family night AKA-family home evening...

We've been trying really hard to have family night every week. We gather as many members of the family as we can, because it's near impossible to get all of them at the same time. This week we took the two youngest, Cody and Cole to Tia Rosa's for dinner {my most favorite Mexican food restaurant on the planet} Then we went to the Temple and watched the Joseph Smith movie and walked around the grounds. We decided to take a bunch of pictures while we were there because it's so darn pretty, plus Cody and Cole wanted updated pictures for their facebook profiles. The good mom that I am will gladly take pictures of my boys. :o) Suprisingly the boys really look forward to our time we spend together, no matter what we've got planned. That makes me feel really good because most, {not all} older kids don't like spending time with their parents.

grand-kids...a whole new life...

My life is not the same with grand-kids living in the house. So many things I've forgotten {or deliberately shut out of my mind} from when my boys were little. My boys shower and and dress themselves, brush their teeth, can feed themselves, get in the car all by themselves. put their shoes on the right feet, Heck even matching ones. etc. Mark and John obviously cannot. I've been reintroduced to baths, cutting up food in bite size pieces, naps, diapers, car seats, sippy cups, Buzz Light-year and Woody, toys and puzzles, Sesame Street and other fun stuff like that. There are plenty of trials with adding a whole family into the house, like not being the one to make decisions because they are not my children can be frustrating. Getting use to each others quirks and stuff. Learning to bite my tongue when necessary to keep the peace. Overall it's a blessing to be a bigger part of these little guys lives.

Mark showing me he put his shoes on himself. They do not match. Ones a crock and ones a batman sandal. But he did it himself. LOL!I was walking through the family room and noticed that not one, but TWO Elmo's are keeping watch over everyone. They add a little something to the decor, don't you think?

How could you not love these sweet faces?

They are always there for a hug and an I "wuv" you! Can't beat that!

what NOT to do...

This is what happens when you dive head first into a shallow pool.

On Saturday, July 11th, Kyle was swimming with friends at one of the neighborhood community pools here in Maricopa. We were at a birthday party in Mesa when we got the call that he smacked his head on the bottom of a pool. As you know, heads bleed A LOT! He got out of the pool on his own and his friends and a lady that was a nurse tried to stop the bleeding as it was pouring down his face. They took him to urgent care. They called an ambulance and took him to Chandler regional hospital. We met him there. Mark asked him how deep the water was. He said 5 feet. And how tall are you Kyle? ummm...5'9". Do you see the problem? :o) After spending several hours there, the CAT scan showed that he broke is neck in 2 places. #1 was a clean break and #7 was crushed. Kyle was devastated!
Poor boy was crying because he was on the back board so long. His head felt like mush! Kyle nver takes pain pills for even a headache so when he begged for medication I knew he was hurting bad.




He's left with a scar that looks like an X or a wiggly K on top of his head. The hair still isn't growing back there.

After they saw how serious it was, they transferred us in an ambulance to Scottsdale Osborn hospital. Before we left, Mark and my dad gave him a priesthood blessing.

Kyle's new room at Scottsdale Osborn. We had to wait a few hours before they let us up in his room in the ICU. The first thing he said when we saw him, was "This place is messed up! They put something in my tool and it's still there!" LOL! It was funny the way he said it. Apparently they put in a catheter, because he obviously couldn't go to the restroom on his own.

On Monday afternoon his neurosurgeon scheduled his surgery. Our best friend, Hal came down to the hospital and him and Mark gave him another prieshood blessing before they took him in. I do believe in the power of the priesthood.

The surgery went perfectly. They did nothing for the number 1, but the crushed number 7, they pulled out all the broken bits and fused them together in a thingy then put it back in and put a metal plate over it to hold it in place. We were in the hospital for a total of 5 days. He has to wear his collar for 3 months-24 hours a day. We were grateful that he didn't have to wear a halo brace that screws into your skull. My sister, Coleen had to years ago and it was horrible! My normally happy, joking boy didn't smile the whole time he was there. It's a hard thing to face that a stupid mistake can cause such huge damage.

