Resting In Peace

I came home from work to find this in my bed.

Little did Ella know that a dear little friend of hers was resting in peace now too –Max the Dog. On Monday Debbie watched the girls while Lance slept (he worked a double again). Max charged Ella, but didn’t bite her. Ella turned to Grandma and said “Whew that was a close one!” –and didn’t understand what really happened there… Debbie looked at her with sadness and said, “Yes, it was.” She spoke with Donny about it that night, and yesterday when she finally found the nerve, she and Candace took Max to the Doctor’s office to be euthanized. Max snipped at the nurse –which he’s never done, which gave them both a bit of a final indication that something within him wasn’t right anymore.
My heart is broken for Debbie, as Max was the reason she decided to retire, and he was her best friend. My heart is broken for Ella –who has been SO attached to him from the beginning. She still prays for Elvis –my family’s dog, which died almost a year ago. Yet, I do feel safer and better that my loved ones aren’t at the risk they were with the change in his temperament. Not the best day.
Ella and I talked about it last night. Off the bat, she asked “for real?”. I reminded her about how Max started to nip at people –and that it wasn’t like him to do that, so he was sick. I told her that Debbie had a special conversation with Heavenly Father, and it was time for Max to come up to heaven and play with Elvis. She took it well, but we went through a lot of questions about death. Thank God I have a testimony that we go on after this life. I can’t imagine trying to explain something like this without God at the head –as well as looking forward to seeing those we love again someday. Last night as she prayed, she asked Heavenly Father to take care of Max until she “comes up”. We love you, Max.

Go #68!

This weekend we got to go to Logan High School (ah memories) and watch Chaedon play some football! He plays for Logan –go Grizzlies! It was a blast to watch him out there knocking dudes down. It was stinkin’ hotter than blue-blazes, and I ended up under a tree for the 2nd half. I still wound up with sunburn –welcome to the land of non-tanning skin. Ouch!

Donny –my father-in-law came, as well as Candace, Scott, Aneesa and Chaston. All the kids had a fun time running around eating crackers, looking for “rolly pollys” and trying to dip their feet in the canal. Excellent way to spend the day!

:(

I'm siiiiiiiick.

Tonsillitis

Well, if anyone has been wondering where I’ve been, we have a little baby at home with tonsillitis. This diagnosis comes only AFTER taking to instacare on Monday morning –only to pay $50.00 for a quick strep culture, and a general cold diagnosis (ignoring her 104˚ temperature). …This is completely asinine, and believe me, there is an ugly complaint sitting on the manager’s voicemail right now.
* "The worse the mom looks, the sicker the kid" -Trista

So we hit our Dr. office the next day after Mia's fever wasn't going to go anywhere (mind you, we've been doing baths throughout the night trying to keep her temperature in check). The doctor asked me if instacare even looked at her throat... So, we have our tonsillitis diagnosis, we have our Augmenton drugs and hopefully we'll have a healthier baby sooner rather than later.

25 facts about Miss Ella Boo

I was quite inspired by an entry of Peg’s about her little guy and some cool facts about Jack, so I’m gonna totally copy her and let you know some fun and interesting things about Ella.

