Archie, Rayette, Kaitlin and Carmen

2011-09-08T15:42:00.000-07:00

It was a busy and full summer. These are some pictures from our visit from my sister. I didn't get hardly any pictures of the family reunion I was in charge of because....I was too busy. Frustrating. If you have pictures of this summer with us in them, will you send them? Please?

During Spring Break

2011-04-19T10:58:00.000-07:00

During Spring break we went to Iowa and saw the Desoto Wildlife Exhibit. It was great, including the artifacts from the sunken Steamboat. Pictures will follow, but we had a great time and would go back....except that we found out that a group of kids had a contest and would be able to go out the next day with Rangers....IF the government hadn't of had battles over the budget and closed down. They won't get to go now. The stupid government battled affect normal people and little kids. That frustrates me.

Bunch of Photos to catch up the year...I've been lax.

2011-03-12T04:27:00.001-08:00

Sisters coming home from the bus. Doesn't Carmen look like she adores Kaitlin. She does....most of the time....

Kaitlin jumping into Hay at Vala's. It's a yearly tradition...both Vala's Pumpkin Patch and her jumping into the hay.

Archie, Alix and her daughter Teya, Carmen and Kaitlin at the zoo. I was taking the picture...as usual.

This is at the Omaha Children's Museum. The Clifford exhibit.

Kaitlin and Carmen and doing well in school and we are so proud of them. They are wonderful girls.

New Fall Pictures/Halloween/Vala's Pumpkin Patch

2010-11-29T01:36:00.001-08:00

These are from Vala's Pumpkin Patch. It's too much fun and we go every year. I couldn't get a good picture of Kaitlin's jump. I took many but.....

Summer Ends

2010-08-20T02:27:00.001-07:00

Kaitlin is loving school this year and I am so happy and relieved. I know it is just the beginning of the year but I have great hopes for this year for her.

Carmen had a rough beginning but likes school now. It is still long for her but she's adjusting.

End of School Activities

2010-06-06T18:18:00.001-07:00

Carmen's Preschool Field Trip. She got to ride on the bus and she was so excited to ride a real school bus. (She is soooo ready for kindergarten in her mind).

We went to the zoo with our friends and neighbors. We had a grand time. Carmen and Kaitlin like them a lot and so do I.

We went to the park as a family one nice Saturday. Everyone had fun. Summertime, summertime, summertime !

End of School Field Trip

2010-06-02T21:08:00.000-07:00

I went to the Zoo with Kaitlin last Friday for the last field trip. I met a very nice person who was the grandmother of a school friend. We had a great time. Here is Kaitlin and her friend.

2010-03-27T12:40:00.001-07:00

Kaitlin wanted to do a display at the Show What You Know Fair at school. She wanted to do the human body and we convinced her to narrow it down to muscles (believe me this took some convincing). I had to include what she wrote, you'll see why:

Muscles in the Human Body

There are three kinds of muscles: Cardiac, Smooth and Skeletal.

The skeletal muscle is a muscle that is connected to your skeleton. The Cardiac muscle is the muscle of the heart. Unlike other muscles, it is not mostly connected to bone or tissue, but to itself. The smooth muscle got its name because of its non-bumpy texture. Skeletal muscles has lines through it (or striations) and those lines help it do its job.

You know when you flex your muscles to show how strong you are? The muscles that you are using is called the "Biceps Brachii (pronounced biseps brake ee i). But, even though when you use the Biceps Brachii and the bump on your arm looks big, it still isn't the area with the most muscles. The area with the most muscles is the face (when including chewing muscles). I know! It's pretty exciting to know that! All those big, little, contracting, controlled muscles make about 639 muscles in the human body!

(I did very little editing - except adding the pronunciation guide and striations). See what I mean? What a mind!

snow and cold weather

2010-01-10T16:52:00.000-08:00

We have had crazy amounts of snow and crazy cold weather since before Christmas. We had a blizzard Christmas Day. Our high temperature the other day was -4 degrees WITHOUT counting wind chill. The poor dogs haven't wanted to go outside--and neither have we.

The picture above is from the earlier snow. It was warmer then and the neighborhood kids and Carmen are playing. The boy on the left is sitting in a tunnel he dug that goes under the snow to the boy in the middle. That's how deep it is and this was the first snow. We've had two or three days of it since without melting in between.

This is our house. I have two steps up to my porch. Notice the snow drift up to the window box.

The picture below is the sidewalk with the sides of snow on each side. Just in case you are wondering. It's about 2 feet on each side. Where the drifts are high I have to raise my arms when walking the dogs to keep my elbows from hitting the snow.

This is my Dad's "friend" two houses down. Notice the snow drift goes halfway up his door. His porch is two steps up, mind you.

Christmas 2009

2010-01-10T16:42:00.001-08:00

So Kaitlin did a very sweet thing this Christmas. She gave up something to Carmen that Carmen had really wanted since Kaitlin's birthday in October. She did it without prompting. You have to understand that Kaitlin has a hard time giving up anything. She did it once with a necklace and now once again. I was so proud of her I could cry. She was also so sick with stomach flu that she opened presents then laid on the couch the rest of the day. Poor thing.

We had a very nice Christmas. All of our family and extended family were very nice and generous. The girls loved all their gifts and although we each took a turn at the stomach flu. Kaitlin then Carmen, then me and then Archie. However, we were happy and sharing time together.

Vala's Pumpkin Patch WITH Cousins/Grandma/Grandpa

2009-10-28T22:34:00.000-07:00

Vala's Pumpkins Patch is so much fun. It was even more fun being with family this year!

Yearly measuring post. How big are we this year?

New corn pit. Fun for everyone, just make sure you brush it off before you leave...and get it out of your shoes!

Everyone enjoyed the bouncy jumping things. Small and large kids alike!

Kaitlin's Birthday at Kids Body Shop (kind of gymnastics gym)

2009-10-02T11:42:00.000-07:00

Kaitlin just had a birthday. My little girl has turned 8. I am so proud of you, sweetie. I love you.

Kaitlin's Song/"Sisters"

2009-09-08T18:48:00.001-07:00

Kaitlin made up this song. Some of the words are:

Sisters can't come apart
Cuz' together we make a heart
We keep each other safe
And work together

School Starts Early

2009-09-07T19:31:00.001-07:00

School starts early here in Omaha. Here is Kaitlin in the middle during one of the last days of school last spring.

Thunderstorm and Rainpour

2009-09-03T08:46:00.000-07:00

Kaitlin went to school today for picture day in a thunderstorm and downpour. It figures that it would be raining hard as she left! She looked so pretty.

Carmen and I went out in the rain in raingear and she loved it. Splashing in puddles and upon seeing the rain going into the sewer that was brown from construction she said, "It's a peanut butter river!" I laughed it was so cute. Plus, she was afraid of a praying mantis and figured out how to not be afraid by herself. I was so proud. She told me a story where she was a praying mantis.

