Rockin' Out!

Yesterday for 6 hours, we were rockin' out to "Rock Band"! Dana's sisters, Ivy and Liza brought over this amazingly cool PS2 game that has a drum set, 2 guitars and a microphone, and you are the ROCK BAND! It plays really rockin songs, and each member plays a different instrument and one sings. Talk about fun! I was shocked at how much fun I had- I knew Dana and the kids would love it, but I am not really a "karaoke" kind of girl, since I can't sing, so I wasn't all into it, at first...but once I grabbed the mic, it was all good! True, I can't sing the correct notes, but all it reads is the intonations and the lyrics, so I did really good- I even got 100% on a song I had never heard, and "Serious Skills" on "Wanted Dead or Alive" from Bon Jovi- I think Jon would've been horrified to hear the sound, but the game loved me!! I went on to try the bass guitar, and did fairly well on that too...but the most fun by far was watching Alex rock it out! He quickly picked up the singing, and then fell in love with the bass guitar. He was really good, and by the end of the 6 hour tour, he had mastered the "easy" level on several songs- I was a proud rock band mama! So cute! Dana thoroughly enjoyed the guitars and loved feeling like a rock star! I really think that he felt like a true rocker and he was really good too! Thanks to Ivy, we will probably have to invest in this at some point, but for now, the memories are awesome! Check out these pics of us Rockin' Out! Oh, but don't look for demo's anytime soon!

Eye-Opening Update/Alex scores to win!

I have finally received the rest of Leah's bills from her eye surgery and I am so amazed at what Doctor's charge for things. Here is a quick rundown for fun...
Visit to assess the eye-$350.00
Determination of Chalazion needing removal included in that cost- oh and eye exam $55 which insurance doesn't cover! lovely.
Surgery Center-$1684.00
Dr. Roger's to remove chalazion -$1050.00
Anesthesiologist- $252.00
Grand Total of:$3336.00
My cost- this is what I think is crazy- $452.81
Having the chalazion somewhat gone, is that really priceless, or would it perhaps have gone away on it's own? Looking at my adorable daughter's smile and not her eye, now THAT is priceless- am I vain, or what?!
Seriously, I think insurance should've covered it entirely, for as much as we pay them! I am not that happy that I now have to dole this amount out to the Surgery center and anesthesiologist...here is a list of who gets what from us:
Dr. Rogers (who I really like and who is LDS), $99.64
Surgery Center (where she was treated like a princess for all of an hour and a half)- $158.30
Anestheiologist (who used just the right amount of meds so she woke up happy!)- $194.87
What am I going to do? I can't not pay it, I did take her and ask them to remove it, right? She is much happier now, and can now have full vision, as the chalazion was weighing down her eyelid. The true test is to prevent more from appearing by scrubbing that lid daily, and praying that we don't ever have to deal with insurance that doesn't pay much for a beautiful little girl's eye!

I have to be grateful, though, grateful that we have competent doctors and nurses and wonderful drugs in these latter-days to perform these surgeries! I am, I just wish I could figure out why it costs so much! Perhaps they have bills they need to pay with my money! That's it!!

Today was Alex's last basketball game and their first win of the season!! Very exciting! They had some really close scoring games, but this time we really won- 38-10! Alex scored 6 points and shot really well! He actually drove the ball down several times, but hit just 3, we are very proud, and it feels really good to win!! I am glad they pulled off a win, there is nothing like being in a losing season, so this felt great to these boys! Alex really had fun today, and here are some cute pics- Isn't he the cutest little basketball player? I love the running shot! GO TIGERS!!
Alex awaits the ball to be thrown to him, and gets an assist from the next play!
He is fighting for the ball in center court- he got it and then got another assist!
This is when he took it to the hoop and scored his last basket of the game!
Taking his time making it to the other end of the court.

