Sick, Sick, Sick

Have I mentioned we've been sick? It seems we just can't evade all the germs this year. I think I'm going to blame it on the Hogan curse of 2009. This year has not been the best year for the extended Hogan family. Let's see there's been the Horse slipping/rolling incident, the piano falling incident, the bicycle vs. car incident, not to mention various stitches incidents, I know of one cast that was placed. I'm really hoping 2010 will be kinder to the Hogan's.

As far as our little family is doing. I think we met with the Swine flu and hopefully conquered. Now if we can just stop all of the coughing, earaches, and runny noses we might have a brief chance at being healthy. Despite all the illness we've been quite busy in between waves.

Brooklyn turned 4! I can't believe it! She is growing so fast! She got a new bicycle for her birthday with a pink basket and bell to top it off. She loves it. Her first big bike ride was a good 2.4 mile ride. Eric and I were jogging to keep up with her the whole way. She only stopped once to give her head a break from her helmet. I can't wait for warmer weather so we can get out more and ride.

Eric turned the big 30 this year! Crazy! Who would have thought we's still be in school when Eric turned 30? I know he didn't! Rummaging through the cupboards we found a #2 candle and realized it would be several more years before we could use it! That's a scary thought! Medical school is going. Half way through the third year and fast approaching the time to start applying to residency. Now the big question for Eric what kind of doctor does he really want to be? It's about time to decide.

Sadie can't wait for her birthday and to get her new bike, so she says. It's hard to be the little sister sometimes! She's a good sport. Growing fast, talking nonstop, into mischief like you can't believe and yet is still a little angel, a rough one however. No one gives the roughest most affectionate hugs like Sadie does. She is an artist. She has lately discovered her talent of drawing ghosts. It is so fun to see her draw happy little ghosts all over everything.

I have become reacquainted with the pain of earaches the last few days. That is not something I have missed since childhood. It has definitely given me more sympathy for Brooklyn the last few weeks as she's battled some herself. I just can't wait to be healthy again! But it is a good reminder of how good it feels to be healthy! I also pulled a muscle in my back, nothing like a reminder of how nice it is to have a healthy back. Not to mention the lovely pain I am still fighting in my knee. Turns out I have a plica, like my younger sister which may be the culprit of all my running woes. With a potential knee surgery on the horizon, I am definitely looking forward to good health in the new year!

What would you pack?

There isn't a day that goes by where I don't hear at least once "Mom, can we go to Grandma's house, PLEASE?" Both girls love grandma's house. This last week our car has turned into our airplane. We make sure our seatbelts are fastened securely when the fasten seat belt sign is on, and are always preparing for take-off and landing. Tonight over dinner Brooklyn shared with Eric what she is planning and preparing to pack when we go to grandma's. Here is a small list of some of the things she said:

cookies, oreo cookies, chocolate chip cookies, cookies with M&M's, fruit snacks, goldfish, suitcases, suitcase skirt, skort dresses, dresses, church dresses, Tiger Lily, Tiger's bed, couches, mama horsies, daddy horsies, toys, milk, water...

Eric then asked her if she'd pack some cookies and she says "oh yea, and some cookies." Can you guess what a staple is in my snack packs on airplane rides? What do you expect when you travel as the only adult in the group. Obviously we can't wait for our next trip to Grandma's house.

The rest of the story...

Here is a little more history that lead to Brooklyn's

colonoscopy. About 6 months ago I noticed some blood in her poop as I was changing her diaper and as I cleaned her up she had something sticking out her bottom. It was about the size of your fingertip and would protrude 1/4 to 1/2 inch. I would push it back in thinking that was better than leaving it hanging out. Her next bowel movement would be normal so I wasn't too concerned. The mystery thing, the polyp, would appear occasionally along with a little blood with her bowel movements. At first I thought she was pushing too hard and read about rectal prolapses appearing in children who were potty training, but she never seemed to be pushing or straining that hard. Then the last few months it would be there 98% of the time she went potty whether in her diaper or in the toilet. I asked a couple pediatricians, one said just give her some miralax (I disregarded his advice and don't think I'll see him anymore) and the other said it depends on what is causing it and referred us to a gastroenterologist.

I made an appointment with the gastroenterologist and in we went (a month or so later). Since I would push whatever it was back in, the GI doc was unable to see what it was and did a rectal exam. Fortunately the polyp was close enough he could feel it with the exam and was able to determine that it was a polyp (which is much better than a rectal prolapse). He said at this age you don't worry about cancer or anything but it's a juvenile polyp and said that 30-35% of the time there are more polyps throughout the colon. We then scheduled a colonoscopy to go in the next week and remove the polyp and see if there were anymore. If there were 5 or more polyps he said it would then be a genetic disorder and we would have to have a colonoscopy every 3 years to monitor them. That I was not looking forward too. I was then given the directions to get Brooklyn prepped for the lovely procedure. She was to be on a clear liquid diet starting at midnight on Tuesday and drink 3 doses of miralax at 1, 2, and 3pm. Then before bedtime I was to give her an enema. I was not looking forward to that either.

I stocked up on popsicles and apple juice and made a trip to the video store to give us some good distractions. I also made a trip to the toy store and purchase a few new books and puzzles to have as incentive to help her drink the miralax. Overall Brooklyn did really well. She didn't complain too much and really only said she was hungry just a couple of times. She drank the first 2 doses of miralax with just a little coaxing. Though I honestly felt like Harry Potter in the cave with Dumbledore making him drink all the liquid in the basin to get to the horcrux. Just a little more, you're almost there, you won't have to drink anymore once you finish this. Here take the last sip... I know her poor tummy isn't that big and to have her drink 8oz. every hour for three hours is a lot for her little system to handle.

