Cowboy Roundup, Joyschool & Halloween

This years fall party was a cowboy theme. I was the MC, so I didnt get many pictures. Illness rampaged through the ward, cancelling numerous acts in our program. People stepped up to fill in and I was so grateful. I think people had a fun time. There was a thunderstorm group activity (cowboys are afraid of those on the open range), a standoff (even though it wasnt high noon), cowboy poetry, fiddling,dance numbers,and some sing along numbers with a guitar trio. It was really fun. Im glad I did it, Im glad its over. My brain had been fixated on it for months. Here are a few shots.

Jason did a great job as our cowboy poet!

A primary child behind bars...is this sending the right message? :)

My friend Jenny and I in our cowboy hats! YEEHAW!

An artist in our ward made this photo opt...isnt it great? Somewhere along the line, the person who was suppose to take pictures for us, didnt get the message. Most people didnt get to use this. DANG IT!

Then it was the Joyschool Halloween Bash! The kids watched Casper the Friendly Ghost. We talked about Kindness and friendship. The colors were Orange and Black. And the shape was a triangle, for a witches hat. Here a couple pictures.




Then it was onto Trick or Treating! Halloween crept up on me this year. Zach didnt have a costume until the day before. He finally decided he wanted to be a super hero. I thought he looked darling. Tanner was a pirate, he LOVED IT! Asher had to be a bee...mommy was supposed to be a flower for her bee, but I got too busy to finish my flower headband. I settled for an angel.



The Poulsons joined us. Do you see their theme? Harry Potter, Hermione, Hedwig the owl, and the Golden Snitch (around Nates neck). It was Darling!

Playing Catch Up

Its been a while since my last post. I cant believe October is almost over, it went by so fast.

We left on the 8th and flew to Utah. The plane ride was amazingly easy with the kids. Tanner and Zach were great. It was a whirlwind of activity and reunions in Zion. So many fun things happened. As well as a few sad things. Fun things included Hogle Zoo, Grandpa Banzhaf flew in from Tucson to play, Cornbellies at Thanksgiving point, overnighter in the camper trailer with daddy, SLC Temple, PACES DAIRY ANN!! (my high school hang out), Cousins dinner at the Binghams, The aquarium, Mike reunited with missionary friends, Mike college buddies and families all met us for dinner, visit with grandpa Chamberlain, visiting Grandmas headstone, Timp Temple, LOTS of CAFE RIO, early trick or treating, family pictures, family dinners and movies. It was a BLAST!

While we were there the American Fork Band had a bus crash driving home from competition. It was a moment of reflection and gratitude when we were informed that none of the students were killed. A girl from Mikes ward, who was on the bus, bore her sweet testimony that Sunday about the miracles that saved them. It was a reminder about how instantaneously it can all be gone. We must live each day to the fullest. Never wavering in our attempts to live as we should.

Camille, Mikes 19 year old cousin also added to the concern while we were in Utah. She drove her 4 wheeler off a 30 ft cliff and broke numerous bones in her body, including her pelvis, orbital bone, nose, foot and others. She was blessed and will recover but her journey on that road has only just begun. As I prayed for her, I was again touched at the sense of love amongst our extended family members. We are so fortunate to be in such a family. We love Camille and wish her the best as she heals.

We love all of our Utah family and friends. We feel sad that we were not able to see more friends. It was busy and illness cut our visiting short. Zachary turned up with Hand Foot and Mouth the last few days we were in town. Several of the family, including myself, came down with severe colds (sorry about the coughing all night everyone!!! I know you wanted ME to go sleep in the camper!). It made the last few days in town tough to get out.

We love you all and miss you! Thanks for such a great time!

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

My sweet Granny

Oh how I miss you Granny. You are so sweet and soft. My hips dont miss you...but my heart does. Why cant you come to Pennsylvania. People would love you out here. My yummy cookie love. Toodles for now.

Peaks and Valleys

I once read that marriage is full of Peaks and Valleys.

We started this trail together. Packed with a few essentials, a compass, some guides, and the guts.

Two souls, filled with passion, dreams and potential. Waking to unblemished days, uncomplicated decisions. Learning to trust and walk hand in hand. Oh sweet ignorance and youth! The climb was easy in the beginning. We had endurance and our burdens were light.

Days became long and nights even longer with the miracle of creation. Double duty rested on our weak shoulders. We attempted to rise to the occasion. Only to stumble at times. HE secured feeble knees and shouldered what we could not. HE carried us all through the basins and gorges of human nature. All were blessed. All were loved. All thrived. We began again, as we must daily, and attempted the ascent.

Blessed beyond measure, miracles were given. Manna fell from the heavens and gave us more sustenance. We learn little by little. Challenge by challenge. Progress comes by faith and obedience. Love comes by work and service. Commitment comes from choice.

It is all around us now. The ripples of good choices. The echos of those who testified of true happiness.

Sometimes, when we listen hard enough, we can hear them. Calling down from the mount. Calling us to remembrance. Encouraging us to continue to climb.

Smiles, tears, laughter, screams, smelly diapers, colored markers, Johnson and Johnson, peanut butter, little shoes, smoking trains, smudgy fingerprints, crayoned sick figures, Disney songs, scary monsters, McDonald's toys, hugs and kisses.

