I cant make this stuff up.....

On one hand, I sort of feel like I should apologize for not blogging in SO LONG!
But on the other hand (my left) I don't. Since I only have a handful of followers.
At any rate....I am blogging now.
Man, I feel like so much has happened in the last month and a half....Oh wait....A TON HAS HAPPENED!!

Now, what I am about to write will not be in the order of which they happened.

THE MOST EXCITING!!!

Baby Bella is here!
Man, we have been waiting for her.
She is ADORABLE!
So let me just say this. I love my sister so deeply. Anna is my hero. To some extent, she always has been. Many, many reasons.
Can I just tell you, that she brought this angel into our world all-nachur-al..??!! ( I know that is not how it is spelled...but it should be)
She was UH-MAZING!
Check into the hospital at 7:30 a.m. Light contractions. Little bit-o pit. Progress a little bit more.
Break the water. YOWZAS! Take off the pit. More contractions...the really hurty kind.
What a wonderful bonding experience it was for me to assist her and coach her in the process.
Remember to breath....in deep, out like blowing up a balloon...concentrate......keep pace....don't hold it.....make it audible.....you are doing great..... (Lights low, and the comforting music of her brother in law Paul Cardall)
She had to deal with A LOT of stinky breath.
At one point, I had Kristin take my place so she could help her out too.
I went and had some chips and guac. (NOT a good idea)
Then back over to help with the breathing....first big exhale in poor Anna's face...."WHO JUST ATE???!!!" says Anna.
"So sorry....I'm outta here" I say.
Erin is to my rescue with Tic Tacs to which Anna says "Everyone needs them...."
We ate them all.
Nurse....she feels as though she wants to push.
Onto the bed....check. You are ready sister. Time to have baby.
Here comes Dr. (who by the way was WAY better than my Dr that was found under a bridge somewhere, I am sure)
K sister, push.
Once
Twice
Three times
and
Four....SHES HERE!!

I am the proudest Auntie and Sister.
So amazing.

Bella Aspen Cardall
Born: September 16, 2009 at 5:36 p.m.
7 Lbs 2 Oz
18 inches long

She has her daddy's chin and mouth.
Thank you B!

Her sister L-O-V-E-S her!! I have pics, and will post them later tonight.
She loves to hold her and giver her Eskimo kisses.


Ok, here is another UH-MAZING Story!

Anna's brother in law, Paul Cardall had been on the heart transplant list for over a year. In August, he moved into the hospital.
Well, on September 9th, he got his new heart.
What an amazing thing.
He has been such an inspiration to so many people who he knows, and those that he has never met.
September 9th was such a roller coaster day for me.
It was also the 3 month anniversary of Brian's death.
How amazing that on that day, the brother that Brian has loved so fiercely his entire life and beyond, gets his life.
Brian has been working so hard over there.
I believe that.
I know it.
I am so happy for Paul's family. Mostly for his wife Lynette and their little daughter Eden.


Now....
On September 5th, we celebrated my Dad's 70th birthday.
I can not believe that my Dad is 70!
Tye and I got to put together a video for him with pictures of him through out his life.
What an honor.
As we worked on it until 2 in the morning and watched it, it really hit me.
I was having a really hard time with this.
Tye and I could not help crying through this video.
And not just the one time.
Every time we watched it. We had tears.
I realized how thankful I am for my dad.
He has ALWAYS been the hardest worker I have ever known.
He is 70, and only now is slowing down cuz the Dr. told him to.
And his "slow down" is double what a normal person would do.
He is the bestest Dad in the world and he has taught me invaluable, life long lessons.
I love you Dad!


On September 11th, I flew into Vegas for a girls weekend.
Me, Joni, Nancy, McKell, Sonnie, Megan and Elizabeth celebrated Joni's 40th Birthday!
It was so freakin sweet!!
Jayson and Pam Orvis are so gracious. SO SO SO GRACIOUS. It blows my mind.
They let us stay in their beautiful home.
And it was perfect.
Our days were filled with talking, eating, and floating in the pool.
It was such a wonderful way to celebrate Joni!
Thank you to the women that came and most thanks to Jayson and Pam.


Oh man!!
I NEED to tell you my "Violation of my purple circle of personal space at the Brandi Carlile concert story"......
But I really don't think that I can convey it appropriately in text. It must either be in person, or on the phone.

Really, you want to hear this.

So call me!!


And finally, a Grace story....

Grace is in tumbling. She has been for a few years. She LOVES it.
There is a girl in her class that she does NOT like.
Her name is Naomi, and I gotta tell ya, she is pretty annoying. And I don't mind saying so.
So as we were leaving tumbling yesterday, she asks me and Tye if she should tell Naomi how she feels about her.
I say, "Well, hun, I think you should just let yourself know. No one likes to be told that someone doesn't like them"....
To which she says....."Oh...No mom...I don't 'Not like' her.... I HATE HER! She is my ARCH ENEMY....."

I might add that she contains her enmity well.....


XOXOXO

Alisa