Puppy Power!

Yesterday we were all feeling sick w/ colds, so I wondered how I could make us feel better? We decided it was time to go to the dogs! We invited McKenzie (aka Mac) over to play w/ Sage. He is only 8 months old and the same size as Sage. He's going to be a big boy. We met Sage's boyfriend at Conner's Lake (the dog park) earlier this year. His owners are great people and we both offered puppy play time to each other. It was so fun to watch them interact together. They were truly jumping for joy! They played 2 1/2 hours out back w/ non-stop energy. I brought them in for a break and some water. This dog definitely was hot on Sage's tail (literally). Fortunately, he's neutered, so it's safe for them to get fresh. : ) Sage will be starting her heat cycle again in a few weeks. We will be deciding this year whether to spay her or not. I just love these dogs and I wasn't really a 'dog person' before meeting this breed of BMD's (not to be confused w/ BMW's.) They are so loving, compassionate, incredible w/ children and well tempered. Sage totally protects Stephen. I love that! She brings us such joy! She is definitely part of the family. So, if you're ever in need of a pick me up when you're feeling sick, find a cuddly dog to give you some pet therapy. It really works!

Love you all! Kary

PS. The first photo is of Stephen saying "good morning sunshine!"

Sunday

Here are some pictures from yesterday after church. Also, another picture of Sammi's crazy hair day. Luckily, other children did pretty crazy things with their hair. I was so happy to see that. I kept asking Sammi, "are you SURE it is crazy hair day today?" she told me she was sure. The last thing I wanted was for her to be the only one at school with silly hair! She said she had lots of fun and that a lot of the kids had silly crazy hair. It was great.

Sunday was a good day. Church was good. My lesson went well with my class. I am losing a bit of my energy as each week goes by, but I am able to keep it up. It is the standing for an hour that gets to me the most. I suppose I should sit, but with eight nine year olds I need to maintain my status as teacher. Sitting does not have that same affect. Anyhow, It was good yesterday. The lesson was on temptation. I brought in a bag of Hershey kisses and during the lesson I made them an offer. I told them they could take one Hershey kiss right now, and eat it right now, or if they wait thay can have 10 Hershey kisses after church was over. I told them I would not change my mind, this was the only offer. So guess what happened? All 3 boys took the one Hershey kiss and all the girls waited for their 10!! Silly boys! The boys quickly realized what they had done and they begged me to change the rules. I told them I could not, they made the choice and they knew what the reward could have been. I even told them how I felt as the teacher. I wanted to give them Hershey kisses, I really did. I felt so bad for them. But I could not bend the rules. Just like Heavenly Father wants to bless us and give us everything, he needs us to choose not to yeild to temptation so He can give us a great reward (Eternal Life). So my major lesson was: Do not give in to something you think you want now for something you know you want in the future. Poor boys, they really learned that lesson the hard way. I was fair though, I did warn them! :) However, the girls were thrilled to walk away with their 10 kisses after church! : )

I love Sundays. We always eat well on Sundays. Yesterday was Lasagna. I also made the chocolate eclair dessert (pudding, graham crackers and chocolate frosting). It worked great, it was a big hit Kary. Anyhow, Sunday dinners are always nice around here. It is also Charles day in the kitchen. He always makes Sunday dinner. He loves to cook, and I love to watch him cook! : )

I am feeling pretty good now. I was not feeling so hot for a few days, stuffy head etc. I am better now. I will get crackin on my exercise routine once again. I am growing a little unsure about running now. I think I may have to mostly walk and perhaps run for short spurts along the way. My belly starts to pull in weird places and I just do not want to pop a gasket! I will be wise, but I will keep trying!! It is getting closer and closer. 2 months left is all! I plan to eat curry, and jump around as much as possible about 2 weeks before my due date. Though, the doctor did say if he suspects the baby to be a big one he would like to induce a bit early to avoid a 10 lb baby - I am good with that! We shall see. I am so glad it will be Spring time during the next few months. That will really be helpful!

That is all for now. . .

Lots of love to you!

Mari

Ouch!

