Happy 7th Birthday Spencer

My oldest son really is growing up. This little guy finished kindergarten. He is the fastest swimmer in his age group on the swim team. He is the most kind, considerate, loving child I have. I don't know that I know any other children that are as tender and sweet and kind as Spencer. Whoever marries this boy will be the luckiest girl alive because he will treat her with absolute respect and kindness. I worry he is so sweet that he will be taken advantage of.

Some questions I asked Spencer:

Who is your hero? Jesus and Mom and Dad

How would you describe your family? Most of them have brown hair

If you could change anything about yourself, what would it be? My eyes. I want them to be blue.

What is one thing you would like to learn to do well? Math

Who is the kindest person you know? Mom. Why? Because you're nice.

What are you most proud of yourself for? For swimming good

What's something that makes you angry? If someone makes me eat a food I don't like

What's the best thing about your teacher this year? She's nice

If you could only keep one thing, out of everything you have, what would it be? My blanket and pillow

What three words describe you best? Spencer, brown eyes, and smart

What is your favorite color? Blue, red, and green

What is your favorite movie? Mary Poppins

What is your favorite food? Hawaiian Haystacks

What is your favorite thing to do? play outside

What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? cookie crisp cereal

What do you want to be when you grow up? Call people and see if they want it. What Uncle Troy does.

What is your favorite scripture story? Alma the Younger

What is your favorite song? 7 Brides for 7 Brothers Spring Song

What is your favorite thing to do at school? run and play all around

Spencer is already getting excited for next year. He tells me all the time that he is almost 8. Because when he is 8, he gets to join cub scouts and get baptized. All kinds of grown up things happen when you are 8.

Spencer's 7th birthday was on a Saturday, a day we had a very long swim meet. I knew we wouldn't be able to do a whole lot to celebrate his birthday, so I wanted to make the swim meet seem a fun sort of celebration.  I made about 150 cupcakes and let Spencer pass them around. At first I made the person who received the cupcake sing Happy Birthday to Spencer, but that sort of embarrassed him. So, I just had whomever was getting the cupcake know that it was Spencer's birthday and that was the occasion. Spencer felt pretty special. 

 Spencer got Super Mario Brothers game for his birthday He thought that was an awesome gift, especially since I don't really like gaming and don't want to promote it with my kids. He also got an mp3 player that he had a lot of fun listening to.

Paisley

I'm going to tell the story like it is so it can never be twisted, misconstrued, or changed.

We went and got a dog.

It all started at Cici Pizza. Petco is next door. We ate at Cici and after, Evan suggested going to Petco to let the kids see the animals. Somehow, somewhere, Camie convinced Evan to get a guinea pig. She, of course, would have to earn it, but it would be attainable.

I do not want a pet. I especially do not want a guinea pig. If that thing got out of its cage, I would have to touch it. And it would of course get out of its cage.

I told Camie I would rather have a dog than a guinea pig. And my kids know how bad I don't want a dog. We will never have a dog. The only way I would have a dog is if I was a single lady and feeling the need for protection. Dogs are gross, dogs stink, and dogs really don't serve any purpose. And, you have to interact with them

I don't know what happened after that. Camie somehow got a hold of Evan. She worked her magic and convinced him to let her earn a dog. Evan is allergic to dogs (or so he says) and has also said we would never have a dog.

One night while sitting together at the dinner table, Evan told the girls that we could get a dog if they could earn it.

What?

I wasn't privy to this news beforehand.

So Camie earned her points and Taneal searched in Internet high and low for dogs.

Then Nathan had his problems with being allergic to cats. I had him tested and he is also allergic to dogs. However, the allergist said a poodle, maltice, or shih tzu would probably be fine. And he isn't super allergic to dogs like he is to cats.

With points earned, how could I say no? I do way too much for my kids.

We found a dog on Craigslist. And we bought it.

We got a maltipoo. She she grow to be about 10 pounds. Right now she is just under 4. She is 2 months old. And not potty trained.

