Lately...

Just last week I got the dreaded call from the school saying that Keaton fell off the monkey bars and might have broken something.  I rushed over to get him, and after a visit into the pediatrician and then to the hospital for x-rays, it was clear that he did indeed fracture his wrist (the radius to be exact), and after a week in the splint, we will be going in to get him a cast.  

He has been a trooper though, and is thankfully not in any pain as long as his arm is in the splint.  I am hoping that when he gets his cast tomorrow that he will be able to write and play the piano, since it is his right arm.  For now, we are his scribes and try to help him as best we can.  I will post pics when he gets his new cast.  

On Sunday, though, I got a real treat.  It was the temple dedication for the Brigham City Temple, and since Keaton is over 8 years old, he was able to get a temple recommend and come with me.  Chad went to the first session, and then me and Keaton went to the second.  

Sitting in the chapel waiting for the program to start, they played beautiful hymns and showed pictures inside beautiful temples.  All at once I realized the peace that was present in that chapel, just like when I go to the temple.  It was so strong that I wanted to cry.  I was hoping that Keaton could feel it too, and so I asked him if he did.  He said he could feel it, and we had a little discussion that he was feeling the Holy Ghost, and why you feel it in the temple.  It was a special moment for me, and one I hope Keaton will remember too.  

Remember how Sam was taking tumbling?  Well, he quit that after the first month.  He was the oldest, and a boy in a class full of little girls and decided it was too much for him (who would blame the kid?).  When I heard that someone where Emmi took gymnastics was teaching a 7 year old boys class, I put Sam on the waiting list.  He got called up to join a couple weeks ago and has been in heaven.  The facility is awesome, even has the rope swing (see Sam), a great teacher, and at least 6 other boys.  My Sam was made for gymnastics and he loves it.

My carpool was not going to continue gymnastics in the fall, and so I decided to put Emmi back in dance a little closer to home, and with a friend to carpool.   Emmi and Lola take a 1 hour ballet/tap class.  Aren't they cute?  They are also in the same Kindergarten class.

I have been able to stay and watch the girls dance a couple of times through the window.  (I just wish it was a one-way mirror. Too often I see a little curly head waving at me).  Emmi is adjusting pretty well.  I am excited to see how she does in her recitals, as always.

Other than that, we have been busy with a few football games, GO COUGS!!  With still more to come.

At home, I have busy in the kitchen making some yummy raspberry jam.  I was lucky to get a handsome man help me can peaches and pears as well (thank you Chaddy), and I think we are pretty well stocked for the winter.

And many, many trips up to bus stop to see the kids on and off.  It is not too bad when you have such a sweet ride.:)

Piano Recital

I am a little bit behind on blogging lately.  Keaton had his first piano recital, and I was very proud of him.  He didn't seem nervous at all and played his songs perfectly.  Maybe because I would have been nervous, I was expecting him to show some signs, but he didn't.  I should have known better.  He is so good at playing and seems to still enjoy it for now.  I am hoping we will be having many more piano recitals for him and the rest of the kids.

Keaton and his beautiful teacher, Jessica Ekstrom.  We also were so fortunate to have lots of family come and support him.  Sorry, I did not get pics of everyone, but they were there.:)

Here is the video that I was able to get of him playing:

School!

I love back-to-school time! It is all so exciting!  I love being back on a regular schedule, and the kids are loving their new teachers.  Here they are the night before school started, after having their Father's Blessings.  Jack wanted one as well, and Chad was not going to deny him, so he got one too.:)

The boys started one week before Emmi since she is in Kindergarten.  I drove them myself that morning because they both had jumpy tummies.  They were fine once they saw all their friends arrive.

The next week Emmi had her first day of Kindergarten and joined them on the bus.  Crazy, 3 of my 4.

The boys were very protective of her... how sweet!

Isn't she cute? When she arrived home, her only complaint was that the bus ride was really long. 

"Jackie"

Our little Jack is at such a fun stage.  Being 2, he thinks he can and should do everything his brothers and sister do, and has learned the art of a temper tantrum if he doesn't.  But that is not what makes it fun.  What's fun is that he is finally starting to speak... a lot.  Just a few months ago I was worried that he didn't quite have enough words.  The only ones he said were mama, papa, bye-bye, etc.  Now he says all of our names, "Keek", "Tham" (Sam), "Papa", "Mama." "M-ow" is what he calls Emmi because I call her "mouse" and he just gets the first sound of it.  He also refers to himself as "Jackie" which is the cutest thing ever, and most of the time it comes out sounding like "mi-Jackie" as if he is referring to himself.  

