Kelsea and the camera

Kelsea had the camera this weekend. It was a beautiful and day and she took some really nice pics. The irises in the front are in bloom and so are the lilacs in back. She would have taken more pictures but the rechargable batteries all died and won't charge anymore. Such a bummer.

Friday was kind of strange. I went to the doctor on Friday. He was able to tell me how Amber was doing at her tournament after calling his son. How strange can that be. If she was done we were going to have his wife bring her home. She was playing when I left there so we hurried out to Eagle. A bit of a drive, And she finished just before we got there and lost. We saw Wade and visited with him. He broke his collar bone. But he is about to graduate and he is getting ready to go on his mission. I got to bring Amber home. But we decided to check out the new Kohls on the way home. I got some clothes and Hannah got a swim suit. Amber and Kelsea babysat that night so now they have money. We had Port of Subs for dinner! (Tennis is over!)

We had a nice weekend. Bummer for me is that I got ANOTHER one of those awful headaches. I had the doctor give me a prescription for my headaches but had not picked it up yet. I decided to go get it and my pharmacy did not have it but they called another one that did so I had to drive all the way over there and get it. I took it right away and was easing up on the way home. I kicked it! Woo Hoo!! Miracle stuff. Even with that we got so much done around here. Lee Joe worked all day.

He is about ready for a week off. He may take it the week of memorial weekend.

Can I pull my hair out yet?

I think I found something at the school that is worse than the day I was weathered on at the cross walk. I subbed for the ERR with the special needs kids today. There were two boys I suppose to help. In the morning I had one and he gets whiny. Then in the afternoon the other boy was there. Usually he is great and just fine. After afternoon recess he fell apart and he hit, scratched and kicked, threw himself on the ground and carried on. I had my fill of that. I wouldn't want that job fulltime. I don't know that I want to do that again for awhile. He even had to be removed from the bus because he was having such a day. Thank goodness for MY doctor's appointment-Nope, too busy to sub, sorry. (not really sorry)

Autumn's arm is in a splint again. We went to the doctor yesterday and they did 6 x-rays, didn't see anything obvious but want her back in a week for more x-rays. I really didn't want to do that again but what can you do?

Amber has her last matches today. Today is district and she is in 3rd place on the team for girls singles. That means she gets to go to a different school than everyone else to play. They have boys singles there too and the 3rd place boy was suppose to go there too. This one boy was going to go and Amber's admiring boy gave up his spot as the number 2 (since he was a fill in for the 2) to the boy that was the 3 since he was the better player and that way he make sure Amber had someone to go with. He is so funny. Amber is OK with it all. SHe was smiling as he making sure all the changes took place. So she said her record is 12 wins and 2 losses. She played before I got there yesterday and I was going to take pictures.

We went to a dance at the elementary school. It was actually very well done with the music. Amber went with me and the 3 youngest girls. They had a good time. I was exhausted and we had apples bananas and cookies and cake for dinner. I had toast and was too tired to fix anything else even though I was hungry.

I was so tired and I think emotionally worn out from this awful busy week. Lee Joe tells me he has nothing on his schedule for tonight which should get me excited but I am more frustrated because there isn't anything on the schedule and I could have used his help every other day this week. But he says he is taking care of dinner and I am going to do what I can today and take it from there. There will be no more tennis after today and track should be over Tuesday. All I will have for a few weeks is dance and church activities. I am ready for a mommy vacation.

Kylee is in the red group

Music week concert----------Track yesterday

Easter -------------------------Amber's buddies

The Matts. The one standing is the one in like with Amber
Ghiradelli square San Fran

It has been a week?

I think it has been almost a week since I blogged. I barely survived Thursday night. I ran from 2:30 until 8:30 that night. EEK!

Friday we got a call from Grandma Lay and she was in town. So we went to dinner at the trough at Golden Corral. We have liked that place for the food (very good steaks and rolls are yummy) but I don't know how much we can go anymore by the amount of very overweight people and the lining up for food that about got to us all that night. But that is almost the only way the kids get to eat out anymore is when grandma comes. Grandma Leavitt was in too much of a hurry again to even bother to come say hi to us. Then we went to the music week concert that Kylee was in. The Elementary Honor Choir was better than it has been in years but some of the other groups were OK. The Elementary Honor Orchestra played a piece they did in Feb. The other pieces were alright. The High School choir is usually enjoyable but they ended like they didn't know what they were singing and the finale was the same song some of the groups played and sang in Feb too. Maybe I was just in a mood but Amber said the same thing. That was the first time in 7 years she wasn't in a group that performed. Grandma stayed the night and left before anyone saw her in the morning.

Saturday Amber went on her first date! They went to the house of the boy they double dated with for a bar b q. She told me something so funny I laughed for days. The boy that they double dated with is a senior. He is LDS and he is football player. He is tall and has broad shoulders like a football player. Kind of intimidating. He is the student body president too. So they are in his family's nice new big double cab pick-up truck to drive them to the school so they could watch the play. Amber says he turns on the radio and Enya is playing and he says-"I just LOVE Enya!" and he starts singing. Talk about a kid that is comfortable in his own skin. I saw him riding a scooter across the street yesterday. That was kind of funny too because he is so big. He has to be over 6 feet tall. So the date was fine. The boy that likes Amber so much has been so sincere and has been such a gentleman still. One of the boys Amber knows calls her either Amber Rich or Mrs. Rich. That is the part that makes it hard for Amber. But in seminary yesterday they both sit in the front row by each other and the topic was marriage. Amber was SO uncomfortable. She said she just looked straight ahead the whole time.

I have been having headaches since Saturday, not fun. I have one today too.

I spent almost 3 hours outside yesterday. It was kind of hot. I guess that is better though than windy and rainy and 40 degrees. It was the regional track meet and Kelsea's relay teams are all going to city. Or at least 2 for sure. One of the relays they started in third and the next girl got them in second, Kelsea kept them in second, and the last girl totally lost the race for them. She came in 5th. That girl tried to blame someone else for the loss! Kelsea ran another race they came in 2nd and the last relay was something else. It was a medley and Kelsea ran the last leg which is a 400. The girl that ran 3rd kept them in second and was catching up to first when she pulled a muscle or got a cramp she limped up to Kelsea for the handoff. She had such a lead from the 3rd place girl that Kelsea kept them in 2nd and they beat their time from last week by 2 seconds.

We had Dinner at 8:30 last night.

Amber is in the top 3 girls singles on the JV team. That means she has to go to another school from everyone else to go to district. This other boy and her are the only ones going to a different school on Friday. She now has 11 wins and 2 losses.

I am so excited because all this stuff is over this week for Amber and next week for Kelsea and I will get to relax a little. And Honor Choir was over as of last night. We will have dance until June 2. Lee Joe is working endless hours right now so I don't see him much still. It will be that way for awhile I think.

I have to take Autumn to the doctor again. She fell off the monkey bars on Monday. Apparantly the tacos were so greasy at school that she lost her grip and now landed on her left arm so we get to see if it is broke. No more monkey bars for her. She fell last week too and landed on her face that day.

I am enjoying Hannah in my last weeks of having a preschooler at home. I really enjoy her. She went to the eye doctor yesterday. Not much change and we still have to leave this film thing on her glasses so she can't see so well out her good eye. I want to be done with that really.

Not much

Just the usual catch up the messy house, MOUNTAINS of laundry, and chase kids. The highlight of the day is to see where the 16 year old saga goes today. Since I don't watch the soaps on TV I suppose that is my fix. I made mashed potatoes today for a funeral. And took my niece and nephew to school. I finally got my hair cut yesterday. And Hannah is visiting the neighbors. This afternoon will be a feat of mommy superhero action. I need to reschedule a Chiropractic appointment because at 3:30 Amber has a Tennis match at her school and Kelsea is at a track meet across town and from 4:30 to 5:30 Kylee will need to be somewhere right in between. Then at 7 she has dance. Lee Joe is working. Last night was more of the same.

