SPECIAL OLYMPICS

This year Braden had alot of fun coaching the Logan Special Olympics
downhill snowboarding, and the occasional skier, ha ha.

Practices began at 6:30 a.m. every Saturday.  They would throw in a DVD while on the team bus to Beaver Mountain ( I am sure to wake them up) but as soon as they hit the slopes it was all business. 

Some of the kids had learning disabilities and some were down syndrome but they were all dang good! After warming up they would hit the course and break off.  They took runs through trees, terrain parks and just about anywhere.  One of the kids was named Carson.  His favorite thing was to have snowball fights while flying down the mountain.  Another one enjoyed spraying whoever was stopped below with a face full of snow! 

State games came on a great sunny day at Powder Mountain.  Braden's team cleaned up in medals.  He said, "These kids taught me not only how much fun snowboarding is, but that we can all accomplish anything".

WAY TO GO BRADEN!

Grandpa's Gift

Grandpa Toponce fulfilled a promise made a long time ago and made a bed for Landen.

With Landen's helping hand it was quickly assembled and ready for use.

Super Cute Guy! In a big boys bed, with all of his favorite things right by him! 

Good Job Grandpa! 



Girl's Day Out

We celebrated our first annual "Girl's Day Out" on March 25th and went to the Scrapbook Expo at the South Town Expo Center.  Tiffany left Landen and Carter with their dad, the rest of us took of the day from work, yeah! 


                                                         WE HAD SO MUCH FUN! 


Tiffany and Kristen found a perfect booth for them.  Pages already cut and designed, you just have to glue and add your own pictures.  They loaded up on pages designed for children.  Tiffany started scrapbooking several years ago, but with the addition of two kids it kinda got put on hold.  Having pages already cut and designed was perfect for her.  Kristen on the other hand started her scrapbooking that day.  She was so excited to find the pre-done pages.  It was right up her alley.  Now she just has to wait for Garrett to arrive. 


Michelle enjoyed the day helping us look for fun, new and exciting stuff.  She did find a sweet wallet.  More like a small clutch.  It was really cute and came from a company in Logan.  The next day Michelle was working the "Kitchen Kneads" booth at the Logan Bridal Fair.  Right across from her was the daughter of the lady we bought the clutch from.  Small World! 

I was on the hunt for new stuff for the upcoming years calendar and card making.  I had so much fun making the calendars for all of us last year, I plan on doing it every year.  Homemade cards are always fun to get. 

The bottom card is the invitation Tiffany and I made to Kristens upcoming baby shower. 

We got the monkey stamp at the expo.  It is so cute!  

Growing Fast & Not Much Room Left

84 days left and we are growing fast!  Kristen is looking so dang cute.  But . . . the really uncomfortable stage is just right around the corner. We used to say Kristen didn't have a strike zone.  Now it is all baby zone with more growing to do.  Yeah!

Already likes Oreo Cookies

Carter got his first taste of oreo cookies.  Boy did he enjoy it!

RECIPE OF THE MONTH

EGG & BACON CASSEROLE

                            12 eggs                                      8 oz. shredded medium cheddar cheese

                            4 cups ranch croutons             1 tsp. dry mustard

                            1 T. onion flakes                       1 lb. bacon, cooked and crumbled

                            4 cups milk

Beat eggs lightly, add croutons, onion flakes, milk, cheese and dry mustard.  Stir well, pour into greased 9 X 13" baking pan and refrigerate overnight.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.  Remove and stir.  Sprinkle with bacon and cook 25 additional minutes.  Cut and serve warm.

Our family has tried several different egg casserole variations and we always come back to this one.  The croutons add just the right flavor and helps the eggs to hold together.  I hope you try and enjoy this one!   

Carter's Surgery

Our grandson, Carter, had his Cleft Palate surgery on March 3rd.  He is 9 months old. The anticipation of this surgery was difficult knowing the extensiveness and long recooperation time.  But . . . it has been a little over a week.  For me and Kent it has been extremely heart softening and humbling to watch our own precious daughter Tiffany and her husband press forward with faith, as they forsake all to heal their son.  Carter knows he is loved!

Dad, the RN,  helps prep Carter for surgery.  Carter has on the cutest little hospital gown, but as you can tell he is not at all excited about it. Maybe he senses what is coming.  This is about 7:30 a.m. in the morning.

Rob, Tiffany, Carter and Dr. Kjar just before going back to Dr. Bateman the anesthesiologist.  Dr. Kjar has been a wonderful doctor.  He has an amazing talent and we are blessed to have him share with Carter. Dr. Bateman is the son of Elder Bateman and was Carter's anesthesiologist for his first surgery.  Tiffany was soooo grateful to have him as the anesthesiologist again because of his great care for Carter the first time.

Carter and Mom after surgery.  Dr. Kjar said it went really well.  There was enough tissue to form the palate.  If there had not been enough tissue they would have used a tissue graft.  The black string coming from his mouth is attached to a stitch that is holding down his tongue.  He had that in for about 12 hours. It was to keep his tongue out of the way, if he started bleeding, and they had to quickly insert a tube.  Fortunately that didn't happen! 

 

Me, Kent and Landen arrived at the hospital around 1:00 p.m. (Landen slept way in!)  Landen got some quality play time in one of the waiting rooms while we took turns going back to visit Tiffany and Carter.  He had so much fun with this bowling game that Grandma bought him one of his own a couple days later.

Friday, the day Carter got home we had to go through the toys and temporatily remove the ones that could potentially be put in Carter's mouth and cause a problem.  Here are some of the toys that are now at Grandma and Grandpa's instead of their house.  Landen is upset about a couple of his favorite toys being gone. Mainly "Mator" from Cars. 


Carter is doing well.  His main struggle is once again having to learn how to swallow.  This includes food and his spit.  He just drools everywhere.  This will be the third time he has had to figure it out since each time the inside of his mouth has been just a little bit different.  Right now he is mostly on bottle feeding until he is comfortable with the food thing again ha ha.