One Amazing Man and One Week

For the last week this wonderful man whom I call my husband. Spent the week at this lady's home. Now its not what you think. It's a good thing. He helped make this amazing women's life a little easier.

You see this woman named Katie Terry was in an accident which left her paralyzed from the waist down. She has two children that both need her attention more than most. Her home was in need of a makeover. She had a hard time getting around her home. It was not wheel chair accessible.

So Heart 2 Home (a non profit foundation) approach Brad and asked if he would be willing to help. Well if you know Brad he was NOT going to pass on an opportunity to help someone that needs it. He meet with Katie earlier in the month to get her concerns with the house. She needed a whole new master bathroom. It was not made to fit a wheel chair. There were holes in the wall and a normal tub that it took her 20 minutes just to get in. Carpet through out the whole house which is very hard to wheel your chair on. The kitchen was small and narrow with no way for her to cook or do her dishes. She had to put a hot pot on her lap to take it to the table or counter. Very difficult to do her kitchen duties without it taking extra effort from her.

The wonderful husband that I have redid the whole upstairs for her. She was only expecting the bathroom and the kitchen. She got a lot more than that. Brad tore down walls, ripped out carpet, tore out the whole kitchen, and even landscaped her yard. She now has a bathroom that she can wheel her chair into and turn around without banging into the wall. She can even wheel her chair right into the shower and wheel under her sink to brush her teeth. They repainted all the rooms including the kids. Brad put new hardwood through out the whole house except the kids rooms. They got new carpet. Widened the walk spaces so that Katie's chair could fit with no problem. And the best part was he gave her a brand new bigger kitchen. She has a stove and sink that she can wheel her chair underneath so that she can cook and wash dishes so much easier. Cabinets that pull down so that she can reach everything that is in them. More counter space and a place to eat dinner with her kids together.

You don't realize the little things that she does on a daily basic that we take for granted everyday. She has never said Why me or I wish. She truly is an amazing woman. She has done the St. George Marathon and many more races and just recently finished the Boston Marathon. Katie is always willing to help someone else out. While Brad was working on her house Katie was helping with another Heart 2 Home project. I wish everyone could meet this woman. She always has a smile on her face and loves life. I am so grateful that Brad has this opportunity to serve this energetic, full of life, and AMAZING woman. It reminds me that life is full of surprises but to take it as it comes and love every minute of it.

Spring Break and Kenzie's 2nd Birthday

Kenzie this year got to have 2 birthdays. She was so excited to blow her candles out that we had to relight them a couple of times because we weren't done singing before she had blown them out.
Here is her cake. I think I am getting better at the cake thing.:)
We headed to the Little Sahara sand dunes for spring break. We were sure glad we did. The first night was a little chilly with the wind and rain. But the next morning and after that was BEAUTIFUL. Sun was shining, warm temps and good times. Doesn't Shawnee look so CUTE? Everyone wore there goobles (goggles). That is what Ty would call them. They helped with not getting sand in your eyes.
Cortlyn being brave and climbing a pretty steep hill and then she would jump it at the top. The kids loved this hill. They would go over and over again.
Shawnee, Danielle, Kenzie and Sammie the dog riding the ranger going up one of the hills. Shawnee thought she was awesome driving that around.
Ty climbing the same steep hill. He couldn't jump it. He would barely make it up if he didn't get a good run of it. We have to turn the accelerator down on his four wheeler. He thinks he is evil can evil on that four wheeler.
Hayden catching some sweet air.
We had a ton of fun making sand castles. They were out there for over an hour. But what a great castle.
We had to do a little sledding while we were there. The kids love it!
Ty was helping with the castle building.
Cortlyn and Kenzie sledding down the hill. Kenzie wanted to go over and over.
Here is Kenzie's 1st cake. Strawberry shortcake cupcake from the sweet tooth fairy. Very Yummy.
She got to open a few presents on her actual birthday. She got a sand castle bucket full of all the castle building supplies and a bag of mamba's. When we got home we had another party with presents. She got new shoes, clothes, books and a new bed. Spoiled little girl.
Kenzie loves being outside. But she loves, loves, loves going on a ranger ride with anyone that will take her. What a great couple of days. The weather was great and the kids had a blast. Singing around the camp fire was the best part. Making up your own words to any song was hilarious. Ty was awesome. He has his dad's talent of making up songs and the drop of a hat. So Cute.

Conference Weekend

We headed out to the Little Sahara sand dunes for conference weekend. It was a beautiful day on Friday. The kids played in the sand, four wheeled, laughed with everyone and we ate good food. On Saturday it was a little windy but that didn't stop us from going to Sand Mountain to watch all the crazy people climb the mountain. When we got there we stayed for a couple of minutes and headed back the wind was bad and blowing in every ones face. Everyone decided then to head home. But we stayed and braved the wind and the rain.
Ty riding his four wheeler. His feet don't even touch the floor board. But he is a pretty good rider considering he is only 4 years old.
Drew taking Cortlyn on a three wheel ride wheelie style.
This is what we woke up to Sunday morning. SNOW!!! Yes 4 inches to be exact. We were not very prepared no hats, gloves or coats. But we still made the best of it.
The sand dunes are very pretty covered in snow. Never have seen it like this before. Maybe that's what we get for camping on conference weekend.

