Janet and Mike's Wedding

Payton with Jared's friend that has a brain tumor too, they watched a baseball game together.

Taylor, Kinsey, Payton, Alica, and Tate

Janet and Mike.

Tator.

Payton

A little somethin' for the newlyweds.

Cohen.

Jess and Tess

We went to CA for Jared's Mom's wedding. We had a great time. Payton didn't feel that well but he still managed to muster up the energy to play hard. They kids looked so cute. Janet looked beautiful. The reception was fun despite having the kids play at the ranch in dress clothes. They actually didn't get as dirty as I thought. One of my nephews did manage to get spray painted by another cousin, and my niece basically destroyed her dress. We had a great time and it was so much fun seeing cousins and family.

I was able to connect with one of my best friends from High school. She saved my life by watched my kids plus 10 others during the wedding. Thanks Jessica, you're a life savor. It was soooooo good to see her. I wish there was more time.

(ps. I updated Payton's caring bridge site)

Sunshine in Washington? Really, there was!

We were able to have multiple beautiful days. It was very much needed. We mowed the lawn, cleaned up the yard, played, ate Popsicles, went to the park, planted some trees, even put the sprinkler under the trampoline. It was great. I just hope it returns soon.

Easter 2009

(I was forwarded this email and had to post it! I just like the ladies response, it's not to snub anyone who does work outside the home.)

JUST A MOM?

A woman, renewing her driver's license at the County Clerk 's office,
was asked by the woman recorder to state her occupation.

She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself.

'What I mean is, ' explained the recorder,
'do you have a job or are you just a ...?'

'Of course I have a job,' snapped the woman.

'I'm a Mom.'

'We don't list 'Mom' as an occupation,
'housewife' covers it,'
Said the recorder emphatically.


I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself
in the same situation, this time at our own Town Hall.
The Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised,
efficient, and possessed of a high sounding title like,
'Official Interrogator' or 'Town Registrar.'

'What is your occupation?' she probed..

What made me say it? I do not know.
The words simply popped out.
'I'm a Research Associate in the field of
Child Development and Human Relations.'

The clerk paused, ball-point pen frozen in midair and
looked up as though she had not heard right.

I repeated the title slowly emphasizing the most significant words.
Then I stared with wonder as my pronouncement was written,
in bold, black ink on the official questionnaire.

'Might I ask,' said the clerk with new interest,
'just what you do in your field?'

Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice,
I heard myself reply,
'I have a continuing program of research,

In the laboratory and in the field,
(normally I would have said indoors and out).
I'm working for my Masters, (first the Lord and then the whole family)
and already have four credits (all daughters).
Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities,
(any mother care to disagree?)
and I often work 14 hours a day, (24 is more like it).
But the job is more challenging than most run-of-the-mill careers
and the rewards are more of a satisfaction rather than just money.'

There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk's voice as she
completed the form, stood up, and personally ushered me to the door.

As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up by my glamorous new career,
I was greeted by my lab assistants -- ages 13, 7, and 3.
Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model,
(a 6 month old baby) in the child development program,
testing out a new vocal pattern.
I felt I had scored a beat on bureaucracy!
And I had gone on the official records as someone more
distinguished and indispensable to mankind than 'just another Mom.'
Motherhood!

What a glorious career!
Especially when there's a title on the door.
Does this make grandmothers
'Senior Research Associates in the field of Child Development and HumanRelations'
And great grandmothers
'Executive Senior Research Associates?'
I think so!!!
I also think it makes Aunts
'Associate Research Assistants.'

My assistants busy working on the details of their next project.

My buddy and Me!

I love this picture. They are already great friends. If Cohen is close to her he "kisses" her, aka slime until she drips. If Cohen cries, which is rarely, she will start crying too. I hope it continues.

Day one of I.V. chemo...accomplished!

