The Bonham Chronicles

Moving on...

2011-07-01T22:15:00.000-07:00

I've always kept a big box fan in the hallway between my kids' bedrooms upstairs. It is so loud that it blocks out just about any other noise in the house. My kids have gotten used to the sound and it lulls them to sleep. When they were babies it, more importantly, KEPT them asleep.

Yesterday was our last day in our "dream" house. One of the last things I packed and sent to storage was the box fan. It hurt a little. Almost as if I was packing away all the memories of bedtime stories and babies napping. Then night came. Around 1 a.m. I headed to my room to find all four of my sweet babies sound asleep on my floor in their sleeping bags. My heart ached. I remembered the first night we slept in that new, big house. It had taken Craig 1 1/2 years to build it. He'd slept there most nights on a cot and worked day and night. That was going to be our forever house. We were so excited to move in that the first night we didn't even have beds. It was just Craig, Lizzie, Gracie and I, 7 months pregnant with the twins, on the floor in our sleeping bags. I don't think I slept more than 20 minutes that night. But it was the silence that I remember most. Dead. Quiet. As my little family slept around me.

Last night was the same. I lay there in the stillness and listened to each of them breathing. It was so clear. So peaceful. I realized for the first time that the huge box fan, while serving a great purpose, had also kept me from "hearing" my kids as they slept each night. Their sighs, their snores, their whispering dreams.

As much as I loved that beautiful house and living there, I think that it has been a huge box fan in my life for the past 5 years. I've been so consumed with trying to keep it and the yard clean and tidy and decorated...while Craig has been overwhelmed with trying to make up for the huge hit his business took with the fall of the economy as well as doing whatever it took to pay for that big house with its big mortgage. We'd finally had enough of that noise in our life. It had become necessary, on many levels, to sell.

This morning we rolled up our sleeping bags. We took one last walk through the house with the kids. We stopped in each room sharing memories that we'd had there. We cried and cried. I will always love that house. I hope I will not always feel the empty hole for it that I feel right now. I will add this experience to my little book of "hard- things- in- life- that- I- wish -I -didn't- have- to -experience -but -know -that -I- will- learn -a- tremendous- amount- from."

Yogurt for a Cure!!...Monday, May 9th (all day)

2011-05-08T20:49:00.000-07:00

I'm sure many of you know that I have an 8 year old daughter with Cystic Fibrosis. We are so confident that a cure will be found and we are doing all that we can to help that happen!! Will you join us? Tomorrow from open to close 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. they will donate 20 % of all purchases to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Just be sure to mention CF...Please come and tell your friends and neighbors. I'll see you there!

Little notes

2011-04-22T18:10:00.000-07:00

I love the little notes I find around the house written by my children. Of all the things I know I will miss about them, I think the notes and pictures will be missed the most. Here is one I found on the bathroom door one Sunday.

p.s. The funny thing about it is that Lizzie didn't write it. Gracie did and signed Lizzie's name.

Found on the bathroom door by the garage on Sunday, April 17th, 2011

Easy like a Sunday Morning

2011-04-10T20:28:00.000-07:00

I love Sundays. We have the perfect church time: 11:00. Sleep in, come home with a lot of afternoon time left to enjoy. I'm sure our Sundays are not much different than other families with young children but I did some observing today and wanted to record my musings for a day when my children were all grown and not so crudely amusing.

Before church was pretty uneventful. Got ready and left about 15 minutes late...as usual. When we got home Hallie dropped her animal crackers on the floor of the garage and wailed forever about it. We all got inside the house and I announced I would be making nachos for lunch. Everyone was happy. I made the nachos and suddenly 2 of my children had changed their minds. I put a big dollop of sour cream on top of everyone's nachos thinking this would get them excited. The first to try them was Lizzie. She made a disgusting face and yelled, "This sour cream is rotten." It was all over for the nachos after that. Nobody wanted them anymore.

Hallie followed me for most of the afternoon, attatched to my thigh. Whining, whining, whining.

I went to the fridge to see what else I could bring out. I bent down to look in the meat compartment when CJ came up behind the fridge door and slammed it on me as hard as he could. Awesome.

Hallie let go of my thigh for a few minutes and I heard her from upstairs, "Somebody diarrhead in the potty and its going to get on the floor." I yelled back that her dad would be up to check it out. He shot me a glance like, "Thanks a lot."

We finally got the kids fed and sent them down to the basement to watch a movie while we took our Sunday nap. Aren't Sunday naps the best? I'm not sure why they are so much better than slipping in a nap on a Wed. or Sat. but they are for some reason. Before we knew it all four kids were back in the bed with us watching a re-run of Chuck. I told Craig that I really didn't want to make Sunday dinner. He agreed so instead we had milkshakes for dinner. It was the best dinner I've made in a long time.

After "dinner" we played Chutes and Ladders (Gracie, Hallie, CJ and myself) while Craig and Lizzie played Monopoly. Hallie cried every time someone got ahead of her and wailed when Gracie won. *Note to self: Need to start teaching good sportsmanship to Hallie.

All in all, today was my perfect day. All my favorite little people around me. My sweet husband that loves me despite my rotten sour cream and milkshake dinners and I can hear him doing 2 days worth of dishes as I am typing. I heart him sooooo much.

Life is oh, so good.

Imperfections and Gratitude

2010-12-30T14:18:00.000-08:00

The holidays were crazy this year. Jewelry orders kept me swamped until the week before Christmas. Two days before Christmas, Craig and I were scrambling around Wal-mart trying to wrap up Christmas for the kids. Mental note: Next year, start earlier!

Craig and the twins crash after a Christmas party

The week of Christmas brought tons of unexpected situations for our family members. Craig came down with the flu and was walking around with wadded up tissues in both nostrils for almost a week. Among the other surprises of the week for family members were: a forced move 3 days before Christmas, a new baby born 5 days before Christmas and a serious infection that kept one of our sweet nephews in the hospital until Christmas Day. That week is still a whirlwind in my mind.

I have a tendency, as a lot of women do, to feel guilt...all...of...the...time. Guilt for not helping others more. Guilt for not being a better mother. Guilt for not having a cleaner house. Guilt for not spending more quality time with my husband. Just guilt for pretty much everything you can think of. And I won't lie. This Christmas season had it's fair share of it. I wish I could have been everywhere for everyone and I wasn't.

One afternoon a few days before Christmas, I bent down to wipe CJ's nose. He rubbed my cheek so softly with his cold little fingers. I gave him a tight squeeze and my eyes quickly scanned the room. Craft papers and crayons strewn across the kitchen floor. Last nights rice under all the chairs at the table. The sink full of dirty dishes, tiny fingerprint patterns of stick people all over the back sliding doors. I wanted to cry. I felt inadequate, frustrated and exhausted....

And then I felt love. An overwhelming sense of love and gratitude filled me. I believe strongly in a loving Heavenly Father. I know it was his way of telling me, "You're doing just fine, Lora."

That feeling stuck with me for several days. I found myself alone on my knees many times this Christmas season giving thanks for the good in my life and praying for the ones we love that were having such hard trials. It had suddenly become so clear to me that I had SO many things to be grateful for. Thinking about my family and those around me that were struggling awakened me to to fact that I have virtually no control over my life. I can't keep illnesses away. I can't control the economy and whether or not there will be work for my husband. But I realized that the one thing I DO have control over is my home: the feeling in my home, my personal attitude and beliefs the way I raise my children.

Lizzie and baby Tustin while Papa read Luke 2

I am grateful for a life that is so so far from perfect but so good and so filled with love.

Gracie and Duke (who recently has become more of an "inside" dog)

Thank goodness for a good man.

2010-08-24T22:06:00.000-07:00

The summer is beginning to change. Can you feel it? It's the little things like cooler evenings, the slight rustling of leaves and the faint sounds of Riverton High's marching band practicing. And, of course, the school supplies. They're everywhere.

So in honor of summer ending, we thought we'd sneak the kids out of school for one of the last boating days of the year last Friday. We were supposed to meet my sister and her family at Deer Creek at 11 am. Things were going pretty good until it became close for time to leave. We realized we'd forgotten this or that and CJ was constipated and the list goes on. We finally got on the road about 10:30. Heading down I-15 we noticed people pulling up along side us waving hysterically and pointing to the boat. I looked back to find that the back seat was missing. Not flapping or bumping up and down....just GONE! We pulled over. I looked into the back seat of the car and noticed Lizzie crying into her arm. She suddenly burst out, "Mom, it's my fault. I put something under the seat before we left." Wow. I was impressed with her honesty. Craig and I walked back to survey the damage. No back seat. One missing life jacket. I looked at Craig who just stared into the boat. I said, "She feels pretty bad about it." He responded. "Just don't say anything else about it when we get into the car." And that was it.

We circled around a few exits and came back up the freeway to look for it. There it was. Our lovely, big back seat thrashed to pieces in the middle lane of the freeway. I called 911 and reported a boat seat in the middle of the freeway. They said they'd send someone right out. We continued on our way to lake.

We stopped at the mouth of the canyon to fill up. Craig told the kids to run in and pick out one thing each. Gracie jumped out of the car and yelled, "Mom, I didn't wear any shoes." I gave her mine and got back in the car. While I waited I texted my sister (she and her family had been waiting for us for an hour at the lake.) In the text I said, "Be prepared for white trash boating." After that I sat in the quiet car and thought about my man and the way he'd handled a really crappy situation. Could've been so much worse. Could've ruined our day. But it didn't.

The lake was freezing but we had a blast. Suzy and I got thrashed around on the tube for a while and when we went flying off I hit the water so hard I thought she'd kicked me in the stomach. Almost threw up. Had a headache for the rest of the day.

