Just MY Luck...

My day did not start out so great since my car battery was DEAD! I left the back hatch open AGAIN and the battery died AGAIN so it was completely my fault but still...suck! Once I called my good friends over at AAA to have them come jump it, I got into a better mood by blasting my radio and listening to another one of my favorite CD's...Imogen Heap. I have to be all smiles today because........

.....iiiiiit's baaaaack! You have no idea how happy I am and my anxieties even began again as I was watching it last night! The only thing that still causes hurt in my heart is the lack of Charlie!!! But we will see what the night brings-----

* in the mountains

Utah does have the "Greatest Snow on Earth" but there should be a side note to that which states *in the mountains, not on the roads! It is never a fun thing to drive in especially when you have NO IDEA what the OTHER person, in the OTHER car is going to do! I saw so many near fatal collisions yesterday! However, I do LOVE and do WANT one of these license plates for my car!

PS -- MELT MELT MELT WARM WARM WARM SUN SUN SUN SUMMER SUMMER SUMMER :)

Making Leaps and Bounds...OK...Just Leaps!

First of all I have to express my strong dislike for the indoor playgrounds that they have at the many Fast Food restaurants around town. I am one of those mean Mom's who will not take their kids to "play inside" but I made an exception. The reason for last night's exhaustion was our "Carl's Jr Adventure" to the "inside"! After my feelings of guilt, I decided to give in and they had a blast! I had to breath deep for a while and completely ignore the "ming rat's" that were running in and out but I actually had fun too! But don't worry...as soon as we got home, they went straight to the bath! :)
Also, look how cute my brother is! He is having such a great time in Spain that I am worried he'll never come back! From his blog, it looks like he is with a group of kids that will create some "good times"!

Made Up For It...

Kindra came into my room to find her very exhausted Mother reading, sprawled out across the bed. I rolled my eyes...now what?!? "Mom, can I talk to you for a minute", she asked? "Yes", I said back. Kindra smiled and gave me a big hug and a "I love you, Mom". She smiled again and ran back to her room! Fine...Ka Pow!....That's proof that I must not be too bad! wink wink
I love you both too, C and K!

I Just Got Called Out...

I need to think out loud for a minute this morning so bare with me... Carter's class is going swimming today for their field trip and I was not able to go which was the first thing that made me feel like a horrible parent today. I wanted to go but was not able to make it work. I was upset about it and called my Mom to get some reassuring comfort...but not so much...Instead I was called out on my lack of not thinking the way that a parent should! I allowed Carter to pick which swim suit he wanted to wear and the towel that he took. I made sure that I did not forget anything so as to not ruin his anticipated swim day! So as I was looking for a pat on the back, instead I was questioned on how in the world I could send him with a "pink" towel?!? "That is just asking for trouble and for him to get made fun of". As I picked up what she was putting down I realized that it was a very good question and I did not have a very good response. She was kind of right...how could I have done that? Different parenting perspectives I guess?!? I feel so overwhelmed at moments like this. I try to do it all and do it all right but I have a hard time doing it. I think like someone who is trying to be mature and someone who could give a shiz less what color your *#*&(^# towel is but still...come on Katie, think!

You Will Be Happy To Know....

I have not always hated the snow but have learned to do so because of how difficult it makes my life now. In my mind, it makes no sense when I do not get to enjoy the benefits of it like I used to. It took me 2 hours to get to work yesterday and I just laughed because what else could I do! But you will be happy to know that my outlook has changed a bit since my new found challenge...the adventures of the mono ski. It will make it more bearable to deal with! I will say, however, that it was gorgeous last night and early this morning with the newly fallen white snow covering everything and making it all look so frail and naive in a beautiful way. I love when the sky looks like it did last night...cloudy, a pinkish light color, reflective, innocent, and quiet. These descriptions may not make sense to anyone else but they describe the thoughts that come to mind. Bottom line is...You will be happy to know that my attitude is a bit more positive!

She Eggs It ON...ALWAYS!

Ok first off...these pictures make our basement look like a trash hole but I promise that it really is not! The pool table...my family will not let me get rid of because it will always be part of the basement because of our childhood memories....And see those box's?...they are a "race car" and a "horse". I had a flashback of when our family moved to Toronto and our house was full of moving boxes. We made them into "things", sat in them and pushed each other down the stairs! I know...so stupid, crazy, and dangerous but so fun! Anyway, I was a little immature the other day and talked Carter into doing it. As soon as he got to the top of the stairs and looked down, he was very hesitant. I was at the bottom of the stairs waiting to catch him and Kindra was at the top behind him. She got that laugh, that "devilish" laugh that she gets when she is about to be naughty and she pushed him! You should have seen Carter's face but as soon as he got to the bottom, he was "bustin" out his addicting laugh! When I asked him if he wanted to do it again, he quickly said no! :) When I asked Kindra if she was ready to do it, out came a quick no again! It was funny and at least I got a good laugh at my poor kids expense!?! :) Last night I told the kids that we could play "Thankful Soccer" for FHE. I am trying to stay on top of it so I had to come up with a fun lesson?!? Telling us something they are thankful for and then they get a kick. A struggle I know but a good attempt for me....hehehe....

