Those worn out tennis shoes!

Spencer loves to ride his trike. I've posted before about his love of his trike. The thing about Spencer and his trike is he is super fast, but won't use the pedals. This means he uses the toes of his shoes to make him go. About two months ago he outgrew his tennis shoes and needed a new pair. We went to the store and I picked out about three different shoes that I liked, tried them on him, and he couldn't kick his feet fast enough and shout "off" for me to remove those things from his feet. I decided to try on a pair that were identical to the smaller ones he had that were needing replaced (and not so stylish). These new ones looked like the "big white tennis shoes" that in High School my friend Heather and I would joke about that only "Utahans" would wear (only the missionaries from Utah wore those kinds and please, if you are from Utah and reading this, don't take offense. I was just a High Schooler and pretty much brainless, although every time I see white tennis shoes I think of this). And here I was trying them on my son. He loved them and so we ended up buying them. Don't children always make you eat your words?

Within about a week the shoes were already looking pretty worn. In about another week he had worn a hole in the toe. It was small but still a hole. By a month they were definitely needing replaced, but I was not about to buy him another pair of shoes because he would just wear a hole in those as well.

It was last week that I realized that regardless of how quickly he would wear another hole into new tennis shoes, he needed new ones. It was when he came inside from riding his trike and Evan took off his shoes. Evan called me in to "take a look". Spencer had worn a hole clean through the pair of socks he was wearing! It wasn't just a little hole, the toes of the sock was missing. So, yesterday we took a trip to the shoe store and he is now sporting another pair of shiny new shoes (not so white this time) that will probably not last too long, but at least his toes will survive. The trick will be to teach Spencer the appropriate way to ride his trike.

Mother's Day Tea

A week before, Camie sent home an invitation to a Mother's Day Tea with the kindergartners. Camie was so excited. She had been practicing songs that she wouldn't sing to me because they were a surprise, she kept asking me different questions of food I liked because they were going to be preparing the food for the tea. She assured me there were other options to drink then tea because of course we don't drink tea.

The morning of the Mother's Day Tea, she said in her prayers to "please bless that Mom won't forget to come to school today for the Mother's Day Tea." I don't think I really would have forgotten that, but maybe I had given her reason for concern. She also picked out my clothes. I wanted to wear a white skirt but Camie insisted I wear this pink shirt with denim capris.

I showed up at the school early and realized I had forgotten my camera. I would have been late if I had run home to get the camera. One of my friends, Valerie, was nice enough to take some pictures for me. The kindergartners sang to us and then we were escorted to the classrooms. There Camie had decorated a table setting and had plates and napkins all in place. All over the room were different things the children had written and drawn about their mom.

This is the card that Camie made for me. Remember it is written phonetically. Camie was so polite and happy. It was a wonderful tea party and I loved being able to spend it with Camie.

This is a picture of Camie and her wonderful teacher. I couldn't have asked for a better kindergarten teacher.

This is Camie right before the performance at the beginning.

We're on a first-name basis

All of my children call me "mom". They have always called me that and have never thought to call me anything but that.

Then came Spencer. It started with Spencer calling Evan by his first name. It was kind of cute, but we still corrected him with "Dad". This started about a month or so ago. Why would he think to call Evan by his first name when all his sisters call him "Dad". It began by calling "Dad" and then when Evan didn't answer, Spencer called him "Evan" in hopes of getting his attention.

About two weeks ago I realized that Spencer was calling me by my first name. I thought I always answered him when he said "mom", so I couldn't figure out why he was using my first name. I have always loved the way little children try to say "Stephenie" because it is usually slaughtered pretty bad, but none-the-less adorable. As was the case with Spencer. Of course lately he has thrown out the "mom" and "dad" altogether and we are completely on a first name basis, regardless of our efforts to correct him.

This was really brought to my attention yesterday when we were at the neighborhood pool swimming together as a family. Evan had Spencer is his arms and the girls were swimming all over the pool. I was somewhat close to Spencer when he said, "Steph!" I have never had a child call me by that! It took me by surprise.

It is funny the things kids do. He is not following his sisters in this first-name thing, he is being his own little self. I love seeing his personality and his independence emerge now that he is approaching 2. Hopefully this first name thing is a phase, and I will enjoy it (and tolerate it)while it lasts.

Yogurt

Some people think I am crazy, some think its cool, I call it being cheep with some added nutrition.

Yes, I make my own yogurt.

I make a gallon of yogurt each week.

My children love it.

A few years ago I was visiting my brother, Dan, and he had me try his homemade yogurt, vanilla flavor. I was so impressed. His son has an allergy of some sort to food dyes and homemade yogurt became a new staple in their house. Dye free, less sugar, and healthier then the yogurt you can buy in the stores.

Making yogurt is quite simple. I have been making it for about 3 years now. You only need a few supplies:

1 gallon thermos

digital thermometer

1 gallon milk (2% or whole)

1/2 - 1 cup powdered milk

2 -3 dollops yogurt culture (I buy Dannon's plain)

sugar (optional)

flavoring (also optional, I use 2 dye-free kool-aide packets, or vanilla)

You bring 1 milk and powdered milk to 170 degrees. Cool the milk to 115-120 degrees. Pour into the gallon thermos and screw on the lid. Let sit on the counter for 6 hours and you are done!

