Not for the Weak

Brent has sworn off ever going camping with little ones, like every time we go, so naturally I'm excited when we do get to go. We go every year with the Olsens and time had come again to pack up and head out. So far so good. The trip up was good since we had brought out portable dvd player to entertain the kids and it was a beautiful drive.We got there about noon ate lunch and the kids were loving running around. We usually set up camp right away but were just taking it easy and having fun talking to the fam. A little after 2 we decided we better set up our tent and get things going esp since we were doing dinner that night for everyone. We had just picked out a spot when we heard a scream from Mason. We both ran over and found him getting out of the fire pit (that had been out since that morning). We grabbed him and started cleaning him off but couldn't figure out why he was crying so much. Then we saw that his little hand was white. I went over to see what first aid supplies everyone else had brought and it was turning into a big blister. Mom and Kristen were great helping apply medication and oils to it. Two of our brother in laws are EMTs so were in good hands. Dustin wrapped it and Brent gave him a blessing. We decided our camping trip would be cut short and left to find the the payson ER. Luckily Launi had some Tylenol and we gave him plenty so he only screamed most of the way there, then fell asleep (an hour of screaming and tylenol will do that to you I guess) He burned it at 2:15 and the doctor saw him about 6:30 gave us some supplies to wrap it for a few days and off we went. Poor Mason... He was so tough!! Didn't even really cry at the ER, I felt like I needed to tell everyone "I promise he IS hurt and needs medical attention right away..."

First picture we took of his hand at the ER, big blisters

Here he is in the hospital bed waiting for his turn. Ya that lasted a whole minute before he wanted to get out and run around

Right when he woke up the next morning we took the bandage off, he walked away and fell right on his hand, popping the blisters. This is the big flap of skin he got to hang onto for a couple days

AFter taking him to one doctor who just said "ya that really needs to be looked at" (thought that's what she was doing??) I decided to take him to the Arizona Burn Center (which happens to be best in the nation) They got us right in, gave him some Tylenol with Codeine, washed it good, popped blisters and cut off skin. Wrapped it and gave me a TON of supplies to do it at home twice a day. This is how it looked that night.

We went back to the burn center for a check up and they said it looks good. No more bandages! All I have to do is remember to put lotion and sunscrean on it 3-4 times a day for the next year!
This picture was taken today, almost 2 weeks later....doesn't it look GREAT! Our bodies are AMAZING!! Thank goodness!

CHOPPED IT OFF!!

BEFOREs AFTERs








































Is it just me, or does it get hotter every summer?? Well between kids constantly pulling my hair out (mostly on accident because it was so long) and the heat, I finally CHOPPED it OFF! Ironically I was really enjoying my long hair and doing all sorts of fun hair styles and different things to it but I have loved it short too! It's amazing how much it cools off when you don't have that extra foot and half of hair! The best part is that Brent LOVES IT!! Anyway, most of you have seen the wicked picture of it short or seen me in person so this isn't any new news. What do you think?

WICKED!!

Just a week ago I went with some of my family to go see the Broadway Musical 'Wicked' at the Gammage Theater! First though we went out to eat at a new favorite restaurant called Oreganos....YUMMM! Who would have thought that Italian and Mexican food would go so well together!!

What a show! I totally recommend for EVERYONE to go see this play! IT WAS INCREDIBLE!! The costumes the music the choreography, the acting the set...WICKED! I loved it and will definately go back to see this one...hopefully with Brent.

New home

Say hello to our beautiful new home! :) Ok so we've been here about a month and I just haven't posted yet so here it is! I love it! I love that there are sidewalks (not that I've taken advantage of them too much since it's too hot), there are playgrounds a literally accross the street, grocery stores just minutes away, Brent only works 25 mins away, a library a few mins away and our church building is also just around the corner. Like I said I'm LOVING IT!!! So we've been here a month, and although there is a lot to do and to our house to make it a home, we've done a lot. Ok Brent's done a lot. I should have taken before and after shots. He's built shelves in his office closet, put fans up all over (not one fan in an Az home....can you believe it?!), installed an electrical outlet in my pantry for water and my favorite project, built a ton of shelves in our closet so our bedroom can be dresser free!! I'm loving it and I love how handy he is and continues to surprise me!

