Paisley

Things didn't end up working out well for us and having a dog. My kids loved paisley. Camie never complained about having to take care of her. 

But Gavin was relentless. He would pull her tail. Sit on her. I really don't think he was trying to be mean, but he kind of was. And paisley was fed up with it. She started nipping at him. And regardless of how long he had to stand in the corner, how many times I tried to get him to be nice to her, nothing worked. I ended up being referee way too much. 

And one evening when he was playing/picking on her, she bit. She got him good. And as much as he probably deserved it, I can't have this going on in my home. 

We all cried. We tried to justify keeping her. But in the end we decided it was best for our family AND paisley if we found her a new home. 

I put an announcement on my HOA Facebook page and the next day she had a new home. Hopefully a home that can give her the love she deserves without a 3 year old tormentor. I felt good about her new home and the people we gave her to. 

But my kids were sad. So sad. Spencer even asked me later if I was going to get rid of him if he didn't behave. I assured him I would not, but that if he hurt one of his siblings like paisley hurt Gavin, something serious would have to happen. However he is not a dog and that changes everything. 

I'm not too crazy about having a dog, but that has nothing to do with finding paisley a new home. We just have to wait till Gavin is older and until I'm ready to take on another dog. Cause they aren't easy. 

Spring Break

We spent spring break at my parents. Originally it was going to be me and my children and Jana Humpherys and her children. Well, Eric couldn't resist spending a week with me at my parents home (Eric is my brother) so he left his wife and 1 week baby at home and brought his other 3 children. So nice to give his wife a break. And then Michael, also my brother, decided to come up and visit with his family since we were all going to be there. Charles, yet another of my brothers, talked my sister Bonnie into coming. It ended up being 7 of us 8 kids and Jana. We had so much fun. Watched lots of movies, painted my moms sewing room, watched movies, went on walks, ate ice cream, and had fun hanging out. 

Charles' wife,amber, had her baby while we were there. This is a picture the day before she delivered. 

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St Patricks Day

I didn't take enough pictures! We had a great green day. Mostly green food. Green pancakes for breakfast. Green rolls for lunch in place of the sandwich and green cookies. Green Hawaiian haystacks for supper. 

The kids had fun painting and decorating their leprechaun boxes. And then enjoying the treasures after the leprechauns came. 

Those little leprechauns left feet prints all over the floor. Over turned our living room furniture. I'm assuming they weren't too happy about having to give my kids some of the treasures. 

You'd think it was Christmas morning by the way my kids wake up and can't wait to go downstairs. Except I never told them they couldn't go downstairs. But they assumed and I was okay with that. Danielle was perhaps the most excited and woke everyone up. 

Trail Riders

Gavin and I were able to go to see the Trail Riders as they rode through town heading to the rodeo. It really was a lot of fun. 

It's times like these that make me want to just go pull all my other kids out of school and take them with me. The moment only lasted about 10 minutes and we waited about 30 minutes for the horses and wagons to show up, but it was still so much fun. 

And Gavin is so friendly. He waved to every horse, rider, and wagon driver. 

Gavin Wants to be Like the Dog

Paisley needs a hair cut. But I'm hesitant to get her hair cut because we've had such a cold winter and I like to be able to put her outside when she's being naughty. I want to still put her outside and if her hair is too short, it'll be too cold for her. 

So I'm waiting. But her hair is over her eyes and I don't know how she can possibly see. So I put a hair tie in it to keep it out of her eyes. 

And Gavin insisted he had a pony tail too. Just like paisley. 

Chose to swim laps

Taneals swim practice was cancelled tonight because of the weather. She swims in a heated outdoor pool. Spencer swims twice a week at the YMCA in an indoor pool. His practice was still on. So my 4 older kids all decided to go lap swimming during Spencer's swim practice. Just because. Not stay home and watch tv. But go lap swimming. 

How cool is that? I'm kind of proud right now. 

The flu vs. pregnancy

After having the flu for the last few days, I can honestly compare it to pregnancy. My head hurts. My eyes feel like they're going to be sucked into my brain. My head is spinning. Things look foggy. I don't have the energy to get up and walk around. If I stay lying down , it isn't so bad. But as soon as I sit up or get up, the world starts spinning.  My appetite is completely gone. I don't want to eat. I haven't eaten in 3 days. That part is different than pregnancy because during pregnancy, if I ate I would throw up. With the flu, I don't have the nausea. But the rest is basically the same.

