Passing time...

I'm excited as the next kid when summer comes along.  Simply the greatest.

Unfortunately, on the second day of summer I had to report for Jury Duty, where I was selected to be on a trial.  The estimated 2-3 days slowly turned into 4 days, the last day lasting into the late night hours.  My kids missed me.  The pool missed me.  And most of all I think my husband missed me since he was the one who mostly stayed home with them.

And to top it off, right in the middle of my absence Preston came down with the Plague, otherwise known as the dreaded Hand-Foot-Mouth virus that has rapidly spread through town, sentencing us to another 2 weeks of homebound-ness (I may be creating new words here).

I especially felt bad that Caiden and Paige, who are perfectly healthy have to suffer their first couple of weeks of summer...not being able to go anywhere.  So, I made a mental note that I'd make it up to them by pretty much saying "yes" (as much as I could) to everything they asked for for one whole day.  And hearing them say to each other repeatedly (in very surprised and excited tones)  "This is BEST.DAY.EVER!!!" leads me to believe it worked.  Maybe it was the popsicles, cheetos, and coke we had for dinner....or the huge mess they made that I simply turned a blind eye to....I don't know.

So this is how we are passing time - Slip N Slides and Popsicles!

Next week, we hope to finally get out of this house!

June?

I'm behind. 

Ugh.

All I have to say is, Paige turns 6 tomorrow.  Holy cow.  

Yesterday I was messing around with Preston and Paige walked in and somehow had the impression someone was in trouble.  (I must be loud.)  

I said "You are!!"  

Paige:  "Why?"

Me: "Because you're turning 6, and you're not supposed to.  You're supposed to stay 5 forever!!!!"

Paige:  (thoughtful....& with sass)  "Well.....you didn't."   

Oh. Okay.

I hope to catch up...soon.  You've not heard about our new kitty.  You know the one I've been wanting to chase away mice and rabbits and skunks and neighboring pitbulls?  Too bad it's BLIND!  

....and HOW have I not posted a pic of my husband sporting an incredibly scary handle-bar mustache???

.....and Paige's sweet and hilarious/slightly embarrassing Mother's Day card she made for me at school.  

.....AND my lovely first-time garden happens to be flourishing!  (I've never used that word before.) 

....and did I ever mention my stolen purse.  Right out of my car.  Right in my very own driveway.

We've much to discuss.  Someday....


Just for the record, right at this very moment, I happen to be ALONE.  I'm never alone.  Paige is at school all day today because it is their Aquatic Center Field trip and Preston is sleeping.  The house is strangely quiet....and clean. I'm not sure what to think.  Do I like it?  Is this how it will really be all next year??

Pulling Teeth

Look at these two!  Who fed them miracle grow???

Let me begin by saying how much I HATE the teeth pulling process.  I just can't handle it.  It makes me nauseous.  It makes me cringe.  It's totally Casey's job, which is good because it doesn't phase him one bit to rip a tooth right out of their mouths.  Eeek!  Barf on me all you want, but don't ask me to pull your tooth! AND I hate it because once they lose their baby teeth and get their new big teeth...they start looking BIG and OLD!  Especially the front teeth :(

Anyway, this was a new experience for all.  Caiden and Paige went in for a routine dentist visit and because their permanent teeth were coming in before the baby teeth were ready to come out the doc recommended they be pulled ASAP.  And he wasn't kidding.  At 5:00 the next morning (yes, morning!!!) they were scheduled for "surgery".

They gave them just enough gas to knock them out for about 10 min, pull their teeth, wake up and go home.

I had no idea how absolutely hilarious Caiden was going to be.

