little buckaroo

the thrill of the ride

intent on staying on

8 seconds is not long enough

the PBR never had a braver champion

Ty Murray who?

you can make anything with tinker toys

Bayli finished her latest creation and said, "mom, I made a hooker maker!"

Mom: "a what?"

Bayli: "you know a hooker maker."

Mom: "a hooker maker?"

Bayli: "yes, it makes hookers."

Mom: "oh, a hooker maker!!???"

everyone an organ donor

My heart is full. My wonderful friend Mindi has a friend who's daughter has been waiting for a liver transplant (I hope that wasn't too confusing). Mindi had encouraged me to follow Lulu's story a few months back.

I have never met Lulu or her mommy, but somehow, I feel like I have known them forever. Her mom is a very inspirational writer about the struggles of being a mother with a sick baby. Keeping positive and always making it known that things are in God's hands. I tear up on almost every post she writes, mostly because she touches my heart and inspires me to think of things in a Heavenly perspective. But also for her wonderful endeavors in reaching out to others who are suffering. I am sure that she could rally the troops for anyone's cause.

I remember back in January, Mindi called me the day after Lulu received her transplant. I was overwhelmed with joy.

In a heartwarming story, Lulu's family was able to meet the donors family. When I read about this family's experience with organ donation, I thought my heart would explode.

When I had to stand in line at the DMV last week, and yes the stories are true about how long the wait is with the new changes, I checked my forms at least five times to make sure that I had checked 'yes' in the box to be an organ donor.
Not only should you check that little box, but you should make it known to your family. I have seen way too many families go against their dying family members wishes to donate. Because ultimately, your family is the deciding factor when those awful decisions have to be made and you aren't able to speak up.

Be a donor and save a life or two or three or more.

honey-do-budget

budgets stink! especially when your budget gets cut in half and you are left with the smaller half. though we are nervously excited for the future, we can't help but stress about our budget. jed is, and has always been, very meticulous when it comes to our money. a very great quality, though annoying at times. fortunately, his ability to save has allowed us the opportunity for the changes we are currently undergoing.

with an extra body on the way, and an almost two year old, we have had to start looking for an additional bed. i have been scouring ksl classifieds for months looking for the perfect bed for my little guy. i know that there are beds out there for a great price, but i am still extremely picky. i know that if i keep waiting i will find the perfect bed. something that will last and is a beautiful piece at the same time. my problem is that i am in love with pottery barn. which is way overpriced even when my budget is at its high. you can find used pieces for a third of the price or less, they just tend to sell faster than i can get a hold of them. my dream bed for chase retails for $750, not including the mattress-YOUZAH!!!
the other issue we keep running into, is that we feel bad that we have never bought bayli a new bed. she inherited my old daybed. yes, it pretty much is the same one that all the girls growing up in the 80's probably had. the lovely white metal frame molded into heart shapes with hideous gold knobs.
she isn't bothered by it one bit, but we are.

now that the hunt has become a little more intense, jed is starting to look too. if you know jed, quality and price are his leading factors. so after he scoured through the few beds that were possibilities, he came up with a brilliant idea. "why don't i just make them?" at first, i was hesitant with his idea. he is extremely stressed and strapped for time with the new business. plus, will they end up costing more than a used find? but, then i thought, this is jed. he has proven time and again that he can make something beautiful on a lean budget. also, his quality of work will prove to be even better.

his next brilliant idea was "why not make three." he just keeps finding ways to make his honey-do-list increase in size.
get to work honey, times a wasting!

oh and honey, while you're at it, do you think that you can make one of these for way less than $1700? i know that your grandma won't mind.

the land of nod

chase is a very light sleeper. if we check on him when he is napping, he will wake up. ultimately, chase does not get checked on until we hear screaming or banging on the wall. a very hard thing to do when you want to see him in moments of silence and peace. and even harder when he is sick and you want to be assured he is alive. we undertake loads of finger crossing and silent prayers.

