Day 120-Playing with Dolls

It's no secret... Tate loves playing with baby dolls and I allow it... He's always had baby dolls around but lately I've really encouraged him to play with them. You see recently Tate's been making friends with rocks (that's right). I've found him on several occasions having conversations with them. He's made one of them his pet, he calls it Roxy. He even went so far as introducing it to 2 Grandmas and a Great Aunt. You can see why I've tried to encourage the doll thing, at least they look more real:) So the next time you come to our house, don't be surprised if Tate asks you to play dolls with him. I know that Lily and Emma didn't mind one bit.

Day 119-I'm Done Sarah!

My sister in Law Sarah suggested I read this book, and lent it to me several months ago. I just finished reading it last night and I loved it! I just wish I had more time to read. Sadly it is not a priority for me in my life right now and so I don't do it very often.

Day 118-Freedom

Tate is LOVING his newly acquired freedom of being able to play in the backyard when he wants to and without Mommy, and I'm LOVING having a backyard again!

I was thinking today that my most frequented phrase has got to be "Tate, where are you?" Tate is very good at responding to me when I ask him. Well, today while I was working in the kitchen, Tate peeked his head in the house without me calling him and said, "I'm in the backyard". I don't know why but I just thought it was hilarious. As I'm writing this down it sounds pretty lame, but it was really funny to me for some reason.

Day 117-Fun FHE

I LOVE it when Bryan gives the Family Home Evening lesson. He always does such a good job and makes it fun and entertaining for Tate. For some reason, Tate is always so captivated by Bryan's stories and he holds still for at least twice as long as when I give the lesson. Last night Bryan told the story of Jonah. He related it to us and how we can choose to either run away from our problems again and again or we can decide to make a change. He and Tate made this cute little whale for our activity.

Day 116-Dirty Fingers and Toes

With the move, Tate's showers and baths have been very much neglected. You can see from the picture just how nasty his toe nails have gotten. I'm happy to say that he was given a bath this morning and is clean at last!

115-Car Towed and Benefit Concert

As I wrote in my previous post... my Sister in Law Carrie spent the night at our new house last night. This morning when I woke up, I heard a loud noise. I got out of bed and looked out my bedroom window and saw that Carrie's mini van was gone! At first I thought that maybe she had left to go to the store or something and hadn't wanted to wake me. So I went into the guest bedroom to look for her and finally found her in Tate's bedroom with her kids. I told her the bad news about her car being gone, and then we both kinda started freaking out together. Then it occured to me that maybe her van could have gotten towed instead of stolen. So, Carrie called the police and they let her know that her car had indeed been towed. They also informed her of a very crazy HOA policy. Supposedly our new HOA has a contract with this towing company where they make routine drives throught the neighborhood between the hours of 2 AM and 6 AM. They make note of vehicles parked in the street and then at 7 AM, if the car is still there, they are allowed to tow the cars away without any warning. Then in order to get the car back, you are required to pay for the towing fees. They said that being a weekend she would need to pay extra fees to get her car back. I think that the total ended up being $255. Isn't that just wrong? Since she has 4 kids to get around-car seats and all, there is no possible way she can go without her car. So, she basically had no other choice but to pay for it.

Tonight was the benefit concert for Christian & Stephanie and my Mother. It was pretty fun. We got to get a picture with the Phoenix Suns Gorilla so that was cool!

114-Major Cleaning Day

After moving in, we went to put our stuff away and we soon discovered that the new house was completely filthy. I guess I should have thought to check in detail if it was ready to be moved into. Oh well :) Live and learn. I mean, I knew that there was still stuff to be done, but nothing this bad.

Friday night the girls in my family all came over (since the boys had Father's and Sons Outing) and they helped me clean up a lot. Together we got so much accomplished. I know that I'm indebted to them for a long time now. You should have seen some of the nasty stuff they cleaned. My SIL Carrie and her kids spent the night and we stayed up past midnight cleaning.

