Diane's Mini-Me: Shoesday!

Abby took Daddy to Nordstrom Rack today to show him what she likes. They wandered the aisles together and she made the following selections.




We've got a miniature shoe hound on our hands. She's got a definite style and is very particular in her choices.
Heaven help us.....

Game ON!

I found this new website called Chore Wars that I am convinced is going to change our lives! David is particularly interested in the whole thing. He has entered this phase where he is very focused on having his own space and keeping it in a certain order. It's bordering a little bit on OCD and I'm absolutely encouraging it. Check out his nightstand that he's made for himself. Notice the saline solution on the second shelf. Yep, he's taken over Mark's trial size bottle and he "puts his contacts in" every morning just like Dad. He also now brushes his teeth there and checks his calendar when he gets up. (I wonder where he gets these tendencies from?!)

We're also preparing for Nana's arrival this afternoon. Abby has officially moved into the boy's room. David welcomed her with open arms by organizing her space and allowing her to jump on his bed. Abby seems to really enjoy her new space in the closet. It's like a little nest for her. She loves it when I put the DVD player in there and let her watch. I know, there goes my mother of the year award. What can I say?

A Princess and Her Prince

Abby went to her first Princess birthday party on Friday. This event finally gave her the perfect excuse to wear the Sleeping Beauty dress Aunt Chris gave her all day long! Mark did a great job with her hair that day too.

A Day in My Other Life

The kids are fascinated with this place called work that Mom hangs out at for extended periods of time during the day. I told them I'd take some pictures so they could see what I've been up too. It got me to thinking that most people won't ever get the chance(thank goodness) to see inside a radiation therapy suite. Also, everyone seems to give me a dazed and confused look when I say that I work as a Radiation Therapist. So, in case you were wondering, here's the deal-e-o..
Technology has come a long way. When I took leave about five years ago to have kids, there was only one monitor-if that- running the machine. Now there's five. Can you see why I was a little anxious about going back? (By the way, that is my 32oz. Diet Coke front and center!)


The long walk. For those of you concerned about outside radiation exposure, this is the walkway leading into the vault that contains the machine.


Here's the workhorse, a Varian Linear Accelerator to be a bit more specific. I won't bore you with the extra details.


There I am, getting a view from the patient's perspective.


A view in to the head of the machine. This is where the beam of radiation comes out.


The old standby hand control "pendant". This hasn't changed as long as I've been around. My thumb knows this pendant like nobody's business.


"Here we go..." Out the door, about a hundred times a day this puppy opens and closes. Thank goodness, all we have to do is push a button.

That concludes your tour of a typical(but throughly awesome) Radiation Therapy department. Any questions?

Spring Break

I'm finally getting around to my Spring Break post. We had a fantastic time in St. George. Mark took James skiing at Brianhead with Granpa on Monday. The skiing was perfect. Tuesday we went to Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon with the whole crew. It was so amazing!! We had a great hike. Wednesday we relaxed, shopped at Tai Pan-the most cool home furnishing store ever! and ate at Texas Roadhouse for dinner. On Thursday Mark took David to Brianhead to learn to ski. According to David, it was the best day of his whole life! They had a blast! Sprinkled in between all those activites, we ate at Cafe Rio(twice), Jimmy John's, Sonic Burger, Pizza Factory, Golden Spoon, Nielsen's Custard, Grandma Tobler's kitchen, and went fishing, swimming at Granny and Grandpa's pool and at the Aquatic Center. Oh, and we went shopping at the outlets. It was a perfect time, probably the best family vacation we have had to date.




Grandpa's finally got a ski buddy again.

The boys at Brianhead on Monday.

After the "short" drive in our caravan of Mendenhalls, Parmleys and Wimmers. All headed North. Lots of fun chatting!



David's so excited to be in St. George!


Abby's dingle hopper...

In the Eye of the Beholder

Yesterday James earned the Game Ball. He made an awesome play when he was in the pitching position. He caught the ball and got the runner out at first base. He's incredibly proud of the game ball!

Mark and his "LARK"(aka Mobility Scooter)

There are some times in life that are just too awesome to miss. Today was one of them. I never envisioned myself wandering around Costco midday sharing a frozen yogurt with my disabled husband traveling in a mobility scooter. I can't help but think that maybe, just maybe, it's all up from here. Last night Mark hurt his ankle playing chuch basketball. He's been very good today following the RICE regimen(rest, ice, compression, elevation-for you non-MDs out there). Then I suggested a little fresh air and a trip to Costco. Of course his limping was slowing me down so I double dog dared him to use the Lark. He can't resist a dare. We tooled around the big C in style. I told him I was hoping so badly that we would see someone we knew, and what do you know, not two minutes later we ran into(almost literally) a friend from church. Let me just say, he drove that puppy like an expert. Well, actually, he drove it like a sports car. Funny, that's the same way he drives a minivan. And a sports car.
I so totally love this man. He is my best friend, he makes me laugh and he makes life fun. It really doesn't get much better....

I Get By with a Little Help from my Friends

Today the green finally came down in the family room. Every time I come home from St. George I have to re-vamp something in my house. I guess it prevents me from slipping into depression over coming back to reality. (Not that my reality is too shabby, there's just no Cafe Rio, Nielsen's Custard, Pizza Factory or Aquatic Center around here!) I always fall for the "painting is so easy!" line, it really is not fun, unless you've got two buddies around to keep you company. We're considering starting a side business--"Three Girls Will Paint for Lunch and Soda". Keep watching for after pictures once I get the room reassembled. It's a definite change.

I'm a Little Teapot!

Today Abby looked so cute I couldn't resist a snapshot. Near the end of a lovely meeting, James decided to entertain her by bouncing her on his knee and singing, "I'm a Little Teapot". She loved it. She celebrated with glee...loudly...
We were a perfect picture of sacramental reverence up until that point.


(Please notice her shoes. Because if she could see you right now, she'd be sure to tell you all about them!)

I Caught a Fish THIS Big!

James and Grandpa went fishing yesterday. They came home empty handed. Today was a new day. The fish were up and biting this morning.


This is the biggest one of the three they caught.


James had an all important rite of passage with cleaning the fish. He's braver than his Mom for sure!