He finally smiled when we got home.

Here is the scar from surgery. We took the front part of his collar off so Brek could shave his face. I have to log roll him over to change him in and out of his shower collar then back into his everyday collar. It's kind of scary.

A few weeks later Kyle's girlfriend discovered a bald spot on the back of his head. It wasn't there the day before. He was mad...I was mad! We couldn't figure out how it happened. So he asked Brek to shave his head bald...to the skin.

This picture is after it was shaved and his hair started growing back....everywhere but in the spot. So weird! We discovered it was from being on the backboard for all those hours. It damaged his hair follicles and they just fell out. He's finally starting to get a teeny bit hair growth in there, but not nearly as much as the rest.

Kyle was Mark's employee and he obviously can't work so Mark's been putting in crazy long hours to keep up with the business. So, my house is very full. Kyle is with me everyday, so is Cole because he's still doing online school. I have Brek, Brittany and the boys. Plus Kyle's girlfriend is here everyday as well as his other friends that stop by to visit all the time. Mark goes to work and Cody goes to school. I've forgotten what a quiet house is like.

We went to have a one month check up with the neurosurgeon. They went on and on about how lucky he was and were shocked that he wasn't paralysed. They showed his X-rays to all the other doctors and nurses in the office. These people deal with this kind of serious injury all the time and really couldn't believe it. I told them it has nothing to do with luck and everything to do with God. My boy obviously has important work still to do. We count our blessings everyday.

4th of July...

Mini Mark with Buzz and Woody. He loves them!

We went to Pacana Park for our 3rd annual 4th of July celebration here in Maricopa. We LOVE it!! It was really HOT! We were all sweating buckets just walking from our cars to out perfectly picked out spot on the grass. We were there with the Koozer's, Neals, Williams, Eagan's, and us, of course PLUS Brittany and the boys. {Brek had to work}They just moved back in with us, so our house grew from 5 to 9 people. The only one NOT living here is Chad. He does still live in Maricopa and we probably see him the same amount as before. Mark calls the grandsons the twin tornadoes because their path of destruction is swift. :o) I do love having those boys here. They are very sweet.
Little John

Tony and Jenny

Brittany, Mark and John

Mariela and Angel

Kaden

Chad and John Ray

Brittany and the boys

Mariah and Silvia-Michelle

Cody and Mark

Angel begged Chad to keep tossing himwoah! {note the huge smile}

Nice catch, Chad

Cole handing out cookies

John attached at the ankle

eating cookies...more like sucking the frosting off first

Coleen and Kaden dancing to the music

Cisco with blue teeth...still a cutie

Sydney performing head stands

Hal and Missie...Hal was there on duty to keep the peace. Mostly he just socialized with everyone.

Me and Cole {my baby...sniff sniff}

Me and Mark...hot, sweaty, sticky and totally worn out.

Let the fireworks begin. I took probably 100 pictures of them. Only shared a few.

ooohhh

aahhhh

ooohhh

aahhhhh

ooohhhh

Fireworks are over. It's time to go home.

Cabin time with the extended family...

At the end of June we took most of my side of the family back up to our friends cabin in Strawberry. Actually about half of them. Lots couldn't make it for whatever reason. Those of us who did go had a GREAT time! Mark, Chad and Chad's friend Jason rode their motorcycles up there. The rest of us took cars and trucks. Cole snapped some pictures of them riding on our way up there.

Chad and Kindra

Kayce

throwing a football.

Chad and Mark

In cabin C, where the boys slept, they made a fort with the tumbling mats.

Don't you want to play whack a mole when you see this picture? :o)

Kyle slept A LOT while we were there....anywhere he could.

Basketball...Kindra girly-ing it up...so it's not a real word....whatever.

Mark stringing the bows. He was scared to death he was going to fling himself. Then he did them all wrong and Cody re-did them all the right way.

How scary is it to have a bunch of boys with weapons?

Cody/Robin Hood George...the professional archer

Cole...Struggled in the beginning then got really good. His arm got sore.

