Carpet Dilemma

So, here's the scoop on our plumbing problems that happened over a month ago. Our home owner's insurance and our HOA were battling it out over who was going to pay for everything. Long story short, it ended up being the HOA's responsibility. So, as I am writing this, it so happens that the restoration company is in the process of ripping up our carpet and cleaning the floors underneath and cleaning and replacing the baseboards. After that is all done today, we will need to give it a few days to dry and then the carpet guys will be there Saturday to replace the carpet.

So here's the dilemma, we still haven't decided on a carpet. Here's the samples we have taken home and been debating over:

If anyone has been to our home, you will know that any one of these choices would be heads and shoulders above what we have. But here's the hard part, our ideal choice would be the top row, second to the right, but we would have to spend around $850 out of our pockets above what the insurance is paying for. So, the bottom row are all the ones that we would not have to pay anything extra for. So, with that in mind, we are now leaning to the bottom row, farthest on the right. Because it is the thickest of the "free's". But, as you can see, it's not much darker than the carpet we already have, so I'm sure we will still have a problem with stains. So, ultimately, we are trying to decide if it will be worth it to spend the money we really don't have, so that we may have the carpet we really want.

So, we really want your help in deciding!! Let us know what you think.

P.S. Just click on the picture to see it bigger!

Fairy Birthday fun!

The decor

The goody bags that Grandma Peters diligently made! (Let me know if you want her info for embroidery, quilting, sewing, etc.)

The special egg/dairy free cake that I decorated in literally less than a minute (so it could have looked better!)

The cute Birthday Girl

All our cute fairies and bugs! We had a good turnout!

Here's Em's buddy Deakon (we're so glad his family came all the way from Kaysville!) and her new friend that we just met over Christmas, Morgan

This is one of the only pics we got of cousin Isa (she was running around everywhere) but I think her mom got some better ones after everyone had left.

Thank you to all who came and for the wonderful gifts! We love you all and are glad you are in our amazing little girl's life!

Videos to come later!

It's official!

We are finally celebrating Emarie's birthday a month late, but hey, she won't know the difference right? In fact, if it goes well, we may just lie to her the rest of her life, so that she won't have to have a miserable Christmas Eve birthday. So here's a heads up: if asked, you will now know that Emarie's birthday is on January 20th!

Here's the party invitation picture:

It will be a fairy party! And there are a few boys so it will be fairies and bugs! We're very excited, and I will post pictures when it's all said and done!

So for those of you that don't know yet, the party's on Saturday, January 23rd at 3 pm. Girls are invited to wear dresses (we have fairy wings for them when they get there/bug antanae for the boys). It's at our house and please RSVP. Hope to see you all there!

What to do?

I have been trying really hard lately not to let the stress of everything get to me, because when I do, I get really sick. That is why I have been in bed the last three days with a terrible migraine that refused to go away. At these times I have to try really hard to think of all the good in our lives. It is not hard when I see her

And I have to think, how in the world did I get so lucky to be her mom? She has changed my life for the better more than she will ever know. And it breaks my heart that there is so many out there that will never take the time to get to know her, because it is a bother to them. And I know that if they did, they would fall in love with her, because it is impossible not to. I hope that there will never come a day that she will know how much we have struggled with money for her care. But I know when we lock eyes and her face brightens up like it does, that it is because she knows that I love her more than anything. And that there is not anything that I won't fight to the finish for her.

So, just so you all know. The gloves are coming off. I am not going to let her be forgotten or not cared about in anyway. I'm going to make it my mission that she will be thought of as someone that is worth keeping alive. And not just seen as this diagnosis, that they are too ignorant to know that all it is, is something that's going to cost them too much money, so she is not worth their time to find out more about.

My little girl's growing up. So bittersweet :(

So many things lately have made me see my sweet little baby is not a baby anymore (sniff, sniff).

This first one, not such a big deal, but still.....

I can now put her hair in braids. What's more though, she let me do it!

I also have to think that a year from now she will be going to school here, unbelievable to even think about! And yes I know it's still a year away, but year's go so fast!

And lastly, my sweet little baby girl is now sleeping in her own room. This is a big deal more for Steve and I, since we were afraid of being so far away from her when she has so many "issues." And even more for me, I think, what if there's a fire, or an intruder, I mean she's all the way upstairs (our room is on the main floor). So Steve is the one that ultimately made the decision, and I let him, because it is time. After all, we do have a very high-tech video monitor (thanks to my aunt Amy) that made it seem like she was still right there next to our bed. But, yes I did still shed a few tears, and you know what, I think she slept better than she has in a really long time. I think she has come accustomed to her independence, and in fact, revels in it! It is just hard for a mom to let go (sniff, sniff, again).

Well, I was not surprised that this is how the first night ended up.........

(this is the rocking chair in her room where both her and daddy fell asleep)

However, she has been able to sleep in there on her own from that night forward.

Christmas '09 baby!

Here's Christmas '09, summed up in a few pictures and videos.

Opening presents Christmas morning

Opening her doll (you can also see the Elmo doll my dad got her. He also got her a really cool Xylophone that she's learning very well how to play!)

Here's Emarie's ball pit that Santa brought

Grandma was so surprised when she opened her pictures!

The busy ball popper, my mom got her

The Elmo kitchen and accessories she got from grandpa Mitch and grandma Jen

It was a Cougar Christmas! Steve's mom made him a BYU blanket and Emarie a matching "Snuggie" And I got Steve the pajamas

Yes, Emarie was a very spoiled girl! But, Steve and I also got very spoiled! We got an iPod touch and a new Boss docking station. I got some beautiful diamond earrings from my wonderful husband, but sadly already lost one in the couch somewhere (keep your fingers crossed that we will find it!). I also got some great books from my dad, that I have already finished reading. Also some great Canvas prints of our new family pictures that my sister-in-law Kristal created. As well, as many other things, we had a good Christmas. But unhumbley (not a word, I know) I will add, that I think we deserved it!

Wilde family pics '09

Sorry, I'm so late in showing these, but they were a surprise for Christmas. I'm so glad we finally got this done though, the last time we did it, I was still in High School and Connor was 5!

My cute brothers, Connor and Bryan

The kids (Minus Breanne, but I know she's there in spirit)

My mom and her kids

My cute mom and me!

I love this one of all of us!

This was my mom's favorite of everyone (I love the shadow of the tree though!)

Seriously this was Emarie's attitude the entire time, even though it was like 10 degrees!

My favorite of the 3 of us! I love my cute little family!

Yeah, see our feet, it took the rest of the day to thaw them out!

Daddy's girl! Seriously can't compete!

Not kidding you, this was her attitude the whole time!

The Itsy Bitsy Spider!

Love this expression!

Still sweethearts after 6 years!

Sorry, I know that was a lot, but Lacey just did such a good job, it was even hard just to pick these few! Anybody wants her info let me know, cause she does an amazing job for a really fair price!