2009-07-25T13:18:00.000-07:00

Carmen and Sara were the cutest little friends. They were together almost ALL the time.

Kaitlin singing at the 4th of July Breakfast in Utah. She is singing a song from High School
Musical.

Carmen is singing the same song. "Feels so right, to be here with you, Oh oh. And now looking in your eyes, I feel the start of something new."

The waterfall we all hiked to in Aspen Grove (past Sundance). You can see a person in the right bottom corner (to give perspective).

Our little family on the hike. Carmen was a trooper and hiked most of the way (2 miles both ways). However, we were a little behind because of this. :)

Our whole reunion group. We all made it to the falls, even the little ones (who were helped by the teenagers quite a lot--yay for teenagers). Grandma and Grandpa weren't able to come, however, due to Grandma having eye surgery and not supposed to do aerobic exercise.

We had so much fun it was hard coming home. We also saw the Gilmore family and had such a good time with them. I forgot my camera though.

Summer Vacation/Family Reunion

2009-07-15T20:51:00.000-07:00

We just got back from our summer vacation. I'll post pictures later. We had a grand time seeing friends and family in Utah. I have to say one thing Kaitlin did was put ice cubes on a straw and said, "Look, Mommie, an Ice Kabob!" I laughed and thought it was so cute. Kaitlin was a gem most of the time and a little lady and everyone commented on it. Carmen and her cousin Sara were like two peas in a pod. Carmen isn't used to having a little girl to play with so much and enjoyed it immensely.

Kaitlin and Carmen at the Relay for Life

2009-06-22T22:09:00.001-07:00

Relay for Life

2009-06-22T22:06:00.000-07:00

Beautiful Girls

2009-06-07T07:05:00.000-07:00

My girls were cuddling and hugging each other so sweetly thing morning that I had to take pictures. They pulled their pillows and blankets on the floor and were being so cute! Kaitlin is kissing Carmen here.

Carmen is kissing Kaitlin.

Smiles and hugs and cuddles all around. Aren't they just precious and adorable. Okay, okay, I am a biased mom.

Kaitlin is my poser. I was checking out something on my camera because Carmen got a hold of it and changed settings. Kaitlin "posed" for my checking it out. She's so beautiful.

I have been so busy lately but I cannot complete tell you why. I helped a friend with a garage sale and did some food canning at the cannery but that's about it that I can remember.

Wicked

2009-05-26T05:49:00.001-07:00

Archie and I saw "Wicked" this week. It was totally amazing. I loved it and wanted to see it again. It was funny and poignant and everything.

Updates in tweeter style.

2009-05-05T12:29:00.000-07:00

Carmen and I have been doing puzzles today (after I worked out to High School Musical music and after I mowed the front lawn). It's fun. She's so good at them.

Kaitlin was reading the book, "A Boy, A Frog and A Dog". It is a story without words (It is an adorable book and is understandable without words). It is cute the stories Carmen and Kaitlin make up to the pictures. Yesterday, when the end came, Kaitlin added the phrase, "and it doesn't get any better than that." I laughed. It was a cute ending to the book's pictures.

A Little Late Easter Photos

2009-04-28T18:31:00.000-07:00

We had a great Easter hunt with the neighbor kids. Next year we are going to step it up and have a breakfast.

The next few photos are of the fun church egg hunt. My girls enjoyed it a lot.

Here is the girls coloring Easter eggs.

Here is the back yard Easter egg hunt with the neighbor kids. I cannot believe I didn't get good photographs of my girls.

All-in-all a good time was had by the little ones. It is always fun to do things with our great neighbors as well.

High School Musical - The Ice Tour

2009-03-17T01:31:00.000-07:00

Kaitlin and I went to see this on Saturday. She was starting to get stomach flu and didn't seem to be enjoying it or moving well. She said she liked it a lot, but I knew something was wrong and couldn't figure out what it was-until later. She wouldn't tell me she felt sick because she thought I would tell her she couldn't go. I thought it was great. In some ways, you never grow up! The lady next to me said, "It's fun to have something kid friendly that I can enjoy too." They did the first two videos and had lots of dancing, turns, jumps, even lifts. I would recommend it. I was skeptical about it being that good, but it was.

Kaitlin got sick on the way home. I probably wouldn't have kept her home because I would not have realized how sick she felt until that point anyway. She really was looking forward to seeing it with me alone.

Carmen was doing a twirling thing in the bath and wanted me to go get aunt Alix to see it (she was staying with us for awhile before she went to Peru). I said I couldn't and she said "because she's in Peru?" I said yes and she said (like why hadn't I thought of this - it's so obvious). "Well, we will have to go get her tomorrow." It cracked me up!

Something I have noticed is that Kaitlin is now caring about and protecting my feelings. She tries to say things that won't hurt me in ways that are careful. This is something new in the whole growing up process--awareness of another's feelings. I am impressed. Before, she seemed unaware of my feelings. It is interesting to see it happening.

Aren't They Sweet

2009-03-03T20:39:00.000-08:00

My sweet little Kaitlin has been sick with a fever for seven days now. We finally got her on antibiotics on Saturday and she hasn't felt good until this evening. I got some food into her today also. She has not wanted to eat.

She has a boy that she "likes" who likes her at school. I cannot believe this goes on in first grade! She is still a super good reader and is pretty good at math. She would like to be better. Her favorite thing while she was sick (when she felt good enough) was to make recipes on Webkinz.

Carmen is doing well and really likes to be scratched under her arms (armpit). Who likes that? It cracks me up every time she does it. She loves preschool and knows all upper and lower case letters as well as the letter sounds. She also knows how to spell her name now.

Losing Teeth

2009-01-31T10:21:00.000-08:00

Kaitlin was late in losing her first tooth but she has made up time fast. She now has three missing teeth in the front. She is fascinated by her teeth. It is so funny -- like a little scientist -- asking what about this and that, etc.

Relay for Life Speech

2009-01-17T09:28:00.001-08:00

I was asked to be the guest speaker for the Relay for Life Kickoff. It was a lot of fun. Kaitlin was able to add one or two lines and she really liked that. I got a standing ovation but I think that was more for our "story" of having a 3 year old with cancer and then me having it within a few years than for the quality of my speaking!

Photos promised earlier and "Kids say the Funniest Things"! Moment

2009-01-12T13:48:00.001-08:00

I was taking Kaitlin and our neighbor boys to school this morning. Because of the snow, one bus was late and was making all the cars that were dropping off kids back up. We finally got in sight of the school and I asked them if they wanted to walk. I said they would probably get there faster and Kaitlin said, "Yes, and besides I was reading the Cheerios box this morning and it said that you should park your car further away from work and walk to lower your cholesterol and I'm going to lower mine!" I seriously laughed all the way home.

