Easter 2009

We went up to my parents home the day before Easter for lunch and an easter egg hunt. The grandkids had such a blast searching for the eggs. It was raining that day, however the rain stopped just in time for the hunt. This was one of the 1st times we had Sadie in a "grandkid" picture. We just wish it would have been warm enough for the twins and that Abby, Parker, and Macy could have been there too. Taylor, Trista, Jefferson and Kylee must be too old to pose for a "grandkid" picture-ha ha!

Peyton with all his eggs
Madison and Peyton
Brendan, Madison, Peyton, Aleah, Hailey, Easton and Connor
Connor with his eggs

  Sadie, Brendan, Madison, Aleah, Hailey, Peyton, Connor and Easton

Easter morning at our house was pretty uneventful. The boys were pretty excited for their easter baskets in the morning. They each got a movie in their baskets-Bolt and Bedtime Stories. Sadie got some new binki's, some hair barrettes and some crocs. She was pretty tired after awhile and I got this shot of her under her new toy from Hollie and Jeff. She was asleep holding so tight to the toys-too funny.








Shane had to work that day in the morning, so we just kind of hung around and enjoyed each other and watched movies. We talked to our kids about the real reason we celebrate Easter and how grateful we are for the Savior and his sacrifice for us. Peyton is trying to understand the atonement. A couple day after Easter Connor asked me if he had to get nails in his feet when he dies too. I explained to him that he did not and that only Jesus Christ had to give of His life so that we may return to live with our Heavenly Father again. I love little teaching moments like that when we can reinforce gospel principles and bear testimony to our kids. I love being a parent, but I have to say, it's the hardest job I've ever had. Thank goodness for prayer. Thank goodness for the gospel. Thank goodness for scriptures. Thank goodness for great parents to help us out. 

100th post

Wow-I just signed in to update this little blog of mine and realized it is my 100th post! I am planning to send my blog into blurb to make and book. I was going through some of my old posts, and I am so glad that I blog. Funny things my kids have done and said, I have a record of. 

There has been a lot going on around here lately and I have a ton of pictures to post and update.

Pinkalicious Party:

My cute mother-in-law decided she wanted to do a party to celebrate the grand-daughters' birthdays all together this year. She threw them a pinkalicious party for them. It was darling! They each got a pink tutu, ballet shoes, a hat, sunglasses, gloves, necklaces, shirts, crowns and purses. They looked so cute all dressed up together. Katie taught them some ballet moves and Gay read them the Pinkalicious book. We had pizza and decorated pink cupcakes. It was so much fun to have Sadie involved with the girls! Thanks Gay for such a fun day-we loved it!

Katie, Gracie, Alexi, Brooklin, and Sadie 

Sadie's new quilt:

At the pinkalicious party, Sadie's aunt Amanda brought her the quilt that she made for her. It was a gift from Gay and Merwin, but Amanda made it and had it bound and quilted. It is darling!!! I love, love, love it! Amanda did such a great job choosing the fabrics and putting the quilt together. It matches her room so great and looks so cute with her crib set. It looks like it was meant to go together. Amanda had not seen Sadie's crib set, she choose the fabrics based on what I told her over the phone. Amazing! Thanks to Amanda and Gay and Merwin for such a generous gift to celebrate Sadie!!! Love you guys!

        Sadie with Aunt Amanda

Badgerette Review

Recently my drill team advisor from college had her last drill team review. She has been the drill advisor at Snow for 24 years! I was lucky to have Kathleen as an advisor, boss, and friend. Shane and I were resident advisors in one of the girl's dorms our 2nd year at Snow. Kathleen as also worked in the housing office for years, and was my boss. I have always felt like she was like an older sister to me. Kathleen is so funny! She has a funniest personality and I just love to be around her. Some of my fondest memories are of my experiences with Kathleen and the Badgerettes. So since this was Kathleen's last year she invited all the old alumi to share the night with her. I was able to go to dinner with my friend Emily Rowley who I was on drill team with and Shane and I have known her and her husband for years. It was so much fun to hang out with her. We also saw a few girls from our 2nd year on drill team. Such a fun night! We were laughing so hard the whole time. Emily and I finally had to pull out of Ephraim at about 11:30 PM so she could drop me off in Moroni and she could drive home to Santaquin.  We all said we need to get together again soon.

Me and Kathleen
      Everyone doing a "classic" Kathleen pose
    Emily, Becca, Kathleen, Adri, Codi, Me, Katie, and Kelly

I have a ton more to update, but will have to do it later. I am feeling 100% recovered since my surgery and am catching up around here. The kids are having fun with the spring weather and are excited for summer to get here. We got our court date to have Sadie's adoption finalized on May 27th and are have her sealed to us in the Jordan River Temple on May 30th. I am really excited and need to start looking for a blessing dress for her. Yeah!!!

