The J Crew

Party of Five becomes the J Crew...

2011-11-08T17:28:00.000-07:00

is the first thing to change. Lots to update... pictures to come soon. I am trying to stay up on my 365 day blog and notice if it's not one blog, it's another that is falling behind. Not sure I'll do three blogs next year. Might be time to consolidate them into one or maybe just two blogs. Doesn't seem necessary to have my stuff scattered across three blogs and some of the stuff gets double posted. In any case, a run down...

September 1st, Jett's 6th birthday

September 2nd, Radd's birth

October 15th, Sky's 8th birthday

October 31st, Halloween and Dads 42nd birthday

November 5th, Sky's baptism

November 6th, Radd's blessing

My goal is to catch up on some things now that the main events are behind me and I've got a couple of weeks before Thanksgiving. Looking forward to things calming down a bit!!!

Wedding dinner/Wedding

2011-07-17T18:14:00.001-06:00

My brother got married this weekend and being pregnant (seems to be my excuse for a lot of things huh?) I didn't take many pictures. I managed to take a couple of my kids at the wedding dinner of course and then of the kids at the reception in the cute outfits I made for my girls.

4th of July weekend...

2011-07-06T18:00:00.000-06:00

Every year for the last couple years we've gone up to Park City for the 4th of July weekend with our great friends The Plants (my best friend Suzanne's family). We stay at a condo that sits just in front of the parking lot that they let the Park City fire works off. We're able to sit inside and just watch them from the window. It's fabulous! We always swim, eat lots of yummy treats, go on the Alpine Slide, shop, etc. This year being prego, we opted not to do the Alpine Slide so we swam extra and hung out more as a family just inside the condo. The kids didn't seem to mind. They love hanging out with their daddy!

Headed down to the pool...

Track Meet

2011-06-29T10:41:00.011-06:00

Track meet day...

It was hectic, trying to find where Sky had to be while carrying the cooler and keeping an eye on my two littles at the same time. Dad hadn't come to get Jett yet, so I had the kids. I freak out in crowds. I don't like them or the idea that my kids can get lost. We sat in the shade discussing what to do in case I couldn't find them. A good friend of mine had an experience once and because she had prepared her children for it, it ended with the perfect outcome.

So... there I was kinda the frantic, prego lady trying to listen to when Sky's events were up. In the mix of it all... I missed the call for the 50 meter dash. When I figured it out, I had her go up to her coach and find out what she could do. She cried. The coach had her race the 50 meters with the older group of girls which meant, she got last of course. She cried more. Not good for the ego. I asked her coach if there was any way she could run the 100 meter with her age group even though she wasn't registered to do so. She allowed her to do it. It was then up to me to convince Sky who was completely depleted to try it. Dad showed up just then and I explained... He was able to convince her to try it. I'm so glad she did! She pulled it together and ran the race. And then... took SECOND! It was smiles from there on out! And a text to Dad to tell him the news!

Good morning!

2011-06-19T08:48:00.001-06:00

So after almost two weeks of fighting, arguing, figuring out who was in charge and who's game they should be playing, they finally worked it out and this morning I woke up to giggles and laughter.

Learning to bike ride...

2011-06-18T16:47:00.001-06:00

Sky started out ready and smiling... but that didn't last long. Soon perfectionist Sky showed her true frustrated self when she couldn't get it ALL BY HERSELF on the FIRST TRY!!! Gee... wonder why she's like that? Jett, enjoyed dad helping him and was starting to get the hang of it. This frustrated Sky even more. Brooke went off on her own, riding back and forth with the training wheels still on, and could not have been happier!

The last day of school...

2011-06-05T17:04:00.000-06:00

First grade is over... goodbye Mrs. Frampton! She was an amazing teacher and knew just how to handle my little Sky and all her quarks. She knew how to push her but in a way she could handle it. She's a perfectionist and SO hard on herself. She had a great year!

Here's how we spent the last day of school...

First... we said goodbye to her teacher and friends. They were dismissed early after collecting their final things so we left and went to lunch, McDonalds of course. Then we took Jett to school and just me and the girls went to Gardner Village. I wanted to peak into the fabric store, looking for something to make the girls for the wedding in July and they wanted to go to the candy store and see the ducks. It was an absolutely gorgeous afternoon and we enjoyed every second of our time just walking around taking our sweet time! I made them stop for a few pictures of course. It was a happy couple of hours there, with not just candy from the candy store, but a donut and cheetos too! Then we headed to get Jett and back home to change clothes so Sky could go to track practice. Sky loves to run and is good at it, so I signed her up for track. I don't know a thing about running, or track, so this is new for me, but so far so good. Then we headed over to a T-Ball meeting for Jett and finally home for dinner, baths and bed! It was a fully loaded day, but FUN nonetheless!

Bring on Summer! We're ready!

2011-04-24T17:53:00.000-06:00

So my kids have the hardest time with light in their eyes! Can you tell? This seems to be my battle EVERY Easter, I want so badly to get a picture of them in their darling outfits and perfect hair. But this is ALWAYS what I end up getting, them freaking out cause it's "too bright." It was perfectly overcast, and I thought I had a chance, but nope. It was the same complaint... "too bright." This was the best I could do. ERRRrrr... the battle continues.

Well...

2011-04-19T14:11:00.000-06:00

So I may not be keeping up on my 365 day blog perfectly, but I'm trying. On some of the days I have a really hard time picking JUST ONE picture for my 365, so here I go again, posting some others from last night. After their bath, Jett was hilarious with his hair. After I walked away, I heard him making boy noises as if he were a super hero. He is a crack up. The bath experience carried on into today. This morning while I was down doing laundry, I knew Brooke and Jett had gotten some small toys and were playing with them in the water in the sink. But that exploded into a full on water fight and laughter to make anyone smile. I ran upstairs with frustration, knowing they were making a mess by this point, but by the time I got to the bathroom door, I was laughing to myself. I could hear nothing but laughter and belly giggling. I stood there listening and smiling for at least twenty minutes while they continued on with their water game. When I finally opened the door, I found two totally soaked naked kids having the time of their lives!

An addition...

2011-04-13T19:29:00.000-06:00

to my 365 blog... today, Brooke was my subject. I was trying out the light in my front room. I wanted to know how much northern light there was if I moved the couch and the curtains out of the way. I want to be prepared for lots of pictures of this perfect little boy who's on his way. Brooke was adorable and there are a few shots I wanted to remember. She's a crack up! And dang it, she's almost four, but thankfully LOVES snuggling me like shes 6 weeks old. I'm so lucky that way!

My thoughts here in the hospital

2011-04-01T17:54:00.003-06:00

I write this down as my way to remember these last few days. It's certainly a moment in my life that has changed the way I act, feel and hopefully in the end treat others. So to explain.. several days ago, I felt pain in the back of my right knee. It hurt to bend down as if my ligament was going to pop or something. I let it go, hoping it was just a weird pain connected to being prego. I remember then my calf getting tight as if I had worked it out at the gym for hours. It felt sore in that way. I kept walking on it hoping to stretch it out, keep it warm and thinking it would go away, just as soreness does when you work out. It didn't. On Tuesday night, I woke up at 3am in excruciating pain. I sat up wanting to run to get Extra Strength Tylenol (that being the only pain medicine I can take pregnant). I got up and half way down the hall stopped in the bathroom, held myself up with the counter afraid I was going to throw up, the pain was so bad. I managed to make it down stairs, get the tylenol and climb back in bed. I prayed that the tylenol would ease the pain til morning when I could call the doctor. I managed to fall back to sleep. In the morning, when I arose, I jumped on the computer looking for answers to what was wrong. Leg cramps seemed to be a common answer amongst pregnant women and pregnancy websites. I read others ways to treat were extra amounts of water, milk for the calcium and stretching or massaging the legs. Then at the very bottom of one website, it said, "but if the pain persists, it may be the sign of a blood clot and to call your doctor." When I read that, I knew. The pain behind my knee had not lessened and my calf seemed even more tight than it did days ago. I called my doctor only to find out she wasn't in on Wednesdays and neither was her nurse. I left a message, knowing it might not be until morning when I heard back. I went about my day. My mother in law arrived in town and was planning to spend the day with us and the kids. It was our day out of the week she had planned. I felt obligated to shower and show her and the kids a good time. I limped around, going to visit a sister in law and then onto Ross for some shopping. It wasn't horrible but I found myself in a lot of pain at the end. Around 5:00pm we decided to meet up with a brother in law and some cousins at Chick-fil-et. It was then I received a late phone call from the genetics counselor with my final results of my integrated screening. I sent the kids and mother in law in to eat while I listened to the results. My leg aching and a migraine headache taking its course had my arm numb at the time of the call. I was a mess physically and now emotionally. The results came back that there was now a 1 in 2 chance that this baby had Downs syndrome. It was absolute devastation, we're talking 50/50 like is it a boy or a girl. The chances suddenly the most scary thing I had ever heard in my whole life. I sat there alone, sick, and in pain. I got off the phone and let out a cry like no other time in my life. I begged for comfort from the Lord to get me through this hour. In a matter of moments, a call came in from my actual doctors office having just received the same results, they were calling to talk to me on a more personal level. They knew me, they knew my situation, and thank goodness for that call. Cindy's voice was the most comforting thing to hear in that moment. She talked to me about the results, and then noticed that I had called in earlier in the day with leg cramps. She asked me, "Steph, I see a note here, you have leg cramps?" I explained how it had become more than just cramps and the reason for the call was because I read online the possibility of blood clots. I mentioned that it was a red flag for me knowing my sister had a pulmunary embolism when she was pregnant last. She asked the doctor on call and relayed what I had said. The doctor on call told me to immediately go to the emergency room and tell them to do an ultrasound on my leg. I did just that. It could not have been a better situation. My mother in law drove me and the kids home. My mom who was on her way home from work at the time, stopped at my house and was able to drive me up to LDS hospital where my husband later met me. Knowing the results of my screening, I knew I wanted to do an amnio to determine definitely if the baby was Downs or not. I could not receive those odds and not take the risk now of an amnio. I want to be prepared. I think it's fair to take that risk having been given those odds. So because of that knowledge, they set me up on Hepprin, a blood thinner they could shut off, reverse and still be able to give me an amnio. Again, the timing was perfect in that regard. Had I come in earlier in the day or even the day prior considering the pain I was in, they would have put me on shots and sent me home, a blood thinner harder to reverse and more risky to do the amnio having been on them. The Lord had prepared the way... The night prior to all of this, I had been given a Priestood Blessing. It just so happened my mother in law hitched a ride with a friend so she could be in Utah this week. It just so happened she was with me on the day this all took place and was planning to spend the night with us anyway. She was able to be there and care for the kids and I didn't have to worry about that. The timing of the results allowed me to get the amnio without the blood thinners causing a problem or from preventing me of getting that test. And the miracles continue. Today, I had the amnio. The fear of the doctor doing it was where would my placenta be? Would she have to go through it? And would the bleeding be a problem for me or the baby? I wasn't the ideal patient having been on blood thinners for two days. The amnio went perfect, the baby stayed completely out of the way, the placenta was exterior meaning she could avoid going through it, and she found a good pocket of fluid to draw from. There was no bleeding by me, so she was able to get good clear fluid and I didn't have a bleeding issue to deal with. In all of this stress and fear, I have felt nothing but peace within my heart. I don't know the results, and it's scary, but I can't get over the amount of peace. I didn't feel that peace when the results were given to me, but in the moments following it, I feel it in a way that is unbelievable to me. I'm a crier. I don't handle things like this well. I have cried, don't get me wrong, but even in those moments, I have felt amazing peace. I haven't felt scared like I did when I hung up the phone. In that moment I cried out to the Lord to please be with me, it came immediately and hasn't left. I am not afraid, I have seen the Lords hand and know it's there more now than ever. I know He knows what I can handle. He knows what I can't. He has made the last few days go miraculously smooth for me, that I know for sure! So today, I sit here having made a few hurdles and still have a few to face, but I know I'll get through them. I have been blessed with the big miracles and even small ones. Sky was out of school this week and Jett is out of school next week. Makes things less hectic at home to manage. My Mother in Law is willing to stay and just fly home so she can care for the kids so I don't have to shuffle them from house to house while I'm in the hospital. It's crazy how well, things are working out. I know that whatever the outcome of this amnio, it will still be the perfect ending to my family. I have realized that it may not be my perfect idea but it may be the Lords perfect plan, in which I"m more than willing to take part in.

