updates

On January 19th--

Megan & the boys came to visit!

Tony was chosen to be on the recruitment team for Walmart (he was down at a BYU job fair) so they came a couple of days before he did - then stayed a couple of days after he left.

It was SO GREAT TO HAVE THEM HERE!

Grandpa picking up Joey at the airport.

Joey only wanted Papa.... 

It was late & we went home & put the boys almost immediately to bed.

The next morning we headed right out into the snow!

It didn't last long & I didn't get very many pictures-

Joey stuck his hands in the snow & started bawling.

Charlie was just too cold.

It was bitter cold in the teens- can't say I blame them.

They got plenty of snow time when their daddy came up & it was a little warmer.

Chloe was still in the hospital so we went up to visit everyday.

She came home later in the week. It's been quite a January. 

waking up aunt Hailey

Playing in Chloe's chair--

then finding her new bbgun she got for Christmas.

Oops I had to quick put that up in the closet.

What is it with boys & guns?

A three year old boy could find the last gun in the corner of the universe- I swear it?! 

We played the piano lots

and played with all the old toys.

 

It was so refreshing to have them here.

We are back to quiet now.

Well, if you can call our house quiet with Trent around?

More to come- I promise.

I have a lot to catch up on- but I'm just so emotional these days.

working on it

snow day 2013

Last Friday will go down in history in this family.

It was the first ever

"snow day."

We have lived in Utah for nearly 17 years & we've seen a lot of snow.

But never once have we seen a snow day.

Thursday night as Trent was getting ready for bed he kept asking me- do you think they will cancel school? Absolutely not-- was my reply. Just go to bed & forget about it.

 It Won't Happen.

Low & behold-

I was wrong!

 (this picture is before the next 4-6" fell)

Friday morning I woke up to an early text from the day's carpool driver-

 No School. Sleep In.

-nice-

I think our town officially got 22" in the storm- but our yard, which faces north still had old snow. On Friday morning we had 32" in the front yard. This is not in a pile either.

I could just imagine- every kid in the County shouting for joy!

Even my older kids called- Is it really a snow day?

Yep - a miracle occurred & a true snow day was called.

Brett still had to go into a work meeting- but I spent the day catching up on some cleaning (I was supposed to have week 2 of my cooking classes.) Trent- played outside off & on nearly all day.

It kept coming & coming.

Saturday morning as I was headed into work, Brett insisted on driving me. I thought he was nuts. They always have the freeway & main roads clear.

He was right & I was wrong!

It was a mess & I was so glad he drove me. 

I can drive in snow, but this was really bad.

Happy day- the inversion is gone, the snow has stopped, but continues to be beautiful.

The temperatures record cold. The low last night was 0.

But it was fun while it lasted- our first ever true snow day!

Saturday Snow Day

We woke up to LOTS of snow!

Like 12" of snow-

 SLC got the same

 

and Brian did his first Triathlon today.

Minus the biking... because of the snow.

and guess what...

I listened to Christmas music on my way home from work today.

I know?

the view from my window

 Winter is here

I've gotta say-- I'm not hating it.

On my mind:

73 days.

It feels like he has been gone for 10 years.

I am so done with this.

COME HOME JACK!

JACK-- COME HOME!

please

I miss you

{Am I a bad person...? selfish? I just miss my son... 73 days, 73 days, 73 days}

Last night I was thinking about the airport... how there will be a lot of us there when he comes out of the secured area. I'm thinking-- I will bring a stool. Jack is too tall for me to really hug him unless I'm standing on a stool- or the stairs or something. Tears welled up in my eyes. I will be first to hug him... then Brett- then me again. then it's a free for all.

 BYU sent a confirmation email last week letting him/us know if he was re-accepted for fall semester. I don't know his password, so I hope he made it? I didn't apply for him, so he must have done that? He emails today... so you know what that means--- me checking my email every few minutes or so. You know, just in case he's there. Then I can write a message at that minute & say hello live! Like in person, kind of. Technology- I Love it!

Can I tell you? I am so very relieved & happy to be in love with my sweet husband. I couldn't live through losing all my kids to real life without him.

 He is my true love & my rock.

still-

I miss my kids- it just doesn't matter how many I have. I love them all. They are a piece of me. Like a part of my heart went with them when they were born & I will never get it back completely.

Maybe I am still sick? Just missing Jack today.

seriously?

