So I just returned from the General Relief Society meeting for our church. I feel so fortunate to be able to live in a place that is able to broadcast it live and feed us a really yummy meal beforehand. I love the moments that I am able to go and be uplifted by the word of God sans kids and spouse. I love sitting with my fellow sisters and feeling the spirit. I still have no idea how I am ever going to find the time to do everything that I need/should be doing (for Heavenly Father, for my family, for my kids, for my friends, and for me), but at least I know that I am a Daughter of God. I know that he loves me, and I know that if I am trying ... that counts.

Beware- its a Rant

So I have never really understood insurance companies! Can anyone please explain to me why they work the way they do? Sometimes I wonder what is the point? For example .....

They will pay 100% of the antibiotics that we need for Evan when he is sick, but they will not pay for a cough assist machine which will prevent him from getting sick. How does that make sense? For a child like Evan he gets sick very easily because of his SMA. When he gets sick, he is sick for a long time and we have to be on antibiotics for a long time. I know that initially the medicine is cheaper for them to pay for, but when you look at the long scheme of things if they shelled out the money for a cough assist they would actually end up paying less! And the worst part is that we are paying them for their stupidity!!

So of course now we have to find an extra butt-load of cash lying around so we can buy Evan a cough assist before the cold weather comes with all of its nasty diseases floating around.

Funny story and cute pictures

A funny thing happened today, and I have to put this at the beginning of this post just so everyone will read it.

This morning I was telling Evan that he had to eat his breakfast and he sticks his finger out at me and says ...

"No no Mama! 1 2 3 4 5 ... TIME OUT MAMA!!!!!!"

Man these little ones are smart! Too bad for them the time out doesn't work the other way around and you still have to eat breakfast.


I have been nursing a pretty nasty head cold all week (which is odd because I never get sick) and unfortunately for me I managed to pass it along to every other member in our household. Thankfully none of them seem to have gotten it as badly as I did. The sad part about all of this is that we are experiencing some beautiful and HOT weather up here in the great north. I know that this is probably our last gift from God before he sends the impending white doom for the next 8 months and I don't want to miss it.

We did have to sit around the house on Monday while I felt like dying, but we managed to get out and enjoy at least some of the heat yesterday and today. (I am feeling MUCH better today) I just wanted to share some of the pictures we have gotten from the last couple of days, because I just happen to think that my boys are the cutest little people ever created!

Landon's first time in the pool

Can time out get cuter than this??

On our way home after a nice day at the beach

Bubble monster!

SMA potluck

Sunday was a great day for us. (Except for another blow-out in nursery!) After church we had the opportunity to go to our friends house for and SMA potluck. All of our SMA friends got together, played together, and enjoyed each others company at the Manerikar's beautiful new accessible home! We are so happy that they are able to have this home for their wonderful family and that they were willing to share it with us! The SMA community really is a small one, but the people we are in contact with through SMA are some of the most incredible people I have ever met. Each and every one (whether they have SMA themselves or are a parent of an SMA child) are strong and good and caring, and I am lucky to say that they are my friend. I LOVE you guys more than you know!

Landon was a main attraction at the potluck

Landon with Evan MLandon with IshanShanaya and Justin checking out Landon's brains!

Oh yeah ... these kids know how to have FUN!

I have finally gotten down to the basement and taken the time to load up some of my recent pictures. There a a couple that are turned the wrong way, but I am too lazy to switch them.

My new haircut!

Evan is sharing his trucks with Landon

Ok, look really close at this picture of Evan. Look at the gunk in his hair and all over his face. It is even under his neck and up his arms. It is a combination of ketchup and CARMEL!!!! I left him for 5 min and came back to him smearing his concoction on his face and head like lotion. Needless to say, he had a bath after this lunch!

Hockey Game!!!

Evan got his fish!!! He LOVES them and asks to "eat" (feed) them every day. He loves them so much!

Finally a smile caught on camera! Landon actually smiles a ton, but he stops once I pull out the camera, because he is way too interested in what a camera does.

