Megan's 5th Birthday party! May6th, 2010

There was dancing!

And... Pink cup cakes!

Everyone gathered around the bar, creating, laughing and sharing.

Presents!

The girl on the end of the bar is Ashlyn. It was also her party! The two girls next to her are her sisters. Then Lizzy and Carter!

This year I really did not intend on doing a friend birthday party for Megan. We were just going to get together with the family. A few days before her birthday I was approached by my neighbor who has a little girl Megan's age. She wanted to have a party together for them. The two girls were going to preschool together, and the live two houses away. We decided this would work out well. We had a craft of making a princess crown, then we played games, danced and had cup cakes. POOR Carter was the only boy there. We had a fun activity with Dinosaurs for him to make. I can say he was not a fan of the dancing, but cup cakes are cup cakes... NO matter the color. We were glad he was there!!!

The death of Soccer ?? Tanner's love for Lacrosse found!

After a lot of debate at our house. Tanner finally talked us into letting him play Lacrosse. He really had an interest and pushed for a while before I was convinced that this was an OK decision. I agreed to let T try Lacrosse but he was already committed to play spring soccer with Thunderfoot. His state comp soccer team. So, we figured out a way to let him play both. YES, WE ARE CRAZY! And as previously posted. Brent and I were both coaching the other kids. Tanner fell head over heels in love with Lacrosse. He loved being able to be aggressive and hit people, and still use his speed and agility that he had used in soccer. He really did well and I am afraid that we are now facing many more seasons of Lacrosse and no more soccer. After Tanner finished his seasons it was tryouts for soccer again. T struggled with the decision. One hour before soccer tryouts were to take place he finally decided that he did not want to play. At least this year. I was a bit torn over letting him give it up. I was concerned that he would regret the decision later in the summer. So far no regrets! For Tanner anyway! My only regret is that now we are doing football!! (more on that later)




Tanner

April 16th, 2010 Landon's Soccer Game

Landon played another season of rec soccer. Brent was his coach with some assistance from our good friend Josh Sinykin. Landon was one of the better kids on his team this year. He really progressed in speed and aggression on the field. I was coaching Megan's team at the same time. This made it difficult to watch many of his games and/or take many pictures. We were really busy during soccer season. Tanner was also playing state soccer and Larosse. (more posts of that to come)

April 7th, 2010 Roller blading at the Fun Park!

Just after Jodie had her sweet baby Addyson I took the boys and Meg to the fun park. We had a great time. It was the first time that Blake (Jodie's oldest) had been rollerblading. The boys were happy to help him for a few minutes. He picked it up very quickly and no longer needed help. Megan and Carter had a great time playing in the soft play gym. I enjoyed just watching them smile and laugh and have a fun time!

April to August in the next two weeks!

So, My goal is to catch you up on our family happenings from April to August in the next two weeks. I have been frustrated with myself for letting my blogging go without an update for so long. I am one of those people who really do not remember things unless they are documented. This last week I went back and read some of my journals and looked at my scrapbooks. I am so grateful that I have them to help me remember all the wonderful things we have done. This blog has been my journal and scrapbook for the last several years. So, I am trying to put a new focus to blogging. Keep coming back for the updates!!

I have to give myself a small break! In reading back to some of the random posts I did do in April, I remember the crazy time we were having with the change of jobs, ect. So, Now that things have settled a bit its time to get bloggin!

Proud Father

Brent took Megan with him the last time he went out to shoot his gun. He couldn't be more proud of his little girl down on the ground with a big'ol gun. The other picture has a small story. Brent was up on the roof taking down Christmas lights. Meg wanted to watch. She dicided to get her chair out and or course her chips and dip. She had an entertaining time.

Attempting to fish!

Meg and Cody!

Stephanie caught some moss!

Megans very tiny... looks bigger here.... fish!
(Compare to her hand)

Yes, if you look closely there is a tiny fish on her line. The proportions are off. I mean look at the size of her bobber.... funny.

