Light at the end of a tunnel????

On Monday night, we recieved more bad news. Pam Cartwright, a second grandma to Arik and his sisters, passed away and the funeral will be on Friday. How many viewings/funerals can one person take. That is four funerals in a row starting yesterday. I can't handle it emotionally. I went monday to the viewing for the dad of my 7th grader. My heart broke into little pieces as I gave her a hug and tried to let her know that I love her and am here if she needs me. How do you help? What can I do? I think this town has reached its limit. How many can die in a two week period? Isn't 5 enough? I don't think I can handle anymore bad news.

So if anyone has great news, I would love to hear it. Thanks to Mandi and Ben for sharing thier good news about thier friends. Please, I would love good news.

Be Grateful

The past few weeks have been hard for the community of Soda Springs and the Jorgensen Family (All of Arik's family). Two weeks ago a man got T-boned in his car and died. He had worked with Arik and dad in the Forest Service, he was also a teacher in Grace which is right next door to Soda. Last week Arik's great Uncle Paul died. When we lived in Logan we would got to his house and play games with them until Aunt Lillian got sick, she pasted away two years ago. We attended the funeral. Then one of my relatives pasted away last week also. She lived in California so we were unable to attend.

Then Friday I got a call from the Principal at our school letting me know that there had been an snowmobile accident caused by an avalanche. Three men were killed. One was the husband to a teacher at my school. When you only have 236 kids in a school there are not a lot of teachers and we are all close. Another one of the men that died was a father to one of my seventh graders.

This is my first class and so they are special. I will remember them forever and there is something cool and great about being a teacher's first class. These kids are like my kids and my heart has broken for this girl and her family.

They say that everything comes in threes. I feel like it got doubled this time.

Arik and I spent tons more time playing with the girls this weekend. WE ran around the house playing tag, we built a tent and played in it, we were the horses and let the girls ride on us. We just spent time together.

So I ask you, spend extra time with your loved ones. Let them know you love them. You never know what could, would, and will happen. Take advantage now!!

Best Friend Ever

Have you ever had one of those days when you should be cleaning but you have no desire. Today is one of those days, so I clean a little bit and then play a game with the girls then clean and play, so on and so on. Well, I decided after lunch that we could build a tent and play in it. So here it is. After I got done and was leaving the room to get the camera, Brookelyn says, "You are my best friend ever mom. Thanks." So sorry to Lukas and Andrew who seem to always take up Brookelyn's thoughts and desires to play with. You two are not as cool as "THE BEST FRIEND EVER!!" Just joking, I know Lukas and Andrew are much cooler friends than me, come on I am the mom.

A crib makes it much easier to build a tent. It will be sad when Kira is no longer in one.

Who's the Mom?

When we woke Kira up this morning so that we could all go Visiting Teaching, Brookelyn said that she wanted to change Kira's diaper. She went and got a diaper, while I grabbed Kira from the crib. Here is what happened.

Here is the beginning. With Brookelyn saying, "Kira lay still. I hope you are not poopy." When the diaper shows no poopy. "Good girl Kira, no poopy." (can you tell what we say:))

She then took off the diaper, wrapped it up and ran to the kitchen to throw it away. This was the tricky part. Trying to figure out how the taps come out, but she figured it out and did a great job. Here is the finished project. I am proud of Brookelyn for wanting to help and I am proud of Kira for laying so still for Brookelyn. She never lays that still for me.

The Wonderment that is....

So here I am up late because I can't sleep very well without Arik. Such when I get used to him being gone he comes home and we start the whole process over. But that is not the point of this post.

As I was checking on the girls, I looked at Brookelyn sleeping so peacefully and so quiet. What a wonderment that I have two beautiful girls. What a wonder that I met Arik, that we lasted long enough to get married (those of you that know that story understand.), and how we are lasting now.

I love to watch my girls doing the smallest of things and see what great, wonderful, joys they are in my life. Sure I want to crawl in a hole sometimes and hide but at the end of the day I would not trade them for anything.

