So much to do. . .

We went into the city yesterday. We saw: Ethiad Stadium, Rod Laver Arena, MCG, Old Melbourne Goal (Jail), Flinders Street Station, Melbourne Arts Centre, and lots more. We rode the train in from Bayswater Station and rode several trams around.

Australia

After a two hour delay on the plane in San Francisco, we made it to Melbourne with flight changes in Sydney. On our drive to Leanne's place we stopped by our old house in Mitcham which has completly changed. We stopped at the Fish and Chip shop at Rangeview and the Butcher to get some sausages. Once home we stayed awake until 5:30 pm (1:30 am MDT) and fell asleep until 3:00 am (11:00 am MDT). We chatted for a bit and finally made our way back to bed and awoke at 7:30 am (3:30 pm MDT) and made our way to Blackburn Ward for sacarement meeting. We then went to Safeway for some shopping. Grabbed some treats as well. It is now 3:00 pm (11:00 pm MDT) and we are lying around and relaxing. I am actually getting a bit tired.

Do I really have to be sick again.

Well, spring is finally here.

I leave for Australia in four days.

I just had surgery to remove another kidney stone. I have an infection from said stone.

It is 3:37 am and I can't sleep in this hospital bed again. You'd think it would be possible for the nurse to come check on me without making enough noise to wake me up. They should be in anytime again to draw my blood to check my vincomycin levels before I start my next dose of vinco.
THANK YOU NETFLIX FOR BEING MY ONLY SOURCE OF DECENT ENTERTAINMENT with the help of my sister's laptop.

I am not even packed for my trip. I was supposed to be pulling out my kitchen this weekend
in anticipation of my in-laws graciously putting in my new kitchen next weekend.

I was unable to attend the family BBQ. I was really looking forward to that. BOOOO.

The kids wrapped up school on Friday. Brendan is so excited that he gets to start full-time school in the fall by entering 1st grade. Mike will be entering the emotional and testing 7th grade. He and Afton will be going to a new Junior High School by the name of Willowcreek Middle School. Afton is entering her high school education be entering 9th grade.
Wayne has begun working with youth again at Heritage Youth Services in Lindon.
We now have our garden in and it is beginning to grow.

Is that Spring I hear knocking on the door?

Here are a few pictures of Brendan's first soccer game. He is the biggest boy on the team and really had a great time.

Brendan was the last to kick the ball through the cones and lucky for him the other kids had messed up the alignment of the cones so Brendan's kick went straight down the middle of all six!


Please note that this will be the only time that Brendan wears black shorts with his yellow shirt because Dad says it makes his stomach turn because it reminded him of Stevensville High School's colors!

Tired of the brown

I can't stand looking out the window to lifeless trees, brown grass and empty flower beds. I am soooo ready for Spring. I guess it is February, not long to go.

Family Time

Well, Leanne has come and gone and we had such a great time with her getting to know the kids. Afton and Brendan were very young, Mike 2 and Afton 3, when she visited last. Brendan did share something with Leanne that she hadn't had with him - a cold.

We were able to attend New Moon together as sisters and met up with Jamie for lunch at Texas Roadhouse on November 21st. We then all got together for Thanksgiving at Michele's house. Despite the odd contention, we all have a great and memorable time together.


Michael was recently ordained a Deacon in the Priesthood and is taking the roll very serious.

With two weeks left until Christmas we are preparing for a quiet Christmas at home. The kids are trying to convince us that we should be in Montana at Grandma's house, which we have done in years past.

Afton is wearing makeup and can't leave the house until perfected. She never even cared about her hair or clothes matching before. She really wants lots of clothes for Christmas. Mike has been moved into a new class at school and is doing better. He was in the same class as his best friends and accomplished very little. He is really getting into Arts, writing and reading. He spends most of his time on his DS w/ Guitar Hero game.

Wayne is still in the job search and is currently picking up shifts at the local gas station as a cashier to help subsidize the income.

Merry Christmas to all.

Getn' Caught Up.

Well, the post surgery progress is taking leaps and miserableness. I have been getting kidney infections (I think from the Plavix) on and off and have had to be on a variety of antibiotics (which I am mostly allergic to). I sit here with sharp pains from my kidneys to ah, the exit. I have not had any headaches except for a couple in the weeks following surgery, which is very normal.
I have my three month post-surgery follow-up appointment on October 13 when they will do another Trans-Cranial Doppler (TCD) and I hope all will be safely closed off.
Kids are in school. Brendan thinks he is too big to be in Kindergarten. Michael is more dreading next year when he will be made fun of by his big sister for being in 7th grade than being too focused on being the big kid in school.
Wayne is the at-home dad as he has lost his employment, which has been great for the kids and nice to have tea made when I get home.
We are getting ready for birthday season and enjoying the cooler weather.