Camping

My children think they love to camp. I view camping more as too much work for the little amount of fun it brings. It is fun to be outside and getting away from everything, but it also brings so much work. I probably need to change my attitude, but that is where it is right now. I am working on attitude changes in other departments and this one is near the bottom of my list.

My children occasionally ask if we can go camping and finally last night Evan gave in. We have tried to go camping over the last year and with a new baby and this and that it just hasn't happened. So, last night Evan pitched the tent in the back yard and we camped out. It took about 20 minutes of set up and the kids really had a good time. All 7 of us piled into our tent and slept in sleeping bags. Camie, Danielle, and Spencer really enjoyed seeing the stars. It was pretty hot and we were all tired. Taneal and Evan were the sensible ones and fell asleep pretty fast. The rest of us had a hard time. Nathan was up at least every hour or so the whole night. But I had agreed to camping so I stayed the whole night. Would an attitude change have helped Nathan sleep better?

Around midnight Evan finally got up and went inside. Funny boy considering this was his idea. But, we camped, had an hour or more of clean-up, and hopefully the kids were satisfied. I don't think I let on to the kids that camping is not my thing right now when there are so many other jobs to be done. They seemed to really have a good time and I am glad we did it.

Berry Picking

Yesterday we went to a local farm and picked berries. I had never done this before, so it was a lot of fun and really interesting. I really didn't know what to expect or how hard it might be. It was really fun and not hard at all. I was surprised how fast our baskets filled up. Danielle and Spencer really enjoyed helping. They picked more berries then I did. I left my stroller in the van that was in the shop, so I was wrestling with Nathan. I have great plans of making blackberry jam. Last night I made this yummy fruit salad made from some of the berries we picked.

Spotlights for Primary

I work in the Primary at church with the little children. I love what I do. Today I was gathering info and taking pictures of six children who will be spotlighted next month.

My favorite was one little four-year-old boy.

One of the standard questions is " where were you born." The normal answer is "Utah". Not this time. Check out his answer: "In the hospital and I was in my mommy's tummy and not in an egg. It was really gross. I'm not sure how I got out . . . " I stopped him there and told him he was gonna have to ask his mom. He looked at me like that was a good idea so we went on to the next question.

Oh how I love to be with children. They make me smile.

Enough Already!

We are sick again. We have been sick more this month then in the last four years! The first week of May possible swine flu. The second week we were all throwing up. The third week I lost my voice completely. Now this week, we have colds. I even took Nathan to the ER Sunday because I thought he wasn't getting enough oxygen. He was, I'm just a little paranoid. This morning he woke up with his eyes completely glued shut and a huge booger mustache (sorry to be so graphic, but it was bad, never seen it that bad before) Today we went to the doctor and Nathan has eye drops, Danielle has antibiotics for an ear infection, both got cough medicine, and I wish I could take it all. As a nursing mother, drugs are prohibited. *sigh*.



And the culprit(I think):
Nathan likes to suck on everything. During swim team we play at the park and Nathan swings. And he tries to suck on the swing. After many attempts I finally give up. He has gotten sick first, and I can't think of anywhere else he would be catching stuff.

Sanitizers here we come. Would it look too funny if I sprayed the swing with Lysol?

I'm ready to have my family healthy again. I'm ready for something other then Kleenex and drip buckets. I want to have some fun! Good health, watch out!

Negotiations

This morning Spencer did not want to eat his oatmeal.

It was seasoned and sweetened to perfection with just the right hint of cinnamon. MMMMMM.

Yeah, well, Spencer did not think so.

He started crying saying that he needed me to feed him. Danielle jumped in and offered to feed him. I was happy. Of course, Danielle is one that requires feeding herself, so this was a funny sight.

I was in the other room feeding Nathan. A few minutes later Danielle and Spencer march into the living room announcing that they were done. And then Danielle comes to my side and says, "I told Spencer if he hurried and finished his breakfast we would go and get donuts."

Who is she to offer donuts? I haven't bought donuts since November!

She looked at me with this desperate look which said, Mom, don't turn me into a liar!

The donuts do really sound good.

Maybe we'll have to go get them after all!

Lost Voice

I woke up this morning without a voice. Just sort of a squeak and whisper. I feel normal, just sound pretty pathetic.

