Out and about

This is from our outing to the Las Vegas Natural History Museum with the Clement girls. Joe and Brianna read enough books to receive a free pass each from the Aliante Library. Got to love the summer reading programs at the library(s)!! They ran out of the swimming passes, but hopefully they'll get more in soon.

Crafty, yes, sometimes.

A few years (about 4 to be exact) a friend told me about this sling she had bought. She showed me how it worked and gave it to me (it was too small for me, but I used it for a pattern). All of my girls have been slinglings (great website!). I have tried to spread the word and even given some to family members.

Recently another friend asked if she could borrow mine for a trip she was taking, she was going to be flying and now the airlines are charging extra to check on strollers. She came over to try it on. I decided to make her one. Long story shorter, we discussed how cool it would be with a pocket for carrying cell phones so she could really be hands free. Only we discussed it AFTER the sling was made. Life would have been easier if I had just put one in to begin with!!

But, it is done, pocket put in and all. Here are the pictures to prove how successful I was. Got to toot your own horn every now and again.

Cute baby M!

Almost There

Little Liz is working hard at standing on her own, she even is able to squat and sometimes get back to full standing position. We are having fun cheering her on at every turn (and fall) and everyone takes part in helping her in her quest to become a "big girl".

Happy Little Window Cleaners

I decided to put my two older girls to work cleaning windows to help ease the LOAD of housework. Brianna did a pretty good job, just lost steam. Kaitlynn, though, she is going to be a good worker-bee, and happy to boot. Elizabeth wanted to help...eat paper towels.

Not only am I breaking child labor laws, I think I could get in trouble for having 1/2 dressed window cleaners too.

To believe or not to believe

Last night when Joe went to bed I talked him into putting his tooth in the treasure bag and then keeping it under his pillow while he slept. He complied, the whole time saying,
"Mom, there is no such thing as the Tooth Fairy! I know it is really you."

This morning, bright and early (earlier than I wanted!), Joe came to my room and thanked me. When I asked him what for, he said "for his gold dollar." I asked what he was talking about. So he showed me his Sacagawea dollar. Along with the dollar he got a note and a shark tooth! He was pretty excited but still claimed it was me. Guess one can't fool a smarty pants.

"Why would the Tooth Fairy give me a shark's tooth?"

"Maybe she thought you'd feel better if you had a replacement tooth."

"Nah, I know it was you, what does the Tooth Fairy do with teeth?"

"I'm not sure, but what would I do with your teeth?"

"Put them in your mouth."

"Right, cuz I don't have enough teeth of my own."

After our little conversation on the existence of the Tooth Fairy he left and promptly came back saying his light had gone out in his room when he turned it on. I worked a little spin on it claiming that was proof it was the tooth fairy who came into his room and not his mom.

"What!!??"

"Yeah, the tooth fairy is so beautiful and bright the light knew he couldn't compete anymore and just went out."

"Hmmm."

Maybe some fairy dust would have helped him 'believe'. I've never wanted to trick my kids into believing in things that aren't real. But, this time I couldn't resist, mom's need a little fun too!

Joe's other tooth came out this morning at breakfast. I wonder if he'll put it under his bed.

Update

Yeah, so most of you may be wondering, did she get the iPhone or not? I did, and should have said something right away, but alas I was too busy playing with it. Not that I need anything else to distract me from things I should be doing...

We used the navigation application today (not that we really needed it, but to check it out) when we went to dinner. I have plenty of "keep your kids busy" applications now and have to wonder who's phone it is. Everyone loves it even Elizabeth, there is a bubble popping application that keeps her mesmerized. Kaitlynn will take it first thing in the morning or anytime it's on the charger, she likes to hide it from me. What can I say about Joseph, he has been asking for a phone for a long time, now he wants an iPhone. So, I put on an application that turns the phone into a light-saber (you can pick the color of the little light-saber on the screen, and it makes light-saber noises when you move it around). That with a few other applications keep him happy enough to just hold mine.

