Fowler Family

10 YEARS!!

2012-01-12T16:06:00.000-08:00

That's right, we made it. TEN years of wedded bliss. I was so excited because Corey was able to get the day off and we had planned to go to our favorite place to eat... Cheesecake Factory. Unfortunately none of that took place. Well actually he still had the day off but our little Penny came down with the stomach flu in the night. Poo! Well actually it started a while ago. Ivy Bean has had the stomach flu 3 times already simce Christmas. Poor kid, but this time it decided to infect the whole house. Anyway, little Penny covered her whole bed in vomit, and that morning as I was cleaning out the "bucket" I all of a sudden realized I was sick too... So, Me and Penny were vomiting all morning. Big BUMMER. SO my sweeet heart spent our 10 year anniversary cleaning up puke! I dont know about you but that says TRUE LOVE to me!

Lucky for us our anniversay falls right before a federal holiday, Corey has friday and Monday off of work and we will definately make the 40 minute drive out to the Cheesecake Factory one of those days!

Bad Blogger

2012-01-05T14:58:00.000-08:00

OK, OK, I know I am a bad blogger. There are about 4 or 5 reasons for this. Most of them having the names Abe, Zoee, Ivy and Penny. The 5th being I have lost my cameras sd card. I have looked high and low and cannot seem to find the darn thing. Luckily I haven't taken too many new photos lately! So for those of you who only like pics, there will be none in this post. SORRY!
2012 has started off with a bang! I have a new calling as the Jr. Jr. primary chorister. Yes that is correct there are two Jr's there. We have close to 55 kids who are ages 3 and 4 so they get their own primary. And their own chorister. Me!! I kicked off my first week last week and it was crazy. I have no idea what I am doing, and when the 25 minutes was over I was a sweaty mess... GROSSSS... I know, who knew little kids could make me look like I had spent an hour at the gym... When they called me to this I asked the primary president what she was thinking? I am not musical, and my very own dad told me I was tone deaf in high school... So, really what was she thinking? Her response was that I was good at being fun and silly without feeling embarrassed.. HMMM? Not sure whether that was a compliment, or an insult?! Either way I am embracing this new adventure, and hopefully by mid year I will have figured it out! Corey is loving his calling as Blazer scout leader. He loves the scout program, and Abe is almost done with his Wolf already.

Our holiday season was nice. It was definitely different being away from all of our family but it really gave our family the opportunity to open our home to others. We had the elders and a convert over on Christmas eve, as well as another family from our ward. It was nice to have the elders in our home. Christmas was a normal crazy mess... Penny had no desire to open gifts, and so Ivy and Zoee did it for her. Abe got enough Lego's to last a year... or atleast I thought! He had all of them built before New Years!

We have heard from Penny's doctor, and he thinks things are looking better in her little kidney. YAY. However she still needs surgery. He will be doing it in the next month or so. Definitely before we come to Utah in March.

Ivy had her 3 year check, and is still an itty bitty one. She is only in the 25% in both weight and height. That's up from the 15% last year. The pediatrician says shes on track to be 5ft 4. That's not too bad...

I am sorry there's nothing super duper fun to report, just the same old. Oh ya, Corey is finally starting school next week... Looks like I'll be a single mom again... But it will all be worth it in the end.

Marriage retreat at Suncadia

2011-12-21T10:11:00.000-08:00

View from our balcony

The kitchen

water slides at the pool

Happy campers

The Lodge

Last weekend we got to go on a marriage retreat with Corey's unit. It was 2 hours away at the Suncadia resort in the Cascade mountains. We stayed in the Lodge, and it was beautiful. We were in a one bedroom suite. Did I mention it was beautiful? Definitely not like the mountains at home but it was nice. During the retreat we were required to go to classes for a few hours everyday while childcare was provided on site. The kids loved it and it was a nice break for us. Corey and I were one of 4 couples who had been married 10 years.... Crazy, and we had the most kids. It was fun to listen to the lectures, but as I sat there I realized we have a really healthy relationship. I know toot toot on my own horn, but trust me it wasn't always that way. In fact It probably took us close to 5 years to figure a lot of this marriage thing out. The other main difference I noticed while up there was the fact that our relationship with the Lord plays a huge role in our life. We also have such a deep commitment to our marriage covenants that make the small things easy to overlook. A big part of the retreat was making sure you spend tome together as a couple using the "tools" we learned. I Love my husband, and Love my little ones.

Thankful Enough year 2

2011-11-17T15:17:00.000-08:00

Last year I posted under this same topic, and for those of you who care, I plan on keeping it up so... Here we go. Yes this is another blog post about being thankful and I would love to brag about my hot hubs being the greatest, and my babies being perfect but you will not hear that here...at least not today! Today is for honesty. Ugly honesty as I call it. So here we go... What am I thankful for? What am I not thankful for!?

I have recently found myself spending way tooo much time browsing pinterest, and one of my most favorite quotes so far is the one that says " What if we woke up and only had the things we thanked God for yesterday?" Hmmm, what if. What was I thankful for in my yesterdays.

My dad Shaun. For loving my mother. For showing me how a man should treat the woman he loves. I am thankful for my mother who even though she was a young mommy loved me, taught me, and reminded me of my great worth as a woman. I am grateful that they preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ in my home. Never faltering in their devotion to the church. My little sister... I have been thankful for her since I was 11, and held her for the first time. Seeing in her eyes the pure innocent love of a wee one. Thankful she allowed me to be her big sister even in times of strife... Well my strife. She loved me and thought I was neat either way! My in laws for being too perfect, For the way they absolutely love my little ones. Thank you for teaching Corey how to love his wife and kids. Thank you for making sure I was OK... I love you.

I am thankful for my incredible grandparents who worked so hard to raise my incredible parents. To my great grandparents who in Vietnam faced insurmountable odds and managed to flee to Paris where my grandma and granddad met. Thankful for the farm land I learned to work on with gramma Dawna and grandpa Glen.

I am thankful for dear friends. The ones who have seen me in my ugliest darkest moments. I'm also thankful for the high school fights... They have made me stronger and brought us closer as friends. I think... I am glad you are there for me when I'm venting, and being super selfish. I love even more that you don't correct me, you just listen and console. And for new friends, and the enormous hearts you have. The ability to love and care about someone you have only known for a few months.... I love you all. Even when you talk me into gym workouts that are definitely harder than they look!

I am thankful for late nights up with sick babies, their heads cradled in my neck. Bad dreams that force me up in the wee hours of the morning to hold and kiss my sweet little ones foreheads. I am thankful for the questions that stop me in my track, you know the ones about life, love and other tough topics. They are the ones I have to really think about and sometimes pray for the answers to. I am thankful for busy Saturdays and the adventures were on, even though were in unfamiliar territory. I am thankful for bubble baths, and nail polish slowing me down and allowing me to look my beautiful girls in they eye... I am thankful for Sundays. All of my little ones get at least a few minutes of time on moms lap on Sunday. I am thankful for tears. The ones I cry when I have been too tough, the ones I cry at night as I watch my babies sleep. The tears I share with them when they re down. Thank you.

I am thankful for budget night, and cooking a meal nobody likes. They both make us all scratch our heads and wonder where we went wrong?! I am thankful for the days Corey and I have spent apart. They only made us stronger. I am thankful for my book of letters from basic training, the uniform Corey puts on everyday, and the one he wears at home. I am grateful for late night talks in bed, and our weekly couch movie night. I am grateful for the lessons I have learned when I fail as a wife. Corey I love you.

I am thankful for my body, the ability it has been blessed with to bear children. The fact that it hurts everyday after the gym, and the ability I have to make it look so much better than it feels. I am thankful for the hours everyday I spend scrubbing floors, tubs and toilets. It enjoy serving my family. I am thankful for the crockpot and the fact that it gives me just a few extra minutes after school to do homework...

I am most of all thankful for the mistakes I make everyday. The ones that are silly, the ones that make you cry, the ones that are scary too. They all allow me the opportunity to learn and remind me to Thank the Lord for all that I can do right.

I love you all, I hope you have a happy Thanksgiving. Remembering to thank Him who makes it all possible.

Just the beginning...

2011-11-17T14:40:00.000-08:00

This is our little Pickle Pie at the hospital yesterday. Poor little bug had to be under anesthesia for her Renal Scans. They put in her IV and hydrated her for an hour. Then she was off to have the scans done. We weren't allowed to stay with her during the tests but the had me hold her while they gave her the meds to fall asleep. It was a little nerve racking to say the least. I know nobody ever wants to see their baby in pain, or undergo any sort of procedure, but these are necessary to check on her kidneys. The doctor wants to determine how her kidneys have done this first year of her life, then he will decide what is to be done and when.
This little girl melts hearts anywhere she goes. The doctors and nurses all kept telling us how beautiful she is, and that they loved her smiling eyes. They are pretty darned irresistible. They are big and blue, and smile when she does! She was such a trooper. There were hardly any tears at all the whole day, and when all was said and done, I think I cried more than she did.
It is crazy how in the moments when we should be the strong rock mommies, I fall apart. We'll keep you updated on the results!
Unfortunately for our little Pickle, this is only the beginning of her adventures at the hospital...

3

2011-11-11T20:25:00.000-08:00

Happy Halloween! That's what Ivy told me this morning when I told her we were having her birthday party this morning. Technically, tomorrow is her birthday but we wanted to celebrate today because we thought it would be easier to go to the bounce house. I was totally wrong! It was crazy busy!! We got there right at 11 when it opened and within only about a half an hour it was sooo full of kids I could hardly keep track of mine. For the past two weeks Ivy has been singing happy birthday to me! So I figured she would understand when I told her today was her happy birthday party. She was very adamant that we say happy Halloween when she blows out her candles. How funny is that kiddo. It is just like her to have her own way! We didn't do cake today, I wanted to save that for her birthday dinner. Being that it was also veterans day we took the kids to our new favorite burger joint. Normas is delicious and they were offering 1.11$ burgers and shakes so we totally took advantage!

Happy Birthday to our Little Bean! Ivy Bean is still our littlest one. In fact, Penny is almost as big as her! Here's a few notes about our Little Bean...

Loves Tangled, Chocolate milk, and treats! Her newest obsession is Disney Little Einsteins. She is crazy about the show, and knows all the characters names. She is really into counting and asking about shapes and her new favorite color is purple... for now.

These are only a few of the craziness from Ivy's last year! I am just absolutely in Love with this little girl!!

Goings on

2011-11-04T08:16:00.000-07:00

Busy family = no blog time... But here I have found myself with a few minutes alone, so we will see how far I get!

Things are cooling down a lot here but still no rain, yet! The weather in the Pacific Northwest is crazy. There has been more sun these past few weeks than I felt like we had all summer. However the temps have dropped a lot! Were still trying to get out as much as we can, because everyone says plan on the next six months being cooped up in the house. Scary right?
The month of October brought some changes for us. Little miss pickle is walking now. It his so funny to see her on the move, and move is all she wants to do lately! She has been trying her hand a running too, but with a little less success. We have met again with the urologist here and they have determined that it is finally time to do surgery. They will be putting her under on the 16th for a bunch of preliminary testing to see what if anything has changed, then most likely before the end of the year the doc will use a scope to check out things from the inside, and depending on what he finds will do whatever surgery is necessary to repair her little body. I am very nervous for it all but I have been blessed with a calm heart and I know she is in good hands. I do ask for your prayers, just for added measure...A little extra couldn't hurt!
Abe is Abe! Doing awesome in school, and loving the scouting program. He is such a busy boy, and will be starting basketball in the next few weeks!! He was student of the month already! Of course. He told me yesterday that sometimes he feels like his teachers all expect so much from him, and that the lady in the office told him he was so mature! My heart just melts when he tells me things like that. I think I find myself also having really high expectations for him most of the time. But in reality he is still such a little boy. Every day that passes I can feel him growing up, and I hate it. I want him to curl up in my lap and let me rock him to sleep. It's funny when we embark on the motherhood path we must not really think about the fact that not only is it super awesome to be a new mommy, but as time passes you'll be an old mommy too, and eventually have to watch our little birdies leave the safety of the nest. And darn it somedays it hurts to see them step up to the ledge!
Little Zo bug is loving school. She is like a little mother hen. Not only does she tower over all her friends the teacher says she is just so helpful. Always willing to sit with the slower kids in class, or play with the loner on the playground. I also had her friends mom (who's also in our ward) also tell me that her little sassy attitude kills her. Ha! Try living with the little sassy pants! She is starting dance so woo hoo, for her being able to learn a little discipline all while she gets out some energy too. She is beginning to grow out of her tantrums but we still have rough days. In fact I have been really vigilant on eliminating foods that tend to set her off... Its been a tough go, but I have been seeing results in her behavior so YAY!
Ivy is still just a little pixie! Everything about her is still so dang petite, from her voice to her stature. She is just itty bitty. In fact there is only about 3 inches between her and penny, and only a few pounds. It is crazy, her and penny are wearing some of the same clothes, which as you can imagine she hates. In fact the other day she made me change penny because it was Ivy's outfit! Funny little girl. She is turning 3 in a few weeks, and just like the other two is in the terrible threes kickin in! She is getting to be very mischievous these days. Mostly involving the fridge and the snack cupboard. She is obsessed with The Little Einsteins in Disney channel. She loves singing and dancing as well as Squinkys! I am loving every minute I have at home with her. It is so fun to see her and pickle play together. They will be the best of friends... I think?

I found them in the dryer after I pulled out the last load!

Yogurt anyone?

Angry Birds! Our pumpkins this year.

School is so exhausting! On our way to the pumpkin patch, which is literally 5 minutes from home!

Halloween was fun, and as usual we got too much candy, that is now sitting on the counter. The kids have already lost interest in it! The kids were a Jedi, Snow White, Strawberry shortcake, and a Peacock! These little things are the ones to be grateful for, and I thank my Father in Heaven for everyday I have her as a mother. I cannot imagine a greater gift than that. I love you and am grateful for the love and support we get from you! Have a wonderful November...

FACEBOOK

2011-10-05T14:51:00.000-07:00

Oh Facebook, you incredible waste time. Yet I cannot seem to leave you behind. I enjoy the little glimpse of my loved ones lives. I also like that they can see into our goings on as well... However, I have found that I am somewhat of a FB snob. I "friend" only those who in real life I would be friends with. I see no reason why you collect freinds on the interweb when in reality if you saw them at the grocery store you would walk the other way or feel too awkward to say hello. I have no intention of friending every acquaintance and allowing them to see into some of what I hold sort of personal. (I can't say that the stuff I share is private because we all know if it's on the web in reality anyone can find it if they really wanted too.) Do I want every person I ever know to follow my life for who knows how long??? I get a little leary of people who have verbal diarrhea and share anything and everything that pops into their head...
Now to the most awkward part of FB the "unfriend" click. Do you "unfriend" people or do you simply ignore them. Does a FB "unfriend" mean were now enemies, or that I dislike you?
I will admit I have unfriended people. I have unfriended some because I really wasn't their friend, some because I found what they shared inappropriate. I totally get that we have different opinions. That is what makes the melting pot of FB so interesting. That being said, I try to choose my friends wisely. I want my friends to be a reflection of who I am and what I believe. If someone was trying to figure me out simply by my FB, I want them to come to the conclusion that I love my God, my children and my country. I would want them to easily find that I am a member of the Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints. I would hope they would see that I am kind, loving and willing to share of my time and talents.

