Friday and Saturday

Friday night our home basketball team played for the district championship (they won!) Jeffrey was in the band so we planned to go and be there by half time to see him play in the drum line (we had the scout banquet before that and half time was about the soonest we could make it.) Friday afternoon our plans changed slightly because my sister, Danna, her husband David and their family were at my parents'. My mom called to see if we could come down. Since we had all this going on they decided to come and meet us at the game in Pocatello. It was so fun to have "company" to hear the band and cheer the team! David, Hope, Sarah, Danna, K.J. and Drew.Mom and Dad Alexa, Camille, Ellie Brandon found his friends to hang out with during the game. We had a little incident with Mary. Danna noticed that Mary had left. Dennis went after her and found her out the door, down the stairs and inside the opposite door on the floor. She was not at all interested in sitting to watch the game!The band sounded great and the drum line was awesome! After the game we went down to Whitney arriving about 11 p.m for some late-night visiting. The next day Hartlines headed back to Colorado. Dennis, my dad and I went to Lewiston, Utah and picked up some meat for us and Darcee. A little later Darcee, Tom and 3 of their kids came. We enjoyed lunch and a little visiting time. Then we headed home.

We sure had a fun time!! !! !!

Baby Steps

I have been trying to create a baby journal for Alexa by going through my journals and old notebooks and extracting from them tidbits of information that I wrote about her. (I feel bad that as an overwhelmed mother wrote precious little.)

While searching I found the following that I had jotted down around September or October 2001, the year Alexa was born. It seems even an overwhelmed mother can be blessed with a little insight.

Lessons I'm Learning From my Baby
Thoughts about a parent/child relationship especially as they relate to Heavenly Parents and my ability to grow and become.

1. She's happy.
2. She trusts me. She knows I will take care of her needs.
3. She loves me. I love her too, more than she knows.
4. She has potential she can't understand yet.
(While she has feet and hands we never scold babies such as, "You have feet and hands, use them!" This makes me think that I too have potential that is unknown to me and Heavenly Father is loving in his guidance to His children.)
5. She's patient. She is happy with what she can do right now. But also she is continually trying out and discovering new things--learning and growing everyday.
6. She has confidence in herself.
7. She doesn't care what people think. She is just herself and we all love her because she is who she is.
8. She gives back all she can and it is enough! Is there anything sweeter or more rewarding than a smile from a baby?!
8. She needs me--even every hour.

Sunday

We had such a fun day yesterday! We went down to Uncle Paul and Aunt Linda's mission report. (We are glad we finally found the right church--we thought they still went to the Weston church, where they have been for a million years! After someone gave us a program and we did not see their names there it explained why we were the only ones besides the ward choir in the chapel at 10:45! We asked a nice lady and she told us they go to the Linrose ward that meets in Dayton.) Uncle Paul and Aunt Linda gave a very nice report of their mission in Salt Lake and then we went to their house for dinner. It was fun to see my cousins who I have not seen in a hundred years. In addition to lots of fun visiting, I received a much needed boost in a couple of ways.

First, I was bolstered up to find out how mindful my extended family is of me. I should not be surprised because they are wonderful in every way. But I just did not know how much! In particular my cousin, Tami was so sweet. She had told her kids that we would be there and they were excited to meet the lady they pray for everyday. I was so touched that tears sprung to my eyes when she told me. And then the cutest thing, her son who is 6 asked her if they would get cancer if they met me. =) (Thank goodness it is not contagious!) All of my uncle's family was so very sweet and it was wonderful to catch up briefly on how everyone is doing these days.

Second, I was considering taking a break from blogging for awhile. I had nearly let my insecurities get the better of me. It is not easy for me to put things on display this way! I weigh everything I put on here--and I mean I really weigh it and go over and over and over it all. (Is what I have said dumb? Is is weird? Would this offend anyone? What would so and so think? Did I punctuate correctly? and on and on.) Wears me out sometimes. But several of my cousins told me how much they love to read my blog. So I decided I can keep going. Thanks so much guys because even though it is hard, I do enjoy blogging.

After dinner we went to my parents' house. Mary must not have known where we were headed because when we got right in front of their house she said, "Wait a minute....[fast incomprehensible jabber]...Grandma's house!!"
Grandpa and Jeffrey reading the funnies.
Grandma and Drew

Dennis got a few minutes' snooze before the trip home.

