FHE in Salem

Since Bret usually works on Monday nights we often head out to Salem to my parent's home to have family home evening. One of our favorite things to do is ride the horses and play with the animals. The kids will gather eggs and feed the chickens. We play with the dogs and we ride the horses. Darci DID NOT want to get off.

Last night Christopher rode a horse all by himself (without grandpa leading). He also rode Polka bare back. Just held on to her mane. She tends to just follow Duke where he goes. Eliza got on with grandma, making it officially her first time on a horse. Xander on Duke and Christopher on Polka.

As I've previously mentioned, Eliza likes to just lie in the grass. We have had to kick Woodrow off of her many times. That dumb dog just loves her. Last night he got good at laying beside her instead of on her and I caught him kissing her face. She was actually laughing, so I snapped a picture before pulling him off and cleaning the dog slobber up. Xander with Darci on Duke.

I think my kids will forever be fond of these times with their grandparents.

Grandma and Eliza on Duke.

Eliza getting kisses from Woodrow.

Way too cute!!!

We'll just let the picture speak for itself.

A couple of firsts

Today was the first day of 2nd grade for Christopher. Last night at a back-to-school night we met his new teacher, Mrs. Hix. She's a cute little thing... all of 5' nuthin'. He headed out the door this morning with a lot of excitement and just a little bit of nervousness. When Bret picked him up this afternoon he was all smiles and had made 2 new "best friends". Today was also the first day that Eliza tried solid foods. She hasn't had anything except breast milk since leaving the NICU (and maybe a lick of something here and there from her daddy and grandpa P.). Her pediatrician told us that she can start trying it now, but doesn't really need it until 6months. She had been sleeping well through the night, so what I provided was enough. The last couple of nights she has wanted to eat every 3 hours. So a little infant rice cereal was experimented with. She didn't hate it, but she didn't love it. Or she was just trying to figure out why Mommy and Daddy were taking pictures and video-taping and her siblings making such a big deal. She's like that... as people make a fuss she just kind of looks at you like you're an idiot. She must get that from her dad.

Messy Face

Word Vomit put away

Everyone who caught the "Word Vomit" post and read it and replied... thank you so much for reading through that and posting and supporting. I hit my lowest ever today and purged myself with that post. In the process and with the guiding words of those that saw I've made a plan and I'm hoping to pull myself out of this deep, dark hole that I am in. One thing I've determined to do is try... really try... to be more positive. And in doing that "Word Vomit" has gone back into my drafts. I'm also going to get some help from my dr and change up my meds. I'm visiting with the Bishop this Sunday with Bret and we're hoping to find our way to the temple soon. One thing I'm going to keep here from the Word Vomit post is the counting of my blessings... so here goes. My husband is the very best. I couldn't love anyone more. We are so suited for each other. I don't believe in soul mates, or, at the very least, I don't believe that there is 1 right person out there for us. I do believe I found the most perfect person out there for me. We fit and we would do anything for each other. We want each other to be happy. Bret also loves our children so much. Almost as much as me. It is so hard to explain my relationship to Bret to others. My parents understand, because they have the same kind. And I'm lucky, because Bret's parents do not and it could have been easy to for him to follow in that pattern. Don't get me wrong, Bret's parents love each other, but Bret and I can't live without each other. Maybe that's bad. But we don't think so. We are equals and best friends and lovers and... there just aren't enough words. My children are wonderful. They are beautiful and smart and full of life and energy. They are pure joy... despite the trials. Darci is my hero. She feels crappy 90% of the time, but she is still so sunny and happy. We have a nice, comfortable home in a free country. We have 2 vehicles and many other material things that make life comfortable. Eliza came early, but she is healthy and strong and you'd never know she was a preemie. We have the gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives. I don't understand my Heavenly Father's faith in me. People keep telling me how strong I am when all I feel is weak. I'm like a stubborn child who isn't grabbing what is right in front of her. It's like that scene in Alice In Wonderland when they are running in a circle trying to get dry... all the while the waves are crashing over them and there is a fire within reach, but not the way they are going.

Purple, sparkly, and lethal.

Today Darci went to the orthopedic dr and got her hard cast. They'll do more x-rays in 2 weeks to see whether she's going to be in it 3 weeks or 5. That thing is heavy and if she chooses to take a swing at her brothers with her left hand she's going to do some damage. We had fun decorating it.

It's heavy and she doesn't care much for it.

She liked it a little better once we decorated it.