I feel like a domestic diva!

This year I decided to can peaches, pears and tomatoes. My kids went through the pears that we canned last year like crazy. I always kept that "last jar" on the shelf because I couldn't part with it. Silly I know. Anyways, so this year I decided to can more!! Thanks to my wonderful husband we really made out great with peaches and pears! Unfortunately the peaches I got weren't the best and when I opened the boxes had to toss some of them:( But with the other peaches that I couldn't can because they were a little too soft, I made freezer jam! YUM YUM. So we have enjoyed having that. It was a lot of fun canning with my husband. It was great to visit and he was so awesome to stay up with me into the late hours of the night so that I wouldn't be even later going to bed. I sure am lucky to have such an awesome husband! The tomatoes this year came from some fun picking out at a place that gives them to you for a lot cheaper if you pick them yourself. So, a couple of friends and I went and picked tomatoes one day and canned the next at my house! We had a great time even if we did smell up the whole house. The kids played and we canned. It was a lot of fun. Here are some pictures of the kiddos enjoying fresh fruit before I canned and also Madie getting into the tomatoes...she had fun! I took pictures of the stuff I canned, but I don't have any of the peaches. I thought I had gotten some, but I must not have...oops.

Sleepy time or meal time...or both

When my sister was here visiting we had gotten back from church and starting eating lunch. Madie aparently was ready for the nap part a little sooner than later. The older kids thought it was the funniest thing and I have to admit I couldn't resist getting out the video camera! I promise we took her out and put her down for a nap right after the camera went off. You have to admit though, it's pretty darn cute!!

Updates...

I'm trying to update my blog and get caught up as best as I can, but I want the posts to be dated close to when they occured and since I'm behind, there will be some posts that won't pop up as recent. I've currently updated Cailee's birthday party (dated July 16th) and Independance Day (dated July 4th). This is a great way to journal and I'd like to keep them in order of when they happened!

The "Island" Makeover

This summer...

In our backyard we have what we call an "Island" where we have huge shade trees in the center of our yard. The wood that surrounds it was rotting really bad an exposing large nails and we felt like it was time for a makeover. So Blake mostly and I redid the wood and I think it turned out great! I'm sure our neighbors were glad when the project was over (as were we) so they wouldn't have to hear the hammering anymore. The nails we used were more like stakes, infact, they may be called stakes, I don't really know. I think it just turned out beautiful!! We are so happy with it. We also added fun solar lights and a fun lamp post light to the center and have enjoyed a few nights sitting on the patio with the lights on. It sure has added a new fun dimension to the backyard!

From the mouths of the babes...

We barbecued hamburgers the other night for dinner...
Abby: "Mom, you are making me sick."
Me: "Why am I making you sick?"
Abby: "Because you stink."
Apparently she's not a fan of the smell of the BBQ.

Abby: "Mom, I want some sizzling sauce." (aka seasoning salt)

When my mom was here visiting... Abby was sitting on her lap rhyming:
Abby: "Itchy, witchy, b*****" oops (you get the point)

Brandon was playing peek-a-boo with Madie...
Brandon: "Geek-a-boo Madie...Geek-a-boo"

Blake to Cailee: "What kind of eggs do you want?"
Cailee: "Cooked."

Blake was trying to make Abby smile and was spinning a cup on the counter.
Cailee: "That was a bad one Dad."
Apparently he didn't impress her at all.

High School Musical Birthday!!

I just can't believe that six years ago Cailee came into our lives. She was so perfect and beautiful. We spent the first night trying to believe that she was actually here and actually ours. Six years have passed and now she's into High School Musical and preparing to go to first grade. Six years ago I thought this day was so far away and now here we are. Cailee has got such a fun personality. She loves to entertain us with her singing and dancing and she LOVES High School Musical and Hannah Montana. When I ask her what her favorite color is she usually ends up telling me all the colors in the rainbow. That's how her personality is though...very colorful. She can be full of drama and full of smiles.
This year's birthday theme of course was High School Musical. She invited friends from school and some from church. Her party was delayed by a few days, but thankfully she still had a great turnout. My Mom and Blake were wonderful and made her cake. It turned out really cute!! We had face decorating, which we had a wildcat on each of their cheeks, played musical chairs to the sound track, Cailee opened her presents, had cake and ice cream and had fun smacking a pinata!! Blake and I made microphones for them to sing in, but most were to shy. All in all it turned out to be a great party!!