I don't think the van likes Lee Joe. 2 times when has driven it the head lights haven't worked. We had to drive home Sat night with our brights on because that was the only way they worked. We forgot they needed fixed and last night I found out they work again.

Yay! Amber's back!

Amber is quiet by nature anyway but you wouldn't think that it was that noticable that she was gone. The Piano was quiet for days. The little girls played it but it is not the same. She had a great time in San Francisco and they were hours late getting home because their bus broke down in Donner's pass. The boy that likes her said on the way there "Wouldn't it be something if the bus broke down on the way home in Donner's pass while it was blizzarding" Well that is what happened. Everyone said he jinxed the bus. He FINALLY asked Amber out on a date!! SO funny! They were waiting to go on the gondola ride at Great America. There was 5 of them two girls were going to ride together and then this other girl was going to ride with Amber and Matt. At the last minute she choose to ride with the other two girls and it was just Amber and Matt on the l o n g s l o w ride over the park. She said it was quiet at first and then he finally got the nerve up to ask. And then he was right by her side the rest of the day and sat by her most of the way home and Amber acts like she is in pain. She is so strange. I don't think it is that bad for her really.

Last night I didn't watch any of my favorite shows. I sat in the living room all night listening to my girls. I got Kelsea 2 violin books over the weekend so she could find a solo. One had a piano book. Amber practiced the piece Kelsea wants to do. And then she went through the book. We could hear Kelsea practicing violin in her room. Then Kelsea came down and they practiced together that piece and a some others. Then Amber went to the organ and Kelsea played some more. They opened the Pirates of the Carribbean book and played in that. By then it was 10:30pm. Lee Joe and I both just hung around and enjoyed every minute of it. I have always loved to hear Amber play piano and it is all too real how close she is to graduating. Kelsea doesn't come out hiding much to play her violin. Kylee and Autumn are progressing on the piano and about to start band as well so there will be more music in the house but it sure is something I treasure and something Lee Joe surprises himself how much he enjoys it too. Hannah is working on Aleouette. She can do it when she looks at the book. Ode to Joy is memorized now. She is working on Happy Birthday on the piano.

Last week was rough. I was sick all week and all those stressful things happened. I have yet to hear back from the school on the Kelsea thing. Lee Joe and Kylee were also sick on Friday. So we were a sorry bunch. I am hoping the antibiotics have kicked in well enough to have a great more productive week. I got a call from the school last night and have decided not to go today. I have plenty to do. There is no more early morning choir and Honor Choir has the concert on Friday and that will be done. Kylee was one of 6 kids picked for a part in the thing they are singing and she is one of the youngest in the group! Things are starting wind down a little-Hooray!

So I had this really wacky dream Sunday morning. Why do we contemplate the way we do in dreams? So in my dream I was wondering what hatches from a coconut. It would be really hard for something to hatch out of it. So what hatches from a coconut???

More to blog

I guess I have to complain a little. Yesterday I failed to mention how someone dented and scratched my passenger door in the Wal-mart parking lot. That made me mad. Then later I went to the grocery store and saw a big wreck getting cleaned up. Then I felt like I was having Post traumatic stress disorder from all the car carnage as of the last week!! I am almost afraid to drive and then had a hard time letting Amber go to San Francisco this morning.

I have been calling my Dr's office everyday this week. Before 5 I gave up on him contacting me and they made me an appt with another dr for this morning. I saw him too in person yesterday at the school but he left before I could talk to him. I saw the other dr at 10:30 today and then at 12 today they called and said my dr could see me at 1:30-UGH!!!! Now I need to schedule an appt with him in two weeks! UGH AGAIN!!! If he wasn't such a good doctor and he knows my history I would find another doctor. Anytime I go anywhere else I have a bad experience.

Then to make this day more of a crisis. Kelsea was verbally harassed yesterday at Track before I got there by some boys. She didn't tell me about it until 9pm last night. It was very vulgar and was quite traumatic so I had to go to the school and we talked to the counselor and then we talked to the principal and then the SRO. And she wrote out what happened on a report. I am upset and Lee Joe is about to throw an even bigger fit over it all. He called a dad at 11pm last night. And then he was at the school at 7:45 but couldn't talk to anyone, they were in a meeting and I already had things going by informing the counselor by e-mail last night we needed to talk to her and when I would be in to do that. In the end if we felt we needed to we could press charges. The boys crossed a line so they will be punished somehow. But they are investigating and will get back to us.

It is only 1:31. I hope the rest of the day is uneventful. I should have known it would be a stressful day when the lid came off the cat food container when I was feeding the cat and it dumped all over the floor. I think I finally might be able to clean it up. Nothing like procrastinating the inevitable by tinkering on the computer.

Blown Away

Lee Joe said something the other day about Hannah playing Ode to Joy on the recorder for the ward talent show and then said Amber should start playing piano afterwards. I didn't know what he was talking about. Was Amber suppose to teach Hannah how to play or something. I bought a recorder and a Strawberry Shortcake music book for her a couple of months ago. I heard Ode to Joy the other day and thought someone else was playing it. Hannah is 5 as of Dec 29th. She CAN play Ode to Joy on the recorder and read the notes in the book. Nobody showed her how to do it. The child is a mystery to me.

Speaking of blown away, we were almost blown away at Amber's tennis match yesterday. She played before the storm blew in but lost. The wind was a problem for Amber and the girl she played. Today's match was cancelled. They started Kelsea's track meet. It was freezing and windy and rainy. Kelsea ran the 400 relay and froze. They called the meet before she ran the 400. Everyone there was happy.

I have been home but not home running errands. My sinus infection is making me miserable and I have been trying to have my doctor call me all week. I have an appointment with another doctor tommorrow. 2 1/2 weeks wth a sinus infection in the cold and the wind is awful miserable.

Kylee had her last school choir concert today. Kind of sad. The school year is already coming to an end. Kylee's honor choir concert is next week and that will be over too. That is happy and sad. No more driving but another school year over so quick.

Amber leaves for San Francisco in the morning and will be back Sunday. It should be fun. The boy who likes her so much will be going too. OOOHHHHH. If they get so far as to sit by each other for more than 2 hours that will probably as much more friendly as they will get.

Something started

They are counting cars on our street! I am going to make more noise though.

Get this!!

SO 5am Sunday morning there is another accident. It is up in my neighbors yard and in the intersection. It was a foot a away from hitting their camper. But my neighbor said that they were unlucky because their camper wasn't touched. Some girl hit a parked car a few miles from us. A guy came out of his house because he heard it and she drove off. He chased her around I don't know where and when she came down our street she had lost her bumper and her tire was flat so I guess it was making a horrible noise before she hit an old man in his car on the street and wound up right next door. Almost same place as friday. Just my side of the street. She got out and tried to run away and the guy chased her and caught her and my neighbors called 911. CRAZY. I have started to get things rolling to get something done.

I worked at the school today and hope to be off the rest of the week. I need to put my sinus infection to bed.

Friday the 13th

Usually I don't ever pay attention to Friday the 13th anymore than any other day of the week but this past one was something else!

The school had it's share of weirdness and bad news. One of the teacher's brother was injured in Iraq and lost his leg. Someone who use to work at the school a while ago passed away, I don't know who it was. Things were just out of sorts all day. The cross walk was OK in the morning until the last crossing of the day. Someone TOTALLY ran the light As I was in the road getting ready to cross with a 1st grader and a Kindergartner. That had my heart racing. The afternoon crosswalk had me all amped up when I got home.