Presidents Club 2011

2011-03-28T11:33:00.001-06:00

Each year, Neils has the opportunity to earn a trip with his company. There are requirements and goals that must be met for him to earn the free trip. We've gone every year (except one because we had a new baby not because he didn't earn it), since he's been with this company. We've been to Mexico a couple times, Maui, New York and now Honolulu, HI. It was a stressful week in preparation for the trip. There were so many times we'd say to each other, "Let's just not go." The only thing that kept me going was knowing this will be the last trip we get to be alone for awhile with a new baby on the way. Even though he will likely earn next years trip, I doubt I'll be going cause I'll be nursing and kids aren't allowed on these trips. So it was a big deal to get away with him. I wanted so badly to enjoy the trip and have some quality time with him. I did enjoy his company, no doubt, but it was quite the disappointment. Considering it was Hawaii, I was hoping to find it to be a lot like Maui. It's not anything like it as many of you may know. For those of you who don't. It's NOT worth the 7.5 hour flight there and the red eye back. That was complete torture and then to find that it wasn't anything more than being in a big, fancy Starwood Hotel on the California coast somewhere. I would have preferred the shorter flight. Maui was so cute, quaint, beachy shops and yummy little island restaurants, amazing snorkeling, and lush green areas to hike through, rainbows every day, and sunsets to die for. I was expecting it to be like that only with a big city plopped in the middle of it all. I guess I should have paid more attention to the opening of Hawaii 5-0 on T.V. but even that makes it seem better than it is. Anyway... enough griping about the disappointment and onto other things. We enjoyed ourselves. We always realize how nice it is to be away from the kids and be alone together. It was that for sure. We walked a lot, ate at The Cheesecake Factory and Subway, spent a day at Pearl Harbour and the Battleship Missouri, went to the company awards ceremony and then it was back home. Just before leaving, Brooke ran a fever on Saturday. It wasn't high, I figured she'd be okay. Mom said she seemed fine while I was gone, but Thursday morning when I returned, she was definitely running a fever. It lasted all weekend, but never really high. I hardly gave her Tylenol cause I wanted her little body to fight it off. Monday it seemed to be gone, so I decided not to go into see the doctor. But that night she crawled up on my lap at 7:00pm and fell asleep for the night. Tuesday, again she seemed okay, no fever but at 6:00pm she crawled up on my lap again, complaining of being tired and fell asleep in seconds. I mentioned this to my mom and she said, "you know it could be pneumonia since she's so tired." With that I made an appointment that second for first thing Wednesday morning. Sure enough it was. So all week we've spent recovering from that. Two whole weeks my poor little one was sick. I think today she's back! She's happy and healthy again! So, trip, what trip. I feel like it was a distant memory already. I came back and jumped right back into mother hood and caring for my little ones. But I wanted to post some pictures from our trip... what our experience was like.

It was a windy day!!!

2011-02-16T12:40:00.001-07:00

I wanted something fun for my 365... so I took some pictures of Sky and her hair blowing all over the place. Of course, Brooke wanted her turn and her picture taken. She always does! But with only a little bit of hair, it didn't blow much. I adore this picture of her though! I had to share!

SEPTEMBER SECOND

2011-01-27T10:41:00.002-07:00

A couple of years ago, about the time Neils and I started trying for this baby, Jett discovered that he was the only one in our family that didn't share a birthday month with someone. Sky and Neils share October and me and Brooke share May. He felt so left out. It was a REALLY big deal to him. So we told him, "well, then when you say your prayers you can ask Heavenly Father to send you a brother in September." Jett's prayer began immediately, "Please bless that my baby brother will come on September 2nd (the day after his)." We tried. We tried for a good year before we began to wonder if there was something wrong. I met with my OB to see what I could do. I took many tests, all of which continued to come back that I was perfectly fine. I could not have been more regular and exact in my cycle. It seemed weird. Neils even went and was tested, only to find out he was completely fine. I was told after all the results were in, that this is what they called unexplainable infertility. Not really what I wanted to hear. Friends were beginning to say, "Well you have three kids..." But I just couldn't imagine Jett not having a brother, or that I'd only have three kids in the end. I felt torn, knowing Neils and I were getting older by the second, the questions consumed me. Do I just move on with my three and be grateful for what I have? How long do I try? I finally decided that if I wasn't pregnant in time to have a baby in September, that I'd move on. I had to pick something and hold onto it. I did. The month that I THOUGHT I needed to be pregnant in order to have a September baby came and left. I cried hard. I cried to my mom and told her how devastating it was. Her immediate response was, "no, you can get pregnant in two weeks and have a September baby." Really? I thought about it and she was right. I mustered up some hope. I was super positive and hung onto that hope. I don't think it's any coincidence that we are pregnant and due in September. That little prayer by Jett was said hundreds of times, sometimes three times a day and more than once in each prayer.

2011-01-01T10:40:00.003-07:00

Today, I asked myself, what one thing symbolized the first day of a new year, or what do I want to accomplish this year. I started to think... and there were just too many ideas. UNTIL... I was at the gym running my heart out all the while watching a movie on Lifetime T.V. It was about these three fat ladies and their quest to get skinny again and what it was they wanted at the end of their journey. One said she wanted to wear a bikini, one said she wanted to fit into this lovely wedding dress and the other wanted a fancy pair of shoes. As I watched, what I call a silly show, but great in the way that it kept me running on that treadmill, I listened to these ladies discuss their determination and how they BELIEVED they could do this together. My thoughts quickly turned to the other night when I was playing the game Sequence for Kids with my three kids. My oldest, not great at losing was not handling it well. I tried to help her... I said, "You know how daddy thinks he is Green Light Neils-C, and how he always gets green lights? Well, it's because he BELIEVES he is. Do you understand what I'm saying? You need to believe that you can win this game and you'll be amazed at how many times you will win. But if you believe you're going to lose, I guarantee you'll lose the game every time." I got a bit of a nod from her through the tears, but it was my boy who I think understood the lesson best of all. The next day, in the van while driving, from the back of the van came his sweet little voice. He asked me, "Mom? Did you pass all your tests to have a baby?" I looked over at my husband with a curious look, wondering what he'd say next. "Yes, I responded, why do you ask?" He said, "Oh good, so now you just have to BELIEVE you'll have a baby and you will." Tears filled my eyes. So as I kept running, it hit me... BELIEVE! I just need to believe and I can do it.

Not my favorite way to end a day...

2010-11-02T10:15:00.001-06:00

But believe it or not I feel incredibly blessed!!! It was about 5pm and I was still sitting around in my workout clothes and was contemplating jumping in the shower. The kids were outside and playing nicely. I had just checked on them and everything seemed fine so I thought I'd hurry and shower up. I heard something tell me as if it were someone talking to me, "Nah, just go outside and sit and watch your kids." Okay, I thought to myself, I'll do that. I can shower when everyone's back inside. What's another half hour of being in my workout clothes? So I did. The kids quickly lit up and ran over, "Watch this mom!" All three of them, they were showing me how high they could throw their balls in the air. Brooke's turn... she threw it up and ran after it as it came down. Splat! Down she went face first! I immediately went sick, telling myself as I ran over not to faint if her teeth have fallen out! I was sure that was the case. I scooped her up, blood gushing from her mouth. I brought her inside and washed her up. Her lip... that's it? It was HUGE, but her teeth still there. I thought she might need stitches in her lip, I wasn't sure, so I called dad at work. Relieved that her teeth still there and realizing what had just happened. Had I been in the shower, what might it have been like? Who would have helped her in the house? The blood would have been everywhere. And how quickly would I have been able to get out and help her? This was such a blessing! I am so grateful I listened and I'm so grateful she still has her two front teeth! But of course, pictures of it after a bath and being comforted... I love her!

Never again...

2010-10-30T10:22:00.001-06:00

A while back, I tried making "Cake Pops" with my sister in law. I saw the website, a tutorial and thought I could make those, no problem. I was first drawn in by the Hello Kitty ones and knowing how much my daughter loves Hello Kitty, I had to try them. They were HARD! Really hard! Probably not the best ones to do on my first attempt at Cake Pops. Half way through the Hello Kitty attempt, I ended up rolling all the heads up into balls and just making the simplest version of them. They were great in the end. The yumminess of these things gave me the desire to try them again. I wasn't up for all the work, but I just couldn't resist. They are that YUMMY! I figured, Jack O Lanterns would be another EASY version, basically just round balls. I went for it. They take hours by the way! I began dipping the balls into the chocolate and it was going great. But then, one by one all the heads began to crack. UGgggghh... I turned them around, put the faces on and took a picture just to show the attempt. It was too much work and I vow NEVER to make these again. Sorry friends and family. I know you all fell in love at first bite.

Happy Halloween!

2010-10-29T10:37:00.004-06:00

Today, I took the kids up to Neils' office to Trick or Treat. They go from cubical to cubical and it's fabulous. Neils gets to show off his cute kids, the kids get MASS candy, it's warm inside the building and I don't have to worry about the actual Trick or Treating. The kids are completely okay after this version. Some call me a lame mom for not taking them out door to door, in the dark cold night and letting them really experience Trick or Treating. Oh well! It's just not my favorite holiday so I guess I short change my kids in because of that. I just don't get into it like some do. So after going up to Neils' work we came home and went outside. The weather was gorgeous. The kids wanted to stay in their costumes and I let them. I decided to go out with my camera and take pictures. I don't have pictures in the past of them in their costumes, I'm that lame when it comes to Halloween. They hammed it up for me and I love it. Jett insisted on showing me he had the "force." Brooke (Brookey-Bee as she likes to call herself) ran around saying "buzz... buzz.." and Sky wanted to look as if she were really flying. Here are the pictures...

Sky's 7th birthday.

2010-10-16T11:38:00.002-06:00

First of all, I can't believe I'm typing a 7 but, I'll get used to it, I'm sure. Sky's birthday was a hit. We invited some friends and their moms, to have a girls day out with us. We met at Chili's for lunch and then headed over to the dollar movie to see Ramona and Beezus.

The girls were cute, at lunch they sat at one end and us moms at the other. They acted so grown up, ordering their own food and chatting like little adults. It was fun to just sit and watch them interact with each other. After eating our yummy food and Sky getting her birthday dessert we headed over to the dollars to see the movie. It was a great show, mixed with laughs and even some teary parts. Here's the evidence of our great day.

Sky woke up and put together the gift bags for her friends...

Then off to Chili's we went. Outside waiting for friends to arrive...

Getting the table ready...

Her great friends

On to the presents

Fabulous Friday!

2010-07-09T22:07:00.002-06:00

This summer, we've been having ourselves "Fabulous Fridays" where we do something (me and the kids) a little extra special. I make sure they have my full attention and a lot of fun! The last couple of Fridays have been spent at the Draper pool. Today, it was at home. I tried thinking of other places we could go, but I just didn't have it in me today. I was struggling for energy. So we stayed home, but that didn't mean it wasn't FABULOUS!!! It started with a bike ride around the block. The first time I've done that with all three kids riding. The last time we went around our own block I pushed a stroller, so that should tell you... it's been awhile. So that was new and FUN for them. Then after, the bikes needed a "car wash" which meant squirting water so Jett was game!!! The girls started out on board, but they quickly moved onto other things. My boy loves the hose and any chance he can turn it on or squirt a water gun, he's on it. So here he is going to town. Isn't he cute?

I'm getting there...

2010-06-26T09:45:00.007-06:00

I have finally finished making her shirt, I have made a headband to go with it and now I know how I'm going to do her hair. My only last decision is where to take the darn pictures. Am I sounding a little crazy? Okay, I know I am, but when I'm the photographer, I can take my time and plan it out perfectly, right? I remember stressing just about as much when I would take my kids into Kiddie Kandids (I cringe as I say their name). So, for now cause this one is for a project I'm doing and because I think this cute little face of hers, is her to a tee... I'll share one. P.S. Thanks again Miss A !!

I also love this one of her...

Trying something new...

2010-06-09T20:26:00.000-06:00

Brooke's third birthday was a few weeks ago and I haven't gotten around to taking her birthday pictures just yet. I've been trying to come up with something fun, cute, different and age appropriate for her. I haven't had any amazing ideas come my way. To be completely honest, I am so sad about her hair, I could cry. She was not blessed in that department, that's for sure. To those of you who think, that is terrible to say, trust me you'd understand if you saw her hair up close and you had friends like I do with three year olds that have INCREDIBLE hair (I won't mention names, you know who you are and I'm envious). In any case, I cringe when it comes time to do her hair. There just isn't ANYTHING I can do. So my mission has been to come up with a way to make her hair look as cute as she is. Awhile back, a client of mine had four girls and their hair was in perfect ringlets. WOW, I thought, she must have spent HOURS curling their hair for pictures. She mentioned to me that it was incredibly simple and there was a keyosk in the Fashion Place mall that sold these curling irons. So, remembering that, I decided to check it out. I came home with one, if that tells you anything. I thought she looked so cute with curls. Something I thought I'd NEVER seen in her hair last for more than two seconds. Today, I gave it a try... how would it look?

I asked her so kindly, "Can I please take a picture of your curls?" I'm sure you could guess her response from this picture! And trust me this is all I got. What do you think?

I Heart Faces photo contest ~Yellow~

2010-05-24T10:19:00.007-06:00

I'll get to the rest of the YELLOW birthday pictures later, but for now... I had to enter this into this weeks contest (www.iheartfaces.com). I mean, really? Can I pass up an opportunity like this when Brooke's favorite, favorite color in the whole world is yellow? So here's one from her yellow birthday day...

What was I thinking?

