Girls Camp

Kassie and Ashton have been at Girls Camp since Monday morning. They arrive home today sometime in the early afternoon. I had the opportunity to visit camp Tuesday night. As one of the Young Women leaders, I was part of a fireside that night. As part of the program I got to teach the girls a song that my mother taught me -- "This Little Light of Mine".

When we first arrived at camp Kassie was part of a group leading camp songs. I believe in this picture she is doing the motions of a dog. The look on her face is because she knows I'm taking her picture!
Ashton was enjoying her first year at camp! My understanding is that different groups of girls were given different counties to learn about and better appreciate. Ashton's group was Jamaica. Here she is displaying some of her dread locks!

I noticed Ashton also had a lesson in taking turns! First I sit on your lap, then you sit on mine.

Here we are just before starting our fireside. After the picture was taken they moved us to another location that already had a fire going for us. After the fireside the girls roasted marshmallows and made smores. It was good to see Kassie and Ashton! I was so wishing I could have stayed. If I'm still in this calling next year, I think I'll arrange for that to happen!

First swim day

Yesterday was our first day to the pool this season. We were there for three hours, long enough for me! Kassie and Brady decided to stay home. Kassie has flea bites all over her legs and arm pits from letting our outdoor rabbit sleep in her bed! She was too embarrassed to go to the pool. Brady also stayed home -- too cool for the pool. Ashton, Avery, Bryson and Kenzie played in the main pool while I hung out with Kaden in the kiddie pool most of the time. I met up with the mother of one of Avery and Bryson's friends at the kiddie pool. She also has a three-year-old. We sat and talked while the kids played. It made time pass much quicker for me.
Hey Aaronica, Kaden was making duckie stew with the rubber ducks you gave him!

Kaden braves the big pool with Bryson!

I've been telling Avery and Bryson for weeks that they need a hair cut. We talked about it again on our way to the pool yesterday. Once at the pool Avery said to me, "You're right, Mom. I do need a hair cut. When I'm swimming, I can't see where I'm going!"

Ashton watched Kaden in the big pool for me toward the end of our stay. A nice break for me!

Hey look Aunt Bonnie -- Kenzie Doodle on a noodle!

Today: I fed Mom breakfast. Avery went with me. When I walked in she said, "Oh, I forgot you were coming!" She must have remembered that I mentioned I would be there Tuesday morning. She laughed at one point, closed her eyes between bites, smiled as we left and told me she loved me. A good morning for Mom.

After Mom's breakfast I dropped Avery off at Dad's then headed over to my friend Aaronica's house. Aaronica and her family are the ones that introduced me to the church, and to Dale! I've been helping her sort through her life, literally! Her belonging were just shipped to her after being... a... I'll say "in storage" for nearly one and a half years. The over sized POD was full, but we're a good 3/4 of the way done! I'm going back Friday to continue the job. I've been enjoying myself working with Aaronica! She's a great friend!

Kenzie turns nine

On Saturday my youngest daughter turned nine years old. Kenzie mentioned earlier in the week that her favorite color was now green. I later went to AC Moore, purchased green beads and made her some bracelets for her birthday. We still need to go birthday shopping so she can pick out a few more things. We also have not had the chance to have her celebratory pizza meal. Hopefully we'll get that done tomorrow night. Kenzie was away all day with Dale as he played music, then the next day was Sunday. Today we had dental appointments and Ashton had a game, so the pizza meal has had to wait. We did squeeze in time for cake and ice cream late Saturday night. Kenzie requested chocolate cake with peanut butter icing, and also mint ice cream and chocolate ice cream. Ashton was not happy with Kenzie's request! She only likes vanilla!


Kaden was upset that he wasn't the one blowing out the candle. We had to relight the candle, sing "Happy Birthday" again and then let Kaden blow out it out!

Kassie got this gift for Kenzie during a Seminary auction at the end of the school year. The Seminary students donate items to be auctioned off. Each Seminary students is given so many points to use as their "money". Kassie saved up enough points to get this "spa treatment" for her little sister.

And now for an update on Mom. My mother's pain medications are making her sleep much more and talk much less. We are trying to arrange for someone to be with her over meal times to feed her, and also so she'll have someone to encourage her to eat. I'm on breakfast duty tomorrow morning. It's so hard to see her like this. I don't know how much longer she'll have to suffer. I do often wonder why Heavenly Father allows her to live on in such pain and discomfort. I'm trying to have faith that there is a reason for all of this. Perhaps one day I'll understand.

This past Wednesday

On Wednesday evening Brady had his 8th grade farewell. Boys were required to wear a shirt and tie for the event, which included a dance. The only dress shirts Brady owns are white, which he didn't want to wear. We found a shirt and tie on sale at Kohl's for the occasion. I thought he looked so handsome! While Brady was dancing the night away, Kassie and Ashton were having their first ever Young Women's Pine Wood Derby. Earlier in the year Ashton had asked me, "How come the girls never get to do Pine Wood Derby?" She planted the idea, and we went with it!
Kassie and Ashton raced against each other over and over again because it kept ending in a tie. It got to the point where neither one could stand to watch! In the end, Kassie's car was just a little faster than Ashton's.

