"Playing House"

Life has been full of complete joy, yet craziness..... We are doing Great! The kids are growing both in size and personality. I wish I could share all of their many moments with you. Oh the joy! I do promise a full update of the past few months soon.

Life has been full of lots of changes for our little family once again. ( refer to the previous post). We have been busy getting ready for the holidays, fixing up the office and all the things that come along with owning our own practice, Attending our children's different extra curricular activities, Spending time with friends and family, and Serving in our church callings. Most of all I've been spending "A LOT" of time enjoying just being a mom. I've had a lot of time on my hands this school year. I've not normally had that. I've been playing little miss "Homemaker". Most of you who know me well, know that I love to create and build. I've been able to enjoy doing things that require homemaking skills. Which is something that I love to do. I feel, that for the first time in my married life I'm now truly "playing house,".( What I dreamed being a mom, and wife would be like). If that makes sense to you. Life is what I always dreamed of, and much, much more. We "FINALLY" have a somewhat "normal" schedule. A schedule where we can eat most of our meals together, wake up at the same time, read together, and do things as a whole family, and then retire to bed at the same time. ( that's if I can get Brian away from one of his books or a sporting event on TV). We feel so blessed to be at this chapter in our lives. With the past 12 years being full of school, and a not so consistent schedule, ( we did love those years as well, just not the inconsistency of it) We're now loving life, and taking a break, trying to enjoy every moment of it. So "YES" I'm being kinda lazy!

P.S. Andy, so sorry to have let you down once again. SOON!

Life Changes in an Instant!

Yesterday morning we got a call from a good friend saying that Dr. Blackburn had passed away. Dr.Blackburn is the Doctor that we bought our practice from. He went out for a bike ride at about 5:30 pm. He didn't return home. A search party was called, they found him around 5:00am the next morning. They figured he had a heart attack! The doctor figures he died pretty instantly, and probably didn't suffer long. He was found face down in the dirt off the road a little. His feet were still strapped into the peddle straps. He was a very healthy man. Only about 60 years old. He was just called, and visited with President Uchtdorf two weeks ago, He and his wife were called as Mission President. What an honor!

Dr.Blackburn came to our house and visited with us shortly after his mission call was extended. He was delighted, yet really having a hard time with the whole retirement thing. He worked very hard to build his practice to what it is today. He had some concerns, Brian has been changing all the medical files to the "new" and updated electronic medical records system, we've bought a few different types of new equipment. Which have pretty much paid for themselves already. He was happy for us yet concerned. He's not use to the "new way" ( technology) of doing things. He still paper trailed EVERYTHING. Brian learned one way, and he learned another. Both fine, just different.

Brian has allowed him to still come into the office for our first year, about 2 to 3 days a month. Dr.Blackburn had been working at the office a lot. He would go in about 5 to 6 days a month, and see around 40-45 patients a day. He also saw the patience at our the Moab office. The Moab office was in our contract with him for the first year. He saw ALL the nursing homes in town as well. He also went up to Provo a few times a week, and worked at a hospital. He was a very busy man! He was busier now, then ever before. Brian manages the office in Price, and Castle Dale.

We feel so bad for his family. He has a wonderful family, 8 or 9 children, ( can't remember) all who went on missions, and are highly educated. Brian and I went and visited the family yesterday. We took them a cooler full of drinks, and some snacks. Someone did this for us when we lost our baby, it was so nice. We didn't really need it but they insisted. They said, You not only had a birth, but a death as well." How thoughtful, Thanks! It was nice to visit with the family! Hard to see them is such a way, they seemed to appreciate us stopping by. His son Travis and his family just recently moved into our ward. We are really happy to have them.

We feel very grateful to Dr.Blackburn, and for the wonderful practice that he has built for us. We feel so bad that he was having such a hard time letting go of it, and I'm really glad that Brian was "SO" patient with everything. I'm feel so blessed that the hand of the Lord played such a big part in our decision to move to Price. EVERYTHING that has happened for the Blackburn's, as well for us has been amazing, the timing has been impeccable. Dr. Blackburn had all of his affairs in order. His mission was a little different then planed.