I do not think so highly of myself that I use my FB as a way to discriminate or feel superior. No I have FB to share and be shared with. I love my friends and family. I also love the ease of using the web to stay connected but after this past General Conference I have definitely had a shift in how I will be using the web. I am sorry for this little rant, but it has been nagging in the back of my mind for a while so I put it out there. I love my friends...you know who you are, *wink, wink.* I also look forward to making new ones.

Picture Time

2011-10-03T09:32:00.000-07:00

It's been 7 years since we had a family photo done. Crazy!!! OK, I guess that's not entirely true. We have had several photos of our whole family taken but none of them have been by a professional. Well, we finally did it! HOORAY! I have this awesome friend in my ward who also happens to be a photographer. We struck a deal, I do her hair for a few months and she would take family pictures. Can we say score! I really wanted to wait til it was fallish weather, and with fall comes the rain...There was a 70% chance of rain this weekend but we got luck, and there was even a bit of sun setting over the ocean.

When she asked me where I wanted to go I initially thought of this park called Bell Hill Park. It is a gorgeous place nestled in against walls of green trees. It reminds me of home. She suggested a place called Chambers Bay. I am glad I listened to her because you cannot live by the ocean and not utilize it's beauty. So off the the bay we went, which is only about 10 minutes from home. It is a really neat place, and I actually would like to go back so the kids can explore.

You know you cannot plan something like family photos and expect all the littles to agree on our plans. Knowing this I worked Ivy up all day by telling her how fun it is going to be getting pictures, and made sure Penny Pickle had her nap early. We did have a little hiccup because Corey had committed to helping a friend who had helped us move the darn toolbox. He didn't realize that our Saturday was spoken for, but we made it an hour late... Oops! Ivy had no intentions of cooperating, mainly because she had fallen asleep in the car and kept telling us she was freezing... I told Alex the photographer to just snap anyway. Don't wait for Ivy to smile, or we may never get any of her.So I hope there are some good ones of her at least attempting to smile.These are the ones she put as previews on FB.

It's Been a While

2011-09-27T21:25:00.000-07:00

Oh, Date night how I've missed you. You are sooo good to me, and why have I forsaken you? Why have I neglected the much needed time away from my little ones. The sincere adult conversations, and a meal that doesn't consist of dip, chocolate milk or kids menus. I have definitely needed a night out. And finally tonight we had the chance to embrace once again!

Yes folks it has been a long 8 months since Corey and I were able to actually go out on a date with each other. Finally tonight we took the plunge. Thanks to our great friends the Westhoffs we went out for a night on the town, well the sound.

We were invited out to dinner at Dukes. A fish place right on the water. Crazy! I ate dinner and watched the sun set over the Puget Sound. It was so beautiful. Corey said it was delicious. Being that I am not a fish eater I had chicken fingers, which were delicious so I can only imagine how good the fish was!

Not only did we go out on a great date, but we left Penny for the first time. Well to be honest and fair we left her with a stranger for the first time. Corey spent last Saturday helping John find a reliable used car so to repay they volunteered their kids as babysitters for ours. Abe and their son Luke are really good friends, and Zoee loves their daughter Emma who is a bit older (10) and Ivy loves playing with their son Zack. So I guess it only leaves Penny to be "babysat." When we got home they asked their oldest son if his homework was done, and he replied "Are you kidding me, you cannot get anything done with one of these around." Pointing at Pickle. He he, he he. Best BC ever!!! I felt bad when on our way over I realized Penny hadn't pooped for the day yet, oops!! Of course she did her business after we had left.

Well date night, I hope to see you again soon. Thanks for the good night!
And I love that Ivy is snuggling down in my bed for the night... I still miss my littles when I'm away!

First ER Visit, Ever!

2011-09-27T14:05:00.000-07:00

Last night little miss Pickle and I sat in the Emergency room for 4 long hours. It all started with all 4 of us girlies hanging out on my bed, painting nails. We were just finishing up with some tickling and big giggles when Penny decided to Dive off the bed. This was her firts time attempting acrobatics, and it was a major fail!

She fell pretty hard and bonked her little melon. When I picked her up she looked pail, and a little dazed. As if that wasn't bad enough she began to vomit all over me. This scared me really bad, and so I told Corey with no hesitation that I was going to the ER. After waiting in the waiting room for 3 hours we were finally seen... The wait was my first indication that this was not nearly as serious as I thought. Then after the docs saw her they said she was fine.

I am not normally That mom that rushes to the ER for everything, infact this was my very first time and hopefully the last, but I was really scared. Some of you may remember when Abe knocked himself out cold at the mall... well this was different because Abe was 3 and could tell me he wasn't feelng well. Penny can't. I was not about to ignore the vomiting and then have major problems in the morning.

I am greatful I even have insurance to go to the ER, but more than that I am so very greatful she was fine.

Little Miss Pickle Pie

2011-09-15T12:53:00.000-07:00

My baby is turning one tomorrow! *Tears. She has her one year appointment tomorrow but for now heres some of what shes up to. She crawls, and climbs stairs. She is now climbing on everything from the trampoline to the counters and kitchen table. Little miss P hasn't said much more than momma, dadda, and I think she is trying to say Abe, but only gets out AAAA! She loves bath time and food time! Her favorites are... anything she can get her hands on. But she loves to eat apples, and Im not talkin' the baby food kind, she pitches huge fits if the kids have apple slices and they don't share with her. Penny is as busy as they come, and it is go, go, go. Until its nap time, then she's out! She only sleeps in her bed, and has to have her blankie. We are lovin' every minute of watching her grow and cannot wait for what the future holds for our family!

This is where I found her while I was making lunch today!

Blueberry Park

2011-09-12T08:56:00.000-07:00

Washington has definately not dissapointed this summer, and this weekend was no different. We headed out to Charlottes Blueberry Farm in Tacoma. It was once a family blueberry farm and afterthe owners died it went to the city. When a developer wanted to buy the land and develop it the city folk rallied and got it turned into a public park. So now it is open to the public and ran by volunteers only. We have been hearing about it for weeks and several ward members have enjoyed the spoils of the season. We meaning I have been wanting to go for weeks now, and we finally made it. Unfortunately we really are not seasoned berry pickers, so it took us a bit to figure out which ones to pick. Once we got the hang of it we were on a roll... I have been greatful for the berry tastings the kids have taken because at their age I was not as adventurous. All of them have found a love for blackberries (which are actually a weed around these parts) and now blueberries. Anyway, today I will be trying my hand a making a blueberry pie!!! So wish me luck.

You can't tell by the bowl, but we ended up with about 2 lbs of berries! Unfortunately by the time we were finished picking Ivy was DONE!!! She wouldn't let me snap even a bad photo of her! Little stinker...

This creepy guy was hanging out by the blackberry bushes and was larger than penny pickles binki!!! YUCK!!!

Does that make me a bad mom?

2011-09-07T20:10:00.000-07:00

First day of school! We I have been looking forward to this day for weeks now. Here were are Finally off to school! We were able to meet the kids teachers yesterday which I think eased a bit of the anxiety for Zo-Bug, and Abe is an old pro already. The school buildings are set up very different from what we are used to at home. All the grades are set up in their own little pod like extensions off of the main office building. K and 3rd are actually right across from each other so this put me at ease knowing Abe would have to pass his sisters class on the way to his. I had this feeling that as soon as he got off the bus he would make a mad dash to his class for some much needed friend time. Not a chance... he can't run to class without passing his sisters room so this will be easy for him to swing her by, right?!!!

So as Corey and I walked back to the car he said "your not crying."
And to my surprise I wasn't. I bauled like a baby for a week when Abe started... so naturally he thought this would be my M.O... Instead of the insane anxiety I had with Abe I actually felt a sense of relief.

As we drove home I found this unexpected change of feelings a bit disturbing.I was actually looking forward to a nice day without the chaos of fighting, tears and tatteling.

As I have said before the past year was rough. Rough on us all, but Abe and Zoee have been a bit lost. Moving out of our house to live with grandparents, daddy gone just to return and uproot them from the only world they have ever known. Living now in a home that is too tiny for 6 people,infact I have actually decided it is inhumane and cruel that they (the military housing authority) actually believe this is suitable. So now here they go, off to another new adventure filled with new faces, sounds and sights (for Z) and instead of being sad, and crying like most of the mommies and some daddies too, I am smiling as I walk to the car and feel as if I can begin again.

I can once again enjoy baking cookies, and slave over a meal. Fold little pairs of underwear and spend hours ironing and removing stains from t-shirts. I will gladly allow the television to be on Disney or ON at all. I will smile when neighbor kids knock on the door. I will even let you them all in to jump on the tramp, and when Ivy spills her juice and Zoee tells me "I don't like this dinner!" I will rejoice, rejoice in the divinity of motherhood... All because I get to have a few hours of quiet.
So today as I cleaned the house top to bottom and sat on the couch and watched Ivy Bean play I thoroughly enjoyed my quiet. And when the kids hopped off the bus I welcomed them with open arms and big kisses! I absolutely love every bit of them and I know as the days roll on I will miss them more and more each day...

but for today the quiet was nice!

Why we can't get a picture of us all looking normal is totally beyond me!!!

To Blog or Not to Blog

2011-09-05T11:48:00.000-07:00

As you can see I have not blogged in a while. Not because I haven't wanted to, but because I have been a little down by the blogosphere. I love to write, and I have really enjoyed blogging but as I read through friends and families blogs all I read is how life is so perfect, and how much fun family vaca's are. I understand wanting to share the fun of life, but how come we don't hear about the hard of life too. Are people's lives so good that they are fortunate enough to not experience the hard, and if so I am jealous!!! Don't get me wrong I love hearing about the positive and I am so happy for my friends and family who seem to have it all together. I know there are rough times too... So what the heck am I trying to say? Well, lately things have been tough for us. Since moving away we have definately had the chance to see some really beautiful sights, and play in some beautiful places, but for today I just want to share the not so awesome things about moving away. If I haven't totally turned you away from reading then please take note that I am not sharing for pity, or for anyone to feel sorry for me. No I am sharing what is real, and what is in my heart...

So, like I said we have seen some of the most beautiful places, and met some wonderful folks here in Washington. Unfortunately for us though, NOTHING will replace the beauty we left behind, and no-one will be the ones we left behind, and darn it I miss ya'll.
It has been really hard letting go of home. I have decided it's like a death, and I need to be free to mourn the loss of it. The loss of my loved ones, my home, the mountains, my dog, and all that is familiar to me. I have definately cried...and then cried some more. My heart has been aching for my moms arms, and my dads big hugs...I miss the drive up 106th south seeing familiar store fronts. I am sorry for missing first babies and last ones too. It has been hard not seeing friends, not taking trips to Wheeler Farm, or Gardner Village! I miss it all and lately it has been almost more than I can handle. It is a bit scary trying to familiarize yourself with a new place, especially one as big as here. The cities are so big, and intimidating. Nothing is close, even the drive to costco and wally world is 25 minutes! I have found a love for the salty sea, but I miss those majestic mountains. The grass is dormant here in the summer months and so it is all brown, another odd thing I have had to adjust to. So here we are at the end of summer and I am preparing for rain again. SO far so good, but I know it's coming...Thanks for allowing me to boohoo for a minute!

I love you all and I am always thinking about you. I am greatful for the family and friends you are to us. You have shaped me into the woman and mother I have become. I am sorry if this was a downer for you, but I need to let it out sometimes. I miss you all more than any words can ever express!!! Have a wonderful Labor Day.

Bad Guys?

2011-08-01T21:09:00.000-07:00

Zoee bug has been asking alot about Bad Guys lately. It has been a little bit of a shock, and I am not sure what or why has sparked her questions. Today in the car she asked me if Bad Guys were really real. I asked what she meant. She answered me by asking about the guys on Spider man. I told her they were pretend, but that there were still people out there that were bad. She stopped asking and so I thought she had dropped it.

I was wrong! Tonight when Corey got home she asked him about bad guys. He explained to her that was why we had the army. That his job helped protect her from bad people that wanted to harm her, or harm others. As their conversation went on she started becoming confused, and said but your in the army, and you don't fight bad guys!
True, he told her but he fixed the helicopters that helped find the bad guys. She then continued asking questions. How do they find the bad guys, how do they stop the bad guys etc. Corey explained that sometimes they would put them in jail, but sometimes they had to kill the bad guys. This really upset her and she told her dad that was sad because those bad guys were someones dad.

What!!! How stinking smart is she? I cannot believe how her little tender mind works. We knew there would come a time that we would have to answer tough questions about the army, and what goes on but I had no idea the level of life understanding my kids had. I love them, I love being a mom and I have to say that I really enjoy all of the crazy curveballs that are thrown at me.

New Experiences

2011-08-01T20:49:00.000-07:00

With it finally feeling like summer we decided to head out to the beach with some friends. I have to admit I love saying that... Head to the beach! Anyway we went with some friends and had a blast. The Larsens had been there before so they knew the great places to go. The sound beaches are really unigue. They don't have a lot of sand, and they are bordered by lush forests. You almost would miss the water if you didn't know it was there, it's crazy! The larsens intorduced us to kayaking! Of course Corey was a natural, and had paddled out with no fear. In fact the kids absolutely loved it too. Me however, I was terrified! I watched Corey paddle out, then each one of the kids went out with Amanda... Now came my turn, I was so scared!!! I didn't want to look like a sissy, but this meant I had to face one of my ultimate fears. Being eaten by sharks! Yes, I know this is a very immature fear, but it is really a fear of mine. Infact it goes a little deeper than just sharks, I am deathly afraid of being eaten alive in general! Bears, cougar, shark, aligator, it really doesn't matter. This is what my nightmares are made of. So, needless to say I have faced on of my many fears... It was incredible, there were jellyfish swimming all around us. Abe and Jackson found some Kelp, and wrapped them around their arms like they were whips. Funny!! Now they are sitting on my patio looking a little creepy! Another reason we wanted to head to this particular beach was, Corey is running a 50k out there and he wanted to check out the terrain! So woo hoo, go Corey.