Chapter 32

Well, I just got back from looking at a house that I thought would be perfect for us! I had seen pics online and couldn't wait to see it...4 bdrms, 2.5 bath, fenced yard, deck, island in kitchen, huge master bdrm with walk-in closet and great location! This house looked perfect in black and white photos! Aha! Not in person! Not even close! Oh, the outside looks nice, wouldn't you agree? But up close, a different story. I was so disappointed from the moment I stepped in the front door- I knew immediately this was NOT the house for us! The carpet was disgusting, the kitchen linoleum was hideous, the trim was tacky oak, and the basement was not only not finished, but had insulation hanging all over it! I was sad, but only because it was a great price, and it was even on a cul-de-sac, which is something I really like. Oh well, I feel bad that the agent spent his time on us- it was a really snowy day, and the poor guy even went over and shoveled the driveway for us- oh, the house is empty, and now I know why!! I am not discouraged, and I truly believe that if we are meant to move, it will happen when it is supposed to happen.

SO, an update for you that commented about our move, and thank you for your thoughts, by the way! We have known for a while now that CES is not coming to hire us for out West. As sad as we were, we know that someday we will get there, but it is not going to be now or anywhere in the near future. That said, we have to move either this year or next anyway, since our 7/1 arm will be up! The interest rates are so low that we could easily afford a bigger house. Reyn. has been great for us in that Dana's job is pretty secure, so I think we will stay here a while, perhaps 10 years or so...there is potential that it will be a longer time frame than we originally thought. Not that we both want to stay here forever, but our job is #1 at the moment, and we can't really leave all that we have in that and try to move somewhere else that doesn't offer all we have here. It is not all about the money, either, we have great benefits, and I truly love the schools here. I could easily change Wards, but I love being somewhat close to my family...this is not an easy decision, but a necessary one. By necessary, I mean that we HAVE to move sometime- sometime within the next 18 months! So, if this is the right time, our house will sell, and if it is not, well then we will wait till the time is right. We literally had the Lord's hand in our selling of the condo prior to moving here, and that was not when I thought we would move, so that tells me that Heavenly Father knows more than me and can see the bigger picture, when I can't. I have faith that whatever is meant to be, will be, and we will just do our part and stay on the straight and narrow, and "things will work out, they always do", as our beloved late Prophet President Hinckley always said. I am grateful for that!
From Katie's blog today, I saw that she loved 2 of the American Idol men, that I thought were terrific last night, too. I really like the young boy, David and I like the other David as well.
I am anxious to hear the girls tonight! What a great show, my children can watch, and it is fun!!

Chapter 31

To move or not to move...that is the question...that is what is on my mind today...it has been on Dana's mind so much lately that it has become the "question for days". I am not sure how I feel about it all together. It would only be a little move- probably only about 4 miles away...but a move is a move in all respects...and I am certain that it will fall on my shoulders, as did our last one! The thought of packing up all our crap and de-junking through it all sounds so daunting. I am not sure I am up to the task. BUT, the thought of getting a bigger house for not much more is nice...BUT we still have to sell ours and that could be the answer to the question at hand. I think we have a great house, and many advantages to selling quickly...ie, we bought this house after it was on the market just 6 days! We live on a fairly traveled street and there are no other houses like ours that have sold in over 2 years. That is good for us! That means we could be in a higher demand type house. We have a 4 level split, and that is a desired type house for some folks, (us, 3 1/2 years ago!), and so I think we could sell, but can we sell and be able to walk away, that is another question! Tell me what you think, I would like to know anyone's thoughts on the matter! Thank you!


By the way, today has a significance to it...Dana came home from his mission in Chile exactly 10 years ago today! I got to see him for the first time in 2 years that day, and it was so nice! I remember wanting to hug him so much, but still couldn't until later that night when he was released- that seemed longer than the 2 years he was away! Talk about torture!!


He looked so tan and his hair was so blonde- he was smiling through the tears and I will never forget the emotions on his face- it was a tender moment in time for him and for his whole family. I love this day, and exactly two months from today, we will celebrate our 10 year anniversary- now that seems crazy! I can hardly believe it! What's even harder to believe is that we have 3 kids and our oldest will be 8 a month from today! If you don't stop and take time to breathe, life sort of passes you by...I will be breathing today!

Desperate Housewives we are not!

Last night I went to a get together with 3 of my dearest friends from High School. Renee, Wendy and Angie all graduated the year before me, but we hung out all the time, and we have gotten together a few times a year since then! They are amazing women, and I cherish the times we get together. Last night was no exception- we arrived around 5:30pm at Renee's, and ate a really good dinner, followed by really good desserts! We just sat around the table from then until around 1:15am, when we decided it was finally getting late! Seriously, I was not even tired! I could hang out and talk with them until dawn! I know what you are thinking, "Kelly, hang out with girlfriends and talk all night?, Yeah, right?!" Well, I could and I would if I didn't have a crazy family at home waiting for me, we all want to stay late, we don't get out that often! ! We love this night, and look forward to the next time!