Miracles

Evan-ism "hecoco" (helicopter)

Landon laughed today, briefly, but a definate laugh!!!!!!!!!!!!


Justin and I are now the Central Alberta Chairs for "Families Supporting Adoption". We are really excited about our new position and we had a really long national training today. What a fantastic day talking all about adoption and the life of miracles that we lead. (there were many tears!) There is no other way to describe the life we lead. We indeed live a life full of miracles.

Our "prayer trading" with our birth parents has been an incredible experience. We LOVE our tummy mommy's and tummy daddy! There is no way in the world to describe just how much we LOVE them.

How lucky are we?

Alycia's wedding

So on August 11, 2009 my little sister Alycia got married in the San Diego temple. It was a beautiful and weird experience for me. I have now had two brothers get married, but I have never had a sister get married before and it is very different, but really cool.

The long and the short of it is that I couldn't be happier for her! I love her to death and I am so glad that she found Trevor. It was super stressful for me, if you remember we were in the middle of our revocation period, and I left my 4 day old baby!!! I am really glad that I was able to be there even if it was a quick trip, it was worth it!

I have been waiting to do this post till I had pictures to post. I have a couple snap shots of it, but because I was in the wedding, and chasing a 2 year old in a wheel chair I have no really good shots. Instead of posting one of my pictures I am posting the LINK to a short version of her wedding video! Please watch it!!!!!!!!!!! Alycia is gorgeous and Evan is adorable!

http://vimeo.com/6426234

CONGRATULATIONS ALYCIA AND TREVOR

Let the Tears Begin!!!

Evan

I just wanted to record some of the cute things that Evan is saying now. As I have said before Evan is very articulate but there are some things that are adorable! So here goes for some of the "Evan Lingo":


nu nack- fruit snack
nu nu- noodle
out-a-gans- backyardigans
gook- good
go gerk- yogurt
soward- sword
seweeoh- cereal
ow wide- outside
hip hop patanamus- hippopotamus (his favorite animal right now)

"Mama, say arrgh!" (said along with the pirate hook for his hand)
"Mama, you ok?"
"Love me?"
Evan always sleeps "gook" and dreams about "rawrs" (sometimes blue, sometimes green, sometimes red)

Another cute thing he is doing ... he asks to give "Wandon" a kiss!

Julie and Julia

I just got home from the movie theater, where I saw the movie Julie and Julia with some girlfriends. It was such an endearing movie and I can't stop thinking about those two lovable women. Eventhough it has not inspired me to cook (I don't think anything ever will) it has caused me to reflect on why I write a blog.

There are so many fascinating blogs that I love to read! I have never been much of a writer and I am certainly not the story-teller that I wish to be, but I love my blog! Sometimes I wonder if anyone reads it, if anyone actually cares what I am doing in my life. BUT then I realize that it doesn't matter whether "they" do or not. It is an outlet for me, it is a record that I live. It is a record of some of my life and that is enough I may not be very articulate, but I am honest. If my kids look back at this and know that I love them it is enough for me. If when my husband signs on he knows that I love him it is enough. I am not a perfect person, but I love my life (the good, the bad, and the ugly)!!! It is what makes me ... ME!

(random discovery: vinegar with a little bit of baking soda sprayed onto a baby puke stain actually makes the stain disappear. This was not the original intention of spraying the fabric, but a very happy result for me!)

I'm an Auntie again! Congratulations Brandon and Serene!!

Birthday fun

The day before my birthday my sweet husband took me out to a really yummy Indian place. My in-laws came into town and watched our boys for us. What a treat it was to go out with my hubby.

On my actual birthday Justin had me come and meet him for lunch and we went to a breakfast place called Cora's. How fun was that! They even made me this bird and sang to me.

Justin came home with this beautiful edible arrangement and a gorgeous bouquet of roses (which he knows that I love). I don't know how I didn't manage to get a picture of the roses, but they were just lovely! My other set of in-laws have always had flowers delivered to me on my birthday when we lived away, so imagine my surprise when I got a bouquet of my favorite flowers delivered from them here. They are beautiful.

