The Boys 1-21

Hunter Gets a Haircut 1-15

Hunter had needed a haircut in a bad way and for quite some time.

He kept saying, "maybe tomorrow."

Finally I just said, "we're cutting your hair today.  Do you want mom to do it, or Nana?"

Hunter Before

Our little haircut station

in the dining room

Mid-cut, Kenz wanted a

mohawk picture

(this was as close as I could get)

After

(in the bath, 'shaving')

Yep, he needed a haircut

Prompt 1

My dear friend Annie and I used to give each other stories, poems or quotes daily (I believe) in High School one year.  It was something that was probably a little silly to do, but I still have the binder full of our daily 'inspiration' pieces so maybe it wasn't that silly.  Anyway, today I got an e-mail from Annie saying that she thinks we should give each other topics to journal about (she's doing hers in an actual handwritten journal, I'm going to do mine here).  You can feel free to write about the given topics too if you'd like.  Here's our first topic:

Name three reasons why you should get out of bed tomorrow....

This one is hard for me because right now I can think of so many more reasons not to get out of bed tomorrow (broken leg, bills piling up like mad, etc).  That's why I thought it would be a good topic to do right now even though some of it will be things I'd do without the broken leg.

1.  I should get out of bed tomorrow because my children need me to.  Hunter is almost 3 years old, he's a very active little boy and what kind of mother would I be if I didn't get out of bed to play with him, to teach him and to love him?

2.  I should get out of bed tomorrow because my husband needs me to.  If I don't get out of bed, that means he'll have so much more to do on his own and he has got enough stress right now between working, taking care of the kids at night, cooking our dinners and keeping the house picked up (things I usually handle while he's working and I'm home but can't right now since my injury).  I should get out of bed to do what I can to help out so that not so much is dependent on him.

3.  I should get out of bed tomorrow because I need for me to.  If I don't get out of bed, I think I would just lie there feeling sorry for myself and probably just cry all day worrying about everything.  If I do get out of bed, I'll get to spend time with my children and my husband which will remind me that all of the other things don't really matter, we'll get through them and everything will end up okay...eventually.

Things To Implement This Year - Resolutions

Adapted from my friend Annie's myspace blog dated Wed. Feb 6, 2008: "Things to Implement This Year."  The original items are in regular text, my additions are in bold:

1.  Take a 10-30 minute walk every day.  And while you walk, smile.  It is the ultimate anti-depressant.

Take this walk as a family - for the exercise as well as the bonding time

2.  Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.  Buy a lock if you have to.

3.  Buy a DVR, tape your late night shows and get more sleep.

Limit TV and computer time each day

4.  When you wake up in the morning, complete the following statement: "My purpose is to ____ today.

5.  Live with the 3 E's - Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.

6.  Play more games and read more books than you did in 2008.

7.  Make time to practice meditation and prayer.  They provide us with daily fuel for our busy lives.

8.  Spend more time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of 6.

Visit Grandma Records and Grandma and Grandpa Broadie weekly and Grandma Helen monthly

9.  Dream more while you are awake.

10.  Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.

Eat out only once a month, as a special treat

11.  Drink green tea and plenty of water.  Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds and walnuts.  

Eliminate drinking soda, except on special occasions

12.  Try to make at least 3 people smile each day.

13.  Clear your clutter from your house, your car, your desk and let new and flowing energy into your life.

Keep the house cleaner - pick up toys, do dishes, etc daily

14.  Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control.  Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.

15.  Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn.  Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.

16.  Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.

17.  Smile and laugh more.  It will keep the energy vampires away.

18.  Remember that life isn't fair, but it's still good.

19.  Know that life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

20.  Don't take yourself so seriously.  No one else does.

Relax more - be more laid back

21.  Remember you don't have to win every argument.  Agree to disagree.

22.  Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.

23.  Don't compare your life to others'.  You have no idea what their journey is all about.

24.  Always remember that no one is in charge of your happiness except you.

25.  Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'in five years, will this matter?'

Or, in five days, five minutes?