2010-04-19T09:51:00.006-06:00

Friday morning, I was sitting on my couch, feeling a migraine coming on. I'm sure it was a result of the several sleepless nights this week. The phone rang, it was Suzanne. She wanted to tell me that if we were going to take pictures of our kids at this new location, we had to do it tonight. They were tearing the place down! NO!!! Ughh...!!! You wouldn't believe it, but I waited out the symptoms of the migraine and went to work, ironing the girls dresses and doing their hair. In the meantime Jett laid limp, sound asleep on the couch worked from a night of throwing up. I couldn't believe I was doing this. I didn't have an ounce of energy and really I was going to drag Jett off the couch, throw him in the car while I took pictures of the girls? YEP! Well, it turns out that Jett woke up after a good snooze wondering what was going on. I explained that I wanted to take pictures of the girls so he was going to have to ride along in the car and just watch a movie. "WHAT? I want you to take pictures of me too!" Okay, so after a second of looking at his sweet, extra pink cheeks and darling nap face, I said sure. I grabbed the closest outfit to us out of the pile on the couch, threw some goo in his hair and off we went. The weather was dark and dreary. There wasn't a whole lot of light. It looked as if it were going to rain on us any second. What was I thinking, seriously! Was I crazy? Probably, but like Suzanne said, this was our only chance! I got a few pictures, I even pushed for a few more at the end cause the kids were in such great moods. It ended with another migraine. I had to sit and wait in the car for several minutes until my sight came back so I could drive home. You'd never guess Jett had been sick all night and you'd never guess that Brooke was about to have a night of throwing up herself. I think come Saturday morning, I was on the brink of death. After being up all night Thursday, two migraines Friday afternoon and then being up all night Friday night with Brooke, someone could have shot me and I doubt I would have felt it. But who cares right? Cause I got darling pictures of my kids sweet faces!

TEE-riffic!

2010-04-09T09:10:00.006-06:00

Last night was Jett's first T-ball game. He was adorable and smiled the whole way through. I think it's safe to say he was on cloud nine. For one, dad surprised us and got off work to come to the game and two he loves his new mitt. He's been so anxious to actually use it in a game. Seriously, nothing but smiles. We cracked up at some of the other kids (I'm guessing first child children) who were so upset when they didn't get to the ball first or they didn't catch it like their dad told them to. Jett just played, smiling the entire time!!!!

Little Pep talk before warm-ups begin...

Warming up (look at that smile).

Waiting to bat...

It's your turn buddy!

Swing, batter-batter, swing...

Throw the kid out at first!

You're up again... (keep that tongue in your mouth!)

That's right, JUMP onto first base!

Now run to second (and smile while you do it).

Such concentration (but isn't he sweet?)

See, look at that adorable face!

Okay, back out in the field. You've got him, throw him out!!!

But don't let that sweetness fool you, because when it comes to kisses during the game, he's sure to just wipe them off!

338 = $33.80

2010-04-06T16:31:00.001-06:00

Call me crazy, but I've been waiting for this day for a long time. We have been saving Box Tops around here for years (thank you Betty Crocker brownie mixes and Gogurt), knowing the day would come when we could turn them into our daughters school. Well, that day has arrived, it's a competition. The contest is that one person from each grade will win a prize and then the class with the most will win a party. I think we have a pretty good chance. We better after spending two hours cutting the darn things out on the dotted line so we can glue them to a piece of paper. In any case, win or lose we turned in 338 and the school will get $33.80 which is a great thing.

Pressing forward...

2010-04-02T11:33:00.000-06:00

I know, I know... it's sad. I haven't been great at blogging lately. I have so many posts to post, but not likely that I'll backtrack, so pressing forward I will!

So Easter is in two days right? Well, Jett seems to have really grasped the concept of Resurrection. Yesterday after watching a karate class (the one he'll start taking next week) he said to me, "If I die at karate, I'll just be resurrected and come back to life so, it's okay if I take karate mom."

Now onto my preparations for Easter. One, is that a friend of mine brought over her girls Easter dresses and asked if I'd make some bows to match. I'm always up for making things. Even though I have a million other things to do... I figure I can do it. So here they are. I hope she likes them.

So task one complete. Now onto task two and three. Two is sew my girls' dresses and three is make something for them to wear in their hair.

Here is the before:

And be sure to check back to see the after (my girls in their dresses).

My Super Star!

2010-02-09T16:34:00.001-07:00

Last week Sky was "Super Star of the Week" at school. I found out only a couple days before, so like a crazy lady, I went to work looking for pictures to put on her poster that best described my Super Star! I had Sky write down her favorite things while I searched my computer. I found them, uploaded to the Costco photo center and then went and picked them up an hour later. The next day we picked up some poster board and Sky and I went to work, cutting and pasting. It was a fun little project and there is no doubt that she is a Super Star.

I had a hard time keeping her from playing with it. She was so proud of her poster. She did several practice runs of "presenting her poster" with us as her audience. It was fun!

Happy New Year!

2010-01-05T11:01:00.001-07:00

It's going to be a great year! I just know it. As some of you know, I love acronyms and here's something I've never shared, but I also love simple numbers (I know, call me weird). Meaning: I like the numbers 1, 5, and 10 and multiples of 10. I don't know why. Maybe they are easier numbers for me to remember? Maybe it's the only thing simple in my life? Maybe it's because I was born on the 30th of the month. Okay, so really, I don't know. It's just how I am I guess. Funny thing, I didn't get to pick my first daughter's birthday, but lucky for me she was born on the 15th. The next child was born on the 1st and the third child on the 20th. Doing good so far. So long story short, it's 2010 and I KNOW just the fact that the number makes me happy, that this one is going to be fabulous!

It started pretty great bringing in the new year with friends and family. Suzanne, you are awesome and thank you for having us over. My family had a blast! It's funny how now it's not just you and I that have become as close as family, but now our families are blending and becoming great friends. It's perfect!

What mom wants for Christmas...

2009-12-15T11:10:00.005-07:00

Neils has shared the story that when he was a little boy that anytime he'd ask his dad what he wanted for Christmas, his birthday, etc. his answer was always, "obedient children." As a child I can imagine that was probably a sad, not so exciting answer to hear from a dad. As a mother, I think it's funny. Yesterday, I was sitting in my chair talking on the phone with my friend Suzanne. Sky came over and asked me, "Mom, what do you want for Christmas?" Without a thought, my answer was... "Obedient children." Sky rolled her eyes and walked off without another word. A few minutes later, I was handed this piece of paper...

Later that day, and even better I was in doing laundry. I came out and none of the kids were downstairs. I called for them, Sky, Jett, Brooke... what are you doing? I didn't hear anything. I went upstairs to find all three of them had worked to make my bed and Sky had taped this picture up on my bedroom wall. I think I've got exactly what I want for Christmas this year, "Obedient children!"
At least for the moment! :)

All I want for Christmas...

2009-12-07T09:46:00.005-07:00

This year, like every year, we went to The Festival of Trees with the Smart side of the family. I look forward to this day like no other. There is something magical about this place. It gets me into Christmas like nothing else (okay well, maybe my snowberry Scentsy does quite a bit). I love that the money goes to help Primary Children's Hospital. I love the lights, the trees, the Kids Korner, seeing Santa and taking a family picture with him, the cinnamon rolls, the scones, and most of all, that it's a family tradition! I have always made sure I had shirts for my kids to wear in Christmas colors and that my girls had bright, big bows to wear. This year, at the last second, I decided to make my girls their shirts. I decided at 11:00pm on Friday night. I stayed up til 2:30am sewing them together and Saturday morning I put the elastic in them. I was so excited and for me it was worth staying up late and getting little sleep to make them.
So, I took lots of pictures, but this one is my favorite. It's my three kids extremely happy to see Santa, sit on his lap and tell him what they want for Christmas. In years past, there has always been one of the kids deathly afraid of him, but not this year. That's all they could talk about all week was what they were going to tell Santa.
Sky: wants a Hello Kitty gumball machine
Jett: wants a PRETEND PSP cause he's not old enough to have a REAL one, so just get him a PRETEND one.
Brooke: just nods yes if you ask her if she wants something. A baby doll? She nods. But when I asked her what she asked Santa for, she said, "candy." :)
It's going to be a fun Christmas. I love being Santa.
Click HERE to see the gallery of pictures from The Festival of Trees.

YEAH!!! I did it this year!!!

2009-12-02T18:53:00.001-07:00

No wonder I didn't do this last year, it was an entire process. First I had to buy outfits, then I had to figure out when and where we'd do our family pictures, then I had to design my card, order it and now it's time to mail them. I'm pretty excited. Can you tell? I don't know if I have everyone's current address. If you have moved recently, will you please email me your current address so I can be sure to send you one. Here's a sneak peak without revealing them completely!!! Gosh, I'm sick. I'm a little too excited about this. Maybe, it's because like sewing dresses with a pattern a week ago, I've never done this, I've never "designed" a card. In the past I did the standard order from Costco! So this is new and super fun!

My little Sky and her sincere prayer...

2009-11-30T12:56:00.000-07:00

My little Sky tends to worry about things, WAY before and WAY more than she ever should. Today in her blessing on lunch she asked that she be able to sleep on Christmas night so Santa will come. This reminds me of the Christmas that I laid in my top bunk bed wide awake trying desperately to go to sleep. I knocked on the wall (my parents say every five minutes) asking them if Santa had come yet. Although I'm always saying Sky IS her dad, I think she has a little bit of me in her too.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-27T11:52:00.002-07:00

From the "Smart" side of the family to all of you!

It was a nice surprise that Andrew, Kimberly and Logan were able to make the drive up from AZ. It was good to have my entire family together again. We ate some amazing food, played a fun family game, and stuffed ourselves again with some amazing dessert! It was perfect!

He's 40!

2009-11-13T10:42:00.003-07:00

It was perfect! Neils and I went down to Las Vegas to celebrate his 40th birthday. We went down with our friends (Ryan and Suzanne) last Friday and arrived at our hotel The Mandalay Bay. I had never stayed there before and thanks to facebook, an old gymnastics team mate's brother (I know I'm making this hard to follow) hooked us up with a fantastic room at the top! This was our view! Not bad for taking this through the glass and sitting it on a table in our room. We ate at incredibly yummy restaurants (Border's Grill and Strip Steak), shopped at the outlets, went to the Cirque du Soleil show "O", got some Krispy Kreme doughnuts (a kind they don't sell here), and went on the roller coaster Speed. The only thing that wasn't perfect is that it didn't last long enough. The weekend went by way too fast! Before Neils and I were married (when I was madly in love with him and wanted to do anything to impress him) asked him to meet me in Vegas (cause he still lived in California) for his 30th birthday. It was fun to relive some of those memories and talk about our life now. We had a good time catching up with each other. With kids, it's sometimes hard to even finish sharing the events of the day with each other. It was a great weekend

S-ix years old, K-indergarten is fun, Y-ikes she's growing up fast!

2009-10-27T18:37:00.002-06:00

Really? Where did the time go? I'm having a hard time believing I have a six year old little girl. The month of October is always a blur. It seems that the last six years have flown by just as quickly. Just a few pictures to remind me of the gorgeous, social, friendly, daughter I have. I love her to pieces. A few pictures here describe her so well... She loves to read!

She is always asking for a piece a paper so she can draw a picture or write someone a note. These always make me smile. They are so genuine and innocent. I love this stuff!

She can whistle. Something else that comes from her dad. I can't whistle to save my life, but she's got a pretty good one.

She's SIX! Her way of showing me she's six years old!

What would I do without this little one of mine! She is one friendly, social, smart little cookie. She loves her Up With Kids class where she is able to sing and perform. She was made for it. As a little girl she was always perfect when it came to performing for friends and family. She'd sing the little songs or say her ABC's whenever called upon. She did those sorts of things so willingly and never had any fear. She's that way still. She's always introducing herself to the clerk at the grocery store or to any one for that matter. She loves to sing and has a pretty decent voice. That she got from her dad too, I'm sure of that. She is a Jorgensen through and through. I thought she looked like her dad the second she was born and still think so. She doesn't have a whole lot of me in her, but that's okay. I love her completely just the way she is! Enjoy being six Missy-Miss!

Tat-TOO cute!

2009-10-19T10:36:00.001-06:00

We had a birthday party for Sky at Chuck E. Cheese and at the end she decided to use her tickets to buy some tattoos. She was kind and got one for Brooke and Jett too. When we got home, they were all so excited to put them on. Dad marched them upstairs, one at a time to the bathroom to apply them to their arm. Each of them would come down and show off their fabulous tattoo. I thought it was pretty cute. Dad threw in a big surprise at the end and applied a tattoo to his own arm. Apparently, he had been saving this for some time and was waiting for the right moment to show it off. Good timing dad! It was a fun surprise!

He's 4 and ALL BOY!

2009-10-14T09:49:00.012-06:00

Yes, I know... he turned 4 about six weeks ago, but I just barely got to taking pictures of him. So here it is. J-umps, climbs and hangs on everything, E-ats anything including salad and baby food (he still gets his vegetables by way of a jar and I don't mind. Makes it easier on me.) T-eases his sister (stuck in the middle of two girls it was bound to happen.) T-otally a sweetheart (As much as he teases them, he protects them and gives in to their wines and cries). That wraps up my boy Jett.

And for a few more things...

He has gorgeous blue eyes. He loves his new shoes cause he believes they make him run faster. He only wants to wear shirts that have some sort of link to speed cause he wants to be fast! So we buy car shirts, and shirts that say "Fast as lightning" and "Built for speed" I guess with a name like Jett, it makes sense that he be fast. Right now, Sky is still faster than him and Jett HATES it. He is so eager to beat her in a race. It kills him when he loses. I keep telling him that it won't be long when he's faster and he'll be able to beat her every time. He's smart. He's charming. He loves to say the word poop and laughs hysterically if dad says it. Lovely, I know. He loves it when I throw him to the ground to wrestle. I don't love it so much, but when he starts to laugh, I laugh, so maybe I do like it. He's my boy and I love him to pieces!

Here are a few pictures...