Blessings All Around

2011-07-18T15:13:00.000-07:00

Today I was able to talk to my grandma. An opportunity that for several years early on in my married life I passed up. I have since mended my ways and the more my family grows and the better understanding I have of my eternal purposes the more I have come to realize that Grandmas have more wisdom and can teach me more about life than any book ever could.

Anyway, I love talking to my grandmas. Today I spoke to my grandma Young and yesterday I talked with my Grandma Bradford. Both I love, and love hearing stories from. After the conversations I had I felt an overwhelming comfort wash over me. I know, all Grandmas make us feel good, but this came from my Heavenly Father. Both of my conversations took my thoughts to all the incredible blessings I have in my life. Mainly my beautiful children and my incredible husband. I know I am lucky, all of my babies are incredibly healthy, happy, well adjusted little people. Corey loves us, he loves his children so much that sometimes I think he worries himself sick! The past year has been challenging to say the least. I have hit some pretty incredible lows, as well as felt the incredible power of the Lord on my side. In Utah things were tough, Corey was gone, I was mentally and physically exhausted and scared for what was ahead of me. Since moving away I can say it has been so much more challenging than I ever anticipated.

It is so scary moving away from home, not because I couldn't handle things, or because I would have to make new friends... No none of this was as frightening as leaving the people I love behind. This includes my incredible parents and in-laws, my grandparents, sisters, all the way down to my friends and neighbors. I was so afraid of not being there for them. Not being a shoulder to cry on, not being able to make dinner when a girlfriend is ill or having her first baby. I was afraid of missing precious time with aging grandparents, and not being my little sisters best friend, I hate that I missed my moms birthday. I feel so far away!

As I was telling my grandma about all the adjusting I was doing, the conversation led to how much I was actually growing. I told her for so many years I just had one foot in the door, and was only doing what was easy (as far as the gospel goes.)Now I am really living and seeing the miracles of the gospel in action. I continued with the fact that Corey and I definitely didn't make this choice for an immediate financial boost, in fact things are just as tough as they have ever been, in fact maybe more so! However the path we have been directed on has been a very blessed one. In the beginning we were told that the unit up here in Washington was so small and the chances of them taking another engine guy was slim, but here we are! Corey has had several things work out for him in BIG ways like getting sent to Rolls Royce School... This is a huge career opportunity and costs thousands of dollars as a civilian. And now as he studies for the Flight Aptitude Test, I know the Lord is on our side. I am not saying he will get in right away but for whatever reason what does happen is what the Lord wants for us.

We have been so blessed. Most days I don't feel deserving of the blessings, but I do know that to whom much is given much is required. I am up for the challenge. So I have to say that sometimes when things are feeling tough, and seeing to the end is impossible we need to take a moment and take stock of our blessing. I am so blessed. I love this gospel, I love the challenges and even the trials I have been asked to face. I love my sweetheart and my little angels. There is no greater blessing than to be a mother and a wife, serving the Lords church and knowing I am loved.

I know there will come a time when finances aren't so tight, and I will be able to visit the ones I miss. I hope all of you at home know I really miss you, I am always thinking of you, I pray for you. I will continue to miss you all, and I can't promise that I won't have more sad days but at least today I can say things are great and I am blessed!

My new Blog

2011-07-13T14:21:00.000-07:00

So,I have finally done it. I have created my own Blog. This new one is where I get to share all the stuff that isnt family! So feel free to come on over and check out the projects, food and simply me thoughts! The link is on the side, and It is just up and running, so keep checking for some really great projects soon to come as well as my favorite recipes from the week!!

Dirty Dash

2011-07-12T14:40:00.000-07:00

This past weekend Corey and the kids participated in our friends Race. It is called the Dirty Dash. They had so much fun. Corey had a great group of guys from his unit and two guys from our ward run with him. The adults had to climb walls, crawl through muddy tubes and run through a muddy tire obstacle just to name a few... They had so much fun they decided to run the course twice. There was a short race "The Pigle Plunge" for the kids that ended with a slide down the mudslide, and a run through the mud pit... It was such a perfect day for this sort of activity. I sadly managed to forget sunblock on the back of my legs, so you can imagine what 6 hours in the sun did to me! Because Matt got all of the adults in for free we convinced a few of them to stay behind with us and help clean up. This came at a perfect time for us because Corey was in need of some major morale boost. There is a lot going on at work for him so he has been feeling a bit bogged down. They have had camera crews at work for the past 2 weeks. First they filmed a show that Billy Ray Cyrus hosts. It is on monday nights at 7 (thats my time here in WA) that they filmed at his hanger, and this week they are filming some army reality show that will air on one of the major channels in the fall... I'll let you know. He was in a lot of the shots with Billy Ray but with editing you never know what youll get so... Happy beginning to Summer!!!

Happy Birthday

2011-07-04T12:06:00.000-07:00

We went to the beach the other day and the kids and I spent our time gathering shells. Not just any shell, but one of my most favorite ones of all; Sand-Dollars. As we gathered them I was braught back to when I was just a little girl and my Grandpa Glen Bradford very first introduced me to them. Grandpa loved the water. Any kind and not for the swimming. He lived for the catch. It didn't matter if it was salty, swift or frozen he had a way of getting his catch. One summer day we were in the backyard playing on the massive teeter-totter when my gram braught out a box full of something I had never seen before. She said they had gsathered them on one of their fishing trips... They were a beautiful round disc, with what looked to be a flower etched right on the top of them. My grandparents proceeded to tell us that they had come from Washington, and they were once a living creature. I couldn't imagine how this little disc was ever living but I believed them. We were each given one of these Sand-Dollars to keep. I was fascinated with them from that day on. So as I walked the beach near our home I felt my grandpas love... Helping me guide my little ones through this discovery of crabs, and shells. So what does this have to do with birthdays...well today is my grandpas brthday, he would have been 84 today. I miss him, and I wish my children could have known him. I can still smell the oil form the cars, and see him standing in his jumpsuit smiling as we played a trick on gram, or my mom. I know he is in heaven looking down on us loving every little mischevious thing Zoee does, and I truly believe he had something to do with guiding me to marry Corey. He reminds me so much of my grandpa... I love him, and I love my gram, she has filled our lives with so much love and given me a love for gardening, and for life. So tonight as we eat our cupcakes, and sing the national anthem I will also sing Happy Birthday to my grandpa who is in heaven.

Memorial Day weekend

2011-05-31T19:56:00.000-07:00

This weekend was BUSY!!! Corey's parents and little brother came to see Abe be baptized and so while they were here we saw the sights.

Saturday after the babtism we headed to Seattle to Pikes Place Market, and the waterfront. We got lucky because it was the only sunny day the whole 5 days they were here! The Market is so crazy... It is not for the closterphobic, or people like me who hate other people touching you! It was wall to wall people. Not only was it a holiday weekend but the Yankees were playing the Mariners so it was crazy. We had lunch on the waterfront, and there was this group of Gulls that were CRAZY! They were taking fench fries right out of your hands... So of course the kids had to feed them. I hung back I don't think Poo on my head is really fun...We also went to a Mariners game on monday. We really wanted to go to the Mariner Yankee game, but at 40$ a ticket, we decided to wait til monday and see the Mariner Oriole game. We are planning on going to the Boston Mariner game in August so were savving now! It is has really hit me how big our family is when we try to go to things like sporting events. They are so darn pricey, but this summer the Govt. has decided to do another free summer of museums for military families so we willl get a break there! I cant wait to take the kids to the Tacoma Kids museum, and theres a really neat Glass museum in Tacoma too that I hear is really neat. So all in all I guess you could say were beginning to enjoy our new life. I have to just put this out there.... I actually know my way around here better than Corey. It is so funny he keeps getting us lost, and I laugh and laugh because isnt it men who are supposed to have good navigational skills?

Baptism

2011-05-31T19:38:00.000-07:00

This weekend we had the opportunity to baptize our little man, who is not so little anymore. It was such an awesome experience. There are a lot of firsts with your oldest obviously! Some are tough learning experiences but most are just incredible faith building moments. I cannot put into words how greatful I am for Abes choice to be baptized. He looked so awesome in his little jumper. I am so blessed to have such an awesome worthy priesthold for a husband. It really puts my eternal covenants into perspective as I watch my family grow and mature. I never actually imagined having an 8 year old. It is crazy how quickly I feel like Abe has grown. I swear just yesterday I was sitting in the rocking chair singing "I am a Child of God" as I rocked him to sleep. As much as I love watching him go through all the firsts I would love to just have time stop allowing me a little more time with my little boy! Too soon I will be watching him drive, date, go on a mission and marry a gal of his own...HMMM...so do you think he'll stop thinking girls are annoying and gross? Let's not hope that happens for a while!

Movie Life

2011-05-11T21:40:00.000-07:00

Corey is away for two weeks, so I have a lot of time alone. Especially at night. So tonight I got the kids to bed by 8 and thought I would watch a show. I ended up channel surfing until I landed on a movie channel and saw a "chick flick" was going to be on, so YAY me some real girly time. I watched Leap Year, it is very predictable and yet one of the best movies I've seen in a long time. As the credits rolled, and I sat on my couch feeling really dorky and cheesy for having a huge grin on my face I realized I have it.... The perfect movie life.

Our life is not nearly as dramatic as a movie, and most times we don't have the perfect words to fill the scenes but we have had moments that make you cry, moments that leave you questioning the next scene, and lots of crazy surprises...Two of which have been some of our greatest blessings. I would be lying if I said there weren't scary scenes too. As I watch some of my favorite love stories, I always find myself saying ours is the one I would watch over and over again.

Our adventures started out humbly, and we had mostly hand me down furniture, and dollar store dishes but we have grown, and loved and began our journey into parenthood. Our children are funny, witty, smart and beautiful, all the things movie kiddies are made of. So as my night winds down and I feel the sleepiness set in I close the curtain for tonight saying I love you my sweet husband, and adore you my little angels. I cannot wait for what the Lord has in store for the rest of this movie life!

Forks?

2011-04-23T22:06:00.000-07:00

OK,OK,I know some of you are not as interested in the whole Twilight stuff but for those of you who are... We finally made a trip to Forks. It's about 3 hours away from where we live, but it was going to be a nice day, so we thought it would be a nice drive. We were right, it was absolutely Beautiful. We had lots of sunshine and it was around 65 degrees. We knew it was a long drive so we wanted to start out early this morning, we wanted to make sure we left a lot of time for all the goofy touristy stuff!! After listening to the Glee soundtrack several times, and the kids watching 2 movies we finally arrived. I don't really know what I was expecting to see, maybe a Vampire, or even a Wolf or two...but in reality all we saw was a very small and pretty run-down town. I was sad to have my bubble burst! As small townish as it is the town of Forks has definitely taken the whole Twilight thing and ran with it. On every corner you see Bella this and Edward that, I think they are more Vampire people!! We did stop at a little park and grab subway for lunch (I was worried this would be the highligh of hte day.)After that letdown we had to make the 3 hour drive worth it so I suggested we go to the La Push beach. On we went...This was a worthwhile decision because not only did the kids love the beach, we saw Seals, two Eagles and Zoee found a Starfish!! The Seals were playing and barking at each other. An awesome sight to see!!! After watching the seals and the eagles dive for fish in this little bay we made our way to the beach. We were having a blast and enjoying the FREEZING water when the kids do what they do best find random stuff. All of a sudden I hear Abe and Zoee yell and as Zo runs toward me she's yelling SEASTAR!!!!! She was ecstatic! We also saw a huge tree that has been washed up onto the beach.

This was a rare day around here. It was warm and absolutely no clouds at all! Good day. These kind of days warm the spirit, and at the same time make me miss home sooo much. I know I couldn't see any of this at home, but missing family is hard. There's so much going on in Utah and it's hard to not be there. I have to say I love our new adventures but I miss all of you! I never realized how lonely living away could be. I am finding ways to keep busy, but I still find myself having twinges of pain for the mountains, the snow, and the Utah sun!

New Found Reason to Post

2011-04-15T21:52:00.000-07:00

Hello to all my favorite friends. I know I have not been too good at posting lately, but today I had a moment of inspiration and clarity. I have said many times to Corey that the reason I don't ever get depressed is because I have a shrink for all my many needs. They may come in the form of my very best friends, but that doesn't really matter. It is a means of venting. For me talking about things helps me feel better, see through all the "stuff" and make sense of the excitement, that comes my way. So, I am going to be honest, since moving away from my therapy group I have actually for the first time felt a bit of depression creeping up on me. Well... all of this made me decide to share because I know someone out there at some point will be able to learn from my new experiences, or at least laugh at me.
I thought becoming a wife and mommy were some of the biggest steps of my life, but I will now be adding moving away from home to my list of extremely stressful yet exciting adventures. So starting Monday I will really be blogging...and sharing all of my experiences on this new journey! I would love to hear your comments, so please share and bare with me as my blog really begins to evolve!

Holy Update!!

2011-04-02T20:32:00.000-07:00

So... It has been way too long. I was hoping to get pics of the house up, but alas, it's still not quite put together enough to show all of you, so rather than that I thought I would at least update you just a bit. Where to begin? Holy cow, there has been soooo much, so I think I will just go in order. February was crazy. We were living in an Extended Stay which I will admit I hated every minute of it. We really have learned a lot about how and how not to do things when you move with the Military. I enrolled Abe in school while we were there because I was really worried about him getting behind. Well that didn't make too much of a difference because he attended all of 3 days during Feb. He missed days because of snow, then sadly Corey's incredible grandmother passed away. That took us home for a few weeks, but kept Abe out of school. The day before we were heading home we got a call from the housing office and they informed us we could move into a home on post. This made me so happy. the thought of having to spend another night in a hotel literally made me sick to my stomach. So that's that! Here's some pics the kids took in our hotel...

So, March began with us moving into our house. It is old... but better than a hotel! We are getting it put together, but because its a bit smaller we have had to make some adjustments. Living on base is nice, you really don't notice until your laying in bed watching television and you hear the incredible hum of a Chinook Helicopter, or feel he booms of artillery firing. It is just like a regular neighborhood, with really great security!! The commissary is about 2 minutes away so were saving tons on gas, which is a lot more expensive up here. 3.90 a gallon in most places....I really don't go anywhere at all. It's so fun having Corey come home for lunch everyday, the girls love having him home so much. Abe is in school, and lucky for him our neighbor is in his class so of course they are instant friends. Surprise, surprise it rains alot! No really, tons, every day we actually had flood warnings this week. Corey says its like living in an egg... Ben introduced us to Blue Clouds. They are the blue sky poking out from amongst the grey clouds, so I Love Blue Clouds. My mom asked me if I was feeling depressed or sad because of the greyness of it all and I have to say, No. It really doesn't bother me at all, however I am really lonely. I miss home, I miss my parents, my house, my sisters, my grandmas, the mountains my friends... the list goes on, and on, and on, but I love living with Corey again. We are definitely having to adjust to the changes we have both gone through over the past months, but I missed him so much...