This was my view driving home from work yesterday.For real? Last week - seven days ago- we had record high temperatures. Today rain & snow on the foothills. It's FAReezing people. I had to turn the heat on- the highs in the 40's. Don't cry for me yet... it's going to be Fall next week with 60's in the forecast!!
I was worried too... I LOVE Fall & can't bare to miss it.
In the mean time-
Brett came home from a five day business trip. I was completely exhausted mentally & physically. Being a single parent is a lot of work, even for just 5 days! Yesterday Trent & I went to the store to buy him a new umbrella. (we got over 2" of rain) He was ticking (whistling) nearly every 20-30 seconds. He had, had a rough day with a bully kid pushing him at one point & telling him to "shut up." In other words- stop whistling. (Heaven knows I've wanted to tell him to shut up at times myself.. sometimes the pitch is so high it's like an ice pick to the ear drum, still I HATE BULLIES- AND THIS KID IS GONNA GET IT WHEN I CALL THE SCHOOL TODAY!) So-- in the grocery store I just ignore it- but when we got to the check out line a gentleman in front of us commented, "there is where the whistling is coming from! I've heard you whistling all over the store." We just smiled & when he went on again (he wasn't being rude, really) I said- he has Tourette's syndrome & whistles. Trent said, "Ya & it's better than swearing." We laughed that off & that poor guys just wanted to disappear. I could tell he was so shocked & wishing he hadn't said anything. It was fine really. I'm wondering if Brett should take him to the movies tonight like planned? What about the Nutcracker this year? Hmm. lots to think about.

on this day

This was my view out the front door.

9 new inches of snow

Hooray- Brian was home this morning to shovel.

{7:00 AM March 7, 2011}

I made my new favorite Breakfast Recipe -

so he came in to hot muffins & fresh orange juice.

***

Wende stopped over this morning & after some other plans fell through,

we made an impromptu, long trip down to IKEA.

Lucky for us we got to drive Brett's new company car & listen to Sirius radio- the clean comedy channel- & laughed our heads off the whole way there & back. Gosh, I love that Sirius radio. After the free six month trial... life won't be the same ... because I just can't stand the thought of paying for radio?

Lunch at IKEa- mmm good

The meatballs are FanTastiC

the

Mac & Cheese

just as good!
It's been a busy, but Great day.

In case you are wondering- the sun came out & the roads were absolutely clear driving. It's very rare that the roads are bad after the snow. Here in Utah we are totally equipped for snow. It's during the snow that you don't want to be out!

I won't go into all the other stuff that I did today- I just want to say- it was a good day.

* do you have Sirius radio?

*how do you feel about paying for radio?

hope on a target shelf

For the

second week in row...

SECOND WEEK IN A ROW PEOPLE
Megan's baby ultra sound has been postponed due to snow.

I feel for her.

When I was pregnant with Chloe- Brett & I went to the big ultra sound appointment. Right as we got there- there was a huge power outage. I was so upset. We had to postpone a week. I couldn't believe it, it was such a big disappointment. I couldn't wait to see her- to see that she was really there & growing & healthy & yes a girl....

Gosh- I thought one week was bad- but two times being rescheduled?

If only Trent could get to Arkansas, he would totally punch somebody.

It's hard being pregnant!

If it makes you feel any better megs,

according to the good people at Nabisco-- spring is on it's way.

super snow-

It was a SUPER SNOWY day & night.

We have 11 inches!

It's summer in Brazil....

waking up to winter

Last night a "big storm" was blowing in.

Lots of wind, rain & some sleet.

Grandma & Grandpa couldn't get a flight out in the morning & took a shuttle instead, in effort to get home before the storm. These pictures are for you mom-

Just to confirm you made the right decision.

During the night the storm got here!
In the clear of the trees it looks like we got 6-8 inches.
It's the first measurable snow of the season.
It's so pretty.
Yes- after getting home from the last performance at 12:30 AM we are going to be late for church. Hailey & Brian are heading out now... Brett went early for meetings... but Chloe is sleeping- solid - in bed. Trent of course slept in for a micro second until I whispered to him that we had snow. He JUMPED out of bed- and ran out to shovel.
Later Brian looked out the window- Trent had NO coat on?
He had shoveled the sidewalk & half of the driveway without a coat!
All that energy-
It comes in handy!
*Do you have snow?

loaded with SNOW

Yesterday we got totally dumped on with snow!

Look at this-- six to eight inches- really!

Jack came home for one last doctor's appointment & to get some laundry done.

Lots of studying going on in his life- with finals next week.

Brian is studying too- he is taking the college placement test for math & english tomorrow. It's amazing how much math & english you forget when you've been a missionary in a different country speaking spanish for two years! good new though, he can test out of Spanish & get 26 credits, therefore making him nearly a sophomore right away! He is considering majoring in international business with a Spanish minor. I love having a Spanish speaker in the house. He answers all solicitors phone calls- so funny- and confuses his grandmother who usually thinks she has the wrong number & calls back....

This morning trent bundled up for the two block walk to school. It was a balmy 7 degrees on the front porch, but it stopped snowing. More snow is coming this weekend. It is BEAutiful & so festive.

It surprises me how much I love this snow!