72 hours and a broken smile

72 Hours I'll never forget...

(Long story...bear with me...I'm journaling...not that I'll forget)
The past week and a half haven't been what I would call fun. In fact, I don't really have the words to describe how life has been. Sunday afternoon about four thirty, I started having pain in my lower back on the left side. This of course meant that a kidney stone was preparing to pass. I took some pain killers I had a home to try and get on top of the pain, which worked for a little while. I prepared myself for a really bad night, but was determined to try and pass this one at home instead of having to go to the hospital (we spend way to much time there). I spent the next thirteen hours curled up on the couch with my pillow and running to the bathroom throwing up. After thirteen hours of sheer pain, I couldn't take it anymore. I called my awesome friend Mindy L. and she came and stayed with my kids at 5:30 in the morning and then took them to her house for the day. I can't thank you enough for being such a great friend and taking care of my children. I knew they were in good hands and I honestly didn't have to worry.

Blake took Madie and I to the Fruita ER (thinking it would be better if we were closer to home for the kids). Got there and after being in the ER till honestly I can't remember what time they sent me over to a place to get a CT scan done to see where the stone was. I of course in all grace and beauty threw up right in front of the doors before we even made it into the building. The receptionist, bless her heart, came out to see if she could help. We got inside, had the scan done and headed back for the ER. Fruita at this point was one week off of opening their brand new hospital, so I had to travel to get the scan done. So I got hooked back up to all the IV fluids and waited to hear from the doctor. They tried to keep me as comfortable as possible to with Morfin, but I tell ya, it just wasn't happening.

Dr. Hughes, wonderful man, came in and told us that the stone was stuck in my ureter tube and was closer to my kidney than it was to passing. They admitted me into the hospital and tried once again to keep me "comfortable". I spent the rest of the day and night throwing up and wishing someone would knock me out. Blake called a friend in our ward and he came that night and helped give me a blessing. Then next morning it was decided that they needed to transfer me over to St. Mary's hospital where the urologist could see me and hopefully make a decision about what to do with the stone that WOULD NOT MOVE. I called Blake and found out the kids, all THREE older kids had spent the night THROWING UP with the flu. I guess they felt left and decided to join in the fun. We knew we couldn't leave them with a friend, so it was decided that I would call and have a friend take me.

Thank heaven for angels disguised as friends. My wonderful Young Women's president Kristen, that I am councilor to came and took me to the hospital. She stayed with me the WHOLE day! Yes the WHOLE day. She was surely heaven sent. It was so wonderful to have her there to help pass the time. We got there and the nurses assistant pretty much told me it would be a while before they could get me anything to help with the pain and nausea...thank goodness the nurse was already prepared and walked in with both in hand. Bless her heart for being on her toes. By that afternoon it was decided that I was going to have to have Lithotripsy done to blast the kidney stone so I could pass it. I was scheduled for 3:30 because the man who runs the machine was leaving for vacation at 5 and wasn't going to be back for a few days.

They did the surgery. When I woke up, I felt like I couldn't breath. They had to put a tube down my throat since I was completely under for the procedure. The nurse kept telling me to cough and that I was a week cougher. Honestly, I wanted her to try coughing after throwing up for 48 hours, feeling like you've been stabbed in the back for 48 hours, and had a tube down you throat. Once I was awake enough they took me back to my room. Kristen stayed with me through the surgery and was waiting for me after. Thank you so much. She headed out that night to be with her girls at a fun Fashion show that I was supposed to go to. Mindy stopped by that night for a little bit to visit. I wasn't feeling very well, so she didn't get to stay too long, but I really appreciated her stopping by. I was so tired of being pumped full of drugs at this point, so I said a prayer and was able to fall asleep on my own. I woke up about midnight feeling pretty good and actually took a shower. I looked in the mirror and I won't even describe what I saw. Not pretty, I'll just say that. They kept me over night because I developed an infection and they needed to make sure I didn't spike a fever. I slept for the rest of the night and was able to go home mid morning.

