The Original Monkey Brains

There are people in your life that make everything worth it, and for me Isabelle is one of those people. She is my first little girl. She's tough. She's smart. She's kind. She's positive. She's all smiles. She's funny. She's crazy. She's sensitive. She's caring. She's my princess. She's an actress. She's an example. She's amazing. And today she is a teenager. WHAT???!!!

When she was born we couldn't take her home from the hospital for about 8 days because she had aspirated formula (thanks, nurse) and ended up with a pneumonia. We watched her as she struggled and struggled to breathe. But she fought and she conquered. Did I mention that she's tough? She is. How many trials have we had throughout the past 13 years? Many. In those trials, who always kept smiling and dancing and lifting us up? Isabelle. Through all the trials, she stayed strong and kept all the smiles and all of the love in her heart. Remarkable.

You are an amazing girl, Isabelle. You can do hard things. I couldn't be prouder of who you are, Isabelle, and what you do every day to make life brighter for us all. You make me laugh. You care so much about each member of your family. You've always been such a light in your family's life. You are a star.

I remember sitting in my hospital bed (one of the many times) and this time I truly believed that I couldn't possibly go on (cue Isabelle) and in comes my little princess and sits by me on said hospital bed, smiles, doesn't even say a word, holds my hand, love radiates from her. In that moment I find the strength to carry on. God surely loves me and our entire family to send us an angel like Isabelle.

I've mentioned trials, but we've had far more blessings. Isabelle has been a huge source of those blessings.

HAPPY 13th birthday, daughter (a.k.a. Monkey Brains)!!!

A I D A N

I'm Aidan's number one fan (well, Katie and I both). He has a huge heart and he cares so deeply at such a young age for his sisters.

Last night we were over having dinner with our sister-in-law and her kids. At one point, Aidan came over to us with some medicine vials and said that Ivy and Eliza had drank a little bit of the medicine. I could tell that he was pretty worried about this (he has a tendency worry quite intensely about some things). We asked Eliza and Ivy if they did indeed drink any of the medicine, and they confessed that they did. We quickly tracked down the actual vial they drank out of to see just how much they drank. Luckily it was not very much at all, but we researched to see if it was dangerous and it turned out that it wasn't. They would live. :-) Well, the whole time we were researching and trying to determine what had happened and what we should do, Aidan was right there waiting for the verdict, very worried. He kept asking questions and wanted to make sure that we quickly got to the bottom of things. It was clear that he would not rest for a second until he knew that Ivy and Eliza were going to be okay.

At one point, Aidan looked at me and asked me if the medicine could make them, and then he spelled out the word quietly, "D-I-E" so that Ivy and Eliza wouldn't hear him say it. I reached over and pulled him in to give him a hug and tell him that Ivy and Eliza were going to be okay. He put his head into my shoulder. He was trying to be strong, but I could feel his deep concern and see the tears in his eyes. He was genuinely worried that his little sister and his cousin would die. I always knew he loved his sisters very much, but I realized right then just how deeply he loved them and was concerned for them. He would do anything to keep them safe.

Aidan, you are amazing! I can't count how many times I've learned valuable lessons from you. You make me happy and I could not be prouder of you.

Me and Moving Pictures

I (Jason) just started my own personal movie blog. Check it out and let me know what you think! Here's the link:

meandmovingpictures.blogspot.com

Purdie 2010 Memory Book

This is a little late, but here is the memory book we made last December to share our 2010 memories. Enjoy!

Click here to view this photo book larger

Home Sweet Home

Well, first of all, I've decided to nix the whole "blogging about my bottom five actors and actresses" thing. Sorry to disappoint--I know you were all waiting on pins and needles...ha ha. :) The past three weeks have been absolutely crazy and wonderful--full of big challenges and even greater miracles and blessings for our family.

