The worst day ever!

September 18th

I remember when we were preparing to discharge Skye from Primary Children's the week she was born, they made us take a CPR class.  I remember how scary I thought it seemed to ever have to use it on a child.  I even recall the instructor saying, "now that you know how to, it will prevent you from ever having to use it", ok.

Well, September 18th, while we were in St. George Skye did a nice big number on us.  We were getting ready to go to the pool and needless to say she was pretty excited.  She and her sister were horsing around when Skye decided to climb up a chair and jump off the back.  It was no more that 3 feet.  I saw the whole thing happen.  She land on her back.  I went over and was sitting with her making certain she was okay, and doing my motherly thing telling her "You, should be more careful".  Of course she was crying some, telling me where it hurt, but nothing too severe.  Well, the next thing I know, her eyes roll into that back of her head, and she isn't breathing.  This is when time slows.  I was trying to call 911, which wasn't working because we were in the condos phone system, but of course my brain wasn't working and was more focused on that fact that my daughter is purple, and I think she is dying.  I NEVER want to experience that again.  My mom was doing CPR on her, the lady at the front desk took care of the 911 call for me...I was freaking out, now I feel like I handled things rather poorly in the situation.  Freaking out never helps to situation.  It was good that their was someone who answered at the front desk, so they could direct the ambulance.   She was breathing by the time the paramedics arrived.  We took her by ambulance to the hospital to have her checked out.  She wasn't happy about being strapped to a board.  After x-rays, cat scan, we were sent home.  The doctors were uncertain what happened.  It didn't make for a fun vacation.  It took me days to snap out of it.  The images of your child like that.  These are the times I wish I had an erase button in my mind.  

St. George

The whole reason I decided to blog was to keep a "journal" of what is happening in our lives.  Needless to say, I have fallen far behind.

Mid September the girls and I headed to St. George with my mother for a girls week.  Isaac was still in Charleston, so it was a great time for a small diversion.  I didn't get many pictures, but I did take these the night we headed to Tuacahn to see the production of "Big River".  They actually had a river that covered the stage.  If you haven't been to see a show there I would recommend it.  They do such a great show, a couple of years a ago we saw "Cats", the girls loved it.  

It was really nice to enjoy some of the last warm/hot weather before the cold hits.  Skye has become an excellent swimmer and it has been so fun to see her take off.  She can swim anywhere in the pool with confidence.  I am really surprised and excited to share that Charli really took to the water this time.  By the fourth time to the pool she actually went under the water.  She wanted to jump in to me from the side of the pool and of course catch her before she went under, well with each time I got her further and further into the water, until finally with one jump I put her all the way under.  This approach worked, and now she goes under the water even in that bathtub at home.  Which I could really do without.

TAG

8 things I am passionate about:

(passionate is a little strong of a term for me but...)

1. My family

2. My friends

3. The Gospel 

4. Hiking

5. Good nights sleep!

6. Traveling

7. The Tetons

8.  Never paying full price

8 words/phrases I use often:

1. I love you

2. Yes

3. Girls! Thats enough!

4. Thank you

5. Hurry, we're late!

6. Come on

7. Please

8. Mind you mom

8 things I want to do before I die

1. Find a hidden talent

2. Raise my children

3. Get it right!

4. Be a Grandma

5. Travel

6. Be completely comfortable in my own skin

7. Make a difference

8. Be sealed

8 things I have learned from the past

1. family is everything

2. prayers are answered

3. if there is a will there is a way

4. it pays to have health insurance

5. one person can make a difference

6. spend money on experiences, not possessions

7. attitude makes a big difference

8. embrace the now

8 things I currently want/need

1. my rugs cleaned

2. my closet organized

3. my blog updated

4. my girls pictures taken

5. a magic fairy

6. a routine

7. a good long hike with Dannie

8. every room in my house spotless at the same time for at least 1 hour, I know a whole day would be pushing it.

8 places I want to see/visit

1. Banff National Park in Canada

2. Glacier National Park

3. San Diego

4. Autumn leaves in New England

5. The Louvre

6. Disneyland (never been)

7. Tepic, Mexico

8. Ireland

8 favorite resturants

1. Leeks Marina in GTNP

2. Cafe Rio

3. Tona

4. Jeremiah's for breakfast

5. Bombay House

6. MacGraths

7. Places I rarely get to go, don't recall their names, but remember how good it was

8. Lions Den

8 shows I like to watch

1. I watch very very little tv

8 people I tag

1. Marie A

2. Mandy A

3. Shelley R

4. Cristy C

5. Juli C

6. April G

7. Katie K

8. Gantrie B

HAPPY BIRTHDAY FROM YOUR GIRLS!

1. Since it is your 41st Birthday we decided to tell you 41 reason why we love you!
   

We miss you!

41.  Plays with me-Skye

40. Plays with me too! -Charli

39. He cuddles me -Skye

38. I love it when he be with me -Skye

37. He watches shows with me- Skye

36. He feeds me!-Skye

35. Helps me clean up! -Skye

34. Takes me to have fun- Skye

33.  He gives me a lot of love- Charli

32.  I love daddy because he gives me lots of attention -Charli

31. Because he loves me and I love him so much more- Skye

30. That you make time for us.

29. How you take care of us.

28. You are active.

27. You enjoy the outdoors.

26. You clean my car and make it super shiney!

25. Your company.

24. Your willingness to try new things.

23. How you tease me.

22. Your Foot rubs.

21. Our long conversations.

20. How you help around the house.

19. Your friendship.

18. That you are frugal.

17. Your wisdom.

16. Your kindness.

15. How you smell.

14. Your good looks.

13. Your family.

12. Sense of humor.

11. Your determination.

10. Your sensitivity.

9. How you choose to protect and serve your community.

8. Your wisdom.

7. How you enjoy yard work.

6. Yes, I have to say I love your skin.

5. How you get when you watch sports movies.

4. Your work ethic.

3. Dedication to your family.

2. You are a fantastic father and we are so fortunate to have you!

1.  You are you!

Happiest Birthday Wishes, with love your Girls.

