Just because I stopped posting does not mean we are not among the living

It has been a while so I will start with some general updates...

* I got a new job. I am now working at Logan Regional Hospital in the float pool. I will mostly be working in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit but will still float to the adult floors. I needed a graveyard shift so I could be home with the kids during the day. I miss the Operating Room terribly but I know this will be better for my kids. I have only been doing it for two weeks. Hopefully I will get oriented quickly so I can quit stressing over learning everything.


* Yard and house-- Randy has been working like a crazy man to get the basement and yard finished. Randy's parents came and stayed with us off and on for the last three weeks helping us with our kids and my mom came on Monday to stay for the next three weeks. Or sitter is on maternity leave so we have REALLY appreciated all their help. We wanted them to have a room to stay in. We didn't quite get it finished for Randy's parents but we just put the final touches on the bedrooms so my mom is the first to try it out. The other room we set up as a computer/playroom for the kids. Thank you Randy it is great.


* Brad just finished Kindergarten. His last day was today. He is ready for summer. I think his teacher was ready for summer too. I am sure all the kids check out the last part of the school year. He is reading like crazy and is a math nut. I can't believe how much he has learned in a year.

* We started potty training Claire this last week. She has done great!!! She loves her big girl panties. The first few days we spent the entire time in the bathroom. She was so excited to get a bathroom treat she would go pee every time there was a tiny drop in her bladder.

* I chopped off all my hair. It was getting ridiculously long. It is nice to have short hair for the summer.

* My health has improved drastically. My treatments are working and it is nice to have a healthy body back.

* Randy is cruising through the Masters Program at Utah State. He is enjoying the classes (not the homework). I am proud of how much he is able to juggle. I think he is amazing.

* I finally updated the blog with what we have been doing. Feel free to browse through the next SEVERAL posts.

I LOVE 9 o'clock church...

Our neighbors the Hepworths invited us to join them for a Sunday Lunch in the mountains. We packed us a few picnic items after church and headed up the canyon.



Claire is crazy about their kids. They live across the street from us and Claire will sit in our window and yell their names when they are playing outside. She could not get enough of Jared. She squeezed him tight every chance she could.



Taylor is so cute with Claire. She let Claire tag along with her the whole afternoon.



The boys gathered wood and built a fire so we could roast hot dogs.







All that fresh mountain air can be exhausting.



After lunch the adults wanted to sit and visit. Randy told the kids to climb the mountain behind us to burn off some energy. The kids took him serious and climbed up the steepest pathway they could possibly find.



The dads had to climb up the mountain and rescue them.



Thanks Hepworths for the fun afternoon. We want to do it again soon. There are only so many days left of summer.

Richmond City Black and White Days

Every May Richmond City hosts Black and White Days. It is a huge cattle show and sale during the week. On the weekend they have a big celebration. On Friday night they had a concert in the park followed by a family movie at dusk. Randy had school so I decided to go at it alone. I was really tired that day and almost didn't go. The clouds were a little heavy and gray and no one would notice if I wasn't there. Luckily our friends Leisa and Wally walked by right as we were coming out the door and persuaded me to go.



The sun was shining but there was a huge looming rain cloud over our heads. The moment we got there the rain started pouring. It looked like liquid sunshine coming from the sky. The kids thought it was great sitting under our blanket tent. They were giggling and dancing in the rain.




It only lasted about 15 minutes. After the rain there was a gorgeous rainbow. These pictures do not do it any justice. The concert continued and the kids danced like crazy.






Visiting the horse on the way home.

We didn't end up staying for the movie because we were soaked and cold but it was worth going and making such a fun memory. We would have missed out if I had stayed home.

On Saturday the had a parade on Main street. There was so much candy being thrown my kids were completely occupied with gathering loot that they missed most of the entries.


After the parade we headed to the park for the annual horse pulls. The hook up GIANT Clydesdale horses to weighted sleds and see how much a team of horses can pull.

A visit from our BIG WYOMING cowboys and cowgirls

Our friends from Wyoming came to stay for a visit. We had dinner, made ice cream then laughed and chatted until it was dark. Since they had such a long drive home we convinced them to stay the night. The kids were wild and excited. We lived next door to the Heaps when Brad was three and Claire was just a new born. Brad and Landon picked up friendships where they left off and Claire found a new pal with Titjin. Morgan and Tiko just had a baby girl 3 months ago and named her Mikinnin. She is so cute. I got my baby fix for the week by holding her all night. We went to Germany with Morgan and Tiko and we have not had a chance to see them since. I can't believe it has been a year since we last visited with them. Right after they moved back to Wyoming they invited us to come horse back ridding at the Ranch. Brad remembers it like yesterday and wants to ride horses again. We will have to make a trip to Wyoming soon.

Happy Mothers day to me

For Mother's Day all I wanted was a nice restful peaceful day....





...who knew the Insta Care could be so relaxing!!!!!!

Can you believe we have another broken bone in this house?!?!?!?!?!

Mother's day up to that point was really nice. We drove home from Salt Lake that morning then Randy and Brad made me lunch. We decided to go to the park that afternoon to watch the kids play. Brad fell off the monkey bars on the playground. Good times.

I am a true LAKER HATER...Go Jazz

After Randy's party we jumped on Trax and went to the Jazz/Lakers playoff game #3. It was seriously a riot. We knew they were going to loose the series but we were at least hoping for a win to prolong the inevitable.



We went with Melissa and Todd, Tim and Kamie, and Lance and Kendra.






I had to cheer my guts out to get that ball for Brad. Afterward I was a little embarrassed. It is amazing what you will do for your kids.

At least they were ahead the whole game until the last few minutes. It was so close!!!

The big 30!!!

So as most of you know I have been planning a surprise 30th birthday party for Randy for several months. It was grueling trying to keep it a secret. Many covert operations went on for weeks.

I was so close...I failed... Mission Impossible.

He found out the night before the party. I blew it. I am just not a good liar. I guess that is not a bad thing.

Oh well the show must go on. We had the party in Salt Lake at my parent’s house.











After the BBQ we had a little roast for Randy…



Randy’s brothers made him this shirt to wear around. It was pretty funny.



Todd and Melissa bought Randy a little tool belt. (Randy is always knocking on their door to borrow Todds tools)



My Brothers reenacted Randy’s first Birthday. Eric and Steven came at Randy with a pair of hand cuffs…you should have seen the look on Randy’s face. It was priceless. He was pretty nervous. Steven sat behind him and fed him the cake. Randy hates getting messy so it was pretty fun to see him get his face a little shmeared.




I made a sweet comb over toupee with my hair cut scraps. He looked pretty gross. I like him bald.







Then all the boys sang to him with helium.

Happy Birthday Randy!!! Just think you are halfway to 60.

Yard update

I would say "WE" but it has been Randy has been working countless hours in the yard. We put in a stamped concrete fire pit, sprayed hydro seed, and got the garden ready for planting. In between all that Randy got the basement bedrooms finished. He has been working his but off and it has paid off...he had a REALLY happy wife.





(come on little sprouts...hurry and grow so we can walk on you this summer)