Good times in New York

This past weekend we took a trip up to Panama, New York to see our friends the Apthorpe family! We had an awesome time just relaxing and spending time with them. It's wonderful to have friends that you can just hang out with and enjoy their company, and let the kids play and have very little fighting. Nothing too thrilling occurred during our visit but the kids played, we all went sledding, and Ella and Matthew got "married". Emily was the officiant at the wedding and "pretendly" married the happy couple. Jason meanwhile was sleeping on the couch and Clint had on a rainbow clown wig. I will try and include the video of the ceremony so that you can watch, for those of you who missed the joyous occasion.

Ella and Claire looking like a Carter's advertisement

Jason gathering his courage for a trip down the hill!

Clint giving Jennie and Alison a push ..... WHEEEE!!!

The "marriage" ceremony

The happy couple!!

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Hello! We hope that your Valentine's Day was enjoyable. Thought we'd share some pictures about what's been going on around here!

Ella had to bring in a box for Valentine's Day for her valentines and so she and Daddy got to work. Daddy made her a heart shaped box out of cardboard and then Ella and I ran to Jo Ann's to get some felt to cover it. Below is the final product being held by Ella just before she went to school on Valentine's Day!



Emily had a Valentine's dance for junior high on Friday night and all the kids dressed up. I got to chaperone (Emily wasn't too thrilled when she found this was going to happen). As you see she look beautiful! We spent 1 1/2 hours doing her hair, it's soooooo straight it's almost impossible to get it to hold a curl without a lot of product! I was about to take my first picture of Emily when it hit me how much like me she looked! I knew she looked like me but this was almost scarry, looking at myself years ago! After getting over this shock we were off to the dance. I behaved myself and pretended I didn't even know Emily unless acknowledged by her first. It was interesting to watch the kids, only a few of them actually danced, the rest just socialized.

Emily and I came home to find Jason playing with a couple of his friends. They were playing some type of rock band game and Emily and I couldn't help but laugh! Here's a picture of the awesome rock stars!!

I have to throw in a picture of David too. He was recently playing with playdough but had decided earlier to try out some "long hair". The result is below!

Yes, that is pantyhose on his head!

Our recent goings on

I appologize up front for the lack of postings lately. Not much but sickness has been happening recently around here at our house. This past weekend did include some excitement and photo opportunities and so I thought I'd share them with you.



This past Saturday was the Pinewood Derby and sadly Emily was too old to participate. But, never fear, Ella was eligible this year! Being the bunny lover that she is, her car ended up being a carrot driven by a tiny bunny rabbit. She had an excellent time "building" the car with Daddy (the night before the race) and having her aunts Jennifer and Carolyn, uncle Scott and cousins Finn, Max, and Gus join her on race day to cheer her on!

Ella and Daddy working on the derby car

The finished product! (Helmet painted on by Mommy)

Ella won 3rd place for craftsmanship!

The next day Emily and Ella went ice skating. It was to be a Jr/Sr. High youth group activity but the whole family was invited to go along and this peaked Ella's interest. David decided he'd rather stay at home with his sick Mommy and watch a movie. This was not Emily's first time ice skating but it was for Ella. She was given what equates to an ice walker to keep her stable on the ice. I wish they had those for big people, goodness knows I need one when I get on the ice! Emily seemed to be doing loops around Ella, but did take the time to give her some pointers.

Ella and her "ice walker"

Hope all is well and healthy where you are, check back again!

New Year, New Post

Mimi, Boppy and the grandkids

Well, I'm finally putting up a new post. I know it's been a while but with the holidays and all, enough said. Our household is getting back into a routine. Jason returned to work this week and got his green cast off (both on Monday). He's driving himself with his left foot and his right foot is basically on the passenger's side and would be very difficult to move to use, even if he tried. He is improving and is now allowed to bear weight on the right foot but his road to recovery is still long.

Emily has been starting to babysit a little more. She had a job for Jason and I this past Saturday (we are really liking a built-in babysitter) and has a job lined up for this Friday night! Junior high is being kind to her and I must say that this year has a lot less drama than last year!

Ella is enjoying school and said she couldn't wait to get back to learn new things. She has decided she wants to play soccer this spring but Jason and I are going to wait a little closer to the sign up dead line to make sure that her mind doesn't change. Ella got a new desk and three reams of copying paper for Christmas (her favorite present) and has been busy cranking out the "books". I'm sure she'd write one for anyone who requests one.

