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Aug 17, 2009 Post By: Kimberly and Treven

The verdict is...

Melia needs glasses!

Woo hoo... I am actually feeling really bad for her for some reason. Well, I hated glasses and looked like the biggest dork in the world. But it doesn't matter, here is the story!


It all started because she started doing a "stink eye" whenever she was looking at someone or watching a movie and she started doing it more often in the last like 4 months. Treven would mess around with her and sound like he was angry, but have a happy face or an angry face and she would do the "stink eye" and then based on what she saw she would react happy or sad.

So we decided, "Okay, we need to take her to the eye doctor." I finally called about 2 weeks ago to go in and see him. Today was the day. He first did the eye test, which included pictures not letters, and she would tell him what she saw. She got really frustrated about the 4th or 5th line down and just gave up. She just kept saying "Boat. Boat. Boat". Then he dropped some eye drops in to make her pupils nice and dilated. When we went back in, he had her watch a cartoon in a machine while he looked at her eyes and then he looked at her eyes with two other machines. Then he told us... She is EXTREMELY far-sighted. He said her eyes are trying so hard to focus on things around her that she just gives up and does the "stink eye". It makes sense even more though, because she gives up on coloring and just wants us to do it and we are trying to teach her what the letters look like and she gets frustrated and gives up.
So now it will be fixed with glasses. I will definitely be getting her contacts when she is old enough because that was the BEST thing ever for me in middle school. Her glasses will be in the office in 3 weeks at the longest. The doctor picked them out, not my favorite, but they are pink and they do look cute on her. He said they are the best for her age because they are durable. We will have to get new ones in a year because of her growth so I figure I can pick out cuter ones then.

Well there is the excitement at our house right now! Hopefully it will help her with things that she has been having problems with!

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Post By: Tracey

Happy Birthday Alyssa!

We survived the journey home and are dealing with the heat and the jet lag.... there is much to do and much to be written about our trip but for now, I just want to take one second to say "Happy Birthday Alyssa!" We had a fun little family celebration last night with cake and presents. She is such a sweetheart and makes everything much more fun and exciting! I'll never be able to get enough of her cheesy smile! I'll post pictures of her party eventually. Gotta go entertain Hayden while I try to unpack and clean up this insane house...

Tracey

Post By: Anonymous
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Aug 16, 2009 Post By: Brooke

Thanks! and stuff

Thank you for all of the birthday wishes. Adina and Trace, thanks for the cards and treats, you girls are amazing.

Isaac, I know Uncle Mike wrote for us but Happy Birthday. You are a great young man and I love you. You are alot of fun to hang out with. Those pics of you as a baby brought back many memories of taking care of you as a little guy. We all adored you and missed you so much when your parents graduated.

Anne and Peter- Congratulations! Somehow I missed that, I just saw NACHOS. That is awesome.

Brent and Buffy and all the runners, Way to Go! You can do the half Buffy. Mike and I did 15 yesterday and I would have never have believed it, even a month ago.

We love you all. Barb, I commented on your post, but just in case- Happy Anniversary you two. We love you!

Post By: Mike

If you have not seen this yet....

Amazing talent. From the Guardian:
Here, she recounts Germany conquering Ukraine in the second world war. She brings calm, then conflict. A couple on a bench become a woman's face; a peaceful walkway becomes a conflagration; a weeping widow morphs into an obelisk for an unknown soldier. Simonova looks like some vengeful Old Testament deity as she destroys then recreates her scenes - with deft strokes, sprinkles and sweeps she keeps the narrative going. She moves the judges to tears as she subtitles the final scene "you are always near".

Post By: Mike

Messy Spaghetti after Church







-- Post From My iPhone

Post By: Mike

Stake Conference




-- Post From My iPhone

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Post By: Mom/Barb

Actual 40th Anniversary

Well, I woke up this morning to Dad reading an anniversary card to me. After he finished reading it, I realized that it was actually a card that I sent to him on our 30th anniversary. Exactly 10 years ago! Since we both forgot to get new cards (life is still way too busy), I think that one was most appropriate!

After that we went downstairs and ate toaster waffles that I am trying to clear out of my freezer and watched the video that you kids made for us. Boy, that is so wonderful and such a great record of our first 40 years together. Thank you so much for your time and effort in pulling that together for us.