OH, and some more news...we have finally joined the "lost tooth" club. All my friend's kids are loosing their teeth left and right, I think we were the last in line.
Joe's two bottom front teeth have been wiggling for a while now, at least a month. He already has his adult teeth growing in toward his tongue since the baby teeth have been stubborn and not giving way, until today!!
Tonight at dinner he didn't eat all his pizza saying his teeth were hurting, we got home and he said it just popped out. We had been offering to pull them for him, to which he constantly refused. I'll be glad when we get rid of his four front teeth! And I really hope his adult teeth are more healthy than his baby teeth. I have a strong feeling we will be having to do something for crowded teeth though, the dentist has already mentioned it once or twice. His daddy had braces, Momma had braces (although for a different reason), sorry Joe, it looks like you'll get braces.

If he doesn't believe in the Tooth Fairy should he get any money??

Step'n Up

I can't believe I caught her climbing already. I actually watched her use the dinosaur as a step to climb up onto the music stand. Unbelievable! As you can see she was mightily pleased with her new found ability. Just wait till the falling down starts, that smile will turn into tears.

My own firecracker

The other day I went to my friend Stacey's house to take pictures of our kids for 4th of July pictures. I took a ton of Elizabeth because she was just so darn cute, trying to catch her with her hands clasped from clapping. Every picture only caught her with her arms open just before the clap. She is going through the stage where any amount of praise she'll start clapping, she is so pleased with herself and what she can do. I decided to video it. Enjoy. I especially love the way she folds and intertwines her legs in the sitting position. It is pretty graceful.

Ode to Brianna, My big 4 year old

Happy Birthday Brianna!! You are four years old! I can't believe how quickly time flies since I've become a mommy. It seems just yesterday I held you for the first time at the hospital. You don't remember that day, but Joseph, Grandma Johnson, Daddy, and I remember it well. When Dr. Ivie pulled you from my tummy she said, "Wow, she got her hair done, like mommy, with highlights and all!"

You weighed 8 lbs 4.5 oz., were 19" long, and redish-brown highlights in your lush dark brown hair. The hospital staff couldn't stop "ooooing" and "ahhhhing" about how pretty a baby you were. Some people say it was because you didn't get squished coming out since you were born by c-section.

I thought you were perfect, because God made YOU and blessed me with a girl.

Some things you've been doing lately, cute and not so cute, some down right frustrating. But, that is the job of your mom and Dad, help you grow, learn, and become a better person.

• You almost always wake up happy, your little cheerful "good morning, mom!" makes mornings better.
• You enjoy going to church, singing church songs, and love your primary teacher.
  
• You love, love, love your daddy. You have said you want to marry him.
  
• You have been such a good little mommy's helper with your little sisters.
• You love to carry Elizabeth, bathe her, feed her, and play with her. It is very sweet!
  
• You love to dance. You will often ask me to put some music on for you.
• If I'm not fast enough to put music on you'll find it yourself on my computer.
• You absolutely love and adore Joseph, who consoles you when you've been disciplined and who plays babies/dolls with you. You've said you want to marry him too.
  
• You've been sneaking things out of the fridge or freezer. I'm sure I feed you enough, but maybe not, you are always wanting more food!
  
• Hiding your contraband under your brother's bed. Hiding it is a sign you know it's wrong, and are disobeying the rules intentionally.
  
• When caught you'll always try to convince me it was someone else mostly Kaitlynn (what else are little sisters good for?).
• If something is put up high for a reason, you can still find a way to get into it. Nothing is safe from you if you want it.
  

We love you pretty little girl. You are learning and growing normal. You've been such a joy to have in our family! Our family wouldn't be complete without you!

Febril seizure

Elizabeth, 9 months, has been teething with some pretty serious teeth, fever, congestion, the works but still really good natured. Today she ran a fever and we took a few naps with some cuddling in between, very sweet. Silly me didn't check to see what her temperature was, she's only teething after all. Long about 8 pm after nursing we were having another cuddling session. She put her head back and looked like she was looking at to ceiling for something. Something didn't feel right. She seemed to be zoning, wouldn't look at me when I called her name, and then started convulsing. Panicking I start carrying her out of the bedroom calling my husband for help. We meet in the hallway with all the children gathering in as well. I state she is convulsing, he finds a phone to call 911 (good thing he keeps his wits about him!). I try to remember my infant cpr from before Joe was born but I think my brain went into I'm losing my baby mode. All that kept running though my mind was "there was no sign anything was wrong. She can't be dying, I don't want to let her go right now!" Her lips were turning blue and I kept tapping on her chest lightly. I don't know how long she convulsed, or how long she went without breathing. When I could tell she was breathing again I just held her. The paramedics didn't take long to get there! Maybe I lost track of time. We were whisked off to the emergency room just to make sure she was alright.

