We will miss Grandma Toni

My grandmother, Grandma Toni, passed away today. She was 91. We have many fond memories of Grandma. We were fortunate enough to have her move closer to us her last few years of life so that we could spend more time with her. She was very special to Jayce. Even from a very young age of 2 he was always looking out for Grandma Toni, wondering where she was and if she was okay. He called her "My Toni." The pictures of her with my kids as babies will always be precious to me. Grandma was a very energetic person. She could never just sit. Always had to be busy with this project or that. She had a wonderful green thumb and could grow beautiful flowers. I was always impressed with that because I couldn't. She sewed, she quilted and she worked for many, many years as a hair stylist. I remember many haircuts from her. I remember my sister, Teri even letting her cut her hair when she was half blind. She lived a long happy life and touched many lives. We will miss her.

Crazy busy lately

Things have been busy around here lately. I am working to renew or reapply for my teaching license. Before I can reapply, I have to take a 1-credit class that I was lacking before my license expired a couple years ago. Last week I started taking a computer class 2 nights a week for 4 weeks at the college in Carson. I am actually enjoying it. Hopefully, I will have a current teaching license in a couple months. I hope to go back to teaching in a couple years.

Megan has soccer practice 2x/wk and Jayce is now only practicing 1x/wk but it just happens to overlap with Megan's practice time and it is at a park at the opposite end of town from the park Megan practices at. Blake has been taking off work early to take Jayce to practice but it seems he won't be able to do that much longer so I will have to figure it out. Each of them play games on Saturday. Last week, their soccer games were at the same time. Luckily, they were on adjacent fields at the same park so we could sit in between the fields and watch them both. It's difficult to follow both games when that happens.

Colton has his Sensory Motor Integration Therapy 1x/wk in Carson. On therapy days, I take him in, come home get Megan from school and then we load up and head in again for my class. (I drop them off at Blake's work.) Throw in a play group and preschool and there is no time to clean the house. Sorry, hon! Maybe next week.

Of course, Blake is busy with his bishopric calling at least one sometimes two week nights in addition to Sundays.

This week, to this crazy schedule, we are adding Jayce's eye surgery on Thursday, heading to CA Friday for my grandfather's funeral on Saturday and then heading home Sunday and to my Grandma's funeral on Monday. Luckily, we aren't this busy all the time.

Soccer

This weekend was the first soccer game of the season. Jayce, our little giant, looks so much bigger than the kids he plays with or against. (I'll get a picture of that next week.) Being that he is still 4, he plays with the 3-5 year olds. He looks 6! I'm not kidding when I say he is head and shoulders taller than most kids on the field. He enjoys kicking the ball, in any direction, our goal or not. It's fun to see how they improve over the season.Megan is happy to be playing again. It is something she feels confident doing. She was able to get in there and help out her team. She says her new favorite color is tangerine.

Most dangerous cake recipe in the world

Thanks for sending this recipe to me, Kathy. If you like chocolate cake and want it now, this recipe is for you. And why is this the most dangerous cake recipe in world? Because now we are only 5 minutes away from chocolate cake at any time of day or night.

5 Minute Chocolate Mug Cake

4 tablespoons flour

4 tablespoons sugar

2 tablespoons cocoa 1 egg

3 tablespoons milk

3 tablespoons oil

3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)

A small splash of vanilla extract

1 large coffee mug

Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well. Add the egg and mix thoroughly. Pour in the milk and oil and mix well. Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla extract, and mix again. Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts.

The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed! Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired. EAT! (this can serve 2 if you want to feel slightly more virtuous)

And guess what our FHE treat will be? Try it and let me know what you think.

We'll miss you, Grandpa Vann

My grandfather, Grandpa Vann or Papa, as we usually called him, died last week at the age of 89. We will miss hearing stories of ranching, hunting and rodeos. He was special to Megan because they shared the same birthday.

Talking dogs

Having some work done on my eyes!

I took Jayce to the eye plastic surgeon today. I had to laugh when the doctor's assistant asked why we were there and what seems to be the problem. (Hmm... we are at a plastic surgeon's office that specializes in work on eyes. Did you notice the small cherry sized tumor growing out of Jayce's eye when you met him a minute ago?) I told her that I thought that would be apparent. She said she has to ask. Okay, so the little tumor appears to have a big root system so instead of just cutting off the top and risking its return, the Doc is going to cut a piece out of the lower eyelid below the tumor to ensure all roots are removed and then sewing two pieces back together. He'll have 4 or 5 stitches for a couple of weeks. And the best part according to Jayce: He gets to wear his pajamas to the hospital! The surgery will be April 2nd.

The "critter" keeps growing

We've had a lot of questions about Jayce's eye, especially now that the "critter" is so big.

We meet with Dr. Perry Waggoner who specializes in cosmetic and reconstructive eyelid plastic surgery on March 23rd. The initial appointment with him will just be a consult about what it is and what he will do to get rid of it. Hope it's not too long between the consult and removal appointments. We especially hope there won't be another referral. This doctor seems very experienced in eye anomalies and should be able to help us out. He will be the 4th Doctor we've discussed Jayce's eye with. Review past pictures I've posted to see how fast the critter is growing.

What Blake got for his birthday

We wanted to share some things we made for Blake's birthday.

