Life changes

I recently decided to leave my job and stay home with Mason. This was an enormously difficult decision and came with a lot of heartache. This job was the reason we moved to Washington, I left a position that I really enjoyed in Utah, and I was hoping it would be a positive change. Unfortunately I found myself in an extremely negative environment. I hoped it would improve, but it got to the point where my unhappiness with my job was effecting every aspect of our lives. I decided to leave my position and enjoy being a mom for the time being. I'm hoping I can find something else that I enjoy soon. Trent has been so supportive during this tumultuous time and I am so grateful that I have him to lean on. I am sad to leave a field that I love, but I'm going to keep a positive attitude, look towards the future and choose to be happy! And spend a little more time with this adorable stinker.

Thanksgiving

We had a full house for Thanksgiving this year, and we loved it. My parents flew up Jerome, Kelly and Devon came from Boise, Lizzie flew over from Lewiston and Kathleen and Danny drove down from Canada to celebrate with us. It was so much fun to have everyone come see us! Mason loved having all of these people to play with him, and the dogs were happy to have all the extra attention. I had a lot of help cooking the meal and a lot of help tackling leftovers, which was much appreciated. I borrowed a few of your pictures Kathleen, I hope that's ok. :) 

Mason loved coloring, reading books and watching movies with his Grandma Kelly.

The puppies loved Danny!! 

Aunt Lizzie taught Mason a lot of important life lessons during her visit, like how delicious whipped cream is...

And the words to annoying pop culture songs.

We had a lot of fun with everyone. Now it's time to start getting ready for Christmas! 

Happy Sunday

Mason and I are sick, so we are having a pajama and movie day.  I hope everyone has a good week! 

Enjoying the beautiful PNW!

Trip to the Redwoods

We just got back from our second annual national park trip with the Garrisons! Last year we went to Bryce Canyon, this time we drove to Northern California to visit the Redwoods. We stayed in a cabin and did a few hikes, we even survived a six mile hike with three kids under the age of 5. 

Hiking makes Mason tired. 

On the way home we stopped in Crescent City, California and walked on the beach. 

When did my boy get so big? 

Happy hump day!

We love short work weeks. ❤️

Mom update

This summer, my mom told us that she has been having strange symptoms recently; she had been forgetting words and her memory seemed to be failing her. She was also experiencing neurological problems, her arms and legs felt like they weren't working together, her motor skills felt off. Over the 4th of July weekend, she went into the ER for these symptoms. They did a CT scan and a large mass in the posterior portion of her brain. Of course we were all devastated. The ER doctor made her an appointment with a radiation oncologist for the following week. At her appointment, the doctor told her that the tumor was able to be surgically removed, so that night they drove up to Boise to go to St. Alphonsus hospital. She had surgery the next day, and it went very well; it took less than an hour! The mass was 4 cm x 3 cm and the pathology showed it was a metastatic tumor from ovarian cancer. The oncologist thinks that the cells were in her brain at the time of diagnosis over eight years ago and the tumor has been growing slowly since. She recently finished 16 treatments of radiation to kill any possible remaining cells. According to the radiation oncologist, her prognosis is good and she will just have to have an MRI every couple of years to watch for any new growth. She is still healing but getting better every day. She even went back to work full time! We appreciate all of the thoughts and prayers from everyone. We love you all!