A couple weeks ago we set out to go fishing. We fist started out planning to drive to Ogden and meet Stephanie and her kids. We were going to find a lake and have a picnic. After looking around online we decided that we were not feeling so adventurous that day that we wanted to go somewhere we had never been. After a bit on convincing we talked Steph into driving up and meeting us a Hyrum. We loaded up the kids, the food and hooked up the boat and headed out. We got to the lake and out on the water, then the wind started to blow. We made good efforts. We tried different spots on the lake but the wind was so strong it was blowing us around with our anchor in the water. After trying for quite a while we decided to pull the boat off the water and try from the shore. Still..... no luck and no Stephanie. Most of the day had gone by at this point. We called Stephanie and she was still on the south side of Ogden. We decided that we would drive to Brigham and meet them there. We finally met up with them late afternoon at Mayor's pond in Brigham City. We sat and ate our picnic and talked. Then the kids started fishing. Finally..... each of them caught a fish (I believe). Megan caught her first fish. The camera unlike the favors that It does not do for me.... Did great things for this fish. It made it look much bigger (like it does to me :) I wish that were the only reason). This little fish was only about 3 inches long. It was tiny, but it was fun!

So, after trying to fish all day.. we had LITTLE success!

Back in February Brent decided to get rid of the TV. We have gone three months now without any TV except for movies that we occasionally watch. I truly thought I would really miss the TV. I have not missed it to much. I read at night now when I used to watch the shows I had DVR'd. Otherwise there has never been time for it. I know the kids miss it. Tanner and Landon have resorted to watching Meg's girlie movies with her. Here they are in Meg's very messy room watching Horton hears a who! Tanner is sitting in Megan's baby cradle.

A family Easter in the snow!

This year for Easter we met at my moms! We ate home made Costa Vida burritos! They were wonderful. Then we snarfed on Rachel's home made brownies! More wonderful!
We didn't even need candy! We did the traditional candy bags and eggs for each of the kids. We kid them out in the snow... and had a great hunt! Grandma and Grandpa Izzy and Grandpa Branch were able to join in the fun. I am so grateful that we have them! I look up to each one of them so much! We had a wonderful day. I am so in love with my family! In my oppinion they are the BEST!

New Job!

After many many hours of thought! I have made a decision!
I will be moving to the ER at Cache Valley Specialty Hospital! I will be working with (my sis) Melissa. I gave my notice to SST Home Care today. I am happy with my decision. I just want to say that SST Home Care has been a great experience. The people there have been wonderful to work with. I am excited about what the ER has to offer me. I can't wait to start IV's again and use all the skills I have acquired as a nurse. Thanks to those who gave me all the love and support, and just listening! I love you!

Continued Appalogies to bloggers everywhere!

I read on a friends blog the other day that she was frustrated that no one was blogging anymore. I think that it is dying a bit. I know that I have not been blogging nearly the way I was. I love to sit and read others blogs. I have some family that I feel I know better now that I ever have. This is due to blogging. I don't have any fun pictures right now, but here is an update on us.

I am currently trying to decide between two job offers. I am currently working at Sunshine Terrace as the director of nursing for home care. I can say that this has been the most difficult job that I have ever had. It is different than anything I have ever done. I am the boss, in the office. I miss working with patients. BUT it pays very well, I don't have to work holidays or weekends and they appreciate all the hard work I have done. I have been offered a position in the ER and Cache Valley Specialty Hospital where I used to work several years ago. I loved working there and this job sounds like I would love it. I would work with patients again and when I go home, the work won't follow me. BUT I will take a significant pay cut and have to work weekends and holidays again. Let me just say that I have gone back and forth over this to NO END. Brent can barley stand to talk to me anymore because I am a broken record. This is good and that is bad.... over and over. I don't know if I am confusing myself more or helping anymore. I do tend to obsess over things like this. This is not new. I will let you all know what the outcome is. But.... If anyone has a thought or two they would like to share... PLEASE DO!!

Tanner has started playing Soccer and Lacrosse. We are back into the busy swing of things with something going on every night. He is growing so much. He thinks he is 15 or something now. He acts like a teenager... I thought we had a least another year for that.

