Stuck

Literally... Jason went to Denver for work for a couple of days and he drove our 4WD car. Of course, we had a storm and the wind blew all the snow at the end of our driveway. Good thing I didn't have anywhere I had to be (just out of milk).

Baylee missed school and softball practice today. We finally got her car unstuck this afternoon after I (the pregnant women) was on my hands and knees digging out snow from under her car.

I know she was so happy to be out snow blowing for her first time! :) It doesn't hurt a girl to learn.

To add to our eventful day the main breaker to my house also tripped.

One day without Jason and I don't know how we would survive without him!! Last fall we traded in our minivan for a 4WD Expedition and I don't know how I survived last winter without that either!! Mark my words, we will be moving to St. George one of these years.

2 things were confirmed to me today... I love the sunshine and my very capable husband!

Farewell Brandon

I think I mentioned last fall that Jason's little brother, Brandon, was heading off to Iraq. He is but I was wrong on the timing. He spent the past few months training on base and he just left this morning...

We are sure going to miss Brandon but we are so proud of him.

Jason's little sister, Sarah, wrote and composed a song dedicated to Brandon which I think sums up all of our feelings.

My Prayer

What a brave thing to do to leave behind all you knew.
To say goodbye to family and friends not knowing if you'll see them again.

[CHORUS] I close my eyes, and I pray for you.
So when it's all said and done, I know I'll see you.
You're my brother, my best friend I will be with you again.
With a tear, I say my prayer.

It started out from so young, what a great man you've become.
I could see it from the start how close you held this country to your heart.

[CHORUS]

From sea to shining sea, this great country would not be.
If not for men like you, heroes that do the things you do.

[CHORUS]

Although the days will get hard, I know we will stay strong.
I'll keep you in my heart and pray that nothing will go wrong.
Now I want you to know, that I will miss you so and I want you to know that I love you.

[CHORUS]

Brandon will definitely be in all our prayers.

Since Brandon was leaving... it was a good excuse to get everyone on Jason's side together. His sisters came from Texas and California for the weekend. It was fun to have everyone together since it doesn't happen all that often.

Fortunately we had some Spring weather on Saturday. Windy but warm enough to BBQ at the park. The Spring weather didn't last though and we got snow on Sunday and Monday.

The kids had fun feeding the horses.

I don't know if you can tell in this picture but this horse had one blue eye and one brown eye.

Avaree, my animal lover.

Avaree realized that her fort had a hole in it. (The blanket was a poncho).

Linda and Abe (a family friend)

The kick soccer teams... I attempted to play pregnant and in sandals but after one kick I ended up on kid duty.

The fam.

These two adore each other and are exhausted after a day of playing non stop.

On Monday we hit up the local aquarium. (not pictured... the shark)

Avaree was bummed she couldn't reach to touch the sting rays. The star fish cheered her up though.

This is what happens when I attempt to go places during nap time.

notice the turtle?

Someone is happy now after Grandmere offered to buy the kids something from the gift shop!

It was a fun weekend spending it with some of the people that we love most. We are always sad when it comes to an end... until next year or hopefully sooner!!

Family Night Planting...

I just had to post these pictures because it was so cute and the kids took it so seriously.

Jason came home with a little green house to get our garden started early this year since we always get started late because it is cold and then it usually freezes again before we get to enjoy any of our crops so we'll see how this year turns out. Hopefully we can keep the deer away too.

Avaree is obsessed with seeds now and saved her apple and watermelon seeds this week and tried planting them on her own.

They were suppposed to water the plants but they both must have been thirsty after their hard work!

Draper Temple Open House

Of course we waited until the last possible night to go to the open house for the Draper Temple. It was packed everyday and we live so close we just kept putting it off but I really wanted to take Avaree. Unfortunately she came down with something again so I almost didn't bring her but I'm glad I did (thanks to Tylenol). It actually ended up being kind of nice because she was really calm. The temple was packed but we went with Jason's family and his step Mom has a disability so we got treated like royalty and were able to forgo a lot of the waiting and lines.

The temple is beautiful. I'm so excited to have it finished and so close!! We don't have any excuses now. It is closer to our house than any convienent store, grocery store, or school. I pretty much drive pass it everyday to go anywhere. What a blessing. We are spoiled.

Not the best family picture but it's all I could get Jason and the kids to pose for.

Bella Citta Cafe

I had a GNO on Friday and we went to the yummiest cafe. If you live in the area... I highly recommend it. It was so good I took Jason back the next day because I was craving the gelato! I might need to go again tomorrow...

Burley Bound

Jason was in Burley last week helping my cousin, Lana, get her flooring done on her house. I couldn't pass up the oppurtunity to drive up for a couple of days to see Jason and go to one of my favorite places on earth!

The kids eating airheads after stopping at a gas station to use the bathroom. Their was a sign on the bathroom door that said "paying customers only." So the kids got a treat out of it. They both traveled surprisingly well. Avaree was so excited to stay in a hotel!

Gibbon's new home

At my favorite place, View Cemetary.

It was cold.

I love this picture. I love those trees and on the right of my Mother's headstone is her parents headstone (the best grandparents ever)!

This cemetary is literally in the middle of no where surrounded by beautiful mountains. It's so peaceful.

Swimming at the hotel

Love that Weston is actually looking at the camera and smiling in this pic.

Exhausted on the way home and yes, Weston was sweating in his coat but he wouldn't let me take it off. Some battles are just not worth it.

It is always fun to spend a couple of days in my Mom's hometown and reflect on the many good memories I have of her and my Grandparents.

PERSPECTIVE

I've had a week of sick children (coughs, fevers, sore throats, bloody noses), being sick myself, not getting good sleep, going to the dentist, pediatrician, and a fetal specialist. My downs syndrome testing came back abnormal so we met with a specialist this week. Everything on the ultrasound looks normal and I'm pretty confident that I just got a false positive but it's definitely added some worry to my life.

I continue to worry about Jason and his back. It's been a little discouraging that almost six months after his surgery his back and body still hurts. The poor man can't even put his socks on in the morning. His health has forced him to start pursuing another career. He is very smart and I have all the confidence in him in the world but finances are a stressful thing.

It's too bad that seeing my cousin and her family go through their 8 year old daughter having leukemia has put so much PERSPECTIVE in my life!! Losing and missing my Mom always adds perspective to my life but we still need reminders. Emma had her bone marrow transplant on Friday. Lana and Emma have pretty much lived at Primary Children's Hospital for the past 3 1/2 months and will be in Utah probably until July before they can actually go home to Burley, Idaho. Waiting back in Burley are Emma's 5 siblings, a new home in the building process, and everyday life that I know they wish they could return too. I know Lana would love to be back home in a messy house (not saying her house is messy), with screaming children and LOVING her everyday life!! All the little stuff that I let consume me doesn't seem to matter as much. I have a new PERSPECTIVE. I'm trying to be GRATEFUL instead of focusing on the bad because it could be so much worse.

Look at them smiling after a horrible couple weeks in the hospital getting chemo treatments, a bacteria infection, and pneumonia... they are troopers...

I want to thank Lana, Emma, and the Gibbon's family for their examples, good attitudes, and for reminding me of what is MOST important. Our prayers and thoughts are constantly with you!! We love you!

to be inspired check out... www.extraordinaryhousewives.blogspot.com