Extreme Home Makeover

My aunt (mother's sister) and uncle have 4 beautiful children. They decided to have them in pairs. Two older ones (John and Amy) a 10 year break and then 2 younger ones (Elizabeth and Alicia). They are all talented and unique in their own way. However, when Elizabeth (the younger girl on the bottom right of the photo) was diagnosed with a rare blood disease at 6 weeks old it made their family even more unique. She is one of only about 700 people in the world who have this condition. It even has a crazy name "Diamond Blackfan Anemia". Because of this she has to get blood transfusions every week or so to keep up her blood count and keep her alive. Their family has since started the John P. Bell Foundation and has made an impact on many lives in their community and around the world really.

Right before she was born my aunt and uncle bought what they thought was their dream home. However, it had so much structural damage that experts told them they really should demolish it and started over. Now here comes a new baby and she has lots of medical bills. They put their house problems on hold and worried about their new baby girl. After a few years along came Alicia and they were even more busy.

Because they have worked so hard in their community and given back so much they had families write in to ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. THEY GOT IT!!!! Ty Pennington screamed "good morning Bell Family" at their front door this morning! Here is their story. As we speak my aunt, uncle and the two younger kids who still live at home are being whisked away to New York City while they get a brand new house built! I'm the lucky one who gets to be there when it's done. Just by chance I already had my annual trip to AZ planned. I can't believe I get to see their new home! I always miss this stuff. I'm so excited!!!! I can't wait to scream "driver, move that bus!"

This couldn't have happened to a more deserving family.

What We Do All Day, Volume 2

This one is especially for the grandparents. The girls recently got their ears pierced. Kendall went two weekends ago and Jayden didn't think she could go through with it. After her little sister braved it she decided to get hers pierced last weekend. They both were really brave.

Carson has been making some major strides in being a boy too. Kendall snapped this shot of him the other morning. I don't think he wanted to wait for his breakfast :) What a boy!

He also started walking on his birthday and hasn't slowed down since...

My First Official 5K!

Today I ran my first official sanctioned (whatever that means) 5K. I was pretty proud of myself because I did it in 31 minutes and it was COLD!!!! It was 15 degrees with a head wind of about 15mph for at least half the race. I was pretty prepared though thanks to my good friend Jaime and the sales boy at Dick's. I had two layers on the bottom,4 layers on the top, gloves and a ski mask that I could pull over my mouth. I decided to run this thanks to my good friend Cheryl who works for Geico and they have been a major sponsor of this event for a while. It benefited Cradle Beach, an organization who helps disabled children. Honestly I don't think I would have braved the sub zero temps if the charity didn't benefit kids, sad I know! This is the only picture I took of this memorable occasion because I didn't want to stand outside unless I really had to. I think Jaime was right, I may be hooked now. Well, at least if it is a little warmer outside!

My friend Carla tagged me on this one. I thought it was cool.

Okay, here are the rules for this tag:

1: Each player must copy and paste this list in your own blog. Bold all of the things you have done and then post it.
2: At the end of the post you need to choose 5 people to get tagged and list their names.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Been to Canada
11. Bungee jumped
12. Worked at an Amusement Park
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon - soon hopefully :)
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Seen Mount Rushmore in person
101. Learned to play an instrument

I tag you if you are reading this :)

What We Do All Day

Here is the first installment of "What We Do All Day" for 2009

Carson has recently learned a new trick...


Kendall is taking a gymnastics class every week and does this as much as she can. She also loves to dress herself. Check out the outfit...


Jayden has recently learned to do cartwheels and is now practicing the splits. She is so close! ...

Happy 2009

Happy 2009 everybody. This is how we spent the first day of the new year....

We hope you have a healthy and prosperous new year!