The third dose I had to get creative and quickly threw together a treasure hunt and told her the

first clue was at the bottom of her glass and after she'd drunk it all she could get started. (Note: Don't put miralax in milk and have the child drink it fairly quickly, it will come back.) She finished it, got her puzzle prize, complained that her tummy hurt and I reached for a bucket! After a nice warm bath, some carpet cleaning, another movie, and a trip to the pet store as a distraction (while Daddy and Sadie had dinner) we came home, finished the last task of the prep and settled in to watch another movie before heading to bed.

We got up early to head to the hospital. Poor Brooklyn was tired and anxious and didn't say much. We checked in, changed her into some hospital jammies(which she wasn't thrilled about at all), then got her ready for the IV. She knew that she was going to have a poke at this appointment and she wasn't looking forward to it.

The nurses said they would hold her down, but as soon as the one nurse moved into position Brooklyn started crying and really trying to get away. I assured them that I would do it and that Brooklyn would do better if it were me. Eric stood at her head speaking comforting words as best her could and I held her as they put in the IV. She did really well and didn't fight at all once it was in. She is so brave. The nurses gave her some stickers since she did such a good job. We were then ready to head down to the Endoscopy floor.

Brooklyn sat on my lap in the wheelchair for the ride down and then we were transferred to her gurney where I sat with her. I pulled out one of the new books I'd bought and started reading to her as the last preparations were being taken care of. They were ready and wheeled us both, while reading "If You Give a Pig a Pancake" into the procedure room. She was being so brave and the nurses were so great with her showing her and explaining to her what they were doing as they stuck on the stickers to monitor her heart rate and oxygen levels. The anesthesiologist then gave her the medication through her IV and within a minute or two she stated to doze off. I then climbed off the gurney and gave her reassurance that it was ok to go to sleep and told her how much I loved her and how brave she was. As she drifted off and settled, the nurses were quickly finishing putting oxygen on and waiting for Eric and I to leave the room to go to the waiting room.

It was hard to leave seeing my sweet Brooklyn lying there. Most of my worry was the emotional aspect of how Brooklyn was going to do and if we had to do this every 3 years how that was going to go. Inside I really felt at peace that all would be just fine. The nurse that took us to the waiting room said the procedure would take half an hour tops. I was shocked when in 15-20 minutes the doctor came to get us. He showed us the pictures and the polyp that he had removed was in a vial in his hand, it was a little larger than a marble. The good news was there was just the one polyp and that it had been removed. No follow up was necessary. I was so relieved that it was over and that it was so quick. We then got to go sit with Brooklyn while she was waking up from the anesthesia.

Brooklyn was sleeping quite soundly, the nurse came in a couple times to try and wake her up. The first time there was no response. The second time, it looked like there was no response but when I said her name her eyes shot open and she sat bolt upright. You could tell the poor girl was scared to death until she saw Eric and I there. The nurse was surprised because she didn't get any response and had turned her back to check the monitor.

We then had the nurse bring Brooklyn some grape juice and some water to drink. Which she guzzled both of them in no time. Her little countenance radiated one of relief. She was a whole new girl. She was playful and happy and asking questions about everything. She had been saying that she didn't want to get her bottom fixed and that she liked to bleed. I assured her that it would all be ok and that the doctor would fix her bottom so that it wouldn't bleed anymore. She asked how he'd do it and I told her the doctor would go in and clip it off. "It will hurt?" she asked all concerned and I again reassured her that it wouldn't and that the poke was probably going to be the worst part. We were all relieved that other than the IV which she didn't complain of at all other than the initial placing all went well.

Then it was time to remove the IV so we could go home. Brooklyn watched and tried to help with great interest. Asking many questions and wanting to see where the poke was. I think she may have put the bandaid on herself. As we were getting her dressed to go home she was happily singing "Old MacDonald Had a Farm." Eric then pushed both of us in the wheelchair out to our car and we headed to Burger King to get her favorite, chicken nuggets and chocolate milk.

I was so grateful that there was just the one polyp! Phew! No need to worry about doing all of this again every three years. We said many prayers and know that many prayers were said in our behalf. Brooklyn and I talked a lot about who was praying for her and how many people love her. I know I felt enveloped in the love of our family and friends and I know Brooklyn did too. She was so proud of herself and I know she feels better knowing that her bottom isn't going to bleed anymore. She has looked at the pictures of the colonoscopy several times and is proud to show them to visitors when they come over.

Brooklyn came home a whole new girl saying things like the doctor fixed my bottom so it won't bleed anymore! She has expressed her relief multiple times and has also commented about how much she loves everyone as I thanked them for their prayers and let them know everything is all right.

Since our return home diapers have been a thing of the past. It's almost like her bleeding was holding her back, and I'm grateful she was still wearing diapers for all the prep work! It's been amazing! It's almost like she literally transformed into a little girl overnight.

Thank you everyone for all your love and support. We have truly been blessed and your prayers have been felt in our behalf. Thank you!! Here is some video that I took just after she had woken up. I like to think that her nose was itching so much because of all of your thoughts and prayers that were with us that day.

Colonoscopy? Seriously?

