Dividers

I saw a quick project that I thought would make my life a little more glamorous.

Wait for it. Wait.for.it...

Drawer dividers. 

Maybe a little anti-climatic. For you. For me- swoon. I {heart} organization.

I have one drawer that is chaos each time I open it. Wow!! It causes me hives.

I saw a tutorial to make this...

And suggested to Randy that it would be fun to make something like it. Fun, I tell you. Maniacal giggle- Bwahahaha!!  Disclosure: I may, or may not still be a bit high from the paint to finish our backsplash. Gel paint is toxic!

Still need to paint that countertop. Other than that, our kitchen remodel is done. Partay!!!

Back to the project at hand. 

Not wanting to tackle the biggest project first, we decided to test it out on an easy drawer. 

Look at all of those dangerous knives floating free in that drawer. Wow!! We are in Desperate need of some dividers. (I used Randy's signature Salesman tone. Worked like a charm!). He was a bit apprehensive about it, until he saw me making up the drawings.

Once he started suggesting things, I knew he was in. What started as a copy of someone else's work, turned into a Randy Original. And, in my opinion, something that is much better than the original.

He couldn't do this project without teaching Caden how to use his new tool- the table saw. And by new, I mean from Black Friday- hardly been used, since.

Instead of simply gluing them together, he tested his mad skills by making little grooves for each to snap into. Like a glove.

He is always going on with one of his coined phrases, "Right tool for the right job."

He was beaming as he put it all together to dry and set.  Look at all of those "right tools."

My man, the craftsman.

From this...

To this...

I am confidant that he is ready to tackle the massive junk drawer.

The cool thing is that his idea saved us a ton of money. Where the other girl used wood prices that were $0.55/each (costing approximately $5.00 for the shown organizer), Randy bought a large piece of wood for $6.00- enough to do both drawers, plus an upstairs bathroom drawer. Dave Ramsey would be so proud. 

You see what I did there? I made the suggestion, let him run loose with his brilliant ideas, and now expect him to do another drawer. Classic. Make him think it was his idea to get him to do it. I.am.a.genius!!

Keilie's Day

I waited all day to do a fun photo shoot and ended up waiting too long. (Hm...someone- S. Dirks- must have forgotten that the days are getting shorter, that summer is almost over, and that the sun sets a bit earlier than it did in June)  I'll have to do the pictures I wanted to do, tomorrow- I've scoped out the perfect spot.  For now, to celebrate my baby girl's TWELFTH birthday, I'll show the ones that we captured quickly, in our back yard.  Horrible lighting...Beautiful Birthday Girl.

The quality of picture leaves something to be desired, but it does nothing to take away from her radiant, easy smile.  My little Keilie is quickly becoming a young woman.  She is kind, generous, quick-witted, and has a effervescent personality that makes everyone feel happy.  She is maturing into a reliable babysitter, always looking for fun activities to try on her siblings to do with kids she watches.  Kids love her!!  She blesses our lives each day with her love.

Happy Birthday, my beautiful Keilie.  You are loved "to the back of the moon."

A saying she used to say, when she was a "little girl."

Karma

Karma has not been kind to us on the drive home from Mount Vernon/Seattle. Scratch that...The drive to and from. Where it should have taken us 4.25 hours to get there, it took us 5.75, all because of a fifteen mile pile-up. It took us more than an hour to go fifteen miles! Awesome! All of this after we found this...

In our kitchen. 

The stud finder said there was a stud. Nope. It was a pipe. Remember, this was hung in December. 

Good thing there are some excellent mold killers out there. It was not my favorite. 

It has been proven that I choose studs, as evidence of my Mister choice. I think I will just be our stud finder from now on.

We made it to Ashlee's Sunday night, have a grand time, have good news from Caden's x-ray on Thursday, make it back to her house, celebrate Daphnee's birthday this morning, and head for home. And let me just say, we are only half-way home and I want to shoot myself. Here is a play-by-play. 

We head South on I-5, cruise through the blessed HOV Express lane, enjoying the space afforded without all of the packed Seattle traffic. And then the barrier HOV passes the I-90 exit we need to take and sends us packing down I-5 South, only to have to get off at the first exit to get back onto I-5 North. Of Course, there is heinous traffic headed North. 

As we are getting onto the ramp, at the last second it becomes clear that we are getting back on to I-5 South. Randy is steaming mad. It was SO unclear that we weren't on just one ramp, but one that splits. Onto the next first-exit, taking us further down South looking at the miles upon miles of bumper-to-bumper traffic we get to look forward to. Yay!!