They say it is common for a child to have a "fit" or "convulsion" that occurs when there is a spike in the fever. Gosh, I never knew that! It is common for them to be brief, lasting less than 10 minutes. One minute, ten minutes, the time doesn't matter to me, it is very scary, common or not! Most children who have febrile seizures will outgrow them by four or five years of age. Probably a good thing or the mom would probably not live too long with her heart constantly stopping each time they convulsed.

So, here's what I did wrong (although they never told me I did anything wrong...)
I assumed it was teething. She has a little virus, the doctor said.
I didn't check her temperature. Her fever was 103.3 at the hospital (who knows what it was when it spiked enough to send her into convulsions).
I was giving her 1/3 the amount of fever reducing medicine she should have been getting. I was erring on the side of caution, which didn't reduce anything!!

I don't know what I could have done about the other children seeing the baby convulse. I think we are all scarred for life! They picked up on my stress and worry plus witnessed everything. Joe kept saying "But, I don't want her to die, I love her too much." Brianna was the only one who was obedient and went to sit on the couch when told to do so, with worry in her eyes and tears running down her face. Kaitlyn was obedient getting ready, Brianna went to the hospital with just a shirt and underwear (I only noticed after Elizabeth was released, much to my chagrin). When they came back to visit Joe felt it necessary to bring a toy for Elizabeth, very smart thinking for a worry worn brother.

Needless to say, I am thankful we were blessed that it was something common that nothing really bad happened. Sometimes a little scary experience helps to jostle us back into appreciation mode, and remind us how short life can be...we shouldn't take any of life for granted.

Imagination

So, what could be better for the imagination than a book about some kids who go to visit their grandparents over Summer Vacation and experience the mystical land of Fablehaven their grandfather is overseeing? We have been thoroughly enjoying this book on disc which I thought might be difficult for the girls to sit still during, but which has proven me wrong. I have been extremely impressed with how Joe has shown such interest in something other than a game or a movie. One night while we were waiting in an extremely long line of cars to watch a movie at the Drive In he asked if we could listen to the story while we waited. How could I refuse?

I have to admit I am also impressed with myself. I opt to watch a movie instead of read a book because it is quicker and I don't get as side tracked. I could easily blame it on my lack of down time, what with four little children to chase around all the time and all. But, I think it is because it is all laid out for me and I don't have to use my imagination. I want more for my children.

I am now a big proponent of books on tape/cd because it opens new realms for me. Where it is hard to do anything else when you read a book, I can put on the book and do the laundry, fix a meal, or drive the car etc. I recently finished Stephanie Meyer's Twilight trilogy, now I'm looking forward to the movie to see if it follows the book. Very different than what I would normally do, wait for the movie! Who cares if it follows the book, and how would I have even known the difference??

I have fond memories of my mother reading us books like The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis before bed while I was a teenager. I hope I can instill in my children a love for literature, but I know I must do my part to make that happen. This is just a start.

New life of leisure?

Schools out!! It is the end of one of the biggest daily tussles I've had since Joe started first grade back in August. He has a wonderful teacher! He'd much rather stay home and play all day with his sisters, he has often begged me to home school him. So, imagine the humor the last day of school when he was crying about school ending for the summer. I had to stifle back the laughter as tears ran down his face whenever we brought up summer break. The fact that he had to see his teacher and friends every day was a burden to him throughout the school year, but now that it was over, he wouldn't be able to see them every day. Kids!!

We started the summer break off at Chuck E Cheese with our good friends the Clement Family. Joseph didn't want to go there, he has a fear of the over sized rodent, but he soon found himself enjoying the place where "a kid can be a kid!" Joe has had this aversion to Chuck E. since our first visit. I thought I could find a picture of his earlier days where he'd go hide under a table all balled up if he caught sight of the mascot heading out to greet the children. If it was a fear of spiders or snakes I don't think I'd find so much humor in it. I understood it when he was three but now he's almost seven. Hope it doesn't affect him too long.