So, this isn't the greatest video but the purpose is to ease any troubled minds wondering if Payton is doing ok. Before I started filming Tessa was laughing hysterically but, of course, stopped once I got there. I could help but laugh at this video and the thought of what his body is going through then to act like nothing is going on is amazing to me. (He is always cold so that is why he has his jacket on with his PJ's).

By the way, he is doing great. If you want to check the journal entry for today on the caring bridge link (to the left) it will give you more details. I am too lazy to write it again.

"Poop Rocket" and update on the kids!

Payton found the magical giggle words for Cohen. I tried to have Payton say something more "socially acceptable" but it didn't have the same outcome as "POOP ROCKET"!

Cohen and Tessa are growing so fast. They are now 6 months!!! Tess is the busy-body and doesn't stop wiggling from the moment she wakes up. Cohen goes with the flow. He is sooooo easy going and hardly makes a peep, Tessa is either happy or really ticked off, there isn't an in between. She is rolling over both ways and scoots on her head. She arches her back, tips her head and pushes really hard with her feet and would go across the room if we'd let her. Cohen...well.... he just lays there with his arms out and smiles. He is really good at that. They both love food and Cohen is definately the bigger eater except anything green makes him gagg. Tessa loves the green stuff. They are complete opposites is MANY ways.
Tate is totally potty trained. He doesn't even wet at night or nap time. He just started over Christmas while we were snowed in. I wasn't totally ready for the whole potty training routine but he did it all on his own. Looking back I see it as a blessing in disguise. Now with a lot of the attention going to Payton I don't know when I would have gotten to it. He still is having major anxiety over doing "the duty". He starts running around in circles in a total panic, flapping his arms and crying. I have to pick him up and put him on the pot and let nature take control. He fights it as long as possible (usually a day or so).

Payton is doing great. His incision is healing really well and is hardly noticeable now that Payton picked the scab off. He has been having a really hard time sleeping since he came home from the hospital after his craniotomy. He worries about when the next doctor appointment is and is anxious about having his "power port" put in on Monday. I hesitate to ask for a med to put him on to help him sleep because I really don't want anymore drugs and aweful chemicals in his little body. Maybe his chemo will make him tired enough to help him sleep.

I don't know if anyone noticed but I added a link to a Caring Bridge site on the side of this blog. It is a site to keep everyone in the loop on his treatments and how he is doing. You can leave notes on the guestbook and I will read them to him. It is a great way for him to know people are thinking about him. They definately make him smile!!!
(Cohen chewing on his "potty word finger")

Doing great!

Payton is home and is impossible to keep him from acting "normal". We rented LEGO Batman for the Wii to try to glue him to the stool but he can't do it. We have to constantly get after him...NO WRESTLING, NO RUNNING, NO JUMPING, PAYTON DON'T DO THIS, DON'T DO THAT. I don't know who started the rumor that adults were stronger then kids because I don't see it. The hardest part is trying to get all the sticky's off him. He doesn't want anything to do with that. We meet with two different Oncologist's next week so we HOPEFULLY will know what our next step is. Thanks to everyone for meals, prayer, gifts, phone calls, and love for our family. We can't do it without you.

Payton...my hero!!!

I can't begin to express how much I love my little man. He is the best big brother to his siblings and is an amazing example of courage to everyone around him. I don't know how such a big heart could fit into a little body. I love this picture of him before surgery. One last picture of his flawless face.

Payton wanted Indiana Jones figures for being brave. This is him still very much out of it but showing them off. His incision goes from his left ear to above his right eye. It looks kind of gruesome now but it will hardly be noticeable soon. He is recovering incredibly well and being so tough. The next step is to meet with the Oncologist to see when we start chemo/radiation and for how long. We hope and pray that his tumor will respond to the treatment so he can function as he does now and just adjust to the loss of sight in his left eye. We will have to take this one step at a time and will always be on guard. He will be battling this for the rest of his life and just hope we can stay ahead of it.