This is how it started out... not really wanting to do much of anything except make funny faces at me.

But then I got a few great ones...

And then he was done! Off went the hat and out came the lip...

But then we went over by the bikes and out came the smiles...

And at this point I was ready for him to do whatever he wanted which meant climb and jump...

And then for my favorite... him just kicking back. The second, notice the focus on his new favorite shoes. The shoes that make him go fast. The shoes he wants to wear every second of the day. And they're my favorite too cause they don't lace up, they ZIP up on the side. Meaning: he can put them on all by himself. A must have!

Who would have guessed...

2009-10-05T17:59:00.011-06:00

not me! That's for sure. If you had told me ten years ago when I met Neils that we would be married and have three adorable kids, I would not have believed you or anyone for that matter. It would have been too good to be true. I fell in love at first sight and then waited around for a few years hoping he'd realize that I was perfect for him. He obviously did, but here's the story...

Ten years ago, it happened to be similar to this, in that it was Conference weekend. Neils had found me on LDS Singles.com (the way he found me is a whole 'nother story) and sent me a message letting me know he would be coming to visit Utah for Conference and wanted to know if I wanted to meet up. I sent him back a message letting him know I'd be interested. That was soon followed by a phone call to figure out the details. We tried meeting up on Saturday, but because I was one of many girls he was coming to meet, our schedules didn't match up. We decided to still meet but not til Sunday. He came over to my house in between sessions and had dinner (Taco Soup) with us. His first comment after coming in and sitting down was, "you're kinda cute..." (We joke about it now.) So we ate and hung out and then he was off, back down to Provo to hang out with another girl (that girl is my dear friend now). He called a bit later to see how late I'd be up. I didn't want to sound too eager/desperate for him to come back up. I must have pulled it off, cause with my comment of "you're missing out" it got him back in his car and driving right back up to see me. We hung out til 4am and then he was off. He was headed back home to Cali in just a few hours.

After a few years of dating on and off he finally decided there just wasn't anyone who could possibly be any better for him than me and we got married. And once he decided, it was quick... he said one day while sitting on our living room couch, "Let's get married next weekend when my whole family will be here." So that we did, July 6, 2003. The next year on our special day of October 3rd we were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple. So not only is it our "Kissaversary" but it is also our Temple Anniversary. It's a great day to remember!

With that, here are my three adorable kids to show for. My life is grand! These three make it and to top it off, I have a husband who is generous and thoughtful! He works hard and does as much as he can to make my life as easy as possible. He's wonderful! It's been a ten great years and I expect the next ten to be just as great! I love you Neils-C! Happy Kissaversary!

First day of school!

2009-09-12T10:39:00.005-06:00

What? My baby is starting Kindergarten? How did this happen so quickly? Isn't that what we all say? Isn't that what our parents used to say to us? Well, that's because, that's how it is. Time just flies by and these moments make me stop and think that my life seems to be on fast forward. Oh how I WISH I could push pause every once in awhile. This will have to count as my pause to remember my little girl on her big day. All grown up with her hair straightened. She looks so old to me. I made her little outfit and I'm so glad she was willing to wear it for me. I think she looks adorable!

We missed the actual first day cause Sky was sick, but we made it on day 2. I went in with her to make sure she'd be okay. Of course, the social, strong girl that she is, did fabulous. She caught on quickly to the things she missed the first day. She even had to tell me, "I'm okay mom, you can go now." So, off I went, out to the car where I bawled like a baby! It hit me hard. My baby is growing up... FAST! Dang it!

Just because...

2009-09-05T09:35:00.002-06:00

They were being cute and happy today. It's been a big week (and crazy) week for me. Sunday started with Sky throwing up so she missed her first day of school on Monday. That made Tuesday her first day and that same day was Jett's birthday. We spent the day out and about. So the second we picked up Sky from school we were off to Chuck E Cheese (Jett's FAVORITE place on earth). We then went to McDonalds cause the toy in the happy meal this week was lego cars and what 4 year old boy wouldn't want a lego car? After that we stopped by Grandma and Grandpa's house to say hello and they came with us to dinner at Red Robin. Remember our favorite server, Hillary? She hooked us up with another great night out. But then Wednesday, Jett decided it was his turn to throw up. Thursday was just a horribly crazy Thursday and Friday we ran errands all day. Thus, I felt the need to stop them and take their picture! They were playing their favorite game of "Mom, Dad and Puppy" with Sky being the mom, Jett being the dad and Brooke the little puppy. She does a great job crawling around ruffing and patting like a little puppy would. It's hilarious. So here they are moments before heading out the door for the afternoon.

I will get to the birthday pictures and first day of school pictures up soon. We're off to Chuck E Cheese again today with dad and cousin Trevor today. He didn't open any presents yet or have a chance to blow out any candles. It's being a little drawn out, but I'm sure he doesn't mind a weeks worth of birthday celebration.

5...4...3...2...1...

2009-08-28T10:49:00.002-06:00

It's not a countdown to the summer ending but the ages of each of these kids. Sky 5, Trevor 4, Jett 3, Brooke 2, and Sterling 1. How cute are they. It's been a fun summer. I'm not ready for it to be over, but I guess I don't have a choice. I really enjoy the days of living in swimsuits, running through sprinkers and eating popsicles. I love this picture, so much personality. Sky making sure nothing drips on her, Jett treating it as if it's a sword or light saber and Brookey being silly and putting it on her head without a care in the world.

Around the corner...

2009-08-22T13:41:00.009-06:00

is Gardner Village. I love to shop there and my kids love to go and feed the ducks... oh, and get candy from the candy store. So it works out perfectly for those days when I just need to get out of the house for a half hour. Sometimes we head over on Sundays to enjoy the peacefulness of it and as a family activity. This last Sunday, we did just that. We grabbed our bag of bread and headed out the door. I, of course, grabbed my camera.

Charming beyond belief!

2009-08-18T11:55:00.004-06:00

This picture deserved a post all on it's own... my little Brookey Brooke winking! My husband can do eye tricks and we've found out that Sky can too. Jett thinks he can and it's adorable but will Brooke be able to? We'll see... for now she can wink and it's so stinkin' cute.

This little girl warms my heart in so many ways. She can make me smile when I'm in the worst of moods. She charms the pants off of everyone! This summer my little sister Megan has been around a lot. When she says "Megan" it sounds like she says "bacon" so now we all call Megan, "Bacon." I don't think Megan was too thrilled at first, bacon... pig. But then I told her it's cause she's a long, lean, piece of meat. :) She is... she's a gorgeous girl. At age 11 when most are starting to look awkward, she looks like she should be starring in a tweenybop Disney show. I'll be sure to do a back to school photo session with her in her amazing back to school clothes so you can see for yourself.

What happens when I say no.

2009-08-07T16:47:00.002-06:00

My little Brookey Brooke came up to me and asked for some "yellows" (translation... marshmallows) to which I said, "no, you can't have marshmallows for breakfast." So... this is what soon followed. She being the smart girl that she is, figured out that she can reach the Lucky Charms out of the cupboard and there's marshmallows in there... what a great solution to moms answer, right? See for yourself. What a smart cookie!

She first hid, afraid of what I might do when I saw the mess...

But then mom broke out the camera, so that had to be an okay to go fish through the cereal for the oh so desired "yellows".

Then of course there's my crazy, cleaning lady named Sky who immediately came to the rescue!

Notice there's NO "yellows" left? That's because she managed to grab them all before I put my camera down to stop her. But I couldn't resist getting pictures to go with the story!

I get teary-eyed thinking about it...

2009-08-03T12:27:00.003-06:00

No this isn't any sort of "back to school" picture, but it's one of my little girl who's about to officially start school this year. I know, I know it's still 23 days away (who's counting), but it's August and school starts this month so I've been thinking about it a lot.
I remember my first day of kindergarten.
I remember my teacher.
I remember my friends.
I remember crying while my mom tried taking a picture of me in front of the Sonoma Elementary school sign.
I remember the blue dress I wore.
It's hard for me to imagine, I have my very own little girl who is going to soon make these same memories that will last a lifetime. So what does this mean for me... tears!
I can't even look at this picture for some reason. It just makes me tear up. It's so genuine and so my little Sky Hannah Banana! You're growing up way too fast sweet girl. Will you stop it already?

"Super fassss..."

2009-07-13T18:19:00.003-06:00

My little Brookey has caught onto the idea of a "superhero" and that they can go "super fasss..." This week she noticed Jett's superhero underwear and insisted I put them on over her swimsuit so she could be "super fasss." I allowed it cause it was so stinkin' cute of a request! This morning, she found a hat and Jett's superman cape. I heard her begin to chase the kids around the house saying "I super fasss, I get you." The kids laughed and began a whole game of Super Heroes out to save Care bear, T-Rex and Puppy (the stuffed animals they sleep with).

4th of July part 1

2009-07-09T10:11:00.005-06:00

I want to post something from the 4th of July weekend, cause it was SUPER FAB! My dear friend Suzanne has made it a tradition for her family to go up to Park City every year and stay in a condo to watch the fireworks. The condo is right in front of where they let them off so it's an incredible view. I have always been sad when it comes time for fireworks. My husband, just doesn't like to go out in the dark and hang out in a large crowd of people. He thinks it's just too unsafe with little ones. One year we did go, my sister had her purse stolen just as the fireworks were beginning and everyone was looking up, someone came and snatched it. This has always confirmed his feeling that it's just not something to participate in. I love fireworks so it's always been a bummer of a night. This year was different. Suzanne invited my family to come hang out with them and spend the weekend in Park City. She's the best... and so was the weekend!
I took a few pictures of us at the parade, and hanging out which I will go through and post next, but for now I'll leave you with some Suzanne took of me and my family (like I said, she's the best)! The night of the 4th we had planned to just cook a Costco Lasagna and have salad and bread to go with it. We got some ho's and hums from the men who thought that was wrong to eat as a 4th of July dinner. Okay, so we headed out, but by the time we left we found that places were closed (for the 4th of course). So we ended up getting burgers and fries at Wendy's. On the way back to our condo, I saw an awesome little rundown house/barn like thing and asked Suzanne's family to pull over there so we could take a few pictures in our outfits. Here are a few she took of my family... Note: I wasn't planning on having pictures taken thus the reason my hair is in a pony tail... but what the heck! I still love that I have a family picture with all three of my kids in it.
Thanks Suzanne!!!

Priceless story! Pun intended!

2009-06-30T12:17:00.003-06:00

The other night I was becoming frustrated with the fact that bedtime just isn't going as smoothly now that it's summertime. The kids want to stay up later or after they've been put in bed they come down ten minutes later and ask if they can stay up "just a few more minutes?" On the occasion that we've given in, we've regretted every second of it. The kids just can't make it past a certain hour and although we'd like to be nice parents, it just doesn't work to let them stay up. So, dealing with frustration I said to the kids, "If you don't get in bed and stay in bed the first time I ask I will take away your dinosaur and puppy (the stuffed animals the kids have to sleep with). They continued to play and ignore the requests to get pajamas on and brush their teeth. So, I quietly went and grabbed T-Rex and Puppy. About a half hour later after the requests had turned to grumbling and I was handed this piece of paper. Sky noticed that I had taken the animals away and handed me "money" to "buy them back." I was told "You and Daddy have lots of money and I have to make my own."

Backtracking... (just one month though).

2009-06-29T12:38:00.005-06:00

I never mentioned anything about my birthday this year. How dare I do that when I had such a great birthday. I don't like birthdays really. I don't care to do anything terribly exciting. I just like to know that I can drop my kids off at my parents so I can go out to eat and to a movie with my husband. That's all I really care for. I don't expect or want any presents, I just want to enjoy the night with my husband. Don't take me wrong, I love my kids but I see them EVERY DAY and a lot of the times in the MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT! So, for my birthday that's all I really care to get out of it... a night out.

This year my husband surprised me with something so thoughtful and full of love. You may not think it's a big deal, but for me it meant more than getting even my most desired item on my wish list. The last couple years we've planted tomatoes in our backyard. I LOVE homegrown tomatoes! I can eat them whole, plain and enjoy putting them on my sandwiches and hamburgers during the summer months. There's also nothing like yummy, fresh, homemade salsa with homegrown tomatoes. Neils said over and over that this year we WEREN'T going to plant tomatoes, they were a lot of work and he didn't want to do all the work again to have 3 weeks worth of tomatoes. I was bummed, but understood his decision. He was always the one to plant them and then take care of them for several months by making sure they were watered. So, thinking I'd have to steal a few here and there from friends who plant tomatoes every year, my husband goes and surprises me. He went and bought tomato plants (when, I don't know cause he's always working) and then came home and planted them (in the middle of the night I'm guessing) to surprise me on my birthday. Here they are a few weeks later as I anxiously await the first tomato to grow! I can't wait. I know call me crazy, but I seriously LOVE tomatoes! Isn't my husband sweet? I sure thought so. Thank you honey!

Color Queen!

2009-06-28T12:33:00.005-06:00

My little Sky can be found coloring or drawing 95% of the time. She LOVES to draw. Sometimes if I ask her a question, she runs over to draw the answer. Kinda nutty, but so cute! Here she is doing what she does best...

Yesterday while I had her in the bathroom doing her hair she said to me, "Mom did you know Spray and Wash MAX gets out 100 stains?" I went along with it... "no really?" I said. "Yes, and you should get some because you don't have the MAX kind, you only have regular." Such a funny little conversation. Things like this make me smile inside. The wonder of a child, their perspective on life, what they internalize and take in from what's going on around them... I love to watch them watch the world. I love you Sky Hannah Banana!

