Before We Go Forward...

Please answer this question for me...

What on earth does she do while she naps to accomplish this?

Summertime Sizzle

We've been trying to do a lot of fun things and really enjoy summertime. Daddy was gone every night last week and I've been feeling especially nostalgic for the hours and hours we've spent with friends at the pool & beach. So, we're doing what we can to stay really busy.

And summertime it has been. Like everywhere else it's been screaming hot. To most people's surprise summers are usually quite mild here given the elevation. It's hit 100 degrees a few days in a row setting all kinds of heat records. Sunday night we had a fantastic storm roll through. Thunder, lightening and pouring rain. The cool off felt awesome. Madeleine went crazy with excitement while Noelle kept trying to coax her back in the house. Finally, when it quieted down just a little she joined in the fun.

The heat means we have to spend the middle of the day inside and that means all kinds of messes. Lotions, bread, cortisone cream, you name it. Here are just a few I got on film. My favorite was spilling water everywhere and emptying out every towel and rag to dry it up. At least she was trying, right?

One night Noelle asked if we could have pizza and luckily we had all we needed!

We whipped up some quick rise dough, fired up the oven and went to work. We were able to use a lot of fresh herbs I have growing. YUM!

We decided to make it extra fun buy having a TV picnic. Growing up some of our favorite memories were TV picnic with our Grandma. She would make all sort of yummy finger foods, put down a blanket in front of the TV, and we'd watch a movie while eating. So, we did just that. After pizza we got some ice cream and I let them eat it right out of the container. Eventually, Madeleine decided the spoon was too cumbersome and just used her fat little hand to scoop it up to her mouth.

Stay tuned for more!!

My Biker Girl

I've been shy with the camera lately.
Nothing major going on.
You know...meals...giggles...dishes...laundry...
bathtime...diapers...snuggles...stories...
The other night Daddy stayed inside with Madeleine

while Noelle and I went outside.
She rode her bike all over the neighborhood while

I walked and walked behind her.
The weather was spectacular and we had the best time together.
Love, Love Love her.

Unfortunately, Motherhood is not always

cool evenings, puffy clouds and bike rides.

But, I am grateful for when it is.

Stuffy

A stuffy nose... That is what I have had for basically the last year. Sounds innocent enough but it's unbearable! It started with my first ever sinus infection last May. Things got better but never when away completely, and as most Mamas know, you're often the last person who gets taken care of. In the fall I realized I could not smell a thing. As in ZERO smell. Saw a specialist, got things taken care of but after a really bad flu bug at Christmas, it was all back full force.

By then we were moving and I had to start all over. And let me tell you I have been M.I.S.E.R.A.B.L.E. Talk about a quality of life issue. After different medications, lots of allergy testing, a ridiculously large course of antibiotics and finally a CT scan that revealed nothing but bad news. Every single set of sinuses in my head is completely blocked. This means surgery. My first reaction was, "Uh what?" But at this point, if they told me they had to use a stick of dynamite to clear things up I would not be opposed.

Saw the surgeon today and because of the involvement of so many sinuses, particularly small ones by some pretty important parts, he wants to use a hospital that has what is called: Image Guided Surgery. This uses a machine along with special CT scan images during the procedure so the surgeon knows exactly where he is in relation to your specific anatomy. And, of course, the hospitals that have this ability are out-of-network. He is absolutely confident that they will approve it but meanwhile we have to wait. Plus, getting approval from my thyroid doc and a few extra tests because of the Graves.

My answer was, of course, I wanted everything to be done in the safest manner possible but I need some serious relief. NOW. That means steroids which are not a healthy thing. I have done them once already for a week and they did provide significant relief but I am not happy about having to be on them for too long. One side affect, especially in the beginning is insomnia. I've been up since 2:30am. This should get better as the dose gets lower over the next week.

So pray the insurance company does things in a timely manner and we get this taken care of. Can you believe I WANT to smell poopy diapers?

Happy Birthday America!

Even though it felt like everyone in California was getting together for the 4th of July (not to mention missing Naomi's blessing) we still have a super fun holiday.

Saturday morning we went to a ward potluck breakfast at the park. I did not get out my camera because the sprinklers came on and the little kids thought it was funny to turn the heads around so it sprayed all of us and the food! I was not happy about my freshly blow-dried hair getting soaking wet. Grrrr...

Then Daddy took the girls to the mall while I got to go with Tracy & Stephanie to a couple of stores. It was a great break and we had some good laughs.

That afternoon we just hung out at home, made some food and our cake!

Then we headed over to the Hiatt's (Tracy) for dessert and fireworks.


The girls were stunned and slightly freaked out when they first saw them but it took no time for them to warm up. It was a fun night

Sunday after church the Ehat's (Stephanie) had us over for Tri-Tip and games. Super fun, but no pictures. Then they were going to watch fireworks but I felt beat and my kids had missed their bedtime too many nights in a row so we bagged it. All in all, we had a great time and are grateful for the people we are getting to know and the friends we are making!

Up The Mountain We Go!

Last Saturday we packed up a picnic lunch and drove up the mountain.

Can you believe that this is less than an hour drive from our house?

But as you can tell, there was a storm headed our way.

The lightening from up there was breathtaking!

Not the best planning on our part but the adventure was definitely worth it.

These girls thought they were in heaven.

I, on the other hand, was a nervous wreck!

Aaron kept assuring me they would be just fine.

My response to him was this:

"The last thing I need to be is on the evening news!"

'New Meico couple devastated because child falls off cliff.'

Finally, enormous raindrops started

falling and we hustled back to the car.

We can't wait to go back.

With Madeleine on some sort of leash, of course!