Chase is 2!!

We are ever grateful for sweet Chase. He is so much fun! He loves to be funny. Whenever he does or says something he follows up with "unny Mom?" (funny mom?). He has grown up so much. He adores his older siblings and they in turn mother him (sometimes to a fault). The world smiled the day he was born!

New Pictures

Here are a few pictures I took last week when it snowed. PLEASE cast your opinions on how well the pictures look. I'm trying to improve my photography skills. I know the pictures are grainy because I have a crappy camera, however, I would love opinions on what makes them look good or bad. (You can comment on the ragamuffins as well). Merry Christmas!

Rosemary

We have a Rosemary bush in our house.

Porter: Mom, why do they call it a rosemary bush?
Me: Why do you ask?
Porter: Well, it doesn't have roses and it doesn't get married.
Me: That is a good point.

Me: Makelle, where did your manners go?
Makelle: Mom, I think my manners are on vacation.
Me: Oh. . . (Because where else would they be)

Jet Update

So for all of you who are keeping up with my jet engine experience here goes. So my treadmill guy called today and said he was a few blocks away and wanted to put in the new motor. He was here for about thirty minutes. After working for a few minutes I could hear the beep of the machine being turned on but really couldn't hear anything else. I thought he had the motor hooked up but not the tread and belts. Then I walked in. . It was all put together. I couldn't believe it! He upped the speed to maximum and it only sounded like a fan was on. I have never heard that treadmill be that quiet even brand new.

No one is even going to know I am running in the morning. . . or afternoon as the case is today.

As Paul Harvey would always say, "And that's the rest of the story."

Tender Mercy 2

I think that this is another tender mercy that has been extended to me recently. Because of Abbie's celiac we were in the process of researching another grain grinder. They are quite expensive, but buying the little bags of flours are also pricey. Two weeks ago I pulled out the grinder to grind some more wheat. I turned it on and though the motor sounded like it was running the gears would not move. Matt went up and contacted the company and our grinder has a 6 year warranty. They emailed us a shipping label and we shipped it to them.

Yesterday it was dropped back off. When I spoke with the company I was told that everything was cleaned so it can be now used as a gluten free grinder. I have been so blessed to have a friend offer to let my grind my wheat on her grinder whenever I need to so I can use mine for Abbie's grains. So for the time being I am blessed not to have to buy another grinder.

Tender Mercies

I believe in tender mercies. I believe that sometimes, Heavenly Father gives us a break on things that are trivial yet bring peace to us.

My treadmill is loud. I don't mean loud that you have to turn the television up, I mean loud it sounds like a jet engine taking off. . . literally. The ONLY reason I still have my hearing is because I smartly took my ear buds and some hospital skin tape and taped them to my ears every morning. Don't judge me at 5:30 a.m.

I have had two neighbors come up to me with questions regarding sounds from my home at early morning hours (and sometimes nap time). One was wondering what siren was going off and if she needed to call 911. The other one just walked up to me when I was in the yard and asked what strange loud sound comes from my house in the morning when he walks out to get his paper.

I knew I had a problem from the beginning but had the same tech from the repair shop look at it and tell me that I had a loud treadmill. After FOUR long years of this and knowing I should have it serviced before we move anyway I called them to come back again and see what they could do. Unfortunately for them and fortunately for me the call dropped before I could set a date. I then looked online to see if there were any other repair shops because the original one was expensive. I left two messages for two other companies and this morning one guy calls me back and says he can look at it today! Wahoo!!

He arrived and cleaned it out (he said it was the most cleaned treadmill he had seen Yippee for me). And then he did the unthinkable. . . he turned it on. Now I knew it was loud but I hadn't realized how loud it actually was because I had always taped my ear buds in first. As I stood there I wondered why the whole neighborhood wasn't calling the military to see why one of their jets were taking off in the neighborhood. It hurt my ears. My poor husband and kids. . . they must be deaf when they are asleep.

He said the engine was bad. My heart sunk. No more running. . . I HAVE to run. It is a basic need for me. I need my sweat, my stink, my happy endorphins. I need the calm of listening to good books and General Conference before my day gets busy. I was bummed. My parts warranty ended 2 1/2 months ago, not that I knew that or I would have called sooner.

Never fear! This guy called the company and was able to get me a free motor. I could not afford to buy a motor or another treadmill. It would have been the end. We would have had some grumpy days in my house. He put the treadmill back together ordered the part and in about a week we will have a quiet treadmill. Wow! The other best thing is that he was half the price of the original repair company.

Some of you may think this is a dumb tender mercy. But for me, it makes me happy. It is the Lord saying that he knows me and he knows how much I need this time to think and listen and put one foot in front of the other.

Perspective

Porter's First Dive

So Porter can swim like a fish and was scared to walk off the diving board. It wasn't the diving but walking on the board so far off of the water. The life guards (who love him) and I cheated and waited until those who would be mad left and then one of them picked porter up walked him to the edge and then dropped him off. This is the first time he did it by himself. We are so proud of him.

Time . . . like a river

This summer just keeps on going like a river. Soon school will be starting for two kids. Did I mention I will have TWO kids in school. I am getting old. I have a few posts of fun things we have done this summer but they are on my other computer which is being occupied at the moment, so I will defer until tomorrow.

My sister had her baby last week. He is a doll. Aren't they such a cute family!?! My little blond niece looks just like my sister when she was little.

Mud Drunk

I came across these pictures from about a month ago. The kiddos were outside playing and I was out with them. I turned my back for ONE minute and my son decided he liked the mud. He ate some, played with some, and then laid on the grass and watched the sky.

A Tree

While we were still with Grandma and Grandpa we visited Matt's old ward where he lived when he was a baby. While we were waiting after church I snapped a few pictures of Porter & Abbie by a tree. Porter was a big poser and cracked me up. On the way home Abbie told me that the tree is the one Grandpa had planted a long time ago. I'll have to check my facts but that is kind of a random neat thing if it is true.

Grandma

We went to DC for a family funeral and Matt's parents met us there for it. Abbie and Porter insisted that Grandma sit with them. Poor Grandma had to cram between to large car seats. She was a great sport and the kids cannot wait to see her again.

How can you not LOVE this face?

(And yes, that is dirt he was eating. He has progressed to trying ants that have drowned at the pool.)


Aren't his eyes gorgeous?

Morning Guest

So I was running on the treadmill this week early and I took a quick drink break. I look out my kitchen window and there before my eyes is this most beautiful guest. He was a lot bigger than I thought he would be. I thought he would fly away right away but he didn't. He looked at me and then at the pond. I could just see his dilemma, how to catch those fish swimming at the bottom of our little pond. I ran upstairs and took a few pictures and then I went to shut the window and I saw that there were not one but two owls and I had only just noticed the second one as it flew away, so no picture of them both. I love owls and think they are one of the most beautiful birds so I am really glad that he came to visit and I hope to see them both again. (sorry I couldn't get a super good shot these were the best ones and they were a little blurry)

You can see in the background Matt's attending aka boss loving the kids all dressed up carving up the body (aka a cooked turkey).

Charge the paddles!

They were able to see the heart and have a chance to restart the heart.

Screwdrive please. . .

Plates, nails, pins, and screwdrivers. Ah, the life of a orthopod. . .