The fun parts of Summer 2010

So if you read my post from a few days ago, you know that this summer hasn't been the best. But there has still be some good things that have happened too.

On June 30th me and the kids went to the airport to pick up Grandpa and Grandma Shields from their adventure to China. The kids were so excited to see them! PLUS it was also the day that Eclipse came out. Which of course, Brooklyn and I had to sneak away from the grandparents to go see. :)

At the beginning of July we went down to where my sister lives and had a bit of a reunion for the July 1st celebrations. It's always good to start the summer with family.

We had put Jared in Soccer Camp for a week. Brook was great to take him every day while Regan and I were at work.

We then headed off to Surveyor's Lake with my parents, sister and family and a couple of Regan's sisters and their family. We didn't stay as long as we had originally planned, due to our injuries, but we did get to stay for 4 days. The weather was nice and it's a beautiful campground that we all enjoy.

When we got back from camping we put the kids in a basketball camp put on by the Southwinds Church. They had a great time and learned lots. So did I!! They had a craft table set up for the mom's that waited for their kids and they taught me lots about stamping! My SIL would have been so impressed with my new talent! LOL

At the end of that week, we headed down to the Magrath Celebrations. I have a family reunion there every year where we are visited by the ghost of Josephine.

We left our kids down there with my sister for the next two weeks. She enrolled them into swimming lessons at the outdoor pool in her town. The weather (during the day anyways) was really nice so the kids got quite a nice tan! Jared was able to pass off his level 4 in swimming and Brook was able to pass off levels 7, 8 & 9. You have no idea how grateful I am to my sister for doing that every year. Swimming lessons is not something I enjoy doing. I want my kids to be good swimmers, I just don't like watching them be so far away from life guards and safety and such.

The next week we actually got to see our kids this summer! But not for long. Just long enough to get all the back to school supplies! LOL

Brook then headed up to Olds for a basketball camp for 5 days. Which I must say was way harder on me than I thought it would be. I have never not been able to talk to my kids every day until she went off to camp. That was hard on both her and I.

While Brook was up North, Jared went down South to Aunt Deb's and Uncle Will's house. He had a lot of fun being away and getting to play with his cousins that he used to see everyday. It has been tough on the kids as well to have them move 2 hours away. MOVE BACK!! (K I know it won't happen, but you can't blame me for trying!)

The kids were only home for a few days when Regan's sister wanted them for a week, and since G'ma and G'pa Shields were bringing them down south for the Lethbridge parade the next day they already had a way there. So again they headed off to southern Alberta for some more family time. This was the first time that they stayed with this Aunt and Uncle without us. They had a great time. Brook got to help with the baby and Jared got to play with his Uncle that he has a pretty close connection with. It helps too that this Uncle has 3 girls and no boys, so I would imagine it's kinda fun for him to have another boy around the house to help even the odds! LOL

I am so grateful for ALL of my family! For those who were willing to take and love our kids this summer and help them have a fun summer while Regan and I had to work. Thank you!

Sweet Child O Mine

Just over a week ago, our bishop had asked us in church to pray for a family in our ward that had a baby girl that has some health issues. (You can follow their blog at justinandleah.blogspot.com ) My son barely ever listens at church, that we know of anyway, so I was very much taken back over the next part of my story.

The bishop had asked us as a ward to pray at both 7:00am and 7:00pm on the Monday following church for this family. And if possible to fast for them as well. Regan and I never talked to the kids about it until I was tucking Jared into bed.

Jared: Oh, I almost forgot

Me: Forgot what

Jared: Forgot to set my alarm

Me: Why are you setting your alarm, it's still summer?

Jared: To pray for the Gibb baby

Me: That's a great idea Buddy

Jared: I know that when I am a dad, and I have a little girl, I would want someone to pray for us. I have never fasted before, do you think the Lord will still help her if I can't skip 2 meals.

Me: Jared, the Lord knows your heart and will help you as you try to help others. I am proud of you.

I am so grateful to have the tender moments with my kids. To have the faith of a child...

It's the most wonderful time of the year

They're going back...

It's back to school time again. The kids didn't find it near as funny as I did when I woke them up Wednesday morning singing the "Staples" song. Nevertheless the kids were excited to go back.

