The Ring!!

I know I haven't blogged in like 4 months, but I have plans to get it done over the Christmas Holidays. The picture, you ask?

This is the wedding ring I waited for 10 years to get. It was beautiful. When we got married I was told "If you ever find a ring with a diamond in it that you like, we will get it". Well I found it, and what happened you ask?

While we were up in Prescott at a family reunion, it fell off my finger or I dropped it or something. It ended up in the parking lot of the school we had the reunion at. I called Rob's cousin and he searched (probably for hours) and finally found it. This is what he found. I was able to get my homeowners policy to cover part of the cost.

Rob has hence taken it upon himself to design me a new ring. Well, we are working together. So keep checking back for an update on the new one.

More to come....

Yeah Carsen! He finally gets to go to school (Pre-K)!
Katelyn, so happy to go to school. Ask her what she thinks now.

Jacob says 'Why are we taking pictures?'

Updates on Life!

So now... to update you on my life since the last post of the bull.

School has started. I had good intentions of posting pictures of the first day of school, but intentions are all I have. Jacob is now in 5th grade, Katelyn (as she is now called) is in 3rd, and Carsen started Pre-K. The school has had a rough start with the kids only going half days, but have now resumed to full day, except for Carsen. The older two both want to go back to their old school because "this one is too hard", but I am amazed at the growth of knowledge they acquire at this school. I love it.

In September, we had 2 birthday parties and 1 elder's quorum party and I am partied out!

Rob's back was slowly recovering, but since then he has gotten a vertebroplasty where they inject 'cement' into the bone that was crushed. He is feeling about 85% better. I know he was the one hurt, but this takes a huge load off my back, as he can help me more around the house.

He was able to go to the Tenney reunion. I met him put there the day after it started and the following day, lost my wedding ring. The one I waited 10 years to get. I am very sad, but trying to remind myself that it is just a ring and I have what is most important to me.

I keep myself busy with scouts, aerobics 5 times a week, physical therapy for my back 3 times a week, running kids to piano, soccer, scouts, school, planning school parties, transcription, cleaning house, laundry, dishes, trying to finish Bringer, et cetera. That leaves no time to blog, but I'll try harder.

Life is good. I'll work on the pictures.

John remembered

It has been so long since I've posted and this may seem an odd thing to post about, but...

About 4 nights ago I dreamt of dear friend who passed away about a year ago I think (Oh, my Gosh! Sarah Rees Lee reminded me that it was actually 4 years ago. Wow! how time flies). In my dream, we were young again, at some church activity, smiling and happy. Nothing really happened in the dream. It was just him and me and his brother Rob and Jen Bailey and some of the old gang, having a good time.

I have no idea why I dreamt of him, but it brought me to a remembrance of all the good times we had. For those who read this and don't know who he is... This is John!

John was a fun loving, happy, good looking guy whom everyone seemed to love. I always had a good laugh with him around. I knew John through church, though he was maybe a good 3 years younger than me. I was also privileged to work with him at Steak'n Shake for a while. I loved it when we would get to work together. He brought so much fun to the work place.

I remember one time after work, I was supposed to drive him home. We ended up trespassing on the golf course his father managed and 'borrowed' a golf cart and drove around the course together. Then we went to the golf course pool and 'modestly skinny dipped'. After we were done there, we drove over to the elementary school and climbed onto the top of the school building and sat there talking on the roof and watching cars goes by until early in the morning. He was easy to talk to and so fun to be around. Granted, he didn't always make the best choices in life (who doesn't), but he had a good heart and I often smile when I am reminded of him, like in my dream the other night.

So to all those who know him, I hope this brought good memories of him for you. For all those who don't, know that you missed out on knowing a wonderful person. I wish I had a picture to share, but I gave them to his dear mother to be remembered.

I miss you John!

Yeee-Haaa!!!!!!!

Mechanical bull + Rob = Broken back.