I want to thank EVERYONE who helped us move in, that hot blistery day!! We had many people in Az City the night before helping us load up the Uhaul and trailors. We got it loaded in no time! It was AWESOME to have so many people help us at our new home to unload! People I didn't even know knew we were moving and came to help! It was a wonderful surprise to have you all there! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't think I can say it enough...THANK YOU!!! :)

A Day with Aunt Jene

Today we had a super fun time with Aunt Jene (my sister). She got some tickets to go to the childrens museum in Phoenix. It was more like a Child's heaven. There were so many fun things to do beyond anyone's imagination! The boys just had a BLAST! It was not only fun but got their little brains thinking and imagining. We got there around 11 and didn't leave till about 3pm. No one wanted to leave, but we had been there long enough. THANK YOU JENE for thinking of us and taking us to this wonderland! It was a so much fun!!

Here are a few of the highlights, we were working with 2 dying cameras so there's a ton on Jene's camera that hopefully I'll get from her!

Thanks JENE...it was so fun!

Mason was quite the shopper! A whole room was dedicated to being a grocery store and it was just the same as one, just Mason's size. They thought of everything, it was incredible! Mason was just cracking me up how much he loved pushing that cart around gathering food and then pushing it over to the register, unloading it all on the conveyer belt and purchasing his items. Look at this pro, he keeps one hand on the cart while grabbing his items, that's the #1 rule in shopping so you don't lose your stuff...he has got it down!

Creating cool designs in the lite up sand!

This isn't the best picture we got of Mason on the drums. He was having a great time keeping the beat of all the noise and kids in the room. GOOD JOB Mason! Brent has always loved playing the drums...maybe it's genetic! :)
Crawling through the tube of confusion!

This was quite possibly the coolest thing there. It was a wall of clear tubing connected to a vacuum. You would still scarfs or balls in a hole and it would suck it up, then you watched which exit it would come out and.....

...run and catch it! Entertained for hours...done!

Peek-a-boo Porter! Oh and Slade got to go with us too!! He was so much fun! We sure love our Uncle Slade!

THANKS AGAIN JENE! What a day!!!!

Goodbye home...

It's about time to say goodbye to our 1st home. We got to watch it go from dirt to a beautiful little 1230 sq ft home. It was just what we needed with our little family of 4. We moved here Nov of 06 when Porter was only 8months old. Mason then joined our family a year later. Brent has done an amazing job on the landscape as you can see or have seen and with help from Camille I decorated the inside to make it ours. Actually our dream of the perfect home is pretty much the same so we agreed on most everything. We've met some wonderful people, that will hopefully be lifelong friends, that we are sad to leave. We are off to a new adventure though and are so excited. We found a new home and are just about done with all of the paperwork so pictures and details to come.

Goodbye HOME!!

The amazing fire pit/fireplace Brent built with beautiful rocks leading up to it. Those steps rocks alone have memories attached. SHHH...we gathered all of them on a few of our camp outs. Aren't they perfect?!

Nice big kitchen that I LOVED! It opened up to the Family room!

Family room with nice vaulted ceiling, no TV just a projector

Our bedroom!

I may put more pictures up of this house for the sake of memories, this is MY journal after all right?!

Spoiled Moms

Brent knows just what I need when Mothers Day comes around...a pedicure! Fortunately, Ashley and Kristen gave Mom a certificate to get a pedicure so it turned into a much needed "girls day out". It's no fun to go spoil yourself on your own so it was really fun going with the girls! I love this family I married into to. I couldn't have asked for better in-laws! Our fun day consisted of pedicures and lunch together. My feet and stomach were in heaven sharing it all with the best company! Thanks for a great day Brent, sisters, mom and grandma! I had a blast!

We ate at this fantastic pita place (I think it was called Pita Jungle?) YUM YUM
Here's the whole clan!

Mom and I enjoying our pedicures together! :)

This was so fun, Kristen, Ashley and Launi all brought their little girls. What a fun mommy and daughter date. I was AMAZED at how well they sat throughout the pedicure! Those little ones actually looked like they were enjoying themselves. I'm sure one day I will LOVE having a girl to spoil and take with me to these fun girl dates, but for now it's nice to just have a little ME time and take a break. :)

And now for the main event...
the reason you have all continued reading this post.....
Drum roll please......

Presenting our beautiful toes.....