Reflecting on Caitlyn this Past Year

Since Caitlyn had been sick, I have had more than a soft spot for sick children because it hits so close to home for me. I know what it is like to feel helpless and to pray to give your own life so that your child can live. I know what it is like to lose sleep and not eat because you're wanting to spend every last moment with them comforting them and helping them. I just wish that children or people in general didn't have to suffer in such a way at all. Yes it is apart of life, yes it is apart of a greater plan, this I know. However, accepting it is much more of a challenge to me. It just seems unfair. I have felt guilty in ways that Caitlyn made it when others have passed away from bacterial meningitis. I know many would see this as silly but I think it is natural in a sense. However, there is an overwhelming feeling of gratitude that she is here. Seeing her grow everyday is so worth it.

I am just happy that I have my little girl here with me. She is a blessing and has a fiery spirit that I love and admire.

The day before I had her: 33 weeks and 2 days along

Caitie couple of days old in the NICU. She spent 21 days in there.

 

The night she was life flighted to the PICU at Primary Children's Hospital in SLC. She was 5 months old.

 

 

 

 

 

Her is she is now. Healthy, 14 months old and beautiful in everyway.

PG & PG-13 Spooky Halloween Movies!

So I thought I would take a few minutes out of my study time to talk about Halloween time (my fav holiday) and scary movies (Love scary movies, hate disturbingly gross disgusting movies, there is a difference!). This time of year, it is okay to do spooky and it is okay to do scary and still keep it family friendly or keep it non-disturbing. If you are like me and enjoy this time of year, you probably enjoy spooky movies that make the mood of the season that much better. I have compiled some of my favorite movies that are PG and PG-13 that really set the tone for Halloween and usher in the spooks. The PG movies can be enjoyed with the kids while the much older kids and adults can enjoy the PG-13 flicks.  Feel free to give me more suggestions if you have anymore!

1. The Monster Squad

This movie is PG-13 but is such a good, spooky Halloween movie. It has a lot of action and it has the classic Halloween monsters in it. I saw this as a young child, and I would not recommend it for anyone under 13 as the action and scenes could bother small kids. It is also funny and has a "Goonies" feel to it with the children being the heroes. What makes this movie such a great Halloween movie is everything! It has every scary classic monster, it sets the mood with the children being afraid of the monster in the closet, which who wasn't afraid of the monster in the closet growing up?



 



2. Van Helsing                                  

 

This movie is more action packed and good to watch with your spouse. It also has monsters and fantasy violence, but really is not a disturbing type of scary. I love this for a Halloween movie, as it too has all of the classic Halloween monsters and if you like vampires and action, you will like this one. It has a PG-13 rating. What makes this a great Halloween movie is the vampires, the big spooky castle and the other monsters. If you love werewolves, this is also your movie.

 

 

 

3. The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen 

                                                    

 

 

This movie has similar action sequence to Van Helsing, as it also has vampires and fantasy monsters. It is very good and interesting and if you like action along with spook, this is a good movie. It is also a good movie to watch just with your spouse as there is blood and fighting, but it is tolerable. What makes this a good Halloween movie is the monsters and the action jump scenes. They are kind of freaky!

 

 

 

4. Hocus Pocus                                

 

This is a wonderful children's Halloween movie. I remember watching this when I was a child. It is funny, but surely has a spooky feeling. The beginning of the movie can be a little disturbing as the witches do kidnap a child. It is all done as a lighthearted film and it is rated PG. What makes this a great Halloween movie is the witches, the fact that it takes place on Halloween night, the talking black cat and the costumes the characters wear! This movie is definitely considered a classic!

 

 

5. The Addams Family                    

 

These movies are kind of spooky and are very hilarious. They are PG-13 and I have not let my children watch them yet but for older kids, they are probably okay. These movies do have mature innuendos throughout. What makes it spooky is the large, strange mansion, the dark family values and the appearance of the family!

 

 

 

6. Monster House                            

                    This is a spooky movie for kids. I saw this when it first came out with my daughter and I really enjoyed it. It does have intense action sequence in it, but is not a bad movie for children. What makes it a great Halloween movie is the scary house and mystery behind it. The house is very scary and creepy. It has a PG rating so it is will be okay for children about 9 years and older.

 

 

7. The Witches                                

I remember watching this movie over and over again when I was little. The awesome thing is that my daughter just got done reading this book in school and now wants to see the movie. I remember it being a little scary for me as a little girl only because the witches target little children and make them disappear. It is all done in a lighthearted manner and no children die. What makes this a great movie for Halloween is the Witches, their magic, and a spooky adventure the little boy must face to defeat them! It is PG and is a suitable movie for kids about 9 and older.  

 

 

 

8. Signs                                                   

This movie is so haunting! It is PG-13 and deals with very mature subject matters, so I would suggest teenagers and adults watch this. It is about Aliens and the invasion and attempted takeover thereof. What makes this a great Halloween movie is the jump scares, the spooky, suspenseful scenes and the scary aliens.

 

 

9.   Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad

 

It has been years since I have seen this. It is a family friendly movie for everyone to enjoy. What makes this a great Halloween movie is the premise of the Headless Horsemen tale. This has scared people for years and Disney made it possible for children to watch it! What makes this a great Halloween movie is the spooky headless horsemen, the jumps, the scary forest and much more.