Landon and Meg are also starting Soccer. Brent is coaching Landon's team and I am coaching Megan's. YES, We are crazy! We have had just two practices with our teams. It is a lot of fun to watch my little kids play around. If we can get them to spread out we will be good. I love to watch Brent with the kids. It's amazing how well he does with them. I think that he really loves to do this.

To all those other bloggers! I love reading your blogs. I will try to comment more. Please keep blogging! It makes me happy and is the best way I have ever found to know people and enjoy their families.

Landon and new brother Brendon

The other day I came home from work and listened to my voice mail.

It was the principal of Landon's school. She left a message saying that Landon had been in her office that day and she would like to talk to me about what had happened.

The next day when I had a few moments at work I decided to get to the bottom of it....

Landon had walked up to the office and taken a piece of candy. Your supposed to turn in a ticket that you get for being good to take the candy. So the secretary asked him if he had turned in his ticket.
Well, Landon looked down at the ticket on the top of the bowel and it said Breann. The lady questioned him and he said.... No! It's Brendon!
She did not question him further and asked him to put his last name on the ticket, so he did.
Later Breann came looking for her ticket.
Well, Landon was then called into the principals office to discuss his lying.
She offered him and out! She told him that everyone makes mistakes but she needed him to tell her the truth.
Well, He did not take it! He kept right on lying!
He told her that his brother Brendon had told him to turn in the ticket. He went on and on..... The lie got so big that he ended up telling the principal that we had adopted a boy named Brendon in the fifth grade that was now his brother, that had given him the ticket and told him to turn it in for him.
Yes, all of this for a piece of candy!!

One thing that I have told my kids for a very long time!
I will forgive you for your mistakes, if you are honest with me! I HATE lying!

Well, My sweet tender hearted red head cried in her chair! The whole time he was telling his this ridiculous story!

I hope he has learned a lesson! If not..... he has a week of being grounded to think about it some more!

Brent laughed and laughed... Yes, One day it will be a bit funny, this story!
So I blogged this for you Landon! One day you will also have a child that will test you!!!!

New Job

Well, for the last two weeks I have been working in my new job.
I am the Director of Nursing of Sunshine Terrace Home Care. This job has been a very hard change for me. I have not ever wanted to be in management. I have frequently said to Brent the one reason I did not need to go back to school was because I did not want to teach, and I did not want to manage. And those were the two things that further school would offer to me.
Well, I am here now.
I was offered this position and really took time in thinking about if I would be able to do this job and enjoy it! I decided that I would take the position and give it all I had.
I have been doing that! I truly feel that I have given this job all my time, heart and hard work!
I will not lie. It has been very very hard! I have shed tears and many frustrations to just about anyone who would listen.
In the first three days I almost threw in the towel! I have hung in there and even after many frustrating days I am still hanging!
I truly hope that I don't loose the toenails that I am hanging by!
The hardest part is that this company has had many many trials over the last six months. They are new, and did not get started correctly. So it's like starting a new company with old problems. They want me to build and grow the company and fix the old problems at the same time. And, train and educate the staff that are not truly up to par at the present!!! Except for my great nurse, friend, and co-worker Katie. She came over with me!! She is great and the only thing there that holds me together!
So... That is my new job for now! My time taker, and stress maker!
I am going to hang in there as long as I can, do the best that I can, for as long as I can! And repeat this to myself many times a day!
Thanks again for supporting me!!!

Soon I will be posting of happy sunny days of fun and joy!!!!

Hard times..... Wonderful family!

The last few weeks have been very challenging. They have not only been hard for me personally but hard for my family.

My brother Drew was laid off from his job in the middle of January.

A week or so later my littlest brother Chad was in a scary accident at work. He got his shirt caught in a pipe threader. This doesn't sound so bad, but the machine wound his shirt up to tight around him that it was very difficult for him to breathe. The machine was strong enough that it threw his body around and around at it beat him into the floor. Eventually the machine came unplugged from the wall. (We believe my dad unplugged it) He was working alone. There was no one else there to help him. A few moments later a construction worker came and took him to the hospital. Chad has two broken ribs and was beat up a bit.

It was only a few days later that I got the news about my job at Alpine. I was off and looking for a new job with some stress of my own.