Ashton and her car, The Hornet, got the award for most sporty.

Kassie and her Cadillac were awarded most realistic.

No, she's not crying. She didn't want her picture taken. That's also why she's hiding in the group shot. It was a fun night! I think the girls will ask to do it again!

Back to that all too familiar place -- the ER

Mom was taken by ambulance to the ER again today. The home called Dad to let him know that they wanted to call the ambulance. Dad told them he would be right over. His intention was to see for himself how sick she was and then make that decision. The head nurse didn't wait, and had already called 911. Mom was having unbearable pain. Dad, Kaden and I got to the ER shortly after Mom did. That was the worst pain I've ever seen her in. This would have been around 10:45 am. I had to leave at noon because I had a meeting at the school with Avery and Bryson's teachers. At noon she was still in as much pain! They were just giving her a second dose of pain medication through her IV as I was leaving. Dad called my house later in the afternoon to say she was back at the nursing home. All other tests came out fine. There was no need for her to stay at the hospital. Her pain meds have now been doubled at the home. She will likely be sleeping much more now, more doped up to control the pain. Dad and I were on the phone earlier this evening trying come up with ideas of how to have someone be with her over each meal time so she'll actually eat. Dad fed her supper and she dosed between each bite. He doesn't know that he can be there everyday for all three meals. We'll try to get help from their church. They've been offering to help. The time has come to take them up on their offers. Our main goal is now managing Mom's pain. I'm so wishing this pain and suffering would end for her.

Playing catch up

I'm trying to remember what I've forgotten to blog about, and what came first! I'll start with Memorial Day. I took the children to our Ward picnic, held this year at the Littlestown park. The kids ate, played in the creek, walked in the woods, hung out with friends, played softball, kickball, volleyball, climbed on the playground equipment and more. About the only thing I did was keep track of Kaden and socialize. The best part of the day was watching Bishop Burton on his unicycle! Found this cool pair of shades at the Dollar Tree for Kaden! Had to take pictures when we got home. While on the deck the neighbor's cat came over. I don't know the cat's real name, but we call him Butterscotch.

Over the weekend the kids found this Bug in the neighbor's yard with a "free" sign attached to it. Just the right size for Kaden, and it works!

My neighbor Wendy has a connection to someone having access to the leftover bread from the Panera Bread restaurant. What isn't sold/used by the end of the day is gotten rid of. Recently Wendy has given us loaf after loaf of bread, sometimes dessert items too. What a blessing to my family! We love it! None of it goes to waste. I made a double batch of bread pudding, a huge amount of French toast and the sandwiches at my house have never tasted better! Thanks Wendy!

This past Sunday morning Kenzie found a deer tick attached to her breast when she got out of the shower. Dale had to remove it with tweezers. Afterward we discovered Kenzie is her mother's daughter! After the removal process Kenzie became to feel funny. She staggered into my bedroom looking extremely pale and completely off balance! I wasn't sure what was going on at first. I said to her, "What are you doing?" Then that quick she was on the floor! It all happened so fast. I then said, "Did you just pass out?" Sure enough, there she was, out for the count, knocked out by a deer tick the size of a pin head! LOL! She tried to get up, fearing she was about to throw up and wanted to get to a trash can. I told her just to lie there for a few minutes. She said later that when I was talking to her my voice was muffled and that she couldn't see right. Also in talking about it later, she said she felt OK until Daddy told her, during the removal process, that the head was still attached. I am the same way! Sometimes it's not the injury itself, but people talking about it, describing it.

One more funny thing happened that I wanted to be sure to journal. Last night Kaden was walking up the stairs after having been out in the garage "working" with Daddy. He looked down at his feet and shockingly announced, "Dad! A piece of my sock is missing, and now my toe is sticking out! I think it must have ripped off when I was wearing my boots!" It was soooo funny! Wish I could relay in writing the tone of his voice and how very serious he was!

Lastly, an update on Mom. Yesterday wasn't good. She was in so much pain. The nursing home called Dad twice, the second time telling him Mom was asking for him. She was having trouble breathing and the doctor had ordered a much stronger pain medication. (Oxycontin) I happened to be with Dad at the time. Dad called their minister before we left for the home. Mom was breathing easier when we arrived. Dad held her face and lovingly kissed her. They were both crying. Mom had eaten very little all day because of the intense pain. Dad was able to get a few bites of food in her. She actually asked for a pretzel. Pastor Karl arrived and prayed over Mom. Soon after she was able to rest a little. I stayed with Mom while Dad went back home to get some things she was asking for. When Dad got back she was sitting up. She was still having pain, but it was more bearable. She was about the same the rest of the night. This morning isn't much different. We just pray that Heavenly Father will take away her pain and suffering. Who knows how much longer this could go on.