Sticks and Stones do brake bones, and so does falling out of a shopping cart!!!

On Tuesday night Kendyl fell out of the shopping cart and broke her collar bone.

I feel so bad. I have just started letting Kendyl stand in the back part of the cart. As many of you moms know, trying to keep a two year old in the seat is next to impossible. It is either have her in the back or running around the store. Well, I choose letting her stand in the back. I had just told her to sit down and hold on when she started doing the arm waving on the brink of falling thing that you do. I jump to catch her, as did an nice guy standing next to us. Both of us missed and Kendly slammed her shoulder onto the ground. She stopped crying pretty soon after and even started telling all the strangers in the store that she fell out of the cart. She also mumbled something about a guy trying to catch her. It was very cute. I thought that everything was fine. She was able to move her arm. Then I picked her up (under her arm pits) to put her in the car. She started to scream and then didn't stop for an hour. Kendyl is a very tough chick. She doesn't even cry when she gets her shots, so I knew something had to be wrong. Sure enough, a broken collar bone.

There is nothing they can do for the brake. We just have to keep it in a sling. Ironically I broke my collar bone when I was three.

I am just throwing this picture up because I feel that Kendyl has got all the attention lately. Here is Andre with a sweet jump on his scooter. You can't really tell but he is in the air. He is so funny. I love the face!

The wait is over.......The best damn sleep center is here!!!

Well, all the planing and waiting has paid off. Wes' sleep center if finally open and ready for all the sleep deprived patients they can get.

Wes and his business partner, Nick.
Sleep Dx has been in the works for unofficially two years. Wes has wanted to do this for some time. So he was talking to his friend and Co-worker, Nick, about it one day and they thought we should do this. Well, many, many, many, months and hours of work later here they are.


Before

After
They really wanted this sleep center to feel like home and less like a hospital! So natural they they handed the decorating over to Tashi (Nick's Girlfriend) and me. I am excited about how it all came together. With a small budget and one long marathon shopping day, we were able to get it done. We seriously got almost everything we needed in one day...from bedding and hand towels, to entry way furniture and recliners. Seriously, we impressed ourselves. We started at 9 A.M. and finished somewhere around 11 P.M. Tashi and I make a great team and, honestly, who wouldn't have fun doing this. Well, maybe Wes and Nick, who by the end just stayed in the car so we could make a one last dash into Kohles before they closed. You can get a lot done in 10 mins. to closing.

Here is the "DREAM" team. Wes, Nick and Troy. They hired Troy to be the manager. Troy is also a Respiratory Therapist.

Their open house was two weeks ago. It was catered by Hamilton's Restaurant.

Okay, this was a joke that Tashi and I thought was hilarious. We found it when we were looking for art for the lab. We feel it just might be their good luck charm. "Hope it works" wink, wink.

Honestly, I am so proud of Wes and what he has accomplished. If Wes has a dream he does everything he can to reach it. He is very inspirational to me. Okay that sounds cheesy but really he is. He has made one of his dreams come true and that is something to be proud of. I love you Wes and your drive.

Kendyl's Birthday Weekend

To see all of Kendyl's Birthday weekend pictures click here

We started out the weekend on Saturday going down to SLC to go to the Aquarium. We invited the Rich's for our night out! It was so good to see them. After the Aquarium we headed to Red Lobster. It was a fishy themed evening!!! Just kidding, but it was ironic.

Kendyl's birthday party was on Sunday. It was a "Cowgirl in a Tutu Party." We just made it up as we went along. Everyone was to dress in there favorite cowboy hat or tutu, or both.

We played the classic, pin the tail on the donkey.

There was no conventional cake and ice cream. Kendyl does not like cake (along with bread, pancakes, donuts). So we decided to get the birthday girl what she likes. COOKIES!!! We had a cookie cake and mint chocolate smoothies. (look for recipe on my recipe blog).

Going, going, gone! Nothing like a good old game of doggie pile on Grandpa!

We gave Kendyl this big Minnie Mouse Balloon. She loves Mickey Mouse, and even though this was Minnnie Mouse she still keeps calling it Mickey Mouse. She loves it, as you can see.

"Hey Grandpa Rhodes, I thought you gave birthday spankings not kisses!!!"

Thanks to all of you who made Kendyl's second birthday great!!!

