tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13142000709868810262024-03-12T22:19:52.511-04:00All About EveyEvehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13437887353855668111noreply@blogger.comBlogger910125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1314200070986881026.post-36796066124997244852020-01-13T12:39:00.000-05:002020-01-13T12:39:58.670-05:00I think I should blog again... MaybeHoly poop it's been a while since I blogged.<br />
<br />
I have been writing actually. I have this desire to create a new blog for my book, but that seems kind of stupid.<br />
<br />
I figure the best thing to do is to just post here on the blog I created sooo long ago.<br />
<br />
Why not!<br />
<br />
So here's a link to the new book.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Daily-Observations-Girl-Journey-Weight/dp/170008349X/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=the+daily+observations+garcia&qid=1578935354&sr=8-1">https://www.amazon.com/Daily-Observations-Girl-Journey-Weight/dp/170008349X/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=the+daily+observations+garcia&qid=1578935354&sr=8-1</a><br />
<br />
The book is called <i>The Daily Observations of a Fat Girl On Her Journey to (Try) And Lose Weight</i><br />
<br />
Written by me: Genesis Eve Garcia<br />
<i> </i><br />
Published on Amazon because that's how we do it when we are self publishing!<br />
<br />
It's good. I like it.<br />
<br />
I think it could be improved... but I also think the topics are important enough that I wanted to get it out in the world. I am nervous... but also really proud of it. There's nothing quite so ridiculously scary as sharing yourself honestly, with all your flaws. Evehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13437887353855668111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1314200070986881026.post-34188053558514478522017-12-28T17:57:00.000-05:002020-01-13T12:29:25.360-05:00Eve Covers White SnakeI have decided to record myself singing for Youtube on a fairly regular basis.<br />
<br />
I hope you like!<br />
<br />
This week, I'm singing Whitesnake's "Is This Love"?<br />
<br />
The music video for the song is awesome.<br />
<br />
My video is probably boring. But oh well!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<iframe allow="encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" gesture="media" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8K8zEWmpi9Y" width="560"></iframe><br />Evehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13437887353855668111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1314200070986881026.post-36560675514837182922017-01-17T12:58:00.002-05:002017-01-17T12:58:25.133-05:00A Song of Ice and Ice<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-grPV7WR6B7g/WH5aZp19CiI/AAAAAAAAiio/823rENWXeuYpM5DeDTb1_5Fi4rw7ir2KgCKgB/s1600/20170116_124056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-grPV7WR6B7g/WH5aZp19CiI/AAAAAAAAiio/823rENWXeuYpM5DeDTb1_5Fi4rw7ir2KgCKgB/s400/20170116_124056.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Two brothers.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Stand on a precipice. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A wilderness of ice and snow before them.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
They command the western wastelands of ice and snow. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
They last about 5 minutes before proclaiming that their fingers are frozen.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And we go to another park. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Where the temperature is literally 20 degrees warmer. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Weird. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Utah is weird. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vDt166Hf7t0/WH5aZt3Sc_I/AAAAAAAAiio/ZyQQ_-ePsecQBxQMv1SbJT-hBFW_-gaXgCKgB/s1600/20170116_124143.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vDt166Hf7t0/WH5aZt3Sc_I/AAAAAAAAiio/ZyQQ_-ePsecQBxQMv1SbJT-hBFW_-gaXgCKgB/s400/20170116_124143.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pmGzkprMhO8/WH5aZs06O3I/AAAAAAAAiio/ja4elWXtAjEhJd7VCO5tc74yvbgf9rPewCKgB/s1600/20170116_123829.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pmGzkprMhO8/WH5aZs06O3I/AAAAAAAAiio/ja4elWXtAjEhJd7VCO5tc74yvbgf9rPewCKgB/s400/20170116_123829.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Evehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13437887353855668111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1314200070986881026.post-11154059157804864362016-11-16T13:02:00.001-05:002016-11-16T13:02:07.143-05:00New Shoes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ABFK18YuXSY/WCyY2UgvbYI/AAAAAAAAhac/yiXt5R6sPPgQKqqZRSkboF6sDqdCn1rpQCKgB/s1600/20161116_073145.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ABFK18YuXSY/WCyY2UgvbYI/AAAAAAAAhac/yiXt5R6sPPgQKqqZRSkboF6sDqdCn1rpQCKgB/s640/20161116_073145.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
Dan has been growing so fast! Look at these shoes!<br />
<br />
Hahaha!<br />
<br />
I crack myself up.<br />
<br />
But seriously...<br />
<br />
Remember when Dan rode his bike to church?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hB2W-YN_7O4/WCybtSPfDVI/AAAAAAAAhao/iHtCQQOsJwwdokcK-chJEKkh6gtMTwVEQCLcB/s1600/daniel%2Bsep%2B2015%2Bbike.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hB2W-YN_7O4/WCybtSPfDVI/AAAAAAAAhao/iHtCQQOsJwwdokcK-chJEKkh6gtMTwVEQCLcB/s640/daniel%2Bsep%2B2015%2Bbike.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<br />
According to Google Maps--<b>we live 1.2 miles from the church building</b>. This is what he looked like after riding his bike those 1.2 miles.<br />
<br />
On Monday, Dan was determined to walk home from school by himself. The thought of our little boy walking by himself petrified me! I want to allow him to be strong and independent--but he's so little!<br />
<br />
Well, I determined he needed the chance to prove himself.<br />
<br />
We live 1.4 miles away from the school.<br />
<br />
This is what he looked like after walking the whole way by himself!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0GZWrKypXO4/WCyeqAOckkI/AAAAAAAAha0/B0dZEtvMvUAtYLJrSDFihgz1gJYY2CyNwCKgB/s1600/20161114_155154.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0GZWrKypXO4/WCyeqAOckkI/AAAAAAAAha0/B0dZEtvMvUAtYLJrSDFihgz1gJYY2CyNwCKgB/s640/20161114_155154.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
No tears. No sweat. Just a happy, tired kid.<br />
<br />
(For those of you concerned... I checked on him 3 times during his walk to see if he wanted rescuing. And we won't be making this a habit because I do think he's too young. But every month or so, he can walk home by himself--with a cell phone in his back pack.)<br />
<br />
I can't believe what a difference a year makes! Evehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13437887353855668111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1314200070986881026.post-49146900494696471572016-11-14T19:20:00.004-05:002016-11-16T12:34:28.890-05:00Family Recipes: Time for PIE!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
From the Kitchen of Grandma Tommy Kirkpatrick! (shared by
her great granddaughter Eve Garcia)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FoiroaFtPFE/WCyYfSGpoFI/AAAAAAAAhaU/5vY86sNS0DQ7cNArHRi-UKGvn6zZ9lSFwCKgB/s1600/20161115_210906.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FoiroaFtPFE/WCyYfSGpoFI/AAAAAAAAhaU/5vY86sNS0DQ7cNArHRi-UKGvn6zZ9lSFwCKgB/s640/20161115_210906.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<b>Lemon Meringue Pie</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Preparation: </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Slightly beat <b>3 egg yolks</b> in a small bowl.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In a separate bowl—Lemon prep. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Grate <b>1 1/3 Tablespoons of lemon rind</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>4 Tablespoons of lemon juice. </b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Set aside.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In sauce pan:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mix <b>1 ½ c sugar</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>1/3 c corn starch</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Whisk together.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Gradually stir in <b>1 ½ c water.</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Cook over moderate heat, stirring constantly, till thickens
and starts to boil.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Boil for 1 minute—stirring constantly. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Slowly stir in ½ of the boiled mixture into the egg yolks.
Pour back into pan on stove. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Boil 1 more minute—stirring constantly. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Remove from heat. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Beat until smooth. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Add <b>3 Tablespoons of butter.</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Add lemon prep. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Stir until smooth. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pour into <b>9 inch pieshell</b> that’s already been baked. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Meringue-</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>4 egg whites</b> into a clean bowl. The egg whites won’t rise if
there is grease on the bowl or if there's any yolk in the mixture. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mix egg whites and<b> ¼ teaspoon of cream of tartar</b>. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Gradually add <b>6 tablespoons of sugar</b>. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Beat beat beat until the meringue rises. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Seal meringue on top of the pie. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Bake pie at 400 F for 8-10 minutes. Cool pie away from
drafts. Let it sit for at least an hour before serving. The longer, the better.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Eat! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iEiy1k_I4qc/WCyYk3WCMxI/AAAAAAAAhaY/Hb16I7KwOcIC4OZVFKlLqOl2dDR4vjk_QCKgB/s1600/20161115_210931.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iEiy1k_I4qc/WCyYk3WCMxI/AAAAAAAAhaY/Hb16I7KwOcIC4OZVFKlLqOl2dDR4vjk_QCKgB/s640/20161115_210931.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Fresh Peach Pie</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>1 cube of butter</b> softened</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>½ c flour</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>1 c sugar</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Cut together.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sprinkle ½ of mixture on bottom of <b>unbaked pie shell</b>. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Cut up<b> 3 large peaches</b> to taste. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sprinkle ½ of mixture over and around peaches. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Bake pie for about 1 hour at 350 F or 40 minutes for 400 F. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Eat!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Evehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13437887353855668111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1314200070986881026.post-91782387289837659042016-08-16T19:20:00.000-04:002016-08-16T19:20:14.994-04:00Writing Exercise #2I know a lot of introverted actors. It seems almost contradictory to outsiders--this idea that theatrical people would be introverted--but it's very often true.<br />
<br />
I am often inspired by and delighted by the people I work with in the theatre, but I perform for the work, not for the people. Back stage, I am often found quiet and unsocial. I am focused on arranging costumes, props, and preparing myself for the show. When I go out onto the stage, I am bold, gregarious, and fully committed to a connection with the other actors and with the crowd. When I leave, I do my part to get things gathered and cleaned, and then I duck out.<br />
<br />
Again, I don't hate people, but I do theatre because I love the work of the theatre. Perhaps it's the way the chaos is organized on the stage. There's a significance in my interactions and a magic in the focused connections.<br />
<br />
The same people I shy away from at the show become lifelong friends to me outside of the work, more often than not. Theatre is a great way to discover the qualities of a person. Are they reliable? Do they listen? Can they focus on a problem? Are they a help or a hindrance?<br />
<br />
Actors are playing themselves on the stage, just different versions of themselves. The faster an actor recognizes that, the faster they find truth in their portrayals and honesty in their own personal life. The best actors are able to float from beautiful to disgusting without flinching and find all the qualities in between, both on the stage and off the stage. They laugh loudly, tell horrible jokes, say all the wrong things, generally have horrible hygiene, and then roll out of bed and become gorgeous and articulate within a moment's notice.<br />
