The Story about the Van

It was a good van...it served us well...until I smashed it into a concrete barrier. At least no one was hurt right? Right. Actually, after this all happen I was just full of thanks, but I'm getting ahead of myself. Here's what really happened ;)
I had gone up to visit my family, attend education week (for one day) with more family, and hang out with even more family. Someday I may do a post on all these things because they were wonderful. Well, Dan was getting antsy for me to be home. I had to leave him behind because of work and because we stayed so long. I promised him I'd be home on Wednesday before he got home from work. Well, when I left good 'ol Aurora it was overcast (and might have been raining, I can't remember). But the rain came down later when I was on 1-70. I was just about to the junction where you get to 1-15...about 10 miles or so from Cove Fort. It was raining really hard and as I was going over the last bridge there I hydroplaned. My car spun around and the back end passenger side hit the cement barrier. Luckily (although, I totally attribute this to saying prayer of safety) no one else was on the road. Had someone else been there they would most likely have slammed on their brakes, more hydroplaning would have ensued and injuries would have happened. Anyway...the kids started screaming (because hey, it was scary). Caden was screaming because his fruit snack flew out of his hands and he couldn't find them. Kember kept screaming at me, "Why did you do that mom!", and Cole was screaming mostly because the other two were and partly because that was not a fun way to wake up from a nap. I was able to turn the car around and pull off the bridge so I didn't hamper any oncoming traffic. After figuring out that everyone was okay, just scared I searched for my phone (lots of things went flying and it took a while to locate it) and called Dan. I didn't really know what to tell him so I just said, "I just got in a car accident." Needless to say, he didn't enjoy hearing that very much. He's two hours away and can't do anything so he tells me that he will call his parents to come help me. I protested and said that I could call them, but he basically hung up on me and I had to sit there and wait. So, I got all the kids out of their car seats and tried to calm them down by saying a thankful prayer. There were a little confused as to why we were thankful this happened, but like I said, no one was hurt, and it could have been a lot worse. A little while after that prayer Caden said he still didn't feel good and asked if we could say another prayer for comfort. Oh, I guess we should have done that. So, we did, and everyone started to calm down....for the most part. It was still raining, and I couldn't distract the kids with song or games. Kember kept complaining that she needed to go potty really bad, but since she can't just squat and go, I had no options for her. Truthfully, I had to go pretty bad too. Must be the stress and the rain, but what can you do? Anyway, both back tires had blown out completely, the back tail-light was no longer, the bumper was squished, and if you were in the car you could see outside...I'm not talking like through a window....like there was a hole type thing. Anyway, I'm sure there was more, but I'm trying to block it all from my mind. Scott and Carol Lee come to the rescue (bless them, again, prayers of thanks). They told me that I could just take their car home, but let's be honest, I didn't feel like driving anymore. Carol Lee told me she would take us all the way home, which was, I'm sure, just what she felt like doing, but I sure appreciate it. Scott tried valiantly to load the van on the back of the trailer, but with the back tires blown, and the angle of everything it didn't work. We left Scott to deal with the aftermath and we took off. It never occurred to me to call the police because no one else was involved, and no one was hurt. However, if you ever get into an accident, you are supposed to call them. Oops. Good thing Scott was around when an officer pulled up. They filled out the incident report together (and scolded Dan for letting me leave the scene...I'm glad they scolded him and not me). So, it was all good and happy. We made it to St. George with no further incident. Grandma smoothed everything over with the kids by stopping at Wendy's. And it was really good to see Dan again. We left the kids with grandma and went to the grocery store, and I broke down. I started crying and shaking, and I realized my neck hurt. I must have got a little bit of whip lash, but it's all good now. That night I couldn't sleep because I kept having nightmares about what could have happened, and how we all could have died, or someone else could have died or got hurt or whatever. It wasn't the best night I've ever had. And even though looking for a new van is no fun, I'm still really thankful for how this all turned out. See, those prayers of safety really do work! Keep saying them.