Kindra of course was teasing Carter and egging him on so that she could get him to laugh and she did....hysterically!
I love to watch them play and laugh together! Carter even said that he was thankful for his best friend Kindra. I love it!

If you know Kindra, then you can tell by this picture that she is trying to say something just to get Carter to laugh and you can see that it is working! She is such a junior Katie devil! Oh boy!
...still laughing at Kindra who just eats it all up and loves every minute of it! Nights like last night are so fun because I love to hear my kids laughing, playing, and having fun...together! It is your family who will always be there for you no matter what happens and they love you unconditionally! I want a HOME not a HOUSE and I know that laughter helps that to happen!

A Sleepover at Aunt Jenny's

My sister, Jenny, told the kids that they could have a sleepover at her apartment so for the past 2 weeks that is all that I have heard about! Finally the big day arrived and they could not wait to get over there! ...like I told Jenny, killing 2 birds with 1 stone...cleaning and "the sleepover". Carter loves projects like mopping and cleaning so Jenny got her whole apartment cleaned for free!

...and no...Carter did not stay in his "bed". He ended up in Jenny's bed hence the reason why Jenny was back and in bed until 2 pm making up for her lack of sleep!
I remember going to get Slurpee's with my Aunt Emily so I know that my kids will remember their fun adventures with Aunt Jenny! I believe these types of memories are the most important especially when they are with "family". Thanks Aunt Jenny and thanks for allowing me a 10 full hours of quiet and un-interrupted sleep! ;) We love you!

If Only EVERY Morning Could be a Saturday Morning!

At our house we have a Saturday morning tradition. When the kids wake up, they jump into my bed and begin the cartoon watching. Now...I did not say WE, I said THE KIDS because I continue sleeping or at least close my eyes and try to sleep. This allows me to lay in bed for as long as I possibly can! This morning as I was up for a trip to the bathroom, I grabbed my camera and used the infamous timer so that we had some proof of our tradition! TGIS! Notice the "hooooot" bed head?!? hehehe

I am going to get my A** Kicked!

Remember the first time that you skied, or snowboarded, or wake boarded, or did something that it was inevitable that you were going to get your a** kicked? Well...it's official! The guys at work talked me into it...I have committed to a 5 week session of mono-skiing and have all ready prepared myself for a moment of death! I am pumped, excited, and scared to death all at the same time but really I CAN NOT WAIT to get out there! It begins in March so anticipate some great pics :)

The Birthday Party

I had to sneak home to decorate so that it was ready for when we came home...purple of course! ...and we can't forget about the horses who are very important!?!

We took Kindra to dinner at one of my most hated restaurants...Applebee's...but that is where she wanted to go and what the Birthday Girl wants, the Birthday Girl gets!


I always get a present for the other one to open so that it's more of a family event. There is no need to cause them to be jealous or sad about the day...so here is Carter...
...and yes...the left over Christmas wrapping paper! :)
Grandma and Grandpa always give such great gifts! This horse's name is Princess...

Now, if you have ever seen the movie "Toy Story 2", there is a horse in the movie who's name is "Bullseye". Kindra loves "Bullseye" and so that is what we found her. It is hard to see, but I have hidden "Bullseye" on the back of my chair. It did not take Kindra long to see him!
Kindra also wearing the Birthday Girl tutu that she got from Aunt Lyssa for Christmas...

Kindra's purple horse cake with "a lot of purple icing"....

DIG IN!!!

Thank you everyone for coming to Kindra's birthday party! Thank you Colin and Abbi for the "Candyland" game! We missed the Zimmerman's and Uncle John-Charles but we understand...warm Texas and Spain are much better places than cold Utah at this point! Happy 5th Birthday Kindra! We love you!!!

Happy Birthday Kinny!

