Christmas Cards

I've been thinking I am a slacker.
I know I am often a slacker...
This year I am feeling guilty about not doing Christmas Cards.
I had big plans....
But could never get all my family together for a picture.
So...
What do you think about New Year's cards?
I had a cousin do this once.
I liked it.

Is it totally lame to send a Happy New Year Card instead?
Still with the newsy letter and picture?
As it happens because it's the holidays
my whole family is present and accounted for
So pictures are finally an option.

I'm doing it.
If you don't like it.
They all end up in the same place after they're read anyway, right?

Double Up

This is my loot from the Smiths coupon savings.

Every coupon used valued at $1.00.

Price at Register before coupons $216.67

Spent $110.12

Saved $106.55

I will be the first to admit that this whole coupon thing

would work better for me if I was diligent.

However, the two times Smiths does this a year

have paid above and beyond for my Newspaper.

Plus....

I love watching the money go off.

I love even more getting stuff for free. :)

Because of this....

Yes you heard me
Because of this.....

I have sore arms, a sore back and feel like I've had a huge workout.

So 2 hours and 45 minutes later...

because of that....

my house looks like this...

The beds aren't made.

The Christmas decorations still sit in their boxes

all over my living room

and the laundry is not done!

Sigh....

Remind me why I love snow?!?...

What a difference a YEAR makes....

One year ago today
We were here.....

It says the 31st because I didn't get around to taking a picture
Until after midnight.
Benjamin just out of a 5 hour surgery
at Primary Children's Medical Center.
It was his fourth surgery.


Below are pictures of the following weeks.
Ben was nearly 16
He weighed 83 pounds and was
5'1"tall.
He has had all kinds of needles, tubes and procedures.
PICC line
NG tube
NJ tube-feeding tube
Port a Catheter
Iv's
Folio Catheter
An abscess the size of a softball
drugs of all kinds...
and pain....
He went to school with an IV for a few weeks
with a feeding tube from his nose for a few weeks
He spent nearly half the 2009/2010 school year
on Home and Hospital...and still managed to get good grades.

Here is a picture taken
just after he had a scary heart rate of 150
a fever of 104
and pain beyond belief.
This is after the meds finally took effect.
I was always amazed that he would find his smile.
But he did.

Here is a picture of the needle they would shove into his clavicle
where his port was located.
Here he is with his tower...
and his many pumps.
Some of his best friends were nurses.

Almost tubeless and feeling so much better.

Over the last three years he has spent 100 days in the hospital.

And endured it all with a smile.

Here he is today.

5'6 and 3/4.

132 lbs.

That is a 49lb weight gain

5 and 34 inch growth in one year.

He is Healthy

Eating what he wants

Pain free.

Driving

Enjoying high school

dating and friends.

Lovin' Life and Looking good.

(if I do say so myself)

See what I mean..:)

P.S. Check out my previous post today to see Booklyn as a Southern Belle

Southern Belle

Happy Halloween!!

After many days of discussion...
Brooklyn became a Southern Belle
for Halloween.

She is Beeeaauutiful!
If I do say so myself.

It is her last year for Trick or Treating
as we only allow our kids to Trick or Treat until they are 12.
So she needs to live it up.

Here are some photos to mark the occasion.
Plus a photo of her in the school parade.

It really has an old fashioned hoop skirt under it.

Love my mad hair skills.....

What a cute face. :)

Last night she picked the pumpkin

from our own garden...

Cleaned the pumpkin.

Carved the pumpkin.

She did a good job.

The fruits of her labor.

The last Halloween I have to worry about Trick or Treating.

Hurray because we all no how much I love Halloween.

Sad...well because it means my kids are all grown up. :(

Sense of Humor and a Getaway

We took a much needed little getaway for UEA

to the Great Basin National Park.

On the road driving into the park...

we witnessed the Sense of Humor of someone...

Isn't it Grate?..

There were all kinds of fun things along the fence line.

We only stopped to photo op 3.

*(this post contains 13 pictures...sorry)

Meet Barb Wire

&

Bob Wire

While in the Great Basin

we went and saw Leehman Caves.

A really neat cave and fun to see.

Below some pictures to mark the event...

Cave Bacon

Ben and Brooklyn
Another Cave formation

We then drove to the top of the park at 10,000 ft above sea level.