Oh, but that is not it.  He likes to say "hi" to everyone and waves, ask "who dat?" after I get off of the phone.  He likes to do things himself liking putting on his shoes and then he will say "fie," meaning he wants a high five.  He also knows some family names.  "B" for Grandpa B is always his favorite, but it quickly being replaced in frequency with "J" for uncle J.  He also says "Gam" for Grandma B, "Abby" and "Miggie" for his aunties, and "Bob" for uncle Rob.  We are still working on the rest.  The wallpaper I have on my iPhone is a picture of me and my family, which is why he is learning those so quickly.  Next I will have to have a Hunsaker pic so he can learn all of them.:) 

I also have to write down so I don't forget is that is favorite food, and what he would eat all day if I let him, are taquitos, which he loving refers to are "talkies."  Yes, he likes his talkies for lunch and sometimes dinner, and he dips them in his water...uh, yummy.  This is just a bit of what he is saying.  He also can say animals such as "doggie" and "foggie" (froggy) and animal sounds, and other things.   

As you can see by the picture above, Jack also has taken a big interest in electronics.  Within the last month or two, Jack has discovered the magic of my iPhone and has quickly mastered that and moved on to my Kindle Fire and Chad's iPad.  The kid is too smart.  He can click in and out of anything as he pleases, try to play games and will even watch cartoons on Netflix.  

Just recently I found that he even can do videos:

Ha ha ha.. and yes, he knows his "toes" too.

What a cutie.

Goodbye Summer

The day before school started was a very big day.  Having had to work a lot of prior Saturdays, Chad decided to take that day off.  As a family, we jumped into the van early that morning and went to the place where Chad has been itching to take the boys, the Bingham Copper Mine.  After, we did some last minute shoe shopping, lunch and a trip to Trafalga.  Somehow we had time to also get haircuts, and go to Back to School night that same day.  However, the mine was probably the highlight of the day. 

The trucks and the mine itself were much bigger than I had imagined, and the museum itself was really cool.  One of the coolest things I had read that I had forgotten was that for the first time in history, when the Olympic games were held in Salt Lake City, all the medals were made here, in the hosting city.  Of course, these medals were made from the gold, silver and bronze from the Bingham Mine. 

As I knew would happen, this was an especially interesting place for Chad, working in construction.  I think he enjoyed it the most and could have spent hours looking over the museum.

It was definitely worth the trip out there, only costing $5 a car, and something I would recommend at least once. 

Another thing that was not on our summer list, but we got to do anyway was to go boating!  Chad's parents invited us to come down to Mona reservoir go for a ride, and the kids were ecstatic!

The boys wanted to try knee-boarding. Chad got in the water like a good sport and tried to help them get on as best he could, but it wasn't working.

On our second time on the boat, Tyler suggested that the boys try knee-boarding from the dock so to speak, with both Tyler and Dustin helping them, and it worked!  Keaton, Sam and Emmi all did it on their third try and loved it. 

This did not surprise me in the fact that just in the last couple weeks both Sam and Emmi have joined Keek in going off the diving board. It is crazy to think that I would not have ever done anything like that when I was their age because I was so scared of the water.  The first time I jumped off the diving board I was probably almost in junior high, and I didn't knee board until I was married...crazy.  I am so glad my kids like the water.

One of the kids was not amused though.  Jack had no desire to go tubing or get in the water and promptly fell asleep as the day wore on.  This I attribute to his age.  I am sure he will be a fish like his older siblings, just give him time.

But, to prove that my kids did indeed knee-board, here is the videos from my phone.  I wish you could see their expressions and smiles, but what do you do.  First up is Sam, then Keek, and then Emmi.

Uncle J

Every kid needs an Uncle J who is fun to watch movies with,

play the "polar bear game" with, 

is very kind and huggable,  

(even to the point he will take a good mauling every now and then), 

and will even play airplane.  Uncle J's are the best, that's all.