Mark did great and got it in the target all the time.

Kayce...being the goofy boy that he is. He's always very entertaining.

We didn't have a volleyball net so Mark got creative and made a custom net so we could all play. Kindra really wanted a net. Mark said "What Kindra wants, Kindra gets!" Now do you see why it's good that we don't have daughters. He has no self control. Can't say no to a girl.

My parent showed up with Julie's dog Turner.

Cody and Cole with my dad...big smooch!

Mark and Kindra

Rene' and Dale

Rene' and Candice

My dad and Marlon {Candice's boyfriend}

Mark cooking fajitas. We cooked ALL the time! We all ate very well.

Lots of volleyball games. More of us played the second night, but I didn't get pictures that night.

We ate outside every meal. Only place we could all eat together.

Miss Kindra

Dang cute little squirrel

Kyle...actually awake and playing with us.

Julie and Rene scrapbooking

Me and Mark on the last night. I was so tired!

We sure loved spending time with the family, but wished they all could have came.

some of June's activities...

We went bowling for a family activity one night. It was lots of fun, but we only had 2 boys...which is strange...but still fun.
Cole and Cody...blurry, but cute boys

ummmm....foul!

Cody did awesome that night.

These are cucumbers...I'm honest! Disgusting creepy huge cucumbers, but cucumbers none the less. We will never grow those again. totally creep-ed me out. We will also not be growing zucchini again. That stuff gets out of control. We did have fun with our community church garden.

Mark surprised me and came home from work with this fabulous shelf. Only problem was...it was naked and needed to be filled. He so kindly took me to Rustic Hutch and we found cute things to fill it. I hung it below the window in the stairwell. So love it there. Makes me happy when I'm going up or coming down. Perfect!

Chad on his new R1. That thing is scary fast and that boy has no fear. Right now it's in the shop getting custom painted. Can't wait to see what he designed.

We met Chad and some friends at Joe's BBQ in Gilbert. Such a cute place. Love the baked potato with pulled pork on-top. Yummmm...

Kyle and Mellie

Cole

Cody

Mark and Jolene

We went to the movies together several times as a family. These picture were taken outside the Cine-mark in Mesa. We love that theater because it's not the popular hangout for the annoying kind of teenagers.

My niece Kindra came in town from Tennessee. We all met up at Organ Stop Pizza to hang out. She is a fun girl with an adorable accent.

As you all know I don't have any girls so you can bet I jumped at the chance when my sister, Coleen asked me to help her decorate girl foster daughter, Mariela's bedroom. Holy crud! I was in cute girl stuff heaven! It still needs some delicate little window treatments, but I love how it turned out.

memorial weekend...

For memorial weekend we borrowed our friend/dentist's cabin up in Strawberry. Not the whole family...just a little get a way for the two of us. The cabin was great! {and free for us} We spent so much time shopping and browsing antique store and the arts and craft fair they had in my most favorite little town of Pine.

We did a little photo shoot while we were there with the tripod and remote. Got some cute pictures as well as some cruddy ones. Isn't that always the case when you take pictures.

Y'all know I'm a girl who loves barns...fabulous!

One of the days we drove over to to Flagstaff. Anytime we can drive while being in the pine tress is a good day for me.

I loved Lake Mary. Most the lakes in Arizona are in the desert surrounded by ick, so this was a refreshing change for me.

While we were in Flagstaff they had a craft fair in the park as well. The weather was perfect and the kettle corn was amazing! They made it extra sugary...just the way I like it!

I swear I visited more porta potties this weekend. Not my favorite thing to do, but was absolutely necessary. I drink lots of water...enough said! :o)

Outside Nifty Fifty's Diner just after a huge breakfast where the pancakes are as big as the plate and so dang good!

Check these guys out! Turkey's just walking around the street. We pulled up beside them and Mark gobbled at them. The didn't like that at all and gobbled very loudly back at him. Good thing the guy serving turkey legs at the craft fair didn't spot them or they surely would have been lunch for some hungry shoppers. :o)

This is the Randall House Restaurant and by far our favorite place to eat up there. So full of country charm and great food to boot.