Don't worry I got him back, GOOD. Who says white trash boating can't be fun?

Me...the amputee.

2010-07-22T19:48:00.000-07:00

I've got lots and lots and lots to blog about this summer. So much to do...so little time. But for now, I'll leave you with a little laugh from the picture below taken at Lake Mead on July 4th. Yes, that is me. Apparently I am an amputee, or so it appears! Toodles!

Lora, the amputee and Dylan jumping off the back of the boat. Lake Mead, July 4th, 2010

Who Am I?

2010-07-08T22:35:00.001-07:00

It's almost midnight. Everyone in my house is asleep. I should be asleep but this is the first minute I've had alone all day. And I need it. I've been doing some thinking lately. With the kids out of school for the summer, my days are completely consumed with them. Feeding them, breaking up their fights, entertaining them, listening to their stories, helping Grace with meds and chest pt's...and the list goes on and on. So, this has stirred some thought within me lately. WHO AM I?????

A few nights ago I lie awake in bed thinking about this question. I know what I used to be passionate about. I know what I used to love. But that was 9 years ago before the kids starting coming. Since my first was born I feel like I've lost a little piece of myself with each one. I'm not complaining. I wouldn't change a thing. I am blessed beyond measure to have these little people in my life... I'm just not sure who I am anymore.

The babies will start preschool in a month. 5 hours of alone time EVERY SINGLE WEEK. I think it is time to find out what this woman is all about again.

The following will be on my agenda:

1. Start writing children's books again and start submitting to publishers

2. Learn new techniques for jewelry making

3. Be a better blogger

I'll let you know what I find out.

Need some inspiration?

2010-05-06T19:18:00.001-07:00

Today is a special day...April 28th

2010-04-28T21:37:00.000-07:00

I can't believe my Gracie just turned 7 years old. I say that in the same sense that other parents do now...but a few years ago I just wasn't sure. She has been our angel in every sense of the word. Having her has changed me, my perspective on life and what really matters to me. In some ways I feel like I'm more hardened to life now, less outgoing and less friendly. Many days I just don't feel like wasting time when there are so many things to be done. This is a shame, because I know I miss out of so many of the tiny details...the little moments that make you pause and catch a glimpse into your children's or your own soul. But having Gracie has changed me in other ways, too. When I hear a story of a mother that gives birth to a sick baby, or a story about a child that is struggling with illness, I am touched. More deeply than I ever knew I could be. She has taught me to FEEL. Truly feel and hurt for other's pain, sorrows and struggles.

On the morning of her birthday, April 28th, I lie in bed. I heard the kids stirring. Craig got up and showered. I just lied in bed staring at the ceiling and thinking about this very morning, 7 years ago. I was frozen with the memory. Craig met the kids in the kitchen. I could hear him getting out pans and asking Gracie what she would like for breakfast. I knew I should be the one in there. I should be greeting her with a huge "Happy Birthday!" but instead I was in bed wiping the tears from my eyes. It amazed me how painful it was to recall the events of April 28th, 2003 and the months that would follow. I knew I should make myself remember it all. Feel the pain again. Because when I had remembered every last detail that I could recall, I felt nothing but gratitude. She was allowed to live, to be an important part of our family. She was here to love us and to teach us and to make us laugh, everyday.

I am so grateful to be Gracie's mother.

Walk on the Wild Side

2010-04-06T13:30:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it has been 10 years since I finished up at BYU. I didn't end up that far away but my trips to campus seldom. Only once every year or two. When I do get back there, I always get the same strange, home-sick feeling that reminds me of another life I once lived. Sort-of surreal. One part of campus that always pulls me back is the Monte L. Bean Museum.

There is a reptile show several times a week where your kids can pet snakes, turtles or huge lizards. Heads and full-body mounts adorn the entire 2 story building. It feels like a huge, dead zoo. I love it. My kids love it. Even Craig loves it.

You should check it out while your kids are off track, for a family night or just for something to do! Call ahead or check website for hours of reptile shows....you don't want to miss it!

Valentine's Party

2010-02-15T14:13:00.000-08:00

I hate how crowded and impossible it is to have a date on Valentine's Day. This led to our family changing the dynamics of our Valentine's Day into a day of love for the entire family to share.

Every year we make homemade pizzas(heart shaped, of course,) everyone's favorite junk food, and rasberry sherbet mixed with sprite to drink. We go around the table and tell what we love most about each other while we pig out.

I enjoy it thoroughly, as do the kids.

True Love

2010-02-14T15:30:00.000-08:00

I've been thinking a lot lately about my marriage and my family. I remember as a teenager lying in bed at night thinking about my future. I thought about who I would marry, how many kids I would have, where we would live. Everything has turned out much different than I ever thought. I never imagined living in Utah married to a 6'2" red-headed stud who is absolutely passionate about hunting. (Which hasn't always been easy for me.) I did imagine having lots of kids, but never considered all the challenges that would come with that...for them and me. I DID imagine getting pregnant, having a babies, taking them for walks, trips to the library, helping out in their classrooms, trips to the zoo and making cookies together.

Somehow, in my thoughts of the future, I never pictured administering over 20 pills a day, along with vests that shake my child violently while she breathes from a mask to help clear her lungs. I never pictured having twins pulled from my tummy via c-section and staring at a cleft-lip that marred my baby girl's beautiful face. I never considered the stress that insurance issues and downfalls in the economy would cause in a marriage. I just never did.

I also never imagined going to bed each night staring at a man that owns my heart. I never imagined feeling so much joy and pride seeing my children run home from the bus together laughing till the cry. I never imagined waking up to burnt toast and watered down orange juice in bed or 3 year old twins that love to dip dino chicken nuggets in their milk...but these are the things that make my life full of joy. Knowing that I can be with them forever. Knowing that no matter what twists and turns life may bring....I will always have them.

Happy Valentine's Day.

Basketball

2010-02-13T13:42:00.000-08:00

Isn't it interesting the way our children decide what new things they want to be involved in and then they go for it! No fear. No hesitation. Just do it! I love it. I really look up to my kids for that. I guess I'm not so much the mom that says, "You have to pick something and stick with it." Maybe I should be that way more. But part of me can relate to them wanting to try everything. I want to try everything, too! I really feel that when they find their true love, that their passion and excitement for that find, whatever it may be, will drive them to excel at it.

So far, Lizzie has tried soccer, piano, swimming, baseball, ballet, gymnastics, tumbling, and basketball. She's enjoyed them all but could take or leave most. She's recently informed me that she can't live with basketball. (I was hoping for softball...oh well.) So basketball it is...And boy is she good at it!

Hospital and Zoo

2010-02-10T13:55:00.000-08:00

Gracie has her check-ups every three months. The hospital is only a couple of miles from the zoo so after an excellent Pulmonary Function Test of 133 we met some friends at the zoo. The weather was nice, there were hardly any people there and the animals seemed happy to see us. (Especially Tino, the gorilla)

I wish I could have gotten a better picture of Tino because he was the most interesting, disgusting gorilla we've ever encountered. He was sitting right by the glass with his back facing us. Every few seconds he would turn his head to look at us as he chewed on something he kept putting into his mouth. A big, brown something. As he popped the last morsel into his mouth, he reached down to his back-side and grabbed another snack, fresh from his bum. Disgusting? Yes, I know. My kids were enthralled. Frankly, so was I. We could have sat and watched that dirty ole gorilla all day, but life and reality awaited us at home.

On the way home I remembered my dad telling a story about the gorilla in the Birmingham, AL zoo and threw up into his hands then threw it all over my dad. Lovely. I guess I'm grateful for glass enclosures now instead of bars.

We look forward to our next zoo excursion. Thanks, Kendi, for entertaining us for the afternoon!

Sunday Night Splurge

2010-02-01T12:16:00.001-08:00

Every Sunday night the girls and I make a treat. This was a recent sweet that we all enjoyed (a little too much.) It's easy to make and oh, so yummy.

I got the heart shaped pans (2 of them) at Target in the dollar section for $2.50 each. They are silicone. Have you tried those?? Where I have been all these years?... They are guaranteed to please.

Here's the recipe:

Double-chocolate cake:

1 pkg plain devil's food cake mix

1 big box chocolate instant pudding mix

4 large eggs

1 c sour cream

1/2 c warm water

1/2 c vegetable oil

1 1/2 c choc. chips

Preheat oven to 350. Spray your pan. Put cake mix, pudding mix, eggs, sour cream, water and oil in large mixing bowl. Blend w/eletric mixer on low for 1 minute. Stop and scrape down sides. Turn it up to medium and beat for another 2-3 minutes. It will be very thick. Fold in the chocolate chips. Pour into prepared pan. Bake until it springs back with light touch of finger, or starts to pull away from the pan. (20-30 mins if you've got it in 2 pans or 45-50 if it's all in one.)

Remove from oven and completely cool before frosting.

Magnolia Bakery's Traditional Vanilla Buttercream:

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, very soft

8 cups confectioners' sugar

1/2 c milk

2 tsp vanilla extract

Cream butter with 4 cups of the sugar. Add in the milk and vanilla. Slowly add the remaining sugar one cup at a time until thick enough to spread. Add food coloring for pretty pink, valentiney color. Store extra at room temperature.

Add lots of heart sprinkles or edible pearls to make it beautiful then eat until you make yourself sick! Yum.

