Happy New Year!!

Hannah just had her birthday. On Friday she turned 5! I can't believe it! She wanted to go to Chuck E Cheese. In the morning I thought I was only going to be able to take Hannah and Autumn. Kylee started to feel well enough to go when it was time to go and went back downhill afterwards. 4 of the 5 girls had a blast. Kelsea was babysitting. We had a family party that night. My mom and sister and her kids came over. She got the 12 Dancing princesses movie and barbie and 3 games for her game boy and a large strawberry shortcake doll. She had a Dora the Explorer cake and posed really funny cute for all her pictures. I will have to do a picture post when I have more time. 3 of the 5 girls are sick now and one more is getting it too. I think we are in a grand finale to finish the year. I am going to disinfect my house on new years and maybe open all the windows to flush all the sick people air out of my house. I couldn't be more tired of ill people. I worked on painting my bookshelf in the office and was able to bring a ton of books down and fill it up finally. Our goal for the weekend is getting the office organized so more stuff can come in out of the garage. 7 or 8 boxes came in today. There is still a long way to go. We reconfigured furniture in our bedroom and it seems bigger. Spot, our dog, will be 8 on New Years Eve. We will see how many of us make it to church tomorrow. The Nursery leader is out of town so we need to be there. Amber is giving a talk. Anyways, Happy New Year!!!!!

Merry Christmas After Thought

I started an update yesterday and forgot to save it as a draft. Oh well. We got about 4 inches of snow on Thursday night. Lee Joe didn't want me to drive the van on Friday so he took Kelsea and I to the mall Fri morning in the KIA. He went to the Red Wing store to drop off his boots. I called him when we were done, it didn't take long at all. And he told me his battery was dead. We walked around the outside of the mall to get to him, I twisted my ankle on the way. We had to walk across the parking lot to get to him. It was crazy busy. We waited there awhile before someone offered to help us get the car jumped. About at that time the main roads were just wet and not icy anymore. Saturday I was getting really sick with nasty cold. Kylee was getting it too. But I finally got my cards done and we baked all afternoon. Sunday I was still feeling really bad. I wasn't going to go to church but I knew I should because of choir even though I couldn't sing. Amber and Kelsea get really naughty when I am not there to sit between them. The Choir director must have said many prayers. I was able to sing much better than I thought. I went to nursery and told the nursery leader I wasn't feeling well and she told me goodbye. So I went home and slept until I had to go back to the church and pick up everyone. We took cookies to all our neighbors. We went to my moms and exchanged presents. We came home and the girls exchanged with each other and we watched the Norad radar all evening to see where Santa was and that was very very exciting. My girls are usually pretty good about sleeping in until at least 8 but Autumn was up before 6. We heard all the girls up for a little bit, I went upstairs and they were putting themselves back to bed. And they all got back up around 8. They were very happy girls. Amber and Kelsea were thrilled with their ipods and Kylee loved her nintendo DS and Hannah and Autumn enjoyed their Nintendo game boys. Amber also got Monty Python and the holy grail shirt, screenplay and black knight sign. and she got a Spamalot cd and Spamalot piano music book. Brian Regan CD and DVD. Kelsea got Nintendo DS stuff and CDs and movies. Kylee, Autumn, and Hannah got some toys. Lee Joe was thrilled with the shotgun he got himself. He got other things too. I got a standing jewelry box. And some quirky presents I will have to take pictures of to show instead of describing. I will have to post pictures later. My family came over for dinner. So we had a pleasant Christmas. If it wasn't for the cold it might have been perfect. I took Airborne but I think this cold was just a whopper with a sore throat to go with it. We have some appointments today. Hannah's birthday is Friday. My baby will be 5!!

Uh Oh

I am getting a cold. I need to take my Airborne. I feel anemic. UGH. Today it decided to snow. Just enough to make the roads slick so far. I have 3 tires that need to be replaced so I am not driving. Our road has had traffic backed up on it for about an hour now. That hasn't happened since 7 years ago when there was construction on a main road down from us. I have to go to the grocery store just for baking stuff. Now we need dogfood. And Kelsea needs to shop for Autumn still. It should be better by tomorrow but the traffic won't. We got a couple early gifts from my grandfather's gift card. We got a nice 4 slice toaster. And Uno Attack for the girls. They shoveled and played in the little bit of snow and had hot chocolate and are playing Uno Attack. A perfect Christmas vacation so far for the kids. They said it really feels like Christmas now.

bird or bat and a mouse

I think it has been the last 6 months have been the most eventful when it comes to mice and birds in places where they don' t belong. Our cat has been the one who gets the blame. But last night when Amber opened the door to let the dog out she let something in and she wasn't sure if it was a bat or a bird. It was in between our screen door and the big door. Everybody screamed as they saw it fly into the living room. But they didn't see where it ended up ias the entourage was running down the stairs to tell us. We found it in our curtains close to the ceiling, it was thankfully a bird. We turned off all the lights except the one by the front door and opened the front door. Everyone had a large blanket they held up in front of them except Kelsea who stood in front of her blanket. And the bird flew to the front door and sat on it and looked around. It took another fly around the room and Kelsea about had a heart attack and then it flew outside a still healthy bird. Then this afternoon the cat brought in a mouse and it found sactuary under the Christmas tree. I was out running errands and made it home to find it after the girls cleared out all the presents. But I had to go to the bathroom after I chased it from under the tree, around the fireplace and then back under the tree skirt. I just HAD to use the bathroom. While I was there I hear all the girls scream and then scream some more. Then one of the girls come and tell me that Amber stepped on it. They tried to capture it under a bowl. They almost had it all under but not quite so Kelsea was trying to get it under her bowl. Amber thought it was under Kelsea's bowl but when she lifted hers up the mouse was still there and started to run, everyone screams and that was when Kelsea screamed at Amber that it was running up her leg. So Amber jumped up and started stomping to get it off her leg and stomped on the mouse by accident. More screaming in sympathy. So needless to say-crisis over. I think the cat and I need to have talk.

Pictures today

They are holding pretend coal

what happened this weekend?

I am trying to think about what happened Sat. I guess it was not that eventful. I did take Autumn and Kylee shopping. We went on the other side of town away from our part of town because the traffic is so horrible at Christmas time. We live next to the only mall in Boise. We have Toys r us and Circuit City, Cabela's and Best Buy only right here so the whole world (I guess most of Idaho) comes here in December. It can take an hour to go what would normally take 5-10 minutes. It becomes strategy trying to decide when the best time to go shopping is. I HAVE to buy cat food tonight so I am waiting. Hannah had what seems to be a mild case of chicken pox. I expected something awful. She tolerated them well so that was very nice. Sunday Lee Joe stayed home with her and I went to church and there was only 2 of us in Nursery. But we did fine. We went to a company party Monday night. Lee Joe does work sometimes and is friends with this one guy who owns a construction business and he invited us to his party. We had a prime rib dinner. It was very good. And they had door prizes and we won 2. They had a white elephant exchange. With 34 gifts it was funny. We brought the best silly gift. But I liked it and we almost came home with it but Lee Joe gave it to his friend before we left. It was a silly metal bird that was pink like a flamingo. The people that got it at first were so funny. They were not thrilled. We had a large toy dump truck for awhile. The most funny gift was a really large bolt and they were saying that it cost more than our $10-15 limit. A teenage boy got that. I made sugar cookies for Autumn's class party. I have a good sugar cookie recipe that I found that I will post later. The cookies come out soft. I didn't make it to Autumn's party on account of Hannah's chicken pox. I think she is done being contagious. I was also really sick with a headache today. As we speak, Christmas lights are getting put up on the house!! Hooray!!I have found out I am not quite done with my shopping yet. Almost though. Lee Joe has not even started shopping for me yet. That is typical.

