Grandma Bullard

So this is almost 2 years old but, I'm playing catch up with post saved in my drafts.

My last surviving Grandma past away early Wed. morning. I'm so happy for her that she is now free of pain, and she is with her husband again that she has been widowed from for 40 years! Of course even knowing this day will come and the best laid plans still don't fully prepare you for this moment. We will all miss Grandma Bullard but, are happy to know there is a huge reunion going on in heaven right now. I know the last 3 years have been hard on many people in the family. I personally am so grateful for the past few years with Grandma B. It has been no secret that Grandma and I have had our issues. And I will admitt that I have had a chip on my shoulder in regards to some hurtful things that were said most of my life. But, 3 years ago in the midst of a horrible time of my divorce Grandma called me and said "I wish there was something I could do to help, and I financially can not afford to help you so the only thing that I can think of doing to help you out, is for me to move out so that you and the kids can move in here with your mother." I was stunned and have felt guilty over her giving up her place in her home so that my kids and I would have a roof over their heads. The last 3 year It is no seceret that Grandma and I had our battles and I have had alot of guilt about her giving up her home for me. In the process however I am so thankful for the past 3 years if for nothing else for my mother. As long as I can remember my mother has been compared to her little sister who was the "Golden Child" After years and years of being told you are not perfect but someone else is, it was an eye opening experience to Grandma to actually live with someone so perfect so suddenly now finally my mother got some compliments that have been well deserved and needed for over 60 years. So I have decided that I will deal with the guilt that I have about Grandma because it makes me so happy to know that before my Grandma passed she finally truly showed her love to my mother. For that I love her and I will miss her but know she is in a better place.

Happy Birthday Weekend Mason!!!!

My little boy is growing up :( I told him he could invite a friend friday night and we would go do something fun to celebrate his birthday. He chose to take a girl!!! I was alright with this until watching my son in a go-kart at Boondocks and Cassidy and him were too much into driving side by side talking and not paying attention to the track and ended up crashing and doing 360's PHEW, counting my blessings that this birthday he was not turning 16!
Saturday was geared towards Dad Visit and earrands and my Niece Tina going through the temple for the first time. I decided to let Mason open one present Saturday night mainly because I needed to iron and get things set up before I had to go to Ward council early Sunday morning. He was so excited and thought it would be a new DSi....sorry dude! Seriously mom you got me clothes? Doesn't he look thrilled to try on his cute new Church jacket? Mom asked what the problem is why aren't you excitied to get clothes for your birthday? Mason said "Mom boys don't get excited about clothes." Thanks for clearing that up for me buddy! :) Then Laken, said "Duh that's dumb girls love to get new clothes!" This was Laken, cheering for New clothes. Ha Ha! I took the kids to Red Lobster, Mason's choice dang kid with Champagne taste!!!The kids were watching the Lobsters and lets just say it was "mating season" of course my kids are the kids standing at the tank loudly saying "Mommy, look at those two Lobsters they are having a piggy back ride!" While the rest of the lobby is giggling I'm finding a table to crawl under hoping to not have to give a lesson on the birds and the bee's when they start to notice gross other things!!! Luckily the manager was intune and ran over the move the Lobsters from the front of the tank to the back, and pulled a few out for the kids to see and to distract them! Can you say thank goodness for lots and lots of Purell and Handsoap before Dinner!

Mason wanted crab legs for his birthday dinner and Laken just thought they looked disguisting which I am totally fine with!!! Until she tried some of the meat and loved it! DANG IT!!! I love the picture of her being a geek looking at them! Ha Ha!The next day was Sunday hooray his actual birthday! We raced from doing sharing time to going to luncheon for "Baby Kate" my great neices baby blessing where I almost cried because my kids were not the "little ones" anymore they were the babysitters? I'm so use to them being the little ones needing to be pushed on the swing set and instead they were taking care of Parker and Millie and were totally self sufficent? WHAT when did this happen? Both Jill and I stood back in shock that our little guys no longer needed us? Talk about feeling lost!!! After a fun afternoon watching my favorite little "greats" we came home and I told Mason before he changed out of his church clothes I needed a picture. Little Miss thing ran to a rock and said take one of me first! When I told her to just stand infront of the plant bed she looked at me and said "Mom, this is a much nicer picture spot!" Um okay Ansel Adams? Can you say ATTITUDE written all over her face in this picture?
My little Man! I let Mason open all of his gifts but, the last one from me it was a video game he has been wanting and I knew we had a hectic day and if he had it there was no getting him to hurry and move to get ready to run from place to place. So he was dying to open it but, I told him he had to wait for Grandma. He thought he was going to die! Then Grandma called us from Grandma B.'s and asked if we would come visit. She has taken a turn for the worse with her leg, don't get me started on the tagent about idiotic nursing staff who neglected her pain for 4 days!!! Anyways we went and hung out with Grandma Bullard because she was sad she missed the baby blessing even though she still does not know who's baby it is and is convinced that Tina' has not had her baby yet, even though she was holding the baby in her arms when she asked that? Ha Ha! Mason brought his present to Grandma B. and asked if she would like to watch him open his gift of course she said yes!