It's Gone

It's gone, her tooth, and her toddler years.  After eating 3 corn on the cob last saturday, it was almost ready.  It was a huge distraction Sunday at church, if she wasn't wiggling it, she was showing someone, or telling someone.  Once we arrived home from church I asked if I could do the honors.  The visit from the tooth fairy is a moment I don't want to forget.  The girls have been sleeping in my bed with me, and we put the tooth in a little tooth box and placed it under her pillow.  When she woke up around 2:00 am, she discovered it wasn't there and found a dollar in it's place.  Her face lit up and she was just laying there with the most beautiful smile of excitement, she was in complete awe that their really is a fairy.  It took a long while before she fell asleep again.  She is now embarking on what my neighbor calls the snaggle tooth years, I'm a little worried about the post snaggle tooth years, which means preadolescent years.  Why do they have to grow so fast!

Mother Nature

Isaac left for South Carolina about a week and a half ago.  He is there doing his FBI training.  Of course it didn't occur to me until hurricane Gustuv that it is hurricane season.  I curiously checked the activity and saw the potential that Hanna offered.  I really thought I was being a little extreme in raising any concern.  Well, Isaac called today and said that they might be moving them 200 miles inland, and that they will know depending on what the next hours reports bring.  His hotel is in Charleston right on the water.  As I see it, this will cause a delay in him returning as scheduled.  It makes me think about all the people who are influenced by these storms, and the great anxiety it can cause knowing that something with such strength is heading your way.  I guess with earthquakes you have no warning, which of the two is worse?

NO!

The dreaded year has arrived, my baby has entered into kindergarten.  Three days before kindergarten started Skye wakes up and announces with pure bliss that she has a loose tooth.  She was on cloud 10 all day following the great discovery.  The entire day she reminded me of how grown up she is getting.  I can only handle so much growing up in one week.   Kindergarten and first loose tooth all within days, doesn't she know she needs to go easy on me? 

Dinosaur Park

My kids would beg daily to go here, I have deprived them almost and entire year, I can only handle dinosaur park so much.  Well, Weber county has free admission to various places during the summer months, I decided I would humor my kids and take them on free dinosaur park day.  They had even more fun since they couldn't remember most of what it has to offer.

Yellowstone

We had a great time in Yellowstone.  My parents met us in West Yellowstone and we toured the park together.  Everyone has there favorite experience.  My dad loved seeing the elk.  My mother loved the bison, which were hundreds crossing the road.  I loved artist point, this was my first time seeing it,  I have been to yellowstone several times, but always miss seeing the northeast side of the park.  This is by far my favorite area of the park, and created a new appreciation for yellowstone and it's variety of beauty.  This was Isaac's first time to Yellowstone, it's about time considering it's only about a 4 hour drive from our home.  Being that Isaac isn't from around this area there is so much to see and do that is so new to him, so of course his favorite was everything.

Bear Hunting!

The joys of hiking?

Grand Times

It was so fun to enjoy my favorite place with family.  This is the first time we have taken the girls and they loved it!  Skye kept saying how beautiful it was, of course that made me even more excited.  I'm certain I didn't appreciate nature at the age of 5 nearly as much as Skye.  We stayed at Jackson Lake Lodge where I worked 12 years ago.  I already look forward to our next visit.

My favorite place!

I LOVE this place, this is what I could call, my perfect place, thankfully I will be there in the morning!

Didn't I say "Constant Change"

Yes, yet another change.  It looks as though Isaac will be leaving to training a little sooner than we expected.  Which brought a change to our family vacation this year.  It seems that we always pick September to take our family vacations, I love fall and all the beautiful autumn leaves.  Last year we visited Rocky Mountain National Park and had a wonderful time.  The temp was perfect, no crowds, and all the Elk were in rut, so wildlife viewing was real fun.  Skye even perfected her Elk call.  Well, I started planning early this year and had us all set up for Yellowstone during the 3rd week of September.  Well, that changed.  We have decided to take our vacation last minute and head up to Yellowstone, it will be a shorter stay, but we should have a goodtime!  I will most certainly be sad to miss seeing the Elk and leaves like last years vacation.

Peaches!

Our long awaited peaches are ready!  Last year I didn't plan accordingly and our peaches were prime while Isaac and I were in the middle of doing the master cleanse (10 days of only drinking spicy lemonade), let's just say I have been craving a good peach.  I made some fabulous peach lemonade (what is with all the lemons?) and wonderful oatmeal peach cookies to freeze.  

Our fish!

We have always had the nickname "Fish" for Skye, she has loved the pool every since her first dip at the age of two.  So, I put Skye in three different sessions of swim lessons this summer.  I have spent many mornings this summer sitting by the pool watching her develop into a fantastic little swimmer. Charli sat beside me each and everyday.   She wasn't interested in the whole swimming lessons idea, even after watching numerous children her own age play water games.  I think when Charli is older you will likely find her laying out by the pool reading some magazine.  

Well, you think I would be a proud mother and record Skye's milestone, but no, I even briefly attempted to remind myself to take the camera on this, her last day.  I was reminded at my failure when I arrived today to see numerous video camera's, digital camera's and extended families, I mildly felt I was on a movie set.   My poor neglected children.  I have been so impressed by the progress Skye has made, she even won in her division in the little competition they hold at the end of each session.  She is a proud owner of a red water noodle due to her new found ability. Go Fish!