My writer

Pausing, I gazed at the magnificent forest scenery around me. Hundreds of giant trees loomed over me reaching for the bright blue sky. Shhhh. Chirp, Chirp... Listen. Can you hear the birds chatting? Small wild flowers dotted the ground with a wide variety of colors giving the forest life. Orange and black butterflies glided around each flower, gently landing upon them. In the faint distance, I spotted a mother deer and her speckled fawn darting between the trees. Everywhere around me the forest smelt of moss. Squish, squish. I kept walking on the pine needled covered forest path, and with every step came a spongy squish, from the pine needles collecting on the ground, for hundreds of years before me.
~ Jordan

Yep, that's my girl!!! So when you see her name on the cover of a book she has written, remember..... that's my girl!!!

She in taking honor English in 7th grade next year, and we are so very proud of her.
The child has talent, you've got to admit that:)

bucca's

We celebrate Alex making it to 13!

Al makes us laugh with his crazy eyes!! Ewww!

It's time for a laugh attack! You'd laugh too if you were out to eat with this bunch of goof balls!

We love you Alex, Happy 13th birthday!!!!!!

It Blooms--

My babies tree bloomed and it was Beautiful!

I just wanted to share the beauty...

fox video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdPI50E0Zdo
Check this out! Alex and I found this and thought it was funny!! We didn't have any sound so let me know if you do.
Enjoy!
Crazy fox!

Glad it's over

I wanted to thank all of my friends who came to my side on March 22. I needed you and you were there... I am touched that you remembered my baby on this very hard day for John and I. I didn't want him forgotten. And even as I write this I am filled with emotions, some glad that I made it through, some sad that this happens to families, some joyous to move toward healing and some just plain numb. I am glad to be at a point where I can stop thinking every moment about our ultrasound and start thinking about planning our next move.
Thursday, I took my first personal day ever. I did nothing for others, I didn't answer calls, didn't get the mail, didn't clean, cook or vacuum; and sort of got dressed. I kept Chastin home from school to enjoy a day of just being. We mapped out our day to go something like this - Walmart in Marysville (upon Kelly's recommendation to check it out) Sam's club to waste time and then to Sky nursery for our tree for the baby. John pulled out all the stops known to man to keep me distracted. Bless his heart. I still couldn't shake the fact that I was scheduled to be having a c- section at 6:00 am, that I shouldn't be home, I should be filled with joy, surrounded by family cooing over our new precious little baby. I wanted to be there, not here!
As the day wore on I ate all the chocolate that Kelly had brought by to help put me in a chocolate comma. It worked!! I dug in the front flower beds with Shilo and planted bulbs we picked up at Sam's club. Then hung out in fresh p.j's and finished off my day with Baskin Robbins chocolate peanut butter ice cream. Over all I shed very few tears and felt really optimistic. I feel as though the whole experience has drawn John and I closer-stronger, we have seen sides of each other that I don't feel we would have seen in any other way. My testimony has grown by leaps and bounds. The out pouring of love and support that my family has received is unmeasurable, and we are truly thankful for you. For all the tissues you have loaned, the meals you have cooked, the flowers and plants you have brought, the tears you have shed with me to the cards you have sent, to the shoulder I could cry on; to the distractions, words of support and listening ears you have given me, I am, so thankful for you and am moved by your love for me. When I feel that the road is ruff and life is being unfair I know that I have you to turn to. Thank you....


About our tree- it is a Black Tulip Magnolia. It is a new breed that has come out. The flowers are like giant tulip heads that are a deep purple hue.(one of my favorite colors) It is beautiful!The man at the nursery helped us pick the strongest tree they had, and one of the only ones to have blooms already. We planted it in the front yard on the corner of the lot. It should grow to be 15-20feet tall, and will bloom every year around this time. I felt like that was important, to have something beautiful to look forward to each spring.

So now as things stand, my sweet spirited Chastin is having the hardest time of all. He cries almost nightly, he is such a sensitive child. Our approach has been listening, then positive conversations, then pointing his mind in another direction.. like where we should go on vacation or what should we plant in our garden this year? It seems to help.

I would like to especially thank Paige for being understanding and providing me with positive stories of similar situations, for helping me look for the lesson in this and helping me to see that life will go on. And for remembering us on our day, with a beautiful note and happy sign.
My most sincere thanks,

Also a thank you to Kelly, who rushed to my side day and night, the day of the ultrasound to the day before the surgery (delivery) to days, and weeks and longer after.Who listened to my endless crying and gave me endless tissues and hugs. Who called to check on me while she was on vacation with her husband. It really meant a lot to me...Thank you for your encouraging words and smiling face. I am grateful for your support.

Now if your anything like myself you'll find yourself teary eyed, but don't be. We are blessed and thankful for the two (sometimes four) beautiful children we have that bring us joy and love every day..

Easter Memories

Isn't it funny how little kids can remember the strangest things from a long time ago? As I was getting Shilo Mae into bed she asked how long till Easter would be here. I told her a couple of weeks, and out of the blue she said "what color eggs do I get this year? I can't wait to go finding them!' Now in our house each child gets their own color of egg to find. we started this a couple years ago to level the playing field for the little kids. When you have four kids things need to be even, so each child is assigned a color, then we fill them equally with candy, little erasers, stickers and of course some money.
Lately one of my nanny kids has been bringing an Easter basket with pretend strawberries for me to hide and him and Shilo to find. Boy do they ever get a kick out of it! It's so much fun to watch them scramble around the living room laughing and yelling to each other that they "found another one!"So any way, back to Shilo and the eggs - Figuring that she wouldn't remember I asked her what color she had last year and she said " mmm" with a finger to her lip " I had pink! This time can I have purple like my room?" Well, I can barley remember what month it is never mind the color of egg I was filling at midnight the night before Easter Sunday for each kid, so I told her I'm sure she is right and that she can certainly have purple this year! She is such a cutie that I just feel so blessed that heavenly father chose me to be her mother. Lucky me!

Ultimate smack down

The ultimate smack down is the new fun at our house.

John comes home and wrestles on our bed with the kids.

We all crack up and the kids look forward to this every evening,

they can hardly wait for their dad to change out of his work clothes and into his "play clothes" Shilo calls them, so they can get right to the fun!

John is an Ultimate fighting fan, so the kids get all the new moves tried out on them.

(Gently of course)

They even have the correct terminology down for the different types of moves.

You gotta love something with the name- bare naked choke hold. Makes me laugh just saying it.