<br />
And they are at peace with that because experience tells us that the best stories require imperfect characters. We float through life, comfortable with our imperfections because that's how we ensure that our story will be more interesting than the next. And the only thing an actor really can't stand is boredom. On or off the stage.<br />
<br />
Perhaps there's nothing more boring than talking just for the sake of talking.<br />
<br />
At least that's the way it seems to be in theatre. And in real life for that matter. <br />
<br />
I have to interject one thing about extroverts. I have no problem with them at all. They find human interaction energizing and inspiring. They are generally the types to come to the theatre to indulge the thoughtful whims of their introverted counterparts. My extroverted friends are my most supportive allies and I wish I was more like them as I grow to understand the important things in life.<br />
<br />
On a side note, I don't know that most people fall neatly into one category or another. But the words introvert and extrovert are convenient labels that help me to express myself.<br />
<br />
Back to the boring talking stuff. I'm not bored talking to people. I'm bored when a person talks to me, but manages to say nothing during the conversation. Talking just to talk. Despite my general introversion, I feel energized when I participate in a conversation with a friend where ideas are exchanged and developed. I feel inspired when I hear their struggles and their hopes. I am awoken when the people I am talking with are open and honest.<br />
<br />
And the best actors are always open and honest. Especially on the stage.<br />
<br />
This has been Writing Exercise #2. Evehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13437887353855668111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1314200070986881026.post-31890434424198781512016-08-15T18:14:00.000-04:002016-08-15T18:14:11.710-04:00Writing Exercise #1I have decided that I need to keep writing. So every day, I am going to write. I want to avoid keeping an online journal though. This is going to just be an every day effort to write. I hope you enjoy it. If you don't, that's all right too.<br />
<br />
Writing Exercise #1 August 16, 2016<br />
<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sitting in a moving vehicle is this strange combination of
stillness and speed. Stillness in speed. My little boy tries to get comfortable
in his booster seat and sits quietly, as the world outside zooms by. My feet don’t
need to touch the pedals as there’s no need for a brake on this long stretch of
Interestate 80, and the cruise control is set to 83 miles per hour. I hold the
steering wheel steady as we zoom forward along the highway. If I don’t hold the
car steady, the speed will break us open. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The planet hurtles itself through space at the alarming
speed of 1,000 miles per hour. And yet, I am completely sedentary in my leather
chair. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Summers fly by. Days creep along. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Stillness in speed. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What would happen if I explored things differently?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do I want speed in my
stillness? Do I want to be carried away with thoughts of hurtling forward
through time and space? Do I want to feel the earth careening round and round
and forward through space? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Or how would it feel if I forgot about speed and imagined
that the world was as still as I am? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am sitting in this chair. Typing words, one at a time. And
nothing ever changes. Nothing ever happens. I hear the old air conditioner
chugging along. I feel my chapped lips. I peer through dirty glasses. I feel a
heaviness in my body and in my spirit. I look over at my water bottle and see …
Never mind. The phone keeps ringing. This effort at ignoring speed and living
in stillness is destroyed by the joys of customer service. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But I realize something. I believe that this balance between
stillness and speed is an important one. If I am caught up in speed, I am
anxious and carried away. If I am lost in the stillness, I am hopeless and
depressed. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I guess I could compare it to living one day at a time,
while having faith that I am a part of a grand celestial plan. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sometimes, we live only for the celestial and forget about
the tertiary daily efforts. Sometimes, we poison ourselves through one toxic
choice after another, hardly recognizing how it might throw us off course. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
These are my thoughts for today. This has been writing
exercise #1. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Evehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13437887353855668111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1314200070986881026.post-62364905198088678022015-12-28T12:06:00.001-05:002015-12-28T12:06:15.891-05:00First ChristmasI've had fun playing Santa this year. My favorite part of Christmas is filling the stocking. It was like doing my own fantasy stocking, complete with my favorite chocolates! The boys got Star Wars toothbrushes, Star Wars tattoos, markers, bath scrubby thingys, and chocolate money!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f7Q_XBhSV8g/VoFrCg575WI/AAAAAAAAbyA/9i4HUqMx6as/s1600/20151224_232941.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f7Q_XBhSV8g/VoFrCg575WI/AAAAAAAAbyA/9i4HUqMx6as/s400/20151224_232941.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WPJY_VqYzSc/VoFrCkNJRYI/AAAAAAAAbyA/tIb8pcu0t5Y/s1600/20151224_232951.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WPJY_VqYzSc/VoFrCkNJRYI/AAAAAAAAbyA/tIb8pcu0t5Y/s400/20151224_232951.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
We didn't go too overboard, but there were a few things we had put off purchasing because we knew Christmas was coming up. Antonio and I each bought ourselves new shoes. He bought himself a printer. I bought myself a tea pot and a home hair cutting kit. Santa (grandma) bought us an XBox 360. That was the wow gift! We inherited some amazing nerf guns from Sheri. (Thank you!) And we're looking forward to playing with them this summer! My mom gave me some tablecloths that had belonged to my Nana. And I got lots of warm things from various family members that make me feel so loved! Antonio gave me two beautiful framed pieces of art and I gave him nice clothes. Because I'm selfish and I like seeing him in nice clothes.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g_9vZUvJPrI/VoFrs3IQxgI/AAAAAAAAbyI/Rz1yl8n1A2w/s1600/20151225_114122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g_9vZUvJPrI/VoFrs3IQxgI/AAAAAAAAbyI/Rz1yl8n1A2w/s400/20151225_114122.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dkM7p5ZqQPU/VoFrsxuoCZI/AAAAAAAAbyI/3si2bMysGQQ/s1600/20151225_080141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dkM7p5ZqQPU/VoFrsxuoCZI/AAAAAAAAbyI/3si2bMysGQQ/s400/20151225_080141.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GpnTRMCS3bU/VoFrszxX8GI/AAAAAAAAbyI/OWFSoDOkr6A/s1600/20151225_072946.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GpnTRMCS3bU/VoFrszxX8GI/AAAAAAAAbyI/OWFSoDOkr6A/s400/20151225_072946.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
One gift we did for the boys--we got them each a savings account with the free piggy bank. We're planning on putting money in there often so we can help them with their future goals.<br />
<br />
This blog is becoming somewhat more of a journal today, rather than an interesting blog. I grew up journaling. And it's good. It helps you remember your blessings and the things you want to accomplish.<br />
<br />
But it's boring to read!<br />
<br />
Interesting tidbits.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Uwk1vM1sxdE/VoFr7h__5UI/AAAAAAAAbyQ/rdecy1ph1yA/s1600/20151225_150314.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Uwk1vM1sxdE/VoFr7h__5UI/AAAAAAAAbyQ/rdecy1ph1yA/s640/20151225_150314.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hpmwALCyiW8/VoFr7gs9KuI/AAAAAAAAbyQ/Jz-fjdWjMMU/s1600/20151225_150103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hpmwALCyiW8/VoFr7gs9KuI/AAAAAAAAbyQ/Jz-fjdWjMMU/s400/20151225_150103.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
It snowed. It was like snowmagedden, only I was expected to drive in it and had to ensure that our storage customers could get to their storage units.<br />
<br />
Daniel had a wife. Her name was Bonny. Bonny died. Daniel turned his wife into a watermelon and smashed her. By accident. Thank you Goat Stimulator for the most hilarious video game story yet!<br />
<br />
Antonio and I went out on a date and saw The Big Short. Soo good! We saw it in loungy recliners at the AMC. I love it so much. Except my hip kept hitting the buttons and adjusting my chair. Stupid hips.<br />
<br />
Antonio made ham and twice baked potatoes and we fed the missionaries on Christmas Eve. The missionaries didn't eat much. They were so cute. So young!<br />
<br />
Antonio has decided to let Atticus into his heart. It is so cute to watch him with her.<br />
<br />
And that's about it. I'm sure I'll remember more.<br />
<br />
Merry Christmas!<br />
<br />Evehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13437887353855668111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1314200070986881026.post-52397533995666223222015-11-25T13:03:00.001-05:002015-11-25T13:03:39.314-05:00Living With GratitudeWe had a few kindhearted souls bring coats into my workplace to donate to the homeless LGBTQ youth in downtown Salt Lake City. We filled the car with goods.<br />
<br />
Last night, Daniel and I headed to the Utah Pride Center to make the donations. We loved driving up the rainbow painted bridge to the center. Daniel helped carry in one of the bags. It was pretty uneventful. On the way up, we talked about all the things we're grateful for. Daniel donated his leap frog so that they would have something to play with.<br />
<br />
After leaving the Pride Center, we went to the Salt Lake City Library. Daniel got a kick out of the fountains, the elevators, and the stair case.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AKFPENUkD4Y/VlX12nVUTvI/AAAAAAAAbIc/myUUtWBbF1E/s1600/20151124_175937.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AKFPENUkD4Y/VlX12nVUTvI/AAAAAAAAbIc/myUUtWBbF1E/s640/20151124_175937.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4eyZVQjuj7w/VlX12j35oTI/AAAAAAAAbIc/PYz_nLiAavE/s1600/20151124_180416.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4eyZVQjuj7w/VlX12j35oTI/AAAAAAAAbIc/PYz_nLiAavE/s640/20151124_180416.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
We went down the kids section on the 1st floor, and Daniel found a friend named Maggie. She insisted they play. And he loved it! They ran around all the nooks and crannies they have designed for kids, playing hide and seek, and pretending they were in a castle. She kept trying to make him the scary dragon, but he wanted to be the cool prince.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aslA8p8fhb0/VlX2XH3WhgI/AAAAAAAAbJE/cxL7vsaw1dY/s1600/20151124_181905.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aslA8p8fhb0/VlX2XH3WhgI/AAAAAAAAbJE/cxL7vsaw1dY/s640/20151124_181905.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZtJ6J2kNk14/VlX2XOD_XJI/AAAAAAAAbJE/5_5oC4CEXs4/s1600/20151124_181840.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZtJ6J2kNk14/VlX2XOD_XJI/AAAAAAAAbJE/5_5oC4CEXs4/s640/20151124_181840.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nyouQOa69fM/VlX2XL0ZG0I/AAAAAAAAbJE/JEdNMAtGblY/s1600/20151124_181130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nyouQOa69fM/VlX2XL0ZG0I/AAAAAAAAbJE/JEdNMAtGblY/s640/20151124_181130.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<br />
After we left the inside of the library, we went searching for my brother Jack's name on the Celebration of Life wall. And we found it!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nargX-uljTk/VlX25oE7gyI/AAAAAAAAbJ0/-XFSEHvT4T0/s1600/20151124_185704.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nargX-uljTk/VlX25oE7gyI/AAAAAAAAbJ0/-XFSEHvT4T0/s640/20151124_185704.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7KqIdofjAkY/VlX25qkUWnI/AAAAAAAAbJ0/wxC6bjIqtiU/s1600/20151124_185428.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7KqIdofjAkY/VlX25qkUWnI/AAAAAAAAbJ0/wxC6bjIqtiU/s640/20151124_185428.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<br />