I think it is here!

It isn't good news. Hannah started to run a fever tonight. I have been checking her daily for spots. I was concerned last night Kylee was getting them. She had them as a baby and people said she could get them again. But by morning and later today her itchy bumps look the same and haven't duplicated so it was just a scare. But Hannah went down hill so fast. She has been fine all day and then she complained about her head hurting and felt sick all of a sudden. She has some really small spots right now. On Weds I heard there are 3 more kids at the school with it. So it is circulating now. At least Vacation starts on Tuesday and it will stop being shared for 2 weeks.

I can make a paragraph!!

The girls had their mini-recital at the retirement center last night. It was kind of ridiculous. There was a little corner for all the girls to dance in. None of the parents could really get anywhere to see or take pictures in the cafeteria style room they were in. What was funny was there was a poor old lady that was having a hard time sitting next to the speakers and her back was to the girls so she didn't know what was going on. She flagged a lady over and she said very very loudly "I can't take this noise anymore, can I go to my room? I can't take this noise anymore!" And another old lady yells "Be Quiet" back at her. It was quite humorous.

Little breather-maybe

Autumn made it out of the house for the first time in over a week on Sunday. We had so much going on. Kelsea was suppose to play violin in Sacrament on Sunday with another girl in our ward. The girl ticked me off like you wouldn't believe. We found out 5 minutes before sacrament she left her violin at school on Friday. She never called and we could have her one or someone else to play with Kelsea. The two teenage girls in this family is notorious for copping out on everything at church. They copped out on Young Women in excellence. They try to ditch classes on Sunday. Their parents just shrug their shoulders. For us it is what we do, not really optional. I have been on Kelsea big time when this girl tries to get her to ditch Sunday school. Kelsea is usually a good influence on her getting her to come to the Wednesday activities. I was so mad and Kelsea was so hurt. She didn't play. She fell apart when she found out Bryn wasn't going to do it. And the choir people eased her mind and told her it was fine, not to worry about it so she sang instead. Something neat happened though. Lee Joe hasn't always been the most consistent on his Home Teaching but a couple of years ago he visited with a guy. He is paralyzed from the waist down. He was a week away from Navy Seal graduation when he got in a motorcycle accident years ago. He grew up active in the church but as teenager or young adult he went inactive. Lee Joe asked him what it would take to get him active and get the priesthood back again. Craig has been on a long journey of reactivation. He has worked his way back and was able to baptize his then 10 or 11 year old daughter. That was extraordinary to see him do that. And with his new wife they were trying to have a baby and had a little boy a few months ago and he has worked so hard so he could bless his baby. He blessed his baby this Sunday. His whole family was there. His mother was in tears and I was about to cry too-it takes a lot to get me there. He had earrings, he doesn't have them anymore, and gave up beer. He has changed so much since his baby arrived it is amazing. He has a more gentle was about him now. He is people magnet at church. Everyone enjoys getting to know him. So as arrogant at times and sometimes insensitive Lee Joe can seem, he really has done some amazing good. He was a really good ward missionary. We helped our neighbors out last Christmas and Lee Joe introduced our neighbor(not Lds) to a friend of his that started his own business. They have been working together all year and match each other pretty well with their personalities. He has done a lot of good. Even I don't give him enough credit sometimes. And then this weekend, I laugh at myself, I wonder how I am going to handle being married to him in another 20 years. He already has no hearing in his one ear. I think he may be loosing some in his other ear a little-I have to yell a lot of what I am saying lately, of course everyone else would say I was talking a little louder- and he processes things kind of slow at times(Slow Joe still really applies), very easily distracted and I have my way of doing things and he has his. I about lost my patience with him at the store the other night after we saw a movie Saturday. Oh well. It looks like I wrote another book. I hope you had time to read it all.

Brief

here is my attempt at a short blog. Easy entertainment- Give your kids a roll of wrapping paper and a thing of tape and let them have at it. Almost as much fun as the unwrapping bit at Christmas.

Recovery

Autumn is past the super itchy stage. I just talked to Leland and he said that Zeona is getting over the chicken pox as well in Nevada. How weird is that. Autumn's eye is still pretty swollen and hurting her. But it is 11 and she is still asleep. I have had to inform anyone coming to my house that we have chicken pox and they all opt out of coming over. We had a guy that was going to give us an estimate on a new countertop. That will have to wait. I had to reschedule dentist appts for the 3 little girls until after Christmas. I had to have my mom come over and watch Hannah and Autumn last night so I could go to Kylee's concert. So my days feel like we are in Quarantine. and then I run all over as soon as Kelsea gets home getting everything I couldn't do during the day done and doing our after school activities. But I think I am really close to done with my Christmas shopping. Our van is paid off now. We couldn't just write a check and mail it. We had to get a Cashiers check and overnight it. HASSLE! but done. Now we hold our breath and watch for Hannah. We have a ward Christmas party on Friday. Amber is going to do a piano solo. On Sunday the choir is singing for Sacrament and we have a big stake Christmas choir thing. Lee Joe Amber Kelsea Kylee and I are in the choir so I am not sure what to do with the little girls now. And I think I headed a cold off. I have had a problem when I sing in the choir I will always get really sick when I am suppose to sing for the Christmas performance and can't sing. So I am keeping the airborne handy and I have bumped the cold away once now. Monday Kylee and Kelsea both have concerts but they are at different times so I can be at both. Hooray! And Weds Kylee and Autumn have their mini recital. I am still bummed about Hannah. Friday morning Kylee will be singing in the school choir performance and I am sure Hannah will be contagious or spotty then so I am not sure what to do then either. On the My space thing I don't think I am letting Kelsea have one. Maybe we will make her a blog page. I just feel really bad about it. And it is a big source of conflict right now. Ugh. Teenagers. It has been a rough week.