New Blog

Hey everyone,

Wes here...just wanted to inform you of a new blog. http://sharemyrecipes.blogspot.com/

Yes, I created it...
Yes, it was my idea...
Yes, I expect you all to look at it...
Yes, I expect you all to add to it...
No, I will not try all of the foods...(I am wicked picky, remember)
No, I do not cook and will not be adding my own recipes
Yes, we will make a better template...

Thanks everyone

Wes

Happy Birthday Kendyl

Today is Kendyl's second Birthday! WOW I can't believe she is getting so big. She is not my baby anymore. She is a true toddler now with the attitude and all. Kendyl is developing quite a personality. She is a little bit tomboy and a little bit girl-girl.

This picture explains it all. Our Cowgirl in a tutu. She came out of her room dressed like this one day so naturally I had to get a picture.

She loves the color pink and she also loves to play with Andre's guns. So of course when we were on recent trip to Yellowstone she found this Pink gun and that was it. She carried that with her everywhere the rest of the trip. Take anything that is boyish ad some pink or some glitter and it will be Kendyl's Favorite. I think it might be because she idolizes her brother so much.

She is also into dolls and shoes you know all the girly stuff. She also had found a love for my lip gloss. I now have little finger prints in my chap stick and I am missing over half of my lip glosses. I have resorted to leaning over in the car to apply my lip stuff so she won't see it or I can just kiss that tube goodbye.

Kendyl is a joy to have in our house. She is getting so big so fast. We love you Kendyl. Happy Birthday.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

Two days ago was a happy day at the Archibald house, thanks to some very GREAT people. We were able to get back most of my blog!!! Can I get a Hallelujah. There are a few that we were not able to restore, but the majority was found and I am not complaining. I am going to post them back on my blog when I find more time.

We have had a very busy week. I had a Wedding that I did yesterday and Wes' Sleep Center open house is today and tomorrow. Not to mention all the home projects we are doing. So hopefully I will get some free time this weekend. Oh wait, our weekend is book too!!! Better to be busy than bored, I guess! Well I think Wes and I could use just one day to get bored.

So Thanks again to all you guys for your help. It is great to see how many of you all care. I know all of you know how crappy it would be to lose your blog. I want to thank Kim and Craig especially for knowing how to get it back. I know that I have only met you once but I love you already. Tiff told me you were awesome and Tiffany has great taste. We owe you two dinner. You know, when you are in Utah!!!

Where did my blog go???

It was a sad day at the Archibald House, two weeks ago when I realized my blog had been deleted! Two years of blogging gone. We have had some hope that we would get all my posts back, but it is starting to look bleaker and bleaker as the days go on. Isn't there a recycle bin some where in cyberspace that would have the Archibunch life on file. By the way trying to get tech support from goggle is imposable! Wes was able to get my domain name back but I think I am going to have to give up on my posts, unless anyone out there has an ideas.

This is a pretty big deal to me because I used this blog as a journal and I had two great years of journaling. I started this blog right after we had Kendyl. Needless to say I was devastated. After giving myself a good hour to cry over this I called my dear friend Heather. Her wise council made me feel better. She told me I still had the pictures at least and the memories are still there. After talking with her I saw the bigger picture of life and felt much better. Thanks Heather I love ya!

My sweet husband, being the man that wants fix all my problems in life, has spent a lot of time posting on blogger's help page. He even called Google (the only number he could find) and was hung up on twice.

On the positive side of things I was able to get back my same address, YEAH. Other good news is that I did back up some of my blog. The bad news is I haven't back up since last September. So, technically I have only lost one year. Note to all y'all, back up your blogs!!! So thanks to all those of you that have been concerned about us and our blog. Everything is okay in our life. We are just have some technical difficulties.

I can't help but think, what if I could have all that time back that I spent blogging. What could I have accomplished. I bet I could have read the Book of Mormon Twice, maybe more. It is horrible to think about.

Well I hope I have no more problems like this. All we can do know is pray!

The Beginning of my Restoration....