Since Mason was so thrilled to get clothes the first time, Mom was a jerk :) and wrapped his game that he was hoping for and hide it the pocket of a new sweatshirt so when he first opened it he was really disappointed and said "More Clothes, Great!" little spoiled punk. So then I told him to check the pocket and he was happy. Even though it was a hectic weekend I hope he was able to have a fun time. I love you buddy you are the best kid!

My Baby is growing up!

I can not believe my little Man is already 9, where on earth did 9 years go? I'm so proud of what an amazing kid he is after all that he has endured he still amazes me on a regular basis at his knowledge of life, the scriptures and the gospel. Mason you are an amazing, caring, intelligent little man who told me on the morning he woke up for his birthday that he was "No longer my little boy" then proceded to ask if Santa Claus was real? I will need to take a moment to be able to complete a full post about his busy Birthday weekend. But, just had to share how cute my birthday boy looked in his new sunday clothes. Sniff, he looks to grown up!!!!

Circus!!!!

The Circus was in town and I splurged and took the kids and Grandma. It was Laken's first time going and she was a riot to watch. There was one clown that we called the "Laken" clown because all of a sudden he started to dance and he did the two finger "Pulp Fiction" move. Laken throws this in her dance routines all the time. don't ask me where she learned it I have no clue especially since I have never even watched that movie? As soon as the clown did that she lost it and it was a case of the giggles after that! Mason, luckily is smiling he was in big trouble this trip he took off right when we got there and we lost him. As I'm giving a report to the security gaurds and they pick up the radio and say "LOCK ALL THE DOORS!" Mom just added about 100 new grey hairs and became even more sick to her stomach! As I finish up the report this smily little blonde boy walks up and is standing on the otherside of the ropes grinning from ear to ear and say's "Hi Mom!" AUGH I could have rung his neck! The security gaurd say's "Ring his neck softly Mom!"

On the way to the Circus Laken could hardly wait!

The beginning when the clowns came out! She was so excitied and so fun to watch!

The "Laken" Clown began to dance and it was all over! The entire family was giggling on how much it danced like Laken!


Mason and his new obnoxious toy! Note to self: after recovering from stupid siezures don't by a toy that flashes! DUH!!!! Lol.

The drive home the kids were slap happy and so was mom! I think this was the first day mom was not covered in hives so she was a new woman & was singing the dumb theme song the kids could not stop giggling! Guess I need to work on my singing voice? :)

The Gigglefest continued on the drive home.

Weekend Getaway "Murphy's Law" Style!

