What a fun past couple of weeks we have had! So many exciting things have happened. The first is I completed my first race. This was such a fun new experience for me. I loved it. It is crazy that I have never participated in a race before, but I was always to gripped to the fear of failure to even try. Well a friend talked me into it and I believed I could do it, I trained well and was prepared and I am happy with what I was able to accomplish. Our team won our division, this was unexpected. We laughed our heads of because of it, but hey we got a medal!






The second exciting event was Ry starting preschool. What a BIG boy he is. I can't believe he is old enough to leave me for a few hours each day. Yes I got teary, but that quickly left when it sunk in that I can actually have some daily quite time for myself. An experience that I haven't had for a long long time. He has gone twice and has loved it. I love him coming home and talking about all the fun stuff he was able to do.



Ry is also going to preschool with his cousin Paige. You can tell how absolutely thrilled they are about this!

Also I am a huge project oriented person. This month we have been able to complete a couple projects. One of them was painting a couple older dressers to look pretty decent. I put on new paint and knobs and it's like a new dresser. I love paint! What an easy transformation from old to new. Also, my favorite project we have done on our house was installed yesterday. A new door and sidelight. It has totally transformed our home entrance. I LOVE IT!! words can't even describe the transformation. check out these before and after pics.

Disgusting, I know.

Beautiful, I believe.

Shooting Stars and Glowing Toilets

There is nothing like camping. I love it. sadly we hadn't been camping for six years. Every summer I was either sick with a pregnancy or the kids were sick and couldn't go either. This year we didn't have any excuses so we went. We went up to Bear Lake and it was beautiful! That lake is so big and blue, it is one of my favorite lakes. During the day we mostly played at the beach and swam. The kids loved it, especially Ry. He loved the whole experience, dirt, bugs, fire and smoke, hot dogs....everything.

Abby on the other hand, for the most part, hated the whole experience. She hated the smoke, dirty hands, heat, bugs, and lack of baths. The last day we were there the poor thing cried non stop. We were almost done packing up when we noticed she had climbed into the car, got into her car seat and started screaming 'buckle, buckle' which means snap me in lets go! She was so happy when we left. But she did love the first day at the beach with the water and sand. She also loved raspberry shakes and french fries. That is my girl! I often look at her and wonder where she gets all her estrogen from, because it isn't from me. It must be from one of my sisters.


Abby also loved putting 'lotion' (sunscreen) all over her body. At times it would be the only thing to keep her from crying.

I also loved playing at the beach, but I think my favorite part of the trip was staying up late looking at the starts. It was so incredible. I forgot how much I missed the starry sky. There was so many shooting stars I felt like I was in heaven.

One of the funniest things happened though, so we were at a campsite w/ no electricity and the restrooms were outhouses. The last night there I walked to the restroom with our only light, a flashlight. I got in there and was trying to figure where to put the flashlight with the least amount of germs. I decided to put it on top of the toilet paper dispenser. As I was putting it up there the voice inside me told me loud and clear that it was going to fall into the toilet. I didn't listen, thinking to myself.... if it starts to fall I can catch it. Well, as I was doing my duties it started to fall, I juggled it around when it somehow bounced off me to my back and fell down 5 feet into the toilet!!! Oh my heck. I couldn't stop laughing. I was so embarrassed. It was completely pitch black except for the glowing toilet. This trip was fun and relaxing, my only regret for the trip is not having a picture of the glowing toilet.

Last week we also had the opportunity to go boating with my niece Vickie and her husband Matt on their boat. It was SO fun! It was the first time I had gone wakeboarding in 7 years. Which was way to long to go without, but when you don't own a boat what do you do? I loved it, so fun to feel the water again. The kids absolutely loved it too, both of them loved it in their own way. Ry loved sitting at the front of the boat feeling the wind in his hair and Abby loved being held and cuddled. Both went out on the tube with Mark, but Ry liked that a lot more (most likely because he is older) He laughing and smiling the whole time, it was cute to see him so happy. There is only one conclusion I take from this, we must go get a boat.