Daniel thought it was splendid that they had built beautiful statues just for Jack. I thought it was pretty splendid as well.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zJMxZomnnsE/VlX3JKYuS7I/AAAAAAAAbKQ/Od3KQARmvvw/s1600/20151124_190214.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zJMxZomnnsE/VlX3JKYuS7I/AAAAAAAAbKQ/Od3KQARmvvw/s640/20151124_190214.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Happy Thanksgiving Jack! We miss you so much! We are so grateful for the joy and love you gave us. We hope we can live grateful for all that we can share with one another here on earth.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cdeDjhsu3z8/VlX364mU2JI/AAAAAAAAbLk/XOONcJmKgZo/s1600/20151124_190507.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cdeDjhsu3z8/VlX364mU2JI/AAAAAAAAbLk/XOONcJmKgZo/s640/20151124_190507.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<br />Evehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13437887353855668111noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1314200070986881026.post-56646120126254757672015-11-11T11:53:00.000-05:002015-11-11T11:53:55.169-05:00On Pondering GoalsEvery Tuesday, we get together with a couple of families at Daniel's school, under the watchful tutelage of the school psychologists, and learn ways we can be better. We eat dinner as a family and use conversation cards and we abide by strict rituals to make everything go smoothly. After that--the kids enjoy socializing together, while the parents learn from the psychologists better ways to make the family work. It's a joy. Yesterday, we made a family timeline where we discussed important events in our family's history and they asked us to set goals for the future of our timeline and discuss ways we could reach our goals and ways that would keep us from reaching our goals.<br />
<br />
When the good doctor asked me what my goal was, I couldn't think of a thing to say. My mind was completely blank. I finally said, "To go on an airplane as a family!" And so we discussed what we would need to do to go on an airplane trip.<br />
<br />
But still... NOTHING?<br />
<br />
This morning, I thought about it some more... my goal is for Daniel to flush the toilet and wash his hands. My goal is to fold the last load of laundry that has been sitting in the dryer before I have to start the laundry over again. My goal is to keep ONE of the house plants from dying. My goal is vacuum more often, since Atticus is currently shedding like a beast.<br />
<br />
(side note: Antonio likes to pretend that Atticus's job is to keep the dogs off the bed and that she fails at it every day. He bellows, "You had ONE job Atticus! Now I know it wasn't you, because you would NEVER get up on the bed! But please, keep the other dogs off of the bed!" Daniel gets very confused. Yesterday, he ran into our room, grabbed a handful of blond fur and took it into us and emphatically proclaimed, "It is Atticus!! See! This is HER FUR! She is the dog on the bed!!" Antonio replies, "Never! She would never!" And the little boy waves his evidence in the air! "It is ATTICUS!" Meanwhile, I sneak my meat to Atticus while we watch the drama unfold.)<br />
<br />
My goal is to get through the day. My goal is to shower. My goal is to feed everyone else and drink enough water. My goal is to try and not be overwhelmed by the expectations of the holidays. My goal is to keep the budget and not forget about the check I wrote to one doctor that might cause everything else to bounce... oh wait.. too late.<br />
<br />
But goals make life rich. Goals make the mundane worth it. And so I need to ponder and pursue goals. I need to make room for my own personal advancement. I need to remember that I have to invest my time and thoughts into dreaming again.<br />
<br />
Easier said than done. I shall ponder. Evehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13437887353855668111noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1314200070986881026.post-73607570522156156732015-10-28T12:59:00.000-04:002015-10-28T12:59:31.352-04:00A Child's Heart is Like a TardisLast Tuesday, I said a prayer over breakfast with Daniel. I prayed that little Virginia would pass away peacefully. Immediately, Daniel's eyes filled with tears and he yelled at me, "Don't ever say that prayer again!" Then he laid his little chubby cheeks on the kitchen table and wept, "I only got to meet her once!" It ripped me up. I felt awful.<br />
<br />
But I could not continue to pray for the poor soul to live on in a body that only existed to feel pain. I tried to explain to him that she flew 30 feet from the car, that her brain died, and her heart stopped. The emergency rescuers revived her heart, but her mind never revived.<br />
<br />
Virginia passed away on Friday evening. Her Megan was the last one to put her to bed before the accident. She was with her every day in the hospital. She was her angel every day of her life. And now Virginia is Megan's angel.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-juYCPFIuZ4U/VjD1_L1O0bI/AAAAAAAAaus/uCt94nCdNrM/s1600/Megan%2Band%2BVirginia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-juYCPFIuZ4U/VjD1_L1O0bI/AAAAAAAAaus/uCt94nCdNrM/s640/Megan%2Band%2BVirginia.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
After posting on Facebook about my hesitation to tell the boys about their cousin's passing, we received so much encouragement and wisdom. My friend Robin told me about sending off a balloon with a message. She also told me about giving them a notebook where they can write their feelings. I ran off to the grocery store on my lunch break and picked up a bouquet of balloons and a couple of notebooks and stickers for the boys.<br />
<br />
We gathered the boys and told them what had happened. Daniel burst into tears. He immediately yelled at me and said that it was all my fault.<br />
<br />
I wasn't sad. I wasn't upset. I was happy! Here this child was trying to wrap his mind around the sorrow and the anger of death--and I could be a source for his most difficult feelings. Death is too ambiguous for a child to get angry with, but he could get angry at me, yell at me, and feel better! I could do that for him! He raged and cried and his dad held him and tried to tell him that it wasn't my fault, but I just wanted him to be able to feel the sorrow.<br />
<br />
His brother Jaxon sweetly told him that he could still talk to Virginia in his prayers and then he and Daniel skipped off to play Legos. The two played so well together. Jaxon was such a support to his little brother. I was so proud of him.<br />
<br />
The boys were most excited for their notebooks! Daniel wrote at the top "Daniel's Diary" and the two ran around looking for hiding places so that no one would read their thoughts. They decorated them with Star Wars stickers and thoughtfully wrote.<br />
<br />
The next day, we went out to let out the balloons. Antonio wept as he wrote his thoughts to his little niece. His mother told me about how Virginia loved him so. She would only accept food from him. She would light up whenever he was around. His heart broke into tears throughout the weekend. And all weekend, he posted pictures he had taken of her.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vkHaUoZ7s3g/VjD4qQzDC6I/AAAAAAAAavE/ytgpSl16fps/s1600/Ginny%2Bswing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vkHaUoZ7s3g/VjD4qQzDC6I/AAAAAAAAavE/ytgpSl16fps/s640/Ginny%2Bswing.jpg" width="438" /></a></div>
<br />
I tried to make sense of things and find comfort in the thought that she isn't in pain anymore. I tried to imagine her happy again. But my anger began to flair imagining the life she could have led. Imagining the good she might have done and the love that she offered to the people I love during her short time on earth. The death of a child is the death of a world. There is a world of possibility that was snuffed before it even began. And that makes me angry.<br />
<br />
Her death was preventable. While the accident report isn't back, it is presumed that because the girls flew so far from the vehicle, they were not properly restrained. Little people must be properly restrained. We assume that they were not properly restrained because of the nature of the accident and because this was not the first time that they have been in a situation where they were not properly restrained. And as a result, the absolute worst thing happened. It wasn't a warning. This was the worst case scenario played out.<br />
<br />
Choices matter. Our choices have consequences, world shattering consequences. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uBvIF_78wKc/VjD4qIuG1pI/AAAAAAAAau4/-ZsgcpE71tA/s1600/goodbye.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uBvIF_78wKc/VjD4qIuG1pI/AAAAAAAAau4/-ZsgcpE71tA/s640/goodbye.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
In her passing, she has touched so many lives. She reminds parents to cling to their children. We brighten at the smile she gave us during her short life. We are reminded that heaven is so close. We are reminded to love and to cherish. We are wiser. We live better.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mQoH_1tvpg4/VjD4qLxfY3I/AAAAAAAAau8/IZFA1O78-eI/s1600/virginia%2Bantonio%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mQoH_1tvpg4/VjD4qLxfY3I/AAAAAAAAau8/IZFA1O78-eI/s640/virginia%2Bantonio%2B1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Sunday afternoon, my step-dad Brent gave my husband a blessing of comfort and strength. He was reminded that he is a good man. The words mirrored the look of love that Virginia would give to her Uncle Tony whenever he was near.<br />
<br />
The tears continued to flow, but amid the sorrow, he also felt a growing a sense of gratitude that he was able to love such a bright angel who saw the goodness of his heart.<br />
<br />
While driving with Daniel yesterday, he continued expressing his heartache and his anger. He will yell at me and proclaim his feelings with all the robust a 6 year old can muster, then he will fall into my arms and seek my comfort. And I am so happy to be there for him.<br />
<br />
I believe a child's heart is like a tardis. It looks small on the outside, but inside it holds worlds of affection and love.<br />
<br />
While Virginia is not here physically, I believe that she will continue to comfort and bless her family. She will be the friend whispering comfort to Daniel when he is lonely. She will be the laughter that Victoria feels next to her. She will be the hug that Vincent and Michael feel as they fall to sleep. She will be the inspiration that guides Megan's next painting. She will be the lift in her Uncle Tony's step. She will be the light in her Grandma DeAnne's eye. All of her family will find a smile in the thought of her.<br />
<br />
<br />Evehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13437887353855668111noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1314200070986881026.post-16112681598201367202015-10-19T11:30:00.000-04:002015-10-19T11:30:18.109-04:00Depressing DepressionI have suffered from depression for years. This time last year, I was falling in love. And I felt this very real motivation to see a psychiatrist and try to stop handling my ups and downs on my own. Because it wasn't just about me anymore. Love is a nice feeling, but love leads to life, and I was very afraid that my depression would hurt more than just me.<br />
<br />
So I went to a very kind doctor and she started me on a path that would enable me to feel better.<br />
<br />
It's been a year. The meds have been so helpful. <br />
<br />
I feel the depression coming back, despite the drugs.<br />
<br />
I went to bed at 9:30pm last night and slept until 5am. I got up and chatted with Antonio as he prepared to leave for work. I fell back asleep at 6am. I completely missed the alarm clock and woke up to Daniel trying to take my phone at 7:30am to play minecraft. School starts at 8am. It was NOT a good morning.<br />
<br />
I haven't showered since Friday. I have no desire to shower. I had 45 minutes to shower this morning and I could not make myself do it. I had cold cereal and made sure that the dog had food and water. I can take care of everyone else. I just can't find the energy to take care of myself.<br />
<br />
I took vitamins, extra iron, B12, antidepressants, and adhd meds. I drank a large glass of water.<br />
<br />
Last night, I curled up in Antonio's arms, buried my head in his neck and listened to him fall asleep while tears streamed down my face. I couldn't get close enough. I kept burrowing in closer. I did not feel alone. I did not feel lonely. But still, I couldn't get close enough. Finally, I rolled away and put on my CPAP mask to get some real sleep.<br />
<br />
So why am I so depressed right now?<br />
<br />
We just had a lovely 1 day vacation to Moab where we soaked in beautiful weather and scenery.<br />
<br />
I just had 3 days off of work.<br />
<br />
I have a beautiful family. My mom and dad took Daniel to Tremonton on Friday and Saturday so he could enjoy more of a vacation, even though Antonio ended up having to work and I needed to work Saturday afternoon.<br />
<br />
We have a beautiful home. The cars work. We have food. We have everything we need.<br />
<br />
Here are my thoughts on why.<br />
<br />
The tragedy that Antonio's family--that OUR family is facing in North Carolina is so huge I can't wrap my mind around it. There is so little that we can do and we feel utterly powerless. Feeling powerless over affliction is one of the most stressful feelings in the world.<br />
<br />
Antonio's job is horrible. His back is injured, but he can't even take a couple of days off for a family vacation we planned months ago. And we can't quit because we need the health insurance.<br />
<br />
