I'm on vacation...

For the first time ever Danny was able to get two weeks off of work, with a little prodding. We started our vacation on Friday, September 26 by driving to Bakersfield and then we drove to San Diego on Sunday, September 28th. We will be in San Diego visiting Legoland, Wild Animal Park, the San Diego Zoo, Sea World, my cousin Jeb, my Aunt Marie, Lealond, and hopefully my friend Emily, (haven't seen her in about 6 years) until Sunday, October 5th. On the 5th we will drive back to Bakersfield and do laundry. It was so hard to pack for two weeks for two different places. On Monday, October 6th we will be heading to Pismo to visit Danny, Deanna, Jordan, and Keanu, one of our favorite places. We will return back home on Friday, October 10th because I have a big photo shoot with 6 people on Saturday, October 11th. That will be a little stressful. So, this will be my last post until after I get back. Hope you have a great and safe two weeks while I'm gone! =)

Meet a Mother Warrior

After complications from a c-section.  Monica was diagnosed with necrotizing fasciitis, also know as flesh-eating bacteria.  Defying the odds, Monica survived, but many of her organs didn't.  The doctors had to remove her uterus, ovaries, gallbladder, and part of her colon.  Then it spread to her arms and legs and so she had to have both her arms and both her legs amputated.   After four months in the hospital, 37 surgeries, and grueling physical therapy, she was finally able to be released and go home to her family.   

The doctors expected a "why me?" breakdown from Monica while she was in the hospital and it never happened.  She did have moments that she wished she had one arm or one leg because it would make life a little easier but that is not what happened and she accepted that.  She was so thankful that she could still love her girls and that she was still here today.

I just think that her outlook on life is amazing.  She says, "What good are you to your children if you're miserable?  What are you teaching them?  That you give up?   That's not what I want to teach my kids.   I want my girls to know that their mother's a fighter."  

If you ever feel like giving up or that life is too difficult just think about Monica and if she can do it so can we!  

A Big "3" year old...

Last Saturday we celebrated Chase's 3rd birthday party.    We had a ton of fun.  I went a little low key this year and only invited family and friends of Chase.  He had fun playing with Landen, Kayden, Gavin, and Blake.  It is so cute to see him finally interacting with others his age.  =)

My theme for his party this year was trains.  I think trains are Chase's very favorite thing right now.  He even chose this over Cars which he loves too.

I had a conductor hat and red bandanas for all the kids.  They didn't really wear them but they at least took a cute picture for me.  

I just love the picture of Chase and Landen.  Since we live so far away from them it is really hard to see them.  Chase misses Landen so much and was so excited to see him.  One of the highlights of his party that he still talks about.

Then we had a pinata and Makayla was the one to bust through it.  Way to go Makayla.

Next was the train cupcake cake.  I bought my cupcake cake at the Super Wal-Mart here in Stockton.  I have to say that when you think of Wal-Mart you typically think of cheap but when it comes to their bakery they make fantastic cakes/cupcakes and they are always decorated so cute.  Best of all, you can't beat their prices.  I even prefer them to Costco now.

As you see in the last picture.  Chase played very hard and had tons of fun.  (Look how red and sweaty he is.)

It was so great to see everyone!  Thanks to those of you who came to the party.  =) 

My new love...

So, about a month ago we had a whole house fan installed into our house.  (Thank you Mommy!)  It is so awesome!  I love love love it.  I'm not quite sure what I did without it.  Actually, we paid a huge PG&E bill.  Our bill in July was almost $400.  Then after that bill I deceided that I would just sweat all day and my bill was still almost $300.  I can't wait to see what it is going to be in October.  That will be the first bill that reflects having the whole house fan.

Now my house is "freezing" as Chase calls it.  We asked him one morning when we first got it if he was cold and he said, "no.." and then proceeded to say, "...but I'm freezing."  It was so cute.  Well, Mom is the only one in the house who loves it to be freezing.  When we wake up in the morning our house is about 66-70 degrees by only having one window open.  I used to have three open in the night but we'd wake up to a 64 degree house.  That is a little cold for me too.

I've found my new love!  =)

A must see...

I would hope that Danny would do this with Isabella.  =)  Just thinking of that makes me laugh.  Thanks Angela for sharing this! 

Hope this makes you smile.  Have a great Monday!

A day I will never forget...

On the morning of September 11, 2001 I got up early to get ready for school and I turned on the T.V.  I never turned on the T.V. in the morning because I was always rushing but for some reason that morning I turned it on.  When I turned on the T.V. the first plane had already crashed into the first tower.  I was in shock as I watched in horror as the second plane hit.  I will never forget my feeling as I saw that plane hit.  Right after that I had to leave to go to school.  I remember listening to the radio about it that morning and when I got to school they had the T.V. on in the teacher's lounge.   

That day was so different and weird on campus.  Everyone was so quiet.  You could just tell that everyone was in shock.

This was my first year teaching.  What a horrible tragedy to deal with on my first year.  

I will NEVER forget that day.

Got me thinking...