BIG Owie

The big owie is what Ry describes his broken arm. He broke his arm almost 5 weeks ago, luckily it is already off and he are half way back to normal. It has been a crazy experience for us. He broke it at the park. I go to a play group with a couple of my friends and their kids. I was going to walk to the park and have Ry ride his bike, but I couldn't get my stroller wheel pumped up, I even put slime in it and it did nothing. This has never happened to me. Frustrated I threw the kids in the car and headed to the park. When we got there the other boys had their bikes so of coarse Ry was upset. Very generously the other boys let Ry ride their bikes. One of the boys bikes was bigger than what Ry was used to, but he got on anyways and rode it. My back was turned to him, and then I heard a scream and crying about 20 yards from me. When I turned I just started running toward him because his cry was not his normal cry. When I got to him his elbow area as distorted and bulging. I immediately went into shock. I picked him up and showed the other moms who told me to take him to the ER. I just started running for the car, as I forgot my other kids on the playground one of the moms graciously yelled at me asking if she could take the kids to her house. I of coarse said yes, and off to the hospital we went. Ry got in and seen quickly, the whole time he was crying and upset, he calmed down once they gave him some pain killer, they took xrays which showed a bad brake of the humerus above the elbow. Luckily there was an orthopedic trauma Doctor at McKay who set the bone back into place. The next day they had surgery to put pins in his arm to secure the brake so it could heal correctly. We stayed at the hospital until after the surgery and recovery. He did pretty good considering the circumstances.


When we got home it took him a good week before he could walk on his own. He was really dizzy and sensitive to movement becuase of the medication(loratab). He now is doing great! He is shy about all the attention he got about the cast, but when a person didn't ask him about it he made sure they recognize it. It is pretty funny. I learned in this experience how much love I truely have for Ry. He is the sweetest boy, so loving and caring. This experience gave me time to care for him and love him and help him on a deeper level. Although it was difficult I am grateful for this experience. I am a stronger mother because of it.


I have run across a womens blog who literally had everything one could ever want in the terms of materials and money. She had it all, but due to her husbands dishonesty in his line of work, it was taken from her in a blink of the eye. She later moved to Utah and had a garage sale, one of her neighbors came up to her and asked her what she missed most. She thought, everything. But truely what she missed most was being a stay at home mother to her children. She missed being their for them when they needed her or when they were sick. This womens comment made me think a lot about life and all the blessings I have. I do have so much. Although I don't have a lot in the worlds eyes I have a beautiful fun family who mean the world to me. I have the opportunity to stay home with my children and help them become strong people.

Other than that life has been good. Mark and I went on a one night getaway which was much needed. I have never been away from the kids for the night, although I missed them it was awesome. We went up to Alaskin Inn, who somehow lost our reservation and were completely booked for the night. We were crushed, our first getaway and this happens. We were determined to find something. We spent the next two hours calling and driving around trying to find something. We finally found a lady in Texas who rents out her condo. She heard about our story and was so kind to us. She gave us a big discount and let us check out late. The condo was at moose holowand was beautiful. I loved the quite peace we experienced. I feel like my life is so noisy I forget what quite sounds like. We were up on a hillside of Huntsville and you could look out across the small valley. Beautiful. It restored my spirits and gave me strength.

Really?

Really!? Did that just happen? This is how I have felt for the past two months. I have been on a roller coaster of emotions. To begin our furnace went out. Not only did it go out, but it went out with a bang! We literally woke up to the smell of electrical burning. We ran around the house trying to find it and eventually determined it was the furnace. To make a long story short the heat exchanger burned up and had a lot of big holes in it. The furnace installer said that he has never seen one that bad before, and he had 18 years under his belt. He said we were lucky people. I feel the same since Abby sleeps in the next room only 15 feet from the furnace. It was a blessing we are all OK! Our emergency fund came in handy as well. Our new furnace is amazing and keeps us at an even temp throughout the house. They did a ton of new duct work as well which helps out.

