C, C and C's trip to Oregon!

Okay, you know I have a whole lot more to say about there visit here, I just haven't had the time to get on here! It's been almost a month since their visit now! I cherished seeing my gorgeous lil sister, her cute and caring hubby and meeting my Beautiful-could-win-any-baby-modeling-contest-not-exaggerating, nephew named Conner!

They completely spoiled us. First of all we totally surprised Big D and lil man, I couldn't keep it a secret from Shawny.... It was perfect- Big D and lil man were at a scout campout when they arrived. We did some planning and we decided we would trick Big D by saying that I had bought a new car....so Coco wrote on the back of their shiny, new rental car, "SALE", Caleb took out the carseat and even took off the license plate! ha ha, but Big D kind of ruined the plan by him coming in the wrong door and not really seeing the back of the car....They had their video camera recording to, (we thought D's reaction was going to be huge-if I bought a car without talking to him, he WOULD flip!)...Coco and I and the baby were hiding in the bedroom. We had Shawny staged on the couch, casually watching a movie and we had CALEB, aka: muscles, pretending to be me napping-under a blanket on the other couch....hee hee hee

First Sheldon came in saying that if I bought that car than Big D is gonna be SO MAD etc...it was great because it was all on camera...then he proceded to tell all about his snowboarding adventures.....then Big D walked in and Shawny tried to play it off like I bought that car etc, this is the disappointing part....He DIDN'T believe it!! He said, yeah right....and he leaned in to "me" on the couch and then Muscles threw off the blanket and yelled RAWR!!! Dale was shocked and Sheldon was jumping up and down saying, CALEB! Then me and CoCo and the baby came out and joined them. It was cool.

We spent the next week hanging out with each other. Big D and I both had to work but In the evenings we usually played fun games like, PIG and UNO and also some hilarious games of "Bull"...

One night they took our family out for dinner at a buffet and of course we all pigged out. Another night we barbequed or mowed down on pizza or Coco's famous jalepeno poppers and pumpkin rolls, were really yummy too. On my b-day when I came home from work, they had decorated this house with posters, streamers, balloons... They made me a cake and dinner and showered me with lots of presents and even had presents they brought with them from other family members in Arizona. How SWEET! I felt so spoiled!

On the weekend we had a trip to the coast. The beach was nice and then we went crabbing at the docks. It was fun and a nice old man in a nearby boat, gave us some Canadian Pepsi (in a can) and it was all labeled in French!

We also had a 'girls night out' of COURSE! Me, Coco, Princess and her Friend A. I try not to use personal names on blogs for privacy sake but it's really hard and I don't think I'm doing a very good job.....Anyways, we had a blast with Dinner and a movie and a couple screaming air hockey games afterwards to boot!

Big D and lil man also took Muscles up to the pond to go fishing....If I remember right, there was ice in the pond still? It pretty much rained the whole trip which was a bummer but it was still an adventure to remember as always.

I am so thankful that they came down to cheer us up and give us some of that Arizona lovin. I appreciate them and the sacrafice of time and money and energy that they expended for us. The H family is SO loving and caring and adorable and beautiful. They were always helping us and spent quality time with my kids (and the whole family) The baby, I am SO happy I got to meet him as a baby, he is absolutely perfect in EVERY way and has a sweet spirit. He is a very loving soul also like his parents.

Conner (and Conner's ma and pa) Come to Oregon! ha ha

It's been a fun past 10 days. When I first saw Caleb, Coralee and Conner in the airport, I just couldn't believe how BIG and OLD my nephew was! He is absolutely beautiful in every way. He is such a good looking little guy. He just kept staring and staring at me and Shawny. It's been a fun last week, it was SO GOOD to see them and I will always remember when I met my adorable nephew.

Boss and the Boob Incident

Okay so this morning at work I was getting ready to walk out of the office just as my boss was walking in and then it happened....he tripped and fell in slow motion grabbed for anything to break his fall....which happened to be my BOOB!!! (and then my hip)...I tryed to catch him and wasn't thinking about the fact that he just "copped a feel"....he had an important customer on the phone -holding for him (which is why he was rushing into the office) and he proceded to tell this customer -whom I also work with, that he just fell and grabbed me etc etc.