Then, the hardest news of all. We learned that my baby sister Melissa had lost her 22 week gestation pregnancy. Sweet little Noel was delivered on February 1st, 2010. This was a very trying and difficult thing for not only Melissa and Adan, and their children, but for all of us.

Over this time it was hard to feel stress and sadness for myself although I did feel that way. I was blessed to have such a wonderful family. We have stayed strong together. I hope and prey that all my loving family has felt that I have showed them the love and support that they need. I know that they have done that for me.

We are so blessed to have our grandparents. The Sunday before Melissa went up to the hospital we were blessed enough to be a part of a special blessing she received from grandpa Israelsen. It was very special. After I was blessed enough to have him stand in for my father and give me a fathers blessing to help me with my new adventure with my new job.

Drew has found a new job working in the HVAC that he has been doing.

Chad is recovering and back to work. He is still sore but hanging right in there.

Melissa and Adan have been such an inspiration to me.
Melissa has been very strong. We were blessed enough to have a few short hours with Noel and then able to bury her right by my dad on February 5th. I have watched my family not only show loving support but offer up monies for a headstone for this beautiful baby. What a blessing. I feel lucky to have been able to hold her in my arms for that very short time. What a beautiful thing! I am glad that through our trials we have been able to lean on each other and love each other.

Thank you to my family! I love you all so much and could not make it through these trials in life without you!

Brent and I at Graveside

Mom, Giving her wonderful talk
(BTW doesn't she look great)

Sweet Baby Noel's casket

My wonderful blessing of being able to hold this sweet baby!!!!!!! Thank you Mel!

Chad's beat up face!

Chads beat up outside and broken ribs inside!

Thanks

Thanks to all of you for your support and hearing me whine about my troubles. I have had a few interviews with a couple other places. I am hopeful that one of them will work out and be a good option for me and my family.
This last weekend I had the opportunity to go out with the girls. We went to a comedy club, and stayed over night at a hotel here in Logan. It was so much fun. It was the best to just get away and laugh, and cry with them....
I realized also that there is always someone else who has it worse that you do. I realized that I should be grateful that I have a career that really enables me to have a decent paying job.
So, thanks to my girls for taking me out and helping me to pull out of my funk.
And thank you to my readers for letting me vent!

I was not laid off from Alpine. I am able to continue working there. I plan to see how it works out. It will be for less money, but its a job for now.
I will just have to see how things play out.
Until then...

No thank you Mr. Obama

No thanks to our new president.... (I did not vote for him) I am currently trying to decide if I should stay at my present job...(if I get the chance to) or look somewhere else.
Since Medicare has had 54 billion dollars taken away, so that we can push this whole Obama health care for everyone thing, I may have to get a new job.
For 5 years I have enjoyed my job, and been grateful for the schedule it allowed me to have to raise my kids.
We were told this last week that our pay will be cut in 1/2 to 1/3 of the pay we have been making. On top of that we have had about 1/2 of our visits taken away.
I really love my job, I don't want to find a new job.
I am torn. I am worried that things in Homecare will cont to get worse as Medicare changes.
If you voted for this man.... I am sorry that you thought you knew something you didn't. I know that he is not a bad person. But, he is going to ruin Medicare and Medicaid. Then he is going to created a Medicare for everyone.... and believe me. None of us will have the ability to make any decisions for ourselves about our own health care. They will be made for us!!! And you will 9 times out of ten not like the decision made for you!

Ok, I have ranted and raved for a minute!!! Sorry to those who just don't care!

I am currently waiting and looking in limbo! I don't know if I will be given the chance to stay at my current job, or be let go.
Then I don't know where I will be working if I am let go!
With Brent in a fairly new job, and just starting school this has been quite a shock and trying time. We just recovered from his unemployment.
Well, We are grateful we have each other, our home, and that Brent is employed at the time.
I will keep you updated on the news.
Thanks for listening!

New Year and new changes

On New Years eve I was in bed at 10PM if not earlier. Brent was the only one who welcomed the new year.

I worked on New Years day. We had the Israelsen family Christmas party on New Years day. I was able to go for a few hours in between working. It was a lot of fun. We ate soup and rolls and visited. We were able to hear about every families year and catch up. I love the Israelsen family. I am so grateful to come from such a great family. What a wonderful day, and great people to start the year off with!!!

