Fish Fry

Grandma Ruby was a glorious sight to behold at the Fish Fry. She did the "chips."
Grandpa Frank was the lean, mean, fish-fryin' machine.

A few other attendants: Mandy, Halle, Danielle, and Jake. Just anxious to eat.

Cindy was great to host us! It was a really enjoyable evening with great company. Wes and Grandma Bev are in the picture, too, but they didn't hear me say, "Say Cheese!"

Thank you Grandma and Grandpa Sanders!!! I really enjoyed the food. SO much better than getting takeout!!! Especially since you caught the fish yourself, and we got to reap the bounty of your work. Awesome. Love you guys.

Ogden's Dinosaur Park

Grandma Cindy took a couple extra days off of work, so we decided to venture out and do something exciting.

There were a lot of photo ops.

They had Halloween decor all around. In the haunted hollow (or whatever it was called) Amelia found this scary dog and thought it was so interesting. I really have no idea what was going through her head, all I know is she wasn't afraid of it.

Texas Roadhouse dinner with Ali's siblings

These is my siblings. We took 2 pictures because there were so many of us.
Here are the elders of the children. Not in any particular order:
L-R: My bro Dave and wife Sarah, Eric (minus his wife Sara), my sister Jeni (who is smooching my brother Eric, but is married to Jason), my brother Tom and his cute wife Lisa.
Here you have the younger and cooler kids of Scott and Jane. We're actually standing in birth order. Eric (yes, he got to be in another picture), my brother Kim and his wife Brindy, (dave) me and Josh, and our caboose Erin with her bf Russ.

Highly enjoyable evening! Texas Roadhouse, you are mighty fine. Y'all Texans that we call siblings, y'all are mighty fine, too. We missed ya a darn tootin lot.

Sadie Sadie, pretty lady

These kids love this dog. Here they are fighting over who gets to be in Sadie's bed. Conrad loves to climb in it all by himself... it drives me a little crazy, thinking about what kind of germs are in there, but I keep my mouth quiet because I know I can just give him a bath later.
What am I saying? The kid's picking his nose. Germs? Who cares!

Amelia got her turn. Happy girl. I love this picture.

In-between/Random

Here are a few shots taken at random times.
We went and hung out at Jake and Lea's house for a bit. I snapped this picture when McKall was being her silly self and climbing all over Josh. We had so much fun.
My family was dying to see Josh so we had an impromptu get together.

Revelation: Amelia has a green thumb. For getting her pants watered, I guess.

Me and my older little sister Jeni. I just love fer-fer.

We were caught wearing the same shirt. No, I am not going to poll you and ask "Who wore it better?" Obvious.

Thanks for your prayers, AGAIN! :)

silly Josh. This picture is 4 years old. Taken in Portland, Oregon. We found a bouquet of flowers on the side of a hiking trail.

Josh passed his boards!!!!! Step 2 finished!!!! He did well.
He is doing so well in his rotation right now. He has gotten all of his intubations to work (except one, that even the regular doc couldn't do). He's done at least 20, maybe 30? Today he did a nasal intubation on a 5-year-old on his first try. The attending Doc was blown away. The other residents complimented him, too, after hearing through the grapevine about him.
He loves it there in Wichita. He's been telling me all about how I would love it there, too. He said this rotation has been great, and that means a lot considering he's all by himself without his wife and kids. (His words).
Way to go, Josh. I am so so so happy that you are doing well!!! Like, goosebump happy.
We know Josh was being prayed for the day he took his Boards (he had a fever and body aches, from the staph infection abcess in his hip). So we have to give credit where credit is due.
Prayers of thanks being said!!!!

Sunday dinner

in other words, "Just crazy people!"
This was the day after Josh arrived from Kansas City, Missouri. We were so happy to have Josh!!!
Ashleigh, Max, and Carly. Carly was NOT happy about Max and his antics.
Alyssa and Ashleigh. They're at an age that I remember feeling like I was so cool.

Amelia teasing her Dad.

McKall and Josh really bonded this trip. McKall really took to Josh. It was so cute to watch her come run up to him and start tickling him and just playing together with him. I think she felt a kinship with him. She has Leukemia. Lea (McKall's mom) was telling us how McKall understands that Josh's cancer is the "Cutting" kind. McKall also was singing randomly, "Sar-co-ma!" Over and over.

McKall is in her hardest phase of treatment right now. McKall, we're cheering for you!!! Lea and Jake, I'm cheering for you, too! Good luck. We're thinking about you.

To Josh: So much fun at Grammy and Grampy's

Tonight we roasted marshmallows at your mom and dad's house. I ate a lot. I could eat more, but thought I better maintain my girlish pregnant figure. Anyway, they were heavenly. Did you know Cinnamon Graham Crackers are the best for s'mores?!