1- Ella is MISS INDEPENDENT! I’ve said from day one that if she got a hold of my keys, she’d go rent her apartment.
2- Ella is the spitting image of her dad. I don’t see ANY of myself in the way she looks, and frankly, neither does anyone else. Maybe we need a maternity test…
3- Ella is four, going on fourteen. She has the vocabulary to match (and lately, some of it NOT so good).
4- Ella’s favorite colors are orange and blue (what the heck?).
5- Ella doesn’t do “girly” stuff –like jewelry, princesses, or PINK.
6- Ella loves books, and recognizes all her letters.
7- Ella can count to 10 in Spanish, and to around 15 before she starts repeating other numbers!
8- Ella lives for her bed-time routine, which includes (from my perspective):
a. Bath
b. Comb hair (with detangler)
c. Brush teeth
d. Get “fresh water”
e. Read a story (most often Mother Goose rhymes –in which I end up singing most of them, like “Hickory Dickory Dock”, “Baa Baa Black Sheep”, or “Hush Little Baby”)
f. Sing 2 songs (usually “Rock-a-bye” –but with a surprise as to who will “catch Ella, cradle and all) –like Tom and Jerry or Spongebob will do the catching. She also requests tickles ONLY when she closes her eyes, or lays down, or starts to laugh :)
g. Say prayers –me first, then her
h. Tell her I’m proud of her –and if I miss it, she’ll ask if I’m proud of her!
i. Kisses and answer as many questions as she can get out before I’m to the door and getting it closed…
9- Ella has the most BEAUTIFUL coffee brown eyes with lashes that go on forever, but always has crap around her mouth –see picture. :)
10- Ella is learning to use her “l’s” in the right place (i.e. instead of Wogan, we live in Logan, and instead of I wuv you, it’s I love you).
11- Ella has recently started blaming Mia for her toots, and her “excuse me’s” are dwindling.
12- Ella LOVES to be outside, and is a camper through and through.
13- Ella’s favorite show is “Spongebob Squarepants” –which isn’t too bad from an adult perspective, if you have to put up with cartoons anyway.
14- Ella loves old-school-mom-and-dad music, and her favorite songs are:
a. Ring of Fire by Jonny Cash
b. Standing Outside The Fire by Garth Brooks (she digs campfire, and thinks they’re related)
c. Mrs. Robinson by Simon and Garfunkel (my influence!)
15- Ella is bossy (I don’t know where that comes from).
16- Ella will randomly say “Mommy, I love you” –and it’s the most precious thing in the world.
17- Ella can wear any color and look fabulous.
18- Ella knows words to songs after hearing them once, and the same is true for words on pages in books –brilliant!
19- Ella’s wiggle-waggle dance should be charged for viewing –it’s that AWESOME!
20- Ella is VERY bold in pushing the envelope with how much she can get away with, and sometimes her flat “no’s” are almost enough to make me laugh. Almost.
21- Ella is up to my mid-ribs –and will probably be taller than me when she’s full grown (I’m 5’9”).
22- Ella can wink each eye by its self, and can summersault with the best of them.
23- Ella likes to “win the race” and run around the ottoman –however, this is more abundant when we’re cooped up during cold months.
24- Ella is an excellent big sissy –when she wants to be.
25- Ella is my first “little love” and if you can’t tell, I’m crazy about her.

My Name!

HowManyOfMe.com

There is 1 person with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

Little Girls

...From Annie...

Little girls little girls
Everywhere I turn I can see them;
Little girls little girls
Night and day I eat, sleep and breathe them...
I'm an ordinary woman... With feelings...
I'd like a man to nibble on my ear!
But I'll admit, no man has bit!
So how come I'm the mother of the year????Little cheeks little teeth
Everything around me is... little.
If I wring little necks
Surely I will get an acquittal!Some women are dripping with diamonds --
Some women are dripping with pearls --
Lucky me! Lucky me! Look at what I'm dripping with ...Little girls!How I love little shoes little socks
And each little bloomer;
I'd have cracked years ago
If it weren't for my sense of humor!Some day I'll step on their freckles!
Some night I'll straighten their curls!
Send a flood -Send the flu -Anything that you can do -
To little girls!

Some day I'll land in the NUT HOUSE -with all the nuts and the squirrels!
There I'll stay, locked away, until the prohibition of little girls!

I love you girls! :)

Rebecca Fun Facts

(x) Gone on a blind date: Yeah, went with some dude who’d seen me at a party and wanted to take me out to dinner. Had to let him down gently. :)

(x) Skipped school: Only once, as I recall. I was an attendance geek.

(x) Watched someone die: Nope, don’t need that experience.

(x) Been to Florida: YES! Excellent family vacation!

(x) Been on a plain: Yes!

(x) Been lost: too many times. Good thing I’m not afraid to ask directions!

(x) Been on the opposite side of the country: From Seattle to Florida, and from LA to Alaska, and Philadelphia.

(x) Gone to Washington, DC: Yes again –another excellent family vacation. I do remember getting migraines everyday while there, though. I recommend the Holocaust Museum –powerful.

(x) Swam in the ocean: Pacific and Atlantic.

(x) Cried yourself to sleep: too many times.

( ) Played cops and robbers: Nope, but gave guided tours of our yard to interested “tourists”.

(x) Recently colored with crayons: Yes, Ella loves to color –she has me draw Christmas Trees, and she’ll decorate them.

(x) Sang Karaoke: Sang “There Is No Arizona” with Candace at Eagles a few years ago.

(x) Paid for a meal with coins only: my first job was McDonalds, a cheeseburger was a few cents!

(x) Done something you told yourself you wouldn't: Hasn’t everyone?

( ) Made prank phone calls: Nope, not that I remember.

(x) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose: I’m sure I did.

(x) Caught a snowflake on your tongue: Only recently, seeing the lights at Temple Square –it was magical.

(x) Danced in the rain: with Reece.

(x) Written a letter to Santa Claus: With Ella.

(x) Been kissed under the mistletoe: Not that I recall, actually, any takers?? :)

(x) Watched the sunset with someone you care about: No, but it sounds nice.

(x) Blown bubbles: Too many. NO MORE BUBBLES!!!

(x) Gone skating: Unfortunately. It’s not for me.

(x) Been skinny dipping outdoors: HECK NO!

(x) Gone to the movies: Not enuff. I LOVE the experience.