Yes, that's what I said. Tuesday night Rob had an after-work party at Cadillac Ranch, a restaurant in Tempe Marketplace. Dutifully taking his turn and after signing the waiver, he got on the bull somewhat boasting that he was raised on a ranch. The restaurant employee took that as a challenge and spun him around a dozen times then wrenched it the opposite direction. Rob flew off and landed on the back of his neck, then his feet flipped over his head. He said he heard his whole spine pop all the way down. He was stunned for a moment a, then rolled over and got up. His back hurt, but he shook it off for a whole couple minutes, then it got progressively worse. He called me to come and get him knowing that he wouldn't be able to drive home. He started losing feeling in his right leg and they eventually called the paramedics. I showed up at the restaurant in time to see him being strapped down to a board. They were taking no chances. I met the ambulance at Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn Hospital.

I waited for approximately 30 minutes (reading the last book in the Twilight series *awesome*) then went back to see him. We waited another 90 minutes for him to get some pain meds. He said it was the most painful thing he had ever felt. He first dose of morphine didn't quite do it for him and they gave him another dose about an hour later. He went for a CAT scan. Then we waited again for the results. My dear friends the Hulls let my kids spend the night so I didn't need to worry about them.

We got the results back and it showed a compression fracture of L1 which is somewhere below the middle back. No surgery is needed thank goodness, but he will be off of work and any stress for about 6 weeks give or take, then 3-6 weeks of physical therapy. He was very lucky.

We had to get his car from the parking lot, so once I knew he would be out for a while, I said goodbye until morning and called my first ever babysitter who is now getting married, picked her up and she helped to drive it to his work parking lot where my other good friends, the Reeds, picked it up the next day and drove it home.

I drove home after that, got about 3 hours of sleep and got up, cleaned up for a while, waited for my kids to wake up. My friend Gina called to ask what was going on. She told me that Jacob was upset, I had him come home. He cried a little and I told him Dad would be fine, it would just take a while to heal. He felt better. Funny how the only time I cried was when I saw him crying. Jacob sure does have a tender heart under all that funny guy stuff.

I got the kids situated with the help of more friends and went back to the hospital. The only reason he couldn't leave earlier was because he couldn't endure the ride home. The Reeds (wonderful as they are) let me borrow their van. We folded all the seats down and put a mattress in the back of it. He was finally discharged at about 4 in the evening Wednesday. He was able to get in to the van and we had a not-so-fun for him drive home. He was able to walk upstairs (I wasn't sure I could carry him), made a bed for him on the floor and he's been there ever since. Our friend Tim Hull installed bars in the bathroom to make it easier for him. We did have to go to our primary doctor the next day, again NOT fun, to get some muscle relaxers. They seemed to help a lot with the pain. So he is just trying to rest now and get better.

I want to thank all the people that have helped us, from our kids, to meals being brought in, to car borrowing, to bars installed, to blessings offered and given, to just plain support and love given. We are definitely blessed to help such a wonderful support group. And also thanks to our Lord and Savior who never gives us anything we cannot handle. I'll update later. Love to all!!!

4th of July weekend

Here we all are at Mom and Dad Tenney's. We were actually winding down the weekend. A most excellent weekend, I must say! Carsen is opening his presents with all his cousins there to support him. I really tried to buy him gifts that didn't entail video games or T.V. and anything electronic. So poor Carsen got mostly books. He loves to read books right before bed. I think he got like 8 books, some toys from cousins and Magnetix. He was happy though, so yippie to me!

One of the funnest and funniest things that we did is pictured here. Candi and Jared had a family reunion up in Idaho and wanted to try out their game they made up on us. This game entailed all the 'brothers' (oh, and Tom Despain) starting out in a circle. The object of the game was to get everyone elses shoes off without yours being taken off. This went on for about 15 minutes. It was hallarious.

Once again showing 'Boys will be Boys'

Here are some cousins playing games. Katie, Logan, Cara, and Tayhlar.