Next we ate cupcakes! This has got to be my favorite picture of Evan ... ever!!!

My sweet friend Becka took me out to sushi on my birthday. The place that we went to ROCKED! How do I even describe how much fun Kinjo is! The owner kept walking by telling me how beautiful I am and got the entire staff to surround me and sing 3 different songs to me, all while he waved my arms in the air! He was sooo fun! Thank you Becka!

The next night a bunch of my really good girl friends all treated me to dinner at the Keg. It was just so much fun to be out with my women and eat, talk, and laugh. Ladies, thank you for helping to make my birthday week! Love you! (by the time I remembered to bring out my camera, most of the girls had gone. Oh well)

Justin, thank you for everything you do for me. You made my birthday so special! I love you!

We have a satelite and I am so glad that I get to watch this guy in action

.... tis the season! :-)

My weekend without a spouse

Justin had a mancation with his friend Matt. He flew to Texas for the BYU game. He and Matt had so much fun doing all sorts of crazy stuff together. My weekend without Justin was a very full weekend with my boys. We went to the zoo with Kathy and her kids, we went to church all by ourselves, and we spent Labor Day at my in-laws ranch.

I was so impressed with Evan at the zoo. We took his chair and that means that he (a 2 year old) is being asked to be aware and listen to and follow directions the whole time. We got to the zoo at 11:00 and we left at 2:30. It was only towards the end (maybe 40 minutes) that he stopped listening whole heartedly. I really think he just started to get tired (he fell asleep in the car). I was so much fun with our friends in Evans language, Taffy, Lyla, and Tommy. Thanks guys

yep ... I am indeed holding elephant poop!

I am surprised I made it to church! My alarm never went off, I loaded Evan's chair into the truck, got both boys dressed, and fed and made it before the opening song was over. Of course the Laxatives that we are now giving Evan started to work in the middle of church on the day that I was spouseless. His nursery leader opens up the door with a deer in the headlights look on her face. Evan literally had poop from his bum up to the top of his neck!! He finished up church in his tie, diaper, socks and shoes. GROSSSSS!!

Hanging out and hiking with family this weekend was so much fun and it is amazing to watch Evan operate his chair when he has space to roam and explore. I just watch him and cry with joy!!

I am soooo happy to have Justin back!!! So much easier with him around! :-)

DIRT

So the downstairs of my house is now free of the inch thick layer of dust that was blown through the windows during the wind storm yesterday. It is actually quite annoying because everything (and I really mean everything) in my house is/was covered in dirt! So the downstairs is completely done and I probably won't cleanse the upstairs of its layer until tomorrow.

I am in love with this blanket that I got for Landon while I was in California for Alycia's wedding. I decided that I wanted to take his 1 month pictures with it (the colors are just so rich!)

I love that Evan loves to read! He loves books whether I am reading to him or he is "reading" by himself. This is how I found him tonight when I came into his room.

I love my boys!

1 trip to Walmart for necessities
1 two year old tantrum
1 picky newborn
2 screaming children
1 stressed out Mama

Can I hear an AMEN for naptime!!!!!

Guess who's 27 today!!!!

The end of summer in pictures

This will hopefully be the last really long post. All of our summer activities and visitors are over and our real life is starting again (*sigh*). I don't have all the pictures for certain events, but I felt I needed to post before I could get those from Irene and Becka (though I did get some from Becka already :-) Anyhoo, enjoy the last post of serious fun!



Our first day after the revocation period our friends held a celebration for us after church. It was such a wonderful day and many people came despite the last minute verbal invitation. Thank you Rachel and Christie, and everyone else who contributed.

This is how Evan has started to eat his food. This kid is just too silly for words!

We celebrated my Mother-in-Law's birthday this month. We ate at a very fancy restaurant downtown and then surprised her with tickets to the Lion King. Landon came with us as he was/is still too young to leave with a sitter. He did very well and slept through the whole thing, although he managed to poop (a lot of it) on both me and Justin.