113-Moving Day

{Here is a really bad snapshot of one of the rooms in our house that is loaded with boxes ready to be unpacked}

We are officially moved. I am soooooooo happy to be back in a house! I am very appreciative of the 9 men who helped us move. We couldn't have done it alone-seriously. It wasn't an easy thing bringing boxes down the stairs of our apartment. Also lowering the couches down over the balcony didn't look very easy either (I just watched and prayed that no one would get hurt). Unloading at the new house went a lot quicker than loading did, mainly due to the fact that I tried to label every box's contents with perfection as to what was inside and to which room it should be put in. It was definitely worth it!

Just a friendly reminder...

Yes, I am planning on going to this benefit concert Saturday night. It's going to be amazing, and moving won't stop me from attending! Hope to see you all there!

Day 112-Soccer Break

Today has been another LONG day packing. I thought that Tate couldn't last another moment working in the house... and then Bryan came home!!! Yeah for Daddy's! Tate was more than happy to go play ball with Dad for a little break. I also took a very quick break (as you can see from the blury picture) to succeed in keeping up with my "Photo a Day". Alright, now that I've posted this... It's back to work for me.

Day 111-Packing

Well... Packing is officially underway. We are moving tomorrow-YEAH! My SIL Kristy was so kind to watch Tate yesterday so that I could get started. I think I got a whole 18 boxes packed during the time she watched him-woo hoo. Hey, any progress is better than none:) I'm getting very excited about the new house and I can't wait to be moved already.

Day 110-Monday Random Happenings

• 
  
  
  
• Bryan and I went to Parent Teacher Conference at Tate's preschool this morning. His teacher was so pleased with the progress he's made. For example: At the beginning of this school year Tate supposedly knew only 6 letter sounds (Although I think that he knew a few more than that), he now knows all 26. She said that Tate is extremely social with the other children and she called him a social butterfly.
• This afternoon Tate and I went to the lake. He spent a lot of time climbing trees. Tate has no fear and would climb to the top if I let him. I enjoyed taking pictures of him climbing. The lighting wasn't that great, but oh well.
• Tate's lab work came back this afternoon and his tests were consistent with a bacteria infection. So hopefully the medicine that he's on will help fight that off. I'm so relieved to know that it isn't something more serious.
• The house we are going to be renting is almost finished being remodeled. It's looking really good! I promise to post pics soon. We are planning on moving sometime this week. I haven't even packed one box yet. Living out of boxes is not something I enjoy, so for that reason I'm procrastinating until I know for sure that the house is ready:)
• I love Mondays because that's the day that our missionaries-Andrea (Bryan's sister) and Thomas (my brother) write emails home. They are both in the same mission (Tacoma Washington) and for a while they were even in the same area. Isn't that just crazy cool?
• Tate's letter to Thomas this week was really cute and random. It said, "Hi Uncle Tommy. I like you and James. I love Maria and Grandpa and your family too. Being a missionary is true. My primary loves me so much. I learned about apples and crackers yesterday. I'm done". From Tate

Day 109-Cheryl Blankie

When Tate was just a little baby, Aunt Cheryl made him this adorable blanket.

It has always been and still is his most favorite blanket. He calls it his "Cheryl Blankie". He snuggles with it every night. I don't know what he'd do without it. Thanks Aunt Cheryl!

Day 108-The Never Ending Job is Finally Finished!

This is a very exciting day... Bryan has been working on remodeling this pool for the last several months and I'm so happy that it is done. I think it turned out awesome looking. The pool owners were very picky, they just kept finding more and more things that they wanted fixed before they could pay Bryan the final payment. I'll admit, this has been a huge frustration for me. But Bryan (being the good man he is) was very patient with them and never complained, although I know that he is VERY glad to FINALLY be finished!

