesome.  The ones I have seen so far look great.  Carson and Morgan were so good for the pictures.

When we were done, the kids were hungry and so we went to Homestead for dinner.  Carson almost had a meltdown because she thought they didn’t have chocolate milk.  When we found out they did, it suddenly became her favorite place to eat.  It was so nice eating at a restaurant that doesn’t have a drive-thru!

I love Saturdays and getting to spend the day with my kids.

After the pictures - I thought we matched pretty good.

Day 62 of 365

These are a couple of things I want..

A NEW CAMERA

A Nikon D3100.  I hope my camera will last until I can get this one!

A NEW HAIR STYLE

Can't remember which blog I found this on, but loving this
hair cut!  I don't know if I am brave enough or if my hair would work.
I will keep you posted.

Day 61 of 365

I Thursdays!!!!  Having a four-day school week is awesome!  We have two Friday nights instead of one now.  Memi always helps Carson with her homework when she gets home from school.  She is doing really well – she is reading everything she can get her hands on…  After homework, we took a trip to Idaho Falls to run errands.  Carson and Morgan were so good!!!  We had to go to three places and they didn’t complain at all.  We stopped at the mall for my last errand.  They begged to play on the playground after the errands.  They had so much fun.  I sure love my little munchkins!

Homework, homework

I can read

Fun on the toys

Carson climbed up this slide about 25 times...
She loves it.

Day 60 of 365

Today was Sammy’s 8th Birthday.  He has been so excited to turn 8 so that he can be baptized.  Mandee planned an Angry Birds birthday party and it was so cute.  The kids had a super time playing, eating cupcakes and ice cream and watching Sammy open presents.  It was a great night.

Piggy piggy

The original Angry Bird

Yellow Diving Birds

Triple Blue Birds

The cute goodie bags

All the cupcakes together

Sam's stash of birds he received as presents.

Abby, Sammy, Max and Carson

All the kids playing the Angry Birds board game that Memi gave Sammy

Sammy riding his new bike while we walked home...