Cute Hallie Girl

 May phone photo download of Hallie...

After we put her to bed at night, she leaves her room, climbs in our bed and falls asleep there. She's done this a couple times. When Russ and I come to bed, he picks her up and brings her to her own room. Silly girl!

I was wrapping a present one day and Hallie saw a ribbon (on her right wrist) that she wanted me to make into a bracelet for her. She legit wore this bracelet for like a month straight. It was so gross by the end of the month. I finally just had to throw it away when she was asleep one night.  

Coloring is an activity this girl could do for a long time. She would prefer, however, to be coloring with someone and not by herself. Story of her life! She would choose to do anything with anyone rather than be by herself. 

Sweet sleeping Hallie whose head is covered in sweat. She sleeps with a hundred blankets on no matter what we say and then she sweats to death. Ha!

                                                          Doing preschool crafts at home

I spy a "grownup" tooth that is behind her baby tooth just waiting to come in. 

Cutest little girl I know! She is adamant she is wearing her "swimsuit" but it is really just workout clothes she is wearing. 

Still obsessed with her hedgehog and "Moo Moo" her little bear!

This is Jack. He is her best friend. He lives 2 houses down from us and she would literally choose to play with him over anyone else. 

Kids

Brooks and Hallie, for the most part, play pretty well together. I don't have to break up too many fights and they really are pretty good friends! I love them to pieces!

Having fun in the bath!

 Working out together. Brooks wanted to workout too but was a little hesitant. He reached for Hallie's hand and she held it while she "worked out." Melted my heart!

 I'm not sure I'll ever get sick of snuggling my kids!

 Holding hands up the stairs

Brooks

 Brooks is such an easy going, chill kid. He is almost always happy and really is such a good boy! He is easy to love and we are obsessed with him! His language is coming along okay. I feel like he is trying new words every once in awhile. Hopefully his speech picks up soon. He is such a good sleeper and really seems to enjoy to go to sleep. He never fights going to sleep and almost instantly starts snuggling you when we turn on his sound machine. He naps for 2-3 hours in the afternoon. 

Covering his eyes playing "peek-a-boo"

He is our little snuggle buddy and I love that he loves to snuggle!!

Going on walks in the wagon with a bowl full of apples slices is one of his favorite things to do these days!

Eating one of daddy's chicken wings. Russ takes pride in having another meat-eater in the family!

                                                                            SO messy!!

Memorial Day

We were camping on Memorial Day but went to Russ' moms grave the very next day. I hate that Russ' mom isn't here and that I've never met her before. I hate even more for Russ that Russ' mom isn't here. He said when we were at her gravesite that he "feels robbed of getting to know his mom" due to her dying when he was so young and being sick for the majority of his life. Russ doesn't remember much about his mom but he does miss her greatly. I hate that he had to lose his mom!

Dr. Mike Johnson

Dr. Johnson is one of the pediatricians I have worked with for the last (almost) 8 years! Sadly, and very suddenly, he was diagnosed with a brain tumor this weekend (glioblastoma). It is one of the worst brain tumors/cancers to have. It is very aggressive and he was given about 12 months to live. 

It is crazy to me how fast things change! One day I was teasing him at work on a Wednesday and that Saturday he was in the hospital being diagnosed with brain tumor. The day before he went to the hospital his kids realized that he wasn't finishing his sentences and then the next day he went to the hospital and got this terrible diagnosis.

I have been incredibly emotional over this!! Here I am journaling this in November and I could still cry in an instant when I think about him and his diagnosis. The first time I saw him after this diagnosis, about 1 week after, I just fell into his arms and bawled. All I could say was "I'm so sorry!" I completely came apart. This is the first time I have really experienced someone I have known losing their life too soon. The most devastating part is when I think about his poor wife and 5 kids. His youngest is 11!!! My heart is crushed for them!

Me and him have a unique relationship. Most nurses I work with were terrified on him. He can be intimidating, sometimes rude, and almost always seems bugged when you ask him questions. But, me and him just had a very teasing and sarcastic personality. He would tease me and I would dish it back out. My heart saddens every time I go back to work and realize once again that he isn't there, and will never be there again. My heart is shattered for him and his family. How quickly life changed for him and I'm devastated for him. 

I stay in contact with him pretty much weekly. He is so positive and really healthy right now. He has chosen to "fight" this cancer, as there is a 5% chance of survival. My heart breaks thinking of chemo changing him and watching him deteriorate and eventually him passing away. Sometimes life is just really unfair and I really hate that this is happening right now.

I dropped off this "sunshine" basket full of things that are yellow that help while going through chemo. The basket included treats, diet coke, water bottle, chapstick, soap, lotion, journal, a card, and other things. I have felt helpless since I found out the news. This basket, if anything, made me feel better that I was doing something. I hope it helped brighten his day! It was the least I could do. 

Ophir Camping

It was a chilly camping weekend and boy am I glad we have a trailer with heating but we also had a blast, like always! We camped with our camping buddies, Bryan and Amber, and one day we even woke up to SNOW! The camping spot was beautiful with tress all around and there was a little river near our camp that Brooks loved to throw rocks in. We hiked around and found out that Brooks is the best little hiker/walker and didn't complain or asked to be carried even once. His older sibling, on the other hand, complains of her legs hurting almost as soon as the walk begins. Haha!

Due to church being "home church" these days we stayed through the holiday until Monday. It was fun/neat to have sacrament and a lesson in the woods on Sunday.

The only downside was that there was a skunk that would come into our camp at night and stunk up our entire trailer! It's a good thing I'm not pregnant because the smell inside our camper was awful and kept me up at times!

Finding grasshoppers and making "a home" for them in an empty pringles can. Haha!

We love our little lefty throwing rocks into the river! Watch your head, Hallie!

Going on a walk across the river. I swore I was going to fall in and get wet and screamed pretty much the entire time walking across those rocks. I'm a sissy!

She found a pretty awesome hiking stick! 

A new river to throw rocks into! I swear he could do this ALL day!