On another note, I am a speaker at the Relay for Life launch tomorrow night! AAAhhh, I am excited AND scared!!!

This is at the church Christmas Party. We had Mr. AND Mrs. Santa Clause this year.

Here are the girls on Christmas Day. Kaitlin is holding her new Webkinz Eagle. I have to say, though, that Miguel and Dori came through again this year with some of the favorite presents. They got Kaitlin a new game called "Scene It" with a Disney theme that the family has played over and over and Carmen got a Leapfrog First Computer that really gets played with a lot. I do not know how they do it! Good job, Miguel and Dori!

Here is a picture of Carmen with a large puzzle that she is really good at and loves to do.

Christmas Spirit

2008-12-27T10:31:00.001-08:00

I have to say I had a lot of the Christmas Spirit this year. We had some friends over for Christmas and it was great. There was a lot of work but worth it. I can't find my camera but the girls were really cute Christmas morning. They got excited about so many things.

I did not get a picture of my house all lit up for Christmas and because the day after was 53 degrees Fahrenheit, I have taken it all down. I didn't want to do it with cold fingers! I was happy to have an unusually warm day after Christmas, though. The problem is that it looks so bleak around here in the winter when there is no snow to make it beautiful.

On a side note, Archie and I celebrated our tenth anniversary this year. I cannot believe it has passed so quickly. People who knew us apart couldn't see us as compatible until they saw us together, then they said we just "fit". This is true. I am so blessed to be married to my best friend. Life just works out sometimes.

Cuteness Personified

2008-12-07T14:19:00.000-08:00

Carmen was making little notes (she can't write so she told me) that said, "I love Carmen and Kaitlin and Mommy and Daddy and Alix and Kennedi and Everybody!" She made this cute face that I wish I had caught on film and then hugged me. Sticky Sweet!

Kaitlin this morning was teaching Carmen one of those school age chants with hand/arm motions. It was ADORABLE.

December 2008

2008-12-05T16:20:00.000-08:00

Well, no pictures right now. But we are having a good holiday season. I go a little crazy around Christmastime. I love it and love to decorate for it, etc, etc. I will take a few pictures of my decorations later. We have been busy, busy, busy.

The one note I will make is that a have heard of a lot of people getting cancer just recently, especially young kids, but it is hard to think about young people going through what I did.

Gingerbread, gingerbread, gingerbread.

2008-11-19T20:45:00.000-08:00

All I have been doing for the last little while is Gingerbread. I am the coordinator for Lakeview Ward and, well, I got some good advice to document it all so here goes.....

This is some of the figures the Achievement Days Girls (8-11 years old) did. I think they are kind of cute!

I learned on the internet to put cans on the sides to hold the gingerbread together while the icing dries. It works pretty well.

Here is the finished church. I made the template myself and put the candy stained glass windows in too. In this picture, it is lighted from inside.

It was Mia's idea to do the roof in Big Red gum and she was right. She worked on that part and the other decorations with me. It was fun and one of my few social interactions other than on the phone for the week!

Yeah! Here I am "working" on the house. Actually, the picture was taken after it was mostly done.

The Nativity Scene part of it. Kristen did the figures and I think she did a great job. I did the stable. She did a better job than I did. Too bad her figures have such a mediocre backdrop.

Sister Roberts did this one. I think it is amazing!

Heidi A. did this one. She thought it was awful. Whatever, girlfriend!

Packing it all up to go work on it at the church. It looks pretty good already!

This is the scene before we took it to the Trail Center. I love the cobble stone road Pat, Anna Lou, and Denise did. Do you like my sugar cube fountain?

Carmen loved this little snowman on top of this icing hill where fondant kids are playing. She wanted to "buy" it.

So here is half of the finished product.

Here is the other half of it with snow powdered sugar snow sprinkled on it.

Here is a close up of my fountain. The picture doesn't look very good. I have to admit. I think it looks better in real life. This is before the sugar cube rocks were put in to surround it.

2008-11-12T14:40:00.000-08:00

Archie's work had a huge Halloween Festival for the kids. The different floors competed. His floor did the Wizard of Oz. Here is the house on the feet of the Wicked Witch of the East

Here is the Mayor with a sign that says she is not only dead but really sincerely dead.

Here is a picture of the guys singing that they are the Lollipop Guild. Isn't it amazing how this doesn't even look like an office and they went all out.

Kaitlin is a bride and Carmen is Jasmine. They are here with the scarecrow.

Here is the tin man with a living tree. I forgot about that in the movie until I saw it move.

Here is the cowardly lion with Kaitlin saying that girls scare him. She is enjoying it.

They even did the yellow brick road with the little twirl to begin it. My girls loved all this!

This wicked witch was sprayed by the Dorothy below and pretended to melt.

This Dorothy gave us cute "melted" chocolate wicked witch hats out of this caldron. They were those cookies with chocolate bottoms had a pretzel and a curved top part dipped chocolate part. Quite original.

They even included the flying monkeys.

See, this doesn't look like an office. People are still working behind these curtains--not any with children though.

This is a great entrance to the Emerald City. The guys in the background are singing that song and getting all primped up. They had a bouncy house in there for the kids.
All in all, it was a blast and the girls had a lot of fun.

Busy Autumn

2008-11-06T11:21:00.000-08:00

This is the smaller children on a tree branch while we were camping with our neighbors.

We had the golf course to ourselves at Mahoney Park. The girls enjoyed it a lot. Our neighbors were so nice to include us.

This is on the hike that we took. Then we climbed the tower. My neighbor, Kelly, said, "Isn't this like kids to hike so that you can climb a tower." I laughed. It is true. They DO NOT GET TIRED. Actually, they were impressed that we never had to carry Carmen. She was a trooper!

Here are the "Super Kids". They were pretending to be super heroes at the top of the tower and on the whole hike.

Lunch at School

2008-10-28T11:23:00.000-07:00

Last week, I sent Kaitlin to the office with lunch money and she mistakenly thought I was coming to lunch. Apparently, she waited for me in the office and got to lunch late. I felt so bad, even though I never knew I was supposed to be going to lunch with her that day, that the next day I took McDonald's lunch to school and ate with her. She was happy. It was so sad to see her disappointed look.

Sunday, I was having a rare bad day and was crying. Kaitlin made a cute little skit about how I was the best mom and so good at everything. Carmen tried to comfort me too. I have to say, they did comfort me and bump me out of a sad mood. Who can stay sad with such sweetness around?

Carmen Loves Preschool

2008-10-13T12:13:00.000-07:00

These are pictures from Carmen's Preschool Open House. She loves preschool and says, "Oh, man!" when I say it isn't a preschool day. She gets so excited when I say it IS a preschool day.

