HaPpY 4th oF JuLy!!!

HaPPy FoUrTH oF JuLy!!!Our 4th weekend got started early for Dan and I as we got a babysitter Thursday evening and went out to dinner and a movie. It was much needed since I have been gone to Girls Camp and we have not had a second to 'catch up' with each other.

Friday the 4th dawned early in our household (as usual) and we all dressed in our red, white, and blues -- went to the local small town's (Clarkdale) parade, and watched some of our friends with their decorated bikes. It is a small little parade and even had painted horses and their hoofs,etc. Of course some of the bikers threw us candy!

Then we went to the park and played some of little booth games they had set up, and won little prizes (which incidentally we have found all over our house the last 2 days) while the local band played patriotic songs.

It got cloudy for monsoons that afternoon and so we had a pleasant bar-b-q on the front porch that evening. While our neighbor across the street did a little display of illegal fireworks for us!


While we waited for it to get real dark--we played on the newly mowed front lawn for awhile.


FINALLY it got dark and we headed up the hill (since we live down by the river) and watched the Cottonwood fireworks show (which I have always been really impressed with). We just pulled over on the side of the road and set up some chairs. We opted out of our normal spot at a friends (the Taylor's) home backyard, as they have it up for sale and we had not contacted them. I did miss that prime spot a bit. Our sweet (and tipsy) neighbor joined us in his truck a little bit later and the boys enjoyed a higher view from the bed of it!




It was a perfect day of relaxation, sun, heat, bar-b-q's and fireworks.... until that evening when Dan had a run in with a skunk (look at post above) Happy Birthday America!!!

The Whole Sad Story!

WARNING: This is a super sad story about the death of our last baby chick

(Minutes before her fatal end, Curious George playing with Dacie)

Many people think I am a mean mom for not allowing my children pets. After this incident happened I remembered why I do not. It is NOT necessarily the extra care (paricualrly w/ bigger animals) BUT the attachment I form with them, even with the smallest of creatures...and as most things do indeed die my heart hurts. My heart can only worry and be sad about so many things....besides the fact, that on my mission I saw allot of nasty pet situations!

As many of you are aware of, little Ryland got 2 chicks for his third birthday from my parents. One was BRIGHT blue (OGAN) and the other was a Rhode Island Red (CURIOUS GEORGE). The chicks were absolutely adored by the neighbors, our cousins and my children. They LOVED looking at them and taking them out every day. Two days after Rylands birthday little OGAN diappeared! We kept them in our garage for warmth and protection. It had been a beautiful day outside, so I left the garage door open and the box lid as well, so that the chicks could enjoy the sun. They were set back pretty far in the garage, so I felt like I could hear them. Too bad baby chicks are little chippers, so when they got ecpsecially loud at one point I did not even consider they may be chirping at an intruder. But alas, when I went back out to check on them OGAN was gone. We looked everywhere in a panic. There is aboslutely no way out of the box. He was gone.

Not too long after, Dan went out to the car and opened the garage door... and there stoodw one of the NASTY stray cats in our neighborhood just waiting by the door. Dan watched him as he just stared at the box..and then Dan went and got his pellet gun. We then knew what had happened to OGAN-- I am glad we did not see feathers or anything of that sort. OGAN was the sassier of the two...so we settled into a quieter way of life with our Curious George.

Dan was not very enthusiastic about taking on a pet, and having to build a coop etc. BUT as the days went on I noticed him turning 'soft' on me. He let little C.G. (abbreviations for Curious George, for the sake of the story) sit by him at the table while he was doing money. Dan also, a few times, cleaned up the chicks pasting (NOT a very FUN job) and washed her and blow dried her. Dan also let the chick run around the house and laughed at it, as it started following us around as it imprinted. C.G. especially was fond of Dacie--Dacie was not sure what to do with such a little admirer. At first Dacie scream, but as you can see in the pictures, she began enjoying a little buddy and something that idolized her. Someone that would play right by her and not go too far from her!