I was trying to get Amber and her friend and my 3 little girls together to drive down to the park so the older kids could play tennis. Amber's other friend was riding around on his bike in front of the houses around us. I guess he left to go to the park but I didn't know that when I heard screeching tires and a horrible crash. I was trying to locate the crash and I asked the kids "Where's Matt?" with my heart in my throat! Then I saw what happened. Across the street one house over our neighbor in her truck was in the road and a blazer was in her driveway with its bumper on her other car. He started yelling at her like it was her fault. and she was trying to tell him that this was her house. He shut up then. She was turning into her driveway and for some reason he was passing cars all the way down the street and not paying attention or just downright speeding when his blazer blazed a trail on her drivers side door and into her other car. There were witnesses eager to share what had happened to the police because he was driving so crazy. One gal was taking pictures. Another guy that lives further down the road nearly got into a fight with him and after talking to the teenage witnesses in front of my house I went over there in a rage and yelled at him some more. The worst part was thinking something awful happened to Amber's friend because he had rode his bike in front of that house just minutes before that and we were all in the yard when it happened. What was so fantastic though was she had worked for the police dept for 6 years. A neighbor who is retired police officer came and helped direct traffic around her truck(supporting her) and another neighbor who is an active police officer came and helped before he went to his house while we waited for the police officers to come. They checked him out for a DUI. I wanted them to arrest him so bad. But they gave him a ticket for reckless driving. He was like 20 or 30. But he was weird. Our neighbor can't open her drivers door on the truck but her Buick wasn't hurt that bad at all thank goodness for her. very minor damage to the car. But she had to have the back windshield replaced recently from some vandalism that happened in her driveway. ANyways I have been so upset since last night. I am sick of people speeding down my road and I am ready to find out what we can do about it. The speed limit is 25 and everyone is driving over 35. You don't make me worry about about ANY kids safety or you will get it from me. I love my house but I want a safe street to live on. We aren't moving, I guess it is time to really find out what I can do.

So that was a Friday the 13th to remember.

How sad

I have been subbing for the lady that works in the office because her mom has been real sick and last night or this morning her mom passed away. So I will be there again Thurs and Fri. One of the subs they called often got another job so I might get called even more. In fact I had a call at 6 this morning for the librarian. I was already coming in the office/playground duty. It would be fun to do the library. More fun than getting rained on and hailed on and snowed on and super rained on in 15 minutes. Today was a better weather day outside and I was only there half a day so I could see the high school band perform at Festival. They get judged. They sounded awesome at the concert on Monday night but were still good but not as good today. A week full of concerts, tennis matches(Amber won both this week, lost her first on Fri because she was sick and still played) and Kelsea's first track meet, and an Honor Society induction for Thursday for Amber. It's only Weds and I am exhausted. I know why I don't work full-time. Lee Joe is still side working a bunch.

On Tuesday we had a fax machine that decided to call 911 instead of the number it was suppose to dial. It did it several times and we got calls from the school dispatch telling us it sounded like a fax machine was dialing 911. The principal told us to unplug it and the other gal in the office was so rattled that she looked at the phone line, saw it go into the wall-no plug and said "it's in the wall" and I proceeded to unplug it from the machine. It was so funny or I was so tired that I was a little goofy but we had a real good laugh. We held our breath when she sent the next fax but no call so it worked. So now you know what to do when your fax machine dials 911.

I wish I had something more to say than talk up the girls some more. As soon as I get a little more time I will take pictures of some of our hard work. I am such a scatter brain. We didn't get any pictures of the girls in their Easter outfits so I need to get pictures of them dressed up.

I am trying to come up with an idea-silly- interior decorating for your car. How to make your car a home away from when your in it more than your house. Decor pillows that velcro to the door, little lamps that clip on the dash and maybe a frame and vase too. How about some valances or something for the windows. How about a dashboard cloth!

Easter and all that

So Easter was good. We did the Easter thing, We were up at 8, I went home after sacrament because I was feeling yucky and didn't want to share with nursery. We went to my mom's house for dinner and the kids all played and we watched movies and Melissa showed us pictures of Ecuador that she took during Spring Break. I got a call to come in today to the school and will be there again tomorrow. Did I tell you how much I do NOT like the crosswalk?!!!! Today was like no other after school. It started to rain when the bell rang after school and then hail. It felt like I was out there forever. In 15 minutes I was wet all over and then the rain stopped right when I was done. My hands were frozen and my feet were wet from 15 minutes in the rain. I get to go back tomorrow. hooray

So back to Saturday--this is so cute. I told you how Amber asked a boy to her friends party. She paid his way into the movie but they didn't sit by each other because of how they got into the theatre. So they went back to the friends house and they were there for a long time. She got home and about 9 we got a phone call from him. He thanked Amber for paying for him to go to the movie and then asked her if she wanted him to sit by her at the movie and she said it didn't matter to her (ouch) and then he said "my parents are walking me through this (poor kid, but how cute!) but do you want to go out and do something sometime?" She said sure and then he said good bye! And then Amber says to us "What have I gotten myself into?" She is not so positive about the attention he is giving her and what is worse-how her friends are practically arranging their marriage already. I think it is the amount of attention from everyone that makes her so reluctant. Here we are encouraging one to appreciate attention from boys and the other we are trying to reign in. Maybe it is time to hire a good parent of teenagers to take my place right now.

It's almost Easter??

Someone forgot to remind the Easter Bunny in Idaho that Easter would be sneaking up quick. So Last minute preps are a headache, especially when sick.

Amber is at an "Alternative Twirp/birthday party." She had to invite a boy so she invited the one that likes her so much. She doesn't seem to want to reciprocate the feelings. I dropped a car full of talkative teens at the movie theatre to help the mom in charge of the party out.

Kylee is ice skating at another party today.
Autumn lost a tooth and her curiosity about the Tooth fairy is ever expanding and Autumn has been leaving notes to the tooth fairy . The tooth fairy replies-in very small print trying to tell her that if the tooth fairy gives out too much information it may get caught.

I worked at the school 2 times this week. I have fought headaches all week. The one on Friday was from my neck being out. UGH. and I needed to get ready for a house appraisal on Sat. Didn't get real far and had major shopping to take care of. It was slow going. So this morning we frantically got the house together in little more than 2 hours. It was quite neglected yet again. Autumn stepped on a pencil and poked a hole in her foot. Result of her disaster of a room. But she survived.

I was suppose to get my hair done this week and lost my appointment card. I got a call on the day telling me that the daughter of the lady that does my hair was in a car accident and would need to reschedule-I guess that saved me in the end but it was very unfortunate. I would have missed it. And then one of the ladies at the school has a mom that is really very sick and she is one that I subbed for this week. I may have to sub again this coming week because her mom doesn't sound like she is going to make it, her current state is very ill. I think she has cancer she has been in and out of ICU.

The weather has been improving all week long and it suppose to be 80 today. It is nice out and the windows are open. I need to prep eggs and have yet to call my mom and sister about Sunday plans. Today is a perfect bar-b-q day-HMMM.

Anyways-Happy Easter to all!!

It's over-boo hoo

Spring break is over and instead of my alone time back I get to work at the school on Mon.
Bad luck- 3 bloody noses, one really good bonk on the head resulting in a lovely goose bump, and two bruised and injured knees with my 3 little ones and a friend. Amber and Kelsea managed to NOT fall off the roof while painting but got headaches while hanging upside down trying to paint and one guy whistling at them on the roof, they didn't like that.

Got tons done. The yard looks good, the house looks better but not done yet but much closer. I fought allergies hard this weekend. I got some Aleve cold and sinus and finally got rid of the headache. Amber and Hannah have issues too.
Even with all the work I am happy to give my van a sort of vacation. I enjoyed my time too. No complaints from the kids either.

Promised pics

Kelsea's b-day and flowers from the boyfriend

Autumn's b-day and Kylee dressed for her part in the program


Hannah in a laundry basket and on the tramp today

Sheer the Sheep dog

Spot reminds of Looney tunes Sam the Sheep dog

Now she is so pretty and ready for warmer weather.

Spring break?

We have painted, done yard work, and spent yesterday at the mall and the library. It is only Weds. More house cleaning to do and play dates are arranged. No complaints from me though. I am getting tons done without the afternoon run arounds!!

Just for info

I was looking at the top 12 safest states, Idaho is in the top 12 as 12. Connecticut was 11. Nevada was number 1 for most unsafe. Texas was in the top 12 for unsafe.

