Physical Therapy Update

So while I am updating I may as well keep going. I guess some of you may be wondering how my knee has been doing since I haven't said much since I was in the pool and able to walk again. I dropped down to only going twice a week to physical therapy at the beginning of January and hope to drop down to only once a week starting next week. I graduated from the pool about 2 weeks ago and the therapist gradually has been adding different exercises to my workout.

I have felt quite an improvement over the past couple of weeks. I have felt my muscles coming back and my knee getting stronger. I am only about 5 degrees away from having total mobility back in bending my knee. Those last 5 degrees aren't coming easily though! I am able to do almost all the exercises at home and I keep myself motivated to work hard to get back to normal.

I see the surgeon next Thursday, the 29th for another follow-up. He seemed slightly disappointed at my last appointment because I was still stiff but I think he forgot at that point I had only been able to walk on it for 1 week! I'm hoping he'll be more impressed this time but I'd better work hard this week to be even better!!! It's been 10 1/2 weeks so far since my surgery so I think I've come a long way. I'm just ready for it to be the full 6 months and be done with physical therapy!! It will go by fast enough though. Here's to keeping up the progress and getting full mobility back very soon!

Draper Temple Open House

On Monday, January 19th I had the day off of work. Brian and I made reservations to visit the Draper Temple Open House that afternoon. When you make reservations it assigns you a church building to go to. Once you get there they take a small group at a time in to watch a short video presentation on temples. Then they lead you outside to board a charter bus. About 4-5 minutes later you reach the temple and they drop you off in front of a big white tent. Basically since it's winter time, they have the whole outdoor route you take covered in white tents. It's nice to keep warmer but you can't see the outside of the temple at all. The tents lead you right up to the door.

The Shuttle Bus

Me & Brian on the bus ride

The beauty inside the temple is difficult to describe. The wood was from Africa, the chandeliers and other wall lights were beautiful and sparkling. There were so many people there that it was hard to see and admire everything. But what we did see was definitely worth seeing. The murals on the walls were amazing nature scenes and the environment is so special. At times it was noisy with so many kids there but I was reminded several times of the sacredness of temples in general. I was so glad Brian and I were able to go to this Open House and be reminded of this special House.

After we walked through the whole temple, we were led outside into another tent covered walkway. It led us all the way to the church building across the parking lot from the temple. They had the cultural hall decorated so beautifully with carpets, rugs, tons of pictures, and beautiful furniture. I've never seen a "gym" look so nice. They provided cookies and water for everyone as you waited to board the bus again.

Sorry for the blurry picture but this was the best I could get from the bus on the way back to the church. To get a better picture, go for yourself if you can!

It was such a fun date night for us! We finished off the night with a quick stop at IKEA and then dinner at Winger's. I am so grateful for the temple and the time I got to spend with my husband!

Traditional Gingerbread House

Ok, so we were a little behind on getting our gingerbread house built this year but it's now a tradition so we carried the holiday fun into the new year. Last Saturday we built a church and graveyard along a body of water. There were even sharks in the water! Brian came up with the idea and plans for it. He was so excited when we found the bone shaped candy. It took us a lot longer than expected but we had fun and got creative!

This is the front view

This is an aerial view

Picture Overload

Disclaimer: Lots of catch up from the holidays! Tons of pictures for your viewing pleasure.
Cade playing with cars at Gma Seely's house

Adam and Rylee bowling on the Wii (Tim & Maria's early Christmas present)
You could hardly stop the boys from playing games the whole time!

Our delicious Christmas Eve dinner! It's a tradition to have more snacky foods than a real meal and I look forward to it every year. Some things I consider a special treat because we only got it on Christmas Eve growing up!

Getting piggy-back rides from Uncle Tim! The kids loved having so many aunts and uncles to play with. Good thing they had the uncles to torture!!

Maria & Rylee did a photo shoot with my camera...look how cute!

I showed Rylee the scars on my knee and she looked so concerned! This was the week I stopped using my crutches regularly. I was sore but I was so ready to get rid of the crutches!

Rylee with her favorite Aunt...ME!!

Christmas Pajamas Tradition

Each year on Christmas Eve we all get new pajamas. I look forward to this each year to see what the colors and design are going to be but I also LOVE wearing flannel pants to bed in the winter. This year we had more of the matching PJs within each family. We're getting so big that we can't all have the same thing anymore...there's just not enough to go around! The grandkids got specialty PJs but they were adorable and they loved them, especially Rylee with her Princesses.

Maria & Tim with Rylee & Cade (they wanted to be in every picture)

Me & my cute Hubby

Kyle, Dad, Mom & Adam

Tammy, Cole, Cade, Telena & Rylee

The family photo...minus Brad's family & Paul (we missed you)
We used to always have this traditional picture on the stairs but I think we've out grown the space on the stairs.

Opening Presents on Christmas morning
It sure was fun having little kids around sharing their excitement of opening presents!

This was the one and only thing I wanted for Christmas...my favorite Disney movie, Sleeping Beauty.

Cade's favorite present...a pop gun. His parents are saints for getting him such a noisy present that he absolutely loves to make noise with!

We were blessed with the gifts that were given to us. Thanks everyone!

The weather was crazy snowy all day Christmas Day. Brian and I were supposed to leave on the 26th to go to Ogden to visit Grandpa Chapman. I was really worried about the weather and the roads with non-stop snow. Brian was determined because Grandpa needed visitors (Brian's parents were supposed to come up for Christmas but weren't able to make it at the last minute) so we braved the weather and made it safely there. It took a little longer than normal but once we got on the freeway the roads were better taken care of. We had a good visit with Grandpa that day and then left the next morning to make it to the Marchant family reunion, my mom's side of the family.

Marchant Family Reunion - December 27th

The spread of food...or part of it.

Funny faces with Cade!

Family picture...you have no idea how long we had to stand here to go through the dozen cameras!!

My mom (far right) with her mom and siblings. This was the first time they had all been together in about 5 years.

My moms side of the family was all going to be in town for the weekend after Christmas so we all got together for lunch and a fun time. We ate really yummy food (and lots of it). Then we played games and visited with each other. It was fun to be together and see some of my family I haven't seen in a while. Then we finally got to go home after being gone for 4 days visiting all of our families.


Santa found us at our house a little late this year but that was because we weren't home on Christmas. He left us some fun stocking stuffers :)

A little early...

So yes, I know we just barely entered January but I needed to change my Christmas theme and the love/Valentine stuff was the only thing I could find on my computer right now so I thought I'd just get a head start on the next decorated holiday! So unless I get bored with it before Valentine's Day, we all get to enjoy it for a month and a half. Pictures and explanation of Christmas and New Years to come!! We had a great time with family and kept very busy.