Halloween 2008

This year for Halloween we had a great time. Our fun started the week before when the kids got to go to the trunk or treat car show hosted by my work. I thought it was going to be a small little thing and just went because I needed to go for work, but it was huge!!!! The kids had so much fun. They got tons and tons of candy and there was a balloon guy that made each them a balloon character that they got to choose. It was a blast.

For Halloween night the kids got all dressed up in their costumes. Jenna was a Black Cat, Ryan was a Dragon, Jacob was a S.W.A.T. guy, and Joseph wore his dad's old high school hockey uniform. (The boys were with their mom most of the night so I don't have any pictures of them--sorry.)I had to work until five that night, so Joe got Jenna and Ryan both dressed and did Jenna's make-up (He did such a great job--better than I would have done!! Jenna loved it!!) Our community center hosts a Halloween celebration every year so the kids, Joe and Grandma Pat went to that. They got dinner, played games, and got a whole bunch of candy. When they were done, they met me back at the house and we headed out trick or treating. I was not prepared for the number of kids out trick or treating. The streets were packed with kids!!! We went for a little while and then met up with the Jacob and Joseph. By about seven Ryan was done, so he and I walked home while Joe took the older three kids for a while longer. Ryan had a great time handing out candy to all of the trick or treaters. We had about 300 kids come to the house!!!! It was crazy. We had a great night and just can't wait until next year.

Ryan

Yesterday Ryan had to go to the doctor to get his pre-school physical. He was so excited to be there because Jenna had told him all about her kindergarten physical. He thought he was so grown up and one of the "big kids" now!! We got there and they weighed and measured him. They then did his eye test, which he passed with flying colors. He then did the hearing test. He was so cute!! He thought is was a silly game and he just smiled the whole time they "played". He passed that as well. They then did his vitals where he proceeded to tell them what "blood pressure" is (he told the MA that it is how hard his heart was pumping his blood to his bones!) The MA was laughing so much and so was I. We went into the exam room and he showed her how he could jump on one foot and he named all of the colors she asked him to name and just had a great time. He had to put on a little gown for his exam so he thought that was just hysterical (his word not mine). The doctor came in and did his exam and then told him it was time for shots. This is when things got a little crazy. She left and I talked about the shots with him and convinced him that it would be okay. The first shot was given and he of course started screaming (I think all kids turn into the bionicle human when they get shots and have super human strength.) I told him he was being so brave and yelled at me, "I'm not brave AT ALL mom!!!" He received three more shots and then was done. He cried so hard it made me almost cry. When the other MA came back to give him a book, stickers, and two suckers, (questions--when did they start giving such awesome things at the dr. office??)he wouldn't even look at her. After we got done, I took him to Walmart to pick out a toy for being so brave and some tylenol to help with the fever that usually comes with immunizations. All in all it was a pleasant experience for him except for the shots of course. I can't believe that my baby is going to start kindergarten next fall. It is so hard to look at him and think of him as a big kid now when only yesterday he was this perfect little baby. I love him so much and I just wish I could freeze time a little so that he stays my baby for a little longer.

Clover update

Now I hate to say I told you so to my husband but. . . I can say it everyone else right!!! I am not saddened at all to tell you that Clover the dog is no longer with our family. Now I will back up a bit and tell a little more about the situation. Joe wanted a Dog so Joe got a dog in spite of me suggesting that it was probably not a good idea at this time. I told him that he would have to be up with the dog if she cried in the night and that basically I didn't want to deal with the dog at all. Well I stuck to my guns. Joe got up with the dog every night and aside from feeding the dog (She would only eat for me from a medicine dropper) he did everything for her. After three nights of her crying all night long, Joe decided to just let her sleep in our bed on his chest so she would shut up and let him get some much needed sleep. Suddenly at about three thirty in the morning Joe yells out and jumps three feet off the bed and lands right on top of me, yelling all the while--"the dog is gone!!!" After I got my breath back I asked him what the problem was and he told me that Clover had bit him in the groin!!!! I started laughing so hard, I nearly fell off the bed. Being a nurse (ha ha) I wanted to inspect the damages. Sure enough she had bit him and actually drawn a little blood!!! This just made me laugh even more. I stopped laughing finally and said that I thought it was time to give the dog back to his brother. Joe agreed and the dog was gone by seven that morning. The kids were really sad-especially Jenna, but we explained that Clover just wasn't ready to be away from her mom yet.
Well now Joe's mom and dad have Clover. They fell in love with her and they have more time and patience to deal with her so we are happy that she is close by--JUST NOT AT MY HOUSE!!!!!!!

