Animal Love!

From the Mouth of a Daughter

So Mark came into the kitchen this morning wearing a dark suit. It's my favorite I love to see him dressed in a traditional dark suit it works for him and me. Our conversation is as follows:
H. "Ooh you look good"
M. " Do I look like a lawyer?" as he gets a garbage bag out to collect house trash for trash day.
H. "perfect"
C. "Yeah even the janitors in his fancy building have to wear suits!"

HA I love that girls sense of timing!! I'm still laughing!!

Back 2 School!

So today was the 1st day of school. Caia started 5th, and Payton 1st grade. I was so relived that Payton was happy and excited to go back to school.
OK So first day of school: Mom; curling Payti's hair "Do you want me to take you to your class?"
Payton: "no just drop me off." Needless to say when we got there I just walked her to the door and she didn't complain she looked so happy! Poor Caia, went running to her door and her lunch that she packed broke dumping her lunch on the ground. Luckily our friend was close and helped her pick it all up. I had to run home for my checkbook and go back to pay for a couple of things. As we are leaving the school after making the payments, mind you only 40 min after the start, Elyse says. "Hey we forgot to get the girls!" Poor thing thought we could take them home already. She misses her sisters.

I didn't cry when I dropped them off, but as I drove past the cemetary today running errands,the tears came uncontrolably. Elyse is asking about Josh, as I'm thinking he won't be by to see how their first day of school was. He always checked in, just as he did sometime during his first week of school. So as the tears are flowing as fast as my thoughts and Elyse's questions, the Dance by Garth Brooks is playing on the radio! It has all new meaning for me.

Camping Trip #2

Can I just say I love having a friend willing to go on adventures with! Not just anyone would be willing to head off on a camping trip without the dad's to help. Keep in mind we do this with kids aging 10, 6, 5,4,3, & 1 1/2, years old. We are smart about it, we leave the dog for the dad's to bring up with them after work, and camp far enough from the water that we haven't had any major water problems, but close enough we can throw rocks into the reservoir when we want to. The kids left plenty dirty and tried, so I'd consider it a successful trip!
Thank you Wendy for another fun camp out!

Memories and More to Come.

So I'm on a mission to put all of my digital photos into folders by month and year. I did 2005- 2009 on my last trip to Utah. Last night I I started 2001 - 2005. 2001 being our first digital camera. I made it through 01-early 02 and these are just a few memories that make me realize how much I love my Moscow Family. The Pennington's have always been our family away from UT & AZ. And my playgroup sisters, those 2 years are hard to put into words. This was a great group and it wasn't about the kids lol! OK they weren't the last on our minds but we did it for us. Whoever's house playgroup was at provided a short activity a lesson or a book, and provided a kids lunch. Then we plugged the kids into a movie or sent them off to play, and our favorite part of playgroup started. Someone else was assigned to bring a lunch for the moms. We had some great lunches, and lots of laughing and memories were made. To this day you get the 4 of us in the same room and we are still known to laugh and close the place down. We spent lots of time in the church parking lot long after Enrichment was over " on our way home". We could say bye probably 10 times before we actually left. I'd have to say if it wasn't for these sisters I'm not sure I would look on those first years so fondly. I think just because we know we want to be a stay home that it's assumed you'll love it. But it started off tough for me, I knew it was what I wanted but it took some time to figure out how to stay home and what to do with all that time without another adult to chat with. My playgroup sisters and I all had, different personalities and trials. But facing them together, I believe, lightened our loads.

On to the rest of the pictures...

Look how young my husband looks! Not a bishop hair in site! HA HA!! Not to over look the pic. of Matt and Caia Dancing, he has always been such a good sport.

(to be continued...)

Some Real Cool Cats!

So check out the video's to the right. HILARIOUS! (Sorry the sound is bad the acoustics weren't ideal.) ONLY 40 Beehives and Darcy could ever get my husband to "go bananas" like that!! Got to love Girls Camp. Here's the basics of the skit: Each character walks up and asks the "construction workers" how to get some where. They proceed to tell them where to go. The last, Darcy, brings the bananas and ask them what she could do with them. "you can peel bananas, peel peel bananas", or you can "chop bananas, chop, chop, bananas" or you can "GO BANANAS GO, GO, BANANAS!

The pics above are from family night at Boys Camp followed by girls camp. Mark and I both went and had the best time ever. One of the highlights was when one of the girls ate a grasshopper for bragging rights. ( OK, I may have had to pay out $5.00 on that one.) She was so funny about it. She had Mark and I sign the $5 and she was going to frame it! I was relieved when I figured out who her parents were, for awhile I was worried I'd be getting a phone call! HA HA!! I can't for Caia to go in just two years!

Oh Yes She Did!

This afternoon I was sitting on my bed while Elyse is "styling" my hair. She jumps down runs to her bathroom grabs a brush, I have my head down watching TV for a few minutes, when she comes back in. I feel her playing with my hair, I hear cccrunch, and grab at my FALLING HAIR! It wasn't a brush she grabbed, it was scissors, and OH YES SHE DID! I have seen the after of kids cutting their own hair, I have read my friends complaints on facebook, Caia and her cousin had a hair cutting session at about 4 years old, but have you ever known a child bold enough to cut their mom's hair???? Seriously who does that????? Not the angel sleeping below this post. Better question am I the only mom who would die laughing over this???? (not in front of her, but now, just typing and thinking about it, I'm laughing almost to tears!!!)