She is showing us how to play with this. I love her concentration. I volunteer for preschool but she was so excited to show Daddy and Kaitlin. Kaitlin, however, was sick and couldn't go this night.

Here is Carmen with her teacher Mrs. Craig. Doesn't she look happy?

Tag (4th picture in 4th folder)

2008-10-09T11:09:00.000-07:00

The picture below is the forth folder labeled "Art", since it wasn't a picture, I went to the 4th picture of the 4th photograph and included it above. This is Carmen's feet while she was asleep. I take way too many pictures.

I tag Mia, Lora, Kristen and Rebecca.

Vala's Pumpkin Patch

2008-10-08T20:18:00.001-07:00

Vala's Pumpkin Patch was fun and relatively warm. We had fun getting pumpkins from the field, seeing the not-so-scary haunted walk-through, jumping on the new jumping "mats", riding the pedal cars, playing in the hay jump/tractor area, etc., etc.

Here is their aunt Alix with the girls in from of some pumpkins. It was fun to have her along.

Carmen is concentrating hard on driving this stationary tractor. I can't believe how fun this is to children.

How much have you grown? How big are you now. Very important to know if you are under the age of, say, 16!

This is the wagon ride out to the fields to pick pumpkins. They drove us WAY out this time. We were past the house on the hill (if you have been there). Some guy said they use this to house teenagers for many educational projects during the year. We also saw the pig races. I never before realized that the pigs they race are all rare breeds.

Kaitlin is jumping into some hay here. Sooooo fun. You see her landing spot in the next picture.

Busy Week/Kaitlin's 7th Birthday/School Field Trip

2008-10-06T15:07:00.000-07:00

So, this was a busy week.
First Kaitlin had a Field Trip to Nebraska City's Apple Festival (which I went to as well).
Then we went to Vala's Pumpkin Patch for Kaitlin's family birthday.
Carmen had her first Birthday Party invitation to Lexie Hatch's Birthday Party at the Park. She was very excited. She talked and talked about her invitation to a birthday party.
Finally, Kaitlin had an "Avatar" Birthday Party at our house. It was all very fun and very busy (for Mom and Dad). We created projects for earth, air, fire and water "bending" and had fun. For earth/water bending, we did that thing with corn starch and water where if you move it quickly in your hands or step on it fast, it is hard. However, if you hold still, you sink or it drips off your hands when holding it. Kind of fun. We had pop caps for fire "bending" (and blew out the candles), etc. etc. It was a lot of work but she loved it and so that is worth it.

This is Kaitlin's Class in the three house at the apple orchard farm we went to.

The following are a few of the many pictures we took of the Avatar birthday party.

"Earth bending" with PlayDoh.

Hugs

2008-09-26T11:19:00.000-07:00

Today I had one of the rarer moments when Kaitlin let me hold her for several minutes. Such simple pleasures. Carmen (the other day) was playing Princess Monopoly with me and didn't want to win because the game would be over. She kept getting money out of the "bank" to keep me playing. She said, "I'll win and you'll win, too." So cute and sweet. I love little girls.

Weekend

2008-09-22T10:08:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday we went to the Nebraska City "Apple Jack Festival" with our wonderful neighbors. Here is Kaitlin and Carmen at the Parade. There was lots of Candy thrown.
Here is a priceless picture of a Shriner Clown. Archie thought that was so funny.
And this is a Shriner Marching Band. Archie said he had never seen one before and it cracked him up. I hadn't either. There were lots of high school and middle school bands, politicians, old cars, etc. in the parade also. We missed the beginning, which apparently had fire trucks from all different years in them. We saw the fire truck parade in Nebraska City and couple of years ago. It was fun to see old time fire vehicles that were hand drawn and horse drawn as well as the early fire trucks.

Anyway, we had fun at the parade and then at our neighbors grandparents house in Nebraska City.

New News

2008-09-09T13:26:00.000-07:00

Kaitlin actually potty trained Carmen. She told Carmen (who wanted to go to school when Kaitlin started) that she had to be potty trained to go to pre-school. Kaitlin ran up to me and told me excitedly that Carmen had gone pee in the potty. She later told me the same thing. I was excited and I had nothing to do with it. It only took Carmen two days and in her first week she only had two "accidents". Pretty good. Does anyone want to borrow Kaitlin? Just wondering.

So, now I had to find a pre-school for Carmen. This late I was worried. I went to a few that were scary. "Children NEED FIVE DAYS A WEEK OF PRE-SCHOOL or they will get behind and never make it....etc, etc. etc. " I even told one lady that studies showed that by the age of 12 early achievement shows so substantial advantage at all and that all this was so parents could feel good about themselves. She didn't deny it but still went ahead and said that they would be behind in kindergarten and have terrible self esteem. I told her my daughter was reading at the age of 4 at home because we taught her and the lady was still undaunted. Amazing. She was so believing in her cause that she heard nothing of what I said. I am sure you are not surprised to find out that Carmen is NOT going there!

We happened to go to the Gingerbread House and they had a cancellation for morning while we were there and we got it! Cool. Carmen loved her first day and wants to go back.

School starts in Omaha

2008-08-20T02:24:00.000-07:00

School has started already in Omaha. I am not excited about it starting so early. However, Kaitlin was ready. Carmen and she were beginning to get on each other's nerves. Kaitlin loves her teacher and is excited that she is now a "grader" (in first Grade) not just in kindergarten.

Carmen wants to go too. I had decided to keep her with me for awhile longer but maybe I need to reconsider....

Munchkin Junction

2008-08-20T01:59:00.000-07:00

All I have been doing lately is preparing for a consignment sale and volunteering for it...Oh, and taking care of my family in the meantime. I don't know how people work full time and take care of a family. I feel so blessed to be able to stay home with my children. I realize more, this week, what a blessing that is because I have been doing this sale and my Sister-in-law has been taking care of my kids more. Here's the URP to the sale:

http://www.munchkinjunctionsale.com/

You'll have to cut and paste it to see it.

2008-08-10T06:44:00.000-07:00

2008-08-03T05:52:00.000-07:00

I have been reading a lot lately and some of the books have made me really think. Kite Runner is one of these books and so is Pavilion of Women by Pearl S. Buck. Kite Runner has been eye opening and a reminder of the fact that there is real misery in the world. Pavilion of Women is interesting because it reminded me how to really love others.

New Pictures

2008-07-21T07:56:00.000-07:00

Here are some of the pictures that Heidi did of the girls.

Family Reunion (Water Activities Galore!)