Spencer isn't too happy. In quite a stern voice, several different times, he said to me, "Mom, quit talking like that!"

He doesn't understand. He keeps giving me these side glances like he is wondering if I am kidding with him.

Really, I'm not.

Sneak Peek

I've been busy compiling somewhere around 2000 pictures (just a guess) from the cruise and making them into a video. Just when I think I'm nearly done, I realize a big problem after another big problem and hours and hours later I think I am just about done only to go through it again. I am mostly having fun, and thought I would give you a sneak peek at 4 minutes of the 15 minute video. And, because of the song, it moves through the pictures pretty fast. The rest of the video that I am still working on won't go so fast. Enjoy.

On the Mend

It started Sunday. I was dressed for church and feeding Nathan when suddenly I was covered in throw-up. He continued to throw up every ten minutes (or so) for the next seven hours. I have never had a baby throw up like that. He was lethargic and not having ANY wet diapers. Thanks goodness he was still willing to occasionally eat. I gave him one more hour to wet or I was taking him in. And, I had just taken his diaper off because he had thrown up all over himself, when he decided to wet all over the floor. I have never been so happy to have pee on the floor. He stopped throwing up and was cranky on Monday, but all better. It was a short sickness.

Spencer started in Sunday night. Evan stayed up with him and took care of him. I was so grateful. Sunday with Nathan was hard and I really needed the sleep.

Danielle woke up Monday morning throwing up. I decided to keep Taneal and Camie home from school because the sickness came so fast and furious. They were fine of course, so I sent them to school on Tuesday. It is hard to have three fussy children who all want to be held all day. I was going crazy and wondering how I thought I could possibly handle three little children at once. I felt so bad that they felt so bad and all I wanted to do was hold them to help them feel better, but I didn't have the lap space and enough arms. I just couldn't do it all. I don't know who cried more, them or me. Jana was so nice to bring me dinner.

I got a call from the school nurse Tuesday that Camie threw up in gym. She was sick all evening and threw up into the night.

Wednesday morning (yesterday) she woke up fine and full of life.

I did not. It got me. It isn't too often that I get sick, besides pregnancies. That I remember, I've thrown up twice in my life, besides pregnancies. The last time I was really sick was when Camie was a baby, seven years ago. This was bad stuff. I ached all over. I didn't want to move or even exist. I was so glad Camie stayed home from school. I had her take care of Nathan as best as she could while I laid on the couch all day. I felt so bad for Nathan, he just didn't understand. He kept crawling around crying and I was too sick to do anything about it. My dear friend, Stina, brought me dinner. She is an amazing cook. I ate a little, the first I had been able to eat all day. Evan got home from work around 7pm and put the kids to bed for me and I slept all night. I think Nathan slept through the night. I never woke for him. And this morning at 6:15 when I heard Nathan calling for me from his bed, I got up and I feel great. It is a short lived flu, but horrible. It really makes you appreciate good health.

As I walked around my house this morning, I realized how much I do. Can we really use as many dishes in one day as were piled in the sinks and on every counter? When did my kids get out all those toys? Did they really wear all the clothes scattered throughout the house? Wow! What a mess! I know I constantly pick up and clean throughout the days. I finally got a look at how the place would look if I checked out. Not a pretty sight. I have my day cut out for me. And, I feel good. I will gladly put my house back in order to feel good again.

Let it Flow

Oh, the weather outside is delightful.
But inside it's really frightful.
And since we've no place to go,
Let it flow
Let it flow
Let it flow.

It started with Nathan. Moved to Spencer. Now it has Danielle. It is lasting about 7 hours. I'm keeping everyone home from school. You'd think it was the middle of winter, not the beautiful weather of May.

Soccer Season Ends

So I am a little late posting this one. The last week of March soccer season ended. This was Taneal's 4th season playing with her cousin and aunt as her coach. Taneal plays so well and really enjoys the sport.

Camie also played. I don't have the pictures yet, my friend used her fancy dancy camera and got some great pictures. I am just waiting to get them from her and then I'll post another way past due post. Got to keep the journaling up, right? Better late then never.