I am constantly bleeding. Again. Not only does it mean that I probably won't get pregnant any time soon, (probably a good idea, albeit, really sad) it is incredibly annoying and I feel like I'm experiencing PMS all the time. <br />
<br />
Daniel is working on a lot of things. He does well on some days and at some times, but there's always something we're working on. And we want so much for him to be happy. He has to make right decisions though. He has to choose. We can't choose it for him. That feeling of powerlessness is the most aggravating, vulnerable feeling. That is the feeling of parenting and sometimes it is so hard.<br />
<br />
I went to the temple Saturday morning and just wept. I thought about all the things I want fixed. I wrapped my mind around the prayers I needed to offer. The most difficult part of this time is trying to figure out the right things to pray for. Do you pray for the child in the coma with permanent brain damage to live or to die peacefully? Do you pray that the child who is healing physically, but not psychologically, will have more time to heal in the hospital, or will be able to rejoin the havoc at home? Do you pray that your husband will keep the job with benefits, even though it's physical labor and his back is torn up? Or do you pray that he will miraculously find another job that will allow him to go to school full-time, have benefits, and will finish before Daniel gets out of school like this one does? Do you pray to have a baby when you don't have the time, energy, or money to have a baby? Or do you pray for gratitude that God isn't giving you more than you can handle at this time and hope that you can still have babies in a year or so?<br />
<br />
The hours in the temple, the crying, all of it served to clear my mind a bit.<br />
<br />
We pray for a peaceful passing. We pray for Tori's strength. We pray for Megan's strength. We pray for a new job with benefits, Sundays off, and a flexible schedule that is about getting it done. Because one thing I know about my husband, he works very hard and he gets it done. We pray for trust that God knows best when it comes to bringing children into the world. We are grateful for Daniel and Jaxon. We are grateful for family members who serve, friends who love at just the right moments, scriptures, prayer, temples. We are grateful for patient dogs, children who read, working vacuum cleaners, showers when you want them, cold cereal, milk, gogurts, working cars, cool autumn air, a beautiful home. We are grateful for tears, for feelings. We are grateful to know that the tears often come when the body and mind can finally digest the pain and the stress and attempt to make sense of it. The tears allow the stress and the pain of things I cannot control to fall down my face and lessen the heaviness of my heart. The tears release the knot in my soul and remind that I just need to be. I don't need to be perfect. I don't need to be strong. I don't need to do. I just need to be. I need to trust. Time will unravel and bring things together as is needed.<br />
<br />
And it will be all right. Tomorrow.<br />
<br />
Today it can be poopy. I can be unshowered and teary today. I can sit back and let things be what they are today. <br />
<br />
<br />Evehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13437887353855668111noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1314200070986881026.post-41592817225802192912015-10-07T11:40:00.004-04:002015-10-07T11:40:55.994-04:00Daniel's Other Family and My Tragic SecretDaniel told me a deep dark secret last night.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-snVuPhqm6as/VhU652LTjtI/AAAAAAAAaIg/Tb76teHaoeU/s1600/20151006_072853.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-snVuPhqm6as/VhU652LTjtI/AAAAAAAAaIg/Tb76teHaoeU/s320/20151006_072853.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
He told me that he has another family.<br />
<br />
A secret family.<br />
<br />
<br />
Of WEREWOLVES!!<br />
<br />
He said that he and his other family go out at night and run around howling at the moon!<br />
<br />
Then I revealed my secret.<br />
<br />
<br />I AM ALSO A WEREWOLF!!!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xofw-xnQz5s/VhU7TU29ngI/AAAAAAAAaIo/CxWXMn0KBZ4/s1600/20151006_191720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xofw-xnQz5s/VhU7TU29ngI/AAAAAAAAaIo/CxWXMn0KBZ4/s640/20151006_191720.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<br />
Poor Antonio doesn't know how dangerous we can be.<br />
<br />
Or DOES he?....<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JVwzjKmAnIg/VhU8tmD4jsI/AAAAAAAAaJE/BxD4vkSPFsA/s1600/20150528_221924.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JVwzjKmAnIg/VhU8tmD4jsI/AAAAAAAAaJE/BxD4vkSPFsA/s320/20150528_221924.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
Evehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13437887353855668111noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1314200070986881026.post-75794536522152726222015-09-25T12:05:00.001-04:002015-09-25T12:05:42.813-04:00Good MorningYesterday, Daniel climbed into bed to wake me up at 6:30 am. I was not happy. Not awake. Antonio is ridiculously energetic early in the morning. Even though he was able to sleep in until 6:30 am, he was still wide awake at 4 am. So he made breakfast and I wandered into the kitchen like a zombie at 6:45am. It is awesome that Antonio cooks. I am so spoiled. There are just some days that I can't function. Yesterday was definitely one of those days. <br />
<br />
This morning I woke up from this weird nightmare. It's too strange. It involved strange monsters swimming in a stream around my house. Also, I was incredibly angry because I didn't make it to a friend's wedding reception. Weird.<br />
<br />
I shook off the dream and stumbled into Daniel's room. He was still sleeping. Strange. It was already 7 am. I flipped on his light. He burrowed into his blankies. I laid next to him and began talking about how cute all of his little parts were. "Look at your cute elbow. You have the cutest little wrists! You have such a cute little nose!" He kept his eyes shut and mumbled, "noooo."<br />
<br />
Finally, he said, "Do you know what would wake me up?" His eyes were still closed.<br />
<br />
"What?"<br />
<br />
"If you pour cold water on my head."<br />
<br />
I laughed.<br />
<br />
Then I said, "I would never do that. Oh look, a cup on your shelf. Hmmmm... I think I'll just take this into the kitchen. Don't pay any attention to the running water. I'm not putting water in it. Ho hum.... I think I'm going to take this water into water your plant. Doo de doo dee doo...."<br />
<br />
And then, of course, I dropped a few drops on his face.<br />
<br />
He giggled and jumped up!<br />
<br />
A few minutes later, he was dressed and we ate our scrambled eggs. While eating, I noticed he was copying what I was saying. So I said, "Daniel is awesome!" Instead of copying me verbatim, he surprised me by saying, "Eve is awesome!" <br />
<br />
Sometimes, this child is just about the sweetest boy in the world.<br />
<br />
He makes mornings sparkle.<br />
<br />
He makes life sparkle.<br />
<br />
We have my first court thingy majigger for custody on Monday. It's been stressful thinking about it. Making sure we're prepared. I know everything will be all right. We just want to make sure that Daniel is protected and loved as much he deserves. We will fight for that. I'm avoiding talking in detail about this online. I'll simply say this. We are responding to a petition from his birth mother. We have our ducks in a row. We've dotted all of our i's and crossed our t's. Antonio and I feel the stress, but we're growing stronger together as a couple. We love each other more than ever. And all will be well. Just say a little prayer for us if you have a moment.<br />
<br />Evehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13437887353855668111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1314200070986881026.post-24859482820325292312015-09-19T13:08:00.001-04:002015-09-19T13:08:49.888-04:00StrengthDaniel wants to be strong. He is constantly climbing things and doing pull ups on everything he can in order to improve his strength. He eats vegetables like a champ because we told him they would make him strong.<br />
<br />
His dad is the strongest man I know though. He moves thousands of pounds of pallets every day. He goes to school full-time. After that, he comes home and cares for Daniel and makes dinner. <br />
<br />
Sometimes, Daniel likes to test his strength by trying to pull down on his dad's arms.<br />
<br />
It looks like this.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gM_ifCwwv88/Vf2G3Yj8DhI/AAAAAAAAZ-E/pkXrzuN4voc/s1600/20150916_200618.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gM_ifCwwv88/Vf2G3Yj8DhI/AAAAAAAAZ-E/pkXrzuN4voc/s640/20150916_200618.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5iYmxuVHyLM/Vf2G3RQOntI/AAAAAAAAZ-E/BHyCa13_IMo/s1600/20150916_200546.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5iYmxuVHyLM/Vf2G3RQOntI/AAAAAAAAZ-E/BHyCa13_IMo/s640/20150916_200546.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<br />
This week has been a little more than a struggle. Daniel is having trouble with fighting at school. You might say he hasn't used his strength for good yet. We're doing our best and every day we move forward a little--and back a little. But every day, we're there rolling with whatever comes our way.<br />
<br />
But some days are harder than others. And some days, we feel the stresses more than others.<br />
<br />
We started watching <i>Call The Midwife</i> after Daniel goes to bed.<br />
<br />
We sit and watch these beautiful stories unfold and both of us just let our stress melt away into a puddle of tears. It's ridiculous, hilarious, and the best therapy!<br />
<br />
Antonio turned to me the other night with tears streaming down his face and said sweetly, "I hate this show."<br />
<br />
And then he got me a tissue so I could blow my nose again.<br />
<br />
I'm learning about what it is to be strong. Strength isn't being perfect. Strength is being consistent. It is being to work in the early morning hours so you can be home in the afternoon with your son while your wife finishes work. <br />
<br />
The other night Antonio offered up the most humble prayer of supplication and gratitude. I felt his strength as he listed off our many blessings with tears of gratitude. I felt his power as he pleaded with the Lord to help us to navigate our trials.<br />
<br />
It was a good moment. It gave me confidence that whatever we are facing, we'll have the strength to find our way through it.<br />
<br />
We're coming up on a court trial and we're doing our best to help Daniel learn how to make friends and find happiness in school. It's tough on us in every way, but every where we turn, we find support and love.<br />
<br />
Today, my brother Nick is here to care for Daniel while Antonio and I work. I watched from my office as Nick helped Daniel practice riding his bike without training wheels. I saw Nick's strength as he held up the bike and ran beside Daniel as he pedaled away.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eNYLs-lu11s/Vf2Vo55emsI/AAAAAAAAZ-w/BVqkGTA4bMU/s1600/20150919_094247.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eNYLs-lu11s/Vf2Vo55emsI/AAAAAAAAZ-w/BVqkGTA4bMU/s640/20150919_094247.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Yesterday, Grandma DeAnne came over to talk with Daniel about his behavior at school. I saw her strength as she slowly climbed our stairs, despite severe pain in her hip.<br />
<br />
We're able to meet the financial burden of the upcoming trial through the loving kindness of our family.<br />
<br />
I wish I had the strength to do this alone. But I don't. And sometimes it takes the most strength to admit that you need help.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Evehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13437887353855668111noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1314200070986881026.post-55880869249359827732015-09-14T12:11:00.000-04:002015-09-14T12:11:01.683-04:00Communing With God, Each Other, and Nature<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9aCGegoDIzk/Vfbw2visH2I/AAAAAAAAZ4k/iMb8ARFwLeg/s1600/20150913_190143_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9aCGegoDIzk/Vfbw2visH2I/AAAAAAAAZ4k/iMb8ARFwLeg/s640/20150913_190143_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Last night, we decided to go on a family adventure. We got in the car and drove up Little Cottonwood Canyon. We drove up past Snowbird, parked, and began walking up the road.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Hn6ji7ivtfM/Vfbw2nckUoI/AAAAAAAAZ4k/NRwZnQtS1NY/s1600/20150913_185656.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Hn6ji7ivtfM/Vfbw2nckUoI/AAAAAAAAZ4k/NRwZnQtS1NY/s640/20150913_185656.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_vhQm-UTcFI/Vfbw2ojG5OI/AAAAAAAAZ4k/6nwZBUH7wyA/s1600/20150913_190131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_vhQm-UTcFI/Vfbw2ojG5OI/AAAAAAAAZ4k/6nwZBUH7wyA/s640/20150913_190131.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AXRQuOO30N8/Vfbw2selwgI/AAAAAAAAZ4k/Ri_11Z7PjrM/s1600/20150913_185824.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AXRQuOO30N8/Vfbw2selwgI/AAAAAAAAZ4k/Ri_11Z7PjrM/s640/20150913_185824.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Antonio had his camera, I had my phone camera, and Daniel decided to defend us all against the dangers on the road.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WVEoCJaNnnU/VfbufsVChgI/AAAAAAAAZ1s/tnsaz29agiI/s1600/20150913_192843_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WVEoCJaNnnU/VfbufsVChgI/AAAAAAAAZ1s/tnsaz29agiI/s640/20150913_192843_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--FluLav3UKc/VfbufqQkAYI/AAAAAAAAZ1s/gQ--WlD7ElM/s1600/20150913_190434.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--FluLav3UKc/VfbufqQkAYI/AAAAAAAAZ1s/gQ--WlD7ElM/s640/20150913_190434.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<br />
