Christmas miracle

Our family has experienced good news. Daniel was suppose to work Christmas day and someone called him last night to say he would work for him!! We are very excited that he will be home to share in the fun!!

Privacy

For the sake of my family's privacy of events that happen to us I have chosen to take my blog private. I thank those of my nearest and dearest that support me unconditionally.

The Fogotten one!

Christmas time is full of gifts, love and happiness. We have been able to attend a few Christmas parties this month. Cody was thrilled to see Santa at our church party and tell him what he wanted for Christmas. The other night we went out to West Covina to have our annual Christmas party with great grandma Titel and all of the Titel clan. We had a great dinner, fun conversations, the kids played really well together and finally the gifts were given. Cody got a shiny new fire truck that he absolutely loves. We left early to attend another Christmas bash back at home. We got there and the party was in full swing...the kids were all excited for a special visit from Santa. They all sang songs and were full of anticipation for the big man...

And then it happened, Santa showed up with a bag full of presents. All of the kids jumped for joy and crowded around the big man. One by one Santa pulled out a wrapped present and announced who it was for. One by one the kids ran up and sat on his lap and received their gift. One by one...Cody sat patiently waiting to hear his named called and one by one all of the gifts were being handed out. Slowly the bag was getting more and more empty yet Cody sat and waiting so well. Soon there were only a few gifts left and I thought "I can't wait to see Cody's face when his name gets called". Soon there was only one gift left and two children stood waiting to hear their name called...sure enough, it wasn't Cody's. As that happened I sat in horror and looked at my son's face. Confusion, sadness, Cody looked at Santa and looked at the bag that Santa was joking around saying there weren't any more gifts. I didn't know what to do so I called Cody over to me and lifted him on my lap telling him it's okay. I think he was a bit hurt and confused...how could Santa forget him? Luckily a couple of people found him a gift and it was quickly handed to Santa to give to Cody.

We are very grateful to those who were able to find him a gift. Me as a Mother couldn't help but be overwhelmingly sad and disappointed. It was just one of those things that happens, but when it happens to your child it breaks your heart. Cody questioned the whole thing as he looked down and realized that the gift he got was very different from all of the other little boys. We had a little talk with him and tried to explain. It's amazing how kids can pick up on that stuff. We quickly rushed him out to the car to get his brand new shiny firetruck so he could play with the other boys. Thank goodness for Great Grandma Titel!

After the party we went home. Cody questioned again the reason why he didn't get the same toy as the other boys. We took the gift he was given and played with it and let him how cool it was even though it was different from the other boys. He agreed and we had a good time. Thanks again to those who found him the gift and made him feel better.

December is here!!

The lights are up, the decor has come out of the boxes, the count down blocks are ticking, the shopping is complete, the parents are coming for the festivities...Christmas, we are ready!!

A Utah Halloween

This last week my brother Derek, and his family were moving back to Utah we decided that it would be fun to tag along and spend Halloween up there. The truck was loaded and we were all ready to go. We stayed over night in Mesquite and then it was on to Utah. Cody was able to get his Grandma and Grandpa Bell fix filled. Cody loves his grandparents. Autumn and Ryan and their family came also so when the whole family was all together you can imagine the fun. We were able to visit a farm where we experienced a tractor ride, saw some cows and turkeys(ask Autumn the Tav and cow story),corn maze and then picked out our pumpkins, 12 in all. We also helped Derek and Krystal move into their new home. We were able to see Great Grandparents and Aunts and Uncles and old friends that once lived here, that we haven't seen in a awhile. And did I mention, thanks to my great sister, we had a Halloween party with the family and some friends. It was great fun!!

Here is Cody getting some love from Grandma!

Riding/driving the tractor at the farm

The boys in the corn maze


Picking out pumpkins


ALL 12 pumpkins

Cody the Storm Trooper

The boys playing around before carving pumpkins

Carving time!!


All the different pumpkins carved out



Don't these guys look handsome with their mustaches!

We had a great time! I didn't get a lot of pictures so hopefully those that did will send them to me! Now it's back to reality!

The boot!!

This has become my new best friend. I've been put into a boot for two weeks because the Dr. thinks that I might have torn a tendon in my ankle. I am so glad to be off the crutches and my ankle actually feels a little bit better after wearing it for just two days. I can get around so much easier and walk at a normal pace now. The hopes is that after the two weeks my ankle will be better but if not...MRI (which totally freaks me out) and surgery :( Please keep your fingers crossed for me that after two weeks I will be better!!

frustration

Dear Crutches,

I want to take a minute to thank you for the help you've given me. You've gotten me through the past week with only a few calluses on my hands and only a little bit of soreness on my ribs... so you'll understand when I say thank you but...

