Happy Halloween!!!!

We had a very fun Halloween!! After school, the kids went next door for pumpkin carving.

(Ethan, Sophie, Rachel, and Kimbo)

Then we went back next door for pizza. Buddy and the kids then went trick or treating with their friends. Garrison wore a Lightning McQueen fire suit, Rachel was a black cat, Kimbo was a witch and Naddie was a poodle.

(Isn't she so cute??)

Thanks Becky and Eric for a very fun night. Thanks for being such good friends and welcoming our family so warmly. Omaha...we missed you so much. Everyone send pictures. We love you!!!
Happy Halloween Everyone!!!!

Burn Update

(My next door neighbor took this picture. He said he thinks I was in the ambulance at this time)

Well, I went to the doctor again today and the burn is healing beautifully. He said I have about a week left of pain but I should be feeling much better after that. I did take some pictures on Monday but those ones are VERY NASTY as the burn got much worse. So I will not post those. The doctor said I hopefully will have minimal scarring. I have to continue to clean and bandage it twice a day and that is NEVER fun. If I take my pain meds about 30 minutes prior to that, it helps but oh the pain of it all. I remain ever grateful that it didn't go 1 inch farther or I would still be in the hospital. I am convinced that was a blessing of protection from my Heavenly Father.

I will have to miss Kimbo's field trip to the Pumpkin Patch. That literally brings tears to my eyes. Kimbo has always gone to sitters while I took the older 2 kids on their field trips and now I cannot go on her first one. It will be okay though. She was very sweet about it. "Mommy, you can't go on my field trip. It would hurt your leg to walk around that much. You have to stay home and get some rest." I bawled. Sweet girl.

Pictures Of My Burn

I have had a couple of people ask to see pictures of my burn. If you have a weak stomach, this post is not for you. So if you don't want to see...look away NOW.

Ouch That's Hot!!!!

Oh what a day. Yesterday, I made myself some Cup O' Ramen. All was well until I went to sit down and oops!!!! The entire thing fell into my lap. There are no words to tell one just how excruciating that pain was/is. To make a very long story short, my neighbor came over, called 9-1-1 and I went to the E.R. Buddy was at work so he met me there. After SEVERAL doses of pain medication I was sent home with a long list of very strict instructions. The top and inner part of my left thigh is by far the worst. I have many blisters and it is just awful. The right thigh has a spot about the size of the palm of my hand. They gave me Morphine and Vicodin. The Morphine leaves me with the worst headache I've ever had and the Vicodin leaves me puking. So...it hasn't been a pleasent couple of days. I go back tomorrow for them to check and I will contiue to go back until the doctor is sure that no infection will occur. They want to watch it very closely due to the large amount of area the burn covers.

My kids were all home and I cannot express how grateful I was. Rachel and Kimbo were AMAZING!!! Naddie was in bed and Garrison was freaked out but did rather well. The girls answered the phone when necessary, waited out front for the ambulance and showed the paramedics where I was and just over all were very brave and helpful.

I am in a lot of pain of course but grateful that I am going to be just fine. Pants are my worst enemy at this given time. I will refrain from posting pictures as I don't want anyone to join me in the "losing your lunch" festivities.

Happy Birthday Mama!!!

Today is the birthday of the greatest woman to ever walk the earth. It is my mama's birthday. I have no idea where to even begin about how much I love my mom. Anyone who reads this, has a mother and therefore knows how I feel. She is everything to me. She has been there holding my hand and playing with my hair (something she knows I love for her to do) through all 4 labor and deliveries. Even though I lived 1/2 way across the country, she came. She has always let me talk her ear off and never complained about me talking too much. She has always given me council and guidance when I have needed it. Even though I am extremely far from perfect, she has loved me in spite of myself. She froze to death at the high school football games just to watch me do the exact same cheers over and over again every Friday night (but she loved going to the basketball games even though again, it was the same cheers over and over again). She provided such a good example to me throughout my life. I can remember countless times walking in on her in her room as she was kneeling by her bed and praying or sitting in her special chair next to her little table and reading her scriptures. Those are moments that will be forever instilled in my head. Moments that I hope to copy for my own children to witness. Her love of the gospel is unwavering. She loves her family with everything inside of her. She is little BUT mighty. So often when I was growing up, friends told me time and time again how they wished they had my mom. She is so admired and loved by so many people. I am incredibly proud to say that she is my mom. I love you so much mama!!!

Marie-Therese Gown GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!

This gown is amazing!!! Very talented lady.

Marie-Therese Gown GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!

Happy Birthday Rachel!!!!

Today is our beautiful daughters birthday, and she is turning 8!!! We are so blessed to have such a special little girl in our home. Rachel is so kind and loving. She is always thinking of others. She loves the Gospel and school. She is a very gifted artist. Rachel loves to cook and help take care of her other siblings. In our religion, 8 is a very special birthday. When a child turns 8, they reach the age of accountability therefore they are given the opportunity to be baptized. Rachel is so excited to be baptized and we are very proud of her for making the choice to do so. Rachel, we are so very proud of you and all that you do. We love you so very much and feel very blessed to have you in our lives. Thank you for being such a wonderful daughter.