Here are some pictures of poor Dan. He was running in the hallway and smack! He ran right into the door corner - Ouchy! I was going to the bathroom and I heard horrid crying. So out I ran to see what happened and Daniel was face first on the floor wimpering. He then told me he wanted to go and puke. I took him to the bathroom and convinced him not to throw-up by rubbing his back and telling him he did not need to throw-up. He calmed down and then I took him to my bed and sat with him with ice on his poor head. He had a lovely goose egg. I kept him awake, though he wanted to go to sleep. I iced it most of the evening. Anyhow, after much love and care he recovered and was ready to run again a few hours later. Poor Dan!

Dan also has an ingrown toenail. Apparently, his shoes have been rubbing his toe, his feet have grown and so new shoes are needed. Anyhow, his toe was infected and Charles had to get some of the puss out of it by squeezing it out. Anyhow, this was after Dan bonked his head. So I was holding him down while Charles was oozing puss from his poor toe. Anyone who has ever had an ingrown toenail can appreciate the severe pain it causes, myself included - OUCHY! Poor kid. Once we got the puss out it seemed to really help his pain in his toe. The picture above is of Dan soaking his toe with his large wound on his head. It was not Dan's day. Poor thing. He prayed last night for his head and foot and as he did he cried. I love Dan so much. A few hours after his bonk he wanted to run again and he said, "See mom, I won't quit! I am not a quitter!" and he ran and ran. I love my Daniel boy. I do not love it when children are in pain. Now I know what is meant when parents say, "This hurts me more than it hurts you". What pain!

Sammi's pictures are of her hair today. It is crazy hair day at school. We put it up in four ponies and then I teased it into a big poof. I will make it even bigger right before school and then add the hair spray. It is pretty crazy! She loves it though. I sure hope other kids participate too or she will feel pretty silly!! : )

Lots of love to all!

Love, Me

Go Kary, GO!!!

Picture taken from her visit to Spokane a few years ago


HOT TO TROT!!
Feb 21, 2007 contributed by: Kary Hafen

Today I called Mari to see if I should go running. I told her it was about 5-10°, but very sunny. She asked about the treadmill. I didn't want to be confined within the walls, I wanted freedom and fresh air. I was concerned I might have a little cold coming on, but for the most part, I really felt ok. So, when Beth came over tonight, I asked if she could watch Stephen so I could take Sage on a walk. She said, "you bet!" She is so helpful. Ray went to the temple to help the youth w/ baptisms. Sage and I took off with a gentle pace and faced the cold. She had on her furry thick coat and I had on two fleeces with my puff daddy down jacket to keep me warm. I brought my face mask along just in case, but didn't need it. My eyes were watering from the cold, but once we turned off of Loganberry to 82nd, the breeze stopped piercing my eyes. My goal was to walk Sage to Shady Birch park and then head back home. We made it to the park and I let her off leash to run around free, smell the trees and go pee. She loves to run free...no wonder we get along so well. After we played together in the park, I decided we should walk a little further, so I put her back on leash and we went down 80th. We passed one moose and one dog off leash. Yes, the moose was off leash too. I can't believe such irresponsible owners! : ) We were headed back to Shady and I knew I was going to set a goal to run home from there like I did the other day. As we approached the park, I saw ahead of me, (on the other side of the road), a lady that was running. I had never seen her before. As I saw her coming closer to Shady Birch, I watched her freely swinging her arms and legs and just gliding through the air. She looked strong and refreshed. She looked free and happy! As we passed one another, (I was still walking), she turned and smiled at me and we both said, "hi." At that point, I knew she was sent to inspire me. I really think she was an angel that showed up at that very moment, just by my starting point, to encourage me that I could do it! I was ready to start my trot home with smiling Sage. When I started running, she bit at her leash as if to say: "Let me off, I want to run free too." There are times when we all may feel 'leashed' or in bondange, but I know that the bands that tie us down can be loosed. With the Lord's help, we can break them and rise above our burdens that sometimes weigh us down. I ran (trotted) all the way home. Shin splints started to set in, but quickly subsided. I did it! Victory is sweet! Those small stepping stones are huge for me. I want to feel strong again. By taking care of my body, I always felt more alive (before I got sick). I had energy, I smiled more, I served others gladly, I could sing, dance, cook up a storm and heal a broken heart when I was running before....I'm ready to live again, so watch out world...........I'm back!!! Slow and steady, but I am ready!!!