Probably more then you wanted to know about making yogurt, but I figure I save about $12/week and my family can eat as much yogurt as they want.

My new love

Oreos dipped in milk have been my favorite cookie since I can remember.

Sometimes I think I can eat the whole package in one sitting, but I resist.

I love oreos.

I saw they came out with a new kind a while ago. Mint Oreos.

I stuck with the original.

Most times when I try something new, I wish I had stuck with the original.

I thought I would try them.

I bought two packages: one original and one the mint kind.

If I didn't like them, my kids and hubby would eat them. Nothing to loose.

I LOVED them!

I ate the whole package myself.

I resisted: two sittings!

A True Mom

This is the look Spencer gives quite often when he has something on his tongue. He sticks his tongue out and then comes to me and proceeds to wipe his tongue on whatever I am wearing. I'm not sure what he usually has on his tongue, maybe a piece of fuzz or a small hair, or just something he doesn't think tastes very good. Sometimes he comes from outside with dirt on his tongue and promptly wipes it on me. Evan doesn't seem to work as well as I do. Funny things about kids and the things we put up with.

What is funny to me is that I know my kids are growing up when they no longer ask me to get thinks off their tongue (or wipe their tongue onto me). I actually find it sad that they no longer come to me to help them with their tongue problems. Do they really have to give up their innocence and grow up? So, although it may be kind of gross, Spencer keep the tongue wiping coming because then I know you are still my little boy.

Zofran

Yes, I am still taking the blessed drug, Zofran. I am also thankful for the zofran that disintegrates on my tongue. No swallowing and gagging. I have not needed anything with my other pregnancies. For some reason, this pregnancy decided to test my gaging and throwing up skills to the limit. Usually the nausea goes away completely by week 16. I am now 26 weeks and still throwing up if I don't take the Zofran. Other then the normal tiredness of pregnancy and the need for Zofran, I feel great. Baby moves and kicks, although not as much as some of my others. He uses my bladder as a trampoline, and the contractions have started. Everything is going great. So why do I still need the zofran?

The Ward Camp Out

We camped out about two weeks ago for the ward camp out. Yes, I am just now getting around to posting about it. We had a lot of fun. We showed up to the campsite just before suppertime. We ate grilled hot dogs with watermelon and chips. The kiddos had a ball!



Evan set up the tent and equipped all our kids with flashlights. That was a hit. As it got dark, they had so much fun. We sat by the fire visiting with members from our ward. I thought it was a pretty good turn-out. Evan took all the kids to the tent around 9:30 and got them to sleep. I stayed up until around 1am visiting. It was fun. Sometime between when I went to bed and sunrise, it rained. It rained for a while 'cause I needed to make a visit to the ladies room (we pitched our tent fairly close as this was a requirement for me to go camping pregnant). I didn't want to go out in the rain but was so worried that I would fall asleep and have one of those dreams that I was using the bathroom and really just go in my sleeping bag.



That would be embarrassing.



The hammock that Evan set up was a hit. I think all the kids from the camp out played on it nearly the entire time. They swung each other around and around and around. They were pretty disappointed when it was time to pack up and take it down.



We were pretty dirty but had a lot of fun.

Camie's surgery

Camie's surgery went very well. Thank you for all your prayers. Camie is simply amazing. She has such a happy and resilient spirit. We had to wait in the hospital before the surgery for about two hours fasting, and Camie was joking and laughing and playing games with me. She wasn't nervous at all. She had general anesthesia and did very well. The surgery took about 35 minutes. The doctor repaired the scar on her chin which was a "j" shape and made it a straight line. She doesn't have stitches on the outside, steri strips are holding it together. She has been wonderful. She was excited to ride in a wheel chair to the car. It took valet parking 45 minutes to get our car so Camie learned to turn circles and maneuver in the wheel chair. On the way home she kept making comments about how they should have let us take the wheel chair home.



Camie doesn't seem to be hurting. The only problem we are having is finding things for her to eat. She has to drink from a straw. The doctor emphasized the importance of keeping her chin dry. No eating anything that might slop or drip. That includes most foods for Camie. Last night for supper we had Spaghetti with Chicken fried steak strips and marinara sauce (Thanks Becky!). We cut the strips up very small so Camie wouldn't have to chew much, and she started bleeding, dripping blood. I just have to figure out what is soft enough to chew that won't drip. She ended up having green beans and a bowl of fruit cocktail. I think we will try a milkshake and fries for lunch today. breakfast was difficult. She had only fruit cocktail. I don't think her appetite is back, because usually she can eat more. I think I will keep her home from school until we can figure out this eating thing.



What amazes me in this whole experience is Camie's attitude. She has been blessed with such an upbeat spirit. She has been so strong and happy. I often wonder why this whole dog bite experience has been such a hard thing for me to deal with. It hasn't seemed to hardly phase Camie. But for me, a day doesn't go by that I don't replay the whole attack and thank my Heavenly Father that Camie came out of the situation without more injuries or even worse. We have been blessed.



