Church Christmas Party and SANTA

Ya gotta start out right.  All the kids gathered around to hear Luke 2, and talk about that sacred night.

But that would only last so long, they all were anxiously waiting!

This was the first year that all my kids were excited to see Santa. No one was nervous or scared.  They were all excited.

Z

Monkey

Chunk

JellyBean

They all told Santa that they were good, and they were for the most part.  They all also said they each wanted an iPad..... *insert eye roll* But they we happy and excited to see him!

They were also happy and excited to clean up afterwards!

We have great kids!

Thanksgiving at school

Each year the schools do a HUGE Thanksgiving lunch with family and parents.  It is fun to go eat with your kids.

Next year I will get to go to 3 lunch instead of just 2!  

Z has never been a huge fan of the meals but he likes to eat the cranberry sauce and the vanilla milk.  He also LOVES that he gets to see his brother!

Jerra loves getting to show off her brother and he loves to sit next to her and eat with her.  She loves when we come.

It's awesome to see my kids and see their friends- putting faces to the names sometimes!  It's also nice to be able to see them!

Love my babies!

My Boys

When I discovered i was having many boys in my house.  I was a bit terrified.  What do I do with boys?!?!

 I had NO CLUE as to what to do.  Then I read something somewhere or heard something somewhere, and it said to just love them, and it will come naturally.

And boy do I love them.

And oh golly do I love how they are becoming best friends.  And how they all seem a bit lost when the others aren't there to play with.  And how Z is constantly asking when they will be home so he can play with them.

I. Just. Love. Them.  So much so it hurts me sometimes- but I will do all over again.

Halloween 2013

I don't know why holidays sneak up on me.  I know they are coming.  It's not like it sneaks up on me, and suddenly Halloween decides to be on the 31st.  I think it makes it a little weirder when Joseph is gone so much.  He was gone for all but 15 days in October, and one of those trips he got home just 4 days before Halloween, so it made preparing for it just a little more difficult.  Having said all that, it was still a blast.

Staff Sargent Chunk

Dr. JellyBean

Spider-Monkey

Dragon Z

The whole crew!

Mr. Fire-Dancer

And a CowGirl

Here they are (plus a friend) Trunk Or Treating

This is one of the resident Dragon's favorite games!  He probably played it over twenty times!

Staff Sargent Chunk loved the cake walk.  He played this more than any other game!

At the end of the night, they came home happy, tired, and well sugared.  So it was a successful Halloween I'd say!  And when we got home, they picked their 10 pieces, put the rest in a bowl and rushed to bed for the arrival of The Great Pumpkin!

They all thought that the exchange went well when he left these Lego toys.

It was a great Halloween!  I love the element of make believe, I love learning the histories of why we celebrate.  I love seeing the kids eyes light up with the different costumes.

I love holidays- even if they are sneaky.

He made it to 3 years old!!!!

We are all happy and surprised to see that he lived this long.  And boy are we sure glad he has!  He is such a spunky little guy that has a never ending supply of energy and creative ideas that it is exhausting.  How he will change the world, it knows no bounds.  Yes- there are days where when nap time ends part of me wants to cry.  But when he sits on that couch and pats next to him and asks to 'nuhu up peeeeessseee' (snuggle up please) I truly can't resist.  When he comes down at 5:45 in the morning, snuggles up and hands me the remote asking to 'wah mihe mou' (watch Mickey Mouse) and promptly puts a pillow on my head to block the sound.  I just hug him tighter and savor the fact that he decided to hold hands with me too. (I am also super reassured that I know EXACTLY where he  is, what he has, and what he is doing).  But it all happens way too fast.  His sentences get clearer and longer.  He is more determined to do more on his own.  He decides when he is a 'bee boy' and when he 'ju a illel boy'.  And he looks at you with those big clear stormy steel blue eyes and you find it hard to resist him.  It's amazing how he does it!  

We did celebrate his birthday- we just can't find the pictures.  (Yes, the mommy guilt is eating my up about it too)

But he got a scooter that we can't keep him off of, and it doesn't feel good when he races over your toes squealing because he is loving it.