Thank you all for your inspiration and prayers in my behalf. I am so grateful for the strength of my family. I will pull my handcarts with you anytime. Now, let's get to work and start crossing the plains. We still need to make it to the promised land so we can be together forever!

hugs & smiles, Kary

Our FHE Fridge
More pictures from FHE
William's car seat
The pictures are from our FHE night coloring lessons. We started this long ago and we started hanging the artwork on the fridge when we were done with the lesson - the kids love it. Our fridge has been full for some time now. Now, they are starting to hang them on the wall. They are just so proud of their work I can hardly throw it away. I love our fridge. One time I had a plumber over and he asked me if I was LDS because of the Follow the Prophet pictures colored on the fridge. It turned into a great discussion about the church, after he unclogged our toliet : ). Anyhow, I love it. The kids love it.

The other picture is of the car seat we are going to use for William. It is actually Sammi's old car seat. It is for sizes 5lbs-80lbs. Anyhow, the story is Sammi is now in a Booster seat, Daniel is still in a car seat and so we had this extra seat. We were not planning on using it for the baby, we had forgotten it converted into an infant seat. We went out today looking for a new baby car seat. We went to Babies R Us, a really fun and very beautiful store full of baby stuff. They had so many seats and every baby thing in the world to choose from. That drives me nuts sometimes, too many choices. After searching and oohhhing and awwwing, one of the ladies showed us the 3 in one car seat and we realized we already had that - that was Sammi's old seat. So we gave up the idea of new, clean, and adorable, and might I add, EXPENSIVE!! Instead we decided to buy a $19.00 snuggly car seat insert thing for infants and use Sammi's old seat. So when we got home we took it out of the garage and Charles took it all to peices and washed every inch of it. After 5 years of kid use it was pretty gross! We washed the pads and made it all new and clean again. So, for $19.00 we got a new car seat! Hooray, I love saving money and making old things beautiful. Anyhow, the new trick is fitting all three car seats in our tiny car! After looking at vans we said, NO WAY! We are just going to have to make the seats fit into the back of our car. Charles did it. It is really, really tight. Oh well, They will love it!! I will take a picture of the three car seats smashed together in the back - pretty funny. That will be some trick when I take Sam to and from school. Loading them all up, three flights of stairs, and crossing the busy parking lot to the garage - I can't wait. What a great day it will be to walk right out the front door to the car, how lovely that must be. I have to make sure the kids do not run into the road and get hit on their way to the garage. Oh well, it adds to the fun of my day. : )

I am starting to think about having the baby now. I am trying to get excited about it. I am looking forward to having a little cuddly baby that needs me again. The kids are so independent now, they can pretty much fend for themselves. Hugs are most often requested by me, and they only sit with me for short spurts of time between running and playing. I am excited to have something to hold and snuggle. I love that. I am excited to see all of the children interact with each other. I am going to do my best to see to it that they all receive equal attention. Daniel especially will need extra love. I am very aware of equal treatment and do my best to compliment and praise all of them equally. I am sure 3 will make it that much more entertaining! Fun!

Lots of Love!

Mari

Here is another self taken picture of my baby tummy - 30ish weeks??
I brought Daniel's bike in so he could ride and get some exercise - he LOVES it!
Look blue sky - Hooray!
We had lots of fun at the park on our sunny day!

Here are some pictures from our sunny day. It had been cloudy and foggy (you could not see the neighbors houses) for almost 2 weeks. When the sun finally came out it was SO exciting! It was even warm so we were able to really enjoy being outside. It was so great. It is so amazing what a little "light" in your life can do. There was an actual physical and spiritual feeling associated with the light from the sun. Of course, this can and I am sure is, often compared to the light that is found in the gospel of Jesus Christ. I am so grateful to have that light, the eternal light that shines even through the darkest days and thickest fog. I cannot imagine trying to make it in the world without the aid of Heaven and the light of the gospel.