As for the good news. My dear husband is an amazing gift giver! He seriously would buy me anything I ask for, but since I don't ask for much at all he has to go out and find amazing gifts, he usually does really good too. This mothers day was no exception, this is what he got me.........
This sweet little bad boy can do so so much I am amazed. One of my favorite features is the smile caption. It actually has the technology of taking the picture when it sees the smile. It actually works too! Awesome. Mothers day is always one of my favorite days of the year because Mark does most of the work for the day and I can have one day just to relax. He is the best.

After mothers day the roller coaster went down hill in a hurry. I'm sorry but due to the situation I can't explain much except that I ended up spending 10-12 hours a day for two weeks plus at my parents with my children working and helping. What I can tell you is what I have learned from this whole experience. There are still amazing, wonderful, and giving people left in this world. My sister left her family in New Mexico for over two weeks to help, my uncle from Denver came to help for over a week. He basically just showed up on the doorstep with his sleeves rolled up. A couple of my dads brothers also helped for a day. Members in their ward gave hours of service.

When the going gets tuff the tuff get going. I think its easy for people to say call me when you need something. But its the doing that really has the impact in the lives of those who are in need.

Mark also was exceptionally supportive through all this, due to his full-time work, school studies, and Air Force responsibilities he wasn't able to help much, but he never ever complained about me not cleaning the house, cooking any food, or even the fridge being completely bare for over a week because I was usually too tired to even go to the store at the end of the day. He was amazing, I am grateful for his unselfish acts during this time.

One thing is a for sure, the Lord supports those in trial, time and time again he proves this to me as I face a life of trials and heartaches (as we all face). I have learned that he doesn't just take away our trials or heartaches, but he strengthens us so we can withstand them. That strength has been given to me in the form of helping hands, strength to keep moving physically, and trusted friends that I feel I can rely on emotionally in time of need.


Gratefully things now have calmed way down and life as we know it is back to a 'normal' state. This weekend was memorial day weekend and we celebrated my mother-in-laws birthday. It was a good time. I love the Roberts family, they are amazing and very kind hearted. I love being part of their family.



Sometimes we just have to wear helmets. =)

Ogden Temple

I love the Ogden Temple! Yesterday was the last day it will be open for 18-24 months. The church has decided that it needs a renovation. What a renovation it will be. The new look is incredibly beautiful! I am really excited for the future of the Ogden Temple, but at the same time I will truly miss the 'old' Ogden Temple.

I have been to this temple by far way more than any temple around. Although all temples conduct and teach the exact same teachings. I have an emotional bond and love for this temple because of all the spiritual experiences I have felt within those walls. I decided that we needed our family pictures taken (since we've never really had family pictures before). What a better place to take them than on these sacred grounds.


One of the reasons I also love the Ogden temple is because this is where Mark proposed to me. We were in front of the Temple, sitting on this bench in which our family is sitting, 6 1/2 years later.



I also believe I have the most beautiful children ever =)






Last but deffinitly not least I have an amazing husband who loves me and cares for me and our little family, I love this guy!

Just if you were wondering what the new Ogden temple will look like, here it is. One word, beautiful!

Life as we know it

A few weeks ago Abby and I had another fun night at the sleep doctors. Luckily, she slept amazing, she feel asleep in my arms after getting hooked up and slept the rest of the night in the crib w/o waking up before 5 am. Don't ask me how that happened, considering she looked like this........... seriously, I believe in miracles. She has never slept that long at home. So I guess the solution to her not sleeping is to wrap her up in medical tape and stick wires all over her.

Her follow-up appointment was later that next week. I was nervous to say the least. Happily Abby doesn't have sleep apnea anymore!! Yes, I am happy, relieved, and less stressed. As I left the doctor knowing she was OK, I felt a huge weight being lifted off my shoulders. It was a very nice feeling. The study did show one minor problem with Abby's sleeping and that was periodic limb movement (not restless leg syndrome, this is different). It was a pretty easy fix compared to the apnea. The Dr. believed it was because Abby is anemic. We did a blood draw and found that to be true, she is now taking an iron supplement for the next few months to clear that up. But that is OK because she is able to get off her reflux medicine and her oxygen! It is so so great to put your baby to sleep w/o cords hanging off of her. I haven't been able to do this since her first month of life.

