My New Life

Funny Call(s)

Yesterday I was driving home from soccer practice. My cell phone rings I answer thinking it was my sister. All I heard from the other end was some breathing, so after saying hello for a few times I hung up. A minute passes and the phone rings again and I answer thinking again that it was my sister.
Me: Hello....Hello.....Hello
Caller (niece B): Hi, Kara.
Me: Hi B. What are you doing?
B: I am riding my bike with one hand.
Me: While you are on the phone?
B: Ya, I can ride with no hands and talk on the phone!
Me: Do you have a helmet on?
B: (laughing) no, I am in the house.
Me: Oh, that is good.
B: Is Arie there?
Me: No, She is at home. I can have her call you when I get home.
B: Okay, Do you want to talk to T (little brother)?
Me: Sure
B: My mom says "No".
Me: Ok, I will have Arie call you when I get home.


On to the next call.....about 30 minutes later. Phone rings, I answer and it's B again. She says "Kara you told me that you have Arie me and she didn't call me!" I tell "B" let me get her. I give the phone to Arie and they visit for a bit. I was worried that B is calling to say thank you for some clothes that I sent down. (Arie is a hoarder and doesn't get rid of anything, unless her mother sneaks it out of the house.) But it turns out that "B" has just called to visit with Arie, wanting to play and go to the mall with her. The call ends. Another few minutes go by, the phone rings again. I answer and it is "B" again.
"B": Hi Kara I just called to say that I miss Arie really bad. (In a really sad voice.)
Call is then interrupted by parent taking away the phone from her, and apologizing to me and promising to hide the phone better. The parent tells me that (B)know how to look up my number to call. I thought the calls were just great!

Don't mess with the Zohan! (Arie)

I went to PTC for Arie today. The report was great. Her reading score was amazing. No complaints from the teacher. This kind of PTC makes a parent proud! Until......I had heard that Arie had been sent to think time. Arie wouldn't tell me all of the details, so I asked the teacher what had happened.

The story goes like this: Arie was playing with her friend Vanessa at recess. AJ (a boy in their class) wanted to play the kissing game with Vanessa. Arie being the good friend that she is, intervened. In the teachers word "she took him out". The teacher said that it was some type of karate/take down move. She was giggling a bit telling me what had gone on. Remember Arie weighs 40+lbs. The teacher wasn't too mad because Arie was taking care of her friend. But she would like to see Arie resolve problems with talking rather than violence! I am glad that Arie is on my team!

The Big Nine!

Tomorrow Arie will be 9! Where has the time gone? It doesn't seem too long ago we were celebrating her 1st birthday with a really big party! She had her oxygen on, her new pink dress and a new pair of shoes. The years have flown by. The oxygen is gone and the getting up several times a night for "Bear Milk" are gone. Some things have not changed though. Arie still loves parties, loves new dresses and shoes. She wants me to wake her up early in the morning to open her presents. (She already knows what she is getting.) Arie makes our home complete. She is always excited and animated about everything. She tells you every detail of the day. Today's big event was that the computer lab teacher was the devil today! Most days she loves school. She loves to ride motorcycles, her bike, go snowmobiling, go sleigh riding and play with anyone who will play with her. She is a great helper and likes to tend her cousins. Arie will try to carry them even though they weigh as much as she does.

Arie started playing basketball this winter. Of course I worry. She is one of the best defenders! She told her coach last week that she gets the offense and the defense. After last weeks game she sent a text to Shane saying: "the other team was hitting, scratching, and biting us. I dribbled the ball down the court 2 times and Ken was there." I love how confident Arie is. She is not afraid of anyone or anything! I love how Arie loves to snuggle, if she beats you awake in the morning, you can bet that she will be in bed next to you! She loves animals, even though she has been praying for Riley to die! (So she can get a new puppy!)

I love you Arie and hope that you have a Fantabulous Birthday!

Jace is 13!!!!!!!!!

13 years ago Jace entered this world and our lives have never been the same! He was 8pounds 15 ounces, with a really big head. He was often called the Michelin Baby! He is the source of great entertainment in our family! He has many talents, like contorting his body, doing origami, playing soccer, and the best talent is figuring out how to not work too hard! He is so smart, he is fearless. He has a few quirks. He has been known to be funny about food. For awhile the only foods he would eat was chocolate milk and instant oatmeal. He has since expanded his foods. (Just don't try and feed him fast food.) Jace has a kind heart, you can often find him playing with a younger cousin or a younger neighbor. He is quick to forgive (forget). Over the years as I have gone to parent teacher conferences the teachers would all say just how cute Jace was.....being cute does not help the bad grades! Jace has been known to strip down to his underwear and swim or shower in public. He loves to be with JT, it is fun to watch them. Ater they have been apart for awhile and they see each other, they can't stop talking to each other. And often they stay awake in their room talking. Jace gets excited to tell Shane things, especially things that have to do with explosives! Jace makes my heart stop every time he rides wheelies up the road. He rides some of the best wheelies I have every seen! He has been known to come down with sudden cases of paralyzation and an occasional case of amnesia. His future hopes for a occupation are always changing, some include; homeless, working and McDonalds, pyrotechnician and the latest was a exotic dancer. He told me that he would give me free lunch everyday when he works at McDonalds. He can dance a mean "lawn mower"! As you can see he keeps me on my toes! Jace, thanks for keeping me on my toes! We love having Jace in our family! Happy Birthday!

Nie Nie Dialogues

I happened to catch Oprah the other day. She had Stephanie Nielson and her husband on. They are both survivors of a plane crash. They now live in Provo. I was so impressed with Stephanie. I looked up her blog and now check it every day. Check it out. Go back and read some of her older posts.

Updates on the home front: I lost my camera. JT has the swine flu and basketball tryouts for the High School. I GOT A NEW CAR!!!!!!!!!! :) Shane and Jace are off on a special draw deer hunt.

Grace...

Sometimes it is just kind of funny how things come to you..... I was in the shower at the gym getting ready to go to the Dr. and I happened to read my shower gel bottle. It goes like this:(from Philosophy)
"Life is a classroom, we are both student and teacher, each day is a test, and each day we receive a passing or failing grade in one particular subject: grace. Grace is compassion, gratitude, surrender, faith, forgiveness, good manners, reverence, and the list goes on. It's something that money can't buy and credentials rarely produce. Being the smartest, the prettiest, the most talented, the richest, or even the poorest, can't help. Being a humble person can and being a helpful person can guide you through your days with grace and gratitude."

Sometimes we just need a little reminder :)