I’m not too sure of where to start on the week’s worth of blogging that I need to do…
I really like the way I’ve seen some do it in one big post, but I think that I’m going to start with tonight and then spread the rest out over the next couple of days. Besides its midnight Chad is home now, it’s been a long day and I have another ahead of me, Daddy Daughter Date Activity tomorrow evening that will be a big day of putting it all together :) I can’t wait we have all been looking forward to it for 2 months now.

So here is some of our trick or treating pictures from tonight. We had a blast and the boys loved, chose and insisted being the same/matching Theme. For my Family’s information it was them and not my doing.

*For those without boys, Chris was Darth Vader or Bader as he pronounces it, and Jimmy was a Clone Trooper....not Storm Trooper!
*Jimmy is a great Big Brother he loves helping Chris and including him with everything that he does. As you’ll see in my upcoming posts from today’s activities, he had him right there to take pictures together with his Teacher

...we went to her haunted house tonight...
*Neither one has much fear; the last picture is of Chris talking to Frankenstein. Where most were scared he was chatting up a storm with him. In that picture he was telling him and I quote “have fun scaring the kids”.

LOL ...LOVE that KID!!

Can you believe it it’s Halloween night!!... The boys and I have had ONE JAM PACKED DAY so far… it’s mandatory “rest time" for an hour of peace for all three of us… we still have to...

pick up Dad (Steve), do dinner, trick-or-treat, have a treat with our friends afterwards, and then scary movie time!!! (Casper)... WOW!!.. that is why Auntie wanted a nap but it seems that I am working against the sugar and have to moderate the “rest time” so I thought that I would take advantage of the moment and just jot a note down. I’ll be the one in the corner sleeping during the movie!!

I CAN’T BELIEVE THAT THERE IS ONLY 2 MONTHS LEFT OF 2008!!!... What a YEAR!!

LOL LOL LOL…. I just checked on the boys in the front room, I’m in the kitchen so that I could “moderate”… here is what I found!!!... wow what 6 min can do and change into!!....LOL LOL LOL

SWEET VICTORY IS MINE!!!

(and now I have a picture for the post... not planned)

I just wanted to put a note in here that I know that I’m a week behind in my posts again… You’ll see why after a few of the ones that I need to enter… But I wanted to get the one about Chad out to everyone that He’s ok… Incase I haven’t gotten a chance to let you know, and of course that we found Griz as well.

Now I will post the rest and get caught back up….again… You’ll never believe that I took almost 300 pictures in a week…WOW!!! Thank goodness for digital pictures and not worrying about “film” anymore… will our kids even know what that is??? LOL but I do need to commit myself to printing a certain amount of my “favorites” once a month and start scrapbooking them… I use to really enjoy it and it’s been a long while… I love to “create” and I want to do more than just think about it… besides if I don’t do a book for the boys who will… guess I’ve got to get on it!!

Tragedy at our house… On Sunday Griz and Cub went for a “walk” without US. I spent 6 hours on Sunday looking for her and several on Monday. Then Tuesday and Wednesday were the way they were so I didn’t have time to look. We have missed her like crazy!!.. Well this afternoon I called the Shelter and she was there!!! So I went and got her out of DOGGIE JAIL!!... I was very clear with her that she was not allowed to go on unauthorized walks or vacations. :) ... TRAGEDY OVERTED!!!

She was as glad to see us as we were to see her.

It has been a GREAT reunion!!

Welcome Home Griz... We Love You!!

Just a few pictures right before he went in… We were “blowing off” some stress and having a few moments of fun… I truly love my husband

and BEST FRIEND!!...

I’m so glad that the Lord answers prayers!!

and for the peace that knowledge gives me!!

Thank you to everyone for all of your prayers and concern. For those that weren’t in “the Know” about the latest for Chad, he went in on Wednesday for an angiogram. On Monday morning we were told that the results were

VERY VERY irregular.

So when they finally called us back in the afternoon they told us to be prepared to stay over night. I asked for an explanation to the “VERY VERY” comment. They said that the results of the test showed that there was major damage to the font of his heart and that it looked as if it wasn’t getting blood flow nor oxygen. She said that they were preparing for SEVERAL stints unless the damage had diesed his heart, and if that was the case they wouldn’t do anything more then, but that he could be placed on the heart transplant list.

OK…. SO IF THAT DIDN’T SCARE US TO DEATH

I DON’T KNOW WHAT WOULD?!?!.....
We talked about things that no 38 & 39 year old couple should ever have to face…. We do know that we should but on our terms and not someone else’s.

We had so many prayers from everyone and his name placed in 4 temples. THANK YOU!! We believe/know that we received a miracle. He has had 3 heart stress tests in two different hospitals and all showed that there were blockages. And when they did the angiogram there were

NO BLOCKAGES!!