Good Friends = Good Times

Nichole, Chris and their sweet boy Matthew.

Little Matthew. He has the most beautiful brown eyes ever!!!

Angela, John and Emma.
I am so sad that I don't have a better picture of this beautiful baby girl.

Nichole, Me, and Angela.

My hottie husband.

Tonight we had some very special visitors over for dinner. John and Angela and their little girl Emma, and Nichole and Chris and their little boy Matthew. Angela and Nichole are friends of mine from my home town of Kingman. Both of their mothers taught me in Young Women and I used to babysit them both. These two girls have always meant so much to me in my life. It was so wonderful to visit with them. They have grown into beautiful women and absolutely wonderful mothers. They both chose great men as their eternal companions. They both just have very special little families. Our families were all very good friends growing up so one of the nicest parts of the night was being able to tell stories of my dad and having someone who knew him. I often talk about my dad but many of my friends have never met him so it was nice to have that. Thank you for driving all the way out here girls. I know it is a long drive but I loved having your very special spirits in my home. I love you both very much.

The Next American Idol!!!

Rachel has a High School Musical game for the Wii and it has a microphone in which you use to sing along with all the songs from the movie. Well, last night, Rachel was playing with it and Naddie kept screaming because she wanted a turn. Once she had that microphone in her hand, it was no turning back. She was just a singing like crazy. She would sing for a few seconds and then put her hand over her mouth and laugh. It was HILARIOUS. We were all laughing so hard. The best part of it??? Buddy was able to be here to enjoy it with us. What an adorable baby I have.

Getting Settled

So I hate to post anything negative or sad but as this is as close to a journal as I am currently using, I figure this is the best place to put down my thoughts and feelings. First of all, I am beyond excited to be a family again. There are no words to express the excitement that I feel to be able to sleep next to my husband every night and to make normal dinners that consist of more substance than hot dogs and macaroni and cheese. Just knowing that my amazing husband whom I adore and love deeply, will be coming through that front door in just a few hours is just about enough to make my heart do flips. I LOVE this big beautiful home that we have been so blessed to get. It is so much more than I can even express on this blog. It just blows my mind every day that we are able to live in it.

I am still struggling and cannot quite seem to shake this "depression" that I have fallen into. I miss my friends in Omaha so very much. I desperately miss my neighbors and those of you that have meant so much to me. Everything is different here. The people are different, the scenery is different and the entire overall atmosphere is different. Now I understand that my happiness is determined by me and only me. Where we live is what we make it out to be but I personally need some time to just miss everything. I look around this amazing house, and see box, after box and just feel completely overwhelmed at facing it alone. I want to be able to pick up the phone and call Tena or Heidi or Dianne, or Tricia and say HELP!!!!

Now I know that as soon as I make friends, things will be better and brighter. I am certain that the kids starting school on the 13th will make all of the difference in the world in respect to my sanity. I guess I am just feeling lonely and participating in my own little pity party. So... don't call or write if you don't want to listen to me bawl like a baby. I'm down but not out. I will pick myself up and get through this. My sweet husband is so afraid to even sneeze wrong for fear that I will either break down crying or rip his head off. I appreciate his patience. It's like walking on pins and needles around here.

So...I will close with telling all my dear ones in Omaha that I miss you. Go roll in that beautiful green grass for me. Please don't forget me. I feel rather "left behind" while you all continue on with your lives and friendships that I so long to be a part of forever. I'm 1000 miles away but still here.

I'm off to make meatloaf for dinner. I cannot wait to see my hubby. As Garrison would say.."no more taking daddy to big airplane." HALLELUJAH!!!!

The Land of Oz

Well, we made it out of Omaha finally. The movers did not bring a big enough truck to load everything for us so they had to come back on Tuesday to load up the rest. We will get the first truck on Friday and then the other truck on Sunday. It was very frustrating but it will all work out. We left Omaha around noon on Tuesday and went as far as Dodge City. Since the movers will not be here until Friday (yet another kink in the system. They were SUPPOSED to be here Thursday) we took our time getting up and out this morning. When we came to Liberal Kansas, we saw a billboard that said "Come and see the official home of Dorothy." Buddy and I thought the girls would love it and we were not in a huge rush so we went for it. The girls LOVED it. Buddy and I even really enjoyed ourselves. It was really a neat thing to see. We made it to Albuquerque around 8:00 and we are EXHAUSTED. We got everyone fed and in bed. I went to take a relaxing bath and realized there was no plug for the tub. So Buddy went to the front desk to get one. Nobody was there so he leaned on the front counter to wait. A police officer comes around the corner and tells him to please move off of the counter because they will need to get fingerprints from off of it. Turns out, the front desk was held up. Now mind you, we have not been here very long and our family has been in and out of the lobby a few times. I am overwhelmed with emotions. WELCOME TO NEW MEXICO!!!!

(Walking the yellow brick road)

(The cranky apple trees)

(The house they used as a prop in the movie)

(Glenda, the good witch)