Another reason to love our library

I think that I am addicted to our town library. I go there at least 2 times a week if not more. Brandon is planning to work with the library for his Eagle project this summer. My kids love the library too and that makes me happy. Today I saw Miss Geri, the storytime lady that we always went to. We love her. We try to still look for her when we are there. She remembers the kids and me by name. We have a bond.

Yesterday we got a call from the library that was unexpected. Remember several months ago when Brandon found the money in the Garfield library book and then returned it? Well, -- it turns out the other people never came to pick it up! The library decided to wait for a certain amout of time and then called us to pick it up!! It was a happy day for Brandon boy!! He set aside tithing money - just because he felt grateful to even have the $ and then we headed over to Game Stop -- where else!! He got a game and some book for his DS and then we got a family game for the Wii. It is the Jillian 2009 workout. We will see who uses it the most. I gave then some direction!

So there you go - do the right thing and good things happen!

Our Spring Break

I finished Trevor's t shirt blankie during the big snow storm

Todd recently got a new camping grill/ stove so he has had fun with that!

Spring Break Snow

A few days before the snow!

Todd with his sling. Picture taken with the new laptop.

I just noticed that I have posted 225 posts! Wow. we have been having computer issues and was hoping to be a 2 computer family when we got this new laptop, but would you believe that the very day that we got the laptop the old desk top died. There were some pictures that I had not backed up - I know stupid me - so Iam extra grateful now that I have been blogging the important stuff at least! Our really smart computer friend, Travis, is helping us to recover our stuff. I hope.

We are so stupid with computers. As long as they work when you push the button we are good. Now we are learning how to do a laptop - yes we are behind - and vista and all the rest. Have any of you used Skype? I have seen it before - like on Oprah - and apparently we are set up for it - but we know nothing. I actually got on our REALLY old desktop that was in the basement to see if it was worth anything (nope) and it was so funny to see how much things have changed just in say ten years. Amazing.

Anyhow, we didnt go anywhere for Spring Break, with Todd's surgery and all. It has been nice to be lazy. We went to see Race to Witch Mountain with the kids, we saw Todd's folks (thanks for the button down short sleeved shirts for Todd with his arm!) and the kids and friends all went sledding after the big storm the other day. I will post some before pictures with Christen actually sunbathing and running through the hand sprinklers just a few days before the storm. Crazy. We also spent time with our neighbors, went to a local Catholic church fish fry, watched DVDs, including a marathon of Brady Bunch during the storm, and started the process for Brandon's Eagle project. Todd is feeling better each day, but it is still much slower and a bigger deal than we were expecting. My friend, Melanie, said that her husband has had one shoulder done and needs the other one done but you think twice about doing it again after the first. Now we understand.

Todd's Aunt and Uncle passed away this past week. It was an accident. This was especially sad for us because Aunt Ruth was the one that introduced Todd to me and we were very close to them. Christen was named after this aunt and my mom -- Christen Ruth. I so wish the we could go to the funeral in California but with Todd's recent surgery and expense we are not. They lived in the town where I graduated from High School.

Big ouch!

Todd had his shoulder surgery on Thursday. From a tear in the rotator cuff on the right, ski accident. Everything went well -- especially that first day and night when he was on a nerve block - like an epideral. Saturday night and Sunday were not so good when all of the pain pills did a number on his stomach. The ultimate was when we took the bandages off today. Have you ever seen America's Funniest Videos when they have people wax off chesthair? Oh my -- I though he was really going into shock for a bit there. It was almost funny - but not then for him at least. He has been saying that his shoulder pain has been at about a 2 or 3 out of 10 even without meds now - but when I ripped off the tape off his hairy chest the pain was at a 10! I actually had to remind him to breath through his nose and out his mouth! - and keep talking to me!! Poor Guy! He hopes to go back to work on Wed.

Loser Lisa

Just a little update on the dieting--notice I havent said anything for awhile because it has been kind of slow. Anyhow, I have lost my 10% and then now 22 lbs!! I actually made my goal for 3 more lbs to lose and then if I can maintain for 6 weeks I get weight watchers for free!! (lifetime member) At this point we get paid back through Todd's work - but still --
Yay me!!

Its not easy sometimes though. For example last night we went to KFC with my mom before she left today -and I was like - yeah -what do I eat? I had a side salad, corn on the cob and a roasted chicken breast and was totally satified. Then another hard choice --Coldstone - but I had a Like It Sinless, fat free Cream with grahm crackers mixed in. I know I am totally pathetic! - but hey-!! It was tasty

Also at exercise class yesterday for the first time ever I could hold the plank position for the full minute!!

