Pictures from Thanksgiving....

Here are some photos taken at Thanksgiving time. We went to DC to spend the holiday with my mom (Tacie), brother Jameel, aunt Sonja and cousins. We filled the time with shopping, going to 2 museums and eating. We enjoyed our time there and can't wait to go back...Thank you to all who feed us, and to mom for allowing us to stay in her home. Jameel was a trooper, he gave up his bed and slept at Josh's so that we could stay with mom.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

CAN YOU BELEIVE THAT IT IS ALMOST TIME FOR THE BIG JOLLY MAN TO COME DOWN THE CHIMMNEY? THIS IS BY FAR MY FAVORITE TIME OF YEAR, I LOVE THE SMELLS AND THE SHOPPING, BUT MOST OF ALL THE TIME I GET TO SPEND WITH MY FAMILY. FOR THANKSGIVING WE WENT TO DC TO VISIT MY MOM AND BROTHER, NOT TO MENTION MY AUNT SONJA AND COUSINS. I HAD A BLAST, IT WAS RELAXING AND IT WAS NICE TO BE ON VACATION. NOW OUR FAMILY IS GEARING TO GO TO UTAH FOR THE CHRISTMAS SEASON, AND WE ARE ALL VERY EXCITED.
I JUST GOT OUR FAMILY PHOTOS IN, I WISH I COULD SCAN THEM IN THE COMPUTER BUT THEY ARE WAY TOOO BIG, AND I WAS NOT WILLING TO SPEND THE 600.00 FOR THE PROOFS. I DID ORDER ONE SMALL ONE OF US ALL, BUT THE SCANNER MAKES IT DARK AND I DON'T LIKE IT.
I WILL GO AHEAD AND PUT IT UP ANYWAY, SO YOU CAN GET THE DRIFT. I HOPE ALL OF YOU HAD A GREAT THANKSGIVING AND THAT YOU HAVE EVEN A BETTER CHRISTMAS SEASON.

TOOO MUCH FUN!!!!

-k- so I am the activities leader and the bishop for our ward has asked us to focus on service we have decided to make blankets for the children's hospital 25 minutes away. I went to JoAnne's last night and bought some material and started working on one, then two and then three. I am having so much fun! They are cute, and they require no sewing, the down-er is there is lots of clipping and my hands are cold and sore, but it is well worth it.

Saying goodbye

in the past two and half week the Munns family has been to heaven (Utah) and back. We left on Thursday September 10th with our very good friend Marianne. We drove the bell vehicles back to Utah for them so that they could spend their time in the RV with Shari. It was a great drive, the weather was good, the kids were good and having a great friend made it easier. We decided at the last moment to take the whole family because we felt it would be a long trip and we didn't want to leave anyone behind. We drove the 1700 miles in 13.5 hours the first day and then the rest on Friday. Marianne and Cabot opened their home for us and we stayed with them till Sunday. During that time we were able to visit with Shari one last time, I have written about it in my journal. That night she went into a sleep and was never able to really communicate with anyone again, so I was happy that we got our goodbyes, kisses and hugs. She passed away on Sheldon's and mine anniversary, hard to take at first but it will be someone I will not forget. We stayed till after her funeral on September 22, we did stand by at the airport and all went well. It was hard to leave our family and our close friends but because we are going back in December it makes it alittle easier. The picture above is one Marianne took, because we were unable to go to the grave site. What a brave and loving family they are.... I also included a picture the family gave me before they left, for memories. It isn't the best copy from our printer but it shows how happy they were.

Her name is Shari Bell, she is one of my bestfriends, she is a wonderful person, she is what every women should try to be like, she is filled with the love of God, she is in pain. Why? Because she is dying from skin cancer. I am trying to deal with pain, I am trying to comprehend, I am trying to see how her family is going to go on without her. I am so lost right now, I am writing this not for you but for me, maybe it will help, maybe it will inspire you. It started with a mole on her back two and half years ago, a mole she and I laughed at because it was ugly, it was a mole. This past 10 months it when from being removed to tested to slowely taking her life. I believe anyone close to her went in and had their moles checked, I haven't maybe I should. I have learned in the last 48 hours that her battle is coming to an end, that she is leaving Ohio and going home to Utah to be with her family. In my mind I know that this is what she needs to do, but in my heart I want her to stay here. Since we left Utah 4 years ago I have had a hard time, my nephew died, my grampa died last September and now Shari will return to her home for her final days. I watch from the outside looking in and I wonder to myself can you ever be prepared for something like this? How do you prepare your kids, your husband, yourself? My mind is racing so much that I don't sleep, I can't, I want to but sleep doesn't come. I am not ready to loose my bestfriend, before my surjery we were unsepratable. We were your crafty two, we love to shop, we love to go to lunch. Life is going to change, and with time I know I will feel comfort, but for now the tears don't stop, the headaches are coming on. Heavenly Father her my prayers, let her feel no more pain, heal her family and help her friends. No one should leave before their kids do, not someone so young. Please pray for the Bell family!

Can't get to much of a good thing..

Several pictures for all of you to enjoy, sorry if there are doubles, I can never tell till it's too late. These are of the kids playing with little brother and then just a few of little brother by himself, he is tooooo cute, the camera loves him.

We are back in business

Long time no picture .... sorry about that....but look here they are...
Some are from our last zoo trip, some are of Seth being NAUGHTY and standing in mom's chair, and some of of daddy and his baby.