2008-07-12T07:02:00.000-07:00

We had so much fun on our family reunion. We went to an amazingly large swimming pool that was half water park (once with Beckie and her girls), went to Lagoon (an amusement park with a water park), had a water fight (Do you see a theme developing?) and had a pot luck and fireworks show for the fourth of July with my sister's husband's family, made a quilt together and just had fun with cousins, etc. I hardly ever saw Kaitlin. She was off with her cousins. Her is Carmen on the Merry-Go-Round at Lagoon.
This is a picture of Kaitlin on the bumper cars. Archie got a really good pose of her. All the younger kids loved the bumper cars. The older teenagers loved the big bumper cars too. We hardly saw any of the older kids. They were off by themselves having fun. All of us, however, got together for Rattlesnake Rapids (the ride like a river raft that gets you wet) because it was so hot. We were silly and did it at the end of the day, though, so the sun wasn't high in the sky and we never dried off.

This is Brody and Sara on the bumper cars. Debra's children are all so helpful to each other. I guess that's why she can manage 7 kids and one new baby!

This is the start of a water fight - the water balloon toss. The following pictures are of the water fight. I was taking pictures so I didn't get drenched - until the end when I gave my sister Pixie the camera momentarily.

Debra (my sister) with her new baby, Sara, Grandma, Kaitlin and Isaac all watching everyone else get wet. Kaitlin was hiding balloons behind Grandma to "protect" them for a big secret revenge play.

Kaitlin at the water tub which held the water balloons before the water fight began.

Here is a picture Ashley (one of Pixie's husband's sisters) got of the fireworks display we had at their farm. It was a cool picture so I had her email it to me. The wind kicked up and this is what resulted.

Vacation with Family Reunion

2008-06-28T06:21:00.000-07:00

I'll have photos later and add more but we are on vacation and my little girls were being so sweet and kissing each other and hugging and saying they love each other. My sister said, "Enjoy it while you can because when they get older.... Her oldest boy, Zachary (14 years old) was going away for a few days and she said, "Go tell your sister you love her and give her a hug." She had so insist and when he came back, he said, "She just looked at me like I was soooo weird." We laughed and laughed. (Her daughter Annika is 12).

2008-06-17T06:08:00.000-07:00

We did the Relay for Life last weekend. My neighbor was the team captain. It was fun but emotional because she has lost a lot of people in her family to cancer. We also have been getting ready for vacation, etc. I haven't posted because we have been busy but I will soon have some pictures. Today, Heidi Applegarth is doing outside pictures of Kaitlin and Carmen. I am excited to see the results! We stopped to pick morning glories after swimming lessons (thus the wet hair). Here are some pictures.

Spring Craziness

2008-05-28T05:59:00.000-07:00

Kaitlin had a Reader's Theatre for Kindergarten that was sooo cute. They did the book "Click, Clack, Moo, Cows that Type." She also had a field trip to a farm. She loved both. Everybody seems to be doing things that keep us busy. Plus I am finally trying to get a garden going and landscape the front of our house. Alix stayed with us and that was fun. It has all been good stuff but we are very busy. I forgot the camera for the Reader's Theatre (spelled it the artistic way on purpose) so I had a friend take pictures of Kaitlin. She did pretty well!

Kaitlin's Shoes

2008-05-20T04:38:00.000-07:00

Kaitlin made me laugh yesterday as I dropped her off at school. She stopped to show the Principal her shoes. It cracked me up and I wondered whether it was fun, at times, for the principal to see the things kids do. I later found out it that Kaitlin showed them because they were her "swimming shoes"-- Ones we bought so she could get them wet. She said, "I don't know why I got to wear my swimming shoes today." The principal said, "Maybe because they match!" She had a cute dress on that was the exact same color. I didn't get a picture of her in the dress, but I took a picture of the shoes, hehe. The dress is the same one as she has on with butterflies on it at the right with her Grandma (doing Grandma's hair).

Field Day, Etc.

2008-05-16T17:21:00.000-07:00

So today was Field Day for kindergarten. Kaitlin was so excited she got me up an hour early and was telling me every day that I needed to remember sunscreen and shorts for her and no sugar in her sack lunch because it attracts bees. She rattled this off to me several times. I think she had a great time. I went and volunteered. Now she is going to a park with Archie. If I could just bottle that energy and ability to recover!

Mother's Day

2008-05-11T21:01:00.000-07:00

I got cards from Kaitlin and Carmen for Mother's day. Daddy said he had Carmen sign hers and she said the signature was a "rain drop".

Kaitlin made me a book at school. She had three pictures in it of herself wearing the same shirt. I wonder what made her think of having all three drawings wear the same shirt. Interesting, huh? She kept doing things for me for Mother's Day -- i.e. rubbing my shoulders, making pictures for me, etc. What a sweetie!

Archie got me some roses. Half of the proceeds go to the Ronald McDonald House. We stayed there in Philadelphia when Kaitlin had her cancer so it means something to us. He was very excited. It was endearing. He also cooked us crab legs for dinner and planned the whole thing the day before. I know, I know, he's a keeper!
So, it was a great Mother's Day. I missed the children singing at church because both Kaitlin and Carmen were sick, however, Kaitlin sang me the songs by herself and I cried. It warmed my heart. I wish I had recorded it.

Kaitlin's Newest News

2008-04-28T18:06:00.000-07:00

Kaitlin has started swimming lessons at the YMCA. She loves it. Check out the smile ;)

Quilt blocks for master bedroom

2008-04-21T12:39:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple of my first blocks. Click on the picture to see the patterns better (and to see all my mistakes!).

So, here is the beginning of my quilt. I learned that Kristen is also doing one. We should all get together and have a quilting night some time.

On another note, see Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium. It is fun. Beckie recommended it and now even Archie said not enough movies are made like this nowadays.

Another milestone

2008-04-17T00:53:00.000-07:00

Kaitlin had a dentist appointment yesterday and the dentist announced that she has a loose tooth. She has been telling me this for so long (because she REALLY wanted one) that I didn't even check the last few times to see if she was right. She is so excited. I am happy for her.

We really had a good time while Grandma and Grandpa were here. I started a quilt. Crazy. Mom always tried to teach me when I was young and I wouldn't listen. Now, I have the "bug" and she seems excited.

Grandma and Grandpa Came for a Visit

2008-04-08T07:40:00.001-07:00

Grandma and Grandpa came to see us this spring vacation. We were all excited to see them again, especially the girls. Yay! This is the girls and Grandma and Grandpa at the Nebraska Wildlife Safari.

Kaitlin and Carmen and Mommy by one of the Statues where you can get out of your car.

We asked Kaitlin what she liked best about the safari and she says the turtles. Of all the things you could say, she picks one of the most common things--it just figures!

Can you see the white bison? It is hiding, but it is there. We had a better picture of it but I accidentally deleted it. He, he. Don't tell Grandpa, it was his camera.

These are pronghorn antelope. The closest one is using the bush to get the fuzz off his antlers.

The male turkeys were displaying their feathers for the females. 'Tis spring!

I didn't know pelicans were indigenous to this area! (I don't think they are but feel free to correct me if anyone knows better).

