Accident Update

I wanted to give a quick update on the status of our car accidents. So, first about Rob. He has his new Honda Civic (although I know deep down inside he misses driving the hot blue mini van to work!). Unfortunately, he is still having pain in his left shoulder. He is having to do physical therapy 3 times a week. He has some soft tissue damage and muscle damage that they are working on. He is supposed to schedule an MRI when he gets a free minute. We will be finding out more about his settlement once we know more detail of his injuries. As far as my accident, it is still quite complicated. I finally got my Sequoia back. It cost over $5000 to fix it! I couldn't believe that. After really thinking about it, I think my accident was a lot worse than I originally thought because I was so focused on Rob and his accident that I don't think I even remotely realized the severity of my accident. Anyway, we have the car back. I had both of my MRI's done last week. One on my lower back where it is still very painful with the pain going all the way down my left leg. And one MRI on my lower neck where it also still hurts a lot and is completely numb. I just heard back that the MRI's show that I have a herniated disc in my lower back and also a herniated disc in my neck with also a torn disc in my neck. So now, I get to see a neurosurgeon to find out what to do next. We now are starting the battle of getting the guy who hit me to take responsibility which will be an uphill battle. I am in pain pretty much all the time with it being worse usually at night. I'm not supposed to lift or sit at the computer or work too much. So, that is the update. Thanks to everyone who has asked about us and kept us in your thoughts and prayers. We really appreciate it!

My sweet girls

I love my sweet little girls. They love each other and love to be to be together. I just had to take some pictures of them yesterday before church.

May the Force Be With Me!

This past weekend we had Cayden's big 9th birthday party. He decided to do a Star Wars clone Wars party and invited over 40 kids! He has so many friends at church, school, cousins, etc. that we couldn't leave anyone out. But trust me, this was one of the biggest undertakings I have done in a while and I am the one who needed the "force" with me. We decided to make his party an official Jedi training camp. When the kids got here, they each got a Jedi uniform and badge. I made the girls white uniforms to be more Princess Leia-ish. We then had lunch including "Yoda Soda" (green punch with dry ice...they all thought this was very cool!), hot dogs, chips, and birthday cake. Needless to say, it was a NOISY bunch! Thank goodness it was decent weather outside because that is where we headed next. I made about 30 lightsabers out of swim noodles and PVC pipe. Thank goodness I have awesome neighbors and family who donated swim noodles to the cause because I couldn't find swim noodles ANYWHERE in stores this time of year! I made them all take a Jedi oath that they couldn't use their weapons for hurting others etc. or they would lose their weapons and not graduate as a true Jedi. We went outside after that and did some weapon practice. Rob had downloaded all of the Star Wars music including the "Darth Vader" theme and after the kids had practiced their lightsaber skills, Rob cranked that music from inside the house and he came out fully dressed as Darth Vader. He looked pretty darn cool and in typical Rob fashion, had the Vader voice down to a tee and really played it up. The kids thought this was pretty cool. They stood in line and each took a turn battling Darth Vader. Too funny! After that, we played "Save the planet" aka hot potato game with a planet ball. Then they had target practice where they got to shoot down different Star Wars action figures with the dart guns. We played Jedi bingo with Rob doing his freaky Yoda voice and then did the pinata. I am proud to say that they ALL passed their Jedi training and received their official Jedi diploma upon leaving. It was EXHAUSTING but so fun! I asked Cayden afterwards if he knew why I did such big parties for him? He aswered, "Because you're the BEST mom ever!" That was sweet, but I told him that the reason I do such big parties for him and his sisters is because not only is it a party for THEM to celebrate their birthday, but it is truly a celebration of me getting to be their mom!

Target Practice

Cayden battling Darth Vader

Darth Vader trying to recruit the Padowans to the dark side

The Jedi trainees and their lightsabers

Cayden blowing out his candles

Jedi Cayden

Trick or Treat

Sorry this is a bit late, but I wanted to post some photos of our Halloween and trick or treating. It was a really nice day. The kids had the day off from school so we spent the day cleaning the house, getting ready for Halloween, making treats, etc. We had a small kink in the day when we got a call saying our Sequoia was done (over $5000 later...yikes!) and we needed to return the awesome blue mini van. But we are definitely happy to have our Sequoia back...all except Ashlee who in typical fashion had a sad moment of saying goodbye to the van. Halloween night we ate some pizza and then headed out trick or treating. For the first time ever, we were some of the first ones out on the street. The weather was actually great aside from a few sprinkles. Sadie had a GREAT time in her stroller. She was in heaven! About half way through, Rob brought Sadie and Ashlee home and Cayden and McKell and I continued on. I think McKell could have gone all night! It was another wonderful Halloween!