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I hope to be able to share that with more people in the future. I am happy to have this light and be able to share it with my family, especially my children now. I do my best to be an example when I am in association with others, and I am able to influence primary children as well - that is a joy. One day I do hope to be able to be even more anxiously engaged in sharing the light of the gospel with others, through full-time missionary work. That is our great goal as a family. I am sure by the time when we are able to go on missions the world will be pretty interesting. I am certain the gospel will need to move forward with great strength to fight against the great evil. I love the gospel, I am so grateful for it. I feel such gratitude for all things that Heaven has allowed me to be a part in and take part of. My heart is full, truly full of gratitude. : )

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Quote for the day:

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"Do, or do not. There is NO try!!" ---- YODA : )

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How inspiring a little green man can be! Remember that Kary, when you are turkey trotting. I know you can do it, you know you can do it. You DID do it!!! Yeah for you! You mentioned the way Sage looked at you with surprise and excitement as you began to run. I loved that. The other day I took Sam and Dan out for a walk thinking I would just walk that day since I had both of them. I have been running with just Dan while Sam is at school. Anyhow, I walked and walked for about 45 minutes or so and then I was ready to run, so I did. Imagine this, the kids weigh 40 lbs each, the stoller weighs 20lbs, and I have 20 extra pounds on my body plopped right in front!! Running now is HARD - really HARD!!! Anyhow, Sammi looked at me with great surprise as I ran with my tummy jiggling around. She was so excited for me. It made it that much more motivating to keep going to show her - I can do it! She had not seen me run for awhile. She said, "GO Mommy!" so I did! You can do it. It is literally one foot in front of the other sometimes but never quit. Find your happy mental place and keep those legs moving. I am so excited for you! I really am. : ) I find running with the stroller truly makes you stronger. Each day you get to push it just remember how much stronger it is making you! : )

Lots of love, ME

Even more Grandpa and Grandma Fun. . .

More Grandpa and Grandma

Grandpa and Grandma

more pictures

Here are some of the pictures from Mom and Dad. I will post more later. . . : )

I am working on posting ma and pa's pictures. It is not working right at the moment! : )

Little Stephen

Here is baby Stephen @ 4 1/2 months old on his first Valentine's day. He loved taste testing the Valentine card that Nan made for him. He thought it was pretty sweet! He sure is in the discovery mode these days. It's a thrill to watch him learn and be curious about the world around him. Last Valentine's day is the day I found out I was pregnant w/ Stephen. It was the happiest my heart ever felt on happy heart day. I don't think I'll ever be able to top that gift to Ray (unless we expect twins one day)..oh please, have mercy! I really think I prefer them one at a time. Remember to 'Let Them be Little' for they're only that way for a while. If you haven't heard that song by Lonestar, I highly recommend it. It's time for me to go be with my 'little person.' I think it's time for a poopy changy. I'm still working on his timing of bowel movements..he's suppose to wait til Daddy gets home and be as glad as he can be, clap his hands and shout for joy and poop upon his knee because our deal is..whoever's holding him when "it" happens, does diaper duty. I love you all and hope that you are counting your blessings daily. Aren't you grateful to be a part of such a fun family? well, there's a start, now keep counting...say: "I'm grateful for Kary, cookies, ice cream ....you get the idea. Have fun making a long list of blessings, you'll be surprised how good you feel when you do so...how about the air you breath, the testimony you have, the blue sky, the wildflowers, the birds that sing, the helping hands of others, the baby smiles, Heavenly Father and His Son. There is soooooo much to be thankful for. Take time to count your blessings even name them one by one and it will SURPRISE you what the Lord has done.

I love you!

Kary

Valentines Day

Here are some pictures from our Valentines day. I had to make cookies for Sammi's kindergarten class party, they were pretty yummy. She had a great time at school. They passed out Valentines and everything - she loved it. I went to the store at the last minute on Tuesday night to get Valentines since I did not know they still did that. Sammi missed the whole week last week so I did not get the note. Anyhow, I called a mom in the ward with a child in Sam's class and she informed me they were passing out Valentines. So off we went to get some of the last boxes from the shelves - it was crazy funny. They also passed out a list of all of the kids names in the class last week - which we did not have. Luckily, Sammi remember ALL the names of every child and did not forget anyone. So, she was all set for V-day at school. She was almost going to be the only one without Valentines to pass out! I am glad I thought to call! Anyhow, it all went well and she had a great time. Daniel enjoyed some yummy cookies with mom. I know it is hard for him to see Sammi got off to school and return with such great things. He will love school when it is time. He still has a few years though. : ) I love having him around though - he is a sweet boy, very helpful. We have lots of good fun together. I sure love them both!

Hope you all had a Happy Valentines Day!

Love, ME