Family Photos...Finally

After six long years, a severe scolding from a family friend, and countless trips to the store to coordinate clothing I finally have new family pictures. I am so happy.

Parker the comedian

Without meaning to Parker can make everyone around him laugh, feel a little bit lighter, and enjoy their day just a little bit more. Perhaps it is this lack of effort that makes him funny. While we can't put our finger on just what it is about him that brightens our day here are a few examples:

1. We have been riding Trax to the hospital each day. While we ride Parker will sometimes plug his headphones into the ipad and watch a movie. Then he laughs. He laughs and laughs at every silly scene. Before long people are peering over their newspapers, looking up from their phones and smiling with him. His favorite movie right now is Despicable Me. He laughs the entire time. Lest you be picturing small turned up corners at the end of his mouth allow me to clarify. Parker belly laughs, loud and long with the appropriately adorable giggle thrown in for good measure. Soon a whole train car is smiling and their day is off to a better start than it was before Parker boarded.

2. Our family was playing Blurt, a game where one player reads a clue and the others try to "blurt" out the answer first. I drew the top card slowly and with lots of drama. The clue is...a day where children get dressed up and beg for candy. Parker jumps up and yells, "CHURCH" This one kills me

3. While standing on the side of the road waiting for a bus Parker said, "Mom, I think it's coming, you had better step back."

4. I frequently find myself patting my pockets on the front of my pants to ensure that I have my phone with me. I was walking out of the house one day patting my pockets when Parker asked, "Mom, is that your tic?"

Seriously, this kid kills me! I love him to pieces and feel so fortunate to have him in our family.

So Proud of Lexi

Lexi turned twelve this week. She is officially a young woman no longer to be referred to as a kid, munchkin, squirt, or baby girl. This has been a tough year for Lexi but she has been so brave and so eager to work out her problems that truly she reminds me of the apostle Paul when he said "Therefore I will most gladly rejoice in my afflictions. For when I am weak then am I strong"There have been alot of tears this year, alot of anger, a lot of fear. But at the end of it came one of the most joyous moments of my life. Lexi was just about to be discharged from the University of Utah Neuropschiatric Institute. Ever diligent to the changing moods of my newly medicated daughter I asked her therapist, Andrea, to check on Lexi's mood. We been warned that her new medication could make her manic. This is the last think that we wanted to happened and I worried about it constantly. An hour passed. Andrea and Lexi appeared from the therapy room. "Well," I asked, "is she going manic. Do we have to stop this medicine?" Andrea laughed and flashed her most heartwarming smile. "Kris, Lexi is not manic, she is HAPPY." Hmmm...happy. Is it possible that my little girl has been suffering for so long that I couldn't recognize her happy? The thought breaks my heart. Happy. Whoever could have imagined that this one word could be so elusive, so soughtafter, and yet so unregognizble when we finally obtain it? My eyes filled with tears (just as they are now) and my heart burned within my chest. Lexi had just recieved the greatest birthday present ever: the gift of happiness. And she gave it to herself through bravery, determination and perseverence.I am so proud of her. There are adults who seek their whole lives for what she has figured out by age 12. And so I repeat, she is no longer a kid. She is amazingly wise, special, beautiful young lady. And we, her family and friends, are blessed simply by her presence.

Fall Family Festival

There were pumpkins being thrown through the air, tombstones being used as tennis rackets, and donuts dangling from the ceiling. It was our traditional Grandma Jaylynn fall extravaganza. We didn't do it last year. We were all still in shock and all too afraid to even try to assume Jaylynn’s place. This year was different. This year I realized that if I am truly going to honor Jaylynn and keep her memory alive it will be by doing the things that she would have done. So I called Katelyn and asked her for her birthday dinner request. We did pumpkin bowling and bobbing for apples (even though that totally grosses me out). But the best part of the evening was being together, and laughing. 

Bunny anyone?

For Lexi's birthday we decided to surprise her with a bunny to care for and love. Every day on my to the kids' school I pass a house that usually has bunny hutches in its yard that are for sale. One day I stopped, rang the doorbell and nervously waited to introduce myself to whoever opened the door. The door swung open and an older man wearing jeans and a plaid shirt said, "Can I help you?"
“Yes”, I responded,”how much do you charge for your rabbit hutches?” He told me and we struck a deal. I had just bought my first bunny hutch from Kurt the farmer.
“What you gonna put in that hutch”, he asked.
“Um… a rabbit?” (really this guy was not too bright)
Kurt answered with, “Well in that case turn right onto this street right here and go to the third house. That guy there raises rabbits”.
“Excellent!” I said appreciatively and turned my car that direction.
I knocked and was greeted for the second time that day by a man in jeans and an old plaid shirt.
“What can I do you for?”
“Well, I just bought a rabbit hutch from Kurt and he said that you raise rabbits.”
His face brightened. “I do!” He exclaimed” I have some that are just about ready now. Follow me.” I was so excited and totally prepared to see cute baby bunnies just learning to be away from their mom; bunnies who were fuzzy bunnies who were lovable and soft. HOORAY
We headed to the backyard. Just short of the door the man stopped, opened the oven and produced a Dutch oven laden with meat.
“I've been marinating this batch for five days now. Gonna cook them up for dinner tonight”
“Ewwwww!”
I paused, dumbfounded. Finally I managed a sentence. “Um I kind of don’t want to eat the bunnies, I just want to love the bunnies”
“Oh.” The man said disappointingly. “You want to head across the street to meet Dave.”
“Awesome. Thanks.” I gathered all of my courage and headed to Dave’s. For the third time that day I was greeted by an old man in a plaid shirt.
“Yes?”
“Hi,” I said “ I am looking for a bunny. (Pause) um a bunny to love. Not eat.”
Dave rolled his eyes and said, “you a must have just done gone and seen Roy. Sorry bout that”.
Trauma behind me I found two adorable mini Rex bunnies that Lexi loves and and has named Sassy and Phoebe.
Phew! Glad that's behind me!