And hiked up 1200 ft. more

to an area where they have trees dating back to BC.

Seriously. They are AMAZING!!

They are a Bristle Cone pine tree.

There is also a glacier.

The hike was at times icy and narrow with steep ledges.

You can imagine my joy in this part.

What you can't see is that this tree

is up on a very steep incline. We had to trek to it.

Hence, my less than joyful smile.

I hate heights. ;)

The kids loved climbing on this old tree.

below

wider view of some of the area.

It was a great time had at the Great Basin.

We then drove to Saint George

to spend time with Lincoln's mom.

We had a great time together.

It was a fun getaway.

The only thing missing.....

BAILEE!!

We missed you. ♥

Blue

It has been a dreary week.
Cloudy and Rainy.
I love rainy days.
But for some reason my mood has been melancholy
all week long
So the stormy days aren't working for me.
Even though they make for beautiful contrasting skies.
I found this thought....It applies.

“This is my wish for you: Comfort on difficult days, smiles when sadness intrudes, rainbows to follow the clouds, laughter to kiss your lips, sunsets to warm your heart, hugs when spirits sag, beauty for your eyes to see, friendships to brighten your being, faith so that you can believe, confidence for when you doubt, courage to know yourself, patience to accept the truth, Love to complete your life.”

I'm ready for the rainbow.

Or just a new week to chase away the Melancholy.

But I will concede that the skies are beautiful, even cloudy.

How Do YOU?.....

Com•mu`ni•cate

1To impart or transmit; 2To give or exchange information-messages. 3To have a meaningful relationship
4a message, letter, etc. 5a means of communicating.


My mind has been wrapped around this concept lately. How do we communicate with each other?

Of course there is the first and I think best choice, vocally. Having a face to face conversation whether it be meaningful or just casual chat is irreplaceable. Face to face makes is more intimate and personal. Also a lot can be understood by facial expression and body language.

Then we have vocal conversation via Telephone. Sometimes due to distance a conversation must be had over the phone. Still a quite effective means of communicating. You can tell a lot by the tone of someones voice. My husband says he can tell if I have a happy, irritated, mean, impatient or tired tone, in just a few words. I myself, am always good for a nice phone chat with my husband when he has a minute at work, my sisters, my parents, my children and my friends. I love keeping in touch.

We have email and letters sent through the mail. Both also very effective forms of communication. I love getting a hand written letter or card in the mail. Doesn't happen much these days with all the technology, but I still love it. There is just something very personal about a letter written in someones hand writing. Who doesn't get excited when they go to the mail box and receive something personal. Nice informative and chatty emails are good too. Both options have taken thought and time for the sender and are usually heartfelt and enjoyable.

We have text and Social network chatting/skypeing. I love text. It is not my first choice or even my second choice at communication, but it is very effective in certain cases. Like getting a message to someone who you know is busy. ie: children at school, husband at work. It is also very effective in giving a quick note, personal message or thought. Like, "I'm thinking about you. "Hope your having a great day" "Love you" "Miss you" "Where are you?" (this one sent to my teens many times) etc. I love getting quick texts from my significant other and friends as well. It brings a smile to my face.

Social network chatting is also useful in certain cases. I like this to communicate with my college student when we are both online. It is faster than text for me and I can multi task. Social networks are a great way to keep in touch with old friends or acquaintances we don't see often. But definitely not a personal form of communication.

Skype. Is that how it is even spelled? I don't know because I don't use it. But I understand it is a great way to have face to face chats via the Internet with people who live a great distance from you. I am sure this is a wonderful tool for people with loved ones in the armed forces or working in foreign and distant lands.

This blog is a form of communication. My random thought and feelings form but communication nonetheless.

Let's not forget prayer. The communication between us and our Heavenly Father.

We have so many wonderful forms of communication at our fingertips. So...why is communication such a problem with today's society? Where will we be..where is the future of our children..if people don't learn to communicate efficiently? Sit face to face, pick up the phone, write a letter, send an email, send a text, kneel in prayer. Whatever it is. Do it. Often. I myself value all forms of communication. I value keeping in touch, sharing experiences, troubles, thoughts and feelings with others. I expect daily communication with those I love and are close to me.

