Rosie

Five years ago while in kindergarten, Sydney was in a gymnastics class. She was walking along a low balance beam when she fell and landed on her arm. She was crying really hard and a cheerleader at the gym stopped and gave her a teddy bear to comfort her. She quickly bonded with the bear and named her Rosie.

I took Sydney and Rosie to the ER and ended up waiting until morning for them to see her. They x-rayed and splinted her arm and sent us on our way. I had a feeling something wasn't right, so two days later I took her to an orthopedic surgeon who x-rayed her again. He said that the ER doctor had incorrectly splinted her arm and actually made the break worse. Sydney's elbow was not only dislocated, but also fractured and needed surgery (closed reduction) to realign the bone and close the gap.

The next day Sydney was clutching Rosie when she went back to the O.R. They had done a good job explaining what was going to happen, but it still broke my heart when they wheeled her away.

The procedure went really well. Sydney was casted with a bright pink cast from her shoulder to her wrist in the bent arm position with her wrist almost facing up. It was really cute because Rosie came out with a cast as well.

From this moment on Sydney and Rosie have been inseparable. Every night for the last five years Rosie has been tucked in with Sydney, especially on road trips and sleepovers.

Six months ago, the kids and I took our annual cross country road trip this summer. When we got back we couldn't find Rosie anywhere. I thought she had fallen out of the car at a gas station or was left in the hotel we spent the last night in. Sydney was devastated and didn't sleep well for the longest time. We were all sad for her and said prayers that Rosie would find her way home.

Last week Rick was in Dallas for work and stopped by his parents house. I asked him to search for Rosie. He insisted he already had a couple months ago.

That night I said another prayer and even mentioned her the next day in my fasting prayer. Just as I was sending the kids in my class to their parents at the end of primary I got a text from Rick to check my email. It was a picture of a bear titled "Rosie?" I immediately choked up and couldn't believe he found her!

She wasn't in good shape. He found her at the bottom a toy basket smashed and grungy. I spent a few hours washing, drying, fluffing her with the plans of her being a present on Christmas.

The night before we were to leave for Texas, Sydney was saying how she wanted to bring a stuffed animal. We told her she couldn't, knowing it would make opening Rosie on Christmas morning that much better. Well, the more I thought about how this was Sydney's first road trip without her, I just couldn't make her wait until Christmas.

Rick tucked Rosie under her arm right before we woke her to leave at 4am. When she realized she was holding Rosie she squeezed her tight and smiled the biggest smile.

Just like old times

Rick had put Rosie under her arm about an hour earlier.

It's Rosie!


We woke her to leave at 4am and she had just realized she was holding Rosie.

Heading to Texas for Christmas

Rosie is right where she should be!

Rosie had a great Christmas. We are leaving for our 19 hour trip home in a few hours and I am sure Rosie won't leave Sydney's sight.

House for Sale

Richard accepted a transfer to Miami. The home values in Florida have taken a beating and we are so blessed that Target is giving us what we paid for ours. We are also blessed that Richard is in a position to let us stay here until school is out and I don't have to move Dason and the younger ones in the middle of the school year.

Last weekend we went house hunting. We looked in the Weston area which is really nice. However, we were so frustrated with how expensive the homes were for the condition they were in. Our home here would easily be at least $750,000. After praying and talking about it, we decided we are going to expand our search to Parkland which will be a major commute. The area seems much newer and more like us. With Sydney going into middle school, our number one priority is the quality and safety of the schools. It looks like we can't go wrong in Parkland.

Our Tampa home:

Even though I miss having snow, I love how it's green all year.


Our formal living.


Our formal dining/piano room.. was next on list to be decorated.


My favorite room of the house. This pic doesn't do it justice.


Our family room. I never finished decorating this room. The baskets are filled with toys for visiting children.




Our master bath. The shower is awesome because I don't have any glass to clean. We were going to swap out the lighting fixtures, but ran out of time.


