I forgot the cord to my camera so I can't upload pictures until I go back home to Raymond. Then I'll have to go over to Susanne's and upload them.
Tanner's surgery went really well today. He did great. Now tomorrow is the final birthday party for him. Thank Goodness!
Here's a question that I'd really be interested in getting some feedback. What are your top 5 Winter/Christmas holiday traditions? I will have pictures tomorrow of birthday's and blankets and other fun things so stay tuned.
This week has been the busiest week so far of my life that I can remember. Monday night was the viewing of my Uncle. I was the only one of my family that went in. I understand some people don't get the point of a viewing but I do. My Mom had a viewing of my Dad and that was really the first time I had ever heard of such a thing. I did not bring Tanner to it because I just don't know if he really understands death yet. I don't want to over expose him to it but I don't want to keep him totally and utterly sheltered from it because it happens and at some point, I know I'll have to explain it to him.
I did, however, take him to the cemetery on Tuesday. They buried my Uncle before the actual funeral service and I felt like that was something he could handle and I could explain to him in terms that were simple and that he would understand. I think it helped that we went to the cemetery on Monday afternoon to visit my Dad's grave site and place a wreath on it. My Uncle was buried right beside my Dad, which was really nice. Then after the burial, we (my Mom and Amy) dropped Tanner off and went over to the funeral service. It was a beautiful service. Just all around a really nice service. Every one in the whole family was there except 4 of the cousins, 2 of which were my other 2 sisters. Then 2 from the states were missing. Lots of my cousins traveled from distant places and it was so nice to be able to see them.
Anyways, then we spent the night in Airdrie with my Aunt. Today, we were at the Hospital all morning and for part of the afternoon for appointments and then to Erica's to visit and then to my Mother in Laws for a party. So it was a bust day and I am so looking forward to tomorrow when I have only one thing to do...speech therapy.
Tanner has been an angel for the last 3 days. Just really good and patient and loving and just really really great. It just makes it less worrisome for me to know that he's being so good.
I miss my friends and especially Matt right now. BUT...he did have 2 interviews so hopefully something comes of one of them.
I have a feeling this next year will be a year of a lot of deaths. Life can just be so fragile sometimes. I am thankful that I chose to come to earth and have this experience because I know that it will help me to be a stronger person. Death is not the end and I am so grateful for that knowledge. The gospel is true and that's all that matters is knowing the gospel and living it the best we know how through faith in Jesus Christ.
Life is not easy, but it is so worth it.
I will first start with the bad news, my uncle died on Friday from his heart attack. It has been very sad for everyone. He was dearly loved and we will miss him all.
Second, my sister went back into the hospital. She has an infection. She was thankfully able to keep the baby with her so that was a blessing.
And as if that's not enough I just found out that a relative has cancer.
It's been a long week and will most likely continue being a long week but I want to be there for my family and be supportive and be strong. I know my Mom is really sad because it brings back memories of my Dad. When someone dies, the pain never goes away completely, it just gets less intense over the years and less frequent. I am actually good. I am trying to focus on staying calm and doing whatever I can to help. I hate when I offer my services and people say that they will use them and then they never do so I'm really trying to put myself out there. Right now, it is all about just being with my Mom and sisters and making sure they are okay too. I have it kind of good living further away than the rest of my family because I don't feel the intensity that I probably could feel if I lived in Calgary. That's not to say that I haven't cried, because I have.
Anyways, Tanner's birthday was on Friday. What a gem Tanner is. I just love him so much. At church today someone put into words how I feel and she said that she felt she is able to feel a glimpse of how much Heavenly Father loves her by having this little girl. I think sometimes we underestimate how much we are loved by Heavenly Father. I always think "how could I love Tanner any more than I do right now?" How could anyone love anyone so much? It's such an intense feeling and I know that that feeling is only a portion of how much the Lord loves us. Tanner had a great party. He had 5 of his friends over and we had cake and ice cream and played games and opened presents. I didn't want to do anything fancy because we didn't have a lot of money so I thought cake and ice cream is so easy and not expensive at all. I made him this really cute cake. It was a crayola crayon box cake with 3 'crayons' sticking out. I'll upload pictures later. We also went to the show choir dress rehearsal and he loved that. He just loves music. So that was about it. He is having 2 parties up in Calgary and is really excited about them.
So for now, that's all.
....until Tanner's birthday that is. I am so excited! He had a little "party" at school today. He got this super cute crown. I have picture that I'll upload another time. We're enjoying hanging out and we even watched Rudolph the Red nosed reindeer today. I love that movie. It's such a cute movie. Matt went into Lethbridge today and applied at several different jobs. He was also able to get his resume put on a disc so that he can take it to the library and e-mail it if needed, which is much more convenient.
