OUR LUCK CONTIUES...

...or maybe not so much.

Saturday the Stake had an activity at the beach.

I was a bit worried about going as my chest still hurts and Rylee has a bit of a cold.

I went anyway, knowing that I wouldn't get in the ocean because the waves would hurt.

We had a good time.

Madi and Antoi had a fabulous time playing in the waves, exploring the swimming pool with their goggles on to see the fish swimming around, and digging in the sand.

Rylee wouldn't get in the ocean again.

I am not sure what happened to her, but she will not get in, or even close, to the "big waves."

Cooper entertained himself and kept cracking me up as he filled up cups with sand and offered icecream cones to everyone.

All was going well for several hours.

It was a warm, sunny day perfect for the beach.

The bishop had his canoe there and Kev wanted to give it a try.

Bishop Nel took him out and held the back to help him get stabilized.

I watched for the first few attempts and took some pictures before taking Rylee and Cooper back over to the swimming pool.

It's harder than it looks.

While we were gone came the injury.

Kev apparently kicked the paddle and sliced open his foot.

It was in the strangest place - right between toes two and three.

When I got back to our spot on the beach he was sitting down with the first aid kit under his foot all bandaged up.

The Bishop had gone up to our car to get the first aid kit.

Let me tell you something interesting about said first aid kit.

It is typically in the car and we have used it often, but hasn't been in there for months.

Right before we headed to the beach Kev grabbed something out of it and thought "I should put this in the car."

Good thing he follows those little promptings.

We decided to take him to the Mona Vale Hospital right down the street from the beach.

I packed everything up and had some help getting it to the car.

Kev walked up and looked down at his foot when he got to the car.

He had opened up the flood gates and lost a ton of blood.

He went back to see the doctor by himself since we weren't all allowed back there.

I told him to take the camera so I could show his mom what trouble he is getting himself into.

Susan these pictures are for you!

Three stitches later he is good as new. A bit sore and wobbling a bit as he walks, but other than that good.

Good thing I went - because I had to drive home. We got home late, hurried with baths, and Kev has to shower with a bag on his foot. He got the bandaging a bit wet so he took it off for a while. I told him I would bandage it up again. Then the power went off.

The bandaging took place by candlelight.

How romantic huh?

BAD, VERY LONG, WEEK

Maybe you are wondering where I have been - maybe you don't miss me that much.

I don't know, but I do know that I have had a very long week.

It actually started a few weeks before - so let's go back to there.

Three, or so, weeks ago I rolled over in bed and heard a LOUD pop!

Nothing hurt right away so I just thought a joint had popped.

That was until a few days later when my chest started hurting - again.

Yep, again!

Remember in October I got inflammation of the cartilage between my ribs and had to spend hours in the ER?

It was back.

No, I didn't go to the doctor - it all felt the same I just assumed.

Well, a few weeks later I started feeling better and decided to ride my elliptical one night.

Big mistake.

As soon as I got off I knew I had over done it.

Crazy thing is I didn't go that hard and I only rode about 30 minutes.

This time the pain was much, much, much worse.

I hardly slept that night as it was too painful.

The next day I took myself to the doctor.

I just wanted to make sure that I was okay and it wasn't something more serious than I had originally thought.

Well, it was nothing different than I had thought.

The doctor thinks that possibly a rib popped in and went back in - thus the popping noise.

The only problem is - THERE IS NOTHING TO BE DONE!

Rest, anti-inflammatories, and a strict order not to pick up Rylee (she is way to heavy).

So I have spent the whole week doing just that.

Lucky for me Kev has also been working from home to help me out!

This means that my house is a mess, the laundry is piling up, and I don't even care.

Not only that, but my computer died on me.

I CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT MY COMPUTER!

There is no connection with the plug.

No, it isn't just the plug - we tried using a different one - same result.

Something is going on inside the computer.

That means I only have battery power.

Kev managed to jimmy rig it one night so that it charged up the battery.

Long enough for me to copy all my photos that were on my computer onto my EHD.

I managed to get everything off - except my primary stuff.

Luckily for me most of my important stuff (scrapbooking stuff that means) is on my EHD.

I am currently using the old lappy - the one Kev got when doing his Master's degree.

It is old, and it is slow, and can barely handle PSE.

It can't even recognize my EHD because it is too big.

That means that during this downtime I can't even scrapbook - UGH!

I know I should have announced a winner for my journal - I am sorry I haven't done it yet, but now you know why.

I am going to make one for all four of you.

You are just going to have to wait until I can fix my computer and get to my scrap supplies.

Possible get a new lappy!

Good thing for that bonus Kev just got - it may be put to good use!

We have had some very sad news in our extended family.

Two little, precious girls were returned to our Heavenly Father too soon.

While I have been going about my daily routine my heart has been full.

I have been holding my children tighter and taking extra time tucking them into bed at night.

I am grateful for the knowledge that I have in this Gospel.

