Insert Prayers Here

My sister JaNae was diagnosed with colon cancer this past month.  It has been a roller coaster of emotions for our entire family.  I think we all go from being "Ok, we can deal with this" to breaking down in tears on a daily, hourly and minutely basis.

She had a resection surgery to remove the tumor this afternoon and is currently out of surgery and doing well.  Her husband and I have been texting back and forth and at one point I "may" have suggested that he ask now for a dog, because he will never get her to agree when she not on high doses of pain meds.  She said and I quote..."Hell No!  I'm not that drugged up."  So much for the new pet dog they could have called Rectum or Sphincter or something totally inappropriate like that in JaNae's honor.  

(yes...my family copes with tasteless humor)

JaNae will be in the hospital for the next 5-7 days and depending on the biopsy results from the surgery she may or may not have to have radiation and chemo.  We're really hoping she doesn't have to go through that.  Mostly because of the guilt we would feel when we refused to shave our heads in support.  Thank goodness she gave us Walker sisters the free pass on giving up our hair for her.  "If I have to look at myself ugly, the last thing I want to look at is you ugly too!"

(more inappropriate humor)

In the meantime, we are sending our love, support and prayers for JaNae.  

We love her.

We adore her.

We want her to feel better!

With her permission (well...I think I have her permission, I asked her husband), I'm posting a link to the blog her husband is writing to keep friends and loved-ones informed on her progress.

Click here to read it.  

If you, like me, are a JaNae fan...leave her a comment and express your love and concern to her and her family.  It will assist her along with a speedy recovery!

Things I can't help smiling about.

I mean really, how can I not smile when I see this picture?

Say was ready and excited to go swimming last night with her friend Jada.  The watermelon suit just added to the happiness of the evening.

Another thing that give me joy is finishing my front flowerbeds- finally.  

I spent most of my day in the yard yesterday planting, weeding, and mowing the lawn.  It is supposed to drop into the 30's Wednesday night and I will be covering my hard work with tarps- it's mid May for crying out loud, it should not be in the 30's!  I will cry large buckets of tears if all my flowers and and garden plants freeze.  

(note to self...clear off trashy kid chairs and left over flowers off porch before taking a picture next time.  It might help.)

Wonderful Weekend

Things were good this weekend, dreamy even.

My plate is overflowing with good friends, family and memories worth keeping.

It's late tonight and I only have so much brain power left before I fall asleep typing, so I'm going to get in as much as I can.  But no matter how much I can't include on this post because of memory lapse and let's be honest- unconsciousness, I want to remember overall that this weekend was wonderful.  I felt satisfaction in my life and family.  If it was for only a moment, it was memorable in it's simplicity.

It wasn't fancy, we didn't go anywhere spectacular, there weren't parades in our honor...it was just good; good to be home, good to be with family, good to just be.

Steve took the boys to fathers-and-sons (more on that later) so I had the privilege of spending Friday night with my girlfriends and their daughters.

We spent the evening looking at wedding albums and baby pictures. We laughed at our youngness, our skinniness and our innocence of what we envisioned our lives to be way back when we were newlyweds.  We also delved into scrapbooks of high school and college boyfriends and how our lives would have been different if we had made different choices.  We expressed gratitude for the choices we  made and the significant blessings that ensued.

I giggled until it hurt.

It was a night I found refreshing and needed. 

Oh...how I love my friends and am grateful for their support and honesty.  I feel blessed to know these women and am grateful that Steve and I were guided to live where we did so I could have these women in my life.  

I'm also grateful for their daughters and the friendships Saylor will have with them.

Saylor found out what it would be like to have six older sisters:  she would always have someone to dress her up and make her pretty.

...if you can call blue sparkly eye shadow cream pretty.

 Say was in princess heaven even if she doesn't show it.

While I was eating and gabbing Friday night, Steve was taking his beloved trailer and tent on it's maiden camping voyage.

Fathers-and-Son's was at Bear Gulch and the boys had a wonderful, slightly cold time.

It might have been the perfect camping trip if I hadn't forgotten to pack the hot dogs with the rest of the food.  Oops!  I'm sorry Steve!  Good thing you had smores stuff and cheddar Ruffles.

It's also good my dad drove up to meet the boys Saturday morning for his famous camping "Tough Guy Test."  Each of my boys and a few of their friends had to solemnly swear to be tough, brave, and not complain as they were initiated into the sacred society of Tough Guys.  

To join they had to eat a sardine without murmuring.

I think the lack of protein the night before helped in the task.  They were hungry.

 Each of my sons passed the test...even Colby.  How the kid can gag down a sardine but not eat plain chicken is beyond me!

Love this face as he chews!

Is that a fish head poking out?

Not sure what to think.

(Um...this picture is killing me.  Andrew looks so old to me.  My heart aches for the little boy I used to have but rejoices in the young man he is growing into.  I enjoy this boy.)

