Day 2 of our big adventure

After 10 hours driving from Van horn Texas to Dallas Texas we crashed at my cousins house. It was a great reprieve to visit family after a long day of traveling. 

The kids are watching movies, playing games, coloring, and savannah is reading books! Her goal is to fill her whole folder with books that she has read this summer so that she can show her teacher next week when we get back (school year that is).

We were playing "I spy" and on the paper are pictures of items to search for on the road. There is a picture of a boat and Mikenna says, "mom, there is no way I am going to see a boat on the freeway mom." We all started busting up laughing and I said, "oh we got to out that on Facebook." To which she replied, "don't put that in Facebook... And don't put THIs On Facebook either..." All roaring with laughter... So I won't put it on fb but I will blog about it.

I can't even believe we are on this big adventure. It's exciting and terrifying!! To move somewhere else for a few months yet not have to commit to being gone for a long period of time. 

Jannae is our DJ and she takes requests (orders) from Isabella most of the day (when we aren't engrossed in princess, scooby doo, and Pixar movies). 

It is so much fun to visit for a few minutes with my Dallas family. It always feels like home when we see them. We miss them and wish they lived closer but are grateful to see them when we can. Wish it could have been longer ;). We will stop n see them on the way back! See you I. September!

Just got a call that surgery is scheduled for Tuesday at 8 am. Hopefully we will make it there in time! ;)

Savannah's Big Day

A few months ago, Savannah approached us and mentioned that she wanted to be baptized. At about the same time, the bishop asked us if he could interview Savannah for baptism. So today, May 11, 2013, we baptized Savannah.

It was so wonderful. We set the time for 1130 because of a primary activity that was supposed to be from 9-11 and we wanted to accommodate Savannah's friends. I called up my sister in law who is AMAZING an asked her if she would make some invitations for us. She looked on pinterest for some ideas and pinned them for me to look at. Once the selection was made, I had the invite in hand. I ran to costco and made 25 copies for Savannah to give to her friends.

She gave 3 of them to her teachers at school and then came home and said that she needed 3 more for her friends in the office and she proceeded to tell me who they were for. Savannah is such a sweet and special girl it is hard not to love her. There are so many people who love her and that just brings a smile to my heart... We handed out about 15 invitations and were on our way.

Doug went this morning to turn on the font and set up chairs. He came home and said, "we set up 80 chairs, do you think that's enough?" I said, Of course its enough! That might be too many for sure. I walked into the primary room and thought yep, too many chairs. And then YOU started coming! So many of you showed up that we had to set up 4 more rows of chairs! I wasn't going to speak or stand up or anything, but when there were so many people who love my little Savannah started coming in droves, my heart was so FULL, I just couldn't not stand and tell you all how grateful I was.

I am truly grateful for the people in my life. Those who help on an hourly, daily, weekly, monthly basis. I can't even express it in words. It truly takes a community to raise a child and I am grateful for my little community.

The program was really simple. Angelica said the opening prayer, Heidi led the music, Grandma talked on baptism and then we baptized Savannah. While we were changing, Mikenna and Derek did duets on the piano. Savannah was SO cute in the font room, she said, mom I am so nervous. But she did great. After the baptism ordinance (with our dads as witnesses), we had all the cousins come up and sing I Am A Child of God (all 3 verses) and the congregation joined in on the 4th verse. This was for Daxton.... Granny gave a talk on the Holy Ghost. Then Doug confirmed Savannah with Derek, Tyler, Logan, Adam, Daniel, Grandpa, Grandpa, Bishop, Mark, and Colt. I said some things and bishop told a story. After that we sang Teach me to walk in the Light, and Lollie said the closing prayer.

Afterwards we went to moms for lunch and swimming. I am still overwhelmed and overcome at the number of people who came today. I stand all amazed. Truly. From the bottom of my heart. THANK YOU.

These little precious angels are mine. And I love them SO much. Being a mom sometimes isn't always bliss, but most of the time its worth it.

