Birch Aquarium at Scripps

This was a fun activity for all the kids. Creating your own water way for boats to float down. I wish I had more pictures of the other activities they had going on. They had a teeter totter and stationary bikes and cranks that you could move and it would start a fountain of water. You could also go inside a diver's cage and take pictures inside the mouth of a (pretend) shark. There were also stations you could dress up and try to camouflage yourself to blend with the ocean. It was lots of fun and I would have taken more pictures...except my camera was running low on battery.

When Inside Your House is a Disastrous Mess....Go Outside

.....and play robots.

(Included: 1 Cereal Box made bodysuit, "Syndrome's Remote" wristband, and 2 Anklets)

(I even made buttons and button holes...proud moment)

Eden named it "the Di Vinci Robot"

(apparently she's been listening to her dad's excited raving of the new technology available to doctors)

Then build a city.

(Eden's house equipped with swing set and flying car, Mom's house equipped with a splash pad, a happy sun, several clouds, and a rain cloud with umbrellas. No, she didn't draw all of it, it was a dual effort.)

Have a picnic.

Go on a dragon hunt.

And no day seems complete to my kids unless there's time for rock collecting.

Then after procrastinating all I could, I went back inside to reality...and cleaned the house. *bleh*

Looking Up

This weekend was bitter sweet.

Tyson's sister lost her little baby boy, Johnny.

He spent almost his entire 7 1/2 months of life in the hospital. He survived through more than the doctors would have ever imagined showing his character built of strength, determination, and faith.

Johnny passed away on August 20th. His viewing was this past Friday followed by his funeral Saturday. I'm so glad to live so much closer to family where we could get up and drive down to show our love and support.

While tears fell down cheeks there were also smiles.

God's plan lets us know that families are forever. Macie and KJ will be able to raise their baby boy in Heaven one day. Death is not the end.

At the funeral they had 240 balloons, representing all 240 days that Baby Johnny was on this Earth. The balloons were let into the air and we watched in silence as each balloon disappeared into the sky.

We focused on looking up instead of looking down. Looking towards Heaven instead of underground. Feeling the Spirit confirm that death isn't the end, but the beginning. The ground only goes so far down, but the sky goes on forever.

This has been a lesson to me. Things happen, sometimes big things and sometimes little things, but whatever happens...God is there. His power is infinite and great. I don't think I understood the "Plan of Salvation" like I've understood it recently. (And there is much more for me to learn.) It always sounded simple, "Earth life", "gain a body", "learn lessons that couldn't have been learned in Heaven". But as you get older, trials get harder. Life gets harder. You start to realize what you're up against. I haven't experienced what Macie and KJ have experienced, far from it. But it did teach me a lesson on life. A lesson on trials, gratitude, love, faith, and strength.

And I know that a time will come when I'll have trials that are great and I'll need to re-learn all these lessons again...accept this time in a much harder way.

I continue to pray for Macie and KJ during this time of hardship...because even with the knowledge of the gospel, losing Johnny still isn't easy. Far from easy. But I pray that they will never give up on living life because life has shown so much misery. They don't need to take on "life" today or even tomorrow. But a day at a time. Because I know Johnny wouldn't want them to live life in fear of the future or sorrow from the past. I don't want that for them either. They deserve so much more.

Remember the balloons. Keep looking up.

Home Sweet Home

*Our New Family Room

After living in Grand Junction for a WHOLE two weeks....I took a trip to Utah.

I went back and forth a million times "Maybe I shouldn't go." "It'll be OK, just go."

Then one morning I just decided, "I'M GOING".

I packed the kids, and left.

I was able to visit some old friends at a wedding reception, play with family, visit a farm, go to a water park, go to IKEA, see some houses at Parade of Homes, swim, and just have a great time.

But now we're back in Grand Junction...and its nice to be back home. I do love it here.

Happy Sunday

While going through some old files, we ran across this video taken a year ago.

Happy Sunday Everyone!

Utah Pictures

Letters

Dear Missouri,

I'm sorry to say that I don't miss you all that much. I do miss Costco and Dagg Park's toddler swimming pool....but overall I like Colorado better. I'm sorry. Farewell.

Dear Friends in Missouri,

I do miss you. I admit that I stink at making new friends.

Dear Colorado,

I'm in love. Or maybe its just infatuation. I should give you more than 1 week before I call it "love". But I'm infatuated with the fact that it only takes 10 minutes to get anywhere I want to go and I never have to get on a freeway to get there. I'm infatuated with the fact that even "downtown" isn't a crazy, busy place....but rather nice and relaxed. I'm infatuated with places like Cafe Rio and Ross that reside with you and not within Missouri. I'm infatuated with the fact that it is only a four hour drive to visit my family and I don't have to think about the horrendous "mom and two small children plane ride" experience. Overall, Colorado...you rock.

Dear House in Colorado,

You'd think I'd hate you more than I do. But really I don't hate you at all. In fact, I really like you. Sure our house in Missouri was twice as big, had three bedrooms instead of two, had a large kitchen...with counter space, a pantry, dishwasher, and disposal, a fenced off back yard, non-coin operated laundry, and cost half as much rent. Hmm. But our furniture fits the space better so it looks and feels like a home. I don't have to worry about going up and down stairs...or worry about Leila trying to go up and down stairs. Less space means less maintenance and cleaning.

Hmm....I'm a little afraid that over time this co-operated laundry and small kitchen with no counter space, dishwasher, and disposal might get to me. But for now, thanks for turning me into a more efficient person.

Dear Children,

Thank you for the times when you are obedient and good, kind to one another, and give hugs and kisses. I love you.

Please work on those times when you disobey, aren't nice to one another, and make the house much harder to keep clean. I still love you.

Dear Husband,

After rocking your boards tests and had some free time before starting rotations, thank you for spending your free time getting the house together, hanging pictures, and dealing with my and the kid's craziness.

I realize that you are busy with rotations now....but there are a few odds and ends around the house that still need your love and attention. But no rush. Just keep being awesome.

Dear Self,

Get back to that long "to do" list of yours.