We need to have all of you know how happy we are that we met and fell in love!.. It is interesting that the casual meeting in Sociology class in 1966 has led to 7 children, 6 in-laws and 16 going on 17 grandchildren. What if either of us had not transferred into that class!!!

We went through many years with a lack of material comfort but lots of happy memories from those time as well as from the times when we have been more comfortable. As we reflect on it we realize that the financial comfort is not what has made our family....in fact, we think that some of our struggles have strengthened all of us as a family and individuals.

We talked with Marnie this morning, just got pinged from Mike at Stake Conference...and are having D & A, B & B and T&K over for dinner tonight. We see on Facebook that Tom and Tracey are united again...and I talked to Anne yesterday on her way to Volleyball. How wonderful that modern technology helps us to keep in such close touch with each other....and that we all want to keep in touch! That is one of the greatest blessings of our life.

Dad is speaking in church today...nice anniversary gift!! Actually, it is a blessing since when you are preparing a talk you are always so much more spiritually attuned and we have had some great discussions about the Sabbath. It is all appropriate since the gospel has been such an integral part of our marriage...and our family life. We do know that all of our children have a testimony of the gospel and a relationship with their Heavenly Father. And our eternal hope is to be together with all of you forever!

The funny thing about reading the card is that my closing line was a wish for another 30 years just as happy as the first 30 years....It is quite sobering to reflect that I really can't say that about this anniversary since 80 years of marriage is a bit beyond possibility on this earth....but that is the beauty of eternal marriage.

We consider all of you our greatest blessings of this life....even better than the 28+ cars that we have had in our marriage!

We love you,

Mom and Dad

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Aug 15, 2009 Post By: Buffy

First 10K!!!!



Ok, so not the first 10K for everyone in the photo. Brent and I however do fit this blog title and boy have we come a long way! For starting just 3 months ago where we were working at running 1 mile without walking, I think we did great. Not that anyone here needs to be sold on the running is great thing, I just need to say how much I am hooked. I love the way I feel when I finish, love knowing where I started out almost a year ago, don't mind the help in the weight loss department, love the quality time spent with Brent in training 3X/week, and really notice how much more energy I have.
I honestly can't imagine running the 1/2 marathon next month but am having faith that the training schedule will get me there.
Also, thanks Dave and Adina for coming to show your support. That was really nice.
Well we shall see the rest of the Vancouver bunch tomorrow for dinner.
Love to all

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Post By: Dave
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Aug 14, 2009 Post By: Brooke

Happy Birthday Sweet, sweet, Jane!


We love you and we wish that we could keep you from growing up into a teenager. I'm sure you will be a great one though!

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Post By: Brooke

You say tomato I say tomahto

Mike thinks that picture is cute and says "attitude." I'm fairly certain it screams "I am a tired old witch wearing a sombrero because I left my pointy hat at home and feel absolutely naked without it." I am quite certain that anyone that is honest and a true friend will agree with me.

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Aug 13, 2009 Post By: Mike

Attitude




-- Post From My iPhone

Post By: Mike

Feliz Cumpleanos





-- Post From My iPhone

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Post By: Mike

Happy Birthday Brookie




















She is our favorite person. We love her so much.

Post By: Marnie
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Aug 12, 2009 Post By: Anne and Peter
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Aug 11, 2009 Post By: Marnie

Quick update from Norway

Hello all! Just thought I'd put a quick update on here. For those of you who are interested in more detailed accounts of my travels/experience here in Norway, you can check out my blog.

I'm getting settled here in my apartment. No roommate yet. I'm going to check with the apartment's main office today to see if I can find out if I even have a roommate and, if possible, where she is from. After running a few errands this morning, I go to a welcome meeting at the school where I get to meet the other exchange students that I will be with this semester. It is quite a diverse group so it is turning out to be a truly international experience coming here. I'm excited to meet everyone and see who I fit with best.

I'm very glad to have such ready access to the internet and my comforts from home (aka movies, music) and to that beautiful thing called Skype. It really is amazing that it is so easy to call to the US from here - if only we could get rid of that time difference. :)

Anyway, that's the brief. Here's a pic of me after my first 15 hours of travel in the Stockholm airport.

