Moon over the Rockies

Mack and I watched the moon set the other morning before school. These are the pictures I grabbed from our bedroom window:

My mini-emergency and the care giver that surprised me.

Our sweet girl

 Alright. So I had this mini-emergency and it was all my fault. Let's just establish that right away. I ran outside to grab Mack's high heels from the van. I was just going in and out so I didn't put shoes on ( who am I kidding, I hate wearing shoes and only do when I have to) . I had forgotten that Mike took the van to get some lumber for a project which means I didn't anticipate that the lumber would have shifted in transit. I threw open the rear door and four sheets of solid plywood flew out...Oh yes it did, right onto my bare feet.

I've said it a few times in this little blog but it's important to remember that I am the home nurse. Mike doesn't deal well with the blood of his loved ones. He can deal with 80% surface area 3rd degree burns of a stranger but the battered and bleeding toes of a loved one would ( and did) send into a dizzy search for the closest bathroom.

So there I am, bleeding onto the hardwood and all I can do is bleed and cry. The pain was so intense and I couldn't think straight. That's when little Macky sprung into action! She turned for the stairs , telling me she was going after band-aids and neosporin. She came back with those things and a wash cloth. She patted my back while I cried ( loudly, and  I know it wasn't a pretty thing to see) . When I was ready to go upstairs to clean up, she wiped up the mess I'd left on the floor and followed me upstairs where she patted my back as I washed the wounds. She gently reminded me that, had I been wearing shoes, this might not have been so bad. She is right and I told her so as she patted my feet dry , applied gobs of neosporin and many bandaids. As I watched her work, saw her following such keen instincts, I thought that Mack may never been a life saving doctor or a nurse who bandages wounds and battered emotions but whatever it is she is led to do, she will bring the biggest and best heart to and I know that she will leave this world a better place than the one she was born into. My heart just bursts with pride as I watch her grow.  All the days that I kissed her ouchies, that Mike wiped her tears away...we didn't know that it wouldn't be long before she was doing the same for us.

Mack's bandaging job

Starting to heal up! I could wear shoes today.

One thing led to another....

Our dishwasher bit the dust. Finally. It really owed us nothing. Mike had repaired it several times and this time the part required to fix it was only made by one company and would be nearly a $300 dollar fix. So we went looking for a dishwasher.

And we came home with a new kitchen. How does that even happen?  I'm still trying to figure it out.

Movie date

Becky and I took Mackenzie and James to see Frozen and out for lunch at Chick-Fil-A. They had so much fun together. They even traded in their books for an ice cream all on their own.

Dressed to impress

With this pack of goofballs, you never know what you'll find walking into our house! Mase raided Mackenzie's winter cubby and dressed up in her clothes.

And no one, not even the puppies , escape.

I was getting ready for a movie with a friend when Mack asked if I'd curl her hair, too.

Which prompted a wardrobe change.

Mackenzie is always a stylish girl

Hansford girls come for a visit

In December, Ben and Coley came for a visit and now it was Nicole and Taylor's turn. This is a much cheaper and easier way for them to travel since it means they don't have to board the dogs and only one child misses a day or two of school at a time. We were all so excited as the day of their arrival finally came.
The worst part of any trip is the "good-bye" at the end. It doesn't come easily for we Rose girls, that good-bye part. During the six years that Mike and I ( and Mackenzie) lived in Michigan, it never got any easier to say good- bye . I thought that was hard....what's even harder is seeing Taylor and Brooklyn in tears because they have to part. And then looking from them , around the room, and seeing my mom and sisters with tears streaming down their faces, too. Though it's such a hard, hard thing, it always makes me feel so thankful that I have people in my life that I love so much , it brings me to tears to be away from them.  We sure do love you, Hansfords.

I can't believe they will be 11 this summer! Their personalities are still so similar to when they were babies.

Mack and Kaleb are two peas in a pod.

The look of determination at the park.

And surprise!

Mase noticed Grams was in her car and left the playground to go with her.

These two goofballs

I'm so glad my sister's and I are still close.

Taylor and Brooklyn and Mack learned to make bracelets on Brook's rainbow loom. Everyone with an arm had a bracelet.

One of my favorite pictures from their trip. Nikki with her nieces and daughter.

Mason never wanted for attention. Between Taylor and Brooklyn, he was covered in kisses any time they were around.

Rollin' in dough

Hard at work on her snail

10 second later, the boy in the background of this picture flung my snow man off the table where it was promptly gobbled up by a waiting,drooling set of jowls belonging to Gunner. Such is life.

Finished product!