Easter

So I know that Easter seems like forever ago but I am just now getting around to posting it. We went to visit my sister Natalie and her family for the Easter weekend. My husband and her husband were best friends in high school and still are. So when we get together it is a blast to say the least. The kids get along pretty good but it would be nice if it was a little better in that area. They're kids, what are you going to do?! Maybe someday it will be easier that way but for now we live through it. Brads parents are so wonderful to us when we come to visit. They are always acting like we are part of the family. I think mostly because when Don and Brad were younger Don spent a lot of time over at Brads house . When ever we see them they mention that. They always make us feel comfortable and it's so fun to get to know them better. They had us over for a wonderful Easter dinner and then had an Easter egg hunt for the kids. But it wasn't like any egg hunt I had ever been in. Each egg was filled with a dollar bill! The kids were so excited! Thank you Chris and Dee Dee.

I love these pictures of Brigham. There is something so magical about watching a young toddler putts around looking for eggs. He had a smile on his face the whole time. I put this picture first because I thought it captured his personality the most. Happy and very friendly. I love this little guy!!!

He kept opening the eggs and the money would keep falling out. Don would fallow behind him picking up his lost stash. He had no idea. So funny!

Cally is my sisters oldest at age 10. As you can imagine nothing could be better then money in those eggs to her. She was ready to go shopping!

Eden is one of the most beautiful girls I've ever seen. Her golden hair matches her sweet angelic personality. Jaren and her are the same age so they have fun together. Out of all of our children they probably get along the best. I love to watch them play and interact with each other. Jaren talks about his favorite cousin Eden all the time.

Alex and Kelland are a few months apart and are now just starting to get closer. The last couple of times they've played pretty well and it's always fun to hear their conversations. It seems to always center around bodily functions. BOYS! They start young.

My sister and I have soooo much fun when we are together. I love that we live close enough to visit. We are only 16 months apart and so we have been close all our lives. We even married best friends for heaven sakes. We thought that it would work out better for us to always live close to one another but jobs kept getting in the way. We don't let that keep us from seeing each other though. We always have fun and it's always worth the trip just to see her.

Oh, Rainan and Layton. Can't we just get along? The source of most of the tension. They are the same age so you would think they would be close. But personalities clash big time here. It's sad really. When they do get along they seem quite happy but it doesn't take much for them to be at each others throats. Notice the sad looking Layton below. It was a hard afternoon for both of them.

I love the look on Brighams face here. A devious grin. My husband Don is trying to cheer up Layton for this picture but all he could muster was a pathetic pose showing off his favorite football team. Once a fan, Always a fan right Layton?! Daddy has taught him well.

The next day Natalie and I spent the afternoon together shopping and by Tuesday we were off to Florida for our family vacation. Thanks Natalie and Brad for the memories. We had fun!

Spotlight: Happy Birthday Dad!

With sticking to our tradition of spotlighting people on their birthdays, it is my fathers turn. He is turning 50 something today and I wanted to send him my love. I don't get to see much of my father anymore since i got married and moved away. But he is always a huge part of my everyday. More then he realizes I'm sure. The things he taught me growing up and most of all the example he has been to both me and my husband is something I could not live without. The thing my father and I like to do most of all is talk about my childhood and remember the good old days............... He was a gentle father to us girls. He didn't raise his voice very often and NEVER did in public. He would get down to our level, hold us close and whisper in our ears what we were doing wrong and what he expected from us. But he was also firm. When he wanted to speak with us about something we knew he meant business. I can still remember ever detail of the office he had in the Utah house. I was in there quit a lot getting direction from him and a well deserved attitude adjustment I'm sure. We would love to play with him and climb on his back and be tickled. A tradition I have kept up with my boys is the tickle game. We would all lay on the floor next to each other with our hand up and he would pretend to tickle our arm pits without touching them and whoever would move first lost. My kids love this game as well. I think Natalie always lost first. I also remember him being soft and loving towards my mother. When they would argue it always seemed to be over quick or behind closed doors. He would always tell us how special she was and that we needed to help out more because he didn't like seeing her upset. He has always been my biggest fan. He never doubted me. Always encouraged me to do my best. This is huge. So much of my confidence and self worth was nourished by this. I can't thank you enough for this daddy! When I think back on my childhood I don't have any negative thoughts. I know that my parents weren't perfect but I think that the good out weighed the bad and the sense of overwhelming love and acceptance fills my heart. I can honestly argue that it was practically perfect in every way. I was never embarrassed of my parents as a teen and loved to be around them. My dad always made us laugh. I remember nights at the dinner table with all of us just laughing and enjoying each other. He still makes me laugh. I still love to be around him. He still is there for me and my family when ever I need him. He still is the person I go to for advice or guidance. Even though I moved out over 10 years ago he still is my dad. I love him so much and hope he feels that from all of us on a daily bases. I am the person I am today because of my father. And he has even played a part in Don becoming the wonderful husband and father that he is today. His influence on all of us is constant and very much appreciated.

