Happy Halloween (I know, I know, but better late than never right??)

Halloween was fun this year but a little more rushed than I like it to be. Between being pregnant sick and YW's keeping me busy we didn't quite get to do all the normal traditions. Luckily, the kids didn't seem to notice.

Here's Cowboy Brecken dressed up and ready for his Joy School party. I have always been in love with this boy's big chocolate eyes, ahhhhh.

And Lana, the wild fairy princess.

Brecken wanted a picture of him protecting his fairy princess sister.

All the kids at Joy School:

Emma, AJ, Brecken, Brooke, and Maren

We had a fun YW's Halloween party. Here I am with the presidency. A fun bunch if you ask me!

Natalie, Sarah, Eutona, and Me

On the actual Halloween day I woke up from my nap feeling very sick. Not good since I needed to help the kids carve pumpkins, get dressed, and make dinner all before Branson got home from work. I said a little prayer and sat on the couch. My sweet Caden took care of me, he got me a glass of water and some crackers and after a few minutes I felt well enough to get up and to work.

Caden was 3 things for Halloween this year. For the trunk or treat he was a clone trooper, for the school parade he was a cowboy and for trick or treating he was a vampire!

Brecken stuck to being a cowboy, we loved the mustache that Dad added for him.

Lana was a fairy princess. This is pretty much what she wore everyday for a few months.

Caden ended up with some buddies trick or treating. They went so fast he got a LOT of candy.

Me with my Brecky post-trick or treating.

I was amazed at how long Lana last trick or treating this year. Branson took her and Brecken out and they were gone for about an hour and a half.

She was so funny, every time she went to get a piece of candy out of her bag she would stick her whole head in to look!

The day ended so sweet and happy. After gorging ourselves on candy we snuggled up in my bed for a bugs bunny cartoon.

Life is Full of Changes

We've had a few changes in our lives recently. Probably the most exciting one is that we are pregnant with our 4th baby! We can't wait to have a new little person join our family. I am due on May 24th, I'm really hoping this baby will come early- I'm a little selfish and don't want to share my birthday on the 25th.

I made the leap and against my husband's wishes chopped my hair. I'm really enjoying it, him not so much.

Branson's firm has really taken off. He had to change offices this week but it looks like it is for the better. He is right of I-15 and 106th which is much more convenient for his clients and it's just a lot nicer in general.

And the BIG shocker came to me last week. I got released as YW president. There is a big gaping hole in my heart right now, but I know it's for the best. Branson had known for several weeks before I did, being in the Bishopric and all. I'm trying to adjust and find things to do. I was glad it was my turn to teach joy school this week and when Brecken suggested we throw a Christmas party I jumped on it.

All in all life is crazy, and life is good.

Brecken's 5th

Brecken got home from the hospital Monday night and was up to full speed by Saturday when we celebrated his birthday!

Some goofy parents out birthday shopping the night before.

Lana making a birthday card for Brecken.

Caden making a birthday card for Brecken.

Our traditional birthday breakfast is pancakes with ice cream on top. Brecken took it a step further. He wanted chocolate chip pancakes with ice cream and whipped cream on top. We are just excited whenever this kid wants to eat!

I love that my kids love each other and are best buddies.

Oooo, new shoes. Very exciting.

Brecken had his friend birthday party at the park that afternoon. It was such a gorgeous day for late October.

His party theme was Captain America.

Here they are making their own Captain America shields.

And on to shield throwing practice.

Here is the whole crew- we have a lot of little girls Brecken's age in the neighborhood.

The birthday boy with his friend Emma from Joy School. She loves him!

Lil' Cowboys & Girl

Back at the beginning of Oct. we spent General Conference Weekend up at Grandma & Grandpa's house. Between sessions on Sat. Grandma took the kids riding.

Here they are in the barn watching her get the horses all saddled up.

Last year Lana was terrified of the horses. This year she loved it. She didn't want to get off to let the other kids have a turn.

