Guess what I found?

The other day I came around the corner to find this and Claire telling me that she had boo boos and she put band aids on them. Look closely and you will see that it is not band aids! Also she got into Hannah's lip gloss. Look closely and you will see her lips sparkling. How fun is it to have a big sister to get in your personal stuff and put it all over for the world to see? (and then mom blogs it) Sorry Hannah.

Random pictures of Claire,Hannah, and Porter

These are just random pics of Claire doing housework and swimming. Don't quite know what the glove is for and love the black shoes with bikini. The goggles are called "gobbles".

This was so funny. Claire is in love with clowns. Talks about them all the time. Reality hit when we had the chance to get close to one and get our picture taken with one. She looks happy but she insisted that she was farthest away from the clown. She would freak out if one went near her to try and say hi. We still like clowns as long as they are in a movie and keep their distance! Oh, yes and don't you just love the name of this clown and his bling bling cross necklace.



Can you tell she discovered and loves cotton candy?


Hannah had riding an elephant on her list of things to do in her life and it was fulfilled. Her comment was, "man, my legs had to spread way apart and it was lumpy." Porter just smiled and hung on.




This would be our newest trick.

Smile

I was holding a new born baby at a baptism the other night and Porter said, "Mom do you want another baby?" and I replied, "No I'm done having children." Then he said, "Mom then why are you smiling so big?" I said, "because they are so new and sweet they just make you want to smile." So forgive me if I ask often to hold your little ones. I guess I want to SMILE.

Guess Who I Got To Meet

For those of you who are Ranger fans or Josh Hamilton fans here he is. Yes, he is very nice and loves to joke around. I ask if he minded signing a few things and he said, no not at all its part of the gig." He joked with us and talked about his three girls. Its also humbling to know his story and how his life has changed for the better.

No Way!!

On the way to church Sunday I decided to lotion my hands so I took off my wedding ring and set it in my lap. We take one of my young women to church and I guess I got busy talking to her and forgot I had set my ring in my lap. So later I made the comment, Um I forgot to wear my ring today." No comments on how long in between it was!!!! Yes, I am getting older and I was on overload. Later on that day we went to a fireside and I went to put it on and it wasn't in my jewelry box. I got a little worried but not too much. I told Jimmy and he said that maybe its on the floor of the car. He went and looked, no ring. We had to be at the church early so he could set up the computer stuff for the speaker. I told him that I was going to run by our church parking lot to make sure it didn't fall out on the ground before I go and pick up Victoria. As I was stopping facing the parking lot I could see something shinny. I drove over to where we were parked and opened my door and there sat my wedding ring!!!!! I was shocked that it was there and no one had walked by or even saw it. How lucky was that or should I say blessed. We were practicing taking pictures of small things at young women's one night so I do have a picture of the lucky find. In December it will be 15 years and I just can't imagine not having it.

Where did he go?

As most of you know we have been dealing with a head injury from a car accident in July. Jimmy was rear ended on the 17th of July while the rest of us were in Montana. He called and told me he was just fine and so I didn't worry. Two days later he called me after I had just talked to him and said, "I haven't talked to you in a couple of days and I thought I would call. " That is when I began to panic inside. So I called his sister and told her that no one loved Jimmy more than me and her and of course his mom and dad. Could she please call and check on him several times a day. Long story short he has had a MRI and it showed that he had no big contusions but, the neurologists said that there were probably a lot of small contusions which is a result of all the things we have been dealing with. We have dealt with twitching, anxiousness, headaches sleeplessness ,depression, emotionless/al, agitated by noise or , chaos, lethargic from medications and loss of who I married.
I sat and cried one day thinking I should be grateful that the accident wasn't worse and I didn't lose him or that he didn't lose his memory from the past. I thought what if he didn't know who we were or about our wedding day or the day each of our children were born. I am grateful for him and that it was just small contusions on his brain. Also that there is a time when he should be back to normal. I worry that the medications that have made him better will not have to be permanent. They have changed him. He is still my sweet sensitive husband. The happy joking guy is not quite all there. I never realized how much I loved that about him. When things are tense, kids are grouchy, moms grouchy, sad or hard,  Jimmy is always there to crack a joke or just make everyone laugh. I miss that. I feel like I have been walking around on egg shells for months. Telling the kids to be quiet and don't fight in front of your dad. All these things that I was used to him helping me conquer I am conquering on my own. I feel like everything I do normally is like tripled. I have relied on my Heavenly Father many times just to help me to understand what he is going through. How can you possibly understand a brain injury? Its such a complex part of our body that controls and regulates everything we do.
I think last week we turned a corner and found that doubling the medication on one seem to diminished the headaches and the twitching. My concern is when the "time" is up for the healing what will happen with the medications? Will he be on them forever or are they just a temporary help? I guess only time will tell. That is where faith comes in.
Thank you for your prayers and everyone who has taken me to lunch to get a break from it all.Thanks for the phone calls, thank you for letting us escape to your house for ice cream and just those that ask It means so much to me and to Jimmy.

1st day of 1st grade and 6th grade

Yes, its the first day of school and Hannah's last year at Miller. She is now the Big Dog or as she says everyone is saying Big Cheese, queen bees, big fish ect. She had a great week and loves her teachers (so far) and got caught up with friends she didn't see over the summer. I did ask her and Ali if they wanted me to walk them to school and they said, "uh no, thats ok." I can't believe she will be in Junior High next year. As I was driving them to school it hit me that I had been taking her to Miller for 6 years. I can remember like it was yesterday pushing her and Porter in the double stroller up to the school and dropping her off for kindergarten. Ugh I feel old.
They both were so nervous they couldn't even finish their breakfast. Porter had me walk him in to his room and when we walked in his teacher asked, "Do you think he is going to need a taller desk?" I told her we could try it this way and see. He sat down and his legs grazed the top of the desk. He said it was fine. Later on day 2 I found out she had his desk raised.
Porter had fun seeing his old friends and meeting new ones. He told me that one girl is sensitive like him because she couldn't get her shoe on and she started to cry. Also,he told me that the "fluid" was going around the school. I asked a few questions and found out that it was the flu. We are already sharing the love (sickness) at school. Porter's teacher is pregnant and due in October. She will be out until January. I wasn't real excited about that but maybe it will all work out. Anyway we are off to a good start to a good year. I am ready like my blog title because here comes life.