I HATE YOU!!!

Can't wait to walk again without surging pain in my ankle every time I stand up and go to take a step!!

A hard time but a great day!!

For those of you who don't already know, I had my foot lasered again last week. So far it's healing well and went I went to have it done the plantar wart was about 90% gone. We are really keeping our fingers crossed that this will be the last time. But a couple of days before I had my foot surgery I decided I was going to become a runner and was running about 7 miles a day. Well after about 2 days of that my left ankle decided it couldn't handle that and got a little bit strained. So far I've been on crutches since last Friday and so far it's not feeling too much better. I guess that's what I get for trying to run marathons (Jess, you would have been so proud of me and my running). My poor husband has been really put to work since I can't carry things, or stand for too long. But now he's back at work and I am trying to manage without him...it's been fun as you can imagine.

On a brighter note everyone knows how much I despise that pink stove that's been in my kitchen since we bought the house. I know it's breast cancer month and all but having a pink stove really goes a little too far, ya think? Luckily we knew some friends that were selling a nice stainless steel stove and we jumped on it. We have finally gotten the pink stove out and moved the new stove in so I am one happy lady. We will have a lot of work ahead of us now trying to remod the kitchen a bit more...but Christmas has come early for me! If anyone knows of someone who'd like a pink stove please let us know.

Daniel moving the pink stove out.

Hooray, it's gone!!

Daniel and the stove.

I know everyone else loves it and thinks it's so cute, but really!! Would you really want this in your house?

Last month of summer

It's been a long summer but we had a very busy last month. We took a trip to Oregon (drove the 15 hours) and had a blast once we got there. We broke the drive up into two days so Cody loved staying in the hotel. Once there, Cody got to play with the other kids and Daniel and I got to visit with my college friends and their husbands. Not to mention see more of Oregon. After returning home, I also started back up on making holiday crafts since that season is just around the corner.

Here are the latest crafts. The tree is the craft that I am going to do for our Relief Society Fantastic Friday. It's way easy and really cute.

Here is Cody in deep thought on the first day of school. He's a big 1st grader now and is doing really well. He has a wonderful teacher this year. He plays pretty hard during the day too because when we pick him up he's filthy!! Boys will be boys!

While in Oregon we took a trip to the zoo. This here is one of the shows where birds fly over your head...literally right over your head!

We got to take a train ride to the zoo since we had to park so far away, but the kids enjoyed it.

We went to Cannon Beach and hit up the candy store, YUM!!

This is us at Cannon Beach. I loved it, it was so pretty and just a different feeling than being at the beach here in Cali.

We also hit up the famous Hillsboro air show. I loved seeing all the fighter jets. They are amazing.

We were able to see all sorts of helicopters and air planes.

This doesn't even describe how cool the jets are flying up close. They are so powerful, they give you chills.

The kids had a good time sleeping in the play room together.

We also did a little peach and blueberry picking, YUMMY!!

One for the basket, one for your mouth...

Ready to start picking

The kids got a little Wii playing in of course so the parents could play some games of our own. Good times for sure!

Thanks Jen and Allison for such a good time. I love my girls! And their husbands are pretty cool too. We had a great time and can't wait for our next trip to Oregon!

More Oceanside

Here are some family pictures that were taken by my friend Kadee.

Fun facts.....

I love it when people post their fun facts about themselves. Is very interesting to learn about everyone so I decided that I would do it too!

1. I am 32 years old.

2. I LOVE to exercise.

3. I have a degree from BYU in Fitness and Wellness management.

4. I always said I would never go to BYU...but went to BYU-Hawaii and Provo!

5. I love visiting Hawaii but never want to live there again.

6. I've been married 9 1/2 years.

7. My husband is a firefighter/paramedic/s.w.a.t medic and I have mixed feelings about his job.

8. I am always amazed at my husbands knowledge of things.

9.I am a sensitive person.

10. I love being at home.

11. I only have one child and before you say anything, we tried for another but it just wasn't meant to be and I've accepted that.

