A NEW COUSIN!

We were so excited to get to go over to Katherin and Lees and see the new baby! Abigale is beautiful and the kids are so excited to have another new cousin!

Lake Glorious Lake

For as long as I can remember we have spent a good portion of our summer at the lake. Since getting married we have gone up one every summer and it is a week we look forward to all year long! It is very relaxing - albeit HOT, and alot of fun. Here are a few pictures from the latest trip (Last week)!

Emma

I forgot that I wanted to talk about Emmas Dr appointment! Since I was really sick I forgot to make Emmas well child visit on time... so she just had it! But, the good news is that my four year old little girl is doing great! She is still at 115% for her height and finally moved from 5% for weight up to 15%! Yeah - she is starting to even out a bit. The Dr said that she is very smart and is always so sweet to Emma. If we ever move, I swear we will come back to Flag for Dr appointments. We love our Dr so much! Russell asks many mornings if we can go see the Dr!

August 15, 1997

Ok, so I was out of town on the big day but I had to mention something about it! My husband thinks it is a bit morbid that I "celebrate" every year but I feel it was a huge day in soooo many ways. It is the day that turned me into a completly different person, yes, I have major health problems and handicaps but I also have a deeper sence of self and a greater love for my Savior and a greater feeling of love from Him and my Father in heaven.
For the person who has no clue what I am talking about - this is the TEN YEAR anniversary of a really bad car accident. I was 17 and on the way home from the 3rd day of senior year! I was driving and escort, he was driving a dodge ram.... he got a cut on his cheek, I got a crushed ankle, 8-12 broken ribs, 2 collapsed lungs, a bruised heart, lacerated liver, kidney and spleen, a broken clavicle, and a head thrown back so far becaus of the airbag that it ripped both coratid arteries in half - one closed off completely causing a major massive stroke which left the left side of my body paralysed. I was never supposed to walk again and the projection was that I would have severe mental and physical dissabilities for the rest of my life..... No possibilities of kids.... ever..... etc...
I can walk, I can breath on my own, I have an amazing husband, I have two beautiful kids and one on the way!!!!! Why would I NOT want to celebrate that! It is a miracle and a sign of our Fathers love for us all! I love that He has gotten me to where I am and showered me with sooooo many blessings. Yes, there are tough days, and very few without pain, but I would not trade my life, my knowledge, and my experience for anything.
Ten years later I look back and can hardly believe all of the miracles that have been ever present in my life, I feel such gratitude and love for the family and friends who have helped me through every moment of it. Especially my Mom - its got to be hard to have to bathe your 17 year old daughter, feed her, help her learn to crawl, and then to walk again.... I love you sooo much Mom. And Dad, lifting me in and out of cars, forcing me to never give up, making trips down to Phx and then always being there whenever I needed you!!! You are such amazing people!!!
Celebrate your life right now because you never know what will happen in the next moment!

Turkey Loaf

Ok - I love ground turkey and am always looking for ways to use it so... last night I came up with a yummy meatloaf that used ground turkey instead. The fam loved it so I thought I would share...
Turkey Loaf
2 lb ground Turkey
1 box stove top stuffing mix
1 cup water
2 eggs
1/2 can whole berry cranberry sauce
salt and pepper to taste

mix well with your hands and put in loaf pan (I actually used 2 smaller pans so I could freeze one for later). Bake at 350 for 55-65 min (uncovered) serve with remaining cranberry sauce

A nice alternative to the usually greasy and not too healthy meatloaf:)

Montana

Things are pretty crazy around here! We have had such a busy summer and feel like we have run all over town most of the time! Our good friends are moving this week and it has been pretty sad, we are all kinda moping around wishing they could stay... But, life is all about change and they have so much great stuff ahead of them! We also look forward to having a place to stay when we get up to Montana!
Ok, for those of you who enjoy makeup but hate how much it costs, a friend intro'd me to this site! http://www.eyeslipsface.com/ Check it out - Good, cheap makeup. I love that. I hate spending a lot of money to try out a new color and it looks terrible! So, I am planning on ordering a few shades I have been afraid to try!