Happy Easter!

We had a CHAOTIC Easter at our house this year! As I posted before, I had a lesson to teach in Relief Society on Sunday and because I worried so much about it Saturday night and my topic had absolutely nothing to do with the event we were celebrating, I FORGOT ABOUT THE EASTER BUNNY! We have 9am church, so I look at the clock at 7:30am and yell "we forgot about the Easter Bunny!". Jonathan and I jumped out of bed, searched the house for where I put everything I had purchased, and told our kids they couldn't come out of their rooms yet. Our poor kids- we are the same awful parents that have forgotten the tooth fairy more times than we've remembered! Anyway, because we started packing up our house months ago (it's a long process for us!) we couldn't find all the Easter baskets. Therefore, Logan's was a bucket (that Jace fills with dirt in the summer), Jace's was a toy hard-hat he had in his closet, Brylee's was a toy container used for teaching and storing different shapes, Jonathan and I shared the basket we keep our mail in, and Kaleigh got the only actual Easter basket I could find. Definitely a memorable day, but not necessarily for the right reasons. Unfortunately no matter how many times we discuss the story of the resurrection and the reason we celebrate Easter, I'm thinking my kids don't give it a second thought when I'm done talking. Will they ever grow out of this "what's in it for me?" stage??? I'm sure my parents wondered the same thing so I guess there's hope (or maybe that means there isn't!).

Oh, and by the way, my lesson went very well- thanks, Char and Sonja, for the encouragement! Sonja, to this day you still give the BEST Relief Society lessons I have ever heard, and Charlyn, I'm sure those young women adore you! And congrats on the baby!!!

While I'm posting, I'm sure you're all just dying to know how our new house is progressing. OK, maybe you're not, but I'm dying to tell you! They poured the footings last week and they are pouring the foundation as we speak. They've seen me several times a day over there since they started this project because it's conveniently right next door. I've even chosen and arranged my future furniture! At 3 am last night I narrowed down my paint colors because I couldn't sleep- this is how my life will be until it's finished! It's all likely to change, but it's fun to have some ideas to work with and who needs sleep, anyway?! I'll post some pics after the foundation is completed. Fun stuff!

And now for a Jace "funny". Last night Jonathan was teasing him and Jace got pinched. He yelled "DAD!", Jonathan said "it was an accident", and Jace said "no, accidents are when you poop and pee!". Crude, but hilarious- at least at the time!

Good, Better, BEST!

This is a first for me because I'm actually NOT posting about my kids! I've been called to teach Relief Society, which is the first calling I've had since I was pregnant with Brylee, due to being put on bed-rest, and then all the complications she's had since birth. Anyway, something that would normally not phase me has me a bit nervous! My lesson is on Elder Oaks talk from the Oct. 2007 General Conference. It's a great talk- even better when studying from a "teaching" perspective than listening to it in addition to many other wonderful talks, all one after another. I have learned that many times I settle for just doing the "good" thing, rather than push myself to do the "best" thing. Not only that, but I tend to do things to the extreme (no surprise there!). If I'm reading a good book, it consumes me until I'm finished- in fact I'll read up until I fall asleep, which means I've most likely skipped reading my scriptures and saying my prayers. BAD! I love HGTV and watch home decorating shows WAY too much! OK- enough confessions, but you get my drift. All of these things are "good" in moderation, as long as they are done with whatever time is left after doing the "best" things that build our faith and bring us closer to the spirit- not the other way around. So on that note I will end and I welcome ANY suggestions as to what I can do with this lesson!

We're home!

Yes, it's true- after just 5 days in the hospital with RSV (which is less than the amount of time we were in for just a cold!) Brylee was able to come home. Boy was she happy! I couldn't get her to take a nap all day yesterday because she just wanted to play, play, play! Logan and Kaleigh were just as excited to come home from school and find both mom and baby back! Our older kids are so wonderful when it comes to dealing with the unstability that seems to define their lives this past year. They just adore Brylee and think that everything about her is perfect. It's a great example of "unconditional love"- the way we feel about our children and ocassionally siblings feel about each other.

Speaking of kids (which is all most of us blog about!), I now am a believer in family scripture study. We have NEVER been consistent about this until Pres. Hinckley died and we heard about the "Hinckley Challenge". We've since fallen way behind in this lofty goal we set, but have managed to faithfully read several times a week. Still I've wondered how much my kids are getting from this because the seem so bored and distracted. A typical night of reading for us consists of Kaleigh twisting her hair and trying to braid it, Logan staring out the window looking for pheasants in the yard, Jace climbing on everyones back trying to play "buckin bulls", Brylee trying to escape so she can play in the toilet or empty cupboards and drawers, and Jonathan falling asleep. All of this is going on while I read and discuss everything we've read by myself. Sound familiar? Well, for FHE this week, we were unprepared so I decided that we were all going to tell our favorite story from the scriptures we've read so far. I was surprised when they each came up with a very descriptive account. Kaleigh impressed us the most with an extra long version of Nephi getting the plates from Laban. Yes, I realize that they learn these things in Primary, too, however when asked immediately after church each week what they talked about, I get the same "I don't remember" from all 3 of them. Plus all of their stories really were things we've read recently and not just random scripture stories, which tells me they're learning. Who would've thought?!

