Happy 1st Birthday in Heaven Kaiya!

I have been thinking about what to say in this post...because I have known this day is coming up and I have wanted to say something...put my thoughts into words in a meaningful way...but I just am not sure I know how.

I can't help but think of what would be going on in Kaiya's life today if she were here. The party would be huge....family would fly in....I know I would be there....and we'd all sing to her as she wears a cute outfit with a bow on her head and the biggest smile on her face...or maybe not...maybe she would be really sick and not able to be around people, or in the hospital waiting for surgery. I follow enough families of babies living with heart conditions to know that things are HARD for them and their parents. Everything is "touch and go" and waiting for labs results and procedures to be done and hoping for the best and never being certain of what the future holds. I also know that these parents are more in tune to the Spirit and rely on their Savior in ways that amaze me...and they have peace and hope. I have often told Angela that she is a member of an elite club. One full of people that everyone revere but also one that no one wants to be a member of.

So...Kaiya....if I could....I would give you a big hug and kiss today and thank you for all you have taught me. If I had to choose just one of the life lessons that I have felt deeply because of you...it would be to enjoy every moment. That sounds so cliche...but if I could learn to savour every second that I have with my loved ones without worrying about the "what if's"...like your mommy did with you...I know I'd be able to have and share more joy...and my life would be more fulfilling because of it.

..Angela "introduced" me to....(through his blog), to Paul Cardall who is celebrating life with a new heart. If for you ever want to be inspirered about living life...visit his blog! I am going to pledgerize here for a second and paste in something from a recent post of his.

"Often, so many of us are oblivious to what’s happening next door or in our own homes.

I hope I never forget or lose sight of the fact that there are children and adults throughout the world in need of our kindness, love, prayers, and a little help.

My scars are reminders.

You and I can only do so much. We can improve the world by choosing to mourn with those that mourn and comfort those who stand in need of comfort.

I believe God will guide us to where we need to be to serve others.

If I've learned anything at all through my experiences it is that I know God is the Father of us all. He loves his children more than we can imagine. We can trust in Him.

No matter how much we do or try to do to help in the end it's the love of God that is going to help ease the pain and suffering of others. I felt His love through the kind acts of others.

Of course we need seasons to celebrate!"

I read this today and thought (amoungst other things) that..."Today is a day to celebrate!"

I bought some balloons...one for every color of the rainbow...because I remembered a post Angela did about Rylee seeing "rainbow clouds" and saying that it was from Kaiya.

I had wanted all three of my kids to let the balloons go...but by the time Kaitlyn got home from school...Weston was sleeping, so we just did it! It was sweet to hear the girls say good bye to Kaiya's balloons and speculate over where they might land. The yellow balloon, however, only made it to the neighbors tree...but that's okay! Kaitlyn hopes one of hers makes it to Spain. I just hope that someone will find one of them...and read the note...and get to know Kaiya a little and maybe want to become more aware of the people around them...like Paul said.

* Ang! It was good to talk to you today! You sound great and I hope you guys have a wonderfuly amazing family bonding time on the rest of your trip!...Also...I am worried that my description of Kaiya and her surgery that I put with the balloon isn't quite accurate...I should have called and asked you about it...sorry. Love ya! {[HUGS]}*

When I heard that there was snow in the forecast...I really didn't think it would snow enough for it to stick. But, I was wrong! How crazy is it that we got snow before Halloween!? There's enough to play around in...but it wasn't enough for the schools to have a snow day...or even late start. (darn). I hope Kaitlyn gets to play in the snow at recess...because it will probably be gone by the time she gets home from school.

For you mom's out there...

I discovered this at Wal-Mart. Not like they don't sell it other places...but anyways. It was like $5....but I think worth it. It's great for kids because unlike other saline (salt water) nasal sprays, they don't have to inhale....it just sprays right up there! My kids don't really mind it too much. The first couple times, they pulled back and almost got shot in the eye...but now I have them turn around and lean against me...and they can't pull back. Oh...and make sure keep a tissue handy for when the yuckies start running down! I was glad to remember about saline sprays because it is a great way to clear out the nasal passage and doing that will help make it so that viral things can't grow in there. My girls have also been gargleing with salt water every night...because I have heard that clearing out your throat at least once a day will help keep the viruses away too. Who knows...my kids will most likely still get sick this flu season....but I feel like I am doing something to help prevent it. OH....and with the salt water....make sure to stress the fact that they are to spit it out after wards! Addie swallowed the first time! (yuck)

(Totally unrelated... but Weston is here in the office sitting on a track of the eliptical machine saying, "This is the BEST wild horse EVER! LOL!)

*Oh and P.S.!*... The bottle of Simply Saline says to not use it on more than one person....but I just get a cotton ball with alcohol on it and clean it off between kids. Hopefully that makes it okay to share. The saline only comes out...it doesn't suck back in...so I think it's fine to share if you clean it. (I hope.)

