surprise for me

The kids "helped" Ryan setting up my Anniversary/Valentine's surprise! I walked into the dining room to this fabulous sight: roses, chocolate and a romantic card from my husband. He's too good to me and knows exactly what to say to make me melt.


The kids were so pleased with themselves for "helping" so well! Their breaths smelled of chocolate, I wonder how much "help" they actually were...

And I also got my OWN Webkinz! I am so addicted to them and I didn't have my own...but now I do!! Do YOU Webkinz?

it's all about aimee!

Here's a post just for Aimee...25 things why we all love her:

1) She has an infectious laugh
2) She absolutely loves music
3) She is faithful
4) She's an incredible example to me, her ELDER sister
5) She's taller than all of us siblings in our family
6) She is a gifted piano player
7) She's ambidextrous
8) She has a round nose...she told me once that if you pinch her nostrils closed, her nose is a ball.
9) She served in the West Virginia Mission
10) She works extremely hard (see #9)
11) She has a car named Burt
12) She worked at Albertsons in her teen years as a grocery packing technician
13) Her nickname as a girl was, "Choke." She would always inhale air when she drank any liquid and would end up spewing it back out during her choke session. Followed by some rather impressive burps! (She still does.)
14) She has a beautiful singing voice
15) She is a fabulous aunt!16) She loves to shop
17) She likes Chinese Food
18) She loves her birthdays...she'd say things like, "If you don't count the next five months, tomorrow is my birthday!!" It's actually Christensen folklore...an urban legend!

19) She has a darling sense of humor (see #18)
20) She likes to read good books

21) She's very loyal
22) She loves good music and is always on the look out for new artists
23) She is so much fun to be up talking with way past midnight
24) She's endearing
25) She's my beautiful sister!

Happy Birthday to you today, Aim! Hope that your day is something special since you're halfway to 50! I mean, you're a Quarter-Century old! I mean, you're 25. Love you!!

it's just a thesis!

Dedicated to my friend who is trying to finish her book report...I mean thesis:
I'm praying for you!

Keeping my fingers crossed for you!
You can see the silver-lining!

You can do it!

You are amazing!

We'll party after it's done!
Tick- tock! You can do it!
You're almost done! Eat an apple and finish it!

Then you'll have your Master's Degree!! You have a lot of support behind you, you're nearly done...it'll all be worth it! I know it's a uber difficult feat and huge accomplishment and there's no way I could do it. You rock!

horrible very bad kinda okay saturday

I was in pain. Intense pain. My teeth are so sensitive anyway, but if you add a sinus infection into the mix and if it happens to settle in my vulnerable teeth....that equals disaster! The throbbing was so great I couldn't lie down and kept me from sleep. It made me nauseous so I was up watching t.v. all night to distract myself. Called the hospital, but they couldn't do anything until morning. Oh great.

I finally got to sleep and that lasted for 20 minutes! By that time I called my fabulous dentist and he called in some medicine at the pharmacy.
Realizing that I had a full day ahead of me, I got up and took Carter back to Quick Care. He had a yeast infection which was very painful. Got some more medicine for him.
Went back home and got everyone else ready to go. I melted down because of the pain, it had spread to my jaw and ear! My muscles were so tight I could hardly talk.
Ryan needed to get to school. Ryanna and Dawson needed to get to the Primary Activity. Dropped Ryan off at school and headed over to the church.
Pulled into the parking lot, jumped out and just happened to glance at my rear right tire. Flat as a pancake. I wasn't going anywhere! (even though Safeway AND Les Schwab were only 1/4 mile away!)

Went and dropped the kids off inside the church and I came back outside to ponder what I should do about my tire. I don't know what gave me away. Maybe it was the puffy eyes, my blotchy cheeks or how I would start tearing up at the drop of a hat, not sure which.
Thankfully, while I was inside; my fabulous home teacher was not only outside my van waiting to talk to me, he had already had my van on the jack. He started to take the tire off and said that he'd run it over to Les Schwab and get it taken care of while I was at the activity.
Okay, so that took care of my flat tire. Now I needed my drugs for my cheek and jaw. A few other wonderful friends tended my children while I borrowed a vehicle and ran to Safeway. Got my prescription and ran back over to the church. The activity was just about over and my van was repaired. I was set! I loaded up my kids and Suz's kids and ran over to tend for the rest of the day at her house so she and her husband could run up to the temple in Spokane. I was relieved that I was at a cozy, comfy home and was able to rest. As horrible as it was, and as overwhelming as it was, I was surrounded by people that loved and helped me. I couldn't imagine how my morning could have gone had I dealt with it alone. Talk about tender mercies.

That evening, Ryan finally got home and said, "Hey Hon! How was your day?"
I answered, "Fine."
I didn't have the energy to get into it.