It is all around us now.

Can the climb be both easy and hard. Sad and Happy. Good and Bad?

Can the low Valley's last for years and peaks rise from unstable ground?

Can Eight short years change your life forever?

Yes, yes it can.

Here is to you my love, my life, my friend.-Eight years has flown by.

They haven't been without some trials. Like every marriage, the peaks and valleys have been present. Sometimes we were in different places. You on a peak, me in a valley. The trick is helping eachother to the summit and finishing together. Our journey continues. I'm grateful for your companionship on the trek of life. It makes the valleys easier to cross and rise from. It sweetens the peaks and enhances the views. Here's to the journey. Oh, the joy in the journey. Here is to our Peaks and Valleys. What endurance they have built. What muscles, what lessons, what faith.

Happy Anniversary Babe!

What a load of Croup!

All the boys have been ill. It has not been fun around here.Asher got Croup this past week. Zach and Tanner both had some kind of cold going on. Fevers were out of control. Mike and I have not been sleeping at all. UGGG!


You may notice that my baby is missing something in these pictures. His CURLS!!!
We gave him a haircut that turned into something we hadn't anticipated. Now we have to wait for it to grow out to see our curly boy again.

Since we have had lots of time indoors, we have made the most out of the library. We had a couple books that just tickled me. One was called Halloween Night by Marjorie Dennis Murray. IT has the cutest illustrations. Its a parody of the Night before Christmas. My boys loved it. Especially the scene with the dead spiders on the floor. Zach said "mom, that looks like garage". My face turned pink, Im sure.
Also, a book called Skeleton Hiccups. Pretty darn cute.
Looks like my love of Halloween is rubbing off on everyone. YIPPEE!

Life goes on

Things are as busy as usual around here. Here are a few pictures.


We went to Lancaster on Mikes day off.

Tanner refused to take pictures all day.

Doesnt this look like a postcard?

>
The pirate ship playground

No Debate Please...Perplexed over flu shot

I have been researching vaccinations for the past 4 months. I have done a ton of reading online about various opinions. I am trying to stay open minded about the issue.

With all that said, my positions is not anti vaccination. Just delayed schedule from what they are recommending. Also, I DO believe Autism can occur from vaccinations on children who are already prone to certain neuro-based problems and carry a genetic or predisposition prior to injections. I do believe that with those predispositions (ie: mitochondria disorders, etc.) children can develop an ASD (Austism Spectrum Disorder).

When the twins were born, I was given very little say about what they received as far as shots, etc. due to their prematurity. Both were given the routine shots when born. I was glad being that Zachary endured three blood transfusions during his first weeks of life.
During the boys first years, Tanner showed extreme reactions to the vaccinations. Everytime he spiked fevers, had night terrors, became inconsolable with crying or afraid of his parents, I was told this was normal behavior post shot.
On Tanners 2nd birthday, he started to seize and was rushed to the ER following his DPT shots. They told me that he had an ear infection (why they gave him the shot knowing this, I'll never know) and that he had a febrile seizure due to the infection. He had 2 more febrile seizures over the next 4 months. They happened anytime he ran a high fever. He was labeled "allergy to DTP" in his chart.He has never had another vaccination, and he has never had another seizure.

With Asher I was a bit more informed, and alot more vigilant in knowing what he was getting and why. Because a doctor says so, has never been enough for me.
So here we are now. The N1H1 virus is making its rounds again. They are suggesting that everyone get immunized. My doctors office called to schedule us all for shots. I took the appointment in Nov, but I am really worried about it for Asher.
Im nervous about the thirmerosal (mercury) that is in the flu shot. But, I also dont want him to catch the N1H1 virus and have serious problems or death. Its a toss up right now.
I hate not having all the facts. I hate that people dont know more about mercury and its effects on children under 2 .
Dr. Sears has a book with an alternative vaccination schedule (you can find it in stores or online). This is what I have been doing. Im for vaccinations, but not all at once, spread out, and over a longer time period.
This doctor http://www.lewrockwell.com/miller/miller15.html has some interesting points (his credentials are at the bottom). He suggests that children under 2 not receive ANY immunizations. Start after they are 2 yrs. Im starting to feel like that is a good idea. I just dont want to be pressured by the government and medical society. I also dont want to get sucked into extremist frenzy...like they say "the devil loves a sinner as much as an fanatic".

Unfortunately, the most dangerous place to catch it, in my opinion, is at church. Asher will go to nursery in Oct. I worry, because there are people who will bring their kids to church, regardless of illness. Which makes me mad!
It wont be the end of the world if you miss church due to illness. Your ox is in the mire, people!!!

(making light of a past conference talk: we dont have a sign the says "perfect people only" over the door. But, I might make one saying "healthy children only" over the nursey door this time of year!)

Anyway, Im struggling with all of this. I want my kids to be safe, and healthy, without posing risks to other peoples kids as well. Its a hard place to be and I feel like Im stuck weighing the pros and cons of both decisions. UGGGG, its frustrating! I will keep my apt until I decide on Asher. Im just Bugged and needed to vent and document my feelings.