More Broken Bones

It appears to be our year for broken bones. I hurt my ankle and thought it would be a good idea to walk around on it for a few days and hope it would get better. Turns out it's not a good idea to walk around on broken bones. After three days my entire leg, ankle, and foot were swollen to twice the normal size. I found out today that I have a broken ankle and I'm supposed to stay off of it, use crutches, and see an orthopedist. I really thought the doctor was kidding about the crutches. He'd obviously never been 32 weeks pregnant and tried to get around on crutches! Just when I was thinking this pregnancy couldn't get any longer or more painful, I added a little more excitement to it. I'm stuck on the coach with a broken ankle in the middle of summer vacation. I'll spare you the details of how I broke my ankle, but let's just say there must be quite a lot of truth to the clumsiness and balance problems that are said to accompany pregnancy.

I told a friend I'd post some pictures of my foot and cast to match up to the ones I had posted of Carter's broken leg a few months ago. Carter does think it's really great that I have a cast like him now (and like Grandpa) and Emily is coveting my crutches to the point that I think she is trying to think of a way to break her own ankle.

Here's my huge, swollen leg and foot. Pretty, huh?

Adorable

Carter was trying on a coat I had bought for him and I said, "You are adorable!"

Carter thought this was the funniest thing he'd ever heard and ran off laughing to tell his dad. He announced to his dad and sisters, "Mommy said I'm adorable. I'm not adorable. I'm Carter John."

It's been a couple of weeks now and every time I tell him he's adorable, he quickly tells me, "I'm not adorable. I'm Carter!"

Kelsie's Baptism

Today Kelsie was baptized and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It was a very special day and we were lucky to be surrounded by lots of family and friends. We are grateful for our sweet Kelsie for making the decision to be baptized and for the good example she is to her little sister and brother.

Our family

Kelsie, her dad, and Grandpa Durrant

John, Kelsie, Grandma & Grandpa Durrant and Great Grandma Durrant

Kelsie was so excited that some of her best neighbor friends came for her baptism.

At the Stake Center Kelsie ran into a friend from her school class that was being baptized at the same time. She thought it was so cool--gotta love Utah!

John, me, Kelsie, Grandma and Grandpa Peterson

This is a really cute candy gram(that Kelsie LOVED) from Kelsie's old Primary teacher, Sr. Johnson. Our wards just split and Sr. Johnson is no longer her teacher or in our ward, but she volunteered to still come and give the talk on baptism. It meant a lot to Kelsie to have her there. She was an amazing teacher and Kelsie had her for two years.

That's my sweet Kelsie. After everyone went home she just sat down and wanted to read her new scriptures.

Side note: This memory just popped in my head as I was posting this so I thought I'd write it down. Prior to her baptism we were having an FHE lesson one night about agency. John gave "baptism" as an example for the kids and Kelsie's mouth dropped open and she said, "you mean I can choose whether to be baptized or not." She was very surprised, to say the least. I guess we hadn't explained that part very well, but is sure was funny. We are glad that she understands agency a little better now and that she made her own choice to be baptized.

Friend Party

Here's the crew from Kelsie's birthday party. We had her birthday party at Gymnastics Place. The girls got to use whatever they wanted in the gym and were jumping on the tramps and into the pit, playing in a bounce house, and swinging on the bars. They really wore themselves out and when we went into the party room for cake and pizza they hardly talked. They were so tired and calm that I felt like I needed to work really hard to be fun and rall them up--I got over that pretty quick and enjoyed the rest of the party--even if it seemed way to calm and quiet for a birthday party.

Happy Birthday Kelsie

Happy 8th Birthday to our Kelsie! Kelsie's day was very eventful this year as she celebrated the last day of 2nd grade and turning eight all in one busy day.

Kelsie woke up really early and came in to get us before she went out into the family room. I thought it was pretty funny since we really only do that on Christmas and Easter but I was glad she did--I think she knows how much I love seeing their reactions to everything on their birthday. She loved her balloons and cake we had gotten ready the night before. She had a present waiting for her from Grandma and Grandpa Durrant that she got to open first thing. It was a metallic pink laptop computer and she couldn't have been more thrilled. It is a very realistic looking laptop and she thinks it's the coolest thing ever. The best part was how surprised she was when she opened it--it totally made her day.