New teachers, new friends, and apparently a cute "new" girl to the school that my son has noticed. LOL

Ahhh... a new year of school. Here's to the best so far!

Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events

Okay so my life may not be quite like the movie, but this summer has sure seemed to fit with the title.

I bought a new pair of shoes for the gym back in April. I was so excited because I don't enjoy buying "work out" shoes, but these were nice. I paid good money for them and they were soooo soft and cushy, I felt like I was walking on a cloud.... Turns out, that's not always a good thing. Regan and I went to the gym on the Monday after buying my shoes. I went and did my usual aerobics class. It was the last 5 minutes of class, we were doing side to side squats and I started getting the strangest feeling in my right heel. It felt like it was "bubbling" and it started to hurt a bit. I didn't want to look like a quitter in the last 5 minutes so I did my best to finish the class.

I iced my foot as soon as we got home, and over the next few days I took it super easy. I never went back to the gym and I decided that I should take my shoes back. Good thing! By the Friday my foot hurt so bad I could barely walk and it was swelling quite a bit. I knew it wasn't broken but the pain wasn't letting up either. I figured I would go to the dr. on Monday and see what was up. Turns out I tore my Achilles tendon. I didn't know you could tear it. I knew you could rupture it, but a tear???

Anyway to make a long story short. Over the next 4 months I tore it 3 more times and am now in a cast and going to physio 5 days a week. Sad thing is, as funny as it looks, it's been a miracle for me!

It continued in April when we let Brook go back to gymnastics. This was completely her choice this time, so we thought we would give it a try again. She did great! She started getting back into shape quite quickly, with only a few chuckles from mom and dad over her use of all our ice packs to sooth her sore muscles.

However, in May something happened to Brook's wrist. I can't quite tell you what because she didn't tell us WHEN it happened. We went to pick her up from the gym on the Friday and she was crying when we got there. Totally unusual for her. She kept saying her wrist hurt. I figured she sprained it so we iced it for a couple of days. Monday came around and it was still hurting and since I was already going to the doctor too (for above mentioned reason), I decided to take her with me. Turns out she had a stress fracture in her wrist and it needed a cast. It also turned out that it had been hurting before the Friday, but she didn't want to tell anyone because she knew she wouldn't be allowed to tumble at the gym. Little turkey...

I WISH it ended there! Nope...

Regan took the kids to a farewell barbecue in June for a family in our ward that was moving to Chicago. They were playing some basketball with a few other members. (I am sure it wasn't like the movie 'Church Ball') At least I hope! LOL Anyways Regan came down on his foot funny and heard a snap. Great... Being the sympathetic wife that I am, I made him wait in the living room till I put the kids to bed before I drove him to the emergency room. Ooops :(

He broke his 5th metatarsal at the base, displacing it laterally about 3mm. Which was VERY close to having a pin put in. It was so swollen he couldn't even a shoe! He ended up being off work for 2 weeks (non weight bearing) and in a cast for 2 months. Even then, his last x-rays aren't showing super healing and it's still a debate as to whether or not he should still be in a cast.

(this was after most of the swelling had gone down)

And those were just the big things. We still had some good falls from trees, bike accidents, skateboard accidents, etc...

Good thing the weather has been so crappy this summer and we didn't feel like we missed out on too much!

Flu Season

Blah...

I am sick.

The first thing people tend to ask me is if I have the H1N1 flu. I have only been sick for 1 day people, I don't know what I have. But it sucks. It hit really fast, I have a fever and I am exhausted, unfortunately I can't sleep because my whole body hurts.

I so feel like that cartoon. Except that would be me holding Wilbur instead of a teddy bear.

But when your the mom, you don't get time to be sick. You get to still take care of the kids, do the laundry, make supper, do the shopping and still find time to drive everyone from A to B to C. Not that I am trying to complain, but men just don't get it! I have a great husband, until I am sick. lol Anyone who is married understands what I mean when I say that. You don't get the whole, let me take care of you thing. (although they do usually say it)

Nope, men just don't get. They come home from work and still wonder why you haven't fed the kids all day and why you aren't dressed. "Did you get this done today?" "Did you remember to go...?"

Nope

No rest for the mom's.

"If you have more than one friend, you have more than your share!"