Happy Birthday to Porter July 13th

Happy Birthday to my sweet buddy. We are always in Montana on his birthday and this year Porter wanted to have a party and invite his friends. We originally were going to have a swim party and then it pored all day. We then had to be creative. Scary!! Since we had just gone to the circus we decided to have a circus theme. We played balloon volleyball, toss the ball into the lion's mouth, clown says instead of Simon says, and stick the nose on the clown. The kids had a blast.
I just wanted to let Porter know how much I have enjoyed being his mother. We ended a year in kindergarten and oh how much you grew. Everyday is an adventure with you. I love these things about you.....

1. You have the most hugs and kisses to give than anyone I know
2. You are very sensitive towards others
3. You do have a "red headed" temper but it doesn't last long
4. You are very creative in creating a new character
5. I call you Mr. Clean because you have to wash your hands and make sure everyone else does after going to the restroom
6. you have a wild imagination
7. you LOVE BBQ chips
8. You always always follow the rules and are disappointed when others don't
9. You love to swim and discover
10. You are my little "Jiminy Cricket"
11. You can out talk anyone!!!

CIRCUS

We took the kids to the circus and had so much fun. I think Jimmy and I had more fun watching Claire. She was so into it. She clapped and laughed at the clowns. She loved the elephants. Hannah as you can see in the picture wanted me to hurry and take the picture because someone might see her. (11 yr olds!) Porter as with anything enjoyed the WHOLE show!! It was kind of our last fun summer thing to do and with our dad!!

Montana Slide Show

Girls Camp 2008

Yes, girls camp was in June but I couldn't go without posting a few pics. We had so much fun. As you can tell fuse ball was a favorite. They were so kind to each other and all I saw were smiles. Testimony night was probably my favorite because every girl in our ward bore theirs. They just loved camp because they could just be themselves and not have to worry about anything. I think we all need times like that.

Joshua and Christina The perfect "PEAR"

The title was put on a tag that was tied to a clear bag with these pear shaped cookies given out at the reception. Very cute and creative. We had so much fun in California at my brother's wedding. It was May 30,2008. They were married in the Oakland temple and then had their reception in Gridley. The day couldn't have been more perfect. The weather was beautiful and the flowers were so bright and colorful. The bride and groom were adorable. Christina's family was so so sweet. I felt like I had known them my whole life. Those of you that know the story behind the dress heres your picture. It all turned out ok. It was a day to remember. Welcome to our family Christina.

Happy 11th Hannah

WOW!! How time has flown. It just seen like a few years ago you were born and now you are creeping into the teenage years. I have loved every moment. Watching you grow has been my joy. Sometimes I can't get over how beautiful you are inside and out. You've made some choices recently that have made your dad and I very happy. It seems like those moments make being parents all worth while. You have some great qualities that I want to share.
1. You are a great organizer
2. You do your homework as soon as you walk in from school
3. You are a good friend
4. You have a big heart
5. You know where you are going in life
6. You love volleyball
7. You signed up for band tonight
8. You are very creative
9. You have the most amazing blue eyes
10. You are thoughtful

Thanks for just being you. We wouldn't want it any other way.
I love you,
Mom

Happy Mother's Day

I just wanted to wish all those who read my blog and are mothers. I am so thankful for my mom and the important life lessons she has taught me. I was able to go to a movie with her for our mothers day which was fun. I wanted wish my grandma a Happy Mother's Day. I am thankful for all the friends and family who are mothers. Each one of these mothers have been good examples to me. Some have given me ideas when I was out of them, some have given me a shoulder to cry on, some have encouraged me along the way, and some have just listened when I needed to talk. Thank you for being the mothers that you are.

Being Mindful

My husband and I have adopted a new word for quite sometime and now I think it is passing onto our children. The word is "MINDFUL". Jimmy and I have had many talks about this word and how we need to be more mindful of the people and the world around us. What a better place this world would be if everyone would work on this one word.
I have been using this word with Hannah to explain how she should treat others. So it happened and she applied it in her own life. There is a girl who is in her grade and a teacher had ask Hannah and her friend Ali to be a friend to this certain girl. So they did. They talked to her and hung out with her. She confided in Hannah and Ali that she was treated not so nice by her mom and she told them a name that her mom calls her (can't repeat it). This made Hannah feel bad so she took it one step further. As most of you know Hannah loves to shop and look nice and she noticed that this girl did not have very many outfits. So she decided to find some clothes of hers and put them in a bag and deliver them to her door (which is about 5 houses down from ours). She was afraid of her mom so she talked Ali into going with her and ringing the door bell and running.
That was yesterday and guess what that girl wore, one of the shirts Hannah gave her. I asked Hannah how that made her feel and she smiled and said, "good." Now that is being "MINDFUL"

Happy Birthday to my best friend Stephanie

I just wanted to post this picture because I think we look pretty good to be on the high side of 30. 39 for Stephanie to be exact ,(Ha Ha) but I'm only 18 days behind you. Soon I will join you and we will be on our way to the big 40. Love you and Happy BIrthday!