We have not really made any new years resolutions. We are just plugging along our daily routines.

Brent has decided to go back to school. He is going to Bridgerland Applied Technology College. He is going to the Electronics Technician Mechanical program. Basically they teach him a bunch of everything I guess. He is able to go to school on his terms. He can do his book work while working nights and then go to class when he can get there. This is the only way he would be able to go to school with his rotating night schedule, so we are thankful. I am proud of him for making this decision. Now, We just have to hang in there while he gets through it.

There are a few other big decisions out there in the midst right now! I'll keep you posted on those when we know more ourselves!!

Our Christmas

Megan got an easy bake oven this year! Brent helped her to make her own cake later Christmas day. She also got makeup... you can see in this picture that she has about twelve shades of lip gloss on. She also had twelve shades of eye shadow on by the end of the day. Tanner got a hunting rifle. He is so excited to be old enough to hunt big game this fall. He also got some ammo and a nice scope. This combo cost Santa a pretty penny! Take care of it T!

Landon got his first gun. He has shot the BB gun several times and has shot Tanners shot gun and .22 also. He fell in love with this lovely white camo gun. There were many many tears when he was told he could not have it. Thankfully Santa remembers the tears and repays later. Again, you better take good care of it Red.
Each of the boys got new sleds. They have used them many a time since Christmas day.

And mom, Well, you all know I was sick that day. The kids opened all my gifts for me. They would show them to me and move on! Next year will be better. I did get a new purse and a photo backpack to keep my camera and lenses in. I am excited to use them.
Of course I don't have any pics of Brent because he was in charge of everything, taking pictures, taking care of me and doing everything else that day. He got binoculars, a lantern, a ice fishing sled with cover and ice auger. He and the boys have been ice fishing a couple of times since and really are enjoying that.

All in all we had a very wonderful Christmas. We are grateful for our blessings and the ability to have such wonderful gifts. We are truly blessed.

Happier Times

I just hate getting on and seeing that my last post was such a sad one! So I am putting up a quick jot to tell you all that I am finally feeling better! I hope to put up some happy Christmas pictures soon. At least the kids were happy!!!! To better times and happier posts!

Finally got Megs Dance to Upload

Pneumonia for Christmas.... leads to blogging at 4AM

Why am I blogging at 4AM? The day after Christmas?
Well, on December 22 I got home from work and Brent and I were busy trying to get things done. All I wanted to do was sit on the couch and sleep. That afternoon my legs started to ache. We went out to dinner that evening. As we were eating I started to feel worse. I hurt everywhere. I hurt from the tip of my hair to the ends of my toe nails. The next morning I got up and made myself go to work. I had my neighbor, friend, coworker Katie listen to my lungs because I was starting to feel tightness in my chest. She said I just didn't sound so good. I still hurt everywhere and was feeling very weak and tired. I decided that since it was December 23rd I would get it checked out early and used my local family (AKA) Cache Valley ER as a recourse. I had a chest X-ray and headed out to punish myself and work some more. The ER doc told me he thought I had Bronchitis and to take some antibiotics. Well, when I finally got home I felt horrible. I went right to my bed. Melissa called me a few hours later and told me the Radiologist had read my X-ray and I had left lower lobe Pneumonia. Since then I have only gotten worse. Thankfully my great coworkers covered my patients I was supposed to see on Christmas eve. I have had a continual fever with severe body aches (with Tylenol and Ibuprofen). I cough and it just hurts. It doesn't do any good... it just hurts. And, I am just tired. Christmas is a crappy time to be sick. I think I am a compassionate person. I don't think I actually needed to have pneumonia, to feel bad for those who I take care of who have it. Anyway, I am blogging in the middle of the night because I am anxious trying to sleep. I am anxious because my chest is tight, and rattles, and crackles every time I take a breath. Thus, making it very hard to sleep. So, here is my little pitty party post. Thanks in advance for feeling bad for me! :0) Thanks to Brent for pulling off Christmas with a poor excuse for Santa's helper wife. Thanks to my kids for helping to take care of me... Thanks to my family for being supportive and understanding. I love you all. Here is to feeling better soon!