Poop

Being a mother sort of gets you used to poop, right? I have been changing diapers for 9 years now and only once had a 4 month break between Camie and Danielle. Poop. Day in and day out. Poop. At church a few Sundays ago all my children were quietly sitting on the pew listening to the speakers and really doing well. I was smiling looking at my children thinking how peaceful it was not to be reminding my children to be reverent and listen. I had Nathan on the floor by my feet. I looked down at him to smile at how content he was playing. And that's when I saw it. Poop. All up his back. Soaked through his onesie onto his Sunday shirt. I couldn't pick him up without touching the poop. I just sat there looking at him trying to figure out how I was going to exit the chapel discretely. Nope, wasn't going to happen. I just quickly picked him up, held him straight out so as to not get the poop on myself, tripped over a few bags and feet, and went straight to the car. The only change of clothes I had was a basketball onesie, so that was his church attire for the rest of the meeting. Even after 9 years of diaper changing, poop still is a big deal.

If only . . .

If only everyone valued life a little more. I recently received this email from good friend and I really liked the perspective. I wish abortion wasn't an issue, if only people valued life and took more responsibility:

A worried woman went to her gynecologist and said: 'Doctor, I have a serious problem and desperately need your help! My baby is not even 1 yr. old and I'm pregnant again. I don't want kids so close together.'

So the doctor said: 'Ok, and what do you want me to do?'

She said: 'I want you to end my pregnancy, and I'm counting on your help with this.'

The doctor thought for a little, and after some silence he said to the lady: 'I think I have a better solution for your problem. It's less dangerous for you too.' S

he smiled, thinking that the doctor was going to accept her request.

Then he continued: 'You see, in order for you not to have to take care of 2 babies at the same time, let's kill the one in your arms. This way, you could rest some before the other one is born. If we're going to kill one of them, it doesn't matter which one it is. There would be no risk for your body if you chose the one in your arms.

The lady was horrified and said: 'No doctor! How terrible! It's a crime to kill a child!

'I agree', the doctor replied. 'But you seemed to be ok with it, so I thought maybe that was the best solution. The doctor smiled, realizing that he had made his point.

He convinced the mom that there is no difference in killing a child that's already been born and one that's still in the womb. The crime is the same!

Only a Fever

Word sure travels fast.

Danielle woke up this morning with a temperature under the armpit of 102.4. Later this morning we received a call from the health department saying that one of the children on swim team had a confirmed case of swine flu, we were exposed.

After talking to the health department for a while, they said we MUST take Danielle into the doctor tomorrow, but unless she got worse, there was no reason to take her to the hospital today. Maybe we have it, but I really doubt it.

I was supposed to do sharing time today and I handed it off to someone else to do it so we wouldn't have to go to church today, just to be safe. I guess word spread and everyone seems to think we have swine flu. All we have is a temperature and a little girl who is running all over the house playing as if nothing is wrong.

So for those of you who live near us, we will stay completely home this week, unless the doctor tells us otherwise. I do not want to spread anything, so we will play on the safe side. We do not have a diagnosed case of swine flu, just a fever. I will take Danielle to the doctor tomorrow and if anything develops, I'll keep ya posted.

Cute, little Spencer

My first boy. And Oh, what personality. He often runs around the house in this silly hat and sunglasses. He just loves them, and I enjoy watching him.

If you are easily grossed out, do not continue reading. I must share something Spencer said, because it was so gross but so typical. I don't know that it is blog worthy, and after I post it I will probably be embarrassed that I posted it, but I am thinking of it as more for journal purposes that might make me laugh MANY years to come as I read it.

We have a nose-picking and eating problem. See a two-year-old post here. The problem still exists.

I feel I have tried everything. I have tried things that I never imagined I would stoop to trying to solve the problem. And yet, the nose picking, eating, still remains a problem.

The other day, I caught Spencer picking and eating, gave him my newest threat idea, and asked him, were you eating your boogers? He said that he was not. So, I asked him where the booger he had just picked went. And he responded, "I didn't eat it, I just licked it!"

Ohhhh! So gross!

Swim Team

Yes, summer is upon us. Yesterday we started swim team practice. Taneal and Camie are both in it this year again. Taneal was so excited. Camie, well, she was excited, but unwilling to show it. She is a lot like my little brother, Charles. While in High School he got to go to Peru with my parents to pick my brother up off his mission, and when asked how it was, "yah, it was okay."

Camie was giggling, swimming so well, and having a ball at practice. When I asked her what she thought of it, "Mom, you know I don't like swimming." Yah, right!

