February 15, 2010

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Friday evening Brian and I were able to get out of the house and enjoy each other's company for a few hours. I called a neighbor to babysit so Brian and I could go to the Valentine dinner and dance that the stake put on. The dinner was delicious and was catered by an Italian restaurant in Twin Falls (I think it was Tomatoes). After dinner we had a short lesson on how to waltz before the dancing got underway. Neither Brian nor I are very good dancers, but I enjoy wiggling around to a catchy beat. Let's just say my knees are not 16 years old anymore and there is a lot more of me bouncing around on that dance floor.
We had a great time and enjoyed getting to know a few other couples from the ward better: Scott and Jami, Collin and Elizabeth, Derek and Julianne, and Bernie and Janet. I will post a picture of all of us shortly.
Happy Valentine's Day Brian - I love you!

What was I thinking!?!

So, a couple weeks ago Briton and Parker were sliding down the stairs again only this time instead of using their quilts from their beds they had a sleeping bag. They were lying on the slick side and trying to slide down on the flannel side, so me, being the helpful mom that I am suggested to them that if they turn the sleeping over they could slide down the stairs better! After making this suggestion I looked at Brian with total surprise and asked him if I just said what I thought I said. Briton has only had his cast off for a couple weeks and here I am suggesting another way for him to break another bone or to break one of Parker's bones!

January 13, 2010

Brian Blauer Family - 2009

January – Rang in the New Year by putting the kids to bed at their regular bedtime and turning in early ourselves.

February – Summer’s 5-month-old niece, Melanie, underwent open-heart surgery at Primary Children’s Medical Center in Salt Lake. She is the second daughter of Thayne and Amber.

March – We took the kids to Salt Lake; where we visited Melanie in the hospital then went on to Temple Square, the Church History Museum, and the Discovery Center. The kids’ favorite part was staying in a motel.

April – Parker caught Pneumonia; Summer quit her job at Rocky Mountain Publishing.

May – Kaelee celebrated her 2nd birthday. Summer’s Grandma Ottley passed away, leaving her grandparent count to one: Grandma Hurst.

June – Brian quit his job at Idaho Power and moved us to Jerome.

July – The Hurst family reunion was held at Cherry Hill Campground in Utah where we camped for three nights. The kids had a blast and really enjoyed getting to know their cousins better. We are already looking forward to the next reunion in 2011.

August – Briton and Parker rode their bikes in the Jerome County Fair Parade and are looking forward to doing it again next year. Summer was called to be 1st Counselor in Young Women. Briton started 1st grade and Brian returned to school at CSI to study Drafting.

September – Brian was called to teach Elder’s Quorum twice a month.

October – Briton broke his leg on Aunt Jenny’s trampoline during General Conference weekend, a first for our family. He turned seven just days later.

November – Summer got a job at the Jerome County Assessor’s Office as Receptionist/Data Entry. Parker and Kaelee returned to daycare where the transition went very smoothly.

December – Kaelee is pushing us to help her get potty-trained. Parker celebrated his fifth birthday with grandmas, grandpas, aunts, uncles, and cousins. He requested ice cream cake instead of just cake and ice cream. Yummy! Brian received all A’s for the semester. Brian’s dad went in for back surgery and made it home in time for Christmas.

We have had a year full of excitement, sorrow, and worry. We are thankful for the challenges we have faced and overcome and are looking forward to another exciting year ahead of us. We wish all of you and yours a Prosperous and Happy New Year.

All our love: Brian, Summer, Briton, Parker, and Kaelee

January 05, 2010

An End and a Beginning

Wow! Time flies when you're too busy to notice! I cannot believe my last post was Thanksgiving and here we are at the beginning of the new year. I am happy to announce that not much has changed and at the same time a little disappointed too. I am looking for some excitement!

Christmas brought some important truths to be remembered. The holiday is not about the toys and presents, but about the Christ child's birth and being able to spend time as a family. We had a small, second-hand Christmas this year. The kids were so excited they were up at 2 am! Brian and I had just gone to bed about 11:30. We tried to sleep some while the kids played with a few of their toys until they kept coming into the bedroom wanting to open the rest of their presents. At 6 am we finally gave in and got up. We were done with presents, dressed, and had breakfast eaten by 8 am! We were so tired that 4 out of the 5 of us went back to sleep until noon. Briton just sat on the couch watching cartoons and playing his new game for his Nintendo DS. Thank heaven for good little boys! We spent the rest of the day and the day after visiting family.
The new year brought a few surprises. We were planning on having a party with Brian's sister's families, but Kaelee ended up getting sick so we had to cancel. Brian had been sick a few days earlier, then I was sick, and then Kae got it, but after she puked, took a bath, and napped for a couple hours she was fine. We ended up eating finger food and watching a movie with the kids, then let them ring in the new year a few hours early because they were all getting tired. Brian and I made it til about 11:30, then we were too tired to stay up anymore. It's funny, the new year comes whether you're there to see it or not.

Today Briton got his cast off! It has been a long awaited day and we were all excited. He walks funny and probably will for the next week until he ets full range of his ankle again. He was so brave when the nurse cut the cast off and I could see the fear in his face as he watched the saw.

As for resolutions . . . they are overrated! I have resolved not to make any resolutions. I am simply going to take small steps toward the big picture. When step one has been reached, I will move on to step two and so on. My big picture consists of me being a few pounds lighter and few inches slimmer. Step one is watching the portions I consume, step two is being consistent on the treadmill, I have not yet come up with step three. I also am not setting a date as to when I want to have these steps accomplished because I do not know how many times I will have to start over at step one.

I will keep you posted . . .

November 25, 2009

A time for giving thanks . . .

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving; time to reflect back on the past year to the things my family has to be thankful for. We have faced some financial difficulties, the loss of a loved one, and a move. We have grown stronger as a family and our faith in the Lord has been strengthened. At this time of year I want to express my deep heartfelt thanks and appreciation to my family. I want my husband to know how much I love him; he is my best friend. We have endured much in our marriage that has brought us closer together despite the arguing, fighting, and stress of it all. I am thankful for his strength and comfort. I am thankful for the way he stands beside me in every decision and all that I do. I am thankful for the way he makes me laugh. I am thankful for the wonderful father that he is to our children. I am thankful for each one of my three children; they truely bring joy to my life. I am thankful for the way they look at me and state simply that they love me, then wrap their little arms around my neck. I am thankful for their smiles and laughs that makes any day better. I am thankful for the house I have to clean, the dishes I have to wash, the laundry I have to do, and the job I have to go to everyday; that means I am alive and have the neccessities to raise my family. I am thankful for the church and the important role that it plays in my family. I am thankful I can fight with my children to sit still and be quiet during sacrament meeting because it means we are where the Lord wants us to be. I am thankful for the ward we are currently in and the seeds of friendship that have been planted and begun to sprout there. I am thankful for the calling I have as the Young Women 1st Counselor and for Brian's calling as a teacher in the Elder's Quorum. Jerome has been the best thing to happen to us! As I prepare to feast tomorrow, I shall reflect on all of these things and thank my Heavenly Father for it all.