10 years ago

I woke up this morning thinking about all the publicity that has been going on about Sept 11 2001.  I turned the television on and the kids an I watched the ceremonies.  We watched the Mormon Tabernacle Choir pay tribute.  We cried a bit.  Kaily asked us why everyone was so sad, why we were sad.  So we told her about what happened 4 years before she was born, we told her of the many people who gave their life and we told her where we were when it all happened.  Then, in her innocence, she replied, "Maybe I was there too, maybe I knew some of them before I was born."  I cried.  Then Conner said, "It's okay mom, cuz we'll see them all again someday, they're living with Heavenly Father now.  Heavenly Father will protect their families."  I love the perfect faith and innocence of children.

I am so grateful for the many men and woman who have fought for our country over the last 10 years.  Clint and I were both on our missions and I came home shortly after this all happened.  I will never forget how I spent that day and who I spent it with.

first sucker

Clint brought home dum-dum suckers for the kids from work the other day and Corbin saw the kids eating them.  Kaily asked if Corbin could have one and he smiled with excitement as Clint unwrapped it.

He concentrated very hard to make sure he got the whole sucker.

Potatoes anyone?

I don't usually let Corbin feed himself, I'm a bit of a control freak about that.  We had mashed potatoes and he wouldn't let me feed him so I gave him his own little bowl of them.  Needless to say HE LOVED it!  It's been a while since I had seen such a messy little boy.

Visiting the past

I have a great Uncle who lives in ID and his home has always felt like a retreat to me.  It's surrounded by farm lands and is so quiet.  The place holds a lot of memories for me.  It is also close to the places his family has farmed for many years.  On this trip we explored those places.  I saw the place my grandmother grew up and the places my dad went as a kid to help on the farm, we saw the place my great grandfather and great grandmother lived when he passed.  I saw the towns and heard some the history of the area of houses, schools and people who have long been gone.  I wanted my children to see and hear of these people and places too, even though they are young and won't remember much of it.  I recorded it though and now we can look back on this and remember.  I wish I had gotten more than just video, but we'll go back to those places to get the pictures.

The trip wasn't just about exploring old town and seeing old houses though, it was a chance for my children to get to know their Great Aunt and Great Uncle.  A chance for me to share with them some of the most treasured memories I have.  We had so much fun riding on the 4-wheeler, when I was little it was horses we road, not a 4-wheeler.  We had smores,  played games, picked veggies out the garden, ate good food, listened to some great stories and just enjoyed being there.

Kaily's broken arm

On July 25th while we were at my parents house, Kaily was playing on their playground when I heard a scream.  I looked over and there was Kaily kneeling on the ground holding her arm.  "It's broken I know it!"  She yelled at me and whimpered.  I didn't think it was broken, she says things are broken all the time and they're not.  She's kind of a drama queen when it comes to pain.  The scream I heard just as easily could have been a scratch on the leg.  I looked at it, we iced it and then I told her I would watch it for swelling.  An hour or so later I ask if I can look at it again and it had started to swell a little, but now when I slightly touched it she tells me it hurts.  I call Clint and tell him we are on the way to the hospital.  The first x-ray shows two bones broke clean through but not separated, a buckle fracture.  They wrap it, say get it checked in 10 days for the cast and she will probably need to have it on for 6 weeks.  10 days later they x-ray it again, wrap it in a cast and say come back in 3 weeks.  Today we got the cast off.

All through this Kaily was amazing!  She hardly complained when it was broke, she did awesome at the hospital and when we asked her to elevate it she did.  She complained a little about the soft cast itching and having to have it in her sling, but since the hard cast was on she hasn't complained at all.  She forgets she can't do certain things with it on, but really this experience has been really good for her.  She has learned to draw with her left hand and to write with her left as well.  She loves to practice and does a great job!  She IS excited to get it off though so she can go swimming.  We had to cancel some swimming we had planed b/c of the cast, but now she can go.