He also devoured twice as many cupcakes as everyone else because he was faster than everyone else and sneakier about it than everyone else!  But that is so totally Z it kind of made it ok.

Top 3 reasons we love Z:

1- He has helped us grow in ways we never knew we needed to grow.

2- He knows how to make any situation fun.

3- He is my baby and know it!

Love you little Lovie!

Z's Collections....

There are random times throughout the day I will find Z with, certain objects.  These 'special things' can last for a month or for just a day.  I was FINALLY able to get a few quick pictures of these things.  This was quite the accomplishment seeing as how protective he is about them.

There are, or have been:

Harry Potter glasses

2 cars (those will rotate)

Keys

Mickey Mouse

A spool of thread

A weeble wabble

2 Thomas the Trains

A Baseball

A Key chain flash light

A rock

A hat

A ribbon

A book

A paint brush

A picture frame

A little notebook

The Hulk

Squinkies

Bakugon

A Lego Man

Little single Lincoln Logs

Lego Duplos

A comb

A mirror

An old play cell phone

And that is all I have kept track of so far.  I know there are more.  When he collects them, he will carry them around in a bag, a purse, a truck, or whatever he can get his little hands on to stuff things in.  Why they are special, I don't know.  But whatever it is- he loves them and they make him happy, and that is all I care about.

Happy Halloween!!!!!

I like Halloween.

I like to dress up and be creative and step outside the box for a bit.

Iron Monkey Man

Tiger Z

Black Ninja Chunk

Earth Fairy Princess JellyBean

(It was not easy to narrow it down to that.  she started out as an Earth Flower Rainbow Fairy Princess Doctor with a Unicorn)

 

 

They love to dress up to.

They also love each other!

Everyone asked what I was.  Truth is- I don't know.  I did end up doing black 'puckered' lips.  It looked awesome but I can't seem to find the picture I want.

Mr. Manly was a high school version of himself.  Complete with hair and Letter jacket.  It was awesome.  But again- I can't seem to find the picture! 

 

It was such a fun time!  The Great Pumpkin came and traded the candy for some great toys that have been enjoyed for MANY hours!

Happy Halloween!

Their... "SPARKLING" personalities....

So have you ever wondered what four 16 oz. bottles of glitter emptied in your craft area, which is mostly carpeted looks like.

I don't.

I think it even looks worse on busy days when you go to make sure you have everything gathered for your mornings full of errands and come to get your little boys and see this instead.

They had glitter places for who knows how long.

It doesn't clean easily.

But I have never denied that their smiles haven't ever sparkled!

Finally something broke

So we had the awesome chance to drive up to Utah to see awesome Uncle Stevie marry awesome Aunt Liz and see amazing Uncle Chris come home from his mission.  We were due to leave super early on a Saturday morning, so Friday I was doing a lot of trip preparations and packing.

Z was going through a phase where he liked to sit on the railing like he was riding a horse and watch what was going upstairs.  Occasionally he would wiggle like he was riding a horse and then he would start to loose his balance and then he would get himself down.  Getting up to getting down took about a total of 90 seconds.  I would look at him as he was playing trains or something, I would put something away and he was already up there- I would then hear a 'whoa' in the background so I would check on him and he would be climbing down.  Keep in mind this action of climbing up there was not condoned!  Many time I would scold and occasionally swat a little boy for doing such things.  I would (or try to) impress upon his little brain that this was NOT as safe activity and that he would get a big owie.  After shoving this (obviously un-successfully) into his brain I would redirect him to something that was safe.  On floor.  Away from the stairs.

This was the case this Friday afternoon the day before we were leaving for 2 weeks.  After redirecting him, I ran downstairs for a minute, the next thing I know I hear a HUGE thump followed by a series of smaller thumps (I recognized these as 'falling down stairs thumps') and then a wail and scream/cry like no other.  It was that moment I knew I would be going to the ER with Z.  Again.