Other great news is that she is sleeping through the night now too. Now that I know she is OK and doesn't have tubes coming out of her crib I have let her cry it out at night and it only took two nights to get her sleeping through the night, this is another first for us! I have been getting up 1 to 4 times every night in the past 18 months. I got the best nights sleep ever last night! Amazing what straight sleep will do for a person.

This past week we also celebrated Ry's 4th B-day. My big kid is growing up! He had a blast. He ate 10 cupcakes (no I did not let him, I later found the evidence in empty wrappers) and ran around the house like a wild man all day! What fun it was. He got an enormous Cars/Lightning McQueen blanket and pillow which he loves as do I because it is big enough for both of us to snuggle in. One of his favorite things to do is snuggle with someone while watching Curious George.


We took him to Chuck E Cheese for his birthday. I'm not sure who had more fun, Ry or Mark and I. We loved the corner with all the sports games. It was a lot of fun. Abby even had a blast throwing the balls and shooting the water gun game. We also celebrated with family, Ry loves his cousins. They are his favorite friends.

Hope

I have been studying a lot about Hope lately. It is something I deeply feel I need right now in my life. About 5 years ago my dad underwent extensive back surgery. The back surgery went as planned, but effects from the anesthesia will forever linger with him in this life. He became cognitively disabled. His memory, organization, focus and any other cognitive skills have been greatly effected. To say the least this has turned my family upside down. I'm not going into great detail as to why, but I personally have gotten to the point of needing hope more than ever before.

A couple weeks ago I got a book by Russell M Nelson entitled Hope in Our Hearts. It is a wonderful book! I read something today that has helped me realize that HOPE is more than just a quick-fix principle of the gospel. HOPE is eternal. Sometimes we hope for things in this life that don't appear to be happening, we feel that it won't happen and we lose hope (and faith), which brings on despair and discouragement. When we feel despair we lose the spirit, which only makes this cycle more vicious.

The part of the book that I read actually came from a talk he gave in general conference in October of 2005. The talk was entitled "Jesus Christ- the master healer." The excerpt is as follows:

"The gift of resurrection is the Lord’s consummate act of healing. Thanks to Him, each body will be restored to its proper and perfect frame. Thanks to Him, no condition is hopeless. Thanks to Him, brighter days are ahead, both here and hereafter. Real joy awaits each of us—on the other side of sorrow."

This little quote Has brought me a lot of peace. Even though we have no idea how we will get through issues in the future, no condition is hopeless, brigher days are ahead. Sometimes the brighter days come when looking eternally into the future, this is my HOPE. I am so greatful for the gospel of Jesus Christ in my life!

I love the beginning of the new year. I am a total goal setter, when I set a goal I go after it, but I have to believe in the goal I am setting, otherwise I don't even try. I have set new goals for myself. The goals I have set for myself have all been of a spiritual nature. I have really felt the need to 'be better', I haven't really felt like myself these past couple months and it has really been bothering me. We'll see how I do!

The holiday season was great. It was so fun to see Ry really get into Christmas. On Christmas eve he was so excited before he went to bed he was jumping on his bed yelling "Santa is coming, Santa is coming." Of coarse Mark and I joined in. It was so fun.


This picture has to be my favorite picture of Ry, he tends to tighten up when I take pictures of him, but this one was actually great. Abby looks good too. But I have to point out the Christmas tree in the background. We decorated it and the next day Ry decided it just wasn't to his liking, so what did he do...........redecorate. He grouped the ornaments according to color and all at his height. It was quite an unusual looking tree, but I loved it because Ry was so proud of his work.

I have to say that Ry has a funny toddler quirk, he is always organizes his toys according to size, color, and function. If Abby dare try to mess one of his creations up, the house might as well of crumbled on it as well because we have major meltdowns. One would think that if he did that with his toys, his room would look the same, right? Nope. His room usually looks anything but organized. He usually only organized the toys in the family room. Silly kid.