Today I took Brooklyn in to the doctor to check out some troubles we've been having with her GI tract. Turns out she needs to go in for a colonoscopy and possibly have a polyp removed. I was kind of in a state of disbelief as I was thinking that my 3 year old is needing a colonoscopy when I myself have never had one (nor do I look forward to having one). Seriously she's 3 years old! I'm really hoping that they don't find very many polyps for if they do then she'll have to get a colonoscopy once every 3 years. Talk about fun. I don't know what's going to be more fun being the parent who has to force all the prep work and keep a three year old from eating solid food for a day, or being the one who actually has the procedure. How do you explain this kind of stuff to a 3 year old? Needless to say I'm not looking forward to it.

I am grateful that of my two children that this happening with Brooklyn. She is such a good patient and is so interested in medicine. Brooklyn was quite apprehensive about the visit with the doctor. No one wants a doctor to get too personal with things, but she did very well and cooperated. The doctor wanted to run some blood labs on her to get some preliminary results before the procedure. We went to the lab and I didn't tell her where we were headed or what was going to happen until we got into the actual room for the blood draw. She sat on my lap and I began to explain that it would be a quick poke and then we could see her blood come out into a little tube. Poor Brooklyn then resisted, as all normal kids would, just to the cleaning with the alcohol wipe and drying with the cotton ball. Then as the time for the poke came I held her tightly in my arms as she bravely watched the tech stick her. Brooklyn didn't even cry. She just watched and held real still. I wish I could have seen her face. She relaxed once she realized it didn't hurt like a shot does and seemed fascinated by it. After it was all over she wanted to be sure to show her daddy her bandaid and the white thing under it (the cotton ball). I think the hardest part was telling her that we get to go back to see this doctor again next week. She asked if she would get poked again and I had to tell her yes because they will put in an IV for the procedure. She is one brave little girl.

I'm just impressed by the faith and blind obedience that she has in me as her mother. That all will be ok. I truly wish that I could be more like a little child like my sweet Brooklyn. That I can just reach up and hold someone's hand and trust that everything will be ok. Deep inside I know that and can feel it, but sometimes that external physical reassurance makes a big difference.

*Aside*

I had to laugh one of our toy baby strollers got stepped on and the handle snapped off. I tried to superglue it back together last night, but it didn't last long. Brooklyn brought the stroller to me and said that Heavenly Father could fix it. She's right He could. I told her I didn't think He would because He leaves things up to us to take care of down here most of the time. I'm just glad I don't hear "I want to kill Jesus!" nearly so often anymore. :) Scriptures are full of violence! I do hear in regards to answers to prayers that "Mama will do it" frequently. I love my girls and I'm glad they love me too.

Half Marathon's are Fun!

I recently just completed my first half marathon. Let me tell you from experience that a half marathon is SO much easier than a full marathon! The race felt really pretty good, not including the first three miles that it took my knee to loosen up and stop hurting, but other than that I loved it. The scenery and trails through Park City, UT were beautiful. The morning air was cool and crisp and you could see your breath before the race began. The usual race day excitement coursed through my veins and the lack of sleep the night before always makes me wonder why I even try to sleep. But try I did.

There is something about crossing that starting line knowing you have prepared and done a good job in training. As I'm running along the course and watch as the mile markers go past, I seemed to feel more and more confident and wanted to run a little faster. That is until the lovely gu entered my system and hit my stomach like a rock! That slowed me down for a mile or so at least. But once the benefits of the quick carbs kicked in I was ready to go. The downhill back to the finish was gentle and it almost felt like coasting in. I was approaching mile 12 and could feel some fatigue in my back and abs. My legs felt strong and mentally I was excited. The finish line was approaching. I rounded the last few corners saw my sister Val there and heard her cheer for me, then spotted my parents with my sweet little girls and my cousins Kelly and Kayla. It's always so nice to have people waiting for you at the finish and I've done enough races by myself to truly appreciate having someone at the finish to greet you and tell you good job. This half marathon seriously felt easier than the 10 mile trail run I'd done a few weeks beforehand. Maybe altitude doesn't make all that big of a difference... : )

Now if only I could figure out what is going on with my knee. It's been acting up for several months now. Hurting terribly after a long run, or any run. The week before the half I was in San Francisco and just walking around town I was dying. Limping around and in a good deal of pain. I was having doubts if I could even run the half marathon the following week. But after a 3 mile warm up run I knew I could tolerate the pain and the longer I ran the less it hurt, well, that is until I stopped running. Then it's a completely different story. But I made it through and now I'm hoping to get some good reason as to why my knee is so painful. MRI was done Friday and x-rays show the joint itself is still great. I'll keep my fingers crossed it's a fairly easy fix!

The irony is now that it seems that I can't run or probably shouldn't I really want to lace up those running shoes and head out the door. Why is it when you can you don't and when you can't you really want to? I guess I'll just have to wait and see what's up with my knee and then plan my next race!

Waiting for the Mail

Yesterday I brought the mail in and saw a letter that I had been waiting for. I knew that the letter contained the results from Eric's board exam that he took in June. It always seems like I am more anxious about them than he ever is. I handed him the letter and told him he might be interested in this. Then he said he'd open it after we got the girls tucked in bed. What?!? You're going to wait when you've already waited a month and a half?!? I'm always shocked that he can just wait like that. I told him he was lucky that I hadn't opened it for him already. But sure enough after the girls were tucked in he opened it. The result? He passed!! Hooray! He scored well placing in the 75% of all those who took the test. Congratulations Eric. I'm so proud of him. He has worked so hard and it's always nice when it pays off.