By this time in our drive, I am in need of some relief of the bladder kind. So, sort of against his will, Randy stops at a gas station. And my sweet Brennon and Keilie decide that they need to go to, even though they had just gone at Ashlee's without any kind of liquid passing their lips. So we trudge into the store. No bathrooms. Awesome!

Back on to I-5, heading the correct direction. Each and every mile passed in such a slow fashion is only squeezing my bladder harder. It felt literal, people. It was becoming urgent. Finally we made it onto I-90 and took the very first exit. We pulled over at the first place that looked open. No bathroom. I am almost in tears. I am going to pee my pants at 34. In front of my kids!!! Awesome!

We head down the road a little longer to find a blessed Burger King...That won't let you into the restrooms until you order. There was a line five deep. By this time, Randy explodes to the guy that we would order, just open the bathroom for me. I was an emotional wreck, just trying not to cry at the relief. Relief at not peeing my pants, not bladder relief. And then I see Shelby's ear...

It is getting worse. The blood was a tinge the other day. Now it is full-on dark. Talk about emotional wreck. It doesn't hurt her (thank goodness) but I can't understand why it's not better!! And then Brennon starts crying, saying his belly hurts. His motion sickness is coming up. Literally. All over the street, on the way to our car. Awesome!!

We make it onto I-90, and again enjoy open roads in the HOV lane. Until Easton. Where we take a blessed hour to go FIVE miles this time. Shoot me. 

We pass the mess and pull into the next Rest Stop (Randy, this time, just not as urgent) and file our way to the lines. We had all been stuck in that mess. As we were almost to the building, I saw Shelby's bare feet. Oh, crap, her shoe had been washed away in the tide at Deception Pass. I forgot!! And here we were, headed into a Rest Stop. AWESOME!

We make it inside, wait in another line, and finally it is our turn. The woman opens the stall door, stops, and looks at me with disgust. "No shoes?" I kid you not, my nerves were raw. Her life was in eminent danger, folks, and she didn't even know it. I put on my best "Screw You" smile, and syrupy-sweet said, "She lost them in the tide," and pulled the barely-alive woman from the stall, while shoving Shelby in. There is a LINE lady!!! Turn of your judging long enough to let my daughter pee!!! There were a million things I wanted to scream at this lady, but for the second time in less than four hours, I found myself almost crying in the bathroom stall of a disgusting place. 

I.am.done. 

Man, I HATE this drive!!! Seattle is not my favorite place. I can't wait to give it the bird and never return, someday. 

Tolerance

Shelby has had some drainage coming from her ear for a few days. The same thing happened to Jamie's little boy, Caleb, but they told her that it would go away on its own. So we decided to just wait.

However, things changed when it turned bloody. We rushed her to the Urgent Care near Russ's new Middle School and got a very different diagnosis.

 She has a very infected outer ear (not our typical inner ear infection that we are accustomed to with our kids) that is actually more painful than the inner ear infections. He was surprised that she has such a high pain tolerance, since tugging on the ear hurts so much more with this type of infection. She was given both oral medication and ear drops, because of the severity. She has not complained once. 

I guess this shouldn't surprise me. This is the girl that allowed a tooth to be extracted without pain medication. Mostly because we didn't know that it was NOT ready! She stood there and let Randy yank that baby out!!!

YES, she has a high pain tolerance!!!!!

Cutie!

Deception Pass

With Randy having work in Seattle, and Caden having a follow-up x-Ray, we decided to take some time to visit with Ash and Russ. Break-in there home, and all that. 

They were all-too obliging in taking us to some of their favorite hot spots that they've found within the last ten days as Washigton residents.

Deception Pass. Look at the turquoise of that water!!

He gets this from Randy. Remember Cocoa Beach, FL?!

 Proof!

I was mean and made them take this before they got wet.

Me, with my Mister.

Me, with my Sister.

The Wilsterman's. Russ, McKaylee, Austen, Daphnee, Ashlee (with Everly), and Aria.

All-in-all a perfect day. Except when the tide came in and carried one of Shelby's sandals away. Awesome!

Burrell Burls

1. A burl (American English) or bur or burr (used in all non-US English speaking countries) is a tree growth in which the grain has grown in a deformed manner. It is commonly found in the form of a rounded outgrowth on a tree trunk or branch that is filled with small knots from dormant buds.
   
   

   

   Burrell (Burr-Elle): Maternal Grandfather's Surname. Mother's Maiden name. 
   
