raising boys

so my youngest has to hold on to the wall and doens't know what size of boots he should wear much less which way the toes should point...


so no one would want to mess with my oldest in a dark or even fully lit alley way.

raising boys is tough. don't worry - i'm still adding to the gene pool:)

birthday

well my birthday was relaxing and much fun.

after a long work day, friday - joe and i headed down to missoula without kiddos.

got to shop a bit (i know i am pathetic and don't get out much)

then a quiet dinner (i could only eat a few bites of my actual meal but had a fridge in our room)

then a night in a quite hotel (no dog or kids to wake us up - just my sister's cheery text message at 630am - she is too cute;))

back in the car for a drive up to my parents for more birthday dinner and easter celebrations.

joe and i had nice conversations on the car rides - why does it seem like weeks go by and we don't even get to even talk to each other?

have a crazy, hectic work week going. filling in for a staff member on vacation but a break is on the way.

love all the wonderful birthday gifts! i am way too spoiled and undeserving!

THANKS!

scrapin'

Well, I have spent 20 hours this weekend scrapbooking at my friend Brenda's. I got 21 pages completed!
5 women took over her living room from 6pm til 11:30 pm Friday night and then again at 9am Saturday morning until midnight. Wow!
I must add that no alcohol was used to amuse us and keep us going - 4 out of 5 of us are expecting litte ones! The other 1 of us has enough common sense to know that scrapin' and alcohol don't mix!
I have not really even done any scrapbooking for L as of yet - YIKES. Now I am getting somehwhere.
I believe O's baby book will be completely digital. I just don't have the time to get it done.
So thanks to Brenda for opening up her home, thanks to all the hubbies for watching kiddos - especially J as he had our dudes all day Friday while I worked too!

in 3's?

I've always heard bad things come in 3's.
So, I'm counting...
1 - Tom
2- Abby
3 - Tippen
But now we are faced with a 4th - Chase.
He is part of O's God family. He has been around Luke since he was 3 months old. His mom took care of L when I went back to work. He is a junior in high school now and over 200 lbs.
He was in a skiing accident Friday night. Burst fractures to 3 lumbar vertebrae, broke both wrists with ligament damage as well, also suffered a concussion.
He is awaiting wrist surgery on Wednesday and will be wearing a special brace for his back anytime he gets up for the next 6 weeks.
Luckily, he is still alive and all his injuries are repairable. Quite a blessing!
Please keep this young guy in your prayers. He really has a good head on his shoulders and has been through various other injuries in the past couple of years taking away several of his joys - football, skiing and tennis.
Okay - I am officially only accepting good news - just kidding...

somethings i've been eyeing

i've had a few requests for b-day ideas. i truly do believe that everyone has tastes that are most likely better than mine however if you are interested in the type of things i have been eyeing here ya go...

trying to avoid another day of hairstyling (yes, I am getting old and lazy) - perhaps another hair powder is recommended??? this is new for me...

can get bigger in this and this and still look somewhat decent

i've always wanted one of these

that's all i've got for now...any help???

Tippen

My parent's dog Tippen had to be put down today:(
She is their 12 year old German shepherd. She had been having these weird cysts pop up through her fur and the skin on her underside had become very discolored and irritated. It's not like they don't take her to the vet often or anything - this just creeped up. When my dad took her in today they determined that she had a growth on her spleen that was inoperable - she would bleed out from the surgery and not survive. She they put her to sleep.
She really was a great dog - probably the best they've had so far. Their favorite daughter (as my sister and I joke).
They do still have their hands full with Fargo - their 2 year old German shepherd. She will be lost for awhile but will soon realize that she really rules the roost now.
Mom had told Dad that one dog is enough at a time but we will see how long that lasts...

She's One!

My little niece turns one today! Lainey is absolutely gorgeous and has the sweetest disposition but make no mistake she is in charge. Watch out for this one!

Happy birthday, Lainey girl! Wish we were there to celebrate!

updates

Well, Abby's scans came back showing no progression of cancer to the spine this time. Therefore, no need for the spinal tap - yikers! Cannot even imagine going thru that with my child much less cancer!

She still has surgery ahead of her to remove the tumor to her brain. Not sure what other treatment they will initiate - she had maxed out on chemo and radiation for her age a couple of years ago.

Prayers are still desparately needed for this little one for what lies ahead!

Tom is now out of ICU, off the vent, and prayerfully out of the woods. He is still quite weak and unable to care for himself. Prayers for healing are still needed to get him back on his feet. Sounds like the health department is involved now with his case - investigating if he contracted this rare strand of pneumonia from his office.

Praise the Lord for our health!

Sweet Abby

Please visit this website.

We are overjoyed with the news of our fall arrival however some families have woes on their hearts.

This is the story of my sister-in-law's niece, Abby. She is bright and beautiful. She has undergone so much in her short life that I cannot dare to wish on my worst enemy (not that I really have any enemies). She had a cancerous, spinal tumor that was operated on a couple of years ago (I'm not sure she has even turned 5 yet) and has been doing well. Her very recent check back at St. Jude's revealed a tumor on her brain. More testing is scheduled to make certain that it has not spread to her spine yet again.

Please keep them in you prayers. What trauma for anyone but especially someone so young.

Her caring bridge journal is wonderfully done by her mother, Francie, a caring nurse by profession as well as a mother. Cannot be fun to use your pediatric nursing skills on your own flesh and blood.

God is good. Times like these that is so much harder to grasp - that is what faith is all about, right?