I rush upstairs as he is coming to me with his blankets he went and got and climbed into my lap and just cried.  I could tell he hurt but he wouldn't let me move him to find out where.  I could tell it wasn't his legs or arms- so part of me was hoping he just got the air knocked out of him.  I knew that wasn't a likely option but I was hoping!

As I was calming him down I smelled him.

So I was changing him and every time I moved his upper body- he would burst into tears again.  It was so sad!  I called Mr. Manly and told him I thought we needed to go to the ER- he came home and was feeling his bones and didn't feel anything, at this point he had calmed down and was able and willing to sit on the couch.  I was still un-sure.  I call magnificent Aunt Mallory who happens to be a ER nurse and described the reactions and situation and she agreed with my guess- he broke his collar bone.  To test this theory (and I still feel bad about this) we nicely held his right hand and held a piece of candy.  He tried reaching for it with the bad side and broke down sobbing.

After a quick call to the hospital and a blessing- we heading to the ER.  Again.

The only pictures we got were in the waiting room.  They took us in, x-rayed him and then we sat on the little bed and waited for the Dr. to come in and confirm the break.

Poor guy really handled it like a champ.  He was so tough and proud- it kind of made my mommy heart proud!

They just told me to give him medicine for the pain and then gave him an 'eight brace' to wear.  They told me that most kids hate them and it's a fight.  But really he did so well with it, he liked to wear it.  I think I helped it feel better.  So it was really nice that he never fought us about wearing it.

Six weeks later we went to the Dr- and he said it looked so awesome that in another 5 years you won't even be able to tell it was broken!  So that was awesome!  He then said that we can either take the brace off, or leave it on if it slows him down or makes him more careful.  We then both looked at Z and laughed and said fat chance of him slowing down!  So then the brace came off!

After the break- he has been a bit more careful.  But he also acquired the talent of doing things one armed.  

Z- I am glad you are mine.  I love you dearly.  But you better be rich so I can live off of you- you owe me!!

One night shortly after we sadly removed the side of the crib to make it into a toddler bed, we went to check on Chunk and Z to see how they were fairing.

This is what we found.

It sure melted my mommy heart.

As much as Chunk complains about having to share a room- he sure loves and watches out for his baby brother.  The next morning I asked why they were sleeping in the same bed and Chunk just shrugged his shoulders and said how Z was sad, and him sleeping in the bed with him made him happier.

This is what life is about.

This is why I love my 'job'.

I love my forever family.

Ball Games

This year the three kiddos decided they all wanted to play T-ball/softball.  That gave us 9 practices a week. It was INSANE!!  There was a time when the boys had practices next to a play ground, so Z would just go and play there while the boys were practicing.  JellyBean had practices in a different town about 5 minutes away so that way they could practice more during the week.  That was definitely a bittersweet thing.

Anyway- Here is Chunk on the way to the first game!  He was really excited and did well all season!

He did decided that by the end of the season that even though he could run fast like Iron Man flies- he likes soccer more- "T-ball gets boring".

Now this little Monkey was soooooooo past excited to play when he had to miss because of sickness or rain- he was devastated.  World crumbling to bits devastated.  It was really fun to watch him play.

And no worries- he would only tackle his own teammates to get the ball the first few times.  It took him a bit to realize if the ball went to someone else on his team, he shouldn't tackle them- he should let them get the ball and wait for the ball to be hit in his direction.  Oh- and when the coach put the ball on the tee, she put it so the little 'blue man' was where they would hit.  So after every time he hit the ball- he would run to first yelling "I HIT DUH MAND!!!  I HIT DUH MAND!!!!"  So cute! 

JellyBean has had a good year.  She always was so optimistic and  sweet.  (Shocker right?)  Needless to say her team didn't have the strongest of seasons.  I think it was slightly discouraging for some of them.  

While the girls were out on the field one time, it was really cute to look in the dugout and see all the helmets lined up waiting to be used. 