Even moms can have fun with letter magnets.

Who can use up every single letter available? Me me me!

(Could be a fun FHE activity!)

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Love One Another

Love One Another

Click above to view a sweet little video.

Shop Work

We went to Hamer last weekend. The Suburban needed some work. We got a new door handle on the driver's door. Now we can open it from the inside, which is always nice! They also did other maintenance things. We had an enjoyable time with Dennis' dad and brother. I was planning to take more pictures but this is all I ended up getting!

Random Thursday

I love Thursdays! It could possibly be my favorite day of the week. I am in a great mood and maybe even feeling a bit silly. Here is what up today. Random thought #1: Here is my littlest monkey in outfit #1 for the day.
#2. Two batches of bread.

#3. A new dishwasher. Our old one quit cleaning. We have nursed it along for years and I'm so happy that we finally got rid of it! Meanwhile, when Dennis was hooking up the new one he broke the hot water pipe for the kitchen sink. #4. So my bread was made with hot water from the microwave. Drew was playing Wii Fit while the plumber was here to fix the pipe and the plumber asked, "Is that one of those Wii Fits?" (he could hear the music.) He said he had one too. I found it rather amusing (of coursed I just laughed to myself) that the plumber has Wii Fit. Okay, sorry.

#5. In the picture above, Mary was in transition between her 2nd and 3rd outfits. At present she in her fourth.

#6. Yesterday Mary and I drove past the church. Mary said, "There is the nursery!"

#7. Brandon signed up to help with Relay for Life. He is so excited. It makes me happy he wants to do that.

#8. Drew cleans up his room and makes his bed everyday. I love it!

#9. Jeffrey is getting glasses again. He is excited. So am I. They should be in by tomorrow.

#10. Camille went to a birthday party yesterday. She was late for the party because of her piano lesson. After her lesson I took her to it and they opened the door I heard a great squeal but I did not realize what I was hearing. I was backing out of the driveway and I slammed on the brakes because it sounded like I had hit a cat--scared me to death! It was just the girls in the house screaming, excited that Camille was there!

#11. Alexa is in the newspaper today as student of the week. I had to fill out a paper last week about her and she would only say she wished there was no school and she did not have any favorite thing about school etc. Thankfully her teacher doctored up her responses a bit! Here is what her teacher said about her: "Alexa is a pleasure to have in class. She works really hard and always puts forth her best effort. Alexa is nice to everyone and always has a good attitude." Very nice.

#12. I just finished making some cards for Dennis' dad that he wanted. I had lots of deep thoughts as I was making them. There are several designs I made but here is one:

Have a happy day. I know I will!

Love

Homework

Drew likes to do his homework.
Mary likes to do her "homework" also.

Everyone is happy!

Chemo Day

We saw the doctor and I got chemo yesterday, and in spite of it all, it turned out to be a fun day. We took Drew with us and Dennis' dad came for a visit! While I was getting started on chemo they got us some lunch at McDonald's. Then we played a few games and visited. We had a great time!After chemo I came home and went straight to bed. I also slept in until Dennis left for school this morning. I feel queasy and will take it slowly today. I'm glad I don't have to go anywhere.

In honor of a great lady who gives me hope (and has a much, much harder life than I do), I am going to list a few blessings of my many blessings.

1. Last night Dennis came home after chemo (sometimes he has to back to school after he brings me home) and I could go lay down and did not have to worry about anything.

2. Dennis is taking over finding childcare on the days I have chemo. It has become overwhelming to me to find someone to tend and get Drew on the kindergarten bus. I feel like a huge burden because people have already helped me out so much.

3. I know my mom is at her home waiting for a decent hour to call me to see how I'm doing.

4. I overheard my kids praying for me last night to get feeling better.

5. Dr. Dickson is the best. We talked a long time yesterday about what being on chemo indefinitely means and I came away feeling that everything will be okay.

6. The chemo I'm on lets me keep my hair. I've learned that I can handle anything if look normal. It makes me happy.

7. Life is good. I have so so so so many blessings. I know that Heavenly Father is there and watches over me and my family. I hope I can always remember something I read in Neal A. Maxwell's biography. Paraphrasing: Life is hard. But we need to be able to drink the bitter cup without becoming bitter.

It is my constant prayer.