Day 107-Swollen Glands

When I came home from Texas- close to 2 weeks ago, Tate had a red rash on his cheek. In examining his rash... I noticed that his throat glands were very swollen. They were like big marbles. I took him into the doctor who suggested that it might be strep throat or possibly mono. We got him tested for both of those and the tests came back negative. Well paranoid mostly because of my Mom's lymphoma, I took Tate back to the doctor today. She reassured me that I am not making it up. She wants to put him on a round of antibiodics to see if his glands shrink back to normal. She also ordered bloodwork to make sure that it isn't anything serious. It most likely isn't that big of a deal but I'm the type of person that would rather get him checked just to know for sure.

So, this afternoon I took Tate to the lab to get his blood tested. He was so good! I held him on my lap while the nurse drew his blood. He held perfectly still and made no signs whatsoever of being in pain. He was very curious as to what she was doing and wanted to watch the entire thing. Afterwards the nurse told me that she's never seen a more behaved kid in all the time she has ever worked in the lab. Bravo Tate. That's my boy!

Day 106-Favorites

{Tate learned how to snap his fingers this week. He just woke up Monday morning and bam, he knew how to do it}

Tate's Favorites-


1. What's your favorite color? Blue


2. Do you have a favorite ice cream flavor? Yes, Chocolate


3. Where's your favorite place to go? To get Pizza


4. Do you have a girlfriend? Yes, Mom


5. What's your favorite Toy? My Flashlight


6. What do you want to be when you grow up? A Grandpa (Cause I like Grandpa's)


7. What's your favorite sport? Soccer


8. If you could buy anything in the world what would it be? A lot of stuff even a film camera-even a lots of film cameras and a ball


9. What's your favorite movie? Nephi Building a Ship


10. What's your favorite song? Twinkle Twinkle Little Star


11. Do you have a favorite animal? Yes, um a turtle


12. What's your favorite thing to do? Play
    
    

Mom's Favorites (Guessed by Tate)-

1. What's Mom's favorite color? Pink


2. What's Mom's favorite movie? Meet the Robinsons


3. What's Mom's favorite song? I am a Child of God
   
4. What's Mom's favorite animal? Um Um a Lion


5. What's Mom's favorite thing to do? Mopping


6. What's Mom's favorite ice cream? Vanill-na


7. Where's Mom's favorite place to go? To the Store


8. What's Mom's favorite thing to make? Chicken


9. Who's Mom's boyfriend? Bryan


10. What's Mom's favorite sport? Ice Skating
    
11. If Mom could buy anything in the whole world what would it be? A Gift Card and a camera

*Special message from Mr. Tate to Me (He asked if he could type something on my blog) iluvmom

*Special message from Me to Tate: I love you too Tate! You are awesome!!!

Day 105-Spinach Smoothies

Am I the only one who's never known that spinach in smoothies is tasteless and a great way to get in your greens? I had a spinach smoothie at my Mom's house recently and it was so good I've been craving it ever since. So yesterday, I went to the store and got some fresh fruits and a whole bunch of spinach. I mixed it all together with some fruit juice. Ahhhh, it was so good!!! I made it again this afternoon. I can tell you right now-I'm going to be making this on a regular basis.

Day 104-Tate's Paper Pocket

Remember THIS post? Since that time (almost 2 months ago), there hasn't been a day that's gone by where Tate hasn't spent time cutting/coloring/gluing/taping and designing his own little crafts. He is just so creative!!! Today I overheard him talking to himself (yes he does that sometimes) about needing a place to store his pictures that he's taken with his camera and had developed. He immediately set to work... Here is Tate's finished product-a little paper pocket perfect for holding his pictures in!

Day 103-Tate's Most Recent Self Portrait Pic

{Bryan and I both laughed HARD when we found this picture that Tate took of himself}.

March 2009

I know that it's the middle of April, but better late than never with getting my March collage up right? March was a VERY busy month to say the least.