Thank you also to Andrea who brought a meal over to my family while I was in the hospital and took my kids while Blake picked me up at the hospital and got me settled back in at home. The kids had a blast with the water slide! Two hours after I got home my wonderful angel Mom showed up!! I can't thank my wonderful husband and mom enough for everything they did. I pretty much did nothing but sleep, eat and sit for the next few days. They did EVERYTHING...the laundry, cleaning, cooking, shopping...you name it, they did it. Since I can't nurse anymore, Blake got Madie adapted to a bottle and food. I am the luckiest person to have such awesome friend and family for my support system. My Mom even stayed Saturday because I wasn't ready for her to leave, not that I'm ever ready. Sunday morning she headed home. And so we come to the next part...

A Broken Smile...
Sunday morning my tongue felt really funny...like I had burned it, but I hadn't. I didn't think much of it till my eye started to feel weird. Still I wasn't too concerned. It had been a long week and I had been under a little stress. I stayed home from church with Brandon (who had a cold) and by the time Blake got home from church my face started to feel funny. I called my Mom for the second time and she told me to try and scrunch my nose. Only one side of my nose scrunched. My right side did not move. I started to cry. Could this really be happening. She told me to take some pain killers and take a nap and see how it was when I woke up. So I did and after getting the crying under control I slept. I woke up to more of the right side of my face not working. By Monday morning I pretty much lost most of the muscle control to that side. I pretty much knew at that point that I had Bells Palsy. I tried to smile, only one side. Honestly I was really scared. My Mom had it when I was a little girl. It gave me hope that hers went away, but I am still a little scared.

My great friend Dawny came that morning and watched my kiddos so that Blake could go with me to the doctor and confirmed that yes, I have Bells Palsy. The right side of my face is essentially paralyzed temporarily. He put me on a steroid and anti-viral medications. I have to put eye drops in my eye to keep it moist since it doesn't close all the way on it's on. To be perfectly honest, my eye bothers me the most. So here we are. My wonderful husband continues to keep the house running while I try to figure out how to function.

I thought about telling people that I tried botox and by the time they got done with the first side of my face, it hurt to much and so I decided not to do the other side! We are trying to keep the humor going in our house. Blake thinks it would make a great addition to a Halloween costume...he said I could go as two face and he'd go as Batman. I told him he better be prepared for Batman to lose this time! I'm not sure if I'm ready to go out into public yet...the fear of people staring is keeping me from taking that step. I thought about posting a picture, but I'm not ready for that either. Maybe some day, just not today. So for now, my smile may be broken, but I'm not giving up hope. I'll get it back.

Thank you for all those who have kept us in your prayers. Thank you to all the angels who we call our family and friends. I am truly blessed. I suppose if this has to happen to someone I will take it. I wouldn't want this to happen to someone who is not as blessed as I to have the support system that I have. Thank you to all of my angels. I love you and will always be indebted to you.

Independance Day

Independance Day. It seems as the years go by that this day means more and more to me. As a child I think it was all about fireworks and family gatherings. Now it's about those same things, but much more. I have a great respect for so many families whos loved ones are away in other countries fighting so that we can be free to be with our families, free to take our children to watch the fireworks without fear of an attack. I most definately have a respect for those that are serving our country...both here and over seas. It seems like after 9/11 there has been a renewed patriatism here and what a beautiful thing our country is. We are truly blessed to live in such a great country. Our Father in Heaven has blessed us with such beauty here in America and for that I am grateful.