My kids are in love. She is a gross dog. My kids are in love. She pees on my floor. My kids are in love. She poops on my floor. My kids are in love. She whines at night being left in her kennel.

But my kids are in love. And what you going to do about that?

Superstar Students

Taneal wasn't the only one who is an amazing student and full of awards. So were my other 3 elementary students.

Each class gets to pick the best person in the class. The students vote. Spencer and Danielle were both chosen.  They both were awarded for good grades.

 Camie was also awarded for good grades and got the Presidential award. I wasn't able to get a picture of her. But way to be superstar students! My kids are awesome!

Taneal's School Awards

At the 7th grade award ceremony, Taneal was awarded 3. All A Honor Roll, Orchestra, and Science. Each department was able to choose 1 student to honor. Taneal was chosen by 2 of the departments. What an amazing girl. And I'm not the only one who sees just how amazing this daughter of mine is.

This is Mr. Rackleff, Taneal's science teacher from 6th and 7th grade. He thinks Taneal is pretty special too.

Dr Pepper

Costco no longer carries Dr. Pepper. That is a sad day.

Cici Pizza Coupons, nail polish, and Divisionals

What do you get when you mix Coach Josh, nail polish, and the coveted Cici Pizza coupons?

Let me explain a little more.

When the 10 and under groups beat their time at swim team, the reward is a Cici pizza coupon for a free kids buffet.

My kids love to get those coupons. We basically will only go to Cici pizza if they have coupons, which means we pretty much only go in the summer around swim team time.

It isn't always easy to beat your time. To take off time at every meet is really hard. Between each of their strokes, each one of my children will usualy get at least coupons. Sometimes as much as 3. But usually one. They love to get these coupons.

So when Divisionals came around (yesterday) and all the swim team members were encouraged to pain their nails in the team colors, my boys said there was no way they were going to participate in that.

Coach Josh even offered an extra Cici Pizza coupon if Spencer would paint his toe nails. Spencer still refused.

Until JT agreed to do it if Spencer also did it!

Of course Gavin had no hesitations of joining in.

Then JT changed his mind. We were trying all kinds of bribes and to no avail.

I decided to try something to maybe break the ice with him, because he was beyond the point of even being able to enjoy himself.

I told him I wouldn't paint his nails without his permission. No matter what, I wouldn't do it unless he agreed to it. That softened him up a little. I then told him I needed his help painting my toes. I asked a 4 year old to paint my toe nails! What was I thinking?

He didn't just paint my toe nails, he painted my toes! Beautiful silver all over my big toe. Once I explained I just wanted to nail part to have paint on it, he did a rather great job. Spencer joined in and painted my other foot in blue. 

It was purty!

And then I asked JT which toe of his did he want red? Just one. He pointed to the toe I was now allowed to paint. Then he allowed me to paint the next one blue. I tried silver next and he about lost it. There was not way a football player painted his nails with anything sparkles. Red and blue were okay, but no sparkles.

Aren't these swimmers the toughest boys you've ever seen?

And I think the nail polish made them swim faster. Spencer placed 2nd for backstroke at divisionals and 3rd for freestyle. He competed in his age group against 60 kids. 6 teams. That is one fast swimmer!

And Coach Josh gave them an extra Cici Pizza coupon.

Did that really just happen?

I'm just going to write this. Please don't judge me. Or go ahead. I guess I am who I am and I shouldn't pretend to be anything else.

But I wish this hadn't happened to me. It so isn't me. Or maybe it is, because it did happen to me.

It was one of those Sunday mornings where I wake up, try to sleep longer, but too many interruptions to allow that to happen. I make breakfast, get the kids all ready for church. Things are going fine. I look fat. I have no clothes in my closet that make me look good. But that is the norm. Nothing new.