Saturday night instead of working in the yard and being productive, we threw responsibility to the wind and took the kids to Nat Soo Pah and purchased a season pass.  The kids were in green water-diving board-water slide heaven.   I'm just thrilled to be in a pool that is actually warm. (the city pool does not cut it for me.)   We are planning on many summer evenings being spent together as a family at this swimming pool.  

And the bonus?  The kids were exhausted and eager to go to bed when we got home. 

Today, our morning was slow and Steve took the kids to church at noon.  I stayed behind and baked brownies for tonight's Seminary graduation and then attended a ward conference for my calling at 2pm.

The stake YM president gave a talk to the youth that I thought was fabulous.  He taught about our choices and their corresponding consequences and referenced D&C 130: 20-21.  He spoke about how our choices don't just effect our personal lives, but have a lasting effect on our posterity too.   It was the caliber of talk that makes me want to do better, be better and teach my children better.  

When I got home, Steve had dinner waiting for me.

He made a gluten free version of fried chicken and waffles.

It was baked chicken breaded with Ruffles and gluten free pancakes.

It was surprisingly really good.  Steve has wanted fried chicken and waffles ever since we saw the combination on the food network.  I'm impressed with his adaptation.  

 He should cook more...but then we would never eat vegetables.  Maybe just on Sundays.

After I cleaned up the dinner dishes and got ready to attend Seminary graduation, as the Stake YW were in charge of refreshments; this was the scene I found as I walked out the door.  

These two are perfect napping partners.  Saylor being at church during her nap time makes it hard for everyone.

And speaking of church being hard...

Steve naughtily snapped this picture of Colby last week after sacrament meeting.  He snoozed almost the entire hour leaning on Steve's arm.  He even slept through the primary kids singing to their mothers on Mother's Day.  He was pooped!

And he has the bedhead to prove it!

the beginning of summer

This is what I think our summer is going to bring.

Colby...his harem...and the selling of weeds from the neighbors field.

Bring it on.

And have I mentioned the best lunch deal in town?

I hesitate to post it in fear that mothers like myself will overrun this establishment and then my children will go without their processed deep fat fried "meat" and corn breading.

Winco deli.  

Hot corn dogs.

78 cents.

It brightens my grocery shopping.

If only they had a soda fountain too, then we ALL could be happy. 

Everything passes too quickly

Life seems to be rolling along faster these days.   My weeks are fuller, as are the days, as are the hours.  I blinked, and this last week was gone.  What?  It is Tuesday the 15th already?  May is half over?  I'm struggling to fit in everything that is worthwhile that I want to accomplish.  Oh...so many things to accomplish.  What do I give up, exercise, journaling, the kids' activities, my house, my yard?  If only I was Super Woman and could fit in 4-5 more hours in a day, three of which would be dedicated to sleep. But I'm not super, just a regular person trying to do everything.

Here are some of the everythings that I'm juggling (in a good way) right now.

The new office is rolling along.  Yesterday the builders put up the first wall.  Steve and I put the kids to bed after swim team and then drove over to see it.  (yes, we could have walked, but I was tired)   Steve is gushing with excitement over his new work space, and I am so happy for him.   He spent hours on the computer after we got home going over bids from dental equipment companies.  This is an all consuming process, but I believe Steve is more excited than he is stressed.  We discussed this fact as we stepped over boards and equipment at the office site.  We are chalking up this excitement to our naivety.   One day we will know better to be more excited than stressed.

There are only three weeks of school left and the kids are showing their summer fever with relish.  It is torture to pull the kids inside from the perfect weather at night for bedtime. Who wants to go to bed when it is still light and beautiful outside?  Oh, that would be me.  We are setting up for this summer and it's bitter-sweet that most of our weekends are filled with plans.  We are signing up for swim team and swim lessons.  Steve is itching to go camping with his boys...and me. (insert enormous sigh here)   We are working on our yard and putting in the garden.  Things are coming along and I'm grateful for the cash shelled out on the lawn care, our lawn has never looked this green.   And...our house is still bug free.  Joy.

Along with summer fever here, we have Skylanders fever.  Andrew and Carter are obsessed with this Wii game.  I personally think it is a rip-off as each new character must be purchased separately for an nominal fee.  We have not been a gaming family in the past and my boys have never been interested in the small array of video games we posses, until now.  Unfortunately, Steve and I are noticing that whenever the Skylander game is on, there is contention in our home.  Someone always ends up unhappy, sassy, or fighting when this game is played.  I should call the came "digital negativity."  Steve grounded the boys for a week from the game yesterday after a certain unnamed son of ours called his brother a loser.  We are sure the name-called brother was not innocent either.  It takes two to tango you know.   Our boys are not thrilled with their punishment.  I, however, am.  I'm going to enjoy the peace without the game.  If I had my choice, I would throw the entire system in the garbage can.  I am not afraid to say that I do not find value in video games.