Swim team is a great opportunity for my girls. They learn a lot. It is like taking swim lessons for eight weeks straight, with meets on Saturdays where they race against their own time from the previous weeks. They become very confident swimmers and I feel much safer at the pool because I know they swim well. It teaches them to do well at one of the healthiest sports out there. And, summers here must be spent in the water to make them bearable. It is just too hot.

Swim team is a hug commitment from the parents. Practice is Tuesday-Friday. Camie is at one pool and Taneal's practice starts at a different pool 15 minutes later. The practice is 1 hour. So, I get to play at the park with Danielle, Spencer, and Nathan 4 days a week during dinner time while the girls swim. Saturday meets begin at 7am and end around 1pm and we must volunteer (or forfeit our deposit). This lasts for 8 weeks. Swim team becomes our life for two months. But, it is so worth it. I hope to do it each year.

And yesterday we began again. Here we go!

Nathan is crawling!

It's official. Nathan started crawling today. I knew it was coming. He has been up on all fours rocking for about three weeks. I knew it was any day now. It could have been yesterday, he fooled us a few times. But, today he really did it over and over. I don't think he has realized the great skill he just acquired. He takes his sweet time. It is so darn cute!

And at 8 months, he is my earliest crawler. Not that I am comparing, I would never do that to my children. He is two months earlier then all the rest!

Washer and Dryer

The day after the company all went home from the cruise, I decided I needed to tackle the laundry. There was a lot of it. I threw in a batch of whites, the most needed clean laundry. After that load I threw in jeans. As I went to throw the next load into the dryer after finishing the two loads mentioned above, I thought I saw blue sparks in my peripheral vision. Naw, the dryer wasn't even turned on, I was imagining it. Then I saw the sparks again. I must really have a good imagination. So, I finished the transfer from the washer to the dryer, shut the door, and a bunch of sparks flew. Yah, I carefully unplugged the appliance and knew my luck was out. The clothes I had just taken from the dryer smelled like smoke. I think angels must have been watching over me because we just about had a fire.

I had loads and loads of laundry to do, I think I figured it was approximately 12, not including bedding. I imagined taking the laundry to the laundry mat. Not so fun with three kids in tow, one a baby. Doing laundry at a friends house? I had a few offers, but I would be there for two days straight. I called Evan. And we made our way to Lowes and bought the most AWESOME washer and dryer!

This is a picture of SOME of the laundry. It looked much bigger in person. Isn't that silly that I took a picture of my dirty laundry?

Let me give you a little history of what I have been using. I preface it by saying that laundry is my most dreaded chore of the week. It takes two full days. I tried to make laundry happier by saving some of the tedious folding while watching American Idol. I still dreaded the task. Evan and I were married 13 years ago. Right after we were married, Evan's brother gave us their "old" dryer that was going out. We didn't have hook-ups in our apartment, so we let my brother use it. I think he got frustrated with it and eventually bought his own and gave us the dryer back. Well, I'm married to a Black (last name, of course) and they know how to fix things. And fix this dryer, he did, over and over and over, until last week when one too many sparks flew.

Now to the washer. The washer isn't quite as bad. Well, maybe it is. It just isn't as old. We bought the washer a week after Taneal was born, so that would be 9 years ago. It was a good washer. It had it's first repair two months after it's initial purchase. Evan has repaired it three times since then. About four years ago something got in the washer. I don't know if I somehow managed to wash a screw driver or what, but it tore the inside of the washer up, scratching it all over and chipping the paint away. Well, exposed metal yields rust. We started getting rust spots all over our clothes. Evan painted it with the really good kind of paint that is supposed to fix things like that. But, eventually the paint wore off again and more rust spots. Even if I was super careful and got the clothes out as soon as the washer stopped, but the rust spot still kept a-coming.

I guess we'd had it. I had had it years ago, but with a husband who fixes things, you appreciate what he does and are grateful that he know how to fix things, at least grateful most of the time. And so our trip to Lowes was a glorious day. It was like Christmas times 10! And I walked away happy. I went home and tackled those 100 loads of laundry (okay, I'm exaggerating there, but it felt like it) and finished 2 weeks worth of laundry in 1 day. It was glorious.