Sorry - that is enough! It is so easy to gain it back - I know because I have done that too. I hope it lasts this time.

Christen's Baptism

Saturday was a big day for our family - especially for Christen. She was baptised!! We were so excited and a little emotional for me because she is the baby. It was a wonderful event. Grandma C was here of course, as well as Todd's parents, many ward members and our friend Denise from next door. Christen was baptised with two other church friends and that was nice.

Todd was well prepared and the spirit was strong. It went without a hitch until I went to help her change. OK - this would only happen to me. I went to unzip the jumpsuit and it was stuck. REALLY stuck - like we tried over and over again and my friend Lecia was in the bathroom and she tried for awhile - all as poor Christen was shivering! I finally decided we needed some scissors to cut the back out and get her dry! We did that and got her ready for the confirmation. I hope that this is not the only thing she remembers about her baptism when people ask!!

It really was a wonderful day and we had a nice family dinner afterwards. Congratulations Christen! We love you and Heavenly Father loves you too!

Cousins come to town!

OK - One more entry to catch up! This past weekend we were able to see our cousins Jenna and Zach - and Todd's sister SueAnn!! They were here just for a few days. The kids spent the night with Gma and Gpa with the cousins and then the next day we went rock climbing- well the kids climbed and the adults bolle -ed (sp) We had a great time catching up!

Trevor's Science Fair

Trevor and a friend did their Science Fair Project on the effects of caffeine to your heart rate. They concluded that it did in fact increase yuor heart rate. (They didnt use anything stronger than Mountain Dew) They actually included information from the December issues of the Ensign and New Era magazines. - Did you see the picture with the spider on caffeine with its web? Woah!

Pioneer Day for Christen

Friday was Pioneer Day at school for Christen. She had a special dress that has been passed down by several generations - not as far back as the pioneers - but her gma made the dress she is wearing for Aunt SueAnn as a Betsy Ross costume and then her cousins have worn it and now it is Christens turn!

Trevor's last Blue and Gold

We had a great ham dinner for our ward Blue and Gold dinner. This is the 1st time in MANY years that I did not have to set up. It was nice to sit back and be a parent. The boys even served the parents dinner!

Christen's birthday

Christen is 8!

Christen had her 8th birthday on Feb 25th. I cant believe that my baby is 8! Ive been pretty contimplative lately and excited too for her and her baptism and all. She is so adorable and I am so grateful to have her! We kind of spread out her birthday for the week because we had alot going on. Gma C would have been here to celebrate too but Brandon had the flu so she will come in on Wed the 4th. (Brandon is fine now but didnt want to give that to Gma)



Anyhow, she had a great week of celebrating with a new Wii game - Raving Rabbids, T- shirt blanket (long overdue) scriptures (from Gma and Gpa E) scripture case, some beads for necklaces and a little bday $. we also went out to Red Robin the Monday before.

8 things I love about Christen;

1) She can be such a tomboy and then the next minute be a girly girl.

2) She is so cute! I love her nickname - Kissy - from Chris - Chrissy - Kissy and sometimes Kiss Kiss

3) She is a great friend.

4) She is a great student.

5) She is usually very laid back and doesnt take things too seriously.

6) She is very athletic and full of energy

7) She is very appeciative.

8) She is a girl - and she is all mine!!

This all makes up for the fact that her room is horribly messy 95% of the time - worse than the boys!

I love you Kissy!

My unexpected trip

So--- about 10 days ago I totally biffed it - face plant as I was getting the kids to the car after school. Big bruises on my knees and my hands were full so fell on my face - hit the edge of my glasses and voila!! Ive been wearing big sunglasses and trying to hide it with make up when I have to. Bummer. After a week and a half it is still totally obvious but starting to heal. This picture was three days after. Todd really had nothing to do with it. The girl we carpool with was directly in front of me and then suddenly stopped in the middle of the street! I tripped over her and her big ole backpack. I was holding Christen's hand and then my other hand was full off waterbottles and kids stuff. Luckily, we were out of the way of the cars. I was so embarrassed I just got up and headed straight to the car. I had to get my glasses adjusted and then go to a Blue and Gold dinner for one of the wards I am over.

Actually, another interesting thing about that day was that earlier before all of that happened I decided to wash the van because it was like 55 degrees not a cloud in the sky. I was so proud of myself. Then after the blue and Gold iwas at I drove home in a total snowstorm and then the next day it was back in the 50's. Crazy weather we have here!!