Pork anyone???

So I couldn't resist posting this so we can remember it for years to come. This is one of those family dinner time funnies. In our family we try to insure that the children are not antagonizing one another. Or making fun of each other for their differences or weaknesses. At any rate kids will be kids.

One of our kiddos loves pigs. Pigs are of the utmost importance to this child. So important that within this past year if the child knew the food we were eating contained pork. They would not partake. So yesterday was Sunday and Eric being the good father he is prepared our Sunday dinner. He made a delicious pork roast with all the trimmings. We were about 3/4 into the meal and ALL enjoying it very much, when one child turns to the pig loving child and states, "You know what you're eating don't you? That's PIG"! So the pig loving child promptly spit out all the food from their mouth and ran out of the room. The rest of us just sat with our mouths gaping open at how fast the topic of conversation had turned from discussing our Sunday lessons to complete anger and despair. Eric and I excused the child that provoked the situation. The rest of us continued eating our lovely "roast" dinner. Well all of us, except the pig lover that is.

The Big MOVE!

This is what our house looks like all emptyIt is a sad sight for me, once all of our pictures came off the wall it wasn't home anymore. We will miss the home quite a bit, luckily it's still ours. This is what we looked like on the road to ColoradoWe had to park on the street in New Mexico when we stayed over night in a hotel. We were quite the long train. It was an easy move despite Zach and I having to watch Eric and Derick in the large Uhaul sway back and forth. It also was pretty scary when suddenly the trailer I was pulling would start fish tailing. Somehow I always managed to pull out of it. Luckily for us! We arrived in Castle Rock, CO the next day and we were so anxious to see the inside of our new home. We rented it sight unseen, except for a virtual tour. Luckily the home was exactly how we pictured it and so we are happy.We have the kids registered for school, the elementary kids start August 18th, they are on Track C, and Kimberlee starts school on August 10th. I was offered the job with the City of Littleton and start Wed. Aug 12th. We are all happy to be here and are settling in quite nicely. Things are so much less expensive here and with the cooler weather we feel blessed to be here.

Catch- Up

The time just passes by too fast sometimes. Since my last post alot has changed. Right after starting my diet to loose my muffin top I had some teeth issues. Turns out I needed a root canal among other things and so my diet went to pot. Unfortunately I still have my muffin top. May was a busy month with kids getting out of school, dance recital, parties, Kimberlee's 13th birthday and our 14th Wedding Anniversary. Eric and I were able to get away for a mini vacation which was super nice. We really enjoyed our time away. June brought a phone call from the Littleton Police Department wanting to interview me. So Eric and I flew up to CO for an interview. Before we left I had word that I passed the first step and they wanted a 2nd interview. As I write this today I haven't heard back from the background check to see if I have the job. I feel confidant that I do have it but the process just takes forever. So we are packing up our home, trying to find renters for it and also trying to find a home to rent in CO. Fun times for sure. We are moving the end of July which doesn't give us much time. The kids are all super excited about the move. We feel this is where our family is supposed to be so we are excited about it as well. For the 4th of July we drove to CO for further testing and so forth for my job. We took the kids to the best water park ever, Waterworld CO. It was so awesome. We met our neice and nephew Alexis and Ryan Pagel. It was a blast. We got to buy fireworks and let them off. It was a fun night. Then we drove home and ended up in Heber a few days before the 4th to celebrate with my family. We got up early and participated in our 1st "Carissa's Run" and then enjoyed a parade, yummy food, cousins, and fireworks before heading home to be here for a special baby blessing. What a week that was. When we got home I took Livie to the Dr. as she developed a bad cough and cold like symptoms while we were away. We found out she actually had walking pneumonia. No wonder why the over the counter medicines didn't seem to be making a difference. This past week was busy with packing and packing and more packing. On Thursday July 15th Olivia started complaining about her tummy hurting. We thought maybe she was just hungry. So we fed her dinner and then put the kids to bed. At about 2 am she woke up screaming, had a high fever, throwing up, and telling me her right side hurt. She was up and crying until 4:30 when she finally fell asleep. She slept until 8 and then still complained about her side hurting. So I took her to her pediatrician to have it checked out. The pediatrician told us to go to the ER. When we got to the ER the Dr. ordered a CT scan of her abdomen and found out she had appendicitis. Poor little girl was going to have to have surgery. I called Eric and he came right over and he called my Dad to come help give her a blessing. When Grandpa showed up he had a balloon and a cute little brown puppy. Livie was so happy to see her Grandpa and her new puppy. The surgeon told us surgery was at 4:00 so that was fast. We only had 1 hr to wait before the surgery. Her surgery went well, and when we got to go back to see Liv she was asleep and looked like she was in pain. She opened her eyes and told us her tummy was hurt. Luckily she was able to tolerate morphine so that helped to take the pain away. She did what the Dr.'s and nurses told her and got better so fast they let her come home the next day. It was so good to be home and able to sleep. She is doing so well and rarely complains of any pain. She walks a little funny now, legs spread apart and slightly leaning forward. It's hard to see your kiddos in pain, but I'm thankful for good doctors to help her get better!

