Disney Christmas Trip

Merry Christmas 2009

Jarrett had fun trying on hats in every country in Epcot, I sure hope he didn't get lice!

Christmas Eve at Hollywood Studios

Playing in the sand at Wilderness Lodge.

Meeting Cinderella at the Grand Floridian. So Sweet!

Nathan danced with the evil step sister!

Visiting Santa at Saratoga Springs before Christmas Eve Dinner!

Giant Gingerbread house at the Grand Floridian

Watch out drivers her comes Madelyn!

Winnie the Pooh!

Love the castle!

Our family was very blessed this year to be able to take a Christmas trip to Disney World. We were oringinally scheduled to go over spring break but the flights were just way too expensive. So we decided to move our trip up to December and we decided to drive. People thought we were crazy for driving that far, but really our kids are great travelers and flying has just become a hassle. Plus, the flights were $700 a person. If I am going to pay that much I am going to go somewhere much more exciting than Orlando. We had an awesome and very relaxing trip. We took a lot of breaks from the parks, swam, played games, but mostly we ate. I think we all gained some serious weight.

Prayer Request

I am up and it is 5 am on a holiday. I can't sleep. Last night Nathan gave us quite a scare. He had been outside enjoying his favorite past time, digging in the dirt pile at the construction site next door, it was getting cold and dark so I told him it was time to come in. He was filthy so I picked him up and carried him upstairs. (Yep, I can still carry my almost 9 year old!!) As I was getting his bath ready, he used the restroom and starting gasping. His pee was filled with blood, not just a little blood, but a lot of blood. I am freaking out on the inside. I stick him in the tub and run downstairs to call the Dr.'s office. I know in my mind it is most likely no big deal but I seriously revert back to the mom of a 1 pound baby when he gets sick. I am hoping that by some chance that the Dr.s office has extended hours tonight. It is already 5:15 pm the night before Thanksgiving so I know we are probably out of luck.
Much to my surprise the receptionist answers and is able to get us right in. I had been in the middle of baking an apple pie so I turn off the oven and get Nathan dressed. Part of the reason I was so worried was because for the last week he has been complaining that his body hurts. He has been so dramatic about it and to be honest Jarrett and I were getting rather annoyed by it because it seemed to only hurt when we asked him to do something like get dressed or go clean his room. My imagination is running wild and mommy guilt is setting in. I am thinking, "Did I miss the warning signs of something major??"
After the first urinalysis they ruled out a UTI. The nurse practitioner asked our pediatrician to stay late because of Nathan's extensive medical history. Jarrett and I were very appreciative of that. They did diagnose him with a double ear infection. He never, ever told us his ears hurt. Our Dr. said sometimes when kids get viruses or infections there bodies can react by producing blood in their urine. So it could just be no big deal. They sent us over to the hospital for blood work and more urine samples as a precaution. We are also taking him for a kidney ultrasound on Friday morning and then back to the Dr. Friday afternoon. So as of now we still don't know the exact cause but we are so thankful that God is taking care of our son and helping us get answers quickly. Please pray for Nathan that he is healed of whatever this is. Thank you!

360

The curtains by sweet friend Taffy made! Jarrett's 35th Bday!

Fall Break 2009-Silver Dollar City, Madelyn gets her ears pierced!

Pony farm!

We got some new trees for our new house!!

Happy 7th Bday Ella!!




BOO!

Happy Halloween!!!!!

My life has done a complete 360. I have gone from being a stay at home mom, to a homeschooling mom, to a stay at home mom while my kids are at school mom, now I am a working mom. I have been MIA the last couple of months while our family has been adjusting to this new way of life. I am shocked at how things have changed in our lives some for the good, some for the not so good. Of course I second guess everything all of the time. I always wonder if I have done the right thing, if my kids are going to be better off or worse off for the decisions I have made. Sometimes I even wish I could go back to homeschooling. I must say though that I love my job and feel complete peace while I am there. It is just the other stuff that stresses me out like, laundry, finding time to pay bills and balance the check book, cleaning and cooking and working out, grocery shopping. I just don't have enough hours in the day or I am just to wiped out at the end of the day to do anything productive. The first few months of school were CRAZY! We would get to school by 7:15 and leave after 5:00 most days. Then I would work after the kids went to bed. Now we keep much better hours! Thankfully my kids LOVE playing in my classroom and helping mommy out. I absolutely love the ladies I work with, God has truly blessed me with a fun team to teach with and a great copy mom. (no more standing and making hundreds of copies each week!!) I love my class and helping them reach their full potential. They are a fun and crazy group of kids. They keep me own my toes for sure! I didn't realize how much I missed teaching until I went back. Jarrett has been amazing by being supportive and by helping out more around the house. Plus, he has lowered his expectations and he even thinks it is great when we have cereal for dinner.

