So Many Miracles!!!

I went and saw 17 Miracles in the theaters the other day. The movie subject always gets me. The Willie and Martin handcart company's story. The thing that struck a chord with me was how many miracles there were. I am sure there were more than 17 but the show could only be 2 hours right?

Well in our house we have had at least 2 MAJOR miracles the past 2 days. I need to write them down so I will never forget.

Our first was with Pocket. Many of you know he made it through surgery. Thank goodness! I was not ready to see our little guy go just yet. The vet came back though and told me that he was pretty certain that the form of cancer he has was a) rare (which really should not surprise us since we deal with rare medical on a daily basis) and b) aggressive. He then told me that we would be in the exact same spot with Pocket next year as far as surgery goes. Great.

The miracle came though when yesterday afternoon Mike (from the barn) called and told me that the biopsy came back and the tumor was benign. Which means that Pocket should be around for a long time! I am so thankful for this miracle since the girls and boys seem to really be loving Pocket and the horses right now.

Our 2nd miracle was more of a "I don't know how that happened" miracle!
On Monday night we were watching fireworks at Kent's sisters place for the 4th. Things were going great and the kids were loving them. Then they lit one of the really big aerial "now legal" ones which in the process tipped over and started shooting right at the family with my kids on the front line. It was seriously the most scared I have ever been for my kids! It felt like being in a gun fight with fireworks going off all around us. I even felt a bit of singe on the top of my ears and hair! Somehow all my kids were not only safe but had not a scratch on them. It made me think of the part in the handcart story where the angels were helping them push the wagons. Well I felt that angels were seriously holding and protecting my kids as I was not with them at that exact moment. The kids did not move or panic. They each had a little bubble around them that seemed to deflect the fireworks. The kids were a little scared (obviously) but other than that just fine. Again, I seriously don't know how they were not hit but am so thankful for safety and protection on Monday night!

Miracles do exist! If you ever doubt them just look around. I have never been so sure of anything like I am now!

A little Blue...

These pictures were taken just after we got Pocket by our great friend Becki.

I am a bit sad and felt like I needed to write about it to just get it off my mind. Does anyone else do that? I am sure you all do it in a more private forum but me...why not just spill it out for the whole world to read?!

Here it goes...
Today I dropped the girls off to riding lessons at G. Simmons barn and went to run some errands. When I went back to pick them up and Mitchell (our incredible riding instructor and friend) told me that I needed to talk to Mike (the barn guru) about Pocket. For those of you who don't remember Pocket is our incredibly small and cute pony that we bought for Claire right after she was diagnosed. He has been a great therapy pony for us.

Anyway- it turns out that Pocket is really sick. We knew he had a small tumor on his nose the past couple of years and it has been not a big deal. Well over the weekend it grew really big and has made Pocket really sick. In short our small pony is going in for surgery on Friday. We don't know what the outcome will be and I am sad.

I tried to not cry but got teary eyed when I spoke to Mitchell about it again. I then told the girls about everything. Man! It was so sad! I told them that Pocket might not make it through the surgery and that we needed to be ready if that was the case. They handled it well for being 6 and 4. I think it is me who is really moved by this experience. I feel like this is one of those parenting moments that I can handle well or really screw up. I am not sure if I have done either just yet. All I know is that I am hoping that Heavenly Father heard the little girls prayers tonight when they both asked Him to help Pocket to be OK.
I hope he hears my prayers as well. To know how to handle this either way.

Man this parenting thing is tough!!!

Madsen Day 1

I promise he likes it! Really!!!:)

The kids this morning on our way to pick up Emma.

The bike! We will have to come up with a name or something!

So we went to the house last night and got the bike. The family we got it from ended up being some old harp students of mine and a family I LOVE!!! It is funny how we spoke to each other on the phone but didn't put 2 and 2 together until right before we pulled up. THANKS BENNETT FAMILY! IT IS AWESOME!!!

The kids had a great time taking rides around the park last night and this morning Claire asked me if we could take it today on our errands. I told her my legs might not make it to the bank today but maybe someday!:) Our goal today was to pick Emma up from school. I am not sure how far it is but maybe round trip just over a mile or something.

The bike really isn't bad when you get going and me being a total novice at bike riding I am enjoying the gears it has to offer. The only embarrassing thing that happened was when we were at the school picking up Emma today. As we were heading out a couple of kindergartners dodged out in front of us and we toppled over. It was pretty heavy with all the kids and I and needed help from some other moms but I guess if you are going to fall, fall big!:) Nothing like making a total spectacle of yourself in front of all the other moms. The good news is the Madsen totally took care of the kids and no one was hurt. The bad news was I was a bit shaken and had to bike them all home. We will be sure to watch out for those pesky curbs next time!:)

Day 1 of owning a bike that can haul all my kids in one go...SO MUCH FUN!

Soooo excited!

Hello! It has been far too long to recap the past month and a half. Crazy how May seems like December in terms of commitments that you have. I don't know how all you who have kids in "real" school (something other than kindergarten) do it! To keep up is insane.

So I wanted to post that I am beyond excited. What might you ask has me all hopped up? Well Kent and I recently have been contemplating the move from a suburban as our family vehicle to a minivan. Before all you naysayers of minivans get going please remember I have 4 kids 6 and under and 4 car seats. I love my suburban but am getting really sick of putting the $$ into gas rather than other things. So while we have been contemplating this I have been secretly (and not so secret to Kent) coveting the mini vans of bikes. Yes! You read it right I who have not owned a bike since I was 12 am going to make the purchase today. I am sooooooo excited!

Check out the Madsen cargo bikes. Also known as the Madsen cycles. I found a great deal on one from KSL (don't you love KSL?) and am super stoked to start doing playdates, picnics, ice cream runs and so much more in my new minivan bike.

In preparation for the purchase I went to Robert J DeBry to pick up some bike helmets for the kids. The deal for the helmets was too good to pass up. $5 per kids helmet!!! Now they are set and I am to. If only I could pick it up right now!:)

So if you see a mom with 4 kids in a bucket on a bike chances are it is me. Don't be afraid to wave at the kids as I am sure they will be waving back!


I will keep you all posted about how it moves with 4 kids in the back as I am anxious to do the first kindergarten pick up tomorrow at 11:30.