Zo-bug turned 5! Can you believe it she's 5. I can't, I laid on her bed tonight and found myself crying... She is such an awesome spirit. I adore her, she is so precarious, and life is one big adventure to her. I love how she sees things. I envy her ability to love every living thing, and find the fun in puddles. She loves them and manages to splash in every single one. She still runs around with no shoes, and I am constantly having to grab her coat. For someone so thin she sure doesn't feel the cold!

Penny had her 6 month check up. She is healthy as ever. She's in the 75Th percentile for everything... She weighs 17.5 lbs. Funny Ivy only weighs 21 or 22...he he. She rolls everywhere, and has begun to recognize her daddy. She lights up whenever he enters the room...but cries whenever I leave it! I love that I finally have a mommy's girl!!! Well that's about it for now, I'll post more very soon...

I took this on the beach when we went clam digging!

Miss Penny Pickle at 6 months!

Birthday Girl!

Jumparoo!!

Clams...

2011-02-19T23:15:00.000-08:00

This weekend Ben and Therese (Corey's brother and his wife) invited us to enjoy one of their favorite beach activites, Clam digging! It was so fun. We had to drive 2 hours to Long Beach. No, not Long Beach California, there is a Long Beach Washington, which I love. This little town is incredible. It's quaint, and unique but not over-run with tourists. Anyway we headed out to the beach where we actually pulled the car right out onto the sand and set up camp. The boys quickly built us a campfire. Because it was freezing and extremely windy. Once things got going we waited for the tide to roll out. So i have to be honest I actually didnt even know how you got clams, and it is an interesting yet fun experience. For those of you who are like me and are uneducated, you take a large PVC pipe looking thing and jam it down into the wet sand and pull out the dirt, where you must then sift through it to find your treasure. OK, well I thought it would be easy and let me tell you there is definately some skill to this. Abe caught the first one of the night! Then I found one, I was feeling pretty confident...HA those little stinkers are tough. I think between the group we only caught maybe 10, and Corey, Abe and I caught 5 between us... Beginners luck! Well needless to say, We are starting to feel a bit more at home here. I am enjoying this place more and more. Oh ya, and today there wasnt a single cloud in the sky! Beautiful!

This is a picture of Zoee, she fell asleep on the drive can we say akward, and uncomfortable! And we passed through this intersection and saw our street!

We Made it!

2011-02-13T19:26:00.001-08:00

We left one week ago, and now here we are on the Puget Sound in Tacoma. So far we have had 3 days of sun and the rest are what I expected, Grey! We are living in an Extended Stay for now, because there is a waiting list for on base housing. As you can imagine I am going crazy, all six of us are living in a space the size of my living room. But don't feel too bad for me, we do have an awesome two burner stove in our sweet kitchenette! Corey reported on Weds. and has been doing his in-processing. I was originally out looking for a place to live. Thursday I was really run down, feeling lost, sad and very lonely. As we were driving and I was telling corey my woes, we drove right past an LDS chapel. My eyes welled up with tears, and I nstantly felt the overwhelming comfort that only the Lord could give. It is so incredible how the Lord encompasses and comforts when we may even forget to ask for his help.

As I was browsing...

2011-01-18T19:46:00.000-08:00

As I was browsing my laptop the other night I found a bunch of fun photos I hadn't posted so here they are and a bit of a blurb on our lives over the past few crazy months!
Penny at one month old

Corey took the kids to Timpanogas Cave while I was in the hospital with Penny! Here they are on the way up

Ivy lost in the Bubbles!!!

UMMM....

Zoee... So darn cute! She built this little fella all by herself!

These were on our way to see the lights... A little tradition that I quickly realized its not really about what you do as a family activity its just the fact that you spend time together... Really long story, and after only spending an hour down town we were on our way back home. Zoee literally fell asleep with her face squished like this! It was pretty funny and yet disasterous all at once. Wow, this was a bigger deal for me then I realized, and talking about it is quite theraputic. So here I go... With Corey being gone I really wanted to cling to some sense of normalcy, so for the weeks leading up to him coming home for Christmas I really talked up the lights and the train ride. The kids were so darn excited, but once corey got home the temperatures dropped so much that I didnt feel good about going out. So finally on the 23rd we ventured out on our yearly light seeing expedition. The night started off with us cramming onto the train with my huge stroller, then literally 5 minutes into the train ride Zoee spilled her thermos of cocoa... Yes, I even made Candycane hot cocoa. We continued on our adventure and once we got to the lights, it was so frusterating because my stroller is so big that it really got in the way. After about 20 mins the kids all began complaining about the cold, and the fact that they were hungry. So really long story short, I realized cramming holiday traditions down the kids throats are not whats going to make our life memorable its simply enjoying the moments that create the memories.

So, this past few months have turned our lives upside down, and things are going to get even crazier but I say bring it on, I am ready! 2011 is going to be a blast, and probably a bit challenging but were ready!

Four Months

2011-01-18T19:18:00.000-08:00

Little Miss Penny pickle is 4 months old. I cannot believe it. She is just like Zoee and Abe. 75th% in weight and Head size and 90%+ for her height. Funny poor little Ivy Bean she really is just tiny. Penny is 25 inches long, and Ivy is only about 37 inches tall... hehe it makes me laugh when Ivy holds Penny because they are almost the same size. She is progressing along very nicely, and is a perfect fit for this family! I really don't know what we would do without her. Sorry about the mess in the photos if I haven't told you were moving soon! So I have been packing a little each day to be ready for when corey gets his official orders. Once he does I will tell all of you where well be headed.

Whats up

2010-12-03T13:47:00.001-08:00

Well honestly nothing much has been going on. Just alot of reflecting on my part. As the year comes to an end I always find myself running the years events through my head. In a way I am taking stock of all that didn't happen, but also reminding me of all I have been blessed with. This year has been pretty challenging. Surprise pregnancy, Corey leaving, broken collarbone, and a lot of teary sleepless nights for not only my woes but those of my loved ones.

I have to say the surprise pregnancy was an incredible blessing and I couldn't imagine life without Penny "Pickle". She is an absolute angel. I love every inch of her and her sweet disposition is just what we need around here. I have seen Zoee soften a lot since Penny's arrival. I think she has a really deep love for her little sister and is therefore compelled to be tender to those around her. It was hard doing half of my pregnancy alone, but I know I am not the only mommy out there who is going it alone right now. I have a new appreciation for single moms... I can't even add to that! Penny is as healthy as can be, as long as we keep infection away from her kidney she won't need surgery until shes one. That is good news for us.

The military life is as hard on families as I thought. I feel we are coping well with Corey being away but I also fear the damage it may be doing to the kids. Ivy has a fear of being left by her parents; the people who should offer her the most security, and I worry Abe has began to bottle up his emotions. I know these are temporary wounds and they will heal, but we may not know the hardships my babies have had to bear these past months until they are older. In the beginning I thought of myself as fragile, scared and alone, and I am that person but I have also discovered inside me is also a warrior. A woman with wisdom, and courage to love and fight for what is mine in this life. I also have found that it is OK to be vulnerable and allow others around you to comfort and love you, as well as take help when it was needed. I must worry only about the things I can change, because worrying about the ones I cannot is time wasted. Time is one thing we cannot ever get back and I sadly have wasted so much of this precious gift.

I am looking forward to the new year, even though it begins with Corey still being gone. We are excited about the move we will be making in April, yet I must admit I am sad at the fact that when I am having a really bad day and all I want is a hug from My Mommy, a phone call will have to do...I always thought I would enjoy living outside of Utah but now that I am facing leaving home I realize how truly blessed I have been living here. This valley is beautiful, and I know I will long to see the mountains, and have the comfort of seeing church-houses on every block. Zoee has recently found a love for the Temples and I am sad to take her away from the shadows of the many temples that protect us.

We love all of you, and hope you have a very happy holiday season. Please remember those who may be separated from their loved ones during this season, as well as those who may be going without this holiday season...And as always give thanks to the Lord for his Son, because without Him we would have no reason for the season.

Penny's Appointments

2010-11-02T14:52:00.000-07:00

Many of you know that Penny was born with a congenital birth defect with her Kidneys. Yesterday I took her to Primary Children's Hospital where they did some tests to determine how severe the defects were. She was placed in an imaging machine with an IV attached to her foot for 45 minutes. This was to watch the functionality of her kidneys. Then she was put under a traditional X-Ray machine while they filled her bladder with a catheter. This was to check for Reflux in the ureters. Then we had to go back up today to talk with a Urologist. So the results are... She has two ureters that come out of her right kidney. One is not functioning very well and that is why she has extra fluid on it. The other one has reflux (this means urine goes backwards up the tube.) They are going to do another Ultrasound in 3 weeks to see if they are getting any better or staying the same. She will also most likely have a few other procedures between now and the end of the year, and the doctor believes she will need surgery by the time she is One.

I am grateful things are not as bad as they could be, however to prevent any infection she is still on meds. Infection is what causes damage to the kidney. Other than that she is completely healthy and normal. She is such a blessing to our family, and as stressed as my days can get, I love taking the time to watch the kids with her. They can be as mean as can be to each other but as soon as Penny is nearby they calm down and remind me of how tender, and sweet they really are.

Of course I would never want one of my children to be ill, but I will say that I am blessed to have the trials that I have. I know blessed may seem like an odd choice of words but I know I can handle these tests that the Lord has put in front of me, and as much as I love all of you I would not trade you for your trials. Things have been rough the past few months but it is nothing I can't handle. I know the Lord is by my side, and even sometimes pulling my stubborn rear end through all of this. I say this a lot but I love you (you know who you are) and I could never face another day without the ones I love.

Does it get any crazier?

2010-10-21T22:00:00.000-07:00

Penny at month old

Yes Ivy has two binkys in her mouth, and she calls them Guppys....she can't say Binky

So.. Here we are a month into our life with four, and so far things have been so wonderful. My room (yes I say room, because I am living in my inlaws basement) is always a mess. Dinner consist of Mcdonalds atleast once every 10 days, and we are ALMOST late for school every day... I have to say even though things are literally NUTS around here I am loving it. The kids have adjusted quite well to having Penny around. They constantly want to hold her and give her kisses. Zoee has already come up with a nickname (Corey hates it!) She calls her Penny-Poo...the best part is Ivy called her that the other day. I laughed so hard because to me Ivy still is a baby, so to hear her repeat silly things cracks me up. Ivy has now begun calling Corey "Movie Daddy" because we skype with him nightly, and she associates my computer with watching movies in bed! Wow I am great mom, maybe the movies in bed is why the kids aren't waking up on time!?! We are coming up on the hardest time of year for us, Winter which means we are all inside all day!!! Hopefully we can survive right? Corey was home a week ago, and we blessed the beebs. He is such an incredible man and has an awesome testimony. I just wish he could see what I see everyday. He has been made squad leader at AIT. He likes it but it takes up alot of his time at night. We are having fun despite all the craziness.

Perspective

2010-10-05T11:12:00.000-07:00

I drove past the funeral home where they are honoring a fallen soldier today... I immediately began to weep. I did not know this man, nor any of his family but I was overcome with sadness. Sadness for his family, wife and friends, but also I was overwhelmed by the thought of our savior. He fought on the literal front line and gave his life for all of us. I also was sad and ashamed because had I driven past this scene a year ago I would have thought "how sad" but it would not have touched my heart so deeply. In reality we should all have this type of reaction for anyone who has given their life to protect ours. These men and women who choose to serve no matter the motivation behind it deserve our respect and sorrow over their lost lives, and yet many of us are too busy with what were doing to sometimes even realize when a soldier has passed. I am not writing this to make anyone feel guilty or mad, but simply because I am so saddened that it took my husband becoming a soldier to even be aware of the sacrifices they make. I am greatful for all that the Lord has blessed me with, but one of the forgotten blessings is simply my freedom. My freedom to think, love, worship and live how I choose. However taken for granted it is I hope we all take a moment to truly give thanks to the Lord for the soldiers who make it possible...

The Ride

2010-09-30T12:51:00.000-07:00

Alot of friends ask how this is all working out for us, and I tell you all it is "just working" but today I realized sometimes we need to cave into the temptation and just have a good cry. I hate to blog about this all the time but maybe my bad days will help someone on their bad day... Don't get me wrong I am happy, and so are the kids but some days seeing the tears and longing for daddy is too much for one mamma to bare... As Corey left last monday I knew it would be tough, but the worst part was as soon as he put his uniform on Ivy knew he was leaving. It broke our hearts to see her cling to him as if she wasn't going to see him again. Right now Time is my worst enemy and my best friend all at once. Abe is old enough to understand as each day passes that it is one day closer to dad coming home, Zoee gets it a bit, she realizes as the seasons begin to change that it is getting closer to snow, which means dads graduation. But for them the days seem so long, and the weeks cannot pass fast enough. As for Corey's little shadow (Ivy), the understanding of time means nothing to her. All she knows is somedays hes here and then he is gone. It really is hard because she is now associating the uniform with loss.I want so badly for her to not feel abandoned but I fear somedays she does... I am lucky because we have skype and phones, I know there are those soldiers wives who have none of that so I am greatful for each phone call and conversation we get to have but there is nothing like ending your day on your knees with your spouse by your side. I would like to say I have come to rely on my Father in Heaven a lot more, but somedays I still fight tooth and nail against the things I know I cannot alone change or control.
I have learned a few things throughout this whole process though... one is that the Lord is definately mindful of each and every one of our needs, he blesses when I've felt there were no blessings deserved. Two, single moms really do have it harder than the rest of us, so be mindful next time you deal with a frazzled mom on the edge, you really don't know whats going on! Three, Children are resiliant and sometimes they will feel pain, lonliness and anguish and honestly theres nothing wrong with that, infact it opens up a whole can of opportunity... which brings me to my fourth realization I am only one person, and I need to remember what is important, not looking my best, not making sure the beds are made, no it's simply to remind my family how loved and lucky we are to be together and that there is nothing better than belonging to a happy faithful family.
I told Corey the other day to just try and Enjoy the Ride... I then realized I needed to take my own advice. So I am trying harder today to really enjoy this time I have with my babies, because as I was reminded today, Abe turns 8 in April, which means what? They only continue to get older and less interested in mom and dad!

Penny Lane...

2010-09-27T16:34:00.000-07:00

Here is our beautiful little girl. Penelope Lane Fowler. She was born September 16 at 3:54 pm, weighing 7 lbs and 5 oz. and 19 inches long. We couldn't be more excited to have her here. We have alreafy had an ultrasound on her little kidneys. She has a congenital birth defect that caused both of her kidneys to form abnormally, the right one however is of concern. It has two collection pockets so something will have to be done to correct it. She is doing awesome and other than that is as healthy as can be. She will have two more tests done when she is six weeks old to form a plan of action for her. We are so blessed... She is an incredible little girl just like my other little angels.

