brittany had a birthday!

 Last Sunday night we celebrated Brittany's birthday!

Woot Woot!!

(We are so lucky to have her so close)

I tried to recreate a similar cake Brett & I tried the day before...

*vanilla bean cake-- with white chocolate whipped cream frosting*

I added coconut because I tried & tired but couldn't get some tiny lumps out of my whipped cream--

 darned white chocolate. It was so good though!

I want to apologize right off the bat here for this picture above-

I realize Jack is the only one being flattered here- love you Jack.

There- that's better.

Chloe, Brian & Hailey-

Laura was home sick with a terrible cold--- 

which is just now- after a week or two -kinda, sorta, getting better.

Poor thing! She's 33 weeks & 2 days pregnant with twins & has had this terrible flu/cold.

It's just not right

(I sent her home a piece of cake)

It was so fun to have Johnny here- 

I'm always so busy I rarely get time to just hang out with Johnny.

He is such a cutie- maybe one of these days we will get to know each other better?

He is a BIG fan of his Aunt Brittany. 

We made -- truly had to MAKE Marcus-- blow out a candle too.

His birthday was last week.

It's been an emotional week here

Monday our sweet Chloe was admitted to the hospital.

She is switching medications right now to try to help the tics. 

I had mentioned before that the ticking had gotten severe.

It's been so hard for her - but she is a trooper!

I would have had to go into the hospital after a couple of hours -- literally!

She had been struggling for 5 weeks now. 

We had tried meds & other treatments conservatively but-

Enough was enough & she is being helped.

We are fasting for her this Sunday & welcome any who would like to join us.

We are missing her.

Really missing her.

But-- she is getting the help she needs & she likes it there for now. She is strong & she is doing really well. She cannot have general visitors, but we visit her everyday.
It's amazing how things happen in life.

How truly precious family is.

How people think other people have these perfect lives... everybody has something.

I love you Chloe- You are an angel & you will get better & all of Your dreams will come true.

I know it- I really do

loved

I really didn't mean for that last post to stay up so long.
It just got busy...
and ya, it's true. I have been fighting off negative feelings.

But today is a new day & I have been thinking. A Lot of thinking.
Thinking about all of you wonderful, kind commenter's & more who have sent prayers our way!
~THANK YOU~
 I feel loved and-
Loved is --- my favorite feeling.

Loved because of kind comments here.
Loved because some amazing, anonymous person sent me flowers Friday- I wish I knew who you were?!
Loved because of Trent's scout leaders who took him camping Friday night & made sure he had a GREAT time. (thank you- thank you- how can I ever express my thanks!? You guys are so wonderful)
Loved because we all (every person in this family) has such wonderful friends.
Loved because I dreamt Jack was home & he gave me a big hug.
Loved because Trent's teacher now eats lunch in the lunch room at his table & Trent thinks it's the bomb.
Loved because Trent has the world's best brothers & sisters who were specially sent from heaven above, before him to lead the way.
Loved because on my way to work yesterday I prayed
hard
and I received a strong impression- some may call it intuition- I call it an answer from a loving Heavenly Father who knows me & you & wants to bless us.
It came in my thoughts & in my heart.

my answer
It's okay.
We all get bullied at one point or another in this life- all of us. Love him. Tell him what you told the other kids when they had these problems at his age- "now you know what it feels like to be treated badly. Whenever you see someone being talked to or treated that way YOU can stand up for them YOU know how it feels. Because, YOU know what it feels like to be bullied- You must always be careful not to bully others. Look for the kid alone who needs a friend and be one. That is the covenant you took upon yourself at baptism- this is what it means to be a true disciple of Christ."

Parenting a child is not easy- but it is worth it. I wonder if my other children remember conversations like the one above? I need to have the faith that Trent can do this!
Yes- I would take this trial away from him if I could (and you better believe I WILL try to make it easier) but he will learn & be a better person in the long run.
Faith- sigh.

taking matters into his own hands

Tonight after dinner the girls, Brett & I were cleaning up.

I suddenly noticed....

Hey, where's Trent?

Hailey went to check- he was in the office, on my laptop & the telephone.

Brett went into investigate.

He had called:

Apple- Customer Service Department.

background story

It just so happens that after school he had some chores to do. While he was doing his chores, his sisters were too, but with their Ipods playing in the background. This kid has many, many toys a room full of crappy old computers that he messes around with, a CD player/radio & a brand new Nintendo DS Lite from Christmas... but alas- NO IPod.