Last night Kelsea's team lost by 3 points. It was such a bummer. They beat that team twice and would have played for the championship today. I saw the first half and Lee Joe saw the 2nd half so we could have Autumn's family party. Kelsea played a lot and was awesome on defence and scored the 2nd basket in the game and made a free throw. They were 13 and 3-one of the best records and they could have been the first team from their school to take city. But now basketball is over. I would be relieved but she wants to do track and I think more for the socializing.

Autumn was pretty happy. It was a rough day for her. They didn't do announcements yesterday so they didn't call her name on the announcements and she didn't get her balloon and pencil from the principal and we didn't get to bring her treats because they had the spring program and many of the kids left after the program. So I made sure we had her family party. She got a tamagotchi, two tinkerbell books and a fairy doll with DVD. She got 2 nintendo gameboy games and a littlest pet shop toy. An outfits and a cute sweater and dress from my mom, a computer game and two jewelry making kits. She never complained about the long wait. We had her party at 8:45.

About the Spring program-Kylee had a big speaking part and a solo and she did pretty well. She had a hard time with a couple of lines but her solo was very well done.
Yesterday was another crazy long busy day and my mouth lets me know now when I am too stressed. It was very sore come bedtime.

Melissa haunted house stories gave me dreams last night of being harrassed by ghosts all night.

Tonight is easy, Amber has match downtown and Kylee has dance in the evening and I might-just might -be able to make dinner. I am looking forward to Spring break!!!! I will post some pictures soon.

Happy Birthday Autumn!!

I will have to be wordy later. We are trying to squeeze in her special day somehow along with Kelsea's basketball in the tournament interfering with our evening routine. So Happy Birthday to my other spunky kid that is full of determination and has a stubborn streak more stubborn than any other. She is tender hearted to boot.

obnoxious

I have found getting our teens to the temple is always an incredible undertaking and becomes the biggest challenge. I suppose a certain someone could be working overtime.
Today was the day and we were OK'd to do family names but both girls had conflicts with tennis and basketball. Amber was suppose to be in Eagle for an away match and Kelsea lucked out to have the first game of tournament at her school. So the good things in favor of the trip were-Tennis was cancelled on account of rain and Kelsea's game was suppose to start at 3:30. As it was I was running errands since 12:30 taking Hannah's eye glasses to get fixed and ordering another pair at another clinic because that was where our insurance coverage was. At 3:20 I picked up kids from school and we go to the Chiropractor dodging construction. He takes a long time and we are late dropping off 3 kids at home and taking Kylee to Borah High for Choir. I find out for some insane reason Lee Joe got dropped off at Kelsea's game thinking I was there after I told him hours before I wouldn't be which means he has no car at all. SO when I get done dropping Kylee off at 4:36 for Choir that started at 4:30 I need to get to Fairmont to pick him up and take him to his car now. There is wreck and for some reason there has been crazy traffic everywhere. At 4:55 I pick him up. Everyone is suppose to be at the church at 5 and Kelsea's game is only at the begininng of the 4th quarter-they were winning by the way-I pitstop at the house again and pick up 3 kids and drive the 13 houses down to the church to drop Amber off on time-that was a miracle! Lee Joe talks to everyone there and gets back in the car and I drive him down the hill during rush hour to get his car. It is 5:05 now. I get up the hill, drive by our house again back to Fairmont. Kelsea is walking out the school as I am about to run in. She scored 6 points-they won. I pit stop back at the house at 5:15ish and have to use the bathroom before I go get Kylee. I drive by the church for the 3rd time and see them all leaving for the Temple at 5:22. I manage to get to Borah at 5:31 and it was a good thing I wasn't any later because they got done early. I finally take the 3 little girls, now that the pressing rush is over, to Mc Donald's for half price Happy Meal night. We finally get home after 6 and somehow Lee Joe and the 2 older girls made it to the temple. I think my neighbors think I am nuts. Now I think I will do some laundry and let my car have a rest. At least we live close enough to everything but if traffic wasn't so horrible today and the lights weren't so obnoxious it would be so much easier and faster. I want one of those things that police cars have to change the lights when I am approaching and I could get super efficient.
Melissa just moved into a house and she and David think it is haunted. They haven't said anything to Dylan or Kailyn that they think that but the kids have had some weird experiences too. And the house isn't that old. CREEPY!!

Relieved

I am so relieved last week is over. Between getting Kelsea's birthday ready and the party and all the calls I got from the school and couldn't work and stay sane-I am glad it's over.
She had a very nice birthday . Her "boyfriend" gave her roses! They are very pretty. She got clothes and shoes and duck tape in 4 colors. She was pretty excited over that. Now she can leave our tape alone. She had a nice family birthday. I was worried about the friend party. At first she invited over 15 kids. And then not very many kids came on time. 2 or 3 kids that said they would be there didn't come. 2 came pretty late. In the end there was 9 kids. She made out pretty well. It wasn't about the presents but she came away with 3 shirts and a $30 gift card to Aeropostale (the girls favorite store) a $25 gift card to the mall, $20 cash and other neat stuff. One of the kids that called and said he would be there came on Sat afternoon and said he thought it was Sat and gave her a $20 gift card to Hastings. So I guess we will have to shop over spring break.
The weather was beautiful and we spent Sat outside cleaning up the yard, fixing the damage from the winter yard drive through, and painting parts of the house that didn't get painted 2 years ago when I painted and the touching up the damage that has occurred since then. We will need another Sat for sure to do more. My allergies hit in full force over the weekend. Ugh!
Tournament play for Kelsea is this week and then basketball is over. They won the game on Friday. Amber has spent a lot of time over the weekend on a poetry anthology book for English. We were talking about giving the teacher a bill for all the materials used- she has used most of my ink in the printer color and black. I bought a giant book of Scrapbook paper for her and she has used a bunch sheet protectors. It is somehow suppose to be a bound book by the time she is done so we will have to figure that out tonight since it due tomorrow. My best estimate is that we could almost consider it a $50 book when she is done. It looks really good though
I have a lot to do. Another birthday Weds for Autumn and we will done with parties until June.

Happy Birthday!!!!!

Happy Birthday to my spicy sassy red head!!!
At 14 we could be in for super long road ahead. She is cute and hyper and silly and sometimes a little too much fun to be around- If that is possible. It is with her. There is a temper and an attitude to boot. If we can get the boys to stop looking in her direction and telling her what they think, Lee Joe might not have to worry about oiling that shot gun quite so much.

Tennis and other stuff

Amber was offered a spot with the varsity to go to Lewiston and then they changed their minds and offered it to 2 seniors and then they offered a spot to her again yesterday, 2 days before the departure date. She was going to do it until she realized how much she needed to do this week for school. So she has to turn it down. They had their first match yesterday. She won both matches she played.
Kelsea's coach has a wife that is pregnant and due in April but I guess she is on strict bed rest which probably explains his gumpiness. Poor guy. They have 2 more games before the tournament starts.
Kylee stayed home sick. I got a call from the school to work and had to turn it down. I think I am going to need to let Kylee babysit her sisters a little sooner than I let the others. Only for short departures. The little girls get along really well and I can always follow up with my cell phone. They actually do better together than when Kelsea is watching them. Amber and Kelsea are almost never home until 5 or 6 if we are lucky. Kelsea says she wants to do track now once basketball is over.
I visited the little girl yesterday that is in the hospital. Kylee cried when I told her she was too sick to visit. Her friend has inflammatory bowel disease and has to take medicine for the rest of her life. Poor little girl. It looks like she will be home by Thursday though.
Tonight is busy. See if you can keep up-READY? The little girls have jump rope for heart until 5. I had to cancel piano. Kelsea has an away game. Amber has tennis until 5. Kylee and Autumn have activity days from 6-7 and I have to go to the Stake building in a dress with Amber and Kelsea for young womens from 7-8:30. I asked Lee Joe to be here tonight so I didn't have to take all 5 girls.
Kelsea has me very afraid now for her friend party. Her invite list keeps getting bigger and bigger. She may be inviting close to 20 kids now. I am hoping and counting on not all of them making it. Amber invited 14 and 11 came. That was quite a few.
Amber date alert. The boy that likes her is scoping out potential double dates with transportation so he can ask her out. She is so funny because she is so reluctant and acts like it is torture.
I always have way too much to say. I really need to be cleaning for this grand upcoming party. And the weather is beautiful. Not as warm as Reno but perfectly pleasant. I think I need to come up with some interior decorating for my car since I spend so much time in it anymore.

