I'm 25 now!

I had to throw in these ADORABLE pictures of Brenna Mae...she fell asleep on...the wall???

On Saturday night, April 9th, everyone came over for dinner and hanging out (Mom, Allison's family, and Angela). We painted Easter eggs with the kids. It was a lot of fun! Darin came eventually, so Nate had something to do!

On Sunday, I went to sacrament meeting, then me, mom, Carissa, and the kids drove up to Wallsburg to visit Grandma and Grandpa Mecham, and Steve and his family. We stopped at a grocer to pick up lunch because poor Grandma's oven was totally out! The girls loved playing with Steve's kids, and Ammon was the life of the party. He loved Grandpa. Grandpa Dee came up to the house briefly as well. He had a stroke this past year, so he suffers from expressive aphasia. He loved Ammon! Ammon was sleepy, so he just laid there in Grandpa's arms, completely subdued. Maranda came and tried to rough up Ammon, and Grandpa told her to just leave him there. He was loving holding him that much!

On Monday, my foot was still hurting, so I ran 10 miles favoring it. When I got home, I was walking down the stairs and I heard a 'popping' sound in my knee. It didn't really hurt, so I didn't think much of it.

We took mom to Boccia's for lunch. Me, Nate, Kaylee, and Brenna loved it as much as we always do...I'm not sure if mom, Allison, and Darin loved it as much as we did! We have so many memories there! Afterward, we went shopping! Mom and Grandma M gave me some birthday money, so it was actually FUN! {Shopping is ALWAYS more fun when you can actually buy something, just in case you didn't know.}

She left Tuesday {sniff}. I dropped Kaylee off at preschool and went to Winco and then Walmart. By the time I finished, I thought my knee was going to totally give out. I could barely walk! When I got home, I looked down at my knee, and it looked like a grapefruit. GREAT.

I spent the rest of that day resting my knee and icing it. I couldn't even make it to Activity Days! Christy Sparrow, one of the Primary counselors, had just been through foot surgery in the past year, so she had empathy for me. She offered to take my kids the next day and bring us dinner, bless her HEART! She became one of those angels that the Lord sends in his tender mercy!

The next morning, on Wednesday, I went to the doctor. They did an x-ray, which thankfully showed no breaks or tears, and my ligaments seemed to be intact. I was diagnosed with an overuse injury...so just lots of fluid. An effusion. He offered to take a big needle and stick it in my knee joint to aspirate the fluid out. I said,'no thanks, I'll try the alternative.' So that means rest, ice, elevate. He gave me a knee brace and sent me out the door with a big bottle of motrin horse pills. Christy brought some pizza when she dropped off the girls, which of course was a big hit!

Yesterday was my happy birthday. Nate made me chocolate pancakes {delish}. He took me to Mongolian Grill for lunch {YES!} Although we did have an odd experience...we had gotten up to get seconds (this place is all you can eat) and when we got back to our table, it had been cleared! Soup, rice, drinks, gone. Understandable when the place is hopping...but it wasn't. We were literally the ONLY people in the restaurant. Couldn't the woman LOOK OVER at the buffet to see if the customers were still here? I guess not. Oh well, she brought us more stuff, so it was fine. I didn't care, the food was SO good.

Before going to work, my cute running friend Cathi stopped by with some treats and a card. It truly made my day! Again! I love that woman! Love her!

I went to work. It was the first night on my knee. It was rough. Half way through I took my motrin and felt a lot better. I iced it and elevated it as much as possible! My cell and facebook page was bombarded with birthday wishes...and I got a suprise at work! Cindy, Cami, and all my kiddos showed up with my own private b-day party! They brought roses, cake/cupcakes, and cards. I felt so loved, so SPECIAL! I even got a 'head pat message' from Mark! I have the best in-laws in the world! I was literally choking back the tears! The kids had big eyes looking around at the hospital...including Ammon. I loved getting to see and hug them. It made me so home sick. I love my family so so much!

Best Father-in-law ever!

Grafted sisters, me and Cam.

Beautiful women, Cindy and Lois!

Roses from my in-laws...my favorite!

Speaking of that, I want to thank all my friends AND family for all the texts, cards, calls, gifts, etc. that I've received. My heart is so full because of how blessed I am.