Some not so good news, my uncle had a heart attack today. We're not really sure what it all means. We hope and pray that he makes it and that all is well.
So that's about all for today. I hope everyone is having a great day.
Today when we were playing doctor with Tanner he asked me what was wrong (he was the doctor) and I said that my nose hurt and that I thought it was broken. So he said "I'll go to heaven and ask Heavenly Father for a new one for you". So he comes back in the room and says "how do you get to heaven?". So I explained to him that people go to heaven when they die. So he said he would die and go to heaven and get me a new nose and come back. I then tried to calmly, without laughing at him, explain that our bodies actually heal themselves and that we don't have to die and get new things from Heavenly Father to have our broken bodies repaired. It was so cute.
My sister got to come home today from the hospital from being in there for a few days because of low hemoglobin. I can't wait to meet him and hold him and cuddle him. Megan says that he is already perfect at nursing so that's really good news.
Matt's work season ended yesterday so we are back at square one looking for a new job. I'm not too overly stressed about it. I feel like I have more faith this time and that I trust more in the Lord to provide the way. I won't lie and say I'm not nervous at all but I really don't feel stressed, so I feel like that's a good sign. So I think that's it for now. I could write more but I'm getting my hair trimmed and Tanner's shag mop is getting cut so we have to leave pretty soon. Thanks for all the congrats on my sister's new baby. We are all really really excited.
I just wanted to share the wonderful news that my sister Megan and her husband Dean had a baby Boy on November 15th at 10:06am. Emerson Phillip was 7lbs 9oz and he and Megan are doing well. He was 20.5 inches long.
Happy birthday to my Mom...on the 7th. The woman that I love almost more than life itself and who I would gladly give up my life for. She is my rock for sure. She is always reassuring and comforting. She is a really great snuggler, even now as an adult, I still crawl into her bed with her when I'm there and snuggle with her. She is such a strength and so courageous for all that she had to go through when my Dad was sick and dying. She sacrificed so much. More than I think I know. She never complained. She is such an amazing person and I love her so so so much.
I really would consider getting Internet back if we had more money. It's driving my crazy that I can't post more often. Well, I could but they would not be very substantial posts. I have limited time. Oh well! Things are well. WE are....I know crazy crazy....putting up our Christmas tree and decorations this Saturday. I am so excited. I'm done my shopping...well, except for my Mom's stocking stuffer and Amy's stocking stuffer and I've wrapped them. Now I have to work on my friends' gifts. I'm making them and so it will take some more time. So, that's about it for now.
So much to tell and so little time...lol.
First, Tanner had this little school project they did. They all got a turn taking a little stuffed owl home for a sleepover and they had to find a fact about the owl and take it back the next day to school. Well, Tanner was the first one and he had it for 4 days because they sent it home with him on Wednesday and he didn't go back to school until the Monday. He loved that little owl, named Percy, like it was his own real pet. It was so cute. The fact that he choose was to say that Percy was a spotted owl and spotted owls are endangered because people keep cutting down their homes. 
Second, Halloween. It was fantastic! Tanner was so cute. He had his school party on the Wednesday and he dressed up as a cowboy. He took his bullseye horse to school and that was a big hit. They had asked me to come and help in the class room so I did. Tanner loves when I volunteer. I like it too. Then that night our ward had it's annual pie and chili cook off. It was really good and Tanner loved the fishing game they had. He got a pack of 3 cars. The kids all got treat bags from the Primary so it was more candy for him. Then of Friday my Mom came down for Halloween and to go to the temple the next day. He was SO adorable the night of Halloween. He was a chef for that night and he was so cute...if I do say so myself, but you be the judge of that.... 
Thirdly, I have really been into old movies. Movies like Casablanca, Funny Face, and Paris in April. I just rented Gone with the Wind and can't wait to watch them. There is something so wonderful about the older movies. I love all the dancing and singing. Such good movies.
Fourthly, my new favorite household item is a bottle brush. It works wonders to clean my cheese grater. It takes the cheese right off. And we are big cheese eaters so we use it a lot.
And lastly, meals. I have made quite a few new meals and we are loving it. We just had this amazing chicken pot pie tonight. Last night we had this tex mex chicken casserole thing that was soooooo yummy, and last week we tried Lynn's supper in a soup can. SO EASY! I of course being a cheese lover am going to double the cheese. It calls for 4 slices, but I would for sure do more to add a little more cheese flavor.
So that's the latest tidbits on me. One cute thing that Tanner said last week was when he was laying in my bed while I was "asleep". Matt had come in the room to get dressed and he said very forcefully, but while whispering "Daddy, get out of Mommy's room right now. Mommy is sleeping. Shhhh". He is so cute and is growing like a weed.
Well, I think that's it for now. Until next time, have a great week.