Congrats to Molly!

I heard that Molly's hubby Alan is getting baptized this weekend. That is fantastic news!!

Hey!

It was a busy Saturday. Amber and I both saw the Chiropracter. Amber and Kelsea went to EFY. Then Amber went to her party. This was sooo Funny. It was a surprise party and Amber and her friend helped with the invite list. It was for a boy, my doctors oldest son. 12 kids showed up and the dad took the boy to the store to get ice cream. When he got back his mom told him he had to go upstairs and clean something in the game room because he had been gone all weekend or else he couldn't go to the dance. He ran upstairs and turned on the light. One of the girls that was closest to the door gave him the biggest fright as the rest yelled SURPRISE and he fell on the floor in shock, they said he wriggled on the floor. He had to go to his room for a minute to compose himself. He didn't remember turing on the light so we kind of wondered if he fainted or something. So he didn't go to the dance but they all had a great time at his birthday party instead. It was an awesome 16th birthday. I took 3 kids home after the party. One of the girls was getting in the van and she jumped. Her two feet made it but she whacked her forehead on the top of van and then fell on her back. What I heard was a thump and then saw her feet sticking up in the air in the yard outside the van. She was OK and I have laughed about it all weekend. She told us how accident prone she was all the way to her house. She is on the super hyper talkative side.
Sunday almost the whole family sang in the choir for ward conference. Amber had some sort of stress thing at the end and I had to take her home.
Kelsea went to the doctor today and they froze something on her back. He gave her something for her test and performance anxiety. She's off the concerta but we are still doing the vitamin and no doz thing. It seems to help some when she remembers to take it and she doesn't want to take anything at all. She is being a brat about it. I hate seeing her struggle. Her forgetfullness is horrible. But it is her choice to struggle I have to remember. But it is not my choice to have to put up with her excessive moodiness at home when things were so much better before. She has grown since she has been off it. She was growing fine on it too. I think she is 5ft 5 or 5ft 6 now and her hands are as big as mine. Her pinky is longer. She will 14 on Thursday!!!!
I guess it's my turn for sick kids. I have to go pick up Kylee from school. She is running a fever. One of her good friends is in the hospital right now with a nasty flu like thing that won't go away.
Rest of the day-Kelsea's team lost. The jr high they played has their gym in what looks like a pit. It gives them a home court advantage. Kelsea wasn't played much. Last time they played this team Kelsea scored 8 points so go figure. Now they are in 2nd place to the team that beat them today.

Long day

From Powells Sweet shoppe


Today was long starting with me loosing sleep on whether or not Lee Joe would get home in time to take Amber to school early. They didn't tell me that the plans changed and she wasn't going early. So I lost an hour of much needed sleep. The girls and I made it to the school a little late for when I should have been there even with my early wake-up. The day was easier than Weds until the last 20 minutes one of the kids I had decided to have an unresponsive melt down and the other one was trying to be in charge on our way out of the school. This week I had one 6th grader and 4 2nd graders visit the principal for bullying. It has been a long week. I went to Kelsea's game after I picked up Hannah from the neighbor. The three little girls and I watched her team loose their first game this season. If they win on Monday though they will stay in first place. We came home and had a quick bowl of cereal and I took the 2 oldest to Powells Sweet shoppe. The Coolest Candy store EVER. Amber and Kelsea bought stuff for the b-day parties they are going to this weekend. Amber and Kelsea each bought a moustache-a-day thing(not candy) for their party person and Amber had to have one for herself. She is so goofy. I bought some toffee for myself and found out I am allergic to walnuts. Kelsea got dropped off at her party and Amber and I went to the mall. She got a pair of pants with a gift card and some stuff from Bath and Body Works. They are having a great sale by the way. We had some good one on one time. It is 9 and I AM FINALLY HOME!!!! Hooray!

About the house-the family is clueless when it comes to the mess and their dad is much worse. Nobody cares are says or does anything about it but me. I have to tell them to do it. I take that back. Kylee loaded the dishwasher today after Kelsea told her to because we were out of bowls and spoons.. But that was all that was done. The counter is still not clean.
About the shoulder-it's not 100% yet but much improved. I have been seeing a Chiropractor regularly for it so it hurts some now and then but not all the time and it is mild. I have to be careful still with heavy lifting or how I use it. He is working on my ankle now because it has become a much bigger problem. I thought it was the beginning of arthritis but it is a bigger problem than that now. I didn't injure it so it is weird. I have been wearing an ankle brace and it helps.

Not much

On Weds Kelsea's team won again and Kelsea came home with a black eye. I worked all day. It went a little better than everyone expected with the ERR. I get to back on Friday. Amber embarrassed ne to death by bringing friends in the house to use the restroom when the house hadn't been cleaned all week-really bad. I cleaned house all afternoon after the potty break. Today I watched my friends kids this morning and then Hannah and I went to the car wash and finally got the car cleaned. I decided to go to the mall while I could. Bought stuff, nothing for me. Hannah got enrolled in Kindergarten. She was very excited. She got a T-shirt and magnetic letters and numbers and impressed everyone with what she knows. Another game after school and I can go to that one.

OWWWW

I am sooo tired. It was beautiful today but that many hours on my feet and in the sun is more than I can take. My ankle is killing me along with the rest of me. Lee Joe is side working until late all week so I am single momming it. I had to go to Costco and Wal-mart before the troops revolted on lack of cheese. Tomorrow is a long day in the ERR. I still have calls to make and Kelsea to take to math tutoring and it is 8.
Kelsea's team won again yesterday. She made 4 points. Amber made JV on tennis but played so well today she may be able to join varsity in a tournament with another JV girl.

I look forward to bed.

Monday

I worked at the school today-11:30-2:30. The weather was beautiful. It is in the 50's. My foot that has been aching all the time hurts like a son of a gun. Hannah came with and I think she wore herself out. I go back tomorrow. And now Weds and Fri all day in the ERR-that one wish me luck.

This is nuts and I know I am in for a long road ahead with my little red head. I was talking with a 6th grade boy I saw at the movie theatre on Sat. He saw Kelsea and told one of his friends that he liked her and the friend blabbed it to me and embarrassed the boy I was talking to.
There are so many boys that like her this year it is overwhelming for her and me. I told her we needed to ugly her up. We would give her orphan Annie curls and give her some glasses and put her in a fat suit so she won't get so much attention.

I was going to go to Kelsea's Basketball game but I am not up to it. Kylee has a choir concert for the school choir tonight and I need to pick Amber up shortly. This week will be busier than most.

I got a call from the mom who's son will be 16 this week and Amber has been recruited to help with the inviting to his surprise birthday party. We will see how cooperative she decides to be about it and if it is a problem we can recruit a friend of hers down the road to help too that is more outgoing than Amber.

Hannah just got a nasty bump on the head and I need to find babysitting for her Weds and Fri.

It's official

We are entering the world of teenage love. Kelsea has her first jr high boyfriend. There has been much talking on the phone and much anguish from a mom who still believes she is not ready for the world of teenagers in like with each other. Much moaning and groaning went on here and "NO it can't be." Little sis Kelsea didn't realize she robbed the first born of initiating the parents so she gets the brunt of our parental adjustment. Amber has yet to get to that herself. But a boy with a really big crush on her is about to turn 16 this week so we will see what happens there. For Amber it is torment reminding her of that. So we torment her as much as we can.

