Jett's birthday "party"

WATIKI WATER PARK IN RAPID... breaking news...

On December 30, 2009 Jett gets to take his friend, Tate, and his brother to Watiki for an early birthday celebration... what fun they had... swimming, sliding, floating on the lazy river and lots of junk food in the motel room! What a great way to celebrate EIGHT!!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY FIRST BORN.... JETT!!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Jesus is the reason for the season we always say! I am thanking to God for a fun Christmas Eve with my family. Christmas Traditions.... new and old....

4TH year in a row ...
GINGERBREAD HOUSE MAKING!!!! I still had to do the icing but
the boys did the rest by themselves!

3rd year in a row...
(Pretending to make) Gingerbread Men Cookies! Really,
I did most of it and they watched and argued!!!

Posing by the tree after Christmas Eve Church Service

AND here we are right before we get ready to eat our "new soup." Cory made Pintos and Barley Soup from scratch. We were in hopes that this soup would be so yummy we we have it be our new Christmas Eve meal tradition. It was very good and very healthy but we are thinking we need to perfect this recipe before we commit it to a new Tradition. (It just wasn't the same as the Pintos and Barley Soup we had at Sweet Tomatoes in Denver!)

Anyway, we are now waiting for the boys to go to sleep so we can "play Santa." I think they know better, especially Jett, but they like to play it up so they can "get a Santa Present!"

Our other new Tradition we started this year, thanks to Uncle Troy and Aunt Christi was
"Elf on a Shelf." This little Elf is so cute. He comes with a book that explains he will come out and appear somewhere around the house around the Holidays and every night he uses his magic to fly to Santa to report about how the kids are behaving, and reappears somewhere different in the house the next morning! Then, on Christmas Eve, he "stays with Santa until next year." Well, this year we only got a few days with this new member of our family, Weezer Random Neuharth, but he was fun! Although, Jett was very unsettled as we tried to explain how this Elf works. He was certain I moved him last night,,, but I wasn't lying when I said I didn't touch him, because Cory moved our little Weezer to a "new spot." HOW FUN!!!!

Well, I better get those Santa presents out and get myself to sleep!

Praying all of our friends and family have a very Merry Christ Filled Christmas!

What a memorable THANKSgiving!

Yep,,, we made some memories! We always do when we go to Colorado to see the French family! It is also, always interesting to see how two families totaling nine and half humans cohabitate in a three bedroom house. We actually do quite well I think. Little Myles, who is Oakley's age had to give up his room for our family. However, this time he had a neat little cot that he slept on, in his room with us! It was me and the boys for a sleepover,,, bunk beds, sleeping bags, a cot, three giggly boys and one snoring daddy! Myles has two little sister's, Maddi and Addy (I've posted about them all before) who taught us a lot about baby girl stuff! Cory got some lessons on how to change a wild 9 month with one agenda,,, getting up off her changing table! Cory also got a taste of some crying throughout the night as they were teething and just not sleeping well with all the extra chaos in the house! I for one was actually quite glad for him to get a realistic taste of what it is like to have a baby in the house!

Cory did quite well with the girls, who both took a likin' to him! Especially two year old Maddi who knew how to get her "Koweee's" attention! One time while riding in the car next to Maddi, Cory got a little back rub as she quietly whispered, "Koweee." And then the favor was returned last night as Maddi crawled up on his lap next to me and requested a cuddle and a back rub! Cory and I both enjoyed snuggling and rubbing her back before she went to bed last night!


We had a blessed THANKSgiving dinner with the French family! The weather was beautiful Thursday and Friday so the kids were able to run off some energy outside! Cory and I took the four oldest kids to the park before our Thanksgiving meal and the three boys spent most of Friday in the backyard getting full of fun and sand!

Yesterday (Saturday) we (Melissa, Cory and I) loaded up our "MSC" (many small children) in her Expedition and headed to north Denver to the Butterfly Pavilion! I must say, this is the perfect age to attend the "Butterfly Place." We saw so many unique insects, arachnids and of coarse butterflies! We even saw some baby stick bugs which made me sad and miss our three we had!