One of the many antique stores we visited.

Mark got me so many way cute crafty things AND he happily and creatively carried them all over town. These things we got at Carol's Country Store. Totally my most favorite store. We stop in there now every time we go up there to see what new things she's made that I must have.

This old barn is a quilt shop. Attached to the side is Carol's little store.

More fun finds at antique stores. The little light bulbs are nice addition to my salt and pepper collection.

This antique phone I did NOT purchase because of it's $300 price tag....however, I LOVE it and it's been on my wish list for as long as I can remember. It's at the last antique shop on the left before you leave Pine on your way up to Strawberry. I only say this, so later if I have big bucks, I will remember where I saw it. :o)

Our time together was so much fun. Shopping, eating, playing games, going on walks, eating, long talks, eating, seeing beautiful things etc. We ate entirely too much and never ate anywhere twice. Discovered good and bad restaurants. Whenever I eat at a bad place I immediately want a do over and wish I could take that meal back, have an empty stomach and try again with something better.

power blogging...

This weekend I plan to do some major power blogging to catch up. I feel horrible that I've neglected my poor little blog. Wish I could do it today, but tonight I'm hosting scrapbook night at my house, so I have to make treats and tons to do to get set up for that.

SO MUCH has happened around here...seriously! Details to come!

good stuff...

Look what Mark got me! I think that boy likes me or something. How flippin' cute is this coffee table? I know...way cute! I totally love the door knob on it too. This shelf was made out of the other part of the door. Way too cute too!

I re-did the downstairs bathroom. Very outdoorsy and country cute.


Yet another old door used in a way cute way. It has a great mirror and rusty hooks and the seat lifts up for storage too. I added the bear crossing sign, the tree, the pillow, the fishing basket and net, and the rusted lantern. The moose lodge sign say "where shooting the bull is expected." The wreath has rusted tin moose and trees on it.

Yes, I made this. Love it...love the whole bathroom!

Brek, Brittany, Mark and John came over for mother's day. They even went to church with us. I was SO HAPPY!!! Mark fixed dinner and dessert AND cleaned up for my whole side of the family. It was delicious and much appreciated by all the mothers who didn't have to cook this year. Such a great day!Cole and Cody playing with baby Mark (who is not a baby anymore)

da da da da da da da da da batman! aka John...so funny!

Grammy and the boys

Grampa and Mark

Grampa and John

We are still working together on our family garden. Chad didn't make it last week though. It actually fun when we do it together. Just don't ask me if it's still fun come July. For now we are loving it!

After weeding and watering and a teeny bit of harvesting we went to Carl's Junior for a quick dinner. Kyle made a "cat" out of his box. {well, what he considers to be a cat} After he made it he salted it and called it Chinese food. LOL! That boy has a strange sense of humor.

Cole got this oh so cute heart shaped scab playing baseball. I know boys think scars are cool and manly, but not necessarily when they are shaped like a heart...poor boy! LOL! In my eyes it's still icky...especially when I saw it full screen on my monitor....shudder! He only has to get 2 more home runs this season to earn a new outfit. He has 8 so far. That boy is motivated. Who knew boys liked clothes so much. :o)

Late mother's day night I caught myself a nasty cold and was in bed for 2 solid days. Mark made me take NyQuil. I hate that stuff! Plusalso they left off an important part of the description. "the night time sniffling, sneezing, coughing, aching, stuffy head, fever so you can rest medicine." It should also state that it will leave to lethargic and comatose the next day without the ability to wake up at a decent hour. I was seriously worthless and slept ALL day! Mark got me those awesome puffs plus with Vicks tissues. Ironically when you really need those kinds of tissues you can't breathe, therefore you can't smell them. Today I can breathe so I've been totally enjoying sniffing the box of tissues. Smells so darn good. Little things make me happy! :o)

A glimpse of my month....

