Pop Pop, McKenna, Shin Guards, and Crayons

Well, it's been a great week. On Monday we got to go see Zeke. He got moved to a new section of the Hospital, so Addison can visit him now. He is looking very good! It was a great visit. Addison was so happy she finally got to see her pop pop.

The next day McKenna and Rebecca stopped by for a little bit on their way up to salt lake. It was fun seeing them. I can't believe how much McKenna's grown! Don't I have the cutest niece ever!

Addison also discovered some unused swim diapers and loves exploring new ways to use them. She loves wearing them as shin guards. Today as we were getting ready to say prayers she found another one and put both legs through one leg hole. She then got up and was walking with little steps. Bart & I were cracking up.

We also got some crayons for Addison a while ago. Today I was sitting on the ground and she grabbed some and started putting them in my hair....where on earth she got that idea I have no idea!

It TOTALLY reminded me of a fireside at the Bishop's house when I was in high school. One of our friends had a fro at the time. He turned to us, grabbed a little pencil, and put it in his hair. It completely disappeared. We all started putting pencils in his hair. I have no idea how many we got in there, but it was amazing! I know Addison didn't get that many in my hair, but it was funny none the less.

Bugs, Bleeding Hearts, and More

So today has been a great day! It was cool for most of the day, but still warm enough to enjoy the yard. Addison had a lot of fun looking for bugs and just playing in the yard. We got a bunch of cute pictures...

That is a Lady Bug on Bart's Finger.
Now it's on Addison's Shirt. It was really funny, when we first did this, she was pretty thrilled as she looked down and watched it crawl up her shirt, but then as it got closer to her head...and the area where she couldn't see, she got a bit distressed, and whined for dad to take it off her.Now it's on her arm.In this one she's trying to get the rolly polly on the leaf...she was successful, and then I helped her put it back down into the grass.These are just pictures of my sweet girl playing.I love the hair in this one.
Addison has also become more forceful with me lately. If she calls me and I don't come, she'll come over, grab some part of my clothing (usually a pocket or belt buckle) and drag me to where she wants me to go. Since my comfy legally-blonde-pink PJs (don't pretend like you don't want some) didn't have any belt buckles or pockets, she grabbed my sleeve.

Another thing that made my day great was this:

Yes, that is a bleeding heart. Last year while Stacy was here, we planted it and some lilies in one of our flower beds. the lilies grew great, but I was really bummed when the bleeding heart never poped up...especially since they're supposed to be really easy to grow.

Well this year a weird weed started growing in the flower bed. I wanted to pull it, but Bart kept saying "Wait, let's let it grow a little longer and see what it is." I am so glad he refused to let me pull it because I now have my bleeding heart!!! Every day I would drive into our little development and see a beautiful bush full of the pretty pink blossoms and long for my own bleeding heart. And now I have one! YAY!!!

My heart's next desire is a salvia plant...maybe I'll order some more bleeding hearts and put them all in the flower bed in front of the garden...I think the pink and blue would be beautiful together!

Apparently Noah is my Father in Law

So lately I've been showing Addison the pictures from the gospel art kit and reading the stories on the back to her. We got to the Noah pictures earlier this week. Once I was done with the story, I'd point out different things in the pictures and ask Addison, "What's that?"

Well, I got to Noah and asked, "Who's that?" She didn't even hesitate, "Pop pop!" She did the same thing the next day with the other Noah picture. It must be the beard. She loves those stories though because the picture has "Pop pop" on them.

Hot & Tired

Well, the hot weather has finally come. And our air conditioning has gone. It blows air, but it's not cold.

I've been opening our windows in the morning to let all the cool air in, and then closing them in the afternoon in an attempt to keep the hot air out. It works really well until evening comes. Our upstairs just warms up no matter what I do!

On Monday, Addison was just to hot to sleep. We had all our windows open, but it didn't really start cooling down until 10:30, and to make things worse, there were kids playing outside in the street until 11:00!!! These kids couldn't have been more than 10 years old! Where the heck were their parents! Why were they letting them play outside until 11:00 on a school night! Geez! Addison finally fell asleep at about 11:30, and then woke up about every two hours for the rest of the night! It was miserable!!!

Last night was basically a repeat of Monday. We tried putting her in cooler pajamas, but she rapidly took them off...as well as her diaper...and peed all over her pillow. So it was back to the feety pajamas with a diaper pin in the zipper. Oh well. We're supposed to get our air conditioning fixed today, so hopefully tonight will be better.

Zeke Update

So I realized that I haven't given my promised update of Zeke's condition. I think it's because I keep waiting for good news, and it just doesn't seem to come.

The brain tumor is a Glioblastoma Multiforme, which is basically the worst that you can have. And it's right in the middle of the brain, so it's in the worst place too! He's started radiation and adds chemotherapy this week. It's a new procedure that has doubled the survival rate, but even with that only about 25% of people are still alive after two years.

The family is very optimistic though...especially Maralee. She is such a strength to everyone! Her bright attitude just buoys everyone up. I love her so much! She is such an amazing woman! I am so lucky to have her as a mother in law.

Bart & I went and saw Zeke yesterday and today. You can tell that he's tired, but he seems to be in good spirits. Yesterday we took Addison, but he is still in the SICU, so children under 14 aren't allowed. It was really sad. He was less than 20 feet away from her, but she couldn't see him.

While I sat with her out in the waiting room, I showed her pictures of the family I had brought. Whenever we got to Zeke's picture she pointed at him, smiled, and said, "POP!" Keep us in your prayers. We all want Addison's "Pop" To be around for many years to come.