Only a month to go...

2010-08-26T17:53:00.000-07:00

We are finally on the homestretch now. WOOT WOOT!! I had my second ultrasound on her little kidney and there was no change. So basicly what is going on is this... Fluid has been collecting on her right kidney which can be caused by lots of things like "kinked" pipes, or the tube between her bladder and kidney is narrow at the top causing this back up of fluid. It looks like she has two right kidneys, that tells you how much fluid is backed up. In order to prevent infection after she is born they will put her on an antibiotic, which worries me, but they said it was the best way to keep her healthy. They will do an ultrasound to determine what exactly is causing the backup then well go from there. Once again I have very, very low blood pressure so I have been having fainting spells alot lately, which unfortunately means I dont really leave the house unless I absolutely have to... So things are "super fun" around here!!! But we can handle this for 4 more weeks, RIGHT?

Abe started Year-Round school three weeks ago and has sdjusted really well. He has already made tons of new friends, Of course! Like I would expect anything else from that kid! Zoee will start pre-scool the day after Labor day, and she is soooo excited. I'm not gonna lie, so am I. I think this will be really good for her, ahe needs somethoing of her own.

Ivy had a very late 18 month check up, because I am a lazy mama. And odly enough she has not gained any weight since her 12 month check up. So she only weighs 21 lbs and is only in the 5th percentile haha... she is 31 inches tall which puts her in the 25th percentile. So funny... she really may be my little midgy! It is so funny her little legs have grown but her torso has not, her 18 month onesies still hang half way down to her legs.

Corey is definatelty coming home for Labor Day weekend. We couldn't be more excited. He is loving what he is learning at AIT. I think September is going to be a good month!!!

BCT Graduation

2010-08-17T15:03:00.000-07:00

Well I have been home now for a full week from my visit to the East Coast. First I have to say I hope we never get stationed in South Caroliina, that humidity was a killer and second Virginia Beach looks just like any other beach... Well,it was so neat to see where my sweety had just spend the last 10 weeks. We were able to tour his barracks and meet his Drill Seargents. They were very nice, and I had to thank them for the growth Corey had experienced.Corey was one of only a few soldiers who were promoted on their merits and growth in BCT. SO Yea go Corey. Two of his D.S. had seen pictures of the babies so as soon as they saw Ivy they wanted to hold her. One of them had been calling them the Ginger Babies... which was for obvious reasons! They just melted around Ivy, and really can you blame them? It was an incredible sight to see all the soldiers marching out onto the field for graduation. I balled the whole time. I was so proud!! Ivy was a little hesitant to see her daddy in his uniform but as soon as he took of his cap she realized who he was and couldn't stay out of his arms for a second. There is something to be said about a father and the love he has for his little ones... I couldn't help but teer up every time I stopped to watch Corey and Ivy together. We were able to spend the weekend at his next duty station in Virginia. I finally felt like we were part of the bigger Military family. Corey wasn't allowed to leave the base so we got really familiar with Fort Eustis, Either way it was fun to see my sweety. Goodbyes are always hard but he has a lot more freedom now so we can talk on the phone, and we purchased a laptop for him so we are now proud Skypers... The kids absolutely Love being able to see daddy every night and Ivy now talks to my computer whether hes there or not... it is hilarious. We found out some sad news however, because of the major holidays that fall throughout his schooling he won't finish until January, but he is allowed to come home for those holidays. He is working on coming home for Labor Day. As long as he passes a few tests and meets some requirements he will be here so keep your fingers crossed.

Photo Fun

2010-07-27T17:05:00.001-07:00

I decided to do something I swore I would never do... Get photos done of me Preggers! But I wanted to do something special for Coreys graduation, and all he keeps asking me for are pictures of me. Well Sadly we really only have a handful, so I hired a good friend Michelle who owns Shelly Gellar Photography and they turned out great. Heres a few of my favorites

Blue Phase

2010-07-21T07:48:00.000-07:00

I got a susrprise phone call from Corey last night. It was so wonderful to hear his voice, especially after having a trying day! He has been made squad leader, which means he is responsible for 15 men in his platoon. He passed his final PT test with a 247. He ran the 2 mile in about 13 and a half minutes too!! He sounds really good on the phone but he is ready to be done with Basic. He has been really busy the past two weeks firing different guns and he got to throw 2 live gernades. He passed his Rifleman tests as an expert shooter...pretty good for a guy who has never really shot before! He was pretty bummed out because he was only one point away from being a sharpshooter! He is tied for first place as far as shooting goes, and he is pretty proud of it too... Everyone in his platoon told their D.S. that he is the most responsible, together soldier in the platoon. I am so proud of him. He has also grown closer to his heavenly father than he's ever been... He has really found himself amidst all the negativity, and chaos he has managed to really rely on the Lord, and has found his own inner strength. I couldn't be more proud of him, and every day that were apart I have learned to truly value our marriage and friendship.
A little while ago he asked me to tell him how I felt the first time we met... to save you from the truly sappy details all I will tell you is I have loved him from the moment we met, and our love has definately been re-kindled. They say say time apart makes the heart grow fonder and I can really say it is true. You almost dont realize how much you can possibly Love a person until they are away...

The kids have had a tough time without daddy, but they will have him home before they know it. I am surprised how honest they are about how they feel... Even the Bean tells me "Daddy go bye, bye, on plane" as she points up to the sky... I will be flying to South Carolina a 2 weeks to see him and Ivy is going with me. We are super excited!

3 to 1

2010-07-01T18:09:00.000-07:00

So it is official another girl for the Fowler family!!! Poor Abe, he's going to love our house in about 10 years!! We are so excited about this little blessing that it doesn't matter if it were a boy or a girl. The first thing the ultrasound tech said is "Is daddy tall?" Why? I asked, she replied, "because her legs are really long" SOOOO funny! Looks like Ivy bean will be alone in her shortness... Everything looks good but her right kidney is larger than her left. The doc. said this is common in boys but not in girls. They arent worried but if it gets larger than theres concern. So I get another ultrasound at 34 weeks. It will be fun to see her that big. It was really neat to see her heart at this stage, it is so easy to see all the chambers, and her little face is already melting my heart! Now it's just a waiting game, luckily I get to see corey in 4 weeks from tomorrow! WOOT WOOT!!!

Glass half full...

2010-06-29T07:35:00.000-07:00

I have always been one of those people who look at life in a pretty positive light. This week was a little harder for me though. In anticipation of Corey being half done with BCT I have been really emotional. I keep blaming it on the pregnancy but I really just miss him. It has been 5 weeks and he is now on the downhill (atleast for basic he will have another 18 weeks at AIT). As some of my favorite holidays approach I have come to realize a few things. One I really do love my freedom and country, two I have a completely new respect for those who sacfrice for that freedom, and three I love how simple life can be. With Corey not being able to call on the phone, or email we have had to go back to letter writing. It has been wonderful for our relationship. We have always been close but this has brought us much closer together. You really have to be specific, and honest when putting things to paper, and although I am greatful for the speed of our modern post system I really see what our ancestors must have experienced many, many years ago. I am greatful for the challenges the Lord has given me,I only hope I am learning from them as he intended...

As far as corey goes, he is doing really really well... He is tied for first place in his range shooting, and is going to do pop up targets this week. He has done really well in the practices but the final test is this week. He is trying to become a "sharp shooter," however he made it very clear that he has no desire to actually shoot in combat. He has not lost his caring compassionate side which I am soooo glad!!! He continues to do better every week on his PT tests and says he actually has some defined muscles! Funny boy, he has also discovered an appetite for real food! He tells me he eats every thing they make available to him yet he's still hungry all day! Hopefully this will mean he wants to eat something other than Cafe Rio when he gets home... He definately misses home, but tries to just focus on whats in front of him.

We love you all, and hope you have an awesome 4th of JULY!

Corey Update

2010-06-20T18:51:00.000-07:00

I finally got a phone call... it has been a month since we last talked and it was so nice to hear his voice. He is doing AWESOME!!! He passed his rifle marksmanship test and is on his way to getting 300 on his final PT test. (this is a perfect score) They are finally starting "white phase" which is less hard, but still hard! He says he has really gotten into a good rythm, and is doing really well. He hates the heat and the humidity of SOuth Carolina but is getting used to it. He also ran the 2 mile in 13:28 which is super fast for him so yea!!! I am so excited to see him at his graduation in August. Happy Fathers Day to all of you daddies out there! Thank you for your continued love and support, we really do appreciate it!

For all of you out there I will be finally seeing the doctor on Weds so I should have a very exciting post shortly!

Gas and M16's

2010-06-10T13:57:00.000-07:00

I got a few letters today... Coreys big update was he learned to disassemble then re-assemble his gun which he has to have with him at all times! I found through twitter he did the gas chamber this morning, Ill let you know how that went later, and he did some team building ropes courses as well. He says he likes those the best! He has also been eating a lot of MRE's he doesnt like them that much but some of them have had treats in them. He likes that because they arent allowed any sugary candies.

Thanks for keeping him in your prayers, we love all of you!

BCT Update

2010-06-09T08:03:00.000-07:00

I wanted to post a little about how Corey's doing, I am sorry but there won't be any photos to these posts because he can't take any!!! So far he sounds like he is doing really well...He has finally begun to do the fun stuff... like repelling down Victory Tower, and the ropes courses we all see on TV. He also has a new Personal Best for the mile 7 min 10 sec. Yeah, go sweety!! They also issued him his gun, so he was pretty excited about it! He says he is adjusted to the wierd life that it Basic, but he can't wait until its over. I don't blame him!

I want to tell all of you who have called, emailed and sent texts my way how much I appreciate it. This is tough for all of us but I think it is hardest for Corey not to see his little ones. I have felt an enourmous anount of comfort from the Lord, and I am so greatful for the blessings I recieve everyday in my life. If anyone wants to send him a letter, or a simple post card please let me know I'll get you the address.

Broken Collarbone

2010-06-05T16:09:00.000-07:00

Poor little Ivy Lynn had her first experience at the ER! Last friday she fell, she cried more than normal but I couldn't see any marks so I gave her Tylenol and decided I would give it a day or two and see if it was still tender. As the week went on I noticed she cried everytime I picked her up by her armpit, again I checked for anything abnormal and didnt find a single thing. Finally today while I was bathing her I noticed a large lump on her collar bone... well a trip to Primarys later the results were in broken Collar Bone. Bummer for my little bean. The doc said we were past the tough part and she didnt even need a sling. So my sweet little angel is such a trooper to have had a broken bone and she wasnt even all that grouchy. Of course something like this has to happen when Corey's gone! The one good thing I can say about all of this is for the first time in a year we didnt have to pay out of our pockets! We have full coverage insurance Yippee!!

Private Fowler

2010-05-28T06:42:00.000-07:00

Well here he is in his uniform... It is going to take some getting used to but I think he looks official!!! Please keep the soldiers and their families in your prayers... They really make a huge sacrifice when they choose to serve their country, as I have learned this week..

We knew what we signed up for but until your actually in it you dont have a clue how hard it really is. The hardest part of it all is the fact that at some point he will be deployed and I will have to go through this all over again. For now I am beaming with pride, he is such an incredible man and I am so greatful for the fact that he is my rock and keeps me grounded. Thank you to all of you who have been there for our little family, it means alot to us!

2010-05-28T06:41:00.000-07:00

Its Official

2010-05-25T16:03:00.001-07:00

Well folks today I can actually call myself an Army Wife. Coreys in South Carolina! I have to say the past few days have been an absolute rollercoaster of emotions but I can say that I am through it. It was tough because I dropped him off monday morning at 5:50 A.M. after the tearfull goodebyes to the kids and thought I was doing pretty good until I got a call aroung 1:30. It was Corey. He told me his flight didnt leave until the next day and he was at a hotel by the airport. Of course my first question was do you have to stay there? He didnt which I will tell you was torture. I know this may sound backwards but the thought of having to say goodbye all over again was agonizing. So we were able to spend most of the rest of the day together. I dropped him off at 10:00 and drove home. I thought I would be a mess but I felt an incredible amount of peace.

I am so greatful for the comforting blessing that Corey gave me. I was truly able to feel the Lords love surrounding me. I am so greatful for the blessings of the priesthood and even more than that is the fact that I am married to an incredible man who is a worthy priesthood holder.

It is funny how when the people we love are around us we tend to take that love and comfort for granted but in the last 24 hours I have come to realize I have an incredible man who I get to be with throughout eternity. He is making such a huge sacrifice for our family. I am so lucky to have him in my life!

So way to go Corey! I love you and my prayers are with you!

Ducklings and Life Lessons

2010-05-18T16:35:00.000-07:00

Today Corey and I were taking one of our final loads to the storage unit, when we pulled into South Jordan Storage I saw something that made me instantly panic. I abruptly said to Corey as he was punching in our code "let me out." I needed to help a mother duck and her very new ducklings. You see the storage place is right on Redwood Road and as you know its a busy road. I could see the mother duck was trying to stear her babies to safety, but was unfortunately heading toward the road. As I rushed over to help, the mother changed her course to the lawn but unfortunately for her little ones there was a rain gutter in the babies way. One by one they began falling through the grates. Tears welled up in my eyes as I tried to pull the grate up, realizing the three babies that had fallen my not be coming back up! I grabbed the remaining 9 ducklings (3 or 4 at a time, thats how tiny they were)and placed them on the grass, but mama was not leaving her 3 squeeking babes in the well, she paced and paced daringly close to the road until I forced her on to the lawn as well. Corey pointed out that there was a little overflow water resevoir about 5 feet from where the babies had fallen in. He pulled open the grate there and to my extreme happiness the three came running out to meet their mother. As this was happening two elderly men came rushing across the road with a box and a net asking if they could help. We gathered the ducklings into the box and trapped the mama in the net, another passer by stopped who Corey and I recognized as a young man named Alex Winder. He told us his home was on a farm and would love to take the mother and her babies there.

I am sure you are wondering why I am blogging about this but here is why... as I prayed to the Lord and thanked him for his help and mercy to this little family, a life lesson hit me. First that this is how the Lords Plan is for us... We may wander and fall into lifes wells but he will never leave us. This is why it is so important to find the lost sheep (or ducklings), and second that a mothers love is so incredible that even with the noise of the fast passing cars and the possibility of losing her own life she was going to try to save her babies.

"BOING, BOING, BOING"

2010-04-26T08:44:00.000-07:00

Last night while Zoee was in the tub she asked me how we talk to Jesus. I explained that's why we say our prayers. She got a puzzled look on her face and said, " I need to ask Jesus how he made bunnies go BOING, BOING, BOING!"