(x) Gone to a drive-in: No, actually.

(x) Gone to the movies in pajamas and slippers, as an adult: Um, no.

1. Any nicknames? Becca, Bex, Mommy
2. Mothers name? Renee
3. Favorite drink? Used to be Diet Pepsi (juice of the Gods) but now it’s tea
4. Any Tattoo's? Nope
5. Any piercing? Only my ears
6. How much do you love your job? Scale of 1-10: 8
8. Favorite vacation spot? Philmont Scout Ranch (as a kid) but now, I’m thinkin’ somewhere warm with a beach….
9. Ever been to Africa? Absolutely no desire to go
10. Ever eaten cookies for dinner? Probably
11. Been on TV? No, with NO plans anytime soon!
12. Ever steal any traffic sign? No
13. Ever been in a car accident? A few too many
14. Drive a 4-door vehicle? Yes, two doors aren’t practical!
15. Favorite salad dressing? Home-made buttermilk ranch
16. Favorite Pie? Pumpkin
17. Favorite number? 45 –I don’t know why!
18. Favorite movie? Meet Me In St. Louis (EXCELLENT flick!)
19. Favorite holiday? It’s a tie between Thanksgiving and Christmas
20. Favorite dessert? Apple Crisp
21. Favorite food? Granny’s baked spaghetti
22. Favorite day of the week? Saturday
23. Favorite brand of body wash? Bath & Body Works Cherry Blossom (thanks Erin)
24. Favorite toothpaste? Colgate Total -gel
25. Favorite smell? Rain & my clean girls
26. What you do to relax? Read or sleep
27. Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Frazzled with teens and tweens!
28. How many siblings do you have? 5
29. Furthest place you will send this message? To all my blog readers, where ‘ere they may be!

Camping with the In-laws!

The weekend turned out fantastically! Yes, Lance and I did make it to Logan Canyon after getting our butts in gear. Lance said he wasn't feelin' spending the first night up there, but I insisted we bring the gear "just incase" he changes his mind. He did, and I knew he would! :) What surprised me was that I did too! I'd planned on going back to Logan for the night with Mia, but we stayed. It was a BLAST!
Mia is a terriffic little camper! There was birch at the campsite -and the fire was warm and long-lasting.
The kids kept themselves busy playing in the river. Here's Aneesa and her cousin (from Scott's family) Quailey.
Debbie!
Left to right: Quailey, Aneesa, Mia (turned around), Chaston, Ella, and Quailey's little sister who came to visit for a few hours, Oakley.
My two eldest. Why does Ella look so perplexed?
Okay, here's the story: Max The Dog was along for the adventure. Apparently for no good reason, Max has taken the "protection" of Mia upon himself to a bit of a serious degree. He snapped at Quailey -right in front of Debbie (his owner/ bff), but didn't get her. It sure scared her though. Later, as Chaedon was talking about how protective Max was being over Mia, he reached into the crib. Next thing I noticed, he pulled away really quickly, and had his hand on his cheek --then blood. Bless his heart, the cut was DEEP! Chaedon tried to "man up" a bit, and say it didn't bug him and that he was alright, but good grief, you can be scared and cry when a dog attacks you! Poor Chaedon. Lance took him to the ER (Miss Caitlin went with them) for stitches. They had to report the incident to the police and everything. It took them several hours. :( Max was chained up for the rest of the campout, and Debbie decided that he doesn't go again without a muzzle. The whole situation is really unfortunate, but hopefully with the stitches, Chaedon won't scar too badly and someday he'll like Max again! He was very cautious the rest of the time there, and wouldn't touch Mia if Max was anywhere close. Chaedon got antibiotics and a Tetanus shot. He had to avoid some activities that would cause him to use a lot of expression in his face -that stopped him from chopping wood, but NOT from having fun with all the kids! What a doll.
My Scotty-Too-Snotty.
Lance and his mom.
Mia-babes.
Chaedon (pre Max-attack) and Caitlin.
Candace and Papa.

So this weekend is supposed to be a big camp-out with the fam-dam-bly –on Lance’s side. It’s in Logan canyon, for two nights. I’ve been chatting with Candace (my sister-in-law, Lance’s sis) about the plans, and she has a list of what my family needs to bring. Lance isn’t working this weekend, so we’d be all set to go… Except… Neither of us is feeling it at all. Perhaps it’s because we’re SO beat from having such an insane schedule this summer. However, quality time with Lance’s parents doesn’t come around too often, and there are a thousand reasons TO be there. Lance worked all night, and will nap when I get home from work today. I’m sure once we both hit “weekend-mode” we’ll both want to get our gear together and head for the hills. In the meantime, for NO good reason, I’m just not feelin’ it. Someone pull me out of my funk, it’s freakin’ FRIDAY!