Thank you friends...

I know I just made a post, but I feel like I need to thank some people in my life! This last month has been difficult for our family. Not having Grandma in the picture threw us for a loop! There are so many wonderful people in our life that have offered to help out with the kids. We do miss LaRene, but we are happy that she is taking care of herself in Montana. I just feel so blessed to have so many sweet spirits in our life, and that there are so many people that care enough to take extra time out of their busy lives to help us tend our children. We have worked out some more permanent arrangements, and we are starting to settle into them for those 2 days a week LaRene was being so helpful. So if you are reading this, and you have been one of those helping hands, then allow me to say THANK YOU! We really do appreciate it, and consider ourselves willing to return the favor when needed.

(Update: LaRene (Toby's mom) is still in Montana, and will probably be coming home next week. We are giving her strict orders to take it easy! Her kids are keeping a close eyeball on her, making sure she knows her limits and steers clear from the hospital! She is such a Superwoman all the time. Being close by, we are going to do our best to tame that. Puzzles will be the most complicated thing in her life for a while! Give her a call and let her know you are thinking of her-send her some cheer!)

6 year olds are waaaaaaaay to smart!

When me and Toby were first married, he bought me a beautiful set of scriptures. We also got the Book of Mormon for Families shortly after as well. Tyler came up to me a few days ago with scriptures in hand and said, "Mom, can I have these?" I said "No! Those are mine. You go put them away and leave them alone." So then he came back with a persistent, "Please?" So again, I informed him that those were my scriptures and no, he may not have them. He then replied, "You never use them." YIKES! I guess it's time for me to break out my scriptures more! Sometimes the truth hurts, but I think it's what I needed to hear. Stinkerbutt.

Good News!

Here is an update! LaRene has been home from the hospital since Monday evening, and she has been sentenced to 2 weeks of bedrest! WHOA! She is doing better, but extremely tired. Can't wait til Grandma is up and running again-we miss her! We are extremely glad that she is home and out of the hospital.

Apparently we have a good Samaritan on our street. I woke up 2 days ago after another great snowfall, to find that our driveway had been plowed out by someone. I wish I knew who it was so I could thank them!

Through Sickness and in Health...

It has been an eventful day and a half...LaRene (Toby's mom) was admitted to the hospital last night. They drove her to Spokane to make sure that she could have the best care! They are still running tests to figure out why the chest pain is still there...so we are not sure how long she will be there. We are hoping to have her back home safe and sound tomorrow so that we can spoil her back to health! It is times like these that really help us all find clarity on what is important in our lives. The hospital staff didn't know what they were getting when they admitted her--it was like they admitted the whole Black family. Our little family reunion made me realize how much this family is there for each other. There were so many rooms that were filled with only patients, and then there was the 15 of us. How lucky we all are to have each other. Keep her in your prayers!

Confessions of a 6 year old.

Today Tyler informed me that when he turns 16 he can't call me mom anymore. I asked him what he would be calling me (expecting him to say, Rosalie) and he replied back, "I have to call you mother."

Christmas Break

This last 2 weeks have been amazing!! Is it over already?

We went sledding at the sand dunes the other day with the Merrells, and we had SO much fun!

You can't tell in the picture, but the hills were freakin steep! The first time I went down at mock 90 and towards the bottom I fell off doing a back flip somersault! Toby ran into a thorny bush, busting one of the neighbors tubes--but man did he fly! Tyler even joined in-loving every minute of it!

Yesterday we went over to Randy and Janeas for a yummy crab dinner. [Playing the Wii] We jammed out on Kaylee's guitar's with Guitar Hero, sung our hearts out on American Idol (Toby and Kaylee even made it to the finals--they are the newest American Idols!) Then we had to start the New Year off right with some card games!

I am sad to see the break end, but grateful for the time we all got to spend together!

PARTY!

New Years Eve was so much fun! We partied into the wee hours of the morning...
Rock Band and Nertz had to be the most memorable part of the evening. There was enough food to feed a small army, plenty of Pepsi and Mountain Dew to keep us all awake, and Toby made the best homemade Root Beer!

When we came home to get the all the kids from our house, we discovered that the kids had A LOT of fun! Rachel Moody (age 5) was the only child awake, the cushions were off the couch, and the boys bedroom was unrecognizable-mattress off the bed and all! I'm not sure who had more fun-the adults or the kids...