Thank you dad for everything! I know I wasn't the easiest child to parent. But I think you did an awesome job. Don is even inspired to live up to your example. I honestly hope my children are as happy as I was growing up. And after they are grown and look back on their life with true happiness like I do, then I'll know that I have succeeded. I hope you feel that way now. I am sorry I can't be there for your birthday but just know I'm thinking of you.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

I LOVE YOU!

Spring is here!!!

This is Arkansas is the spring. Very pretty. I love the spring. It's my favorite season. It also seems to be the shortest. However this year I can't say that I'm all that excited to see spring come. Because it just means it's closer to the time my husband leaves us again for Iraq. He leaves in 4 weeks. And it's hard to believe it's upon us once again. So we've made a tradition to go on a family vacation before he goes each time. And this year we are going to Florida. I've never been to Florida so I'm excited for this adventure. We leave tomorrow and will be gone the whole week. Spring break is a wonderful thing. So I hope you enjoy the new spring flowers and green buds. And hopefully some warm weather.
HAPPY SPRING!!!!!!!

Brighams first IVIG treatment

I have taken pictures of all of my boys getting their first treatments and Brigham was no exception. He has been going to Day Medicine at Childrens hospital with Kelland and I since he was just a baby. So he knows all the nurses really well and knows the rooms and things. But what was different this time (besides being poked for an IV) was that he couldn't get down and play like he was used to doing. It was very confusing to him. It takes a good part of the morning and afternoon to complete the prosess. So we always have lunch from the cafeteria, which is pretty good food, and play with toys and watch movies. I try to get Brig down for a nap while we are there to help make the time go faster for him. It's actually pretty stressful for me because I'm trying to constantly entertain the both of them and keep them happy. We went yesterday and Kelland really didn't want to go. He has been having a hard time with this lately and I don't blame him really. We had some test run on kelland to help us determine where this came from or why my children have this. And the test came back as a genetic disorder called X-linked Agammaglobulinemia. I know, it means nothing to me eather but a bunch of letters put together. They abbreviate it to XLA. What it means is it is a mutation or disorder attached to a X cheomosome. It is carried down through the mother and only effects boys. Girls can be carriers but wont be effected. It's actually pretty interesting. Here is a web page that explains in more detail if your interested. www.lpch.org/DiseaseHealthInfo/HealthLibrary/allergy/agamma.html When we first found out that my boys had this, one of our first questions was how long will they have this and be going through treatments. The answer at the time was they didn't really know but most of the time kids seem to grow out of it. Or really their Immune systems were just slow to develop and about teen years is when they start to see improvements. They did tell us there was a possibility that this would be a life long thing and treatment would be indefinite. Yesterday I found out the worst. Because it is genetic they will have this their whole life. It depressed me. I was sad for my children to have to be a slave to this. Also I can't help but wonder what they will do financially when they move out of the house. These procedures and treatments cost about $5000 a month for each child. We are so fortunate to be in the military and have great insurance. We don't have to pay for any of it. I know it's a long time off to be worrying about such things but I'm a mother, that's what we do. Anyway, on the flip side I know that they will be healthy. And that's all we really want for them. To live a normal happy life....... And they will.