Day 102-Easter Celebrations and Some of My Random Thoughts

Last night we had an Easter Egg Hunt at Bryan's parents house. There was a lot of extended family there as well which made it extra fun (lots of people). I think that Tate got the most eggs. His basket was full to the brim! As you can see from the pictures above... it took several tries just to get him to look at the camera for a picture. He was totally into the egg hunt!

Tate woke up bright and early this morning to find his Easter Basket. It took him a long time but he finally found it sitting on top of the cabinets in the kitchen. We didn't do a ton this year-just a few small things, but the Easter Bunny did give him some "big boy" Lego's. As Tate was pulling them out of his basket he shouted- "Hey Mom, this is just what you wanted me to get". Bryan and I both laughed! I guess Mom and the Easter Bunny must think alike. Ha/Ha.

We haven't officially moved yet (that should take place sometime this weekend), but we attended our new ward today. I am always a little nervous changing wards... I guess I'm just shy. Anyways, everyone was so friendly and welcoming, plus I already knew a few people:) so that helped!

We had Easter Dinner at my parents house tonight. My Mother is already improving so much with the medications that she is on. Her energy level is rising which is such a blessing for her.

Just wanted to say that Easter is my favorite holiday. It always has been. Not because of the Easter Bunny, candy, new pretty dress, etc. (Even though I love all those things). I'm just so grateful for my Savior and for his atonement and Resurrection!

Day 101-Kids These Days

I left the kids alone for about one minute so I could eat my lunch, and the next thing I know they are watching E.T. (Tate's current favorite movie) on YouTube. They were so proud when they told me how they turned it on. Tate opened up the "Internet", and they typed in "ET"-pretty simple to spell, a movie showed up from You Tube, and they clicked on it. Wow, that's kinda scary knowing that they could look something up that easily. I mean-Tate and Becca are only 4 1/2!!!

Day 100-4 Kids!

We've been babysitting my nieces (Rebecca and Katie) and nephew (Anson) this weekend. Yesterday I was totally daring and we rode bikes to the park by their house. Just imagine... Tate on a big wheel which he's never ridden before, Rebecca on her bike with training wheels, Anson on his trike that he has a hard time riding by himself, and me on a bike with Katie in a little seat on back. I'd say the longest part was getting drinks and diapers ready and then finding helmets and putting them on. It probably took 1/2 hour just doing that alone... The bike ride itself took maybe 5-10 minutes each way.

For those of you who have 4+ kids under the age of four and "get out" on a regular basis-you are awesome!!! I hate to say it, but if it were me... I think I just may be living at home 24/7. But then again-The long afternnoon nap that the kids all took may have been an adequate compensation. I don't know. It's tough to say.

Day 99-Growing Up

My little boy Tate is growing up fast! He took his very first shower yesterday. It was cute... He turned on the shower and then sat down in the tub as if he was going to take a bath. He was surprised when I told him that people take showers standing up. So, he stood up and started to spin around in circles while the water poured down over him (FUN). Apparently I wasn't quick enough with telling him to stop spinning because he ended up falling down in the shower which made for a sad little boy. We somehow managed to wash his hair and body-I ended up doing the majority of it... You should have seen me by the time we were through. I was VERY wet to say the least! Today I asked Tate if he wanted to try a shower again or if he would rather take a bath. Surprisingly he requested another shower... I can see this becoming the new routine.

Good News

For those of you who haven't checked out MY MOM'S BLOG lately... She's written several new posts. They are definitely worth reading.

Day 98-My Little Addiction

Does anyone else LOVE Jelly Bellies as much as I do?

Tate had his Preschool Easter Party this morning. He colored Easter eggs, decorated a sugar cookie, and went on a Easter egg hunt! He now has this HUGE bag of candy and I'm eating it all. This is not good... Candy is definitely my downfall.

Day 97-Tuesday Night Soccer

Bryan LOVES playing soccer! He is currently playing in a league here in Mesa with a bunch of other guys from our ward. I was finally able to make it to one of his games this evening. He is pretty good if I do say so myself!

