Happy Anniversary--of sorts

Okay, so that was totally cheesey! But It has been a year since we have bought our Roanoke house. We really do love it here. There are really nice people (of course we already knew a lot of the really great ones.) I love the fact that it is so quiet and that there are so many kids. The house itself is a pain in the butt to keep clean, but it is wonderful for the kids and when we have company, there is so much room. It truly is a great family home. We feel so blessed.

This is Seans pergola. As you can see we have already been busy getting a hummingbird feed and some paper lanterns up to decorate it. You really have to sit out on the deck to appreciate how awesome this really is. We have offically become "deck dwellers."

Now to my favorite. The first is the way my raspberries looked when I planted them (6 still do.) The bottom is my nicest leaved out raspberry plant--Isn't it cute! I am so excited (despite the fact that they are surrounding my deck and attract bees. (We will see if I am still excited in a couple years!

As Promised

You can tell Jaron is already starting to get a little sick of it--hopefully he won't ever do that again. I do think it is so sweet seeing Sean carry Jaron.

When you jump down 12 stairs

Yep! I have been expecting this moment since Jaron could crawl. Yesterday while I was cleaning my house Jaron loaded the landing in the basement with pillows. Then he went into the family room and ran and jumped down the entire flight of stairs! He did make it to the pillows, but surprize, it still hurts!

This happened at 3:00, and we took him to Urgent Care at 7:15. There were several times when I about threw him in the car to take him to the doctor, but he insited that he wanted to see daddy and have a blessing first and see if he had any suggestions for him first. I think that is so sweet. The kids have so much love for Sean, and I love it!

Sean ended up taking Jaron to the doctor. He did not break anything, he just has a really bad sprain. They gave him a glass (fiberglass) cast, wrapped in an ace bandage. They did send the x-rays to be read by a radiologist today. They think he may have damaged his growth plate. If that is the case they will have to put him into a hard cast.

This glass cast is not a walking cast, so Sean has to carry Jaron around. I do worry about Seans back, but it is so sweet to see. I will take a photo next time, and post it later--no need for unnecessary back strain!!

Thank heavens for Jake. He has come over and watched movies with Jaron. I think having Jake here really helps Jaron keep his mind off of it. I think they are on their 3rd movie! Sean went to K&B to get him some more videos.

I do feel so thankful for good friends and family. I really do feel comfortable in our home and neighborhood and feel truly blessed. This is an awesome time in life and I am so greatful for it.

**P.S. I didn't feel so greatful yesterday with a filthy house, and kids fighting and screaming, but today has been heaven. I guess we need days like yesterday to appreciate days like today.

Tribute to Fathers

We all have fathers. I have very wonderful "Fathers" in my life. I am so greatful to my Heavenly Father. Because of him and his love I have many wonderful gifts. My life and my family. The opportunity to become a better, more complete person. I have so much to learn, and so many improvements to make, but it is such a wonderful blessing to be the recipient of unconditional love. I know that he gives us the opportunity to live with him and our families forever. I feel my saviors love....

Then my next special father is Sean. He is the father of our children. He offers so much love and attention to me and the kids. I love him with all of my heart, and more and more every day. He is such a peacemaker and his love for the family really shows. I am greatful to him for his hard work and sacrifices. I couldn't have chosen a more perfect partner for me or father for my children. The times when he looks greatest to me is when he is playing with or reading to the kids, and he warms my heart when he gives the kids priesthood blessings. I love you Sean!


Next, of course is my dad. My parents were divorced when I was 4, but my dad still was part of my life. I was able to spend summers and holidays with them. I am so greatful to both he and my mom for being respectful of eachother for my sake. My dad has been a great influence in my adult life. He has offered wisdom and concern, and much encouragement when I have needed it. It has been wonderful to see him interact with my children. Grandparents have such a special influence in childrens lives, and the kids sure do love "Grandpa Tbone."

Finally, I want to thank my Grandpa Gibson. He has been such a wonderful blessing in my life. It has been awesome to see the love that he and my grandma have for eachother. I had the opportunity to live with them before Sean and I were married, and I was so spoiled! I love him with all my heart and deeply appreciate his wisdom.