MY BOYS

Evan is tickling Landon and laughing hysterically

what's new with Evan:

-daddy taught him how to suck up ... now when he wants something he says in a super sweet voice "Mama's the best!" and uses whatever name will get him what he wants.
-he can count to ten
- he is super articulate and uses some 5-6 word sentances.
-he can use reasoning, and he really understands I am saying to him.
-he has began to build things. H will stack his blocks, line up his cars, etc.
-he is very generous with his kisses and hugs and is always asking me for one or both
-he is our little ball of sunshine

what's new with Landon:

-he has turned into a little chunk
-when I called in about his poop the nurse essentially told me that he is a drama king
-he is pretty much only happy when he is being held or swaddled.
-he is an early smiler and started smiling before he was a month old (which is today:-)
-he is definitely growing up, and I am glad that I just spent the first few weeks holding him and Evan, and not doing much else. He is already so different

WATERTON
The Da Costa's, some of our best friends came from Florida to visit us for 10 days. It was such an amazing and fun trip! We immediately went to Waterton National park to start our vacation. Irene has a lot of pictures on her camera, so I will have to get those from her later.


we saw a lot of these

played a lot of games (I HAD to have a picture as King, since I never win)


We rode Surry's around town, even did some illigal off roading.


Justin, Walmir, Ben, Eric


ate LOADS (and I mean waaayyyy too much) ice cream!


lots of friends, lots of hikes.

Irene, me, Becka, and Rachel
My favorite was red rock. We found this AMAZING natural waterslide, even Evan went on it (with Justin of course). No pictures though cause nobody brought their camera.


water skiing, boating, and sunbathing. Yes, Irene and I BOTH got in the glacier water! Yes, it was FREEZING! Yes, it was sooo worth it!

We visited the Waterton hotel, which is crazy old


The hike up to Wall Lake 6-7 miles round trip!!!

Evan fell asleep

... but don't worry he woke up to enjoy the view

My sweetheart


My wonderful Family


Have you ever seen the TV show "Scrubs"? Justin and Walmir are just like J.D. and Turk!

I don't think I could love this woman more than I do!

We were so happy that Irene and Walmir were able to come and spend this time with us! We miss them soo much, and I can't wait until the next time we get to see them!


I COULD NOT get enough of their little guy ... Christian.


I was having major dejavu with these pictures

Landon GQ poses Evan

Landon Evan

On our way home we showed Irene and Walmir the Cardston temple. Isn't it lovely?

CALGARY ZOO






this is how Landon enjoyed the zoo


had to catch a picture of this kid!

THE LAKE



I even dipped Landon's toes in the water, he wasn't a fan!

SMA Family Fun Walk n' Roll
I know Irene got some really good shots of us as a family and all the SMA families together, but I don't have those yet. All in all it was an amazing day and we actually had a great turn out eventhough it was the first year of the event. Thank you to all my friends and family who came out to support us. It meant the world to us to have you there. Please don't be offended if your picture doesn't make it on this post, I just have too many pictures as it is.

It was so great to be around other families in our situation and to have all the kids zippin' along in their chairs. We were the normal ones this day!

Evan getting his face painted

showing off his snake!

Even Auntie Jamie and Kelley got in on the face painting action.






Our friend Evan (yes another one!) who also has SMA

This is our friend Ishan ... we are totally jealous of his chair!!!!



Following the SMA walk n' roll we went to the fireworks festival. It is a fireworks competition and we went to the finale. It was soooooo awesome. I would have to say the best fireworks show I have ever seen. It is even better than Disney (not as touching) but a better display of firepower (and y'all know how much I LOVE Disney!)







Evan watching Fireworks. This was the first time he wasn't afraid of them.


I was packing up to go to the lake and this is what I found. For obvious reasons I stayed home.

And who says you can't grow corn in Calgary ... seriously, I had so many people tell me I couldn't do it. I sure showed them! and it was yummy too, can't wait until the rest of it is ready!






What a great summer!!!!!!!!!!!