My heart aches! I hate it when our kids get hurt. :( Josh has his first broken bone--TWO days after his 15th Birthday!--why oh why did it have to happen just as summer started. NO sports, NO bike riding, NO swimming and the list goes on. I'm grateful it wasn't his leg--that would be much worse, but he's pretty bummed he's missing out on so much.
It happened at Football Camp. The LAST day of camp and they were scrimmaging--full pads--all out. Josh was playing Tight End and caught a pass. When he turned to run, the Defensive player was right there with his head down, so his helmet crashed right into Josh's arm. Josh didn't fumble the ball--which he's quite proud of--but he didn't realize that his arm was broken. He knew it was hurt because he couldn't move it so he ran to the sideline to let the coach know. When the coach looked at it he could see that there was a huge dent in his arm so he sent Josh to the trainer, had him splinted up and called us to come get him. Poor Josh. There was only 20 minutes left in the game and then they were going to have their big BBQ to end camp.
The doctor at the hospital called in the Orthopedic surgeon to take a look at Josh's arm--I'm so glad we had a Specialist look at it. The Surgeon tried to get the bone to set right (with Josh drugged up of course) but with no luck. There was no other choice but to have surgery so it could be fixed right.
I'm grateful his arm will eventually be as good as new--sporting a long scar for him to show the ladies how tough he is. :) Guys think scars are cool right? Plus he'll set off metal detectors for the rest of his life! hee hee
Josh was able to play ONE of his games of Baseball before his accident--but since then he's only been able to be a 1st base coach. We haven't missed a game since JT is one of the Coaches so we were able to stay a part of the team. We are in the Playoffs for the Championship so wish us luck!
Josh will still be playing Football for Roy High School but will miss the first game. He works out and conditions with the team, doing as much as possible so he'll be ready to jump in as soon as he gets the okay from the doctor. :) The Coaches call him a "play-maker" so they'll be anxious for him to jump back in and help the team win!!!

Happy Summer to Everyone! We've had a few days of Summer-like weather and the kids take full advantage of it. :) Utah is known for it's "crazy" weather--like 90's for a few days, then 65 degrees for a few days etc.--so we have to play on the fly and enjoy both the warm days and the 'cool' breaks in between. :)
I've been behind on my Blog, so I'm going to try harder to keep up! Thanks for all of YOUR wonderful pictures and updates--how I love to see your families grow and thrive. :)

What was I thinking??? Ok...I've been eyeing my Banister since the day we moved in! The warm oak stain it sports is pretty, but so outdated. :) I have been envious of the Banisters in elegant homes that have a rich, dark Railing with white Spindles. I have my Daddy's blood when it comes to being creative--wanting to make nice things nicer--or nothing into Something! So our Banisters have Haunted me for over two years--screaming at me to give them new life. I could ignore them no longer. Poor hubby. He should be used to this by now, but I have to give him kudos for supporting me--this, my biggest indoor project to date. :) I decided to document my progess to help keep my motivated since it's extremely tedious and time consuming and back breaking (for me).

Wish me luck. I will update with photos as I... think I can--I think I can--I think I can...as I progress. :)

Well Easter Came and Went by without a Hitch! Ashley and Forrest enjoyed a MASSIVE Easter Egg Hunt on Base with Hundreds of other kids and Thousands of Eggs. Hidden in some of the Eggs were Season Passes to Lagoon (the theme park here in Utah) and tickets for an Overflowing, Easter Egg Gift Baskets. We didn't find any of those treasures--but the eggs were filled with small toys and a few pieces of candy. Plenty to make them smile and feel grateful for their Loot. :)
Easter Sunday we had Dinner at Aunt Sue and Uncle Dave's house. Three of their Four Son's were there--Brad with his Beautiful wife Jessica (Jessie), Scott with his Girlfriend Kaylynn (I hope I spelled it right!), and Adam who has recently returned from his LDS Mission. We Ate, played Games, Hid and Found Easter Eggs, and Chatted into the evening. It was a memorable, lovely evening. Our kids couldn't have been happier--they love Aunt Sue and Uncle Dave and their Boys. What a blessed family we have!!!
We hope all your Easter Joys came true and that you were with those you love. :)

SNOW IN UTAH--AGAIN!