He noticed fallen trees along the way. This was clearly an indication that dangerous Beavers had been in the area. Specifically, Zombie Beavers. We heard chattering in the woods, which was evidence of Zombie Chipmunks. He picked up a stick and a rock and walked ahead, prepared to defend us against the horrors of nature.<br />
<br />
<br />
Speaking of the horrors of nature...<br />
<br />
Yesterday at church, he learned about prayer. (We pray every morning and night--but apparently this teacher really brought it home.) After church, we were outside exploring his bug park. He saw that a wasp was eating a grasshopper. It HORRIFIED him. He wanted revenge on the wicked wasp. I grabbed a jar and we covered the wasp and the grasshopper, mainly because I didn't want the wasp stinging Daniel.<br />
<br />
Daniel was distraught. He ran upstairs. He said, "I want to say a prayer!" And he said the sweetest prayer asking that God would rescue the grasshopper and the grasshopper babies.<br />
<br />
This morning, we went outside and the wasp was dead and the grasshopper was gone! I waited to see if Daniel would figure out that the wasp might have eaten the grasshopper. Instead he threw up his arms in celebration that God had rescued the grasshopper! Big ol' sigh.<br />
<br />
Back to the hike...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FM-09f32FEw/VfbvtnlIe9I/AAAAAAAAZ3k/2l3FqCyFkXM/s1600/20150913_185324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FM-09f32FEw/VfbvtnlIe9I/AAAAAAAAZ3k/2l3FqCyFkXM/s640/20150913_185324.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jzykWF-gIsc/Vfbvtru_40I/AAAAAAAAZ3k/MVorxdAJmN0/s1600/20150913_185152.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jzykWF-gIsc/Vfbvtru_40I/AAAAAAAAZ3k/MVorxdAJmN0/s640/20150913_185152.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Jh12LbG5XSw/VfbvtkIpu_I/AAAAAAAAZ3k/xkRuNCGBe7g/s1600/20150913_185142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Jh12LbG5XSw/VfbvtkIpu_I/AAAAAAAAZ3k/xkRuNCGBe7g/s640/20150913_185142.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7lic7C1aT18/Vfbu15KxzOI/AAAAAAAAZ18/jqpjdGeDv1Y/s1600/20150913_192941.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7lic7C1aT18/Vfbu15KxzOI/AAAAAAAAZ18/jqpjdGeDv1Y/s640/20150913_192941.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
It was a beautiful evening. We got to see the fall colors, experience the fresh air of nature, and enjoy being together.<br />
<br />
And hopefully, Daniel will continue to discover that people in heaven and on earth truly care about him and want him to be happy.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WpIy8qvOZZY/VfbvttgaYLI/AAAAAAAAZ3k/fbqN3CzGZdo/s1600/20150913_185441.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WpIy8qvOZZY/VfbvttgaYLI/AAAAAAAAZ3k/fbqN3CzGZdo/s640/20150913_185441.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Evehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13437887353855668111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1314200070986881026.post-83603508433527097812015-09-04T12:10:00.000-04:002015-09-04T12:10:27.873-04:00School Days!Daniel started school last week.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bHmcIb86ezU/Vem7uUTJdgI/AAAAAAAAZrc/E3yuhGV6Fnc/s1600/20150825_102122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bHmcIb86ezU/Vem7uUTJdgI/AAAAAAAAZrc/E3yuhGV6Fnc/s640/20150825_102122.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
It's been a struggle. We are learning and growing though! We've learned that Daniel has to be sleeping at 8pm. We've learned that punishments need to be shorter in order for him to remember that he's being punished. We've learned that he can sense when we're stressed. We've learned that Fall brings shorter days and shorter opportunities for play. We've learned that French Toast is marvelous at 6:30am! We've learned that being in first grade is sometimes very hard and that girls are dumb. Well, the girl he sits across from is dumb anyway. She said he called her fat. He doesn't even know the word for fat. He uses the word straight and round in place of skinny and fat. "Look Mom, I'm getting straighter!" "I like that man! He is round though. Wait, no! He's kind of straight!" "Hey Mom, I want you to get straight, but after you have the baby." "Mom, I wish you would have a baby." "I can't wait for you to have the baby." Again, not pregnant.<br />
<br />
Luckily, he has amazing grandparents who love him dearly and help all of us to relax and enjoy.<br />
<br />
Life is better with supportive people in our lives.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zy5Zvscntc4/Vem8IKfF6CI/AAAAAAAAZrs/9NfJAa72XC4/s1600/20150826_210702.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zy5Zvscntc4/Vem8IKfF6CI/AAAAAAAAZrs/9NfJAa72XC4/s640/20150826_210702.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
My brother Matt baby sat the other day and Daniel loved seeing him as the Dark Knight in Star Wards at Desert Star! My dad took him on a special date the other night. They sat on the second row and just loved every second.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s9mNhUUYWhc/Vem76vwQiCI/AAAAAAAAZrk/b4E5qpb1vBo/s1600/20150826_073047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s9mNhUUYWhc/Vem76vwQiCI/AAAAAAAAZrk/b4E5qpb1vBo/s640/20150826_073047.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<br />
Grandma DeAnne took us to the park Sunday where Daniel enjoyed climbing on everything and playing with his friend Emily.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Uj86zqxEJsc/Vem8VgSVJgI/AAAAAAAAZr0/q5-KKTyjA3M/s1600/20150830_141523.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Uj86zqxEJsc/Vem8VgSVJgI/AAAAAAAAZr0/q5-KKTyjA3M/s320/20150830_141523.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qB8859t4Fp8/Vem8VmZ98sI/AAAAAAAAZr0/4PAbysaD7OM/s1600/20150830_140743.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qB8859t4Fp8/Vem8VmZ98sI/AAAAAAAAZr0/4PAbysaD7OM/s320/20150830_140743.jpg" width="180" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--fK096V2u9c/Vem8VnWFkfI/AAAAAAAAZr0/8-qYAP6CcKI/s1600/20150830_141202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--fK096V2u9c/Vem8VnWFkfI/AAAAAAAAZr0/8-qYAP6CcKI/s320/20150830_141202.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Tuesday, Antonio took him to Karate! <br />
<br />
And this weekend, my mom is coming into town to visit!<br />
<br />
It's just been a really fun couple of weeks. Lots of tears, lots of triumphs.<br />
<br />
He rode his bike, with his training wheels, all the way to church on Sunday!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B54mRwSaULw/VenBN7_bznI/AAAAAAAAZsI/cvxqTTAwhok/s1600/20150830_083823.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B54mRwSaULw/VenBN7_bznI/AAAAAAAAZsI/cvxqTTAwhok/s640/20150830_083823.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
This is the first leg of the journey. He's still enjoying it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NDO524VQ1Fk/VenBNzWfHBI/AAAAAAAAZsI/mFewSfcjJLQ/s1600/20150830_090518.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NDO524VQ1Fk/VenBNzWfHBI/AAAAAAAAZsI/mFewSfcjJLQ/s640/20150830_090518.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
This is after the journey. He crashed several times. It was not fun. But he made it! He rode over a mile and crossed the street at least 6 times!<br />
<br />
Walking to school is not an option right now though. I can barely get him up in time as it is. He needs that extra rest.<br />
<br />
Life threw us a couple of curve balls this week, but things feel better now. We're feeling closer as a couple now as we've seen that we can handle whatever comes our way. (I'm being purposely vague as it has to do with legal matters.) The point is--we got this!<br />
<br />
On Sunday evening, Daniel just came up to his dad and gave him a big hug. It was incredibly sweet. Through all the changes in his life, his dad has been a big constant. It's very sweet to see how much they love each other.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XD0PtG_Vl9M/VenBBQQrgvI/AAAAAAAAZsA/3brQjoeecxc/s1600/20150830_205202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XD0PtG_Vl9M/VenBBQQrgvI/AAAAAAAAZsA/3brQjoeecxc/s640/20150830_205202.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Evehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13437887353855668111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1314200070986881026.post-72321371566972486032015-08-22T15:17:00.001-04:002015-08-22T15:17:45.763-04:00Life is a Carnival! It's the last week before school starts... so we're trying to cram every fun thing we can think of into this week.<br />
<br />
On Sunday night, we finished the first Harry Potter! <br />
<br />
On Monday morning, we set off on a long walk. The dog wanted to sniff every tree, and the boy gathered every stick and feather he could find, but we managed to walk a mile without any incidence. We'll try walking to school as often as possible just because, why not? It will be fun!<br />
<br />
Monday afternoon, we finally got Antonio's car back and running like new! <br />
<br />
On Tuesday morning, we began practicing riding the bike. Daniel's been peddling all over the facility. <br />
<br />
Tuesday afternoon, Antonio surprised Daniel by taking him to the pool with his friend Emily. He had a wonderful time... apparently. I wasn't there. I was working. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qy48gCwj6ck/Vdi36dIc8XI/AAAAAAAAZEs/fneQCVEP4WM/s1600/20150818_080757.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qy48gCwj6ck/Vdi36dIc8XI/AAAAAAAAZEs/fneQCVEP4WM/s640/20150818_080757.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Wednesday night, we went to visit a financial advisor who gave us some stellar advice! I loved it. He sat with us for over and hour and taught us this fantastic way of organizing our money. I feel so empowered now. It's such a good feeling to know that you're doing your best with your money. (This probably deserves a longer blog post--but it's boring.)<br />
<br />
Wednesday night, we cracked open the 2nd Harry Potter! Harry Potter and the Chamber Pot of Secrets! Where Harry battles irritable bowel syndrome and snakes his way to glory! (I think...) <br />
<br />
Thursday Antonio helped me clear out an abandoned unit and Daniel continued to practice riding his bicycle.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r7-p-oW9Q5U/VdjJl1FOWnI/AAAAAAAAZHM/Nl9AcfgvGaU/s1600/Daniel%2Bbike.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r7-p-oW9Q5U/VdjJl1FOWnI/AAAAAAAAZHM/Nl9AcfgvGaU/s640/Daniel%2Bbike.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
Antonio snapped a couple of pictures of Daniel as he rode.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RvAiIJgKmcs/VdjJl97moCI/AAAAAAAAZHQ/Ty-2BDXyZYo/s1600/Daniel%2Bprofile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RvAiIJgKmcs/VdjJl97moCI/AAAAAAAAZHQ/Ty-2BDXyZYo/s640/Daniel%2Bprofile.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
I love this picture.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1WUpE6RuQeQ/VdjJpdZNIrI/AAAAAAAAZHg/xkuzgoJpiFs/s1600/Nick%2Bprofile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1WUpE6RuQeQ/VdjJpdZNIrI/AAAAAAAAZHg/xkuzgoJpiFs/s640/Nick%2Bprofile.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
My brother Nick came to visit for a couple of hours Thursday afternoon, and Antonio snapped his picture a couple of times.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3HBm0a-85Uk/VdjJpbCQTlI/AAAAAAAAZHc/oEXMSKDhxkg/s1600/Nick%2BForward.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3HBm0a-85Uk/VdjJpbCQTlI/AAAAAAAAZHc/oEXMSKDhxkg/s640/Nick%2BForward.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
Nick looks like my Uncle Grey and Jesus.<br />
<br />
Antonio picked up Jaxon and took the boys to Wheeler Farm!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EB8MoNK3tD0/Vdi5AjVEY7I/AAAAAAAAZFE/dY5r_PJ0hIU/s1600/Wheeler%2BFarm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EB8MoNK3tD0/Vdi5AjVEY7I/AAAAAAAAZFE/dY5r_PJ0hIU/s640/Wheeler%2BFarm.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
This is the most unexciting picture of the boys, but it's the only one I have. Evidence that they were there and that apparently Daniel was drinking Mountain Dew...<br />
<br />
Because I wanted to have fun too, I announced that we would head to the pool again Thursday night and we made it for one hour of swimming! I jumped off the diving board and showed Daniel how to do a dive!<br />
<br />