Clover

This is the newest member of our family!! Her name is Clover and she is four weeks old. Joe's brother Brian gave her to us and the kids thought they had died and gone to heaven. She is so sweet. We are bottle feeding her right now because she wasn't weened when we got her (I am not sure why they had to take her away from her mother right now, but they did so we are going with it). Clover is an American Bulldog, German Shepard, Coyote mix. Quite the mutt I know, but who could resist her little face! I am sure we will have more pictures later but for now I took this one on my phone so I could post it right now!!

A little piece of Heaven!

I finally found a heaven that almost makes the sacrifice of leaving Fish Lake worth it. This weekend Joe and I decided that it would be fun to rent a cabin at Big Bear Lake. I had never been so I was really excited because I remember seeing a picture taken on my parents honeymoon and I wanted to see it. It was absolutely gorgeous. I will post more later when I get the pictures downloaded but for now I was just so excited with my new favorite place I couldn't wait to share it. More to come soon!!!

Are you kidding me???

So yesterday at church the kids and Joe came to the young women's room to get me after my lesson and I notice that three of the four kids were carrying a curious looking object in their little hands. I inquired what they had and Jenna told me that their primary teacher had given them each a POMEGRANATE!!!! for being good in primary that day. Now I know that being a primary teacher is not an easy job and I too have been guilty of bribing children with a special treat in order to get their cooperation, but seriously a pomegranate!!! I haven't seen one in years. My dad used to bring them home every once in a while and my mom would then stop talking to him for the rest of the day and depending on how big the stain we ALWAY placed somewhere was, the silent treatment could last several days. I remember having red fingers for days after eating the inside and always thinking that for all of the effort and mess that went a long with the pomegranate you would have thought it would taste a whole lot better. I now have three of the cursed things sitting on my kitchen counter. I asked the kids where their primary teacher lives because I am contemplating egging her house tonight!!

Joseph's 9th Birthday

September 28 was Joseph's 9th birthday and we have so much fun. We decorated the house with a sports theme(especially football because that is his favorite sport). The kids were up at six thirty (this really was the worst part of the day because Joe and I stayed up until two the night before playing Guitar Hero that I got for my birthday) and they were ready to start the fun. We let Joseph open one present (a monster truck poster--are we rednecks? I thought not but then we go and buy a monster truck poster and I start to question it)and had breakfast. We got ready for church and had a very nice time at church. Joseph's class sang happy birthday and they had treats. He loved all of the attention. After church we had a quick lunch and then let Joseph open the rest of his presents. He got two "agent" lego sets, three bionicles, Moby Dick and Call of the Wild, and clothes. He loved all of his gifts.

We then took the kids bowling. This was so much fun!! I must admit that I am not a very good bowler. Those of you that have bowled with my throughout the years can attest to this. Joseph was so excited. We asked them to put the bumpers on (I was secretly very grateful for this) and we started bowling. We learned several this with this family outing. 1. Joseph is a great bowler!! He came in second just a few points less than his dad. 2. I STILL suck at bowling. 3. Jenna bowls just like her mother. Not once, but twice she threw her bowl into the lane next to ours. It was so funny.

After bowling we went home and had cake (a sweet football cake--No I did not attempt to make this cake either)and ice cream. The kids were all pooped and went to sleep immediately. We are so glad to have Joseph in our home. He is such a sweet kids and really looks after his younger brothers and sister. We love him very much!!