I never thought I would be so excited over a new washer and dryer. Aren't they a beauty?

I didn't even save the folding for American Idol.

They are growing up too fast!

Some days reality hits. Today is one of those days.

Danielle has been over at her friend's house all day playing while I have been home awaiting a delivery. I have had Spencer and Nathan home. Just the three of us. Spencer has been so lost without his Danielle. In fact, he is outside on the patio singing the spelling of her name. Not his name, hers. He misses her! It has been so quiet without her! And she has only been gone 4 hours! He keeps asking for TV shows. He keeps asking me to look at things. He wants me to build forts with him. He wants to go looking for coyotes (does he realize we live in a city?). He needs his best friend, Danielle!

And where reality hits is I register Danielle for kindergarten in 3 weeks. What is going on in my house today will soon become the norm. What will Spencer do without Danielle all day? What will I do without Danielle all day? Wow! Reality of my children growing up is hitting hard today. Can't they stay little for just a little longer?

Happy Easter

Yesterday was a wonderful day. It started off with the children hunting for their hidden Easter baskets. Only Camie cried when she couldn't find hers, but the others joined in and helped her find it and she ended up saying that was the best trick the Easter bunny had ever played.

The previous day we hunted for eggs at a nearby park. The eggs were hidden very well and all the kids had fun searching for the eggs. Thanks for the invite, Cindy!

Sunday morning, after finding the Easter baskets, we dyed Easter eggs. Maybe not an appropriate sabbath activity, but we hadn't gotten a chance to do it with the cruise and family in town, so we seized the opportunity. And the dyed fingers matched the Easter dresses perfectly!

And the girls had new Easter dresses and shoes. I had to get a picture, of course. Camie did not want her picture taken, and it was time to leave for church. I decided to take the pictures anyways. I do not pretend to have perfect children nor am I a prefect parent. And, this picture shows that well. A true behind-the-scene picture.

What I really liked about Sunday was I was able to teach sharing time in Primary. I only had to teach once, instead of both hours, so it was pretty relaxed. I prepared a special sharing time about the Resurrection of the Savior. I love to teach because I always learn so much and it also makes me take the time to study a subject, as was the case this time. And I especially love teaching children because they listen so well (usually, even if they don't act like they are listening) and learn so much and their responses are always so classic. Easter is a wonderful holiday and I love the celebration of the Resurrection of the Savior. I am so grateful for Jesus Christ who was willing to give his life so we can repent and return to live with our Father in Heaven. I love that we can be reunited with our perfect bodies and live again. An amazing gift the Savior gave to each of us.

The day was finished at Troy and Becky's house for dessert. Becky made homemade Angel Food Cake and it was so yummy. I am so blessed with an amazing family. I have five wonderful children and a great husband who works so hard to provide for us. I am so blessed to have the gospel of Jesus Christ in my life. I love being mother and a wife. I am grateful to the Savior for all He did for me and for the example He set for me to follow. I have been blessed!

Life on the Fun Ship

I will be splitting up the posts of the cruise so I can write more and show more pictures. I plan to make this blog into book which will work as a journal, so please bear with me as I share more details then you ever cared to know.

My dad and mom.

The trip started out, well kinda funny. On our way out of town to catch the cruise ship, we had to get gas. Evan wanted me to break some bills with a coke, but the clerk at the station wouldn't do it. Evan and I somehow miscommunicated (imagine that) and drove off without paying for our gas. After we were a few minutes down the road we had to turn around and pay for the theft of gas. I was so embarrassed to tell the clerk what I had done. I was hoping this wasn't a sign to our trip.

The reason for the trip was to celebrate my mom's 60th birthday. Everyday one of us decorated her bedroom door. We had cake served to her the night of her birthday and we all sang to her in the dining room. Bonnie got her a tiara and a lit-up 60th birthday pin for her shirt. I think she enjoyed her birthday and I think we should celebrate her next birthday the same way!

I just thought this picture of my parents was so funny.

We made it to the cruise ship on time. All 15 of us. There was excitement in the air. We boarded to ship and immediately headed for the buffet. MMMMMM! At 6pm was dinner and I happily ate again. I brought Nathan with me because I am still nursing. With his food allergies, I really haven't started him on much baby food, so he nurses a lot. What this does for me is makes my appetite VERY big. Not just a little big. I can probably out-eat just about anyone. And, I think I probably out-ate everyone in my group. I still fit into all my clothes at the end, so I think it was okay.