Christmas

chicken pox

Chicken pox update

I have been frustrated over the Chicken pox. Not because of Autumn but because all the baggage chicken pox brings with it. She was in bad shape on Sunday. She has them really bad on her front and back. She has one on her eye lid and it is very swollen and she has them on her ear, where she goes potty and in her bum. She has really sensitive system so when she itches she goes nuts. Lee Joe was fantastic. He stayed up with her Sunday night and helped her fall asleep and stayed home from work with her on Monday. I couldn't find a sub for me until I got to the school. So they had to find a sub for the sub for Tuesday. Seeing how today is I believe Monday was the worst day. But he dealt with her very well. Probably better than I would have. She is very calm now and slept really well last night-only getting up at 2am and then sleeping until 9 or 10. I am trying to get her antibiotics because her throat was sore before she came down with all her spots and it is more than likely strep since we had that and I think Autumn's immune system is hammered right now. She had already missed 9 days of school before this. We got our tree on Sat. Lee Joe put it up on Sunday and the little girls were not in good shape for decorating. So last night we went for it and something was messed up with the lights so at 9pm I went to get lights and more medicine for Autumn and we decorated the tree at 10 last night. Amber and Kelsea were the grumpiest and Lee Joe sat with Autumn on his lap after she hung her ornaments and she fell asleep. For me Monday was I guess a typical Monday. The heater wasn't working in the office. I had been outside doing the crosswalk it was below 20 degrees. And then I had do all the recesses before I left early to take Amber and Kelsea to the dentist. During lunch we had to herd all the kids in because the school went on lockdown. So I was in the office as the debate and confusion for the teachers went on as to whether it was safe to go out or not. It didn't last long, maybe an hour. I left at 2:30 to get Amber. She forgot she was suppose to meet in front of the school. She is usually really good. But it messed everything up and I was more stressed trying to get them picked up and get Lee Joe to pick up Kylee and our check. We were 10 minutes late for the dentist. We ran home and got Hannah to dance and had to tell them she wouldn't be at the mini- recital next week at a retirement center because the likely chance of her being contagious or having the chicken pox then is really high so I camcorded her and that will be her last dance until January. We went to Wal-mart for OJ and medicine for Autumn. By the time I was home it was 7:30. And then I made that 9pm run to Target. I am so happy being home today! Even being stuck in the house with the poor little spotted child. I hope your Monday was better than mine!

My space?

I need some serious input on whether a My space page is safe for a almost 14 year old to have. Kelsea really wants her own page and a friend of hers has already made her a page. I want to make sure it is safe. She says she can control who sees it but I am nervous only because I know nothing about My Space.

weary

I am about sick and tired of the sick and injured around here. We have had more than enough of broken bones, almost broken bones and sick people with Autumn bearing the brunt of it all at the moment-poor kid. She has the stinking rotten chicken pox! Like I said-poor kid. And I am sure in 2 weeks Hannah will have her turn at it as well. Just in time to make the concert and recital season even more complicated. And for me to get stuck in the house until my helpers come home. But early enough to where they should be recovered and scabby for Christmas. My new years resolution is to stick my kids in a bunch of plastic bubbles so I can have them all in one piece and healthy for at least one year!

Near miss

I know I have been blog happy lately But I need to update before it gets super busy. We had a very close call tonight. It has snowed since 3pm today. THe roads were starting to get slick at 7. I was sitting at the computer and heard a loud thump. I asked Kelsea if she dropped something she came down the stairs and heard what I heard we opened the door to see Kylee on the front porch and tracks driving through our yard and the neighbors just missing the houses and 3 cars. It knocked over a really large rock in the yard(the thump) and just missed the Kia parked on the road. What was the scariest was that the girls had been playing in the yard moments before it happened and Kylee saw the car drive through the yard. THey lost control and regained it once the hit the snow. We have been here 7 years and never had anything that close happen before and I had told Lee joe hours before I wanted him to park in the lawn next to our van. It still would have been safe there. He is parked in the lawn now. And the girls are safe and have been able to play in the snow in the back. It is hard to see the yellow snow in the dark. I am counting my many many blessings. We will see how tomorrow morning goes. I get to do the cross walk with the roads in the condition they are in. I am very nervous already!

Kelsea's audition

Kelsea had a rough night. She has a really hard time speaking or playing alone in front of people and she had to do both in one night. She was fine until we saw she had closing prayer as well. She fell apart. Amber stepped in on her behalf and said the prayer. Kelsea was the 2nd one to speak and that made her uncomfortable. But she did it. Then we hightailed it off to the jr high so she would have time to practice. She practiced her audition after school with her teacher on Tuesday, all night Tues. In class and at lunch on weds. After school on weds, during lessons, after lessons and then before the audition. And then there was this asian girl practicing. She had probably been playing since she was 4 or something and she kept playing her stuff perfectly over and over. It unnerved Kelsea so badly she couldn't start practicing and then she was in tears again. I took her into the instrument room and brought her stuff to her. She composed herself somewhat but she lost all the confidence she had going in there. So she struggled. I listened to her audition for the judges and she played everything but she struggled through it. It wasn't the way she had practiced all day. She was about to cry when she came out. I was talking to her. and then we saw her Orchestra teacher and she asked how Kelsea did and then she just cried. Her Orchestra teacher knew she could do it. We will see. ANd then this mom was so strange and said weird stuff. She said "maybe it's not your thing" "you will have time to do other things" Like she failed. She didn't fail she just has severe performance anxiety. Kelsea said she was rude and she was not any help. But the Honor orchestra conductors know Amber and Mrs. varnagy-Kelsea's teacher may be able to put some pull in and if she makes it it would be ahuge confidence booster for her and if she doesn't make it-Amber didn't make it in 8th grade either(Amber had a bad cold and couldn't breathe well enough to play). Kelsea is prepared either way.They may ask Amber to play if they need 2 parts on the oboe. Then I tried to make Kelsea's day by taking her to Shopko after 9 to get a coat. She picked a nice one out and was very happy when we got home. Here is what is so weird about my girls. Amber has no problem speaking or performing in front of people. She likes to do talent shows but she won't call people on the phone hardly ever and hates approaching people in stores to buy things or ask questions. She won't approach her teachers st school. She just works harder to avoid approaching a teacher. Kelsea has no ploblem calling on the phone. Once she pretended to be Amber to find out something for Amber. She has no problem shopping or advocating for herself at school. But she has this performance thing. So I guess I have said plenty. By the way Dylan made it to school yesterday and today. He does have an issue that makes head injuries more serious. He has a malformation where part of his brain stem goes down farther than it should so head trauma is dangerous for him. He is a SUPER active boy so it will be likely that Melissa will have many scares in the future. We call Dylan Matt sometimes by accident because he looks and behaves so much like my brother did. My brother was VERY active. My brother had serious injury or illness every even year of his childhood. 2-broken nose and stitches(I was babysitting), 4- knocked out his front teeth(I was too far away but saw it happen and administered first aid again),6- appendicitis( I missed school to care for him before my mom finally took him to the Dr), we were afraid every time he hit an even year and he has hit cars while riding his bike more than once and broke a few other bones. And he his still a walking and breathing young man who has been in his share of fights and almost lost the end of his nose from a car accident. Because he is an adult I have no clue what other traumas he has had. I don't hear about everything anymore. I have to work at the school Fri, mon, tues and we will get our tree this weekend and Jared and Michelle will be back from DisneyWorld on Sat too. NOW I have said more than enough.

BRRR

We had some rain and snow monday night. It got COLD so the rain froze. Driving wasn't bad but I had to work at the school on Tuesday. Just a half day. I was outside for at least half the time I was there and my Butt was so frozen. The rest of me was OK. The kids were highly entertained with the ice on the blacktop but I had to chase them off once 20 kids were trying to slide on one small patch of ice. Nobody was hurt badly by the ice until 4th grade came out for first recess and The boys come from around the corner of the school. I was walking over and talked to a boy doing something and he randomly tells me Dylan fell. I see him walking from behind the school with a group of boys all comcerned. He was pushed on the ice over there and fell and hurt his head. He looked Ok. But he plays the tuff guy around his buddies. It didn't look awful and he played football. When he went in he looked like he was a little uncomfortable. By 11:30 when I was leaving Melissa was picking him up. He was in tears and before she got very far down the road he was throwing up. She had to take him to the pediatrician. A CT scan later he has bruised his brain but was not bleeding. He went home and slept the rest of the day but he is limited on his physical activity for 3 weeks. I don't know how many times my kids have hit their heads and been fine. And he seemed fine at first but his symptoms were typical for that kind of injury. If you looked at his head an hour after he hit it you couldn't tell where it was hit. Crazy! SO it is still very cold. I am glad I am not at the school today because it is even colder. But I will be there Friday. I think it will warm up a little by then. Tonight is crazy. It hasn't been that bad lately. But We have piano and violin-AMber and Kelsea, Activity days-Kylee and Autumn, YW in excellence-Amber and Kelsea and we have to go to of course, And then we have to run Kelsea to a Jr high school for Honor orchestra audition at 8:45. Maybe we will find some dinner. Gotta run!