We spent Friday enjoying our time at home. On Sat the girls and I went to Dylan and Kailyns Basketball games and Amber and I played and led music for the stake baptism. One little boy from our ward was baptized. The High Councilman over the stake baptisms is in our ward and he was, I hope, joking when he said they should extend a stake calling to us to do that for every stake baptism. You should seen the look of horror on Amber's face. We hurried back home and changed really fast and went to dinner at Carls Jr and went and saw Happy Feet at the dollar theatre. Lee Joe met us at the theatre. The pile of shed finally left on Sat and Lee Joe was helping the friend he gave it to put it together. Today we made it to church EARLY!!! Two sisters were not there in nursery today and most of our really little ones were there. One of the gals in there is not very attentive or very helpful and our other lady who is wonderful, had one of the little ones fall asleep on her lap so I was frustrated with Lee Joe's ADTPD and the unhelpful one and 10 very very young little squirmy cute kids was like sheep herding babies into their chairs. It seemed like 20.

By the way as far as reunion goes. We will be in the throes of two high schoolers at the beginning of summer and it will be necessary for them to take summer school classes so they can take seminary during the school day-as our stake advocates for. And for Kelsea to take some interesting classes next year and be able to have her AVID study hall class she might be taking 2 classes. So they will be attending summer school until Fri July 6. It is not like I really want us to give up that chunk of our summer to more school or even the expense of the classes but it looks like that is the way it must be. After that date we would have been more open to activity. But seeing that things have been decided, there you have it. We will be there when we can. I suppose that is the way it will be from now on with kids in high school.

Add another one!!

For a varsity team to make it through the season would be a hard thing to accomplish BUT add another one to the wins. They are starting round two with all the teams. They played South their first game. And they played them yesterday. Their first game was closer than this one. I think there were 2 or 3 games that were close so we will see how it goes. No more games this week- they get out early on Friday, I have no idea why. It keeps snowing light snow flurries everyday this week. Nothing on the roads and it doesn't stay but Amber has only had tennis once so far. I am looking forward to Friday though-no running around!!! Woo Hoo!! Amber drove to the church last night. I thought she was going to take out a car when she parked. We had at least three spaces. She will have to spend more time driving with dad than me. I can't handle it so well yet.
It was so sad, in the news this week 5 kids died in a pond when their car hit some ice and slid off the road into the pond. 2 kids from one family and 3 from another. The girl that was driving was 15 they were LDS and had open scriptures in the car-how they could tell that I don't know. You can get a license at 15 here. But it is heartbreaking. Very very sad.
It's all right with me to be the chauffer and wait a little longer for the license.

cross my fingers

Everyone is at school. Kylee came home a little early on Monday with a tummy ache. But is fine now.

Buddy and Spot

We had a double hamster funeral last night. Yes-- it took a little bit. SHHH-we have 4 hamsters, a cat and a bird buried back there now. Buddy won't be buried back there.

One more win!

So Kelsea's team continues to be undefeated. She played better. She had about 5 rebounds and scored 4 points, fouled and got fouled, and she played a little while, not a whole bunch. Lee Joe got to watch her play. I was carpooling kids around. Amber started tennis sort of. They cancelled tryouts because of the wind and cold. It wasn't THAT bad. Today is also chilly and breezy, we will see what happens. There was snow on the ground this morning but most of it is gone.

ADD and like minded creatures

So here is the story on our ADD family. Lee Joe admits to having ADD now. Kelsea has it and decided to stop taking her medication for it in Jan because of the effects it can have on her growth. Things aren't going so well. She has a D in math mainly because of missing assignments. She isn't paying attention in class when he tells them to turn assignments in and he is not that consistent about when they turn their work in. Since she has been on meds since the 6th grade and has not had this problem it is the ADD effecting her. She is also inconsistent with how she plays basketball. Not that it is problem like the math grade-just a continuation of her struggle. And the thing that gets to me the most is her attitude at home with her sisters and me and how she gets along with Lee Joe. I can't stand that part and constant arguing and bantering over everything just because. So as an attempt at a remedy, we are trying a supplement system until we go back to the doctor. A friend of mine told me that caffeine works the opposite on ADD people. Instead of stimulating it helps them focus and NO doz is considered the lowest form of Ritalin type over the counter help you can get. And I have read how Omega 3 and magnesium is beneficial so on goes our experiment. Could be helping a little but it's a little early to tell. Kelsea was really good and calm at church. One of our still volatile places. So we go on and see how it goes. I feel like all the hard work from the last three years is gone and we have to start all over again. You may question how I know all this-Matt has ADHD-diagnosed by a doctor. My mom more than likely has it-all the job changes and moves. I have another brother with it in Connecticut. My nephew Dylan has it-diagnosed by a doctor. In the hyperactive category the phsychologist had never seen a child score as high as Dylan. He was in the 97%. I have studied it extensively and have worked with large groups of kids since high school and identify ADHD children long before their parents take them in and put them on meds themselves. Ususally those kids really need that help. So Lee Joe is convinced-use to be me biggest combatant on ADD-that Hannah has it. He could be right but it doesn't effect her learning like Kelsea. It is mostly her inability to follow instructions, distractibility and she rarely sits at the table long enough to eat her food until she is done. We need to get much more consistent with her. We thought maybe Autumn had it a long time ago but she gets super focused when she decides to focus and she is super stubborn and has some strange sensory issues. So we have given her weirdness it's own name. We call what she has Autumnism. I was thinking about Lee Joe and he does not have the hyperactive part of ADHD he is the opposite so last night I told him that he has ADTPD. Attention Deficit Turtle Pace Disorder. That is usually only around me.

Off that soap box and on to rest of the weekend. Lee Joe got a an emergency call from a guy that he has worked with in the past. They needed to tear some concrete out of plant over the weekend that had another company back out at the last minute. They had to shut down the plant in order for that to happen. So he left at about 7am Saturday. He met us at the school for the parent drive for Amber at 9. It is official, she has her permit. Then we didn't see him again until 10:30am Sunday. He worked all day and all night and came home with two calves on one of his legs. A piece of concrete fell onto his shin and was so swollen it looked like a calf muscle in the wrong place. But he is OK. And then he slept for about 4 or 5 hours and finished another job. Usually he doesn't work on Sunday but everything had to get done that fast. I have been waiting ever so patiently so the pile of shed-I call it shi-poo-key-to go away. I hope it leaves this week. It has been there too long. Lee Joe says that is his goal.

Kelsea had practice early Sat. Amber had driver's ed and Kylee had a dress rehearsal for Honor Choir. So at 8, 9, 10 and 11 I was coming and going again. Kelsea really should be walking though. The rest of the day was very relaxing until Amber went to a friends house and wanted to drive. EEEKK!! Kylee had her concert that night. I took Amber and Hannah to the concert and Kelsea and Autumn stayed home. When I got home my internet was messed up. It took until Sunday night to get it fixed. I was frustrated.

I don't know what on earth is going on in our ward but there are now 7 people called to nursery and there are only maybe 10 kids on days when they are all there. Crazy!

Since I wrote a book I want to tell you about a book. I read a really good book this weekend. It is sad and then rewarding. I can read it and say that my childhood wasn't as awful as this person's was. But I could relate to a lot of what happened. It is called The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls. It is a true story. You should read it.

Par-taay

The first picture is from Amber's actual birthday-her car and light up glasses. She is really quirky. The next 2 pictures are from last night. 13 teenage girls showed up to Amber's friend party. 6 pizzas, two trays of Papa Murphy's cheese sticks, a bag of skittles and 2 bags of m&m's and many cupcakes disappeared last night. Many of the chips are still in tact and most of the carrots disappeared too. They played Mad Gab, watched fun with Dick and Jane (very funny movie!) opened presents-Amber got 4 Moosen (Brian Regan joke) then they watched Brian Regan and then played the snorting game. That is the circle of girls above. I guess one person is in the middle,spins eyes closed and counts to 10. Everyone rearranges and when they stop at 10 the person that the middle person is standing in front of has to snort. When they do the middle person needs to guess who the snorter is.