Little things

2008-03-27T04:28:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Kaitlin was playing in the bathroom sink with soap. I asked her what she was doing and she said, "I'm giving the penguins (meaning her hands) a bath." She used to do this a lot and I had forgotten, but she hadn't.

Carmen was watching a show and one of the characters got dirty in the garden, she turned around and said (wrinkling her nose), "That's 'gusting (disgusting)!" SO cute and funny.

Kaitlin also pretended she was babysitting Carmen and really took care of her, including a wet diaper and dressing her. (It didn't match, quite, but I left her in that outfit all day, until bath time--I should have taken a picture).

They really enjoyed playing outside on the swing set/fort for quite awhile. I enjoyed talking to the neighbor while they did so. Spring keeps almost getting here and then going away a few days. I guess that's normal for March, but it seems Winter was long and keeps hanging on this year.

Easter

2008-03-25T06:23:00.000-07:00

We had a great Easter with friends who did not have family in the area. We got together and decided to be each other's "family". We had a potluck and an Easter egg hunt in our back yard.

This is Kaitlin in her Easter dress and Carmen (who didn't get to go to church because she wasn't feeling well). These are Carmen's pajamas. She wouldn't wear them at first saying they were "too big" but now she loves them because she can zip them up herself.

Kaitlin and Carmen had fun in the COLD finding eggs. Some were in the play fort Grandpa had put up.

Friday in the Children's Emergency Room

2008-03-21T17:11:00.000-07:00

This was a fun-filled Friday. Carmen ended up in the ER at Children's due to a bad bump on the head. She actually got it the day before trying to run after Kaitlin on the sidewalk and taking a huge fall. Archie and I both cringed at the sound of it. She's fine, though. The CT scan was negative. I took her in because she threw up afterwards and that can be a sign of a concussion. Her pediatrician said she'd probably be fine but take her in anyway, just to be sure.

On another note, Kaitlin has decided that she's a big girl suddenly. She took a letter to the mailbox (one house away) by herself while I was watching and told me, "Don't worry, Mom, if someone stops to talk to me in their car, I will run back to the porch." Cracked me up. First of all, because I was standing on the porch, but also because it was kinda cute to see her trying to be all big and comforting me. I had a big smile and a warm spot in my heart watching her put the envelope in the mail slot and then asking me if it was the right spot. Independent and yet still dependent.

Thursday

2008-03-20T16:43:00.001-07:00

On another note, today Beckie left and I felt sad looking at her empty house. I knew I'd be upset by my friend leaving, but it still took me by surprise. Carmen wanted to show Tori her ponytail and Kaitlin said her best friend left to her Kindergarten teacher. She is such a wonderful person. I know she'll be a great help to the boys...any maybe even their mother.