The little things

2010-01-30T21:31:00.000-08:00

Tonight Craig and I went out for a quick dinner. Very quick, because it was getting late and our young babysitters needed to be home. We sat and ate (too much) and talked as fast as we could about this and that. Sometimes I forget how much I enjoy talking to Craig (probably because we seldom finish a conversation without a child interrupting or the phone ringing.) It was so nice to talk in complete sentences. We both recently got new phones and are trying to become more techno savvy (we're learning to text...I know.) As I finished my last sip of diet coke I heard a little beep beep beep. I picked up my new fancy little phone and it said,"One new text message." I clicked on it and it only said the following:

"I love you." Sent by the man across the table from me.

Funny how those three little words still make me tear up sometimes.

I love that man.

Better days

2010-01-14T20:43:00.000-08:00

Today was much better. We drove to American Fork to pick up a new pair of church shoes for CJ. He is impossible to find shoes for because of his puffy feet, so we LOVE squeaky shoes...minus the squeak. AND Sophie's Boutique has them on sale for $11.99 a pair right now! Incredible! I didn't tell Craig where we were going because I was afraid of his reaction. When we returned and CJ came hopping in, squeaking all the way, Craig met me at the door with, "Are you freakin' kidding me?" I just laughed. The kid is in love with his shoes! And so is Hallie. I couldn't buy CJ a pair and not Hallie because, by the way, the girl is the most high maintenance chic I've ever met in my life!

After shoe shopping we drove right past "Dippidee", only the most delicious cupcake maker on the planet, I'm afraid. I turned around and stopped in for a half dozen mini's. They're hidden in the outside fridge for our Friday night treat. (I'm trying to make up for the lousy parenting job I've been doing the past few days.)

Today was a good day. New shoes, cupcakes and no accidents from Hallie on the potty-training end of things. (I'll leave CJ's story on that for another day.)

Grumpy

2010-01-13T21:39:00.000-08:00

Today I've been grouchy. I'm not sure why. I just feel like being grumpy. When I tucked CJ into bed he asked me to read him a book. I said, "No." What kind of mother doesn't read her kid a book when they are asked? Craig told me to stop being so mean. I told him, "I'm not being mean, *&^&+%!" He just rolled his eyes and went to kiss the kids goodnight.

I went to get in the bathtub and found little pictures (about 12 of them) from Gracie covering my countertop in the bathroom. When I got into the tub I found all the little candle holders filled with cold bath water from Hallie's earlier bath. I went to the kitchen for a drink and found a paper Lizzie wrote at school. She named her stuffed animal, "Stephanie," by the way. It is after her bus driver whom I think she may love more than me.

I started to make sack lunches for tomorrow and wondered why I've been so mean today. Hormones? Easy blame. Winter/no sunshine? Caring for sick 2 year old twins that insist on fighting every second they are awake? And then I realized that I haven't left the house except for an hour at church (which doesn't really count) in 4 days. That's enough to make anyone crazy!

I'm going to be nicer tomorrow. I put notes in the kids' lunches. Just like my mom used to do for me. I'm going to put something besides sweats on tomorrow and the babies and I are going to buy CJ some new shoes. (Even if they do try to kill each other the entire time.) Wish me luck.

Misunderstood

2009-11-25T11:55:00.000-08:00

The other night my twins were lying the bed squished together being silly. I sat on the edge of the bed and told them that they used to be squished together inside my tummy. I told them that before they became squished they were very, very tiny and they would swim in my tummy. They looked amazed.

The next morning I could hear them chatting in the kitchen. Hallie said, "CJ, we was squished in Momma's tummy."

"Yep," replied CJ, "and we was swimmin' in Momma's tummy."

I came into the room and CJ looked at me with a dazed look.

"Momma. I was in your tummy?"

I told him he was. Then he asked a question I don't think I'll ever forget....

"Momma. You eat me?"

Boondocks

2009-11-20T22:03:00.000-08:00

Even though your stomach turns every time your kid puts their fingers in their mouth, or licks a rope for the swing, or sucks on the water fountain, or lies down on the nasty carpet with 10 billion germs in it....Even though you know this place carries enough viruses to make your whole family through up for a month.....sometimes you just gotta do it anyways...and we enjoyed it.... A LOT!

Bama vs. LSU

2009-11-07T21:22:00.000-08:00

Craig and I were treated to the perfect weekend down South. My sweet sister, Suzanna, kept our kiddos while Craig and I left on a Wed. night and flew to Alabama. We stayed a couple of days with Mom and Dad, walking in the orchard, visiting our favorite thrift shops, staying up too late and eating way too much. Then we spent a couple of days with Lynn and Mark and their kiddos, showing Craig what REAL football is about. We had a blast at the game eating bbq, people watching and of course watching Bama kick some booty. It was a weekend we'll never forget!

Bama vs. LSU

My sweet Aunt Jane and Uncle Bradley

Stuck in the police van....don't ask.

My sis. Lynn and I at the game

My "little" nephew, Sim.

L-R(Sim, Lynn, Molly, Mark, Seth, Lora, Craig)
Just hanging out.

Lora, Mom, and Lynn.

Me and my daddy.

Sugar coma

2009-11-03T21:42:00.000-08:00

Is anyone else feeling disgusting about all the crap they have ingested over the past week with all the Halloween festivities? Candy corn. Twix bars. Cream cheese frosting. You name eat and chances are I've eaten it over the past few days. I should have just saved myself the trouble and applied them all directly to the thighs and buttocks. Why is it that food=fun. If we're eating good food we're having a great time, right? Well today I put all the cookies, treats, junk in big ziplocs and put it in the freezer. (My mother is always in the back of my head telling me "Don't you dare through that away! That is wasteful!") So I just freeze it and forget it.

Funny Story:

Sunday night, after having a dinner of a sugar cookie, Hallie's left over butterfinger and an E.L. Fudge, I hunkered down at my computer in an almost sugar coma. In the background I can hear little 2 1/2 year old Hallie saying, "Dooooon't chuch it! Dooooon't chuch it! It YUUUUUCKY!" To which Gracie responded, "What is it Hallie." Hallie said, "It poop on da flowa. (floor)" I was still kind of zoned out and then it clicks what they are talking about. I run over and sure enough, there is something brown on the carpet. Chocolate, perhaps? I bend down to sniff. NOPE. Hallie was right. So for the next 5 minutes I'm scrubbing with a hot, wet rag and scrubbin bubbles. Again I overhear my two oldest talking about how mom is cleaning up the poop. I hear Lizzie, my 8 year old, say so matter-of-factly..."Yeah I saw that earlier today. Pretty gross, huh?" Boy, did I fail in teaching my children that when they see a brown blob on the carpet that does not look or smell like chocolate, they need to inform their mother. So, apparently 8 years too late, my four children got a lesson on general hygiene from their half-comatose from sugar, Mom.

Two peas in a pod

2009-10-19T14:20:00.000-07:00

Time has never gone faster than since the twins were born. They have brought a whole new meaning to "busy" in my life. Now that they are 2 1/2 and beginning to do much more for themselves (get a snack from the pantry, putting on shoes, etc) I'm able to sit back more and see what fun little miracles they are in our family. They make me laugh every day as they chat with each other about Nanny and Papaw, Duke or poops.

I've realized lately how much they've changed me as a mother, too. With my first two I was so worried about doing everything right on time. Bottle gone by 1 year old; Potty trained by 2 years old; Getting rid of the binkie by 2 years old. With the twins and hang on to any and everything that makes life a little simpler and easier. Binkies? Still got 'em. Diapers? Still wearing them. And I don't feel the slightest bit of guilt over either. Sometimes you just do what keeps you and your family sane and don't feel the need to offer apologies. We, women, need to realize that life is just too fast and too short to load ourselves down with guilt for all the petty things in life. Just live. Just enjoy. Just relax.

Fall has arrived

2009-10-19T14:11:00.000-07:00

I love this time of year. I'm always reminded of my youth when I walk to the mailbox and feel the light breeze, hear the rustling of the leaves and feel the slight chill in the air. It reminds of school supplies, football games, apple pies and home. I miss home all the time, but especially in the fall. Before the girls started school we had a ritual of going home every October for an entire month while Craig was off hunting. I've missed that trip terribly the past two years. Maybe next year the babies will be big enough that I will attempt to fly with all of them. But for now we'll pass the time with making caramel apples, burning cinnamon candles and cuddling up with my 4 cozy kiddos for movies and hot chocolate. Doesn't get much better than this.

Utah Relay Marathon

2009-10-19T13:58:00.000-07:00

Our new neighbor organizes a few runs a year. This year he gave a portion of the proceeds from the Utah Relay Marathon to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. It was a great day. We are so grateful to have such a loyal group of supporters for everything CF related. (We'd be so lonely at these events without you guys!!) Our five man team consisted of Jenny, Brooke, Doug, Dave and Josh who each ran 5.2 miles, together completing a marathon!

There was also a 1 mile fun run that the kids and I did. I was really proud of the girls in their first run. They only had to walk for a couple of minutes out of the mile. Good job, kiddos!!

We raised a total of $1,800 for CF that day. Thanks to everyone that helped out!!

Check out my new site!

2009-09-29T09:42:00.000-07:00

My new site is complete. Hallelujah. You can visit is at www.loraelizabethstampedjewelry.com You can also see us on one of my favorite sites for the next few weeks. If you've never been to this site. GO NOW! www.giveawaytoday.com

Lessons in life

2009-09-17T21:45:00.001-07:00

Today we got a phone call from the gym the girls take gymnastics from. The lady said that Lizzie was advancing to the next level. Happy. Gracie, however, wasn't quite ready and would need to stay in her current level until she could pass off all the skills. Sad.

When the girls came home from school I told Lizzie the news. She was ecstatic at first, but upon seeing Gracie drop to the floor and sob, her own face fell. She dropped to her knees and hugged her little sis and told her to work hard so they could be together again.