Kelsea self portrait

Go Broncos!!

Bronco fever has hit Boise in a frenzy. It is pretty fun how everyone here is so into the BSU Broncos. On game days everyone wears blue and orange and all the flags on everyones cars all over town. They are something like 38-1 or 35-1 in the past 5 years. Fiesta bowl bound!Melissa is going to school there now. Lee Joe really wants the girls to go to college here. He is very funny about it. He wants them to stay here and find local boys to marry. He is afraid if they go to BYU that they will find someone that will move them away from here. But Amber got excited when she came home the other day and asked us how much we make and said that they had a speaker in her English class the other day. He was a young man from Boise that is attending Yale. He said that if your parents make less than 40,000 or 45,000 a year you can go to Yale all expenses paid. She seemed quite excited over that option. Yale is very close to my dad and all his family. We will see what she decides. Lee Joe has encouraged her to want to pursue Chemical Engineering as a major and she wants to do music as a minor. I am starting to get an onslaught of college information in the mail and e-mails for both girls. Kelsea's program focuses on getting them college bound. There are lots of scholarships for kids in the progam she is in. That is pretty awesome because I don't know where to go with that. She told me she wants to be a nurse.-new paragraph- I spent Saturday night picking up 4 extra kids to take to a SND. We got all the way there and there was no dance. So we went to Wendy's and got a frosty. What a waste of time and gas though. We figured after the last dance, a grand total of 12 people showed up, they probably figured the turn out would be worse on a holiday weekend and we must not have gotten the word on it being cancelled but I had kids from 4 wards in the car so our stake must have been left out of the loop. --Kelsea will be auditioning for the JR high Honor orchestra on Weds. She is very nervous about the audition process. She wouldn't try out last year for the elementary Honor orchestra and she had been in it the year before. Everyone hope for the best for her! Violin is very competitive

Hope Thanksgiving was happy!

So here is what we will be eating for the next month-Turkey and potatoes. I am not sure how things escalated this way but we wound up with two 20 pound turkeys and an 11 pound smoked turkey. I didn't buy any of them!! Then I did buy some potatoes at Costco and then I was given more. One of my neighbors gave us some fresh ones from a local farmer. I think it amounts to 50 pounds of turkey and maybe 30 or more pounds of potatoes. I suppose that is a lot to be thankful for. As a matter of unforeseen events we will be paying off the van in the next week so the budget will be tight for little bit so I guess we will get very creative with turkey and potatoes. Our Thanksgiving was nice. My mom, sister,David(her man) Dylan and Kailyn, my brother Matt came over. Lee Joe and Amber and Kelsea played football in the morning. Traditional church turkey bowl. David and Dylan played too. I watched the parade and prepped a turkey, and looked at the Friday ads. The guys watched the Dallas game. David was happy his Cowboys won. He is one of the BIGGEST Cowboy fans. Born and raised Texan boy. The turkey was so good we didn't have as many turkey leftovers as I expected. No burning of any of my body this year. A new phobia after the cheap aluminum pan I used one year leaked on my bare foot giving me a nice 2nd degree burn. New stainless steel pan worked beautifully. Friday Lee Joe may brave a couple of stores for me at 5am and then play basketball before he does side work. And I am hanging out at home hopefully getting Kylee and Autumn's room back together. Maybe get some Christmas out. Jared and Michelle and kids (Lee Joe's uncle about 1 year older than Lee Joe)are coming over and will park their car here and Lee Joe will drive them to the airport so they can go to Disney World. I guess I will clean the car tomorrow too. Autumn and Hannah are at Melissa's tonight and I need to take the girls to see my moms new house this weekend. A nice weekend to kick back before the frenzy begins! I hope everyone had a nice Thanks giving!

Weird dream

I have been laughing at this weird dream I had this morning. I dreamt Lee Joe was jumping his dump truck. What a sight, and he kept doing it and boy was it noisy hearing it land.

Lee Joe's turn

Lee Joe claimed he doesn't get sick or that he wouldn't get it. His throat was sore this morning. I told him he would jinx himself. He stayed home with Kylee today. I am cooking for Thanksgiving this year and my mom and sister and her family will be here. We will see what Matt decides to do. But he has been at more family things this year than in the past. All he eats is turkey and mashed potatoes. That is almost all that Melissa eats too. And the chocolate pudding pie. So they are easy to please. Last year we went to Seattle and my aunt and uncle got this massive prime rib and home grown turkey from a butcher shop. Oh! we ate so well all weekend long and had such a good time. We went to the Chihuly art glass museum and the zoo lights at a zoo in Tacoma. We went to the Pike Place market and watched them throw fish and went to the aquarium there. ! My uncle was more excited than the kids when it came to some of the fish. He has scuba dived in the bay there and just loves that stuff. Lee Joe Kylee and I tried oysters-GROSS!! Nice memories of last year-and I didn't have to cook or have the worry of burning my foot with turkey grease like a few years back. I bought a very nice turkey roasting pan yesterday so I didn't have to borrow my moms anymore. Happy Thanksgiving!! I hope Devanie comes back soon!

Doctor

A blood draw for me and a throat swab for Kylee I have come home with pills for me for stomach stuff. And Kylee and Kelsea have a prescription for penicillin. I brought Kelsea home so she doesn't share strep with the rest of the school, on the Doctor's recommendation. He is checking a bunch of stuff again with me, things he didn't check the first time. I will need another test done but that can wait until January since I don't have any infections going on.