Caden has really improved and turned into quite the little cowboy. Here he is riding all by himself!

The Nurses Love Brecken Best

Back at the beginning of Oct. Brecken had a urinary infection. We took him to the Dr. and got him some antibiotics and thought we were done with that. The next Friday I was heading out of town for a girls' night out w/ my in-laws. As I was driving home on Saturday night Branson called me and said he was going to have to take Brecken to the ER.

Branson had taken him to the insta-care earlier that day because his symptoms of the urinary infection were coming back. They gave him a new prescription and sent them home. That evening though Brecken had thrown up, then he couldn't stand up straight and was delirious.

After a quick blessing Brans drove Brecken to the ER and I met him there. It was a little freaky hearing Brecken talk about things that weren't there. He was telling us that Doofenshmirtz was with us and seeing ducks and pointing into space when the dr's asked where he hurt.

After a short (5 hour) stay in the ER, they admitted Brecken into the pediatrics unit. The plan was that his infection was just really bad and he needed antibiotics via an IV. We got up to the room at about 12:45 am. Brecken had been sleeping for a few hours but they had to wake him up to do a few tests. He didn't go back to sleep and was still kind of delirious. At 4 am I gave up and finally went to sleep.

We had some awesome nurses who came in and helped him build legos while I slept.

Sunday morning he seemed much better. As long as his pain meds were up his fever was down. As soon as it wore off though he was back to not doing good. The dr. said we needed to stay another day to keep going with the antibiotics through the IV.

We had a nice visit that afternoon from Grandma & Grandpa and Taylor and Uncle Moe and Ari. Brecken loved it and showing his legos to his brother and sister. By the end of the visit he was worn out and back in bed. Through all of this he was so positive and content.

The next morning he seemed depressed. He wasn't excited about being in the hospital anymore. It broke my heart seeing him like that, I had to go lock myself in the bathroom and have a good cry. After breakfast we went down for an ultrasound of his kidneys. He rode in the wagon:

After that they let him go to the play room. He loved it! We pretty much spent the rest of the day in there playing.

Here he is a potato head.

I was getting discouraged by the afternoon. I wanted to go home to my other two little ones too. I'd been gone since Friday and it was now Monday. I was worried the dr. wouldn't let us check out since he'd had a small fever that afternoon.

The doctor came at 6pm and gave us the all clear. We were both so happy to be going home!

Brecken decided he like the wheelchair better than the wagon, it's a little more comfy.

The nurses told him how he was their favorite patient and how much they would miss him. We even received a card in the mail a week later that all of his nurses signed saying how much they like him. Such a charismatic kid.

He is pretty much all better now. He has a little bit of re-flux from his bladder up to his kidneys so he is on antibiotics for the next six months.

We are soo , soo grateful for all the help and love that came to us during this crazy time. For neighbors that watched our other two kids and all the meals that were brought in. We are surrounded by wonderful people!

Hee Haw

It was a typical Tuesday morning. I woke up, got Caden off to school and Branson off to work and then started in on the coupons like a mad woman. After an hour or so I was ready to do my shopping so I packed up Brecken and Lana and we headed off to Walmart for double coupon Tuesday.

I had just picked up a few things when I got a phone call from my neighbor Chantelle. She asked me if I was planning on going on the Joy School field trip. "Oh crap," I thought. I had the idea in my mind that it was on Wed, not Tues. So they agreed to meet up with me on the road and off we headed to Hee Haw Farms.

I didn't get a picture with all the kids, this is the closest. I am missing Emma.

Here are:

Brooke, Lana, Quinn, AJ, Maren, and Brecken

Lana makes an adorable farmer!

Brecken having fun on the tire swings.

My gorgeous and amazing friend Olya with her two little boys on the hay ride.

Lana's turn on the swings.

They loved "driving" the tractor.

Brecken did NOT want to look at the camera for this picture, so this is the best I got:

We had such a fun time, the kids did not want to leave.

Thanks Olya for organizing the trip!