Each day I let the kids go out back and play, and we would set the chick out there as well, while they were playing. They always had instructions to watch out for the bird, so they would not step on it, and to be soft with it since it was so small. As most mothers do, I have very many responsibilities that call me indoors, and so I would go in the house and leave the back door open, checking on the kids every so often. I had just taken these pictures above of Dacie and C.G when I went in and then I heard the boys fighting over the chick. I usually take a more passive approach to fighting, to allow them to work it out on their own. I thought to myself, " I should just go take the chick away so they will not fight over her". A few minutes later Colton comes in carrying little C.G and she is dying!!!! She was laying down, eyes closed, and shallow breathing. I started screaming-what happened?!! and then started sobbing as I held the poor little thing in my hands. The boys told me that Ryland had decided that it would be fun to send C.G down the slide--which she fared well doing, AND then he decided to throw it up in the air and let it land on the ground. After the second time of doing that to her, she stopped moving...and I guess he did it again for good measure. The fighting had been Colton trying to take away the chick from the BRUTAL BOY ....MY SON!!!! I was sick to my stomach. If only...why.... From what I can gather little Ryland had NO IDEA that he was really hurting the chick. For all I know he thought it could fly, or bounce like a ball...I don't know. I just sat there on the floor sobbing holding the chick, while all the boys started crying as well. We then took her back to the garage and put her under the heat lamp on a soft towel, and said a heartfelt prayer. I prayed that her pain would be minimal and that she would be taken quickly, if that was to happen AND that if she was suppose to get better or had a chance of getting better she would show some improvement, so we would not make her suffer. Dan tried to tell me to kill her when I got him on the phone. I just couldn't! But every time I went in and looked at her it just made my heart so sad. Dan got home and offered to relieve her. I just couldn't do that either, thinking she might be 'stunned' and return to normal if we let her rest. Dan told me he would not make the decision but I was making her suffer, and he was willing to do it when I was ready. I told him after dinner if nothing had changed he could. Then I said a little prayer in my heart that she would die on her own, so I would NOT have to make that decision. Right after dinner we went in and she had passed away.

The boys all went in to see her after and Colton kept getting choked up. Sterling was distracted most the time and was indifferent. Ryland went in and out of caring, crying and NOT really understanding. However, I can say that we were all teary and felt the spirit as we said a little prayer in the garage. I believe my boys realized at that moment that we could pray to Heavenly Father for anything AND that life has value, even the smallest of creatures. Sterling simply said, "Oh its OK, he is going to live again." He was absolutely right, and it really was that simple. We had just had an FHE lesson on Monday about resurrection and how death is not final for any of us. They were just applying what we had taught them.

(The boys digging the grave for our little friend)

The next day we waited for Colton to get home from school and we decorated a box, with our apologies written on the outside of it, then painted a rock for the headstone. We took C.G down to the river where there is a pet cemetery nearby, and buried her under the most beautiful tree.

(notice the little purple flower they left on her headstone too)

Some friends who looked at my pictures asked why I took so many by the cemetery and I did because it was such a BEAUTIFUL day and place. I LOVE that we live close to the river. Sometimes people see pictures and ask if that is Arizona. I'm not gonna lie...it is pretty here and makes the West allot more do-able for my East coast green desires.It made such an emotional thing for me more peaceful becuase of where we were.

(If you look closely you can see her little rock under the tree that shoots out leaning to the right)

I think one of the reasons I was so sad was because C.G loved us, and her care was absolutely in our hands...kind of like a baby. We abused that, and she got really hurt.

I have lost family and friends MUCH MORE dear and they have had MUCH more of an impact on my life. I know some of you may be laughing at the drama I made this into. BUT I feel it needed to be a big deal for my children to see the finality of death and reality of the value of God's creations, as well as responsibility and prayer. These teaching moments are few and I had to capitalize on it! I cannot think of a better time of the year to learn this lesson-

My heart is so heavy for anyone who has ever had to watch much more than a chick suffer in death.

And now I am thinking about getting some more chicks (after all... we have learned the HARD way, have the equipment AND I want to be able to have eggs in time of need and because I hear they taste and are better) We'll see, be still my heart (dogs, cats ,skunks and RYLAND's)!

*The 'chick killers' birthday tribute will fittingly be posted tomorrow!

Bummer Week!