When we arrived back in Florida after our Utah trip (about a month and a half ago) I started an intense job search for Utah jobs. We fasted and prayed and worked hard and, while we knew we would end up back in Utah eventually, it seemed as though we would probably be staying out in Florida for another year or so. We continued to pray and fast and do our best and stay positive (mostly) and soon we were blessed with two job openings. I applied for both (one in Ogden teaching middle school and high school kids at a charter school and one in Cedar Hills as a drama specialist at an elementary school) and got a couple of phone interviews. Both phone interviews were on Monday, August 1st (Ogden at 12:00 and Cedar Hills at 4:00). All the while, Isabelle and her friend Nina were watching Ivy in our house, while I interviewed just outside in our car. My first interview went really well (Ogden) and the second interview was one of the worst interviews I've ever had in my life (Cedar Hills). Keep in mind that our son Aidan had just had major dental surgery the day before and was recovering at a hospital two hours away (with Katie), so my mind and emotions were all over the place. In the middle of the day on the following Wednesday I got the first job offer and then a couple hours later I received the second offer. On that day we also found someone to rent our house and received news that we would have help with our moving costs and that I would not have to drive the huge truck from Florida to Utah. It was a day FULL of miracles and SO MUCH joy. The next day, after much deliberation, we decided to accept the elementary school job in Cedar Hills.

In the middle of all of the above craziness, we started our major packing efforts on Tuesday, August 2nd and had our house all packed up by Saturday, August 6th. We had SO much help from our ward--they were so amazing! We loaded up the truck on Saturday and said goodbye to our stuff and then started off on our long road trip back to Utah the next morning. On Tuesday (in St. Louis) I ended up getting very sick with my Crohn's and had to fly out the rest of the way. My wife is the most amazing champion of all time and drove the rest of the way from St. Louis to Utah with our three kids. 35 miles outside of Laramie our car died and, thankfully, the highway patrol got there really quick and, even more thankfully, about 45 minutes later the car started up and they made it to the hotel in Laramie. Katie took the car to an auto shop the next morning and they said nothing was wrong with the car. She took off from Laramie and made it to Utah that night without any problems (besides ornery children). My wife is beyond amazing. I just have to happily brag that I have the most amazing, patient, courageous, super-hero wife that ever will be. She has done so many amazing things over the past few weeks and I love her so much. YOU'RE SO AMAZING KATIE!!!!!

Anyway, I just have to say that this has been one of the most amazing and miraculous times in our lives and we owe it all to our Heavenly Father. I share all of this in testimony. I testify of the great love and concern He has for all of his children. He loves us. He cares perfectly and unceasingly. He's interested in everything we do. He loves every single one of his children and wants nothing more than to bless us and help us be happy together.

We're back!! Woo-hoo!!!!!!!!

Negative FIVE

I (Jason) was thinking of blogging about my top 5 actors and actresses, but after seeing the last Harry Potter again last night with Isabelle, I've decided to blog instead about my bottom 5 actors and actresses. I'm going to start at the very bottom and work my way up from there. So, ummm...we'll call this actress -5.

All I can say is that Evanna Lynch (Luna Lovegood in the Harry Potter movies) must have a family member high up in the movie business (or in the mafia). She delivers her lines similar to the way a tree would, and not one of the trees from LOTR or Wizard of Oz, but more like the tree that perhaps you have in your backyard. She actually curses us with one of THE worst acting moments of all time (it actually made me angry to watch because she is in one of the biggest movies of all time and...Oh for the love, it's too painful). The moment is at the end of the movie when she comes in and sits by Nevel and we are supposed to believe that they like each other, but she does absolutely nothing. Nothing. Nothing. She just sits there and does....NOTHING. Granted, "nothing" is her main character choice throughout the movies, but she has progressively gotten worse as the movies have gone along until in her final moment she gives a performance that makes the heavens shake with fury because of her terribleness. Okay. I'm done. I'm good. Forgive my meanness, but it had to be said. The end.

Utah Trip PICS

Here are the pics I promised to post from our Utah trip. Proof that we were there and that we had a ton of fun. :)


Ivy and her cousin Brynn livin' it up at the Barkdull family fun day/early 4th of July celebration.


Isabelle and her cousins, Maddie and Makenna. BFFs!


Aidan and his cousin, Max. It was so awesome watching them play together. Aidan just loved hangin' with Max.


Isabelle and her s'more. Nice!


We had so much fun!!!!