A Touch Of Tyrell

 After what seems like an eternity of waiting (excitedly), I was finally able to get my stretch-marky and lumpy midsection fixed!!!!! Three days prior I could only have soft foods like scrambled eggs and soup. The next day I could only have liquids and the final day before surgery I could only have clear liquids till dinner and then nothing.  All of the nurses in pre-op and the anesthesiologist couldn't believe they were doing a 'tummy tuck' on someone who only weighed 110 pounds... but then I explained that I had 8+ pound babies and the skin was ruined forever. I have worked out to no end (I've even been down to 105 lbs) and there is nothing that will take the skin away. It's just lumpy and saggy. When I do a plank on my elbows, my belly button is held in tight and all the skin around it just hangs to the floor.  My surgeon told me that my muscles were so stretched out in places that they were barely even held together. So he sewed them together, pulled my skin dow...

Roxy loves her dance class.  Since the whole COVID thing we aren't really allowed to watch them dance (which it totally cool and I love running errands while she's there anyways) so I don't even know if she pays attention or not, but she looks forward to it and loves to get her sticker afterwards! She loves to get dressed up in the tights & leotard...  If the town has a Christmas parade this year, she'll be able to ride on the dance studio float. I hope they do because it was so fun seeing Everett in it last year! I'm cherishing Roxy's last year with me before she starts Kindergarten, she's my little buddy and I will miss her next year!!!  

I remember getting braces in 5th grade. I had them from 5th-7th grade.  I sucked my finger as an infant/toddler... all the way 'till kindergarten. I had a side-overbite because of it and needed braces.  Everett has always had an adorably wide, toothy smile and we knew at some point we'd need to bring them all together. Jake never had braces as a kid. He was blessed with mostly straight, good-looking teeth. His teeth on the bottom were a little crowded and crooked... so Jake and Everett went in to get their teeth check out together.  And a week later, they were getting braces! Turns out, we were right on time for Everett. The x-rays showed that his canine teeth were trying to come in but his front 4 teeth needed to be closer together to make room for them.  He was SUPER excited to get braces.  They currently aren't causing him pain or discomfort at all.  Jake is entirely a different story! His face hurts, headaches, it's hard to focus his eyes...  Evere...

I was 12 or 13 years old when Bridget was born. I actually remember when my mom was tossing around name ideas (when she was still pregnant) and we all thought Bridget was such a good name.  Fast forward all those childhood years, embarrassing adolescent years, teenage years... and now she's a grown woman getting married (in Utah).  I've never made the drive from PHX to SLC but I did know that Lake Powell was about half way. I thought that would be a good pit-stop and I could show the family Horseshoe Bend and Lake Powell on our way to her wedding.  It was an adventure, for sure.  After the kids got home (from their 3rd day of real school) we headed to Page, AZ. Breckie complained of a headache... this is never a good sign. But we loaded up and I gave her some kids Dramamine and we were on our way.  The poor girl still puked twice on the way to Page and again as soon as we got there.  We got to our hotel at 11 pm and it was 87 degrees inside 😓 Ugh.  It...

Jake has been transforming himself over the last 6 weeks.  We've had a lot of conversations about working out and nutrition.  Jake has been a big fan of Diet Coke and energy drinks for the past decade or so. He's tried to "quit" soda before (about 3 of 4 times) but it always reappeared in the pantry or his work fridge.  But he finally decided to quit and change other things/habits he'd been wanting to change.  He's always wanted to be the guy that gets up early and works out. He just hasn't been able to get there. But when your world falls apart and you allow yourself to rebuild, you get to decide how to do it. Jake also has been a part of a business coaching program for a while and he's seen some improvement in his personal life because of it.  He's been working out regularly, has been more mindful with his nutrition, and has stopped drinking soda and energy drinks. He's been drinking a lot more water, taking vitamins and has been trying to ge...

