6 Years ago today . . .

We were sealed in the Bountiful Utah Temple for time and all eternity.

Since Brandon is back in Ohio, I celebrated with our little sweeties.
We went to the Bountiful Temple.
It was fun to talk to them about the temple on the drive over.

Here are some photos:

There was another couple there getting their post ceremony photos taken. A lady gave Jocelyn the bouquet to hold for a minute and after chatting, pointed at us and told the couple, "Ok--6 years from now, guys!"

Afterwords, we went to IHOP for lunch.

Bugga met us there and gave River a fancy hat
She thought sitting in the high chair was the coolest thing ever.
River just wants to be where the big kids are and she loves it when she can do anything they are doing!

Jocelyn and Kal had choc chip pancakes with funny faces.
In talking about her pancake (above), Jocelyn said, "My pancake's eye is kind of lazy."

River and Candice and their afternoon nap

Watching "Tinkerbell" with Grannie Tannie

After kiddos went to bed, my parents toasted to us with sparkling grape juice.

I love being married to my best friend. I cannot believe it has already been 6 years and that we have experienced so much in this short time. We have added 3 kids to our family, graduated from BYU, lived in 6 places in 3 states, made several wonderful friends, had at least 10 jobs between us, almost finished med school (Brandon graduates in May!!), started massage therapy school (I graduate in August), flown over 15,000 miles each in trips to Utah and Texas, driven 6,600 miles in trips from Utah to Missouri/Ohio, have seen several Church history sites in Missouri, Nauvoo/Carthage, and Kirtland, and have had many ups and a few downs. We are really enjoying our life together. Marrying Brandon is the best decision I have ever made. I am filled with joy every time I experience the consequences of that decision--the best of those are Jocelyn, Kal, and River and being with my best friend forever.

I love you, Brandon! Happy Anniversary!

Birthday Tribute to Brandon

The most wonderful husband EVER!
I love you, Brandon!
You are the best decision I have ever made.

You are an awesome father and your kiddos just adore you!
Jocelyn says, "I just love you! I like when you hug me."
Kal says your name is "Batman" and he says he like to give you kisses and tickle you.
and River loves you, too! She loves to coo and smile at you.

Thank you for spending so much time with us, despite your busy med school schedule. You are a wonderful husband and father and we know you will be an excellent doctor as well.
Happy Birthday!

For all the rest of you viewing this post, here are a couple childhood photos of Brandon . . .

What an adorable little boy!

As Batman
(with Robin--aka Brickton)

Pec Lift

Brandon, thinking he was 10 years younger, decided to play steal the flag with some of the young men in our ward in November (he had just been called to YM). In the process, he took one for the team, sacrificing his right pec diving after the fastest runner (he tore his pectoralis major right off the bone). He finally decided to go see a doctor and had surgery to re-attach his pec to the bone (OUCH!!). His surgery was March 19. Here are the details:

Grannie Tannie flew out the day before and stayed for the whole weekend.
WE COULD NOT HAVE DONE THIS WITHOUT HER!!
She took care of the kids for 11 hours that day and helped care for all of us (and cooked all meals) for a few days! She even had all 3 on her own while I went to school that weekend.
What would we do without moms?
Thanks, Grannie!


Here are the "Before" photos:
Now that only half of his chest is shaved, we have begun the experiment to see if hair does grow back thicker after being shaved!

My poor hubby!

The procedure was supposed to last 1 1/2 hours. It turned into 3 hours! I was getting a little nervous that something had gone wrong! The surgery took so long because his muscle had scarred onto another muscle (since it had been so long) and it took the surgeon 45 minutes just to get it loose! The residents had some trouble getting anchors into his bone and attaching the muscle, so the surgeon had to re-do that as well. As a result, he has 4 extra anchors in his bone! (more ouch!!)
Although the surgeon was not certain that the surgery would be successful, he was happily proven wrong. He said he was able to get good anchors and attach the muscle very well (he even tested it by strumming it like a guitar string)
We are thankful for all your prayers and faith, which we know made the surgery successful.

If you are not queasy yet, just take a look at the "After" photos!
With staples

2 weeks later--post staples
(yuck--part of it is still open! I could almost fit a dime in that hole!)

But don't worry--he got a cool sling, 2 stress balls, and great ice packs (not to mention a symmetrical chest again--ooooh la la). He is also getting a lot of attention from the kids!
Here they are having ice cream cones after FHE last night.

The Hospi-WHAT??

Hey, Jocelyn, where does Dad work?

It looks like Dad agrees.

(Yes, he is really asleep in this picture with 2 kids mauling him. He is that exhausted when he gets home! I can't wait for him to be done with his surgery rotation!)

September Birthdays

September is a big birthday month for our family. Brandon turned 27 on the first. Somehow we did not get any photos! (They may have been on our external hardrive that was sizzled by the storm or killed by Kal--we're not quite sure). Thanks for the nice shirts, ties, slacks, and socks for rotations, Dad and Mom (Flammer) and for the drill and staple gun, Dad and Mom Campbell. Thanks for the money Dad and Mary

Kal has the infamous 9-11 birthday:

Cake is fun to squish!

The best way to "hammer out" a tune.

On his actual birthday, the kids and I went to McDonald's to play. We had a blast!

Last, but not least, Jocelyn had her birthday September 30!!
The pre-present opening M&Ms. She just loves them!

Thank you, Bugga and Grannie!

Thanks, Grandpa Bruce and Grandma Mary!

Thank you Grandpa and Grandma Campbell!

Thanks, Daddy and Mom!

She saw this on a Cheerios box and wanted it for her birthday dinner.
It was yummier than it looks!

Num-num!

All three birthdays were a lot of fun. Thank you for all the nice gifts! More to come . . . she had a birthday party with friends. I hope to get that posted soon!