Pampered Chef!

I am so excited to let all my friends and family know I am joining Pampered Chef again after a several year break. I recently attended a show and thought it would be fun to host a show of my own, but couldn't stop thinking of how much fun I had when I was a consultant. Now that my kids are older I think it's the perfect time to sell Pampered Chef again because of my passion for the product. It's easy to sell something I love!
Please join me at an open house at my home on March 9 @ 6:30pm to launch my new business and get off to a great start! Bring a friend, enjoy the food, and watch me demonstrate some of my favorite products. There will be lots of door prizes!
If you are unable to attend the party you still, of course, are welcome to order. I will be getting a website where you will be able to order online. I will let you know when I get that info.
I am also looking for anyone interested in hosting a party to help me get my business off to a great start! If you are interested in having a great time with your friends and family and earning free and half priced items, please let me know. I am anxious to get a few shows booked for March!
Thanks for all your support, I look forward to an awesome year with Pampered Chef!

start 2010 with a bang!

So we are not off to a good start this year. Richard has met his $1,000 deductable this 15th day of January! We spent Tuesday in the ER in Safford, and then the next two days at Banner Gateway hospital. It's been a long frustrating experience but we are home and glad it's over and he is better. This whole thing started about 3 weeks ago as he woke up in the night with extreme groin pain. I insisted he go to his dr which he did that day. He was told he had a prostate infection and a mild hernia and took antibiotics for then next 10 days. Two days after going off the Cypro he was in Safford at a job. He had been driving all day and was exhausted and very nauseaus. He was up most of the night throwing up and with the same groin pain. He went to the ER in Safford where they took a cat scan and determined he had a large kidney stone lodged. They wanted to admit him to control the pain, but had no urologist available to see him so we didnt think there was a point in staying there. They contacted a urologist here and the ER dr spoke with him over the phone explaining what they found. They drugged him up and I met Don in globe to pick him up. We drove to the urologist's office and luckily they had a cancelation and got us right in. We handed him the disc and after explaining the pain and doing an exam he determined it was the prostate infection that had not cleared up. We tried to convince him to look at the cat scan and at least rule out the kidney stone but he said he would look at it and call us next week. He sent us home with more antibiotic.We went to bed but he awoke at 2 am in intense pain and nausea. The pain got so bad all he can do is slowly walk around. I called a neighbor friend and he came and gave him a blessing and I took him to the ER. It took over an hour before they gave him dilaudid, but finally got some relief. They did an ultrasound and another cat scan since the stupid urologist had the disc from the one they did in Safford. Cat Scan did indeed show a large 6 by 5 mm kidney stone lodged in the ureter. So now they let the urologist know and find out the plan. His pain was getting harder and harder to control and the meds were not effective.Next thing we know they want to transfer him to another hospital and do the surgery in the morning. This is when I drew the line. They would not of course let me drive him myself and they would not tell me why we had to move to the other hospital to do the procedure. Thankfully the ER dr came in at a really bad moment and saw how bad off he was with all the drugs not working. My not so assurtive self made a turn and I told him what I thought. He left and called the urologist and told him he was in no condition to transport and wait until morning for surgery which he found out was the urologists plan. (Cause you know its all about the convienience of the dr, not what is best for the patient or what it might cost.) Thankfully the urologist agreed to come over to the hospital we were at and do the surgery at 4. Now we figure out a way to get his pain under control until surgery. Two of our good friends came to the hospital thankfully at the same time, and gave him another blessing. He was blessed that his body would be able to relax and the pain would decrease. Right after that the nurse came in with an anxiety medication that immidetiely relaxed him and allowed the massive doses of dilaudid to finally take effect. He was able to sleep until his surgery. I think the blessing worked for the dr to know what to give him that would finally help! All went as planned and we are home and doing well. He was anxious to come home from the hospital this morning and we both layed down for a nap. Unfortunately the 3 oldest kids were home from school with some stomach bug but they were kind and let us rest for the most part. That is until Carson got home from school!! He has a stent in his ureter holding it open so the reminants of the stone can pass. He has some pain as he passes those, but doing better. We hope for a good night rest as we are both exhausted and have family pictures and a football game in the morning! So there is the story. I would for sure rather have a baby than go through what he just did.

on the ride home from Safford!
At the Dr. about to get the stent removed. Not fun!

Christmas Day 2009

Christmas morning was exciting as ever! The kids were up at 6 but we begged for another hour. They were instructed to go back downstairs and wait until 7 to wake us back up! So at 7 mom and dad rolled out of bed and tried to be as excited as they were!! We had to get the cameras ready so they had to wait some more. Mom had to grab a picture before we let them in! Aren't they so happy! I just love to see them so excited, it was so fun.