The other day, Adelin was climbing the apple tree...(the same one from the pictures I posted of Weston...he was using the branch as a horse...) anyhow...Addie was in the tree and hollered to me to "bring my camera and take pictures of her"....so...I did!

The ever adorable Adelin....messy hair + a stained shirt...and she still looks cute!

Now...

Check out THIS outfit! How can you get this look you ask!?All you need is a baseball hat, "cowboy shrit", basketball shorts and cowboy boots...oh...and don't forget your accessories (aka...paci in the mouth and a horse for each hand)!

Double click on the image to make it bigger.

I saw this inspirational video on Nie Nie's blog....and loved it. Hope you all have a fun weekend!

This morning Weston was laying in my bed next to me and he said, "It time to go get Kaikin." (I had just bearly gotten her out the door). I said, "No, She just left to go to school."...and he said, "Kaikin not at school...silly goose!" It look me a second (and him calling me a "silly goose" a few more times) to convince him that "Kaikin" was at school.

Oh....I forgot to write about this the other day. So, Sunday, I was laying down with Weston for his nap and he didn't have socks on, so I got up and got him a pair. After I put them on him he said, "These are my ballet socks". (daddy will love that)

.....silly goose!

As a mom of little kiddos....you see and hear LOTS of things that you want to write down and remember forever....sweet things, funny things....things that'll embarrass them when they are older....

So, here are a few things that I have been wanting to write down...for the above reasons.

Let's start with little Miss Addie Girl. We got home from church yesterday and I was changing out of my church clothes when she came in to hve my unbutton her dress. Then she rushed into my bathroom because she had to "go". A second later I heard her exclaim, "Dang poop!" I asked her what she had said and she eplained, "I am calling this a "dang poop" because it wont come out!" Okay...that was gross....but I had to share it!

A few days ago, I was sitting next to Weston and he asked, "I hold your elbow?" I said, "Sure". And he put his hand on my elbow and held it. Then he said, "I kiss your elbow?"...and I said, "Sure"...and he did. Then he asked, "I hug your elbow?"...I said, "sure"...and he did. Try having someone hug your elbow...it's not very natural. This morning he did the same thing with my shoulder.

Last Thursday and Friday, Kaitlyn had a half day at school. After she reported to me that on Thursday they watched Charlotte's Web, had recess and did a math worksheet...I decided that if she wanted to, I'd let her stay home from school on Friday. SO....Friday morning came around and 15 minutes before it was time to get up and get ready for school, Kaitlyn came and got into bed with me and was pretty much asleep...and I was pretty much asleep....so I called the lady we carpool with and told her that Kaitlyn was going to stay home. Well....Kaitlyn had obviously been more awake then I thought she was because next thing I knew she was wanting to go watch TV. I told her she had to try to sleep in....for crying out loud...that was the whole point of her not going to school! She laid there and then said, "I feel kind of bad about not going to school". Not what a mom wants to hear when she's feeling like a lazy bum for wanting to sleep in instead of getting her girl off to school. Still, I thought it was very sweet that she'd be concerned about missing school. But really....if all she's gonna do on a half day is watch TV...then she might as well stay home.

Well, I guess that's all for now. Kaitlyn has today and tomorrow off school for Fall Break and we have absolutely nothing fun planned.

Oh well.

Okay....so I am a little slow and really haven't been able to figure out Photo Shop on my own. I need to buy a tutorial DVD or "PS2 for DUMMIES"...so anyhow...I downloaded the Picasa editing software and I have been having fun playing around with it.

This adorable family is my neice Jewel, her hubby Steve and my super cute nephew Jack (their 7 month old, who I like to call "Jack-jack)!

addicted....

"Change" is in the air!

Have you heard the latest news! After Barak Obama's recent Nobel Peace Prize win...he's won another prize that he is equally unqualified for! We are SOoooooo proud of him! 



 
I don't wanna know the "CHANGE" that had to take place for him to win this one!
 
 
{...even you Obama fans are laughing....I know it!}

I found a funny blog...witty and upliftingly so.

It's written {or should I say typed?} by Brandon's cousin Laraine. It is funny...and is now added to my list of "sites i like"...because it's one of those blogs that's worth the time you could have spent doing other more productive things...like taking a shower...or helping your husband get the kids to bed......

{(if you scroll pretty far down there...it's to the right on by sidebar, or just click on her name in this post.)}

I am such a blog updateing slacker! There's SO much I am slacking on...it's not even funny! Oh well.

So...here's a little update on everyone...kindda.