This week has been a little bit hard on me, especially after the last fun week I just had

Here is why:1. I have started a cleansing diet, which isn't so bad --BUT it is pretty hard core and eliminates allot of my comfort food that I would love to enjoy during stress. However, the blessing is: even in the short week I have done it my summer clothes are fitting a little better after a FAT winter
2. I started toilet training Ryland the exact day I started the cleansing process. I HIT toilet training HARD (we LIMIT activities and are home bound) and it is do or die! Patience was thin--if you ask me any day of the year I rank toilet training right up there on the list of my least favorite things to do.

The blessing: Ryland really has only had one BAD day and averages about one accident a day, and has gone a day and half w/ perfection (I have learned not to celebrate too early however)

3.Yesterday I held our last baby chick as it was dying (I will post a blog about the whole affair) It was heart wrenching and I have not cried that HARD in a LONG time.

The Blessing: I really believe that now my sons have a different perspective on the value of life in even the smallest creatures, and I had a tender, neat experience with prayer with the boys, the spirit was there.

4. I called home and found out this news last night: (Email sent out this morning attached below)

Blessing: My father is a walking miracle and continues to walk AND I have family that would drop everything to be together and help each other (Thanks Mind and Jas)

The Email sent by my mother this morning-

Thought you should know: Kent has been doing great with his new knee, cancer remission etc, but last night at the end of Brendon's volleyball game at Elk Grove, he started to have horrific head pains. Not any different than the ones most of you have seen at some point. He still usually (but not always) has a few days of pains each month. Actually hydrocodone has seemed to help in most cases. Last month he did have to lay on the floor for awhile and they were stronger than normal. However, last night they escalated very quickly. He went out for fresh air and it didn't help. He came back in and within a few min. he went white and looked like he'd pass out. He was too weak to get up or go to the car and his head was literally exploding with pain. I had him put his head down and then he put his head on my lap. I didn't realize at first that he was passed out until I saw his arm hanging limp twitching. By calling his name, slapping his face and shaking him, there was still no response. I couldn't go get help either, because he was on my lap. Some girls finally noticed (luckily the match was over by now), and got Brendon's attention. I was hoping he could help Kent out to the car. No such luck. He was out cold. Then people really started noticing. Two men hopped down. I remained calm and giggly (I laugh when I'm uncomfortable). They helped put Kent out on the floor gently. He did NOT want to call 911 because of insurance reasons. (He told me this before he passed out) However, he was not doing well at all. In about a 20 min. span he came too partially twice and went into convulsions and immediately passed out again. A woman in the crowd said I'm calling 911 anyway. So we had the high school gym full of people, the fire truck and ambulance, etc. Brendon is pretty stoked he'll be popular at school today. (Just a light side touch) I was on the phone with 911 and the two men from the crowd stayed with Kent following the directions of the 911 call until the paramedic showed up. The paramedics checked him out and of course asked questions. A lady ran Brendon home to get the name of his neurosurgeon and other info we didn't have with us. Kent came too partially again with oxygen and some other things, but when they tried to sit him up, he convulsed and went big time out again. It took 6 men to get him on the gurney. The ambulance took him to the hospital. I went to drop off Brendon and follow, but realized Kent had our car keys in his pocket in the ambulance. Amberlyn came to the rescue and brought us keys and took Brendon home and took care of dinner and the family. By the time I got to the hospital, his home teachers were there. They gave him a blessing later on when they let us in. They did not let me go in until he was registered and all fixed up. A little disturbing since I had the medical info they needed and the neurosurgeons request was to get a CT scan WHILE he was having an episode. Didn't fall in their protocol. Kent was in and out of consciousness for a total of 40 min. to an hour. Longer than he's ever been. I felt very calm and peaceful, but concerned at the same time that this episode may not turn out ok as far as being alive, or not having permanent brain damage. However, he slowly came out of it and by the time they let me see him, he was fully conscious and could talk- although still in lots of pain and not really ok. His normally very low blood pressure was high and his blood oxygen was very bad. Mindy and Jason also got wind and came to the hospital and stayed with me several hours. They stayed until after midnight so we could sing happy birthday to Mindy. We thought it fitting for Kent and I to be in the hospital with her on her birthday as that was the setting of her birth. ha They ran several blood tests and a CAT scan. Nothing critical or abnormal that they could see was there. (Besides all the shunts and several things they don't understand of course) They kept us there until morning, making sure Kent was stable and ok and let us out around 2 am. We need to contact his neurosurgeon and follow up. Sometimes when this is this severe, he will have continued days of problems. I need to keep an eye on him. The one possibility they could come up with first hand, may be that his shunts may be working too good now, as his spinal fluid in his brain (ventricles) is very low. I say- rip em out. We shall see. We are home doing fine. Just thought the family should be aware and ask that you remember Kent and the family in your prayers. We'll keep you posted. Most likely he will be fine again- who knows maybe for years. Once again, your son, dad, brother, uncle or whatever relation he is. is a walking miracle. I'm grateful he's still around. We have too much in our life to get straightened out for me to do it solo.... but we don't really get to choose that either do we? I do count my blessings. Lots of love, Jeanie

