ROADTRIP

We had a four day weekend so we decided to get out of Dodge and visit Grandma Condie.

Highlights of the trip... 6 hours in the car...Bloody nose (Katie)... spilled chocolate milk (Katie)... spilled Sprite (Katie)...VOMIT!?! (Jake and Dallas, the whole trip down)... Crazy Grandma driving 90 miles an hour (not kidding, we traveled 420 miles in 5 1/2 hours, stopped once for gas, and Grandma and I are the only ones who needed a potty break.?. We got a call that my dad went to the ER with a stomach ache so Grandma was ANXIOUS (understatement) to get home. Grandpa Condie is fine. It's his gallbladder or liver or stones actually all the above.)

Once we got there we had a lot of fun. The kids had a fun time with cousins. The boys and I did some tubing. And my mom made breakfast every morning for my kids while I slept in. AHHH! I love my mom.

Grandma was going to drive back up with us and fly home again, but we left her home with the flu instead.

Natalie thinks it's funny to imitate her mom. It was a big hit as you can see.

"Alright, kids we have a 6 hour drive, I expect everyone to cooperate."

"Oh, my patience is wearing thin!"

"THAT'S IT! EVERYBODY OUT, OUT OUT!"

"WE'LL WORK FOR FOOD!"

New Year, New everything!

Saying goodbye to our solider for just 5 more weeks!

(Natalie was asleep in the car, when she woke up she said, "dada.")

I love the new year. It's full of fresh starts for everything. January is usually a month of revising and refining my life. I love setting goals, they are usually the ones I set last year...
This New Year turned out a little different. It's full of new starts, but different than I expected.

Some of our NEWs....NEW home, NEW Solider, NEW experience with a wheelchair, NEW ward (haven't gone yet), and maybe NEW school for the boys (haven't decided yet).

We will see what the rest of the year has in store. One thing is for sure I have a NEW love for what is important!

Merry Christmas 2008

Merry Christmas to all!

Jake and his long awaited electric train.

Dallas, the very proud owner of a popcorn popper! (??It's what he asked for.)

Wild hair Katie with her new easel. (She said, "Santa knew I had a broken leg.")

Natalie was doing this most of Christmas morning. She woke up just in time to play with the wrapping paper and boxes. Baby's favorite!

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

WELCOME HOME DADDY!!!

Merry Christmas from our family to yours

http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/VdMl9eHa57hZZO2tarmB

Mike has been the master mind behind our Christmas cards each year. He really enjoys doing it, but since he is gone this season, the kids and I put together a little something for him and our family and friends. Enjoy and Merry Christmas.

I'd like to use one of my life lines

I got all three at once! What a blessing!

My three sisters came to town to save my life this weekend and relieve my mom. After Katie's accident my mom and dad drove up to be with us. My dad stayed for the weekend. My mom was here for two weeks! I'm sorry I don't have a picture because she definitely deserves one. Thank you mom, you are the greatest! We worked her to the bone.

My sister, Amanda (left) came up for the week with her two little ones. She helped me pack up my house all week. Then on the weekend Emilee (middle) and Amy (right) came up. We worked hard and I feel like my life is under control now. Our new house is feeling like a home and is clean and ready for move in. This house is packed as much as possible and I even got most of the Christmas shopping complete. They left me with clean children and a clean house and a full fridge but most of all my spirit is uplifted!

We had some fun too...

Even with all the work we took out some time to make sugar cookies. Here is Katie in her wheelchair with her all purpose tray. She spends a lot of time playing with play dough and coloring and puzzles on this tray. She is doing very well. She has loved having Grandma and Aunts pampering her. When they left she said, "Who will play with me???"

The race was on to see who could turn their frosting green or red first for the boys. They can even make a competition out of frosting cookies. The boys are wondering where all the testosterone went with 4 extra women coming and going. Although Aunt Amy put up a pretty good Kung-Fu match.

Natalie enjoyed the entertainment, she especially loved when her two year old cousin, Alli gave her extra food. All those peas didn't get eaten. Natalie did clear her tray of them, just not in her mouth.

This is Natalie with her 4 mouth old cousin, William. The much needed get outside walk was a bit chilly. Although, I do love the excuse to put on these cute bunny suits.

And finally, while Grandma was here we decorated this Gingerbread house, which was kind enough to stay together for the picture and then collapsed. Jake had had enough picture taking by this time as you can see.

...And daddy will be home at midnight this Thursday to build back up the Gingerbread house and everything else that has collapsed. I'm giddy over it!

Thanks a million sisters and mom!

More angels PLEASE!!!

No...I'm not kidding!

Little Katie took a tumble from the attic to the floor (about 10 feet). She broke her femur bone in her hip. She had surgery to place the bone and will set off the metal detectors at the airport with the two new screws in her leg. She will be in this body cast for 6 weeks.

Every child that has surgery at St. Luke's Hospital in Boise gets a teddy bear like the one she is holding. She held her close for the two nights in the hospital and she named her Clara.

I am counting our blessings that I loaded a wheelchair in the back of my van for temporary use and am sooo grateful she will make a full recovery!