Spring break

Our spring break was very busy. Joel has two weeks off, the kids had one. The first week was school for the kids (homeschool for Julianna, of course), but one day was blocked out for Julianna's MRI/EEG at Loma Linda. She was fully sedated. Here she is waiting to be called back with her IV in her arm.

I was able to see her in the recovery area after her MRI. For some reason, they did not keep her sedated for the EEG, so I asked if they would do it while she was laying on her bed. SHE DID IT! I could not believe how well she did while they spent HALF AN HOUR putting those little wires on her head, and another half a hour administering the test while she had to be very still. They wheeled over a TV with her choice of movie (Megamind) and when she was done they gave her a STACK of books. The test results came back NORMAL--her brain structure and function are fine. Still leaves me wondering, but I'm glad the test is over!

She got to ride a wheelchair to the car which she thought was really cool.

Blake started his second season of soccer. This time his team is the Bears. He loves it.

I turned 30!!! Here's the cake Joel made for me.

Blowing out the candles. The kids were really excited for me to turn 30.

The second week of spring break we went camping at Casper's Wilderness park in Orange County. It was a very scenic campground with lots of wildlife. The kids LOVE camping.

Another shot of our campsite.

All set up!

I made the kids pose on the fence behind our site. They are half dressed the next morning.

A really cool playground at the campground. When's the last time you saw a teeter-totter? I was so excited!

Blake on the playground. It was the coolest playground I've seen. So big!

A family shot during one of our hikes. Some OCC film students were on the trail and offered to take our picture. They took it very seriously.

The tire swing at the park. Another thing you don't see much of anymore. The kids loved it! I remember getting sick on tire swings as a kid.

Easter in Santa Ana at Nana's and Grandma Shaw's/Grandpa Tony's house. The kids found their AMAZING Easter surprises!

Julianna loved her new LaLaloopsy doll.

Blake's eggs after the hunt.

Family shot.

Julianna's eggs after the hunt. There is nothing like an Easter egg hunt.

We had a great spring break! The school year is almost over now! Can't believe it!

More recent things

Holding his chess medallion.
One of his games at the tournament.

Blake warming up right before the tournament.

His cool nametag!

Excited to play!

Blake's award at school for outstanding achievement in math!

Julianna at the polar bear exhibit at Sea World earlier this month.

So I am averaging one post a month! I guess that shows how busy I am with everything! Julianna first: she started some private swimming lessons (funded by her charter school) and so far she has made lots of progress! She can't wait for the next one. Homeschool is going really well now. I had a few days of "I can't do this!" but then felt comforted again and realized I can do this and will keep doing it so Julianna can be happy. The charter we go through waived the fee for the 2-day, 4-hour enrichment class at their site so this past week was her first week attending and she likes it! So now she will get more social time.

Blake: He's doing really well in school, and won an award for math! Our amazing respite worker, Lisa, works at the local high school during the day and heard about a chess tournament for K-12. Blake started playing chess last Thanksgiving at Grannie's house and has loved it ever since. He said he wanted to be in the tournament! So today was the big day. He was put in the K-2 division, but there were only 3 other kindergartners, and one 1st grader! After the first game, 2 of the kinders and the 1st grader decided they were done, so the rest of the day he was up against all 2nd grade boys. Blake gave it his best and played until the end of the tournament. He didn't win any of the games but by the end, he was getting really close. They gave trophies to the top 3 and the rest got medallions. He's pretty proud of his medallion! I hope he keeps playing chess. On the way home he said, "Now I don't have to play chess anymore--I did the tournament." I'm sure he'll change his mind!

A few weeks ago we went to Sea World but my camera was being dumb! So I only got one picture! It was a lot of fun and we got a great price through someone in my ward! So that's what we've been up to!

Recent things

Well, no pictures to post yet! Just keeping busy with life! My brother got married to Tess last month in Arizona, so we had a great trip out there, but I forgot my camera! The night we got back I fell on my face in my living room and split open the skin next to my eye and had to go to the ER and get stitches, so I had a black eye for two weeks and the scar is still healing. Then we got a cat and named him Jack, so our family has been adjusting to a new pet besides a fish. Julianna lost both her front teeth in the last 6 weeks. We are busy with homeschool, Julianna's therapy and respite, and our callings! Blake is doing really well in school. Just wanted to do a quick post/update.