I can not believe that my little "Kinny" is 5 today! She is my best friend and I can not even imagine life without her! I have written this in my journal every day on her birthday because I seem to remember different aspects of it on different days so here it goes again...Kindra was a wonderful surprise at a horrible time. I remember just knowing that I was pregnant in the hospital when I woke up and I also knew that she was going to be a girl. It was basically a "I am sorry...Katie is paralyzed and her body will probably abort the baby because of the medicine she has needed and the trauma her body has gone through". My family was so taken back by the word "baby"! What baby? I did not even know that I was pregnant! But I knew that there was a reason that Kindra had come at this time and that she was needed in my life! For the next few months I went through minimal physical therapy so as to not cause additional stress to her but she was still not growing as much as the doctors would like. I was 28 weeks when they admitted me back into the hospital so that they could monitor her growth. They also discovered that because I was not able to stand up, she had "positional club feet". I remember just bawling my eyes out at the thought that I had done this to her but knew that whatever way things were supposed to be, they would be! On January 16th 2003 my body woke up knowing that something was not right. The hooked me up to some new monitors and gave me some more drugs to slow things down a bit. By 3:00 pm, I was getting pissed. They were not finding anything new, I was starving, my TV did not work, I had sent Trevor golfing, I was lonely, sick of the hospital and wanted to go home! Finally Trevor came back and my Mom, John-Charles, and Mike came to visit. Right at that same time a Physical Therapist came over to make sure that my back wounds were healing properly. Remember...I am paralyzed and can not feel from the waist down...So I rolled over for him to look at my back and he said, "That can't be right?" "Yeah, I think I'd know," I impatiently popped off. He called my Mom over and she calmly said "Oh" as she rushed out the door. I was so confused as to what was happening. My brother again asked me if that was right as the nurses and doctor rushed in. Someone pulled me back over, threw off the sheet that was covering me, and there between my legs was Kindra! I began crying but knew that it was out of my control. Maybe this was the plan that was set for her. She was so bruised and so tiny. 1 lb 12 oz They rushed her down to NICU because she was not breathing. I distinctly remember hearing a nurse tell another that I had had the baby but that she had not made it. My Mom was awesome and was so calm and helped to comfort me. Trevor was freaking out but was trying to call his Dad to come up to give Kindra a blessing. My Dad was in Europe so he could not be there. The doctor advised us to give her a name...Kindra Ann Corbridge...and they also informed us that they had her breathing but needed to fly her up to Primary's. They let me see her before they took her and she was so, so, so fragile. They said that the first night would be the true test because her lungs were undeveloped and damaged. My heart hurt but again I told myself that it was all for a reason and that I needed to maintain my trust in the Lord. For the next 4 months she was in the hospital but continually improved, grew, and fought like the tough chick that she is :) until she was able to come home. Every time they were worried about something, she somehow was able to pull through it without any problems. She is my miracle child, that's for sure and I don't know what we'd do without her! We love you Kindra!

Remembering & Thinking...

It was bath time last night so I went in to turn on the "peach" colored old school tub to begin the nightly ritual. As I turned on the water and looked down to the tub...a memory flashed quickly through my mind. The memory of having my own bath time as a child in that very same tub came flooding back. I can tell you the exact toys we played with, the smell of my Grandfather's cologne, the smell of the bath towels, etc. etc.
Of course this is not the first time that these collision's have occurred and I am glad that they do. They give me a sense of determination to give to my children the same important memories that I have. It's like when I think of my Grandparent's home, it is a completely different place. Which it is...it is my home now and it is so different but I also enjoy the fact that they are one in the same?!? Does that make sense? It is why every time my Dad comes over he'll mess around and take care of things even when I don't ask him to or he'll pause for a moment, stare, and then comment on how wonderful things look and how well things have worked out! I will give my Mom the "here we go again" look and just smile and agree :) It allows him to hold on and to feel proud and I understand that...
It just got me thinking last night. Thinking again about the things that really matter and thinking again on the type of parent I want to be and know that I can and should be. I want my kids to remember the good but to really have the good!
I grabbed my camera which is always by my side and quietly went in to Kindra's room. I could hear her having a very deep conversation with herself and her horses. I just love to hear her imagination and the ideas that she can come up with. We, as parents, forget that, or at least I do, forget that once upon a time...we were our children with such deep imaginations and such great determination!
Notice the horses....
Notice the video case that she has turned into a tent...
Notice the horse that is waking up and coming out to play with the others! :)
Then there is my Carter who is intently watching his cooking shows...
He told me all about "pulsing" tonight which you do with a food processor?!? Who is he?!?
Once again, another silly moment night full of "monster truck" races. They went to the Monster Truck Show with Trevor and they loved it! Kindra's birthday cake now must have a purple monster truck and a horse with purple icing. Who is she?!?