A very Happy 4th!

Birthday that is... My sweet Camrie turned four this month and true to form here are the 'Favorites in 4's'.

Camrie's 4 favorite toys:

1. Her wolf dog (A souvenir from Alaska)

2. Trolls (warms my heart a bit)

3. Her kitchen and play food

4. Baby dolls and strollers

Camrie's 4 favorite words:

1. Oolagapae (She thinks she's speaking spanish)

2. Stupendous

3. Excited!!!

4. Mom, Can I...(insert, have, do, see, be, play, carry... you get the picture)

Camrie's 4 most favorite foods:

1. Candy

2. Fish Crackers

3. Popsicles

4. Salsa and chips

Camrie's 4 most favorite things to do:

1. Swim

2. Play with her best friends

3. Talk, talk, talk, talk, talk... talk, talk, talk...

4. Snuggle with her blankie

Camrie's 4 most favorite phrases:

1. "Okay, here's the plan"

2. "I'm so excited"

3. "Shake your booty"

4. "I love you"

Camrie is truly a treasure and such a wonderful addition to our home. We have loved getting to know her these past four years and look forward to many, many, many years to come.

A very scary experience

On August 11, 2011 at 10:06 my sweet Carson was run over by a car. My initial thought upon seeing Carson for the first time was that my baby was going to die. He was bloody, he had hair falling out and he was screaming. It felt as though my life became a tunnel, what people were saying to me sounded muffled like they, or I, was underwater. I couldn't remember my address, but I HAD to know it, I couldn't remember Russ' phone number but I HAD to know it. I remember telling myself to stay calm, and to focus. My baby needed me to be strong. I remember holding him in my arms my entire body shaking, holding him tight to my chest so he wouldn't move, singing into his ear 'how I love my pretty baby, sweet and precious little baby, how I love my pretty baby, honest to goodness I do'. I remember Camrie crying frantically "I don't want my brother to be ruined", "I don't want him to die". I remember pleading with my Heavenly Father for help.

Once the ambulance came I walked out to the street and climbed in. They instantly immobilized him, putting him in a neck brace and strapping his tiny little body down to the stretcher. I remember a paramedic saying to me "Ma'am you're going to need some shoes" and I ran to get them, and then again "Ma'am you're going to want to bring your purse". I was so grateful for the people there to help me when I needed the help. My cousin, neighbors, and friends. Back inside the ambulance the Paramedics started going down the list, head intact, pupils responding normally, shoulders arms and hands intact, tummy soft, legs and feet intact. As they called out this check list my heart got lighter and lighter. I knew that my baby would be okay. We drove off without the siren, the drive to the hospital felt like an eternity and I remember praying but not knowing what to say, and only being able to say "please, please, oh please" and "thank you, thank you, thank you" over and over again.

We arrived at IMC and they immediately got him into trauma 2. Russ and I stood helpless outside the door while they cut his shirt off and took x-rays, felt, prodded, and poked my screaming child. I felt like my legs were noodles, my body shook, and I felt like I was going to be sick. Once we were finally allowed in with Carson , Russ and his brother Matt gave him a priesthood blessing. Carson cried up until and after his blessing, but while his Dad spoke Carson was quiet as though he was listening to the words of the blessing. While I was stroking Carson's leg, the tears streaming from my eyes a Doctor came and put his hand on mine and said "He's going to be fine, that boy of yours is extremely lucky, but from what we can see here he is going to be fine"

We were then transfered to Primary Children's Hospital, Life Flight came along in the ambulance, as well as in the chopper. I had to sit in the cab with the driver, and those sweet Life Flight paramedics spent the 20 minutes playing apps on their iPhones and showing Carson silly things, he was quiet the whole way over.

Once at Primary Childrens Hospsital more x-rays, and more CT scans showed that everything was normal with the exception of a small fracture on the back of his skull. The nurse came in and had to clean out Carson's abrasions, the nurse asked how comfortable we wanted him to be and I responded that I didn't want him to feel one thing, and she complied with morphine. While they were cleaning, he kept saying "all done", "all better", "thank you", I love my polite little boy. What a relief it was to finally hold and feel Carson in our arms. Once we could hold him he started getting back his normal goofy, playful personality. Carson even started asking for popcorn 'coporn'.