Kaitlyn is loving 1st grade. I know I am biased and that her work is super easy because frankly...that's just the way it is here....but she is right on top of everything...she does well in all subjects....well....from what I can tell. We'll see at her parent-teacher conference this month. She really likes her teacher, Mrs. Taylor and so do I. She's nice but strict. Kaitlyn loves "skipping" on the monkey bars. She has a pretty impressive arm span! We went to the school play ground on our date last week so that she could show me all her play gound "skills"...and I have to say, I was impressed! She also loves jump roping and making up little jump rope songs. She and her cousins Taryn and Ellie have also started a "Kitten Club". I am not sure what they do....but they each have a "kitten" name. I think they are Crissy (Ellie), Midnight (Kaitlyn) and Oreo (Taryn).

Adelin started preschool last month. We started a preschool group. She is the youngest...but I am okay with that. Her "class mates" are: Trey Flake (her cousin), Lily Lundburg (a cousin/neighbor), Morgan Brimhall (in our ward/neighborhood) and Dallin Weech (in our ward). So far, things are going good! I am glad that we had preschool at our house the first time we did it because she was telling me things like, "I don't want to go to preschool..." and " I am just going to stay 3 and not turn 4." She seriously was talking about NOT having a birthday and NOT getting presents...some sort of "preschool age crisis" I guess. She had me a little worried that she was going to put up a fuss about preschool...but, like always, she remains to be unpredictable and LOVES going to preschool! I think she has taken her "Baby Sally" for show and tell at least 2 times...she still loves that doll! She also loves to play Barbies and she and Weston are learning to be playmates...and enemies...but that's normal right? She also loves to be a helper...especialy in the kitchen...and she likes to "do" hair too. I need to take some pictures the next time she styles Brandon's!

Weston still LOVES his horseys. This morning, he woke up while I was getting Kaitlyn off to school (it was too early for him to be getting up since he didn't fall asleep last night until well after 10 p.m.) and I told him to go lay in my bed and I would be in there soon. When I went in, there he was, snuggled (as much as you can snuggle a hard plastic horse) and asleep. I climbed right in and enjoyed getting to go back to bed! Weston is also getting an attutide. He will say things like, "Mom, get me juice, now!" That is so not okay around here...so hopefully we can teach the little booger some manners! Brandon and I were just saying the other day that when Weston was younger, we would have never guessed that he'd be a talkaive kid...but let me tell you...that boy is a jabber-jaw!

You should have heard these three kids last night when we were driving home from Show Low! They were being crazy and all three were singing "Down By The Bay" the their most awful singing voices...that song is annoying no matter how you sing it...but all Brandon and I could do was laguh and wonder how on earth we got such silly kids!

Brandon's doing good. Things out at the Mill are picking up for the time being. He's just super busy like always between work, his calling, yard work and being husband and father. I think he's enjoying the college football season....we don't "talk sports"....but watching them is one of his favorite ways to relax. We've been married long enough for me to accept that sports are a part of our marriage whether I like them to be on my, I mean our, TV or not....so...yeah....(Did I get that right Honey?...You can rebuttle if you want to! Love ya!)

I am just...you know...trying to keep things together around the house and keep people fed and happy. Our ward Relief Society is starting a sewing class which I am very happy to attend! This summer, Angela gave me her old machine...by "old" I mean it is brand new...she just got a better one! SO! Tonight I am going to go to my first class and hopefully make a little progress towards learnign how to sew. We are making an apron. We'll see how long it takes me to finish it! We only meet once a month!

That that's pretty much it! Maybe next time I will post some pictures....

I haven't told you about the little button to you left....I think it says "baby half off" or something like that. WELL! This is a fun new website that my friend Skye and a couple of her female family members run (I think her mom and SIL)....anyhow! I am loving this site. Haven't bought anything yet....but I love seeing they deals they have. Here's how it works....they spotlight a "deal" every day. This could be something for baby, toddler or mom. This is not a site where you go and browse the merchindise....(if you want to do that go HERE...to visit Skye's other site...)....but it's a site you can check everyday or so to see what the deal of the day is! Pretty fun! And, If you like organic, natural, lead-free products...they have lots of those!

So...my dad didn't get the job...and to top things off...his little dog (who was seriously his best friend) named Paco died today. I am not a person who becomes emotionaly attached to pets (I'm defected I guess)...and to be honest...I hated that dog! But, I know my dad feels bad about it...and so that makes me sad. Anyhow....we are remaining optisistic and as far as employment goes, and have set the goal of him coming up here to take the CDL test. The MVD's up here will do a written exam...the MVD's in the Phoenix area only do computerized tests without exeption.

On a MUCH brighter... more FUN note...and totally unrelated to my dad or his dog...

My super talented friend Jill is doing a giveaway on her blog. Go check it out! A few of her photos were sent to a gal who makes necklaces and Jill is going to give one away! These are super cute+stylish+inspiration peices that you must go see!


(dude...blogger changed...where's my spell check button?)