This year we celebrated with our good friends, the Gentry's and Dawnee's family! We had a great time with great food and a lot of "wet" fun! They set up a tarp with water and dish soap so you could slide better. The kids had a blast and I actually took my turn! Dawnee's grandparents neighbors let us swim in their pool in their backyard...we had a lot of fun! It got a bit chilly towards the end, but fun non the less. Later that evening we set off fire works at Jason's parents. The kids LOVED it! We went and watched the city fireworks from a distance, but due to TALL trees, we couldn't see them as well. We had a great day though of lots of celebrating!

Happy Father's Day...Smores Style!!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO THE BEST DADDY!! WE LOVE YOU!

We decided it would be fun to roast marshmellows and have smores for Father's Day, so we did. The kids ate about one and then were full. It was fun to just spend time outside as a family. It was fun though. I asked everyone "How do you eat your smores?" and then took their picture and this is what I got:

Madie goes for the chocolate bar wrapper...yum!

Brandon tries the dig out the marshmellow and lick your finger style...interesting!Abby does the whole close your eyes and enjoy the moment...mmmm savor the moment!

Cailee goes for the "how do I get it all in my mouth" look...very fashionable I might say!

I tried the whole...is this proper enough look...hmmm, I don't know?!

Blake went for the "I'll humor my wife look"...thanks hun!! LOVE YA!

They were some good smores...it is true! To my loving husband...I am so happy to be married to you and I love you for the wonderful husband and awesome Daddy you are. We all love you so much!

To my Dad...I want you to know how grateful I am to be your daughter. You have done so much for me and my family that I only hope to be able to do the same for my children one day. Thanks for helping out when we need your expertise on life and anything that has come our way. I don't know what we'd do without you. I love you Dad!

We had a BLAST...

...in WYOMING! We started out our Wyoming trip THROW-UP FREE!! Pinch me I think I'm dreaming...we actually made an entire trip without someone throwing up in the car. Can we say MIRACLE?!? The kids are such awesome travelers...they were so happy to get to Grandma and Grandpa Crossley's though. They had a great time playing in their Garage Mahal...as it's so rightfully called! Brandon had a great time riding on the airplane rocker Blake made a few years ago. It doesn't fit in our house, but is great in their wonderfully large play room! They had a blast in their blow-up jumper. When the kids were taking a popsicle break even Madie took her turn and LOVED IT! On Sunday they had a chance to see some of their cousins that live in Montana...thanks James and Stacey for bringing the kids down...the kids said they had a blast playing! Blake's parents were so wonderful to keep the kids while I went to my lil' sisters graduation (of course Madie came with me). Thanks Grandma and Grandpa Crossley for all the fun we had at your house!!

Great-Grandma Crossley was also there visiting at the same time! We were so excited to get to see her and visit. It's always a great time hearing stories from when she was growing up and how she was when her kids were younger. It's been a very long time since we've gotten to spend time with her, so we were so fortunate to be there at the same time to get to see her. On Monday we went up to Billings for cousin Bradley's kindergarten graduation. It was great getting to see Rachel, Todd, Bradley and Jacob there! It was way too short though, but fun for the short time we had with them. Darcee came with me and we picked up my Mom at the hospital there. She spent the morning with my Aunt Donna who had surgery. We shopped a little and then headed back to Wyoming!

Grandma and Grandpa Lynn's and more family!

