Happy Halloween

Here are some pictures from Halloween. Kacie and Sean were short lived trick-or-treaters. Mac and Alex lasted the full two hours. They all had a great time!

When it Rains it Pours

What's that saying about when it rains it pours? I think I've had enough rain to last a lifetime now. Or at least enough of hospitals anyway. So let's play catch up for those of you who have missed out on all my excitement. In August I had Gastric By-Pass surgery (a good thing) and have so far lost about 35 pounds. The change in eating hasn't been as hard as I thought it would be. Occasionally I do have to remind myself not to eat so fast, but otherwise, it's really nice to feel full after eating smaller portions! And I'm not tempted by desserts - which was a real concern for me. Then in September, a week after Jason left for 45 days of intense training and selections process, I developed a kidney stone. A dear friend of mine rushed me to the ER Saturday morning and then watched my kids all day until I was released that evening. Let me tell you...kidney stones HURT! I will never give my dad a hard time about having had so many again! It took me about four or so days before I started to feel normal again.

Jason came home two weeks later due to medical reasons and we enjoyed a nice week of him being home and celebrated Sean's 5th birthday as a family on Saturday. I made a cake with Sean's favorite - chocolate icing. We made it thru presents and everything and then I started having pain in my lower abdomen. I thought it was from eating my dinner a little too fast, but it continued all night long and eventually I had the dry heaves and then the pain started to center in the lower right of my abdomen. Jason decided to do some online looking and came back to me saying that since it could be my appendix I needed to go to the doctor. So in to the Urgent Care we went. The doc there felt around and almost immediately said you need a CAT scan and called the ER to tell them I was coming. I went right over, but I got one of those ER doctors you love to hate because they refuse to listen to you and think they know everything about you. He said I had the flu, but they'd run some blood work first (they didn't want to do a CAT scan since I'd had one when I was in for the kidney stone). Eventually, after a few more stupid and needless tests (pregnancy included) he sent me for a CAT scan and came back looking a little chagrined when he said looks like it was your appendix after all -- DUH! So the on-call surgeon came in and to my great relief it was the same guy who had done my by-pass in August (very nice doctor!) He assured me we'd get everything taken care of as quick and painlessly as possible. They moved me out of the ER, thankfully, and the OR nurses were wonderful and so friendly. I actually saw the Dr. today for a two month check up from my by-pass and he told me that the OR nurses had just loved me. That was really nice to know.

So anyway, I'm recovering now. Very, very sore and now without my appendix, but that's okay with me. Jason has been wonderful with getting the kids to school this week. He took emergency leave from work so he could be home while I recover. I'm really glad he was here for this. Kidney stones are painful, but not nearly as hard to recover from, or at least mine wasn't as compared to this. I just hope I don't have to see the inside of a hospital again for a good long while. That would make me very happy!!

A fun afternoon at Dennis the Menace Park in Monterey

I took the kids to this great park that we drive past whenever we have to pick Jason up from work. Since we were working with only one car that day and the kids got out of school early (last day of school) I told them I'd let them play for a while until we had to pick Daddy up. Kacie had a blast on the slide. When she finally figured out how to go down by herself, that's all she did.

Happy Birthday! Happy Father's Day! Happy First Day of Summer!

And just think, Jason gets to celebrate them all on the same day! So I'm officially writing this on the eve of the 20th, but it applies to the 21st. First and foremost, I wish Jason a very happy birthday! I'm so glad he's here on earth and that I get to share the rest of our lives together. Second, and just as important!, I wish Jason an extremely Happy Father's Day! I am so truly grateful for the wonderful father that he is to our four beautiful children. He is so patient and kind and loving to them. We are so very glad to have him as part of our family. We are very grateful for all the sacrifices he has made to provide a home and the physical neccessities of life. We are truly blessed to have his testimony of the Gospel in our home and his priesthood example too!

Now, to our fathers'. Since I'm writing this, I get to start with my dad, also known as Papi (to the kids). I am so thankful for a Dad who is willing to learn from his past and make his future better. I'm grateful for the example he has set for me that we can change who we are to be better. I am especially grateful for his (and Mom's too!) example of how to live the Gospel. He is a good man and I'm so glad our sons were able to learn from his example for a time while their own Daddy was deployed.

Next, I am truly thankful for a wonderful father-in-law. Gary (Granddad) is such a good man and it has been one of the greatest priveledges of my life to be able to know him and call him family. He is another good example of a strong testimony of the Gospel and how it can change one's life for the better. He is also a very good example of perserverance! I love him so much and am so grateful for the time I get to spend with him!

Never to be forgotten is my grandfather. What a neat man! I still love to listen to him tell the story of how he met my grandmother working in a TNT plant during WWII and then of how she pinned his wings on him as a member of the Army Air Corps (predecessor to AirForce). I have so many wonderful memories of my grandfather that there are just too many to list, but I hope he knows how grateful I am for the time I've been blessed to spend with him and know him! He is another Gospel Giant to me too!

Last but not least, my step-father-in-law Larry. He is another one of those stalwart examples of a strong testimony in the Gospel. He is also a good example of determination having gone back to school recently and gotten his nursing degree (I think it was nursing). Not an easy thing to do at any age, but he did it (and Linda is almost done with hers!).

I have truly been blessed in my life to have such great influence from some really awesome men! I thank Heavenly Father for each one of them in my life!! (and for all of my mothers too!!)

Memorial Day at the Beach with Granddad

Granddad looks like he's having fun, even if it was a bit chilly!

Kacie looks so cute all bundled up in her blanket and a hat that Papi gave us from Chile (picked up on one of his business trips).

What a pair :)

It may have been cold, but that didn't stop Sean from having a little bit of fun, even if he was the one who started back to the van first.

Kacie and Daddy

Kacie sure does love her daddy!

She loves to sit on his shoulders and peek around his head

... and she loves to give kisses! So sweet!

Celebrating Military Children

part 4

They had this Humvee out for kids to sit in and these guys just had a blast! Everyone took a turn in the driver's seat and Alex was the only one who tried to push the gas pedal. Good thing it wasn't turned on and the key wasn't nearby!

Celebrating Military Children
part 3

Don't you just love Alex's face?! What a nut. He and McKayla are in the front of a Coast Guard boat they had out for kids to explore.

He is definitely from the Guffey side of the family. Crazy kid!

Alex sure looks like he's having a good time!


What a pair!

Isn't she a beautiful girl? Her hair looks so pretty blowing in the wind.

Celebrating Military Children
(part 2)

The kids had so much fun getting to hold the bird. For the life of me, I can't remember what kind of bird it was, I want to say parrot, but I'm really not sure. It was really cute when he put the bird up to Kacie. I think if it hadn't been so windy or chilly she might have been more actively trying to touch it.

Celebrating Military Children
part1

Every year in April, the Army Community Services has a day dedicated to Military Children. They have all kinds of stuff for kids to do like pony rides, petting zoo, bouncy houses, face painting, etc. Well, our kids had so much fun doing this last year that we decided to do it again.

Kacie's New Friend

Daddy got into the toy closet and pulled out this guy. He was a prize Jason won at Kings Island (Cincinnati, OH) when McKayla was about the same age as Kacie is now.

It was just as cute then to watch McKayla with this guy as it is now to watch Kacie. The dog is almost as big as she is and she looks so silly walking around carrying this guy in front of her!

Getting Ready for Family Prayer

This was the first time Kacie knelt down with us and folded her hands when we told the kids it was time for prayer.

She did it all by herself. One of us (me or Jason) said it was time to say prayer and she just came over and knelt down with us.

It was simply adorable! Who could resist someone so cute?! I dare you to tell me that's not precious.