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Aug 9, 2009 Post By: Brooke

Aaahhh!- from Breezy

I am finally breathing a deep and satisfying sigh of relief. Today is over, the week is over. Not that I am anxious for next week to begin, no, I'm not ready for school to start on Wednesday. Uh uh, not at all. But... this past week....

Today I had to give a talk AND teach Young Womens AFTER doing the activity Wednesday night. Toss on top of that registering Sadie at her new school, school supply shopping, closing out our old house (FINALLY- scheduling conflicts), interviewing and trying out a new Respite person for Ellyn because Rebecca thinks she needs to move to another country and have an adventure:), and knowing that Saturday morning you have a ten mile run and that is the farthest you've ever gone and you put that all together and well, let's just say it wasn't a "feeling right at ease" sort of week.

The Low Down
I think my talk went well, okay I'm faking humility. My talk went very well. I can say that, I worked hard on it, I prayed about it, Mike made fun of how stressed I was about it, but I'm much more comfortable being uber prepared when it comes to speaking in front of large crowds. It's to make up for all those years of finishing talks with a pen and a program during the sacrament hymn. I was nervous, sick to my stomach nervous and it didn't help when the Stake President "joined us on the stand." A woman in our ward came up to me after Sacrament Meeting was over and asked if I could email her a copy of one of my quotes. I told her just to take the page it was on that I had it saved on my computer (I write out every word, it helps me memorize what I'm going to say and then when I need to I can look down), then about two minutes later she came back and asked if, since I had it on my computer, she could just take the whole thing. I know, I know, I sound like I'm boasting. I'm not, I'm sharing in all humility. It was funny and kind of flattering.

Lesson in Young Women went fine, no hitches.

Our run yesterday was fabulous. I was sick to my stomach nervous about that too. We went to bed at 1:00 am Friday night after staying up late and playing games, then we were back up at 5:20. So not my time of day. The run was beautiful. I downloaded an audio book to listen to along the way and the time just flew by. I had two issues, 1. when I needed to go to the bathroom REALLY badly and there was NOWHERE to go until Mike spotted a biffy at a house that was being built and I hopped the fence and sprinted across the yard (honestly there weren't even bushes to hide in, I'm not afraid). and B. the last mile we had to run back across the golf course and joggers are supposed to be off the course by 7:30 and it was 7:25 and mile 10 and Mike was encouraging me to go faster (very nicely by the way, I LOVED running with him). I was pretty certain my legs were going to fall off. So we averaged a 10:40 pace. Slow for Mike, just fine by me. I am incredibly grateful to my good husband for sacrificing and staying with his slow wife. I don't think I could do it without him.

The kids are awesome. Ellyn has had some off days, not unhappy if she's getting her way, just entirely unwilling to leave the couch. She doesn't even want to go to the table to eat. It has been tricky. I am anxious to get the all clear sign from the orthopedist on Tuesday and really work on getting her moving again. School will be a good thing. AND, if I haven't mentioned it, she is going to be getting swim therapy. I am thrilled about that. Luckily the kid still loves going in the car.

Jane and Sadie are both getting excited for school to start again. A little excitement, a little nerves- those back to school jitters you just can't avoid. Jane is determined to work really hard starting now, to get good grades, go to High School, go to BYU, and then do their nursing program. I think it is a great idea, good goal to work toward. Sadie is still acting very grown up, even with Jane at home. It has really been enjoyable and I am anxious to see how she fares at school this year with her new TUDE.

Sawyer is Sawyer. He is now scooting the step stool around the kitchen enabling him to reach counters, cupboards, and food items that I do not want him to reach (i.e. the bag of M&Ms we use for positive reinforcement for Ellyn). He thinks he is so clever, and he is.

Mike is doing well, homework is not completely consuming his life like it once was. It's been nice. We've been able to play some games, go on a few runs, spend time with a couple of friends, normal happy family stuff. His glasses did decide to suddenly break this week (no, really, just broke right on his face) and that has stressed him out. The only day for appts. is also his busiest day at school.

Wow, novella. That's okay. Journal, family history, recording our ordinary lives. There it is- with a disproportionate amount all about moi. But I'm the authoress so that's the way it goes.
Blog out.

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Post By: Mike

Mmmmm...cheeseburger

A good 15 minutes of entertainment here, followed by hunger pains. I think this is the dude from Seinfeld talking.

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