No new pictures

Ok - so Sheldon had our converter for the camera to the computer, now it is gone. We are going to have to order a new one so that I can download new pics.
Besides that everything is going great. The kids started their softball season with a winning game. Sheldon is coaching again and he will also be playing with the big boys. I don't believe he is coaching for them, but could be very wrong. He usually is their pitcher, we shall see about this year. We have gone against all my better instincts and joined a membership pool. The money you put into these pools is NOT worth it, but since we are staying here this summer I thought WHY NOT! That should keep us busy and the kids will enjoy it, I have decided to hire a nanny for Seth, so that I don't have to chase him at the pool, much easier for me and the kids will have alot more fun this way.
I go in this week to have my labs done again, I am hoping all is well, I am not sure about that though. Haven't been able to keep much food down, not to mention the vitamins I need. I will keep my fingers crossed.
Two more weeks of school and then we are free, I know the kids are so excited.

We are still kickin!

So much has gone on with our family since I last posted. It is the first time in over two weeks that I have been able to sit at the computer for more then 1 minute.
Is is kind of nice to get my life back to somewhat normal.
The biggest news is that I under went Gastric by-pass on the 17th of March. It has been something I have been thinking about for many years, but just now felt that it was the right time. The hardest part is watching Sheldon have to do EVERYTHING. I guess it would be for anyone who had to watch helpless as their loved one, cleaned, cooked, drove kids to sports, worked outside of the home plus take care of a six month old, not to mention take care of me. It has been a very humbling experence, not one that I care to redo. And now let me mention, everyone is sick on top of that.... Recovery is slow, slower then I thought. The kids are big helps and the baby has no clue as to why I can't be the same mommy. I believe I will be all back to myself in the next two week, at least that's what they say.
I will post pictures of the kids at a later date, just wanted you all to know I am doing GOOD! Thank you for your prayers, thank you for the dinners, thank you for babysitting, and THANK YOU for the flowers, I love flowers......they make my day....

MARCH ALREADY?

TIME REALLY DOES FLY....
I GOT TO THINKING LAST NIGHT, AND IT DAWNED ON ME THAT DAYLIGHT SAVING IS HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND..FIRST THOUGHT THAT CAME TO MY MIND WAS: I HAVE A HARD ENOUGH TIME GETTING TO CHURCH AT 9:30 AND CHURCH STARTS AT 9, WHAT MAKES THEM THINK I WILL SHOW AT 8. I HAVE TO CHUCKLE, WE ARE ALWAYS THE VERY LAST PEOPLE TO GET TO CHURCH.
ON A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT NOTE: SETH GOT HIS FIRST TOOTH THIS WEEK, IT IS TOO CUTE. THEN TODAY HE WAS LAUGHING AND I SAW TWO MORE WHITE TEETH POKING THROUGH HIS TOP GUMS. WE CALL HIM OUR MONKEY-MOO, NOW WE'LL HAVE TO START CALLING HIM BEAVER CLEAVER. I HAVE SOME REALLY CUTE PICS OF HIM, I'LL POST THEM ANOTHER TIME. JUST THOUGHT I WOULD WRITE SOMETHING, SINCE I AM A SLACKER....

Valentines coming and going!

The day started out with Sheldon playing ball at the s.s and the kids watching cartoons. Spencer had invited a friend over for the day, and they both played playstation for the whole afternoon. What a good mother I am, making sure "MY" children don't waste brain power. We had purchased each child a gift certificate to Target and a large chocolate frog. Not the most thoughtful things, but then when your kids are these agees the only thing we do know is that they like money. Valentines night was a party at the Munns home.
In the past we have gone out to dinner with friends but since the men don't usually do so hot when it comes to waiting in line and then at the table for sometimes 3 hours, we decided to bring it to our home. We ordered (online) Chipotle, socialized and played games. It was relaxing and fun all at the same time, no one was overwhelmed and did I mention that each couple brought a dessert, that made the night. After everyone had gone home, daddy took a couple pictures of Seth and I together, in one of them I look like I have been drinking, but on my honor I only drank Mountain Dew....

Snow days!

It's now the end of January and the kids finally have enough snow that the schools closed, not for one day, not for two, we are now on our third snow day. Our front yard has about 12 inches of snow and 4-5 inches of thick ice on top of all that. I can't complain, I think it is beautiful, what would winter be without snow? I love having the kids home to entertain Seth so that I can clean, he being at the stage where someone must be right next to him.
As rewards the kids go to the Georges home and sled for 2-3 hours. Not a bad trade off if you ask me.
Sheldon did point out that if this was Utah school would never cancel for just a foot of snow, add the ice and well we just don't know, maybe they would.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SPENCER

Yesterday we celebrated Spencer's 9th birthday. He invited two of his friends over friday night and they played ps2 till midnight and then again in the morning when they woke up. You would think they are sick of ps2, but NO, I guess it's a boy thing. At 1 more boys came over and we took them all to the Kettering Rec to swim, it was the first time Seth has been in a pool, and he seemed to like it. Everyone swam for 4 hours and then we had a church thing to get too. Needless to say, it was a packed day and I know that Spencer and his friends enjoyed themselves.
The kids really like the pictures of themselves entering the water. I failed to get one of Spencer, don't know what I was thinking.....