We had such an awesome time with all my family. Sunday night I went and got the kids and they got to play with their cousins. My brother and his wife had to leave that night, but were so awesome and waited to leave until the kids had a chance to play. Abby absolutely loves their daughter Hailey and they had such a great time. Darcee's graduation party had a ton of people, so I forgot to pull out the camera. While there, we visited with my grandparents (the kids got to pick out a stuffed animal from Great Grandma and Grandpa Lynn's-they love them...thanks-pictured below), had fun at my sisters a day (pictured below...the kids all sitting together eating lunch), played lots of days in Grandma and Grandpa's playroom that is so much fun with a slide and swing...INSIDE!! It rained pretty much the whole time we were there, so it's a good thing their house is so much fun! It's also a good thing that Great Grandma and Grandpa Goller have "popsicles on a stick" (that's how my kids put it) and Hershey's kisses! My kids I think asked daily for the "popsicles on a stick" and couldn't wait for them to get back so I could ask if they could have one! My parents got a new kitty before we came...Sophie. She has to be one of the cuttest kitties. She was so fun to watch and the kids wouldn't leave her alone (sorry Sophie...they just love you so much)! She has two speeds...fast and sleeping. She climbed up on my lap one night and I thought I'd be okay, but being allergic to cats, I suffered for it later. Thank goodness for Zyrtec and Benadryl! My younger brother loves Sophie (pictured below)! My sister and her kids came over to our parent's house most of the time and it was fun to watch Madie and Ashlee play together or by each other!! They are exactly four weeks and 30 minutes apart (pictured below)! My sisters and I went shopping on Saturday, which is always a blast. Thank you so much Mom for watching my kids so I could have a day! We had such a great time the whole time and it was very hard to leave. Thanks everyone for such a great time!

(You can click on any image and see it bigger!)

New Calling

While here on vacation I got a phone call from Blake saying the Bishop was looking for me. He asked me if I had heard from him yet and at that time I hadn't. Later that afternoon I got the phone call. I'm was released on Sunday from my calling as the Secretary in Relief Society and called to be the second counselor in the Young Womens Program! I am really excited to work with the sisters that have been called as Pres. and first counselor and with the youth. I really loved Young Womens as a youth and look forward to having the opportunity to work with the girls!
I am so happy I had the chance to work with the sisters in Relief Society. I will miss working with them, but will enjoy getting to see them still as I feel like I've found new friends in them! So we'll have fun and exciting changes awaiting us when we get home! I'm hoping to get up to girls camp to see the girls at the end of the week...we'll see what happens.
The three younger kids and I are heading home Wednesday and will leave Cailee with Grandma and Grandpa for a few more weeks. She's really excited to stay and have her special time with them. I'm excited to see Blake soon...sure do miss him.
Today I'm going to get at least one of the fatty tumors taken out of my arm. We'll see how that goes. My lil' sis wants us to video tape it since she's working. I don't know about the video tape, but if my Mom wants to maybe we'll take some pictures.

Schools Out For The Summer

Weeks of Graduation:

The past weeks have been filled with lots of graduations. From preschool to high school we've been to it all! We started out with Abby's preschool graduation. It was a great time. We had a BBQ with all the joy school families and it was great. They even got to graduate in their swimsuits! That's what I call FUN! Thanks all you Joy School Mom teacher's for a great year!

Abby and her Joy School friends singing "Oh Boy I've Got Joy".

All the cute graduates in their swimsuits!








Teachers and students...mommies and kids.








It was a great year Abbs...I'm glad I got to be your teacher!









Some of the BBQ clan.








Madie chillin' with her Daddy.







We next joined Cailee in her Kindergarten graduation. I can't believe she will be going to first grade next year. It doesn't seem like that long ago that she was learning to crawl and walk.

Cailee and her class singing and signing to a song they learned through out the year!

Cailee and Mrs. Bricker. She was truly what Cailee needed this year...we couldn't have asked for a better teacher. I tried to talk her into moving up to first grade, but she decided she'd stay in Kindergarten...Oh Man:)

The Happy Graduate with her diploma!






We then head to Wyoming for my little sister's high school graduation. It's been great to see family and run into some friends. I'm so proud of my little (ok...not so little anymore) sis. She's such a well rounded young lady and we are so proud of her. Great job Darcee! We love you!





Getting her diploma...the day has come...WAY TO FAST!












The graduate with our Mom and Dad!

All of us siblings posing for the camera...say cheese!

Me and my beautiful sisters after the graduation party...we were all a bit tired.



Congrats to Abby, Cailee and Darcee for a great time in school and we love you all!