I typed "Dr. Eric Hogan" earlier and it kind of took me by surprise. I guess I've known for quite a while now that he was going to be a doctor but I guess I had just never put the Dr. in front of his name. CRAZY! It might take some getting used to. But it does have a nice ring to it. : )

FHE Answers to Prayers

Last night for FHE we did the lesson that Brooklyn brought home from her primary class on the first vision. Brooklyn was all excited that she was in charge of the lesson. Eric put Joseph Smith together with paper fasteners so you could make him sit or stand or kneel. Then we had the Sacred Grove backdrop thanks to her teachers and a few other cut outs to help tell the story. It was a great lesson, I know Brooklyn participated and was listening. Sadie on the other hand was busy doing a puzzle and I don't know how much she got out of it.

After the lesson we were talking about how Heavenly Father can answer our prayers. I reminded Brooklyn of the time she went into her room to say a prayer for Grandma Jane after her piano accident and was trying to help her recognize the Holy Ghost. When Brooklyn says "Jesus didn't come down in my room." How does one handle that situation?!? He didn't come and answer her prayer personally. I know I've felt like that before and wondered why the angels haven't appeared to me and answered my prayers. But a 3 year old? They truly are a chosen generation. Hopefully she understood a little about the Holy Ghost and that she can still get answers to her prayers even if Jesus doesn't come personally into her room.

It's times like these that make you smile and make you hope that you are doing enough in teaching your children the gospel.

Journey Within

Have you ever gone inside your eyes? Brooklyn has. She came in the other morning and said that she went in her eyes 5 times and that I didn't come with her. She and one of her friends was there in a car. Then her friend went in a building and she was lost. Brooklyn went in after her in the building and then to a house. She was quite upset that I didn't go with her in her eyes and that I didn't help her. I definitely think we have hit dreaming and remembering them after phase. I can't believe how much she is learning and growing. The time is passing so quickly.

Brooklyn is a very sensitive little girl. Our neighbor was crying the other night when we left and the next morning one of the first things Brooklyn wanted to do was make sure that McKenna was happy now. She loves to wear a pretty dress and dance all around and gets a sweet almost shy expression on her face as she does it. She loves to dance with Sadie and go on "dates." Brooklyn loves to create things and use her hands. She loves to color, paint, and play with playdough. She especially loves to help me cook. She's an excellent helper when it's time to make raspberry jam, she's the best berry squisher I know!

Memorial Weekend Camping

With Memorial weekend this last week I was itching to go camping. I've just been in the mood to go somewhere and do something different. However I cannot imagine taking the girls and myself camping without another adult to help supervise my busy girls. So I decided to do some camping our own backyard. I went and bought a firebowl since you can't camp and not have roasted hot dogs, marshmallows, and make s'mores, not to mention smelling like smoke. We invited some friends over and we enjoyed our new firebowl while the kids all ran around the backyard with Tiger Lily in and out of the tent. It was a lot of fun.

Brooklyn and Sadie were all excited to sleep in the tent Tiger Lily was all excited too. We got the sleeping bags all set up, the air mattress blown up, blankies, pillows, and of course flashlights. We settled into our sleeping bags and told stories. Brooklyn and Sadie finally stopped talking around midnight and settled into sleep. I however could not sleep since I knew Sadie wouldn't stay covered up and would be cold. Then with Tiger in the tent every time she moved I thought of all the raccoons and possums lurking in my backyard. Needless to say I didn't sleep Tiger must have known. I had to laugh when I lifted up my head to see where she was, she made eye contact and attempted to climb over Eric (who was sleeping) to get over to me waking him up. Who wouldn't when a 60+ pound dogs steps on you while you're sleeping.

Finally at around 2:30am both girls woke up simultaneously cold and when offered to go into the house to sleep they immediately took me up on my offer. I think Tiger was disappointed to go back into her crate after her exciting evening in the tent but she didn't cry. Definitely one of the benefits of backyard camping is being able to go back into your house to sleep in your bed. We had a lot of fun, smelled like smoke, ate good camping food, and didn't sleep well. I think overall it was a successful camping trip!

Boiled egg anyone?

Since our last visit to Utah Brooklyn, Sadie, and I did dinner with Grandpa Mike and Grandma Jane. While at dinner Grandma Jane had a boiled egg, Brooklyn wanted to try some and Grandma shared. Brooklyn discovered that she likes boiled eggs. In fact she likes them so much that since we've been home she has requested almost everyday to have some for breakfast. While the eggs are cooking she'll eat a bowl of Reese's Puffs or Froot Loops. She'll eat not one, not two, but three boiled eggs. She doesn't like the yolks which is fine with me since that is where all the cholesterol is but she'll eat them all up and then ask for more. I've wondered how many she'll eat since I've stopped her at three. Sadie however does not like boiled eggs, but continues to chug the chocolate milk and eat the yogurt bites out of the Yogurt All-Bran. Breakfast of champions all around that's for sure.

Dog Tails

This evening as dinner was cooking on the stove, Eric and I were looking out the back sliding door and saw a deer in the bushes in our neighbors yard. Tiger Lily was outside and I wondered if she had seen it. As the deer wandered closer behind our yard I watched as Tiger held still and watched it for a minute then she tucked her tail, pulled back her ears, and ran up into the house. Once safely in the house she turned around a gave a little "woof!" Talk about chicken. I wish I could have that moment caught on film of my dog who is as big as the deer ducked and headed for cover.

