1st

1st day of preschool

1st day of 1st grade

1st day of 3rd grade

all of the neighbors riding their bikes to school

1st day of High School.

notice the darkness.... early morning seminary!

Summer 2011

This Summer, We.....

Participated in a play

Went to the Lake

Went fishing and caught LOTS of Crawdads.

went to the Zoo.

Went hiking.

and took swimming lessons.

WHEW!!! It was quite a summer filled with lots of friends

and lots of cousins and lots of playing and playing and playing.

Ruby's Birthday

WOW! I can hardly believe my baby is 4!! She has had sort

of a rough year. I know this next year will be much better.

In the spring she was in the hospital for 3 days with pneumonia.

She was being fancy, with fancy nancy. her arm looks like it is

in a cast, but it is really just her iv all wrapped up.

We went to the lake for her birthday and had all kinds of fun

swimming with our family and friends.

We also shared our birthday celebration with our cousin, Brody.

He turned one! They sure do love each other.

Blowing out her candles.

Yay for Ruby!! She got twinkle toes....

Happy Birthday Brody.

At home we invited some of the neighbors to come over and

eat cake with us and sing Happy Birthday.

She got a cupcake maker for her birthday and she made cupcakes

with her friends.

What she really wanted to do is go shopping with grandma and

grandpa. She knew exactly what she wanted. A trip to the American

girl Store. She is in Heaven.

Family Reunion part 2

Breckenridge, Colorado!

The goal was for the family to meet in Colorado.

We almost accomplished our goal. My brother

David, who lives in California, at the very last minute

couldn't make it. We were all very devastated!

Breckenridge couldn't have been more beautiful.

We had perfect weather. We actually had a huge

storm that was really scary. huge hail, thunder,

lightning, lights out. That only lasted around 20

minutes and then it moved on.

My parents. They have 5 children that are scattered around

the United States. There is always something that keeps some

one away. War, military, miles, jobs. This time was my brothers

job. Even though he had requested the time off months ago.

They changed their mind the day he was supposed to leave.

But, the other 4 kids and 11 grandkids made it and we made

the most of it.

I had come up with all kinds of ideas to keep the kids entertained,

but didn't have to do a single thing. They went on adventures

all week long. They had so much fun.

Of course we got in the hot tub!

Sadie and Abby took them on a treasure hunt.

Walks on the golf course, this was obviously after the storm.

One of the best parts was putting the kids to bed and then

hanging out and playing games with just the adults. When we

have been together we were usually in different places (hotel

rooms, timeshares) so when the kids went to bed we were

divided because someone had to stay with the sleeping babes.

Not this time. We were all together and Loved it.

We rode the gondola and played at the river.

Ate popsicles.

Played at the playground. Some adults as well as the kids.

We went to church. Some of us didn't have the proper attire,

but it was well worth it. The guy that took our picture turned

out to be someone my sister in law Diane grew up with in VA.

His family had moved to Colorado right before my family moved

to VA. So we didn't know them. I was also very touched by how

many people did go to church. It was a holiday weekend and

sometimes when you go on vacation you just don't go to church

but the church was FILLED with people on vacation that DID

go to church. We will try harder to go to church when on

vacation.

This was probably my very favorite!! One night we had a

family idol. EVERYONE had to participate. It was probably

the only time we were ALL in one room doing something

together. I loved it! I personally think that I was the crowd

favorite. Most people like it when I sing!!

After I won Idol, we went outside and took some family pictures

and made smores. Really, we had the most fabulous time ever!!

We really missed David and his family.

Warning to those faint of heart!

It was a beautiful Saturday morning and we were all very excited

to get out to the Farm for our Hayride to the dairy. This farm

has been a special place to me, what seems like my whole life.

We all piled out of our cars and I was reminiscing a picture I

have of Sadie at 18 months on this same swing. When great

commotion ensued.........

I am crying trying to write about this right now. All I

remember seeing is the dog jumping up on someone with

a red shirt and then realizing that it was Ruby. I felt like

I was moving in slow motion, just walking to her. My brother

got to her first, picked her up and told me that she was bleeding.

I held her in my arms and I started looking around saying," I

can't, I can't!" Cory was right behind me and took her and

they went in the house to clean her up. I couldn't stop crying

and shaking. I would go inside to check on her, but I couldn't

even look at her. I didn't want to scare her, and I had no control

over my emotions. My oldest brother got in my car and to

drive us to the hospital. Cory, held Ruby in his arms. Later

he told me that he drove like 95 mph. I was worried about

the small town emergency room that we would be visiting,

but knew the next big town would be an hour away. The nurses

were all really nice and were even able to calm Ruby down. The

Dr. didn't want to treat her, He wanted a Plastic Surgeon to work

on her. He called the childrens hospital and found a surgeon

that would be awaiting our arrival. Meanwhile, My brother,

had put gas in our car and most importantly given Ruby a blessing.

I am so very grateful for him. He didn't want to leave our side until

he knew I could handle the situation. On our drive, Ruby was able

to sleep. And all of the Drs. were waiting for us when we got there.

They gave her medicine to put her to sleep and said that she would

never remember what happened in the hospital. I could tell she was

groggy when we walked out of the room and she didn't even notice.

I was grateful not to hear her crying. There were so many people

in the room with her watching the procedure, it was scary. I kept

telling myself how blessed we were. The dog attacked initially,

but ran off quickly. I have heard much worse stories about dogs

not letting go. She had about 10 stitches. One on her cheek and the

rest on her lip. She had a scratch under her right eye, bit her lip and

a gouge on her chin. When they were finished she was very swollen.

Once she woke up we got some medicine for her and headed back

to our family. Again, she slept. I slept. Cory drove. We went back

to our family reunion, Cory and I were starving. But when we got

there she was very thirsty and drank a lot of water and then threw

it all up! We went back to our hotel changed and tried to rest some

more.

I knew she was feeling better when she asked if she

could go and ride her bike. So, YES, we went back

to the reunion and she rode her bike. She is amazing!

She had learned days earlier and so she needed EVERYONE

to see her ride a 2 wheeler.

5 days later she had her stitches removed. That was

traumatic. She screamed for 2 hours. I was not

prepared for that. But, she looks great.

And I am much more afraid of dogs than she is!!

Family Reunion part 1

We have had a great summer. We started it off with Sadie going

to EFY. She LOVED it. Then Sadie and I went off to Girls Camp.

Next up, Muleshoe, Tx. That's right! One of our favorite places to

visit. Mostly because of the wonderful family that we are able to

surround ourselves with. It is my moms side of the family and they

are all farmers and the most wonderful people ever. We love to

go and visit their farms and get in some country livin'.

Abby and Sadie had a great time seeing each other.

We start off the weekend with some putt putt golf.

Jack, Sophie, Sadie and Matthew. Mimi hiding in there.

We are all so happy to have Jonny back from Iraq. My kids were

lovin on him forever.

Of course they think Frederick is soooo cool. He does fly

airplanes. And he thinks he's a cowboy.

Watch out, Sadie is milking a cow. Saturday morning we were

out at the farm for a hay ride and trip to the local dairy.

We also had a little mishap, but that deserves its own post.

Family picture with only parts of the family.

despite everything it was a great weekend with a great family.

Ruby learns to ride a bike

There she goes!!