Camie asked me if I was going to take a picture of her and post it on my blog. I told her only if she wanted me to. I wasn't planning on it. She said to go ahead and take a picture and post if because everyone would probably want to know how she was doing. She can't smile because it makes her bleed. Camie, you are so strong!

Camie is having surgery

Two summers ago, just after we moved from Utah, a few weeks after Spencer was born, Camie was attacked and mauled by a dog. She was four years old. The dog was on a leash and the owner couldn't control it. The dog bit her face pretty bad and we ended up riding the ambulance to the hospital. They were able to put her face back together remarkably well. I don't think most people would even realize she had injuries on her face.

She has a scar on her chin that will pucker more and more as her face continues to grow. We took her to a pediatric plastic surgeon and he said it needed repaired. We got a second opinion with the same diagnosis.

So, Camie goes in for surgery this week. It should be a very minor surgery and she will not need any more. She will be put under anesthesia. Please keep her in your prayers as I am very nervous about the anesthesia part. I haven't told her this is happening. I don't want her to be worried. I will tell her a day or so before it happens. She is a pretty tough girl. Amazingly tough. After the accident, she was all stitched up and had just gone through a huge ordeal, and as we walked to the car, she was a little "put out" because the ambulance didn't get to take her home. Oh how I love Camie and her resilient spirit.

Here is a picture of Camie a few days after the accident.

To snap or not to snap, that is the question?

This morning, I loaded my children into the car while it was parked in the garage with the door still shut. You see, I have better control this way. Spencer can't take off on his tricycle and Danielle can't go out front and admire the flowers while I am trying to desperately get everyone loaded. Much more control. After everyone is buckled, I open the garage door and slowly pull out.

Same this morning. Only this morning after pulling out into the street, I noticed something running from my driveway into my grass. Another reason for loading the kids into the van the way I do is sometimes there are loose dogs that run into my garage and greet us while trying to get loaded. After Camie's attack, we aren't too fond of dogs. Anyways, at first I thought maybe it was a smaller dog running. Then I realized it was a turtle that had probably been sitting on my driveway in the shade and when I backed out I scared it and it took off running! I just barely missed hitting the thing! I didn't know turtles could run that fast! No wonder the tortoise beat the hare! This turtle was probably the size of a basketball. I hopped out of the car, let the kids get out to look at this turtle, and ran in to grab my camera.

I wasn't sure what kind of turtle it was, it had the pointed head that I thought indicated a snapping turtle. I wasn't really sure, so I told the kids to stay away. I grabbed my bat and poked at the thing, and sure enough it was indeed a snapping turtle. I'm glad I had the kids stay away from it because I've heard that those type turtles are dangerous and can snap toes right off. The can also be very aggressive, which is how they survive and get so big.

And it was in my driveway! Then on my front lawn. I don't live in a swamp. I live in a quiet subdivision with commerce all around!

Welcome Owen!

Congratulations to Gerberta and Allen (Evan's brother) on the birth of their 9th child, Owen Royce.

Welcome Eliza

Congratulations to Nancy (Evan's sister) and Larry. Eliza was born weighing 8 pounds 1 ounce and 19 inches long. Eliza is Nancy and Larry's first child. Welcome to the world of parenting! We are so excited for you.

Seth got his mission call!

Last night we received a call from Evan's sister, Rachel. They were gathered at Evan's sisters' (Reyna) house to open Seth's mission call. They were rounding everyone up by coming to the house, and those who couldn't come over, like us (they are in Utah), via cell phone. I think they had 6 cell phones sitting on the coffee table with Evan's siblings connected. Trying to round up 16 siblings isn't easy. Evan comes from a family of 16 children. Seth is #14. (Sorry about the out-of-date picture, this is the best one I could find)

It was pretty exciting. Evan had our phone on speaker while Taneal, Camie, and Danielle sat on the edge of Taneal's bed listening to Seth read the call. Of course when he said he was going to Taiwan speaking Mandarin, they all had a confused look on their face. We told them it was near China and Taneal's eyes got big. It was a very special moment and so fun that even though we are over a thousand miles away and one of such a large family, we were still able to participate in this moment. Seth will enter the MTC on August 6th.

Congratulations Seth! We are so excited for you!

Big Juds in Idaho

When I lived in Rexburg, Idaho, (I attended Ricks College, now called BYU Idaho)there was this restaurant called "Big Juds". At this restaurant they served enormous burgers. If you could finish one of these burgers all by yourself, they took your picture and hung it on the wall. The burgers are big, but with all the young bucks attending Ricks College, a lot of them were set on impressing their dates, so there were a lot of pictures on the wall. This week my parents are in Idaho visiting Charles and Eric, Angela, and Aaron (Charles and Eric are my brothers). I guess they heard of this place a little way out of town and decided to check it out. They emailed me this picture of my nephew, Aaron, and I thought it was a great picture.

I think I only went to Big Juds once or twice, and could only eat a quarter of the burger. Of course now that my appetite has increased, especially when I am nursing a baby, I am very certain I could eat the whole thing!