Thank you everyone for your prayers. They have been answered in so many different ways. We are blessed beyond measure. We love you all and thanks a million times over.

Cohen, Cohen, Cohen!

Cohen is so cute! If he is anywhere near his sister he has to touch her. Today she was sucking on his arm and he just gradually oozed into her. If you noticed, he has her hand on her head in our Christmas photo too. He is such a good baby. He is MEL-O! He just kind of hangs out and is a big time chatter box. He is was 17 pounds at his 4 month check, Tess was 14 pounds 10 oz. He is 5 inches taller and he was the smallest boy and is now the largest. I have to be careful not to squeeze him to death because he is like a supper squishy buttery teddy bear.

TO PIERCE or NOT to PIERCE?

PIERCE!
2 weeks ago we decided to get Tessa's ears pierced and I am so glad we did. She looks sooooo cute. I think we are more for it since she is a twin and to try and make it as easy as possible for people to tell them apart. Yes, I know one is a girl and one is a boy but there are a whole lot of people out there that ask REALLY dumb questions especially when it comes to twins. Can I tell you how tired I am of hearing "oh my, you have your hands full"! Really? Do I? And NO, they are NOT identical if anyone was wondering.

I was told that babies can't feel the pierce before they are 4 months old. I don't know if I believe it. She cried pretty hard. It could have been the sound of the piercing gun because she didn't flinch on the second ear but she was screaming. I do love it. I'd do it again.

The Kiddie's Christmas

I think 99% of the people in this world did this gingerbread house from good old Costco. I don't know about anyone else, but I love it. It was very easy and came with plenty of candy.

The best I could do in the 2 minutes I had before church. I wasn't able to find an outfit for Tessa's other twin (her massive double chin) since her dress was a hand-me-down (thanks everyone for all the clothes).

Cohen and Tess in their BUMBO's. They are getting huge!

Kiddie's in their new Christmas Eve pajamas. Once again, best I could do. Nobody likes to look at the camera, let alone smile at it, at the same time.

More Snow?!?!

The playhouse was even filled with snow since I haven't added the shutters yet.

We actually have two steps up to the house that you can't see. There was about a foot of snow against out door.

This is one of the snow drifts that was about 4 1/2 feet high and 15 feet long. Jared and Payton made it into a snow cave.

We ended up having about 17" of snow during Christmas. It was a great change from the rain. There was one or two days that were blizzard conditions that created really cool snow drifts throughout our yard. One made the PERFECT sledding hill. I really miss it but wish people in Washington and Oregon knew how to drive in it.

Let it snow!

It has been snowing off and on all week and we are loving every minute of it. We have been sledding, having lots of snowball fights, and building snowmen with Grandpa. Payton and Tate are awesome on the sled. Tate has no problem dragging the sled up the stairs and going down the hill without any help. He doesn't even seem to be phased by the cold. Jared built a jump and Payton was getting pretty good air off it. Today he was standing on the sled riding it down like a snowboard and was staying up for a good amount of time. I really hope it stays for Christmas. Last year we were lucky enough to have a white Christmas, I hope this year we are equally as lucky.

The Chosen One. 2008

For the past 3 year we go up the road about a mile to the tree farm to find "the chosen one". It was pretty cold on Friday so I suited up the babies extra snug. Tessa's coat thing was way too big for her. I had to unzip it a little so she could breath. She look just like the kid in Christmas story but in all pink. I put her in the back pack and had to tuck her arms in. We checked on her every few minutes to make sure she was alive. Cohen didn't seem to have any problem. Maybe since he is 3-4 pounds bigger then his sister.

Jared must have been inspired because he walked straight to the tree we chose. We are usually there AT LEAST an hour but this time in was MAYBE 5 minutes. There is nothing like the smell of a freshly cut tree in your home at Christmas time. We considered a fake, but can't part with the amazing smell of a fresh tree. The big boys then enjoyed their usual candy cane and hot chocolate by the fire while they wrapped the tree for us.