Our backyard is so relaxing. After I drop the kids off at school, I grab a diet coke and a fiber one bar and enjoy the pond view from the patio every morning. I'm really going to miss this.

Please keep us in your prayers that we find something affordable and this all goes smoothly. Like I told a friend, "If you see someone in the corner rocking in the fetal position mumbling incoherently... you'll know it's me."

Getting in the Christmas Spirit!

I love the spirit of Christmas! Christmas music would be playing and our tree would be up every November first if it was up to me.

Since Halloween, I've been waking the kids up with Christmas music playing loudly in the mornings. To include Dason, I make sure it's playing when he gets home from school. They've been great sports about it.

Well, I was quite pleased when Richard said he thought it was time to make Christmas cookies this weekend. WOO HOO! My plan worked!


The cookie elves.

Here is the video:

I love that Dason is feeling it!


Check out Spencer's casualty.


Now check out Rick & Sydney's cheeks. Thank goodness the batch was huge!


Dason joining in on the fun. He ate a lot of cookie dough.


Spencer is working on his masterpiece.


According to Spencer, Dad copied his candy cane idea.

On Monday night the kids finished their homework early and were really feeling the Christmas spirit. So I decided to show them how to make popcorn garland. It was their very first time.

Sydney was so scared of poking herself that it took her a long time to get her string filled.


Spencer did really well and only poked himself with the needle twice.


Their finished product. Dason got the 5 foot tree out of the attic so we could set it up and display their garland.

Did I mention that I love Christmas?

Look what I found on an old cd!

Sydney and her Daddy

She used to do this to him all the time.

A Day at the Orlando Temple

I took this with my little point and shoot camera. I love how it turned out.

This week was the first time Richard and I have been to the temple since we've been in Florida. We have no good excuse for this other than not making it a priority. Richard took Tuesday off so we could go while the kids were in school.

The Orlando Temple is just under two hours away and is actually located in Windermere where, as Rick made sure to point out, Tiger Woods lives.

The other day I was wondering out loud about how we don't have a temple in Tampa, while Utah gets yet another one. Well, in our session were saints from the Tallahassee stake who had travelled four hours to serve. Let's just say, I was humbled and will remember to be grateful for our nearby beautiful Orlando Temple.

Energy & Marine Center

Sydney and Spencer's classes went on the neatest field trip to the EMC in Port Richey, FL. They learned about tides, plankton, as well as estuary & marsh food chains in very hands-on lessons.

Oyster Clutch

Sydney's teacher is demonstrating the making of oyster clutches. One floats in the water until it finds a good spot. Then it spits a cement and it stays there forever. Eventually, more will add on.

They had to break the clutches using tweezers to pull off the different invertebrates and put them in the bowl with the appropriate label. Sydney's favorite part of this was trying to catch all the crabs. They were fast little guys.

Spencer finally dared to pick up the crabs once he had gloves on. He especially loved pulling off the oysters. It was really cute seeing the two of them get so into it.


The first fiddler crab Spencer dared to catch. (It's a boy crab since one arm is shorter than another).


Washing up for lunch.


Waiting for all the groups to get back so they can eat.

Catching plankton

Spencer & Sydney were called "towers". (Camera died when it was her turn). They towed the rope up and down the bridge dragging a fine net with a collector at the bottom that had a pop-top.


The "rinser" would wash the net to flush plankton that may be stuck on the sides to the bottom.


The "collector" pops the top and drains the water into his glass jar.


Off to the lab with their jar of plankton.


Scientists admiring their creatures under a microscope. They used droppers to place water from their jars on slides.

It was really cool (gross) seeing all the leggy things that we unintentionally swallow when we swim in the ocean.

Heading out to do some seining.

They were taught to shuffle their feet to scare away the sting rays. As they were dragging the net across the floor they were catching shrimp, fish, crabs, etc..


