Happiness is....

a new, fresh calendar! LOVE IT!

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Another Adventure

The kiddos and I took off again for another round of adventures in the great Salt Lake City.

We left home on Friday and headed south. We didn't have much to do for the weekend at Grandma's place - just a few wedding receptions. One was for my cousin's daughter and another was for the son of Grandma's neighbor (I think). Both were lovely.

Sunday was church.

Monday we were planning on riding TRAX to Salt Lake and then going to Gateway but things changed. The Girl started with this horrible hacking cough and I couldn't get it to stop. It was so bad that she threw up Saturday and Sunday night. Our plans for Monday were put off so we could take her to the doctor. Her eczema flared and she was all over miserable. So was her mom.

The doc looked her over and listened to her lungs and determined that she has asthma brought on by allergies. While not so fun to hear, it wasn't really surprising. The boy has the same thing - including the eczema. By the way, these are all related - nice, huh? The doc gave us some prescriptions and sent us on our way. Call me crazy, but I don't want to fill prescriptions for long term meds away from home so I tucked them nicely into Grandma's purse and we took off. Basically, Monday was shaping up to be a crappy day. 

While driving around and trying to decide where to go for lunch, my youngest sister and her family called. We met them at 5 Guys for burgers and then decided to go to Boondocks in Kaysville. Serious fun! The Boy and The Girl LOVED the bumper boats! The Go-Karts were a riot - except The Boy was too short to go by himself. The Boy and his cousin, R, went with Uncle W and played laser tag, while The Girl and the other cousin, W, played in the Kiddie Cove. We didn't get to play miniature golf, but had a BLAST!

Tuesday was the day The Boy had been waiting for all summer.
Lagoon.
He seriously loves this place. Me? Not so much.

The Girl LOVED the boats.

The Girl didn't like too many rides.

So, until all of the cousins showed up, The Boy had to ride the little kid rides with The Girl.

"Baby rides stink."

The Boy was a good sport most of the time.

Riding the little kid roller coaster. The Girl hated it.

Once everyone arrived and we ate, The Boy and some of the bigger cousins took off with Uncle W again for fun on the big rides. The Boy was feeling better about this.

Happier!

At this time, I stopped taking pictures and started having fun. The moms took the little ones around the kiddie rides and visited. After a while, we all met back up and I got to ride some big rides too. I have no idea what I was thinking when I followed The Boy and the cousins onto The Cliffhanger. I don't mind being upside down on the coasters because it is fast, but hanging upside down with water running off of you is NOT fun. I guess I don't trust the ride enough. Anyway, I was a sport and did it. The youngest sister and Grandma thought I was going to vomit. Guess I wasn't looking like I enjoyed it. Go figure. I found out that my youngest sis and her family had never been on Rattlesnake Rapids. Crazy, huh? So we all went and left the new baby with Grandma. Unluckily for me, I got into the boat with my sis-in-law (who is so cool and has season passes). She announced to all the children that she wasn't going to get wet  - they were to work it so I got soaked. Yep, came to pass. I got drenched. Seriously drenched. So drenched that I think my clothes are still wet. She got out just damp. Grr. Unfortunately, The Girl was sitting next to me and also got drenched. Seriously drenched.

The Girl, Grandma and I left the park around 8, while my Sis-in-law and her family kept The Boy at the park until closing. He had the best time.

Wednesday we decided to head to Park City to get our shop on. Love that place. We started the back-to-school shopping! YEAH! My youngest sis and her three littles met us for shopping and lunch, but her boy just melted and they went home. We drove past our old house and told stories of walking up that serious hill to get on the school bus. Didn't know I grew up in Park City? This is how I remember it.

Youngest sister in the snow - probably February or March

The Summer

Me - scary huh?

Anyway, The Boy is very happy NOT to have to climb that hill.

We headed home and all enjoyed a lovely night sleep.

Thursday morning, we were packed and on the road by 9:30.

It is so nice to be home - except the laundry.

As the old saying goes, "There is no place like home - except Grandma's!"

Thanks, Mom!

Summer...

The Boy believes it should be spent reading insanely large books. I believe it should be spent outside. Compromise is good.

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Another Anniversary - 20 years this time

Last night, as I checked Facebook, I saw this post by my sis, "20 years ago today, I had a rude awakening about how fragile life is. My life has never been the same, I totally miss my sister! She was awesome! Thankful for my belief in eternal families.."

 The only thing I could say was "Amen!" because I totally miss my sister, also.

I was thinking about things and all that has changed in the last 20 years, and I tried to remember that night. Seriously, it came in flashes.

I remember being so excited to go dancing with Shauna.

I also remember wanting to go home and change shoes... little did I know what awaited me at my apartment.

It was dark when I walked up to the door and there were TONS of post-it from several people telling me to call them and to stay put.

(From here on out, things in my memory get spotty.... shock is the official medical term. I prefer 'shattered' because that is what I was for a very long time.) 

Mark M. telling me that my sister had died in a car accident (he had pulled up right behind us).

Jen R. helping me pack (actually I think she packed for me).

Shauna V.O. driving me to Pocatello. I sobbed the whole way without a stop.

Mark M. loading me into his truck in Pokey and taking me home.

My sibling's faces when I walked through the door.

The next few days were a blur. I have very little memory the days leading up to the funeral. 

I remember walking into the church and seeing the casket and her husband.