Oh what do you do in the summertime...

2009-06-19T16:39:00.005-06:00

when it's raining and cold outside?
You play Hullabaloo with your friends.
What is up with this weather? Let's just say, I'm not a fan! I have normally taken the kids to the pool a couple of times and have gotten a good base tan! :) I'm so sad, my kids LOVE the pool. I really am crossing my fingers that this coming week will be much warmer and we can at least run through the sprinklers or do some summer activity. In the meantime, indoor activities to keep us from going stir crazy!

Hanging out with Suzanne... (what's new?)

2009-06-18T18:40:00.004-06:00

Yesterday, I spent the day at Suzannes. Our kids love to play together which makes it nice cause then Suzanne and I get to hang out and talk photography (or whatever else). Suzanne bought a new chair and was showing it to me. My little Brookey jumped right up in it and was kickin' back lovin' it! Suzannes little girl, Lu noticed Brooke and realized she wanted a turn to sit in it. Brooke would not have it. She wanted it all to herself. Lu tried squeezing in and this is what happened. Oh, so sad!
So Brookey walked away and the little Lu that NEVER allows anyone to take her picture sat there for me, staring right at me...

But then, she climbed out and Brooke climbed back in claiming her spot, tears and all. I went to say something to her about how she wasn't being nice and she turned her head to the side and wouldn't even look at me. What attitude.... over a chair!

This is more for me than it is for anyone else...

2009-06-13T11:08:00.003-06:00

I use this blog as a way to keep track of things that happen in my life, so that I can either "slurp" it up and put it in a book, or use the stories as reminders when I am making my kids photo books. So sometimes there's not always a picture to go with my post, which is the case today.

This week was an eventful week for me. Jett has decided he's ready to go pee-pee in the toilet. I was so afraid to potty train him. He's been so terribly (more like deathly) afraid of the toilet and I was afraid it was going to take drastic measures to get to this point. Over the last couple of weeks he started staying dry at night. That was a huge step for him in itself cause it used to be that he would soak his diaper so much at night that it would often leak through and get even his bed wet. So, we praised him and told him how great that was. He did it about half the time over a the last two weeks. I was telling my mom this and she said she thinks he might be ready. I have tried along the way (every possible idea/trick but it would just make the process worse and I'd have to back off.) I told her I was afraid to try but I decided to take her advice and go for it, so boxer briefs it was. And success came too! I really couldn't believe how easy it went. Only a couple little leaks here and there but he always caught it and ran into finish. Day three and things are going pretty smooth and he feels so big! The funniest part is that a few weeks ago we were all at Walmart together as a family walking around, looking at toys. Jett really wanted some sword or lightsaber and begged his dad to get it. Neils said, "Jett, I'm so sorry I can't buy this for you. I have to spend a bunch of money on diapers so there's none left to buy toys. Just as soon as we can stop buying diapers I can buy you stuff." As soon as Jett was done going in the toilet that first time he rejoiced and said, "Now Dad can buy me stuff!!"

Brooke is adorable! That's nothing new. I just wanted to remember some of her little things, the things she's going to stop doing in time and if I don't write them down, I'll forget.
Ever since her birthday (and mine a week after hers) she's been walking around singing "Ha-ee, er day to you cha-cha-cha over and over again." Just this week, she's been drawing little things on paper, bringing the paper to me as if it's a card or present and singing that little song. It's so cute!

She also has this little head knod. If you ask her a question, she doesn't usually answer verbally with a yes or an uh-huh, she knods her head up and down in the cutest way. I love it so much that after she does it once, I usually find myself asking her other questions I know she'll say yes to, like "are you adorable?" and "are you my sweet girl?" She knods yes of course and it makes my heart melt. It's just so cute. When she does verbally answer me it's always, "sure" and not yes or uh-huh but "sure." When I think about it, that's usually how I say yes, "sure" so that must be why she does it. In any case, it's cute!

I'm so sad I could cry. I went to Sky's Spring Sing at Challenger this year to watch her perform her songs. I took pictures of her and pictures after of her with her best little friends and her teacher. They're gone. I don't know what happened to them. I didn't upload them to my computer and I can't find them on any of my cards. I'm devastated. Somehow in the mix of being busy, I've lost them and I'm crushed. I can imagine images of her and some with her friends that I wanted so bad to have in her photobook but they're gone. I'm so sad.

Sky is amazingly bright! She starts Kindergarten in the fall and she's so far ahead of the game, I just hope she's not SO totally bored. It's my biggest worry about her right now. I want her to fit in, I want her to be bright, but not awkward. I had such amazing friends growing up, some are still my good friends, I want her to have the same. I just want her to be able to look back at her childhood and have good memories like I do. It's just the beginning for her and it scares me. We talk at night before she goes to bed and often I get teary eyed listening to her sweet little voice. It's a good thing it's dark or she'd see me crying . I always ask her what the best thing about her day was and she tells me and ALWAYS follows it up with the most sincere "I love you mom." In my head, I think "even though I'm not always nice, and sometimes I get upset for no reason" but I know she still loves me.

This week I started working on Photo Books again of my kids. I realized in this last year of working on photography, I focused more on learning and getting the perfect image rather than taking the "every day life / point and shoot" pictures. I have made a vow to now mix the two. I used to be an awesome point and shooter (meaning I took millions of pictures even of uneventful things happening around the house) and now I feel like I've gotten to be a pretty good professional photograper (one that set up a pose, subject and background and get a great image). So now it's time I figure out how to mix the two so my kids can have great every day life professional pictures. My goal going forward is to share those every day life pictures on this family blog of mine.

Family photo shoot...

2009-06-04T11:23:00.004-06:00

Yesterday, on the way home from the gym, my little Brookey Brooke was being so stinkin' cute in the car. I thought she'd be tired and fall asleep on the way home, but just the opposite. She was full of it. Saying little words, laughing, giggling and making us all smile. I had a spur of a moment idea to run her home, switch her into her Matilda Jane outfit (cause the Blue Raspberry Ruffles just came) and take her out and do some more pictures. Sky and Jett thought it sounded great and asked if they could bring their cameras too. OF COURSE!!! What nubies. I melted when they asked. So here are a couple of them doing their shoot of Brooke and then a few favorites from what I got.

My little stud!

2009-05-27T10:50:00.004-06:00

My little Jett is turning into such a stud. He has recently fallen in love with Basketball. Last week I bought him a basketball and he has been dribbling (in the kitchen) ever since. I can't believe how good he's gotten in just a few days. He's such a little stud!

The Birthday Girl!

2009-05-21T13:48:00.005-06:00

She's TWO! She loves Dora, cheetos (that hasn't changed) and to sing. You can often hear her singing a tune, ABC's or Head Shoulders Knees and Toes quietly to herself. She loves to count anything (the stairs as we go up them, the cheeots on her plate, etc.) and holds out her fingers for me to count them while she's on my lap. She loves being on my lap and would sit there all day if I would let her. She's so stinkin' cute and she's talking up a storm now. I love asking her to say certain things and listening to her version of the word. It's priceless. She copies Sky and Jett and thinks she's just as big as they are. She LOVES to be outside or to go in the car. From the second she wakes up she wants to go... anywhere. She thinks as long as she's got her shoes on we can go. She will go over to the shoe basket, bring me her shoes and insist I put them on so we can "go bye bye." I love her to death! She is an absolute doll! Yesterday, we got up, got dressed and headed over to my dear friend Suzanne's house to take pictures. What would I do without Suzanne. If it wasn't for her, I wouldn't have these pictures of my little girl on her actual bday. She's so great to me and is always so willing to help me accomplish my tasks in life. Happy Birthday Sweet girl. I love you Brookey-Brooke.

Week of Brookey!

2009-05-18T12:01:00.003-06:00

This week (Wednesday) my little Brookey-Brooke turns two! I can hardly believe it! This is something new for me to have a two year old and not another baby or one on the way. I've been able to thoroughly enjoy everything about her. She has a love of outside! She will go to the backdoor and say outside over and over until I answer her with an, "okay." When it was Sky I was a bit psycho. I did her hair twice a day, once in the morning and then again after her nap. I didn't let her out of the house unless she looked perfect, not even the backyard. Things have changed. I let Brooke go outside even if she doesn't look perfect. Here is a perfect example. I don't think I even did her hair once on this day, this is what it looked like when she woke up. There is breakfast still on her face and I'm pretty sure she doesn't even have her shoes on. I wouldn't say I'm a bad mom now, just not as psycho. I am a bit more laid back and let her go outside even if it's just for five minutes cause she LOVES it so much. It's going to be a fun summer with my two year old!!! She's my little doll and I don't think I could love her any more than I do. She's the best!

Maui, HI

2009-05-17T11:09:00.013-06:00

So as you know, Neils has the opportunity to earn a trip each year. This year it was to Hawaii. I had never been so it was a special treat for me. I was excited to not be prego or nursing for once (actually it's the first month in 6+ years that I haven't). So off we went just the two of us to a place they call paradise. I can see why. We stayed at the owner of Neils' company's hotel, The Mauiian. He recently remodeled the whole thing and let's just say it was a fabulous, quaint little place. It's only a two story place, which adds to the peacefulness of Hawaii. Everyone is so laid back and on a completely different schedule. When we first arrived, Neils always being in a hurry knew it was important to be the first in line at the car rental place. He went running with both pieces of our luggage around to the front. The nice Hawaiian lady at the check in location watch Neils in awe. When she asked him for his name, he whipped out his copy of the reservation with all the information and slammed it down on the counter. When she found his name the first thing she said, was "Sllllooooowwww down Neils." He smiled and took a deep breath and that was the beginning of our perfect trip. Well, it could have been a tad longer but other than that, perfect! The first day we slept in, that right there made the trip worth it. We took our time and eventually made it down to the beach we were on. For those of you who don't know, I am deathly afraid of water. The thought of drowning, or the thought of not having control is what scares me. Neils wanted to snorkel but knew I didn't want to. He has never let me live down the fact that he had to snorkel all by himself in the Bahamas. I agreed to give it a try, not sure if I could handle it or not. I told him I could probably do it if I had a floatation device to hold onto just in case I got tired. He came back with the gear and helped me figure out how to put it all on. The flippers were a challenge for me. I was already scared of the water but then to have those tripping me up as I was trying to get in, I kept having little panic attacks. I'm sure I was the best of entertainment as I was walking into the water. The water was about thigh high and as I took a couple steps forward it dropped off a bit to about chest height. I began to panic, waiving and breathing as if the ocean was about to swallow me up whole. Neils said I was quite the site. He figured at that point there was no way I would be able to breathe through the tube and swim out. But guess what, I did it. I eventually was able to calm down and as I took my time I got the hang of things. Thank goodness for the big yellow tube that held me up so I didn't have to worry so much and I could enjoy the fish and even the turtle we saw. It was great! We even went again a second time to an incredible little cove down the way. That was quite the accomplishment for me and I know Neils is proud I kept at it and did it. The rest of the time we laid by the pool, ate yummy food, shopped in Lahaina, at Whalers Village and went to the company Luau and awards ceremony. Here are some pictures. I found myself taking lots of pictures of just flowers and scenery which is not like me. I like people, but when you are in Hawaii it's all about the flowers and scenery. We saw two rainbows and when the sun sets and you see the shadows of the palm trees and the glow out on the ocean, you feel something you don't ever feel here in Utah. It's beauty and peaceful and what they call paradise!

Neils is a rubix cube master, he doesn't need a book to solve one. Neils saw this guys stacks of rubix's and asked if he could fix it. He was kind and Neils went to town. He later told us his secret, he found a type of cube that is much smoother and better quality than a rubix. Neils was able to whip it around and solve it in no time.

The first place we went to eat was BJ's for pizza. It was delicious and overlooked the ocean.

The view from our seat at BJ's.

And the live music was fabulous! He was really good!!!!

The view from our room.

Neils just outside the breakfast area.

Flowers around the hotel...

The view of the pool from our room...

One of the rainbows we saw...

Me and Neils at the Luau dinner and awards ceremony...

The dinner...

The sun was setting...

The Luau

The second rainbow we saw on the way to the airport to come home...

The sun was setting and it was hard to say goodbye...

Kindergarten is right around the corner...

2009-04-25T11:04:00.003-06:00

On Thursday we played outside in backyard (AGAIN) and then I decided to reward the kids and take them over to Gardner Village. I gave them each a quarter to buy a piece of candy and a piece of bread to feed the ducks. They have been so great this week (I think it's been all the playing outside) that I wanted to do something to show them how much I appreciated it. It was quite overcast, and there was a some threat of rain, but the kids didn't seem to care. They were excited to go. So, off to Gardner Village we went. No one was there because it was starting to get chilly and the clouds were kinda dark, but the candy store was still open and the ducks were still out. That's all we needed!

On our way out I had Sky sit on a set of stairs so I could take a picture of her cute hair. Today, I took the... I don't know what it's called, hair crimper and curled her hair with it. It looked so cute. She's 5 1/2 and going to start Kindergarten in the fall. Kinda scary for me! In fact, Kindergarten registration was on Friday and the thought of going made me a little teary eyed.