Gracie laid on the floor crying for a while. Nothing we could say or do was helping. She was determined to never go back. We were determined to teach her that we don't just "quit" when we get discouraged. It was so heart-breaking to see her so sad. Having the girls so close has been a blessing in many ways but hard to see the younger compare herself to the older in their school work, activities and whatever else.

How do YOU handle to situation when one sibling achieves and another doesn't and it causes hard feelings? I could use some advice, here.

Funny, funny girls.

2009-09-11T21:54:00.000-07:00

Today we were driving down the freeway. Babies were content in the back seat, I was singing along to the music in the front seat and the big girls were talking each other's ears off in the way-back seat. As I turned on the air to cool them off, I overheard their random conversation and turned down my music to eavesdrop a little easier.

Lizzie: "Oooh. That cool air feels so good."

Gracie: "Yeah it does. It is drying my sweaty armpits right up."

Lizzie: "I saw a girl throw-up on the playground today. It looked like peanut butter."

Gracie: "Mmmmm....My armpits smell like hot chicken nuggets."

So happy that those sweaty little girls are mine. Love 'em to pieces.

Life

2009-08-21T08:28:00.001-07:00

I can't believe another summer has come and gone. The kids are all a few inches taller and I have a few more gray hairs. I'm always amazed when it hits me....how fleeting childhood is.

Lizzie is now a mature "2nd grader" who keeps giving Gracie pointers on where to go and what to do. My responsible, helpful Lizzie. She amazes me. (Except when she gets a little sassy which she does more lately....I guess that comes with getting older but we're hoping it's a phase that time-outs and chores might help cure.) She is a blessing to us all.

Gracie, an-all-day-going 1st grader. Her first day was so hard. Not for her, but for me. Throughout the day I would think about her and tear up over and over. "What if they forget her enzymes. What if she gets a tummy ache. What if she doesn't eat her lunch...What if...What if?" Seeing her all-consuming smile as she ran through the door that afternoon really helped. She is happy so I will try to be, too.

Still I worry.

So it's me and the twins all day now. Did my big girls get into this many messes?? I can't really remember. All I know is that if I leave the babies out of site for more than 5 minutes, I'm in big trouble! I was on the phone with my sister for 10 minutes a few days ago. In that time they managed to dump a bag of chips and jump up and down in them, shuck a few ears of corn in the corner and leave the mess on the floor and empty an entire container of wipes.

Normal? You tell me. It seems like they've been replaced with "thing 1" and "thing 2."

In all my "spare time" (from napping hours of 1-4pm and evening hours of 9-12) I've decided to start a new business and I'm in LOVE! It began suddenly and I realized how much I loved it and how much my friends and family wanted it and it sort-of evolved into a little business over about 3 weeks time! You can check out my initial website (I will get a real one when I get the moolah) at http://www.loraelizabethstampedjewelry.com/ I will be coming up with new stuff every week or two so check back.

So here's to new beginnings! Back-to-school and mommies letting go....Potty-training and life without binkies.....And hammering away at midnight!

Lora's 5k

2009-07-18T16:54:00.001-07:00

I've been running for fun (if you can call brutally punishing yourself by pounding every joint in your body with each step "fun") for a couple of years. This week I decided to sign up and run an official 5K. I did the Draper Days 5K. A few days before the race, Lizzie assured me that "2nd place is 1st LOSER." I assured her right back that I was absolutely fine being a loser.

I had a blast. I was nervous before the race started because I was alone and had no idea what to expect but ended up being pleasantly surprised that the adrenaline made the race so much easier than my usual runs. My husband and 4 kids showed up at the finish line to cheer me on. Happy Day.

A few minutes after finishing we were standing off the side of the finishing area. I was holding CJ and he became whimpery and whiny. I couldn't figure out what was wrong until a volcano of orange juice and donuts came spewing out of his mouth and onto my chest, arms, legs...you name it. Whatever pride from my current accomplishment I was feeling at the time, he brought me right back down to earth to my first and foremost hobby.

Life is good.

Long time no blog

2009-07-02T22:22:00.000-07:00

I haven't been a very good blog-owner. I go throughout my days laughing at things the kids say, thinking up great ideas for the future, cleaning up mess after mess after mess or just being lazy and soaking it all in. Not a day goes by that I don't think "I should really write that down on our blog." But I never do. Things happen, words are spoken, and I forget. I'm beginning to realize that this is the way life is. All the adorable things our children do and say that we try to commit to permanent memory slowly fade away with the boxed up bibs and bottles and the tucked away report cards. If I focus on it too much it makes me extremely sad... how fleeting childhood is. But when I realize how "cool" (for lack of a better word) my children are becoming, everything gets better. I enjoy hanging out with my big girls even when bedtime was 2 hours ago! Their sense of humor is refreshing and enlightening. Their vision of the world opens up a new, more vibrant dimension for me. Suddenly sitting on the sidewalk playing with roley-poley's for a half hour becomes fascinating. (You really don't want to see the pile of laundry in my bedroom right now.) But today it doesn't bother me. Today I have enjoyed life and let the details fly out the window. I am blessed.

Deliciousness for Grandpa

2009-06-16T15:30:00.000-07:00

I found the most adorable blog today. I've been thinking of all the wonderful gifts I could give our Grandpa's if only that money tree in the back yard would produce...today I found a gift that I think any Grandpa would just love.

This idea is from http://conversationswithacupcake.blogspot.com

Hope you enjoy this idea as much as I did!

Grand Dad's Granola
Looking for a baked good that can be custom-created to your dear old dad's palate, yet still offer a tasty, healthful treat? This granola is quick, simple and supremely fun to play around with. I've offered several flavor options below, but truly the options are endless. Add whatever you think your papa would love, pop it all in a paint tin (those pictured were purchased from Jo-Ann), then pass it all onto him with a kiss and a hug. From your heart to his.
*
GLAZE:
1/2 c. pure maple syrup
3/4 c. honey
1 tsp. molasses
1/4 c. granulated splenda or sugar
1/4 c. oil
In a large saucepan, combine above ingredients together and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Boil for 1 1/2 minutes, then remove from heat.
*
ADD:
1 tsp. flavoring
Try vanilla, orange, butter, nut & butter, or cinnamon flavors.
I added almond flavoring and was afraid it would be overpowering.
Indeed, it was delicious.
*
1-3 tsp. spices
Cinnamon, Cloves, Lemon or Orange Rind, Allspice, Ginger
Seeing as how my obsession with nutmeg rages on, I dabbed in 1 tsp of nutmeg & a pinch of cinnamon and didn't regret it at all.
*
COMBINE:
Pour glaze slowly over a LARGE bowl filled with following mixed ingredients.
(While pouring the glaze, don't forget to stir obsessively to ensure even glazing.)
*
13 oz. box of bran flakes or Wheaties
4 c. old-fashioned oats
*
2 c. additional dry ingredients
Add in wheat germ or flax, chopped walnuts, pecans, sliced almonds, sunflower seeds or pepitas.
*
PLUS:
2 c. additional sweet ingredients (optional)
I've recently rediscovered the joy of chopped dates. In the oven, they melt and combine with the granola to create lovely sweet bunches. Consider adding dried banana's, mangoe's or pineapple. If you would like to add dried cranberries, blueberries, or golden raisins, don't include them in the mix. Just toss them in when the granola is pulled from the oven to keep them from hardening.
*
COOK:
Spread coated granola mixture evenly across two cookie sheets. In an oven preheated to 225 degrees for 50 minutes. Stir every 10-15 minutes to make sure granola is evenly cooked. Just before removing from oven, turn heat up to 300 degrees and allow to cook for 5-7 minutes, or until mixture sizzles (but keep your sniffer on. You don't want it to burn). Remove from heat, allow to cool before sealing in bags. Stores up to 2 weeks.
*
*

Happy Birthday, Gracie Girl!

2009-04-24T14:19:00.000-07:00

On April 28th,2003 Gracie was born and changed our lives forever. It is amazing how life's little twists and turns can completely turn your "life plan" inside out and make you reach deep inside and search yourself for life's great meaning.

Many of you probably remember the weeks and months that followed Gracie's birth. It was almost three months until she got to come home and it was one of the happiest days of our lives. She has endured more in the past six years than I will probably endure in a lifetime! She teaches me what patience, endurance and joy truly mean. She fills our home with light and has the most contagious laugh you've ever heard.

Cystic Fibrosis is part of our daily routine much like bathing or brushing your teeth. Gracie has two, thirty-minute vest treatments each day as well as two breathing treatments to help thin out the mucous in her lungs. She takes about twenty pills a day. She sometimes asks, "why me" and that's a hard question for a mom to answer. One thing I do tell her is that I'm trying to help find a cure. When I spend hours making phone calls for donations or counting pennies from the local elementary school fundraiser, I'm doing it to help her be healthier and live to be a grandma someday.

If you'd like to help us find a cure, you can make a donation here: http://www.cff.org/Great_Strides/LoraBonham5042
or you can send it to us at 11537 S. Lizzie Cove South Jordan, UT 84095.
(Please make checks to Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.)

Every penny helps! Thanks so much for your support!

Good times

2009-04-06T09:05:00.000-07:00

Every monday night is family night at our house. We always start the night with a song and a prayer. Usually there is much excitement about who will be "performing" the opening song...And it usually turns out something like this....

Big thirty three!

2009-04-05T08:27:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Craigy! You are always the one to let the kids stay up late and fall asleep in our bed, make me laugh when I'm crying and keep your cool when everything around you is falling apart. Your positive attitude and encouraging words do more for this family than you'll ever realize. We love you..."all the way to the mountains and back."

Happy Birthday Hallie and CJ!

