Gracie's Confession

I wanted to make sure I got this documented even though this happened a couple of weeks ago.  We started a new "conversation jar" that we choose from each night at the dinner table.  It is a simple piece of paper that allows us to get a good conversation started...instead of, "Mom he is looking at me!" or "Stop touching my food!"  This particular night, Gracie's paper said, "Tell us something about you that we don't know."  She thought for a moment, krinkled up her cute little nose and said, "Well, I pick my nose at night and wipe it on my blinds by the bed!"  Remember she is 3 and we are trying to open up conversation with our children.  We all busted up laughing.  How could we get mad at her for that when she was being open and honest?  I did have her show me where the special spot was that night and we cleaned it.  She is my little spunky red head.

Luke's First Fever

It is always sooo sad when your baby gets his first fever.   He is thrown into confusion as he tries to figure out why he feels so terrible.  Luke was the last of the 4 to get the flu in our house (we hope the last).  He was carried around with cold washcloths on his head and ate popsicles each night.  Poor baby!

Broken Leg

Picture this (as I am sure every mother can)....
you're done with your child's 6 month check-up...
they are crying from shots...
you are walking in sandals (the easiest thing to put on)...
and rushing up and down the curbs to get to your car (Summerlin Medical Center)...
wishing you had used your awesome, easy stroller because your baby (who just passed the 90th percentile is too heavy for his infant seat)...
and step down off the final curb (10 ft) from your car and your sandals slip, you go down hard trying to save your baby from getting head trauma!
I am sure moms (even dads) can relate to this....
it did happen to me on Friday.
Unfortunately, as I fell I distinctly heard a pop and landed on my butt.
Mike was still on the airplane from Texas for a week and thankfully, my mom and dad, were in town. I called them and said, "Hey mom, please come find me in the parking lot...I broke my ankle!"
They rescued me, Luke had fallen asleep (what a sweetie) and the E.R. got me in and out in less than 2 hours (I think a record). My mother in-love was home with Gracie and sick Blake. I ended up breaking my fibula on my lower leg. Now I am stuck in a cast (my right, driving leg, of course) for 6 weeks (no weight bearing) and then a walking cast for 6 weeks after that. The Dickinsons (Mike's parents) rented me an awesome knee walker (see picture) so I can get around the house and carry my kid. I know it could be worse and I am so thankful I didn't tear ligaments and all...but it still stinks the big one that I am trapped in my own body now!
If you really know me, you know how hard it is for me to sit with my foot up and watch my house fall apart around me...ARRRGHHH!

It could be worse, I know!  SNAP!

Hiking at Red Rock

It is sad I haven't posted since March....egaaahd! This is harder than scrapbooking for me but again, in the attempt to savor a memory....We went hiking on the children's discover trail at the beginning of October with the Judd and Kershaw family. Even Luke tromped along with me in his bjorn carrier (I love that thing). It was exhausting for Blake in his forearm crutches but he was a trooper the whole time. It was nice to have Mike on an outing with us finally!


Luke (held by Emma J.), Elayna J., Lexi K., Ellie J., BLAKE (only boy), Emma, Eliza J., Gracie



Elayna (Judd) and Lexi (Kershaw) couldn't get enough of Luke!


We were at the end of Summer so there wasn't a waterfall...Blake was such a trooper hiking with his forearm crutches...I know I couldn't do that!


The kids crawled up and down this rock for awhile.


Gracie had to be carried by Matt Kershaw, our neighbor, by the end of the hike...nice bum shot! (Thanks to Kacey Judd for the pix).

I Finally CAVED

We are the Dickinsons but since Mike (Mcdog) is our main man, it was the next best available name to describe us. I have finally broken down and do what I vowed never to do...create a blog (I also haven't broken the news to my wonderfuly hubby, Mike...maybe after tax season since he is a Tax CPA & incognito)! However, I have been terrible at keeping up on my scrapbooks and even WORSE at my journal writing. I am frantically watching the most endearing moments of my children's experiences fade away....without documentation. So, with that...I am going to document the little daily things in the blog & keep it for my records. Besides, if any of you knew Mike (Mcdog) in highschool, you know that he is quite the writer/poet. So maybe he will get into it eventually. Hopefully that means it won't bore those of you out there reading it...since it is for my lame effort at record keeping.