Friday after we picked Sky up from Preschool we ran home ate lunch and then it was off to Kindergarten registration. Sky asked me, "Is Alex going to be there?" I had to break the news, "No, honey, Alex won't be there. She's not going to be at the same school as you next year." Devastation hit! She began to cry and told me she didn't want to go to school unless Alex and Trevor were going to be there. It made me sad. It made me question myself. I know it only gets harder from here. This is just the beginning.

The middle man..

2009-04-23T16:13:00.003-06:00

He's stuck in the middle of two girls. He makes sure I'm completely aware of when he hasn't gotten enough attention. But when it's just the two of us he makes my heart melt. Today, we played tic-tac-toe and I being the nice mom, I made sure he won several times in a row. He soon noticed that I hadn't won any and the next game he put an "x" rather than his "o" in a spot to help me win. I love this kid!

I love this kid!!!

2009-04-22T16:08:00.004-06:00

This is the first time I've actually ENJOYED a child at this stage. When Sky was this age, Jett was born and when Jett was this age, Brooke was born. I was always tied up nursing a baby and giving 99% of my attention to the newborn in my lap. It has been an absolute joy playing with her and watching her grow. How could I resist this beautiful face? I love her voice, the way she laughs, the tantrums she throws are even cute.

Easter Sunday, unfortunately it didn't go too smoothly...

2009-04-14T12:29:00.006-06:00

These might have been the ONLY smiles all day! It wasn't the happiest Easter Sunday. It seemed we fought the kids all day, constantly begging for smiles rather than listening to them whine and cry over nothing. Uggghhh.... We went to church (but did I even hear a single thing that was said amongst the requests to go to the bathroom, get a drink, and the whines of who got to sit on my lap?). We came home and took a few pictures (these below) and hung out for a couple hours. Neils got Brooke down for a nap while I rushed to get some food made to take to Mom and Dads for dinner. Running late (of course) we managed to get to Mom and Dads. We realized when we got there we hadn't even taken time to eat lunch. It was late and I was starving. Neils and I inhaled one of the things I had just finished making, 7 layer bean dip. We had the annual Easter Egg Hunt with the grandkids which seemed to go okay. There were enough eggs that no got upset over not getting enough... THANK GOODNESS! Then, buffet style, we scooped up our dinner and sat down to eat. Our kids complained that there wasn't anything they liked and we had to beg them to take even a couple bites. Most of the problem was due to the fact that they had just eaten several pieces of candy out of their Easter eggs. Uggghhh... After the kids played and the adults chatted, we decided it was a good time to get everyone together to take a Smart family picture. I got out my tripod and lined everyone up (all 16 of us) and set the timer. It wasn't until later that I noticed that my son managed to put a nice smudge right on my lens and half of us in the picture are blurry and washed out. BUMMER! I thought I'd do some nice pictures of my sisters family and so I had them take a little drive down the street to do them. I thought I'd do some of her family and then set it so she could take some of mine. Well, hers turned out FABULOUS, but once again, my kids were not about to smile. They cried because dad told them they couldn't bring home a large weed/cattail. It was another awful 30 minutes of listening to them cry while I got pictures of my sister and her family. We tried, but I don't even know why. Seemed to be the question of the day... why are we even trying? Anyone ever have days like this? I wish I could have posted a nice, happy, spring day post, but unfortunately some days just don't go as planned.

Oh and of course, I must show you the SMUDGE- MARKED Smart family photo!

At least my sister got a gorgeous family picture!

Phineas and Ferb tour and private screening...

2009-04-13T17:18:00.010-06:00

A friend of Neils' from H.S. is a producer (and has written a couple episodes) for the Disney cartoon, Phineas and Ferb. When he heard we were coming to California he insisted we come up for a tour and private screening of the show. We spent the day having lunch, watching an upcoming episode with the creators of the show and then walking around to see the different parts to how the show is made. We met those that draw just the props to those that do all the coloring to seeing the story boards. One of the creators, Dan is also the voice of Dr. Doofensmirtz and as we left he said to us and the kids in his screetchy voice, "Stay EEEeeeVilll!" It is an interesting process and I'll never look at a cartoon the same. Here are a few pictures on the Disney lot and in the studio where it's created. Thanks Lance, it was an amazing day!

Then it was off to the beach...

2009-04-08T19:45:00.003-06:00

Had I known Brooke was going to spend the ENTIRE time in the water, I would have worn my suit or at least the bottom half of my suit. By the end of the day, my jean capris were soaked! What a yucky feeling to have jeans sticking to me mixed in with some sand to scrape my legs everytime I tried to wiggle the darn things around and air them out. Uggghh... But I'm so glad she loved it. I was a little afraid of the kids reaction. My kids (all three of them) are very particular about being clean. Jett will not hold a Chips Ahoy cookie in his hands cause it gets crumbs on his hands. I have to hold it for him and feed it to him. Sky, is a freak-a-zoid when it comes to cleanliness. She gets so upset when things are a mess. So when we reached the sand, Sky's first words were "Is there any place where there's NOT ANY sand?" Ha! Uh... no!!! She did fine, and I was shocked when her sucker landed in the sand and she didn't freak out. Normally, this would have been the end of the world for her. But I guess because the weather was so great and we had so much fun, it didn't seem to bother her. After all we were headed for a Thrifty Ice Cream cone (yes, it's inside a Rite Aid now, but it's still called Thrifty Ice Cream for those of you that grew up in California) afterwards. It was a gogorgeous day and I'm so glad we were able to meet up with Arlo, Kathleen and kids. It was their short day at school so it worked out perfect for us all to go! Thanks guys we had a blast!

Backyard fun!

2009-04-06T10:05:00.004-06:00

Everyday was so beautiful, the second the kids woke up they were begging to go outside. Grandma has the best backyard! There's a playhouse with a play kitchen and tons of toys, there's a minitramp, a little slide, a bouncy horse to ride, tetherball... the fun just never ends. It was everything any kid could dream of. So off they went, after breakfast, outside. Tuesday, while I enjoyed a three hour nap (what the heck is that? I haven't had one of those in ages) Grandma played games with the kids. Like I said, DREAM VACATION!!!

Notice that this is an old Fisher Price vacuum? My Mother in Law has kept her toys in perfect condition, even after nine kids. They all still work and look brand new. She had a Speak and Spell that looked like she bought it yesterday and it worked like new too. My kids thought that was the funnest toy ever! Why don't they still sell it?

20 Years Later...

2009-04-04T10:06:00.004-06:00

It was absolutely amazing to be able to reconnect with an old gymnastics teammate of mine, Sonja Kuderna! We were buds in the gym and did everything together. There were endless sleepovers before meets, going through gymnastics magazines and hoping to be the next Kristie Phillips. I can remember her working at doing "The Phillips" on beam! Thanks to Facebook, I found out that Sonja was alive and living not too far from my in-laws in California. So, I made sure I saw her while on my trip. She drove down and we went to lunch at Chilis and then went back to my in-laws and chatted and chatted and chatted. We could have gone on all night. I even made a call to our old gymnastics coach Jim Trost and said hello. He was floored and very happy to hear from us. It was a FABULOUS catching up and Sonja even challenging me to a handstand contest. It was awesome to see her and I can't wait to see her again!!!
First thing we noticed when we saw each other is that I grew and she stayed the same. I used to be that short!

Headed to the park...

2009-04-02T16:43:00.010-06:00

After lunch at SuperMex we drove down to meet up with Uncle Arlo and his family. We walked over to the park nearby his house. The nicest park I've ever been to with a shade covering so nothing was too hot or wet from rain.
Sky of course posing for me as we start to walk... (yes, I made her pants!!!)

First Highlight...

2009-04-02T15:48:00.004-06:00

SUPERMEX!!! It was at the top of the list of things to do while in California, go to SuperMex to eat! So, Saturday afternoon we went there for lunch. Not as good as we had remembered. But, maybe that was because the service was pretty poor this time around. Oh well, we still love their salsa!

What a trip...

2009-04-01T13:55:00.000-06:00

Pictures coming soon...
But for now...It's been a rough couple of days adjusting. The kids went from having gorgeous weather to run outside and play in to this cold snowy, stuck inside the house business. They had Grandma to around to play with and now only a mom that's been busy doing laundry and unpacking. Hopefully, by the end of the week we can at least get out and go for a walk. Keeping my fingers crossed!!!
We had a fabulous time in California. Top 5 Highlights (even though there were like 100 great things about the trip)... 1. We ate at SuperMex, and In and Out Burger ( I think I had at least 7 burgers while on our trip which explains the weight gain, but they were truly enjoyed). 2. We spent a whole day at the beach with Arlo and fam and Grandma J. The kids LOVED, LOVED, LOVED it and the weather... PERFECT! Not too cold and not too hot! If only I had worn my suit. I ended up soaked anyway cause Brooke did not want to get out of the water. 3. I met up with an old gymnastics teammate that I have not seen in 20 years. She and I were quite the pair when we were young. We did everything the together and gave each other the courage to keep going. We spent so much time together at the gym that she was like another sibling so it was incredible to see her again. Thank you FB. 4. We went on a tour of the show Phineas and Ferb. We got to be in the studio where the cartoon is created from start to finish. VERY COOL!!! We even got to sit in a boardroom with the creators of the show (Swampy and Dan) and a few top execs to view a never before seen episode. One that is still in the works. That was a neat experience and the kids loved meeting some of the key voices to the characters. As Dr. Doofenshmirtz (Jeff "Swampy" the creator of the show) said to us as we left "Stay Eeeeevil!" 5. We went to Disneyland and Suzanne and fam were there too. Made it that much more fun for the kids!
The trip was perfect. Wish I could have stayed another week with my FABULOUS inlaws. I am so incredibly lucky to have such great inlaws. They took great care of us and the kids while Neils flew back during the week to work. We were spoiled for sure. Not sure I'm even adjusting well. I miss them terribly and am going to have to go back SOON!!!

Cute little story...

2009-03-12T11:21:00.001-06:00

I overheard the cutest conversation this morning and had to write it down...

Jett: Sky do you want some chapstick?
Sky: Sure
Jett: Then kiss my lips and you'll get some.

I was curious, what would Sky do? Would she kiss him, would she say, "eeewww..."
I watched in anticipation...
Sky walked over and gave him a little kiss on the lips.
Jett: Yumm.. huh? It's strawberry
Sky: I like strawberry. Thanks Jett.
Seriously, so cute. I melted!
They are the best of friends sometimes and I love to sit back and watch them interact during those moments. I love my little angels!!!

My sweet Sky!

2009-03-03T19:12:00.000-07:00

Today, before rushing Sky off to dance class, I insisted she let me take a picture of her. I tried somthing new with her hair today and I thought she looked adorable. When she was a baby, or little, I'd complain almost every day that she had yucky hair. I was bummed she didn't get good thick, straight hair like mine. I felt limited in what I could do it and always envied my sister's little girl who had the good, thick, straight hair. Well, I'm not envious anymore. I think my little Sky is gorgeous and has beautiful hair. She's growing up way too fast and sometimes thinks she's the mom around here. Today, she was my little angel in her dance outfit and her hair all done up on the side. My beautiful, sweet Sky!

I'm so excited...

2009-02-26T18:19:00.000-07:00

Last night I went to my friend Suzannes house (I know shocker huh?) to make some pants for our girls. I've never sewn anything. Well, okay, I take that back... I've sewn two rag blankets of which I kept one for Sky and gave the other away. I figured I could sew straight lines and just gave it a shot. So last night was the first time I had ever sewn anything of WORTH. My mom is an excellent seamstress but rather than teach me she just bought me a sewing machine one year for my birthday. My friend Suzanne is the "self taught" master. She's basically a self taught photographer, and you've seen her work... AMAZING! And she taught herself how to sew. She can do it all. She makes costumes every year for Halloween. So, I thought I'd suggest we make pants and then do my best to learn from her. This is not a pattern we bought at the store, she made the pattern herself. We cut the fabric and she walked me through where to sew exactly. This is what we came up with...
I was so excited to try these pants on Brooke this morning. I got home way too late to do it last night. They are WAY too long, so I'll have to go back and make them shorter, but this is what they look like. You can see where I had to roll them so you could see her little toes at least poke out at the bottom.

2009-02-25T19:02:00.000-07:00

So YES, it's in need of a make over! I've neglected it long enough. I stopped going to my own blog because I didn't like the way it looked and I didn't want to take the time to fix it. Well, so now just like I do with dieting, it's time I get back on track. I'm going to give it a make over and start blogging about my precious little nubies once again. There's always so many stories I write down when I'm good about keeping up. I like having them in one place. So over the next few days, I'll be working on fixing it and adding some cute stories and pictures. Hope you'll check back soon...

Amazing friends!!!!

2009-01-12T12:25:00.001-07:00

So it started with one amazing friend who got me and my friend Suzanne 6th row tickets to the U of U Gymnastics meet on Friday (a huge meet, Utah #2 vs UCLA #4). It was Suzanne's husbands birthday so we wanted to make it a fun double date and bring our husbands. It's been forever that I've even been on a date with my husband, let alone a double date with friends. So, I frantically went searching for a babysitter. I asked everyone I knew. I even called up friends to ask them who they use, cause it just wasn't working out. I was out of options... or so I thought. My friend who is a TRUE friend, called me up and asked how it was going. I said, "Oh I'm bummed. I have exhausted any and ALL posibilites for getting a sitter. It doesn't look like Neils is going to be able to come with me tonight." He said, "you're lying." I said, "no really, I've even called people I don't know to see if they're available to watch my kids. I'm out of options." He says back, "No that's not true." Obviously, what he was saying is that he'd get in his car and drive all the way up from Provo to help me out and watch my kids. AMAZING FRIEND, eh? Aren't I so lucky!!! Not only that, but he documented everything they did while I was gone. Check out his pictures.

