Monday, October 29, 2012

::..a BIG first..::

Barrett's first trip to the ER.
 
I say "first" because I know it will be the first of many.  This little man is soooo busy and soooo into everything, that I just know throughout the course of his life, we will become well accustomed to the ER!
 
Here's the story:
 
This afternoon, the kiddos wanted to go outside but Alexa was using the little girl's room and needed my help.  Barrett followed me in but when I mentioned outside, he went to follow Payton.  Then I heard him screamed.  Payton had slammed the back sliding door shut.  I opened it to free his hand, scooped him up in my arms while I'm scolding Payton and went to sit down on the ottoman to comfort my hurt little boy.  That's when Alexa asked, "Mom, is that blood?"  To my horror, I look down at his hand and there is blood everywhere.  All over his hand, all over me, all over the floor.
I immediately took him to the sink and grabbed a towel but he wouldn't let me touch his hand.  By this point, I could see that the tip of his pinkie finger was hanging on by a thread.  I always thought I'd be calm and cool during an emergency...but I was scared to death.  I managed to tell Alexa to grab my cell phone and then somehow was able to call my neighbor, Brandon (he's a stay-at-home dad and our kiddos play together).  He wasn't home but said his wife Karla was and he'd send her over.  Then I managed to call Kevin (all while holding a screaming baby and trying to calm down two hysterical little girls).  First miracle/blessing/tender mercy: Kevin answered his phone (he'd just finished up with a patient).  All I said was "Barrett just chopped off his finger" and he said "I'm on my way home". Second miracle/blessing/tender mercy: Kevin was at our new office that afternoon that is only 2 miles from home. He was home within 5 minutes.  Karla had already walked in the door and managed to help calm me down a little and then invited the girls to go back home with her while we took Barrett to the hospital.
 
It took 7 stitches on his tiny little finger to reconnect the tip but they told us it would barely show a scar.
Kevin and I had to literally pin Barrett down during the procedure, together with one of the nurses, as the anesthetic had already worn off.  My poor baby felt each and every stitch and it broke my heart.  But he was such a trooper...when it was all over, we said "Barrett, what do you tell the doctor" and he said "gankoo" (thank you).  It was so sweet.
 
(*side note: this post is written 5 months after the fact and I STILL cringe every time I think about that little finger!)


 
I'm grateful that my little boy is safe and that his finger will heal but I sure don't like ER visits...I hope he'll go easy on me during his growing up years! :-)



Sunday, October 28, 2012

Primary Program 2012

Today was Alexa's Primary Program at church.
I always look forward to seeing my little lady up there with all the other kiddos, makes me kinda teary-eyed...she's growing up!
She even had her part completely memorized, and it wasn't a short one either!
Way to go sweet girl!
 
And today, she actually showed some attitude too...not that that's surprising though!

 
Payton and Barrett couldn't be left out of pictures!
Man, I love these little peeps of mine.
So grateful I get to call them my own!




Friday, October 26, 2012

The Little Things...

...can bring so much joy!





Monday, October 22, 2012

..::Pumpkin Patch 2012::..

We made our annual trek to get pumpkins tonight for our Family Home Evening activity. We love that the Marana Pumpkin Patch is so close and that there are lots of fun things for the kiddos to do!
 First off, we went and picked out our pumpkins.  We knew the sun would be setting soon, so we wanted to take full advantage of any daylight we had left!!


And it was a good thing too, because by the time we got back to the farm, it was dark.  That didn't stop the kids from having fun though...they loved the hay bale mountain, riding mini tractors, playing in little play houses, climbing on giant spider webs, and petting the animals at the petting zoo.





 
What a fun night.
Especially because it wasn't 95 degrees outside like it was LAST year when we went!!
Hooray for more fall-like weather!! :-)

Happy Fall y'all!!

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Oh Blessed Day!

 
Look at this handsome little man!
On Thursday, he was 18 months..which means he can now go to NURSERY at church!
Today was his first day....one we've been looking forward to since before he even turned one!
He's such a busy little guy so it will be refreshing to now be able to enjoy the last 2 hours of church without him crawling all over me!  And he'll be having fun with toys, snacks and friends...it's a win/win for all!! :-)

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Disney on Ice

When I heard that Disney on Ice was coming to Tucson, I knew I wanted to plan a mommy/daughter date with the girls!
All three of us were soooo excited!
Payton was enthralled waiting for the show to start!
Alexa was too as it began. 
Trying to get a good picture of us all together! 
They started with Princess and the Frog. 
Then Cinderella. 
And then Tangled.
I noticed Eugene descending from the rafters first and pointed him out to Alexa, who just smiled.
Then I leaned over to Payton and pointed up...and the second she saw him, she squealed "EUGEEEEEENE!!!!!"
It. was. adorable.

 
But I think the favorite part for both the girls, was when all the Prince and Princesses came out at the end in their "marry dresses" (as the girls call them).

I'm so grateful for these fun little dates I can go on with the girls. They are so special to me and I hope they never forget how much I love them!

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Ried Park Zoo

Since it's Fall Break this week and Alexa doesn't have school...we decided to venture to the zoo!
The kids always have a great time checking out the animals...
or just sitting on the statue at the entrance to the zoo! :-)

Don't you just get lost in those beautiful blue eyes???


Thursday, September 27, 2012

Joy School Field Trip

Payton got to go on a field trip today for Joy School!


 
She was very comfortable around the chickens since she's done this several times while visiting at Grampa and Gramma Mortenson's.



 
She came home talking about how they got to pick some eggs and then took them back and ate them (they scrambled them up first!!).  What a fun day!

Kindergarten School Picture

School pictures came home today and I am in love!
What a beautiful little girl we have!
We are so glad she LOVES school!

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Team Spirit

There's no doubt about it...
We love our Wildcats!

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

PeeWee Soccer - Fall Edition

Back in the spring when Alexa played soccer, Payton wasn't old enough yet.
But now she is!
Excited for her first soccer experience! :-)
 
 
Just doin' some stretchin'!

 
Totally enthused about what the coaches are saying!!

 
Soccer-playing sisters.
Kevin was especially *happy* to find out our girls scored maroon and gold colored t-shirts.
(aka "urine & rust" school colors for ASU - booooooo)

 
Alexa all ready for her second go at peewee soccer!

 
And here are the girls' official soccer pictures!