How simple a childs mind can be... I laughed, then cried because I don't remember the last time I prayed and didn't need some big life changing answers. I love my children and the fact that they remind me daily to keep life simple.

Hill Air Force Base

2010-04-22T18:21:00.000-07:00

Little Bean...

Zoee is no longer a little girl... she is becoming a little lady! It makes me sad to watch them grow so fast.

Inside a helicopter...The highlight of the whole tour!

Monday we decided to take the kids to the Museum at Hill Air Force Base. As you can imagine Abe ate it all up... His eyes light up every time we see military men, vehicles or basicly anything partaining to tough guys so I knew he would love it! I have always wanted to visit the museum so what better time than now? Surprisingly it isn't nearly as big as I thought but nonetheless it was interesting. We also took a drive around the base. It gives me a little idea of what things will be like for our family in the near future.

30 days and counting...

2010-04-21T14:25:00.000-07:00

Here we are to the final 30 days left until Corey heads out. I have known his ship date for so long that I didn't give it much thought until now... I have had a few rough days and I know they will only get worse. I know it is only for six months but so much is going to happen in those months that I am relying on the ones I love to be my strength. I do have to say I am happy to see some nicer weather for us to enjoy as a family, especially now that I am actually feeling better. Hopefully it will last for us! I am sorry for the non picture posts but not too much to share right now.. I promise I will take some good ones soon though!

For Rent

2010-04-14T21:51:00.000-07:00

While Corey is away at bootcamp I have decided to move out of the condo. If you know anybody who might be interested in renting it please send them our way. It is 3 bedrooms and 2 full baths, Travertine flooring throughout all main living areas and bathrooms, only 2 years old. Thanks and I know this is sort of cheesy but any exposure would help.

Finally 4

2010-03-16T07:44:00.000-07:00

Zoee had her 4th birthday on sunday! I have always thought of her as older but now its official, she is 4. We had all just gotten over the flu so didn't do much. I feel bad because it seems like the past two years we have been sick over her special day. We are all better now, and so ready for the nice weather weve been having.
It is so incredible how quickly time passes; especially when you have kids! I cant believe my little girly is growing so fast. I know as moms we don't have as much time as we'd like to just stop and really reflect on things but it seems like with each passing birthday I take a minute to watch and learn from my little ones.

Things are underway here with Corey, so were just taking as much time to do family stuff. I know May 24th will come alot sooner than any of us want but were preparing for daddy to be gone. I think Abe and Zoee will have the hardest time with it because they are so in love with daddy, but Ivy will go through the most changes. 6 months doesn't seem like a long time but when you think about how much babies change it will be hard to see little bean go from my little baby to a tiny little girl while dads gone.

In other news we will be expecting our 4th little adventure to arrive in early October! It has been a huge adjustment for us considering this baby wasn't exactly planned but it will be a blessing to our family and we couldn't be more excited! I just wish I wasn't so sick, it makes things alot harder! Unfortunately Corey will still be gone when our little one arrives so we have some planning to do. I know the Lord will be by our sides so I am not worried at all!!

Finally some news!

2010-02-13T15:34:00.000-08:00

Well it's official! We finally had our meeting with the Army Recruiter and it's official. Corey will be leaving for basic on May 24th. So now for all of you who have wondered whats been up that is it. We are finally moving towards our goal. It is a little bittersweet because I am so excited for him to start on his path, but I am also sad he will be gone for about 6 months straight. When we started this process 5 months ago we believed it would be easy, but as many of you know it has not. We have had many hurdles to jump, and some have said seeing how it's been so hard maybe that was the Lords way of telling us not to go. We don't think so. We look at it form the perspective of things that are worth achieving are the hardest and thus this is the right path. It is nice that he doesn't leave until after Abe and Zoees birthdays, but he will miss Ivy Beans 2nd birthday. Oh well... the sacrifices we make now will be worth it and seemingly insignificant in the end!

I know Corey and I have a great relationship and this will not be as hard for us as it will for the little ones. Especially Abe and Zoee. They Love their daddy and I am not sure they really grasp the whole situation. Ivy has one advantage and that is her age. However that is a disadvantage because she will change so much over those few months. I know this will be the hardest for Corey. We just need to remember to rely on the Lord and not forget how important our relationship with him will be during these months. Until he leaves we are both trying to make sure our priorities stay in order!!!

A little Late...

2010-01-18T18:38:00.000-08:00

Ha ha!! Funny title!! NOT that kind of late! Just Late telling my hubby Happy Anniversary! NO I didn't forget it I just have not had a second to myself, and even having a half of one meant doing homework, not blogging! Anyway, I know I post this every year but it is fun for me to take a minute and reflect on the love that I have for my hubby. So here it is. We have been married for 8 whole years, CRAZY!!!! I cannot believe it has been that long. If you ask me what I have learned I will tell you not enough. I am still trying every darn day to show my love without being a nut. I do know I fall in love more and more every argument we have. I know, silly, but it is because every time I act like a toddler Corey continues to be as cool as a cucumber and not fight back. I promise I have tried to get him to fight back but no dice! 2010 is going to be the best year for us either things will go good, or we will just learn to thank the Lord for the hardships and find the good in every situation. So here's to another year as a happily married twosome with a few tag-alongs! I love ya babe and thanks for puttin' up with all my crap!

A bunch of stuff!!!

2010-01-09T13:59:00.000-08:00

I know lame title but I went through my camera and found all of this fun stuff stored on it so here is the randomness that is our lives for the past few post-less months!!

These are Halloween. Abe is Max from "Where the Wild Things Are" and Corey was Carol... and yes I made that huge head! Zoee wanted to be a fairy but seeing how it was chilly I made her wear a turtlneck and she wanted to wear purple yoga pants instead of leggings...

One day I couldn't find Ivy Bean and as I walked past the laundry room I found her curled up on a pile of dirty laundry sipping on a "cold one!" I laughed so hard that it made her cry, so I was actually lucky to catch a photo before the tears.

I will be doing a better update soon but I am really busy trying to tie up a bunch of projects before school starts on Monday, so check back soon and we hope you all had a wonderful holiday season!

Overmedicated to Perfection

2009-12-10T14:36:00.000-08:00

As many of you know I have gone back to school. In English one of our assignments was to write an argument paper and then present it in a different genre. I chose to blog about it.
The topic I chose to write about is one that is very close to my heart due to what I have been experiencing with my own little Zoee. I chose to write about the fact that young kids are being over-diagnosed and and over-medicated for behavior problems.

In so many cases parents rush to the pediatricians office looking for answers as to why their little one isn't fitting the socially acceptable norm. I myself did this recently. I was so afraid that if I couldn't fix what was wrong, Zoee would continue through her life as a misfit. As I did my research for this paper I quickly came to realize that being given a diagnosis in only one 20 minute doctors appointment was not only irresponsible but also border-line unethical. I definatly value my pediatricians opinion but through my research I found that a diagnosis of ADHD, Bipolar Disorder and many other disorders should be given by a mental health professional, not just the pediatrician. Unfortunately the reason why doctors push meds is mainly because insurance companies have made seeing a mental health professional almost impossible. This leads me to believe doctors are medicating out of either fear for the loss of a patient or because this may be the child's only chance at receiving help for their problems. There are statistics that say "The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACP) suggest that 10% of grade school boys and 5% of grade school girls suffer from this disorder[ADHD]" (Donovan), and "with 5% of the worlds population, the United States consumes 90% of it Ritalin" (Donovan). To think, as socially advanced we are as a nation we still aren't willing to have a healthcare system in which the most vulnerable are protected; sometimes even from the ones who are supposed to have their best interest at heart!

Olympic Diver?

2009-11-23T14:43:00.000-08:00

Ivy took a dive in the bath today, FULLY CLOTHED! It was a just a matter of time before she did this. Every time I fill the bath she puts her hand under the tap and feels the water and every time she teeters on the edge almost falling in well... Today she actually did fall in. Luckily there was only a tiny amount of water in there and I never leave her alone with the running tub. When I leaned over to pick her up she literally yelled at me... telling me NONONONO! It was very obvious she didn't want to get out, so I undressed her and let her take a second bath for the day. What a silly little girl!

Thankful Enough?

2009-11-20T15:15:00.000-08:00

As the holiday season approaches I have taken a minute to really think about what I am personally Thankful for... As I did this I realized there are 3 things I am Most Thankful for

First...My family, I couldn't imagine life without them. Corey is my rock! He makes life so wonderful to experience, I get to travel through the eternities with my best friend and I don't tell him nearly enough how grateful I am for his sacrifice everyday. He battles beasts every day to make sure we have a roof over our heads all while carrying the emotional burdens only a father can understand!

Abe is such an incredible inspiration to me everyday. Not only is he so smart but he is one of the most humble and incredible spirits I have ever met.

Zoee... Oh my little Zoee, I have struggled this past year to be your best mom ever and I am sorry. I know it's because she is soooo much like me and there is a bit of fear on my end! Zoee is so beautiful and looks at life with such appreciation, and love I need to take more lessons from her!!

And finally my little Ivy Bean, what a breath of fresh air that one is! She is so silly and I can tell she is the calming factor in my life.

Second... My faith. This past year has been full of trials I never thought nor wanted to face but with the Lord by my side I have been able to face them all. I know in my heart my Father in Heaven has been holding my hand through it all. The blessings of heaven are manifested every day through the little actions of friends, neighbors and family. I just hope I can return the blessings to all of you!

Third....Trials. I know this seems a little backwards but it's the truth I am more thankful for my trials then I ever thought. Without rough days and long nights I would never have known how much I am in love with my children.I would brave a thousand fevers and bruises if it gave me more opportunity to serve and Love my little ones. Money comes and goes but the lessons you learn from not having it are life changing. No amount of money would ever replace the growth and strength Corey and I have learned this year. Trials not only bring us closer to the ones we love but our Father in Heaven as well so keep em' coming!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!

Checkup!

2009-11-16T14:07:00.000-08:00

So I took little bean to her check up and surprise, surprise, she is still a little shorty! I know how weird for us to have a mini child but alas I believe she is going to follow her mommies growth patterns rather than daddies!!! It is hilarious how different she is than Abe and Zoee. Here's her stats. Height 27 inches, weight 20lbs, and can't remember the head size but either way it translates into her being in the 50th percentile for head and weight and 10th for her height. Funny! This will be interesting to see her grow. Both Corey and I have grandmas that are short... like under 5 feet so who knows!

Birthday Girl

2009-11-15T11:18:00.001-08:00

Can you believe our little bean is 1? Yep that's right little Ivy Lynn turned this past week(nov 12). I cannot believe how fast time flies, it feels like just yesterday I was coming home from the hospital. So not only did we celebrate the big 1 she also started walking this week. She has been taking a few steps here and there but on Wednesday she finally took off and walked across the room. It's funny to see her toddle across the floor because she is so tiny!
Every birthday the kids have I like to reflect on the past year and even though Ivy is itty bitty, she is a huge light and source of joy in our lives. She is so mellow and can calm any room. I am so blessed to have such a wonderful family an I thank my Father in Heaven every day for his blessings. I love my Little Bean.

When Pigs Fly...

2009-10-19T15:08:00.000-07:00

I kept saying we would not get the Swine Flu, and boy was I wrong... The pigs have landed at the Fowler house for sure!!! Abe came down with it last week and I have to admit it wasn't that bad. He got sick Monday and by Wednesday he was better. We treated the girls with a very expensive Tamiflu in hopes they wouldn't get it.I was so grateful and thought we were out of the woods until today. Poor Ivy Bean is sick now too! We are being extra careful in making sure she doesn't get a follow up infection so please keep our little one in your prayers!!! I am sorry to say that we will be on quarantine for another week but it's all in hopes to keep the "pigs" from spreading. I think the hardest part of getting sick is the fact that we now have the "Plague" and I swear my neighbors cross the street so they don't have to pass our doors...Haha! What a crazy illness the saddest thing is most if not all of us will come in contact with someone who has the swine.

On a good note Corey got a 111 on the ASVAB test last week... One step closer to making big decisions for the Fowler Fam!

Here are some more fun photos!!

2009-10-06T15:37:00.000-07:00

Pictures Baby!!

2009-10-05T21:38:00.001-07:00

I know its been a while but we haven't really had anything too interesting to share...but today I took the kids out and took some pics... here's a few...

Vespa, Vespa, anybody wanna buy a Vespa?

2009-09-14T20:10:00.001-07:00

We are finally getting around to selling that Vespa we rebuilt last summer... It looks awesome and it is available TODAY! If you or anyone you know is interested let us know!

Missing Shoes...

2009-09-07T20:38:00.000-07:00

Why O' why does one shoe go missing every single time I put them away???

Last Days of Summer

2009-09-04T13:42:00.000-07:00

Well it's finally here the last few days of summer have come and gone, but before we got back into the routine we headed out one last time to the beach with to of the best friends anyone could ask for!! It wasn't a particularly hot day but that never stops the kids from enjoying the water... However when it started to sprinkle lauren decided to pull out her umbrella!!! It was fun fun fun...

We also decided to go mini golfing as a family...good idea or no? You decide...

"Have Bows Will Travel"

2009-08-24T12:56:00.000-07:00

Announcing Little Beans Newest Adventure... Bow Party's are here! Get ready to schedule your party today and get Boutique Bows for as low as 3.00$!! Hostess incentives and fun ideas for Fall! Email MyLittleBeans@Gmail.com for more info or to schedule your party

9 Months

2009-08-19T14:40:00.000-07:00

Well our little Ivy Bean is 9 months old. I cannot believe how fast they grow. My neighbor and I decided that when people say they grow so fast it is utterly too true!! Everything is going great she is 27 inches long and weighs 18 pounds. She is significantly smaller than Abe and Zoee were at this age but that is just fine with me. She has been crawling for the last two weeks and pulls herself up to all the furniture she can... I am not ready for her to walk yet!! She still only has the two teeth but is a biter anyway. Everyone says she looks just like Abe but I am beginning to think she looks a lot more like Zoee as she gets older. We will see as time goes by though...
Zoee Reigh

Ivy Lynn

Abe

As the summer comes to a close and school fastly approaches I have realized how much we will miss the lazy days of summer. Abe and I are both starting school on August 26th and Corey will be going back to his seasonal job at "SNIAGRAB" so we are back to scheduling every little thing in our lives as well as some more creative ways for Corey and I to spend time together Alone!

Life's a Beach

2009-08-01T08:51:00.000-07:00

I have recently discovered the best little hidden secret... Well maybe it isn't a secret but either way I am glad we found it. It is a man made beach in Herriman. The kids love it so it has been my mission to hit it up about once a week. The cute little babe with Ivy Bean is our neighbors little one Lennox he is only 6 months old!