He was high as a kite.  Once he woke up, he couldn't stop laughing and swaying to and fro.  As I'm trying to walk him to the car, he's barely on his feet, swaying, LAUGHING....now I'm laughing...nurses are laughing.  We get to car and he has to climb into the back.  Can't get his drunk legs and arms to work, finally manages to get in the back and goes to sit in his seat and completely falls into the window.  His head and chest are against the window...and he's LAUGHING.  I'm dying myself at this point.  I manage to get him in his seat and buckled, which you guessed it...was HILARIOUS to him.  Then, he says (between laughter) "MOM,......I feeeeeeeel........less....SMAAAAARRRTER - hahahahahahahahahahaha!"  Yes, son.  I think you might be.

Then I have to go back in and get Paige.  I look back and see him still swaying to and fro...and laughing.  SO.SO.FUNNY.

Paige was much less high.  I'm not even sure they got the same stuff.  She couldn't stop touching her teeth, or more the abscence of.  Both her front ones were pulled.  On the way, home she suddenly says "I can't make the sound of the letter "f"!!!  I can't make the sound of the letter "f"!!!"  And Caiden found that very hilarious :)

Extreme Home Makeover: Part 1

Is it time for some "before" and "after" pictures already?  I think so!  Not that anyone really cares too much about this....  but it sorta consumed my life for the past several months.  All winter long we have been painting...and painting.  And by "we" I mostly mean "I".  Just thought I'd throw that out there :)

This is the "before" picture of the family room.

When we first moved in only the one bookshelf (on the left) was up.  I always thought it looked weird and very unsymmetrical.  But to our delight, we found the exact same bookshelf hiding out in the garage.  I guess they never got a chance to put it up?  Anyway, I got to work priming and painting them both white.  Along with the fireplace...  I really don't love the green tiles, nor the decorative plate around the fireplace, but as money doesn't grow on trees (so my daddy taught), I did what I could with paint.  I mean, really, the gold has got to go..... (excuse my kids Monoply game there, I was forbidden to move it :)

And wa-la....here it is all finished!  Do you love?  I love!

Fresh coat of paint (everywhere!) including trim, bookshelves, mantel, window frames, and of course the walls.  It took me 150 years.  The best part was going on a little shopping spree at Hobby Lobby for some new home decor.  Not kidding, that I want move in to that store.  The only thing left is the dreaded carpet (don't get me started)....and I'm thinking a much bigger TV should be hanging above the fireplace.....just a thought (Santa can you hear me??).

THEN, I moved on to the kitchen....here's the "before" - hated the backsplash and knobs....

And "after"....

We knocked off the old tile backsplash, threw up some super fun mosiac tiles, replaced the knobs, painted a little, and updated the plain wood door to a fresh white one.  Me love!  I do think stainless steal appliances are in order, no?  And granite countertops - yes that would be fabulous!


This is the eating area "before".  Check out how ugly the light is...it is literally sponged painted teal to match the ugliness throughout the house.

And a little red paint later.....it now looks like this!  I love the red....Casey probably not as much :)

Anyway, I didn't get before pictures on the entry way, dining room, and living room.....but everything was a horrible peachy-pink.  (Ugh.  It still makes me shudder a little).  And the front door was teal.  Yes, teal.  I also took down all the trim, sanded, primed, and painted it white.

The living room is still lacking in furniture... sad, beat up futon is acting as a couch.  (Again, Santa - are you listening??)

Aside from that we are so happy with the new look :)

Now that the weather is warming up, and I am getting really tired of holding a paint brush, I have moved outside to...my garden.  Oh my.  What is the world coming to.  Me - a gardener??  Well, I guess we should wait to use such a term until anything actually grows.  This is the area I designated for it last year.  I walked out there a couple weeks ago and...yikes.  It needs a bit a work, ya think?

But I did it, and currently peas, lettuce, carrots, potatoes, and onions are peacefully growing.  So exciting!

We are also painting the entire outside of the house and soon as it gets warm enough.  Very much looking forward to that project being completed.  Until then.....

TEN YEARS!

Ten years ago.... 

(And we practically were ten- sheesh!)

 Today!