After a long week of the kids and I getting past sinus infections and stomach flu, Grandma had decided that for Conference Weekend we would make a trip down to Bryce Canyon and Escalante. Grandma reserved a room down in Escalante and the kids were so excitied to take a road trip and go stay at a hotel. You would think the kids had never been to a hotel before? Anyways our journey started bright and early Saturday morning. Laken and I were finally feeling better from having the stomach crude. We went upstairs to see Grandma and she grumpily said, "I caught your stomach crap." And so it begins...We left the house by about 7:30am only to make it to Draper before Grandma had to make a stop. We got back on the freeway and made it to Lehi and had a front tire completely shred into pieces while going 80 mph! Needless to say I will now forever sponser Lexus Safety Claims about being one of the safest cars on the road. We managed to make it to the side of the road and it only felt like we had a flat tire so we were shocked to see that the tire was in shreds and we were driving on a rim. Of course in typical fashion for our family, Grandma say's that is the tire that I just had Discount Tire repair for me on Thursday! So first we called AAA, which of course Grandma's membership had expired so the sound of a cash register begins as we pay for another years membership and wait for a tow truck driver to come. He too had a problem trying to figure out the lift hydralic system that the spare tire is hooked to in Grandma's Lexus, that system I will not sponsor for Lexus! After an hour and a half of sitting on the busy freeway with 2 kids and a dog the spare was on and we went to start the car and head to Discount Tire in Lindon only to find the car would now not start!!! Luckily the tow truck driver had not taken off yet so he gave us a jump and we were on our way to Lindon. The guys at the tire shop were ready and waiting for us after recieving a phone call from the previous store (whom we called, probably not so nicely and told the situation too.) Of course they tell Mom that she really needs to have 4 new tires, UGH! So Grandma took full advantage of their guilt and got a good deal that was too good to pass up! So Ka-Ching the sound of a cash register goes off again. We hung out waiting for 4 new tires, then when the guy went to back the car out of the garage the car once again would not start! They had to push it out and jump start it again, telling us that if we are headed to Escalante we should be fine because the battery will have time to recharge on that long of a drive. Finally we hit the freeway all very happy to be getting out of town for a night when suddenly pop another freaking noise on the car that does not sound very good. Again we pull over and find a flat tire!!!! It was now 2:30pm we left our house at 7:30am and made it as far as SPRINGVILLE!!! This time I made the phone call to the tire shop and I was not a very happy camper! They sent a guy out to the gas station we pulled up too, we could not turn the car off for fear of it never starting up again! Needless to say another spare tire put on and ANOTHER trip to Discount Tire this time the provo branch. By the time we were finished it was now 3:30pm. We had spent 8 hours in a car and the idea of another 6 did not sound good. We finally thought made the Lord is telling us we are not suppose to leave too far from town. So we changed the plans and ended up spending a night in park city. Probably spending 4 times the amount of money we had intended. But, we had a great time with our tours of the Discount Tires in the Valley. :)

Roadshow!

I'm behind again in posting to this thing, I know huge shocker there? Anyways here are pictures from our ward Roadshow. We all had so much fun. Just the kids were in it but, I helped wrangle my cute little Primary Group who I love to death. The theme was Return With Honor. Our skit was way cute we had it split into Modern Day and Pioneer times.
My little Modern Day Girl with her new Pioneer Friends Victoria & Sarah

Really cute songs and dances showing a Modern Day Couple, and Emma and Joseph and the cutest song about the wives being frustrated that "Joseph" and the modern day husband were away from home doing work and she was overwhelmed with all the chores and taking care of the kids. Laken, originally was suppose to just be one of the couples kids. The little "babies" who were so cute they just wore P.J.'s and got to run around and play on the stage while the Couples did thier part, then in the finale they only had to do the "Chicken Dance" and that was the end. The rest of the Primary kids did a dance and sang to the song "It's a Hard Knock Life" where half the stage was Modern Kids worn out by all the pressures and busy schedules they face. The other half were Pioneer kids singing about the pressures they also face with some of the same things, chores, homework, etc. Mason was a Pioneer kid and was so cute! His group was adorable in their costumes and bringing out their little handcart.

Mason practicing "It's a Hard Knock Life"

Mason and Laken missed the first practice due to a "Dad" visit, where everyone learned the Finale dance which was hilarious it went through a random mix of songs from Micheal Jackson's Beat it to the Patridge Family and Vanilla Ice, so much fun! So I taught Mason the Dance at home and of course little Miss "Im going to be a STAR" picked up on the dance right away. So at the next practice when she was just suppose to be sitting there watching the older kids she was doing it along with them and was evreyone's favorite to watch because she was tiny next to everyone and had some serious attitude in her little moves. So the Roadshow director changed Laken's part and put her in with the big kids. So Laken was part of the snotty Modern Kids group, very fitting! HA HA!

Laken Singing and practicing "It's a Hard Knock Life"

I was so proud of my kids they did such a good job and were so into the dance moves, they cracked so many people up. I can't wait to get our copy of the video it turned out so cute. The kids had a blast and we all made some great new friends in the ward in the process! :)

My cute little Primary Group!

The highlight of our Summer!

This Summer flew by, we were not able to get away to do as much as we had hoped but, we did manage to get away for a weekend and go spend time with my best friend Lindsay. We love this family, the kids get along so well together. Mason & Bailey are little buds and Gracie & Laken are so much alike, I know that is a scary thought! :) But, Gracie and Laken love to play with the same type of toys, they had a weekend full of Baby Dolls and Littlest Pet Shop, While Bailey and Mason loved being out riding bikes or on the tramp. We always love going to visit with the Cowan family because it feels like home. I love her entire family we always have so many great laughs together and they are always so good to my kids. My kids adopted them as new Aunts and Uncles. We spent one afternoon out on the 4 wheelers which was a blast. One big bonus about Rocksprings there are trails everywhere!