This is about the best picture of Amelia of the night. She was restless. Too tired to be up, but I was still eating s'mores and marshmallows.
Here's a better shot of Amelia. What's funny is that Conrad kept calling Grandpa's Rhino a Moose! He did it twice, once on the phone with you and once when he was referring to it with Grandma and Grandpa.

Your mom got a shot of me while I was on the phone with you. You were telling me how you had a difficult intubation, and the physician was impressed that you got it on the first try. It was an intense intubation, too. Not a routine intubation, and if you couldn't get it on the first try you were to get someone there quick to help. But you got it, and received a nice compliment from the Physician you were with.

We missed you, we'll have to do this again (and again) and again when you get here!!!!!!! 8 more days!!!

I am pretty lonely without you here. It's weird, being surrounded by loved ones, and still being lonely. It's just not the same without your face here!!!

See you next Saturday night!!!

Jim cooking spaghetti with Conrad

Jim is a family friend, he wanted to show some gratitude to my parents for their misc help that he decided to come cook his "SPECIAL" Spaghetti.
Jim was also an answer to one of my unsaid prayers. He is quite the conversationalist. Conrad asked him question after question and Jim took the time to be patient and answer each question very clearly and in a way that a freshly-turned-4-year old boy could understand.

He was even patient enough to let Conrad help him peel carrots. It was a mighty fine spaghetti dinner. I quite enjoyed it.

Conrad raved about his dinner, "Mom this is soo good!" I just gave him plain noodles with butter, salt and pepper. Silly boy.

Clear Scan

We knew it would come back clear. But in the last day or so I have been having my doubts. Dreams that were so real that I wondered if Josh really had called me to tell me the bad news. I got myself way too worked up over it. I am having a meltdown now, where I feel like all I want to do is crawl into a small space and eat lots of good food. I'm not crying, but I feel exhausted from the emotional stress I put myself through.
Enough spotlight on me. Sorry.
Josh has been positive through this, at least from what I can tell. Positive text messages. I'd send him a frantic one like, "Why are they waiting so long!?" He would tell me not to worry until we had something to worry about!
I love you Josh. Thanks for having a clear scan.

Saturday and Sunday

Who wouldn't want this picture at the top of their blog? Saturday night the Morgan's (aka, my 6 other older brothers, in addition to the 5 I already have) had a wedding reception/open house in their backyard. And these girls showed up. In the middle is Sophie and Ari, they had a friend staying the night, and my sis-in-love Sara. Sara you def don't belong in this picture, but you look really really good! That is why you don't belong there, I guess. Party crashers.

Later that night I worked on a pinata for Conrad's birthday. It was 11:45 pm at this point. I stayed up until 1:45 am working on it. It was therapeutic.

Sunday! Amelia and Conrad hanging out with Grandpa Scott.

"Don't take my picture!" She really really doesn't like the dang camera!!! I'm telling you!

Sunday morning (OK, late morning) and we're eating breakfast together. I aged 10 years overnight!!!

At least the pinata was finished. :)

Conrad's Birthday, Part 1

Sunday we had a birthday party for 5 of our family members from the Shepherd side. Grampy Scott, Parker and Carson, Conrad and Great Grandpa Shepherd. We got together at Jake and Lea's house and had a super-yummy dinner. Conrad ate a whole chicken breast! 4-year-old boy's growing, I guess.
Who is more excited to open the present? Of course, anyone but Conrad! He does not get excited with presents, it boggles me.
I adore this picture.

Lea showing Parker something cool for a new toy he got (he can grow stuff like Brine Shrimp and stuff with it!!!) :)

Conrad got an awesome Chevy Camaro from Jamie, Kyle and family. It was a hot toy.

McKall modeling my lovely homemade pinata. It was just going to be a plain old decorated pinata, but then I decided it looked like a rocket, so I just went with it.

In line... we did it from youngest to oldest. McKall, Conrad, Katie, Max, then Carly...

And Bam. It was down.

And Wham, the kids were all over it like butter on toast.

The birthday boys. L-R: Grampy Scott, Grandpa Dick, Parker, Conrad and Carson. The twin boys are 12. :) They were ordained on Sunday! My favorite Parker quote was when he was trying on Jake's sunglasses and he asked, "Are these High Definition sunglasses?"

Cutie pies. McKall, Katie and Amelia

Kid table. L-R: Max, Carly, Alyssa and Ashleigh

Amelia, Grandpa Shepherd and McKall. What a bunch of cuties.

Thanks Jake and Lea, for hosting us all over at your house, though you weren't celebrating any of your kids' birthdays!