He came downstairs to complain & beg & nag me about the unfairness of his life. I went over the usual--

Ipods cost a lot of money, Itouches are more expensive then when the first came out, You have a million & one toys, You could save up for one, or maybe you could get something like that for your birthday, no kid your age needs an IPad ... yada yada yada.

NO I am not buying you an ITouch- not now- not in the near future.

Period.

Well I guess that did it.

He had had enough.

He was going to, "call Apple & insist they sell them cheaper or punch one of their employees!" Well, hello?

Threatening people on the phone is illegal kid.

Back to after dinner.

Brett investigated & sure enough he was on the phone with a customer service rep.

He wanted to know why?

Why are they so expensive & when are they gonna fix that?

The nice gentleman on the other end of the phone took him into the Apple website, talked to him for a bit then-

(trent did not think this was funny & took the matter seriously. He also didn't want hailey taking his photo!)

That's where I came in.

I got on the phone- to hear this guy cracking up. It was a first for him. No one has ever called him to complain about their prices. Well- what do you know? (I could hardly contain my own laughter) I explained that he is is 11 & not happy that all his older siblings, you know- have Ipods. He told me that he showed him where the refurbished products can be found online & that he explained that they do have sales around the holidays but they are only one or two days & the discount- maybe $20-30. He also told him he should never order something online without asking his parents first! WEll THANK HEAVENS FOR THAT.
Life is hard being the youngest in a large family.
Trent- you gotta love the kid.

break a leg... just not a finger!

March is a BIG piano month around here.

Much to the delight of Hailey & Chloe

(that was sarcasm)

Every March these two participate in

Utah Music Federation & AIM

(achievement in music).

It's "a big deal" or at least it really feels like it.

In Federation students prepare two different pieces of qualifying music to be critiqued by three judges. AIM on the other hand has written tests, site reading & individual pieces you play in front of a couple of judges.

NO Sweat.... right!?

Well- this morning is it!

The big day for Federation.

AIM is the Saturday after next.

It's kind of like playing in a

tournament... for you sports enthusiasts- except YOU are your own team.Your pieces have to be memorized & your music given to the judge.

(this is what 15 looks like when mom keeps taking pictures)

This means NO pencil marks anywhere &

the measures need to be numbered.

That way if there are any comments the judges can mention specific spots in the music.

Max likes Federation.

And being scratched on the head.

Jack likes sleeping in. Since he only plays rugby- what a wimp!

SO this month our motto is:

"I CAN DO HARD THINGS"

or at least that's what I have been saying to the girls over & over & having them repeat it. Sometimes chloe repeats- I don't want to do hard things... silly girl. They say- I don't know how hard it is. I don't understand that it's really tough getting up every Monday morning & being at piano lessons at 6:30 & 7:00 AM. I don't know the pressure!

I just repeat...

YOU CAN DO HARD THINGS!

and smile.

Exaggeration- there I go doing it again!

This week I picked up Hailey from school- with Trent in the car- on my way to pick up a much needed theory book for Chloe's piano lesson. When we got to the music store Hailey didn't want to go in knowing I would be really quick. Trent asked if he could play pilot in the front seat. (I never let him play in the car so this would be a real treat) Because Hailey was there I said OK- as long as Hailey sits in the front with you. When I got back Hailey warned me-mom, Trent pushed all the buttons on the car- even though I told him not too!

Trent- don't you know that one of these buttons will blow up the car?! was my answer. It will not mom --he kept saying back, then I went on & on about how there is a secret button & wouldn't it be sad if the car blew up because he was playing with the buttons.

I wasn't being serious I was just having a little fun with him. Which reminded me of a story about my missionary.

When Brian was little he was fascinated with guys like this. He was always asking me- why does that guy have an earring... why does that guy have long hair... on & on. One day I just told him- He doesn't love his mother. That was really what it came down to in my 20 something mind. His poor mother must be so embarrassed I said...

Oh my goodness, please forgive me, I was young.

Soon after we were sitting in McDonald's play land (I'll never forget) and a guy similar to this sat down right behind us. Brian leaned over to him and asked- why don't you love your mother?

I was mortified & quickly pulled him away. Smiling & giggling to the guy who never cracked a smile back at me.

I wonder if Trent will mention to someone that he almost blew up the car? Or maybe even ask his driver's Ed. teacher about the button that blows up your car, when he's older?

I'm always doing this to my kids- why do I do it?

It must have something to do with the answer my mom gave me when I was young to the question - what's a hemorrhoid? I think it was after pushing Megan out for two hours I realized she was just joking.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KRISTY!!