I am grateful for all those in my life who make the effort to communicate with me. It keeps relationships strong. It is necessary for all relationships in our life. Lucky me...my husband and my children are all great communicators as well. Maybe it's a learned thing. Well for the sake of society...people need to get learning. :)

BOYS vs. GIRLS

At our house everything pretty much comes down to this.

What the boys would do...

and say.. in any given situation

vs

What the girls do and say

in any given situation.

It's a constant topic of conversation here.

Also what girls think

vs

what boys think.

Apparently we OVER think everything.

:)

But this week/weekend

I learned through first hand knowledge

the difference between a date/dance

planned and executed by a son

vs

one planned by a daughter.

Girls:

Two weeks or a little more find a cute way to ask boy.

Take a friend for moral support to accomplish task.

Find a group.

Decide on day activity.

Decide on dinner

Decide on after dance activity

Shop for/find a dress.

Sometimes this may be borrowing/trading.

Sometimes shopping for matching tie for date.

Decide on Hair, Make up, shoes

and accessories.

Order Boutonniere.

Figure out logistics making time for all this

plus time to get ready.

Photo ops.

Enjoy.

Boys:

boy: "Maybe I'll ask someone to the dance"

Mom: "you should it would be fun"

Time goes by

boy: "I think I will ask someone to the dance"

Mom: "You better hurry it's only two weeks away"

Time goes by

boy: "I will ask someone to the dance"

Mom: "Good, who and how"

boy: "let me think about it"

Time goes by

boy: "okay I know who I'm ganna ask"

Mom: "How?" "When"

boy: "I was hoping you would have ideas"

So I come up with ideas.

SHOT DOWN!!!

I'll ask Dad. (Dad likes moms ideas)

But...they were my/girl/not boy ideas.

I come up with some more.

The dance is now like 12 days away

He finally agrees to one.

Then wants me to do the work.

Which being the loving mom...I do.

The planning, the putting together...

THE DELIVERY!!

Then I ask him about a group.

He ho hums for days.

I pressure him.

Dates are way more fun in groups.

Finally, he succeeds in coercing some friends

into asking dates.

Success.

What are you going to do for a day activity?

(which btw I think is ridiculous)

What happened to dinner and the dance?

Anyhow...irrelevant...

He asks for suggestions...

I give them..

He scowls

SHOT DOWN!!

I'm going to ask dad.

(dad likes mom's ideas) you see where this is going

Mom's just have NO clue!

Moms Know all!!

Finally, he and his friends decide.

And so it goes...

with dinner plans,

after plans,

who will drive, times etc.

IT was painful. LOL.

I felt like I was dragging it all out of him.

Then..

He needed new clothes.

But, he doesn't want to shop for them.

Can't I just pick a few choices out and let him decide at home.

I shop...

I pick two.

One Dark Purple, my favorite.

One Blue, average.

SCOWL...

Purple..That's our school colors.

(never crossed my mind)

Just thought it would look good on him.

I coerce him into trying it on.

He succumbs.

He likes it.

What shoes to wear?

What cologne to wear?

What kind of flowers to order?

What pictures to order?

and so on..

Conversations/reminders about how to treat a girl.

SCOWL

I know all this.

You and Bailee have been POUNDING it in my head

for years.

It's true. We have.

He is a gentleman. :)

They say boys are easier...

I am inclined to disagree.

It was his first dance...

I'll let him off this hook this once.

So the Jury is out on this one

Boys

vs

Girls

He did look studly!

He is handsome if I do say so myself.

Cute date too.

The Awesome Power...

FIRE

Scary, Dangerous, Hot, Destructive and many more!

But...

There is no denying the amazing power of it.

The sheer beauty of the flame

It is a sight to behold.

Sad for the homeowners who lost everything material...

I myself got an up close personal view last night.

I'm guessing about 1/4 mile from the blaze

give or take a little.

(we were at the home of a friend of Bailee's)

I just stood there in awe watching the power

as the wind would gust the flames to amazing heights.

You could see it roll.

Now I understand why..

My husband loves it so much.

Good thing, since it's part of his life.

Fighting it that is.

Even in all it's power, and the fascination of watching it

I'm glad the loss of property was minimal

considering it could have been so terrible.

Thank those fireman who risk their lives for yours

on a daily basis.

*Photos taken from Deseret News