2009-03-22T20:37:00.000-07:00

Two years ago today I gave birth to our twins Hallie and CJ. It has been the fastest two years of my life! It has been filled with sleepless nights, unparalleled joy and tears of happiness, guilt, fear and fatigue.

They were born C-section. Hallie came out first and surprised us with her little cleft-lip. CJ came a few minutes later and had the face of Curious George. I've called him my little monkey since. Hallie weighed 4 lbs 5 oz and CJ was 5 lbs 14 oz. I still don't know how they both fit inside of me but I do remember how abnormally huge my stomach was. Craig just laughed every time he saw my naked body. In retrospect I'm glad I had him to help me see the humor in my hugely disfigured body.

They stayed in the hospital for 2 1/2 weeks after birth and I remember going to bed every night feeling so empty without them. When they finally came home I began to understand what true sleep deprivation was. 3 a.m. feedings were the hardest. I remember looking over at Craig feeding Hallie, his head bobbing up and down, eyes closed... then before I realized it I was doing the same thing! As they grew it became easier but I still remember many mornings going to get them out of their cribs, sitting in the floor and feeding them then falling asleep on their floor while they crawled all over me. I'd give anything for a few more minutes of sleep.

They love each other so much! When Hallie wakes up in the morning she shouts, "CJ! C JAAAAAAAAAAY!" until he sleepily responds, "No, no, no, no." Apparently he loves to sleep like his mom. They laugh at each other and comfort each other when they're sad. And every time I give CJ a snack he reaches out his other hand and says, "Hallie?"

They are my little miracles. (aren't they all?) We wanted them so badly and remembering how hard I prayed and hoped and dreamed about them makes them even more endearing. Happy Birthday to my sweet little double trouble....Hallie and CJ!

A night in the life of Gracie Bonham

2009-03-11T20:47:00.000-07:00

Do you ever have moments when your kids do something that make you go "Wow, I am incredibly lucky to be your mom." Last night was one of those for me. Grace had to do an overnight sleep study at Primary Children's Medical Center. She's always been a terrible snorer and extremely restless in her sleep so her ENT wanted to do the study before he would remove her tonsils. He wanted to make sure there isn't anything else going on that we should know about. It took almost an hour and two grown men to get her all glued, taped and wrapped up for the study...Then she was supposed to go to sleep with all that junk on her! After finishing up with all the probes the guys verbally awarded Gracie with the "Bravest patient of the night award." She just giggled.

Throughout the night I could hear kids down the hall screaming "take it off" and didn't doubt that I might be screaming the same thing if I was in their place. I laid awake staring at the ceiling and thinking about that little girl in the bed next to me. She hasn't always taken these things well. There was a time when every doctor's visit included her kicking and screaming and me crying but slowly over the years she's become accustomed to it all; the poking, sticking and taping. She is learning to take it all with grace....I think we picked the right name for her after all.

Work in progress

2009-03-01T15:51:00.000-08:00

My posts are growing fewer and farther between. I think its because of a combination of things: I am hearting the weather lately, spring cleaning is calling my name, and I've begun writing a column 3-4 times a week for examiner.com I love it! I've always loved to write and now I get the chance to do it more often and exercise that part of my brain that has been dormant for too long! I hope you will all check out my site and come back often. I just started so remember that it is a work in progress.

Girl's night out!

2009-02-10T09:21:00.000-08:00

Pillow Talk

2009-02-08T17:32:00.000-08:00

Craig finally returned from his mountain lion hunt a few days ago. I hate it when he's gone. It feels so wrong to go to bed without him. Almost eerie. I try to wear myself out completely so that when I finally do hit the sack I fall asleep quickly. Sometimes it works, others it doesn't. I just miss my chatty man. We always have great plans to go to bed early but as soon as the lights go out... the verbiage begins. "Wasn't it cute when Hallie ...?" "I wish I could turn back time to when..." There is never a shortage of conversation until either he or I start having slurred speech and half-sentences. It's all over from there until the next night. But when he's gone it surprises me how much I REALLY miss it. I'll be the first to admit that sometimes we drive each other crazy. But isn't it nice to know that at the end of the day all you want is to be beside the one you love. Happy Valentine's my love.

"Real Person?"

2009-02-07T15:07:00.000-08:00

I love being a mother; wouldn't trade it for a million dollars but some days it would feel nice to be a "real person" for the day... A woman without snot smeared across her shirt or a gummy bear stuck to the bottom of her sock. How would it feel to wake up, get straight to work doing whatever task I set my mind to achieve that day and do it without 20 interruptions per minute? Not to mention trying to have a shower without someone opening the door every 30 seconds to tell me what someone else took from them, spilled on the floor or wrote on the wall. By now everyone reading this is thinking what a horrible mom. That's okay...I'm just saying what we are all thinking sometimes. Parenting is hard! Is this REALLY what we signed up for?

In light of the recent economy slump, I've begun looking for a job. At first the search was exciting. The prospect of someone paying me money for whatever talent I may have sounded very appealing. I could get up in the morning, be that "real person" for a few hours then come home again. Like a split-identity or something, right? So it seemed until the actual applying, interviewing and phone-calls began...

Suddenly I was overwhelmed with what I will have to sacrifice if I go to work. All the walks on sunny afternoons. Staying in bed till 10 am watching cartoons with kids piled all over me. Sticky kisses and scraped knees. This is what I dreamed of doing my entire life and when I think of leaving it behind everyday it absolutely breaks my heart. With every one of these messy little stinkers in my house I have given up another little piece of myself but in doing so have gained so much more. I have learned to love, to feel and to dream what someday might hold for each of them.

So while I may be out in the work force shortly, I've learned an important lesson for now: Cherish it...Every second of it! Cherish untangling Barbie's hair from the Matchbox car wheels. Cherish untying the socks wrapped around the big dinosaurs to hold on the baby dinos. Cherish the laughs and the tears and the fact that I can be here for ALL of it today....because we never know what tomorrow brings.

This IS what I signed up for. The hardest, most exhausting, messiest, most emotionally draining position in the world! And the most priceless...Motherhood.

APRONS

2009-01-17T10:18:00.000-08:00

How many of you remember your Grandma's aprons? The following story was sent to me and brought back a flood of memories of my Grandma Mitchell who lived on the mountain in Alabama. On any given day at her home she could be seen wearing her apron as she ironed, washed, cooked, cleaned, sewed, or anything else for that matter. Boy, I miss her...

What do you remember about aprons as a child?

The History of APRONS
I don't think our kids know what an apron truly is. The principal use of Grandma's apron was to protect the dress underneath. Because she only had a few, it was easier to wash aprons than dresses and they used less material, but along with that, it served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven. It was wonderful for drying children's tears, and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears. From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven.When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids. And when the weather was cold, grandma wrapped it around her arms. Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, bent over the hot wood stove. Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron. From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables. After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls. In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees. When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds. When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch, waved her apron, and the men knew it was time to come in from the fields to dinner. It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that 'old-time apron' that served so many purposes.
REMEMBER: Grandma used to set her hot baked apple pies on the window sill to cool. Her granddaughters set theirs on the window sill to thaw. They would go crazy now trying to figure out how many germs were on that apron. I don't think I ever caught anything from an apron ... but Love !!

Post-Holiday Blues

2009-01-05T16:32:00.000-08:00

Has anyone else got 'em??? For the last month one of the first things I've done each morning is plug in the Christmas tree. The thought of not having that cozy tree-light feeling in our home everyday makes me so sad. Apparently it makes CJ sad, too. This afternoon while the girls were at school I went upstairs to the toy room to take down the little "tacky tree," I like to call it. It has been decorated in neon lights, bulbs and stars the past 3 Christmas Seasons. The kids love it. Anyway, I first took off the ornaments, then the lights and last began to disassemble the tree. CJ came running from across the room just sobbing. At first I thought "What happened? Is he hurt?" Then he laid down on top of the tree and hugged it. He kept trying to pick it up and pull the limbs back down on it. It absolutely broke my heart. I feel your pain, CJ.

Where is Your "Home"

2008-12-13T09:50:00.001-08:00

A good friend of mine had this post on her blog that made me think about "home."

This will always be my "home." Northern Alabama...The cudzu, the cotton fields, the miles of green trees all speak peace to my mind. Strangers waving as they pass you on the road, making a new friend each time you wait in the check out line at the grocery store and the genuine people that may have little but are rich in happiness.

Many times when I am rude to a phone or door solicitor I come away feeling guilty. That wasn't the way I was raised. I was reminded of this last Christmas season at the mall with my dad. We were stopped by a salesman with a booth filled with wind chimes in the middle of the mall. Shiny, metal, tacky windchimes. Rather than blowing him off, my dad stopped, smiled, made eye contact and listened for what seemed like hours as this guy with a foreign accent rambled on about his wind chimes and how beautiful they were. After he'd finished the entire explanation, my dad politely told him that they were beautiful but that he would have to pass on them this time. As we walked away I tought to myself, "lesson learned."

I love Utah. It is a great place to raise a family. I am grateful to be here. But in my heart, my "home" will always be Alabama.

Where is your "home"??

Happy Birthday Liz-O!

2008-12-05T08:37:00.000-08:00

I can't believe you are 7 already. It really isn't fair how quickly time passes. I feel like the craziness of the past two years with the twins has robbed me of watching you turn into the little lady that you are becoming. You love to set your alarm and get up in the mornings to do your reading and your hair. You can't wait to grab the babies out of their cribs when they wake up and you are always doing a perfomance of some kind for us (lately it is dancing and singing to Mama Mia or Natasha Beddingfield.) You are a very responsible, fun, loving and dramatic little girl. This year you wanted a little motor-scooter for your birthday. After we told you that we really couldn't afford one, you decided that you would save up to pay for half of it. You did chores every day for 3 months. When it came time to buy the scooter, you had a really hard time handing over your savings. You had to think about it for a few days before you knew for sure that it was worth giving up your loot. For your little party you invited over a few friends for cupcake decorating and games.