Well, we are home now, catching up on laundry and reminiscing about our wonderful THANKSgiving vacation in Colorado!

Oh BOY, OH Boys!!!!

Playing their new game, "Pass the Pigs" from cousin Evonna! They love it!

Here they are on a Sat morning, dressed up as little trolls! I don't really know what they were doing. They went around the house grunting at everyone and everything for about an hour... I guess they were taking "Three Little Billy Goats Gruff" (that I read them the night before) seriously!

happy Halloween to daddy's big deer!!!

Cory got his first Archery Deer Halloween night! He was extremely elated and so were the boys! After our Trick-or-Treating we rushed home to see the deer! The boys were excited to jump up in the back of the pickup and get their hands on the deer, even though they were still in costume! Needless to say, they were very proud of daddy shooting this old 5x5 whitetail deer with his bow and from almost 40 yards away. WAY TO GO HONEY!!!!

*** on a side note*** Those of you who know, cousin Matt Blakeman,,, doesn't Jett look just like him in this picture!?!?! :)

Happy Halloween!

The boys were very happy they got to go Trick-or-treating this year!!! We went into our

friends house to go around their neighborhood with them! We had a great time! Amanda, a fifth grader, was an excellent Trick-or-treating edict role model!

Oakley was David from the Bible story David and Goliath! He was very proud of his costume that mom and Grandma whipped up 30 minutes before we went out on the town!
TRICK OR TREAT!!!!!! THANK YOU!!!!

October Pumpkins!!!

The boys carved their pumpkins at our friends & neighbors last weekend! The Damberg's had a big pumpkin carving Fall Party! It was fun despite the rainy weather. All the kids went on a tractor hay ride in the rain. They had a blast! They drank lots of hot cocoa and then enjoyed carving their pumpkins. We were very proud of Jett who carved his own, all by himself! And Oakley was just amazed at how much "guts" came out of his pumpkin!

THIS was a SAD year that we didn't get to go to Ft Collins to visit the Pumpkin Patch with the French Family,,, as we have for many years previously but this party was a fun, and CLOSE to home alternative! We plan to go to see the Frenchies in Colorado for Thanksgiving! We will have so much to be thankful for!

Wierd illnesses,,,

Life's started getting crazy at 5am this morning... Oakley came upstairs, sick, throwing up every 2o minutes all morning. Unfortunately I had been awake since 4am, but who needs sleep? Cory stayed home with the Oakley while I took Jett to school and went to work. I spent most of my morning getting organized,,, "sub worthy organized!"

.... BACK tracking,,,,
three days ago I thought I had a scratch on my left jaw/cheek. It hurt pretty bad especially when I washed my face or touched it... the funny thing was there was no noticeable marks on my face in that area! Yesterday it started itching and was funny looking red mark, so I figured it was just a zit. BUT,,, today it itched and so after I SCRATCHED it, it hurt!! So, before I headed out at noon to relieve Cory from his "tending to a sick child duty," I had the school nurse check it out. She was concerned it was shingles! So, reluctantly I went to the Dr. and after two Dr's checked me out,,, they determined I have the start of shingles. WHAT!??! Crazy. So, now I am just praying the very expensive antiviral WORKS!!!

Oh and by the way, Oakley is just fine! He kept food down all day after I left!

Muffins with Mom at the Boys' School

Last week was "Muffins With Mom" at Black Hills Christian Academy! It's always a quick morning to rush in, eat a muffin, try chat with several other mothers and then rush to work but it's so worth it!!! The boys think it is so special!
Next will be Donuts with Dad!
:)
THANKS Tina for taking our picture!

A weekend to remember!

AHH,,, I am behind!!!
Two weekends ago, Oct 9-11 Cory and I went to the Family Life Weekend to Remember! It was a great weekend full of funny, real life and realistic information for married couples. It was a kid free, romantic weekend! It was unique that there was no opportunity to blame or complain to your spouse... but instead we were able to focus on ourselves. Very needed!

Now,,, the challenge is to keep up what we learned to help our marriage to prosper and to get our money's worth!