It was HILARIOUS!!! I was laughing so hard and trying not to laugh because his FACE was so funny as he was falling and then afterwards as he realized where he grabbed!!! lol... What was embarassing for me was that I couldn't get my laughter under control and had to leave the room until his phone call was over. Then throughout the day he has been making little cracks about it. It makes me start laughing all over again which makes me look like I enjoyed it or something??? ha ha ha. He also told the other employees (one witnessed the event) and he also told my husband (who is working a big landscape job for him on the property) also some comments... I always laugh when people trip, I just can't help it, I don't know why, but this was a very memorable tripping moment.

New subject, yesterday Sheldon said something hilarious..."Mom, I think adults are just an older, worn out version of kids!" That was funny. Both of my kids keep me laughing.

Shawny's current hair color: hot hot pink with turquoise stripes in the bangs... It's really cute actually. Her most infamous hair was when she had a RAINBOW throughout her hair. She did it herself and hair stylists always asked her who did her hair....People would always stare and a ton would comment and SEVERAL people on different occasions asked her if they could take a picture of her hair! Mainly people while we are shopping! In the past she has had, red/black stripes in bang, purple in the bangs, black and more.

Tomorrow my sister Cori, aka "CoCo" and her hubby, aka "muscles" and her baby, aka "most adorable baby in the whole world that I haven't met yet", are all coming to visit us. They are flying for the first time ever! I can't wait to see them and especially can't wait to meet/hold/hug/kiss my nephew Connor! Big D and lil man have no idea that they are coming. They are going on a snowtrip with the scouts this weekend and when they come back will see them sitting in our living room! Big D and lil man actually made their own wooden snow sled!!! it's pretty impressive what scouts can do! lol I couldn't keep it a secret from Angel (my daughter). I had to tell someone. Today we are going to town to buy some toys for the baby to play with when he is here. I haven't been in this good of a mood since Rachel and Family were here, maybe my boss should trip every day to make me laugh..(without the grabbing part) ha ha

Enduring to the end...

Okay so here is how my week went...I'll just name a few random highlights...
...Monday- a battery BLEW UP all over my Husband!!! -luckily it is winter time and he was protected by his long sleeves and pants, they were all eaten up from the battery acid! He was also divinely protected because part of it blew up in his eye!!! He flew in the house and immediately got the baking soda before I even knew what had happened...that man has 29 lives (actually more)
...Tuesday Dale smashed his thumb...also Sheldon's teacher got so mad at him because he asked a question -that he grabbed a stack of papers on his desk and crumpled them up in front of the class! ...later that day he got a bad headache, I spent my lunchbreak getting him from school...poor thing...
...Wednesday I woke up late and was scrambling around trying not to be late for work...had to take a cold shower because our hot water heater is broken, then as I was walking up the driveway to the office (and with my boss watching me) I slipped and fell in the mud/snow, and that was all before 6:30 am!...no lunch break today due to busy work load...(I can live without food but I had planned on doing some things at home on my break)...due to snow the bus wouldn't come and pick up Sheldon or a few others but it was not a snow day, so he had to miss due to no ride...
...Thursday-my work was crazy busy and I didn't get a single break or a lunchbreak...It was my co workers b-day and I spoiled her with balloons, a chocolate cake, a huge chocolate candy bar, a nice card, and burned her several cd's...
...Friday the co worker that I spoiled was being a major Witch to me...also was payday and I didn't get paid for the two days that I didn't get a lunch break...also, my inlaws came over to say goodbye-they were passing by, on their way to move back to Arizona....they were supposed to stay the night but were running late and rushed off....it hurt our feelings that they didn't stay and spend more time with us when they just spent the night at other relatives homes... sad... we will really miss them but I wish them luck in their hopes for a happier, more prosperous life in AZ...
...Saturday (today) we woke up with our water pipes frozen and broken...Dale has spent all day working on fixing our water...after cashing my check in town, and arguing on the phone with the stressed out D, I spent the day at a friends house (she was gone, I enjoyed being alone and worked one a service project for her all day) It felt good, I love to help others...
...also it Valentines day today...of course I've been fighting with my husband and didn't do anything special...I feel so alone and unloved at times....I feel bad that I wasn't even able to get my kids anything for V-day, I always get them a little gift...I think I'll go home and make them a homeade card or something...Also, tonight is Stake Conference (the adult session) and I really wanted to go, D was still fixing pipes in the dark so I called four different people in hopes they would go with me...no one felt like it and I didn't want to go alone, that would probably just make me sad to see all the other couples together... :(