Speedgoat

2009-07-21T18:21:00.000-07:00

This past weekend Corey ran the Speedgoat 50k. (That's 31 miles for those who aren't familiar) Holy Cow... I am so darn proud of him and his ability to accomplish this race. I know many of you out there run and run long distances but it has been said that this 50K is the "hardest in the nation if not the world" as was stated on Karl Meltzers website. He is the crazy man who put on the race and he is an incredible ultramarathon runner in fact he has won the Hard Rock 100 2 years in a row, so he is pretty hard core. Anyway this race is up at Snowbird and has approx 16000 feet of elevation change so really its tough. I was able to see him run in at the 22 mile mark which is at the tunnel and then I hiked back up to the tram to see him come in at mile 25. Then of course I saw him run in at the finish. I have to say I almost got emotional to see him come in not because he looked bad but because he had trained so hard and I knew that his body mind and spirit had taken a beating. However when he ran in he looked great, smiling and not nearly as exhausted as I thought. Our great friends the Lewis' came up to support him and although Corey can be man of very little words he was so excited to have them there. He told me that had we not all been there he would have maybe not made it.

So the next time I complain about anything i need to remember that Corey had been running for 12 and a half hours in 80 to 90 degree heat! I truly believe runners are a little bit crazy and after seeing these folks run in at the aid stations I know it to be true now... But what an incredible high they get from being able to say they completed a race this grueling!!!

That's what friends are for...

2009-07-11T06:53:00.000-07:00

Well it has finally happened... I have had my breakdown! Well sort of, for some reason this past week was really tough around our house and it finally came to a boiling point yesterday. I have never professed to be a perfect mother or even a very good one for that matter but I have truly had to turn over a new leaf... I don't need to share all the details but yesterday I finally got fed up with being a maid, cook, chauffeur, dog walker, poop checker, referee and oh so many other things that I lost my cool with the kids... All I wanted to do was take the kidlets to Gardner Village and they both went into temper tantrums... Abe's wasn't too bad but Zoee completely lost it. So to keep this short I texted Aania (who was meeting us there) and told her today was not a good day because of fits and Ivy was still running a fever from teething, and of course she made me feel better by sharing some witty comment. Zoee fell asleep on her bed instead of cleaning up toys and my sweet Ivy fell asleep so I decided to lay down and help Abe read... After about 15 minutes I hear a knock on my door and who was it... Aania... She was there to take the kids and wasn't taking NO for an answer!

I normally would never let someone take care of my problems (and not saying the kids are a problem) but I have had a migraine headache for 3 days and Ivy had been sick from getting her 2 bottom teeth so needles to say we needed some sleep.

I know I say I love my friends all the time but I rally do love my friends. It is a true friend who can put up with not only her own 2 little ones but mine as well...(who fight constantly with each other) So I will say this Aania I love you, I didn't realize how overwhelmed I was until the kids were gone and I had a minute to breathe and cry and then breathe some more! From now on I most definitely need to be more in-tune with the spirit because how else would we know when people need our help??

I KNOW I chose to be a mommy and I do love it but some days I believe it is OK to admit that it is hard and exhausting and the most selfless thing you will ever do in your life, and on top of that we need to remember our jobs, church callings, and family and friends who need our love also. I am sorry if I have fallen short lately but I have been inspired to do better!!! SO thank you to my dear friend for showing me that it is Not Failing to let someone else help for a minute.

Stella

2009-07-07T17:08:00.000-07:00

Well here it is officially! Our intro to the newest family member... Her name is Stella she is a Weimeraner puppy. We Love her! We have had her for a week and a half now and are still working out all the bugs... I swear potty training a kid is easier than a puppy! She is very sweet and actually a very good puppy but she will be BIG!

Summer Time

2009-07-07T14:19:00.000-07:00

Well it's officially summer and the Fowler Fam has been busy! I want our little ones to love nature and the outdoors as much as we do so we have been taking the kids out on many fun adventures some we have photos of and some not. The first of such adventures was hiking up Ensign Peak. The kids were such troopers and of course wanted to run up the hill but unfortunately I am in horrible shape so we didn't. It was neat to tell the kids what the significance of this place was and to have them look out over the beautiful valley. I do have to say I was a little uptight because of the chance that there may be wildlife out and that the kids could fall and get hurt.
Our next big outing was to Doughnut Falls and it was so much fun. Zoee of course loved all the "potguts" and pretty flowers, Abe however wasn't as impressed... I am not sure if it is his age or school or what but lately he has had a pretty bad attitude and I am a bit sick of it. I try and try to be patient with him but I can't seem to figure out what is going on with him... As we walked up to the waterfall a butterfly decided to hitch a ride on coreys hat which did make Abe laugh! Once we got to the fall I instantly became crazy protective mom and really didn't want the kids to move a muscle but somehow Corey talked me into allowing the kids to cross the river and go to the other side. It was neat to see the rocks and the power of the water. As we walked down to the car Abe became more whiney but instead of getting mad I just made him hold my hand and walk with me in silence. It was fun for me to just listen to his little body breathing and walking and hopefully learning. I don't very often take the time to just listen to him so it was really big for me!

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As far as the 4th went... well lets just say it was "crappy" Zoee got very sick while we were at a BBQ that my sister hosts every year in Provo so we came home early and stayed inside (close to the potty)...

Amazing Amazing Race

2009-07-02T07:20:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday it was our turn to host the ETV Date Nite and I must admit it was a blast. I wrote our own little Amazing Race which actually turned out really well. It was full of fun and fast paced challenges that I hope weren't too straining! Anyway I have to tell all of you who played the game Thanks and I promise there will be another one coming soon so get ready for a longer and more challenging race!!!

Oh yes and as a side note Ivy finally got her first tooth! I will post more about little ones after the 4th. Have a good holiday everyone!!

Revelations

2009-06-23T18:59:00.000-07:00

Coreys grandmother passed last week. She had been struggling with Thyroid Cancer which eventually spread to her liver, kidneys and lungs. It was a blessing because she had gone down hill very quickly.

Isn't it funny how Death and Birth really seem to make us reflect on the journey of life... Corey wasn't very close to this particular grandma sadly because of our choice but also because she lived very differently from us so we felt a little out of place at the funeral.

As the plans began to come together for her funeral I had a wonderful revelation about this life. First was how truly blessed I am to have a faith in God and the knowledge that there is more after my earthly life. Coreys father has one brother and one half brother from his father... His brother planned all of Normas funeral and it is so incredibly different attending a funeral that has no references to the Savior, or the afterlife.

The second revelation was that I am so grateful that I have chosen to surround myself with friends and family that not only have the same beliefs as me but that I can be proud to stand beside not only on this earth but in heaven. I truly believe in building lasting and meaningful relationships on this earth and it is truly apparent at a funeral what kind of person you were throughout this life. So as odd as this is I want to Thank all or my many friends and family who have been such an inspiration to me and I hope I can continue to grow and learn along side all of you and maybe when I pass you will have something nice to say about me (or maybe not!)

Runner Crazy!

2009-06-20T09:43:00.000-07:00

AS many of you know Corey has been getting involved in serious running and last night we were able to help promote the RED ROCK RELAY. It was a blast to stand out along a stretch of the Wasatch Back Relay and not only pass out "goodies" but cheer on the runners. We were just in between leg 24 and 25 of the race and I have to say I was inspired. These people that can push through not only running but running in the middle of the night and still be smiling as the come upon us I have to say WAY TO GO!!! Corey really wants to participate in the RED ROCK RELAY but needs to get a team together, if he doesn't run we will definitely be helping out with the race.

I want to put in a plug for the race so here it goes... If anyone is into a fantastic experience running from "Snow to Sun" this is the place to do it! So round up your best pals and form your team today!!! This is the First Annual Race so come on and join (or at least support those who do)! Check out their website for inspiration and info.

7 Months Old

2009-06-09T15:14:00.000-07:00

I can't believe how fast time has gone already Ivy Lynn in 7 months old! She still refuses to hold a bottle and is doing better with solid foods. My family of thinks she looks more like me but I am not sure? I do know she is the only one of my kids to get my Blue eyes. She has begun doing the "Army Crawl" and I know it won't be long before she crawls for real.

There is something so incredible about watching our little ones grow they each have such different but equally as incredible qualities. So far Ivy has continued to be a dream to raise. She is always happy and smiling and truly just brings Joy into our lives. Abe and Zoee are so incredible with her, I love to sit back and watch them interact with one another... People ask if we will have more and as far as I am concerned of course but it is as always something we will pray about but when all is quiet and calm and the kids are being so tender and loving with one another that is why I want more because there is no better joy other than seeing the work of the Lord happening on its own...

Home Improvements

2009-06-09T14:59:00.000-07:00

We bought the condo with all intents to stay a few years then move out and use it as a rental, well with the downturn of the economy we have realized this may be our residence for a bit longer than ever intended so we decided if we have to be here we might as well make it as nice as possible... so Last week we decided to add a back-splash to the kitchen. But of course Corey being so full of ideas we ended up doing all the walls in the kitchen with Travertine. The best part is we decided to use the leftover pieces from when we did the bathrooms so we (and when I say we I mean Corey) had to cut 18x18 pieces down to 3x6 pieces... Bummer this took him around 5 hours in the rain to do but it was worth it... I have to say those of you who can work together on a project and not argue I take my hat off to you, because after 8 days of tiling Corey and I were no longer really speaking to one another! here are the before and after shots...

ZoeeBird?

2009-06-06T09:57:00.000-07:00

I just thought these were the funniest pics of Zoee so I thought I would share them!

Tom took the kids to his girlfriends work "incredible Pets" and the kids got to hold some of the "Aminals". Zoee told me she loved the 'Birdies" and the Puppy (the one like Dobby) I guess I know what type of pet we will eventually be getting her!

Work Hard and Study!

2009-06-02T19:08:00.000-07:00

I know it is so annoying to read Blogs that are full of how perfect their kids are but I really wanted to share this with you!

As Abe's first year of school winds down I have had several opportunities to see how wonderful of a little boy he is but this was the icing on the cake! I received a letter last week informing me that Abe would be receiving an award at school, I had no idea it was the biggest award of the year however! He was awarded the Distinguished Cougar Award which is a cumulative award for good behavior, attendance and doing well on classwork. Then he was given an award from Title 1 for reading the most Take Home Readers in his class. For those of you who do not know what title one is here you go... It is a bunch of classifications you must meet if you are a low income school which means your school receives extra funding for several programs like Take Home Reading, Computers for the classroom as well as Free Summer Lunch, Free Summer School etc... So being in a Low income school definitely has it's perks... Then to top it off this afternoon I got a call from his school asking me to come pick up Abes Bike... Hmmm, I thought Abe rides the bus so what bike? Well all year the kids have been returning their reading charts and every 100 minutes you could put a ticket in for a drawing to win a bike... they had 2 for k-3 and 2 for 3-6 as well as 2 extra bikes 1 that had been donated by the PTA and one by Marilyn Venendal (a woman who works at the school who's husband also happens to be Sandy's Fire Chief) anyway... Abe had his name drawn so woohoo he got a killer new bike! I told him it really pays to work hard and study!

Sapper Joe

2009-05-26T18:32:00.001-07:00

Corey successfully completed the Sapper Joe 30K on saturday! Way To Go! I have to admit how extremely attractive it is to see him complete a race... I know grosssss!!! But truly Corey is so incredible. He has way more stick-to-it'ness than any person I know. He had a great friend and running partner Jeff Noyce to keep him company... I have to laugh because Jeff is not quite as tall as Corey yet he manages to keep up...I think it is because he is in incredible shape! Thanks to Jeff corey is in the best shape of his life and I have to say he looks pretty dang HOT!! I know I've said this as Corey gets sexier I get saggier! I know Corey would love me to join the race game but I also think he wants to see me live past this year! Anyway way to go hunny. Now he's training to run the Speedgoat 50K up at Snowbird in July (it has been said this race is one of the hardest 50K's out there)

Just NEws

2009-05-14T18:03:00.000-07:00

So I know it has been forever since I posted so I finally have a little news to post about! Zoee and Ivy had doctors appointments this past week and it all went well... I do have to say having no insurance sure bites the big one... I paid 183.00$ for the girls to see the doc, and for Ivy's shots SHEESH!!! Ivy is 6 months and by all the charts is average... she looks chubby to me but the doctor says she is normal. She weighed 16 lbs, and is 27 ins. long. Crazy huh?

Zoee is taller than average but DUH I could have told you that. The doctor was a little concerned about some of the things that have been going on with her, so she told me to start with the simplest fix first; her sleeping... She had me get Melatonin to help her fall asleep. I have to admit although it is natural and it really can't hurt her I am still hesitant to give it to her, I feel so awful about drugging her but it is actually working so far we have done it for two nights and she is asleep within 30-40 mins of taking it. The doctor believes she is just sleep deprived. But WHY is she sleep deprived we don't know, I hope this works and we don't have to go down other avenues... She did suggest if things don't improve to go see an ENT or possibly do a sleep study, because some kids actually have sleep apnea...

The weather has been awesome and we have spent tons of time outside and already both the older kids are tanning up and as usual I am getting more freckles! Corey has been training to Run a 30K out at Camp Williams on the 23rd but has really hit a wall, one of his knees is bothering him and he has had an awful cold for the past few days. I know he can do it though, he always seems to pull it together. Summer is coming up for abe so I need any and all advice of free of really cheap ideas to keep the kids busy. I really wanted to get a pass to Cowabunga Bay but I discovered they are 99.00 to 79.00 per person for the season. So alas I am left to my own devices.... Abe however is going to be going to the summer program at his school just so he can keep his little mind occupied.

Rain, Rain Go Away...

2009-05-01T16:40:00.000-07:00

Last week I was so excited for the warm weather and now here it is freezing (well to me it is...) and beginning to rain. Although I need the warm weather I must admit smelling the rainy pavement is so nice. It reminds me of the many, many times as a child I would go outside on a rainy day and jump on the trampoline and love every minute of it. Why as adults do we feel so compelled to always act like adults?

Anyway the cold weather has definitely been a downer at our house. Poor Zoee has just had a week. She was not quite over her cold and developed a cough so I made the huge mistake of giving here cough meds. This I knew would be a decision we would all pay for however I still did it. Needless to say I have spent the past few night sitting on the couch crying feeling like such a huge failure as a mother. Oh ya did I mention we were asked to speak on Mothers Day. Oh the Irony!!!I was asked to talk about what being a mother means to me... well what does it mean? Hmmmm,today it means just getting through the day without the kids seeing my tears. I definitely need to say I love my babes so very much and would rather die a slow and painful death than imagine my life without them but this week was a little rough. The one thing Corey is always telling me is "The hardest times are the ones you know you'll make it through because they are the ones that you will learn from." Sure!! Your telling me I will learn something from being physically exhausted, emotionally drained, financially strapped and on top of all this I haven't shaved my legs in 2 weeks!

