The Dreaded Phone Call...

It was pizza night at mom and dads house on Thursday and only Nic and I were there with my mom.  We decided to start eating since I had a dodgeball game to get to at 6:30.  We were just about done when my mom's cell phone rang.  It was dad letting her know he was in an accident.  I could hear what he saying so I hurried and round the kids up and we drove to the scene.  It was north of 4th and Wall at the end of the ball park.  I jumped out of our moving vehicle to to run to the scene.  Dad had 2 EMT's working on him so I tried to get to him through the passenger door but couldn't open it.  I was then asked if this was family and to give them information. I did and surprisingly did pretty well with being responsive to their questions.  I was finally able to get to my dad and talk with him.  He was coherent the entire time he was very shaken up and his sentences were a little out of the norm for him but I was just glad he was alive! The EMT's kept telling me to try to talk him into taking the ambulance but he is very stubborn and kept refusing. He just really wanted to see my mom and kept asking for her.   Finally mom showed up and after dad said he wanted her to take him up and tried to move he realized it wasn't going to happen and agreed to take the ambulance.  There had been two ambulances there but since dad kept refusing they sent the other vehicles passengers in them to get checked out.  Though they said dad was the worst out of them all.  So they called for another ambulance which took about 20 min. to get to the accident.  By the time it had arrived dad was in shock and trembling and shaking pretty badly.  It took 5 of them to get him out and onto the stretcher.  When on the stretcher dad was very concerned about his SD card that was in his coat pocket and wanted me to make sure it was still there.  But I couldn't because they had loaded him into the ambulance.  The police officer then pulled me aside to tell me what had happened and said he would be up at the hospital to tell my mom and dad as well.  He said that the couple were arguing and that the husband who was the passenger decided to be a dink and jerked the steering wheel.  She then jerked it the other way to avoid an accident and over corrected crossing 3 lanes and hitting my dad head on.  My dad said he had no time to respond.  He said he was minding his own business when all of a sudden he saw headlights and then felt impact giving him no time to brake. It was pretty upsetting to hear how this happened and I couldn't believe that it all happened with their 7 year old in the back.
The hospital was long and slow.  After being admitted they took him back for x-rays and did all kinds of tests to which they all came back with great news that there wasn't serious damage and no broken bones. He was able to leave the hospital about 4 1/2 hours later with a few stitches in his eyebrow and knee.  The tests said nothing was broken but he knows there are some deep muscle problems and that things will take quite a while to heal.
It is very hard to see dad in pain since I have never seen it before.  He never asks for help and never shows that he is in pain when he is.  But these past few days he has had to ask for the help because the pain at times is pretty unbearable.  Which is hard on all of us because we know it must be pretty bad.  Today he was able to go to the bathroom on his own which is a pretty big improvement though he still needs help flushing.  We are just thankful to have him with us and we are so glad things weren't worse.  We know that he was being watched over and could feel Gaven near.  It will be a long recovery but we are counting the tender mercies and are glad that he gets to recover.

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas...

 A stocking to put our tender mercies in during this season.

 Our new family compound tradition.  It's been really fun getting together for family home evening taking turns at each others house.  My turn was on Monday and I focused on Joseph.

Payton turns 5 & Christmas Tree...

 Before I start with Payton here are a couple of other things to catch up on.  Payton had another field trip, this time we went bowling!

This little man is completely potty trained! I only had one day where I wanted to give up, but I stayed strong and stuck to it.  He did awesome yesterday when we went and cut down the Christmas tree.  No accidents and he went in the wild for the first time.  He thought that was pretty cool changing the snow yellow! Good bye diapers!

 This years Thanksgiving was spent with the Rich family.  We had an excellent dinner with which we stuffed our selves to the miserable stage.. at least I know I did. I love spending time with our family even if we just sit around and talk all day.  It was still a perfect day.

 The day after Thanksgiving was Payton's Birthday! We have a 5 year old!!!! That is a milestone birthday if you ask me! She weighs 38.2  which is in the 40% range, and is 44.75 in. which is 88%.  Tall and skinny!
Again I asked Payton her favorite's questions..

Color:  TURQUOISE!!!

Movie:  The Croods

Book: The Bisquit books and Dream Big Pig

TV Show:  Jake and the Neverland Pirates and My Little Pony

Game: Candy Land

Food:  Turkey Sandwich

Song:  I am a Child of God, and the Champion Song (Roar by Katy Perry)

Activity: Play with Connor and go to school

Princess: Cinderella

Friends: "Avery and Kyra and Lydia, and Weston, umm.. Wyatt and Finley, Meagan and that's all."

 It being a milestone birthday she had her very first friend birthday party.  She requested a My Little Pony Birthday so that's what we did.  The girls pinned the balloons on Pinky Pie, did a pinata, decorated sugar cookies and played Just Dance. I love this group of girls they are all so cute and sweet to each other.

 After Cubby and Goldy died I thought for sure that we would be getting Payton a fish tank for her birthday, but when it came down to it I wasn't loving the idea.  She has a love for every single animal and has such a tender heart that I knew she would love any living thing.  I went to the pet store going between fish, hamsters or a bird.  I did a quick walk by the fish talking myself out of that idea and hung around the birds.  I visited the hamster's and couldn't get over the fact that they have nasty feet and look like mice.  The birds were what I wanted.  And after seeing the TURQUOISE bird it was a given. 

Waiting for her surprise..

 After seeing her..

 So meet the newest member of our family Payton's very own pet parakeet, Misty...

Payton loves Misty and every minute she is away from her she misses her!

"Mom I want a turquoise cake with pink and purple flowers, Oh that will be so pretty huh!"

  Happy Birthday little Peanut! I am so glad that Heavenly Father blessed us with the most beautiful inside and out little girl. I am so happy with all the adventures we have been through because of you.  I am happy that you were the one who first gave us the title, mommy and daddy.  Having you was one of the best decisions we have made.  You truly light up our lives.

 Yesterday was so much fun.  We went on our Christmas tree hunt up Mink Creek Canyon!  This year my Grandma and Grandpa asked to join us.  Having them there was so much fun!

 Aren't they the cutest Grandparents ever!! Here they are 80 years young hiking through the snow up the mountain!

 Maddie reenacting the Croods..

 Awkward photo...

Mom gave dad an early Christmas present and man are we glad! Using a chain saw is so much easier and quicker.  Dad loves his new little toy!

 I have to say this is my favorite Christmas tradition and adding Grandma and Grandpa to it just made it that much better!