my latest mishap...

This was last night. My upper eyelid was already pretty swollen.

This morning, new colors!

While playing basketball with the guys yesterday, Kelly and I were blocking each other. On one play I don't know exactly what happened, but Kelly's elbow hit my eyebrow bone and then I suddenly felt much worse pain in my shoulder and realized one of the guys either bumped into me or had jumped and part of their body landed on my shoulder severely dislocating it. I was determined not to go to the ER because last time I did, the Dr. put it back in about 5 seconds. So, I have dislocated it a few times since and been able to put it back myself. I and the guys, Alex and his mom Kelly all were trying to help me. We were doing the same tecnique the dr. did the first time. It just wouldn't go. I hate going into the dr. for something that can be fixed in under a minute!!

I was glad to find out that it was a lot more work than that, so it was necessary to go in. The X-rays were very wild looking! I could see the ball at the top of my humerus bone overlapping with my ribs. It was a good 2 in. from where it should be.
So, I have to say that I am so proud of myself for being considered tough and able to handle more pain than the doctor thought. The doctor was sure I would have to go to a riverside hospital to re-locate my shoulder because they could put me under anestesia. He said with it that bad, nobody can handle getting it put back without the anestetic. The thought of having it out of place, jammed into my arm pit and collar bone for another hour or more was my motivation. The top of my humerus bone was stuck so badly, the doctor went and got another doctor to help him. The first wrapped a sheet around my body to hold it still while the other pulled and twisted my arm back into place. The doctor was really shocked that I was able to do it, it took two both doctors full strength, you could see how hard they were working. The relief of having it back in place is just amazing, so wonderful!!

So yeah, I gues I'm just bragging. Because, I wouldn't ususally consider myself very tough. Now I'm just really sore.

Sundance fire yesterday (the ranch)

These pics don't do the scene justice...the fire started(3pm exactly, looking at my last txt msg ;) just behind the last hill on the right of the pics. the wind was blowing so hard to the left that there isn't even smoke at that spot anymore when Alex took these at about 4:30.

A different helicopter that flew over us was so close the kids were waving and yelling to because we could actually see in the windows! They thought that was pretty exciting.
When we first got there and you could see that the fire had just one 'puff' of smoke above it, Natalja was very uneasy and wanted to leave ASAP! I convinced her that we were totally safe with the dirt around us, the big water truck and we were swimming. Besides that the fire was over the hill and the wind was blowing sideways not toward us, but still pretty strong winds. It did get within 100 ft. to the Gary's store on the corner of sage and 79 Gary said when he went to tell the girls working to go home! So, we'll see how that ended up doing.
We were out there for a b-day party for Brad & Cole, but when the phones died and then the power it was officially cancelled. Alex & I and the kids brought a cake to Brad's house and celebrated with Kelly, Amber, Dallas, Shawn & Shea.

out for a walk

this was too cute, while we were all looking up Bret was going on a walk. There is a picture of Alex when he was little just like this, except he has overalls on and his dog with him, I have always loved that picture!
(look at those thighs!!)

CHASSY!

Such a cute little doggy!
We adopted a 1 yr. old 'Whippet' from the shelter today. She is so agile, sweet, loving, and mellow. She loves to just hang out on a lap. When we 'tried' her out at the shelter today, she jumped right up on Alex's lap and was so content being there. 'Love at first sight!'
Natalja has been asking for a pet for her birthday-a hampster, fish, bunny, but we told her that we just got our kitten, Hopper, a couple months ago. We don't need to get another pet so soon.
Then...poor Hopper got hit by a truck, they always come speeding down the hill right by our house. They didn't even notice or stop. The kids took it pretty hard. Since we have been thinking about a little, kid friendly dog for a couple years, we thought this might finally be a good time.

We'll see how she works out, great so far!

fun in the sun

Bret is a boy with no fear!! He loves the water, too! He is showing us how Grandma taught him how to blow bubbles!

Splashing Boys! doing tricks and spins on the body boards in the pool! It's been a very fun summer with all the pool trips. We are so lucky to have the option of my mom & dad's house or the Clawson's have a pool at their house too. It is so much work and so messy to go to the beach, so I am glad my kids can have just as much fun in the water here! -and it's a bit safer ;)

You can really see how much Kelli looks up to her big sister, Talja. I was trying to get some pictures of Talja in white to make an invitation for her baptism. Kelli kept getting right next to Talja and even posing like her as much as she could! It was really sweet, until I needed to actually get some shots of just Natalja!

...and then the really funny part is that Bret copies everything Kelli does, so he started doing the poses too! Luckinly, he is a bit slower than the girls, so he wasn't a problem in the way. Very cute kids I have!