Meet Lucy

This is our newest friend Lucy! When we got Tank the boys really wanted a LUCY. Not a girl... but a big dog. In specific... a hunting dog. I was worried about having a dog at all so I decided that if we were going to try to have a dog again it should be a small little non shedding thing that I could stand to have around. Well, Tank has worked out really really well. I actually quite like him think we would be sad without him. Well, thanks to uncle Drew and his new puppy!!!! We now have LUCY! Landon has begged and begged since we got Tank to have his own dog. Tank really did bond to Tanner right away and if you ask anyone in the house Tank is Tanners dog. When T comes home from school Tank runs to meet him as Tanner falls to the floor and lets Tank jump all over him. Or Tanner picks him and and cuddles him like a baby. Megan also really loves Tank and holds him like a baby as she bounces on one hip and tells him "It's alright". Meg loves Tank and Tank puts up with Meg. Well, one day I made the mistake of taking my three kids to meet Drew's new puppy. Her name is JUNO! :) (I would link you over but Rae has not posted about her... However she has put her on facebook) Anyway, while we were there meeting Juno and her 10 or so brothers and sisters... one of them was offered to Landon. As Landon begged with huge tears streaming down each cheek........ I thought..... and thought......and Brent and I talked and talked..... then we looked and looked for a breed that would be right, and not shed to much. When we finally came up with the breed a Viszla . We looked for anyone who actually had any. There were only two litters we could find. One litter was three hours north of us in Idaho Falls. The other six hours South in Orangeville. Yes, there is a place in Utah called Orangeville. Well, obviously we wanted to go to Idaho Falls but they wanted more money.... After emails and phone calls we ended up going to Idaho Falls on a weekend when Tanner was in St George with his soccer team and Landon and Meg were sleeping at Aunt Amie's. We picked her up and brought her home. We thought maybe we would leave her with Aunt Kristen for a week or two until Landon's birthday or maybe even Christmas. But, We decided maybe we would let she and Landon have a couple of days to bond before Tanner got home. So, the next morning when we picked Landon up we surprised him. We did get his reaction of video *but I can't get it to work* maybe someday? He was so very very happy. It really was fun to see his face. Lucy has been doing quite well with Kennel training, although not perfect! I think I need to show Landon his video every time he has to take care of that! She and Tank have become the very best of friends. I think Tank is happier now than he has ever been. When we first got Lucy she and Tank were about the same height and size although she outweighed him be far. She is bone and muscle. Tank is all fluff. She has now been in our family for three weeks and is Twice the size she was when we got her. She has very very long legs. She is well mannered for a puppy. We have enjoyed having her. All three boys have watched training video's on how to help her to hunt. They say I have to watch it too so I don't ruin her. They are already teaching her commands and shooting a cap gun around her so she will not be gun shy. So far... So good. I hope that she does all that they want her to do come the next bird hunt! :) So that's LUCY! Yes, I know you all think I must have lost my mind..... Me..... having two dogs??? Well, I have come to love them. I always thought people must just be plain crazy to ever love a dog. I still don't like to cuddle with them or have them lick me... but I do love to watch them with my kids and she how much they love them. They are a part of the family. That's a good place to be!

More pictures of the Baptism

These are the pictures taken after the baptism at the luncheon. I also wanted to comment on the the talk that day and the cake that was made. Amie gave a wonderful talk during the baptism. She talked to the boys about the holy ghost. She made each boy a present and told them how there was nothing in it... it was a box to remind them of the gift that they received that day. The Holy Ghost. I felt the spirit very strongly when she talked that day. I wanted to say thank you Amie. Thank you for doing this for us and the boys. And thank you for helping me to feel the spirit! You did a great job. I am so proud of you and the women that you are. You are a wonderful example to me!
And the cake.... My aunt Michelle has developed this wonderful talent. She is making wedding cakes. She made this beautiful cake for the four kids that were baptized that day. I think she does a wonderful job. Thanks Michelle for making this cake and sharing your talents with us. I am so glad you and your family were able to join us this day!