Time for a walk!

2 of the 3 kids are actually looking at Jonathan, but my pic turned out better. Abbie was kind enough to post it for me (thanks Ab!) but I wanted to say a few more things, along with this picture, about this past hospital stay. Utah Valley is the BEST hospital around and don't let anyone tell you different. We are very well known in the Pediatric Unit, which means as soon as they see us coming, someone rushes to get me a Diet Coke and I'm never without one until we go home. How many mom's do you know are invited to share the nurses Sunday "Potluck" lunch? I AM!! And last but not least, one of the darling nurses who is so good to us suggested Jonathan and I need a vacation and offered to use her week off this month to watch our kids. Who does this??? And it's not just about how good they are to me. Brylee has nurses coming in to visit and check on her throughout the day, whether they are her nurse or not. They all play with her and bring her special toys they think she'll like- she's a celebrity! Anyway, it's a great place to be if you have to be in the hospital. On a more serious note, everytime this happens to her (us), I find myself reflecting on my life and my family- the things that matter most. This reflection period is usually followed by guilt, wondering if it's me who needs these situations to keep my priorities strait. I'm SO excited about this new house that until she got sick again it consumed me! Don't get me wrong- there's nothing wrong with a new house, but since she's been sick I haven't really thought about it. "Balance" is what I need, but not what I'm good at. I'm a work in progress, I guess you could say, but at least I'm aware and trying! Anyway, this cute picture is of my sweet Brylee and her doting big brother and sister going for a walk. The poor thing was so desperate to get out of the room she allowed us to put a mask on her just to walk around the halls. She constantly points throughout the day at the door and immidiatey reaches for anyone who looks like they might be leaving the room. Poor thing! I wonder how much of this she'll remember and if it will affect throughout her life- ex. will she always hate hospitals and nurses- anyone in scrubs holding stethescopes? Will she always scream at the top of her lungs if she is made to lay down and hears the sound of something that might resemble a suction machine? These are the things I worry about, but for now she's getting better. One day at a time...that's how we live!

RSV...

Here we go again! Brylee has been in the hospital since Thursday with RSV. Can this sweet little girl get a break? After receiving 4 of the 5 recommended RSV vaccinations (after 3 you should be safe) she still gets it. The normal pattern for Brylee and hospital visits begins with a runny nose, followed by deep congestion, then wheezing, then hospital. All of this takes about 2 weeks, but this time I knew it was different because it came on over night- literally. She's such a trooper, though, and it blows my mind that she can still be playful and happy while being confined to a hospital room, surrounded by a tube in her nose giving her O2 and a cord/sensor monitoring her saturation level. I'm always amazed at the "fun" things she discovers she can do while in the hospital. She was getting SO restless that I had the nurse bring me extenders for her O2, I take off the monitor, and let her crawl around on the dirty floor. Yuck, you say, but if it makes this poor child happy then filthy she will be! She crawls over to the glass windows and door that seperate her room from the hallway and presses her face against the glass. Then she blows and it makes that farting sound (for lack of a better term!) she thinks is so funny. As she's doing this, the doctors and nurses are gathering around outside the door, making faces at her and commenting on how cute she is. She never fails to entertain and bring a smile to all those around! We hope to be home within a couple of days, but we've given up predicting this and the doctors now realize that there is no "normal" cycle of an illness if it's Brylee that has it. We know she'll be fine and we've definietly been through much worse, but it sucks just the same!

PICTURES! (FINALLY!)

OK, so these are just of my two youngest because they happened to be the only ones home when Abbie's friend offered to take their pictures for free. Jace is at the age where he tries a little too hard to smile and Brylee looks a bit like a white Aunt Jamima, but they are still just darling. To make it easier for me (as I said before I'm somewhat "challenged" in the computer department) Abbie brought the disk over and downloaded it for me. I can handle it from there. Anyway, I promise there's more to come! Also, on a little sidenote that is actually super important, we start building our new house THIS WEEK! We have had such a hard time getting our financing because we are both self employed and need a stated income loan (IMPOSSIBLE to find nowadays!) but we did it after trying for 5 MONTHS! I'll give you all fair warning that there will be much talk, pictures, and updates about the progress of this house, as well as color schemes, furniture, etc. on my blog. I LIVE for this stuff!