Let the sun shine in!

2009-01-09T12:36:00.000-07:00

I took down everything in Sky's window a couple days ago to wash it and let some sunshine in. The kids thought it was so great to be in there with the sunshine they were drawn to the window. All three climbed up on Sky's bed to look out the window. They were cute. Then it was a dance party. Sky and Jett sang with Sky's Christmas present (Barbie CD and sing a long player) while Brooke danced. What a little sunshine did for us! We had a fun time playing in her room.

Putting the past behind me...

2009-01-08T12:48:00.000-07:00

If there were more hours in a day, more days in the week (preferably days Neils could be home from work) and more months in a year... I'd do it. I just can't do it. I have seemed to have let my blog get behind, leaving some potentially GREAT POSTS to be done, but I'm just not going to. There are loads of Christmas Eve, Christmas Day pictures and even some since on New Years Day. But, I'm going to jump on the New Year bandwagon and leave the past behind and start fresh. Sorry if this comes as bad news. I caught the very end of a rerun of an Oprah on New Years Eve. It was about happiness. One thing that was said was that if you're not happy the first two things to do are be kind and don't fret over the past. So I'm going to do both in one, be kind to myself by not stressing about posts I should have done and by doing so I'm not fretting about the past which = Steph's happy! I really am happy. I can't believe how happy I am. My life seems to get better and better each day. I am really grateful for my life. I'm not wishing to brag, but I have to put it out there because really, I am at a loss for words at how well my life has turned out. I have reflected on the past and I'm amazed at where I ended up. Some of my choices were not the best choices ( I know many who can vouch for that) and to see now that it's all worked out and I ended up here, a Jorgensen with an amazing little family, I'm overwhelmed and feeling even somewhat "lucky." So here's to a new year, one that I expect will be great! I plan to post more and keep up. My ultimate goal though is to focus on two things and if I accomplish these two things, I will be stoaked! One is to catch up on photo books of all three of my kids. The other is to lose my baby weight. I know you're thinking "what baby?" But that's my excuse, not that I've chowed down on everything in sight the last month. :) Just kidding. I haven't gotten back to my pre baby weight and that's my goal and then some (isn't that always the case) and look my best for our trip to Hawaii in May. Two things I know I can do and will work on all year. So that's it. A post... I can't leave this without posting a picture. My little Sky loves her cousin Mallory to pieces. They are quite the duo. So here's to them being friends/cousins for life.

By the skin of our teeth...

2008-12-22T19:15:00.000-07:00

So by the skin of our teeth we made it (somewhat healthy) to the Jorgensen Family Christmas party friday night. After three solid weeks of feeling totally crappy, we pulled it together and went. Of course, it had to be the snowiest day of the year which slowed us down and because we had been sick for so long we hadn't gotten the gift exchange presents. So, running an hour late we still managed to pull off a quick run to Target and get there JUST IN TIME to see Santa. Jett, was the most concerned about getting there to see him. When we went to The Festival of Trees he mentioned that he wanted Spike the Ultra Dinosaur for Christmas. The day after telling Santa that he realized that we had already purchased Spike and what he SHOULD have asked for is the Geotrax airplane set. He wanted to make sure Santa knew not to get him Spike. Don't ask why he knows he's getting Spike, it's a long, lame story. So, needless to say Jett jumped up on his lap and not only asked for the Geotrax airplane set, he asked for a motorcycle too! What a boy! Sky asked for a Barbie and the Diamond Castle (I think she only wants this cause it's the most common commercial on T.V. and we've watched a LOT of T.V. the last three weeks). When we got home from the party, Jett started running a fever again. Saturday morning I called the doctor afraid of what the answer would be. Sure enough... I was told to go into Primary Childrens and have the tests run that I was told to get if the fever kept up. Let's just say, I've been to Primary Childrens enough and I did NOT want to go. I knew that if we would just give him a blessing and wait we'd know if that was really what we should do. So we called our friendly neighbor over and he was given a blessing. My poor boy has been through the ringer with having had the flu for 9 days and then ran a fever for 6. As of today, he's doing better. With each day there seems to be more improvement. I have to force him to eat. Having only had LOTS to drink in the last three weeks, that's all he feels like doing. He's still tired a lot and I'm hoping it's just that his body still needs mending. We didn't go to Primary's cause there's been no trace of a fever since the blessing. I just pray that he really is on the mend and that he becomes active and healthy 100% again soon!

May you all have a Merry Christmas.

I didn't get to Christmas cards this year, so look for a special Valentines card instead. Cause I do love you all and want you to know we think of you often. I love hearing all the stories and things going on in each of your lives.

Friday night excitement!

2008-12-15T13:45:00.001-07:00

So the last two weeks have been YUCKY to say the least. I've been cooped up at home with the kids all week. I haven't bothered to even change out of my pj's nor have I dressed my kids. All three have managed to get the flu. Friday, even though Brooke was throwing up, Neils insisted I still go to the Red Rock Ute Gymnastics opener. I was invited down on the floor to take pictures. A great, fun, exciting opportunity to say the least. Gymnastics was my life for many, many years so it brought back tons of feelings for me as I sat down on the mats taking pictures. It felt so good to have something to shower and get out of the house for, let alone it being what it was, Ute gymnastics. It lifted my spirits and brought a much needed smile to my face. Here are a couple images from Friday night. This was my first time capturing anything sports related. I'm definitely looking forward to their upcoming season. It will be GREAT!

Go Utes!

To view more from Friday visit my online gallery .

YOU'VE BEEN TAGGED!!!

2008-12-09T12:30:00.000-07:00

So, today after getting out the scissors and glue and doing crafty things with my kids (anything to keep from watching another kid show on T.V. After last week of Jett taking it easy in front of the T.V. ALL DAY, I am T.V.'d out!) I came up with this idea! I want to see what's on YOUR fridge! This is what's on mine, mostly because we just NOW took down the Thanksgiving pictures and replaced it with more up to date holiday pictures the kids did today. But, this should be fun, and I don't want to just pick a few names to tag, I want to see EVERYONE'S fridge! So come on, play, it will be fun to see! If you're reading this, consider yourself TAGGED! Take a picture and list the things on your fridge! Then put your link in the comments so I can see!

MY LIST:

Jett's version of Santa and his Christmas Tree

Sky's version of Santa and her Christmas Tree

Chuck E Cheese gift certificate money (for when Jett decides to go poo-poo in the toilet, he gets a poo-poo party like Sky did.)

Matthew and Marissa's wedding announcement, mainly because I love it! It's so unique!

Macy's birth announcement, because she's so darn cute!

A "birthday card" (even though it's not my birthday anytime soon) from Sky. (She thought it would cheer me up to have a birthday).

A "Follow the Prophet" craft from last weeks Nursery.

A post card from Denmark from Grandma and Grandpa J.

and lastly down at the bottom...

Brooke's leapster letters. She loves them and knows about six of her letters now.

That was fun, now you try it!

What a week!

2008-12-09T10:49:00.000-07:00

What a week....

It started off with Jett getting the flu (probably from church. Sorry I say that cause I hate that so many people take their sick kids to church) throwing up ALL DAY on Monday, Tuesday he seemed better making us think it was just a 24 hour bug. That night he threw up and on Wednesday he was just short of a rug, laying around, not even sitting up or talking. I took him to the Doctor hoping it was something she could fix. NOPE. She sent us away suggesting more fluids and root beer, since he was already borderline dehydrated. So we stopped at McDonalds for some magic root beer and it seemed to help. Thursday and Friday were pretty normal, he laid around some but I thought it was just because he was still weak. So Saturday... we got up super early to be to Sky's dance performance, rushed home for lunch so she could go to her birthday party, and then as soon as that was over, picked her up so we could meet up with the Smarts at The Festival of Trees. Jett seemed to be doing just fine! After seeing Santa and all the gorgeous trees, we met up for dinner with the Smarts at Fudruckers. Jett was over playing on the video games when to our surprise he threw up AGAIN!!! UGgghhh... So rather than finishing off the night with shopping and fun, we headed straight home. What a week! You would have thought I'd have cute pictures of Sky dancing or of us in front of the gorgeous trees... NOPE! I was not all there, I guess. I felt as if I was walking around in a daze, smiling only because I should. I took this picture of dad and Brooke outside of The Festival of Trees when we went to get some fresh air. It was such a gorgeous day, 50 something and sunny! SO BEAUTIFUL for the first weekend in December! I love my kids, and it kills me to see them sick. I wanted to post at least one picture and not just bore you with my week of blaggghhh.

What is this weather?

2008-12-04T17:31:00.000-07:00

ABSOLUTELY PERFECT! If you ask me anyway.

Don't worry, you're not getting any complaints from this California girl. I LOVE that the kids have been able to go outside. Notice, no coats, just long sleeved shirts. I threw hats on them only cause they look cute in them. :) Seriously, 50 degree weather, no snow really and mostly sunny days and it's the beginning of December. I love it! So have my kids. It sure is long and hard when they can't go outside much. So we have been taking FULL advantage of the warmth. Here's to a short winter (fingers crossed that I'm not going to be jinxed and we have winter until July).

Happy Sunday

2008-12-01T12:41:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, we went to Uncle Darin's and Aunt Jill's ward for the blessing of baby Chloe. It was a perfect day. We went to church and then ran home to get some food to take over to their house for lunch. After throwing the 6 1/2 layer bean dip together, I grabbed Sky and Jett and took them out front. They looked SO CUTE at church, I had to take a couple of them. They obliged and although they were quick to go running up and down the driveway, I managed to get a couple of them being buddies! They melt my heart and I'm so lucky to have such happy, healthy kids.

Fun days in November!

2008-11-22T09:56:00.001-07:00

This week we had one of our favorite (I have to say "one of" cause there are LOTS of Aunts, like 12 to be exact) Aunts came over with her girls Ava and Mya! It was a fabulous day. She came for lunch and we just hung out. The kids played, watched shows (cause we have TV junkies for kids) and then of course because the weather was BEAUTIFUL, we went outside. Earlier in the week when Neils was raking up leaves I asked him to save some so when they dried out the kids could go out and crunch them. Well, they were dry now and perfect for crunching, throwing, and stomping. Sky was the queen of the leaves. She would throw them and the girls (Brooke and Ava) would crack up. It was so cute to watch. I have lots of fun action shots of this. After all the playing I squeezed in a little time for making bows. It was a FABULOUS day. I hope this is the first of many more to come. I love you Jen!

Gorgeous Miss Ava
Little Miss Mya
Ava
Tricky tongue boy as he climbs
Sky loving the leaves
Here she goes, showing Brooke how to do it...
Ava squinting as they fall on her head...

Fun days in November!

2008-11-22T09:47:00.000-07:00

Miss Ava (cousin)

Ava

Sky showing the girls what it's all about!

Sack of Potatoes

2008-11-06T16:07:00.000-07:00

This kid is hilarious, she LOVES chips! Okay, so my need to make sure she gets nothing but the MOST nutritious snacks went out the door when she became #3. So her favorites are... Cheetos, Fritos and then the big surprise of them all Jalepeno flavored Pringles. YES, JALEPENO flavored. She loves them. Here she is licking her chops. She's got to make sure she got all that yummy flavor!!! So kicking back watching TV and eating chips... I'm the greatest mom on the planet. :)

Happy Halloween & Happy Birthday Neils!

2008-11-03T10:34:00.000-07:00

Neils' birthday is on Halloween. So every year I load up the kids, take them up to Neils' work in their costumes to say hello to Neils for his bday and let the kids trick or treat around to the cubicles. They always end up with WAY more candy this way as it's much faster going from cubicle to cubicle than house to house. Plus, everyone at Neils' work loves the kids and they load them up with more than enough candy! This year the girls were butterflies and Jett was the cutest dragon I've ever seen. He said he wasn't a fire breathing dragon, "cause that's mean." He was a nice dragon! Look at that nubie little face. Of course he's a nice dragon! We had Wendy and family over for Taco Soup and we went trick or treating around the neighborhood. Jett was trick or treated out and only cared about Riley's sword. I had to convince him to let me hold the sword every time we got to a new house so he could run up behind the rest of the kids and open his sack for a piece of candy. So every few minutes or so he'd yell, "Trade" in which we'd switch sword for sack and he'd go running. It was pretty cute. We had a great night. This year Grandma and Grandpa were busy moving into their fancy new house so they couldn't come with us, but we know they wanted to be.

Happy Birthday Sky!

2008-10-20T13:52:00.000-06:00

Super Sky!

My favorite!

Just being cute!