OK, OK, things aren't that bad but in fact I am so glad to tell you that I had an interview today and am going in for a second tomorrow at a beautiful salon that fits me perfectly. Now all I need is to find someone to watch the kids a few days a week If you know or anyone please let me know!
I know the Lord doesn't close one door without opening another so hopefully this is my door.

With skills like this someones gotta hire me right? (Yes that is Adrienne and some other Random gal)

Good Weather...Good Times

2009-04-23T08:00:00.000-07:00

Isn't it funny how good weather always makes us feel happy and renewed? Boy has it worked at our house! Although Zoee and Ivy have Terrible colds that include coughing and fevers we have still had a blast the past few days. I did take them to the doc. and was told there was really not much I could do about the sickies but give them Tylenol to treat the symptoms so onward and upward right?!?

I have to talk about my really terrible, rotten no good horrible day that I had on Monday...I have been looking for a salon job to work on Saturdays,and maybe 1 other day a week and have had absolutely no luck so when I got a call from a salon I had applied at I was so excited!!! I went monday for the interview and quickly realized that it was no the place for me! It was the kind of salon that makes you feel terrible about who you are to the point that you will do anything to become who they think you should. The best part of this whole thing was on monday morning I told Corey that I just didn't feel good about the interview and thought I maybe should call and cancel... That's what I get for not listening to the still small voice I guess?

Kinder Winkel

2009-04-13T09:48:00.000-07:00

I have to be excited for a minute... I have been given the opportunity to have my LITTLE BEANS products in the children's store Kinder Winkel. I am so happy because not only did they take all of my products they aren't going to raise the prices, that means all of you can buy at the price I was selling it at! I am so glad to have this opportunity so please remember to tell your friends... I am still selling out of my home so feel free to call me or email me, Again Thank you so much for all of your support I could not do this without your support!

Good Music and Growing Pains!

2009-04-10T18:32:00.000-07:00

Daddy and Ivy's Tummy Time!

THE MUSIC
Last night I decided to surprise my hubby with some concert tickets to one of his new favorite bands " The Airborne Toxic Event". It was at the Murray Theater and was such a great show. They sound exactly the same on their CD as they do live I loved it
THE GROWING PAINS...
OK well not really pain but how do our little ones grow so darn fast? Today I took some pics of Ivy Bean for my Little Beans Blog, and cannot believe how fast she has grown! The pain is that I want her to stay small! She rolled over this week and started to eat big girl food. So far she mostly just gags up the food but we will keep working. Abe carried her from my room to the living room the other day and I loved every minute of it. He is so tender hearted with her. It cracks me up to see the two of them together.

Busy, Busy, Busy!

2009-04-07T07:36:00.000-07:00

Allright Seriously how can he be only 6 and be so talented... He always tells me when I am a pro skater... well that may be sooner than later!

I know I say this a lot but we had one crazy weekend! Friday started us off and was the busiest of them all! First it was VIP day at Abes school so of course Corey and I went, We had no idea what we were in for until it was too late! When we got our food I was mortified at the horrible items placed on a Styrofoam tray. The choice was "Chicken Drummies" or a Roast Beef Sammie, we all got the Chicken (which was pressed chicken meat made to look like drumsticks), french fries and a roll.... I realized at that moment how sad I was at the kind of food we feed our kids at school. I know here comes the soap box, but how pathetic are we as a society to waste millions of dollars a year on athletes, movies stars and other entertainment, and we put so little money into schools that our kids are eating food I don't think I would feed to my animals. Not only is it not healthy food but it looks horrific. So we vowed that day to never make our Kids eat school lunch again! We then were allowed to go back to the class with Abe and Play. It was an inside recess day because of the snow so we had fun interacting with the kids in his class as well as the teacher.. I need to put in a plug for his teacher she is just incredible I absolutely adore her and only wish I could give her a gift worthy of the gift she is giving my son! I cannot imagine how selfless she is to handle all of those kids all day.

After school Abe had ALPS testing, I was a little bummed for him because after all it was his birthday and he had to spend it taking a test! So I took abe to the testing room he was assigned and went to wait in the auditorium of MT. Jordan Middle for two hours!!! It actually wasn't bad because they had a woman from the Jordan School District there telling us about what to expect from the testing as well as if our child gets in to the program. As I sat I found out that we will be part of the new Canyons School District and that all of the information I was being told may not apply because the woman could only speak on behalf of the Jordan District. AAAGH!!!

So now it was time to celebrate little mans big day! We headed to the momentum climbing gym where we discovered it was too crowded for us to even go in and climb, so we took the party to my in-laws where we had pizza and cake!

SATURDAY was almost as busy, I was throwing a baby shower for my sister in law so Corey had to take Abe to his second day of testing. Then that night Corey had priesthood. Since we had no church on Sunday morning the boys went to the skate park while I went to my moms to help make dinner for the fam.

What a crazy busy weekend I felt so bad because all of these things fell on Abe's birthday weekend. All I wanted to do was make it special for him and I really think I failed. Why is it that I find myself doing so much sometimes that I can hardly keep it all straight?

To My Son

2009-03-30T09:13:00.000-07:00

Ok I know you are sick of my sentimental posts but I have to do this one!
Friday my little man will be 6 and I cannot help but reflect on his short but incredible life!

Abe was such a miracle in our lives, from the moment I found out I was pregnant with him I knew he would be incredible. In his short 6 yrs here on this earth he has already became my hero. He has the biggest heart and is so incredibly talented at any type of athletics I cannot believe the Lord blessed us with him!

As an infant he was incredibly happy and so determined! I was worried he would be tough because of his love for activity and messes but obviously...

I know he is a good boy but I had no idea how deep his goodness ran until just recently at parent teacher conference his teacher Mrs. Cobabe told me she was so proud of his honesty and integrity... When I asked what she meant she told me that on occasion he has approached her with tears in his eyes because he needed to tell her something that might make her mad. He proceeds to tell her about something naughty he had done and says " I wanted to tell you the truth before you found out and I am sorry" Rather the her getting mad she said she pulled him aside and told him how proud of him she was. As she told me this I began to tear up not out of madness but complete pride and a little shame. It did make me realize I may be a little too hard on him at times. But it also made me think about how lucky we are to have these spirits in our lives.

How could I such an imperfect human being be trusted with something so sacred? I know I have said that I learn something every day from my little ones but truly I take lessons from my sweet Abraham every day. How incredible that he has the ability to love and respect his teacher enough to tell her the truth although he may get punished! If only I could remember this lesson in my everyday life. I don't know how I will ever measure up to his standard.

I know you have to let them grow and become who they will but every year he gets older it gets that much harder. I love watching him learn new things and listening to his dreams but what I wouldn't give to just hold my sweet "baby" boy in my arms again for the first time.
I have to admit I truly had no idea how powerful the covenants and promises I made in the Temple were until I held my first baby for the first time. I knew at that moment I never wanted to do anything that would keep us apart through the eternities, and I believe that being a mother truly is a blessing from God and I cannot take it for granted. Every day I will continue to grow and love my children that much more.

Birthday Month!

2009-03-30T08:44:00.000-07:00

This month has been crazy for the Fowler Fam. It began with a bang, and a not so good one either... Both girls were sick and very pathetic! But luckily we were still able to have a great birthday bash for Zoee!

Asking a 3 yr old what they want to do for their birthday maybe is not the best idea, but we decided to let her mind go wild... And she picked to go to the "Bounce House" hehe (that's classic for non children families) and of course she had to have a "Princess Cake" so all went really well and we had so much fun. I even decided to have a go at the bounce "MT Everest" and to be honest it kicked my butt... I was exhausted when I finished chasing Zoee.It was great to have everyone together having a blast. Even my father in law put on a pair of roller skates and showed off his talent as a roller skating machine! Unfortunately at the party little Ivy Bean came down with a fever that afternoon!

I knew I would be taking her in for her 4 month checkup on the 18th so I didn't panic but I knew she was coming down with something. Of course as I thought she had another ear infection! The doc. told us that if she couldn't get over this one she would most likely end up with tubes in her ears! BUMMER! As of today I don't know if they infection is gone but sadly yesterday while at church she began coming down with another bad cold, so most likely she will still have an ear infection or get another one!

Here's little chunker all tylenoled up!

On top of all this Abes teacher sent a note home suggesting we sign Abe up for the ALPS tests! What is ALPS... well it is Accelerated Learning Program. It is for kids that learn faster than their normal level. I couldn't be more proud of my little man who will be 6 on friday!!

Too Fast

2009-03-11T22:21:00.000-07:00

So it's 11:21 P.M. and my sweet little Zoee is in her room playing toys... Cooking for her barbies I believe. So as I sit waiting for her to finally give up and go to sleep I decided to update all of you... The mold guy came and really upset me because he basically told me I don't clean good enough HA!! Those of you that know how I was raised know I am a clean freak (Thanks MOM) I had a mom who every friday had us do chores, thus making me so crazy about cleaning anyway I am frusterated but whatev!!

Tomorrow my little one Ivy will be 4 months old and Zoee will be 3 on saturday. They grow way too fast! I cannot believe how time has flown by, It fills me with such emotion sometimes that I find myself crying for nothing. Especially on those days when bedtime rolls around and I realize that I didn't spend quality time with all of my little ones.

I think that lately I have tried to be supermom and fix everything that is going wrong around me and haven't taken a minute to realize that usually the things that go wrong are the ones we should cherish the most and control doesn't always bring happiness!!

I am truly so lucky to be home with my babies and I don't think I thank my Heavenly Father enough for this opportunity and sadly it takes really bad days to remind me that there is nothing I would rather do then raise his celestial beings on this earth, I only hope He forgives me for my lack of ability sometimes...

Busy times!

2009-03-03T07:50:00.000-08:00

Hey friends and family! I have had a very rough couple of weeks!!! First let me start off with how sick the girls have been. Ivy has been congested since I took her in for her 2 month appt. and as I already told everyone it turned into an ear infection. Then 10 days later I was back at my Dr.'s office with Zoee. She too had an ear infection except hers was so bad the Doc. told me her eardrum was on the verge of bursting. So last Tuesday and Wednesday nights I literally didn't get any sleep. I don't believe I was ever able to stay up all night then function the next day! With all the nice weather we have been having I was getting ready to do some spring cleaning you know move furniture wash walls and windows and stem clean my carpets but to my horror when I went to wash my bedroom window I discovered a horrible Mold Problem. Actually about 4 months ago I cleaned my windows and realized we had mold in the tracks of the windows, not a big deal well the mold has spread to the window sills and when I went to move the couch to vacuum behind it I found mold in the corner on the floor boards! I think there must be a defect with the foundation and it is allowing ground moisture to get into the house! I cannot believe my home is barely a year old and now I have Mold. The HOA company is sending someone to look at it tomorrow but I am literally freaking out. I wonder if this is why my little Zoee has had a cough and runny nose for six months? I really believe this year is going to be a good year for us so whatever ends up happening with this I can at least say we learned something!

LIttle Beans New Blog Address

2009-02-28T20:56:00.000-08:00

my Little Beans Blog address has changed to www.Littlebeansbows.blogspot.com in order to be easier to find and to remember!! Thank you to all of you who have supported me in this fun idea I have had. I really appreciate all of your love and support!

What a Long Weekend!!

2009-02-18T19:43:00.001-08:00

This weekend was most likely fun a maybe even romantic for some of you... but for us at he Fowler House it was stressful! This is how it started, Ivy Bean has been a little congested since her 2 month appointment and I haven't been too worried until Thursday Night when I realized she could hardly breathe and her eyes were red and a little swollen> I was in a panic so I called Aania (what a great friend) to see what the signs of RSV are and needless to say I ended up calling my sweet neighbor Annie Young who is also a nurse and had her come look at the beebs!! To make this long story not so long I took her to the doc. upon Annies advice and no RSV but she had an ear infection. On top of all this Corey is still working his insane work schedule and I am getting ready for a boutique... Anyway to add to my stress Zoee got sick on Friday night. She was up all night caughing and sneezing. So both the girls got sick. Ivy is clearing up but Zoee is still way sick and coughs alot.I feel so bad for her, that tiny little body can only handle so much stress you know.
For my weight update this was a bad week to start because I have finally gotten back to "normal" after having the baby so uuugh nothing good to report other than Im tired grouchy and bloated!!!

I do want to let you all know I am going to be at the HEARTFELT BOUTIQUE on March 19-21st at Pioneer Hall in Midvale. WooHoo!! Here goes nothin'. So Ill be busy getiing ready over the next few weeks!

I need support...

2009-02-06T15:47:00.001-08:00

Allright fellow friends and family I need support... This is the last weekend of food fun for me! I am officially gearing up to get in shape. Notice how this was not a new years resolution... no no this is a lifetime resolution. I realized today that I tell myself that I like how I look but in reality I cannot stand it and I have began to have unhealthy thoughts so... This is it I am going to do it and I want to put my plan out publicly so there is no where for me to hide HEHE!I figure if the ones I care about and trust know where I am they can help me through this. I am not going to say my weight but I will say I need to lose 15 lbs. So there will be weekly check ins and if any of you have any advice or words of wisdom please send them my way cuz I'm a gonna need it!!!

Funny Baby

2009-01-30T07:49:00.000-08:00

I decided to put up the jumparoo for the baby and caught some of the funniest pics. I just love my Beans they are so fun!!! I just cannot believe how fast they grow and change. She will be 3 months old so soon.

A rough day or two...

2009-01-28T07:49:00.000-08:00

Hey there it's been a while I know! There hasn't really been anything too exciting to report. I have been getting an application ready for the Midway Swiss Days and what a lot of work that is!!! I had a birthday not too eventful and I have been extremely worried about Zoee.
The other day I laid her down in bed and it must have been the way she was laying because she looked so gaunt and thin that as I walked out of her room I burst into tears. I know I have talked to a few of you about my worries with her but it has gotten worse. As a mom you just know when something is up with your little ones and I am just going crazy over all of this. So many of the pediatricians I have taken her to tell me she is just tall and thin but she will be 3 in two months and only weighs 25 lbs. I have noticed her nutrition is horrible also and as a mom that is my fault but I don't know how to force her to eat!!! She has horrible dark circles under her eyes because of her sleeping habits or her nutrition and Looks so skinny!!! This is the most helpless I have ever felt and I cannot imagine finding out something serious is going on! And on top of all of this we have no insurance, so I have to wait to test her for anything until march. Throughout all of our financial struggles over the past few months I have always said I am so grateful for my trials and I would take money struggles over health issues any day and I truly mean that so please keep our little one in your prayers.