Now that were back from our trip to Grandma's and to bid Richard a fond farewell as he departed for his mission, we are trying to keep Tiger from being one of the kids. Brooklyn and Sadie were climbing all over the couch and next thing I knew Tiger had one of her toys and stepped up onto the couch. She has never been invited onto the couch but just thinks she's one of the girls. I love her personality, she's so sweet and playful. She's a great dog.

While in Utah we went to the bird refuge in west Farmington. The cattails were just about perfect for whacking and exploding seeds all over everywhere. I was picking some for Brooklyn and we were scattering seeds all over ourselves when my brother Chris grabbed another weed that was about 6 feet tall and was poofy on the end. Brooklyn then said that she wanted a "dog tail" like Chris. I picked her one and she then used it to tickle Grandma and Grandpa and anyone else who was in reach. We had a blast! It made perfect sense it did look like Tiger Lily's tail so why not have dogtails and cattails!

Tiger's Bath Time

Today was the day I decided it was time to give Tiger a bath. She absolutely loves the water. If the bathroom door is left open she'll go in there and climb in the tub looking for some water to lap up. Brooklyn and Sadie were playing a computer game while I bathed Tiger. As I'm dumping buckets of water over Tiger, she just calmly sits there drinking the water as it falls into the tub. Then she sits and laps up more water. Then as I'm trying to shampoo her she just lies down on her stomach and lounges in the tub while I'm trying to wash her all over. I don't know what is harder, trying to wash a wiggly dog or one that just sits there and doesn't move. I think I got at least half of her thoroughly shampooed and hoped the residual soapy water did the rest.

Do you have any idea how long it takes for a golden retriever to dry? I had the blow dryer out and it was taking forever. She's mostly dry now but still a little damp in some places. At least she smells better, feels softer, and has the beautiful puffed up puppy look. She is definitely a water dog.

Mid-bath Sadie comes in and unbeknownst to me took off with the kids toothpaste. I came out to find toothpaste smeared all over the computer desk, mouse, and the girls. Then after Eric came up for lunch he sat in the computer chair and had a nice pattern of the mesh chair on his back in pink toothpaste. I hope I've got it all cleaned up now. If only I can keep Tiger and the girls busy on this rainy day! Any suggestions how to keep a large dog busy?

Spring Break has come and gone!

We had a great spring break! It was so nice to have Eric around for a whole week with no studying! We took advantage of his time off and took a little vacation to the Great Wolf Lodge. We had a great time. Indoor waterpark, interactive scavenger hunt with your own magic wand. Brooklyn had her own hide-a-bed to sleep in. Ice to crunch on. A great time was had by all! If we hadn't disconnected the phone in our room who knows how many calls we'd have made to the front desk by our two little girls. We were all ready to go swimming and were walking out the door of our room but Brooklyn was "talking" on the phone to grandma and wouldn't hang up. She'd much rather stay on the phone than go to the indoor water park! We wrapped up our 3 night hotel stay with a 4 hour drive to the airport to head to Grandma's!

Brooklyn and Sadie we're so excited to go to Grandma's. They are such good travelers. To get up early drive for four hours in a car only to ride in an airplane for four more hours. The biggest bump in the trip came after Sadie chugged some chocolate milk while we were driving. It came back and the precious blankie and her clothes all got covered. Poor Sadie was freezing to death as we were trying to get her cleaned up on the side of the freeway in 15 degree weather! Not counting the wind chill! It was COLD! And I wasn't the one getting a change of clothes! Thank goodness that was the worst of it!

We landed in Utah and Brooklyn had said she was going to run to Grandma and give her a big hug and that is just what she did. The shyness of living so far away is wearing off. Sadie of course did the same thing because she does what her sister does. Then Valerie came and Brooklyn ran and threw her arms around her too!

It was a quick trip to Utah but it was nice. Eric and I celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary with a night out for dinner. We got to hang out with Val, Alli & Jake. Play some killer basketball to help Jake practice for his region championship game. Watched half the St. Patty's day parade enjoyed watching the aggressive grandma next to us helped clean everyone out of candy and necklaces and hand them to us. She was awesome! Then the great championship game. Maybe if we hadn't played so hard the night before Jake would have made a few more baskets, but Sadie is still hollering every now and then "Go Jake!" and something about "basketball!"

We got to attend the Bountiful temple and be there for Richard's first time through which was really special before he heads out into the mission field in a month.

We fed ducks with Great-Grandma and Grandpa Payne at the park. Had a couple quick visits with Grandpa Mike and Grandma Jane and we were back to the airport to head home. Brooklyn wasn't happy as we landed back in Michigan that Grandma wasn't there, but I reassured her that she would be here soon, like Friday soon.

Grandma and Grandpa flew to Michigan and drove down our street as Brooklyn and Sadie were riding their bikes to help the time pass. They were delighted to have them at our house to sleep downstairs! We did all sorts of fun things with Grandma here. We went to the Maple Syrup Festival and watched the sap drip out of the maple trees and learned how they make syrup. Ate some awesome pork sandwiches from Backyard BBQ. We went to a beautiful butterfly exhibit, and toured the fun gardens briefly before it closed. I love this picture of Dad leaning back and staring up at the huge Trojan Horse.We ate dinner at Bob Evan's, visited an awesome grocery store that sells chocolate cheese and just about anything else you can imagine and during the daytime they have a live pianist playing a grand piano in the middle of the produce section. No I'm not kidding!!! It's awesome. Grandma went to sunbeam's with Brooklyn. We watched a Under the Sea 3-D movie at the theatre and about scared Sadie and Brooklyn to death, checked out Menards and found a dead mouse by the ladders, took a long nap, watched NCAA action, had an early birthday party for Sadie and about wore ourselves out!