Splashing Boys! doing tricks and spins on the body boards in the pool! It's been a very fun summer with all the pool trips. We are so lucky to have the option of my mom & dad's house or the Clawson's have a pool at their house too. It is so much work and so messy to go to the beach, so I am glad my kids can have just as much fun in the water here! -and it's a bit safer ;)

Aquarium of the Pacific

The really cool looking Roller Coaster Bridge! Natalja by the Shark teeth, she had a great time getting wet in the sea creature park toys that sprayed water. It was a very hot day!
The really cool looking Roller Coaster Bridge! Natalja by the Shark teeth, she had a great time getting wet in the sea creature park toys that sprayed water. It was a very hot day!

Kelli & Talja being swallowed by the shard jaw!!! I love Talja's great sense of humor! Kelli driving the fishing boat, BYE, BYE!

ALL ABOARD!!!

Eli loves to see if he can fit into small places. That's reallly funny because I remember doing the same thing as a kid! He'd make a great crab, but he is way cuter!



I have no idea why the both ended up having their hands/fingers near/in their mouth?! Not the most sanitary place to be putting fingers in the mouth...
my boys, just hangin' out, that wasn't even posed.

lorikeet landing

Kelli kept saying "theose things are UGLY!" about the huge crabs :]

Petting the sting rays. They are quite squishy! Then after touching one, I found out they have a mucus coating, ewww!
The Sea Lions

Long Lost Family Gathering

little stink bug babies climbing on the rocks! so cute!

I finally got to meet Candis, Alex's cousin, Shawn's sister. I have known Shawn since I was 14, but Candis lived in OC with her mom, so I have just never met her. She is a great woman, an incredible girl who has been through so much and such a good person. She is helping Shawn out a lot, he is so lucky to have her. They are pretty much the only close family for each other. Their little brother Colt died at a young age, Bret who helped raise them died 10 yrs. ago, their father who lived in Texas was killed about 6 yrs ago and their mom, Patty died just a couple yrs. ago. It is really incredible for two people to have experienced so much loss.

This is Eli and Candis' son Dylan, who is just a few months younger.

Kelli always ready for the camer, the little boys just trying to keep their balance.

Bret & Logan McKee

Eli watcking everybody from above...

Dylan sliding down the rocks at Grandma Kelly's house.

Shawn and Candis standing together, Candis' husband Ryan close by for when the little ones lose their balance, ;).

We had Shawn and Candis and her family- husband Ryan, & sons Dylan and Logan- over to Kelly's house for a BBQ on Saturday. It was a great day. I am so glad to have finally met Candis, and her family. She is a very sweet girl, I hope we can hang out again and see eachother often.
Shawn's doing really well too! All the kids loved to play with him and 'get' him, or whatever it's called-what they do to the adult that isn't their own parent. He's always been a fun guy!

Boots

it turned out blurry, I didn't know the camera was on manual focus, but Bret was being so cute! He loved the boots and was having so much fun running around in them! It's probably a little to "village people" with just the diaper, but it was time for bed, so I wasn't going to get him all dressed.

Quinn's Big "Surgery"

Quinn was hit by the metal hoop of the pool basketball hoop and needed 10 staples. It happened last Tuesday before coming to Bass Lake, so James brought some 'tools' up with him to take them out. Quinn wasn't thrilled at first to not be at a hospital, but he eventually agreed. It was quite the show.

Bass Lake!!

I loved it, a perfect family trip! The first one with all 7 of us. It was a nice number of days, not too long of a drive and fun family to be with. I was really excited to see Carli again after sooo long!

We finally took a picture of 'daddy and his girls' with the boat since he put the name on it.

Super Dad of the week, Alex, getting Eli's feet into the wake board for his first try. He popped right up the first time and wiggled around, but that's it. He tried hard though!

Natalja is so awesome with her little brother and sister! She is a natural nurturer!

Jared out in the water giving wakeboarding a good hard try! He was out there for a long time!

Bret's favorite spot in any vehicle!

4 happy kids in the bow of grandpa's boat! So cute!

my cousing Justin was playing with the kids all night running around letting the girls climb on him! He's awesome!

Alex is so sweet with little baby girls. I love the tenderness that shows through the big tough looking man :]

VERY silly girls!

Handsome boys!

I can't believe how old JT is getting! He just looks so mature.

Hope and Natalja down on the dock. Natalja was a little fish- in the water the entire time!

The movement of the water seems to be the only thing that can calm Bret. Whenever we were on the boat or just holding him in the water he became so relaxed and just his body became heavy/still. I need a moving body of water at home for this!!

Kelli LOVES her panda bear!

Quinn

Bret, just chillin'

so cool!

We love grandpa and he loves his little girls!
Logan and Kelli

Eli told me he was trying to jump onto the boys on the alligator! :]

Total poser, she IS Lyndi's niece!

so cute!

more chillin' boys

action shot!

a wrigley's commercial or something?