A teddy bear cake for our favorite teddy bear. I always let the kids pick some sort of animal, car, castle etc. for their birthday. This year Blake got a special cake too. Megan picked out the material and made this blanket for Blake. I cut around the edges and Megan double knotted the strips to hold the two sides together. It makes a cute fringe. We've all spent time cuddled under that blanket. Jayce made Blake this cute picture frame out of a cereal box and an old puzzle. The best present of all was the memory book I made for him. I asked family and friends, that knew him in school and now, to send me funny stories or memories they have of Blake. We laughed a lot. Nan, loved the story of Blake and Dad's "t-shirt". There were a lot of funny but heart warming stories as well. It was fun going down memory lane.

8 Things Tag

I have been tagged!! I might be struggling to come up with 8 things but here I go.

8 favorite TV shows...

1. Chuck
2. American Idol
3. ER
4. Friday Night Lights
5. Life
6. Law and Order
7. Hmm...Dora?
8. Curious George?

8 things I look forward to.....

1. Getting back in shape (sounds like I need to call Jeanni)
2. Soccer
3. Our trips to Idaho
4. Waking up feeling rested instead of tired
5. No sick kids
6. Getting Jayce's "eye critter" removed
7. Megan getting baptized
8. Summer

8 favorite places to eat....

1. Red Lobster
2. Olive Garden
3. Chili's
4. Fire and Ice (Lake Tahoe)
5. Red Robin
6. Applebees
7. Arctic Circle
8. Mom's House

8 things on my wishlist....

1. Go on date weekly
2. Go to the temple once a month
3. The house cleaned itself
4. My kids were always healthy
5. Go back to teaching when my kids are all in school
6. Provide better service to family and neighbors
7. Have more patience
8. Fit into my skinny pants

8 Favorite Movies...

1. Man From Snowy River
2. My Life
3. Return to Me
4. Notebook
5. Meet Joe Black
6. Never Been Kissed
7. Fifty First Dates
8. Remember the Titans

8 people I tag...

1. Connie O.
2. Arianne E.
3. Lisa V.
4. Leanna P.
5. Kristina E.
6. Mom
7. Valerie P.
8. Katy G.

Have fun!

Happy 40th Birthday Blake!

Here's where his life story began. Blake was born a twin and a surprise to his mother. She didn't know she was having twins. Aren't they cute? Can you guess which one is Blake? He's the one on the right.

Here he's 5 years old and already looking like himself. Isn't he cute?

Now he's 15 with braces. When he was in high school he played on the basketball and football teams and was even the captain of his football team when he was a Senior. He had many friends and always enjoyed a good time.

Like every good Mormon boy, when he was 19 he went on a mission. Blake served in the Atlanta Georgia mission. I had a roommate at Ricks College from Georgia. When she went home for summer break, she hooked Blake and I up and we started writing. This is the picture he sent me to let me know what he looked like. We wrote 4 months while he was still on his mission and then when he came home I was going to summer school at Ricks (very close to his home town) and we started dating. We dated for a year while I finished Ricks College and Blake worked as a carpenter building homes. After dating for a year, we got married in the Idaho Falls Temple on June 22, 1991. Almost 18 years ago. Holy Cow! Are we really that old? Blake is a very spiritual, hard working, fun loving husband and father to three great kids. We love him very much and look forward to another 40 years or more together.

Happy Birthday Bud. We love you!!

The critter keeps getting bigger

Yesterday, I took Jayce to the dermatologist that our optometrist referred us to. From the picture that was sent to her by the optometrist, she thought the critter was going to be more below the eye. Since it is growing right out of the rim of the bottom lid, the dermatologist is scared to work on it so we were referred to yet another doctor. In a couple weeks, we have an appointment with an optomologist that is known for his excellent work with plastic surgery on eyes. Not sure how big the thing will be in another couple of weeks with the rate it is growing. The dermatologist did say this is something that she has seen quite a bit just not usually on the eye. It is usually the result of some sort of trauma like the scratch Jayce received. I can't remember the technical term but it is a mass of blood cells that has erupted out of the skin as a result of the scratch. Looking at this, you'd think it was some scratch, but it wasn't. Very minor no blood or tears. Gone in a couple of days. The dermatologist said if we left it alone it may go away but didn't know how long that would take. And since it keeps getting bigger and with the problem of bleeding or more like gushing, when it is messed with, she recommended it be removed. Duh!

Seems like everyone knows how sick we have been around here. Strep, stomach flu, upper respiratory infections and a cough that won't go away. I'm not kidding, not a minute after I told my girlfriend that tubes were great because Colton's never had an ear infection since he got tubes, Colton came to me crying asking for a band-aide for his ear. Doc said that Colton's tubes have fallen out and are just sitting in the canal. So I guess they work if they are attached to the ear drum! Later on, Jayce came crying holding his throat saying his tonsils hurt when he yawns and Megan missed school yesterday

because of the same crud. When will it end?! Both boys have already been up crying tonight with same previous complaints so I suppose we are off to see the doctor tomorrow AGAIN. You know you go to the doctor a lot when the office staff call you by name as you walk in the door. I guess I will have the doc look at the burn on Colton's hand that he received as a result of grabbing my curling iron. Huge blister between his thumb and index finger. Not pretty. Poor baby. Luckily he didn't grab it by the barrel. Even though it was burning him, he didn't drop it. I had to take it out of his hand. I thought we had a "if it's hot drop it" reflex. He didn't even cry that much.

I love Jesus But I Drink A Little

I saw this on one of my friend's blogs (Thanks Jeanie) a while back and got a good laugh. Watched it again today and laughed hard all over again so wanted to post it on my blog too.