YIPEE!!!

This week we booked a cruise for Spring Break. We are going to fly to Florida and pick up the boys and enjoy 5 days in the Caribbean together. I can hardly wait!

Ribbon Cutting

Today was the Official Ribbon Cutting for the "Western Salt Lake" (aka West Valley) VA Outreach clinic that Mark works at. I went up for the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. The new Congressman from Utah was there. One of the speakers was a veteran who returned from Operation Iraqi Freedom. It was really interesting to hear his story and the experiences he has had trying to recover from his injuries sustained in the war. It was also fun to meet Mark's coworkers and go to lunch with Mark afterwards. Attending the open house reminded me how grateful I am for the men and women who fight to preserve our freedoms!

Christmas Day

We had a great Christmas this year! We loved having all the kids there with us! We spent a lazy day at the house watching tv and playing games and then went to Mark's brother's house for dessert. Mark surpised me with this beautiful ring!

Sam loves his shutter shades from Becca


Sam is excited about his new hoodie

Jack trying to figure out the game he got from Lance and Becca

Mitchell very excited to get a new camera- especially since Sam opened his first and Mitchell didn't think he would be getting one too!

Jack excited about his new gaming chair that was waiting for him in Florida

Becca very excited about her WII

Lance opening a gift from Becca

Becca opened the WII game before the WII

Becca showing off the socks she got


Sam and his shutter shades and Katie wearing her snowboarding pass

Mark enjoying having the kids here for the holidays!

Fun in the Snow

The boys really enjoyed all the snow we received while they were in town. They spent hours outside in it. Mitchell and Jack built an igloo in the back yard
Sam built the first snowman he could remember building

The Igloo-It is still there weeks later

Sammy and his snowman

Relaxing on the igloo

A grateful heart

I am starting this new years with a grateful heart listening to Mark nap in our room. This week has been a crazy week( I know I am behind on blogging on Christmas and will get to that this weekend). Last Saturday Mark's back was tight and throughout the day it got worse and worse until he and I ended up in the emergency room that night after a torturous ride for him to the hospital over railroad tracks and snow piles in the road. We were given some medicine and sent on our way. Sunday he slept most of the day but by Sunday night was in tremendous pain and I thought that I was going to have to call and ambulance to come get him since he was not able to move at all. Our awesome nephew Phil came over and gave Mark a blessing and muscle relaxants(both were definitely needed) and Mark was able to get some sleep through the night. Monday morning we headed back to the hospital and Mark ended up getting admitted after becoming really relaxed on pain meds (his blood pressure dropped to 89 over 40). He spent the next day and a half very drugged and barely alert. They gave him an MRI and eventually we were told that he has a herniated disk and just needs to walk and take some medications to get it calmed down. He will eventually need some physical therapy most likely. Last night we were able to come home from the hospital. Mark is actually starting to be able to walk around a little and not in the pain that he was before. We were really blessed to have great family support to help us this week, so that the boys were not totally abandoned and bored during their trip here. I am also grateful for the priesthood blessings that Mark was able to receive to bring him comfort during this difficult week!