12. I had post-pardom after having Cody.

13. I've always loved to swim.

14. I swam for 2 years in high school.

15. I am not too competitive

16. I love doing crafts

17. Wish I lived closer to my parents and brother.

18. My in-laws are very good to me.

19. I get overwhelmed very easily

20. I sometimes work better under pressure.

21. I am not a procrastinator.

22. I loved going away for college.

23. My first car was a Honda Accord that I shared with my sister.

24. I used to love the beach.

25. I love HGTV

26. I like to hear about medical things.

27. I did an internship in out patient cardiac rehab and loved it.

28. I go to church on Sundays.

29. I am not good at remembering things.

30. I hate deciding what to eat, I try to convince my husband to decide.

31. I love my husbands cooking.

32. I can't stand to think of what's really swimming around in the ocean. It give me anxiety so I don't go in the water anymore.

33. I hate the smell of sea food.

34. I love Spring and Fall.

35. I love Christmas time (not for the gifts of course!)

36. I love to buy things. It could be groceries and I still love to buy them.

37. I am not addicted to facebook.

38. I love to sleep.

39. I wish I knew how to do make-up better.

40. I love Janet Jackson.

41. I lost my first wedding band at the bay.

42. I need glasses to read.

43. I really like smoothies.

44. I love to have discussions about life with my Dad.

45. Can't wait to meet my Mom's parents (who passed away a long time ago)someday.

46. I hate to wear shorts.

47. Use to work for an Optometrist and had a great boss.

48. I like Cali lilies.

49. I love to learn but hate to take tests.

50. Still like to watch "All My Children" when I can.

51. I think I have a high tolerance for pain.

52. I don't wear jewelry.

53. I have green eyes.

54. I have large pupils I am told by everyone.

55. I love to read magazines.

56. I hate the freeway.

57. Not a huge fan of video games.

58. I love palm trees.

59. I want to have a home gym.

60. I don't and have never drank milk. (I have tasted tho.)

61. I love the taste of Dr. Pepper.

62. I went to Cancun for my senior trip with my sister and another girl.

63. I love to read but not a fan of fiction.

64. I love when it thunder and lightnings at night. (if that sentence makes sense?)

65. I don't like washing my car, which really annoys my hubby.

66. I tried snowboarding a few time but am not a fan.

67. I wish I could have a shopping spree at Nordstroms.

68. My mind usually wakes up when it's time to go to sleep.

69. Love having a DVR.

70. I have to make my bed in the morning always.

71. I wish there was a cure for my foot problems.

72. I love skittles and Tootsie rolls.

73. I melt when my son tell me he loves me.

74. Am not a hugger.

75. Love to listen/play music when doing just about anything.

Will it ever end?

Round three... I had my foot lasered AGAIN. They once again reminded me that this was the biggest one they've worked on, but said they were as aggressive as they could be so hopefully it will get most of the plantar wart but I will most likely have to do this AGAIN!! Lets all keep our fingers crossed that this got most if not all of it. Who knew that a plantar wart could cause this much trouble.

Oceanside vaca

It had been awhile since all of my family had been together in one place so what did we do...went on a week vacation to Oceanside, CA. It was a week packed with fun, but no sun! We still managed to do a lot of things and have a great time. My pictures are totally backwards so we will start off with a picture of our newest member of the family, Bella. Some people in our ward found this dog and couldn't find the owner so instead of it going to the pound, she came to our home. She's loves to curl up with you and is potty trained so that's a plus.

Cody and Bella

We took a train to Old Town San Diego. The boys loved the train.


Porter and Cody taking the train

There were a few moments of quiet like when some of the boys were being entertained by their DS and Grandpa Bell watching them.

We took a trip to Sea World

Daniel was able to spend his birthday at Sea World (what a good sport) and actually got pulled up into the front of the audience in one show. What fun to be embarrassed on your birthday. But he was awesome and we all had a good laugh.

The boys enjoyed the shark tank

The boys watching the fish and sharks

Unfortunately the sun didn't show it's face much but we were walking distance away from the beach and got to come out and see the waves every morning. The boys also had a couple of days of surfing.

The condo had a cute little park where we were able to let the kids loose and expend some energy, so the kids would go to bed and the grown ups could play some games!

The coffee table made a great race track for the boys. They spent a lot of time racing

The condo had a small pool for the kids, but the boys and their dad's and uncle Colby were able to have a great time there.

We did make it to the beach one day but it was a tad chilly.

All of the crazy kids loved to ride the elevator and push the buttons.

Fun times waiting for the elevator.

Other activities: working out in the fitness room, firing poppers off in the parking lot, yummy ice cream, eating at a good pizzeria, lots of pool time, lots of hot tub time, birthday celebration for Daniel with ice cream cake, winning blow up hammers on a mini race track, some wrestling with cousins, some arguing with cousins, most importantly, spending much needed time with Grandma and Grandpa Bell.

Thanks Mom and Dad for planning the vacation. We had a great time!