WAY TO START THE NEW YEAR

Let's start with the bad:

1. Daren knee is thrashed. He is on crutches and is in pain. Tomorrow we go to the orthopedic doctor to see exactly what the damage is.

2. He had an eye appointment this morning and had his pupils dilated. I had to drive him around today. I always feel weird driving with him in the passenger seat. I want to hang a sign on the car that says, "My husband has a hurt knee and his pupils are dilated...that is why the WOMAN is driving."

Which leads me to #3
3. On my way to buy scriptures for Camille's birthday, I was rear-ended in my 2-month old NEW car. Luckily I had dropped the dilated pupil guy with the bum knee off at home FIRST. Long story short, my back is KILLING me and I am in a lot of pain AND my new car is smashed in! We will need to get a new bumper and hatch.

4. I am learning VERY quickly that I do not like insurance companies. I want the car fixed at the dealer since it is only 2 months old and I get the impression that the insurance company isn't really jazzed about that idea.

5. There was a shooting at the courthouse in Las Vegas, which is 2 blocks from Daren's office. He has done several trials there. That is a little too close to home for me. It is weird turning on the TV and seeing pictures of that area. So glad he wasn't in Vegas today.

6. I have MAJOR guilt because it is Camille's birthday and well, it hasn't been a great day around here.

THE GOOD:

1. Watching Camille open her new birthday outfit. She has wanted legging for SO long. Haven't you heard...ALL the girls have leggings EXCEPT her. Well after today, that isn't true.

2. Checking Camille out of school for our traditional birthday lunch. She wanted to go to Olive Garden. Daren and I had so much fun watching her face. She was just beaming! She even talked Daren into letting her order dessert, like that was difficult!

3. Going to Camille's class with birthday treats and watching all of the kids tell her, "These are the BEST treats in the world!"

4. Grateful that I was able to buy the steak and shrimp for the birthday dinner. If only I was able to get the Sushi that she requested, the dinner would have been perfect!

5. Ate an awesome breakfast...ARIZONA GRAPEFRUIT! Thanks to my awesome brother, his wife and my wonderful neighbors who brought them back from Arizona. They were delicious!

6. Today was Abby's first day at swimming. She jumped in, bawled, got out, sat on my lap, got my favorite pair of jeans all wet and killed my back. But I loved holding her cold, scared, frightened little body.

7. Being SO grateful that my kids and Daren weren't in the car with me when I was rear-ended.

8. Thankful for a husband who feels as lousy as I do but still drives carpool, picks out a birthday cake and even did the dishes.

9. But most of all, today I'm grateful to be Camille's mom. She is the life of this family and brings so much joy to each one of us.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CAMILLE! Sorry there was so much DRAMA today...but then again, you are our DRAMA QUEEN!

POP GOES THE MCL???

36 hours before ringing in 2010, Daren decides to do a sprint at McCarran Airport in Las Vegas so he doesn't get caught on the wrong side of the aircraft door.

He was running late, started to run, heard a pop, couldn't walk, made the flight, came home limping and in pain. I told him we could go to the ER but we decided to wait for Dick Clark to drop the 2010 Waterford crystal ball , then head to the ER so we won't have to pay the insurance deductible twice. I rented him some "CRUNCHES" as Camille calls them. I feel so bad for him because he doesn't like walking around on the "crunches" and is in a lot of pain.

Fortunately, our neighbor is an orthopedic surgeon and is coming over to check out Daren's knee.

What a great way to ring in the new year, right?

CHRISTMAS MEMORIES

Here are a few memories of the girls from Christmas:

The girls singing recital. I loved seeing both of them sing in their white dresses.
Camille's Christmas Dress. I had so much fun shopping for their dresses this year.

Abby's Christmas Dress

Christmas 2009

We made A LOT of these cinnamon rolls

Camille's Christmas Wish-A Gourmet Cake Maker. (See video below)

Camille's Christmas Breakfast-A Gourmet Cake!!

Abby was excited that Santa brought her Zhu Zhu Pets. Thank goodness he did because her mom couldn't find them anywhere except if she was willing to pay double for them.

(I put these videos on backwards. Check out the one on the BOTTOM FIRST and then the one on the TOP)

OPENING PRESENTS CHRISTMAS MORNING

THE TRADITION CONTINUES

Last month, it was Abby's turn to go on a Daddy-Daughter trip. She was SO excited to fly on an airplane with Daren to San Diego.
This picture of Camille with her jealous face cracks me up. I had to remind her that her trip was last year and it was Abby's turn.

I was glad to see that Abby wasn't eating lollypops for breakfast like Camille did last year.

While at Sea World, Abby wanted to sit in the SPLASH ZONE during the Shamoo show. She sat alone in the SPLASH ZONE while Daren sat rows back in the NON-SPLASH ZONE.