You are such a joy in our family. We would be lost without you!

Tribute to my mother

2008-11-26T11:39:00.000-08:00

Tommorrow is Thanksgiving Day and my 31st birthday and all day I've been thinking of my mother. Probably a little because the twins have been extremely clingy today, a little because I'n always homesick at the holidays and a little because before Craig and the children... she was my life. Not to discredit my dad at all. He was a wonderful father, provider, teacher of wisdom, etc and I will always share a special bond with him. But it was my mother that I spent countless hours with every day. It was my mother that made me go back into the store to apologize for stealing bubble gum. It was my mother that sat beside me at teacher conferences and held my back my hair while I threw up with a stomach flu. It was my mother that learned to give me shots every night while I was going through in vitro (despite the fact that she almost passed out every time.)

Looking back at the two-thirds of my life spent in her prescence I can say she is the most unselfish person I've ever known. Whenever someone she loved was sick, she could be found caring for them, many times sacrificing her own sleep, interests and health. Whenever someone was lonely, she could be found sitting across from them on the couch, asking about their childhood, their families, their passions. Whenever someone was grieving, she could be found at their side, a shoulder to cry on with a chicken pot pie on the table.

I still call my mom every few days. Usually it is around midnight. No matter how late it is or how long she's been asleep, whenever I ask if I woke her she says, "Oh no. I was just resting my eyes." No matter how hard life seems, when I hear her voice on the other end of the line life suddenly isn't that bad. She has been my sounding board time after time. Sometimes sympathizing, other times telling me to be tough. "No matter how hard life seems...you WILL get through it, " she's told me many times.

Thank you, Mother. For 31 years of service to me. For singing me through months of the colic, saving my life with the blue bulb syringe, teaching me to love imagination and stories, showing me how to love others and think outside myself, and loving me despite what I may have said or done. I will forever be in debt to you.

Love Always, Lora

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!!

2008-10-31T10:36:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone. I am sending a beg for volunteers on behalf of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The Taste of Salt Lake is coming up next weekend, Sat. Nov. 8th. It is The CF foundation's biggest annual fundraiser bringing over 15 of Salt Lake's best restaraunts to one place where attendees are welcome to taste each of their specialties as much as they want! They are expecting 800 attendees this year and the event will be held at the Grand America Hotel. Craig and I have attended the last 4 years and LOVE it. We volunteered our first year and it was such a neat opportunity to see people so generous to help us find a cure.
If you are interested PLEASE contact me ASAP. They will need you to attend one training session either tomorrow (Sat) at 11 am or Wed., Nov. 5th. at 7pm. Matt Haberman is in charge of organizing volunteers and can be reached at 243-6754. Also the night of the event be there by 4:45 for dinner then get ready for the big night! It is a lot of fun and I promise you won't be sorry if you volunteer. Tickets to attend are $100 per person if you have a connection to CF and $175.00 if you don't have a connection so if you've ever considered going to the event but not sure if it is worth the money, volunteering is a great way to decide!
Let me know if you have any question! I appreciate you all for your unending support to our cause!
Lora

Hotdogs and Smores

2008-10-21T11:00:00.000-07:00

Sunday night we decided to turn some old wood into a campfire. The girls loved it. The babies were afraid of it and screamed most of the time. We fed them as fast as we could then put them to bed so the rest of us could enjoy it. Sitting around a fire has always been one of our families favorite things to do together. We love the food, the stories and the company. The brisk night air reminds us that the lazy days of summer are truly coming to an end.

Where go Yogo?

2008-10-18T11:11:00.000-07:00

A few days ago I kept giving Hallie Yogo's and two seconds later she'd be back for more. "Where the heck are you putting the Yogo's" I finally asked her. She'd just run around the island then come back for more. So I followed her and this is what I found. She was sticking them down in her diaper then going back for them later. Yeah, it was pretty gross. I hope she ditches this habit before too long. Today I found a binkie down in her diaper!

Bonham Halloween Party

2008-10-18T10:47:00.000-07:00

The smell of fresh made breadsticks, potato soup and cinnamon rolls filled our nostrils as we entered Nana & Papa Bonham's for the Halloween Party. Costumes are a must and in my opinion, Elvis took the cake this year! The kids (and some big kids) did Karaoke, others played Mofia and I think we all ate too much! Good times...good times. It's so fun to see how the kids grow and change each year and how the younger ones fill the shoes of the ones growing up. And then there's the rest of us that just refuse to grow up! Thanks for the great party!

For this is the Fall of the Year...

2008-10-17T11:46:00.000-07:00

"...Good-bye, sweet flowers! Through bright Summer hours You have filled our hearts with cheer. We shall miss you so, And yet you must go, For this is the Fall of the year..." by Ellen Robena Field

These were the fruits of our labor this year...way too many zuchinni, lots of tomatoes, yummy corn and lovely flowers to enjoy. The are almost gone and we are already wishing for summer again!

Witch's Night Out!

2008-10-17T11:28:00.000-07:00

One of our favorite things about Halloween time is seeing the Witches at Gardener's Village. This year Lizzie, Grace and I joined the rest of the Bonham gal's for a fun night out to see the Halloween decor and then have dinner at Chili's. I kept having flashbacks of being there when Grace and Lizzie were really small. Jenny reminded me how Lizzie kept shouting, "Momma, this witch has BIG boobies!" Boy they sure grow up fast!

The Joys Fall Brings!

2008-10-16T09:13:00.000-07:00

Anyone that knows our little family knows how Craig loves to hunt! Craig went on a hunt of a lifetime this year with his dad who has been putting in points for this area for several years. He says it was one of the most memorable hunts ever. The weather was scorching, the food was pretty bad, but the hunting made it all worth it. One week in Arizona with a lot of sweat, blood and tears (okay, maybe no tears) and they harvested this monster bull. I stared at the meat in the fridge for 4 days before I finally attempted to produce something my kids would eat. Mission accomplished! We put it over garlic mashed potatoes with gravy and the whole family loved it!

"Walk to School Day"

2008-10-08T11:21:00.000-07:00

Today was "Walk to School Day." Since the girls go to school at different times, we decided to walk home together instead. I met them at the flagpole when the bell rang and we began our way to long journey home. There are no sidewalks between us and the school so we decided to take the back roads through a few neighborhoods. 3 miles and 1 hour later, we arrived home. Thank goodness for the snacks and CJ's funny faces to keep us all on the move. It was fun but the girls agreed with each other that they "were glad we only do this one time every year!"

Where will you stand?

2008-10-03T14:14:00.001-07:00

I must admit I didn't think I'd ever post a political message but after much thought and consideration I decided to step up onto my soap box. I must attest that I do not know as much as I should about the presidential candidates. I know bits and pieces on "the issues". Some I like about both sides, some I don't and some I absolutely cannot stand by and allow myself to be silent about. One issue, that hasn't been discussed much this election, is one that I'm afraid matters more to me than the rise and fall of the economy and drilling for oil...

To illustrate my point I'd like to share the following clip my sister sent to me. I hope you will all take the time to watch it. It made me cry. http://www.catholicvote.com/

When casting our votes this November I hope we will remember what we each hold dear. For me that is family, people and relationships. Consider the fact that Obama has pledged to use FEDERAL funding to help pay for abortions. In 2007 he voted against banning partial birth abortion. If you've never fully understood what a partial birth abortion entails then please read a detailed description here: Please prepare yourself before you read. It is very detailed. http://www.abortionfacts.com/literature/literature_9313pb.asp

I don't know a lot about foreign policies, free trade or gun control but I do know that LIFE is paramount. For anyone that has even held a newborn baby and looked into their perfect face and considered who is this person would someday become, I think you can relate. The idea of using federal funding to end a living soul is inexecusable and in my humble opinion, someone that can diminish the value of a life so easily should not be elected as our President.

I will now step down. I hope I haven't lost any friends over this!

100% love

2008-10-01T21:53:00.000-07:00

Tonight I went to dinner with my college roomates. I love friends that you can be away from forever and then get together with and it feels like you haven't skipped a beat. It was that kind of night. Since Craig's been away so much I've been pretty tied down here at home. Getting out tonight was really good for me but the crazy thing is that on the drive home (after only 3 hours of being gone) I couldn't wait to see my 4 babies again!

I put Gracie's sleeping body into the top bunk (which is becoming ever so difficult.) I swept her hair out of her face and thought about her excitement every afternoon as she bursts through the door with some cut and paste project.

I pulled the covers up on Lizzie, kissed her soft eyelids and thought about all the responsiblity I put on her everyday. I'm sure that I expect way too much out of a six year old. Her compassion amazes me; her maturity confounds me. She is a blessing.

Next I sneaked into the babies room. As I opened their door their sweet smell made ache for them. I covered Hallie and softly rubbed her back. She let out a little sigh.

CJ was curled up in a little ball in his crib. Much like a roly-poly does when you touch it. When I felt for his binkie he opened his dark eyes and looked up at me. My heart just wouldn't let me walk away. I picked him up and went across the hall and rocked him...his cheek to my heart. With each rise and fall of my chest we rested together. I thought about the first time I saw his beautiful little face. "Curious George" I remember thinking. Three girls and this little man. My patient, content, gentle, cuddly CJ. He has no idea how he's stolen my heart forever.