The sweetest thing happened. A stranger came up and said that she thought I was incredibly patient with Daniel and she said that she could tell he really trusted me. It made me so happy. We swam all over that pool. He is getting really good at swimming. The kid is a fish! And he did a perfect swan dive!<br />
<br />
And then there was Friday....<br />
<br />
Friday morning, we discovered that customer had broken the gate by attempting to hot wire it from the inside when it wouldn't open after 10pm, instead of calling our after hours number.<br />
<br />
Sigh...<br />
<br />I spent the morning trying to solve the mystery and fix the gate.<br />
<br />
The stress just kind of piled up. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UroxwSfel88/Vdi36aDq-9I/AAAAAAAAZEs/hLijwYfp0eM/s1600/20150821_184207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UroxwSfel88/Vdi36aDq-9I/AAAAAAAAZEs/hLijwYfp0eM/s640/20150821_184207.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Friday night, we headed off to his new elementary school to meet his teacher, get free pizza, and play at the school carnival! We lasted two rides. We were hot and tired. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ifd8OsPYzqQ/Vdi36ba29KI/AAAAAAAAZEs/iqKygXxolek/s1600/20150821_184218.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ifd8OsPYzqQ/Vdi36ba29KI/AAAAAAAAZEs/iqKygXxolek/s640/20150821_184218.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8TiT3cTIQmc/Vdi36Xb246I/AAAAAAAAZEs/KfNm6bkjpuc/s1600/20150821_184530.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8TiT3cTIQmc/Vdi36Xb246I/AAAAAAAAZEs/KfNm6bkjpuc/s640/20150821_184530.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-boowtmHAopI/Vdi36cwkfPI/AAAAAAAAZEs/G9WMCqROl-0/s1600/20150821_184841.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-boowtmHAopI/Vdi36cwkfPI/AAAAAAAAZEs/G9WMCqROl-0/s640/20150821_184841.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
After the carnival, we took Daniel over to Grandma DeAnne's house. We hung out in the living room for a couple of hours and just enjoyed gabbing. She really is a splendid woman. We laughed and she showed me videos of old family friends.I won't make a list of all the ways she has blessed us this summer. (swim passes, lagoon passes, aquarium passes, a box of Oreos, a rotisserie chicken, watching Daniel on Saturdays, meatballs, donuts, pies, helping to get the car fixed, random acts of kindness...) She has been such a kind and generous mother in law. Her help has been instrumental in helping us to grow into a family. <br />
<br />
The best part of the day was coming home! Antonio got his new a-pap machine yesterday! He slept peacefully all night long! It was like Christmas yesterday.<br />
<br />
We're ready for fall.<br />
<br />
Summer has been wonderful. We've filled our days with work and play. We've grown into a functioning and happy family. Every day, we're trying a little harder. Every day, we're finding more joy.<br />
<br />
It isn't always easy. Sometimes I'm so tired. Sometimes I'm just achy every where. But I'm happy. And we're moving forward, little by little.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Evehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13437887353855668111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1314200070986881026.post-22105396958213102092015-08-15T12:28:00.000-04:002015-08-15T12:28:25.438-04:00Random Thoughts: Being Single, Skin Color, Babies, Jesus, Dumbledore, Reading, Daniel, AtticusI'm feeling very thoughtful this morning.<br />
<br />
Topic 1: Unmarried friends. When I was single, I used to believe and hope that all of us would find ourselves happily married one day. Now I'm married. I see the world differently. I don't see my unmarried friends as lacking any sort of integral step. I just see that they're single. And that they have different opportunities and more exciting challenges. I'm not jealous of my single friends, I'm just excited for them. I see friends post about world travel and education. I sigh and I think about their beautiful opportunities and how they have this smorgasboard of ambitions to choose from. My ambition right now is to pay down debts and to make sure our children grow up to be happy. I love my goals, but I'm also really happy imagining the goals and dreams of my single friends.<br />
<br />
I'm much more optimistic about my single friends' lives now then I was when I was single. It's been an enjoyable mindshift since getting married. It's not that I wasn't optimistic before... It's just that I realize that being married isn't a fairytale. It's just one of many pedestrian avenues we all choose in life. While I was single, I was in the midst of that pedestrian enterprise. I was surrounded by the frustration at having to go out in order to "feel social". I enjoy that I get to stay home and not go out in an effort to spend time with family. At the same time, I feel guilty if we don't plan some sort of fun activity for the active 6 year old...<br />
<br />
Topic 2: Skin color. I am ridiculously tan. I haven't been this tan since I served a mission in Dallas, where I was on my bike every day. There's a picture of me sitting next to a little black boy--and my skin is darker than his. The only person tanner than me is Daniel. And that little blonde haired blue eyed monster is super tan. It makes sense though. Every day we're outside. Every week we're in water some where. This Thursday, we were up at Jordanelle swimming in the reservoir. I was fully clothed because I figured we would wade a bit. But Daniel jumped in and began swimming. Knowing that he would need rescuing at some point, I jumped in with my dress and enjoyed swimming in the muddy water as much as he did! It was glorious and renewing. And my skin is golden and my hair is flecked with highlights!<br />
<br />
Topic 3: Having a baby. I'm not. Yet. We want to have a baby. We have no choice. Daniel's birth mom is pregnant. He hasn't seen or heard from her since Mother's Day. No phone calls, no nothing. But she was due to have her baby this past week. We finally attempted to find information on the interwebs and saw that she has had the baby. But no calls were made to Daniel. Thank heaven. Because her contact is so sporadic it is more painful for him to have her come in and out of his life. But he is still working through the heart ache of her loss and the loss of this baby sister. (Please don't tell him that the baby was born. Please don't bring it up to him at all.)<br />
<br />
He is happier than he has been. Again--it's the in and out that hurts the most for him. He is attaching to me. And I'm happy about this. I want to be there for him and love him. He has been talking about babies all summer. He wants me to replace her in every way--including having a baby. He talks to my belly and gives kisses to the baby. We've told him a number of times that I'm not pregnant, yet. But I know he needs to give this love to the baby that he might never meet. On Mother's Day--she told him all about how she was going to have a new baby sister. But she hasn't been around. So, we enjoy cooing over other babies and he tells me that I'm having a baby. And I hope that this helps. The other day, he got very mad at me because I hadn't had a baby yet. He was crying. I told him his birth story and how I became his mother.<br />
<br />
I said,<br />
<br />
Once upon a time, there was a woman named Eve who wanted to be a mother very badly. She prayed to Heavenly Father that she would be able to be a mommy. One day Eve met a handsome man named Antonio. When they met, they fell in love. Heavenly Father brought them together. Then Eve met Antonio's son Daniel. Heavenly Father brought Eve and Antonio together so that Eve could become a mother to Daniel. The moment she saw him, her heart opened up and she felt so much love she thought her heart would burst. She knew that she would love that little boy for the rest of her life. And that is how Eve became Daniel's mother.<br />
<br />
We don't lie to him. But we try to help him to feel that his life is as beautiful and magical as anyone else's. We want him to see the miracles and the love in his world.<br />
<br />
And he gets happier and happier every day.<br />
<br />
I'm not currently having a baby. And Daniel is upset by this. But I told him that the baby is watching from Heaven and she or he will come down when it decides it is the best time. I said that the baby knows that Daniel needs some extra time with us before the baby comes.<br />
<br />
Then Daniel said that Jesus is the one who decides! (I say this with an exclamation point because Daniel was very emphatic.)<br />
<br />
Topic 4: Jesus. Daniel used to not want to pray. Now he won't allow anyone else to pray. His prayers are very cute. He uses big words like "nourishing and strengthening". He is very thoughtful. He will pray for his dad to sleep well. He will pray that I will have a baby. And then he will close his prayer by singing out loudly and dancing to the words, "In the na-a-ame of Je-e-suuus Chri-i-ist--AMEN!"<br />
<br />
It's very disrespectful. It's also hilarious. And Jesus said that he loved the little children most so who am I to correct this little child? (I probably should.... but every time I think about it.... I think of scriptures about how Jesus loves the little children...and I think about whether Dumbledore would like it....and I stop.)<br />
<br />
Topic 5: Dumbledore. We are reading the first Harry Potter. Daniel is actually enjoying it! We started by watching the movies. We then began reading it at night before bed. One night, he actually read an entire page by himself! We let him read one paragraph during each reading session. But mostly, he just enjoys listening. We read at breakfast too. It's a great motivator for bed time. If he gets in his pj's and brushes his teeth, we will read to him. If not, he has to go to bed. One night, he said something rude while I was reading. I closed the book and kissed him good night. He was very upset. I saw him shut the door and the light turned on. I didn't stop him because I was hoping he was going to sneak and try and read ahead. The next morning, we discovered he had read ahead an entire page on his own! This is very exciting! I couldn't figure out how he his reading had improved so much until...<br />
<br />
Topic 6: Reading to Lily. My friend Christi has been watching Daniel for us from 9-3 while we're both working. She has a 2 year old. And Daniel adores her. He reads her stories when she is going to sleep. He reads her stories! He doesn't like reading stories with us, but he read her 4 stories before her afternoon nap yesterday! Christi has been such a blessing to us this summer. She has taught me about attachment disorder. She has taught me about defending Daniel against the inconstancy of his birth mother. She was a foster mother and her wisdom has been so incredibly helpful. She has given us the confidence to defend Daniel against pain and sorrow. We are better parents through her wisdom and experience. And he is a better reader!<br />
<br />
Topic 7: Everything is about Daniel.<br />
<br />
I'm sorry. I know the blog is entitled All About Evey. I really wanted this post to be about me.<br />
<br />
I failed.<br />
<br />
Topic 8: Atticus. I need to walk this dog more. She is still happy and loved and spoiled. But I need to walk her more. I need to walk her more because I need to walk ME more. Hopefully, I'll get it together enough to walk Daniel to school with Atticus every day. I just need to make my health a priority. I need to get it done. Atticus is good for me because everything good that I do for her, is good for me.<br />
<br />
This has been a very long post. I hope it hasn't bored you all to tears.<br />
<br />
<br />Evehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13437887353855668111noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1314200070986881026.post-67118555212735701802015-08-11T16:29:00.000-04:002015-08-11T16:29:19.891-04:00What's better than riding a pony? Riding a TIGER! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rYICTW7sbis/VcpXPelqWxI/AAAAAAAAY60/Rb7mhOv_N-0/s1600/Pony.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rYICTW7sbis/VcpXPelqWxI/AAAAAAAAY60/Rb7mhOv_N-0/s640/Pony.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
On Saturday, Daniel and I traveled to a magical land....</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Gardner Village!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
While there, we visited a magical place of animals, straw and poop! </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The Farm!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7DnOo8EWboY/VcpXy4cb46I/AAAAAAAAY68/zXibLtGlDyg/s1600/20150808_130230.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7DnOo8EWboY/VcpXy4cb46I/AAAAAAAAY68/zXibLtGlDyg/s640/20150808_130230.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