Honestly the kids had a great year.  When the games started we had 6 games a week and JellyBean had one practice (not to mention we still have ballet practice).  It was so busy.  It was crazy.  I secretly (along with some of the other parents) wished that it would rain on Mondays and Thursdays so the games would be cancelled.  It only happened a few times.  It sure made us truly treasure the time that we could spend together.  The days we did get rained out or we didn't have practices- those 3 kids were in a room playing so nicely together that is was so sweet to see they had missed each other.

They had fun.

They learned.

They made new friends.

The season was a success!

The ER.... again

My baby- oi.

Z, baby, I thought we talked about this.  WHEN WILL YOU LEARN!?!?!?  So Joseph and I were able to go away for the weekend for our anniversary.  It was AMAZING- but that a post for another time.  Poor Joseph was having allergy issues- so we bought some 24 hour Claritin (60 of them to be exact) and he ended up taking two (one Thursday night and one Friday night).  Well, I think I had food poisoning or something because we got home Saturday night, and not only did have a terrible cold and cough, but I felt horrible.  So not much unpacking happened Sunday or Monday.  In fact, things were partially un packed Tuesday, and I was going to finish things up later.  Well, Wednesday I was still feeling rather gross, and decided to take one more sick day and then kick trash on Thursday.  I picked the kids up from school and I was listening to them talk about how a few of kids were being really rather mean to both JellyBean AND Chunk.  We can't have that.  So I call Chunks teacher to see what is going on and I think I hear the kids head upstairs.  That is good.  That is where the toys are!  Anyway- I am on the phone for around 5-10 minutes, and when I am done I realize it's too quiet.  I come to find out that no, the babies are not in fact upstairs.  They are in my room.  UGH.  So I go in, and Z is rubbing Joseph's deodorant all over his face, like lotion.  Yuck.  I scold him, clean him up and as I am heading out of out bathroom, I see all these little white things on the floor by Joseph's dresser.  I go look and Monkey looks and them, points to them and says, "Z eat lot".  It's the Claritin.  I freak.  I call Joseph to see if he really only ate 2.  He starts heading home and I call Poison Control.  While on the phone I am frantically picking up these little white 'tic-tac' look-alikes and trying not hyper-ventilate.  As Poison Control tells me get to an ER as soon as possible.  I load him up, and anxiously wait for Joseph to get home.  As soon as he does, he gives him a Father's Blessing- we are out of Oil- so he just gives him a very nice Father's Blessing.  I then race out.  The ER is about 20 minutes away.  But, when you go around 90....  you can get there under 10 minutes.  During that time, I call our Home Teacher, he is a medical helicopter pilot, so I was hoping he would be at work to give Z a blessing.  He was just about to get ready to go to work- so he left early and came over.  I must say during this time I was terrified.  Absolutely petrified that my little baby was not well- and what he would have to go through to get better.  I don't think I ever prayed so hard as I did then.  But- we have such a loving Heavenly Father, I felt the bear hug He gave me.  I heard the whisper through my sobs saying that he would be ok.  It was then that I stopped sobbing, and I went on faith.  He told me it would be ok- how could I not trust Him?  So when I got to the hospital they rapidly checked us in because Poison Control had already sent his basic info in, and then they take us in a room, quickly get his stats- and then she leaves.  I was slightly baffled, little did I know, she was getting his charcoal and chocolate milk to drink.  So to help pass the nervous time I took a picture.

See his slightly glassy eyes?  See how they are all red?  See my sad red eyes? We were pitiful.

So- While she is getting stats, Brother Hanna (the Home Teacher) comes.  Also- a Sister from church had called the house- we had talked about getting together to work on church bags, and she was calling to talk about that.  Joseph told her that I wouldn't be able to do it that night- I was in the ER with Z, and she came right over.  It was so wonderful to not be alone.  At one point I even had a little 'whisper' say "See, you are never alone, aren't you glad you asked for help?"  Even though I was terrified- it was very special.