So think of the father's in your life. Find a great way to thank them. If they have passed, do them a favor and hug their sweetheart for them.

Happy Fathers Day!

They got my blood!!

Since I know you all are on pins and needles, I wanted to let you know that they finally drew my blood today! Yeah! I located the woman that has been doing it for 20 years at the hospital, so I had confidence she would to it.
3 sticks later, I learned the trick....
Drink lots of H2O (11 hours later I am still running to the bathroom every 20 minutes),
a heating pad (plumps up the veins),
a butterfly needle (so they can get it from my hand when they eventually do),
Gravity (hanging my hand down forces the blood down),
Squeezing (thats a no brainer),
a syrings to fill the individual bottles. Apparently the little amount of pressure from those viles make my viens collapse, so they just stop giving blood.
That is probably way more info than you want, but you never know when you may need it.

Okay this is the cute thing of the day.

Sean and I went out without the kids tonight. I didn't get all decked out, but I did wear my "Sexy shoes." They are red leather, 2 1/2 heels, with a buckle. I walk kind of funny (and slow) with them, but I know they are totally cute, so I love them. As I was leaving, Emily pointed to my shoes, and asked "Where did you get those?" "At the store" I said. She said "Oh, they are fabulous!" I am sure she will never say that again, but it has brought a smile to my face all night.

Along the same lines, about a month ago she and I went shopping at the dollar store. She bought red sunglasses, a hat (It reminds me of those Brooklyn cab drivers hats) with blue sparkles, a striped beach bag, and a Strawberry Shortcake coloring book. As we were leaving she said "It's the perfect outfit, thats what I do!" I am sure I will never hear that one again either.

It is a lot of fun to hear the things that come out of their mouths.

Happy Family???!!?

Since some of you are doubtful about the Gordon family having fun and being happy I wanted to offer proof

Lava high Dive

Sean and Jason demonstrating their manliness in 2005.

I love seeing how long it takes for them to do it, and then to hear them both scream.

Sweet little Emily

This is definatly one of my favoites. I am partial, but she really is adorable.

Adventures in babysitting

Nate is starting to earn money babysitting. Matt is home, so he, Jen and the girls went to Kung Fu Panda, so Jen offered the job to Nate. He really does seem to enjoy it. It was funny seeing him try to find things to make Tanner stop crying. I was really impressed at his patience and creativity. Emily loved being a little mommy to him. It was funny to watch her read him a book the same way I read it to her. Jaron just loved Tanner. I think they have BOY BOND. They both like cars and being a little rough. Right before Jen came, Jaron thought it would be fun to but Tanner in the doll stroller and run him around the kitchen. The racing in the kitchen probably wasn't my favorite idea, but they all had fun and are still alive. Things are going well. Today I feel kind of Blah, and just can't shake it, but hopefully tomorrow will be a better day. Thanks for the opportunity Jen