David has changed very little, besides his hair which I cut just before Christmas. It's a lot shorter now and I wasn't sure of it at first but it's grown on me. He is enjoying his many Chirstmas gifts too.

Christmas Day

Jason, the night before his cast came off!

Christmas Cookie Day!

Jason doing what he does best these days

Before I get into Christmas Cookie Day, I'll give a quick update on Jason. He went to the doctor yesturday for a post-op checkup. The doctor said Jason was doing very well and that everything looked great. Jason will still not be able to bear weight on his right foot for 2-3 weeks and won't be able to drive with that foot till March. He got a new cast (this one is now bright lime green) and copies of his x-rays so he can share his break with one and all. He's doing well since cutting down on the narcotics and adding Ibuprofen to the routine. Jason's plan is to return to work in early January (driving with his left foot, not a good idea from my point of view). That's it on the Green Gimp!



Now for Christmas Cookie Day! Mimi, Boppy, Jennifer, Finn, Carolyn, Max, Gus, Jason, myself, Emily, Ella, and David were all in attendance to make cookies at the condo. Many cookies were made, eaten and I believe a good time was had by all. It was snowing for the majority of the time and made the spirit of it all seem more festive (the Christmas music didn't hurt either)! Provided below are pictures from the day! Enjoy!!

Emily on childcare duty!

David and his "TOWER OF SPRINKLES!"

The cookie assembly line

Chocolate? What chocolate?!

The end of Jason's soccer career (?)

As many of you have heard by now Jason broke his leg last Wednesday December 5th while playing indoor soccer. He says he can't exactly recall what happened but knows that he and the goalie of the other team were both going for the ball and collided and his leg snapped, apparentnly very loudly because everyone else heard it too. He had fractured both his tibia and fibula of his right leg (midshaft break). I got a call from his friend Micah at about 10:10pm to let me know what had happened. Thankfully my father was able to come over and stay at my house while I went to Mercy Fairfield to be with Jason in the ER.

We were in the ER till about 4am and while there they reduced his tibia and put him in a splint. I was able to get him in to see one of the doctors I work with at 11am that Thursday morning. It was decided that he needed surgery (something I could tell just looking at his broken leg in the ER) and a metal rod was going to be placed in his tibia. While there they also replaced his ER splint with another more comfortable splint.


Jason had surgery Saturday morning at 7:30am at Jewish Hospital. The surgery took 2.5 hours and he recovered in the PACU for about another 4 hours. Thankfully he was the only one there and I was able to sit with him for a while during recovery. I am also grateful for my family who sat with me during and after the surgery to keep me company and occupied. The surgeon said everything went well and that he should be able to put weight on that leg in three to four weeks. He will definitely be on crutches for two months and in some type of cast/splint/boot for 4 to 6 months.


Now that he is home our challenge is keeping him comfortable and sane. As those who know him well already know, he's not used to being kept down and is a stubborn guy. He's finding out that he has to slow down and take it easy. I told him that I've been after him for a year to slow down in all aspects of his life but he wouldn't listen. God decided to break his leg to get him to listen, never underestimate the power of a praying wife! (Just kidding, God knows what He's doing and why, I'm sure it's not because of me!)


Thanks for taking the time to read the blog and I'll try to post more updates soon. Also provided below is the address of an image that is similar to what Jason's tibia rod looks like. I couldn't transfer the image successfully, so you can go to this address and see it!

http://z.about.com/d/orthopedics/1/8/p/1/tibialrodap.jpg

Ella's Christmas Wish

Ella had perfect timing loosing some teeth recently, as much as you can! She now no longer has to wonder what she'll ask for Christmas (not like it's a real problem anyway!) All she wants for this Chirstmas is "Her two front teeth"! I came home from work this past Friday to find Ella with her remaining front tooth blowing in and out of her mouth with each breath she took. Jason said she would not let him touch her mouth but as I was Mommy, maybe I could convince her. Needless to say I did finally persuade her to let me get the obviously very, very loose tooth out of her mouth. I had barely touched the tooth and it fell out in the tissue I was holding. You can see Ella's proud results below!

Posing for Mom right after the big event!

Showing off her new look to Boppy the next day!