Here's my "take home notes"
1. we have to merge into "oneness" as God created
2. I must show Cory respect not matter what
3. I must accept Cory as the gift from God that he is
4. I need to get my priorities straight,,, God first, Cory second, the boys next and then others
5. I need to speak life and love into all 3 of my boys and not tear them down with my words

These are all pretty big goals to uphold! Another hard part is the fact that, when Cory isn't upholding his part, all I can do is PRAY!!!

ICE, ICE, BABY!!!

AHHHH! my back feels so much better on ice... too bad it doesn't feel good without the ice. I guess I have to live on an ice pack. Actually, I think I am going to give in and start physical therapy this week! Honestly, I don't want to spend the money and don't know when I will have the time but I don't feel like I have any other choice. I need to do something to save my sanity! I know I'm not the first one to figure out that dealing with chronic pain can make you very grouchy and really make you lose yourself! Honesty, I've been thinking a lot about Donnie and his back pain he had to deal with for years!!! It is no wonder he transformed into someone different than I married and then he turned to putting other substances into his body to get through the pain. Thinking of this sad situation makes my back almost hurt more! Now, tell me that isn't a head a game? I feel like I have to overcome and mentally beat this stupid back pain (that maybe is all 'in my head' but I gotta kick it!)
Okay, I am going to go to bed,,, on the ice pack! When I wake up, no matter how much my back hurts I am going to tell myself it doesn't hurt and I feel great! Lots of positive self talk and a phone call to the PT clinic for me tomorrow!

Sick???

So are we "reeeeaally sick?" Jett seemed very sick this morning. I was certain he couldn't go to school because he had a bad stomach ache, headache, backache and said he might throw up. I insisted Cory stay home with him, which he did. Cory texted me and said that he slept for 3 and half hours and then woke up fine... ready to eat and boy did he eat! He even felt like playing.

So, the whole time I was at work I was wishing I was the one home with Jett.

My back is K-I-L-L-I-N-G me, I had a pretty good headache all day, earache and my glands and throat are sore! I totally feel like I am coming down with something. However, since I ran out of sick days last year so I wasn't about to give any up this early in the game!

Anyway, hope we all can be healthy! Especially for Oakley's birthday party this Sat evening.

CHECK OUT THE INVITE:

HI, it’s Oakley Blakeman here and I want to invite you to my Swimming Birthday Party! (By the way, I am turning 6!!!)
Please don’t bring me presents! Instead bring as much money as you feel you can give to my cousins’ grandma, Evonna (Blakeman Schelling)! She was just told she has lung cancer. I want to help her be able to pay for her Dr. bills and go to a specialist. Evonna is the same age as my grandma and she has lots of grandchildren she likes to play with so I really want to help her.
PLEASE pray for Evonna and PLEASE come swim with me!

Here’s the details:
WHEN:
Saturday Oct. 3rd 4:50 -6:15 (We will swim for an hour and then we will have a birthday snack in the lobby!)
WHERE:
BELLE FOURCHE COMMUNITY CENTER POOL
WHAT TO BRING:
your swimsuit, towel and money for Evonna

Friday night sleepover!

I surprised the boys tonight! Cory picked them up from daycare and came home, while I went and picked up a friend for each of them on my way home from town. What a great surprise when I walked in the door with their friends and said, "Boys, I got you a surprise! Come check it out!" They were so excited that the boys got to stay the night! (Jett had Ethan and Oakley had Carson.)

They ate a yummy kid friendly supper that included mini corndogs and cookies (from Carson.) They played team sword fighting, where miraculously, no one got hurt. Then they watched, Journey to the Center of the Earth, played some more and went RIGHT TO SLEEP at 9:30! WoW, What a fun night and I am so happy they went to sleep! NOW, I better get to bed myself!

Here is a picture of us, right before bedtime, playing a game Carson brought! They had fun putting the sticks in my hair!

First day of school

Both the boys are going to Black Hills Christian Academy in Spearfish. This is the first year they have went to the same school. We are so blessed that they both have two amazing teachers who care deeply about their education! Jett is challenged to get caught up with private school curriculum but he is doing well. I am happy that he is getting lots of one-on-one attention. Oakley, is right at home with Mrs. Raad who he had last year for Pre-K. We are truly blessed that we can send them to BHCA where we know they are getting the best education!