Right now I'm sitting in my truck at the post office. I'm stealing er I mean- using the wi fi (you can't steal something that's in the air right?) ...since I don't have any internet at my house right now! lol....

Well, as you can see, it's been another normal week at Belcher Ranch and we are just...Enduring to the End.... lol.... Is it over yet? hmm, that sounds like a decent title for another blog...

Ooops! Add on to Rachel's Family Visit

I forgot to mention that I had the priveledge of giving Madelyn and Renee their FIRST driving lesson!!! It was in "Farmer John", the dirty old work truck I'm driving while my van is broke down...

They both did GREAT and after practicing a little on our property, got to drive a couple miles on the paved Frontage Rd! That was fun. I'm so proud of them....and I am SO HAPPY I got to be the first one to let them get behind the wheel! ha ha ha ha. By the way, your welcome mom and daddy!!! Ha ha ha ha.

A Visit From Rachel and Family!

Yesterday Rachel, Jason, Maddy, Renee and Jaynie flew back to Arizona. After saying goodbyes, I cried like a baby, just as snowflakes started to fall.

The family flew into Medford on Friday night. I couldn't believe how grown up the girls were/are! I first saw Madelyn and Renee, they are so beautiful and mature!!! Maddy brought us some "Cactus Candy", made from prickly pears! The girls are all so sweet and helpful. Then cute lil Jaynie came out all by herself and we called her over, last a worried Rachel and Jase came through the door. She didn't know where the girls went, as they went ahead, but all was well. I didn't scream and I didn't cry when I saw them, I was just in shock and plus I had already cried in the truck on my way to meet them at the airport.

Friday night was pizza pigout and catching up night. Went in the hot tub for awhile. I could NOT believe they were in Oregon and in my house! Saturday the girls had fun quadding in the mud on our property (in the mud), and looking at all our animals. Before town I took Rachie and Jase to see Glendale and they had fun admiring the woodworking of some downtown attractions (the woodworking in the local bar is really amazing) Don't worry no one drank, we were just sight seeing. It was pretty hilarious that they got a call from their ward mission leader while we were in the bar! Jason said, I don't think I'm gonna answer it right now. ha ha ha. We grabbed some cheeseburgers at the local hole in the wall restaurant and then picked up the kids and headed for town.

The girls and Sheldon saw a movie and the adults and Jaynie went window shopping, touring in downtown Grants Pass...Some fudge, some popcorn, Jaynie's Elvis clock, and a few other souveniers later, we picked up Sheldon from the movie and then we went to the park and watched the ducks and the river for awhile. Jason treated us to Sonic, while the girls plus some of Shawny's friends walked up and down-downtown mingling. Before we left Shawny had "done" Maddy and Reen's hair and makeup...Rachel was a little scared but I thought it was really cute...They blended right in with all the other "scene" kids. ha ha. The adults, Sheldon and Jayne went back to the house for some chinese dinner and more hot tubbing - while the teen cousins all went to a local band show.

Sunday was kind of a flop in a way but was still a lot of fun. Everyone slept in and we had a huge breakfast and since we felt bad that we were missing church, we had a mini family home evening/devotional. We didn't get out of the house until about 12:48pm. (It's a 2 1/2 hr drive to the beach) ...Jason drove us all to the coast in their rented luxury minivan (we had one more body than seats so it was a lil crowded but everyone was trying to have a good attitude)...We got to the beach and it was freezing and windy to boot! The girls managed to stay out of the van for about five minutes! Everyone was freezing cold so we stayed in the van and played some fun paper games and ate our picnic (in the van). Except for Jason who dipped his feet in the water and brought back some sand dollars and shells for us to see! From there we went to the docks where we looked at the names of boats (which I love doing) and saw a sea lion up close and several huge star fish and some sea enenamies and a jelly fish, also looked in the little gift shop which had huge crabs and other little trinkets. At this point in was getting dark already so we drove back home. I made a huge Mexican feast and the kids all went in the hot tub again...

