Sunday, January 31, 2010

Hockey!

While I don't intend to post about bathtime, I had to throw in this picture of my two boys in the tub. Isaac is getting to where he loves playing with Levi and Daisy. He is nine months old and very busy.
We found out about $5 night for the Utah Grizzlies hockey team. Since we'd never been to a hockey game before, we decided to go and take the kids. I had a fair board meeting near the arena the next day, so we got a hotel room and made a weekend of it. Here is Daisy waiting for her first hockey game to start.
By this point in the game Jeff and I had realized a few things: we know nothing about hockey, hockey players are intense athletes, hockey fans are a rough crowd, and we are getting old (all the hockey players appeared to be very young.)
This is Levi's tough hockey face. By this point in the game Levi still had not realized that concessions food at the hockey game was grossly overpriced and no, we were not buying him anything else.
And this is how Jeff bathed Isaac after swimming since there was no bathtub in our hotel room. Isaac thought it was a great plan.
The hotel we stayed at had a fab pool. We went early so we could swim before the hockey game started. Jeff was studying and I was poolside with Isaac on my lap. Daisy and Levi were swimming with their cousins. Suddenly we looked across the pool and saw a girl that was about 6 or 7 years old beginning to receive CPR. She had drowned. We watched as they worked and worked to revive her. I was shocked at the feeling of panic and fear that overcame me. I gathered the children around me and watched as they moved from chest compressions to breathing and back to chest compressions again and the girl just lay there motionless. A mother who had been watching her children swim, just like I had been doing, came over to get a towel off the rack that was behind me. She had seen the girl on the bottom of the pool. When the mom realized that the stranger was not moving, she jumped in the pool fully dressed to rescue her. A man from the front desk ran in and grabbed a defibrillator. When the paramedics arrived they started an IV and put her on oxygen. While we obviously don't know the details, it seems like the girl did not die, but she was certainly without oxygen for a very long time. The whole experience was a little traumatic. I keep thinking about it over and over again. I think about the mom who jumped in, the parents of the little girl standing there crying, the man doing CPR, the paramedics, the ambulance, the defibrillator on her chest, my kids seeing it all. She drowned in less than four feet of water.
I have taken three things from this experience. One, it really can happen anytime in any amount of water. I think this was good for my kids to understand. Two, one of my goals for the year is to become certified in CPR. I never want to be helpless in a situation like that. Three, I am more sincere in my prayers for safety and my expression of gratitude after a reminder of just how fragile my life, and the lives of my children are.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Here Comes The Bride

My youngest sister got married this weekend! Jeff worked with a great guy when he was serving in the Young Men. When he returned from his mission, Jeff wanted him to meet my little sister. Well, it really was love at first sight. They planned on getting married before they even went on a date. We have been busily planning the wedding for the past five months. It turned out beautifully! Thursday night started with a rehearsal dinner with Rian's entire family. It was so nice to meet everyone. Friday morning (early!) we were off to the temple. The sealing was beautiful! They were sealed by the temple president and I was so glad to be there. After the sealing was a short ring ceremony followed by the luncheon. The reception was held that evening. Saturday morning we were up and at 'em for another reception in the hometown. My job was to stand in the line, not take pictures, so I don't have any to show off, but trust me - it was awesome. Since my sister is a fashionista, her colors were black, hot pink, and zebra stripes. In no particular order, here are some photos I did get away with:
The happy couple opening gifts Monday morning.
The adorable flower girl, absolutely pooped.
Jamie getting her hair done by her adorable bridesmaid.

Exchanging rings at the ring ceremony.

The ring bearer being congratulated on his job well done.

The beautiful flower girl.

The hott couple.

Wedded bliss.
Congratulations to the happy couple!

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Eight is Great!


Jeff and I have celebrated our eighth anniversary! We (of course) can't believe it has been that long, but we have certainly enjoyed the ride. Here are my eight favorite things about being married to Jeff:
1. He tells me I'm still sexy
2. He shows me how to be a better parent.
3. He eats anything I try to cook and never complains
4. He is always the first to say "I'm sorry."
5. He knows how to make believe
6. He lets me think I'm right.
7. He takes care of me (in every way.)
8. He inspires me to be a better person. As simple and redundant as that may sound, it's true, and it is my favorite thing about being married to him.


Can't wait to see what the next eight years will bring.

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Out with the Old (Year)

Daisy asked for a sled for Christmas. Since the arrival of the Christmas sleds, Daisy, Levi, and Jeff have all enjoyed a lot of snow time.
Each Christmas Eve the children act out the Nativity as Grandpa reads from Luke 2. This year Daisy starred as an angel, Levi as a shepherd, and Isaac as baby Jesus.

My favorite after-Christmas tradition is going to the temple, but a close second would be our annual visit to the bowling alley. Even with my stellar moves I still didn't win.

Since Jeff's brother, Brian, and his family were here for Christmas from dental school, we got a big family picture taken. This is our little family version. And yes...my kids are adorable.

And just after we rang in the New Year, Levi made his way out of the nursery and into primary. He was so excited to become a 'Sunbean.' Handsome devil.
Our Family Christmas Top Three:
Jeff:
1. No school!
2. new scriptures
3. John Deere hat
Natasha:
1. Having Jeff home.
2. the simplicity (my kids are thrilled by the small, inexpensive stuff)
3. Going to Disneyland! (my parents gave us a week trip to a beach house in Cali...in August. WooHoo!)
Daisy:
1. new boots
2. new sled
3. having dad home
Levi:
1. Buzz Lightyear flashlight
2. singing Rudolph (still)
3. candy
Isaac:
1. wrapping paper
2. drum
3. extra time in the car traveling. Oh, wait, he hated that part.
Bring on 2010!