I've had lots of comments and emails asking me if I'm okay because I haven't posted in over a month and it's not like me to go so long. To be honest, I have been through A LOT of emotional stuff. Actually I'm still going through it. It's been really tough, but as most of you know I'm always very positive and optimistic and I have done my best to look for the blessings in my trials. So far so good and since I'm buckled in tight to this wild ride called life. Jumping off in the middle isn't an option, now is it?! There have been plenty of good things to keep me busy as well.

• I got to spend time with my very cute grandsons. They have both had haircuts since the pictures below.
• I drove Cole to town every day for a week for AIMS testing and sat in the hall on the floor for 3 hours while I waited each day.
• I've been to lots of Cole's baseball games. No pictures since they're all at night and apparently flash photography affects their game. Cole has his 6 home runs so far, he pitches and plays 3rd base, and he's at least a whole head taller than everyone on his team. He is an awesome player!
• I got to catch up with my good friend Robbie after 25 long years. That guy has the best memory of anyone I know. It's scary and fun how much he remembers from way back then.
• I went to way fun luau with a bunch of girlfriends from church. I won the hula hoop championship. I even beat out all the cute young skinny girls. I was actually impressed that I did so well. I'm thinking of buying my own hula hoop today, because it was great exercise.
• Made cute garden signs for ours and Koozers gardens. Been there weeding every Monday night as a family. It's been surprisingly fun to do it together.
• I bought "cute butt" pants, shorts, and capri's in 3 sizes smaller than I wore last year at this time.

• Had two group dates...first one was another round of office chair hockey. We totally kicked butt, but it wasn't without injury from being slammed into walls and other people at high speed, not to mention being thrown from the chair multiple times and had a real hard fall that took major time to recover from. I laid there in a puddle for a while in pain on the floor. It was lots of fun so the pain was worth it. Second was kickball. Very fun, but discovered that I'm really not a good runner. Only made it as far as second base. Mark did awesome of course. We played for a long time...until the sprinklers came on and we called the game. I did run fast to get off the field that time. We really do have a great bunch of friends we hang out with. I love them all!
• Had the funnest enrichment night where my friend Chelsea was the game show host. She was hysterical! I've never laughed so much in my life. So much in fact I cried and my stomach hurt. That girl has so much funny material that is just naturally in her head. Only pictures I have of that was on my phone.
• Went to a high priest group party at the Koozers. We had dinner and games. We discovered that some people in our ward can totally lie with a straight face and others are not so good at it. Another night full of laughter.
• I helped bottle 9,500 bottles of catsup-ketshup. It really was fun FAST work. Very much like the episode of I love Lucy....minus tossing chocolates in my mouth and down my blouse to keep up with the the machine. I don't think that would be so good with catsup. LOL!
• Mark and I cooked breakfast for 120 people...we made 144 breakfast burritos, homemade salsa to go with them, and too many pancakes to count.
• Went to the fair with Jenny and Tony. Bought a pig, had it butchered. It's now neatly stacked up in my freezer!
• Ate lunch with my parents, Aunt Judy, Mark and Coleen at Tia Rosa's. That is by far my most favorite place to eat.
• Had sisters night with Rene', Julie, and Coleen. We ate at Toby Keith's new restaurant and saw the movie 17 again. Fun time with my girls.
• Had a ward party with a 50's theme. I did the twist and my body still hates me for it. Even Mark and my boys danced. Mark totally kicked butt in the limbo and was pretty much the only one that did it correct. I can honestly say my body doesn't bend like that anymore. Fun night!
• Had my whole family over for a very yummy dinner Sunday night while Aunt Judy was still in town. Great time visiting with all of them. I wish everyone would have came.
• Had family night with the Koozers last night since our BBQ was still at their house. It was a good excuse to spend time with our bestest friends. Got on the trampoline...big mistake! Mark played crack the egg with me against my wishes. There was screaming involved. That guy can still do a back flip! I can't even jump without peeing. The joys of being a mother of 5!
• That's it for now. Promise not to stay away anymore! Disclaimer...there will be lots of typos. No time to edit. Heading to town and running late.