The Doman Curse

Derek describes this year as the "Year from Hell" - I would probably have to agree.  Although I have experienced far worse, this year is hard in the fact that it is one thing after another.  Like chronic pain or sickness (both of which I am having) it just gets to you after awhile.

I was working on our family yearbook.  The pictures that I had didn't seem to reflect the year we are having.  We have had many good times and I am so happy to see that.  I also wonder why we/I fail to document the hard times.  Is it because we want everyone to think we have a perfect life?  Is it because we are embarrassed that bad things happen to us or that people will judge us?  Or is it just because we are more likely to grab a camera when our child takes their first step than when something bad happens.  Somehow "quick! grab the camera! Lilly is throwing up"  doesn't have the same appeal.

I have decided that I am going to try and record the good, the bad and the ugly in our life as well.  I don't want to dwell on it but it is part of our life.

I think about all that I have learned from reading about the struggles the pioneers had.  I have been inspired so many times in my life because they took the time to write about the loss, the pain, the trials, the hopelessness.  I am thankful for their stories.  Maybe one day we will look back on this year with fondness (although, I seriously doubt it)

back injury. 
Knee injury on both Derek and I
9 ear infections
Pink eye twice for both kids. 
The flu for mom and dad. 
More colds than I can count. 
Sinus infections. 
Mom with pneumonia. 
Dental surgery for Bridger. 
Dad getting hit by a car while riding his bike.
Front tooth fixed two times
Broken down and replaced: Dryer, dishwasher, microwave, fridge, garage door, mailbox, car, sewing machine.  Along with each of these an entire story and a ton of money and inconvience.  Hundreds of dollars of food every time our fridge broke.

All in the past seven months.  And that is just what I can remember.


I am happy to see through it all that we have happy pictures.   I am happy that Derek has a job.  I am happy that we still have savings (which is a miracle).  Happy that there are only a few months left in 2010.  2011 is going to have to be better.

Movie Night

Bridger always wants to watch a movie when his friends come to play.  I think that defeats the purpose of having kids over to play.  So I promised before the summer was over we would have a movie night.  I had planned on really making it big, but time is running out and I have many things planned for the last few weeks of summer.
Derek is on a High Adventure trip with the scouts, I had an amazing friend come take my kids for a few hours today....the stars had aligned.  I decided tonight was the perfect night.  So at 4:00 I started calling friends (will have to return the cute invites I had planned on using)  I got home from my time away at 5:00.  By 6:00 we had 8 kids at our door ready for a party.
I just had enough time to feed my kids and make a few signs.  Bridger was so disappointed that we weren't having tickets so I made a few of those too.

Bridger greeted them at the door and gave them their ticket to get into the movie and a ticket for popcorn and candy.  He was dead serious about this job-if they didn't have a ticket they didn't get ANYTHING!  We had to make a few exceptions.

We had a short intermission so they could play Red light/Green light.

Lilly and Isaak cleaned popcorn out of the pool.

It was a fun night.  Everyone had a great time.

There was an "exclusive after-party" for Mom only....

I hope popcorn and gobstoppers are the worst things I will ever have to clean up after a party my kids have!

Berry picking and the County Fair with friends.  What a a fun summer day!

Bridger has been quite popular with the Cooper Mountain girls lately.  He's had a few marriage proposal's.  When I've teased him about it he thinks it's weird. But look at this picture....I don't think he hates it either.

When he saw that I was taking pictures he dropped her hand.  giggle :)

Not sure he is loving this one

More Summer Fun

Lately Summer has included berry picking, jam making, running through sprinklers, park days, slides, swings, flip-flops, watermelon, BBQ's with friends, climbing, biking, riding scooters, camping and tired kids and parents.  But we are loving every minute of it.

Love these kids!

The lazy days of Summer...

It took awhilefor warm summer weather to come, but now that it has we are thoroughly enjoying it.

Summer BBQ's, flip flops, popsicles, running through sprinklers, park days, 

lounging in the pool

sleeping barefoot...

 hikes...

 
and playing hide-n-seek, ...

These are a few of our favorites this month!

End of Season T-Ball Party

Bridger's end of season t-ball party was at Pump It Up.  It is a place full of bounce-houses.  I've never seen parents who are sober have so much fun.  The kids liked it too.

We finished the night off with pizza and baseball cupcakes. 
Bridger also got another trophy!  He was SO EXCITED!!!!!  This one is the REAL deal and he couldn't have been happier.  This picture will not show that, but he really was excited.