The whole gang ready to go Trick or Treating
Our sweet little Sadie cat
(originally she was a bee, but hated the costume, so we opted for the cat)

Anakin Sywalker ready for battle...and candy!

Our cute cheerleader, McKell. Do you think McKell loves candy? I think her face says it ALL!

Ashlee the cutest little clown.

I need to vent...

Okay, I really don't have the time to do this today. I have 40 kids invited to a Star Wars birthday party tomorrow and still have a TON to do. But I feel the need to vent right now, so that is what I will do.

I just read a comment on another blog concerning Proposition 8. The obviously angry person (whom I don't even know) posted the question, "What right do the darn Mormons have to tell anyone they can't get married!? I'm glad people are protesting outside the temples. I'm embarrassed I used to be a Mormon. They are such hypocrites!"

So, I figure that question was posed, so I will take the opportunity to answer it.

What "right" do those darn Mormons have? Uh...they have EVERY right. They, just like you, are American citizens. They have the right to vote. They have the freedom to speak what they feel. They have every right to say their thoughts and views on a law in their state. And really, are you seriously going to play the "Mormons are hypocrites" card? Because here is what I find hypocritical. I think it is INCREDIBLY hypocritcal to be condemning one group of people for exercising their American right to vote, while cheering for another group who is exercising their freedom of speech as they protest outside of Mormon temples. So, which is it? Either we ALL have the same rights as Americans, or we don't.

Some argue that the Mormon church should have stayed out of this and let their members decide for themselves. Why? Isn't that another right we have as Americans? To worship as we wish? And as part of that freedom of religion, the Mormon leaders have every right to weigh in and share with their followers direction and guidance as they see fit. And then it is the right of those members to exercise their freedom and vote as they wish. Just like any Catholic American, Muslim American, etc.

It really doesn't matter which side you stand on in this issue. For me? I stand on the side of America and I stand on the side of our Founding Fathers who made it possible for American citizens to be on different sides of an issue, but BOTH have the same rights to express and vote their conscience.

For the record, I do tend to side with the elderly temple workers who are being verbally abused and berated as they leave and enter LDS temples. My own parents are temple workers in their seventies and it doesn't sit too well with me at the thought of anyone attacking them. My father serviced in the Air Force to protect our country and is a retired Air Force Major and I know many of the LDS temple workers are also military vetrans who ironically fought with their lives to protect the very "rights" they supposedly shouldn't have because they are Mormons."

So please, in the future, before posting ignorant comments about the "rights" of those darn Mormons, please kindly go read the constitution. I'm sure our Founding Fathers could set things straight.

A Rock in his Bumma

So this week, the kids and I were talking a lot about the election, getting a new president, etc. On Wednesday morning on the way to school, I told the kids that we now had a new president. They asked me who won and I told them it was Barrack Obama. Cayden was really excited about that. Then Ashlee, from the back seat says, "Mom, I am confused. Why does our new president have a rock in his bumma?" At first, I had no clue what she was saying. She was really concerned about it. And then it hit me. When I said our new president was Barrack Obama, she thought I said our new president has a rock in his bumma. Cayden and McKell about fell out of their seats laughing and Ashlee realized she had made a funny joke. I explained that this was our new president's name and that no, he didn't have a rock in his bumma. She thought for a minute and then said, "Mom was that a funny joke? Cause you know, I made that up myself!" Yes, Ashlee, we know.

Pumpkin Carving

If you can't tell already, our family (me in particular) LOVES Halloween! Last night was pumpkin carving night. It is so much fun now that the older kids can do a little more designing, cutting, and "gutting" of their own. Mom and Dad came up as well which always makes it extra fun. They brought a very large and very "wrinkly" pumpkin which dad said was obviously a Grandpa pumpkin because it had so many wrinkles. This was Sadie's first pumpkin carving experience and she didn't quite know what to do, but she sure loved pulling out all of the insides of the pumpkin. The kids all did really fun and unique pumpkins. Cayden's was scary, McKell's was a princess complete with crown and jewels, and Ashlee's was a cat. Rob helped Sadie and did a cute little face on hers. Afterward we had yummy homemade pumpkin bars that McKell and Ashlee helped me make. The best part is when all of the pumpkins are lit up and we count to three and turn off all the lights.

McKell and her beautiful princess pumpkin

Ashlee's cute kitty pumpkin

Cayden's scary big mouthed pumpkin

Mom and Dad with their wrinkly pumpkin

Oooooh - The final shot!