Jace's Third Birthday!

I can't believe that my cute little boy who had such a rocky start has turned out to be a wild, crazy, healthy boy! It has gone way too fast!

Jace turned 3 on Friday and for about a month he kept saying he was going to have a "Monster Party." My kids never have a friend party until they are older, so we tried to make him feel like his family party was a monster party. We didn't have family over until Sunday, so I let Jace pick our Friday dinner. His choice? Nachos and Milkshakes! Ok, done! Very easy for me to accomplish!

Here he is enjoying his birthday dinner.

This is my cute boy opening one of his presents. A "little Einstein's rocket." Thanks everyone for the great presents! Below is the cake I make him with "Monster's vs. Aliens" stuff on it. He liked his monster cake. I just can't get the picture to go the right direction!
Happy Birthday Jacer!!!!

More Thoughts. . .

Ok, yet another post with no pictures, but I have obviously been thinking a lot!
Today we attended a funeral for our friend Dan Howells. He was killed on Monday in a car accident. His wife Amy now has six children to care for on her own. Just this past Christmas our friend Angie lost her husband Brian and now has 5 kids to raise. It has been so strange to think of these great couples and the fun and crazy game nights we used to have with them not too long ago. I just can't believe that in three short months two of my friends have so unexpectedly been left to raise their beautiful children alone.They have been amazingly strong and have shown extreme courage in facing the challenges that lie ahead for them.
I can't imagine what I would do. It has definitely been a time of reflection for me and for Shane. How fast your life can change in ways that are unexpected.
Really, what would you do if your spouse left the house and never came home? I keep thinking, what if you are angry with someone in your family and that is the last time you see them? Sad thoughts i know, but it sure has made me more grateful for everyday that I have. It makes me want to be much more loving to my husband and my children. Everyday is a gift that we so often take for granted. My hope is that in some way I can take these tragedies and learn from them. I want to stop worrying about little things. To stop getting so frustrated with the trials that four kids can bring. To be grateful for the many blessings I have. To be grateful for my beautiful healthy children. To appreciate my hard working and loving husband more. To realize how blessed I am to have the friends that I have made over the years. And probably most of all to take JOY IN THE JOURNEY, because we never know how long our journey will last.

Thoughts of the day!

Ok, so I spoke a little too soon, about feeling better! I had a great few days, and then a bit of a crash. That is ok though. If I can get a few of those good days more often, then I can actually get some things accomplished. It is just nice to have days where I can get out of the fog.
Today was rough for other reasons. I started last night not being able to sleep. I finally went to bed about 3 am. Then at 4 Jace started throwing up. Hallie had already thrown up a few times at this point, so needless to say it was a sleepless night and a lovely mom day filled with laundry and sad sick kids.
One thing I am grateful for today though is mothers intuition. I am so grateful that I have that gift in my life. This afternoon when I finally got Jace to take a nap, I made Hallie and Abbie take a nap too. I was then able to get some much needed rest myself. I decided to turn off the phone so that Jace and I weren't disturbed by random phone calls.
After a few minutes I got up and decided I needed to check the phone. As I did I saw that it was ringing. It was Natalie calling from school! I hurried to pick up the phone, and Natalie was crying on the other end. She was a door monitor today and she got her finger smashed in the doors of the school by some rowdy kids. She said it was cut and she was really upset. I talked to the office and they said she didn't need stitches or anything, so I just talked to her for a while to calm her down. I know this isn't any sort of miraculous thing, but I was so glad that I felt like checking the phone so I could help her when she needed me.
After talking to her I went in my room for a nap. It was then that I thought back to many times as a mom when I woke up just before a newborn baby needed me, or the times that I have felt like I should check on my kids just as they have gotten hurt, or better yet when I have been able to stop them from getting hurt. I am just so grateful for those promptings that I have had when I have been in tune with the needs of my four wonderful kids.
Now I just need to get them all feeling better. I think I might need to go to Chick-fil-A for dinner to make it through the day!?!

My old self!

This past week I have been feeling a little like my old self. It has been years since I have felt at all like this. Some of it might be my excitement for spring, but I am hoping I am just on an upward trend with my thyroid battle!

I made peanut butter cups for my kids. I used to make them all the time, but haven't made them in like 6 years! They didn't even know I could do it. They were so excited and thought I should make them every week.

I put out spring decorations for the first time in like 3 years. I realized that I don't have very many at all. My kids were saying things like "where did this come from?" and "oh, I remember this from a long time ago." I felt so bad.

I have just not been able to do anything but the basics (which Shane would probably say that the basics haven't been done much either) for such a long time. I am hoping to be getting back to being a normal person that can do nice things for the people I love. Even if this is just a little break in the fog that has been my life, I am very grateful to feel good for however long it lasts.

I love my family and I wish that I had been able to be better for them all along. My two little kids especially don't know the real me, and I think Natalie and Hallie have forgotten. Hopefully Shane can at least remember why he married me. He has been so patient and kind throughout all this crap and I am so glad I married him.

So this post is to good health for me and to everyone else! Here I go to take cupcakes out of the oven!!!!!!

Here comes Annie Oakley!!

Yesterday, Hallie had to do a Biography book report for her 3rd grade class. She had to make a bookmark with facts about her person, dress up, and tell her class all about Annie Oakley. I think she looked really cute. We borrowed boots and the gun from a neighbor and just put the rest together with stuff from home. We found the hat in a box of stuff Shane's mom gave to us. It was his when he was little and Hallie thought that was really fun. Parents were invited to come listen to the reports and I was really proud of how well she did. She had been really nervous. She doesn't like to do things in front of people like my other kids do. She is a little more shy that way. The last time we went to Training Table she wouldn't go refill my drink because "she's not a people person." Anyway, she did a great job and didn't show her nerves.

Two years ago Natalie's report was on Florence Nightingale. It will be fun to see what our other kids are in future years.

Star of the Week!

Abbie is my third child to go to Shining Star Preschool. We love Mrs Johnson and her great school. This week Abbie was the star of the week. We got to make a poster about her, take treats to school, and go tell her class all about her. Her poster said;
Favorite food: Nachos, bananas, yogurt, cereal, and french fries
Favorite color: Orange and yellow
Favorite Movie: Chronicles of Narnia II
Favorite Show: Suite Life of Zach and Cody
Favorite Activities: playing barbies, dress up, playing with brother and sisters, playing wii, playing with friends.
What makes you Happy: A hug.
What makes you Sad: Getting hurt

Abbie my sweet shining star!

Yea for my parents!

I know I look like a hunchback in this picture, but that is what I get for having lifelong bad posture! Anyway this isn't about me, it is about the fact that last Friday my parents bought a new car! Finally! My dad rode the shuttle down from Idaho Falls (by the way, who knew there were 16 different times in one day he could ride the shuttle down here! Wow!) and I picked him up at the airport to take him to buy this great new car! I think they will really like it. It is a 2008 Explorer with leather interior and a fun thing that syncs their phone or an mp3 player right through the cars speakers. I am glad they can now come visit without worrying about their safety, I am glad that they could buy and pull a trailer now if they want, I am glad they got something nice because they definitely deserve it. They are always doing nice things for everyone else and now they have done something nice for themselves and it makes me happy. Nate said they don't dare drive it and they didn't even take it to church on Sunday! Funny. Hopefully they will get used to the fact that it is theirs and they will enjoy it to its fullest! Love you mom and dad and I am glad you finally broke down and made a purchase even though it "says Ford on the front!"