Longboat Key

We have been blessed to be able to go to Longboat Key for 25 years now. My grandmother has a condo right on the beach. Last week, my sister and her family came down from rainy Washington and we all stayed at my grandmothers place for the week. Since our children have been born, we have never spent that much time together. And, the last two times I have seen my sister have been for family funerals, so this was a wonderful event. As the years have gone by, I have cherished my relationship with my sister even more. As a kid, we were friends, but then as we got into HS/college and beyond, I feel like our differences had kept us apart. But now, that is what draws me to her. The fact that we are so different, yet we are still best friends. I miss her dearly and wish more than anything that we could be closer. How wonderful it would be to just hang out when our kids are driving us nuts!

Anyway, back to the beach. We had a wonderful time. Great food, kids played so we could catch up, beach-turned-catwalk walks, Yahtzee, workout turned to tv-watching nights, Clue (note to self, never play Clue with 5 players. You will never finish the game) saunas, hot tubs that were cold, Facebooking...and much much more. I believe all the laughter and good times made an impact. The day we left, the condo sold, after being on the market since my grandfather passed away over a year ago. It is a sad thing to say goodbye to, but a great healing step for my grandmother.

And now, enjoy just few of the hundred photos taken!

All the kids in their tubes!Mom, Lisa and ICan't go to the beach without hitting up Big Olaf!Sleepy morningLisa and I

I love to get on Youtube and watch the "Momon Messages" from the LDS church leaders. They are always so uplifting and inspiring. Here are just a few of my favorites that I think everyone needs to check out when you have time. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhLlnq5yY7k http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYhDhiojBPA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-x_-TQivCx8

This little boy is growing way too fast. He has 4 teeth already. He goes to bed like an angel around 7:30 and sleeps about 12 hours, waking only once around 5:30 or so. Naps 3 times a day. Loves to snuggle. Absolutely loves his cereal. I could not have asked for a better son.

BFF

I met Lisa in the 2nd grade. We have been friends ever since. When I think about it...that is Hana's age now. She could be meeting her best friend for life right now!

Anyway, Lisa and her family, including her sister, came down to Disney for a week. Almost every time they do, we get together. But, normally, we meet somewhere for dinner or a quick lunch and never really get to have time to spend catching up. We are usually chasing after kids. This time, they were able to take an afternoon and come to our house. It was fantastic. The kids played while we talked. We did wander outside for a little while to let them check out all the animals and such. It was so good to have them here. Thank you, Greenbergs! Can't wait to do it at your house next time!

Kristen and Lisa and IAll the kiddos...Reid, Hana, Chloe, Maddison, Emma, Hannah, and Josh!

I wish my scanner was working so I could show the comparison, but he looks just like Maddison at this age in this picture.

Reid - 4 months

17.2 lbs (dont remember the length)

Has 2 teeth in and working on 2 more

He loves to talk and smile, but only if you make a fool of yourself first by trying real hard to get something out of him If you blow raspberries at him, he thinks he is doing it back at you...but, in reality, he just spits everywhereand then laughs about it His favorite thing to do is scoot himself over to Tex and talk to him. Easiest form of entertainment.

Do you read NieNie?

My favorite blogger is on Oprah today! I am in no way an Oprah fan, but I will be for this one afternoon. This girl is amazing. I was reading her blog last year when she was in a plane crash with her husband. This man went into a burning plane to save his wife, the mother of his children. That is love. Read her amazing story of survival, her fight to live, and her journey of recovery here. Or, watch Oprah today! She is truely an inspiration for us all.

Teeth

No pictures of them yet, but Reid has two! (and his momma is minus 1) He is growing way to fast for me.

Completely Obsessed

How could you not be?

I am not normally the type of person who writes about another blog and links it. But this story has amazed me. The past month I have witnessed many miracles. From Reid, to other family members illnesses being healed, to various friends and beyond. And this story is a huge miracle. I have been a listener of Paul Cardall for a while now. I love his music. He is a composer and pianist. Some of the albums I have of his are strictly church music that he has simply redone on his piano. I love his album of Primary songs. And then he has albums of music he has composed himself. (The playlist I have had up at the bottom of this blog is his music.) Anyway, I have been following Paul's blog. He was born with a heart defect. His blog tells all about it. But, about a year ago, he was placed on the waiting list for a new heart. Over the past few months, I have followed as he has been deteriorating rapidly. But, watching this father and husband day in and day out be so faithful and show his love for his Heavenly Father has been incredible. This past week, he had his heart transplant. Read all about it HERE. Truly amazing.