Blog

Here is my view on Blogging. I think it sounds like the writting version of blah blah blah. I have a tendency to say a lot. It gets worse the tireder I am. SO I will randomly Blog blog blog. A blog should be as long as short as you feel and your loyal readers are welcome to read intently or tune you out as in random conversation. So I will apologize a head of time for being wordy, if I was less than that I guess then it wouldn't be me. So I shall say to my 4 or 5 or 6 loyal readers out there-please read at your own risk-that of being bored to death or fabulously entertained or just plain pressed for time to keep up with me and my ramblings. By the way, I hope that Devanie comes back soon.

nice week

To fight the blues I have exercised 2 times. It has been more than a month because of my shoulder. The chiropractor has helped my shoulder very very much. I have felt better, and then I have also been sore. Great thing though. I have been doing yoga and it helps me calm down a lot. I have Christmas shopped online and in the stores some. It has been VERY frustrating though. Everything I have in mind has become a big challenge to find-and in the price range I am looking for. I found everything fine last month and now that I am ready to get it, the things are gone and I need to rack my brain to think of all the other places I might find it. But I have had success so far and now I am almost frantic to take care of the rest of it so this doesn't continue. And Lee Joe wanted a shotgun for Christmas. He went and bought one but I will wrap it and he has to wait. He is actually very excited about it and he has made my job much easier this year. I had no appointments for 3 days in a row!! WOOHOO. But then all the kids got sick. Kylee and Autumn were home Weds. Kelsea came home sick form school and then slept for 2 hours when she got home. Kelsea and Kylee were home Thursday. I had to take Autumn to the Dr for a follow-up on her arm. Her arm was better but she has been limping on her foot for 2 weeks. They x-rayed it. She had an injury to her growth plate in her foot. They got gel cushions in the heels in her shoes and now she has stopped limping. 2 hours later we left the office. And I FINALLY got the test results of the ultrasound. I chased my dr's nurse down to get it. I do a have a cyst on my ovary. And the upper ultasound didn't find anything so my stomache pain is unexplained still. Possible gallbladder issue. So I managed to an get appt today with my doctor which never happens that quick with him. I will find out what is next. Kylee is the only one home today. It would probably help if our weather would quit fluctuating so dramatically between warm and freezing and wet and sunny. And the coolest thing so far-There is NOTHING on the calendar for Saturday. Picture a celebratory dance-picture a good one because I am not a great dancer, rather silly actually.

Winter blues

Usually I like winter well enough but I am under the onslaught of S.A.D. already. This week is so calm compared to most. I am still waiting for my doctors office to contact me on test results. UGH. I need to exercise.

Sunday

We had our program yesterday. It went well. I was impressed with how the kids sang. Our practice on Saturday had me concerned but we were missing several kids. On Sunday we had one song that was a little weak but only on the 2nd verse-the one that sounds like a prayer. My last time to lead the music, I am still sad. Holding Hands has been the favorite song this year and I teared up a few times while the kids sang. Lee Joe and I were both called to the nursery. So after the program I was in nursery. In general it was a quiet weekend. It has been a while since we had one of those. Lee Joe and I could finally go on a date on Friday!! We saw Pirates 2 at the $3 theatre. We went out to dinner. I don't have to be anywhere today until 3:15. That is strange! Maybe I will be able to do preschool with Hannah this week. It has been 2 weeks of nothing for her.

Quick recap

3 chiropractor visits, 4 parent teacher conferences (13 teachers to talk to though)with good reports, 2 trips to the ultasound department at the hospital, 2 trips to the orthodontist in Meridian, 2 trips to dance, one trip to honor choir, 2 days off from school for the little girls, one extra day off for a sick one and one day off for the jr high and high school. 7 trips to the elementary school even with the days off. Feels like the 12 days of christmas. Oh yeah,that is right around the corner isn't it? Did some shopping for that too. Today is much calmer. We had 2 appointments this morning early and now we have the rest of the day. Lee Joe and I can finally go on our long awaited date tonight. AND we can all sleep in tomorrow! Hooray!

Should the yellow van have black and white checkers on it or a big red stop sign?

What day is today?

I thought it was Tuesday for a little bit this morning. I have been so busy I don't know where I am at. Tomorrow is Thursday. Another busy day! The term "stay at home mom" does not apply to me even though I don't work full time or even have time to work the part time job I have applied for at the school. I still say my next van should be yellow.

Saturday

Sunday was spent with Grandpa and Amber playing hymns on organ and piano together. She will finally play with company around. And Thomas and Grandma played Uno with the girls.

Weekend

Talk about EXHAUSTED. Friday we entertained Grandma Leavitt and Grandma and Grandpa Lay and uncle Thomas. We had Spaghetti for dinner. Jared and Michelle and crew showed up at 10:45. We visited and got them settled it must have been 12 or 1 before we went to bed. Up early and Amber at the school at 8,us at the temple at 8:30. Jared and Michelle recommends expired so they didn't go to the wedding. Thomas and them watched kids. Creshauns boys made it before hand. There were alot of people there for the sealing. It was so nice. I forgot my camera so Lee Joe ran home and brought Thomas and Jared and Creshaun's boys and Jared's boy Jackson and 2 of my girls. We had to hustle home and then Lee Joe, Kylee and I ran to catch Amber. We parked and walked quickly to the end of the parade route to see a marching band, two boyscout troops and then Capital's marching band! After them were motorcycles and the parade was over. Amber came home and we collected a houseful of people again. With Kim and Gwen Andy and Laura came with her husband and little girl. Pizza was ordered and we were out the door again with Amber and Kelsea watching 7 extras. We had lunch at an Italian restaurant. THere were over 100 people there for that. We came back to the house after that and orchestrated a girl trip to the mall and a guy, little kid trip to Cabelas. Amber and Kelsea got a few things for babysitting for us today. Back to the house again and ready for the reception. Jackson got sick with a headache and once we were at the reception Hannah had one too. THe reception was nice, many people but not a lot of food selection with protien for fighting Hannah's headache. I decided to take her to get some food. She was awful. I was afraid she would throw-up from it-she did. All over her blanket. SHe hadn't eaten any of the food I gave her. I went into McDonald's and they were so nice they gave me a cup to get her soda since I had gotten her choclate milk. I cleaned things up the best I could and she was able to eat something I was able to get back to the reception and had to be a party pooper and tell everyone we had to go. They were starting to dance, fun fast party dancing. We got home, and had to go get some Motrin and clean up the car. Jared and Michelle came back and collected their stuff and it was after 11 again. Hannah was still sick at 7 with her headache. We gave her motrin and Thomas helped us today by hanging out with out with Hannah since we had our primary practice and Lee Joe had to teach in Nursery. She has felt better today. I have said more than enough. I have an ultasound bright and early in the morning (it is almost 11 AGAIN)so I will post pictures later.

house full

My house is full and Saturday I am sure it will be full of fun! I will try to take lots of pictures.

bad memory

I meant to take pictures last night after everyone got home and I forgot. Autumn was a pixie. Kylee was a vampire bride of some sort. Kelsea was Meg from Hercules. Amber wore her shoe on her head. Yesterday was event filled. I was still finishing up Hannah's costume. Lee Joe didn't get to Hannah's pumplin so I started carving that even though I shouldn't have-my shoulder.I had to make Pigeon Poop. It was a big hit at the kids party. I was in charge of the party in Autumn's class. We had table of horrible sounding goodies. We also had teachers eyeballs (jello jigglers with grapes) Witches fingers (carrots) apples with slime (caramel) and Troll Boogers (pretzel sticks with Cheez Whiz with green food coloring) And with that was Swamp water punch to drink (lemonade, lime sherbet and soda with gummy worms) Maybe the kids had to be a little older to really appreciate it. It was so funny how the kids were about everything. I they were afraid of the weird foods and once we convinced them it was things they liked then they were all over it. They were scared of the punch and were surprised when it was really good. Too funny. Hannah wasn't sure how to deal with the attention she got being Santa. She had a pillow case filled with her toys. One of the 6th grade girls told her she wanted a pony for Christmas and Hannah was concerned she would have to give her the pony in her bag. This morning she said she really liked being Santa. Lee Joe took the kids trick or treating and I stayed home and cleaned and gave treats out to about 7 sets of trick or treaters. The kids came home with about 3 full sized candy bars and a toothbrush with candy attached and loads of other stuff. So four people asked me for this recipe yesterday-this thing won't let me tab or make a new paragraph still so it will all run together. Pigeon Poop- 5 cups of Peanut Butter Crunch Cereal, 3 Cups of rice Krispies, 2 Cups pretzels (my family does not like the pretzels) 2 1/2 cups mini marshmallows, 2 pounds white chocolate (I used 3 bags of white Chocolate chips). Melt Chocolate in a double Boiler. Combine dry ingredients in a bowl. Add Melted Chocolate to bowl and mix. spread on waxed paper and let cool. Once cool break into chunks and serve. I imagine a regular chocolate version of this would be quite tasty-Hmm.

