A week already.....

It has been a week today that my dad passed away. I still don't know what to think and I am still crying everyday. I miss him So much. He has been sick with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease for about 5 years so he really hasn't been here for that long. My mom and I went out to lunch today and I can't believe what a strong woman she is. I should have known after raising 8 kids almost completely on her own other that weekends and dinnertime that she is one strong woman!!! (My dad was the bishop a stake president so he was gone a lot of my childhood). She amazes me everyday and I hope that I can be half the lady she is!!!!!

We are SO Blessed!!!

Taylor at her "Ending Pose"

She got to do 2 dances this year and they were both amazing!!

Dan was able to come to all of the girls' recitals with no problems!!!

I loved this shot of Tay's feet!!!

Taylor's beautiful leap!!!

Hannah's leap!!!

Hannah in a perfect kart wheel!!!

She is getting to be a PRO!!!

Hannah at the studio's Christmas tree.

Makena just before she started!!!

(SO EXCITED)

Just stretching!!!

In her "Dancing stance"

Makena is a FABULOUS leaper!!! (Seriously)

This last week has been a VERY emotional one for me, to say the least!!!

We started off with Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday with dance recitals for all the girls.

Coming back to Shellies School of Dance has been great because everyone gets to go back to dance!!! The first was Makena's, I was SO nervous because the first few weeks I had to take her in crying.... She did SO good, she has found her new love!!! The next was Tay's. I was wondering how it would go because she is older and you know how it is when older girls dance....... ANY WHO... I had tears in my eyes.. I did my best to hold it all in, I know Taylor would be so embarrassed!!!! She was just Kenny's age and now she's a WOMAN!!!!! Last but not least was Hannah.......she did great, she has such a happy go lucky attitude about dance. When she make a mistake she just laughed. Taylor and Kenny are much more serious.

They were all so cute and I was one proud mama!!!

Thursday, Ethan and Taylor had orthodontist appointments and I have been dreading this... Ethan (and Grandpa) lost his retainer again and I knew I did not have ANY extra money for another stinken retainer. Well.... I got the courage to talk to Dr. Arnold and I explained that I have been searching high and low and wanted him to wait before making a new one so I could keep looking. All he said was "It's on me, Merry Christmas" WHAT??????

I thanked him graciously and had to go back to the waiting room so he didn't see me cry. How did he know we needed that SO much?? Needless to say, I cried the whole way home!!

THEN.... on Friday I was running Kenny to school and running errands...I got
a call from Dan....... "The insurance approved my surgery!!!!!" Again, crying.......We have been waiting for this for 9 months!!!!

All of a sudden things were coming into place and things were going our way.....

We have all been smiling and crying ever since.

I felt SO blessed, Heavenly Father HAS been hearing our prayers and we were finally getting answers.

THEN....... Saturday I was working on a Christmas project and a WONDERFUL neighbor called to see if I would be home for a minute. .

(She also went through this surgery 4 years ago and know what we are dealing with)

She brought a huge box of oranges and a bag of cards. Dan and I opened them up to cash and gift cards for groceries, etc.

We both broke down into tears. There are family and friends out there that are watching out for us and love and truly care about us. The feeling is so overwhelming. I just can't even explain it.

I have been so worried about Dan, the kids, money, taking care of Christmas that the spirit of Christmas and the true meaning of Christmas was not really on my mind.

This week of TRUE MIRACLES has reminded me what it all should be about.

I am so thankful to my Heavenly Father for watching over my little insignificant family and pouring out these tremendous blessings on us.

Dan's surgery is this Thursday, December 23rd. We will stay overnight and come home on Christmas Eve!!! I will keep you posted on his recovery and thank you all for everything you do for us!!!!

This one snuck down to the bottom, she did

this little move with such flair!!! LOVE IT!!

ANOTHER FAMILY UPDATE!!!

HERE IS A PICTURE OF DAN'S PERMANENT BRUISE. HE ALSO HAS QUITE A GOOSE EGG THAT JUST DOESN'T WANT TO GO AWAY. HE IS STILL PASSING OUT 2-3 TIMES A DAY. WE DO HAVE ANOTHER SURGERY SCHEDULED, BUT I AM NOT EVEN TALKING ABOUT IT SO I DON'T JINX IT!!!!
THIS PICTURE IS OUT OF PLACE, BUT I WILL TELL YOU ABOUT IT ANYWAYS!!
HANNAH AND MAKENA DECORATING GINGERBREAD COOKIES AT THE GRAND AMERICA HOTEL JDRF EVENT

HERE IS HANNAH AFTER THAT FIRST HUGE SNOW STORM!!

HERE'S MAKENA!!! TAYLOR WAS SO EXCITED ABOUT THE HUGE AMOUNT OF SNOW WE GOT THAT SHE HAD TO TAKE PICTURES!!!

HERE I AM.... THIS IS JUST DAYS BEFORE THE WORST
STREP EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE. I WOKE UP THE SATURDAY AFTER

THANKSGIVING NOT ABLE TO SWALLOW OR MOVE. I HAD THE CHILLS, THEN WAS COVERED IN SWEAT. I COULDN'T EVEN SIT UP MYSELF TO TAKE MEDICINE!!

