O Christmas Tree . . .

We decorated our Christmas Tree today and had a tree trimming party! It's not a party at our house without food ... junk food that is!

Everyone took turns putting on their own ornaments. Ornaments they've received each year of their lives. Some years the ornaments were simple and inexpensive, and other years they represented a milestone in their lives ... like the deer hunting the hunter (T.J.'s), or the ballerina (Kaylee's), and we even have the surgical scrub ornament for the year Claira had her heart surgery.

Claira had to be held by Dad because she broke her leg earlier today at church.

Evie put the star on the tree, which is a big honor in our house ... one that must be rotated to keep it fair! Now that the tree is up, I have orders to find a pair of red Christmas shoes and red princess gloves. Evie has decided that's what she needs to wear for Christmas!

Happy Halloween!

T.J. the hippie sporting his aunt's Third Eye Blind concert t-shirt and Rasta Beanie? Kaylee was a bigger version of her 1-year-old self in her 1st hand-made costume ... Pebbles! She tried to get her friend to go as Bam-Bam, but he wouldn't do it. Too bad! Claira is well ... Claira Cluck! Everyone called her a duck and she would promptly say "I'm a chicken!". Chelsea was me ... I mean a nurse! A very eccentric nurse that is. Maddy was the toothless vampire (we couldn't get the teeth to stay in). Evie was Ariel the Mermaid with spray-painted red hair ... imagine us having to spray paint red hair! And finally there's Tom ... for this there are no words.

Dancin' in the Rain

I got this from a fellow nursing student ... I love the philosophy behind it!
"It was a busy morning, about 8:30, when an elderly gentleman in his 80's arrived at the hospital to have stitches removed from his thumb. He said he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9:00 am.
I took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over an hour before someone would be able to see him. I saw him looking at his watch and decided, since I was not busy with another patient, I would evaluate his wound. On exam, it was well healed, so I talked to one of the doctors, got the needed supplies to remove his sutures and redress his wound.
While taking care of his wound, I asked him if he had another doctor's appointment this morning, as he was in such a hurry.
The gentleman told me no, that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife. I inquired as to her health.
He told me that she had been there for a while and that she was a victim of Alzheimer's Disease. As we talked, I asked if she would be upset if he was a bit late.
He replied that she no longer knew who he was, that she had not recognized him in five years now. I was surprised, and asked him, 'And you still go every morning, even though she doesn't know who you are?'
He smiled, patted my hand and said, 'She doesn't know me, but I still know who she is.' I had to hold back tears as he left, I had goose bumps on my arm. I thought to myself 'That is the kind of love I want in my life.'

True love is neither physical, nor romantic.

True love is an acceptance of all that is, has been, will be, and will not be.

The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything;
they just make the best of everything they have.

'Life isn't about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain.'"

Trip to Target

Recognize these darn red balls? Every time we go to Target, the girls have to "sit" on the balls! For whatever reason, Evie insisted I take a pic of her choking herself ... and since Claira's her official shadow, she had one taken too.
Btw, I'm barely squeeking by nursing school with a low B ... this is way harder than I ever imagined!

How's this one Aunt Chewie?

It ain't Fadda's Day no more!

This is for you Julie

I have been SUPREMELY busy with school ... and teenagers ... and toddlers ... and husbands (well, you know). So I'll have to commit to do a better job to keep my blogs updated!
We love you Aunt Chewie!
BTW, congratulations Laura on your baptism ... it's so fun being in Kansas with you!

HaPPy FaDDa's DaY!

So ... we thought this video was the perfect way to wish Happy Father's Day to a very deserving Dad (thanks Mindy). Tom is Daddy to 6 kids ... 5 of which are girls! 5 very talkative girls!
We love you Dad!

HaPPy BirThDaY KiWi!

Just in case any of you were curious ... this is what a 14 year old looks like! Brand spankin' new 14 year old! OH, and did I mention Kiwi turns 14 today!

Who's got the funk?

Well ... Tom's got the funk! And of course our little dancer too ... they both performed in this year's Disney themed dance recital. She did 2 jazz numbers, tap, and her first ever toe ballet dance! The favorite of the night was the Father/Daughter dance to the High School Musical medley. So far I only have pics, but trust me ... when I get a video ... it's gonna be posted! Enjoy the pics!

It's official ...

I'm in! I got the official acceptance letter from the Rogers State University Nursing Program today ... just 2 more years to go!