So this little nubie of mine is now FIVE YEARS OLD! How did that happen? This week was a fun one. On Wednesday the 15th I went to her school where she was spotlighted! I loved her answers to the questions they asked her. One of them was, "What makes you special?" Her answer was, "Cause I can do eye tricks like my daddy." If you haven't seen her eye trick be sure to ask her. It's quite amazing and truly a special gift (ha!). That night we went to Spaghetti Mamas for dinner to celebrate. She heard me say earlier in the day that that's where we'd go for dinner (cause she LOVES mac and cheese) and then later said to me, "Are we going to Skinny Mama's now?" So cute! Grandma, Aunt Megan and cousin Mallory came and ate with us. It was yummy and Sky scarffed her mac and cheese! Then we came back to the house and had a pan of brownies that I had taken white chocolate chips and made a #5 on the top. Mallory stayed the night and the two of them played pretend all day Thursday! They both have the greatest imaginations! Then Saturday was her big day, her first ever birthday party with little friends. We had a princess party! I made tu-tu's and bought the cutest little butterfly wands for each of the girls. We ate pizza, opened presents, played princess games and had a pink cupcake. It was a great little party. On Sunday Suzanne (my photography buddy) called me and asked me to meet her at this new great location. I was still in my PJ's recovering from a busy week, but I threw on some clothes, grabbed Sky and met her there. Here are a few of the pictures from Sunday night. They turned out pretty cute. I love this kid!!!!

Best Buddies!

2008-10-06T18:00:00.000-06:00

These two really do love each other! They are such little buddies. I hope when Brookey is a little older they'll be nice enough to include her in their "playing house club." They are always playing "house" or "store" at least when they're not playing in the powder :).

Pony Rides $3

2008-10-06T15:38:00.000-06:00

Last week I decided we were done with computer class. Jett was losing interest and wanted to be done. So since he won't go to kindergarten for almost 3 more years (and he can already sound out small words and other crazy things) I decided it was no big deal. I was getting tired of having to run out the door after lunch every MWF anyway. I told them we'd do other things instead during that time like go to the park, go to the Children's Museum and things like that. Well, today we went on a pony ride at Gardner Village. It was a perfect day! The kids had a great time and we finished it off with suckers at the candy store.

Powder Puff kids!

2008-10-01T15:17:00.000-06:00

Their faces are priceless!

I have been dying to post this!!!!

It's not often that I spend much time on the phone (I have three small kids and it just doesn't ever go well when I'm on the phone) but today it just so happened that one person after another called me. I spoke to my friend Patrice and while speaking to her my mom called so as soon as I got off the phone with her, I called my mom. While talking to my mom, Neils called me so when I got off the phone with my mom, I called Neils back and spoke to him. It was about an hour or so that I was on the phone. All the while I was rocking Brooke in my arms in my rocking chair upstairs in my room. So since Brooke was being good in my arms and I could hear the other two playing nicely in their room, I didn't feel the need to get off the phone. Well this is what their "playing nicely" was. Now I know why I heard giggling and laughing... can you say POWDER PUFF kids! They emptied an entire LARGE container of POWDER all over themselves and Jetts room. The floor had an inch thick of powder in some parts, their hair (can you even see their hair) was covered in powder and it smelled so nice. I couldn't help but laugh. I called Neils and said, "Now do I laugh and take pictures right now or kill them?" He left work a few minutes early and rushed home to see it. Needless to say WE LAUGHED!!! And took a few pictures.

A Jett story...

2008-09-29T14:29:00.000-06:00

The other day when I was checking in on Jett at his computer class, the teacher relayed a story to me. This is the story... The other day Jett was sitting at his computer and out of the blue took off his headset. He started calling out, "Sky, Sky..." When Sky replied, "What Jett?" He said in a nice loud voice, "I love you Sky!" Now how cute is that?

One other... Jett met me in the doorway as I was getting out of the shower. This was our little conversation...
Jett: What are you doing?
Me: Oh, just starring off in space.
Jett: Do you have a suit on?
Me: What? Do I have a what on?
Jett: A space suit.
Me: No, I have a towel on (having just gotten out of the shower)
Jett: You can't stare in space without a space suit on.

Well, of course I can't. Makes sense right?

He brightens my world! I love him to pieces!

A first...

2008-09-25T22:06:00.000-06:00

The other night my sweet Sky surprised me with folding an ENTIRE pile of clothes without any help or being asked to. This was ALL ON HER OWN DOING! I had a few things from a previous batch folded and set in a pile on the back of the couch (where I always sit and fold my laundry). Sitting on the couch was a pile to be folded, and it had been sitting there for awhile. Sky took it upon herself to go and fold every piece! I wish I could show you the stacks, but I doubt you want to see my piles of underwear! :) Neils later went over and the cute way she folded things was the best! The three stacks sitting nicely on the back of the couch was priceless. Sky, you made my night! I love you!

I found one!

2008-09-19T14:44:00.000-06:00

Very uncommon... a picture where he's looking at the camera and smiling. I love his beautiful blue eyes!

The favs...

2008-09-18T22:26:00.000-06:00

YES they are...

2008-09-18T21:38:00.000-06:00

the cutest kids on the planet. Tonight I met up with my sister in law, Jen so she could show me this fabulous place in American Forkish area. She brought along her little Megan and I had my three kids. I was hoping to only bring Jett so that I could get some decent 3rd birthday pictures, but my babysitter wasn't avail. and I thought what the heck, I'll bring all three. Jett is at the stage where the camera is not his friend. He runs from me! He won't look at me to save my life and so I let him go do his thing, which is run and climb and play in the dirt. It seems every image I capture of him he's doing SOMETHING! My girls on the other hand are complete opposites. Sky wants to pose for the camera any opportunity she can get and Brooke just sits and does whatever. Sometimes she'll look directly at me and her bright eyes amaze me. So the pictures I captured tonight are of them perfectly, Jett playing, Sky posing and Brooke just following along doing whatever. I'll share a couple favorites. So many of them are of my girls, but maybe one day that will change and I'll have massive amounts of pictures of Jett that I melt over. Crossing my fingers on that one cause he has the most gorgeous blue eyes that cuts right through me when he makes a sulky, pouty face at me.

My second chance!

2008-09-17T17:52:00.000-06:00

To love and cherish every moment! I am doing that 100%

It's a beautiful life!

2008-09-16T00:49:00.000-06:00

So for me 9/11 will be a constant reminder that life is short and there are way more important things in life than what we sometimes put at the top of our priority list. With that I figured going outside with the kids and giving them a popsicle is WAY more important than laundry. Since my little scare, I have really thought about what I want to do in a day. So far each day at the top of the list is that I want my kids and husband to see me smile. I want them to know I am SO incredibly happy with my life. It's an amazing life. The second thing on my list is that I want to see them smile if not laugh at least once. So what's a better way to make a kid smile than to give them popsicles and play with them outside? I have never given Brooke a popsicle of her very own, but she's to that stage now that she notices what Sky and Jett are doing and she wants to be just like them. I knew there was no way to NOT give her one of her own. So she took it and licked it like a pro. I got a kick out of the WIDE OPEN mouth and the licking of the lips every so often. It was a cherished moment. Later tonight, Neils was at Target with Sky and Jett returning something. He left me home with Brooke so that I could get some things done. I have piles of laundry to put away and it always takes forever! He knew it would be faster for me if the kids weren't there to get in my way and I could just throw Brooke in her exesaucer and turn on a show for her. Well, he left with the kids and I found myself snuggling (nursing, I know I think I'm the one that can't give it up, not her, as much as I blame it on her) her to sleep and just sitting with her on the couch. I couldn't put her down to take care of the laundry situation. I thought about it this time, "which is more important RIGHT NOW putting away the clothes, or taking a minute to snuggle my baby? Well, of course the obvious is what I did. Neils came home to see me sitting there holding my baby amongst piles of clothes. He just smiled cause he knew.

9/11 for me was a 9-1-1 experience!

2008-09-13T12:39:00.000-06:00

I really don't want to share this story. It is something I will regret for a long time, but at the same time the number of lessons I learned in three hours is unbelievable and maybe I can help others that read this learn a lesson as well. I have taken an oath to be more attentive, to not be absent minded, and to think things through before doing them. I also want to share because I need to thank all of you that prayed for my dear little Brooke and to fill you in on what your prayers did for me. I am so blessed to have an incredibly HUGE family, so when I need prayers said, I get a million sent at once. There's at least one of them to be answered amongst so many. On Thursday night, at about 8:45pm I came upstairs to put Brooke in her PJ's and to lay down with her to put her to sleep. For some odd reason, I threw her up on my bed to sit while I searched for my pajama bottoms so I'd be more comfortable. In the meantime Sky, who I had just told to jump in bed while I was getting Brooke in jammies had come in my room looking for me and saw Brooke up on my bed. She jumped up and got Brooke all excited. I noticed and I think I may have even said, "Be careful." As I was walking over to get my pajama bottoms I looked over at the bed and watched (in what now seems like slow motion) Brooke fling her body backwards. She does this occasionally when we're playing together but it's always onto me or a pillow. This time it was off the side of my bed. (My bed is higher than most off, it goes to my hip as I stand next to it.) I watched from inches away her land on the top of her head and her body buckle. I don't remember for the next 30 seconds or so what happened. I know I picked her up. I don't know if I screamed or if Brooke screamed or how Neils knew to come running up. I just remember Neils meeting me at the end of the hall. I passed Brooke off to him and said to him, "She's not okay, something's wrong with her." I saw her limp body and her eyes rolling back into her head ( an image I never want to see again in my life, but that is burned into my memory forever) and Neils said in a stern voice, "Call 911!" I did. I was frantic, I screamed, I cried (without tears I was so freaked) and told 911 what happened. Neils dropped down with Brooke while I was on the phone and gave her a Fathers Blessing. He then took the phone from me, and talked to them and he told me to go downstairs with her and hold her in a comfortable position while we waited for the paramedics. (I shake as I retell the story.) In the meantime I frantically grabbed Neils' phone while holding Brooke and called our former hometeacher. His wife Heidi is my visiting teacher and friend in the ward. I called Seth and explained I needed him to come over immediately and that Brooke had been hurt. He showed up even before the paramedics/fire department and he assisted Neils in giving Brooke a blessing with oil. She at this point was awake and not limp, but didn't seem right. You can imagine what was going through my head. I tried to move her and she would cry a hurt cry as if maybe her neck was broken and it could only be placed in a certain position. Her coloring was off, her eyes looked tired and heavy and I was a mess. The paramedics arrived and tried to calm me down. Brooke sat up enough to realize she didn't like the man who was touching and feeling her spine. She seemed annoyed, which was a good sign. They stayed for several minutes watching her and checking her out. They told me that since she was alert and seemed somewhat responsive that either they could or we could take her to the hospital to be checked out. If they took her they would have to strap her in a gourney and that might be a bit traumatic for her. We chose to take her ourselves in the van knowing she would be more comfortable in her own chair. As we were preparing to go, she seemed tired and that she was having trouble keeping her eyes open. This is not like her in any way. It always takes a small miracle and usually an hour of laying with her before she falls asleep, so I was scared to have her close her eyes. I kept asking the paramedics, "Is it okay if she sleeps?" (We've all heard, "don't let them go to sleep after a head injury.") They said, "It's only a myth. Her body has suffered trauma and it's relaxing itself so it can heal, it's okay if she sleeps." So with that we got in the van and drove like crazy to Primary Childrens. The fire department called ahead to tell them we were on our way. In the van Brooke laid with her eyes closed. I didn't like not seeing her eyes, it scared me to see them closed. I was afraid of her going into a comma and never waking up again. I sat there with my hand on her chest to make sure she was still breathing. I kept asking Brooke to open her eyes and show me that she was okay. I just wanted to see her eyes. Every so often she'd open them and one eye didn't seem to be opening right. I was freaking out thinking that maybe the one side of her brain was swelling and she couldn't open that eye. When we got to the hospital, I ran in with her. When I got to the counter to check in, she sat up in my arms and realized we were someplace odd. It was then I had some sense that she was going to be okay. She then pointed over to a wall of pictures that I could tell she wanted to go see. When I said, "no, just rest on my shoulder" to her, she seemed upset and insisted I walk over to the pictures. I felt that she might be okay. I felt her stubborness and personality coming through. Truly a good sign that things were okay. While we waited with her, she became more and more alert and awake and insisted on getting down to walk and play. Truly a miracle. By the time we saw the doctor and went through the scenario she seemed to be back to Brookey-Brooke. The doctor explained they could do a headscan to rule out the possibility that there is an underlying problem, but if it were his child he wouldn't go through that. He would just keep a close eye on her through the night and monitor her through her activities in the next couple of days. We agreed there didn't seem to be a need to put her through the headscan trauma and have her exposed to radiation. So we were discharged and home around 11:30 pm. Not the night we expected to have. We picked up our kids from Seths house and went home. Brooke had fallen asleep on the way home and we took her straight up to bed. Neils and I laid in bed next to her replaying the events over and over, talking about details and our version of how it happened. I kept seeing my sweet girls face of her eyes rolled back and her limp body. I couldn't get it out of my head. I finally asked Neils to tell me about work. I needed something to take my mind off of it all. By about 4 or 5 am I was able to fall asleep and woke up at 8:00am to make sure Brooke had moved and seemed okay. She is absolutely perfect. I know there was something wrong and now she is as perfect as can be. I believe with my whole heart that it is only through the power of the priestood that I have a perfect little girl again. I know she was healed by God. Friday, Neils stayed home from work. I was a bit paranoid watching her every move to make sure she REALLY was okay. They said it was possible that after several hours we'd see swelling or a loss of balance and to check for that. So I kept a close eye on her every move. And now she's my little miracle baby. PERFECT in every way!

Okay one more!

2008-09-09T21:26:00.000-06:00