Sticks and Stones may break your bones, but the monkey bars will do it for sure!

Well we have our first broken bone. We made it 6 years into parenthood before it happened so you know, I feel pretty good about that : )

It happened on a Saturday. I was up in the mountains mapping out hiking trails in prep for girls camp, so Taber decided to take the kids to Teya's school to play on the playground there. Teya has been begging us all year to take her there so she can try out the monkey bars. You see, kindergartners aren't normally allowed on the monkey bars because the teacher says, they will break their arms.

Well apparently the teacher knows what she's talking about because sure enough, miss Teya lost her grip, fell and busted her poor little arm. The urgent care closes early on Saturdays (and I am a cheap wad that didn't want to pay thousands of dollars for the emergency room) so we had to wait until Sunday to get an X-ray.

X-ray confirmed our suspicions, broken arm, right by the elbow. They put her in a temporary cast and instructed us to see the ortho doc Monday morning.

Taber took her to the ortho doc and I guess everyone was pretty smitten with the cutie little kindergartner who broke her arm.

They were all out of pink casts so she went for her second choice, Red.

She'll have the cast on for 3 weeks, then they'll cut it off, take an X-ray, and decide if she needs one longer or if she can get by with a splint.

It has been an adjustment, but she has adapted surprisingly well and can dress herself, put on her shoes and socks, and buckle her seatbelt now with no problem. Best of all, she's been able to collect signatures from all her favorite people, including her beloved Kindergarten teacher Mrs. Plouffe, and the greatest superhero of all, Daddy : )

World's most supportive parents

We feel very blessed and grateful that Taber's parents and my Dad were able to fly out to see us perform in Savior of the World. (My mom would've come too but she's was watching my sister's kids so Rachel could be here : ) 

They sat on the front row, for every show, and it was great to see how touched they were by the performances. 

The first time my Dad saw it he cried through the whole thing. Afterwards he gave me roses and then worked the crowds, greeting people and proudly saying, "Hi! I'm Becca's Dad!" Several of my friends told me afterwards that they'd never seen such a proud papa ; )

They were only in town for the weekend, but it was awesome having a house full of family.  

(Cute pic of "The Boys")

 Grandma helping Cam eat his veggies

 We are especially grateful to Grandma Karen for making Easter so special for the kids. We were so busy all week with dress rehearsals and performances that we hadn't done anything to prepare for it. Luckily Grandma showed up with Easter games, crafts, treats, toys and even Easter dresses. She brought stuff to color eggs and brought plastic eggs for an egg hunt. Without her I don't know what we would've done. Thank you Grandma Karen!!

 Brinley dyeing eggs with Grandma

 Easter morning was also a lot of fun with the grandparents around. Papa Uda was sleeping in the play room where the Easter bunny had left the kids baskets. Silly Papa had stayed up way too late the night before and had only gotten a few hours of sleep when the kids came bounding into the room, jumping on his bed and yelling, "WAKE UP PAPA! THE EASTER BUNNY CAME!!"

He was a good sport and rolled right out of bed to join in the fun.

 The reason Papa was up so late? Playing on his new iPhone. The kids were pretty intrigued by it too. Check out Cam's face!

 Lots of smiles on Easter morning

 After the egg hunt we got ready for church while Dad, Rachel, and the Riggs all got ready to go to the airport. We took a few more pics before everyone had to leave.

 The girls looked precious in their Easter dresses from Grandma. Couldn't quite capture a pic of everyone looking at the camera and smiling (especially Cam who was really mad that we put him in a suit) but I'm glad we got some pics of all of us together. Thank you to all our family who came out and supported us in the play. We LOVE you so so much!

Cam's new smile

 Cam has a new "smile" he likes to show off every time we pull out a camera.

 Cheese!

 I'm smiling!

 The camera loves me!

Workin' it!

QUESO!

Best. Face. Ever.

The things people will do when they really, truly, love you...

4 months ago when I told my sister Rachel that I was going to be in Savior of the World, she immediately started looking for tickets to come see me perform. I told her she might not want to come the week before the play because we'd have dress rehearsals every night, but she insisted on coming and said it would be great because she could help with my kids. 

I was in shock. She too is a mother of 3, yet when given the opportunity to have a kid free get away, she volunteered to watch MY kids, EVERY NIGHT, for 4 nights. At the time my heart was very touched, but little did either of us know, just how much she would end up doing for me...

When she arrived on Tuesday I picked her up from the airport and gave her the best present I could think of for the world's biggest Romney supporter...

Matching Romney Superfan shirts!!

After I picked her up I only had time to drop her off at the house before I had to go straight to rehearsal. 

While I was gone she fed my kids, put them all to bed, and cleaned my house. Best babysitter ever!

 The next day it was so fun to watch her play with my kids. They were SO excited that she jumped on the trampoline with them.

Happiness!

Auntie Rachel is here!

That afternoon we had some more bonding time at the park. (isn't this the most precious picture? It seriously makes me cry to see this sweet interaction) 

Then it was back to rehearsal while she once again fed the kids, bathed the kids, read them TONS of bedtime stories, put them to bed, and cleaned up my house. 

and then...

Things got a little crazy....

Teya came down with a terrible case of the stomach bug and was up all night throwing up. Rach and I were supposed to do a sister date the next day while Teya was at school, but since she was sick, our sister date was postponed.  We ended up just taking the kids on a walk to the duck pond (Rachel pushed Teya in the stroller with a barf bowl) and then Taber and I had to be back at rehearsal. 

That night while we were singing and dancing and laughing on stage...

Rachel was at home dealing with the 2nd outbreak of the pukes, this time it was Brinley who fell victim. At this point Taber's parents had arrived too so together they lovingly stripped Brinley's bed, washed her sheets, scrubbed up her puke, and helped her get settled back down.  At the same time, Teya was burning up with fever and was having delirious fits, so Rachel stayed up with her, comforted her and got her settled back down too. 

What would I have done if my sister had not been here? It is awful when your kids are sick and you are not there to help, but it was so comforting to know that if anyone had to be with them, it was someone who is an experienced mother, who loves my children, and who I knew would care for them as I would.

The  next day, with the Rigg's in town, we were also able to sneak away for a little sister date at the Takumi hibachi grill. It was a much needed break for both of us!

That night she also took off babysitting duty so she could come see the show.  It meant the world to me to see her out there smiling in the audience.

On Saturday we had back to back performances that my Dad and the Riggs came to, so Rachel was back on for a full day of babysitting.

 Apparently Cam had a massive meltdown that day, and Rachel also took on two extra kids that night so our friends from Boston could come see the show.  If you don't believe there are angels on earth, you haven't met my sister! She is truly amazing!

On Sunday we just had enough time to do an Easter egg hunt around the house before it was time to take Rachel back to the airport.  It was an exhausting week for her I'm sure and I can't even comprehend the sacrifice she made for us. Not many people would use their time and money for a "vacation" like that, except for those who are motivated by the kind of love that my sister has for me. These are the things people will do for you when they really truly love you, and I'm so blessed and lucky to have a sister like that. I love you Rach! Thank you for being my saving angel last week!