Spring Break

Spring Break at our house means GET TO WORK!  Well, not really, but the girls did get to work on their Personal Progress goals.  As young women in our church Ginger and Gillian are involved in a wonderful program that helps them to set goals to improve and learn and grow in faith.  One of those goals was to be involved in planning, shopping, preparing and making meals for the family.  One night they made Ritz cracker chicken with rice pilaf and caesar salad and it was delicious!  

Another goal they chose was to learn a homemaking skill and spend 10 hours working on it.  So, the girls decided to make patchwork quilts during Spring Break and we really had so much fun working on them!   We shopped for the fabric.... and everything else we needed, including a new rotary cutter and mat for me. :)  Then the girls got right to work cutting out their squares...

They sewed each square together...

They added the batting and then tied the quilts...

Then came the time consuming part... hand sewing the edge with a blind stitch.  

The girls did a beautiful job!  I was very proud of how hard they worked and how well they turned out.  These girls are going to be incredible homemakers some day.  

Ryan was feeling a little left out, so I whipped one out for her baby doll.  

I love my girls!!

The latest with me...

I have been meaning to update on the latest happenings with me, but haven't had a chance to sit down and write!  Many of you know that my sister, Ginger, passed away a few years ago from something called Long QT syndrome (you can click to read about it).  My sister, Brandi, was tested a while back to see if she had the genetic mutation that can cause LQT because it is very hereditary.  She tested positive and so did her son, Dane (2).  We have all (my parents and siblings) been in the process of getting tested over the past several months.  I finally got my results and found out that I am positive as well.  So far, three of us sisters are positive, two siblings are negative and the rest are still waiting to hear.  Because I tested positive I now need to have my children tested as well.    

I have been prescribed beta blockers which I will now take for the rest of my life.   Beta blockers slow the heart rate and make the dangerous rhythm associated with Long QT less likely.  And they also make me tired!  But, that is supposed to get better after a week or so.   I have been restricted from using alarm clocks now as well. There is something with being awakened by a loud noise from a deep sleep that can cause the heart to beat so fast that it can cause death.  (We think this possibly could have happened to Ginger since it was around 6am on a Sunday morning.  She would have been getting up to get ready for her morning of getting herself and 4 kids ready for church.)   

My doctor said I could keep exercising the same as I have been... basketball, running, etc....for now.  That might change as they learn more.  Now to the tricky part.  Many doctors suggest that patients with Long QT get an ICD or implantable cardioverter defibrillator, which is surgically inserted into your chest under the skin.   I went to see an Electrophysiologist on Friday to get his opinion.  He said that... considering my age of 35 (the dangerous years are teenage to 30 in females), that I have had no symptoms, and my QT interval on the EKG is on the border.... my risk is low, and that whether or not to get an ICD is entirely up to me.  He said that if I wanted to get one, no one in the professional world would bat an eye at that because of what happened to Ginger and the fact that I tested positive for this mutation.  He also said that if I decided not to get one, that everyone would understand that as well, because my risk is on the low side.  Then he said that HIS professional opinion...since I have 5 children and he would always err on the side of caution...is that I should get one, just because you never know what can happen.  My first symptom could be death.  Harsh, but true.     But, he said that Don and I need to discuss it, pray about it (I told him that is what we would be doing) and do what we feel is right for me.  I haven't made a decision yet, as this is such a huge decision, so we are taking our time.  Thinking about it (constantly) and praying about it.  So glad that Don is doing this with me.   The ICD would be surgically implanted and then every 7 yrs they have to surgically open your chest to change the battery as well.  After surgery you can't lift anything over 10 lbs. or raise your arm for 6 weeks.  Doesn't sound too fun, huh?  BUT, if something happened and I had the defibrillator, I would be fine.  We will eventually have to decide if our kids will need it as well (those who are positive).  

This is all very new to me and hard to explain so I hope you understood all of that.  It is a learning process.  I am just so glad I have a couple of sisters to take this road with me!  And so grateful for priesthood blessings, the temple, and the Holy Ghost that have brought so much peace.  Don and I really do feel so much peace.  

Our 15th in CHICAGO!

So... in January, Don and I were hanging out with our close friends, Jeff and Abby, and somehow we got on the discussion of Les Miserables.  Jeff and Abby were absolutely shocked to hear that Don and I had never seen this particular musical.  Almost immediately they jumped on the internet and found out where it was playing and decided that we ALL needed to go to Chicago to see it.  I, the cheapskate, laughed it off and announced that we would not be flying somewhere to go see a 3 hour musical.  Well, Don had other ideas.    When Don noticed that it was playing right during our 15th Anniversary he was not going to let me dismiss this idea for a fun getaway!  He and Jeff started looking seriously into it and began making plans.  He pulled me aside a few days later and told me that we were going and I didn't have any say in the matter.  Of course we got in a big fight...  totally kidding.  I was so excited!  We really never do anything spontaneous like this and after all, it was our FIFTEENTH!  See how I still have to rationalize spending money?  Well, Don booked the nicest hotel I have ever seen (without me knowing, because I would have insisted that we stay some place cheaper).  But, then again, it was only for 2 nights so we indulged!  It was so beautiful and we could not get over the exceptional service.  We felt like royalty.   

