Like a kid with ADD...

This is where I would rather be right about now...

Probably one of the things I'll miss most about California...the beach...Its alot more relaxing than my house right now...in my world of boxes...

Welcome to my world...

Though boxes are not all bad, they can be useful...

Like Airplanes...

Or stand for VCRs and DVD players...

Just a little crazy....

This is how I have felt for the past couple of weeks.

I don't know where to start and when I do, I can't remember what I was doing,

so I leave and find something else I forgot to finish in the next room.

I have decided I do not like moving.

I like the idea of moving.

I really like the idea of being close to family, living in a small town, new adventures....I hate packing.

Let me try that again...I HATE PACKING!!!

I was really organized at first. I took down things, one room at a time, put them in corresponding boxes, wrote it all down in my little book. Now I just have random boxes, with random things thrown in each one, like the plastic cups in with the children's toys, or the craft supplies in my office/desk box. And sometimes I just find something that needs to be pack, lift a lid, and throw it in! I'm never going to find anything, or I'll wonder why I took the effort to pack the majority of it and why I didn't just throw it out when I had the chance.

Everything is still labeled and written in the little book though, because, Heaven forbid, they might like to see what we have packed at the border. I mean really see. Like take apart the truck and search through every box kind of see...

I have that nightmare alot...

There are some things that are fun, like eating off paper and plastic, and eating out...which means I don't have to cook which I really like. And it means its almost time to see my family...

I can't wait!

But we're almost done. I mean, I have time today to just blog, right? But in the mean time, enjoy the pictures, and I'll try not to lose my head somewhere in my castle of boxes!

Cooper's Birthday!

I was pretty bad with the camera this birthday party, but we went to the 'Pirate Park' and had a little picnic with a bunch of friends and in all reality its pretty hard to catch any kids to take a pic at the park!!

Happy Birthday to little man! Oh I can't believe you are Three already!!

Jessica F. saved the day with their gift of a Pirate sword! it even has sound effects! What more could a little Pirate want?!

Cooper, you are such a wonderful little boy! So full of energy and determination! (Read: Never stops, and stubborn! LOL) We love having you in our family because you always keep us laughing! You help make my days happier, and you help make me a better mother!

We love you so much Cooper!!

Life in general...

A couple of weeks ago my Mom told me my Aunt Laurel, her sister, had to go into the hospital because she had gotten this terrible cold and was not getting better. A few days and tests later they found out her heart was enlarged and they sent her to Calgary for more tests. There they found out that she needed Triple Bypass surgery...

My Aunt has had Diabetes since she was a Teen. She hasn't had too many complications, but in the last few years with age and busyness of life, it has caught up with her. She gets sick more often, and tired....but she was always there when her family needed her.

She was my quiet Aunt. She always made us something for Christmas and birthdays. She had great skill with plastic canvas. Whenever I went back to Canada, she would make sure she seen me and give me a big hug. She was my Mom's big sister.

On Thursday morning, as they were preparing her for surgery, she had a Massive Heart attack and passed away. I couldn't believe it. I was just talking to my Mom that morning about her surgery, and now she was gone.

I was sad. But it wasn't till I talked to my Dad on the phone and I asked how Mom was that it really hit me. He just said "Not Good..." and my heart broke. My Mom was hurting. She had just lost a sister suddenly, unexpectedly, and I couldn't be there for her...

I lost it...

We have been fortunate enough to not have had to deal with deaths in the family too much since we have been down here and away from family. Dustin's Grandpa Chalmers passed away 4 years ago, and its just a helpless feeling knowing that people at home are sad and hurting and you're sad, but you can't help them right now. In the whole scheme of things, I know that my Heavenly Father has a plan. I know that my Aunt is in a better place, and she's with her Mom and My Aunt Roberta. She's waiting for us to see her again, and this gives me comfort. I know my Mom knows this, too. But at the time, when you can't be there for them, the hopelessness just crashes in on your brain and you can't think straight about that. The Future, Eternity, its hard to comprehend when you are hurting in the moment. You just want to fix it right now. And when its your Mom that's hurting...

Mom is ok now. It still hurts, but perspective is more in order. You remember things you know. The knowledge that our family will be together again someday, and little by little, it starts to feel better. I am so grateful for that knowledge. And I am so grateful right now that we are moving home, so that next time (Heaven forbid it be any time soon) I can be there to help out the family. And they will be there for me...

Happy Easter!!

A little late, but here is our Easter fun!

Started out with Coloring Easter Eggs...

We like to Color on our eggs first...

...and then Mom forgets to take a picture of the beautiful eggs...

Easter bunny ROCKED this year! Oh, he went all out with the egg hunt...out in the garden...

...running through the house...

...with great riddles to figure out to find the eggs and the baskets...

...good job Easter bunny, you may have to take over every year...

And of course, a little Easter Dress up!

Happy Easter, Happy Spring!

Cooper is Three!

FOR SALE:

One Little boy, who is mischievous, goofy and fun.

He loves pirates, and guns and swords and pretty much anything that involves him being a bad guy and chasing the good guy or vice versa.

Also known as Coops, Cooper-Man, Super Cooper, and Diablo Blanco (the White Devil).

Only three years old....This is how he looks in the packaging.

How can you resist that? I know you want to offer me a good deal.

Did I mention he's silly? Like, really silly. He knows when he's done something to make you laugh and he'll keep it up.

This is what he said the other day to his dad:

"Where's Hay-Hay?" (Hay-Hay is Hailey the dog)

Dad: "I don't know."

Coop: "Hay- Hay outside?"

Dad: "No, I think she's inside."

Coop: "Hay-Hay at table?"

Dad: "No, I don't think she's there."

Coop: "Hay-Hay up my butt?"

Then looks at Dad and proceeds to laugh like its the funniest thing in the world.

Yes, he is quite the comedian.

And he just tuned three. Yesterday.

It makes me so happy to see him grow and all the things he is learning and saying and doing...but it makes me kind of sad too, because three years ago today he looked like this:

Just tiny and small. He loved to be held and rocked to sleep. He sat still for more than 2 minutes and he wasn't nearly so loud.

And then a year later he looked like this. And he couldn't even walk. He would just smile and look cute. He didn't jump off my pictures or hit his sister and say:

"Well. Then leave alone me!"

Oh Cooper Man. What am I going to do? I love to see you learn and grow, but how I want to keep you little forever. You make me crazy and mad...but you also make me so happy to have you in our family. You are our comedic relief. You are persistant and determined, some may even call it stubborn, just like your Dad. You are my little man.

I love you, and I'm so very grateful you came to be with us.

Happy Birthday Baby Boy!