Happy Birthday

It was my Birthday. I told Ty that he could help me make my cake. So we rolled out the fondant and Ty and Kenzie had a blast cutting out the shapes and putting them on the cake. I think that it turned out AWESOME!!! They did a great job. They might have pushed a little too hard in some places but that didn't affect how good it tasted.
You are all wondering just how old I am, will I turned 35 this year. I don't feel any older. So that is a good thing I think. It was a normal day. Clean house, make a cake, go to lunch with Brad, Ty and Kenzie. Make dinner with Cortlyn's help. Go to two dance meetings for Shawnee. Come home, open presents, eat cake and ice cream and have dinner. Pretty eventful day? Pretty normal for me really. CRAZY, CRAZY, CRAZY. Loved all the Birthday wishes, and gifts from everyone. Thank you.

St. Patrick's Day

Lucky the Leprechaun came to visit us again this year. He left a bag of Skittles for each of the kids and a saying that read. Have a Rainbow of Fun today. Love Lucky:) I made these sugar cookies for the kids. I left them on the counter and took Shawnee to a Dr appointment and when I got home the cookies were all gone. I asked Hayden and Cortlyn if they had ate the cookies and they said no but here is a note from Lucky. It read I have a treasure for you here is the first clue. Where do you rest your head? Where do you do your homework? Where do you keep the ice cream? Where do you watch movies? And the last clue was What room do you not go in very often? They found the treasure at the end Lucky's treasure was my cookies. He had taken them and hide them from us. That sneaky little Leprechaun. The kids were so excited for Lucky to visit us again. Ty kept saying that he saw him and kept going around the house to see if he had left anything else. Happy St. Patrick's Day.

Sand Hallow

This is how we loaded the ranger with everyone in it for our rides. The girls giggled every time Brad hit a bump and they went flying off there seats.( they were buckled up) Kenzie holding on for dead life if we went down a big hill and Ty with his hands in the air screaming more, more.
Ty playing in the water at Sand Hallow in St. George. The water was a little cold but that didn't stop him from splashing around in it.
Cortlyn and Lauren went all the way under the water and jumped back up cause the coldness of the water caught them a little off guard.
Shawnee and Danielle doing cartwheels. They were not about to stay in the water. They didn't like it that much. They did go under once and that was all for them to get out and get a little sun on their not so tan bodies.
Kenzie was the first to go for a swim, by accident of course. She was running in the water and tripped face first. Needless to say she didn't get back in the water. A little cold for the baby.
Aren't these girls cute! These three are inseparable. They play so good together and very rarely do they fight. I consider them my own. Love ya Kate, Lauren and Cortlyn.
One of the days we went for a ride and found this cool place to hike around. Everyone was loving it. They had some cool rock formations and of course Cortlyn my little model wanted a picture at every one she found. Here is one that she liked with the arch that she is sitting on and the hole to the left of her feet.
Shawnee and here friend enjoyed the hike to. She is the little dot on the top of the rock.
Kenzie got into it to. But enjoyed sliding down the rock better.
Hayden in a cool cutout.
The girls before they went to explore. We could have stayed there all day. They was so much to do and see.
Another day we took a 50 mile ride to see the Dinosaur tracks. Here is Ty pointing out one. He thought that this was the neatest place and was waiting for the dinosaurs to come. He was a little disappointed when we told him that they were all dead.
The whole crew, at the dinosaur tracks. Shawnee being her silly self.
Shawnee and Danielle at the dinosaur tracks. They were just imprinted in the rocks behind them and they have preserved them. They are out in the open for all to see. You could see where they were going. There was a big print and a little print. We think that there was a mom and a baby walking. IT was pretty neat to see.
On this same 50 mile ride we can to this cliff that looked over the valley. St. George is in the background.
Same cliff. We had such a great time in the nice 75 degree weather in St. George. We didn't want to come home to the cold. As you can see we were in flip flops and shorts. So nice. We went with some great friends the Panters and we can't wait to go back again and enjoy the sun, sand and water. Tell next time Sand Hallow. We will miss you.

{It is Official}

Stay off the road!!! Shawnee has her permit to drive. This is a scary thing. Don't say I didn't warn you. This is a funny picture. She wanted it to look like she was getting her picture for a line up. The reason for the no smile. She was very happy to get her permit. She was lucky enough to drive home from the DMV on the freeway no less. Her dad was very brave. They made it home safe and sound. No sure that I am ready for this yet. She is growing up way to fast.