First week!

What a week! I am tired! Let's see...
Jett's first day of second grade was Monday the 24th. All week he kept saying it was hard and he didn't like school but he wanted to go back the next day because he had fun chasing the snakes on the playground!
Oakley had a boring week at daycare! He starts Kindergarten Monday the 31st!~
My first day back to work was Monday. LONG boring in-services Monday and Tuesday. Thank God my aid came in Friday before to help me decorate the classroom! It looks pretty good! So, students started Wed. I have three returning students who have the majority of their classes in my room. I have one new girl. She's a sweetie. Then I am keeping tabs on three students I had last you but they are kiddos who have earned their way out of my room! GOOD kids!!!! So,,, all 8th graders and one 7th grader! The end of the week with students was very uneventful... easy. I almost fell asleep yesterday afternoon! It is just so quiet and calm in my room,,,,well FOR NOW! I will get paybacks this Spring! I've seen three of my old students who are now 9th graders! They look good and as naughty as remember them but honestly, I miss them!
I made it to the gym two days last week!!! Better than nothing I guess! I am feelin like a big blob so ya I gotta keep doing something! Thursday after school I took the boys to the waterpark! It was fun but a little windy! I actually swam some laps! Then we met Cory for supper at Perkins and later I went to give Walmart a hundred dollars!!! Last night, Friday, I was totally pooped so when we got home we pretty much did nothing!

Cory, he has been staying busy with work and doing little things around here. He has been able to go workout at the gym three days a week. He and Oakley went to an auction in town Tuesday night. Sounds like it was good quality "boy" time together, where they bought a pellet gun! Yeah, another gun around here! Just what we needed! Today Cory is out "scouting for deer." The boys want to go with him but they had to stay home this morning to get some cleaning done! They must really want to go with Daddy looking for deer because their cleaning is done already!

We have a birthday party to go to tomorrow after church and other than that I think I will just be relaxing and chilling most of the weekend! Gotta gear up for another week of school! I think there's only 31 weeks of school left!!!

NOT Me Monday???

HUH, it is Monday already!? I don't even know how another week went by! Where was I? Why is this summer going by so fast?! I can't even think of "Not me Monday's" Not because I am so perfect but because well, this week just went by so fast I really don't remember any of it!
> > > > > > > > >
Well, if I must confess,,, I will! This is more than brutally honest, it is just plain stupid! Yeah, stupid to put it on the Internet! You see, apparently my husband's boss reads my blog! Oh well, he just checks for "black mail pictures of Cory." I guess as long as MY BOSS doesn't read my blog I might be okay on this one! I wouldn't want him to read my blog because I complained all week to everyone I know. Yep, I whined that it is so stupid that we must have our classroom ready for SHOW Monday afternoon (the 24th) but don't get paid to get it set up and ready! Our first paid day is that day but we have meetings all day and then my favorite: Open House at 2!! What!? Are you kidding me? So, I will go into work later this week and WORK FOR FREE! I could pay daycare to watch my boys so I could get a lot done or I could just take my kids, save some money and drive everyone else crazy! Yeah, that's what I'll do,,, they all need to feel my pain that I can't afford to pay daycare when I'M NOT GETTING PAID! RIGHT??? Okay, now after I admitted all this, I say, "What? Who Me? I would never say that! Geez guys, don't ya know, I LOVE working for free!!!"

Actually I do pretty much "work for free" compared to WY teachers anyway, so I should be use to it right!?

Okay, with all this said, I really just needed about 2 more weeks! I'm just not ready for school to start yet but I will make it! I always do! I will be there and get it all done,,, somehow, someway it will happen!
POST your NOT ME MONDAY ASAP, and no, I'm not paying you to do it! YOU must do it for FREE and LIKE IT!!! GOT IT??? (come on Tina, you can participate this time!)

Not Me Monday on Tuesday!