Monday, September 29, 2008

Most of you who read my blog all ready know about Baby Jack. But for those of you who don't.... Our best friends lost their sweet baby boy this last Tuesday! He was 16 months old. He had the most beautiful blue eyes you have ever seen. As it stated in the obituary, you could see the light of Christ through them. I wanted to take this opportunity to bear my testimony about eternal families. I know that eternal families are real and that Jackie will be with his family again someday. I am so thankful for my knowledge of that. I also know that Jack was so pure that he is with Heavenly Father and Jesus. I also know that there is a reason for everything and that is why Coby and Tiffany were chosen to bring this special soul into the world. Coby and Tiffany have taught me so much about the kind of person I want to be, before this tragedy and after. I have been doing a lot of reflecting about life and what is really important in life. What I have come to realize is that there are a lot of things in this life that just don't really matter. Whether it be something as tedious as a clean house, to something a little more emotional, such as stupid arrangements or grudges. It just doesn't matter. What does really matter are our families, our friends and our children. I have always admired Coby and Tiffany and there dedication to there family. These two know how to enjoy each other and their children. I Know that Jack was well loved and that he loved his mother, father and brother very much. I was very lucky to get to enjoy this little angel in person. I want to thank Jack for the lesson I have learned by knowing him. I love my family so much and my children are my life. I am going try harder everyday to simplify my life and just spend more time with them. I am thankful for our Savior Jesus Christ and his plan to allow us to be reunited with our loved ones and himself someday. There is a scripture that has helped me before and I think that I need to remind myself of it again. It is in the Book of Mormon. Ether 12:27,if any of you want to read it. We need to go to the lord with our weakness and have faith that he can make week things become strong. I want to tell Tiffany and Coby that I love them so much and I am amazed at there strength. Knowing your angel has already benefited me and I know he will continue to benefit many others. Thank you guys for your friendship and inspiring me to be a better person and mother.

Posted by Amanda at 3:39 PM

Monday, September 15, 2008
Salsa!!!

Well my first attempt at canning was a success.
Last week my mom-in-law taught me how to make her awesome salsa. By the way, I took all the pictures with my new 50mm lens. My wonderful husband bought it for me. It has an f-stop of 1.8. It is so fun.

Thanks to my dad, who is insane enough to plant 82 tomato plants each year, I had more than enough to make the one batch, I planned on making. As the first batch was cooking, Becky and I said, what the heck lets make another. As we wrapped up the first batch and looked at the mound of tomatoes left, we said were crazy, lets do another. Since it takes each batch 3 hours to cook. Becky left the last one up to me. I was able to can it all by my self with no problems. I can't help but feel successful.

After simmering 3 batches of tasty salsa, my house stunk and I stunk. Salsa is so tasty but can leave a nauseating smell. I even apologized, for how I smelled, to the lady at the grocery store. She was like, "I wondered what that smell was." Thanks a lot. I guess it really was that bad. My house smelled for days.

I am so excited to be able to say that I know how to can. I grew up always watching my mom can every thing under the sun. I guess I never really payed attention to how to do it. My job in the whole canning process was draining the corn so my dad could cut it of the cob, shelling peas, and snapping green beans. You know the very "important" jobs.

I have been trying really hard to concentrate on my food storage and now that I have a house big enough to store it. I am all out of excuses. So if something bad was to happen, my family will be eating flour, sugar, rice, corn, tomato soup, oats, dry milk, and now salsa. Sounds yummy! I guess a little at a time, right!

Sunday, September 07, 2008

Labor Day Weekend

I think this was our 2nd annual Bear Lake trip with the Michigan Crew. We had a nice and relaxing time. It was one of those trips you don't want to go home from. Life has been busy so we haven't got to see these guys for a while. It was so great to get back together. What I love most is that even though it has been months, it was like we had just seen each other yesterday. I sure so love these guys. Click Here for All Bear Lake Pictures There is a lot of fun ones.

We went to the Minnetonka Cave that was close by. Andre was scared to death in this picture I could feel his heart pounding. He would not let go of our hands. After it was all done, in the car, he said I wanted to do that again. He did think seeing the bat was cool.

It stormed on Monday and the guys thought it sounded like fun to go and jump in the lake.

All of the Kids have grown so much. Andre and Kendyl both rode the tube! Andre loved it! Kendyl didn't really know what to think. Considering last year all I could do on a wake board was get up and then go right back down, I was pretty proud of myself this year. I think I stayed up for actually 2 full seconds. Next year I will be ready for a 360.You think???

It was a very Relaxing weekend!!! We had a great time, with great food and lots of sun. The nights were filled with Texas hold'em and Black Jack (why does the house always win?) These trips are always great, drama free weekends. It is wonderful to have great friends. Thanks again Coby and Tiff for another great weekend at Bear Lake.