ALL 14 Wilson Grandkids!!
amazing!
Natalja, Jared, Quinn, Hayden,
Eli, Carson, -Bret-, J.T., Dallin, Wilson, Hope & Kate
Kelli & Logan

Basketball night at Uncle Brad's

Me & my little buddy

Kelli & her doggies at G'ma's house

Danna/Dante & Cory/Maggette

(there are 2 black poodles & 2 mastiffs, I have no idea which dogs those are,
I know Cory has the stripes, but I can't tell in that pic =] )

Alex during his turn to sub-out.

pretty Talja


And, then of course I couldn't end the night without hurting myself, again!
I sprained this same ankle in March, so it was still weak. This time, I also tore the ligaments the Doctor thinks because the the two bones in the lower leg are farther apart than they are supposed to be.
I just am not allowed to run anymore.

Boys at Work

Eli is so creative, he thought to use the cantaloupe
-+ peels to make forts & barricades for his Army Guys! I love his creativity, it turned out great!

I love this one of the boys 'working' together in the mud.
Bret really loved it, he really thought he was working and helping.

fun times at home

some pictures of my adorable kids, it's just been too long.

Bret is one GOOFY kid!!!

Eli had the idea to put on all his camouflage and test out how well it worked in the bushes in our front yard. He is a creative boy sometimes! It actually worked quite well, next time we'll have to paint his face too! =)

Natalja's best friend/cousin Hope-this is for you!!

Hope,
I loves you so much. You are my best friend! We saw this school right around the corner from my dad's old home in Santa Barbara. I thought that was so cool to have a school named after you, so we stopped to take a picture of her me it for you!
Love,
Natalja

Santa Barbara

I love how animated Natalja is being!

At the end of the pier, there is an opening to look down for sea life.
We were looking
down through the railing.

The family (the older 2/3)

so sweet, love love.
pure emotions!

Watch out Talja!

The beach is unique because the coast is actually South when most/all other beach towns in CA, the coast is always West.

Santa Barbara Pier

SBCC campus with the beautiful view of the ocean, harbor and pier! Such a beautiful campus!

fountan sculpture on the SBCC campus

Eli thought this telescope was really cool.
We had such a fun day! We went to do Jared's 4th grad mission report. We had a great time showing the kids all around SB. Alex's old college campus, the house 'we' lived in, the pier, Rusty's pizza and State ST of course! After going to Utah the 3 hr drive was nothing, especially with just the older kids! Thanks Grandma & Grandpa Wilson and Grandma Kelly for watching Bret & Kelli!
The view from the front of the mission of the ocean!
The entrance to the mission chapel

more pictures of the oylers!

Eli was so excited to have his birthday in Utah! Aunt Carli did a great job of making it a super special day, thank you, lots of love!





kelli in the mud puddle was just classic!

memorable moments

This is my favorite statue and picture spot ever!

I am so glad we went to Temple Square, there was a lot to see and learn. A very memorable experience for the kids, even if they didn't understand it all now, they will remember it.
all the kids at the Joseph Smith Memorial
kelli points out all the flowers she ever sees, so she was excited to see these beautiful ones. when i tried to take the picture she wouldn't stay still, so natalja took the picture instead, what can i do?Eli @ J.S.memorial

Kelli & Lolo
Easter dresses made by G'ma Lori

jared & hayden

snowball!!

So glad Gma Lori came to help with the kids!!

Hayden, Jared, Natalja, Eli, and Carson at the bottom of the hill! most of them rolled off their sled :)

kelli was completely fascinated by the feel/touch of the snow. she loved to play with it.

Natalja is always making me laugh! she rolled off the sled at the bottom of the hill and just laid there! she is so funny!

Bret thought the snow was very interesting!

This sledding day was great, beautiful, fresh snow and a huge fun hill. but, that fun hill, was also a lot of work to get back up too!

Carli is such a fun, awesome aunt! Thanks for doing the active stuff with the kids that the stupid sprained ankle got in the way of! you are the BEST Carli!!

The whole gang, hiking up the big hill

the second time we went sledding was way better because it snowed for the 3 days before. It was great, the kids had a blast. the hill was actually quite steep, fast going down and a lot of work getting back up!

more utah pics!

it was so hard to convince kelli to come inside, she just wanted to sit on the porch and watch the snow. so cute how she appreciated the nature!

lots of hard work!

eli loved to make and throw snowballs!

mommy and kelli

"the clouds made it snow just for us!"

we went up to the snow the first day to go sledding because the snow is what the kids are the most excited about.

there wasn't very much snow left, they made the best of it and sledded on the ice along the road at the beginning of a trail up the canyon. then, the next day, we got a little blizzard! we got a lot of snow fall and the wind was really blowing!

QB Bret

bret enjoys throwing and catching the ball so much! it is the one activity that can actually lengthen his attention span exponentially. at this point his eye-hand coordination has already exceeded mine!