I can handle this flu. It will last at the most 7 days, not 9 months. Of course with the 9 months I would get a baby, and this flu I will only appreciate being healthy. But this is doable. 

Last time I had the flu, I felt this bad. But it was different. I even remember wanting to die.  I hadn't been through pregnancy. I couldn't see the light at the end. 

Interesting how life changes you. How experience molds you. 

Merry Christmas 2013

Christmas this year was just pretty awesome. Low key because Nathan had the flu and we couldn't go anywhere or be with anyone. Kind of sad, but maybe a blessing. I wanted to sit back and relax and just enjoy my children and this gave me that chance. 

Santa brought the kids BB guns. I think there is more to Christmas than just Mrs. Clause. And that can be a good thing, right? Except we live in a neighborhood and there is no where to use the guns. I guess I will have to go visit my parents a lot so they can get their use.

Santa brings sugar cereal for Christmas, which is pretty much the highlight of my older kid's Christmas. They really look forward to it.  We basically have oatmeal for breakfast every morning because I got tired of the wasting of milk in the bottom of the bowl and also cereal used as a snack that ruined their supper. So once a year we can have this treat in our home that lasts through January and is really a treat. 

Danielle got that Rainbow Loom she has been wanting. Now to teach her how to use it. 

Gavin with his new BB Gun

The kids got Kindle Fires. Pretty exciting.

Spencer got some underwear. Yes, he got some really cool other things, but I loved that he was excited and even willing to pose for a picture with his new underwear. (This was his "need it" in out 4 categories of presents that Santa brings)

Camie getting a new pair of boots

Spencer got cool books for his "Read IT".

Danielle getting shoes for her "Wear It"

Nathan got a chemistry set for his "Want It"

Taneal got a swim parka with a new swim suit and goggles for her "Wear It." She loves this gift. Kind of a strange gift unless you are a swimmer, swimming 3 days a week in an outdoor pool in the winter. It really was a cool gift and thankfully she liked it too.

Camie and Danielle got new beds and bed covers.

Gavin with his new shirt.

Camie got a well needed coat.

Taneal got new earrings.

Spencer got a room decoration. i thought it was so cool how Santa was able to take the photos and make them brown and white instead of black and white to match his room decor. He said he really liked the gift, he just wanted color pictures. Grrr.

Camie got a new book series to read.

Spencer got a remote control car.

Nathan wanted rackets for Christmas. Not sure why, but he did. Santa brought the family some racquetball rackets. Nathan thought they were his land loved them.

Paisley even got a gift: a dog bed. Can't believe I have a dog that Santa even brings gifts to. What has my family come to?

Taneal trying on her new black boots that we had to return because she thought they were too much my style instead of hers. Teenagers!

And finally Danielle with her "boogie board" from Taneal. It a doodle board that has a battery and will erase the screen when you push the button. Pretty simple, but very cool present.

Christmas Eve 2013

We had big plans for Christmas this year. Christmas Eve at my home with all the family in town for soup and rolls. A Chinese Exchange and talent show. After that pajamas and singing Christmas Music. 

But then when Nathan started running a fever Saturday followed by the doctor confirming Monday that he had the flu, we knew Tuesday Christmas Eve at our home needed to be cancelled. 

I figured there are enough of us to continue the traditions without all the extended family. I had visions of happiness, joyfulness, love, etc.

I started the Chinese Exchange game. And all I remember was Nathan (5) throwing the gift he got because he hated it. Danielle making the face as shown in the picture below of the gift she opened:

And from Danielle and down all crying. It was horrible. I felt like I had the most ungrateful children ever. I had spent $$ on these gifts and my children did not want them.

The pajamas were a hit.

And we enjoyed Gavin repeating Luke 2. Evan read and Gavin repeated every word. It took a long time, but it was pretty entertaining. 

The night didn't go as planned, but we still enjoyed the evening. And the kids went to bed early enough that I was able to make it to be around Midnight.