Sunbeams

It is official. I am the worst substitute sunbeam teacher EVER. I was asked to teach the sunbeams. There were at least 10 (the fact that I don't know EXACTLY how many CHILDREN I had is pretty scary!) 3 and 4 year olds. So fortunatly Sean helped me out. You would think that 2 parents in their 30s could keep it together....Think Again! There was always at least 2 kids out of their seats or crying at all times.
The lesson was on "I am thankful Heavenly Father gave me the gifts of smell and taste." So I let the kids smell and taste salt and sugar. Everyone with the exception of this sweet little girl named Summer, the kids agreed that the sugar tasted better. I then let them smell a spoon and a toy (I don't really know why, but it was in the bag.)
About that time the kids lost interest, so I cracked out the secret weapon---Crayons and paper. (This is the only part of Primary lessons that I can give with confidence.) The funny thing is that sometimes coloring can take a good amount of time, and sometimes not. Then the potty needs began. So I took 3 little girls to the bathroom, and when we returned coloring time was pretty much over. I leaned to Sean and said what time is it, only to find that we still had 15 minutes!
So I had the brilliant idea to take the kids outside to smell the flowers. Who would have thought that our church doesn't have ANY flowers. So after sniffing a couple evergreens, the kids started getting cold and began to scatter. "You broke our promise! You said you would all hold your partners hand and be reverent" I said. I soon realized that I was actually being more disruptive of the kids, and quietly herded then into the classroom.
Still 1 minute left of class: "Lets sing our favorite primary song." Head, shoulders, knees, and toes. 3 times. Then I am a Child of God (not a good attention getter for 3 year olds.) After about 1/3 thru I realized that that was counterproductive. Once again, a brillant idea. "Hey we are sunbeams!" Lets all hold hands in a cirle and move (Like ring around the rosie) and jump on sunBEAM! Yeah! I had redeemed myself. Now children were getting picked up. I was getting coloring sheets out the the appropriate artists. When a sweet little girl named Taylee said "Where did you put the flowers I picked for my mom?"
Hey I can handle this..."Oh I kept them over here on my table. Heading to the table, I was surrounded by anxious 3 and 4 year olds, when I tripped over them. I started to fall on them and wanted to minimize the damage, so I went to brace myself against the table, only to still fall on them and push Taylee into the table. It honestly is a blur, but I do remeber crying, and when I hugged her, she had cracked her forehead open.
Needless to say, 3 stitches later, she is okay now. Her mom thinks it was more tramatic to me than it was to her. (I hope she is right.)
So I guess my days of teaching tots are thru. I knew there was a reason why I didn't teach Primary.

Here is the rest of the story. http://sean-and-brooke.blogspot.com/2008/06/sunbeams-is-dangerouswho-knew.html

Jaron's Enterprise

Well I made it outside to plant those flowers. 3 hours later I am done. Sean has been working on the pergula today (like lattice covering the deck). It is looking really good. Sean decided to enlist Jaron in on the work. Luckily he is motivated by money. When Emily tried to help, he didn't want her to (He wanted all the money for himself.) So I told him I would give him 15 cents for each board, and he could offer Emily 10 cents for each of hers. You should have seen his face light up when he realized that he could get paid for someone elses work. And who ever said I've never taught my kids anything? Isn't that a lesson for success?!!!? LOL

Super Saturday

Greetings! It is Saturday. We got to go out on a date last night. We went out with Tammy and Troy. We went to Texas Rhodehouse (yum) and then we went to "Baby Mama". It was interesting. It was really funny, but I wouldn't recommend it to my bishop if you know what I mean. It was so fun going on a double date. It keeps the conversation off of bills and kids, and lets you be yourself and enjoy your husband.

Today we went back to the Central Stake center for a babtism. Taylor Beerey was babtized by her dad Wade. We knew then from our last ward. Her mom (Audrey) was my scout den leader partner. They have had a lot of various struggles in their lives, so it is so thrilling to see the change. I think that sometimes the biggest struggles make for the sweetest successes. Cami-sorry to miss Kymballs babtism. I did try to stop by the church on the way home, but it was over. Anne- Becca said we need to come back to enrichment to visit sometime.

Today is also Jarons last soccer game. It is so windy, so I politely volunteered to stay home with Nate (he has a headache and still needs to do his chores), and there is no need for Emily to be out in the cold.

Yesterday my neighbor gave me a few more flower starts. It was windy and rainy yesterday, so I better get out and get them planted before the roots dry out. I do have leaves on three of my raspeberries (out of 10). I guess these aren't the best odds, however I am thrilled. I was talking to my cousin Jen last night, and I was bragging to her about my berries, when she informed me that they draw BEES! AAAAAUGH! I told her that I planted most of them around my DECK! We had a good laugh about that. (Of course I didn't tell her that my 3 living plants are ALL around the deck.) That still makes me chuckle.

Our house is running a lot smoother. I have worked up a daily chore chart, so while not all chores are done daily, most are, and all are done weekly. Plus if there is fighting I always have jobs lined out for them. Plus there are always opportunities for them to earn priveledges. All is well at the Gordon's house. We would love to have people over for dessert tomorrow early evening. Any takers?