Lazy Summer Day

Elyse and Payton decided to eat a snack on the lawn at the pool today. I was in front of them a couple of rows. I saw Payton get back in the pool, and Elyse still snacking, a few minutes later I couldn't see Elyse so I decided to go pick up the snack bag that I was sure would still be there, I found the bag and this......

Now that's a good day at the pool!

A Great Dad....

Utah Trip June 2009

A perfect 10!

What a special birthday to be able to celebrate it, not only with family but, with Grandma Great turning 90. They are only about 3 1/2 hours from sharing a birthday. I just can't resist but to do a top 10 list of things I love about Caia, after all it only happens once! I got input from grandparents, and all family members, I thought that would make it extra special. Here it is Caia....
01. makes friends easily and loves to be with her friends,
02. loves her family near and far,
03. has a tender heart,
04. has a happy disposition,
05. got her special name from Grandpa Monson, Maggy May,
06. loves to do perform her Celtic dances and is very good at it,
07. makes her sisters laugh,
08. is helpful and tries to be the peace maker,
09. has become a great cookie maker!,
10. loves to read, I have to maker her turn her books in at bed time!
Caia you are the best 10 year old ever and I love you!

Arms of Heaven

"Arms of Heaven"

I believe this was to remind me that God can give us a hug when we need it.

The girls put this together in honor of Josh. Those are rainbrops, but very well could have been tear drops from the girls and I.

I have been putting off this post for a while now. I have so many other things I'd rather post but being this is my families history, I suppose I shouldn't edit out the unpleasant events. Besides maybe this will be healing.

First I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that Josh will never walk through my front door again. Every Friday while he was dating Kate, he came over to visit. Usually Elyse was down for a nap and Payton was watching a movie. I'd fold laundry or do dishes while he followed me around my house and talked. I heard all about this girl Kate, listened to his ideas for gifts, and all about the engagement ring that was coming. He and Kate would stop by unexpected and Mark and I loved this about them. One of those times I was cleaning out cupboards in the basement, we chatted, I organized he helped. Looking further back....

He was 11, the oldest in his primary class. Those boys, you know who you are, were so naughty during singing, and sharing time. The primary presidency which consisted of Rachel, Kim, and I would sit around discussing these cute naughty boys. So we decided to march them down to Bishop Bird Coronel. Those boys including Josh walked back to the primary room with tear streaked faces, and very somber. All I knew of that conversation was that if they couldn't be more respectful in primary that their priesthood ordinations were in jepordy. Josh loved this memory and we joked often about it!! Our families began to watch "Survivor" from about the second season to present day. Josh always rooted for whomever we weren't. It was one of these Survivor dinners that Monty and Josh came over first, dinner was late, kids had frustrated me, I was carrying a little baby Elyse in my arms. Josh sensing my patience level being low, looked at me held out his arms and said, "pass the baby over" he took her and held her. I could call Josh and he was willing to babysit, most recent at Christmas when Payton got sick and couldn't attend her sisters Christmas performance. We got back, Payton had woken up, and he and Payton were playing. So sweet. Then there was the time that Caia, 4 years old, had a procedure done it was so traumatic for her. She and Josh sat on the couch at Sue's and carried on a conversation and sympathized with each other as only the two of them could understand. Tears flow when I think of the Hello Dolly's I won't be getting this Christmas. I will leave with this; I will never forget the time when he came through the door like a ghost after recovering from what we had thought was the end he looked at Caia, who was almost in tears at the site of him and not knowing what to do, he bent down opened his arms to and said " you can hug me." It's this image of Josh that I see when I think of him, that and his swagger.

On the last day of school we had great weather! This is not he norm for Moscow but we put together a great last minute outside celebration complete with hot dogs and mac cheese. Everyone was happy!

My Brave Little Girl!

Warning this is a long post.

Cliff Notes:

Wed-Red Lion less than $60.00, Olive Garden, bed.

Thurs-Hospital for surgery 6:45, surgery 8:15, recovery room 9:10 a lot of laughing by Mark and I (see long version for details on that), out the door 10:30, quick trip up two flights to check on Josh, and home by 1:30.

The Full Version

What a week. After Monday's adventure at the river, the rest of the week was spent in preparing for Elyse's eye surgery. I had to take several calls from the Dr's office, and hospital, got a little Costco run in. (As if a Costco run could be little!) I placed a bid on Priceline so we could stay in a hotel the night before. I figured the day would be long enough without having to get up at 4:45 am to get to the appointment on time. Not to mention I was worried about her wanting to eat since she would not be aloud any food or drink and not having any food in the hotel would be easier to justify to her should she demand any. So we stayed at the Red Lion on the River for less than $60.00! A nice hotel if you should ever need a place to stay there. We got up there a bit late, and asked Elyse what she wanted for dinner, TOTALLY expecting "chicken nuggets and french fries" instead the reply was "spaghetti"! SWEET!! I knew just the place, a little place I haven't eaten at in oh about 3 years, the Olive Garden. So we were happy to make her dream come true. We had a wait which was one of those where as you walked past the window you could, no joke, count 10 tables clean and open, at 7:30 at night on a Wednesday. Luckily there was a an escalator as well we had the camera. She enjoyed both. Mark and I were laughing as she took pictures.