We head to church, make it there in plenty of time to get our row. And then the meeting begins. Or maybe it started before the meeting even began. My kids going through my purse trying to find toys and food. They claim to be starving. I just barely fed them before we left for church, so I know they shouldn't be hungry. And then the moodiness begins. Nathan took Gavin's legos. Gavin wants more fruit snacks. Reese, another 2 year old at church, looks at Gavin and Gavin doesn't think she should. Then Spencer claims to be sick. Nathan has to use the bathroom and can't wait or he'll go in his pants. I let him go and then Gavin wants to go. Gavin in still in diapers. I insist that Gavin should just go in his diaper. Then he throws a fit. I take him out because he is being disruptive, only so I will take him out. He wins. He has me so trained. But the Bishop told me that kids need to be taken out when they are loud.

I take Gavin to the bathroom and of course he doesn't need to go. I can't reenter the chapel because the speaker is still talking and that would be rude. But of course Gavin doesn't get that and goes on in.  Then Nathan comes out of the bathroom and I tell him to wait until the speaker is done. Spencer comes out to tell me he is sick. Then Taneal brings out Gavin who is making a scene in the chapel. She goes back in. I'm out in the foyer with 3 boys who are well old enough to be sitting inside. And as I am thinking this, I look down and about die with the scene before me. One of my boys, not my youngest, is laying on the ground with his pants pulled down to his knees. He superman underwear is hanging out. And his hands are in the front of his pants.

I don't know how many shades of red I turned.

Why me?

Spring 2013 Garden

We had a garden again this year. Taneal did most of the planting and prep work. It's awesome having helpers.

So the garden grew. And grew some more. The cilantro was divine. The green onions great. Coloflower, beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, etc. A great garden that the birds loved. They were eating all that hard work. 

So, Taneal took the ugliest doll that we had and tied it to the top of a tomato cage. Even the birds were afraid. Solved that problem.

Then one morning, Danielle looked out the window and saw this animal eating the beans in the garden. I looked out and saw it too. It was quite possibly the biggest rat that has ever lived on the face of this earth. And this monstrous rat was eating my garden! There was not mistaken it was a rat. Way too large to be a mouse. I wondered if maybe it was a hedgehog, except its fur was smooth. 

Rats have all kids of diseases. My garden was ruined. And my backyard had rats. I must be a horribly disgusting person! My kids haven't really played out there since. I bought some poison and put it down. Not sure if the rats are still there, I hope not. Maybe the heat will drive them out. Maybe the poison took care of them. But my poor garden. And that amazingly fragrant cilantro. 

We Don't Do Cats

I went to a friend's house for lunch and of course took Nathan and Gavin with me. The boys went upstairs to play while the ladies stayed downstairs enjoying and nice, peaceful lunch. After we finished eating, we called the kids down to feed them. Nathan came over to me and I looked at him and his eye was nearly swollen shut. 

Taneal and Camie have problems with their eyes when they are around cats. Camie's eyes swell and Taneal turn bloodshot and super itchy. No surprise about Nathan, other than I wasn't expecting  it. We gave Nathan a dose of Benedryl and left. He slept the rest of the afternoon, evening, missed swim team, and slept through the night.

A few days later a friend gave me some clothes. I was grateful. I went to her house to pick them up. Nathan didn't go in the house. I put the clothes in my car. Nathan climbed over the clothes to get out of the car. About 20 minutes later his eye swelled again. I didn't even know this friend had a cat. 

I called the doctor and she said to bring him right in. I was worried that if he swelled so quickly and wasn't even around a cat, what would happen if he was with a cat. And will the allergy get worse and what else was swelling?

She prescribed an epi pen and said to keep it close. Nathan didn't appear to be swelling in his lungs or throat, so we were probably fine, but allergies get worse. She referred me to an allergist.

The allergist recommended the scratch test. They tested him for all kinds of things. The results from his back said he was allergic to dust mites and cats. 

4 is dust mites, 6 is cats.