What a relief!! Now we just have find out what is wrong with him, BUT at least it’s not his heart!!

He is a walking example of the Lord’s mercies

and latter day miracles.

summer 2007

I have one more very special post. On Wednesday October 1, 2008 I was having a really hard day. I had two close friends that took time out of their very busy and crazy days to listen to a friend and help her out. I want to thank you for your time and listening ears. Thanks Cyrene, and Debi for our hallway talks, it’s really nice to know that your not alone and not going crazy… that there is someone (many of us I imagine) out there that feels the same and has the same/similar fears. That day just really stood out to me and I guess I really needed to have a friend’s shoulder that day, and they came to the rescue.

I must say that I have had many friends and family that have come to me and given me extra care and love, sometimes without even knowing that they were doing it, and I want to say THANK YOU... TO ALL OF YOU!!...

I hope that I can do the same for you as well. That is what friendship and family is all about, helping and being there for each other. Thanks for the phone call Kristi… You always know :).

Kristi and Tammy August 2007

Last Saturday the 11th was one of my best friends (Lindsay) little boys (Brennan) birthday. I was there with Lindsay and her family when little (not so little anymore) Brennan was born. Lindsay and I became friends while working at Dillard’s together. She was the first really close friend that I made after moving out to Utah. I feel like she is a sister to me. We have been through some really tough times along with the great times. It’s one of those friendships that has lasted through the weather of time.

The boys and I were on our way to the birthday party when Jimmy asked me if Lindsay and Brennan were family. I let him know that they were the closest of friends just like family, and he said yea I think they are family, Chris strongly agreed. I included some pictures of the boys before we left (little cheezers) along with some of the party. The first picture on the third row is of Brennan and Jimmy, mind you that Brennan is 15 days older than Chris and 3 years younger than Jimmy…. Can you say BASKET BALL STAR is written for his future…lol…

we love you Lindsay and Brennan.

Ok So Chad and Griz took a nap together and I just couldn’t resist… she’s getting so big, it’s fun to watch her grow. These pictures were last week on the 9th so you can only imagine how much more she’s grown… I’ll get some new ones this week.

Two weeks ago (getting closer to the present lol).. Our washer went out (still out) and flooded my laundry room. What a mess!!.. I had all the laundry that had built up that still needed to be done and now had to add to it, as well…

I had to sit (literally) on top of the washer wait and watch it. As the washer would push the water out I would have to stop it and then wait till it drained out then turn it on for a second and click it off before it filled too far & so on & so on. Here are a few of the pictures of all that was done. I was up till 4 a.m. working on it. What a long day and night. It still isn’t working but thank goodness, to a good friend’s help I’m not sitting on top of the washer these days!! :)

Oh I guess I should say that the washer didn’t go out it’s the plumbing again. So it’s the clothes washer, dish washer, and sink in the kitchen…. non of which work till I get a plumber out here, and well it wasn’t in the budget so it will be 2 more weeks… what fun huh!!... I’ve got to get some paper goods…lol…. (I don’t have a kitchen of dirty dishes.. I just have to do it very carefully and only let a small amount of water down at a time…so no worries)

On the same day as the Fieldtrip… 9-30-08, Chad went out doing one of his favorite things in the world to do… Mining. He went with some friends and they went horse back ridding into the mountains. Chad’s horse got spooked and bucked him off. He hurt his back pretty bad. Gratefully NOTHING was broken, but he was banged up pretty badly and in a lot of pain. He missed a week of work, but is now doing a little better. Hopefully he will be off “light duty” soon, and feeling on top of his game again. Here are a few pictures of his day that ended quite early (due to his injuries).

I’m glad that the pictures are a little far away because
I look terrible!!

We were exploring and using our hand made “viewers” that the kids made the week before. We were walking together with our ‘buddies,” looking at the flowers, bugs, animals, and some that weren’t really there, but they believed they were soo… they were!!
We then rolled down the hill (even raced), ate home packed lunches, and played on the playground. It was fun and the kids had a blast, I think.

It has been fun to watch them learn and grow, one of the best things that I’ve done and have enjoyed it greatly!! :)

Griz short for Grizzly, as have been all of Chad’s dogs since Bear (short for Lady Polar Bear). As anyone that has know us closely knows Bear was Chad’s best bud and it was VERY hard on us (especially Chad) when we lost her last year. So we have gone a few dogs over the past two years since we lost Kodie (Kodiak Baear) and Alexis (Princess Alexis) my cat that I had for 16 years. I think that we have a keeper. So these are the pictures of just after we got her I will post more of her again, I’m trying to go in chronological order :). We got her on Saturday September 27, 2008 .

