Golfing With Grandpa

My dad loves to golf. We all grew up with our own golf sets and spent many Saturdays out on the course with my dad. He has taken Shawn golfing before and bought him a golf set for his 4th birthay. However, this last week he decided to attempt taking all the grankids (minus Evan) golfing. He decided it was not possible to actually do a round of golf so they had golf lessons instead. He started with putting lessons, then on to the driving range, then took them to play mini golf. Amy decided to stay and help with crowd control, which my dad was very grateful for. I think he will be taking smaller groups in the future.

I let Evan play for a few minutes while we dropped off Shawn. He was not happy he wasn't invited to stay.



Grandpa with the kiddos

Practicing putting

Shawn eating a treat he got for answering Grandpa's golf questions

This little face was not happy to leave  "Evan Grandpa, Evan Grandpa"

Preschool Envy

A couple weeks ago Evan started crying after we dropped Shawn off at school. He kept saying "Evan backpack, Evan backpack" between sobs. So I found him an old, small backpack we had in the closet. As soon as I put it on him he headed for the door saying, "Evan preschool, Evan preschool". I tried to talk to him about it and distract him, but this is one determined boy. He probably cried close to an hour about wanting to go to Shawn's preschool. Poor kid. It was cute though. :)

Easter 2012

We started the Easter festivities with coloring eggs a few days beforehand. We have never done this with the kids before because they seemed too little. When we told Shawn about it, he just started laughing. What a weird idea. Color eggs. For no reason. He had a blast though and wanted me to cook a bunch more eggs for him to decorate.

I have video of Easter morning and Easter egg hunts, but they aren't downloading right now. I guess pictures will have to suffice.

Checking out a new book

Easter morning before church

Easter Egg hunt at my parents house

Evan was not happy his Easter basket was put up in a tree he couldn't reach

Easter Egg hunt #2 at my Grandparents house. What a great yard they have for egg hunts!

Examining their spoils (which included some cash, thanks to Grandpa J.)

Dinosaur Museum

Shawn's preschool had a field trip to the Dinosaur Museum a couple months ago. 



Evan likes to be up close and personal

I don't even know how many pictures I have with that thumb in Evan's mouth

Sweet face



Shawn making a scary face. One second later he
fell backwards
off this railing, hit his head and scraped up his back



The result of the fall

Snow Day

We took advantage of the only real snow day we had this winter. We headed up to my Dad's house to make a snowman and go sledding. Shawn loved it. Evan hated it.

This snowman melted within three days.

Sledding

As I prepare to go to my OB tomorrow I can't help but think about what I initially made this appointment for. I was approaching the end of my first trimester and was ready to get started on my visits to check on my new baby. Unfortunately I am now using that appointment for a follow up visit from having a D&C last Friday. If my blog was public I wouldn't be talking about this, but since I know everyone that reads this, I feel comfortable sharing. I actually think it will help me to express my thoughts and feelings.

I started having some bleeding and cramping last Thursday evening so we went to the ER where they did some tests and an ultrasound. They sent us home with a "wait and see" diagnosis. However, after going to the restroom the next morning, I knew I lost the baby. I called my doctor, who was going to call me anyway as a follow up from the ER. I told him what was happening and he told me what he found from the ultrasound at the ER. We had definitely lost the baby and had to decide what to do next. After some thought and prayer we decided to do a D&C.

Everything went well with the D&C. My doctor was so kind. We were home a few hours later. Before the procedure and that evening, I was sad, but felt unusually calm and okay. Saturday was a different story. I stayed in bed most of the day, not because I felt bad physically, but because I couldn't get myself to get up. Jon's family came over to visit in the afternoon and I didn't even come down to say hello for at least 1/2 hour. Jon and I decided to go out to dinner while his family watched the kids. Maybe getting out of the house would make me feel better. It didn't. We came home right after dinner. I sobbed the rest of the night. Jon didn't know what to do for me. At one point he was holding me and trying to comfort me and I just screamed at him "We lost a baby and you don't even care! You don't even care!" He didn't deserve it. He was there for me through all of this and was so nice and sensitive to what I needed. He just shows emotions different. I was throwing all my built up pain and sorrow at him. I haven't felt that elephant on my chest, throat closing in feeling since my mom passed away.

I am doing better and the sadness comes and goes. On Tuesday we were heading to Costco and I started to cry. Shawn asked me why I had tears and I told him I was sad about the baby. He said, "Don't think about sad things Mom. I am sad about our little baby dying too, but it's okay, our little baby is in heaven. We will get another little baby, it will just take a lot more days." Then he went right back to teasing Evan. That little boy was inspired to say what I needed to hear.

My neighbor down the street recently bought the new book by Stephanie Neilsen. She's an LDS woman who was severely burned in a plane crash. The book tells her story and talks about how she came through that major trial. Anyway, my neighbor dropped it off the day before all this happened because I had asked her if i could borrow it. It was perfect timing. Reading Stephanie's hardships and struggles really put things into perspective for me and made me very grateful for the blessings and life that I have.

I have definitely learned a lot from this experience. I treasure my boys more. When they are driving me crazy I remind myself how lucky I am to have them. I have learned things never to say to someone that has had a miscarriage. I have learned that dropping off flowers, a card, a treat, a meal means so much and is better (at least for me) than trying to say the right things. I have also learned how much this happens. I knew that miscarriages were pretty common, but I am honestly shocked at how many women have told me they lost one or several to miscarriages. I had no idea. It is awful.

I am so thankful for the amazing support and love I have felt from my family, neighbors and friends. I have such great people in my life. Thank You!

Surprise Getaway

Last weekend Jon and I got my sister to watch our kids for a date night. Jon wouldn't tell me where we were going but said we should dress up a little (not jeans and a t-shirt). Then right before we left he told me I might want to pack a bag. He had arranged for an overnight getaway downtown. He really wanted to pull the whole thing off as a surprise, but could not figure out how to pack a bag for me. Apparently the idea of trying to figure out all my hair, makeup, and clothes needs was too overwhelming.

We walked around downtown for a little while before our reservations at The Roof. The views of temple square from The Roof Restaurant are unbeatable. They have delicious food and even yummier dessert. It was a fun and romantic dinner.

Afterwards I was trying to talk Jon into going to a movie or going somewhere else because we didn't have the kids and could stay out as late as we wanted. He convinced me to go check into the hotel and then decide from there. As we drove in the direction of the Grand America I tried not to get my expectations up. I have always wanted to stay there, but it just seemed too expensive (especially when you can just sleep at your own house 30 minutes away). However, Jon was able to get a great deal through his work so we were both happy. As we drove in I was so excited and Jon said he wished he had the camera to capture the look on my face. I was SO glad he talked me into not going to a movie. As Jon was checking us in I was checking out the lobby with the gigantic flower arrangement that smelled divine and I mozzied (is that how you spell it) on over to the little table with free cookies and drinks. We took our stuff up to our room which had a king bed, beautiful living room, marble bathroom and amazing views of the mountains. Then we toured the hotel. Everything was gorgeous.

The next morning we considered having the breakfast buffet at the hotel, but neither of us were hungry still because of how much we ate at The Roof. Instead we decided to head to Einstein Bagels, but on the way there we passed Backers Bakery, which happens to be my grandpa's favorite place since he was little. It has been in business for over 70 years. I remember getting their cakes all the time for my grandpa's birthday and my cousin Jenae and I would fight over who got the pretty pink flower. How could we not go there for a little breakfast treat.

I am such a lucky girl. Jon is so good to me and really knows how to make me happy. I felt so loved that he would plan a special night away especially when I know how much he hates to spend money. :) What a great husband I have!