7 Years and counting

Seven years ago yesterday Dan and I were married! Has every day been bliss and wonder? No. But, I'm happier now than I ever thought I would be, and I definitely wouldn't change marrying this wonderful man. It's funny how hard marriage is...especially when you throw kids in the mix, but it's always funny just how great it is too...especially when you consciously make an effort to make it great. Take yesterday for example. Our anniversary. Dan has had plans in the making for months now. Seriously, months. For one reason or another (ahem...mostly me) those plans got scrapped and he had to keep starting from scratch. But, what he came up with was probably the best thing he could have done for me personally. First, he got up early to pick up our Bountiful Basket and stop at the store for a few things. Let's just say that this was trying because little ones, who were up extremely late the night before, were up extremely early on this morning. But, Dan persevered and made me breakfast in bed (stuffed french toast if you can believe it....ooo, it was yummy. I wasn't expecting the stuffed bit so I was pleasantly surprised). He let the kids help him, which I thought was cute. I know because I could hear everything going on while I was "sleeping". Good times. Next, we both frantically try to finish each others gifts while occupying three children who wanted to help with everything :). Now, on to our date. I had no idea what we were going to do. I know at one time we were going to go out of town for the weekend, another idea was to run to Vegas for the day, and I know that another idea was to go see a play. But like I said, all of these ideas (and others) got scrapped, so I was pretty clueless as to what was going to happen. We all load into the little Nissan (don't ask about the van, it's another post...just waiting to be typed and posted) and drive the kids to the babysitters, then Dan hands me a little book that he just finished typing. It's a Choose Your Own Adventure story that he made up for our date! How fun is that. It's actually really really impressive, and if I wasn't as lazy as I am now I would run downstairs and copy the first page for you all to read because it was really clever, thoughtful, and loads of fun. It was nice to just enjoy each other for the four hours we had the babysitter for (thanks Krystal for watching the kids!) After we picked up the kids we figured we go looking for a van. This might not have been the best idea in the world, but like I said, it's life. The kids will not be coming with us the next time we look for a van. They were just being kids, but it was a hassle and add to that the car buying experience of dealing with dealers, it wasn't the most fun I've had in my life. But it wasn't the worst either :). So anyway, the day doesn't sound like much (but that's because you weren't there), but Dan put a lot of effort into it, and it turned out better than a weekend away, or a trip to see a play.
I thought it would be fun to post some old photos of us.
This picture was taken the night he asked me to marry him. No, he didn't propose like with a ring or anything, but he told me he thought we should get married. Okay, here's the long story. The picture is on a Sunday night right before we go on a bike ride with his parents. He's kind of acting weird the whole time, but when we are done with the ride his grandparents are over visiting so I can't talk to him about it. Finally everyone goes to bed and I ask him what's up...because he just looks so....concerned. He blurts out, "I don't think we should wait to get married." I'm in complete shock because the Wednesday before while we were herding cattle he had told me that we should wait and "mature" our relationship. Whatever. Anyway, so that's where I was, and then he says that he doesn't want to wait, and the next thing I know his mom is out with the calendar and we're planning the date. My parents are still on their mission and he really didn't ask me yet, but the temple is called and we have a date. Hehehehe. A month later...we're married. Yep, long engagement. And to this day I still have to thank Scott (my father-in-law). While I changing out of my Sunday dress to go on the bike ride he asked Dan what he was waiting for. It got Dan thinking, and apparently scared him to death...and here we are 7 years later. So, thanks Scott for nudging your son in the right direction.This picture is funny to me because Dan is dying on the couch after having his adenoids and tonsils removed. We had just gotten officially (meaning, he got on his knee and gave me a ring) engaged and I went to support him through this surgery...Turns out I got sick and was throwing up in the hospital room and dying a horrible death (don't worry, I'm okay). While throwing up I could hear one of the nurses talking about how Dan must have had a hard time in surgery and the other nurse remarks, "No, that's his girlfriend". That was embarrassing. Well, it's all part of being a girl I guess. Anyway...so I like this picture because we are both just dying on the couch together. Good times...great memories.

So in 7 years we've
-finished our bachelors degree at USU
-had our first child
-moved out of state to start more schooling
-had our second child
-had our third child
-survived Vet school, and graduated
-got our first "real" job
-moved back to UT
-bought our first house
-are expecting our fourth child

Anyway, I won't bore anyone with any more pictures or memories, but I will say, "Dan, I love you. And I'm glad that you asked me to be yours forever. You are a wonderful man, husband, and father. I'm excited to look back on the next 7 years of our marriage think about all the things we've weathered together. Thanks for putting up with me, and loving me. I love you."

Stake...to eat or not to eat

We had stake conference this last weekend. It was great, and we are very thankful to Grandma and Grandpa for watching our little ones so we could go to the adult meeting. Anyway, on Sunday when the Stake President was speaking I asked my kids, "Do you know who that is?" They didn't know, so I said, "That's the Stake President." Silence. Apparently that didn't mean anything to them, but then Caden said, "Does that mean he likes steak?" Oh, uh, well no...that isn't what that means. I then tried to explain what a stake was and he got really really confused. Maybe I just should have said "yes". I mean, in all reality the Stake President probably likes to eat steak. I'll have to ask him next time I see him ;)