5. It is my sisters birthday and my daughter has formed and unnatural attachment to me, as well as discovered a high pitch scream in protest. This has ALL been since her first birthday. I just always remember the kids getting a little easier, not worse after year?!!!! It is my sisters b-day today and I will NOT have time to get the photos and thoughts collected until, that daughter of mine, is asleep for the evening!! Not much gets done anymore

The blessing: I got my girl that my heart has always desired. She is the healthiest of the bunch, and she LOVES me and I LOVE her!

SHOUT OUT TO MINDY! YOUR B-DAY POST IS COMING....

Allergy medicine and emotions have me pretty tired today. Not to mention trying to get stuff together to sell at a garage sale, help sell the items, and bury a chick at the pet cemetery by the river on my list of things to do today. Oh well, we are going to the temple tomorrow and the whole world will be brighter after! I am really OK, just tired! DUH-that is the number 1 symptom of motherhood!

DAY 5 SPRING BREAK (3/21/08): They are Leaving-Boo Hoo!!!!

It is rare that we get overnight company from our families (about once a year)-not very comfy sleeping arrangements (3 bedroom house 1550 sq.ft.) and gas prices don't help....SO when we do get company we try to KEEP them as long as we can and do as MUCH as we can!

It was not a FUn Friday for us-as we were losing the Fun we had all week

You cannot come visit us and NOT go and see SEDONA (about 15 miles from our home); a resort red rock town-

SO as our last HURRAH I took my teenage siblings (below, Brendon and Breanna) on a driving tour of Sedona.

No matter how many times I have been there. I am still in awe at the beauty of it!
...and I am still in awe at the 'extraordinary' people that live there!

They are really into vortex, crystals, etc. AND we got lucky to see one of the classic mountain men (below). They really do have a group of these guys that look like this and go and rescue people in the mountains, etc., usually in the parades they are on horseback NOT motorcycles!
It was beautiful farewell to such a FuN WeEk-

We hope we gave them lots of memories so they will come back again y'all!

*Not soon after they left our baby chick got eaten by a cat and Sterling fell off of the neighbors trampoline splitting his teeth and gums open. I was definetely not a happy camper aymore, I lost my family, friends entertainers, extra hands and helpers-it was a bummer!

Love the WEEKENDS!

FRIDAY January 29th: It was Dr. Seuss's b-day and at Colton's school that means they get to wear their pj's all day, bring their stuffed animals (he brought his duck he got in the hospital for his first kidney surgery), blankets and READ lots..with teachers switching rooms reading their favorite books to the students. I was grateful Colton chose pj's w/ a top and a bottom (as he favors big t-shirts)! He also wore 'his' slippers (above), and was quite disappointed when I made him go to school in sneakers, only to switch into his slippers. They are actually MY slippers I got on my mission. A cute, older sister would make them for all the sister missionaries that served in Rio Linda (Do you still have your pair sister Bond?, Sis. Socwell--didn't you get a pair too?) aah, I LOVE it, seeing them put to good use and passed down. He LOVES them, I don't know why, but he does. Dan left for seminary at 6:05 am and then worked until 6:30pm, then he went straight to a live broadcast seminary training and did not get home until 8pm. We did not get him for very long that day!
So I did what all good moms would do and we had a movie/pizza night eating in the Living Room (which is a big no-no)! I did this cause I was solo, did not want the newly mopped floors dirty, and the boys had cleaned the bathrooms well. Our movie was Garfield. SUPER CUTE! Dan came home at the end of it all!
Dan and I then settled down for our own movie: Believe in ME! It is an EXCELLENT movie and comes thumbs up recommended by me (NOT just because I play basketball, and am partial to it!)
SATURDAY MARCH 1st: The boys woke up begging me to change the calendars (they are obsessed with them, counting down to holidays, b-days etc.) Sterling had a friends transformer b-day party to go to. They had a jump house, pinata, cake, ice cream, the works. While he was at a birthday party I was at a stake Relief Society birthday celebration. Our stake goes ALL OUT for these events. They had transformed the church ,once again, to look like the days of the scriptures. It was a bit different then at x-mas-they had pillars, and candles, fruit and grapes, palm trees...you get my drift. Then they had a full on production/musical of the ten virgins and a complete meal. I missed the morning of classes BUT thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon production and lunch. It was AMAZING! it is so amazing to me how music brings in the spirit so quickly and strongly. Some of my girlfriends performed in it and I was so touched by their hidden talents. It kind of made me proud to see them up there!
The rest of the day we stayed busy trying to keep our high maintenance Dacie pacified. Oreos worked for a bit! Dan also took the boys down to the river to fish for a little bit..no bites!