An amazing weight falls on me everytime Craig and I bring a new baby into this world. It occurs to me from time to time that I have everything to do with who these little people turn out to be. The crazy thing is that I feel like they are the ones shaping and molding me each day. I love being their mother. I know I'm no good at a lot of things and I'm down right terrible at some things.... but the one place I don't have any room for improvement is my love for those 4 snoozing sweeties upstairs.

Bye Bye Baby Teeth...Hello Kindergarten!

2008-08-27T16:26:00.000-07:00

Yes, my sweet Gracie has started Kindergarten. I really can't believe it. I was so worried about her being sad or throwing a fit when I had to leave her at school but none of that happened. In fact quite the opposite. She was so excited to be there. At last her teacher said, "Okay, give one last hug and kiss and we'll go to Kindergarten!" As I leaned over to kiss Gracie, I was flooded with gratitude. Gratitude for this little girl in front of me, gratitude for her doctors and mostly gratitude for living today when medicine is changing from day to day and miracles happen so often. It just hit me so hard at that very moment that here she is so healthy and strong and thriving and that only 5 short years ago we sat beside her wondering if she would ever be able to come home and if so, for how long? Gracie noticed the tears in my eyes and took my cheeks in her hands and said, "Mom, are you a little sad that I'm going to Kindergarten?" "No, Gracie," I responded, "I am just soooo proud of you for being so brave!" She smiled back at me, tugged on her backpack and headed into the school.

The morning before her second day of school she came to me with a loose tooth. I popped it out and she was so excited for a visit from the tooth fairy. Five minutes later she came to me with another loose tooth (funny I'd never noticed before) so we popped it out too, and she went to school with a little lisp. She was thrilled to meet Lizzie after school and show her the new gap in her mouth!

Gracie is pure joy. She's our daily reminder that life is to be enjoyed each and every day and that we should live passionately (not just go through the motions.) Thank you Gracie for your amazing little spirit! We love you and are so proud of you!

1st day of 1st Grade for Lizzie Jane!

2008-08-27T13:40:00.000-07:00

Lizzie FINALLY started 1st grade. I say "finally" because she has been counting down the days for several weeks now. She is so happy to be back in the social scene on a daily basis and especially happy to have her little sister join her on the afternoon bus ride home. She's been sharing all the Kindergarten secrets with Grace to get her ready for her big debut... She's such a little Mommy. I already miss her so much. She is so mature for her age and loves to sit down and have mature conversations with me. She also loves to play with the babies and they love her so much (Hallie usually prefers to be held by Lizzie instead of me!) But today she's off on her own. Exploring the new world of 1st grade with school lunch, snack time and 8 hour days!!! She's a great reader and is sharing her skills with me every night. Her handwriting gets better and better everyday, too. I just can't believe how fast time has flown...yesterday I was telling her to "leave your clothes on!" for the 5oth time, today I'm packing up her lunch box and sending her on her way! I love you Liz! You make me proud!

Thank You!

2008-08-23T12:40:00.000-07:00

Thank you so much to everyone that came to "Comedy for a Cure." It was an awesome night with a hilarious comedian. We raised $1.300.00 for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation to help fund research. Adam said that he will definately be back next year for another show so plan on it again for next year! Thanks so much, Adam, for donating your time and talents to this great cause! We also had so many stores and people donate food for concessions and we are so thankful for them also! Mom, Suzanna, Stoney, Jen, Brad, JoLynn, Heidi...couldn't have done it without you guys!!!

Watermelon, Apple Pie and Softball!

2008-08-13T13:09:00.000-07:00

One thing in life that Craig is passionate about is softball every summer. Their team finished up a great season at 1st place this year and are all a little sad that its over. I, on the other hand, am not sad that chasing the twins in two different directions for an hour every week is over! I got to see few plays this season in between getting Hallie out of the other team's dugout and stopping CJ from eating a snow cones out of a dirt piles. Lizzie and Grace loved playing with cousins and climbing trees like little monkeys. It kept us all up a little later, wore us all out, and gave us all a few more memories to tuck away.... Thanks Daddy for a great season! You never cease to amaze me... and you've still got that amazing swing!

Before the last game we enjoyed having the team and their families over for a bbq. We will miss seeing all of you for a few months! Thanks for a fun night!

Comedy for a Cure!

2008-08-13T10:09:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone,

At the first of this year, a lot of couples from our neighborhood went on a cruise and while they were onboard, they went to one of the craziest (CLEAN HUMOR) comedy shows they've ever seen: Adam Ace. He seriously had them crying they were laughing so hard! After his act, they spoke with him about coming to Utah to do a show since his style would fit perfect out here. They've been working on getting him out ever since. He agreed to do a show here as long as ALL of the proceeds went to benefit a local charity. They said they thought of Gracie who was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis at birth and decided that the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (www.cff.org) would be a perfect place to send the proceeds.

So, the show is on Friday, August 22 at 7:00 PM. It’ll be held at the South Jordan Community Center which is located at 10778 S. Redwood Rd. in South Jordan. Tickets are only $10 per person or $30 per family and considering it’s all going to the CFF, consider it a date night with a tax write-off! General concessions will be sold with proceeds going to the CFF as well.

We’re trying to make sure all of the seats are filled so please forward this out to everyone in your email list! Even if you can’t make it, please try to forward this out so we can create as much awareness as possible. If you have any questions, feel free to call Lora at 801-446-4225.

Thank you in advance for your help!

Tagged!

2008-08-08T08:36:00.000-07:00

scattegories...
{it's harder than it looks}

use the first letter of your name to answer the following. they have to be real places, things, names...nothing made up! try to use different answers if the person who tagged you had the same first initial. you can't use your name for the boy/girl name question.

what is your name? Lora
4 letter word: Love
vehicle: Limo
tv show: Lost
city: Los Angeles
boy name: Luke
girl name: Lucy
occupation: Lawyer
something you wear: Long Johns
food: Lasagna
something found in a bathroom: Laundry
reason for being late: Lost
something you shout: Loser

I tag: Amy T., Jen W., Angela G., Kati B.

Ice Cream and Pen Pals

2008-08-05T21:12:00.000-07:00

A little over a year ago, Grace, CJ and I were flying home to Alabama for a Cystic Fibrosis fundraiser my mom was putting on. We had a layover in Texas and as we waited I sat with CJ on a bench and watched Gracie dance for us. After a few minutes of this an elderly gentleman walked over and said, "I've enjoyed watching your daughter dance so much the last few minutes. She is just filled with joy. Can I buy her an ice cream cone?" I said, "Sure," and within a few minutes he returned with a cone of Butter Pecan Ice Cream (don't all older people love Butter Pecan?). Gracie was so happy and gobbled it down (despite the fact that she'd finished an ice cream cone about 20 minutes before.) We thanked the man and parted ways.

A little later we boarded our flight to find we were on the same flight with the gentleman. We greeted one another again. When the flight ended and we exited the plane, I found this man waiting for us in the terminal. He handed me a slip of paper with his and his wife's name and address on it. He said, "My wife Cecily and I would love to have you and your husband and children come visit us. There is something special about your little girl and we'd love to get to know you all." We never got to go visit Mr. and Mrs. Hovanes but throughout the last year we've become great pen-pals. Many letters and photos have been exchanged back and forth and with every trip to the mailbox I've hoped for a new letter from my 86 year old friend. He's done so much in his life, has a wonderful family that loves him dearly and a wife whom he adored and who adored him. The last few weeks I've been anticipating a letter from him when yesterday it arrived...only it was from his wife.

Cecily explained to me that her dear husband had fallen from a ladder and had passed away from the injuries involved. He was surrounded by his six loving sons and wife and will surely be missed by all. In her letter she said something that I can't get out of my mind, "I must tell you he so enjoyed your letters, loved the pictures of your wonderful family you sent him from time to time and admired your loving care you gave the little ones when he met you in the airport. I do thank you for giving him that pleasure."

I don't repeat this to toot my horn but rather to remind myself how closely other people are watching. Sometimes we are unaware and almost always we are clueless as to where these "first impressions" could lead. I am grateful Mr. Hovanes just happened to catch us in a good moment! My life has been richly blessed by a man that could have forever remained a stranger. I will always cherish my pen-pal and the things his letters taught me. My sincerest thank you to Mr. and Mrs. Hovanes for sharing with me.

John Hovanes
June 11, 1921 April 14, 2008
John Hovanes, 86, of Huntsville passed away Monday. Mr. Hovanes, a survivor of Pearl Harbor, served throughout World War II in the Pacific Theater and was present at Okinawa. He was a retired aerospace engineer and sculptor. He received his degree in fine art from Canterbury University in New Zealand. Survivors include his wife, Cecily Hovanes; sons, Michael, Stephen, Robert, Peter, Bruce, and Kenneth Hovanes; and nine grandchildren. A memorial service will be at 3 p.m. Thursday at Temple B'Nai Sholom with Rabbi Jeffrey Ballon officiating. Burial will follow in Maple Hill Cemetery. Laughlin Service Funeral Home is assisting the family. Memorial donations may be made to Temple B'Nai Sholom.

Don't Blink

2008-08-03T20:02:00.000-07:00

Lately I'm having a hard time coping with the idea that my children won't always be little and needing me. In a couple of weeks Lizzie will be going off to 1st grade where she will spend more time each day with a woman I don't even know than she will with me! My sweet Gracie, whom I have babied much more than I probably should have, will be going to Kindergarten. That has my stomach in knots. And my babies won't even sit still for two seconds to let me love on them and fill my reservoir. I once heard that being a mother meant watching your heart walk around outside of your chest. Every time I see their little faces light up with excitement or little bottom lips turn down with sadness, I feel that I will never again be in control of my heart.