Game

I only got to see the 3rd quarter and all but the last 3 crucial minutes in the 4 th BUT--Kelsea's team is still undefeated!!! It was close the whole time I was there. They won 37 to 33. Kelsea was a starter this time and played most of the game and scored 8 points!! She was fouled 3 times while I was there. She would have had nine points if she didn't cross the free throw line too soon. The other two times she made at least one of the 2 she shot. She finally played the way I knew she could! They played a tough team. It was SOOO EXCITING!! and then I had to leave and pick up Amber from the High School and missed the last nail biting part of the game. I forgot my camera too.

I think I could have another ADD child in the works. My youngest is proving to have very high distractability and very low follow through. She is just driving me nuts with her messes and never doing what she is told when she is told. It is probably just youngest child syndrome.

I am having some left over effects of my Monday headache. My head is tender in places. I have a little swelling on the back of my head. I keep getting mild headaches randomly around my head. Kind of weird. But I can function.
Last night I had it. The petty fighting between Amber and Kelsea over my computer. Who does what chore. Autumn harrassing Kylee while she played piano again and again. All the "mom, mom" from 5 kids frustrated me. All that happened while I was trying to cook dinner at almost 7. I went to the store after dinner and let Lee Joe deal with it since I probably won't see him much for awhile. Autumn had to cut her fingernails off this weekend after she scratched both Kelsea and Kylee with temper tantrum rages.
Lee Joe's side work is picking up all of a sudden. He went from no work to like 3 or 4 good size jobs that need done now. He is getting closer to wanting to run a business full time or himself.
Hannah and I went to the mall yesterday. She decided that was where we needed to go. She had to throw away her Strawberry Shortcake toothbrush last night because it was old and it was very traumatic. She threw it away herself and cried when she did it. So we need to go on quest for a new Strawberry Shortcake toothbrush. They didn't have any at Winco or Walgreens when I looked last night. I didn't think I needed to go anywhere today but I do now.
I need to get busy and clean my house. Amber is having a friend party on Friday and Monday's illness has caused me to fall behind more than I already was. She is in charge of the party and I am providing the food. We will have had 6 parties since the end of Jan and Valentines day to boot.
Tonight is Amber's last class for drivers ed and she drives with Lee Joe on Sat. Then she officially gets her permit. I guess I am suppose to let her drive. But she might start Tennis next week. She is trying to decide if she is going to do Tennis or make money helping our neighbor with her 3 boys. Kelsea has a game today and the little girls have piano. I might be able to make the end of her game.

Headache

Somebody has to tell me if they have a headache that hurts all over your head, sinuses, all over my skull, ears hurt , temples, Everything hurts and it hurts so bad you feel like you might throw up. I had one like that and I woke up with it. It got worse and worse even after I took medicine and then I did something I hardly ever, ever do. I threw up. My family knows it is really bad if I do that. I couldn't sleep well and didn't eat anything till 12:30. I think it makes a migraine look weak. I have had plenty of those. I took Aleve cold and sinus which sometimes works, 4 ibuprofren (presrip strength) it didn't ease it up-I got sick instead. I was trying pain management things that I know how to do. That wasn't working much. I took excedrin migraine at about 1 and at 2:30 I felt like I might be a person and could get up. Man, am I weak and shaky still at 4. I hate head pain more than any other kind of pain and that headache is horrible. I think I can handle labor with no meds better than that. Well the kidney stone I had is right there with the headache. But it was 1cm around and 2 cm long and I suffered a week before I got rid of it with only over the counter pain relievers. I think I need a prescription for that headache.

4 day weekend

The kids are out for 4 days. Friday was very calm and quiet. I wish we could have done something fun as a family but instead everyone has been doing stuff with their friends which means I got to play chaffeur all day Sat. Lee Joe went shot gun shooting with friends. Kylee and Autumn had parties. Amber had drivers ed and played tennis at the park with friends(she took Hannah and she made friends at the park) and then Amber went to another friend's house to play pool. Kelsea watched a movie and stayed the night at friend's house. I spent the other part of the day getting Microsoft Office for Amber's homework-then installing it, trying to find a present for my mom's birthday that I thought would be easier than it was. And I got her pies from Marie Callendars. Hey, by the way where's my friends? I don't recall having any fun.
Lee Joe let the hometeachers come over today-Sunday. Was I home on Saturday? Needless to say the place was a DISASTER!! and we had a half an hour to frantically eat and clean. Somehow we pulled it off. We went to my mom's Sunday for an Ashlee and Mom birthday party. I forgot my camera!!!I got my mom a tree stump with a face and it's eyes glow in the dark at night. I called him Grandpa Tree Stump. Matt thought I was nuts. Mom loved it.
Monday might be another friend filled day for Kylee and Autumn.
Kelsea and Kylee got Tamagotchies as a sort of replacement for hamsters. Not really, but they are much cleaner, cheaper and don't smell and they don't run on a wheel all night. Sort of a dead hamster, good report card(Not really for Kelsea on that one) and clean room reward.
Somehow Kelsea's keeps getting mail with poop in it. Then it gets depressed and she has to take it to the doctor.
Lee Joe is home on Monday. That's our fun. I am thinking more and more about that Yellow van!

Bad sick season

They closed a school in Jerome (by Twin Falls) because of a scarlet feaver outbreak. They closed a school in town here that has 91 students because 17 of the students were sick with the flu, scarlet fever and other stuff. I am almost wondering why they haven't had anything like a letter or something come out at the kids school. My neighbors boys have had the flu-Sat and last night. I found out Dylan had the flu on Sat after Kailyn. Hmm-I only got one with the flu so far. Hannah spent the day with Kelsea and didn't get it. But I can't rule it out yet I am sure with how it is circulating still. But I still wonder what killed the hamsters. A mystery! Kylee is at school today!! But she was distraught trying to go to sleep last night remembering the hamsters death.

By the way--Happy Valentines Day!!!!!!!!

Lee Joe brought me roses this morning and brought home doughnuts. I had chocolate hearts and sweettart hearts for the girls and a package of chocolate hearts and sweettart hearts for Lee Joe. Since we went to Olive Garden this week already I told Lee Joe I just want Port of Subs for dinner. Aren't I easy to please?
Kelsea has a game today but it is away and I can't go. We are busy from 4-6 and then then YW was canceled and activity days is early so we can do dinner. I need to bake my cookies.

Valentines Day-the rest of the story.
I spent the day making heart shaped sugar cookies with Hannah. My mom brought me a flower arrangement. Very pretty. Party was fine at the school. Kelsea's team won their game. She played the whole 4th quarter and several other times and the coach was impressed. We got a heart shaped pizza for the girls and Lee Joe and I went to Port of subs and Wal-mart and the mall so we could spend a little time together. He played chess with the 3 youngest girls at home and I grilled the 2 oldest over boys.

Cheezball 2006-Feb 13 2007

Moments after my last post I went to take my shower and checked on Kylee's hamster. I looked dead but wasn't yet-like Kelsea's was. We held it, nursed it, warmed it up to no success. Kylee was able to hold it and try to help it as best she could until it finally passed away. It is very sad how it died and Kylee kept hoping it was coming back but I told her it would not recover. She is very sad but at least she was home to hold it and has time to be sad. So we will have a double funeral for 2 hamsters. I suspect the illness in our house was too much for the hamsters for them to both die 3 days apart and they are in separate cages in separate rooms.

So far...

Kylee is home for the 2nd day. She has almost no voice. I felt bad for her last night because I had to drag her all over after school. She was such a trooper. She complains a little. But only a little. Amber was at Drivers Ed and Kelsea had her basketball game. They are 3-0 now. Hannah and Autumn had dance so we were all over and Lee Joe and I tag teaming child dropping and fetching kids while attending Kelsea's game. Then we finally caught up with Grandpa and Grandma at almost 8 and went to the Olive Garden for dinner. That is my other favorite place to eat. We all came home with left overs. Kylee sat at her chair wavering, eating the best she could without complaint but looked awful.
I have the class party tomorrow. I have to make sugar cookies. Tonight isn't as busy as it was going to be since Kylee is sick. I am hoping Kylee recovers enough to make it to school because missing the Valentines day party would be no fun. Autumn had me worried last night that she was getting sick but is fine now and at school. I need a shower so I can go to the store.