Then Kelsie headed off to school for a couple of hours to finish off second grade. She said it was the funnest day of school ever and the best day to have a birthday. The bus drivers all make a big deal of the last day honking on their horns as they leave the school and as they drop the kids off for the last time in the neighborhood. It is really fun and Kelsie said it was like the bus driver was wishing her a happy birthday too. :)

That evening we had my family over for her birthday party. She got spoiled with lots of fun new girly things.

Her big surprise was a new bike from mom and dad. She was really surprised and hugged us both before she even went to look at it. She is a sweetie. She is excited that she has a bike with handle breaks that really work.

She blew out the candles on her birthday cake and it's official--she is really eight! We love you Kelsie and are so proud of you. You have grown up so much in the last few months and I find myself wanting to stop time and keep you my little girl, but I also love the beautiful girl you are growing into. You have a funny little sense of humor and enjoy hanging out and chatting with me and dad and going on shopping outings with me. Your favorite things are playing the piano, singing and listening to Taylor Swift songs, putting on shows with friends, reading American Girl books, jumping on the trampoline, jumping rope, and hanging out with your friends. You are very talented musically and dad and I never tire of hearing you play the piano or singing your Taylor Swift songs with the country twang you have mastered. We love you Kelsie and hope your 8th year is a great one!

Preschool Graduation...Take Two

The great thing about going to two preschools is you get two preschool graduations. We finished off preschool on Tuesday with our graduation program. Grandma came to see Emily and Ethan graduate and brought them little graduation gifts. They loved having her there. It's been really fun having teaching Emily and Ethan the last two years and Emily has loved having her cousin in preschool with her. It's pretty special they were able to have that experience together.

I will miss my cute little preschool class. They were a really smart, well behaved little class and made things really easy on me--which turned out to be a great blessing as I got through the early parts of this pregnancy. Now I'm glad to have a little break so I can get my house organized and get ready for the baby.

Apparently Emily was not ready for a break. On Wednesday morning she woke up and informed me she was ready to go to kindergarten today! She had graduated from both preschools and she really thought she was heading off on the bus with Kelsie now. I guess that explains why she'd been reminding me every day that she needed to hurry and go get her kindergarten shots so she could go to school. She was so upset when I told her she had to wait until after summer vacation before she could go to school. She was really shocked. I'm sad it's been such a long, long wait for her. But I'm thrilled she is so ready and SO excited to go to kindergarten!

Good-Bye Saturn

Tonight we sold the first car I ever owned. We said good-bye to my little black Saturn that I bought when I graduated from BYU so I'd have a way to get to my teaching job. I didn't even realize until tonight that my dad's name was still on the title with mine since he cosigned to help me get a better rate. John claims my dad and I bought it, and he paid for it. That's not quite how I remember it.

We posted it today and were thrilled someone actually wanted to come and take it off our hands for a whopping 400 dollars. We really just wanted it out of our driveway. As the buyers drove it away I started reminiscing of all the memories in that little car and I was sad to see it go. So here's my trip down memory lane in tribute to my little black Saturn that was a part of our family for the last 10 years.

I remember....

Going with all my sisters to the Saturn lot in Orem to pick it out.

Cleaning and shining the car every Saturday morning in hopes that John would come out of his house and hang out with me while I cleaned it.

Running over the curb between The Annex and Pescado House and popping off the hubcab--it's still missing 10 years later.

Listening to the news of 9-11 on the radio as I pulled into the school parking lot.

Sitting in the backseat holding up my baby girl's head as John drove Kelsie and I home from the hospital. That memory was the one that really got to me. It was exactly eight years ago today, but the memory is clear as day of me squishing into the backseat to keep careful watch of our baby girl and holding up her head on every turn as John drove more slowly and more carefully than he ever had before. That was the day that the Saturn suddenly seemed too small and too bumpy to carry such precious cargo.

Good-bye to my Saturn. I never thought I'd say this, but I will miss you.