Saturday eve always brings about bath night--and what an EVENT that always ends up being! I decided to get real cute and roll all of Dacie's hair in sponge curlers, and the next morning...we had ONE winner left. I had to wet down her hair b/c of the crazy half curl, too curly, no curly look! Not doing that again until more hair grows in-
I stayed up until 11pm that evening getting music time ready for Sunday. I NOW have so much compassion for primary music leaders, after being in this calling. It is like doing a sharing time every week, adapting for the nursery all the way up to 12 year olds!!! Some times it is ALOT of work in regards to preparation. I was printing off the new song, laminating, making a game, etc.


SUNDAY March 2nd:Ryland announced in nursery today that Dan and I were getting married. When I came into nursery to do the music the leaders were laughing telling me what he had said, I simply told them, "After four kids we thought it was about time to get married." (REALLY we were married October 21, 2000 in the Washington DC temple) We all had a good LAUGH about that one. Ryland also announced to all of his classmates and I, that he cannot wait until Christ comes again. I love that kid.
It was Ryland's first day off of grounding(for over a month)-from ALL forms of coloring, after taking a permanent marker to our car! He promptly drew all over Coltons pants-AAHHHHH!!!!!

Dacie took 4 STEPS ToDay! Walking is around the corner! She might be right on track with her bros. @14 months!
We ended the evening with some games of red light/green light, telephone, and Simon says!

Monday March 3rd- I started my new goal and woke up when Dan was leaving for seminary to exercise on my beloved elliptical, before the kids woke up (sleep has been a long time coming, so I have been selfish with it, even a half hour). The morning went flawlessly! We also ran some errands while Sterling was at preschool-we got an automatic car wash (and Dacie freaked out!). We also got some markers for FHE tonight-we are giving the boys their routines and charts!

I busted out the Irish music for st. patty's today, as well, and did about 2 minutes of irish and 15 of clogging(with the shoes and all)and I AM SO OUT OF SHAPE! besides the fact you lose your talent when you don't use it!

I did receive some heart-breaking news today, my freshman year (in room) roommate (pictured above with her two children and hubby) has been in ICU for two weeks, she was just taken off of life support and is not very responsive-however, her prognosis is promising. It is not very clear what happened to her. My heart had been tender already, lately, for my other good friend who passed away this time last year. Life is fragile. They are pure women, great young mommies, and dear friends! It hurts inside.

We LOVE long weekends--ha ha that is what this turned into. On to a new week!

Having a BaLL BoWLING!!!

Our group of friends (playgroup, church, girls game nights) have gotten together and decided to do a once-a-month group date. This month was the 'kick-off' with a bowling and dessert night on Friday 2/22!
Dan and I had allot of FUN! I am not gonna lie, my first game was sad BUT I rocked in the second game...126 or something--and, YES, I beat Dan!
It was fun going bowling with friends-that is more of a group date kind of thing anyways~there was plenty of cheering going on!
...and some creative bowling styles (around and through the legs). Our last few frames we got to do to black lights and music, since rock-n-bowl started! SWEET!
The night was topped off with some aisle dancing at dessert/dinner (for those of us who ran straight from work)!! We are so grateful for good friends and fun date nights for us. It brought back cheap, date-night memories from BYU (except it is not cheap here and with babysitting fees)!