(Actually a few months ago)

Happy 10 years to us :) 

The "rise" and "tall" of Caiden

Poor Caiden has had a rough week.  It started last Saturday in the early AM hours. He came into our room saying he didn't feel good.  And about a half hour later he started throwing up....and continued to for the next 7 hrs or so, pretty much every 30 minutes.  Yuck.  So he remained in the above position for the duration of the day (and the next).  Luckily the barfing stopped, but he had zero appetite and wasn't drinking as much as I knew he needed too.

So that night he went to bed early and not once, but twice, came out (half complaining/half panicking) that "I keep raising up in the air all the way to the ceiling!"

Not gonna lie, when you're child tells you that he keeps levitating against his will...it's a little freaky.  Also didn't help that Casey and I had just finished watching Planet of the Apes and I was half-expecting a giant ape to come busting through my window.  But I gathered my wits and realized that he was most likely experiencing a good ole head rush (phew).  So I explained, reassured, and sent him back to bed.

The next few days, he felt better - (no barfing, at least) - but the poor thing was just SO tired and NO appetite.  Then last night I especially noticed his lack of energy.  After dinner, I was doing homework with Paige and he comes into the office (again half crying/half panicking) and said:

"I don't know!"
me: "Know what??"
"I don't know!"
me: "What don't you know???"
"I don't know!! ......I just....feel...so tall!"

(It's hard to show sympathy when they're so funny).  So I ordered a BIG glass of water and sent him straight to bed (it's barely 7pm).  And thankfully, this morning he woke up back to his normal height and planted firmly on the ground with the usual amount of energy.

I hope he gets back to himself soon and we don't take anymore trips to the ceiling or have anymore sudden growth spurts.....

During all of this, I thought aloud to myself that next year, we should probably all get the flu shot...

Paige (horrified) "What?!?! NO! I don't want a shot!"
me: Well, it will keep you from getting sick like Caiden is.
Paige: No way!!  I'll just throw up!

So true....

MISSION - Impossible

Caiden has sure been putting his new skis to use!  (And not just in the backyard).  Casey took him skiing at Mission (though Caiden thinks they went all the way to Michigan - we've since clarified) a few weeks ago and not only did he do great and have a great time, but he came back with a really GREAT story.  I know he'd be disappointed if this wasn't included in the family journal, ha.

First a little explaining, the chair lift they were riding is the kind where the pole is in the middle.  This makes it very hard to help a child on, thus leaving you with the only other option of relying on the lift operators to assist.  Let's just say most lift operators are not "fully operating" if you get my drift.  

So they had made it throughout the day with no incident....until the last run.  Apparently after Casey let the lift operator know that Caiden needed help getting on, the lift guy proceeds to pick Caiden up and literally drop him onto the seat as it came by.  Well, Caiden was not expecting this and when he dropped he slipped right off the chair.  Caiden manages to quickly grab onto Casey's forearm and his other arm was trying to hold on to the side bar, but his whole body was dangling.  You'd think they'd stop the lift at this point and help the poor dangling child, but no.  

So Casey is desperately trying to pull him up with his left arm as his right hand happens to be holding both his and Caiden's poles.  When he realizes they aren't stopping the lift, he chucks all 4 poles and pulls Caiden up to safety.  Caiden was a bit freaked out, but obviously recovered and now has had a great time reciting this story to anyone who'll listen.  

So then.....last Saturday, Casey and I decide to take him up night skiing and see if he can handle a little harder run.  Well, he did fabulous!  Just cruised right along.  But you guessed it, we come home with another great story.  I'm not sure why I feel this needs to be included in the family journal as it involves me...but, it is kinda funny.  

So once again, we're on a lift that has the pole in the middle, but this one is just a tad bit higher and a tad bit faster than the one he had ridden before, so we REALLY had to rely on the lift operators to help him up.  Everything is going fine (the lift guy was doing a fine job of actually getting Caiden up onto the seat....carefully).  Casey and I had been taking turns riding with him, and all was well.  