26.  Forgive everyone for everything.

27.  Remember that what other people think of you is none of your business.

28.  Know that God heals almost everything.

29.  Keep in mind that however good or bad a situation is, it will change.

30.  Remember that your job won't take care of you when you are sick.  Your friends will.  Stay in touch.

31.  Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

Clean the garage - don't keep the things that are never used

32.  Remember that envy is a waste of time.  You already have all you need.

33.  Don't forget the best is yet to come.

34.  No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

35.  Do the right thing!

36.  Call your family often.

37.  Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements:  'I am thankful for_____.  Today I accomplished_____.

Have Hunter do the same thing - do it together as a family

38.  Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.

39.  Enjoy the ride.  Remember that this is not Disney World and you certainly don't want a fast pass.  You only have one ride through life so make the most of it and enjoy the ride.

40.  Spend one day each month doing what Hunter wants to do.

41.  Spend two days each month without the kids, to strengthen our relationship as husband and wife.

42.  Spend one day each month doing what I want to do (a day together as a family, one as a couple and a day alone).

43.  Spend one day each month doing what Travis wants to do (a day together as a family and one as a couple - give him one alone too).

Happy New Year

This year we celebrated New Year's Eve differently than in years past.  Even before I got 'laid up' with my broken leg I was hoping that we could find something more family oriented to do to celebrate the new year.  We're just not as in to the big party thing so much anymore, mostly because we're not as close friends with the people we used to party with as we use to be (which is, more often than not, okay with me).  On the 30th, Travis' friend Jamie called to see if we'd be up for visitors on New Year's Eve.  So he and Becky came over with their 3 kiddos Payton, McKade and Brooklyn and brought us dinner (we've had several people bring us dinners over the past week, and it's been such a wonderful help - we're thankful to have such great people in our lives).  We had kind of a late dinner and I wasn't sure if they were planning on staying until midnight or not, but by the time we were done eating there wasn't much time left to wait, the kids were playing great together and behaving very well so we did it.  

Calvin waiting for our friends to arrive

Hunter and I waiting for our friends to arrive

Hunter took this picture of Travis starting dinner

Hunter posing for the camera

Payton posing for the camera

Hunter and Payton being mad deer

All of the kids in their PJs

(Hunter, McKade, Brooklyn, Payton and Calvin)

McKade, Hunter and Payton waiting for popcorn

This is how I celebrated

Payton, Hunter and Brooklyn enjoying the popcorn

Calvin at midnight

Hunter at midnight (sparklers left over from 4th of July)

A Christmas to Remember

This will be a Christmas I'll never forget.  It was really hard for me to get into the Christmas spirit this year and I don't know why.  It could have been the lack of money to complete shopping, or the fact that we didn't get a tree until the 19th so my decorating wasn't finished until probably the 20th.  Maybe it was because, subconsciously I knew I wasn't going to get to enjoy it the way it's suppose to be enjoyed.

On Christmas Eve we were going to have my mom's side of the family over for a nice prime rib dinner and I had a lot of cleaning and baking to do to prepare for having guests over.  I took Hunter and Calvin to my mom's to stay with her since trying to do anything is nearly impossible these days.  I brought Adam back with me because he was going to help Travis out to get his stops done in good time.  I put the Josh Groban Christmas CD in the PS2 (our DVD player is broken and I don't have a CD player in the house) and started cleaning house...I was starting to get into the Christmas spirit despite having to clean (I really hate to clean).  I started with tiding up, then moved on to mopping (the thing I hate the most - always have).  Not too long into it, I took a step back.....(not sure the sequence of events)....when I fell on my butt and hands with my right leg up in the air, I saw that my foot was pointing towards the outside.  I was scared to look at my leg because I knew it would make it worse to look at it.  From the floor I did a quick scan of the counter and table in search of my purse and spotted it a little ways away.  I hopped on my butt and hands to where it was, grabbed the strap and pulled it down to the floor with me.  My phone was not in there!  Then I remembered it was in my pocket (thank God).  Not really sure what I would have done if I had left it upstairs or something...guess it would have been a long wait there on the floor until someone came over/home in the evening.  