Mom was sneaky and got a picture of their stocking stuff before I let them in. Here is Austin and Megan's Santa stuff!

Here is Rylan and Carson! Carson was thrilled to find a tape measure and sunglasses in his stocking which is just what he wanted!

Here is the beautiful presents and tree. Santa was generous and left each of the kids two wrapped presents to open.

Sorting out the gifts

waiting so nice until Carson could start!

Not sure why they are all folding their arms.

Austin getting ready to unwrap.

Megan got mom and dad these awesome pants! Our favorites!! So thoughtful

My favorite part of christmas! This year they each used their own money to buy each of their siblings a gift. It was so cute to help them each pick out special gifts the other one would want. Ryaln got some birthday money and I asked him what he was going to buy. He looked at me and said "I want to buy Megan and Austin and Carson a gift for Christmas" I was so touched. We took him to the store and enjoyed as the boys snuck around picking out gifts for each other. They were each so appreciative as they opened up the gifts from each other. I was so excited I captured this moment. It was so sweet.

The bakugan Megan gave him.

Carson loves his tent!

Grandpa Paul and Grandma Lorie came over and spent the day with us. We enjoyed our wonderful waffles with strawberries and whip cream and then had to get out Bingo! Love to win those candybars!

I forgot my camera when we went to Tawna's for Christmas dinner so I will have to steal some from her or Granny! We enjoyed a mexican feast and once again got to be together. Thanks everyone for having us over this Christmas! We enjoyed this holiday season and felt so greatful this year for all our blessings! We feel so extremely blessed as a family! Richard and I are so grateful for our children and the opportunity God has given us to raise them as difficult as it is at times, we know we are lucky to have them. We look forward to the new year and all it has to offer!

Christmas Eve 2009

We did things a little different this year and went to Taya and Kevins for Christmas eve. We missed Papa and those who didn't make it but it was fun to get together and spend the evening as a family.
I didn't take any pictures of our traditional steak sandwiches but we all enjoyed them as usual. This year we decided to do the white elephant gift game with the kids and they were so excited! This is the beginning of the game.
Here are the kids showing off what they got! They had fun

Austin was not so happy about the girly gift he opened and waited patiently for it to get stolen from him which it finally did. He was funny trying to get everyone after him to steal his gift!

Here are Granny and Grumpy admiring the beautiful jars Taya made filled with memories from all their kids and grandkids. What a treasure for them to have as they live away from all their kids now in Heber.

And since it was Rylan's birthday we got a cake and got to sing Happy Birthday to him again!

A Night in Bethlehem

Our ward party was "A Night in Bethlehem" which turned out amazing! Richard and I spent lots of time planning and helping decorate it since we are both on the activities committee.
This is the toy booth where they got to pick out a dradle.

Here is the gift of the magi where he showed them some magic tricks!

The kids watched in awe! It was way cute

Getting there food! Carson wasn't so sure about the food selection! We had cucumber salad, tabouli, chicken skewers, pita bread and hummus, grapes, and cheese with a cookie booth for dessert.

the boys playing with their dreidels

The angels

The program was a simple manger scene with Mary singing "Mary's Lullaby" and the 3 wise men sang a song as well as the the shepard boys with everyone joining. I should have taken more pictures to capture the feel, but it was really neat. We all had been given gold coins with our invitations and were instructed to bring them to pay our tax which we had to do to enter Bethlehem. All in all it was a great experience!

Christmas Picture 2009

Snow trip in Flagstaff

After the Polar Express we stayed in Flagstaff and a friends house. We had so much fun sledding, playing games, eating, playing pool, going to the deer farm, watching the UFC fights, (not my favorite!) and barbequing for Rylans birthday! We have lots of fun memories and lots of laughs.
Here is Richard laying down the law
all 15 of the kiddos

so cute how Carson fell asleep under Rylan's pillow!

The snow!

Richard and Carson! Boy did they love it

Richard

Megan

Austin and Carson Crandell

going up the hill! It was no easy walk

We took the kids to the deer farm. They loved feeding the deer and seeing all the other animals they had. Here are the boys on a tractor

Austin found a cowboy hat

Snowball fight!

an elk

getting more food!

Austin next to a dog

Carson and the lamas

He tried to hug them all . . . or choke them . . . hmmm

More snow!

Rylan building legos for his birthday cake!

Putting the pieces in the right place!

Blowing out all 7 candles

Happy Birthday Rylan!

Lots of Legos!

What a fun vacation!