Nathan has been busy with his Occupational and physical therapy, his social skills group and his Piano. In his free time he loves playing legos, wii and ds, reading and doing science experiments.

Madelyn started speech this fall to work on her "r's" She is getting better everyday! She loves first grade, her teacher and all of her new friends. When we get home from school she runs up to the game room and plays "school". You would think she had her fill after being there all day. Two days a week she goes to her power tumbling class where she is working hard to get her back handspring.

Ok, so that is it for now. I just wanted to jot down a few thoughts before they are completely forgotten. I am going to try to do better about posting. If for nothing else as a record of our lives so that some day when I find time to work on my photo albums I will have this blog to help me remember.

The First Day

Today was firsts for all of us! Madelyn's first day of first grade! Nathan's first day of third grade. Mrs. Short's first day back as a teacher in 8 years. We all had a great day but are exhausted tonight! Both kids have relaxed in the bath tub, eaten pizza and have fallen asleep and it is only 8pm. Well I am off to rest before day 2!

Pictures

4TH OF JULY AT SKIATOOK LAKE



WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME AT THE LAKE THIS SUMMER! WE WENT WITH COUSINS, FRIENDS, AND GRANDPARENTS. NATHAN AND MADELYN LOVED TUBING AND GOING FAST AND JUMPING THE WAKE.



WE WENT TO THE BROKEN ARROW WATER PARK WITH OUR FRIENDS, THE CLARKS AND MY SISTER'S FAMILY. THE KIDS HAD A BLAST AND WE HAD PERFECT WEATHER.

MOMMY AND TRACI TAKE SOPHIE TUBING !

I LOVE THIS PICTURE OF KENNEDY AND MADELYN. THESE TWO GIRLS HAVE SPENT A LOT OF TIME PLAYING THIS SUMMER. WE LIVE JUST A COUPLE OF STREETS OVER FROM THEM . TODAY THE HELD A GARAGE SALE IN MADELYN'S BEDROOM. TOO SWEET!

Our new kitchen curtains! I am thrilled with how they turned out!

Ty, Ella and Madelyn at the BA water park.

Almost every night after dinner the kids go outside and play in the dirt pile next store. I don't know what we are going to do when they are done building this house! I love that Madelyn is digging while wearing a skirt!

Jet skiing with dad!

Pushing cousin Ally into the lake!

Cousins!!

Dinner with My girls from my high school Discipleship group!

Jarrett took several Fridays off this summer to hang out with us! We took the kids to the Aquarium and obviously spent a ton of time at the lake and pool!

So two more days until I become a working mom! It is so weird to think that last year at this time I was homeschooling Nathan, stressing about sending Madelyn to kindergarten and never had a thought to go back to teaching. I feel a peace about this but I am still a little nervous. I am having a little mommy guilt and a little jealousy that Jarrett is taking a week vacation to stay home with the kids while I attend meetings and training before the students report to school. Part of me wishes I could stay home and play with them. However, I could not have asked for a better situation. I work with a great group of ladies who love the Lord, have an awesome principal and the kids and I get to be together.

Ok, here are some pics from our summer. I have included a pic of my new curtains that were hung tonight.(Thank you Mitch and Jarrett!) My BFF, Taffy, who is oh so talented, sewed these panels for me. Her family just moved here from Colorado and we have had a blast hanging out with them this summer. I am so grateful to have my kitchen done before I go to work. Jarrett painted this weekend and did an awesome job!! We still have the archway to paint. We are still trying to decide on a paint color for it. Thank you, thank you, thank you! By the way, after school starts Taffy is going to start offering her sewing services to others for a great/affordable price. (She did all my curtains in my last house!!)