We were checked into RTU, and all we did for the entire day was lay in a bed with our sweet miracle and smother him with love, and shed a few tears of relief together. Carson would get so antsy and I would unhook him from all of his cords and let him play out in the little play area, he loved riding in the little cop car, he looked so cute in his hospital outfit! A pharmacist walking by in the hall stopped me and said "You have to know how lucky you are, when we have back overs, they usually end differently". Carson is truly a miracle.

At one point he picked up a toy car and drove it up over his tummy and head, I took the car and hid it for a while and pulled out the dinosaurs instead. Camrie came to the hospital later that day to spend some time with Carson before bed and surprisingly they sent us home that same night.

While sitting in the van driving home from Salt Lake, Russ looked at me and said "today, we are taking both of our children home." What a miracle. I was taking both of my babies home, and they were healthy, happy, and sticky from a McDonalds ice cream cone.

I am so grateful for my little miracle! What a blessing it is to have him in my home. I know that our Heavenly Father in truly in charge, and that he knows and cares for each of us individually, and today I'm grateful that he blessed me with such a sweet, and priceless miracle.

ALASKA!!!!

We were so excited to finally take a vacation and decided that we would go to the beautiful Alaska and tour like crazy! We had so much fun! Staying up until 1-2 almost every night, eating dinner at midnight, seeing TONS of wildlife: Bear, Moose, Eagle, Otter, Whale, and Seal. We camped, we fished, we walked around in glacier lakes, we hiked, we sailed, we shopped... you name it we did it! We absolutely LOVED every single minute!

So, there is absolutely no easy way to do this. There are way too many pictures and way too many good memories to relate. Bear with ME!

First stop: Homer Alaska

Homer was beautiful! We walked on the spit, ate fish and chips and took a TON of goofy pictures! Good thing Alaska is used to crazy tourists like us.

Next: Dip-netting in Kenai Alaska.

I think this was my favorite part! What an Alaskan experience. The setting was beautiful, the sky was blue, people had camped out overnight, and we shared the water with hundreds of Alaskans. Fishing will never be the same again, we caught 36 fish in 90 minutes, filleted them on the beach, and grilled some up fresh from the ocean! DELICIOUS!!!

Next: Seward Alaska

I could live in Seward! I LOVED Seward! We ate dinner at a beautiful restaurant right on the ocean by the Marina. We went sailing on Resurrection Bay on the boat that my Father-in-Law built. Yes, BUILT!

Next: Hiking Caines Head Trail

This was another favorite of mine. It felt like were the only people on the planet! The trail was breathtaking! The trail opened up to a small beach, there we snacked, took some more goofy pictures and soaked in the majestic beauty of Alaska. I'm not kidding, I could live there!

We had such a fun adventure! Alaska was beautiful, my goal was to find one ugly part and capture it in a photo... didn't happen, Alaska was simply BREATHTAKING! It was nice to get away, to be completely spoiled, to act like goofy kids again, and to not have a care in the world.

I am looking forward to our next Alaskan adventure! Hopefully it's not too far in the future.

I'm so glad when Daddy comes home

My kiddos LOVE, LOVE, LOVE their Daddy! They hate to see him leave...

and LOVE having him home.

Happy Fathers Day to a very special and very loved Daddy!

Update!

What an exciting and busy past couple of weeks. We've had such a fun time enjoying the spring weather. Since a picture is worth 1000 words please enjoy the hundreds of pictures to show what we've been up to lately!

Camrie is growing up WAY too fast. She is always talking, and always, ALWAYS dancing. This girl has ants in her pants and if she hears a beat she starts moving. She's got some rhythm! She is the life of the party and always has something funny to say, and she likes to say it in some sort of silly accent.

She is loving the spring weather and refuses to come indoors. She is always asking if she can play with friends!