Monday came quickly. After breakfast everyone sadly packed up. Then we went and looked at some local historic pioneer sites. We got some good pics of the family by some wagons. (I'll post em when I can) Then we headed into town. The kids all wanted to go to the mall. We browsed and ate and browsed around until it was time. Jason gave Rachel a present (which she screamed from delight I might add)..it was the book from the 'FireProof' movie, she had been wanting it... Jason bought some old money at the coin shop and Sheldon and Jayne bought some "mini money"... and Maddy bought a shirt. All too soon, it was time for them to head to the airport, back out of Oregon, out of the reach of our hugs and smiles and laughter in person....

I'm so thankful for the time that we got so spend with them. They are all beautiful people. The girls are so grown up. Time doesn't stand still. We can't go back. But we can look back on the memories. I'm glad we had some good memories made this weekend...

Snow started falling shortly after we said our goodbyes in the mall parking lot. I told them I couldn't go into the airport because I knew I would cry. When their van turned into the Medford International Airport, tears and snow fell together. We parted and started the 45 mile ride back home, my kids were silent as I dabbed at my face the whole way home with a Wendy's napkin.

The ACCIDENT

A lot has happened since my last entry. How do I cram the last seven months into a paragraph or two? Well, the biggest thing that happened was my daughters accident. August 27, 2008. The night before her 14th birthday. She was camping with her friends family at Emmigrant Lake and I had a huge surprise party planned for her b-day. I was bringing up a van load of her friends with cake, decorations, presents etc. The night before her b-day and the surprise party at the lake, I received a horrible phone call. Her friend called me up and told me that Shawny got hurt and I could hear her in the backround screaming!
She was speeding downhill on a bike, saw a bear, swerved and slammed on the brakes, and flipped the bike a few times, flew and landed head first on the ashpalt in the middle of the street near the lake! She could not move anything, was in extreme pain and we feared she was paralyzed. That was the worst hour of my life, not knowing what was going on, driving to meet the ambulence at the Ashland ER. We were all quiet as Sheldon prayed and cried and prayed for his sister in the back seat.
The verdict: A severely broken collarbone-almost poked through skin-5 inches separated (needed surgery) a huge bump on head (thankfully no concussion though she passed out for a few seconds), bloody road rash, sprained wrist and ankle, chunks of missing skin from knee and hand, etc. We were so thankful that she was not paralyezed, she was blessed and spared from far worse injuries.
An awesome note here is that before Shawny and her friend went on this bikeride (at night), Shawny had a feeling that they should bring a phone, she asked her friend if she had her cell phone, Thankfully Shawny was inspired and her friend went back to get it. If Taylor didn't have her phone on her, she would of had to leave Shawny all alone in the middle of the street to go and get help! Thank you Heavenly Father for protecting my child. Thankyou Shawny for 'listening'...Also my parents had just been down to visit us from AZ and my dad had given Shawny a thick "poofy" coat. Shawny was wearing this at the time of the accident and it protected her from getting far worse road rash! Thanks dad.
She now has had two surgeries and last Friday Jan 30th, just had her stiches from the last surgical incision removed! She had a 8cm rod in her!!! She is still on pain pills and is healing up from having the rod removed. She has three scars now as a reminder of "the accident". She has fun making up different stories (as jokes) of how she got those scars..."doing a double back flip at a BMX race and crashed, got attacked by a bear, was stabbed, Freddy Kruger got me, etc etc. It was hard that she had to start her Freshman year of highschool by being on bed/home rest recovery for SIX WEEKS!!! She is glad she doesn't have to wear the upper body brace and sling anymore! We are also done with Physical Therapy! yay!
Six months later and she is still recovering but I am thankful that it is almost over. My kids are my biggest blessings in my life. I have to get back to work now but will write some more later today hopefully. I have so much to fill you in on!