THE LAST TIME

This past week Daren had knee surgery. It went well and he is recovering. It's a slow process but he is getting stronger each day.

The last time (6 weeks ago) when he had his right knee surgery, the nurses gave him purple paper boxers to wear during surgery. When he came out of surgery last time, the paper boxers were gone and a get well card came a few days later from the nursing staff. We have had a lot of fun speculating on what happened to the purple paper boxers.

So this time, the nurse gave him a gown, socks and this booklet to read THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW:
But NO purple paper boxers. I couldn't help myself. I had to have the mystery solved about where the purple paper boxers went last time and why wasn't he given any this time. The answer wasn't found in the THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW booklet so I asked the nurse. Apparently, some surgeons do not like the purple paper boxers, which Daren's surgeon does not. That is why they were cut off last time and not given this time.

MYSTERY SOLVED.

This will also be the LAST TIME I have a child with no front teeth. To honor this occasion, she had first dibs on the Brownies and a Sprite.

And I cried.

HEALING

What a whirlwind this past week has been! My dad was rushed to the hospital this week and had 4 blockages in 3 different arteries. They inserted 7 stents and hopefully they will help him so he won't have bypass surgery. It's been a week of many different emotions. I have been in Cedar City and St. George all week. I came home to these:

Thanks Julie...I LOVE the tulips

And a mountain of laundry, a messy kitchen floor and some yummy chocolate chip cookies from a kind neighbor. Oh, and lots and lots of snow!

It's SO good to be home, messy crumb floor and all!

EAGLE OF THE MONTH

Congrats to Abby! She was the Eagle Of The Month for February! The only bummer part of the story is that yesterday when they announced her winning the award, she was home sick puking (We almost lost a couch....it was too close for comfort but the couch is fine.)

She was in tears when she learned she missed the big announcement yesterday. So she has to settle for the blog!

Either way, GOOD JOB ABBY!
We are so proud of you!

SO SORRY

Dear Truck, (And for all of you who read this...don't pretend you don't talk to your car)

I am SO sorry you had to be towed AGAIN! I know it has been 3 times in the past 2 weeks. I feel horrible that I put red diesel in you and it really messed you up. If someone put red diesel in me, it'd really mess me up too.
But thank goodness for good neighbors, right? Because "Like A Good Neighbor, State Farm Is There."

Unlike Liberty Mutual (who is the insurance of the guy who hit me in the Yukon) State Farm will pay to tow you to a shop and you will get fixed and be all better soon. In fact, State Farm won't even raise my monthly premium because I did something stupid like put red diesel in you. They also said they would pay 100% of the bill. I think I love State Farm-they truly are a good neighbor! That Liberty Mutual is like the neighbor that plays loud music all night long, puts beer bottles and cigarettes on your lawn and has oil stains on their driveway.

In closing, I am so sorry truck! But thanks to State Farm you will be all better real soon.

Love,

The dummy that put diesel in you.

BAPTISM DAY

On Saturday, Camille was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It was a wonderful day!

On the way to the church, Daren asked her if she was excited. She said she was SO excited that she couldn't feel her body.

She was worried if the water would be cold. But it wasn't.

Most of the day, Camille's face looked like this: (She said she couldn't stop smiling because she was so happy)

It was so much fun watching Camille's excitement. She is such a joy in our family and is excited about EVERYTHING, especially about being baptized.

After the baptism, we had a brunch at our house. For months, Camille has told us she wanted a pink limo to drive her to the baptism, an ice sculpture of herself holding the #8 in her hand at the brunch, a Sushi bar, steak and lobster. Daren says he is in BIG trouble when this girl gets married. We compromised on a chocolate fountain instead. And, it was a hit!

I LOVED watching the faces of the little kids.

Abby, (who told me she felt left out and I told her next year it would be her turn to be baptized) LOVES maraschino cherries. When I was pregnant with her, I craved them ALL the time. I think it's funny that she loves them so much since I always craved them during my pregnancy. Anyway, she LOVED putting the cherries on a stick and dipping them in chocolate.

I sure hope Brynn didn't get chocolate on her pretty dress.

And these 2 clowns. Tanner's friend Justin said he was staying at our house until the chocolate fountain ran dry.

And this little girl LOVED the marshmallows with chocolate.

It was a wonderful day-one that I hope Camille remembers for the rest of her life. There was such a sweet feeling at the baptism and we are so proud of Camille's decision to be baptized.

WE LOVE YOU CAMILLE!!

WHILE SHE SLEPT...

Abby drew pictures on Camille's face-mostly smiley faces and boys names. Here's one side of her face.
When Camille saw her face in the mirror (not knowing what Abby had done) she started yelling, "MOM...tell Abby to stop drawing on my face." They both came downstairs with Camille's face covered in Abby's drawings. I asked Abby when she did this, her reply was, "While Camille was sleeping." I was literally biting my tongue trying not to burst out laughing but I couldn't keep it in. "Abby, we don't draw on faces"...was about as far as I got when I couldn't hold it in anymore. We all burst out laughing. As Camille was staring to get in the shower I heard her say to Abby, "This better not be a permanent Sharpie!"

In a side note, I am OUT OF MY MIND EXCITED FOR THIS:

It's been a LONG wait since May to see how this ends. FINAL SEASON starts tonight!!

FEBRUARY

Dear February-

I am SO happy you are here! Your friend January was not very nice to us this year. To be honest, we wanted January to go away. We are hoping that you bring us better days than your predecessor did.

January was filled with rough days like:

Daren tearing his meniscus, which helped us ring in the New Year


Daren having knee surgery and having a very slow recovery.


While recovering, he tore is other meniscus. He will have surgery on the other knee in a month or two when his right knee is stronger.

I was in a car accident on Camille's birthday.

I've spent many January days at the chiropractor. It is difficult to sit or lay down for long periods of time. However, that is starting to get better.

Insurance company adjusters STINK!

Haven't had the time or energy to get the new car fixed.

Daren's company merged with another company. This transition has been a great business move but it has been very difficult dealing with office staffing issues. Especially while he has been recovering from surgery.

The kids have been sick.

I put red diesel in the truck. Oops! It only cost $500 to fix that little mistake. Our mechanic is awesome and that amount was actually a lot less than what we were expecting to get it fixed for.

Abby painted her Barbie's and Polly Pockets green. And then decided to paint a BEAUTIFUL green circle on her carpet. We were THRILLED!

As you can see February, WE ARE SO EXCITED YOU ARE HERE!