Reid's blessing

Reid had his blessing this past weekend and all of the family came out for it! Bryan's mom, dad, brother Ben and his wife Mackenzie, little sister Sydnie and his cousin Kristen and her family were there. And then, my mom and Mike and my dad and Mark came in as well! All that was missing was Lisa. It was a great weekend. Took very few pictures, sadly. Ate lots. Laughed tons. Thank you to everyone who made it out for this special weekend.

Dad, Mark, Reid, Mom, MikeStill chomping away at his little sausage fingers

Who does that?

A while back I was talking to a friend (Eva) whose son sucks his middle two fingers. I remember her commenting on how odd it was. We see kids suck their thumbs or first two fingers, but the middle ones? Who does that? Well, apparently, my son does it too. This is how we have been finding him recently

We try giving him his pacifier, or "Kacifier" as Chloe likes to call it. He takes it out now and shoves his fingers in.

School

Its that time of year again. Bittersweet for me. Although I am happy to get back on to a schedule and get the girls in school learning again, it is sad for me to see them growing up too fast. I love these years having them at home and it is quickly passing. Maddison started the 1st grade. She is doing so great already. No more walking her to her class daily. NO MORE TEARS! She still pitches a fit in the morning about being told what to wear, but she loves school so far!

Hana started 2nd grade. She seems to get bigger and bigger, and a little more sassy, every day.

And then there is Chloe. After fighting with the county trying to get her in to Pre-K (long story) I finally pitched a big enough fit and got her in. She started a few days late, but better late than never. She couldn't be more excited to be in school with the older girls. And, she is doing great so far. Every morning, she gets ready with the girls and they go off to school while she sits and asks me for 3 hours if it is lunch time yet. She tells me not to walk her (which I am not allowed to do anyway) and to just drop her off at the door with her teacher. I sobbed the first day after dropping her off, but Friday was a little easier. She is all grown up.

Reid update

This is for everyone who is asking what is going on. Reid was born with the bones in his head overlapping, causing a visible ridge on his head. It is normal. It usually goes away after a few days. Well, his didnt, so we became concerned. Maddison had the same problemand I have always been informed by the doctors that they could have craniosynostosis, which is premature fusing of the bones, if they stay overlapped (she turned out fine and never had it). If this is the case, surgery is needed to correct it. So, Reid's pediatrician ordered x-rays of his head, just to make sure everything was fine. I never heard back from the regarding results, so I assumed everything was ok. I took him in for his 2 month check-up and he told me the report said his sagittal suture was fused. Next step was for a CT scan. X-rays can be misleading and sometimes dont tell the truth. Well, the scan came back and all the doctor told me from reading the report was that one of the sutures were fused. We needed to take him to a pediatric neurosurgeon. Let me tell you, that 1 1/2 weeks of waiting to get in with the NS was the longest in my life. Waiting to find out if your little baby needs major surgery on his skull is hard, but it taught me a big lesson on being patient and having faith. Turns out, though, that his head is fine. We got to see the CT scan for ourselves, which was very reasurring to see those bones with a defined seperation in them. There is a spot on the back of his head wich was in question whether or not it is fused. But, it is so small that they do not even do surgery on it. It will not affect the growth of his head. He did say that the synostosis, or fusing, happens in utero, so having the bones overlap will not cause them to fuse if they are not already, wich is not what we were told and why I got so concerned in the first place. He told us that we could come in anytime if we ever feel the need or have any concerns as he grows, but for now, he is PERFECT just the way he is.

Summer is over?

It went by way too fast. It started off by welcoming this little man in our family. Chloe celebrated her 4th birthday.

We went down to West Palm Beach/Jupiter. This is sleeping at my mom's house....

Sleepover at Bryan's parents house with Bryan's little sister...

4th of July with the Snider family I turned 30 and was not too excited about it. One day I was complaining and being a total brat to Bryan about how I never see my dad. He only comes here once a year and stays for a day. (I know, the road goes both ways) I was upset that he was going to see my sister for almost a whole week, but only coming here in Sept. for 1 day....he loves her more....complete brat. The next day, which was the day before my birthday, I was in Reid's room feeding him, heard a knock at the door and the girls yell out "GRANDPA TREE!!!!!!" Sure enough, he and Mark had flown in to surprise me for my birthday, and Bryan had known all about it! It turned out to be a fantastic weekend with lots of food, of course. Here are just a few of the MANY pictures we took.

Summer continued with more visiting with friends.....Miss Ella and Parker.... ....swimming....

the Pratt girls, whom we miss dearly...

Then, we wrapped up the summer with a trip up to Crestview. Bryan's cousin got married in Utah so we went up for the reception. Matthew and Jess

All of the great-grandkids