Then on the last run (this should have been Clue #1) Caiden wanted to ride up with me.  I noticed that there's a new lift operator, a younger one (this should have been Clue #2).  Well, we get up there and I say "Can you help him up please?"  And the guy is totally looking off in another direction.  I repeat the question (probably a bit more snippily, knowing me - and without the "please") and then he takes notice.  "Huh? Oh. Yeah."  

I knew instantly Caiden was nervous as he forgot to hand me his poles, like he usually does.  So he goes to hand them to me, they slip, the guy decides to return to reality and "help" him up, but by this time the chair is there.  I glance back, while still trying to contain both sets of poles, glance down at the approaching chair (which I happen to notice there is a pair of very large mittens on my seat (what the?) and I realize.....either both of us are going to get plowed....or just one of us.  

So the chair is there and the guy doesn't have him all the way on....I really don't want Caiden to have another bad experience, so I thrust my elbow pushing Caiden back onto the seat and the chair freaking TAKES.ME.OUT!!!  Knocked me out of both skiis, and I face plant it in the snow.  And when I say face plant, I truly mean FACE PLANT as I was holding 2 sets of poles.  For real.  I sincerely hope that if anyone got this on video, they let me know, because I will definitely be receiving a $10,000 check from America's Funniest Videos.  

All of this happened in a split second, but you know how 1000 thoughts can run through your head in moments like those?  I was thinking "Hello?! Help my kid!!" and "Oh crap! I'm dropping the poles" and "Oh no! The chair is here!!!" and "HELLO!!!!! HELP MY KID"  and "What the heck is that on my seat???" and "Oh please don't let Caiden get hit by the chair!" and then "OHHH NO!!" aaaannnnnnd .....FACE PLANT.  It was awesome.  I know I say Paige is Phoebe Buffet sometimes, but let's be honest - she gets all her Phoebe-ness from me.  I'm super talented :)

Oh, the things I do for my children.  Let's recap, shall we?  Willingly catch spewing barf from sweet daughter during church.  Check.  Sacrifice mind and body by letting big heavy metal chair lift plow me over. Check.  If my kids ever question how much I love them, I'll just have to refer them to this post :)

Super-BARF!

I will not likely ever forget Super Bowl 2012. Not because of the game, or who played (who did play?) or the yummy food and snacks.  No not because of those things, but because of my sweet Paige.

We started the morning off by attending Stake Conference.  The kids were excited because Grandma and Grandpa were in our building, so of course they sat with them.  Paige would occasionally come back and sit with Casey and I.  About the 3rd time, she came back and sat with us and Casey noticed she had a "weird" look on her face.  He asked if she was okay and she said she had a tummy ache.  Then precisely 5 seconds later, she threw up all over the floor.  All over.  All over herself.  All over Casey's shoes.  All over.  Seriously, it just kept coming.   And by the way, it was the most frightening shade of green you can imagine.

So I grabbed her, cupped my hands to her mouth (as it was still coming) and RAN her outta there, all the while barfing in my hands and down the sleeves of my shirt.  We make it in the bathroom, and yep, it's still coming.  So I told her to stay there, as I quickly grabbed a handful of paper towels and raced back in there to  clean it up, smelling like BARF itself as my sleeves were filled with it.  Awesome feeling by the way.   Didn't have enough, had to go back for more.  People are staring.  Probably feeling nauseous themselves.  When I came back, someone was there with a mop...thankfully.  By the way, where is my husband?? I don't know.

So needless to say, we leave.  Poor Paige was white as a ghost and slightly embarrassed.  It's a good thing mom's love their kids so much, because this is the second time she's barfed in my hands and down my sleeves.  And I'll bet probably not the last.  I know it's part of being a mom, yada, yada, yada.  But's its still gross, and definitely not my favorite part.  Luckily, she is feeling all better and no incidents followed.

So our Super Bowl day was more like a Super BARF day and needless to say our plans to hang out with friends was cancelled.  But Caiden took it upon himself to make sure we still had snacks and made a lovely sign too.  He's so great :)

 

And we're off!!

......almost :)