Julianna's baptism, January 7, 2012

After she was baptized, outside the Stake Center.
Our beautiful girl in her white dress.

She is baptized!

My parents with our family.

Before she was baptized.

Joel's mom, Beverly, with our family.

Another family shot.

Joel and Julianna in their baptism jumpsuits.

Before we left she got some gifts from Grandma Shaw--a beautiful baptism keepsake book and a tithing bank.

Posing in her white dress from Grandma Maxwell.

Julianna was baptized a few weeks ago at the Hemet, CA, stake center along with 3 other children in the stake. Her baptism will be something I will always remember. Because she is so afraid of water, we weren't sure what to expect. We just had faith in her decision to be baptized, and faith that we would receive divine help that day. We decided to have her go first so her anxiety wouldn't rise too high. As she walked down the steps into the water, she asked, "I thought Jesus was going to help me!" I looked up on the wall of the font and saw the carving in the marble of John baptizing Jesus and pointed to that and said, "He is here helping you!" She was really shaken up after she got out of the water, but once she calmed down, the very first thing she said was, "I got baptized, Mommy! Aren't you proud of me?" I know that she knows baptism is important and she wanted to do what is right. She then was confirmed shortly afterward and knew that she was receiving the Holy Ghost. She is really gaining a testimony of the gospel, loves her scriptures, and loves going to activity days. We're so glad Joel's mom, and my parents and sister Cindel and her husband, Ryan, and Olive could be there! We are also so grateful for all of the ward support at the baptism--the room was packed for her confirmation and she had many worthy men from our ward and family confirming her. What a wonderful experience for our family and for Julianna!

Christmas 2011

We got to Joel's grandma's house on Friday morning. My sister Cindel surprised me there with her little girl Olive for a quick visit. She then came with us to the Newport Beach temple for an endowment session that evening. It was wonderful!
Eddy and Briana, me and Joel in front of the temple after the session. Earlier that day we went to the new Deseret Book/Distribution center just a few blocks away from Joel's grandma's house. We got Julianna her own scriptures, with her name engraved, and a cute case. She is SO excited to have her own scriptures.

On Christmas Eve morning, the kids got to open one present, generously given to us by Briana, Eddy, and Joel's mom--a Wii (but really from Santa, of course). Blake got a Ben10 game, Julianna got the Nickelodeon Dance, and for the family, SuperMario Party 8. We had tons of fun playing video games together that day.

Julianna with her game. This is a fun one--for adults, too! The dance moves are easy!

The happy, newly married couple! It was so fun hanging out with them. We will miss our scrabble games!

Christmas Eve with Julianna and Joel's mom.

Joel's mom and Grandma, Nana. Nana wasn't feeling very well but was still able to come out and visit a few times each day.

The kids reading the note from Santa on Christmas morning. They were very excited to see that Santa ate his cookies and chocolate milk.

The gift opening begins. Joel took this picture of Julianna opening her "Nightmare Before Christmas" graphic novel and she literally jumped right into the air in excitement. She has wanted this book for a long time.

Blake showing his Trio Hot Wheels building set.

Blake is excited to get his own chess game after learning how to play at Grannie's for Thanksgiving.

Julianna with a better shot of her "Jack" book.

Julianna's "My Little Pony" notebook (made lovingly by me.)

Briana and Eddy got some great framed photos from their wedding.

Nana got a HUGE blanket with two of her grandkids from Aunt Jalaire. Very cool!

Blake enjoying his Hot Wheels Trio set after we put it together.

The room after the presents were opened.

We walked to the Stake Center for a multi-stake sacrament meeting. All the deacons in the Orange Stake passed the sacrament. It was a great meeting. Here we are after church.

On Sunday night we celebrated Eddy's 30th birthday, which was a few weeks prior. We are happy he is part of our family now!

We had a great Christmas with Joel's family! All the food was great, and we had fun being together! Lots of great memories made.