Mason, Bailey, & Laken getting ready to take off!


Watch out Laken is driving!!!! Look at her face she means business when it comes to riding in the dirt, A little bit too much like her mother? Poor Kid :)


Mason & Bailey they rode forever, Mason had his first time of Cramped Thumb from riding so much. We tried to tell him to get off and rest then but, he said NO WAY he comes alive and is so happy out on a machine in the dirt! Hmmm another one just like his Mother? Poor Kid!


"Uncle Mark" with Laken and Gracie


Hold on tight Laken, Mom is driving!

Playing Catch up!

I know it has been a while since I have posted anything I feel like I have lost almost a year of my life and am in a fog with some things going on. But, I have to just brag about my sweet little kids who keep me going. Sometimes they keep me going straight to the nut house? But, usually the keep me laughing and are amazing examples to me. Laken, started Kindergarten this year I still can not believe 5 years has already flown by and that she is in school. :( My baby is growing up way too fast. She loves Kindergarten and everyday is so excited to come home and tell me how many new friends she has made, even though she has no idea what her new friends names are they are still her new best friends :)

I'm a bad mom and with all the craziness of life I did not take a picture of Mason on his first day of school :( He started a week earlier than Laken so I totally dropped the ball on that! OOPS! I have to say how proud I am of that sweet little boy. Last week was a hard week I had some serious medical scares. One of them being that they thought I was having a stroke. The Paramedics were called and they raced me to the hospital. I don't remember the whole ordeal because I was in and out of it for a while but, I do remember in the very beginning Mason came to stand next to me while my mom was calling 911 and he started to cry and said "Are you going to die?" I told him no I was not going to die. And then told him that I loved him so much. Meanwhile I was scared to death not sure I have ever been so scared in all my life? Later I remember I was in a room in the ER and there were about 15 people(the stroke team) all racing around doing things to me. I remember all of a sudden hearing Mason's voice and I just kept saying "I am so sorry buddy, I love you so much!" And that little 8 year old boy came and stood at the head of my bed and said "Mom, it is ok everything is going to be alright, You are going to be fine. I said a prayer and I know you will be fine because Heavenly Father loves you very much and is going to take care of you." WOW what a little guardian angel. Mason, I am so extremely proud of you and you manage to blow my mind constantly with your amazing faith and example.
This was taken a few days before school started. We went and saw the play "Suessical" which was alot of fun and the kids loved! Mason, in your short little life of 8 years you have had to endure numerous things that nobody should really have to endure. Yet you do it with a smile and you always show such amazing power and faith. You truly are one of my biggest hero's!!!! I am so lucky to be a mom to such great kids!

The Case of the Cookie Thieves...

I came home from work and found this on my floor...

The only suspect in the area at the time was the dog. When confronted with the allegation I got this:

"WHO ME?...But, in the Judicial system it is Innocent until proven guilty.

GUILTY!!! - She can't hide her little Red Face!

Later that night the house had another Cookie Theif this time the suspect was caught sneaking Chocolate Chips from the Pantry.

When the suspect was confronted she too could not hide the evidence of a little ring of chocolate around her mouth.

Allergic to Life?

Well without getting into all the dumb details and frustrations I simply will just say that my weekend ended in proper fashion that was fitting to my week. I woke up Saturday morning looking like this. This is not the first time I have looked like "Hitch" or better yet Eric Stoltz from "Mask". It is always a self-esteem builder to wake up and when your child sees you they scream and say "what happened to you?" :( But, honestly I can't say I blame them I look very scary!!!! I told my kids I think that I really am Princess Fiona from Shrek and maybe my "true self is coming out?" Ha Ha!

Me looking Sexy!!! HA!

Hmmmm I see too much of a resemblance!!!! Oh my heck I am freaking "Rocky Dennis"!!!!

My Monkey Lip! I could be in Planet of the Apes? I must say I am very grateful for Sunglasses and dark theaters and a son who loves me regardless of how I look. Poor kid, we had a Mommy Date planned and I was not about to disappoint him so I swallowed my pride and went to the movies and shopping looking like this. Thank goodness I am not married can you imagine having to wake up to this AHHH I would give someone a heart attack and kill them off for sure! HA HA HA!