The girls decided to use their body as a canvas to produce what some might call a masterpiece, but what I call body graffiti and ordered a bath shortly after. Joseph has been wanting to use permanent makers in his artwork but often forgets to put things away. With regular ink the bath cleaned up the girls with no trouble. Joe doesn't quite understand the WHY when I refuse his request. Here's a picture of when Brianna found the permanent marker two years ago and gave herself a goatee she wore for a few days.

I can't wait to see what else the summer holds!!

Motherhood

This weekend I redeemed my mother's day gift, a massage at a Spa in Mesquite, NV, my sweet husband thought to give me. I had big plans for that Memorial Day Weekend...of staying at the hotel for a night...going to visit my grandmother in St. George, UT the next day...taking my Uncle to lunch at Cracker Barrel for his birthday... Unfortunately mommy duties called and made other plans. After dinner the baby wouldn't keep down my breast milk. Long about one in the morning my son wakes up and calls my name and then loses his dinner. Brianna follows a few minutes later (luckily they were not sleeping in my bed). One good thing about being at a hotel when there are sickies, you don't have to wash the linens yourself. I debated about whether or not to call housekeeping but, with a family of six, unused beds are a waste and that is one thing I can't handle. When Daddy got back from his "birthday splurging" he had to make a "sprite" run. I don't think I was able to really get any sleep until about three.

We had to call and cancel all extra activities involving other people we chose not to inflict with illness. It might be a while, with gas prices going the way they are, before we can make the trip to see family again. The next day I followed suit and got sick. I'd love to blame it on bad food, but it wouldn't explain the baby getting sick first or why it took me longer to show signs. And, why did my husband and Kaitlyn not get sick at all?? Glad it was a four day weekend for our family!

At least I got a massage!
It does make for a happier mommy!!

Where has all the hair gone?

This is Brianna at the beginning of the day. Isn't she pretty?! Don't you just love her pretty LONG hair? I know I do. I know Daddy does. I know Brianna does too. I have to remind myself at times that she is only three...and although three year olds are smart, sometimes they still do dumb things...heck, I still do dumb things (and I haven't been three for a LONG time)!

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As I tried to reassure her father after he told me he was sick to his stomach over HIS loss, it could have been worse! Even now he says he wants to cry when he sees the before picture.

Brianna and I went on a date to get her hair FIXED. I probably could have done it myself but I couldn't bring myself to make the first cut off the length of the hair she still had in the back. We'll see how fast it grows back.

At Cool cuts 4 Kids the hairdresser said just the other day a little girl had come in after cutting her hair too, only this little girl didn't leave anything where she cut. Apparently she was giving herself bangs, cut it all the way to the scalp. I was counting my blessings at that time!

I have been wanting to cut her hair in a cute little A-line bob but really couldn't bring myself to cut that much off...so, she helped me with my dilemma. We just can't do the A-line right now till the spot she cut right over her ear grows out some...

And wouldn't you know it, just a couple of days ago my friend and I were talking about little girls who cut their hair one too many times and what should be done about it. She had mentioned that she heard one mother actually shave her little girl's head after the second cutting incident. A little brash, I thought, and was grateful my little girls wouldn't do such a thing!! You'd think after all my experience I would know better than to say/think such a thing. Tisk tisk tisk!

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This is Brianna at the end of today. Isn't she a pretty little three year old girl?? Don't you just love her pretty blue eyes? I know I do.

Blast from the past

Here are some funny pictures from back in my high school days. Back in "simpler" days as my sister put it in the e-mail she sent me with these pictures attached. Funny how hind sight works, everything seems simpler, we are not caught up in the latest emotional battles or family problems that seem to plague our thoughts and emotions now.

Gosh, the boys alone took up a whole couch...don't think they could all fit like that again. Look at my dad's full beard! Dave, my brother sitting at my father's right, has a head full of hair, I heard he chuckled pretty hard when he got the e-mail.

Yes, looking back, I'd have to say we had some really good times together...simple or not. I sure love them.