OK so, Thursday morning we got up and made it to the hospital by 6:45. Elyse asked only once about a drink and was easily distracted. She was a bit apprehensive about seeing Dr Nye in different place than usual, but as long as she got to see her she was fully cooperative. She really likes Dr Nye and so do I. She did fine in the room with toys, and the room where they took her vitals, she was particularly fond of having her blood pressure taken, go figure. Then we were moved to her pre-OP room with a bed in it and lots of Dr's, and nurses coming in out asking her and I a lot of questions. At this point I could see her anxiety starting to build. Then the worse thing happened. They asked her to put on their jammies. OK lots of problems about this. 1, they were NOT hers, 2 they were NOT pink, 3 they were NOT a night gown and pants, but a shirt shorts deal, and 4, they HAD tigers on them, nothing girly about that. OK so we crossed that hurtle and she is on my lap trying so hard not to cry, even though a few tears escaped. Then they gave her some Versed. I found out today that the Doctors call it the truth serum. It was very bad tasting bitter according to the nurses, and this did not make her happy but she took it all down in only two tries. I was warned by the other parents who have had this done, as well as by the nurses to hold on tight to her. When it kicked in she would be unsteady. We sat in our chair with her head on me. All of a sudden it must have kicked in, and she sat up "straight" swaying with a huge grin on her face, Mark and I laughed a bit, then she look right at my chest and says, (read this with your best drunk voice in mind) "WWOW tthhose are SSO BBIIG!" Mark and I lost it we were laughing so hard we both had tears coming down our faces. They took her back just before 8:15 and Mark and I knew she was fine, and went and grabbed a little breakfast.

OK now here is where I realized how grateful I am that her surgery was so minor. There were mom's there for chemo, radiation, teeth cleaning for their Downs Syndrome kids, and to repair a very real broken heart. They were pacing, and loud and very chatty. I was calm and so grateful for our health as well as the Priesthood. I kept thinking about the blessing that Mark and our friend Steve B. gave her the night before. My heart was full as I wished all of these families could receive the peace and comfort of the Comforter.

About 45 min. later Dr Nye came out and told me it all was well and gave us a few instructions and warned us that she may have some double vision but that won't last any longer than two weeks! 10 min later we were by her side waiting for her to wake up. She was a true sleeping beauty, and at this time came humbling experience number two. In recovery we were very much back to back with a young lady holding a baby girl maybe only 2 months old if that. Her son in the bed next to us, who was also still sleeping, looked to be 3. I gathered from her conversation with the nurses that she has a 6 year old in school back home in Kalispell Montana! Her son was in the beginning of a 5 week radiation program, she was staying at the McDonald house, and knew no one. My heart ached more for her than anyone else that day and every time I think of her my heart hurts and I pray for her.

So after what seemed a long time my sleeping beauty began to wake, loopier than before. I sat holding a popsicle for her about 6 inches from her face. She says (slurred and drunk sounding) "TTHHere's ttwo of them". She would grab it pull it close then ask and look around my hand, and try to open it, "wwhhere ddid thee other one ggo?" Then she looked down and with wide eyes and says "II hhave ffour legs, ccraazy Heavenly Father and Jesus, ggave mme ffour llegs!!" After her wheel chair ride to the car, which she thought was because she had 4 legs, we stopped off to see Josh just two floors above us. That would make humbling experience number 3. On our way home we stopped by A&W to use the bathroom. She would not let me hold her so I directed her to the bathroom following her around for fear she'd stumble and hurt herself. In the bathroom she stumbled and with funny look on her face repeats the stumble throw her arms in the air and says "Aand tthats hhow you ddance with ffourr lleggs!" Oh that kids is funny anyway and with some loopy drugs in her system Mark and I haven't laughed that hard in a long time!!

Well that was it, a day of crazy mood swings, and double vision, 3 days of sponge baths and eye drops, no swimming for 14 days, and with the outsides of her eyes blood red, she is back to normal! (No more double vision.)

I am so proud of my little girl! She did everything she was asked including not touching her eyes and enduring the painful eye drops. She was such a trooper!

Memorial Day

Monday was a great day! Our family along with John's family head south to enjoy some sun and water. The day was amazing! The pictures below show how much fun everyone had much better than I could ever express. To top off the day Wendy and I started to the mall, upon finding it closed, we headed to Hastings. When we emerged we were shocked to find it was two hours later! We only spent a total of $5.00! 3.50 was worth it, the other... well I'm sorry to say it went to M & M's, my favorite unless they are peanutbutter-strawberry M&M's, those I'll never buy again. (No they didn't sound good in the first place, but I just had to know.)