Olivia's Speech= Silliness!

We have come a LONG way with Olivia's speech! When she was three and just learning how to talk we could hardly communicate. It was heart wrenching to know your child wanted or needed something and you just can't figure out what that need is. I remember many times Olivia throwing herself down on the floor in defeat because I just couldn't figure out what she was trying to tell me. UGH! So I went to MPS and had her tested. After one failed attempt I retried when she was a bit older and she was accepted. She has since attended two years of speech therapy in school and her vocab has improved greatly. From her first talk as a sunbeam where she bore testimony of "Harry Potter" AKA Heavenly Father. That is seriously how it sounded when she talked. To being 5 years old with two years of speech under her belt. She now has a much more efficient whole language concept. She no longer says I go outside or things incorrect like that. BUT, it can't be perfect, right??? So now she has a few articulation issues. Funny ones I think, for example:
She says:
Bitchup = Bishop
Traighten= Straighten
Irun= Iron
Whaf if= What if
Trawberry= Strawberry
Shange= Change
Shair=Chair
Shring= String
Shockboard= Chalkboard

Stuff like that, I love it but it won't be so cute when she is 10, so maybe one more year of speech and we'll have it down pat.

What I'm missing out on

A few of my favorite things have been causing me much grief recently! Mainly because I have chosen to not partake of them. :( I walk through the grocery store and see this:
All of the above happen to be some of my most "needed" commodities around this time of year. And then I visit friends houses and I find these sitting on a perfectly cleared off table in an inviting candy dish:
As if that isn't enough torture, these were right beside those:
And tonight at a baby shower these were displayed eloquently on a tiered cup cake tray:
As well as many other delectable delights, such as fruits of all variety, and some yummy looking pasta salad. Instead of endeavoring in pure delight, I opted for eating these:All to get rid of this: My
Top!

Check this out:

My sister in law started this amazing company. Selling high quality boutique items for your precious son or daughter. The clips are so Amazingly cute too! You will want to visit her website for sure!!!

MacyMae Clippies

Introducing La Bebe's exclusive line of hair clippies! All MacyMae clippies come lined with our patent-pending silicone gel grip that prevents the clip from slipping out of even the finest baby hair. MacyMae Clippies are being worn on newborns all the way up to adults since they are hip and modern styles for anyone!

What I have learned...

I have something to admit that I'm not very proud of. Since I graduated from seminary I haven't applied myself to daily study of the scriptures. I would do really well some days and others not so great. I was having some problems in our home life and was challenged by a friend to complete the study of the Book of Mormon in 40 days. I really didn't think it was even possible but following the guidelines she gave me I began reading. As I read I discovered I was becoming almost addicted to the stories. I felt as if I was living in the time of the prophets of old. I put myself many times in the exact circumstances of them and wondered how I might react or do things. Through this study I learned some important things. I learned that we as a people need to become more Christlike. We can become more like him by learning more of him. President Gordon B. Hinkley said, "There is nothing we could do of greater importance than to have fortified in our individual lives an unshakable conviction that Jesus is the Christ, the living Son of the the living God." I also learned that just because fathers of old chose unwisely doesn't mean that one righteous son or daughter can break that cycle by choosing to come unto Christ. This is done by studying about him, and praying for strength. I also learned to beware of pride. It is an evil all around us, even today. To become more Christlike in all of our dealings with our fellow men will indeed break the horrible cycle of pride. In my studies I would find the time passing by and me reading beyond the daily recommended scriptures. I began reading on Mar. 1st and completed the sacred words on Mar. 30th. I challenge anyone who is having personal struggles or needs questions answered to partake in a daily study of the Book of Mormon. For in the pages of this book, you will find the answers and peace you are seeking. This is my testimony!
Leah