We've really been enjoying working on the practice. Brian's been working about 4 days a week with an average of 25 patients a day. He does his surgeries on Friday mornings. His work load has now about doubled. No more just 4 days a week. We're a little overwhelmed! Blessed, but overwhelmed!

Brian didn't sleep last night at all, he feels so bad for the family. Just when Dr.Blackburn was about to retire this happens. I'm just glad that Brian has no regrets, and has treated Dr.Blackburn well. We will be forever grateful for him, and are blessed to have known him.

Dr. Dennis Blackburn 2009

Here You Have It!

So the truth is, I haven't been very good at keeping up on our family Blog! I'm sorry! I've kind of lost interest in Blogging lately. I keep going back and forth, do I continue to make posts now that we've moved closer to family and see them often, or do I just stop all together....?

I've never really been a good writer, and my grammar pretty much stinks. I read some peoples blogs that just crack me up. Some people are just so gifted, and entertaining. We all have our strengths and weaknesses! I guess the purpose of our blog is really just a very superficial journal of the things that have been going on in our life, and to keep you updated on our little family. I guess what you see is what you get! We find our life full of entertainment, and really that's what matters.

I'd love to print our Blog off at the end of the year, my friend did, and loved it! We then will have a precious little book (scrapbook), a nice keepsake full of our past memories to enjoy in the future. I haven't been too good at getting our pictures in albums, Let alone journaling each one of them. I'm going to "try" to do the lesser of the two evils. So with that being said, I'm going to try to catch up on our life, and what's been going on for the the past few months. Blogging is a much easier route then to do a "real" scrapbook. It may take a while to back track! I'm so behind!

What she's not telling you

Tanya loves parades.

She scores all the good stuff.


See that bulge in her bag?

Toilet paper.

25lbs and Still Can't Move

Our sweet little Case is now 6months old. He is such a joy to have around. Such a joy that when he's awake the poor little guy is often fought over. He is every one's favorite toy.

I find myself getting a little bothered at times when I have to share him. It's AMAZING how much love a baby can bring into a home. Our little man is lacking in the area of movement, and "tricks", or I guess you can say development. He's very alert, and attentive. However, he weighs a little over 25lbs. I guess that's a lot for a baby this age. I see him everyday so it's not so weird for me that he's a little on the large size. I don't have a lot to compare him with. His hands have cute little dimples on them.

His feet look like a women's when we are about nine months pregnant, and swollen.

This is a picture of Case and his friend Rylen Christiansen. Rylen is 2 and 1/2 years old. I'm sure Case will grow out of his "Baby Fat".

The first day at our new ward "Church" a little girl who was about 4 yrs old came up to us and said," Your baby has a "BIG" face". He does, I think that's why he looks so big sometimes is because his cheeks are so big.

Anyways, what I'm trying to say is..... it's not that big of a deal to me so I don't really notice that he's that big. My other babies have all been pretty average, and usually early on the development side. Now, as far as Case goes, he's 6months old, he "STILL" doesn't roll over, (most of his friends do this around 4 months). In fact this is what I found McKenzie doing one day...

Yes, she is trying to teach him how to roll over. lol He "CAN'T" sit, unless propped by a few pillows, or blankets. He doesn't do anything but laugh, and smile. He is the happiest baby you will ever meet. He has the most infectious smile in the world.

He lays around most days ( that's if he's no being held) you'll often find him lifting his head up as though he was going to do a sit-up. That's about it on the movement side of things. The litttle man has quite the little six-pack going on!

One of our kids came to Brian and I worried about Case when he starts school. The child said," Mom why don't you stop feeding him so much. Kids are going to tease him if he's that big when he goes to school". Lol

It's funny that the kids even care. I think that they have just noticed all the comments lately. They also witnessed that when we were at the cabin the little man couldn't even fit in his size 12month life jacket. The other cousins who are only 3 weeks older, as well as almost a year older could fit into it. And then there was Case....