Brookleyn is such a joy in my life. How did I ever live without her? She constantly is learning and growing and wants to be so big so fast. Her encouragement while I work out brings a smile to my face and helps me pull through instead of breaking the tv. Her constant care for her sister, is amazing. She is bossy, showy and loves attention, but I would not have her any other way. We signed her up for soccer and she gets to start playing next month. She is so excited and is happy to know that Lukas will be on her team also. She takes care of us and just wants us to be happy. The great connection between a mother and daughter is the greatest gift anyone could ever have. I had it on the other end and would not trade anything for the relationship I have with my mother. I can only hope that Brookelyn and I can be like that the older she gets.

Kira is the other great joy in my life. I can't think of life without her chaing her sister trying to do everything she does. I smile when she gets frustrated because she can't do what Brookelyn can. I love to see her learn and grow. Like pulling the chair to the counter so that she can see what is going on and can reach all the things Brookelyn puts up there so Kira won't get them. She is sneaky and way too smart for her own good. I feel like I got brillant children that are way too good for me. I am afraid that I will hold them back and I pray and hope that I don't. Kira loves to talk and is right there next to Brookelyn in everything. She is very patience with Brookelyn when Brookelyn tries to play mom. She is just way too cute.

What could be greater than Family??? I have decided that nothing is. Elder Holland once said, "No matter what degree of glory I obtain. If my wife is not there, it can not be Exaluation." What a powerful statement. I feel the same for my sweet wonderful husband. We have our moments but at the end of the day, I want to tell him all the things that happened that day. I want to know of his successes and help him through his failures. I want to be there for him in the rain or in 100 degree heat. The sleet and snow. I love him. I think back to the day we were married and sealed for all time and eternity. I could not look at him without laughing. I know that might not be the reaction some of you had or think is "right" response, but for us it fit. We went through a lot to get us there and that was the greatest day of my life. Other moments have gotten close (ex Brookelyn and Kira's births), but I wonder. If it wasn't for that day, would all the others be so great. Would the greatest of such moments have been lessened if not for that day. I am gratfeul that I never have to know. We are in this together. (Not to be confused with "WE are all in this together" from HSM.) If you do not know what HSM is you must not have girls. :)

So maybe I am all sentimental because I miss my husband and the house is quiet for the only few hours out of the day that it is, but I am grateful for these minutes to ponder my family, my husband and my two wonderful, beautiful daughters.

High School Musical

So High School Musical 3 came out this week and for those of you that really know Brookelyn know what we have been watching constantly for the past day. Here is Kira pausing from the movie to say cheese. Kira is even singing the songs. There is a song The Boys are Back and she says back at all the right places. Then there is another song, I Want It All and Kira can say those words. Poor Arik just shakes his head, in disapppointment. Brookelyn taking a peek at the movie inbetween eating her breakfast. Dad made her pancakes this morning.

My cute girlies sitting nicely together watching the movie. Eating the great breakfast that dad made us. Kira did away with her fork and just used her hands.

Brookelyn posing for the camera. When one of them gets their picture taken the other one wants one to.

Kira saying Cheese for the camera.

So yesterday Brookelyn comes up to me and tells me she needs more letters for the fridge. At first I was confused but as I walked into the kitchen I saw this and all the questions were answered.

Kira came and has taken some of the papers off which was then followed by Brookelyn screaming, followed by Kira screaming. I just thought she was so cute to decorate the fridge.

Sledding and Rexburg

Since today was a federal hoilday, neither Arik or I had to work. Which allowed us to take advantage of a fairly warm day and go sledding. In past years Brookelyn has screamed going down the hill and has refused to get on the sled. This year was just the opposite. She wanted to ride down by herself and she even pulled the sled back up the hill by herself. Kira loved going down but would not walk in the snow. After the first two pics the camera died but we had lots of fun.

As I said earlier we went to Rexburg to watch my brother, Garrett, play hockey. Here are pics from that. Katie holding Lukas. He is a stud.

During an intermission, Garrett came to say hi. What a cute pic. The net protected us from the puck.

My stud of a brother. Way to go, bro!! You did great.

All the action. Garrett did really well. Better than I thought given he had never played before. Congrats!!!