My friend Emily had an awesome blog today about how she is still growing and it got me thinking to what my struggles in my life are right now and how I am still thankful for my life:

1.  You never know what a parent goes through with a child and their homework until you have your own that you are doing it with.  As a teacher I NEVER truly understood this until the past month.   I also would like Isabella to enjoy homework with Mommy and not remember how frustrated I get.  I guess I just know what she is capable of and expect that.  We aren't all perfect.  That is what I need to remember. 

2. Money.  Wow, something I totally took for granted until recently.  I'm just glad that my family is healthy and happy.  Things could totally be worse.  We could be loosing our house like the rest of Stockton.

3.  My husband works so hard for us.   I appreciate him and everything he does.  He is an amazing man.  Yes, he does have his faults but we all do, right?  Everyone's fault are just different.

4.  What would you do in life without your friends.  After a time out for women I have come to realize how important my good friends are in my life.  I can see that as my life keeps changing that I don't have as much time for them as I used to but I still love them just as much as I used to.  

5.  Sleep.  Wow, what an amazing concept.  I am realizing this week how important sleep is and so are my children.  We have went to be a little late every night this week and it has effected all of us.  Poor little Chase crawled into bed himself at about 9:30 and took a nap.  Pretty much unheard of for him.  Obviously he needed it.

6.  Since Chase had his birthday I am realizing how quickly my children are growing up, right before my eyes.   Where did my baby Chase go?  When I see older kids it makes me sad to think that they are going to be there before I know it.  Right now I just need to cherish the cuddle time that he gives me.  I love it so much and I am going to miss it so much when he gets older and we don't have that time anymore.   Also, with them growing up comes new adventures that I am so excited for.

Chase's 3rd birthday invitation...

Here is an example of Chase's birthday invitation.  I just loved how it turned out.  He decided, at the last minute, after wanting a Cars birthday that he'd rather have a train birthday which I love so much more!  =)  (I even perforated the bottom of the ticket stub.  Didn't think anyone would notice but they did.)

I really wanted the photo at the bottom on his invitation but Danny didn't like it.  He says it looks fake.  I LOVE it!  I used the picture that Danny liked more but thought I'd share the one that I liked.

Edible Crayons...

So I saw this on a friends blog and I think they are just adorable.  Some people are so creative!  It is amazing.  Click below to find out how to make them.

Edible Crayons

A time out definitely needed...

I went to a time out for women this weekend in Sacramento with Deanna, Dawna, Dacia, Darlene, Vola, Danicia, Deidra, and Taryn.  It was such an awesome weekend that words can not describe.  I laughed, I cried, I got sick, and I got inspired.   

It all started on Friday night.   We got to listen to Kenneth Cope and Cherie Call.  I think that Cherie Call has to my favorite LDS singer of all time.  She was so real and so amazing!  I just love her songs.  We all know that Kenneth Cope is also always amazing too.  Kenneth Cope has a song titled "White Dress" which made me realize how I really need to do my sister's temple work and that she is waiting on the other side for us to finish it.  Then we got to listen to James L. Ferrell.  He was great also because down is up and up is down.  (You totally understand that if you were there!) =)  

After that we went and grabbed a bit to eat.  This is where being sick comes into play.  I wasn't hungry and so I just had a milkshake.  Well, sometimes my body decides to be lactose intolerant and on Friday night and Saturday morning that is exactly what it did.  I was so sick all night.

Then on Saturday morning I was a little slow going because I felt so bad and we finally made it to TOFW about 45-an hour late.  I started feeling a little better at this point.  When we got there we got to hear the hilarious Mary Ellen Edmunds speak.  We came in on the later part of her speech and I was so disappointed because she was so great!  After her we heard from Kenneth Cope again.  Kenneth Cope sang all day Saturday through out all the speakers.  We heard from Car0lyn Rasmus, Camille Frank Olson, Sharen G. Larsen, and Jason Wright.  All of them were the great speakers.  It was a weekend that I will never forget between the couple next door to our hotel that we heard all night, to Taryn singing in a Karaoke bar, to being uplifted by Cherie Calls songs.   I am so glad that I decided to go it was a weekend that every woman needs to attend.  

I've come to realize that I get nothing out of church.  At my point in life I'm okay with the reason but I miss being spiritually uplifted every once in a while.  That is what this weekend gave me.  I didn't have children interrupting me so that I couldn't hear anything and I didn't have a calling to tend to.  It was just a weekend for me and all the girls.  I am so thankful that my husband gave me the time away to get spiritually uplifted.  I love him more than words can express. =)

Chase is becoming a BIG boy...

On Wednesday we finally got the rails for Chase's bed and we put it together.  So on Wednesday night Chase slept in his "big boy" bed for the first time.  Thank you Grandma Hockey for such a great birthday present for Chase.  He looks so tiny in his new bed.  It is too cute!  

What is it with a child and a bed that their first instinct is to jump on it.  That is how Chase broke his bed in.  He just jumped and jumped and jumped.  =)

Isabella's first big girl school picture

Here is Isabella's school picture that we got on Friday.  I just love it.  =)