We arrived in Prescott on Thursday night late. The next morning we woke up and filled about 350 ballons with water for the kids to play with Saturday. I wasn't realy excited to get out there and head up the fun. But Uncle Rich took charge and really got into it, a little too much. He started pelting the adults on the porch, adults with babies in their arms. Rich!!!!!

Carsen's 5th!

Yep, It's the 4th of July again and Carsen is a year older. This was actually taken on the 5th, but he'll never know. This is the 2nd attempt at blowing out the candles. The first time Scottie got to it first. Carsen, you need to be faster than the Scottster. We had all the 'Tenney' cousins up in Prescott and we all got together for the 4th and 5th of July. We ate ribs, played games, got wet. Mom and Dad were in Utah and offered their house. It was the best time!

Here we are taking a little break on the bears. Jacob, Katie, Carsen, and Kelsey (my helper).

Here's Mickey!!!

So here we are at Disneyland in the Tea Cups. WooWhoo!

Does size matter?

Just ask these two who are the best of friends. They are a year and a half apart, and a foot and a half in height difference. Jacob started baseball this week. This is his friend Todd at opening ceremonies. Go Rockies!

At the park.

Katelyn got the book 'The Daring Book for Girls' and Rob found her reading atop the jungle gym at the park. She is starting to take after her mother, read anytime and anywhere you can. There is an amazing amount of imagination out there in books. Go find it!

Who cares about Waldo, where's Carsen?

Carsen went missing one day. I looked everywhere and this is where I found him, tucked inbetween the two couches and the little table snoozing away.

Yes, this is for real. Not doctored in any way!

Now, I want you to look at this very closely. You may want to sit down. It may be the only time you will see this amazing footage of my two boys playing together. This happened in close proximity to each other and their mother was amazed. Yes, this is Jacob and Carsen playing amicably with each other. I just needed to document this for all to see.

Our Family Newsletter for 2007

Twas the week before Christmas and Mom you could tell, was getting quite frazzled trying to keep everyone well.

First Dad heaved his guts, spewing all that was fed.

Then Katie with her fever, claiming so close now to dead!

Finally as the wee girl begins to feel well, Now Jacob is suddenly sore vexed with the flu (brought on by school bell?).

Mom, while towel tending, nose wiping and calmative rocking, hoped by her Airborne™ fizzle tabs she’d be blocking, the terrible malaise that has ravaged half the crew, that left the oldest children sick (yeah Dads a kid too).

But shortly after boasting she’d thrice evaded ill’s thrall, Mom now finds herself with fever, cold chill and Doctor call.

So today all but one, cranky achy and morose,look to the smallest (by name Carsen) to be holiday verbose.

Making sure all our love is never, ever left unsaid, “Merry Christmas to All!” he hollers.(Now let’s get to bed.)

Little bit of Christmas

This was Jacob's third present opened and then the opening stopped. I don't think he put this down all day. Nintendo DS, way to go Mom! Fun, fun for Carsen. Hours of coloring fun. No mess for Mom and Dad.
Maybe not one of her favorite presents, but how cute is she in this picture. I think her top pic was a sewing maching from Santa. Hours and hours of fun for her and Mom.

Fun time at Grandmas.

Tenney Christmas Exchange at Ma and Pa Tenney's Tenney grandkids making gingerbread houses. From bottom left to right; Westen's head, Scottie, Logan, Jacob, Cara, (Candi with her new do) and the back of Katelyn's head.
Carsen, Cara, and Katie showing off their houses.
Tayhlar, Tami, and Case working hard on theirs.

Lookin' Good

Ready for the Lifelock Christmas party at the science center! Katelyn's Christmas Dress. Mom made three. One for her and her two friends.

Kareokee Fun

Thanksgiving at the Tenney home. Got some Supa-Stars. The Guys went next door to watch the football game and us 'girls' stayed and sang our hearts out. We had a blast. Ready for more girls?

Camo Boys

Carsen hanging out with Connor on our pre-Thanksgiving trip to help Mandee after her surgery. Note the matching camo.