So the nurse comes in with a little white cup, a straw, and chocolate milk.  In that cup was the charcoal.  She only put like 1/4 of the chocolate milk in there because she was afraid he wouldn't drink it all.  *Does she not remember we are in ER for him ingesting things he shouldn't?!?!  OBVIOUSLY HE DOESN'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH TAKING THINGS!!!!!!*  Anyway- he downs the stuff.

Then he asks for more chocolate milk.

We give him more and swish the milk to get the rest of the charcoal at the bottom.

He drinks all that.

AND ASKS FOR MORE!  Ugh.  That stuff really doesn't smell the best.

He ends up drinking ALL of the charcoal/chocolate milk.  The nurse is baffled that he would drink so much.  I'm not. Like I said.  Eating is not a problem for him.

Well, at that point we are told to hang tight.  We get to spend the next 5 hours there to make sure he does ok.  They put the heart monitor on his toe.  He is very worried about this.  So we take pictures.

See.

We also pointed out how it makes a line on the screen go "boop boop boop"  so occasionally he would point to the screen and say "boop boop boop".  It was really sweet.

(there is the leg and hand of Brother Hanna)

Our wonderful Home Teacher found someone (Dr. Christensen works there and when he got off rounds he came over) and they gave him a really nice Healing Blessing.  I must be honest, I don't remember what was said- but I felt that bear hug again from Him during and few times afterwards.  So great to have the Priesthood in my life.

Afterwards- Dr. C had to get back to his work- and Brother Hanna had to get to work- so it left us and Beverly (the sweet Sister who came).  Z was starting to get restless, so we took more pictures.  He wanted to be in the picture with his toe.

Well, there was a shift change, and the new nurse came in, her name was March (she actually went to church with us).  She looked at his heart rate and blood pressure and said 'NO WAY' and proceeded to tell me that it was too high- and he needed an IV.

It was so sad.  I hated that he had to go through that.  I hated this whole thing!  But I knew March knew her stuff and so we proceeded to wrap him like a burrito- I held down his right side, Beverly held down his legs. a nurse held his left arm, and March slipped that IV in so quickly it was amazing!  They then put his arm on a stint so that way he wouldn't mess with it too much and then the started pumping him full of liquid.

He really REALLY did not like the IV.  My poor baby was so sad.  I was too.  Beverly was so great.  She kept him occupied and happy and entertained.  I really don't know what I would have done without her!

For being in the ER, with all these random people coming in and out, touching him and for being in pain.  He was such a good boy.  Every time someone gave him something, he said 'thank you'  every time some one left, he say 'bye-bye' (except when they gave him the IV- he just glared at them as they left).  He was such a good boy.

Well- he started to get tired he was getting all snuggly and sleepy so we sat back and Beverly went and got us McDonald's.  Like I said- she was a life saver!!!  He ate a bit, and then he bit his cheek.  Oh he was so mad and sad.  He just screamed himself to sleep.

And he was out.  My poor baby was so traumatized.  It was so hard for him (and me honestly).  I was so glad that I was there to be cried on and hugged on.

They checked him about an hour after this was taken and then they let us go home.  They said he was fine- and that he shouldn't have any side affects.  They were surprised at how much charcoal he drank *again really?!?!*, and how well he handled it all.  He really was a good boy.  As we were checking out, and were leaving and in his half asleep state- he told everyone thank you.

He slept till 8:45 the next day- he is usually up at 7:30, we were tired to say the least.

He then pooped black for 3 day.  That was really weird.

That was his only side affect.

Me on the other hand had been threatened with CPS (2 ER trips in a one month period).  I was so messed up.  Every time I slept, I would have a dream that they came to check things out, and found something they didn't like and took the kids.  It was horrible.  Since then- ALL rooms that he does not belong in have locks.  JellyBean's room and bathroom, our room and closet and bathroom, the library, the pantry and we are thinking about adding others.  The cabinets all have locks too.  This WILL NOT happen again!  I can't handle it.

Son- why?  We buy you toys, PLAY WITH THEM!

Ugh.

Anyway.  We are all happy and now healthy. 

Z- I love you so much.  Please, lets not kill mommy like this.  I don't think she can handle much more of this!