Roxy is such a good little artist! And by artist, I mean she colors in the lines SO good! She even got all the little details in the tiara perfect.  She loves to color and spends quite a bit of time doing that.  She has also mastered the funny fingers in pictures. I don't know where she picked it up at, but it's pretty cute :)  

In AZ you have to wear a mask everywhere. Even the freeway signs say "Mask Up AZ" The other day I happened to be wearing a hat to my follow up appointment and I felt like I was about to rob a bank! Good things have been happening lately.  I was able to reconnect with a friend I've had for a long time. We've been friends for at least a dozen years. We knew each other in WA, ran half marathons together, and a few years ago she moved to AZ. We've seen each other here and there but it wasn't until lately that we've made more of an effort to get together.  After my appointment last week we got together for lunch. We went to Culinary Dropout in downtown Gilbert for her favorite salmon.  IT WAS SO GOOD. I feel so embarrassed that I haven't been there (of any of the other places downtown Gilbert) but I promised to take Jake there on our next date night.  We had a good time at lunch and had some great laughs.  It makes me feel so very grown up and fancy going t...

I walked into our bedroom the other day and was a little shocked when I saw this drawing on my nightstand! I wasn't 100% sure if it was from Jake or Breckie! Turns out Breckie drew me a "giraffe with it's long neck and head bent down like this" She's such a little sweetheart and is always drawing me pictures and making me things (like our friendship rainbow drawing we each keep our half in our nightstands). Lately she has been posting announcements on her bedroom door too. This one was my favorite (other than the "DO NOT INTR") from last week: *Do not come in. I am reading  

I can't remember if I ever posted Everett's letter to the Easter Bunny... as if the Easter Bunny takes special requests like Santa!  Luckily the Easter Bunny delivered his special request and we were playing catch and practiced hitting balls before it got too hot.  I guess it's a beautiful thing that they still play baseball in the summer here... it makes us tough!  And dehydrated, lol! Everett has only been to two practices and two games but he's been LOVING it!!!  I am so happy that he's finally found his sport. I think he also LOVES that Jake has been able to be the one to take him to his practices and games so he gets to spent extra just him and Jake.   

The kids got to go to school for real today! All day I was feeling grateful, relieved, thankful, glad.  It was a big milestone and I'm so grateful that we were able to do it. Breckie thrives on in-person learning and online learning was ALMOST the death of our relationship.  Everett exceeds either way but MUCH prefers going to school in person.  They both came home SO happy and full of energy.  They are both happy with their teachers and both said they made a new friend.  It's good for everyone in our family that school is back in session (some families are nervous and would rather continue online learning).  Roxy watched the iPad for 6 hours while I cleaned my heart out.  (I do this any time guests leave our house. I clean and clean and clean.) I cleaned for all 7 hours they were gone and it felt amazing. I LOVE a clean, quiet house!  

*** Jake wrote this post *** Here is the part where I tell my side of the story…    Tyrell wrote a great post that described some of the struggles we’ve had in our marriage recently and over the years. I’ve always appreciated her honesty and spiciness.  One of the greatest parts of her writing that post was the affect and influence it had on so many others.     One of the hard parts about marriage  life is that you often feel that others don’t have hard times. I think it’s important for people to know that life is hard for everyone. EVERYONE has struggles.     Sometimes it’s helpful to learn about the hardships of others. Not because we get joy from their pains, but because it helps us learn and grow from each other. So, as I said before, it was amazing to hear from so many friends that appreciated Tyrell’s post and took something from it.       There is however a major correction that I needed to add. Tyrell told me that she w...

Friendships are pretty fascinating.  Maghen and I have been pretty good friends for the past 2+ years with a few setbacks.  It's hard to navigate through life but having a friend can be life changer.  But then on a few rare occasions, friends can make life more challenging.  I'd say that's where Maghen comes in.  I CAN NOT imagine my life without ever meeting her and being her friend. She has been so good to me, and on those few occasions when we didn't see eye-to-eye, she was determined to find a way to make it work (even when I wasn't... because I'm the flight and she's the fight). She has taught me SO much about myself and the beauty of fighting for what you want.  She is spicy and opinionated... things people might tell you about myself! We might be an odd friendship but I'm so grateful for her in my life.  I've consulted her on major decisions many times and she always has advice, love, and a listening ear to give. For her birthday this year we ...