i was lucky a few weeks ago. able to capture the moment. evidence that he truly does sleep.

chase was sick. i was in the cavernous depths of one of my worst days of morning all day sickness.
i wanted to stay in bed. bayli was stationed in front of the television crafting (don't judge).
chase was exhausted but wanted to lie next to me, read, and listen to music. we read for a good 45 minutes. chase trying to fight off head nods and the urge to snuggle into the pillow. i, unwillingly, had to fight as well. "mommy bawk (book)." until the beckonings of sleep were too great. and i watched as my little guy had a few last flickers of his long lashes. i think that it was one of my most memorable moments as a mother. i actually was able to watch him fall asleep.
it was like one of those nature shows, revelations of rare events, months and months of patiently waiting.

it was simply magical.
the event was enhanced with lovely whisperings of Carla Bruni's Quelqu'un M'a Dit playing in the background.
my little guy will probably be swept off his feet by a lovely french girl.

soup kitchen

one bowl.
one spoon.
one starving little guy.

15 minutes standing in line,
seems like an eternity.

friends forever

it's funny the things you think about as you watch your children grow.
you watch them undergo challenges, holding yourself back against the urge to take their little hand and help them.
you find yourself feeling left behind as those challenges become easier and they charge forward.

when i was growing up, i was lucky to have a sister 2 years older than me. i'm sure that it was harder being the big sister. she was left in charge of entertaining me. sometimes i felt as though she was put out by having to take me along to a friends, the little sister that was always in the way. but most of the time, my sister supported me, took my hand, and lead the way. she was always eager to teach me things that were now easier for her.

being the little sister, i was excited and eager to be with her. she knew so many things. she was so grown up. she had cool friends. she was nice to me. she supported me. i considered her my best friend.

i always wondered why my mom would make her let me tag along with her. was it because she wanted me out of her hair? probably, at least partly. was it because she didn't want to arrange a play date with someone my own age? maybe, although there were very few kids my age. was it a cave in to the fit i was throwing? another big probably.

i pondered why, as i grew, as i began my own family. why did my mom encourage my sister to take me along?
now that i have two children, i can see why.
unlike my relationship with my sister, my children are over three years apart. they have obvious differences, boy vs girl. they do not share a room as my sister and i did. they do not share the same toys.
although they have distinct differences, they still need the encouragement to be together and build a relationship.

when chase was younger, crawling and putting everything in his mouth, we grew accustomed to bayli's door always being closed. now, she still tries to keep him out. placing chairs behind the door. screaming, yelling, and slamming doors to keep him away. yet chase, through his tears and heartache, still tries to break into her personal space. he loves her kitchen and polly pockets. he loves to sit on her big bed and little chairs. he loves to follow and be with her.

it has been a hard transition for bayli, to let him into her room/world. to share her big kid/girly toys with him. and there is still a long road ahead. but, i am determined to make their relationship grow. to see her teach and lead him. to encourage a friendship to last all time.

my mom was a little sister once too. she has a sister that she has a wonderful relationship with. she knows the bonds that come with hard work and encouragement. the lasting friendship and reward. she taught it to me and my sister.
now i must teach it to my children. one step at a time.

the top 10 goings on when you are puking your guts out & feel like #$%@

1) the christmas decor stays up for...months, or in a pile at the top of the stairs

2) the house is dirty and no one cares but dad

3) the kids eat more processed foods than ever in their life

4) you can sit in front of the tube and watch overhaulin all day long

5) pajamas for day wear, likewise for night (for the entire family)

6) the only way the phone and door get answered, is if bayli does it

7) just when you think you are going to have a better day, your body reminds you that it is in charge

8) dad becomes mr. mom (but still has to carry on his role as dad and bread winner)

9) chase starts crying out "daddy" when he needs something

10) chase growls and spits into the toilet bowl trying to imitate you

trouble to the next level

just once of watching his sister do it, and he follows suit.

used car dealership

one ride just isn't enough.



now, which one to take out for a spin first?