Tagged

I have never actually been tagged so I hope I do this right.

It is suppose to be 7 things people may or may not know about me.

1. I love the beach. I think this is really where my heart would call home but who can afford it. I can sit on the beach for hours and be perfectly content. It doesn't have to be a specific beach, just clean and pretty. When I need to find a "happy place" that is where I go. You would think we'd get there more often for how much I love it but we don't. Still my favorite place.

2. I want to learn how to rock climb. Something about this just looks so fun. I keep telling myself when I loose a little weight I'll reward myself and have Jared and I go take a class or something.

3. I have always......always......always wished I had a sister. I thought when I got older it would go away.....but it hasn't. When my baby brother was born and my mom called me from the hospital to tell me it was a boy my reply was, "another one". I have four brothers. I love them dearly don't get me wrong. I just envy when friends I have "go out with their sisters"

4. I hate that people say I am quiet. I know that I am but I just hate when people say that about me. I don't know why it bugs me so much. Maybe because I feel that gets in the way of me making friends sometimes. (I guess this blog lets it all out in the open)

5. I like to daydream about what I would do if I suddenly come into a huge amount of money. Most of the time it is: get completely out of debt,travel somewhere fun, buy a new car, help out people, invest. It really depends on the amount of money my imagination has come up with. Weird I know.

6. I can not rest knowing something is lost. Jared says it is a sickness and he probably is right. If I know that something is missing I can't rest until I have found it. I share this next story, but know I have chilled out some. Once when we were living in DC, McKenna was a baby, and she had lost her shoe at one of the stops on the Metro. I hopped two trains to find it, and I did find it.

7. I love playing sports. I have always loved it. I played volleyball, basketball and tennis. I tried track but found out I had to run (and that was all it was -- running). I wanted to play city softball growing up but my dad had something against it I am not quite sure what because my brothers all played....maybe that was it. He didn't want his only girl doing the same things the boys were doing....I think it had the opposite affect. I miss playing. Since my knees are so bad I shy away from playing for the fear I will mess them up even more or be in pain for days. So, I am hoping after this surgery that I can get back to some of the things I love.

8. (Just for kicks) I want David Bromstad, the first winner of Design Star, to come and do my house, heck I'd settle for a room.

President Hinckley

What a legacy he has left. He really inspired us to be better. We are sure going to miss him. Can you imagine the homecoming?

Hello from the confines of my room

For those of you who don't know...I had surgery on Wednesday night. I have had knee problems for years and been to the doctors countless times. I had finally accepted the fact that I was just going to be in pain for the rest of my life, when because the pain got worse and worse, I decided I'd give one more doctor a shot. Thank goodness for him. He was the first doctor that was finally willing to help me. Of course I would need surgery and I wasn't real excited about that. I met with him October and we decided I'd put it off until the new year.
I called and scheduled it for the 23rd of January. The hospital was suppose to call me the day before to let me know what time. I got the call that I needed to start abstaining from any food or drink and to call back at noon the next day because they didn't have a time yet. I am not sure why it was so much harder to go without food and drink than it is on fast Sunday, maybe because my whole family was eating and enjoying it in front of me. :( Anyhow, I called at noon only to hear that it looked like it "might be around four". So Jared and I arrived at four, bells on ready to go.
I now have had my very own first hand experience with the health care arena and even though I am so thankful for all they do. I am disappointed. Now don't get me wrong. I expect to wait. Just not as long as we did. They didn't get me back to the "holding area" where they administer the wonderful drugs that will put me in another world until 7pm and then I waited another hour. Sitting in a room all by yourself with nothing to do and your stomach growling gives one a lot of time to think. I'll not bore you with all that went on inside my head.
Finally, around 8 the doc came in to give the drugs. The next thing I knew they were telling me to wake up. I didn't get out until around midnight so they made me stay the night.
So you maybe wondering What did they do?
Well, they tightened up some ligaments over my knee cap, loosened one on the side, and cut some bone and repositioned it so it would help hold my knee cap in place and then reattached it with some very official looking Home Depot screws, and while they were in there they found and torn ligament that they repaired.
Aside from the nurses not being on the same page, and not getting home with some of the equipment I needed I'm glad to say I am surviving just fine.
It is Monday so I got to shower today.....oh I love hot running water! We also took off the bandages.....not very pretty but I was kind of expecting that.
My mom came to help and she is awesome I couldn't have done this without her. Jared is great too. My kids keep asking why I am not getting out of bed. Poor things. I did go sit on the couch for FHE just so they know I can get out of bed.
I am suppose to be down for 3 weeks and another 6 on crutches......so I guess we will see if I loose my mind.

