Thoughts

So I have not posted anything for so long. It has been a crazy few months. I thought I would just take after a friend and write a few things I have been thinking about.

1. I have great friends and family. Through this whole gall bladder thing, I have had amazing friends step up and pretty much take over. I am so grateful. Also, it is so nice to live by family. It is so cool to have my mom and sister so close. They are always there to drop everything when I need anything.

2. Gall bladders are weird things. They say you don't need them, but if you want to eat 90% of what is available you need one. At least until your body adjusts.

3. Surgery, hmmm don't really care for it. It really puts a cramp in routines!

4. Just like a dear friend of mine, I HATE LAUNDRY. Why is this the mom's job? Do the kids and husband wear clothes? Do they enjoy clean clothes? Is this one of those things that women got stuck with way back in the beginning and men have been secretly been laughing behind our backs for centuries? I believe so.

5. The Flu. I know there have been some very serious cases with very sad results. But I also would like to say that the media have made this CRAZY! I'm sure we are going to get it. I'm actually planning on it. I have purchased a new fancy thermometer to track the kid's temperatures when it happens. I have gotten my kids their flu shots. Max lectures me all the time about extra handwashing and so far so good. But even though Max is trying to help us in our vigilance, I'm still planning on getting the flu in our house. Is there anything wrong with that?

6. I have to admit, I'm really excited to see the Michael Jackson movie. I loved Michael as a kid. I even have really embarrasing stories around trying to break dance in front of a Michael Jackson impersonator.

Beautiful Baby Claire

My cousin's wife took these pictures while we were in Utah. For some reason the clarity isn't showing through here. I think the files are too big for blogger since they are each bigger than 8 meg. She is an amazing photographer. If you are ever going to be in Utah and want a family picture, let me know and I will send you her info. She works for Buseth photography who is just plain amazing.

Hello

So it has been forever since I posted. I have been a little busy. First, I had a great trip to Utah. It was so much fun to see all my family and friends. I only really had one gall bladder flare up and I got to eat at Cafe Rio three times. It was a very modified Cafe Rio, but hey, it was Cafe Rio nonetheless. I will post pictures shortly.



Have you ever felt like you have lost a whole day of your life? Well Friday was one of those for me. I had my gall bladder surgery. I went in early in the morning and I was comotose until late in the afternoon. I thought I would be home by noon, but ended up spending the night. You know, it was a good thing that I stayed. The kids were a little confused since I had left them for a week before and was now gone again, but I am back now and I think they believe me. Surgery is so weird. You start being aware of your surroundings and then, boom you are no longer in control. I just have to ask how in the world did those nurses ever lift me off the bed dead asleep and up onto the operating table? Second, I talk in my sleep and so I wonder if I muttered anything particularly enlightening whlle I am drugged? Third, I know operating rooms need to be cold to keep out infection, but OH MY GOODNESS!! It's down right freezing in there.

Lastly, I'm grateful that these things are routine and that I am now home and recovering. Eldon has been a champ. I just call his cell phone from my bed and he brings me whatever I need. Claire is missing being held, so I try and make up for it by holding her kind of for as long as possible. Also, the low-fat diet is a good one. I was down 18 pounds right before surgery. I'll see what that liquid diet did for me in the hospital. I'm going to keep going. It works.

The Beach

The beach with the Weidner clan. We had so much fun. We definitely had the most shade with our tent, and three umbrellas. The kids had so much fun. Max got the hang of boogy boarding, Claire learned to make lots of noise, and Jack became one with the sand and ordering Parker around. It was a great time. I thought these video clips were very fun.

4th of July with Grandma and Grandpa Gale. Way fun.

Time on the farm with Grandma and Grandpa Gale. Can we just say we love being near them!!!

Look at how fun photo software is. This is the same picture as the other!

Here is Claire Pretty in Pink. It looks like her eyes are going to stay blue!

We are so excited for the beach this summer!! Look at the cute crew who will be going with us! I think the cutest is the one holding Claire and Parker.

Today she looks just like Eldon. It's amazing how they go from looking like one parent to the other overnight!

Another off of my List - Elton and Billy purely iconic

All I have to say is "OH MY." There is nothing like seeing truly amazing musicians with truly amazing songs, and seeing them together! My sister and I were lucky enough to go to this amazing show. I can't believe how good Elton John's voice is still and how much I love Billy Joel songs. It was so much fun. So I killed two birds with one stone and got two more off of my list.

4th of July

So we are the luckiest kids in the Doug Gale family by far. We get to live 2.5 hours away from Grandma and Grandpa while on their mission. This means we can visit them and see them in action. Also, our kids are getting precious time with Grandma and Grandpa that they otherwise would not have. This past fourth of July we had a great week.

First on Wed. July 1st, Eldon scored some free tickets to a Clippers game for us and the boys. Aunt Lisa was kind enough to watch Baby Claire so we could go. It was a beautiful night and really fun. When we left, Max said: " That was the most boring thing I have ever done." So we have some work to do in the baseball appreciation department.

Thursday July 2nd, we had our annual Settlers of Cataan tournament at our house with my family. I won, but my sister insists that I cheated. For the whole world to know, I DID NOT CHEAT to win. I won with skill and strategy!

Friday morning we got up and left for Michigan. I swear that traveling for three days and six weeks you need the same amount of stuff. The van was packed to ceiling. I'm just glad we had the van! We got there around 1 pm and headed off directly to the Henry Ford museum. What a great place!! My boys LOVED it.

That night we tried our hand at Sushi. I wasn't sure what the boys would do, but they loved chicken katsu. I think my favorite was a roll with Mango, kiwi, cream cheese, and crab. Mmmm...

The next day, we got up and had an amazing breakfast and then went to a carnival that the student ward that Grandma and Grandpa Gale serve in were putting on. It was great. We played in a large bouncy house. Grandma and I both were brave enough to get in with the kids. I loved just having time to "play" with my boys. We then went to the the Dominoes Pizza headquarters where they have a petting farm. We had a picnic and then went to see the animals. It was so much fun!

We went home and had a nap and then got up for a great dinner and got ready for the fireworks. We went to the town of Adrian Michigan and sat with the locals for their fireworks. It was perfect because it wasn't so big that it terrified the boys but was big enough to keep their interest.

Sunday we went to church with Grandma and Grandpa. Now did I mention that they go to the Singles ward? Try taking three young children to a completely silent sacrement meeting. But I learned that reverence begets reverence as my children were amazingly well behaved. We napped again and then had fun playing games which we always do with the Gales. Very fun. We got up the next morning and drove home. It was a great time. I loved being able to get away without having to go far. We are definitely looking forward to going again.