Then Grandma and Grandpa had to go. Brooklyn is still mad that she didn't get to wave goodbye to Grandma. She was trying to "save" Grandma from going to her house by not letting go of her hand. But "grandma let go of my hand!" She loves and really wants her "grandma-parents" and I hear about it daily. That is when she's not mad at me and telling me to go to my "mother's house!"

Sadie had her 2nd birthday! I can't believe she's two! We gave her a dollhouse, a little dress up puppy, and a little bunkbed for her baby doll. She's getting defensive over what is hers and how much Brooklyn can help with. She'll holler "my birthday!" and "my present!" and she started to cry when Brooklyn was helping her open her present. It's hard when your little. Brooklyn actually handled it all quite well, as Sadie was still crying and opening her next present. Don't get in Sadie's way! Hopefully things will settle a little for a few days or so! But it's been fun!

Count down for Spring Break & Grandma!

My Mom and Dad are coming for a visit the end of March. Brooklyn is so excited and asks every day if they are coming today, or if we can go to Grandma's house. Each time an airplane flies overhead she'll ask if Grandma is on that one. Sadly I have to tell her no at least for a few more weeks!

Brooklyn also has a pretty serious case of "Cabin fever." For Spring break we're going to go to a hotel with an indoor water park. Brooklyn and Sadie both are so excited. All our friends are told that we're going to a hotel with a big bucket that dumps water and that we're going to go swimming and have a cookie, etc. At least I know they like it and are excited. Everyday they ask if we're going to the hotel, right after they ask if we're going to Grandma's house. So to help count down the days Brooklyn and I made a paper chain. Brooklyn colored each piece and stapled it together. We added a few more links to help count down to when Grandma arrives. Brooklyn has enjoyed tearing a strip off each day. We hope the days go fast so we can go play!

Misc. February

We went Mini Glo-golfing on Friday and had a great time! Eric really liked the gorilla, as did Brooklyn. Sadie kept her hands full with her ball and golf club. She'd put the ball in the hole and climb on all cinder block dividers, falling a couple times.

Brooklyn will actually hit the ball with her golf club and hit it into the hole. Your typical push the ball with the club, then she'd help everyone by putting their ball in the hole as well. This was definitely a speed golf activity. We were done with all 18 holes and did some of them several times in less than half an hour. It helps when you have the place to yourself!

We got to go rollerskating with Elmo! This was our first time rollerskating. Brooklyn had a ball! She would just hold onto your arms and you'd walk her around. Sadie liked to be wheeled around but didn't last nearly as long as Brooklyn did.

Getting the skates on was a challenge. The only sizes they had left were a little big for both girls and they gave Sadie these lace up skates. Whoever invented lace up skates for toddlers, obviously never tried to put them on anybody.

Brooklyn got velcro skates! Hurray for velcro! I had a lot of fun just spending some time out with the girls. Thanks to the help from our friend Stefanie this rollerskating activity would not have been possible. I don't know how I could have managed two kids on rollerskates by myself!
Making Valentine's day cookies. Brooklyn is one of the best cookie makers I know. She loves to cut out cookies and then frost them. These ones she decided to leave her mark and poked her finger into each one multiple times and made them really flat. She loves to frost them and top them with sprinkles and of course eat them! She loves the frosting the most.

We've had a busy February! But a fun one! I can't wait to see what March will bring!

The Sixth Challenge

Here are the rules:
1. Go to the photo folder in your computer
2. Go to the 6th folder of photos.
3. Go to the sixth picture.
4. Put the picture on your blog and description of it.
5. Invite six friends to join the challenge.

I saw this on my friends blog, and she was right, I couldn't resist not checking out my folder and seeing what my picture was. So here it is.
This is a picture of my grandparents holding Sadie right after she was born. I'm so thankful to have such a close extended family. There is nothing that brings a stronger feeling of love than the entrance of a beautiful new baby into the world. I love watching both my grandma and grandpa interact with my dear children. The sweet expression of love just warms my heart and makes me smile. Sadie is their 2nd great-grandchild and Brooklyn is their 1st. Sadie will be 2 years old in a few weeks and I can't believe it! How quickly the time passes.

Consistency of Change

Many things have been changing around me lately. Some of the changes I've been experiencing lately have been dear friends moving, flowers blooming, children growing, dog actually being obedient, snow melting, snow falling, weight changing, sometimes sleeping sometimes not, freezing temperatures to 60's, to name just a few.

The older I get the more I realize the only consistent thing around me is change. I was thinking about the beauty of my gardenia plant and how if it wasn't constantly changing I would never appreciate the moments when it is blossoming out in all it's glory. Then I began to compare that to life. Without change I wouldn't grow, I wouldn't blossom, I wouldn't thrive. I cannot stay in the same place, if I did I'd die. I am like my plants, I am constantly changing whether I'm out in full bloom or preparing for winter. I don't think I've realized how subtly the change occurs especially in myself. I look at where I am now compared to 6 months ago and yes I am a different person, I have changed. For better or worse it has yet to be determined. As I go from day to day life rearing my children you see how quickly their little bodies and minds are growing and changing. Each day there is something new, some new discovery, a new word, a new physical ability, a new challenge to master.