LAURA SAVED MY LIFE BY TAKING ME TO THE DOCTORS. A FEW DAYS LATER MY THROAT WAS SO MUCH WORSE. DAN'S MOM TOOK ME BACK TO THE DOCTOR
AND HE SAID THAT THE STREP SORES HAD ULCERATED!!!! I AM NOW ON ANOTHER ANTIBIOTIC AND FEELING MUCH BETTER. NOW, 5 DAYS LATER I CAN ACTUALLY SWALLOW MY OWN SPIT!!! (I HAD TO SPIT IT OUT TWO DAYS AGO)

HERE WE ARE BACK AT THE GRAND AMERICA HOTEL. THEY HAD BEAUTIFUL GINGERBREAD HOUSES TO BID ON, GREAT HOT CHOCOLATE, CINNAMON ALMONDS, SCONES, PICTURES WITH A DARLING MR. & MRS. CLAUSE, LETTERS TO SANTA, AND DECORATING COOKIES. THERE WERE ALSO DECORATED WINDOWS LIKE ZCMI USED TO DO!!!

THE KIDS CHECKING OUT
JAKE'S LETTER AND PICTURE FOR DIABETES.

THE KIDS AT THE HUGE TREE!!

I LOVED THIS ONE OF ETHAN, I LOOKS LIKE HE 'S LEANING ON THE
HUGE BALL!!!!

Holiday Boutique Nov. 17th

Happy Halloween!!! 2010

At the Thomson Halloween Party, Laura had the

kids decorate their moms as "Mummies"

Taylor and Kam

Ethan and Hannah

a.k.a. "NERD"

Hannah a.k.a. The Bride of Frankenstein
Yes, that is here real hair!!!

Puckering up for FRANKIE!!

Makena as Tinkerbell

Makena and Sandra Ahlquist (teacher)

I was quite shocked at Makena's involvement
in her pre-school Halloween program!!!

She sang and danced and best of all, didn't cry!!!

It was wonderful!!

Mrs. Thomsen was a "Mad Scientist"

She was hilarious!!! That is a mouse in her cup!!

Catching up.....

So it has been a while since I did some actual blogging!!! I am going to try and catch up!!

Taylor turned 14 on August 5th. Can you believe it??? She has also changed her hair color!!

She is a brunette with red highlights, thanks to Aunt Krista!! She is now wondering how she is gong to be able to keep up with the re-growth. She is doing AMAZING in school and got a 91% on her last test!! We are SO proud of her, seriously, I got a tear in my eye at parent teacher conference!!!

Ethan is loving school!! His favorite thing to do at recess is tether ball!! He says he is the best at the school!!! He is preparing himself for basketball season by shooting 100 hoops a day. He goes to Fitness for life and a Science class two days a week at the school just to get better. He always strives to do his best and just recently moved up into a higher spelling class!!!

Hannah is in first grade and FINALLY going to school with a smile on her face!!(Almost everyday)

She has gotten used to the fact that school isn't a choice it's a HAVE TO!!!! She is loving learning and starting to read. She going to Choir twice a week and has told me she really should be trying out for AMERICAN IDOL!!! I agree!!! She has been taking dance this fall and is very good at the rump shaker!! You'll have to ask her to do it for you, its hilarious!!

Makena, my baby girl turned 4 this August. She started pre-school, dance, and primary all in one week. I think she was terrorized.(I Wonder where she gets that!!) Two weeks after everything has started she loves it all. She wants it to be her turn any time the other girls go to dance. I can't believe how big she has gotten these [past few months. Her last AMAZING accomplishment is that she sleeps o grandma and grandpas couch all by herself every night!!!! I know, it's shocking!!!

Dan is doing a little better. He still is having horrible headaches. He saw a neurologist today and found out what was causing the headaches. Some kind of nerve on the back of his head!! She gave him some medicine to try for that. He is at the cardiologist as I type seeing if they will be doing the surgery for the hole in his heart. We are all keeping our fingers crossed.

I am loving working at the Junior High. I get to see Taylor everyday (I love our relationship right now). The kids I work with are pretty cute. They absolutely love TAYLOR, I have told he she can't come in while they are there because it causes too much havoc!!! I did my first in a long time (3 years) boutique out here a few weeks ago and had great success!!

Our hopes are that Dan will get better soon and he will be able to find a great job. We have been so blessed this last little while, I am not sure why, but I am thankful for it!!!

It's Official!!!!

I am an employed woman!!! I got my finger prints done this mornin and apparently there are NO skeletons in my closet (I was a little worried, hee hee!!!) I am working for the Granite School District at Taylor's school!!! I am working with the special Ed. kids!!! Four days a week four hours a day!!! I am pretty excited to be doing something and the kids I will be working with are pretty special!!!
By the way... we think Kenny ran into the corner of the door!!! We are still not positive as she is not willing to talk about it!!!!

WISH ME LUCK!!!!!!