At one point, I had to step outside. I just needed to breathe. I walked out the door just as Steve and Jamie arrived. I remember that I lost it. I do remember my mascara on his shirt as I sobbed in his arms.

I remember the awful wind at the cemetary - oh, that's right it was Idaho in June. Actually, Idaho at any time.

Alright. I have sobbed enough this morning.

20 years is a long time, but, thankfully, love and families are eternal.

1 Year Anniversary - kinda

We, as a family, are not big on celebrating the anniversaries of the little things that happen in our lives.

This is one that I have to share.

It has been a year since my baby's stitches!

Look at the difference a year makes!

Love it!

For those that don't know or don't remember...

On June 8, The Boy and I were in the kitchen getting ready to make pudding pops. The Girl was playing in The Boys room.

We heard a scream and crying. I ran down the hall and there she was... blood running down her face.

I knew it was bad so I grabbed some paper towels and threw the kiddos in the car. I managed to drive, with The Girl on my lap to the house of a friend and I commandeered her daughter (still in her jammies). The Boy did not want to go to the hospital, so he got out and stayed with the friends little guys.

I never once thought of going to the emergency room. Weird, huh? Must have been shock.

I took her to an urgent care and they kindly sent me to the emergency room.

Once there, they got her in pretty quickly and the doctor gave her a drug that put her completely out! (Scared the dickens out of me!) They started sewing her head shut. Three layers of stitching. The first was down at the bottom, by the bone. The second was a traveling stitch (I would have called it a basting stitch). It's purpose was to keep the two sides together after they remove the top stitches. And then the top layer of stitching. That is lots of stitches in my baby's head!

To sum up, I think I was in worse shape than The Girl!

The "before" picture was taken after we got back from the emergency room.

Yep, she was fine! I was the one who needed a nap! 

For the next year, I faithfully put Scarguard on the scar. That is it.

Occasionally, I would rub it with Vitamin E oil to check for scar tissue build up, but there wasn't any. YEAH!

Here we are today. I haven't put anything on her scar for a while now. I do keep her pretty well covered in sunscreen, but that is it!

I can't wait to see how this looks in a couple of years. Most people don't even realize that The Girl has a scar.
YEAH!

Our Recent Adventures - Day 4

Talk about tired kiddos!

After Hogle Zoo and This is the Place, they were plumb tuckered out! But we weren't done ~ we had a relaxing morning and then drove down to Thanksgiving Point. (Or we shall call the drive another name that rhymes with 'bell.')

Ok, I live in a small city. Pretty much zero traffic. I HATE driving farther south than Salt Lake. The traffic wasn't too bad but they are seriously tearing out the exit at Thanksgiving Point. There were some bad words said. Sorry, Mom.

They started out okay!

howdy!

We went to the dinosaur museum that Grandma has been telling us about, actually called The Museum of Ancient Life. Seriously cool place. 

awww..

 

Seriously too many things in 4 days. Can anyone say "Major Meltdown?"

No?

Let me show the proof.

at the sand tank...shaking the sand off and whining

I want my mommy!

better yet - I want Grandma!

The Girl did well for about 30 minutes, then the whining started. She played in the water/sand tank for about 2 minutes before she started whining in earnest and trying to get the yucky sand off her hands. When her momma wouldn't hold her, (I have TWO kids who needed attention, baby.) she curled up with her blankie on Grandma. But she wouldn't sleep. At one point, she got out to play with a display and threw everything down in disgust. It really was humorous, but I did feel bad for her. She tried and tried to keep up!

The Boy, on the other hand, got sillier and sillier!

Need proof of that?

Here you go.

swim away!

There are no words....

We played in the sand, uncovering dinosaurs, despite the constant unhappiness that sand was in The Girl's flip flops.

We gave up at that point and headed out to Cabela's.

The Girl didn't make it out of the parking lot at Thanksgiving Point. I decided that she needed to sleep as long as possible so I stayed in the car while Grandma and The Boy went in with my camera.

the moose

Now, some quick explanation. I love moose. I look for them everywhere. The Boy shot pictures of the displays for his dad, but this one was for me. Thanks, my little man!

The Girl woke up as the others were headed out, so we went back for a quick snack and headed north. We stopped at Five Guys Burgers for dinner and then.... yummy cupcakes!

yum!

Thanks for a fabulous trip, Grandma! We love you!

Our Recent Adventures - Day 3, Part 2

So, here we go to Hogle Zoo!

awww... aren't they so cute?

Since it is just across the street we really had no trouble getting there! Since it was just about lunch time, we got a great parking spot! Yeah!

The zoo I remember is no more. Everything pretty much has changed, which isn't always a bad thing and it is not always a good thing!

The Girl was pretty tired when we got there and I don't think she really enjoyed it the way I was hoping!

We did get to see lots of cool animals!

New baby elephant - aww!

The Girl and a big cat!

The Boy and a Giraffe

 The kiddos posed for lots of pictures on the zoo statutes AND they got to ride on the carousel.

she liked this horse better!

look at momma....or at the kids just outta the frame.

yeah, The Girl didn't like this one.

The Girl on the carousel

The Boy on the carousel

The kiddos were starting to melt down so we hopped on the train and played for a minute in the playground. Then back to the car. The Girl didn't make it out of the parking lot.

Grandma and the kiddos on the train.

at the playground

major meltdown of The Girl. oh and the cats.

We picked up Papa Murphy's pizza on the way home and crashed!