Where would I be without change? I don't know. I guess as the world changes, as people touch my life for good and then move I learn that I need to take advantage of every day as if it were my last and make sure I listen and try to say the things in my heart. The hardest part is expressing it. I feel like I am preparing to blossom, that I've been weathering the hard harsh winter and spring is around the corner. I'm ready for spring. My roots are deeper, I've being watered and am constantly being sprinkled with love through family and friends I'm being strengthened and I've grown and am preparing to blossom, meaning there is still a lot of room to grow! I just hope it happens soon! I'm ready for Spring. Ready to move beyond this winter that has lasted inside me for more than a year. Bring on the sunshine!

The Smell of Beautiful

Recently I found a gardenia plant at my local grocery store and immediately picked one and placed it in my shopping cart. I think one of my favorite flower essences is that of a gardenia. The plant I bought had several buds on it already and has a deep healthy green color. As I've been caring for it the last few days the buds have gotten bigger. One was really close to opening yesterday morning. By afternoon Eric commented that it had opened. Can I just tell you I can hardly keep my nose out of it. To have that beautiful aroma wafting through my house has been an absolute delight. If only there were some way that I could get a gardenia plant to bloom year round it would be heavenly. I can hardly wait for the other buds to blossom out. Happy Valentine's Day to myself! : ) Sometimes you've got to do those things for yourself that way you're not disappointed.

Family Out Evening

This week for FHE we went out to dinner at Ruby Tuesday's and then went bowling at MSU's union center. Eric had a test and only 1 lecture on Monday so we had a nice day off for the most part. Brooklyn and Sadie were all fired up to bowl. All throughout dinner Brooklyn kept on asking to go bowling. Finally we finished up and headed to the bowling alley. If you ever go bowling and want a quiet place that's empty, the union building at MSU is the place to go. I've yet to see anyone there, it's a no smoking facility, they don't even have automated scoring. You have to keep your own score. But they do have 2 lanes with bumpers which is a plus with kids.

Brooklyn got big into helping keep score over the bowling part initially but warmed up to it when she figured she could actually "throw" the ball down the lane. I guess pushing it off the little track wasn't fun enough. It wasn't very steep and really didn't get the ball rolling very fast at all. My favorite part was after she'd drop the ball down the lane she'd run to write down her "score" even before the ball was half way to the pins. As she'd skip back to the score table she'd give us all high five's followed by a thumbs-up and a big wink. Her big wink consisted of one hand closing one eye and the other still shining at us. Which she did because she only knows how to wink the other eye and apparently she wants to be able to wink both. I love Brooklyn.

Sadie was all excited about bowling and then refused to come anywhere near our lane with a ball for a few minutes, probably because she took off down on of the lanes and slipped! Ooops! She did help push a few down the lane and gave us high fives but she wasn't too interested. in bowling she'd much rather explore and terrorize the place. Fortunately no one was there. She took off down one of the gutters, mind this is after she'd already slipped and fallen in the lane. She was crawling through all the tunnels (under all the benches), walking up and down all the ramps, turning on and off all the score table lights, getting her fingers pinched bu the bowling balls when the previously used one would return to the rack, finding pencils on the floor, competing with Brooklyn to keep score, going in and out of the women's restroom and turning on and off the light, etc.

Needless to say after all of this Eric and I were lucky we even got to bowl 10 frames. If I did the score correctly I bowled a 118 and Eric a 133. He always beats me! Except in Boggle and Boxing on the Wii. Those are two games that I consistently win. Phew! Overall we had a fun family home evening out on the town.

All in a days work

As a wife, mother, homemaker and pet owner I sometimes do things I don't ordinarily do. Like today for instance. My friend Laura called and arranged for a time for our dogs Tiger Lily and Cate to get together for a play date, not out of the ordinary. While reading stories with my girls I looked out the window and noticed a possum walking towards our backyard, this happened last year, but it's not normal to see a possum in broad daylight. My babysitter arrived so I could go to my voice lesson, not out of the ordinary. My friend arrived with Cate her golden retriever. My babysitter's mom comes in to see Tiger Lily and Cate have their joyous reunion, and it was very joyous for all parties involved and both dogs excitedly bolt out the sliding door, not out of the ordinary. My friend Laura goes out after the dogs and then immiediately calls them back to her quickly, not ordinary. I help call Tiger Lily back in when I look out and see a gray furball curled in the snow cowering from the two excited dogs, not necessarily out of the ordinary, except this it an opossum. Anny arrives to accompany me to voice lessons in the midst of the dog drama, this might be considered ordinary for Anny since she witnessed the demise of Tiger Lily's first encounter with a frog.


Now I have 2 golden retrievers excitedly chasing each other around my front room, a house full of dear friends and a possum playing "possum" in my back yard. While the dogs waiting to go outside and play we're patiently waiting for the possum to quit playing "possum" and go on it's merry way. Would you consider this ordinary? After a few minutes the possum hasn't budged. I go outside to get a closer look and attempt to encourage the possum to go by tossing snow at it using my pooper scooper. All that happens is the possum flinches slightly as the snow lands on its back. No luck encouraging it to vacate my yard. Laura suggests using a shovel to put it over the fence. I liked the idea and went in my garage in search of a possum relocating tool. I find one in the form of my snow shovel.
I must admit I was a little nervous as to what the possum might do, this I would think would be an ordinary reaction. It didn't move much when I tossed some snow on top of it, but what would it do when I attempted to "relocate" it? I did a test run and slowly push the shovel slightly under its limp, pretending to be "lifeless" body. All that happened was it opened it's mouth and bared it's teeth a little but didn't move. I proceeded to scoop the possum up gently on my snow shovel, lifted it up over the fence and then debated a moment as to how to put it down. Do I fling it as far away as possible in case it decides it doesn't want to play possum anymore? Do I set it down gently and how do you do that with a snow shovel and a four foot fence? I decided to gently tip the shovel over and allow the possum to land gently in the foot of soft snow. Again I ask is this ordinary? The only exciting thing that happened upon "re-entry" into it's newly appointed possum spot was a lovely yellow trickle that covered the snow. Our new friend then resumed his roll of playing possum in its new spot. Mari documented the "relocation" so I have proof of this not so ordinary event.