Santa Hannah

My neighbors Pumpkin Snowman

Happy Halloween

Imagine a picture of a snowman made out of pumpkins and a 4 year old girl dressed as Santa. Blogger won't post pictures today. I have to go to the school, I am in charge of the party. I will be wearing reindeer ears and be Hannah's reindeer. That is as dressed as I will get.

Great fun

Amber won a costume contest at the SND last night. She is gum on the bottom of a shoe. And she won those two packages of M&M's . Thanks Ellen show. We can't take the credit for that funny.

looky

Amber is the bottom edge. Look at all the bare feet.
Amber is in the gray shirt almost center.

Maryanne asked-

Since Maryanne asked what I did- I might have hurt it origionally early this summer arm wrestling. And then I hurt the guys left shoulder. It hurt for a while mildly before I hurt it really well.I was cleaning the garage when I hurt it the most. My shoulder was doing much better and then I played volleyball and now it hurts again so it wasn't healthy yet. I know Omega 3s help the joints too and they are cheaper than glucosamine. I looked into glucosamine with Amber's knees. I am out the vitamin habit again so I haven't been taking them so I guess I should stop whining. -New paragraph-We went to the football game last night. Capital played Eagle (Wade is a senior at Eagle this year) Capital lost by 3points-it was a good game though. The band marched barefoot or in socks and they wore regular clothes. I could actually find Amber! And their feet were frozen. It was like 50 or 40 degrees. Crazy kids. -new paragraph-Kelsea and I went to Heidi's bridal shower today and I visited with Mandy and her cute baby. We were asked to bring items for her firsts. I had first emergency. She got some cute things from everyone. She is moving to North Carolina after the wedding. In order to buy dog food today-since we are out completely, Lee Joe has to come along for his healthy arms. I am so independent this is really frustrating. Lee Joe and I are getting new callings on Sunday, we will be together. I have mixed feelings because I love my music calling but I am ready for a change. Right now Lee Joe is Ward missionary. And he is really good at that calling. So that is something to keep in tune for.

Bad news

I finally went and made an Appt with my Dr for next week and then decided to try a Chiropractor. I saw him yesterday. I have 3 things going on. Tendonitis, bursitis and a possible rotator cuff tear. That last one could require surgery. I am not suppose to lift anything with it for at least a week, not even my purse or a gallon of milk. It could make it worse. I looked at that symptoms for the rotator cuff tear and I have all the symptoms. That stinks.

Last night

OK, I am really silly at times about getting enough rest. Tuesday night I stayed up till 2 painting the window and bookshelf so I can hang blinds in the office. It's not done yet. But last night at 9 I went out with some friends to play Volleyball. They got kicked out of the raquetball court so there hasn't been Walleyball in a while but that is our preferred sport. My friend's birthday is on halloween so someone brought a car full of balloons and put them in her car, She thought it was so funny and then we all went out to IHOP to replace all the calories we just burned. So I didn't get to bed until 1. Today I had to do oreintation to be a sub at the school (At least get paid for the 2days I just worked) and I was very overdue for a haircut so I got one finally. So no rest for the senseless weary. Now Amber is signed up for drivers ed. My shoulder hurts more again so now it is time for some medical intervention. Darn it all for getting old. I realize I need to work a lot harder on being more optimistic and less pessimistic. The left side of my body feels great!! Heidi is getting married on Nov 4. That means family is coming this way. I know that Grandma and Jared and Michelle and kids are staying with us so far. I will be bust cleaning next week. And Amber is marching in the parade on that day too. We have a little conflict going on. It will be a very busy day.

Amber-

I don't know which one Amber is

Where's Waldo,I mean Kelsea

Tatoos anyone?

I went to Port of Subs while the little girls were at dance last night and this guy was talking to the guys there about the tattoo he was about to spend $350 for. He had several already. I was dying to ask the guy what he was going to do when he got old and the tattoos started to wrinkle and sag. I have just wondered that when I see people with tattoos all over and wonder when they are elderly are they going to be able to tell what they even have. That fairy is going to start looking like a witch and that butterfly is going to look like roadkill (those are more womanly tattoos). I don't know, I was debating whether I had enough nerve to ask this guy. I almost did-but didn't but I would still really like to know if anyone has even thought that far ahead.

bummer

Blogger doesn't want to post pictures for me again today. This is a strange morning. Last night the cat lost a little of our warm fuzzy feelings for her. It was about 11:45 the dog was barking,we were almost asleep but Lee joe went up to see what it was. It was a bird that could still fly. We chased it around and finally caught it. It's leg was hurt. We left it in the box. Went to bed and the dog started to bark again. The cat was grounded to the house though after that. I think after one all the crazy pets mellowed out. This morning I was trying to figure out where to take the bird. Lee Joe had said it was really noisy earlier but once I checked it just as I was getting ready to leave-it had died. We had a crazy weekend( when is it ever quiet) Kelsea had her concert Friday. Amber had her band practice and parents decorated the band room. We saw the kids come in. They were thrilled. On Sat Amber took the PSAT. I took my 4 other girls to POJOS for Kailyn's friend party. It is fun like Chuck E Cheese but bigger and more fun with a Carousel and bumper cars. Then I took 3 kids to the band banquet at a local restaurant. Later I picked up 5 kids and took them to the high school. It was funny-our friends son,the ones in Hawaii, after the band teacher said for all the kids to go home and hug their parents for getting them to and from band practices, he said he was going to go home and hug the phone. We went to the band competition. It was fantastic. And it was sad. Our kids played and marched their best show yet and didn't place at all. It was stinking COLD up in the stadium!! We brought blankets and heavy coats and we were still frozen. The band that won was very very good. So imagine pictures of concerts, band formations and more volleyball that I will have to show later. This week I need to make a santa outfit for Hannah and plan a class party for Autumn's class. And Kylee is the busy one for a change. But there will be less running. I hope. We will see.

Hannah's art project

Hannah's diarama. It's a sailboat with clouds around it. She's very interesting. On the way to dance there was great debate if Mary's little lambs had fleece as white as snow or fleas as white as snow.

It worked!

