Almost Half a Back Yard

Patrick has been working tirelessly to try to get the yard finished.  At least the half right behind the house, so the kids have a safe (non-dirt) place to play.  It's been a lot of hours, sweat, tears and frustration... But he did it!  :)  
April 1, 2014
Irrigation and pavers in, trees and bushes planted.  Dirt work almost done.

These two, seriously!  :)

 April 10, 2014
Dirt work done, top soil down.  

May 5, 2014
Pretty green green grass!  It went in a couple weeks earlier, but this was when the kids got the go-ahead to play!  :)   Happy day! 

Patrick did an amazing job! 

Her Pretties

March 23. 2014

Miss Reagan LET me paint her fingernails for the first time EVER! She calls them her "pretties" and she was super excited! :) (Obviously, so was mom!) It's so fun to do girly things with my girly!

Opening Day

April 5, 2014
Baseball season is upon us! :) We were at the park from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm today. (With a 1.5 hour break in there.) Let the craziness begin! ;)  Both boys are playing for the first time this year.  Harrison in Coach Pitch and Jackson in AA Minors. They each had their first game opening day.  And they looked very strapping in their uniforms!  :) 

Opening Ceremonies, parade of teams.

 Harrison's game.

Coach Swain! It's coach pitch, so he is also our pitcher. Most of his pitches were hittable.  ;)

Sis having some fun of her own.  Very few things made her as happy as that bat did.  hahaha.

 Jackson's game.  He had a great 1st game! First season with kids pitching, so it was kind of different. But he made it on base 2 out of 3 times at bat (it should have been 3 out of 3, but there was some confusion about the rules.).  ;)

Mr. Grant having some fun too.  Love that smile.  This kid did so well, it was a long day!

This dusty dirty place will be our second home for the next couple of months.  And we wouldn't have it any other way!  :) 

My loves...

March 2014
They make me happy!  :) 

Adventures of Child Rearing... Via Facebook

March 9, 2014
That moment when you go to get your crying baby out of his crib and hit him with the door... because he's on the floor. :/  Oops. ...He's 10 months old... is that normal?! 

March 19, 2014 

Spring break, kids have been out of school all week. So far it's included 1 feverish boogery baby boy, 2 pink casts removed, no cavities at the dentist, a boys trip to The Desert Museum, lots of Frozen, delicious cup cakes, not much sleep... and it's only Wednesday! ;) The word "break" is deceiving, but it has been fun! :) ...Except for the boogers!

March 20, 2014 
Funniest thing I've heard all day:

Jackson: MOM! Harrison just shot Reagan with a Nerf gun! 

Me: Well is she ok?

Harrison: She's laughing, she thinks it was funny! (Laughing)

A few seconds later....

Harrison: NO Reagan! Don't bite!

Hahahahahaha... Awe, karma.  ;) 

March 24, 2014 

Grant (my 10 month old) decided today that he likes a binky. I'm probably more excited than I should be about this!

March 30, 2014
It's almost midnight, and I'm making chocolate chip cookies that I forgot I was supposed to make for church tomorrow. Oops. I really can't seem to catch up! If there was a name for the stage of life I am in, it would be called "perm-a-tired". (Yawn)

April 6, 2014

I don't know why conference is so hard to watch. I look forward to it so much and it usually ends up being a disaster. Conference games and books don't work for the kids. Kids crying and climbing all over us on the couch. Jackson described watching conference as being, "held captive." President Monson gives a talk about kindness and charity and I'm giving my kids death threats as I listen to him. Boy do I have a long way to go! At least I was able to capture a moment of the chaos that we'll be able to hold onto forever...because families are forever! - Patrick

April 17, 2014

Well this just happened.... oh dear.  :/

April 17, 2014

Dads brown chair. It's getting a little crowded.  ;)

Pink Shoe Adventures

March 2014
4 weeks with casts wasn't super fun.  Reagan couldn't go to school or PT.  While she totally mastered walking in them, they were obviously not very safe to walk in.  (The yellow socks had grippy stuff on the bottom, they helped a bit with slipping.  They also kept her little fingers away from her healing toes.)  We couldn't go to the park or really outside at all.  It was hard for her.  But we did get to have lots of lazy days at home!  :)  

She had to learn to contain her urge to swing them around, especially while playing with brothers.  Those things pack a punch!  Ouch! 

Um, this is just the sweetest picture ever so I'm throwing it in here.   :)  

They didn't slow her down too much.  Those casts are heavy, I was impressed.  

March 18th was Reagan's last day with her pink shoes! And as a bonus, we came home from the doctor's to Frozen in the mailbox! :) 

Love this girl... even when she goes bat crap crazy and destroys my house because she can climb and tip toe and run again! ;) And yes, she sat on Harrison to watch Frozen... he didn't mind until she started bouncing. hahahaha

HOORAY for healthy uncasted toes!!  And HOORAY for this sweet brother of hers who is willingly and unconditionally her best friend! :) I love it!  They are thick as thieves! They were just meant to be together, I have no doubt.  

Gettin' Her Toes Fixed

February 28, 2014
Because of her syndrome her thumbs and big toes are very broad, her poor toenails have been chronically ingrown and infected most of her life.  :(  So she FINIALLY got them fixed.  I'm so happy for her I could cry!  Poor girl has been living in chronic pain, it's so sad.  They did a partial removal of both big toe nails.  The Dr. ended up removing half an inch off of both sides of the nail and she still has a full size nail left... they were that bad!  :/  

I didn't get a before picture of her, but she was kinda nervous, she knew something was up, she's a seasoned pro.  But she was so brave! :) The surgery went well but long, it was supposed to take an hour, but ended up taking 2.  I'm not a good waiting room mama.  It stresses me out.  Luckily one of the men in our ward is a surgical nurse for her doctor and was in surgery with her, he was so nice and called the waiting room to keep me informed.  Tender mercies, I tell you.  (He was in her toe removal surgery too, we love him!)  :)  

Her new pink shoes. 3-4 weeks with casts on both feet. That should be fun... and dangerous for everyone!!  ....Yikes!  It's going to be interesting to see how long it takes her to use them as a weapon.  ;)

She usually HATES waking up after sedation, but she was very calm and loopy.   She took it all like a trooper and even smiled at the nurses as we were leaving. 

Home at last.  Dad makes everything better.  

She insisted on wearing her Minnie Mouse ears to the hospital and didn't take them off until she was sedated. haha.  They went right back on as soon as she was coherent enough to realize they weren't on anymore.  :)  She is so funny. 

She looks sad, but she was doing really well, just a little loopy still.  ;)  Love our brave girl!  

...

Being over a year behind sucks!  ...The end.