How long it decided to play possum no one is quite sure. I felt my work at home was done and left my children in the care of my dear friend Mari, and the care of my dog with my dear friend Laura and her dog Cate, both of which are ordinary occurances.

Ordinary? I should say not, but definitely all in a days work.

Picture Time

I finally did it. I got my girl's pictures taken. Sadie's 1 year old picture was way overdue, but fortunately I got it taken before she turned 2! So Brooklyn had her 3 year picture taken and Sadie her 21 month picture. I found it so funny that Sadie who is the smiliest little thing around would hardly crack for the camera. Brooklyn did just great. They are just too adorable.

I just had to laugh Sadie and Brooklyn are watching Donald Duck cartoons and Sadie is eating an apple on the couch. Tiger just walked up to her, sat down right in front of her and was leaning in to snatch her apple. Sadie saw it coming and said "Bah! Lie down, Stay" she used the signal I use too, and afer telling Tiger Lily twice, Tiger actually laid down . Way to take charge Sadie!

Brooklyn just proudly showed me that she didn't have any seeds from her clementine orange in her mouth. Always a plus. At least I finally go both girls to eat something besides Cheerios. They've been eating Cheerios from morning, noon, til night and every time they're hungry in between. We're are just flying through it. Sadie seriously ate 3 big bowl fulls (as much as I would pour in a bowl for myself) for dinner the other night. At least it's somewhat healthy and has vitamins and nutrients. Between their milk and cheerios consumption they should have plenty of vitamin D, iron, and calcium in their systems.

Frozen in Time and Rambling On

Here I sit in the quiet solitude of my home at 12:54am. Relishing in the alone time that is seldom truly mine. I rode my exercise bike while watching Looney Tunes in an attempt to relieve and rebuild sore muscles from my weight lifting yesterday. No, it's not a New Year's resolution to get back in shape. I have yet to actually resolve to do anything for any particular new year. I try to resolve them as they come. But it is definitely time to get exercising regularly for my own sanity, physically, mentally and emotionally.

After a much needed bike ride, some fun abdominal work that I was reading about and trying from a new Strength Training Anatomy book I purchased over Christmas break and watching Animal Planet, I'm now in front of my computer making sure I didn't miss the temperature drop below 0 Degrees. Which I just checked it is now -4 degrees Fahrenheit out my kitchen window. Maybe now I can go to bed. Why do I like to check the weather? I don't know. I could get it from my dad or maybe it is something that is constantly changing. (I mean, I'm in Michigan it seriously changes from tornadoes to the most beautiful sunny day in less than 5 minutes!) I also wanted to make sure I got caught up on Facebook. I don't know if I should thank or hit my two friends that talked me into signing up for Facebook. It has literally become a lifeline for me, a connection with the outside world. Reminding me of fun times, hard times, great friends, and even greater friends who help you get through the hard times but you somehow lost touch over the years.

I'm grateful for technology it has made the world truly seem like such a smaller place. That I am closer to friends now than I have been for years. Though thankfully I never lost touch with my best friend. One who has always been there for me, long before we ever "dated" and who has always shown genuine love and concern for me, my wonderful husband Eric. As I watch my sweet husband struggle with the challenges medical school brings, I sit back in awe for I could not do it. It takes a special kind of person, one who I am lucky enough to be married to. January 10th was the day Eric proposed to me, it was six years ago! How quickly time has passed and all the ways I'd mapped my life out to be have been rewritten hundreds of times already and play out in ways I never dreamed would happen.

The challenges of being a wife and a mother. Challenges I always knew I was going to tackle. It was probably a good thing I didn't think about how I was going to go about rearing my children. Because right now I'm flying by the seat of my pants, grasping at straws trying to catch something to help me teach and raise my beautiful daughters. I learn so much about me through my children sometimes it's scary to see.

I can see the moon out the skylight that is frosted over in my front room. How beautiful the sky is when it is so clear and stars are shining brightly for all the world to see. Yet it is in the quiet stillness of the midnight hour when the light of the moon touches upon the glistening snow that I have a moment to let myself go and unwind to enjoy the majestic beauty of the world I live in. To try and let my worries drift off like the blowing snow and take a few minutes of some much needed peace and freezing this peaceful moment in time.

You Know It's....

You know it's . . . only foreshadowing when your three year old is digging through your purse and shouting "I want money!" I can just picture the teenage years.

You know it's . . . time to get out of the house when Sadie starts pushing Brooklyn's buttons and the pushing begins.

You know it's . . . time to turn off the Indiana Jones Lego style Wii game when it's 2:30am.

You know it's . . . time to make tortellini, even if it is 8:30pm and Brooklyn specifically requests it while in Home Depot. (I don't know what spurred the thought of tortellini especially in Home Depot, but sure enough I made it and it's now 9:30pm and she's on her second helping.)

You know it's . . . time to start exercising heavily and regularly when all you eat is fat and sugar.

You know it's . . . time to walk the dog when she runs from toy to toy trying to destroy everything. She is just like a child trying to get my attention!