So Abby spent the rest of the day like this:

And LOVED this ride:

And REALLY LOVED spending time with this guy:

DENIAL

1. A river in Egypt, i.e. Da Nile

2. Refusal to believe a doctrine, theory, or the like, i.e. I can't believe I've slept in my house for 15 days with a snake on the prowl.

3. Disbelief in the existence or reality of a thing, i.e. The snake is not in my house. It has decided it would rather live outside in the cold and snow. Even though I have always tried to prove a warm and comfortable home for all those who enter.

Denial is a WONDERFUL place to be!

MY LETTER TO SANTA

My friend Pam sent this to me and I thought it was funny and SO true!

Dear Santa,

I've been a good mom all year. I've fed, cleaned and cuddled my children on demand, visited the doctor's office more than my doctor and sold sixty-two cases of candy bars to raise money to plant a shade tree on the school playground.

I was hoping you could spread my list out over several Christmases, since I had to write this letter with my son's red crayon, on the back of a receipt in the laundry room between cycles, and who knows when I'll find anymore free time in the next 18 years. Here are my Christmas wishes: I'd like a pair of legs that don't ache (in any color, except purple, which I already have) and arms that don't hurt or flap in the breeze, but are strong enough to pull my screaming child out of the candy aisle in the grocery store. I'd also like a waist, since I lost mine somewhere in the seventh month of my last pregnancy. If you're hauling big ticket items this year I'd like fingerprint resistant windows and a radio that only plays adult music, a television that doesn't broadcast any programs containing talking animals, and a refrigerator with a secret compartment behind the crisper where I can hide to talk on the phone.

On the practical side, I could use a talking doll that says, "Yes, Mommy" to boost my parental confidence, along with two kids who don't fight and three pairs of jeans that will zip all the way up without the use of power tools. I could also use a recording of Tibetan monks chanting "Don't eat in the living room" and "Take your hands off your brother," because my voice seems to be just out of my children's hearing range and can only be heard by the dog. If it's too late to find any of these products, I'd settle for enough time to brush my teeth and comb my hair in the same morning, or the luxury of eating food warmer than room temperature without it being served in a Styrofoam container.

If you don't mind, I could also use a few Christmas miracles to brighten the holiday season. Would it be too much trouble to declare ketchup a vegetable? It will clear my conscience immensely. It would be helpful if you could coerce my children to help around the house without demanding payment as if they were the bosses of an organized crime family.

Well, Santa, the buzzer on the dryer is calling and my son saw my feet under the laundry room door. I think he wants his crayon back. Have a safe trip and remember to leave your wet boots by the door and come in and dry off so you don't catch cold. Help yourself to cookies on the table but don't eat too many or leave crumbs on the carpet.

Yours Always,
MOM

P.S. One more thing...you can cancel all my requests if you can keep my children young enough to believe in Santa.

LIFE

13 years ago this week, my LIFE changed. When it was determined that my LIFE was in jeopardy due to my liver swelling, an emergency C-Section was preformed and I became a mother for the first time. A 3lb. 11oz. baby boy was placed into my arms 6 weeks ahead of schedule. Much pleading to my Heavenly Father began on my part for his LIFE to be spared and healthy. Those prayers were not only heard but answered. The NICU nurses called him a 'Miracle Baby' - no ventilator, no feeding tubes, no colic. He was a healthy, bald baby boy who was my miracle.
Every year about his time I remember the beginning of his LIFE. Those difficult days of leaving my first born in the hospital, being so sore from recovering from a C-Section but refusing to leave his incubator, even if it meant that I sat on a stool next to him while other mothers used the only few available rocking chairs. I remember longing to hold my baby but only being able to do so when it was time for him to eat so he wouldn't use extra energy. Having 2 miscarriages before his birth, I remember pleading and begging in prayer that he would be healthy and grow to be a strong man. I remember holding his tiny hand while I fed him and imagining where those tiny little hands would take him in his LIFE.

Now those hands are busy doing things like texting, homework, playing the piano, playing lacrosse, scouts and doing typical teenage things.

I thought it was ironic that on his birthday this week, he received his LIFE in the Boy Scouts of America. My mind raced back to those days of the NICU at St. Vincent's Hospital in Portland, Oregon when I worried if he would have a healthy LIFE.

I then immediately thought of HIS LIFE. I am so grateful that not only was I preserved but that my son was preserved to have a healthy LIFE. I know that HIS LIFE was one that I try to emulate in my daily LIFE but fall short. I know that HIS LIFE was perfect and full of love for mankind. He is the source of all that is good and wonderful in my LIFE. I love celebrating both of their LIVES this month!

Happy Birthday Tanner! You have brought me so much joy because you made me a mother!