You can't tell in the picture below, but the mirror in the bathroom is also a TV screen.  (It wouldn't show up in the camera.)  Super nice bathroom, jetted tub, huge shower.  

We had the best time with our friends!  Yes, it was our anniversary and we could have chosen to be alone for it, but we seriously had a blast with Jeff and Abby.   We hit a few of the Chicago hot spots that people insisted we go to...Giordano's for their famous stuffed pizza, and Anne Sather's for breakfast, including brownie and cinnamon rolls that were to die for!  Here's Don getting ready to eat...

Before our big night seeing Les Mis, we went to dinner at Ben Pao and it was probably the best chinese food we had ever had.  It was amazing.    

So...Les Mis.  I LOVED it!  I seriously cannot believe I have made it to the ripe old age of 35 without seeing this musical.  It was so incredibly moving and beautiful.  Now I am addicted to the music and watch the DVD of the 25th anniversary of Les Mis almost every day.  I love it so much.    

We seriously had the best 3 days!  Part of our adventure included hopping in and out of cabs in the freezing cold and devouring the incredible Garret's caramel/cheese popcorn mix.  One night we went up to the tip top of the John Hancock Building for drinks (lemonade, of course!) and dessert and the most incredible view of Chicago.  We hit the famous Field Museum and saw A TRex movie in 3D.  

Below is the actual T Rex skeleton that was found!  Crazy.  

Our trip was short, but we packed it in and will never forget our time in Chicago.  A HUGE thank you to our good friends who so willingly watched our children for us.  We couldn't have gone without you!!

Love, love, love

Since Valentine's Day was on a Monday this year, it wasn't the most romantic day ever, but we still had fun!  I decorated the kitchen and made heart shaped pancakes before school (which is definitely not the norm for breakfast before school!)

Shift 1: youngest 3 kids are out the door first in the morning.

2nd Shift: Big girls catch the bus a little later.  

I did make some pancakes for me and Don, but we didn't take any pictures.  And trust me, that was a good move.  

I got to help at school for Ryan's and Ethan's class parties and that's always a treat.  

Since Monday night is Family Night at our house, we postponed our date and stayed home with the kids.  And to make things even MORE romantic, the girls had piano lessons and Davis had a basketball game.  It was a crazy night, but I still managed to make a heart shaped pizza and caesar salad and bomb the kitchen in the process.    I love my family.  

Pinewood Derby... Granola Style

Davis' final Pinewood Derby has come and gone.  He got really creative this year and decided to make a granola bar for his car!  I think it turned out pretty cool and he definitely had a fan club rooting for him all night, chanting "Go, Granola!"

Some of his #1 fans included his parents and siblings.  It was an exciting race!

He ended up coming in 2nd place according to how many races he won and he was pretty happy about that!   

Ginger Dee is FOURTEEN

We have a 14 year old!  Talk about feeling old.  We had our traditional "family" party where we showered her with gifts.  Teenage girls are fun to shop for!

Since her birthday was on a Friday, Ginger invited a few friends over for a party from 5 to 10.  Thankfully, she planned all the games and activities.  I just took care of the food.  She requested build your own sub sandwiches for dinner...

Then the girls split into groups and made videos that were hilarious!

Ginger also requested a chocolate chip cookie pizza topped with vanilla ice cream.  (and it was pretty darn delicious if I do say so myself.)  

The girls played all sorts of games and I had fun just listening to their "girl chat".  

Ginger got the wii game Just Dance for her b-day and it was a big hit!  

Another gift was Pictureka and they finished off the night playing that.   I think the girls had a lot of fun!

Mallory & Ginger

Here's Ginge before her very FIRST Stake Dance!  She was so excited (and a little nervous, too!)  Don texted all of the Young Men to remind them that it was his daughter's first dance, to treat her like a lady when they asked her to dance AND to be sure to tell her that she "smells like rainbows".    Well, several boys did just that and Ginger was so confused and a bit embarrassed until one boy finally told her that her dad had told them to say that.  It definitely made for a funny, memorable night!  I waited up for her to return home and she was ALL smiles telling me about every second of her first dance.  One of the highlights of being a parent.  

Happy Birthday, Gingey Girl!  You are an amazingly, wonderful daughter and we love you so much!