A knowledge that tells me that this life isn't the end.

This life is only the beginning.

We can be together forever.

Do I know why bad things happen to good people? No!

I do know that we came to earth knowing that life wouldn't be easy.

I do know that we have to suffer the bad to appreciate the good things that happen to us.

I do know that if we keep the commandments and endure to the end we can have all we imagine and more.

I do know that these little precious girls were perfect.

They will be waiting for their family.

I wish I could go to the funeral on Saturday and pay my respects.

I wish that I could tell Brenda how my heart breaks for her and how I can only imagine what she is going through.

I will have to write her a letter and send it instead.

I have realized this week how life can change in the blink of an eye.

We may not understand it all, but we have to have faith in this great plan of our Heavenly Father's.

His love can help us through anything.

His arms can encircle us.

We can find peace and comfort through prayer and the Holy Ghost.

We are all His children and He loves us very much.

We can be together forever!

EVERYDAY MOMENTS JOURNAL

I have a New Years resolution to live in the moment and to recognize the help from my Heavenly Father each and everyday. I thought a good way for me to do this would be to write it all down. I know I could have just gotten any old notebook to do this in or spent good money on a really pretty journal. Instead I made my own. I am hopping that by writing in it each night I will be more aware of those little moments each and every day that are simple pleasures. I also think that by recognizing the Lord's hand in my life each day I will be more aware of the things around me that bless me always. So far so good. I wrote in it last night.

I am also feeling very generous and want to make another one for one lucky person. Just leave me a comment. I will pick a random winner and make a journal for you. All you have to do is tell me what you want to use it for and what colors you want it and I will customize it to your needs. So just leave me a random comment and I will pick a random winner on Feb 13th.

MOMMY AND MADI DAY

Today Madi and I spent some quality time together.

We went to see this movie - which we both loved!!!

(The Princess and the Frog)

We did a bit of shopping and both got a new necklace.

I learned that my daughter's taste in clothes and her style sense is so different from mine.

She is growing up!

Then we headed over here

for some of this!

It was a day well spent!

Madi and I haven't always been seeing eye to eye lately.

There have been some tears and a bit of yelling.

Me feeling like a terrible mother.

Today made me realize that no matter what, we love each other, and she is a wonderful girl!

So far we haven't done so bad in raising her.

I am proud of the person she is becoming and although I am sure there will be many more rocky roads to come, I will treasure days like today full of laughter, smiles, and chocolate!

WHERE DID MY WEEK GO?

I can't believe that it is already Friday - seriously where did my week go?

It has left me.

I know that I have been busy, but still don't feel like I have accomplished much.

(Although I did finally filled out all the paper work to get reimbursed for Madi's tonsil surgery six months ago, nice big chunk of change coming my way! )

We are getting back into the swing of things with school.

The kids found out which classes they had on Monday.

(They always have the kids go back to their old classes until they figure out the numbers they have at school, then put them into classes -

this still frustrates me a bit, but oh well what can you do!)

Anyway, Cooper was so sad on Monday because his two best friends are in class together.

He is in a different class.

He told me on Tuesday at dinner that he cried when he found out.

Real tears!

But now he is okay and it is fine!

He handled it so well and both Kevin and I were so proud of him!

Cooper needs a new raincoat and library bag - apparently he is growing up and is a bit embarrassed that Thomas is on both of them.

He still plays with Thomas at home - but is turning into a closet Thomas lover...hahaha!

It has been raining off and on all week long and is humid and muggy - yuck!

Rylee is doing fantastic at going toilet all by herself - and I mean all by herself.

Little Miss Independent!

My back is finally feeling better - at least for now.

I did Pilates this week for the first time in six months - now my stomach hurts..LOL!

I also rode my elliptical the other night - slow and steady.

It felt really good to exercise again!

Maybe I can get rid of the little tire growing around my waist line.

Now I should really plan my Sharing Time for Sunday!

Seriously where did my week go - I kind-of want it back so I can enjoy it!

Stacy "Makes me FUNNY!"

First I have to explain the title.

A long time ago in a galaxy on the "Up Over" side of the universe when we lived in my parents house I was an adviser to the young men. There was a young man by the name of Tyson who had a great sense of humor. One day Stacy was trying to say "Tyson makes me laugh" but actually said "Tyson makes me funny!" For some reason that stuck and I still tease her about that to this day.

Now onto the actual post (Remember you love me Stace!).

Last night I was awaken by Stacy pushing me in the back repeatedly. Here is the conversation that followed:

K: What's wrong?
S: What's under us?
K: Ummm... a bed!
S: What?
K: A bed. Why?
S: Ummm... I don't know.
K: (Starts laughing)
S: Why are you laughing?
K: Because you are still asleep.
S: What?
K: You are still asleep. Go back to bed.
S: Oh, Okay.

Sorry Stace, but that made me laugh so I had to share. Good times aren't as good unless you share them, right! Love you!