Poor kid, he could hardly breath!

I love this little guy so much! I get so excited to hold him, and love on him. If I run to the store, and leave him behind with Brian for a half hour, I miss him, and can't wait to get back to him. Even in he middle of the night, I get excited to just hold him, and care for him. I know it's kind of weird! It's just amazing how much love we can have for one child, and to think that I love my others just as much, it's amazing. I remember when I had Taylor, and was expecting McKenzie, I was worried about even loving her as much as I loved Taylor, and how could I possibly have that much love to go around. It's amazing how we just do, and how that love grows, and multiplies. One of my greatest joys about Case is watching others lives being touched by his joy, smile, and giggles. I can't tell you how many people have come up to me to make a simple comment on his contagious smile or something. It brings so much happiness to me to see such a fresh new little one light up, or brighten someones day. The smile, and sincerity on the person's face is priceless. (It makes me feel bad about all the people I purposely avoid because I KNOW they are going to make a comment, and I'm in a big hurry, and don't want to have a conversation with them. Rude, I know). I guess that right now I shouldn't worry that little Case is behind on a few things. I know he'll grow out of this. I'm sure it would help if he wasn't held ALL THE TIME. 25lbs is a lot to move around at such a young age, no wonder he can't do much. I've waited a long time to have a baby, so I guess I'm just soaking it up, and enjoying every moment of it. I sure do love my little Case!

Our NEW information

Sorry for being so slow with this. I'm not going to post our new phone numbers, and address on our Blog. Not that I don't want you all to have our information, I just want to make sure that I know who is receiving our information. I'm not 100% sure of EVERYONE who reads our blog. We are going to send out a mass email to everyone that we have an email address for. Leave me your email unless you know that I already for sure have your email address.

Alive and Well

Well, we made it to our new home town. Price, Utah. We arrived late Thursday night, June 25Th. We drove into town, went straight to our new home to preview it before we bought it the following day. Brian and I were kinda nervous buying our house sight unseen. We were a little hesitant because the house was a foreclosure. Brian's parents, and Dan, and Valarie ( our good friends) both saw the house. We really put a lot of trust in them! Thanks guys!

We closed on our home Friday June 26Th. All went well.... We are officially home owners "again"! Hear is a picture of our new home!

The move out, and the drive out was a little crazy....... Need I say more!

My Mother, and sister Lani rescued our children that Saturday for a couple of weeks. They took them to Canada so the kids could spend some time with their grandparents, and cousins. The kids had a blast, and grandma whooped them into shape pretty quick. They got to help out on the farm, play in the pool, and just be kids. They also got to go to Grandpa & Grandmas new cabin on Echo Lake in Montana. Uncle Chad, and Aunt Lani taught Taylor, McKenzie, and even little Jackson how to water ski. I couldn't believe it.... Little Jackson water skiing! He's ONLY 5 years old! Now that's amazing! ( Lani, I need those pictures). They said it was "really" cute!

Meanwhile...., Brian, and I have been busy, busy, busy!

The movers arrived Tuesday the 30Th of June. We had a few days before they arrived to get the house cleaned, and a few projects done. We've had some good quality time together while getting the house somewhat settled, and ready for the movers to arrive with all of our stuff.

A few of Brian's brothers, as well as Seth, and Hailey came to help us unpack.

John & Clint

Brian & Greg and the BMW ( notice they are out playing with the car while the others are in working, they are so busted)

Hailey was such a good help with Case

Seth was our "chore Boy" he did everything that the rest of us were too lazy to do.

It's so nice to live closer to family for that reason. We didn't even ask them to come help. Now that's some awesome family! Taking our kids for us or a few weeks, unpacking, retrieving our now destroyed car from the dirty transporter, not to mention the many other things they've done for us. We've definitely got it pretty good....