Then they had to do the test on his arms with shots. He had to have 11 shots right under the skin. It didn't go so well. I had to hold him so tight and he screamed and wiggled and it was horrible. The worst shot visit I have ever been to. With 6 kids who are all immunized, I'm used to my kids getting shots. But this was bad. I felt so bad for Nathan. It made me tear up. 

After the shots, he screamed and sobbed for about 15 minutes. He laid on the floor. He didn't want anything to do with me because I had helped the nurse and allowed him to get the shots. He just laid on the floor. I felt so bad. So, I followed my mom's advise and took a picture. The nurse probably thought I was the most cold hearted mother on the planet. I'm not, I just didn't know what else to do.

The results? He is also allergic to dogs and mold. Doesn't really have seasonal allergies. 

What does all this mean? His bed and pillow need a special encasing. His bedroom needs an air purifier. I need to vacuum his room twice a week and change all his bedding once a week. And no curtains. Most of it pretty much what I am already doing. Just need to step up my game a little more. And I can only get three kinds of dogs: poodle, maltice, and shih tzu. 

13.1

After running a half marathon, I have a new appreciation for those stickers I see all over the place on the back of people's cars. The 13.1 and the 26.2. Maybe for most, getting one of those stickers is no big deal. But for me, it was a huge deal. Running is hard. Super hard. Hard every time. So to train and run a half marathon was 12 weeks of 5 times a week (60 times) of torturous workouts. It did get easier. But every time, right after mile 1, I found myself thinking, "this is my hardest run." However, by the time I reached mile 2, it still hurt and I wanted to immediately quit, but it wasn't as bad as right after mile 1. Once I realized that, I could push through the hurt and agony and make it to the end.

When I saw this bumper sticker on the back of a car in the school parking lot, I smiled. I even backed up to take a picture because I thought it was so great. 

Taneal is accepted to National Junior Honor Society

Taneal is one of those super duper amazing students whose lowest grade ever has been a 96. That is with all pre ap classes. She's a pretty good student. I don't know how she has managed to get such good grades, along with learning to play the viola and the piano. Not to mention she is my greatest help. She babysits for me, helps keep the house tidied, keeps me company (she can talk and talk and talk and I absolutely love it), and has a sensible head and makes good choices.  

It was no surprise when she was given an application to be a member of the National Junior Honor Society. She had to have good grades, be recommended by a teacher, and had to write an essay saying why she would be a good candidate for the club.

Taneal made the National Junior Honor Society, along with two of her best friends from school. We are so proud of her.

Birthday Party at Chuck-e-Cheese

A friend of Nathan invited us to go to his birthday party at Chuch-e-Cheese. My kids were so excited to go because, according to them, they had never been. It's probably been 6 wonderful years since we've been, but I took them. They just don't remember.

Gavin could not understand the concept of tokens. He wanted all his tokens and wanted to put them all in a machine all at once. When I realized what he was doing, I limited him to one token at a time and he had a melt down. You'd have thought I was beating the child by the way he acted. Maybe I should have been beating the child. Actually, I wouldn't do that, it would just make things worse and make me mad. So, I chose to ignore him and all the stares from the parents. And we had a great time. Well, except for Gavin.

Here is the group of friends that went. Most of the kids are friends from the swim team, so we spent a lot of time together over the last 7 weeks.

This is Nathan with his best friend. The two were on swim team together. And they live just around the corner from us, so we would see them almost everyday on the bike ride to and from school. 

5th Grade Graduation

Camie graduated from Elementary School. They had a 5th grade party and here are a few of the picture I took at the celebration party.

A little bit about me

I'm one of those people that doesn't like my food to touch. I can only eat one item on my plate and can't eat anything else until that is finished. It's strange, I know. And I didn't even realize I did it until a few years ago. A friend pointed it out. I have tried to change it, but it just isn't right. I could do it, but eating is torture enough, and making this big of a change would just not be worth it. Plus, it isn't hurting anything.

A good friend at church brought this newspaper clipping to me and I got a good laugh out of it.  She knows me well.