Hailey Started Pre-School

Hailey was so excited to ride the bus just like her big brother! The bus picks her up right at my door and then drops her off right at my door. I love that!

This is her meeting her teacher Mrs. Newby. She seems really nice, I'm sure Hailey will love her. I went to an IEP meeting for Hailey (a meeting where they talk about accommodations she might need) anyway, they put a bunch a books in braille and a braille type-writer in her classroom. She will have a teacher for the vision impaired teach her one-on-one for 20 mins. every week. They said that it would be good to introduce her to braille just in case the worst happens. Hopefully she'll never need it.



This is how Hailey watches T.V. ! I hate it when I see Hailey doing something like this because it reminds me how badly she sees.

Random Happenings

A few of my friends and I did a triathlon in Showlow last weekend. It was seriously one of the most fun things I have done in a long time....A much needed break from all the stress. I found that a "little girl time" can be the best thing for a stressed out mom. Thanks girls, you did great.

I bought a bag of clementines at Costco and my kids ate the whole bag in three days. They like them and everything but they were gone as soon as the kids realized they didn't need help to peel them. Even Derek could peel one on his own. It was hilarious!

Jayden got his contacts!!!! I was really excited for him. He loves them too. He has been so easy to deal with, he just opens his eyes and I can take them in an out. He does way better than Judd and I did when we went to the training. (We had to learn on each other first so we could do it to our kids since neither of us have ever had contacts) Hailey wasn't able to get her contacts yet. Her prescription is just to thick and her eyes are so small still that the angle is too sharp. The Doctor has tried two brands so far but they haven't worked. He is trying one more lens so cross your fingers for us.

My sister Emily, me, and Britney (my sister-in-law), on our date night. We went to Famous Dave's. The food was really good, although we all felt like we were stuffed in a crowded cafeteria. Afterwards we weren't ready to go home yet so we went Shopping, we really just wanted a quiet place to talk longer. Anyone have any good spots they go to "hang out"?

Swimming all Summer

Derek always says that he wants to go swimming but he doesn't like to get in the water. I don't mind at all, it actually makes it easier to watch him.

My kids love to play with their uncle Colt. He is awesome because he actually plays with the kids and you can tell he enjoys it...most of the time.

First Day of Kindergarten

Jayden had his first day of Kindergarten. He was very excited! He walks to the bus with his friend Casey and her big brother, he thinks he is such a big kid.
I am really excited about his class. There is about 8 kids in there that he is already friends with and he loves his teacher.

I'm Going to Detriot

I have an appointment with Dr. Trese. I am so nervous that my legs get weak when I think about going to Detroit by myself and all the decisions I might have to make. I am awful with directions and I get to the airport at 8PM with a 40min drive to the Hospital housing that I am staying at. I have thought about getting a shuttle to take me so I don't have to worry about getting lost late at night. Me, in a big city, driving who know where.....SCARY. I am also terrified of making the wrong decision regarding Hailey's eyes. If the Doctor says that he would like to try a surgery, I will likely have to decide right then. She already has those surgery dates set up on the 19th and the 23rd of Sept. just in case. The receptionist said that is how Dr. Trese does it with out-of-state patients. If Hailey does need surgery I will be in Detroit until Oct. 8th, giving her eyes a chance to heal and giving the Doc a chance to make sure things go well. I am so exhausted and am day dreaming of more care free days, if there is such a thing.

Today Hailey had a screening for special needs placement in the Gilbert Schools preschool program. Of Course she got in but it was very emotional for me to see all the accommodations available to the visually impaired. I have very mixed feelings. I was very grateful that they had such amazing accommodations and at the same time upset that we even had to talk about her needing them.

It's days like today and many of my days lately that I miss my mom. My kids get their blue eyes from her. This is an old picture at Jayden's 4th birthday so about a year and a half ago.

Frustrated, Hopeful, Scared and Disapointed!!!! What a Rollercoaster!!

Yesterday my brother called and said that the Doctors from the Mayo want to operate on Hailey. They want to try to cut or thin the inner front of the eye to make room for her growing Retina so it wont fold anymore. If it works it could prevent future retinal folds and help her vision to stay the same. It would not do anything for the fold that is already there...just to be clear. Now I just got another call from the doctors in Tucson saying they want to see Hailey and Jayden back early next week to do more tests. Here we go again.....

As much as I love seeing my cute kids in their glasses I was really excited for them to get their contacts. I am really disappointed! I just got the call that they are not going to be able to make their contacts. Their was only one company that will even make contacts in the powers that they need and the Doctor said that their eyes are just to small, that with that kind of curve and kind of power it just wont work.

When Hailey was trying the contacts on and we found that they didn't fit the Doctor had her read the eye chart. She was seeing quite a bit better just having the prescription on her eye. I was really excited about that, and now she can't get the contacts. This really stinks!