Speaking of ER

Monday night was eventful. But not as much for my family as our neighbors 2 doors down. They are the ones that gave me the fantastic fruit basket. I pulled into the driveway close to 7 and saw the dad crawling in the grass and I thought he was playing with one of the boys. The kids saw their dog running down the street. Kelsea caught him and then came home and told me that one of their boys might have broken his arm or dislocated his shoulder. Their daughter was already here and she stayed here. They took him in, he completely broke his arm just below the shoulder ball joint. He stayed the night in the hospital and Drissa stayed with us. He was going to have surgery and then the surgeon changed his mind and sent him home with out a cast. They won't cast it till Thursday and then after 5 days they will decide if he needs surgery. Isn't that awful? He is in 2nd grade and an active boy. I worked at the school again on Tues and was impressed that I single handedly got 4 girls ready for school, Lee Joe did help some, I can't take all the credit, and we were out the door at 7:45 am after a night of very little sleep at all. The big drama at recess was somebody's pet zebra finch found it's way on to the playground. It couldn't fly very far. A group of kids found it and thought is a baby or hurt. We tried to catch it with no luck. It figured out how to fly right out of our reach on the top of the portable. Girls went in for recess real worried about the bird and a bunch of little boys had screaming drama at the tetherball pole. I came home completely exhausted I couldn't move from about 6 until 7:30 and needless to say I slept really well last night. Today Hannah went to the eye doctor. We have not been able to eye patch 2 hours everyday-can you see why? She went a little backwards on her progress.So they put a film over the lense on her glasses on the good eye she has to have on all the time. And I am ready to rest now that I have taken care of the trip to the bread store and Costco. At least until 3 when I pick up kids and go to a volleyball game after school.

I am so tired!

I told the secretary at the school that I would fill in for her when her son and his wife had their baby. I got a call at 6:45 this morning. I was at the school today. I didn't go to bed early enough for that. We had an unruly parent trying to transfer records somewhere else. It was tense. But I will be there again tomorrow. I just need to find a sitter for Hannah again. That was rough this morning. Hannah came with me for part of the morning. All my friends that have kids her age are in kindergarten or pre-school. And my friends that are going to Hawaii-They are still going. They were in LA for the big quake- when was that? No worries for them. Good luck to them. I think there was point to all this but I am so tired I can't remember what it was. I have to get Kylee still and take the other 2 little girls to dance. Lee joe will be picking up Amber again from band practice in the dump truck. Everyone said bye to her last time he did that. It was funny for her. I think that we don't know how to have decent dinner anymore except for Sunday. Who knows what we are having tonight but the kids are sick of mac and cheese.

slightly humorous

I am not this mean but we have some friends that were suppose to leave on Friday for Hawaii for their 20th anniversary. I know that she wants to go really bad. and since she planned the trip her mother-in-law went on a mission (their babysitter) and the big band competition is this weekend and her husband REALLY wants to go. And then I looked on the internet and saw there was a really big earthquake there today. Now she either is wanting to go too badly, they aren't suppose to go yet, or her husband has been praying to go to the band competition over this trip(He is a Bishop in his ward, his prayers have weight?). It doesn't look like travel there is very disrupted so they will probably be fine. I am helping them get their oldest son to all the activities on Sat. The PSAT is in the morning. A lunch at noon at a locale buffet restaurant and competition the rest of the day.

As I wait for Amber to come home....

We didn't go to the ER this time with Autumn. I suppose a bad dr's office visit is the result. She is doing much better. We went to the homecoming football game last night. The 4 girls and I did. We stayed until after half time. It was freezing and after 10:30. The band marched fantastic. When the band ran off the field Amber's clarinet fell apart. Thank goodness it was fine. The football game was 21 to 0 when I left. (final score 34 to 7) The drum major won Homecoming queen. Amber said it was the 5th year in a row a band member won homecoming queen. Today we went to Caldwell to watch them compete. They took 2nd and brought home a nice trophy. The band that won first was REALLY good. Kelsea's team won their game on Friday. they were close games though. Hannah has been very funny. Out of the blue she told us she wanted to make a diarama. So for about 3 days she has worked on it. It has a sail boat and clouds that hang from strings. In the backround she drew a house and hills. The only thing I helped her with was tape the strings of the top of the sailboat to the Diarama and she did all the rest herself. I have taken pictures and if blogger improves I will post a picture. She still wants to be Santa. But she says she doesn't want to wear a beard. I will have to make her a costume. Next week is Kelsea's LAST volleyball game (sigh of relief) and Amber's LAST band competition (a bigger sigh of relief). As much fun as it is, less of it is enjoyable as well.

autumn update

I was trying to post pictures for 3 days now, no luck. I can't seem to start a new paragraph either. Autumn went to our usual doctors office yesterday for a follow-up on her arm. There is no obvious fracture. They think it is a bone bruise. She is out of the splint and and sling. It still hurts her but she is kind of hyper sensitive to discomfort. Everyone has been trying out her splint and sling. Kylee had to almost tackle Dylan this morning. He tried to go to the playground with her sling. I drove 5 kids to school this morning. Maybe my next van should be yellow. Tonight we have a volleyball game for Kelsea and Amber is marching and playing pep band at the homecoming game tonight and has another competition tomorrow. Her band teacher got furious on weds, threw a fit and left the band in the parking lot during class(where they practice) . Then yesterday he felt bad or something and gave all the kids individualized thank you cards for working hard. Band teachers can be very tempermantal. I had one in 7th grade that threw his baton at the wall and it was very close to where I was sitting. Hopefully it won't get too cold at the game tonight. It starts at 8:30. Amber has a friend whose mom is helping me carpool Amber to Capital. She saw our giant pile of leaves in the yard and wanted some for her mulch pile because they don't have any trees in their yard. So we bagged up 5 big leaf bags full and I think we can still fill two or three more. Kitty's kill count is 9. Lee Joe has 2 kills. I think we are on the verge of a crisis. I have never seen anything like it. I am going nuts with my messy house, chauffer duties(as a result, messy car), daily calls from the school nurse, daily visits to the school during the school day, and the death and carnage of mice around my house. Enough said, I need to shower an take Hannah to the library and visit the car wash, then I might have some time to clean a little before the run around begins. How's that for rambling.

Autumn

So I guess Autumn's health and wellness streak lasted too long. She is in a sling now with a splint on her arm. She fell off the monkey bars and landed on her hand, but her elbow is what is hurting and swollen. The stinker never cried, or told the nurse or her teacher. She came home and said it hurt. Lee Joe looked and it, so did I and we weren't sure. She went to school yesterday and then the nurse called me and said it was bothering her. I wanted her to stay at school, she has missed way too much already. She got home and I felt I should take her to the doctor. I had to take her to a different clinic than I usually go to. The doctor was very nice but I kind of doubt her experience. She said she wasn't sure if her elbow was broke but she was going to send the x-rays to a radiologist. I would hear back from her in 2 days. Then she was putting on the splint and she didn't seem like she had done that very often. So she went and got the sling, she put it on backwards! I left there feeling like I should have gone to the ER or insisted my doctors office see her no matter what. I drove by the school on the way home and saw a bunch of cars. It was the night of the ice cream social. So at 7pm, no dinner in any of us yet, we went and had free ice cream at the school and all of Autumn's friends and classmates surounded her and asked her 100 times what happened. It is her right arm and she is having trouble writing. We will see what kind of day she has at school today.