I'm so blue! We have snow AGAIN here in Utah. I do love the snow and I feel like we didn't get the BIG storms this year like we did last--BUT--It's Spring! I'm itchin' to get my hands dirty in my yard, clean out our Garage, have a Garage Sale, Do some landscaping in our Back Yard and None of this will happen until our weather starts Cooperating.
Now if I were a Skiier, which I'm not, then I might feel differently like thousands in Utah are feeling. Anyway,..thought I'd share the Beautiful side of Snow in Utah with a photo. Nothing much, but it shows how Spring is already here whether Snow falls or not. :)
Hope you're all enjoying Fabulous weather so you can send some of it our way! :)

WE SIMPLY CAN'T HELP IT.....! :)

Last weekend we (Ashley and I) talked JT into letting us get yet, another pet! Hee Hee :) I want you all to understand that our home doesn't look like we have lots of pets--actually if we have our dogs put up, people don't know we have ANY pets until they see our snake cage (which is pretty). So that makes me feel good that I keep my house clean and smelling good!!! :)

Anyway,.. Ashley bought him with her Birthday money that Grandma Nikki sent. This little guy couldn't be any cuter! He's an Abyssinian Guinea Pig. About 8 weeks old :) Welcome to the Family Rizz.

**God's Creatures can bring us joy that can't be experienced in any other way--for those of us who are born Animal Lovers! :)

JOSH'S 'CREATIVE/SPAZ/DORKY' SIDE--Turn up your volume :)

HI! THIS IS A TREAT--FOR SOME. :) JOSH HAS INHERITED MY SPAZ GENE--TO THE SURPRISE OF MANY OF YOU. OUR FAMILY OFTEN "ENJOYS" THIS SIDE OF JOSH. HE RARELY ACTS THIS WAY AROUND OTHERS--OUTSIDE OF HOME. SO HOW FUN FOR HIM TO TAKE VIDEOS AND SHARE WITH US! :) LUCKY FOR US HE LUUUUUUUVS MAKING VIDEOS AND TAKING PICS. THEY'RE ALL ABOUT COMEDY SO IF YOU NEED A SMILE OR JUST A SHAKE OF YOUR HEAD....THEN CLICK ON A VIDEO--LOVE YA ALL. :)

Alright...I know it's been a couple of months since the Super Bowl but it's really sad that I didn't add this into our Blog! We are huge Steeler Fans and our team when ALL THE WAY this year! That's something Special. Fun, Fun, Fun. :)
JT has been a Steelers fan since he was 10 years old. At that time--when the Steelers were a mighty force in the NFL--there was a player named JT Thomas #24. At that time my husband's last name was Thomas and so he felt a connection. The rest is history.
Anyway, being that I was never into Football growing up--unless I was flirting with they guys in the Jerseys--I easily INHERITED the Steelers for my own too. Brainwashing is a requirement for Parent-Fans and our kids never had a chance to know otherwise. It's part of their DNA now. Hee Hee :)

HI EVERYONE!

Does anyone else change the Font and Color according to how you're Feeling at the moment? Sometimes it feels silly but I don't know any other way. I remember in High School when I had to get up Extremely Early for Seminary, I was told that Setting out my Clothes the night Before would help with time management...I could NEVER do it! I would wake up in a Totally different Mood than how I felt the night before--so I had to pick a Different outfit for that day for the mood I was in. Oh well...maybe some have it easier and their Moods don't sway as often as mine do. But I LOVE Rollercoasters!!! So why not enjoy the Ride--right? :)

Sometimes I feel like the LUCKIEST Woman in the World. I wish I would Recognize it more often--all my Blessings. My kids at the moment are goofing around together--laughing and happy. They have ALWAYS been this way...okay in GENERAL...not ALL the time. They actually HANG OUT and play together--no matter where we go or where we are living. We have HAD to bond as a Family because at times that's ALL we've had--is Eachother. One just never ASSUMES that their Children will do well being Together ALL THE TIME. But when I catch glimpses of them truly Enjoying eachother's Company...when they DO have other Options for spending their time--my Heart just Soars and I thank my Heavenly Father for sending me Awesome Children--we do NOT take Full Credit by any means!

I'm Scared of letting them "Grow-up"! Not because they will treat eachother differently, but for more Selfish reasons. I LOVE having them home--where they feel safe and happy--where I can WATCH them being Happy and Enjoying Life. (Please don't bring this up when I'm about to Strangle one of my Children!) Hee Hee

Okay, I'm done Ranting and Carrying on. I LOVE seeing the Pictures and Reading the Posts you write about your Beautiful Families. Thanks for Sharing and keeping in touch.
LOVE TO YOU ALL!!!

It's a new year and my mind races with blurs of memories from 2008. Time becomes less and less my friend. I feel like I fight it harder and harder with each year that passes. Whew. I hope I can keep up!