When they pulled the net out of the water they were to use their bare hands and put all the creatures they captured into buckets of water. Sydney squealed every time she grabbed one and raced to the bucket. Spencer refused to touch one thing even after telling me all day he'd be braver than her because he'd touched a fish with Grandpa Jones this summer.

They both had a great time and learned so much! Thank goodness Sydney had a disposable camera and once I get it developed I'll add more pictures of her.

Come give me a hug!

We'd been at the park for a matter of minutes before Spencer slipped in the water. I filmed this seconds after he fell in. He was soaked!

In my last post he stepped in the fountain and ruined his tennies. It looks like it was just a matter of time.

More Mischief

Shortly after I filmed this, Spencer couldn't get up and instead of waiting for me to help him, he stepped in the fountain.  He couldn't wear his shoes for a few days because they were soaked.  Sydney on the other hand knew better.  :)

her words

A lot has happened in the last few weeks. I was shocked and devastated that my dear friend Allie found out her cancer has returned. Needless to say, many MANY tears have been shed for her and her new fight. It has been so sad in our home these last few weeks with worry and concern for Allie and her family. Feeling angry and furious, I read what she has journaled on her blog. How wrong is it that her words bring me peace and help my testimony in Christ grow? Even though I don't envy what she is going through, I envy her strength and clarity. She truly is amazing! If you would like to know more, her blog is at www.caringbridge.com/visit/allisonarnett. Her family blog is at http://www.arnett6.blogspot.com/.


Sooooo, I've been having pain off and on for a couple years in my hips, back, shoulder, neck, and spine. The last few blood tests have showed that I'm anemic and after supplements it actually got worse. I am also being treated for an under active thyroid which has a suspicious node. Well after what Allie is going through I thought I better get it all checked out. The burning pain has spread to my collarbone, hips, and arms. Add to that night sweats and shortness of breath and I am getting no sleep.

Off to the doctors to find out what is going on: I saw an orthopedic surgeon today. It turns out my symptoms are identical to those of someone who has cancer in the bones and I am getting a full body bone scan on Monday. I am crippled in fear with what the results will be and now am in complete and total awe of Allie. All I want to do is crawl in bed and sleep and avoid the world and yet I don't even have the diagnosis yet. The dr gave me painkillers and anti-inflammatories which haven't helped yet. It is pretty sad when I am praying that I have rheumatoid arthritis. Please keep Allie in your prayers and if you don't mind throw one my way too. :)

signed - a ball of stress

10 Seconds of Mischief

Loving doors like these when I was little, I couldn't resist letting them do this for a few seconds. You can see them about to get reprimanded at the end. Yes, I must've looked like an awful mom.

Temple Square Tour Continued

Sydney in front of the Christus statue.

Sydney and Spencer standing in front of the replica of Bertel Thorvaldsen's Christus statue at the visitor's center on Temple Square.

JB's Restaurant - Road Trip Oh Nine

JB's is where you eat only because of it's proximity to Temple Square.

For tradition's sake, the kids have to climb here.


Spencer vs. the empty cup. And the winner is......

Joseph Smith Memorial Building with Nana

Nana Giving us a Tour of her Mission

My mom works in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. She took us upstairs to check out the view.

Spencer is physically and mentally unable to keep his hands out of water.


Everywhere we went or looked there were brides getting their pictures taken.


Isn't that a great view!

I love this pic.. families are forever you know. :)

Nana's Church History Mission

For her mission, my mom works in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building training other missionaries to use the computers. Then those missionaries help visitors use the computers in the Church History Building to find their ancestors.

Sydney looking up everyone she can think of.

Looking up a great uncle of mine, I got choked up reading from a journal of a member of his battalion. Start reading at the paragraph "Sunday 13th."

My little brother Kevan's FamilySearch record.

He was killed in a car accident because he wasn't wearing his seatbelt. Let's just say I'm the seatbelt enforcer.