Friday, April 30, 2010

Palmyra Pageant

We are planning a trip to Palmyra N.Y. this summer...
I have actually been here before.  
 I can't wait to share this with my children!


{Smith farmhouse}


{Hill Cumorah}



{Palmyra temple entrance}



{Sacred Grove}


{Sacred Grove}

When I was a teen, this trip really strengthened my testimony.
You can't deny the spirit you feel here.
 I hope it does the same for my children.

{Palmyra Pageant}


{Lehi's dream}


                                       The Palmyra Pageant is amazing.
                                           We will be seeing this too!
                                                       Can't wait!!

Monday, April 26, 2010

sick baby = tired mama

I will be back up and running soon....

My Emmy has been pretty sick the last few days.
She was diagnosed with an ear infection about 2 weeks ago. So, she was put on antibiotics.
Not two days after finishing her meds
 she woke up in the middle of the night with a very high fever.
I took her to urgent care on Sunday morning, first thing.
The doctor said her right ear was still infected.
So, we were given a stronger antiobiotic.
All day Sunday and all through the night she was miserable.
Tylenol and Motrin were not working very well.
When I returned home this morning from dropping kids off at school and going to the gym
Ben was sitting with Emmy and she was asleep.
She looked so cute with her little hands folded under her chin. She was miserable.
 She got really hot again.
This time, her tempwas 103.3!
Long story short...
I got her into her pediatrician.
 Motrin had kicked in and she was singing "It's a small world" for the waiting room. 
She was hopping around the exam room too.
Can you imagine how we would feel with a temp of 103.3 and motrin just kicking in?

 Sure enough...
her right ear was pussy and her throat was really red and irrited.
 Either tonsilitis or strep.
Instead of 3 days on the azithromycin she will be on 5.

I will be back on to post things later..in the week or weekend.

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Fire

Last night, we were out as a family having dinner.
We needed milk and we were out of our Cold Stone ice cream
So, we decided that on our way home we would stop in the shopping center that has both a Foodlion (grocery store) and Cold Stone.
While parked at Cold Stone we heard sirens on the main street behind it. 
Whatever the issue was, it was CLOSE. 

To our suprise this is what we saw......

A huge plume of smoke.
Back there behind those buildings you see is an apartment complex.
Which houses my very good friend and her family.
My immediate reaction was to call my friend.
 Since, it was a Friday night, I wasn't sure if they were home... safe
 or if they even knew what was going on?
Perhaps they were out and about, like us.
She didn't answer her cell for awhile.
Which made me worry more.


The smoke and ash consumed the area quickly.
Of course, nothing interesting much goes on here so...
Everyone and their brother and second cousin were out watching.
It doesn't help that there is a movie theater
and a couple of restraunts right next to the apartment complex.
It was the excitement for the night, I suppose.


The other issue we had was the fact that  this complex houses
 a few families from church.
I finally got a call from my friend and they were fine.
 Shaken, but fine.
The fire was immediatley across from them.
I was so greatful it wasn't their building and wanted her to know
 that we were here for them.
You see, they aren't from around here either. They are pretty much "alone" too.
Her family is in Southern California as well.
We are very lucky to have a church family with some pretty special people in it.

While driving home, I called one of my other friends from church. She didn't answer her cell right away but as soon as I got home I got on facebook.
I  added a status about the fire and our fellow church friends affected.
Nobody knew about the fire or who it was affecting but....
 many saw the facebook status and immediatley got to work calling me, talking via fb and getting a headcount for all of our church members involved.

We are truly blessed to live in a time where we can communicate so easily and quickly!
When used for doing good,
 the internet is such a wonderful tool!

At this point, everyone is accounted for
and none of our church friends were harmed.
 Their particular apartment buildings weren't damaged.

It breaks my heart that so many people.....
families,children and pets WERE affected.

Do these people have families to turn to? Friends?
Money to pay for a hotel/motel? Renters insurance?

Children lost their toys, clothes, maybe a favorite blanket or teddy bear.
Many of us want to help. 
Hopefully, we will know what we might be able to do.
Soon. 



We took the opportunity last night to...
refresh our kids minds about fire safety.
 We now have an official fire plan.
Now, we need to invest in a few fire ladders for our second floor.
Just one of those things you let slip and don't think about
until something like this happens.

Take this post as a reminder to:
check fire alarms/replace batteries and have a fire plan in place.


Tuesday, April 20, 2010

He saw his shadow!

I am in love with this photo. 
It's the perfect little shadow.
A moment in time from our day at Disneyland.