Kristen

Just four days ago marked the 18th year anniversary of my friend, Kristen's death.  I have to be honest and tell you that I had no idea it was until I happened to get on Facebook that morning.  In scrolling down and reading some of the highlights before I logged in to work, I found Kristen's parents had posted photos of Kristen, and marking the date.  

Say what you will about the evils of Facebook. That it breaks up marriages, etc., but I am so grateful for it.  

 

Kristen was my best friend in 4th and 5th grade.  After that school year ended, both of our families had moved again, and though we were close, we didn't see each other as often, obviously.  However, I still considered her my best friend.  She was everything I had wanted in a friend.  She loved me, my family, and I hers as well.  Even back then I had some anxieties and she was always very supportive of me and tried to make my mind at ease.  Then, in the summer of 1994, on her way back to Utah, her Aunt accidentally fell asleep at the wheel, and rolled the minivan.  Something malfunctioned in the van door and only Kristen fell out.  The van rolled over her and she was instantly killed.  

Needless to say, even at the age of 13, I was heartbroken by the news.  I can still remember that day vividly like it was yesterday.  The grief and sadness was so overwhelming.  I had a testimony of the gospel and knew that I would see Kristen when I died, but at the age of 13, that seemed like an eternity to me.  Everyday she was the first thought in my mind, and I couldn't seem to shake the sadness that would come thereafter. 

Grief is very funny.  I remember thinking that I needed to snap out of it, and move on.  That Kristen was fine on the other side and she would want me to be happy.  Indeed, my parents would tell me the same things.  However, I remember feeling guilty if I did not think about her.  As if I was letting her down by not crying for her that day.  

But, as it as always does, time moves on.  I made other friends, and the grief and sadness lessened to the point that I did not think of Kristen on a regular basis.  I had special experiences that I knew without a shadow of a doubt that Kristen was okay, and the veil is very thin.  That helped too.

As one example, my brother "J" took me out to visit the grave site once, not too long after she had died.    We both walked to her headstone and stood silent for a moment.  Then J said he would give me some alone and just to come back to the car when I was ready.  He had barely made it the car and I started "talking" out loud to Kristen when I heard someone yell "Sara!"  I assumed it was J and that he wanted to go, even though he had just told me to take my time.  So, I said my goodbyes and headed for the car.  When I got in the car, J commented that I really didn't stay long, and I answered that, well, he called me back.  I told him I heard someone yell my name and he said with a surprised look on his face that it was not him.  I knew right there that we were not alone at the cemetery that day, and somehow she was able to communicate to me. 

I lost touch with her sweet mom and four little sisters over the years, and just up until a few years ago, thought that I might not ever hear or see them again.  That is where Facebook came in.  One day on a whim after thinking about Kristen, I search for her mom on Facebook.  Not only did I find her, but I found her four sisters, her father, and Kristen's stepmother as well. 

Now I have the pleasure of seeing pictures and messaging with her family online, as well as visiting in person with them last year.  It has been a joy too interact with them, as I can see and hear Kristen through them.

After Kristen died, I thought that there never would be a day I wouldn't remember her, but I was wrong, and I am ashamed to admit that it would not have occurred to me it was the day of her death had her family not posted as such.  It really does pain me to admit that.  I have forgotten so many things about her than I ever would have expected.  Right after she died I did get the inspiration to jot memories down of her, as many as I could.  I know I have them, somewhere.  I just have to find them.  One of these days I will.

Next year I am going to try to do better at remembering her on her special dates, and maybe even visiting the cemetery.  Coincidentally, my little nephew Henry's grave is located just a few feet away from Kristen's, so I can visit them both. 

In the meantime, I will be enjoying these pictures of Kristen that her family has posted, seeing as I only have one picture of Kristen and sadly, none of us together.  Kristen's mom gave me this framed school picture of her after she died, (along with the rose off her casket),and I have had it in hanging in my room where I can see her every day.  

I love that thinking of Kristen now, 18 years later, is a happy memory.  I like to think that she is my personal guardian angel, if there really are such assignments.  I also liked to tell myself that Kristen was up there playing with my kids before they came down, as she would have made an excellent mother.  In fact, I named my daughter after her.  Kristen and I both shared the middle name of Elizabeth, and it was something we thought was pretty cool.  So, to honor the two of us, I named my baby girl, Emmi Elizabeth.  I think it made Kristen happy too.