So many days I sit completely enveloped in joy as I watch the people they are turning into. I think to myself, "take a picture in your mind right now and never forget it." But of course I always forget and that is what makes me sad. I want to always remember the funny things they say and the little voice they say it in. I want to remember the way they love each other and their mom and dad so much that it seems the rest of the world could disappear and we wouldn't even notice. I want to remember their smells and their funny expressions. I want to remember what makes them happy and what makes them sad. I want to remember waking up in the night to clean up "accidents" and comforting them until they fall asleep again. I want to remember their laughs, their cries and breathing. I want to remember feeling like a walking zombie from getting up every 3 hours for feedings and at the same time feeling like the luckiest woman alive to have these little people in my life. Every stage passes so quickly that I'm afraid to blink lately or I will miss something...

I loved this song from "Mama Mia"

Schoolbag in hand, she leaves home in the early morning
Waving goodbye with an absent-minded smile
I watch her go with a surge of that well-known sadness
And I have to sit down for a while
The feeling that I'm losing her forever
And without really entering her world
I'm glad whenever I can share her laughter
That funny little girl

Slipping through my fingers all the time
I try to capture every minute
The feeling in it
Slipping through my fingers all the time
Do I really see whats in her mind
Each time I think I'm close to knowing
She keeps on growing
Slipping through my fingers all the time

Sleep in our eyes, her and me at the breakfast table
Barely awake, I let precious time go by
Then when shes gone theres that odd melancholy feeling
And a sense of guilt I cant deny
What happened to the wonderful adventures
The places I had planned for us to go
(slipping through my fingers all the time)
Well, some of that we did but most we didn't
And why I just don't know

Slipping through my fingers all the time
I try to capture every minute
The feeling in it
Slipping through my fingers all the time
Do I really see whats in her mind
Each time I think I'm close to knowing
She keeps on growing
Slipping through my fingers all the time

Sometimes I wish that I could freeze the picture
And save it from the funny tricks of time
Slipping through my fingers…

Slipping through my fingers all the time

Schoolbag in hand she leaves home in the early morning
Waving goodbye with an absent-minded smile…

"

I've been tagged!

2008-07-22T12:50:00.001-07:00

Okay, I've been tagged for the first time and I'm not even sure if I know what I'm doing but here goes it! This is a picture one and I'm sorry, Amy, but I got these out of order and I also can't figure out how to add a caption to each picture.... Oh well. You get the idea.
1.Children (babies are asleep)
2.Fridge (Way too full of things we will never eat!)
3.Self Portrait (I know...Lovely!)
4.Closet (I was careful to avoid the floor of my closet)
5.Shoes
6.Toilet
7.Family Room
8.Kitchen Sink (Nice, I know)
9.Laundry Room
Okay so here it is. The best part about this is that I get to tag someone else now! The rules are that you have to do it right away and you can't change or clean anything before you take the picture.
I tag Kendi, Jenny Bonham, Heidi Larsen, Heidi Willden and Kacey Perry

My brother...My hero

2008-07-21T13:07:00.000-07:00

Craig says he's never seen me put anyone on a pedastel the way I do my brother and I must admit its true. It's all those years of being the little sister and thinking that your big brother is the smartest, strongest boy in the world. Those long, hot and humid summer days growing up playing whatever random game he came up with (shooting those little green army men with his bb gun that he'd placed all throughout the garden, playing demolition derby in the hallway, dungeons and dragons, card games for hours in the playhouse, dressing up all goofy, sliding in the mud on our tummies in the flooded backyard.) Life was never boring with Mike around. He made me laugh until I peed my pants so many times growing up. He was the greatest thing in life. He wasn't just a big brother. He was my best friend that always let me tag along with him and "the boys" and never once acted like it wasn't cool to have his little sister around.

Mike came to visit us this weekend. He was recently promoted to Major in the Air Force and will be moving to Florida soon. He came to see us for a last visit while his wife and kids were in Alabama. After he left I sat at the table with Lizzie and Grace and as we ate lunch I got sad and started to get teary-eyed thinking about him moving so far away. The girls started asking me a million questions and I explained to them that someday they would feel the same way about each other. Someday they would grow up, get married and have children and that they may not always live close to each other. I told them how sad it would be when they didn't see each other very often but how much they would cherish the memories of sharing bunkbeds and giggling in bed long after bedtime, catching frogs, riding bikes together and playing all kinds of crazy games they come up with throughout the day. They looked at each other and Grace said, "Mom, I'm just always going to live right next to Lizzie, even after I have babies. And Mom, I'm going to bring my babies over to your house every day."

I love you big bro! Thanks for the great weekend and a lifetime of great memories! You will always be my hero.

Love, Lora

"I can do hard things..."

2008-07-17T21:18:00.000-07:00

Today Hallie had a doctor's appointment so I piled all the kiddos into the car and off we went. I always forget how stressful it is to have them all there when I'm trying to talk to the doctor at the same time as keeping them off the spinning stools and out of his drawers. So right before he walked in I'm reading a brochure and look up to see Lizzie and Gracie both blowing up those rubber gloves like balloons, Hallie has climbed up in a chair and is practically hanging from the mini blinds on the window and CJ is licking the full-size mirror. Bargaining time: So first I got Hallie and CJ under control while making a deal with the girls that if they will sit quietly when the Dr. comes in then we will go to the cafeteria afterwards. (My kids would rather go to the hospital cafeteria than a McDonalds with a playground!) Weird, I know. Anyways, Dr. Siddiqi came in, checked out Hallie, then looked over and said, "Wow, your kids are so well behaved. I bet they are great helpers with the twins." Mission accomplished. He walked out and the blowing up gloves, spinning stools and licking mirror continued....When I got into the car to drive home I felt like I had really accomplished a major feat today. A trip to the doctor with 4 kids. When I told my sister about my day she told me when I'm in situations like that to just repeat "I can do hard things, I can do hard things, I can do hard things..." That is my new mantra.

Day at the Lake

2008-07-10T21:41:00.000-07:00

A few days ago we decided to go up American Fork Canyon for a picnic (that turned into a fishing excursion.) We packed up the picnic basket, poles and kids and headed down the road. The ride was absolutely beautiful. Going up these gorgeous canyons always reminds me how beautiful Utah is. We pulled out all the food and ate while Hallie and CJ stirred up the dirt with their Cheetos then ate them. I'm not sure which they ate more of that day, dirt or cheetos. A few minutes later they discovered the water...with Gracie's help. CJ loved throwing rocks in the water and playing with sticks. Hallie just kept pulling on our legs to pick her up because she hated walking on the unlevel ground. Gracie kept getting her hook caught on everything in site. Lizzie fished with her Dad with no luck (Craig's certain it is because he brought the wrong bait.)

It was a great day in a beautiful place and I'm glad we went because it's so easy for our family to get stuck in a rut sometimes instead of pushing ourselves to get out and explore...the twins may have a little to do with that, though. It really is a lot of work chasing them around. We all left much more dirty, tired and determined to find the fish next time.

Hallie's Day at the Hospital

2008-07-07T19:25:00.000-07:00

I first must tell you how much I love Primary Children's Medical Center. For any of you that have had a baby there for any period of time you know what I mean. It is such a special place that I almost feel reverent every time I walk in (and I'm there a lot!) A friend told me when she had son there that an older nurse said that she honestly believed there was an angel at the foot of every bed. I must admit that I agree with that nurse whole heartedly. I've felt comforted time and time again as I rocked my sick babies.

Hallie had her second surgery on her cleft lip this morning. I was amazed how quickly and smoothly our visit went. We checked in then met with Dr. Siddiqi and the anesthesiologist. He took Hallie back to surgery while we grabbed some breakfast in the cafeteria and by the time we got back they were finished! She was so happy almost the entire time. The only thing that she got sad about was having to take off the hospital pj's and leave them there. It was so funny but she kept reaching for them and crying. Amused that that could be the reason for her being so sad, we put the little hospital top back on top of her pj's from home to see if it would make her happy. Sure enough, she tucked her arms up under her chin as if hugging herself in her favorite pair of jammies. It was so dang cute and it broke my heart to make her leave them there. Then we came home and cuddled up in bed for a long nap. Thanks so much to Rachel and Suzanna for the yummy food. You guys are so thoughtful and made my day so much easier!

Happy 4th!

2008-07-05T18:52:00.000-07:00

Well, I've finally done it. I've succumbed to the world of blogging. I figure if I'm going to be terrible at journal writing, maybe this blogging thing will trick me into journaling. We had a great 4th of July! Happy Independence everyone! We joined Suzanna and Lee's family for swimming, hot dogs, fireworks and all wonderful things that come with the 4th. Craig and the girls went to Stadium of Fire and boogied with Hannah Montana while the twins and I just played at Suzy's.

As I sat out by the pool and watched the jets fly in formation overhead, my eyes swelled up with tears. We are so blessed to live in this amazing country with so many freedoms we take for granted every day. My sister Lynn sent me a story about the signing of the Declaration of Independence. What I took most from it was a quote from a letter John Adams sent to his wife Abigail after signing the Declaration (which actually took place on July 2nd, 1776):

"The second day of July 1776 will be the most memorable ephocha in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the Day of Deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other from this time forward forever more."

Many, many women and men have given their lives so that I can sit by the pool on the 4th of July sipping lemonade and watching my kids run and play.... I am blessed.

Lizzie's first day of kindergarten

2007-08-30T09:42:00.000-07:00

Lizzie. I really can't believe this day has come and gone. You were SO excited to ride the bus and go to school. I miss you so much during the day. (You are my chatterbox.) You are learning so quickly and love to share everything you learn with your dad and I and little Gracie. She is becoming anxious to follow in your footsteps. Thank you for being such a great example.