It was spectacular. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We met so many different animals and had such a lovely time. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And at the end of it all--he got to ride on a pony named Snowflake. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N1nDqjrsyT8/VcpXy8OKUpI/AAAAAAAAY68/hFl0cU46raA/s1600/20150808_131923.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N1nDqjrsyT8/VcpXy8OKUpI/AAAAAAAAY68/hFl0cU46raA/s640/20150808_131923.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This is Daniel's friend McKenna and a little bunny rabbit! </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nkBJiAc9b8k/VcpXy-09vyI/AAAAAAAAY68/W0RRTe5b3RU/s1600/20150808_130241.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nkBJiAc9b8k/VcpXy-09vyI/AAAAAAAAY68/W0RRTe5b3RU/s320/20150808_130241.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Here he is checking out his steed...Preparing psychologically...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U6Q2RD2-hwc/VcpXy0G32mI/AAAAAAAAY68/185ZodB_jgY/s1600/20150808_130450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U6Q2RD2-hwc/VcpXy0G32mI/AAAAAAAAY68/185ZodB_jgY/s640/20150808_130450.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And he's on the pony! He is ready to ride folks!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LpU_vj5KYF8/VcpXy0fY5PI/AAAAAAAAY68/wjATv3UGcYU/s1600/20150808_130621.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LpU_vj5KYF8/VcpXy0fY5PI/AAAAAAAAY68/wjATv3UGcYU/s640/20150808_130621.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Daniel is seen here riding his trusty steed, Snowflake. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Ride on cowboy!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
These are other animals from The Farm.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mdYugqJ0KlI/VcpXy7CiDnI/AAAAAAAAY68/Amp93n-b9GE/s1600/20150808_130039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mdYugqJ0KlI/VcpXy7CiDnI/AAAAAAAAY68/Amp93n-b9GE/s320/20150808_130039.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Here we have a beautiful white horse. We call her Gwendolyn, but I'm sure it's Pamela. I can't remember. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_jfL9S61shg/VcpXy94Hs1I/AAAAAAAAY68/bOKtCrmLWJw/s1600/20150808_130036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_jfL9S61shg/VcpXy94Hs1I/AAAAAAAAY68/bOKtCrmLWJw/s320/20150808_130036.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This gorgeous animal is named Dakota. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3lvYV7ne9sc/VcpXy_M5vWI/AAAAAAAAY68/Rr27cGXcgds/s1600/20150808_130031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3lvYV7ne9sc/VcpXy_M5vWI/AAAAAAAAY68/Rr27cGXcgds/s320/20150808_130031.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qpBbmo1oUIo/VcpXyztoH9I/AAAAAAAAY68/wCpJkHZYRT4/s1600/20150808_125849.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qpBbmo1oUIo/VcpXyztoH9I/AAAAAAAAY68/wCpJkHZYRT4/s320/20150808_125849.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This is a fuzzy little alpaca. He had apparently escaped earlier. Mischievous little fuzz ball. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aPQZsTYDzng/VcpXy698PbI/AAAAAAAAY68/lrziRqasQJY/s1600/20150808_125843.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aPQZsTYDzng/VcpXy698PbI/AAAAAAAAY68/lrziRqasQJY/s320/20150808_125843.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I wish I could have gotten a better picture of the pig. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
She was laying on her side. She looked dead. I swear I could smell the bacon. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />Then out of the blue, she popped up on her feet and waddled over to us! </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
She's so cute and hairy!! I love her!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-akDWw4WUh3I/VcpXy_b98JI/AAAAAAAAY68/KlfjZNvKq7M/s1600/20150808_125820.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-akDWw4WUh3I/VcpXy_b98JI/AAAAAAAAY68/KlfjZNvKq7M/s320/20150808_125820.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Daniel is loving this!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XeTxnC2KvDw/VcpXy1TN7XI/AAAAAAAAY68/RBTjh3X_otA/s1600/20150808_125806.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XeTxnC2KvDw/VcpXy1TN7XI/AAAAAAAAY68/RBTjh3X_otA/s640/20150808_125806.jpg" width="640" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
No seriously. He is LOVING this. </div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
If that weren't enough, that evening, my dad and brother took us to the Valley Fair Mall where instead of riding a pony, he got to ride</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A TIGER!! </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Best. Day. Ever. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LetxBvvlhIo/VcpXy7u77hI/AAAAAAAAY68/B5Ug1Hmd97Y/s1600/20150808_182905.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LetxBvvlhIo/VcpXy7u77hI/AAAAAAAAY68/B5Ug1Hmd97Y/s640/20150808_182905.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M-IJP4jmXEY/VcpXy4NN_8I/AAAAAAAAY68/YB7aj1JmS_A/s1600/20150808_182910.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M-IJP4jmXEY/VcpXy4NN_8I/AAAAAAAAY68/YB7aj1JmS_A/s640/20150808_182910.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Evehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13437887353855668111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1314200070986881026.post-48526360710344709622015-08-10T12:32:00.002-04:002015-08-10T12:32:38.204-04:00Happy Birthday Kannon! This little cutie pie is 4 years old today! He is such a wonderful nephew. I'm so proud of my baby sister Bethany for being such a good mom. She is such a hard worker. And she loves her babies so much.<br />
<br />
Here are some of my favorite pics of this dashing young boy through the ages!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DgeMwIoWh90/VcjRo2TSkuI/AAAAAAAAY5E/B6Tb64HCkM0/s1600/Kannon%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DgeMwIoWh90/VcjRo2TSkuI/AAAAAAAAY5E/B6Tb64HCkM0/s640/Kannon%2B1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ObKkVrNADF8/VcjRqaArFGI/AAAAAAAAY5g/_UXRNt8XGwE/s1600/Kannon%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ObKkVrNADF8/VcjRqaArFGI/AAAAAAAAY5g/_UXRNt8XGwE/s640/Kannon%2B2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XzAd0vM_j0g/VcjRqtoF9xI/AAAAAAAAY6Y/zg9VSutAUtQ/s1600/Kannon%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XzAd0vM_j0g/VcjRqtoF9xI/AAAAAAAAY6Y/zg9VSutAUtQ/s640/Kannon%2B3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5ue2MOeHfkU/VcjRqwrIp2I/AAAAAAAAY5k/zSmNfLI4sO4/s1600/Kannon%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5ue2MOeHfkU/VcjRqwrIp2I/AAAAAAAAY5k/zSmNfLI4sO4/s640/Kannon%2B4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c2ah0GM3Y94/VcjRsFSk_KI/AAAAAAAAY54/urqDDV67ro8/s1600/Kannon%2B5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c2ah0GM3Y94/VcjRsFSk_KI/AAAAAAAAY54/urqDDV67ro8/s640/Kannon%2B5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MPeu1u3AqE0/VcjRse2usDI/AAAAAAAAY5w/NHrODHnR3FU/s1600/Kannon%2B6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MPeu1u3AqE0/VcjRse2usDI/AAAAAAAAY5w/NHrODHnR3FU/s640/Kannon%2B6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t1y78sWQX_M/VcjRtPGs5KI/AAAAAAAAY58/Z_NHKw6f82w/s1600/Kannon%2B7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t1y78sWQX_M/VcjRtPGs5KI/AAAAAAAAY58/Z_NHKw6f82w/s640/Kannon%2B7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JFF3EOhbV3c/VcjRtoceFmI/AAAAAAAAY6E/x4dqtaZsjvg/s1600/Kannon%2B8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JFF3EOhbV3c/VcjRtoceFmI/AAAAAAAAY6E/x4dqtaZsjvg/s640/Kannon%2B8.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KSy-Z5rdo9w/VcjRt54VmvI/AAAAAAAAY6M/p4IoODdfBVo/s1600/Kannon%2B9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KSy-Z5rdo9w/VcjRt54VmvI/AAAAAAAAY6M/p4IoODdfBVo/s640/Kannon%2B9.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vPa_TQ95pSM/VcjRpDoAHyI/AAAAAAAAY5U/fAmpOpIuQWk/s1600/Kannon%2B10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vPa_TQ95pSM/VcjRpDoAHyI/AAAAAAAAY5U/fAmpOpIuQWk/s640/Kannon%2B10.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V5iOhfxn7QY/VcjRps48ijI/AAAAAAAAY5M/VCEkWDNjD20/s1600/Kannon%2B12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V5iOhfxn7QY/VcjRps48ijI/AAAAAAAAY5M/VCEkWDNjD20/s640/Kannon%2B12.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-elS-dQNXKWM/VcjRp8EmfQI/AAAAAAAAY5Q/VdO7MLrQ6L4/s1600/Kannon%2B13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-elS-dQNXKWM/VcjRp8EmfQI/AAAAAAAAY5Q/VdO7MLrQ6L4/s640/Kannon%2B13.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Evehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13437887353855668111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1314200070986881026.post-41071783825529441752015-08-07T14:32:00.003-04:002015-08-07T14:32:45.919-04:00Celebrating the 24th Of July!This year, we had my friend over and her two cute girls!<br />
<br />
We basically ran around the front yard with glowy things, trying to see the Fireworks!<br />
<br />
It was wonderful.<br />
<br />
Daniel got a long well with the girls. There were a few fights/mishaps because they're kids and he's an opinionated child, but the girls were so easy going.<br />
<br />
My friend who visited is one of my favorite people.<br />
<br />
It was wonderful to just chat her ear off and spend time just relaxing with her.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2X8oxIOAF3M/VcTz_CR48-I/AAAAAAAAYyQ/c2ekq0P7wtg/s1600/20150725_222757.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2X8oxIOAF3M/VcTz_CR48-I/AAAAAAAAYyQ/c2ekq0P7wtg/s320/20150725_222757.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OnETW8zqrfQ/VcTz_Oe7grI/AAAAAAAAYyQ/Nxv9f_4E0Bk/s1600/20150725_222708.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OnETW8zqrfQ/VcTz_Oe7grI/AAAAAAAAYyQ/Nxv9f_4E0Bk/s320/20150725_222708.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3SxJtGQjX9c/VcTz_BhA5II/AAAAAAAAYyQ/FHc9DaWS0T8/s1600/20150725_222655.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3SxJtGQjX9c/VcTz_BhA5II/AAAAAAAAYyQ/FHc9DaWS0T8/s320/20150725_222655.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hLj_Bjk5Fxk/VcTz_FgHCNI/AAAAAAAAYyQ/j28_pkdcPmM/s1600/20150725_222643_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hLj_Bjk5Fxk/VcTz_FgHCNI/AAAAAAAAYyQ/j28_pkdcPmM/s320/20150725_222643_HDR.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I-42Cc_spYs/VcTz_HGEPcI/AAAAAAAAYyQ/EGMbvBFuc00/s1600/20150725_222636.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I-42Cc_spYs/VcTz_HGEPcI/AAAAAAAAYyQ/EGMbvBFuc00/s320/20150725_222636.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kmOm1hW9rmA/VcTz_CseUYI/AAAAAAAAYyQ/W50Zz6owvFo/s1600/20150725_222609.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kmOm1hW9rmA/VcTz_CseUYI/AAAAAAAAYyQ/W50Zz6owvFo/s320/20150725_222609.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RUfprDqGv84/VcTz_NWOBlI/AAAAAAAAYyQ/xm6aAxS2tGQ/s1600/20150725_222619.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RUfprDqGv84/VcTz_NWOBlI/AAAAAAAAYyQ/xm6aAxS2tGQ/s320/20150725_222619.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sOvWj_8Nwe4/VcTz_HGMGjI/AAAAAAAAYyQ/ShuAioMSU90/s1600/20150725_222543.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sOvWj_8Nwe4/VcTz_HGMGjI/AAAAAAAAYyQ/ShuAioMSU90/s320/20150725_222543.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fzRng-hzZvQ/VcTz_M85KzI/AAAAAAAAYyQ/12Q6jz4AbMA/s1600/20150725_222535.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fzRng-hzZvQ/VcTz_M85KzI/AAAAAAAAYyQ/12Q6jz4AbMA/s320/20150725_222535.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bvcKS0B0dAA/VcTz_BEaBhI/AAAAAAAAYyQ/4giC_oJiM-4/s1600/20150725_215624.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bvcKS0B0dAA/VcTz_BEaBhI/AAAAAAAAYyQ/4giC_oJiM-4/s320/20150725_215624.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bl5xk90sFlg/VcTz_HDY1MI/AAAAAAAAYyQ/fEZNmotqN_Q/s1600/20150725_222454.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bl5xk90sFlg/VcTz_HDY1MI/AAAAAAAAYyQ/fEZNmotqN_Q/s320/20150725_222454.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JfCshPvDc9E/VcTz_GfqrvI/AAAAAAAAYyQ/yujaLGI0gSU/s1600/20150725_222530.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JfCshPvDc9E/VcTz_GfqrvI/AAAAAAAAYyQ/yujaLGI0gSU/s320/20150725_222530.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jf3o8Tu8bq0/VcTz_Dr30mI/AAAAAAAAYyQ/BK3H3vlmplI/s1600/20150725_215553.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jf3o8Tu8bq0/VcTz_Dr30mI/AAAAAAAAYyQ/BK3H3vlmplI/s320/20150725_215553.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hNZ9YW2P-e4/VcTz_B7S8kI/AAAAAAAAYyQ/VKJij-sg_eA/s1600/20150725_215523.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hNZ9YW2P-e4/VcTz_B7S8kI/AAAAAAAAYyQ/VKJij-sg_eA/s320/20150725_215523.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vtpxo5qUmjg/VcTz_CE6NGI/AAAAAAAAYyQ/K6tx4Pms3MM/s1600/20150725_213044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vtpxo5qUmjg/VcTz_CE6NGI/AAAAAAAAYyQ/K6tx4Pms3MM/s320/20150725_213044.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bvY0hOu-kdI/VcTz_Ih0MRI/AAAAAAAAYyQ/kViOaeWl6Wg/s1600/20150725_213010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bvY0hOu-kdI/VcTz_Ih0MRI/AAAAAAAAYyQ/kViOaeWl6Wg/s320/20150725_213010.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6a0Ma5kThC4/VcTz_Jf00pI/AAAAAAAAYyQ/JDaArJgfbks/s1600/20150725_212955.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6a0Ma5kThC4/VcTz_Jf00pI/AAAAAAAAYyQ/JDaArJgfbks/s320/20150725_212955.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l8NI-GrVJRc/VcTz_Mna-lI/AAAAAAAAYyQ/bSsU1ynrw9g/s1600/20150725_212950.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l8NI-GrVJRc/VcTz_Mna-lI/AAAAAAAAYyQ/bSsU1ynrw9g/s320/20150725_212950.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GMWQduw-Vds/VcTz_HJAQ2I/AAAAAAAAYyQ/mYbzH27c21Q/s1600/20150725_212412.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GMWQduw-Vds/VcTz_HJAQ2I/AAAAAAAAYyQ/mYbzH27c21Q/s320/20150725_212412.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