On the ship we had fun. Everything revolved around food. We started out with breakfast, ice cream in the buffet, lunch, ice cream and plates piled with fries again in the buffet, dinner, and back to the buffet for more ice cream. We took some really great pictures of how high we could pile the plates of fries (that we devoured in 10 minutes time) and also pictures of how high we could get the ice cream in the bowl, and then devour all of that too.

My favorite breakfast meal was the bagel with smoke salmon and cream cheese. My favorite dinner was salmon. I tried the lamb and, well, yah, it is not anything I hope to ever try again. I had lobster for the first time and it was okay. The steak was great. I really like the cold fruit soups they had. But my all-time-favorite was the warm chocolate melting cake. I had it every night for desert and it is one I miss already. I am glad I don't have the recipe because I could not control my crave for that one.

My family doesn't really bask in the sun. I had melanoma on my back a few years ago and have also had cancer on my nose, so I really need to stay out of the sun. My family's skin is a lot like mine, so we all pretty much avoid the sun. And, we don't drink or gamble, so that was out as well. We spent a lot of our time, aside from eating, visiting. We had a great time together. I haven't spent time like that with my brothers and sisters since I lived at home. Being in the wide open ocean gave us undivided time to really visit with one another. I have some pretty great brothers and sisters who are married to some really great people. I really just enjoyed being with them.

I didn't go to a lot of the shows because I had to stay with Nathan. Plus, I didn't have the opportunity to nap like everyone else because of baby-in-tow, so I went to bed earlier then the others. I was glad I didn't leave Nathan behind, but I was limited. And for those of you who know Evan very well, he goes to bed pretty early. When Nathan wakes up he wants his momma and try hard as he can, Evan just doesn't cut it for him. Anyways, one of the nights I stayed up, I went to karaoke with the rest of my family. Evan stayed behind with Nathan (who screamed the whole time). I got up the nerve and sang God Blessed Texas to huge crowd. It is one thing to sing it to a crowd of people who you will never see again, but 12 of the people in the crowd were ones I will be spending eternity with! I got up on the stage and danced and sang my heart out! And, I had so much fun! I want to do it again. It was such a thrill! I'm sure I made an absolute fool of myself, but I sure had fun doing it.

Formal night was also fun. I loved getting dressed up. My neighbor gave me a tux that fit Nathan, so he was all decked out. I can't believe the attention Nathan caught the entire cruise. He REALLY caught attention being in the tux. And, the few days following as I was walking throughout the ship, I kept having people comment, "was that the baby wearing the tux?" It was fun.

As I write this, I want to go back! I want to get back together with family and just visit and laugh (okay, and eat). Of course the thought of leaving my children again would keep me from going anytime soon, so I'm glad I have good memories. One of my brothers was not able to go, last week was finals for him and his wife is due to have a baby in a few more weeks. Eric, regardless of how much fun we had, you were missed. We would have loved to see you karaoke and also match Charles in a mustard eating contest.

With a group as big as ours, someone was bound to be offended or mad at some time. And, Evan played his part. He didn't mean to offend, but you be the judge as to whether or not he should have said it. I really think men are from Mars and women are from Venus. Evan still doesn't see what he said was wrong. But, to my sister-in-law he said, "hey, have you been fake-baking?" She looked tan and beautiful. Her expression stated she was not at all happy with Evan's comment. But to my sister-in-law, I am sorry, we are still working on manners!

top: Dan, Michael, Rob

Dad, Bonnie, Mom, Stephenie

Dorias, and Charles

missing: Eric (maybe we should photoshop him in)

Charles (brother) and Bonnie (sister) . No, they are not a couple and were very adamant about letting everyone know. But, they were both there single (Bonnie's husband couldn't come), so we put them together.

Mark and Dorias

Rob and Beth

Dan and Tonia

Michael and Karen

The whole group

Evan with his favorite toy

fun pictures

I have so many more pictures, but this blog would never stop if I was to share even a small portion of them.

And a HUGE THANKS to my sister-in-law Becky (on Evan's side) who took all four of my children so I could go play. She is quite the woman taking my four along with her three for five full days. THANK YOU!