(Ben captured this with his Blackberry)

Is this Logan on Daddys shoulders?
 Or is it really Peter Pan?


Logan knew what he wanted to buy when we went to Disneyland.
On his list:
#1 a Peter Pan hat with the red feather
#2 An Indiana Jones toy from the gift shop near the Indiana Jones ride
#3 Peter Pan bath toys
He of course, got all 3!

Monday, April 19, 2010

Quote for the day....


To my children....


"Hold on to what is good, even if it's a handful of earth.
Hold on to what you believe, even if it's a tree that stands by itself.
 Hold on to what you must do, even if it's a long way from here.
Hold on to your life, even if it's easier to let go.
 Hold on to my hand, even if someday I'll be gone away from you "

~Pueblo Indian Prayer






Thursday, April 15, 2010

In honor of Hammond Bay's 3rd release.....

(Yes, I am that into Matilda Jane!)

I wanted to add a few photos of Emersyn...
and Logan too..
In Matilda Jane.





Emersyn is wearing the Skye Knot top..
As soon as I put this on her she twirled.
Precious!


Emersyn got into this pose all on her own...
(Notice....Skye knot top)


My babies..all 5 of them!
Notice Em in her Skye Knot top and ruffled leggings
 Logan is in his Mighty Acorns tee 






When I got down to Em's level to take the photo
she got down on her knees..
it was so cute!

Showin' some love in the Toy Story Mania ride line at California Adventure...
This ride IS COOL!!!!!!!!

Ok so this is an older outfit from Matilda Jane but..
 I LOVE the patterns and colors together.
This was at the Santa Monica pier.

3 years ago today......

We were loading
8 suitcases,
6 carry-ons,
2 adults
 2 12 year olds
 a 3 1/2 year old
 and a 2 year old
 on a plane to fly cross country.
 Moving from one coast to the other.

I don't know how well we have really adjusted to living in the south but it's been an experience. That is for sure!

P.S. Happy Tax day!

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Spring Break 2010

Our spring break visit to California was wonderful!
Alot of "firsts" and alot of memories were made.
There was so much we didn't get a chance to see or do
and many friends and family that we didn't get to see.
I knew that the week was going to go by so incredibly fast. And it did.
Me,getting sick didn't help matters much either. 

We miss living in Southern California and it still feels like home
even after being gone 3 years ( tomorrow).
 We could literally take a deep, deep breath in California.
No, it wasn't a smoggy day the entire time we were there!
The air in the south is SO much more thick and humid and it was full of pollen,everywhere, when we left South Carolina.
It was just a refreshing trip. For all of us.

I will pretty much let the pictures speak for themselves.....



{just arrived at our hotel}




{Lunden- @ Aunt Cheryl and Uncle Richards home}




{Lunden and Carly-Cheryl and Richards house for dinner and FHE}



{Cousins-Hailey and Emmy. Meeting for the 1st time}





{Hailey and Emmy}


{Grandma Ruthann meeting Em for the 1st time}



{we visited with my sister, Christy and her boys too}



{The 4 oldest cousins}


{They hadnt seen eachother in almost a year}


{4 little cousins}


{gorgeous California poppy outside our hotel}



{Sharing a Jamba Juice @ Victoria Gardens}



{Lunden and Carly}



{Carsen lookin' mighty cute}



{Lunden and Courtney}
Courtney and Jessica are the daughters of my best friend, Jacki.
 We have known eachother for 35 years!
 Lunden and these sweet girls have been friends since they were 5!
They had a great time hanging out. 



{Emmy @ California Adventure}
Looking adorable in her Matilda Jane



{Outside California Adventure- Letters spell out California}
She posed like this all on her own! ;)



{Fun day at California Adventure!}


{Lunden and Carly}



{Carsen}



{Brennen showing Carsen how to pose}

{my goof ball Carsen on the pier}



{Gorgeous day in Santa Monica}



{my goofs}

{4 of my 5}


{Heading under the pier for some pics}


{Emmy getting after the boys}


{Lunden}




{Emmy}




{Lunden snapped this shot}


{All 5 togther..looking at the camera!!}

{The little guys}


{love to hear the waves crashing}



Our flight out from LAX was an early 6 am flight. Brennen was reading and Emersyn decided to plop herself down on the suitcase next to Brennen. :)
As our plane flew over the pacific ocean, there was just enough light to see the waves crashing on the beach {sigh}
It was difficult to leave California.
 I joked with Ben that he would have to throw us on the plane kicking and screaming.
Well, he didn't have to do that but a few tears were shed upon our departure.

We will miss our friends and family
but look forward to another fun filled trip again soon!