Thursday Reflection

My very best friend (besides Jared of course) lives in Arizona. Let me back up a little. . .we bought our first house in 1999. About a week after we moved in we found out that one of Jared's best friends from high school was moving in around the corner. With in a short period of time his wife, Cathe, and I became fast friends. Our two kids (at the time) were exactly the same age and we ended up doing a lot of things together. We ended up having our third children within a month of each other (totally unplanned) All our kids ended up being the best of friends too. Well, life happens and we were the first to move away still in state only about an hour or so away. We managed to always make the time to get together even though it was a little bit of a drive. But then we moved out of state. I miss her terribly. She is one of those people that inspire you to be better. She knows all my crazy quirks, and imperfections and loves me just the same. I can tell her anything and she doesn't judge...she will let me know what I should do....sometimes I listen, sometimes I don't. Since I've moved out of state we've set aside one day a week to have a nice, long chat. Those are Thursdays...I totally look forward to those. We cry, laugh, worry, vent, joke and just get up to speed with our lives. It is usually an hour or two conversation but I alway hang up feeling I can make it another week. I know a lot of you may have one of those friends and aren't we glad for them? They make a life just a little more bearable.

It got me to thinking about different people who have entered our lives who I am eternally grateful for. I couldn't possibly name them all so I won't even try. But I am so grateful that I have been so blessed to associate with so many GREAT people. I love our neighborhood and all the great people in our ward. I finally feel like we are getting to know more people.

Girls new look

They both look super cute. Even though I was protesting the cutting it short, and tried my hardest to talk them out of it. Sadly, I don't think I thought this through as now since I am bed ridden I can't help them with their hair. So to my neighbors: if my girls are looking kind of like orphans and as if they need a little help feel free to go at them with a comb, brush, a little hairspray--whatever it takes.

Couldn't Help Myself

This made me laugh....of course this has no reflection on Jared. He's perfect :)

Tonight when I asked Kennedy to take a bath I was watching her, first because she has a tendency to get sidetracked, then I just couldn't figure out what she was doing. We were standing in the kitchen at the initial request. She starts on her way. Stops at the family room--turns the light on, stops at the living room--turns the light on, stops in entry way---turns the light on, hall--light on, Gannon's room--light on, her room--light on, my room--light on. Finally, her bathroom--light on. I couldn't help but laugh. After I went around lowing our electricity usage I asked her what she was afraid of. Her answer "I dunno know, just scared"

Gannon's horrible, no good, very bad day

Holy Cow! I'm convinced my kids are going to be the death of me. I will probably suffer a heart attack at some catastrophe that befalls them.
To start off...Gannon has taken to climbing the stairs....so today when he did it I thought I'd show him how to get down. I was trying to turn him around when I realize his little finger is stuck in the "decorative railing" he starts screaming and his little finger swells a little. I felt terrible but all in all we were ok.
Then tonight I'm getting dinner served when I hear a loud whack followed by another loud whack. I then see that Gannon was pulling himself up to one of our (crappy) counter bar stools, he fell back taking the bar stool with him. We run over he has the chair on top of him and is SCREAMING at the top of his lungs!! Jared picks him up --the kids are freaking, I am freaking. Then all of the sudden he just stops---totally stops. I tell Jared to let me see him. And he just kind of flops around as Jared tries to let me get a look at him.....that began the flight to the ER.....we decided to go to the SF clinic since it was closer. He is awake just not moving. We get there.......they squeeze us in. By the time we get him in to the doctor he is his normal self. Thank goodness! The doctor said that he was screaming so hard and then probably held his breath which caused him to pass out. No bumps or bruises (yet). Yikes what a day!

I did it

Yesterday I made my very first batch of homemade whole wheat, good for you, bread. I ground the wheat and everything. It took me the whole morning--it was a yucky snowy day so I just turned on some music and enjoyed myself. It turned out pretty dang good if I do say so. Jared goes on and on about it (I think he wants something). The kids were even excited.

My brother and his wife gave me a wheat grinder and bosch for Christmas....so I am developing some new talents. Thanks Bryan and Kaylene!

(Actual date--8th)

Dancing Again

When Gannon was born we moved my kitchen stereo to his room in order to set the mood for deep relaxing sleep using a little Enya. Which has left me music less and thus the dancing in the Ballard home has ceased. (Now this is probably letting you into part of our lives that may not be known). Our family loves dancing (no, we don't give any performances). Jared the love of my live, my hero, my king (is that sufficient praising Jar?) got me an iHome for my kitchen. WOOHOO let the dancing begin.

Now if I can just reclaim my ipod........


UPDATE: In the dark of night I found my ipod and put all my music back on :)

PS.