100 Things You May or May Not Know About Me

2008-03-17T01:39:00.000-07:00

The loves of my life are (not necessarily in order, but close): My relationship with God, my husband, my daughters, my extended family, friends, horses, nature...
I like mournful, yearning music even though I feel happy inside, usually.
I used to rock climb.
I used to ride horses seriously (jumping, dressage, western, hunter seat equitation, etc.). I had a horse run away with me at the age of 8 and was still undaunted.
I taught aerobics for over 10 years.
I love the mountains and the sea (which is why Seattle was so great for me).
I like politics. My husband and I have lively conversations about this. I am learning to keep quiet about it to other people.
My best friend is my husband. We have a good time together when we aren't just doing the necessary things for life.
My husband and I compete on some of the webkinz games in the evening, which has the added benefits of accumulating webkinz money for my daughter and seeing the happy look on her face.
I am soooo happy to be a stay-at-home mom. Believe me, I have worked and there is nothing better.
I got married when I was 34.
I have lived all over the USA (Idaho, Utah, New Mexico, Virginia, Oregon, Washington, New York).
I served a mission for my church in England.
Most people in the USA have a belief in God, most people in England do not.
I think that spending two years serving God is a great investment of time and a perfect "cause" for young adults.
I am very competitive in volleyball.
I love to find places in nature which are less known and are mini paradises. Usually you have to hike to find these.
Archie and I registered at REI for our wedding (which is the equivalent, kind of, of Cabela's).
I love to read and like being in a book club.
I am a morning person.
My husband is a night person.
I always wanted to be a night person, but wake up somewhat early even after staying up late (i.e. sleeping in is hard for me).
I could sleep in in college, but never later than 10:00 am.
My favorite holidays were: 1) going to Disney World as a kid with my parents. We went to Disneyland several time but Disney World only once and got to go to the beach as well. 2) Going to the San Juan Islands with my husband. (We did this a few times and I loved it).
My family took vacations to see historic landmarks and places while I was growing up. I didn't appreciate it until later.
I also enjoyed camping with my family a lot.
My biggest regret is not making it on a 50 mile hike with my Dad before it became impossible to do. I always thought there would be more time.
Kaitlin and Carmen make me smile several times a day with the cute things they do.
I have insomnia often now and so sometimes I CAN sleep in if Archie is taking care of the kids.
I love music and have a large collection. I like many different types of music.
I am jumpy and easily startled (like a thoroughbred, hehe).
I adore my husband and children.
My husband asked me while we were dating what I was looking for and I said, "to be adored."
I prayed for wisdom about the age of 16, not realizing that wisdom comes through trials.
Kaitlin had cancer (retinoblastoma of the eye) when she was 3 years old.
I had Hodgkins Lymphoma last year.
We have no family history of cancer.
My husband is one of the smartest people I know, but I am biased. This was one of the things that made him attractive to me (besides his good looks and personality).
I used to think I was pretty smart.
I never had a sunburn until college when I got the brilliant idea of suntanning a stomach that had always had one piece swim suits covering it.
I always thought (before #40) that people were exaggerating about sun burns.
My most embarrassing moment involved a church youth group waterskiing party. You can fill in the blanks.
I have always been able to spell well.
I had great skin when I was younger (i.e. never burned, smooth, suntanned easily). I liked my skin.
I never looked good with long hair except as a child. I cut my hair after my mission to the protest of a couple of guys who later admitted I looked better with short hair.
I always wanted long beautiful hair.
I had a third grade teacher tell me my handwriting was terrible so I practiced and practiced until I had good handwriting. Now I can even do calligraphy.
Two of my favorite companions on my mission were from Portugal and Italy. I still keep in touch with them, but they are the only ones with whom I am in touch.
I had to change the sentence above because ending with a preposition bugged me. (It did say "they are the only ones I am in touch with" before I changed it.)
I am not very crafty (meaning not good at doing crafts).
I went through a pastel phase in college followed by a goth phase.
I enjoy vegetables without salt and without anything like butter on them.
I used to eat Quaker oats right out of the cannister. I don't do this anymore but I still like them that way.
I like bread -- especially good bread -- a LOT.
I like eating healthy.
Except that I like chocolate but not just any chocolate. I am picky about chocolate now that I lived in England and can taste the difference.
I don't like desserts very much, usually, unless they contain chocolate (or ice cream).
I went 6 months or more without ice cream because I can't afford to eat it (calorie-wise).
I haven't been able to go 6 months without chocolate.
I didn't want to go on a mission but God had a cannon against my pea shooter. Guess who won.
It was the best decision I didn't entirely make on my own.
I loved standing on a hill with my Italian companion (probably waiting for a bus after the day was over) in the brisk cold in England and letting the wind whip through my hair against my face. She liked it two and we relished it together. There was something wild, mystical and calming about it.
My trainee (greenie) was from Portugal and was one of my favorites. She's the one with whom I keep in touch.
I worked with horses in New York who were jumpers. Many of the horses were famous in the horse world. The barn was exceptionally clean and used to be owned by Paul Newman.
I am related to someone mentioned in the Doctrine and Covenants. The twins adopted by Joseph Smith were my relatives.
I enjoy science. I feel I am a scientist at heart.
I enjoy math.
I enjoy physics. I once studied for a physics final and was so engrossed that my room mates having a "finals over" party for themselves didn't bother me, much.
I enjoy English and took Shakespeare for fun.
My sister, Pix, took Calculus for fun and killed the curve for people who "had to" take the class. There were a few who weren't too happy with her. She is now a Speech Therapist with two children.
My other sister has 7 children. Her name is Debra and all she wanted to do was be a mommy. I thought she was crazy at the time but now I think she had it right.
My youngest sister lives in California and has a husband in the Bishopric. She has her hands full with 4 children. Three boys and one girl. Oh, and two dogs.
I have great respect for many cultures and people.
I like to REALLY get to know people and love them more for their imperfections and humanity. I usually have more respect for someone once I know their imperfections and complexities.
I used to go talk to the homeless people on the docks in Seattle (in the safer areas). I learned a lot from those experiences. I was with a guy that was really confident and knew where not to go.
I have three friends in Seattle that I still keep in touch with (ouch there's that ending preposition!). They are Michelle, Rebecca, and Ashley. They are dear to my heart.
I am a partial tree hugging, dirt chomping, ecco-sissy. Yep, I admit it gladly.
I used to be in great shape. I skied all day once then came back an taught aerobics that night.
Oh yeah, I like to ski (snow).
I dated a ski instructor in college.
I also dated someone on the diving team.
College seems a lifetime ago.
I caught my husband with a black velvet dress. He wasn't interested before because I had always been in "weekend warrior garb".
Actually, when Archie and I met, both of us weren't interested. He had just come home from a mission and I just thought of him as a little RM returnee and he thought I had a chip on my shoulder (Actually, at that moment, I did. I had just been left alone with him because my friend wanted to set us up and then took off somewhere. I wasn't happy about the set-up and being stranded).
The song on this blog "The Dance" refers to Kaitlin and my cancers. I am glad I didn't know these would happen but still feel some huge blessings and wisdom came from them. Not that I would wish it upon anyone else, believe me.
A new friend helped me in ways she doesn't fully realize. She talked about Kaitlin's cancer being her "story" and that opened up a whole new understanding for me as well as personal revelation.
The song on my blog by Sting is politically based on a true incident, (They Dance Alone). It is about mothers, sister, wives, etc. dancing with pictures of dead sons, husbands, brothers, etc. in a nonviolent protest because they died in war. (My one political statement I had to work in somehow).
After I graduated from college I traveled to New York on by own to follow my dream of working with horses. A few months later, after they were not fulfilling their end of the bargain I traveled back to Seattle by myself. I loved it.
My favorite color is black, although you can argue that that is all color or absence of color depending on your point of view. That's partially why I like it. The other reason is that black horses were my favorite.
My next favorite color is red because when playing children's games, Kaitlin would choose blue (that WAS her favorite color), and she would give Daddy green because that was his favorite. I would take red or yellow so she decided red was my favorite and it was so cute it stuck on me.
Now her favorite color is pink and she chooses red because its closest. So guess what? My new favorite color is blue because I am sad she doesn't like it anymore. She asked me what my favorite color is and I told her black so she is respectful of this and tells me I like black and then blue.
Before I had a child, I hadn't thought about my favorite color for over 10 years. Funny.
I just recently rediscovered the pleasure of stretching in the morning while watching my children do it. I had just been jumping out of bed at the last moment for too many years.
I enjoy working out and want to get back in shape.
The most beautiful song is the one you hear with your husband singing with your two daughters, even if the little one is off key and with her own tempo.
I'm an insomniac. It drives me crazy sometimes.
I think my kids are the cutest although I love kids and think them all beautiful.
I used to think kids were just a responsibility before I had them. Stack this up to being the oldest of four girls and having to watch out for them.
I used to have nightmares where some disaster would happen and I would have to get my three younger sisters to safety, when I was a kid.
I am a true "mother hen", using Archie's terminology. I only feel truly at peace when my whole family is home with me. I think it's not entirely appropriate of a term since it includes Archie and I don't think of him as a child.

Beckie

2008-03-15T13:12:00.000-07:00

Okay, it's official. I am going to miss you Beckie, more than you know. I am missing a friend, a confidante, a friend for my daughter, a baby sitter, a "wave out the back porch to feel connected", etc. I almost feel like a piece of myself is going away. I know you don't really want to hear it but it is true. At the primary function, Barb came up to me and said she couldn't believe you were really going and would be missed. I said, "Yes, a lot of us are going to miss her." You don't know how many people you have helped and have effected. Take care. I'll still call you but it's going to be hard to look at your house from my back deck and know it doesn't have you in it.

Thanks for having Rich help me set up the playlist. I always like mournful or yearning music. It's funny because I don't feel that way inside but I like it as music. Weird. I am mostly happy inside.

Just to Prove We're Sick of Winter!

2008-03-11T17:50:00.000-07:00

Today was 60+ degrees and we were excited. I saw people walking to pick up kids from school, neighborhood children out, etc. It is brown and ugly still but boy did we have a nice time outside with the neighbors.

Scooters, bubbles, sidewalk chalk, chatting with our great neighbors----all signs of Spring (or at least, springtime weather). Kaitlin had a great time with her friends and showing us how she can "skin the cat" (maneuver on the bar).

It all looks drab and brown but wait a few months and it will be beautiful and green.

Stages

2008-03-11T17:11:00.000-07:00

I love certain stages and miss them when they are gone. I love it when children say "hold you" when they mean hold me. Beckie said she loves it that children always say pa-corn before they can say popcorn. I love little napes on little necks. When Kaitlin was lactose intolerant and was always screaming in my face (poor thing), if I ever started to think I couldn't handle it, I just turned her around and kissed the nape of her neck then gazed at it. It would totally calm me down. Carmen is so polite and sweet about being polite. I just love that--innocence. Carmen says "Mommy, you big helper" all the time to me because I tell her that too when she cleans up her toys or something. Sooooooo endearing.