My calling is keeping me hopping and I'm finding most of it is speaking assignments.  I'm speaking tomorrow night at the 4th ward Young Women in Excellence meeting.  I'm grateful for the time I must spend in preparing and studying in order to speak.  Forced gospel study is good for me.  I also enjoy spending time with the young women in our stake and their leaders.  I find strength in their friendship and example.  I will be attending girls camp at the end of June.  I am planning on having a much better attitude than I had when I was 16.  I will not be pouting this time around, that or moping that I missed a Pearl Jam concert.  I'm amused how life has come back and bit me in the backside for being such a bratty young women when I was 16 and 17.  Crow feathers are hard to swallow.


...I cant find my camera battery charger.  I'm truly annoyed by this.  I will be combing my house until I find it.  My blog without pictures is not the same.

Only Truly Evil Parents go to Disneyland Without Their Children

But in our defense, we went to a dental convention first...and the kids wouldn't have liked that.

Steve and I flew to Anaheim last weekend to attend a dental conference and see every dental product imaginable under one roof.  It's easy to compare chairs, lights, delivery systems and such when they are all together.  Steve and his dental partners are picking out everything for their new office and the dental reps had a glimmer in their eyes the entire time the boys were comparing.   We will putting the reps' kids through college and not ours after this office is completed.

However...a free trip is fun no matter what, and I had a good time looking at useless tacky dental products while Steve was shopping for chairs.

For instance,  I find this shoe really gross along with the cannibal type necklace displayed behind it.

I mean really, who has time to remember to brush their shoes and jewelery before leaving the house?  

Also, who'd really want a Justin Bieber Singing Toothbrush?

I would be afraid one of his flippy hairs would be stuck in the bristles.

Steve parking it when he got a chance.  

The vendor behind him parking it also.

Our feet were aching by the afternoon.

After the conference the real fun began.

We ate a lot of gluten free food!

This place is my favorite!

Steve snapped this picture without my knowledge.

Lovely I know.

Saturday, however, we became the meanest parents on the planet and went to DISNEYLAND without our offspring.

And because we didn't take our children, there are no cute nostalgic pictures infront of Disney characters or landmarks, and no perfect memories saved photographically forever of the happiest place on earth. 

Instead, we took pictures of things like this sign posted outside the park.

What?  Disneyland gives you CANCER?

What the crap?

Steve didn't care though, because he had his imported Fiji water to keep him safe from carcinogens.

(long funny story...will post another time)

Fiji water is the best.

We rode only the rides we felt like and ate what we wanted.

There was no whining, sadness, crying, complaining or anyone saying their feet hurt.

No one tattled, fought, fussed or begged for candy or snacks.  

No one complained about standing in line, being too hot or too bored.  And no one cried that they had to use the bathroom

It was the best vacation ever.

I think we will go again without our children next year too!

Steve enjoying his free Krispy Kreme in the Star Tours line.

A group of kids had to give them away or throw them away.

Steve was one of the lucky ones.

Phones don't take nice pictures in dark places.

They don't take nice ones in the shade with a bright background either.

Oh well, its better than nothing.

Steve's reaction to having to go on It's a Small World.

My reaction.

Obviously, you can tell who went here is a kid and still has loving feelings to all things Disney and who does not.

My favorite part of the day was eating at the same restaurant my parents took me to when I was little, The Blue Bayou.

It is located in the same building as the Pirates of the Caribbean ride.

I remember my dad saying he knew how the restaurant got it's name.  The patrons would look at their bill, turn blue, open their wallets and say "Bye You" as they handed over their cash.

I smiled when I looked at our bill "ouch" and thought of my dad.

I appreciated Steve letting me go again.  The food was delicious and the place air conditioned and quiet.  

It was worth it.

We had a WONDERFUL time.  It was Steve's first time at Disneyland and I loved taking him on his maiden voyage.  We truly want to come back...and if they are really lucky, we might bring our kids.

Sadly, all good things must come to an end.

My end was the California Screaming roller coaster at California Adventure.

My inner ears apparently do not like going from 0-60 mph in 2 seconds.  

After resting for 30 minutes or so, I admitted I didn't want to go on any more rides, even the Tower of Terror that we already had fast passes for.  Steve admitted that he was only going on that ride because I wanted to and that he thought he had blisters on his feet.  Turns out he did have blisters, so we walked back to our hotel, soaked in the pool, went out to dinner and then watched a movie.

We ditched Disney at night for comfort.

We are old.

We don't care.

...we'll just start our day later next time.

Weekend Away

Steve and I left this weekend on the dime of another Dental 

Company.  They want to make money so they send us places.  

I'm completely ok with it.

We left our kids with Grandma Dixon and Aunt Cara and enjoyed a weekend away.

I'm currently catching up on everything I was not here to do.

This place is a pigsty.

But...here is a clue of where we were.

(PS.  We are CRAPPY picture takers.  We packed extremely light and my camera phone is all we had. This was about the best we got.)

More to follow when I've tackled the mountains of laundry oozing out of my laundry room.