   

   

   I think Papa Burrell has two adorable burls. 
   
   

   

   We love having Grandparents come to visit. Even when it is for only a couple of minutes to break up a long drive.

Hands

I was snuggling with Brennon yesterday, just enjoying how well he fit next to my side, when I made the comment that he has Daddy's hands. And Caden's hands.

"I want to be just like Caden. Just not the sickness."

Caden just got home from Scout Camp. He made everyone a hand-made gift. Brennon asked if I would take a picture with him and Caden. He truly loves his big brother. 

I like Brennon's Hero choice. 

Shopping

I took this beauty school shopping last night- just the two of us. I may have gone a bit overboard. Here's why...

The first store we went to didn't have her size. And then we hit the jackpot. With each outfit she tried on, I got to see that look, the one that shows a mom (and the world) that she feels pretty. At one point, I had to leave the dressing room- I didn't want her to see me tear up. My sweet "little" girl is growing up. I am grateful to see her grow, it just makes me emotional to see it glowing in her face and countenance. Seventh grade. Wow!!

Oldies

I don't feel old. Even with passing birthdays, I don't feel old. It's aging of much children that makes me feel old. Keilie will be twelve next Saturday. That makes me feel old. And when she asks, "Mom, what's that?"

That makes me feel old. Because I remember, with fondness, cassettes. In fact, Randy and I still have the cassette that Mike Martin recorded our wedding song accompaniment on, so Randy could propose to me on April 14, 2000. 

Oh, cassettes!!

Negative

I got a call this morning from Dr. Hawkins, which I did not answer (I didn't want him to hear my sleep-voice.  It was only 8:00AM, people!) but wish I had.  He was personally calling me (I think that is so cool.  I mean, the number one sarcoma doctor in the nation was calling me, personally!) to tell me that the results are in for the Merck Immunotherapy trial that we had Caden screened for. 

The results are in: Negative.

We're a bit bummed, seeing as this would have been one more option for him down the road, but we're not going to let it distract us from the here-and-now.  In fact, we're hoping for many more negatives in the future.

October's scan: Negative.
January's scan: Negative.
April's scan: Negative.
July's scan:...

You get the idea.

Savor

At Caden's "physical" appointment for Scout Camp, Dr. B gave me a book to read.  All about Cancer.  He, himself, had cancer a few years back.  He showed Caden his radiation scars, told him all about how he'd flown back to New York 10 times in a year- on his own dime- to be part of a clinical trial, and just made Caden feel like they were in a club, or something.  I truly love the doctor that we have here.  Even in the scariest part of our cancer journey, he gave me his cell phone number, assuring me that I could contact him any time, with any question, and he would help in any way he could. 

I have been reading this book any chance I can get.  It hasn't happened as much as I am used to, what with family leaving, cleaning the house, and just plain exhaustion, but I am getting to it a little every day.  Last night I got to a part that had me actually taking a picture of it (I can't highlight it, it's not mine to keep) so that I could always remember the words.  It is from "Anticancer: A New Way of Life," by David Servan-Schreiber, MD, PhD.

"When we put off till tomorrow the quest for the essential, we may find life slipping through our fingers without ever having savored it.  Cancer sometimes cures this strange nearsightedness, this dance of hesitations.  By exposing life's brevity, a diagnosis of cancer can restore life's true flavor."

"Savored" and "True Flavor" stuck out to me.  I love it when someone uses such vivid words to explain something that we have heard before, when words are changed just enough to make something that is "ordinary" be something that we want to remember.  Suddenly, "Find Joy in Your Journey" becomes something different, something to Savor.

A song that we, as a family, have been listening to a lot is "Photograph" by Ed Sheeran.  Ashlee shared it with us a few days before Caden's last recurrence.  As we were driving home from that pivotal scan, hearts heavy and faces wet, the words almost begged me to listen. 

They are words that have helped me to savor our time together.

"We keep this love in a photograph.  We make these memories for ourselves.

Where our eyes are never closing, hearts are never broken.  Time's forever frozen still."

Tomorrow's goodbye

Russ has been up North, working all week.  Ashlee left yesterday, Tahoe expertly packed by yours truly, leaving her girls with me to more easily move into their home.  Things didn't work out as well as they would have like, being able to move in tonight at 6:00 instead of the Thursday that was given as a definite possibility just days before, but they are super excited to start a new chapter in their lives as Washingtonians.