It has been fun to have the music back. I didn't really realize how much we danced. A few days after the music was going again....I spied Gunnar dancing around the kitchen table (please don't confront him about this--he will deny it to his grave and probably decide he never wants to speak to me again). Kennedy and I do periodic performances for Gannon as he sits in his high chair.

It's so fun---thank you Jared!!

Thinking--Uh oh

My blogs so far haven't gotten really deep.......

2007 was a pretty eventful year for our family and as I look back and reflect, I have a lot of thoughts. I most likely will ramble so bear with me.

About a month ago I was watching a TV show called "six months" it was a documentary following two people who were diagnosed with terminal cancer. One, a young father of a two year old and the other, a mother who had raised her children. The story followed their lives and how they were dealing and living knowing that the end was near. In both cases they said that there were grateful for knowing and how they were "soaking" every moment. Having the experiences we did with Jared's dad this summer with his passing and how all that could be "soaked" up, was. It's made me wonder how I'd like to go. My mom wants to go fast in her sleep. I am not sure. But I do know this much, I want to live my whole life like these people were living their last months. Why can't we do that? What is more important than that? Every moment was so precious. I think sometimes we get to wrapped up in the day to day stuff we forget what it is really about.

So my goal this year---I want to soak it all in, savor everything, slow down. Enjoy all I get to do. I know it's going to take some practice....but it'll be so worth it.

Jared's family. This was taken about a month before his dad's passing.
It is such a treasure to have.

Hooray

I got my little plug---cause of my absence----so I am back in business.
Below I have posted all the Christmas fun you have been waiting with baited breath for.
It is going to seem a little pathetic. I have spent most of the afternoon updating this.
No, I don't have a blogging problem.
No, I don't need an intervention.

Wow...she's amazing

Every year my mom out does herself. One year we got a book she had put together of all the thoughts and stories she has collected over the years. Another year it was a book with pictures, memories, and all kinds of wonderful information of her and my dad when they were first married. Last year it was a book with a bunch of Allred history in it. She really is amazing. This year takes the cake. She made all families a quilt she pieced. It is so awesome!

All the girls lined up...
On your mark, get set, OPEN

Each one was different and unique.
Thanks MOM!!

Christmas Day Hightlights

Can we go? Can we go?
Kids waiting for the all clear to run and see what Santa brought.

Pandemonium breaks out as they enter the family room

Santa brought Gunnar a "ripstick"

McKenna a stable and horses

Kennedy a real guitar to jam with
(Not sure what Santa was thinking he may need his head examined)

I just realized I didn't get a picture of Gannon with his Santa gift. What kind of mother am I?
Nonetheless he had fun opening presents.

When will the opening end?

I have a strict policy that Santa can not outdo mom and dad so we saved the best for last.
The kids got a Wii for Christmas.
They were so excited and have had lots of fun as have mom and dad. Oma and Opa even played...I have to say I've had my best bowling game on the Wii.

Christmas PJ's

We have a tradition (as I think the rest of the free world does) that we get new pj's Christmas eve. Sometimes I am pretty ambitious and make the kids a complete set, sometimes I am more on the lazy side and opt for buying them. This year I was only somewhat ambitious and made the whole family bottoms while buying the top. They turned out pretty cute. The kids thought it was fun that mom and dad matched them too.

The rest of my family participates in the new pj thing too....
so this is the start of the Pajama Parade

Christmas Program

When my family gets together for Christmas we have a family "talent show" of sorts followed by the kid's reenactment of the Christmas story. This year I have to say the talent portion stepped up considerably from two years ago. (Naturally Jared and I did not participate...but we were well represented by our kids)

Uncle Todd reading us a great Christmas story.

The Christmas story as told by the Allred/Ballard kids.......

Isn't the actor playing baby Jesus just a cutie?

Angel Aunica

And the wise men and shepherds watched....

Arizona Eating

While in Arizona we had two major objectives (outside of family stuff, of course)

1. Eat @ Pete's Fish and Chips
2. Eat decent, real, good Mexican food--more specifically one of our favorite restaurants--Ajo Al's

Sadly, we only accomplished one................I've been left wanting!!

Lost

How do you live without a computer? I am going to loose my mind. I tried being so careful when packing up from Arizona not to leave anything behind. I did pretty good.....except when I went to plug in my laptop to connect to the outside world I found that when I unplugged the power cord at my brother's house part of the plug disconnected (Apple's attempt to make computers safer so you don't rip it out of the wall). So, I have not had my right arm for the last week. It's made me really realize how much I use it. I actually had to look up things in the phone book. I haven't done that in a long time.....I wasn't actually sure I could locate our phone books.

So of course since I haven't had my computer blogging has been put on hold. I have stolen Jared's laptop to check my email and post this blog. Oh I hope my brother hurry and sends my........I don't even know what it's called! I just need it!!