Which brings me to my title today, "Desperate Housewives we are not!" Renee is a mom of a 9 year old girl- wow, that sounds old!! Just kidding! I have known her longer than I have known Angie or Wendy, and that is because we were cheerleaders together. I met the other two soon after that. Renee is a hair stylist and has always cut and styled all of our hair (even at her wedding, which we were all in, she did our hair too!!) She is amazing and I am grateful to have had her friendship for 18 years now! Her mom is so wonderful, too, and has been such a great mom to me through the years! Wendy is next, she has 2 little ones, and we share many fun dates in our lives. Example, her birthday is the day after mine, she was married 3 weeks after me (I was in that one too), her daughter's birthday is 2 days after Leah's and her son's is 2 days after Celeste's! She married Bill, our friend from H.S. (they played Saxophone together) and they are really great! Wendy is by far the nicest of us all-her house was the one we hung out at the most during those years, and her parents are really fun, too! She works 3 jobs!! Yes, 3 jobs- she stays so busy, that we are so grateful she makes time for our get together's. I am pretty sure she is grateful for them too, since she came straight from work last night. Angie is a mom of just one precious little 3 year old girl! She is so funny, and keeps us laughing so hard that my stomach hurts! She is "quick witted" and always knows the right things to say to make something funnier! I love her! She is married to a really adorable younger man, who is incredibly handy and generous, (he came over after a really late night of work, to help us fix an electrical problem, all because we are his friends), she is really lucky!! I, of course stay at this crazy house with my crazy kids all day, and so the stories we tell, are really something! Our husbands just don't understand, and I am sure they never will, how we can stay talking about whatever till whatever time...it is just part of our friendship, and I love it!

We got to talking about the new shows that are out that have these sexy working women who have all kinds of drama in their lives...we want to know when we are going to get our own show- they want drama, we got drama!! We got history together and last night we broke out 4 years of H.S. Yearbooks, so we could laugh even more! Oh, and did we laugh! I don't think I have laughed that hard for that long in YEARS! It was so fun! The trips down memory lane were of incalculable value- we even read what we had written in Renee's year books! How funny! Each year mine is signed, "Love Always, Kelly", followed, by, " I love _____!" Each of the them have a different guy's name!! Oh, that is funny! We laughed about the "Spanish Club" group photo we were all in- there wasn't even such a group! We made up that, and they were even on the "Polo Team", another non-existant group! We were all on the Yearbook staff, which is great since we posted lots of pictures of ourselves! ( I went on to be the editor of mine my Senior Year, and put lots of pictures of me and my friends) We laughed at how they were all 3 "Office helpers"! What the heck do office helpers do? They didn't know! We of course laughed the hardest at our hair, clothes and Angie's blue eyeliner! Those were the days! Someday I will post some of those fun pictures, but you would laugh so hard you might pee yourself, and I don't want to do that to you, so I am refraining for your benefit! You can thank me later!

So, as the wee hours of the morning appeared, Angie and I head out...but of course we stay outside and chat for a few minutes longer...so the night continues. We have stayed much later before, and one of these days we are staying the entire night! We won't even sleep! Apparently not that much has changed since High School! Except that we are all so thankful we don't dress or look quite the same! That is a blessing for us all-you readers included!

Happy Valentine's Day!

I love Valentine's Day! I love all the hearts, the pink and the sweetness it brings out in people! I woke up this morning to find to beautiful handmade cards from Leah and Alex on my pillow. They are so sweet and perfect!

I bought them new shirts for Valentine's Day- they weren't too thrilled, but I assured them that was a better gift than candy! Did they buy it? Um, no...but they weren't terribly disappointed, either- they get candy ALL the time, and Grandma will make sure they get more for the holiday!

The girls wanted to blow kisses to everyone for Valentine's Day, so here you go...love to you all!

What kind of fruit are you?!