This is something Stellan's mom started about being honest about all our imperfections! Let me tell you, I am so not perfect and this maybe a little hard to be this honest but I'm so glad my three blog readers will love me anyway!!! Okay, this could be fun! Here goes!!!

I didn't let my boys wear the same clothes two days in a row! No, I would never do that! I also didn't suck homemade frosting straight out of the baggie after decorating my hubby's birthday cake,,, and speaking of cake,,, I guess I can't say "I didn't" make him a protein pancake instead of a real birthday cake, since the pictures below prove it!
(Oh and a few weeks ago) I surely wouldn't forget my own mother's birthday! No, that's something I would never do! (sorry mom! I LOVE YOU!)
Speaking of birthdays,,, I also didn't point out to my two young boys, while in Walmart, what I want for my birthday! No, I would never rely on a 5 and 7 year old to inform their dad what I REALLY want for my birthday next month! BUT, if I had,, I think 20 reminders should do!
I also did not get on my scale twice a day for the last 5 days! NO, I would never play the "Scale mind game" with myself!
Lastly, I didn't FREAK out on my husband when he threw a grasshopper right in front of our salamander's face (after she had just ate a whole bunch already!) Therefore, I didn't spend all of my last waking hours last night praying for the salamander to be able to pass this disgusting grasshopper and not die!

Okay, now all three of my wonderful blog readers feel free to join me and keep Stellan's mom's fun game going! Post your "NOT ME MONDAY" on your own blog and/or on my comments! Also, check out Stellan's mom's blog and see her "Not Me Monday!"
NOW, have a GREAT TUESDAY!

Happy Birthday Daddy!

AHHH!!! BIRTHDAY FUN!!!

Cory turned 33 yesterday! AND Wow, what kind of birthday cake is that, you may ask!

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This is a Protein Pancake with yummy (unhealthy frosting.)

Will he eat it???

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He actually seemed to enjoy it for a fun treat as he got ready to go out to supper!

Cory and I got away to have a late supper with his friend, Justen, at the Chophouse in Spearfish! It was super yummy and fun to get out although we were pretty tired when we got home!

So,,, Here is Cory's "fun" sorta- gag gift! I couldn't resist and can't wait to see him in these Superman undies!!! He's MY SUPERMAN!!!

Here he is concentrating on his card I got him!
I thought it was a pretty neat card because
it talked about how God picked us out for each other!
And... how blessed I am to have such a wonderful husband!

So true, so true!!!

Ok, now this may sound like I am buttering him up since he does read my blog sometimes but seriously,,, I think he is the most handsome man in the world and no one compares to him!

I LOVE YOU CORY!

Successful feeding!

Well, First HAPPY 33rd Birthday to my sweet, hunky husband! I LOVE EM! and...
I MUST STAND CORRECTED,,, THE WILD ANIMALS ARE STILL ALIVE AND SO FAR SO GOOD!!! So, maybe mommy just needed a lesson on how to take feeding a lil animal seriously!

The cricket adventure was worth it! The salamander ate 3 crickets and the frogs all ate one too! It was really fun to watch them eat! What good little pets! They will even eat right out of Jett's hand! So, we will feed them another cricket today. Boy, at this rate we are going to have to make another trip to Rapid just for crickets!

surgery, reptiles and amphibians

I'm over due for a new update! darn Facebook is consuming me!
okay, well, lets see...



Jett's surgery (putting his boy parts into place on July27th) went very well! His heart was slow (around 40bpm) but he did just fine! Jett goes back the Dr. Wed (9 days post-op) to get the bandages off and see if he gets some restrictions lifted! Oh and he is now just complaining about the itching,,, so it must be healing!

The horses are fine. Tell, the borrowed, brown horse, who didn't actually go home, is okay. His leg doesn't look great but he isn't limping on it and so we have been able to ride him again. Peco's the black kids horse is feeling his green grass and seems to have a little too much "get-up-and-go" for me to trust him. Therefore, when Oakley and I went riding last week I kept Pecos on a lead rope! We had fun and Oakley even stayed on while we trotted for a ways! However, due to his surgery Jett's a little behind on the horse riding lessons!

