The way I feel today...

Housework can't kill you, but why take a chance?

- Phyllis Diller (one smart lady)

Why can't you just clean once and be done with it for like a week?

Good News!

Last week Mike got a job!! We are thrilled! It is amazing that after months of nothing available in his field, that not only a job, but a great job became available and was offered to Mike. He is now working at an Architectural Firm that has recently added a landscape architecture department. They also have offices in Logan and Arizona, where some of our favorite people are...but for now we are staying put (it is kind of fun to know there is a possibility though). We feel very blessed and we are very grateful for all the thoughts, prayers and encouragement on our behalf. We have great family and friends.

Kindergarten! And a little Labor Day update.

Taya had her first day of Kindergarten today! As every mother knows, this is a big day, not only for the student but also for the Mom. You just hope you have taught them everything they need to know, and I'm not talking about how to write their name and that good stuff but things like...will she remember to wash her hands after going to the bathroom, will she wipe her face after she eats her PB&J, will she remember to keep her legs together while sitting in her skirt, you know the important stuff.

As it turned out, it was "a perfect day". She was so pumped to go to school today and I must say she looked so smart in her little plaid skirt! She was most definitely the cutest kindergartner in the school (other mom's might have thought that about their kid, but mine really was), I'm not too proud or anything. She is so ready for Kindergarten, bring it on!

Outside of her classroom.

She got a little nervous the moment we were ready to leave but as soon as her teacher came over and told her she had the most beautiful smile, she was good to go and didn't look back.

Over Labor Mike back-packed through the Wind Rivers (just being in his element) and I went with my family to Park City. It was fabulous and totally relaxing. A good time was

had by all.

Monday we went to the Miners Day parade. It is mostly just Park City people campaigning for city office wearing their Tevas, sipping their mochachino's while walking their dogs. But we had fun, mostly just people watching. Tyce loved waving at people that weren't looking at him and I saw my first, a camel in a parade. I was mesmerized.

We had to go to the Olympic Park and see the ski jumpers practice their jumps into the pool. They are so awesome! It is one of my favorite winter olympic events to watch and it's pretty cool to see how they get their practice in the summer. One of these days I want to give it a try. We also did the Alpine Slide

My mom turned 29 (again) this last week so part of the weekend was to celebrate with her. My kids love their grandparents and always have a great time with them. My parents are the best!

Taya's poster she made for Grandma (I helped a little).

I also had to add that Taya officially learned to ride her bike last week. She is such a big girl! We are still working on getting her to start on her own but she does a pretty great job. I'm sure she learned years earlier than I ever did.

Special day with Grandma and Bike Riding...all about Taya

A special tradition started by my Grandma Nielsen was to take us school shopping before we started kindergarten. We were fortunate enough to live close to Grandma that she was able to make it a really special event. We got a backpack and a pencil box usually and maybe a shirt or something, I can't totally remember. I do, however, remember being very excited about it and loving the time alone with my Grandma. My mom has continued that tradition and taken it to the next level, of course. I have the greatest mom! She does so much for us and is the best possible Grandma ever! She truly loves playing with our kids and gives all of them genuine attention. I rarely get to spend time with my mom if kids are around, I think she prefers them to us and sacrifices being around the adults in order to spend time with the grandkids. She is very popular with the grandkids.

Taya was very eager to have her special day with Grandma and they had a great time school shopping. Taya is not like an ordinary child she loves to shop for clothes. She is always the judge when I'm shopping for myself giving me thumbs up or down, but when it is her turn she knows how to work an outfit. She twirls, spins, poses and thoroughly checks herself out in the mirror. I think my mom was so endeared with Taya's enjoyment in shopping that she went a little overboard. So we are totally set for school to start. Thank you so much mom, you are the best! We really appreciate all you do for us and most of all how special you are to our kids. (You'll have to keep working on Tyce, he LOVES his Grandpa...a lot!)

Shop til' you drop! Two tired girls with the loot.

For some reason Taya loved this shirt most of all, probably because she thinks the graphic is a barbie.

Mostly she picked out skirts, we loved this one, it reminded us of a little 1950's secretary. Also notice her VERY favorite item, her high heels. They were the first things she showed us.

Getting ready for the maiden voyage, a little nervous. This is day one, a little rough.

Mike's been working with Taya to learn how to ride her bike. She is doing awesome! She does it for a little while then looses control. Mike is working with her on using the break, keeping focused and putting her feet down. She really has it she just needs to have confidence in herself. I can't believe my little girl is about to make this huge leap of independence.

*disclaimer: We do make Taya wear a helmet when she rides her bike, however at the time I took these pictures it was falling off and bothering her so Mike let her go without for a bit, he stays by her every second. So we are working on getting a larger helmet.

Day three of bike lessons, she is ready to take off!

Time to let go...

Sheer joy, or terror - we aren't really sure.

She's doing it!!!

I had to mention Tyce, of course. He is doing great. The club has been downgraded to a smaller dressing and the graft looks good. It is alive (I know a little creepy), it is pink and looks like it took well. So soon we will be moving him into a little pressure glove and start therapy, for some reason I'm not thinking he will like that much.

He just got a little haircut (sorry Mandy, I couldn't take it anymore). I don't do hair nor do I claim to know what looks good on men besides I like my guys with very little to no hair. So I took the clippers and just gave the little guy a buz. It will have to do until Mandy can make it look nice. He totally looks like a little bruiser, especially with his newest "owie" on his forehead. Oh, and not to mention the fact that he has to wear "muscle shirts" in order to get his clothes over his hand. I promise we don't abuse our kid, I think the weight of the club and the already shaky feet cause him to fall...a lot! Personally, I think he is just adorable.

Just a picture of his new dressing. This kid LOVES to be outside and play in the dirt, not a good combination when you are trying to keep his hand clean. He definitely doesn't let it stop him.

Tyce's first Surgery (and hopefully his last!!!)

The little trooper this morning before surgery. Poor kid was awaken very early only to be whisked away for surgery or in his mind a very traumatic experience.

You have to admit, he sure makes an adorable patient! He made everyone smile.

Sporting his new duds. Too bad you can't see the back view, it is the cutest ;-)

He started to get really silly after the anesthesiologist gave him an oral that made him get sleepy. He really wanted to fight it and keep his good humor but he was struggling to stay upright.

Look at his eyes, they were so droopy, yet he kept trying to smile. The clever anesthesiologist got him to become comfortable with his little mask by rubbing a yummy cherry flavor inside, he couldn't get enough of it.

According to the doctor the surgery went well. It took a little over an hour to do but the recovery time was a little rougher. He was having a difficult time getting oriented; I think he was extremely confused, scared and uncomfortable. He was NOT happy at all!! Eventually after fighting us he gave in and just cuddled until he fell asleep again. After waking up he was a little upset again for a bit, probably because he was frustrated to still be in that strange place. Eventually he calmed down and was more back to normal playing peek-a-boo and throwing balls and hitting us with his toy hammer. We are now home and he is sleeping again, we were told to expect that today, lots of sleeping. He is outfitted with a giant club on his left hand. He is wrapped all the way up to his armpit and his hand is wrapped in sort of a bubble thing so it literally looks like a club (he has already taken some shots at us when he was coming out of anesthesia). The graft site looks fine as far as we can see so I think all will be well. Thank you for all of your well wishes and prayers, we are so blessed!

Sad little guy afterward, this is what his arm will look like for two weeks...good luck to us. He isn't a fan of not being able to see his fingers and hand.