Dot 2006-Feb 10 2007

Autumn came into our room sat morning at around 8:30 or 9 and thought Kelsea's hamster had died. Lee Joe went up to check on it and it was still alive, just barely. Kelsea held it and then Lee Joe tried to help it with sugar water but he only was able to watch it breathe it's last breathe as Kelsea looked on. She is sad and somewhat relieved at the same time because she was about ready to find it a new home but she has a tender heart. So we are one less in our zoo without a plan to replace our recently deceased pet. Only Amber now thinks she is entitled to a lizard or reptile of some sort. No thank you.

The week WAS busy. 2 concerts, 3 children in dance, Drivers Ed, Basketball-Kelsea's team won both their games. She played more the 2nd game and got much more aggressive than the first, enough to get 2 fouls called on her and a rebound or two and missed shot-the whole team was missing shots the whole game though. The birthday party, Amber is so far a happy 16 year old. She got a car-haha-a sirt and pants, slippers and flip flops, a watch, a boise state shirt from Melissa, a fountain from my mom, a pop tart pillow and a stuffed bear with ear phones that plays her ipod, ear ring holder, a computer game. Hannah got shots on Thursday. How sad. And I worked a half day at the school on Friday. So my house is out of control. Amber had 2 games to play pep band for this weekend but it is officially over now! WOO HOO.

Saturday was sad all the way around. Amber woke up very late for drivers ed. They came by and picked her up. The hamster died, Kylee's birthday party was postponed because the birthday girl got the flu. Which was just as well because a few hours later Kylee was down for the count. Lee Joe threw a fit and upset all the girls. Kelsea went to a BSU women's basketball game and was pestered most of the game by a friend and then I didn't see her when I went to pick her up and she ran after the van. I stopped at the stop sign and she was in tears when she finally got me. It rained and rained Sat night and again today. Kelsea won't have much to do with her dad right now because of Saturday afternoon.

That flu that is going around, it is nasty and circulating worse than chicken pox. I got 2 calls from the playground duties because their kids were sick. I was able to work for one of them. Kailyn had it on Thursday night-Friday. Kylee's friend got it Sat. And another 2 girls we know from school also got it Friday. They thought it was food poisoning-it is the same nasty flu. I don't know what is ailing Kylee but her lower abdomen hurts and she is dizzy. I am waiting for my next kid to come down with the flu Kelsea had. It will probably happen on Weds when I am suppose to be doing the Valentines party at the school. Leland and Randa are in town but they are getting sick too so we haven't seen them much at all.

Happy Birthday Amber!!

So it's official. I have a 16 year old in the house. I think we will be having a family get together tonight. Amber and Kelsea will probably miss YW. We are so busy every night this week there isn't another time to do it. We got her a car. It is a metallic blue Mercedes. Made by Match Box, a whole 98 cents. I hope she loves it!! Ha ha..

I was shopping for Amber's birthday and the trend for JRs this season is maternity looking tops. What is up with that!

Anyways, Amber is starting a big Brian Regan fan club at Capital. If you don't know who he is, he is a clean stand-up comedian. She has him on her IPOD and shares his act with any of her friends that have ears. I suppose that would be all of them! They listen to him, borrow Amber's DVD or CD. One friend became the hit at one of her parent's parties having her reenact many of the jokes. The friends are sharing it with their parents and it is catching on like wild fire.

So today I can count my blessings. I have an abnormal 16 year who is abnormal in a fun way. She is extremely smart and puts her parents to shame in how easy it is for her to learn.
I have a stunning 13 year old, who struggles with school and ADHD but is overcoming it and loves athletics. There are boys at school that keep taking her ID card and do it because she is cute and we are in trouble with that one.
I have a 10 year old middle child that is starting to figure out her identity that is always well liked by adults but still has to find her niche with her own friends. She loves to sing and is gaining confidence.
I have a very determined 8 year old that is developing her stubborness into a positive trait and has the funniest and cutest relationship with her friends and gets along well with her 10 year old sister.
Then there is the baby in the family that isn't a baby anymore that will be going to kindergarten next year and brings me a lot of joy and fun everyday at home while I still have her with me.

My world ended

I thought my world was about to end yesterday afternoon. My internet crashed yesterday afternoon and I couldn't get it to work. Lee Joe brought home very disappointing news from the tax appointment-we owe a lot. No relief from our usual tax return. I was so angry and frustrated and to top it all off my monthly visitor decided to show up last night and one of my daughters falied to tell me we were low on supplies. I have such bad hormonal anger I wanted to break something-but didn't, I cried instead.

mini update

Hamster is well again. Kelsea missed church on Sunday and could barely practice on Sat at Basketball. She is the 3rd person on the team who has had the flu. Their first game is Tues.
I missed church on Sunday. No Super Bowl party for us this year. The garage is even further along. Lee Joe has condensed about I think it was maybe 5 or 6 toolboxes into 3 or 4. One for me and a socket set for the house and two big drawer toolboxes for him. He is going to part with the extras. I had an anxiety issue dropping off all that stuff at DI. I think it was because it was so much at once.
Sat morning I had to drop off or pick up someone every hour from 9-11. I was suppose to get Kelsea and confused her pick-up time. I had 12 stuck in my head but it was 11. We live close enough to the Jr high it wasn't a big deal. She is just still feeling yucky.
Today, after school, Kelsea has BBall practice, Amber has drivers ed, LeeJoe is going to our tax appointment-we spent over $6000 on Doctor bills this year! Hannah and Autumn have dance and Amber has another band concert. Maybe we will find dinner somehow. But first I have to go to the store, oh and register the van (its expired).
Amber is registering for school for next year already. She could start earning credit for college next year in 4 classes! But that means more money from us to pay for the tests and possibly the classes themselves and she is looking at 2 summer school classes this year. Kelsea registers I think next week. Hannah has kindergarten registration in March! So I will have 2 high school aged children next year and all 5 in school. Hey, But I will have another driver in the house by summer!

Hannah's quote of the day

Today Hannah said "I don't like fast Sundays, I like medium Sundays."

This week is a super busy one. There are like 4 things on the calendar after school everyday all week long. Even with Lee Joe's help it will be challenge and I have been sick all weekend. we always get through it somehow.

Amber will be 16 Weds!

Friday and Saturday Lee Joe and I worked on our garage. I should have taken a before picture but it would be too embarrassing anyway. I think we are more than half way there. I took a van FULL of stuff to DI and there is more that I haven't gone through yet. Not a whole lot more but some. There is a bag of Clothes for Molly's girls too. The little girls got some toys back, that was almost better than Christmas for them.

Wow, I think I will stop while this is short.

What's up with all the sick people?

I was reading everyone else's blog on how they have all been sick. My goal was to make it through Jan healthy. We did it almost just barely. Kelsea has the flu and it started during the night and she missed school today. And I thought Kelsea's Hamster died but it is really sick too. I should have taken a picture with Kelsea in bed with her hamster. But we got it to take some water and it ate a little. We will see if it survives. It is wait and see how the flu runs throught the house.

Progress! Lee Joe has been home more after work lately and he is trying to conquer some of clutter. He gets so distracted it is almost funny but he put down a piece of trim last night, moved some paint into the crawl space. Fixed and found a home for the old washer, it will be going to my mom's house tonight. He moved the wood trim. I am not the perfect person either when it comes to clutter. But I am progressively getting organized myself and am willing to part with stuff. The girls all have the clutter disorder and the worst part is they don't see it. I have a hard time getting rid of their stuff because I remember the trauma it caused me when I was little but I have learned where it comes from. We left EVERYTHING behind at least 3 times growing up and that makes it hard for me to part with stuff and hard for me to get the kids to do it too but it is getting better. The funniest thing is I can have some very organized closets and cabinets but there can be a lot of clutter on counters and on my desk and around other places. When I was growing up I never had to be told to clean my room so disorder makes me crazy. I feel like I am going crazy or at least frustrated most of the time. We will see if this kick for Lee Joe lasts long enough to get a shed built.