We just got back from Burke, SD for the weekend. It was Cory's 15 year HS reunion, town party, parade and seeing family! We stayed with Cory's mom, Sharon. We had a great time. Grandma Sharon, bless her heart, watched the boys both nights so we could go to the class of 94 suppers and street dance. Grandma did a great job watching them except she let them catch and "keep" a gardner snake! YIKES! luckily it got out of the box they put it in! Everyone commented on how our boys are "ALL BOY!"
So, this morning, to further the "All boy" title they caught a baby salamander under my water tank and some little frogs. All morning they have been busy trying to make a "habitat" for their new "pets!" (Which sad for them, but we know these new pets will be dead soon!) The boys collected all kinds of bugs and worms and made a neat hide-a-way with rocks and mud! So, lots of summer fun and even some lessons on wild animals in captivity never live! AGH! I am thinking we will make a stop by the pet store for real crickets on Wed, when we go to town, that is if anything is still alive!

Bummed---

Well, long story short. The horse Stacey brought over for me to ride is headed home tomorrow because he hurt his leg. I have NO CLUE what he did but he started limping Tuesday and by yesterday he was not wanting to put any weight on it. I got bute (horsie pain killer/anti-inflam) and wrapped it. So, four days after the first signs of his lame leg he started swelling up today and looking like something more serious could be wrong. Therefore, the Thars are coming to get him tomorrow! I know I didn't do anything to cause this and it isn't my fault but nonetheless I feel awful!!! I think I should have taken him to the Vet yesterday but Stacey's husband said to wait and see if he gets better. I just need prayer that he will be okay and so will my sad heart!

Next, I am bummed about my old Sadie, I know the time is getting close! I was going to put her down this week but I just couldn't do it! I've cried while petting her a lot the last few days! I think I will be okay if she goes naturally but I just can't "kill" my dog!

NEED Pray for my heart for my animals!

Who loves horses? how 'bout free horses!?

THANKS to Stacey Thar (and her family) for bringing us horses to borrow/try out for the rest of the summer!


Stacey and Oakley on Tell!




The boys on Pecos!

Reminders...

Jett's, Blakeman Cousin, Stephanie left me a response that reminded me how many things poor Donnie had going on... Donnie really had a lot health stuff... it seemed like one thing after another. I just hope Jett isn't trying to follow in his father's footsteps, when it comes to health issues! I still keep thinking it could be worse so we are OKAY! So, Jett had to get glasses (so what, lots of kids have glasses) he has to get a little surgery on his testicles,,, (so what! this Dr has done over 1000 of those surgeries on young men) and to what extent he may have inherited his father's heart condition,,, we don't know yet. So now,,, I pray Jett doesn't inherit anymore of Donnie's issues: Poor Donnie had gout in his left foot (really bad!), he had a deviated septum in his nose which required a "nose job." Donnie had AWFUL wisdom teeth that required him to have a 2 hour surgery and then lots of complications after the teeth were removed! Donnie had minor spinal bifida which resulted in a back injury and MAJOR back pain from age 22 on... It's no wonder poor Buzz had a little addiction problem to cover up all the pain!
My prayer is that, all the boys will inherit from Donnie will be his fun loving attitude, his ability to LOVE more than any body I know and his love for Jesus! (I miss him but after reading this I am glad he is in heaven,,, pain FREE!)

poor Jett gets some more,,,

Another Dr. appt and not great news (again). Jett went to Dr. Butz (urologist) today and the good news was,,, it is NOT life threatening!!
Jett has a surgery scheduled for Monday July 27th in Rapid to get his left testicle to drop down. It is important to do this, or it might not be viable. We will have to consult with the cardiologist prior to the surgery! Poor little boy is pretty nervous about the surgery. He is also "feeling more" arrhythmia's lately but that might be because we have been talking about his heart stuff after going to the heart Dr. just two days ago!
We prayed tonight for God to put all our minds at ease that He will take care of little Jett in every way! GOD IS GOOD, and GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME!!!!

