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!