I called my mom first (Travis was maybe a little annoyed with that, I guess mom just always comes to mind first, especially when he's working) and told her "I think I broke my leg or something."  She screamed "WHAT?!" and then "do you need us to call an ambulance?"  I told her yes and she said she'd be right here.  Then I called Travis next and he said he was on his way.  I lay there on the cold linoleum in front of the back door for what seemed like half an hour at least.  I was saying "someone hurry and get here."  I heard a loud truck pull up outside so I was thinking it was the fire truck or ambulance, then Travis walked in.  He grabbed a pair of scissors and cut my pants up the leg.  Shortly after my mom and Gary (a former EMT) arrived and it was decided, based on looking at my leg (them, not me...I never looked at it), that an ambulance needed to be called.  Travis called 911, explained I had been mopping, etc and the lady asked if I had been standing up...nope, I mop sitting down and broke my leg that way...here's your sign.

The paramedics and firemen did their job, got me stabilized and into the ambulance.  They asked if I just wanted to go up the road to St. Lukes, Meridian but I said I wanted to go to St. Als since my insurance is through there and I have connections.  In the ER I first had some X-RAYS done by Cheri (Travis' Dad's Wife's Daughter - make sense) and the Dr. came back from looking at those telling me I had a very impressive break (both tibia and fibula) so Dr. Hassinger (Orthopedic Surgeon) would be wanting to do surgery to fix it up.  I had eaten a cookie around noon so I'd have to wait until at least 6pm to have surgery for anesthesia purposes.  I was going to be sent to a room to wait until then, but the floor had to call a nurse in that was on call.  We waited a long time to go upstairs, but in the meantime they needed to stabilize my leg better.  That meant getting a splint ready and holding my foot at a 90° angle until the splint cured, all the while I could feel bones moving around in there.  I had a nurse from my department visiting for that and she took great care of me, helping me to breathe through it, holding my hand, getting ice after we were done, and getting the ER nurse to medicate me (wish they'd of done that first).  

A couple views of the "impressive" break

Finally I got to my room and was there for just a short time before going down to the pre-op area.  I was being taken care of by people I know, so I think it really helped calm my fears.  This was the first time I'd ever broken anything and my first surgery.  I went into surgery around 8 (I think) and was out in PACU with my friend Jennifer by 10 or so (I think).  It was really nice waking up with people you know too.  I should mention that Travis was working the whole time all of this was taking place.  Christmas Eve is generally one of his busiest days, and he's such a dedicated worker that he felt obligated to do what he could to get all of his packages off the truck (most of the drivers would have just DNA'd their stops and he was given permission to do so but he has a conscious).  My mom and dad were waiting with me before surgery though and were in my room afterward.  

I'm not really sure what Travis did, but I think he got Hunter in bed after opening some presents and then his mom stayed the night so he came to the hospital sometime after 11 and sat with me a couple of hours.  Christmas Day, things went on without me.  It was very hard not to be home and watch Hunter come down the stairs to see his gift from Santa and open gifts with family.  Everyone came to visit me and brought gifts for me to see Hunter to open, and for me to open for Calvin and myself.

Hunter and I on Christmas Day in my hospital bed

So, for Christmas this year I got to ride in an ambulance, got some good medications, and got some really nice (and surely expensive) bling...though it's in my leg, so I can't show it off.  It definitely wasn't the perfect Christmas I was hoping for, but I'm grateful because things could be worse.  

My new hardware

Now I'm home, on the couch with my leg up on pillows.  I can't put any weight on my leg for 8-10 weeks so I use a walker to get around.  Taking care of an infant and toddler should be challenging, don't you think?  Luckily we have a lot of family in the area that are willing to help out in any way they can.  Moms are staying the night in case Calvin wakes up, or I need help in any way because life still has to go on, and Travis needs sleep for work so he can't be getting up all night.  Friends are bringing food, offering to watch the boys or even just visit to keep me sane.