Dr. Spangler visit

Dr. Spangler is our new Ped-cardiologist in Rapid. Our last one, Dr Washington, from Denver retired and as luck would have it, Dr. Spangler is working towards retirement as well! AGH! anyway, he seemed to take Jett's Arrhythmia a little more seriously probably because he KNOWS the Blakeman family heart history and seems to be a little more cautious. Anyway, after the echo and EKG Dr. Spangler has a few little findings to discuss with me. He said the arrhythmia is probably a "sick SA node" just like his dad had... and is nothing to worry about at this time. He found: low heart rate (down to 50-60bpm), low blood pressure in the left lung and a hole (and I forgot where he said it was) somewhere in the heart that was slightly larger than it should be. Anyway, he said with all of these little findings and Jett's 50/50 chance of genetically having IHSS,,, he probably does. IHSS is a thickening of a muscle in the heart and can be very fatal, but doesn't start showing up until the teen years. Anyway, Dr Spangler said, treat him like a normal little kid who can run and play with the wild bunch but NO weightlifting, wrestling or football! SO, I think we can handle that.
Worse case, is later in life he will need a pacemaker-defibrillator (which can be a total pain and very uncomfortable when they shock your heart on accident!) So,,, I will pray everyday, that God will just take care of his little heart as it grows and keep that worse case senario from happening! But, as we know, from other's who have little heart babies, it is all God's Will and we will all be okay with the strength of the Lord, no matter what happens!

OH and if you were wondering, Oakley was not seen by Dr. Spangler this year, but will need a heart check next summer. So far Oakley doesn't have any arrhythmias or concerns. Praise God!

plans for this week!

It really feels like we have a busy week coming up but I have to remember I am off for the summer so we have ALL DAY!
Jett has two appts this week in Rapid. A cardiology check up Tuesday and a urology checkup Thursday. So, we will incorporate a "cheap-seats" movie and a trip to Sam's Club!
My little brother is up Tuesday morning in the Belle Rodeo, 9 am slack so we will check that out before we head to Rapid!
Oh and I have a dentist appt Thursday morning.
I hope to take the boys to the water park Wed at noon! (anyone want to join us???)
We need to help out with the Black Hills Christian Academy 4th of July Float and the boys will ride on the float Sat morning!
I'm sure we will take the kids to the carnival Sat afternoon and watch the fireworks. Maybe I will be brave enough to let them get sparklers this year!

OH Man,,, is it really the week of the 4th???
reminiscing in my mind, I met Donnie, Sat the 4th, thirteen years ago!!! WOW, boy how things have changed!
Well, let me be the first to say,,, Happy Fourth of July!

Home Sweet Home and more Yellowstone!

Ah at last we are home,,, it is so great to be home but what an amazing trip. A little bickering and two little boys who had selective hearing but, overall it was a great time! We made some awesome memories.
Here are a few more visual memories:



Indian Pond Trail,,, don't worry
Daddy had the Bear Spray!

Same Hike by Yellowstone Lake

Good 'Ol Mr. Beaver... sweet as can be!

At Old Faithful by a little geyser

One of the many bison we saw while in the Park!

Family Summer Vacation

June 2oo9 Yellowstone National Park Trip: June 21-27

This is Cory our fearless leader, trying to hurry through "a bear area" hike on Indian Pond Trail that led us along the Yellowstone Lake! Once we got out of the bear area we were really enjoying this almost 3 mile hike! The boys did great! We saw Yellow-bellied Marmots (rock chucks), a REALLY cool beaver that was pretty much showing off for us and a huge bison that was in the trail!! Yeah, we walked around him,,, WAY around!

Jett,squinting his eyes in the sun, trying to pose by "his" geyser! "Jet Geyser" that looked all dried up but nonetheless, it was "his geyser!"

Posing at the bottom of the "Grand Canyon of Yellowstone" next to the Yellowstone river at the Lower Falls! AMAZING!!!!! and that hill was a lot bigger coming up but the boys came flying right up it,,, like they'd been hiking 1ok's.

The boys found Yellowstone on this cool floor map at the Buffalo Bill Cody Museum. They LOVED the animal section of this mesuem,,, I highly recommend it if you are in Cody, WY!!! 0