No more gallbladder

I had surgery Monday morning to remove my gallbladder. The surgeon was able to take it out laproscopically, so that part was really good. I am super sore and tired from surgery, but I am hanging in there. I was really nervous to have the surgery. I have been to blessed to have so many family, friends, and neighbors concerned about me. Shane had to work the night before I went into surgery and I was really nervous and started to cry. Luckily my sweet brother-in-law and our bishop were able to come over and give me a blessing, which made me feel a lot better and I was able to sleep well that night. Shane was able to take this whole week off to be home and help me recover. He has been awesome taking care of me and my every whim, taking care of the kids and the house. He has been great!!! The morning I had surgery I got my IV and was wheeled into the OR, again I was pretty nervous. They had me scoot over onto the operating table and the anestheologist told me I would start to feel really relaxed in about 30 seconds. About 10 seconds after that I was feeling the drugs and I was gone. I don't remember anything until I was in recovery. Apparently the operation took about 1 hr and then I was in recover for 1 hr and 20 mins. Good nap.  I have been really blessed not to feel nauseous at all. I have been able to eat just about anything and feel really good. My stomach and back are sore, but I can tell that I am on the mend. I get to shower and wash my hair today! Yeah! I am really glad I had the surgery-my dr. said my gallbladder had some adhensions and looked really angry. Hopefully by the end of the week I will be able to get around a little better and start to feel like my old self. On a positive note we borrowed season 1 of 24 from my parents  who are HUGE 24 fans. Shane and I are hooked! I can't wait to watch another disc today!! I haven't been able to really hold Sadie yet, so I will be really excited to hold her and snuggle with her when my stomach is not hurting. Thanks to everyone for the calls, dinners, treats, taking my kids, and helping in general. I couldn't have done this without everyone's help! 

Easter celebration

This past weekend we went down to Shane's parents home to celebrate Easter with his family. His parents always put together fun activities and great food (too bad I couldn't eat everything) for family parties. The kids colored easter eggs, played with cousins, made-up musicals, had an easter egg hunt, did the easter egg roll down the hill, played some more, stayed up late,  did new hair-do's, played nintendo DS and gameboy's,  and helped Grandpa Kjar make rolls.  We had a great time and were tired by the time we got home!  (warning- a lot of pictures!!!)

Peyton and Kole

Peyton doing the "egg spinner" the eggs come out looking tye-dyed


Kole and Sadie
Alexi, Brooklin, Connor, and Gracie cooking with Grandpa
Peyton, Braydon and Kole playing DS


Connor and Braydon playing DS



The "big " kids: Kole, Peyton, Katie and Braydon

The "little kids": Alexi, Brooklin, Gracie and Connor

I tried to re-create the "Jennifer Aniston" from this year's Ocsar's on Katie. Isn't she pretty?
Rolling the eggs



Sadie loved being outside for a few minutes in the sunshine.

Attack

Last night I had a gallbladder attack. Seriously. It was bad. I don't want to go into details, but let's just say, it hurt, it hurt really bad. We were on our way to the ER when the pain suddenly stopped. Today I had an ultrasound and it was confirmed that I DO have gallstones. Doesn't that happen when you get older? Anyway-I have spent the morning trying to figure this all out. I have been looking on the internet for foods that I can eat and have run across a few websites with natural flushes to help pass the stones. I really cannot believe I just typed "pass". It's all so weird. Anywho-the best I have come up with is eating a diet low in fat, no deep-fried foods, eat alot of apples, veggies high in cellulose (celery and crisp veggies), avoid ice-cream, chocolate, caffeine, white flour and white sugar. Seriously? This stinks!!!

**Edited 4/4/09** Shane got ahold of a general surgeon who he really respects and he has suggested that I have my gallbladder removed. So-surgery is scheduled on 4/13/09 and I will go see him next week. I am really nervous to have surgery. I am suppose to eat small meals, not eat frequently (this causes your gallbladder to empty and can move the gallstones around putting me at risk for another attack-something I NEVER want to experience again), and I have to eat low fat. Sounds so fun!!! I have been trying to lose some weight and have lost 17 lbs, but I am sure I will lose more with my new super fun restricted diet! One way or another I guess I really will meet my goal of 4.5 more lbs to lose! Oh and the risk factors for gallstones are the 4 "F's" FEMALE, FAT, FORTY, and FERTILE. I know for sure that I don't meet two of the four, and I HOPE that I don't meet the other! What an experience.