Our weekend

I missed Amber all weekend but knew she would have fun with her band geek friends-that's what they call themselves. We had a weekend where Kelsea and Kylee were busy in the evening or day and I was home with just Autumn and Hannah. Kylee got to swim and go to Chuck E Cheese. Kelsea went bowling and to a Bosnian food store. She also watched a movie ata birthday party at a friends house. Amber's band tied for 12th to get into the finals. They were not the band selected to go though. I think that was the closest they got to finals in the past 4 years. Amber said some of the other bands were really really good. She called me at 1:45am to pick her up. UGH! When I got back I couldn't sleep. So Sunday was rough. I have been fighting a cold all weekend, and my shoulder is still a problem. Anemic as well. I made it to the last hour of church, led the music and came home and slept. A Lot. But I have to tell you, Airborne works well. Lee Joe took it a few times, he gave me his cold, and it didn't last long. I took it a few times and I don't feel that bad today. 2 1/2 days of cold symptoms. That's not bad. I think I need to see the doctor for the shoulder. It making some popping and clicking when it moves and it hurts still. Lee Joe earned major brownie points this weekend. He made a potato and ham soup but something happened and it scorched. The bottom of the pan he used was too thin I think. Ususally he does a really good job with the soups he makes. At least he made it early enough in the day that I was able to make spaghetti and we still ate before 7. But we were all looking forward to his potato soup. My mom is looking at moving again. The guy she is renting from is selling her place so she wants to find a new place even though she really likes where she is. My mom and sister looked at a few places yesterday. But she is disappointed today and hasn't made it to work today because she doesn't feel well. Looks like we will be moving her again. So in 9 years she will have moved 7 times here in Idaho.

It's Fall in our front yard

This tree turns colors before any other tree here. The wind picked up today and it is almost done dropping leaves and boy has it dumped this year. Here is Kylee Autumn and Hannah having their annual "rake and play, rake and play." The back yard is not safe for this kind of play.

Kylee's birthday parties

Here is our family and luau birthday parties for Kylee

Amber

Amber's hairdo picture with braces. I still need to get her after braces picture

Kelsea

Kelsea before and after braces and hairdo picture. She took the botoom one of herself.

Marching band

Aren't they cute? they look like a bunch of tin soldiers. Amber is off to Pasco Washigton today. I am full of mixed feelings-a little PMS going on-worriying about all the bad things that could happen. I am sure it will all be fine. I have an over active imagination. I can't imagine what it will be like when she leaves home. I have DSL-helps pictures load like they should.

fruit basket

Here is the fruit basket I got for my birthday. Chocolate covered apples, pineapple flowers, cantalope and honeydew and straberries and grapes on skewers. I have a little more experimentation to get this picture thing figured out. I really hurt my shoulder last night with the garage. I get another year older and I get my second aggravated joint. My ankle was last year's ailment, and still bothers me and my shoulder had been hurting some for weeks and now it screams. That is what I get for getting old. I had a good day at the mall today spending some birthday money and the gift card I got from Bath and Body works. I came home with 2 pairs of pants and great lotion and smell good stuff for the house. Hannah got shoes. The kids are home tomorrow and I will have Dylan and Kailyn for half the day. Maybe I can get them to work. I may go to the doctor if my shoulder still hurts this bad. I think Kylee is out to have agreat year. She was selected to be a peer mediator at school.

Glitch

Now I have to figure out how to get one picture to blog and not the album of over 600 pictures. There's always something but I will get there. I cleaned the back half of our garage tonight-more organized. Now there is a path wider than Lee Joe that we can walk in. There is a really long way to go yet. Lee Joe worked on cleaning out the crawl space and got out the construction debris still in there. It was the most convenient place to put stuff out of the way. This week is much better than the last few. We will see how Thursday goes with everybody home. I am still hooked on Rollercoaster Tycoon. We have the 3rd one on the new computer now. Kelsea bought it last summer with babysitting money and none of our computers could handle it. She spent a lot of money on it and the expansion pack and then they didn't work. She was excited to finally get play it-if only mom would butt out of her game. Even with that I still got a lot done today,Wow!

Happy Birthday to me!!

Well I am not that full of myself but I am currently updating my blog with my birthday present!! Now I am going to get some DSL and we will be screaming!! My mom and my sister got me a scanner/printer-copier that will print pictures too. I have downloaded all my my pictures to my computer so now I can put more pictures on. Hooray!! My neighbor friends were so sweet. They sent my this fruit basket that unlike anything I have ever seen before. I have tried to put the picture on but my connection is really slow and it didn't work. So I will post that later.

Our little P.O.W Mort died overnight. It probably wasn't very healthy to start with. It has hardly grownand was real sick and got sick real fast. Lee Joe thought it had some sort of tumor. Kelsea cried after she said she didn't care if it died and it hadn't died yet. None of the girls know yet. I figured they should leave for school happy. A houseful girls sure can run on high emotions.

It was nice this weekend having church off so we could relax all weekend. Made a nice weekend. We all watched conference and Kelsea was in rare form with super hyperactivity going on. She was maybe more excited over the computer than I was.

The kids only have 3 days of school this week. I think last week was the first 5 day week they have had since school started. Amber is going to Pasco Washington on Friday for a marching band competition. It will be only the 2nd time they will have run it for an audience.

I asked Hannah what she wanted to be for halloween and without hesitation she told me she wanted to be Santa. I think she will be quite unique. She makes me laugh.

It's been awhile

Boy it has been awhile since I have updated and there hasn't been a dull moment.

Autumn did stay home the rest of the week and went to the doctor on Thursday. He gave her penicillin and by Saturday she felt better. She went to school Monday and today Thursday I had to pick her up again. That's our fault for not fighting with her more on the penicillin. Autumn is getting an award tomorrow. I find it funny because she hasn't made it a full week since school started it seems. It was so sweet. One of her friends was worried about her and her mom called us Sat to see how Autumn was doing.

Kelsea's team is still undefeated-go Kelsea!! She is doing real well in all her classes!!

Kylee tried out for Honor Choir and made it-I think I mentioned that, She started the school choir this week.

Amber got her braces off on Friday! Woo HOO! I need to take an after braces picture. Then we had to go back to meridian on Friday to get her retainers. On the Thursday game Capital won by one point. Amber's band has a little ways to go to make their marching piece better considering it was the first time on the football field it wasn't too bad.

Kylee had a Hawaiian luau party on Sat. We made hula skirts from streamers. Gave the girls leis. We played music from Lilo and Stitch 2. We made up a funny hula dance and the girls all got to decorate their own cupcakes. That has been the biggest hit at our parties I have found. We have put sprinkles galore and once we had a variety of candy. The kids will almost always eat the cupcakes too. Kylee had a nice party. On Tuesday we had our family version and she got to go to build- a -bear and made a monkey. I have 3 kids in double digits!

I may get a computer. Here's to hoping and crossed fingers. We are looking at an HP computer with the AMD processor. If we get that then it will be possible to get DSL and updating won't be such a pain in the rear.

I have been exercising so my rear already hurts.

Lee Joe is working like a crazy man still and his back still hurts.

Cat is up to 7 kills and one unconfirmed. She took it back outside. The discovery of #7 will not be disclosed due to graphic nature and is been dubbed Top Secret. She is probably finding them in our garden.

MaryAnne and Thomas will be getting their pictures soon that I promised them. I cleaned half my desk and found them and they are so far as being in envelopes I just need to find their addresses and I actually know about the area to find them. I think paper in my office has learned how to reproduce.

Grandpa Lay?

Blurry camera phone picture but Kelsea said this monley reminded her of Grandpa Lay. What do you think?