So far, things are going well, I'm getting good rest, not going stir crazy yet and am being very well taken care of.  Thanks to all of those who are helping us, I don't know what we'd do without you.

Lost but Found

I had lost my camera for awhile and hadn't uploaded pictures to the computer...I found the camera yesterday, so here's a lot of info for you:

Sunday Nov 30th I wrote about getting some pictures of the boys with their Great Grandma Helen who was in town for Thanksgiving.  It was a little chaotic when we were visiting, so we didn't get the sort of pictures I wanted (her with both boys) but here's a couple of what we did get:

       

Calvin and Papa Dana         

Calvin and Great Grandma Helen

December 5th was my dad's 50th birthday (Happy Birthday, old man - ha ha).  We planned sort of a last minute, small surprise party for him.  It was quite an event - my sister and I took the boys out to my dad's house for dinner and Clela was suppose to call and have us meet her in town for dinner because she had to 'work late.'  She didn't call soon enough so my dad called to order a pizza - Mackenzie and I weren't really sure how to stop him so she secretly had to call Clela to tell her and they cancelled the pizza the she called and had to beg my dad for us to come meet her for dinner.  I wasn't able to get a lot of pictures for that either (my hands were full with trying to keep Calvin from being too grumpy in the restaurant).

Calvin and Papa Rick

Saturday, Dec 6th I took Hunter to the winter parade in Meridian.  It was a lot of fun, he got a ton of candy, pencils, keychains and even a stuffed animal (I believe it was church group that was handing out small stuffed animals to all of the kids).  It really warms my heart to see him enjoy things as simple as a parade.  He was waving at all of the people, making his car motor noises when the cool cars drove by, and making siren noises at the fire trucks and ambulances. 

Hunter waiting for the parade to start

There was a camel in the parade

Hunter with his new monkey from the parade

Hunter in his new hat

Waving at the parade people

 Santa and Mrs. Clause in the fire truck (a big hit)

Calvin stayed with Nana - he was tired

 

December 7th, my boys and I taking our own picture

Calvin got a new 'snowsuit' from his great uncles Doug and Tony in Florida...they must have thought it was going to be cold here in Idaho or something.  

     

Family Pictures

A couple of weeks ago my fabulous sister came over to take some family photos for us.  My intent was (is?) to use them for Christmas cards but I don't know if I'll get around to that or not...we shall see.  Anyway, here are a few for your enjoyment:

             

Next Blog

Have you noticed the 'next blog' button at the top of some people's blogs?  Sometimes, when I'm bored I'll click through and just browse what blogger has to offer.  It's fun to see what other people post, I like the ones dedicated to photography, crafts, art, etc.  One thing that annoys me though is that nearly 9 put of 10 are in languages other than English.  Tonight in my browsing I found this but didn't think to get the site address for reference, though the original 'writer' is listed: 

Make a memory with your children,

 Spend some time to show you care; 

Toys and trinkets can't replace those 

Precious moments that you share. 

Money doesn't buy real pleasure, 

It doesn't matter where you live; 

Children need your own attention, 

Something only you can give. 

Childhood's days pass all too quickly, 

Happy memories all too few; 

Plan to do that special something, 

Take the time to go or do. 

Make a memory with your children, 

Take the time in busy days; 

Have some fun while they are growing, 

Show your love in gentle ways. 

Elaine Hardt, 1977

I need to remember to slow down, not sweat the small things and create memories with my children.  It makes me happier to do things like that, so I have got to start making more of an effort.  I need to listen to my kids (Hunter now, Calvin in the near future) and if they want to go visit grandma today, go outside and ride bikes, sit on the patio at Sonic and enjoy an ice cream treat rather than rushing back home to eat it or play in the bath a little bit longer, I need to take time out of my 'busy,' nearly meaningless schedule and make my days and time with them meaningful.  They won't always want to spend quality time with me, so I need to make the most of when they do!