Bertha

We've decided to adopt! Meet Bertha! She is a resident at the Grace Assisted Living Facility and she is our new adopted Grandma. We have grandma's and grandpa's in Utah, but thought it would be good for our family to adopt someone who just might like some company. It was such a rewarding experience. . .I highly recommend it. Word of caution, maybe go over a few ground rules with your kids before entering an assisted living facility. Zach asked Bertha where her teeth were, and when she told him they were in the sink Zach said, "oh good, I was afraid you always looked like the wicked witch of the west!" Leave it to Zach to make a great first impression! Other then that, I think Bertha enjoyed our company almost as much as we enjoyed her's and we hope to make it a monthly tradition.

VoMiT, BaRf, PuKe

Does my title grab your attention? Dan and I have been wondering (out loud) why we just can't catch a break! One kid after another always has some sort of health issue. I feel like we are constantly at some kind of doctor's office. This week we have the good old fashion 24 hour flu thing going around, which wouldn't seem too bad if Jackson hadn't lost 6 lbs two weeks earlier due to a bowl impaction. I am sick and tired of my children being sick and tired!!

Now for a bit of humor. . .Zach peed and barfed at the same time! It was hilarious and disgusting at the same time. At least he had perfect aim!!!

On a different note, poor Dr. Payne's dental hygienist had to hear 25 minutes of constant screaming while she tried to clean Zach's teeth. When I say "screaming" it was like full on screaming. The kind you do to the opposing team if the ref makes a bad call, kind of screaming. Ryan and his hygienist were awesome about the whole thing, but I was sweating by the time we got to go home! At least Ryan has to endure it only twice a year!

I love my kids, but sometimes parenthood bites!!

Someone To Blame

One of my New Year's resolutions was to make Sunday a bit more special than other days of the week. I try to do that by limiting the outside noises of the world. For the past few weeks I have encouraged the kids to read, play games with each other, make a treat as a family, and limit the electronics. I am not against a good family movie, or a bowling tournament on the Wii, but I just have tried to make an extra effort on Sunday to keep it feeling special. Until today, I had no idea Zach was not fond of this new resolution:

Today, I had Pandora on and had it synced to church/religious music. The Tabernacle Choir was singing and I was busy getting dinner ready, and breakfast dishes cleaned up. Zach came down stairs and asked why I always listen to boring music on Sunday. I tried to explain that we have been asked to make Sundays special, and I thought listing to this type of music was a good start. His response was priceless: "Mom, I know who we can blame for this-I think it was the Jews!"

Growing Up

Maddie is one tough little lady!

I look into her eyes and wonder how this girl could have such a positive attitude towards the trials she has faced in her life.

She is my social butterfly who loves friends. . .of all ages.

She must have a hollow leg because she eats a ton and still looks like a supermodel.

She loves to read, but loves, loves, loves quiz books and joke books the most.

She claims she is allergic to gross food.

She would own a cat if her mother wasn't afraid of them.

She secretly plays Barbies, but is afraid her friends would make fun of her if they found out.

She may have two left feet, but it doesn't keep her from learning the latest dance moves.

She keeps her head held high, even though she hates that she still limps. . .the limp won't be permanent. . .we hope!!

She grows like a weed. . . and is two feet taller than her best friend.

She actually wears the same size pants and shoes as her mother!!

She loves being a "tweenager" and her mom thinks having a shopping buddy is pretty awesome.

Today we celebrated Maddie's "awesomeness" with a lunch date and shopping. She claims after having a piece of cheesecake from the "Cheesecake Factory" she can die a happy woman. I agree.

A year in Review

To end this year I thought a video slide show would capture the most important events of this year. It feels as though major life changing events have taken place in this crazy year: Maddie was in a body cast and lived in a wheel chair for a third of the year, Dan has been working on the biggest trial of his career, I went back to work after 10 years, Zach got baptised, and Jackers started elementry school. Life has been anything but boring at our house, and yet . . .we survived. I can't help but be thankful for that!

I Did It!

I am a 33 year old Mormon housewife who just learned to can yesterday!!! Seriously, I can't believe it has taken me this long to get over my fear of canning. It was fun, easy, and almost painless. Just keep your fingers crossed that we don't die of botulism!!!!

What's next you ask? Pears. . . .Wednesday. Wish me luck!!

First Day of School

My baby started Kindergarten today! Jackson was so excited. He was the first one dressed, the first to eat breakfast, and the first one out the door to the bus stop. I asked him if he was nervous and he said "why would I be nervous mom, this is the best day of my life." Zach and Jack seem to be best friends at school; Zach took Jackson under his wing and showed him the ropes. (I could not be more proud of both of them!)

Zach is excited to be back in school, although his best friend is in another class this year, making Zach a little more nervous than usual. He is always making sure Jackson is okay at recess, and has had fun making new friends of his own.

Maddie was excited to get back to school to show everyone that her legs are as good as new with no wheel chair!! This year fifth graders are in the middle section of the school. She gets her own locker this year, and gets to sit by her best friend Hannah. Life is good. I went to kiss her goodbye on the first day of school and she freaked out and told me to never to that in public again. I had a good laugh, but deep down it made me a little sad that my sweet little girl doesn't publicly idolize her mom anymore. . .although secretly I think she still does.

I love school too! I have time to take long jogs every morning, do my hair, clean my house, oh and read a book in peace and quiet. I love it!! Is it weird that I am ready for apple pies, carved pumpkins, and falling leaves? Fall is in the air, but I am happy summer is here for few more weeks. I'm not quite ready for winter. . .who am I kidding. . .I'm never ready for winter.