She is a very smart puppy, she has learned very quickly just about everything that we have tried to teach her except potty training. If anyone has any ideas let me know I could use it at this point. Chad doesn’t want to be the bad guy it’s working for him but she runs when she sees me, well at least when she has done something she shouldn’t have. Oh she also likes to chew on shoes… doesn’t that figure, my two top peeves!! She’s almost got down the no shoes… so I really hope that the potty training is coming quickly!!... I thought that it’s only supposed to take 10 days and we’ve been at this for 21 now, as of today. I have faith that we’re almost there, I hope since she’s not a boy like the last 3 that we had issues with. Oh and Wicket got a new home for those that were wondering.

The First picture is Bear I thought after writing this all out we needed a “cameo” of her, she is after all who every dog that we have is judged against. (I also thought I would add our longest pet family members)

(some of) Our Family of Pets:

BEAR AND DAD

They spent the first 1 1/2 years in the truck together :)

Cub (Bear Cub)

She is Bear's pup

Bear and Kodie
Alexis
Our newest addition...
Griz (at play)Chilling
Saying Hi there :)

We didn’t get out much this summer, and the boys really wanted to go back to Lagoon this year. I think that Jimmy was hoping he had grown enough to ride the “big” rides this year. He was big enough to ride all but the Indiana Jones ride at Disneyland but not able to ride most of the rides at Lagoon last year. Well Steve got a new job with NuSkin
and they rented the whole park and paid for their employees a guest and their dependants to go. So we took advantage of that and the boys got their trip. We surprised them (partly to make sure that we were really going to swing it)

and surprised they were!!

I couldn’t stop smiling, watching, and listening to them. They were totally telling the parking attendant as I was paying for our parking that “they” were at Lagoon and they were going to ride the rides.. it was soooo cute and I just had to let out a laugh and start the smiles for the night! The best part for Jimmy is that he has grown tall enough that he was able to rid all but one… he was in “7th Heaven”. He’s still talking about it.

I had a little fun putting together this college of pictures of our night. This was a different program that I tried out tonight. It took a long time so even though it’s not the best it’s getting used…lol… I had to, too much work to just not use it…lol… if you click on it you can see the pictures a little better….I can’t believe that this was a month ago, but I have to remember I’m catching up on the past 5 weeks, and I thought that I would start there and work toward this week. :)

I have read the scripture of the day many times since I changed it early this morning. It reads: Behold, mine house is a house of order, saith the Lord God, and not a house of confusion. D&C 132:8. WOW I better get on the “BALL”. It is what we have been trying to focus on, getting back some sort of “order” and reduce the “confusion”. I guess that I really was meant to read that scripture right now. I’m going to pretend that it is so that I can get more “clarity” and “drive” to continue what we have been working on and not a huge wake up call to something that I/we have allowed to happen to us in our lives.

**Here’s to all of us getting more clarity and order in our lives, in these very confusing and trying times that we live in.**
PEACE...

HE IS OUR SHEPARD AND OUR ORDER

All I can say is WOW!!.. and I'm sorry.... I can't believe that it has been 5 weeks since I've posted anything. As my best friend said... "what happened to every Sunday?" All I can say is...LIFE.... and when I really get stressed out and feel overwhelmed (very much so right now) I start to shut down. I was already struggling with this after Chad's hospital visit in April, well after August I just REALLY started shutting down. We have spent so much time going to Dr. visits, changing habits, just plain trying to help Chad feel better and get healthy. I have A LOT to post and catch everyone up on. I will do my best over the next few days (with fall break it should be easier). I just finished reading all of my friends posts that I have missed over the past 5 weeks. I haven't even done that. I started at 7 tonight and it's now 2 am. Wow... but I'm so glad that I'm caught up with everyone. To be honest I didn't comment on any one's posts, b/c I knew I had so much to catch up on and read. I will start out fresh this week. Thank you to everyone for all your posts and blogs. I have enjoyed the blogging world so much. It is one thing that I do that is a real joy to me.

I have a lot to tell you and thank my friends for, and get my page fall looking...:). I have to get past my very bad habit of shutting down. I really "check out" when it gets like this. I have felt guilty if I was doing anything other than taking care of my family, working or my other duties. Finally tonight I just said I have to do it and I have to take ACTION every day that is not just for others and everything else but for myself as well.

Thank you to my hubby for understanding and supporting me. That is all I have for tonight (this morning). Thank goodness that tomorrow is Fall Break and I can sleep in a little ...lol :)

p.s. I know that I need to respond to a few of you on questions, or help. I will get back to you this week, I'm very sorry to you as well...:( I'll get myself back on track I PROMISE!!