The Homeless Woman

About two weeks ago, I made an appointment with a local myopractor (after stalling for months) for yesterday afternoon at 3:15 for Savannah and I. After school I picked up the girls and went about my business getting snacks, talking with the husband, and fending off the baby so that I could get the older girls settled and doing their homework and chores. As the girls were finishing up the dishes, I was making cookie dough (as a bribe for the girls... and a coping mechanism for ME)... the phone rang.

It was the myopractor's office. (Looking at the clock it was 3:45) CRAP! I answered phone and was immediately apologetic for missing my appointment. The woman on the other end said that it would be fine if we came just then.

OK a little side note here. I woke up in the morning and threw on some clothes, didn't bother brushing my hair (because seriously with a baby in tow who has the coordination for that). I don't even think I bothered to put on any deodorant or brush my teeth (since that only happens when I take my habitual shower and then brush my teeth and put on deodorant). The white shirt I was wearing was covered in chocolate and boogers and oatmeal and macaroni and cheese... and the pants I was wearing were actually rather cute and in style (or so I thought). I guess you could say that I looked rather homeless.

As I ran out the door the thought did not even occur to me that I looked as though I was in disarray because so is the life of the (rather) young mother. I hauled Savanah out wearing her overly washed faded navy blue uniform shirt, khaki uniform pants, and very stylish black, grey, and white plaid socks. We entered the office huffing and puffing because I couldn't find the place and I was dragging Savannah by the armpit to speed her up. I filled out the necessary paperwork and we were ushered in to meet with the myopractor. The visit went well. Our concerns were addressed and we were on our way.

Side note: Savannah was diagnosed with scoliosis a few weeks ago and we had x-rays done and they looked HORRIBLE. Savannah has kind of a hunchback from it and it has been worrying me ever since my dad pointed it out. I had attributed it to her asymmetry but it is really from her scoliosis. I told the practitioner this and he proceeded to adjust and align her. Some may disagree that I took my special needs 11 year old to be adjusted by a myopractor, but I am here to tell you that her hunchback IS GONE!!!! Oh my word. Its seriously unbelievable unless you have seen it. I really wish that I would have gotten a before and after picture because it is truly remarkable.

I digress. We walked into the "lobby" area and I asked the receptionist/wife of the myopractor how much it was and what form of payment was accepted. She said only cash or check and I looked a little bewildered apparently because who has cash on hand? I proceeded to dig through my wallet looking for whatever cash I had.... $21. I asked if I could just come back tomorrow with a check when they opened or at my next appointment.... She said that wouldn't work. Then I asked her if she wanted me to run home and get my checkbook and come right back... That was then acceptable so I took me and my homeless looking self and child home to get the checkbook and dropped Savannah off at activity days and grabbed Isabella (who hadn't had her hair brushed in two days, wearing her new swimsuit, and without shoes).

I walked in and sat down to write out the check at the receptionist/wife's desk. This was our conversation:
ME: (pen in hand writing in checkbook) So what's the total?
HER: um well, usually it's, (flipping through the schedule book and I am like oh crap I bet she is going to tack on $10 because we were late) um, well.... Are you guys doing ok?
ME: um.... (thinking to myself yes we were just adjusted and my daughters back looks amazing and I feel amazing) what do you mean are we doing ok?
HER: um... (alot of "ums" in this convo) well... Is there a reason you had to go home and get money?
ME: (I THINK I AM CATCHING ON HERE!... I LOOK HOMELESS)...(I explained) Well actually I wrote my last check this afternoon and left the new checkbook on the counter so I had to go home and get it... Is that what you mean?
HER: Well I didn't want to take food from your mouth.
ME: (MOUTH GAPING OPEN... I AM NOT EVEN SURE WHAT I SAID AFTER THAT) but me and my homeless child walked out the door.

Sometimes we as mothers just get so ragged and run down that we just look homeless. And so is the story of the homeless woman. ME!!!