However, I'm not quite ready to let them go.  They have been in my home since June 30.  Even after all of this time, there has been minimal arguing.  If they become out of sorts with one of their cousins, they just go find another one to play with.  Our tiny home has been filled with games, laughter, water fights, baking, swimming, movies and love.  I will miss them terribly.

As I was putting the girls to bed, tucking them in for the last night under my roof, tears welled in my eyes.  I have been SpOiLeD.  I'm so glad that our parting will be temporary.  Just four hours door-to-door.  Glee!!

I was telling the girls that they would soon be able to start making new friends in their ward and at their schools, starting in just a few weeks, and that I have seen their friendship-making skills first- hand.  Daphnee got a little choked up: "It's going to be so hard to say goodbye.  I just met Evelyn and Cassidy!  They became my best friends just a few days ago, and now I have to say goodbye."  Even she feels the love of our best friends. 

Tomorrow's goodbye won't hurt as much as it used to- saying goodbye to them when they headed back to Texas- but maybe it will be a little harder.  Because with only four hours, it almost seems too close not to see them each week.

In the words and voice inflections of Jim Carrey, from Dumb and Dumber, "I hate goodbyes!"

Grounds

On the evening that we had to tell the kids that the cancer had returned, we knew the exact place we wanted to tell them.  The Columbia River Temple. 

I just got the pictures from Randy's phone.  I had used mine so much on the four hours home (We all know I am the better describer/detail giver of the relationship,) so I took stole borrowed his for a little documentation.  You know how I love a good photo opportunity.

 They are not good quality as far as pixels/lighting go, but they capture the loves of my life perfectly.

 We wanted a calm, peaceful place to help us deliver the news.  As it turns out, Keilie was the only one that really understood what was going on, and even then she really didn't understand.  She even scared Caden a bit by saying, "Caden is going to die!!  Everyone knows that if you get cancer twice, you die.  I don't want to be the oldest!!!"  WOW!  That was hard!

 A group of college kids came to read their scriptures on the grounds.  With all of the beauty, space, and shade, I can't understand why they chose to sit right next to us.  It kind of dampened our moment, so Shelby suggested that we go to the fountain.  Perfect.

 Brennon was a bit confused.  "So...do we like drink the water and then we are married?"

I got a bit choked up saying, "No, honey.  Mommy and Daddy were already sealed for Time and All Eternity.  We will be together forever."  At the time, I was completely scared that my son was going to die, soon.  We still don't know the final outcome.  But, knowing that we are Sealed makes all the difference in the world.  How grateful I am for the saving ordinances of the temple.

Families Can Be Together. Forever!

Bored games? No way!!

Because Caden is still restricted from doing many activities that make summer summer, yet not wanting to stop him from doing stuff with Zachary, we decided to have a board game day. We stopped at the store to grab some treats, snacks, and drinks for the afternoon holed up in an above stairs room. 

First thing they did after they set up party-central headquarters, you ask?  Invite Keilie to play. 

It takes two special teenage boys to ask the little sister to hang out. Eventually, having two little sisters and a younger cousin. Not one complaint. 

I'm the luckiest mom of the best teenaged son!!

Busted

McKaylee got her own dinner tonight, and ended up getting way too much milk. Ashlee told her that she needed to 'sit there an finish it,' but by the time she was almost to the end, spoon slowing with each bite, I was ready to gag seeing all the soggy cereal. While Ashlee was preparing to leave, I whispered to McKaylee that she could be done. 

"What would Mom say?"

"It's ok. I say it's alright."

However, it soon turned into a problem when Ashlee started walking in to the kitchen as McKaylee was placing the bowl face-up in the sink, instead of dumping it, like I thought she would. Blazing to dump the evidence of 'our little secret,' McKaylee said, "Mom, Aunt Stephanie said I could be done."

Busted!!

Ashlee has trained her girls well. Or not, depending on which story you commiserate with more. 

Boys

Randy: "If we were to have one more kids, what would you want it to be?"

Caden- Boy
Keilie- Girl
Shelby- Boy
Brennon- Boy
Tyson- Boy

Shelby: "No, I'm not saying I want to have another boy.  I'm saying I want to be a boy!"

Randy: "Ummmmm..... Why?!?"

Shelby: "Boys don't have to do their hair."

May 2010

She should know!

Lazy dayz

We have had a day or two...or ten of not doing chores. 

As seen in this picture of a picture. Um, yep, that is dust. Apparently, Aria couldn't see clearly enough through the haze. 

That's ok. I don't need it dusted to remember how fun it was to float. Well, not float, exactly. More like lay on a green platform, posing. But I could imagine floating. It.was.awesome.