Fun Moments in Time

2008-03-08T22:03:00.001-08:00

My Little Ones

2008-03-08T06:02:00.000-08:00

Carmen last night said as she raised up on leg, "I yike (like) my leg." Then she raised the other one and said, "I yike (like) my other leg." I cracked up it, was so funny. She realized she was funny and so kept doing it. She was sitting between Archie and me.

Kaitlin is a prolific artist. Here are a couple of her pictures. She is always creating art, stories, performing programs for us, books, etc. It is fun to watch her. I think her flowers are really good (of course, I am biased). Yesterday she came home with cards for daddy, mommy and Carmen. Daddy's was fun. It said something like "Daddy's cool. He can catch and stuff like that." I laughed, it was so cute.

New "Job"

2008-03-03T07:38:00.000-08:00

Last Sunday I was asked to work in the nursery. I am excited. I actually just thought to myself that I either wanted to teach again (in any capacity) or be in the nursery. The funny thing is that Carmen dismissed me from nursery to go to class. "You go class, momma." Just when she can have me there, she doesn't want me. Go figure.

Childhood Milestones

2008-02-29T15:55:00.000-08:00

Kaitlin stayed home sick today and made one of the milestones of childhood. She learned to snap her fingers. This has been the year for whistling, snapping fingers and tying shoes. Wow! It is fun to see. She walked around or sat trying to do this all day. I wonder what made her decide to just try it today.

She really was sick earlier until I gave her medicine. She was lying around and wanting to be held. If you know Kaitlin, this isn't her. She usually can't hold still long enough for a hug, hardly. Children are amazing, though, one dose of cold medicine and POW!, she's all over the place.

Kids say the cutest things

2008-02-25T20:09:00.000-08:00

Today I was at a friends house and Carmen came up and said, "I hurt my back." I said, "Oh, no." She said, "Can you kiss it better." I said yes and picked her up and kissed her back about three times. She said, "It better now, thank you, mommy." SOOOO cute. Then she ran off to play. Beckie said she was so adorable and it kept getting cuter by the minute.

One time a my sister Pix told me that her daughter used to call fingers, "thingers". She never worried because this was the only word she used differently. Then one day she was reading and said, "Mom, do you know they spell thingers - fingers?" Pix said, "Isn't that interesting?" and never corrected her. I think that's funny. Kaitlin had a similar experience because she called towels -- tabbels for a long time. I thought it was cute. One day she was reading (she reads well for a Kindergartener) and read the word towels twice, the second time very slowly. She has been saying it correctly ever since. Mom (me) is actually somewhat sad about that. It means she is growing up. Oh, well.

Full weekend

2008-02-25T05:14:00.000-08:00

We had a wonderfully full weekend. We had Archie's sister Alix and our neighbors (Kelly and Sam and their children, Jacob, Logan-friend of Kaitlin- and Aiden) over for dinner and games on Saturday night. Also, on Sunday evening we watched Beckie's youngest three while she went to a Young Women's Fireside (church function for 12 year olds) with her oldest. Archie had fun making a video of "magic" with them while they were gone. They all had fun, I believe. I also talked to my sister Pixie on the phone and my parents. Like I said, FULL weekend.

Musings

2008-02-20T14:41:00.000-08:00

Well, today I started this blog and now I keep thinking about what I left out. I said I was spiritual but I am also a scientist at heart. One other thing...I collect pens, especially nice ones. Maybe I'll take a picture of my most interesting ones, like the one with a llama on it made from leather and from Peru. Most of them are just ones that I like the feel of them when I write with them. That was my biggest reason not to start this blog. I wanted to continue writing in my journal with my pens.

Now, more about my family. Archie is smart and reasonable (in a spat) and a constant gatherer of information. He reads constantly, mostly about society, politics, science, etc., etc., etc. You get the picture--about everything.

Kaitlin is miss expression. She is a prolific artist and very social. She says she is shy when she meets new people. Ha! That's a good one. She is constantly creating--writing stories, drawing, making up games, etc. Lately, she has a webkinz and it is like family. So, is her "Mimzy"--her rabbit stuffed animal she adopted after seeing the movie "The Last Mimzy." I am not sure why she identified with this movie so much. She reads very well and is a smart, beautiful little girl. I am NOT biased. Hehe.

Carmen is two. That explains a lot. She is an explorer and into everything and short tempered and cute and cuddly and sweet. All the "above". Her latest things to say are "Can you help us mommy?" (she means "me" not "us") and "okay mommy, let's do it!" in her cute little voice.

Introduction of Rayette

2008-02-20T11:13:00.000-08:00

I am the wife of Archie and the mother of two beautiful girls, Kaitlin and Carmen. They are my life. I am a "stay-at-home-mom" - NOT a housewife because I am a great mom and wife but a terrible "HOUSEWIFE". I am not great at the whole "house" thing. I can't decorate my house well. I can't seem to keep it as uncluttered as others seem to be able to do (I am clean but have problems with papers!). I cannot "handle papers once" as I have heard a couple of friends say. I seem to handle them about three times before they are thrown out, recycled or filed. However, as strange as this may seem. I am finally okay with this. I was into outdoor things growing up and never got the hang of being at home much. I was a rock climber, horse rider, volleyball player, book reader, backpacker (the more remote the woods, the better). I loved the outdoors, whether with friends or by myself. I am deeply spiritual and found myself feeling close to God outside. I lived all over the USA growing up and loved Seattle a LOT. I loved it because it was like living outdoors and because there were so many things to do outside that were "me". I live in Nebraska now and the weather is very trying because I cannot go outside as much (too cold in the winter and too hot in the middle of summer).

I just finished going through cancer and a few years ago had to go through something much worse--my daughter having retinoblastoma (cancer of the eye) at the age of 3. This was the most trying period of my life. I was confused and angry but trying to be a good mom. I still worry about Kaitlin a lot. I am a true worrier (inherited honestly from my mom). I now feel more blessed, though, than I have been for a long time and am more at peace with myself and my life and my GOD.

The former statement is because at the beginning of this year, I thought I had cancer again (thanks to a medical professional mistake) and it was a horrible and wonderful experience. Horrible because I started thinking about how my family would be without me (if the higher intensity chemo didn't work)-having a 6 year old and a 2 year old and leaving them to my husband. It was wonderful because I had some great spiritual moments and learned a lot about Heavenly Father and Jesus and my relationship with them. If the cancer had been back so soon, it would not have been good.

Well, that's pretty much me right now. I am now trying to get my life back in order and trying to find ways to contribute to society as well as help other people now that I do not need to be the recipient of so much service myself.