I Am a Strawberry

You are friendly, outgoing, and well liked by many people.You are popular, but there's nothing you ordinary or average about you. You a very interesting person, and you have many facets to your personality.Sometimes you feel very conflicted. Your different sides of your personality pull at you. You are a very sensual and passionate person. You are fiery... you can't help it.In general, you keep your passionate side under wraps. You are only wild in private. What type of fruit are you? Are you as sweet of a fruit as me?!

Chapter 30

Here we are again on Monday! I really don't like Monday's! Have I mentioned that before?! Mondays are my start to the week, and it seems like they last the longest of all the days of the week for me! The highlight of Mondays is I get to watch Prison Break- my breakaway from my world hour! I so love that show, and there is only one episode left this season! Not fair, not fair, not fair! For those of you who don't watch it, you are missing out! Not only are the characters really good looking, they are actually really good actors, and the script is so good! I will have to find something else to be my hightlight after next Monday- bummer! Thank goodness the writer's strike ended today, now there is bound to be something better on tv than American Gladiators! Now, that is something to look forward to!

On a lighter note, we are all feeling much better in our house, and we are looking forward to playgroup tomorrow and Valentine's Day later in the week! I made yummy sugar cookies today, and we are taking them to playgroup if I don't eat them all tonight! They are THAT good! Thanks to my friend Tiffany who willingly surrendered the best recipe EVER for sugar cookies! I only share with those I love, so email me if you think you are one of those and want the recipe!

I talked to my best friend that lives in Arizona last night, and I am soooooooo excited because she is coming to visit in July!! I haven't seen her since July of 2006! This was in 2003- she was pregnant, I was not, but nearly everytime we have seen one another, one of us was either with child, or had just delivered...she still looks amazing no matter which! I love her! We try to see one another once a year, but sometimes it just doesn't work out that well...like last year- she flew into here while we were on vacation in South Carolina!! She even borrowed our car, but I didn't get one second of her time- it was so sad!! But this year, I will get 2 whole days with her! So great! I am very excited and now I have something to look forward to this summer! Oh, and it's 78 degrees there, and 9 here- how unfair is that?! We could even get 6 inches of snow tonight! That means a snow day for my kids, and another day stuck in the house- good or bad? It would be great if I hadn't been inside for the last week! I need to get out!! I guess I will have to find something to do indoors tomorrow...that means I will post here! Lucky you!

Uh Oh Update...

I think the camera is going to be okay!! I let it dry out all day and night, and when I put the batteries in this morning, viola- it turned on!! I even took a picture to be sure!! I need to reset all the settings, but I think we might be okay! This is what my gorgeous tulips look like today...all open and in full bloom- so beautiful!
Update on our illnesses:
Alex, still down with a cold- I think the strep is going away, but the cold virus is ever present.
Leah, napped for over 4 hours this afternoon, but she ate dinner, and says she is feeling better-let's hope!
Celeste is bad...she was probably only awake for 3 hours the whole day! She and I slept together for the majority of the day... it was so nice to snuggle with her-she only wanted me, and I loved it- I just wish we both felt better and she was that snuggly all the time!
Me- this is awful! I have a splitting headache and the sinus pressure is nearly unbearable- I hate being sick!! I took Sudafed and Ibuprofen and they didn't even touch my headache! I feel like I got hit with a Mack truck on my forehead! This is so not fun!
Thank goodness for a non-sick husband who has done everything that needed to be done today for me! I am so thankful that he did it all and took care of us sickies!
Let's just say a prayer that he doesn't get whatever we have!!

Uh Oh!

I went to take new pictures of my now opened tulips for the day, and found out that the camera is not working! I saw it fall a day or two ago, though it was in its case, but apparently that was enough, because it will not even turn on... Bummer...I guess I will have to send it to be repaired...so that means no more pictures until further notice...I am sad...it could be worse, and there is good that could come out of this...I could get a NEW camera! Not so bad, right?!
Update on family illness, for your information:
Alex's strep kept him home for 3 days! He probably won't even play in his game Saturday morning...it is not fun!
Leah woke up today with a tummy ache, and she is laying around, though she had no other symptoms.
I have been sneezing all day, and Alex and I have used up two whole boxes of kleenex's!
What is goin' on?!
February has not been a fun month, yet! I am hoping next week will be better!!
I took these before the camera died, and wanted to post them of the bath baby...isn't she cute?!