 

 

10. The Nightmare Before Christmas

This is a good, child-friendly movie. It is dark and has the Tim Burton feel to it, but it is cute and spooky. I actually had never seen it until I was an adult. It is also a musical which kids will love. What makes this a great Halloween movie is the strange monster-type characters and that it is set near Halloween and then Christmas. It is a wonderful, lighthearted spooky movie! It is rated PG and is a little scary, but it is not disturbing in any way.

 

 

 

 

11. Buffy The Vampire Slayer             





                               Okay, I saw this in theaters when I was about 8, and it was way too scary for me at that age. Now, I quite enjoy it now because I am older and because I also love vampires. It is PG-13 and has a lot of action, jump scenes and spook. What makes it a great Halloween movie is the vampires, the scary cemetery, the jump scenes and flying vampires. It is not for younger audiences as it maybe too scary for them.

 

 

 

12. Paranorman                                        

This movie is for kids, but I think it is a good movie for older children. It does deal with zombies and the beginning scene is a little scary. It is a darker film and is a great Halloween movie because it is about the undead and has many spooky scenes. It is rated PG for action and scary scenes.

 

 

 

 

To wrap this up, I would like to just say that I enjoy spooky movies, but I don't like movies that are disturbing. There are too many of types of scary, unforgiving movies today that are meant to gross out, disturb and exhaust audiences. I know that there are many people like me out there that enjoy movies that are scary in a non disturbing, gross sort of way without the R rating. So let's watch some spooky movies and welcome in this time of year! I don't know about you, but I am excited! 



 



                     

 

 

 

 

 

 





   

Lilly's Baptism Photos

So my friend Jamie from my Dad and Step Mom's ward saw my pictures on facebook and asked if I would do her daughter's baptism pictures. I was a little scared and intimidated to do them because up to that point I had only taken pictures of family. However I agreed and we met at the church to do her pictures. Lilly looked so beautiful in her white dress and Shirley Temple curled hair. I was excited but still nervous, however Jamie helped give me ideas of what she wanted and I think we ended up getting some fabulous pictures.

 

 

Here is her announcement, we haven't found out the time for her baptism so I will add that later.

Photography

I have always, always ALWAYS loved photography, especially trying to grasp good pictures myself. However having a great camera always eluded me and always seemed to be the factor in me not quite getting note worthy photos. Mark, being the sweet husband he is got me a new camera on a whim and it is marvelous. I have taken some amazing photographs of my kids, my nieces and nephews, brothers and my step mom. I think I will upload my photographs from time to time. I am too proud not to show everyone. These are just a few shots from my mini photo sessions.

 

 

 

 

Small Update

So, I cannot believe that Caitlyn will be 1 years old in a month. That is a crazy thought. So much has happened in our family over the last year. Some great things and some trying things. No matter what we are still doing well.

Mark is loving his job, and he now has a calling as a ward missionary. Because he makes a better wage, we are now able to move into a bigger place. We have been talking for the past couple days about where we will move. It will most likely be out of our beloved ward that we have been apart of for 3 years. However, it will be in a bigger place, and that will be better for our family. We will probably move out late June, early July.

We bought a gold fish 5 days ago and sadly he died today. However, Tatum brought home a fish the last week of school she named Nemo, and he is doing well and thriving. Tatum will be having a little funeral for Dart, the goldfish who died tonight.

Tatum and I were helping a small fledgling that had fallen out of his nest in our back yard. It was really hard for me because I know that baby birds that fall from their nests don't survive or have a small chance of it.Tatum lovingly named him Fuzzington Fluffy Bird. He was fully feathered and learning to fly. Later in the evening a much larger bird swooped down and tried to grab Fuzzy in his talons. I hurried and chased him away. I made a nest with a box and placed it on our back porch and he slept there all night.  He lived into the night and we made him a makeshift nest to live in and stuck it back up in the tree.  By the way, I talked to a vet about him and it is only a myth that if you touch a baby bird their Mother will not take him back or kill him. Fuzzy's  parents were around constantly and they even would fly down to feed him and try to help him to fly. It was really a neat experience


to watch them interact.

 

Tate had an appointment with the pediatrician for her well check and so we had to leave Fuzzy for a couple hours and when we came back, his nest was knocked over and he was gone. It makes me sad to think of what might have happened to him. I can only hope he flew away. However, reality and fate say differently. *Sigh.*

 

Later: We just had a little funeral for Dart, our late fish. We flushed him down the toilet after Tatum said some words about him. It was cute. Anyways. Us and our animals, hopefully Nemo will be the only one for a while. I couldn't handle having another animal to worry about even though I love them and have loads of compassion for them.

 

Update on Tate and the pediatrician: Everything went perfectly, she is very healthy and Dr. Marsden said she is a perfect 9 year old. I couldn't agree more. He did talk to her for a long time about her eating habits and how she needs to eat more veggies. She wasn't too amused to say the least.

 

This is how life is for us right now and no matter what, we just keep on swimming.

 

  Hey Mr Grump Gills
You know what you gotta do when life gets you down?
Just keep swimming
Just keep swimming
Just keep swimming swimming swimming
What do we do we swim, swim, swim
OH HO HO How I love to swim
When you WAAAAAANNTTT to swim you want to swim

 

Just Keep Swimming by Dory

 

 

Weirdness.

 

 

 

 

Taking pics at the fountain at IHC.