Teaching the Plan of Salvation one spider at a time!

My little Missionary Man Mason, is too funny. Earlier in the day he and his sister were playing with a Daddy Long-leg spider, EWWWWW don't even get me started on that, YUCK! I'm guessing the spider must have died because Mason in his sidewalk artwork drew the "Circle of Life of a Spider" :)

The Circle of Life!

Egg, Baby, Kid...

Adult, Death, Spirit...

Heaven & then Resurrection!
WOW He is listening in Primary I think I will let him do my Sharing Times from now on! Mason buddy you make me smile! You are such a sweetheart!

My Motorcycle Babies :)

Uncle Kenny is loving being a Grandpa it gives him a big excuse to buy little toys. He has been telling Mason that he needed to learn how to ride his bike so that he could learn to ride a motorcycle and Mason has done a great job on his bike this summer so on the 4th the kids got to ride on the little Motorcycle. I don't know who had more fun the kids or Mom seeing how cute her kids look on a little 50? Now Mom really wants to get some dirtbikes, the kids loved riding solo. Mason, was a little more reserved about it and Laken was of course alittle bit more like her mother and took off on it. Both kids did great, Uncle Kenny told Mason next time he would take the training wheels off and teach Mason how to ride without so Mason is thrilled. Thanks Uncle Kenny!

"Giggle Juice"

If you ever want to see what your child will act like on drugs just go to the hospital and watch them after they have had a dose of Versed sp? or as the Nurse called it for Laken's sake "Barbie Giggle Juice." Little miss thing had to have surgery on the 2nd and she of course went about it in true fashion. First, we started this process off because she failed her hearing test so after a few test the Audiologist said that they believed she just needed tubes done and that would solve the issue. While at the audiologist they also looked at her tonsils which have always been very large, Laken has NEVER slept through the night, her tonsils are so large that they cut off her air way and wake her up. Yes people 4 years of No sleep hmmmm now Jen's crankiness and problems are all making sense? HA HA!
Anyways, so they scheduled her to do Tubes, tonsils, and Adenoids all at once. Laken, knew that with her tonsils out she would get to eat ice cream and Popsicles. So the night before her surgery we took her to Noodles and Co. to have Mac & Cheese (her Favorite) she did not finish all of her meal so I asked her do you want to take it home to save to eat maybe for lunch? She did not which was a weird thing for Laken to turn down Mac & Cheese. So the morning of her surgery we are driving to the hospital and I said "Mommy had her tonsils out when she was a little girl, & Grandma had hers out too." She responds "But you guys eat chips and things?" HUH??? So I said "Honey do you think that you will never be able to eat regular food again?" She said "Yes, I have to only eat Popsicles from now on :(" HA HA HA! Oh poor sweet child!!!!

Next, they gave her some "giggle juice" honestly I think they should give the parents this instead of the kids. Her nerves were fine mine were shot! She was hilarious on it. She swayed back and forth like a drunken sailor and just giggled the whole time. The doctor came in to talk to us and she started to count "1,2,3,4...1,2,3,4...1,she would loose her train of thought at 4 and start over again and again! HA HA! Then the Nurse came and stood at the door and Laken pointed at the nurse and said "Hey there is two of you!" my child was now seeing double!!! I thought the nurse was going to loose it she was laughing so hard! By the time the wheeled Laken down the hall to the operating room she had the entire Nurses Station bent over dying laughing, finally the Doctor looked at me and said "Is she this funny in real life?" I smiled and said you have no idea she is a little firecracker and keeps us entertained.

Surgery went well, her ears were not as bad as they had thought but, she is hearing things she has never heard before like the sound of the shower and the squeak of grandma's shoes on the floor. So hopefully that is all she will need but, we won't know for another month or so? She has actually slept through an entire night for the first time in her life!!! WAAAHOOO My child was almost 5 years old and she finally slept through the night!!! :) Leaving the hospital was pretty funny the nurse put her in a wagon and as they are wheeling her out she starts to SING!!! The nurse looks at me stunned! We both said Honey doesn't that hurt your throat? She says "No!" and has continued to sing and talk non stop since! NOTHING can keep that child quite!!!! I have decided she defiantly needs to get into singing because she still is right on key and is using her diaphragm to sing from not her throat. Who has their tonsils taken out and still can sit and belt out songs? What a little Nut!!!