I remember when I was younger my mom told me that if you have one true friend throughout your life, you are more blessed than most. I have had many friends come and go over the years but a few have stayed with me and some new ones have joined. Of course my sister has a special place in my life, not just because she's my sister but because she is also my friend. Even if she lives far away from me, I know she is always there.

I had one friend since I was a little girl that I thought I would be friends with forever, and although we still keep in contact via facebook we grew apart just before high school. But it was because of my friendship with her that led me to my oldest and dearest friend. (It's my blog and I can call her what I want, so we'll call her Mandy) Mandy and I started off as rivals but became friends eventually. I am happy to say that we have been friends for more than 27 years! We have survived moves to different towns, to different countries and back again. Our friendship has seen us through so many things that I couldn't possibly even list all the things we have gone through together. She has by far been one of the most influential people in my life thus far. She even helped me with my decision to marry my wonderful husband! She has been my rock for so many years, and even though we don't have the kind of friendship that we would talk everyday, the times when we do get to talk are wonderful. I would be lost without her.

I have had other friends that have impacted my life over the years, and if any of them are reading this, I am not trying to overlook anyone. I am using my blog as an outlook of thoughts and feelings, as I seem to be having a tough time with the changes life brings lately.

I had another friend that I was really close to for several years. Even to the point that we moved next door to her and her family. Everything seemed to be going great- I thought. We would play cards and go for lunch and have the everyday kind of friendship that everyone needs. Until one day she told me she didn't want to be friends with me anymore because of my religious beliefs. She didn't want our kids to be friends anymore so they would not feel influenced in anyway. I was shocked and so hurt that I swore that I would never let anyone in again the way I let her in. It took me a long time and MANY, MANY tears to be able to face the loss of that friendship. She sold her house about a year later and moved away. We have since started talking again, very little and distantly, but it's nice to not feel completely broken over it anymore.

Getting over her was not easy, but I made a new friend that helped me along my journey. She knew my fears of opening up to someone again and walked me through it. Literally. We would go for walks in the evenings for HOURS just talking, laughing, venting and even losing weight while we walked. Others joined us along the way, some came and went, some left, but through it all we stayed close. She brought out the person in me that laughed. I don't mean just a little, occasional laugh, I mean the type of person who can laugh till their abs hurt, tell there our tears in your eyes, till you can't stand up and walk because you are laughing so hard. I became that person. I starting really laughing. I found humor and joy in things that I took for granted. It was great. Sure enough... she moved away. Again I am trying to face that crappy loss of friendship. Yes we are still friends, don't get me wrong, but our friendship has changed. We don't get to hang out or talk every other day. We don't get to have our "what's for dinner Wednesdays" or our "Bree" moments or all the other many things we established that I miss dearly. I know she has a new and hard (VL) journey ahead of her and I know that I have to take a backseat to that. I just don't have to like it.

My common denominator is that they have all moved away.

I want to laugh again! I want to stop being angry at all the things and people that influenced my loss(es).

People stop moving away! My poor little heart can't take this!

Job Well Done

I have been very proud of my kids the last couple weeks. They both have some financial goals in mind and have been learning to earn money and handle it properly.

My son's goal is to save up for a new BMX bike and my daughter's goal is to save up some money to go to China to visit Regan's parents. (although that possibility is looking very slim at the moment)

After a recent snow fall, J-Bear and Regan went door to door shoveling sidewalks. Regan made him go up to the door and talk to the people and he just helped when J-Bear needed help to shovel the walks. He was able to shovel 3 walks and driveways and earned $22.00. He came home and we made up three jars for him to put away his money. 10% tithing 10% savings and the rest can go toward his bike. It was really exciting for him to see the money and it was a great math tool too!

There was a day last week that J-Bear had school and Babbling Brook did not, so I brought her to work with me. She was a great helper! She put together a whole bunch of new patient charts, got some filing done, pulled some charts for the next day, helped the hygienists with a few things and even got to help out with babysitting while moms were getting their teeth done. She did a super job! So much so the EllyMay gave her $20 for helping out. She was so excited! She came home and did the same thing J-Bear did with the jars.

Yeah, maybe now the kids will get a better sense of money and budgeting! Maybe they'll be able to teach us a few things. lol