It's been a good summer. Busy. And good.<br />
<br />
And we have a lot of really good people in our lives.<br />
<br />
<br />Evehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13437887353855668111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1314200070986881026.post-44205201787101284312015-08-07T14:05:00.000-04:002015-08-07T14:05:04.255-04:00Day of Hope/Day of Fun... Sort Of<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fVPQEF0YB7A/VcTvrDcd9KI/AAAAAAAAYxI/7X5ZJpfxN4M/s1600/20150805_173118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fVPQEF0YB7A/VcTvrDcd9KI/AAAAAAAAYxI/7X5ZJpfxN4M/s640/20150805_173118.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Last Saturday, Antonio had to shoot an event at the Veridian Center. It was a fundraiser/carshow for the Children's Justice Center.<br />
<br />
I took the boys. They did NOT enjoy it.<br />
<br />
Well, they sort of did.<br />
<br />
We lasted about 45 minutes.<br />
<br />
Antonio took about 900 pictures.<br />
<br />
They're super fancy and I WISH I had access to one of them... but I don't.<br />
<br />
I took a few pics on my phone of the good times.<br />
<br />
We only had a couple of minor (major) break downs.<br />
<br />
The heat! Oh the heat!<br />
<br />
The boys were happily playing on the playground.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SgjaFvCyf2s/VcTv3FPUxgI/AAAAAAAAYxQ/Q9JayDQaA6s/s1600/20150801_120109.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SgjaFvCyf2s/VcTv3FPUxgI/AAAAAAAAYxQ/Q9JayDQaA6s/s640/20150801_120109.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a6VHGKCDRXk/VcTv3L3-6jI/AAAAAAAAYxQ/hiQRa2MX7pE/s1600/20150801_120059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a6VHGKCDRXk/VcTv3L3-6jI/AAAAAAAAYxQ/hiQRa2MX7pE/s640/20150801_120059.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0f9KMUqcfiM/VcTv3M_FnuI/AAAAAAAAYxQ/45iVU4qSEfM/s1600/20150801_120057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0f9KMUqcfiM/VcTv3M_FnuI/AAAAAAAAYxQ/45iVU4qSEfM/s640/20150801_120057.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
After a while, I was worried that they were going to get sun stroke.<br />
<br />
I made them leave the playground.<br />
<br />
This was not pleasing.<br />
<br />
I dumped water on their heads to cool them off.<br />
<br />
This was REALLY not pleasing.<br />
<br />
After cooling off, we ventured off to enjoy more of the Car Show. (Jaxon said, "I do not want to see any cars!"...He really didn't like that I dumped water on his head.... But later he asked his dad to pour more water on his head! So.....Yeah....)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xEnUVH8Q5mY/VcTwi-AOe-I/AAAAAAAAYxc/4UMr2VYNrbs/s1600/20150801_122930.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xEnUVH8Q5mY/VcTwi-AOe-I/AAAAAAAAYxc/4UMr2VYNrbs/s640/20150801_122930.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-va8Cbcp8AJM/VcTwi7NHwgI/AAAAAAAAYxc/P6CDfviow68/s1600/20150801_122545.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-va8Cbcp8AJM/VcTwi7NHwgI/AAAAAAAAYxc/P6CDfviow68/s640/20150801_122545.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SIjvc4jqsoE/VcTwi-Ar-KI/AAAAAAAAYxc/F6X5WY0gzjE/s1600/20150801_122326.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SIjvc4jqsoE/VcTwi-Ar-KI/AAAAAAAAYxc/F6X5WY0gzjE/s640/20150801_122326.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Sys3dP7jxVE/VcTwiz6hPUI/AAAAAAAAYxc/ot7iCWc1be8/s1600/20150801_122341.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Sys3dP7jxVE/VcTwiz6hPUI/AAAAAAAAYxc/ot7iCWc1be8/s640/20150801_122341.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WpHNY3WZe2g/VcTwi0733lI/AAAAAAAAYxc/G_RKF7oqnec/s1600/20150801_120452.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WpHNY3WZe2g/VcTwi0733lI/AAAAAAAAYxc/G_RKF7oqnec/s640/20150801_120452.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7LnwtkC13Ks/VcTwi--UhfI/AAAAAAAAYxc/vCqXhl_BbFE/s1600/20150801_114950.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7LnwtkC13Ks/VcTwi--UhfI/AAAAAAAAYxc/vCqXhl_BbFE/s640/20150801_114950.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ooPvj1a-P90/VcTwi2HqeAI/AAAAAAAAYxc/rIOIt7gzrq8/s1600/20150801_114943.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ooPvj1a-P90/VcTwi2HqeAI/AAAAAAAAYxc/rIOIt7gzrq8/s640/20150801_114943.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-feLrL6RJHG4/VcTwizsolQI/AAAAAAAAYxc/dDKzTEKlTz8/s1600/20150801_123930.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-feLrL6RJHG4/VcTwizsolQI/AAAAAAAAYxc/dDKzTEKlTz8/s640/20150801_123930.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Finally, after 45 exhausting minutes, we came home where we played video games.<br />
<br />
The boys immediately began fighting, so I turned off the game.<br />
<br />
At this point, I became the world's worst mother in the world--hated by all in the house.<br />
<br />
Both boys ran to their respective corners and cried and I'm sure prayed to the gods of nintendo to curse me.<br />
<br />
Sigh.<br />
<br />
After a while, Antonio called and we went to go and get him and some much needed ice cream.<br />
<br />
After an exhausting day of fun, play, breakdowns, video games, not playing video games, and all sorts of exciting adventures (did I mention we had balloons?)--the boys konked out in the middle of Dairy Queen.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qR8Mtvr8d4w/VcTxd6YF36I/AAAAAAAAYxo/sNepegmaWPQ/s1600/20150801_153239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qR8Mtvr8d4w/VcTxd6YF36I/AAAAAAAAYxo/sNepegmaWPQ/s640/20150801_153239.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kPBvFdtyJgM/VcTxd6v1NdI/AAAAAAAAYxo/i3xZvI5dr1Y/s1600/20150801_153439.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kPBvFdtyJgM/VcTxd6v1NdI/AAAAAAAAYxo/i3xZvI5dr1Y/s640/20150801_153439.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AKIqc_lalAM/VcTxdwUKqnI/AAAAAAAAYxo/K6LYFplGV6w/s1600/20150801_153446_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AKIqc_lalAM/VcTxdwUKqnI/AAAAAAAAYxo/K6LYFplGV6w/s640/20150801_153446_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
We did our best to appear to have it together...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qPHW4p94KaE/VcTxrxmpj9I/AAAAAAAAYx0/ZClnEo5EajI/s1600/20150801_153307.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qPHW4p94KaE/VcTxrxmpj9I/AAAAAAAAYx0/ZClnEo5EajI/s640/20150801_153307.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
But I'm pretty sure Antonio would have been laid out on the benches too if he thought he could get away with it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YfNGFKAXzN4/VcTx2fVseTI/AAAAAAAAYx8/htE5FQKAzvI/s1600/20150801_153248.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YfNGFKAXzN4/VcTx2fVseTI/AAAAAAAAYx8/htE5FQKAzvI/s640/20150801_153248.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />The boys adore each other. But they are not used to having to share with someone else. It is interesting to see how they play/love/and fight together. They're good for each other.<br />
<br />
After we dropped off Jaxon, Daniel wept the whole way home. He just kept wailing about how much he loves Jaxon.<br />
<br />
And I love Jaxon too!<br />
<br />
It was so sweet to see Antonio with the boys that morning.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_nldazWTr8g/VcTy_t-2FbI/AAAAAAAAYyI/7Io6mgxo2PA/s1600/20150801_080730.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_nldazWTr8g/VcTy_t-2FbI/AAAAAAAAYyI/7Io6mgxo2PA/s640/20150801_080730.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Evehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13437887353855668111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1314200070986881026.post-19756601232314545042015-08-07T13:40:00.000-04:002015-08-07T13:40:02.431-04:00Celebrating DeAnne! Last weekend, we celebrated my adorable mother in law's birthday! Jaxon came to stay with us that night, and Antonio's siblings and their families (sans Megan--we missed you!) visited us in our home. It was a really relaxing and happy evening. Antonio's mother is amazing. She raised 4 wonderful kids on her own. She reminds me of my grandmother, who was a single mother most of her life too. She is just such an impressive woman to me. She was a dancer in high school. She graduated with a degree in Communications from Southern Utah University, and she is an incredibly hard worker. I have always felt loved and welcomed in her family. More than that, her son is wonderful to me--and I imagine he learned that from his mother.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-veJtA3YsPQk/VcTscTqDdVI/AAAAAAAAYwo/FIuLmZI0oeU/s1600/20150731_203750.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-veJtA3YsPQk/VcTscTqDdVI/AAAAAAAAYwo/FIuLmZI0oeU/s640/20150731_203750.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grandma opening up her gifts from Daniel and Jaxon. </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6m04sE5D2GI/VcTsyFEjFqI/AAAAAAAAYww/IA2pNxyPtAQ/s1600/20150731_195635.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6m04sE5D2GI/VcTsyFEjFqI/AAAAAAAAYww/IA2pNxyPtAQ/s400/20150731_195635.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Toby and his adorable son Rocky! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9KUfTaVvCLA/VcTsyPdDj5I/AAAAAAAAYww/xYLEzxr9tvU/s1600/20150731_195449.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9KUfTaVvCLA/VcTsyPdDj5I/AAAAAAAAYww/xYLEzxr9tvU/s400/20150731_195449.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Antonio and his cute nephew Rocky! </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ImsNXgdRJ6M/VcTtEz8nSKI/AAAAAAAAYw8/w_eEjBqrtGs/s1600/20150731_195547.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ImsNXgdRJ6M/VcTtEz8nSKI/AAAAAAAAYw8/w_eEjBqrtGs/s640/20150731_195547.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I wish I had taken more pictures, but we had a wonderful time.<br />
<br />
I love my new family!<br />
<br />
<br />Evehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13437887353855668111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1314200070986881026.post-69181804573382090482015-08-03T12:28:00.001-04:002015-08-03T12:28:34.737-04:00Beautiful BoyThis morning, Daniel came running into our bed at about 4 am.<br />
<br />
He lost a tooth last evening.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VrU00_6NM9U/Vb-Wi_dlqYI/AAAAAAAAYg0/2d5A61_usPU/s1600/20150802_195312.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VrU00_6NM9U/Vb-Wi_dlqYI/AAAAAAAAYg0/2d5A61_usPU/s320/20150802_195312.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UcPbvt-DEZs/Vb-Wi6WCUBI/AAAAAAAAYg0/NiMPkUIZIBY/s1600/20150802_195319.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UcPbvt-DEZs/Vb-Wi6WCUBI/AAAAAAAAYg0/NiMPkUIZIBY/s320/20150802_195319.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
The toothfairy didn't even enter my mind.<br />
<br />
All I could think of was that this sweet cuddly boy was crawling up the center of the bed looking for some comfort after a really bad nightmare.<br />
<br />
He was very upset.<br />
<br />
Antonio, on the otherhand, woke up with the thought, "Oh sh$%! I've gotta play toothfairy!"<br />
<br />
He said groggily, "Did the Toothfairy visit you?"<br />
<br />
Daniel cried out, while burrowing deeper into the blankies, "I don't know! I had a night mare about zombie squirrels! They didn't even have pupils! It was so scary!"<br />
<br />
Antonio got up to 'use the restroom' and I stroked Daniel's head and asked him about his nightmare.<br />
<br />
It sounded horrible. As he expressed his little fears about the nightmare following him into our room, we told him about how Atticus guards against nightmares. (As a side note, Daniel was especially sweet to the dog this morning, giving her a little biscuit.) We told him about how we had special nightmare spray that we would spray his room with. We sang songs. And eventually, we decided to go and see if the toothfairy had indeed visited him.<br />
<br />
She came! She brought him 5 whole dollars because it was his 5th tooth!<br />
<br />
The excitement was cut short as he remembered his nightmare again.<br />
<br />
He followed us back to bed. The three of us said a little prayer and asked God to bless the sad night mare that it would find happiness and turn into a sweet dream. We prayed that a beautiful rainbow would come into the nightmare and take all the zombie woodland creatures away. <br />
<br />
While Antonio got ready for work, we laid in bed and listened to beautiful lullabies on Spotify.<br />
<br />
I watched him finally drift off to sleep to Ben Harper's cover of "Beautiful Boy".<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Bg3Qhr8e40I/Vb-VeXuazLI/AAAAAAAAYgo/uS_NuY4iTRA/s1600/20150803_081938.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Bg3Qhr8e40I/Vb-VeXuazLI/AAAAAAAAYgo/uS_NuY4iTRA/s640/20150803_081938.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GQUlSd_k5ss" width="560"></iframe><br />Evehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13437887353855668111noreply@blogger.com0