My Little Nudist

My son Brigham loves to be outside. If he wants to go outside all he has to do is ask his big brother Kelland who is 3 to open the back door and off they go. WOW, this is funny, as I was writing this I heard the back door open. I went to check and sure enough they escaped. I wouldn't mind so much if we had a fence but we don't so I'm always afriad they will end up in the street, which they have before. But the other day I had just got him out of the bath and was getting his clothes ready. I heard the back door open then close. I yeld their names just to see if anyone would answer. Then I looked outside and found my little one running around in his birthday suit. I had to get this on camera because for some reason it is so adorable to see. It might look warm but it was in the low 50's that day. I was taking these pictures from the window because i was afraid if he saw me he would run. But it didn't matter, i had to make a mad dash for the door to try to catch up with him. when i got to him he was in the front yard giving the neighbors a show. You can't help but laugh at the situation. He's sooo cute!!!! These are the pictures you bring out when they are teens just to embarrass them. I'll be enjoying these pictures for a long time! I hope I don't get in trouble for posting such pictures. Does it matter that he's only a baby? Lets hope so!

Happy Valentines Day!!!!!

This is one of my favorite holidays. It's a very girly holiday and I guess I'm so out numbered that it has turned into my favorite. Like PINK! Growing up I never liked pink. But the older I get (and the lack of estrogen in my life) it is now my favorite color. We have been getting Valentines ready for their school parties the last couple of days. I was proud of myself for finding something boyish enough but still in the mood of Valentines Day with hearts and stuff for the mail boxes. Last night as we are finishing up Layton (my 8 yr old) announced to me that he was embarrassed of his Valentines box. And he was going on and on about other boys in his class and what they had. Why is he telling me this at 9:00 at night I'll never know but he pulled at my heart strings and we were off making another Valentines box. It was the most masculine V-box I've ever seen with Pro Football teams all over it. No hearts, no glitter, just paint and logos. He was so happy and couldn't wait to show it off and all I could think was I NEED A GIRL!!!! Jarens Valentines box was fun to do for him. I told him to go get his Lego Star Wars figures and set them up in a pose of some sort then we would take a picture and paste it on to his box. By doing it this way I thought it would be easier to sneak some heart stickers on it. It worked all though he was ripping the hearts in half because they were fighting and it made them sad not happy. I threw a few whole ones on there. Hee Hee!! He loved it after we were done. When Jaren was filling out his Valentines he was saying that the girls wouldn't like his boyish Valentines so he wasn't going to send any to the girls. I said that wasn't nice what if the girls didn't give you any of their Valentines? He said he was ok with that because he didn't want any girl stuff. I told him that I would take all the girl stuff. He was ok with that. I don't have pictures yet I'll try to post those later. And I wont be doing anything tonight on account that my husband hates this made up holiday.(bah-humbug) I'm going to have to spice it up myself I suppose. I hope everybody has a good LOVE day. And don't forget to let the people you love most know of your feelings. this is the day to do it!!!

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!!!!

WHAT SHOULD I DO?!!!!!

I know that it had been a while since I told everybody that I would be sending pictures of my new floors and countertops. It's all because the countertops aren't done. And in the pictures I wanted everything to look perfect.


But forget all that now because this is taking me too long so I'm asking for your help. The trim on the countertops are not done. We bought the material to put a wood trim on it but I don't like it so that's out. We have enough tile to use for the trim so that's not a going to be a problem.

This is where I need your help.

I really like these glass tiles. And I have a friend who gave me a good way of putting them up that would work and not be to time consuming. I like this look however, I'm nervous that not everybody will like it. We are moving in a year so the upgrades are for resale. I'm not sure it's neutral or basic enough for home buyers. Also we were thinking of changing the color of the cabnets to maybe the same color as the floor or lighter. If lighter... what color? What are your thoughts? thanks for helping!