She loves Ballet and lots of times she'll ask for the Nutcracker song, or the Swan Lake song and she'll dance beautiful ballet in our kitchen, once again our little girl has rhythm! She got to meet a real live Ballerina and was a little intimidated I think...

Along with Ballet she loves Gymnastics and does somersaults all around the house everyday!

We went to the annual Balloon Festival sponsored by W.W.Clyde this year and unlike last year Cam LOVED it! She was so excited to see all the fun balloons.

I just can't get enough of my girl. I can't believe that in a few months she'll be 4. What a blessing it is to be her Mom!

CARSON

He is cute, cute, cute. I just want to eat him up! He is has taken his time with everything! Everything except talking and hair growing that is. He is 18 months old now and has just barely learned to walk and is finally starting to get some more teeth. He looked like Dracula for quite a while there.

This boy LOVES to be outside. He is always asking to "go a'side" once he's out it's always a wrestling match to get him back in.

He is a silly boy and doesn't much like to be messy. In fact, I had to hand feed him a cookie the other day because he didn't like getting the frosting on his hands. The apple hasn't fallen very far from the tree... Except in this instance, he was too busy having fun to know that he was dirty.

Carson is always making such silly, mature, I'm mad at you faces. A lot of times he'll furrow his brow when he's amused but doesn't want you to know it. His many faces make us laugh!

He is always willing to help in the yard. He's already a wonderful weed picker, we just need to teach him the difference between weeds, grass, and sprouting flowers. Yikes!

Happy to finally be walking!

I sure do love my blue eyed baby! What a special little boy we have.

A beautiful wedding!

I'm so proud of my sister Sofia. She has waited a LONG time for this day and they both were so happy to finally be getting married. Congrats Sofia and Mosiah!!!

What a perfect day!

So proud of you Sof!

Out of the mouth of my babe!

Camrie has been so funny today, and I wanted to write down a few of the funny things that she has been saying.

This morning I gave her the first dose of a 1o day antibiotic, she hated it and she screamed and screamed. I explained to her that the medicine would help her to feel better and that she had to take it for 10 days. She screamed this question at me: "10 days of my life?"

This morning she climbed into bed with us and snuggled up to he Daddy and said "Dad, being sick is no joke".

Tonight's prayer went like this: "Heavenly Father, thank you for helping not to be afraid of my life."

I love my crazy Drama Queen!

I came across these pictures and thought they were cute!

We love our little cougar fans!!

Happy New Year

This Sunday was a special day for our family. It all started on Christmas day, when we received a call from a member of the Stake Presidency, asking us to come in and meet with them. We soon learned that our ward was splitting, and Russ was called to serve as our new Bishop.

Needless to say, this week has been full of wonderful experiences. We are excited for the opportunity to learn and grow and most importantly to serve.

I feel so blessed to see the hand of The Lord working through righteous Priesthood holders. After a few short days filled with many special experiences my testimony has grown so much. I know that our Savior stands at the head of this church.

We are looking forward to a great year.

Merry Christmas!

Happy 1st Birthday Carson!

Carson turned 1 on Saturday and the poor kid was so sick we really didn't get to celebrate. We gave him his presents on Sunday and gave him a cupcake on Monday. Poor Little Man.

Here is how our little boy is doing

Carson is SOOOO into cars and wheels. If the toy has a wheel he'll be occupied for hours. He also loves smashing his cars into things... apparently boys are born with this tendency.

(At birth)

Our handsome little boy also loves to move around. There is no stopping him. He'll find his way into anywhere in a short amount of time, and he's usually pretty quiet about it also.

(7 months)

Our 'Nater' has no fear. This terrifies me! But I have never met a happier, or more content little boy. He is always smiling, always babbling, and not always willing to give kisses. He can clap, sometimes wave hello/goodbye, and gag himself with his fingers pretty well, and he LOVES wearing hats!

(10 months)

We love you Nater Gator. You truly are a blessing in our home.

Nater Tornater!

Do you want to know what I do all day long?

Now you know. I love my life!!! (all of this really did happen within 1 day)