Movie Producer/Actress ... LooLoo

LooLoo's gifted class was assigned a movie production assignment. It was a great teaching tool in organization, cooperation, imagination, and I think they had a great time too! Her group came up with ... "Flora the Explorer". The teacher arranged for the movies to be shown on the big screen at our local theatre. Unfortunately, we missed the event because LooLoo decided to take on the biggest girl on the opposing team at the soccer game that evening. So we were at the urgent care clinic waiting to be told she had a bruise! Anyway, we proudly present the world wide premiere (not really) of Flora the Explorer . . .

Elder Blankenship

Just a cute photo update on my cousin ... Elder Dallin Blankenship!

(on right)

9:30 pm Evie

I'm taking a 2 week History course from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm every day. After I get home, "catch-up" with the little girls, and do my chores it's time for the big kids to get home from school. That's when the REAL busy-ness starts! Chores ... soccer practice ... TJ referee jobs ... dinner ... youth/church ... and, oh yeah, study? Needless to say I've been extremely busy and preoccupied!
On my way to take the kids to church this evening I looked on my blackberry to glance at my agenda and noticed a new item ... "9:30 pm Evie". It was a tender little stab at my heart. Honestly, she's been writing/typing her name anywhere she can find ... still, I got the message!
It's been really tough to not have daily meltdowns this semester. I think I'm mourning the days I could be one of those Moms that had time to scrapbook, or help out at school. Those days are not over, however, they're only on hold.

2009 Heart Walk

Pictures! (I'll have more when I get them from Kiwi's phone) Finally ... it's been over 2 weeks, but still worth sharing!
We had only a few show up to walk because of the looming clouds over head. All 8 of us, Mimi, Annie, Maddy's best friend, and my friend from school with her daughter made 13. Plenty of cute pink & brown shirts!
Thanks again Uncle Sam for the great design ... we sold enough to be able to donate $175 to the American Heart Association. Every little bit helps ... thanks to all of the support we receive each year!

Order a 2009 Tulsa Heart Walk shirt!

The first year we participated in the American Heart Association's Heart Walk, Uncle Sam designed the shirts we wore in Claira's honor ... it was only 2 weeks before her open-heart surgery. This year he has once again designed the shirt, and I think he's outdone himself! They're WAY CUTE! (I'll put picture up as soon as I can figure this out!)
You can order one of these adorable shirts AND support the American Heart Association's research and awareness for CHD.

• Pink short-sleeved tee with brown logo $12.00
• Pink baseball tee with brown sleeves and logo $15.00

Contact me by email eastmanpartyof7@yahoo.com

Saturday, April 18th ... wear your shirts and walk with us!

Daddy/Daughter Dance

Tom's HOT dates Saturday night!

The Science Nerd

Everyone in my family now calls me "the Science Nerd" because I have fallen in love with science! When I was in school as a youth, I hated science and never tried to get into it. Now that I'm back taking all these science classes ... I can't help myself from sharing what I've learned! Chelsea will say "oh great ... here she goes again on one of her psychological trips"!
I'm taking a Nutrition course this semester. We recently discussed that the FDA approved irradiation of lettuce and spinach. This form of radiation is being done to eliminate salmonella risks in these foods. (Click here to see the full article) The interesting part is that this has been done to meats since 1997. These foods are labeled, but I imagine the general public had no idea this was going on. I kinda like to know these things, so ... you can sign up for email updates on these types of approvals. www.fda.gov/consumer/consumerenews.html This way you can make more educated decisions for your family as a consumer! Have a great day!

The joy of being an Aunt ...

The other day I brought my sister and her 5-year-old daughter home after a day at our house. Her little one was obviously tired, so she stood at the foot of the stairs to scream and cry as loud as she could! She cried ... yelled ... and screamed the entire way up the stairs into her apartment. I gave my sis an understanding look ... and went home!
About 30 minutes later I got the following text from my sister ... "Ok so she just stopped crying. She cried because there's no pibbow. Because I should quit 'hurting' her as I'm removing her shirt. Because she does not want to wear those jammies. Oh wait! She does! Because she wants to feed her fish. Because she waited so long that she has now peed herself mid fish feeding! Because I won't let her feed her fish due to her urination on the floor. Because her shirt 'is not wet Mom!' Because she can't stop hyperventilating due to so much crying. Shoot me. Please. Any day now."
I like to call it ... poetic justice!

What da Hack?

I'm sittin' outside of my sister's apartment building the other day. I see this huge cluster of bikes, and I'm thinkin' "wow ... that's a lotta bikes!". So ... after I count them I realize ... our family has the same number of bikes as this entire apartment building! Sheesh!