Day 96-Tate's Cold

Tate has been "bothered" by his cold today. I thought it was hilarious what he told me earlier, "That thing in my nose {long pause} that snot-I can't get it to go away. It just hides up there in my nose and nobody sees it"! I LOVE the way Tate words things-LOL.

Benefit Concert-April 25th @ MHS Gymnasium

Mark your Calendars now-this is going to be a ton of fun for the entire family!

Day 95-Together Again

I sure did miss my boys, and I think they may have missed me a bit too! Bryan did such a good job filling in for me when I was gone. He kept the house very orderly, (quite possibly more clean than when I'm home), and he took care of Tate's basic eating needs-including making sure he had plenty of "Lucky Charms"-ha/ha. But seriously, I feel so blessed to have such a good man who has made it possible for me to be with my Mother this week!

Day 94-Texas Highlights

We made it back home to AZ last night-YEAH! We went to Houston thinking it would be a three to four week deal. Thankfully it only ended up being one week. Mother still has LOTS ahead of her-but I know that she will make it. I would say her greatest comforts throughout this week have been the spiritual things...

Listening to the scriptures on her I-Pod

Wearing these beautiful necklaces given to her from a dear friend and remembering to Endure to the End (ETTE), Have Faith (Mustard Seed), and be guided by the spirit (Liahona). Being able to watch conference. Wasn't it just wonderful?



Singing HYMNS around the piano with Chase and Tricia.

(They were so kind to let us stay in their beautiful home, drive their car, use their GPS system to get around, cook us delicious food, and drive us to and from the airport). I seriously don't know what we would have done without them!!!

Day 93-Blessings Galore and Too Much Information

{We saw this adorable little squirrel in the tree outside of the Burzynski's Clinic, I just HAD to take a picture}

We've been going in to the clinic everyday, sometimes for several hours... The doctors have been taking very good care of Mother and have been monitoring her medications with accuracy.

The doctors here at the Burzynski Clinic have high hopes for Mother to be able to overcome her cancer, and they are very pleased at her progress so far! When she first came to the clinic, they drew her blood to see which of her genes were over expressed. (There are 6 genes that they know exactly how to fix, so we have been hoping that she would show up positive for any if not all of these specific genes). The results are not all back, but so far she has come up positive for 3 of the genes, which is WONDERFUL WONDERFUL WONDERFUL news! Now that they know which genes are causing the cancer, they will be able to prescribe her the exact FDA approved medicines to combat the cancer.
Another huge blessing that we've had is that my Mother's oncologist back in Mesa has agreed to "work with" Dr. Burzunski. In other words, Dr. Burzynski will give the treatment plan and my Mother's oncologist in Mesa will prescribe the medicine and anything else that she needs. This is exciting because not only will we be able to come home soon, but with her seeing a doctor in Mesa... Mother's insurance will cover a good amount of the medications that she will need to be on. She will still need to purchase one of her most important medications from Dr. Burzynski every month. It is is "antineoplaston" medication that he has invented. This medicine is not only very expensive but is necessary for her recovery. So we will still be needing to raise quite a bit of money, but it seems a lot more possible than before!
The blessings seem to be pouring in!!!

Day 92-Gulf of Mexico

My Mom and I decided that we mine as well make the best out of this trip to Houston for her cancer treatments! "Come what may and love it"-right? Since the Gulf of Mexico is so very close to where we are staying, we thought it might be theraputic for her to take a small break and get to relax at the beach, feel the cool breeze, listen to the sound of the waves, and enjoy this beautiful world that God has made for us!

Day 91-Presidential Monument

As we were driving back from the clinic today, we noticed this monument off the side of the freeway. I pulled over so that we could see it a little closer and to get a picture. It looks as though it isn't completed yet, but I think it is a pretty amazing monument!