Derek plays dress-up by putting on glasses! He wants to be just like his older brother and sister.

The Library Events are really cool.....who would have thought!

This is one of the many reptiles we got to see at the reptile show. I guess these are all this mans pets...yikes!!! Thanks to the Liberian who put my kids on the front row so they could see!!

The kids even got to pet the giant snake. I cant believe they did it!

MY BROTHER"S HERE!!!!! 2 down only 6 more to get here!!! Come on Fam...AZ is the best!

My brother Jaren, His cute wife Britney, and their three kids are here! Jaren just graduated from USC in pediatric dentistry and will be practicing in Phoenix. He was top of his class and is a perfectionist, if anyone wants his number.

His wife Britney is so much fun and is quickly becoming one of my best friends! Thanks Jaren for bringing her to us. We love you Britney!

I only had a picture of their baby, surprising because his girl are really photogenic...adorable. He has a 4 year old girl Clara, a 2 year old girl Vivian, and baby boy Dalyn. Derek loves him already as you can see. I'm sure they will be buddies.

Happy 30th Birthday Emily!!!!

We had so much fun this weekend with my sister for her 30th birthday! My parents surprised her and came to visit from Utah! I didn't have any good pictures of them...darn! Thanks for coming Mom and Dad!!

Em, I think you are getting too old for individual candles!

We made my sister Queen for a day and took her to lunch and to get a pedicure. You cant see it but her crown has the number 30 on it. She wore it all day. She is a good sport!

My niece Kayla really fell asleep this way. We must have tired her out will all the festivities!

What could I say about this picture.... I just wanted to post it because I think Derek is so cute! This is Derek on Emily's birthday (ha ha). We have a joke in my family that applies here...kinda. There are nine kids and we have twins at the end and they are in all the pictures. We always say.... "oh, there is Stephen and Stephanie on my 10th birthday and there they are again on my 16th birthday...I wonder what they were doing on my wedding day. Lots of pictures of them. They really are the most interesting though....we all love them so much, so we are glad they are documented on all our special occasions:)!

HAPPY PIONEER DAY

The whole group at the Rodeo!

The Pioneer celebration came early this year on the 19th of July. We went to Snowflake and we had a blast! Friday morning Judd went to a Golf Tournament with Clint and the boys while all of the rest of us went to the Flake reunion (barbecue and Rodeo).

When Hailey wasn't mauling the Dog, she was playing with her cousins Jessica and Camille.

Watch OUT for the bull!!
The rest of the day the kids had so much just being free to do whatever they wanted. Jayden played the whole day with his cusins Maeser and Brendon. Hailey spent her time outside with the dog......big surprise...not! The girl is crazy about dogs. Later that night Judd and I went to watch Tyler, Judd's friend, compete in the real Rodeo. It was crazy!

Thanks for running Lyndi!!

Saturday morning was the Fun Run. Lyndi and I ran it together. The terraine was rough. The race was on the Golf course Trail which in gravel and they had the sprinklers on all night so it was muddy gravel (not too smart). There was also a lot of large hills and small hills, hills the whole darn time. It was hard but Lyndi and I both got a medal for our age group.

Derek and His Bestest Friend Aunt Lyndi "nin ne"

Like usual Hailey found a dog to pet!!

Some of the Group Waiting for the Parade to start!

Time for the parade! I love the parade but I always get a little sad too because my kids can never pick up the candy fast enough. My cute little nephew Maeser, who is almost six, was giving ALL of his candy to Hailey! So sweet! Then Maeser was standing right in front of a piece of candy and Jayden picked it up. I told Jayden,"Maeser was going for that piece so why don't you give it to him." Maeser yelled out, "No Bekah I was blocking for Jayden so he could get it."

SO SO SWEET!!! I love Maeser!!

Blossom Fashion Show (part of the pioneer festivities)

After the parade I got roped into doing a fashion show with my friend Jacque. I was so nervous, and right before I wanted to change my mind and back out, butI didn't and I ended up having a lot of Fun. There were 13 girls, we wore three outfits each. They did our hair and make-up. Alot of time but really fun. The fashion show was for a local store called Blossom, they have one here in Mesa too! Cute stuff. I bought two of my outfits.

Good thing Derek is so cute and Clint and Lyndi's family love him so much or else we may have been walking home!!

Saturday night all the Adults went out to dinner and then Lyndi and Clint took Derek and I home. Lyndi had to leave to get Kalyn back to go to EFY and I wanted to come home and see my parents who were visiting from Utah. On the way home Derek got carsick and threw up all over Kalyn and the car. I felt so bad. Then when we were almost home I realized that I forgot the key to my house and I was locked out. I was so excited for my bed too. Dang! Luckily I had Lyndi.