Them's My People

A few funny "kidisms" from our house.

A couple weeks ago, Molly had croup (a very obnoxious cough) and we were both very sleep deprived from her persistent coughing. After 3 nights of this, I took her to the doctor. When we got there, I thought to myself, "man her diaper is HUGE". I didn't think she had THAT much to drink. The doctor went out to get a shot for her, so I quickly went to change her diaper. I took off her pull-up and realized why it was SO HUGE . . . I had never taken off her night time diaper. I had just pulled the pull-up over the top of it in my sleep deprived rush. The doctor, nurse and I had a good ole laugh (tears and all). Mothering aint' for sissies!

I gave Mo, our babysitter, a picture of the kids when she came over one day. Jack asked if he could see the picture and when he looked at it he commented, "Hey, them's my people!"

The lil' kids had made a mess of a piece of chocolate cake by quickly stuffing it in their faces while they ran around the island in the kitchen. There were crumbs EVERYWHERE!! (I was going to the restroom . . . . I know how irresponsible of me . . .) I told them they had to clean it up. They got out the vacuum and cleaned up all the crumbs and then preceded to suck up their jammies, their hands, their hair, the cat, etc. They were giggling the whole time, so I let them at it. They came over to show me their new discovery. They were sucking up their mouths . . . ooh gross, right? Who knows where that nozzle has been? It get's grosser . . . they both have colds. YUK noses, streaming with thick green mucus. Well in the process of sucking their mouths, they were also sucking the snot off their faces. Long streams of snot going from the nozzle to their nose. SICK!!

Oh, the joys of lil' toddlers. I'll save you from the potty training experiences . . . sigh . . . .


Oh, yes Molly has very little hair. In March Jack cut the back off. We hide all the scissors in the house. In April, they found some random pair in the craft closet. He cut the top off. Both times while a babysitter was here. It's still very short, very!! Thank goodness she has a bit of hair on the sides for pig tails.

The Game is Where??

Tillamook? Really? That far? I was a bit surprised to hear Jeff's soccer game was in Tillamook. Which isn't so bad, because what do you get to do when you go to Tillamook? The cheese factory of course.




Delicious! We weren't the only ones who had thought of it that day. It was PACKED. We stood in line for 30 minutes for ice cream. It was worth it!






We drove the long way home up the coast and hit 3 beaches. It was a great family day! Oregon is a beautiful place to live!

Molly!

I love this little person! She is so fun, sassy and helpful! She slept (or shall we use flipped and flopped) with me last night because of ANOTHER ear ache. Poor thing. She would wake up and hug me around the neck and make sure I was still there. How can you get upset about waking up that way??

She loves the boat, her family (especially mom), being outside, the chickens, HER BOOKS!!, HER DOLLY!!, dancin' and eating!! She is a good eater. She loves to help with laundry, emptying the dishwasher, cleaning her room (or any room), and she will do almost anything you ask her to do. The other day, I was in the shower and Jack came in frustrated to the bathroom. He was frustrated with his socks. He couldn't get them on. I said to Molly, "Will you please put your brother's socks on?" She rolled her eyes, told him to sit down, and put his socks on. Now remember, she is the younger one. I chuckled about it all week.

Her favorite word for the week is "STUPID". That isn't so funny! Grrrr!

P.S. "Happy B-day Grandma"

I, Hannah made Molly's tu tu during General Conference! Is it cute. Who wants one? He He He!!

We LOVE you Grandma Joyce & Aunt Cyd!

And Aunt Cyd, but we didn't have enough kids to hold a sign for you . . . sorry! We love you too!

Advice from My Mom!

When somebody annoys you, it takes 42 muscles in your face to frown,
BUT it only takes 4 muscles to extend your arm and SLAP THAT FOOL!!!!

Photo Shoot

Here are the proofs to our latest photo shoot. I think I would rather go get immunizations done for all 4 kids than do a photo shoot with all 4 kids. PAINFUL!! I have to brag about the adorable dress Molly has on. IT IS SOOOOOO CUTE!! My mom made it for her. I love it!!!

We're Back at It!

Jeff started middle school, 7th grade. Hannah's in 5th grade. The lil' kids started preschool together. I'm sad their gone, but I'll have a few moments alone in my house. What is that like????

Billy with the Fam

It was a bit short of a miracle to get 3 sisters, their awesome hubbies and all their kiddos here to Oregon and then get them all down to Billy Chinook for a week. A van load of food, 5 tents, 15 sleeping bags, 7 air mattresses, 23 life jackets, the van, the car, the truck, the trailer, the RV and the boat all packed up with 23 people and off we went. It was GREAT! Loads of laughs, hot summer days, swimmin', tubin', surfin', wakeboardin', skiin' and enjoyin' goin' on. Thanks to all the gang! Invite is open for next year. Love ya!

Thank You Jenn!

For some of us, this picture conjures up a feeling of irritation, some pain, some regret, and for me gratitude. It a picture of Hannah on the beach of Coki Point on St. Thomas. She has been stung by a jelly fish on her arm. For those of you who have had this unfortunate event, you know she was hurtin' real bad.

I wasn't there when it first happened, I was having a great time snorkeling with my mom and 4 sisters. Her dad, grandpa, 4 brother in-laws and a few "locals" initially tried to calm her, but to no avail. She was hurtin' and WE ALL HEARD!! Her dad regretfully lost his patience with it and walked away. Her grandma and aunts who arrived first, tried to calm her to no avail. I did my best upon my arrival, putting Eliza's diaper on her (pee is suppose to help), ice, and finally Benedryl, but still to no avail. I was loosing my patience as well. Hannah vividly remembers the event and brings up a few choice comments people made while she was screaming, one being "looks like a she's pulling a Stacey" (sister's are our best and worst critics).

She also remembers what I remember MOST of this experience. My dear, sweet, compassionate sister, Jenny taking her by the hand and walking her down the beach pointing out this or that. Distracting her from her pain, refocusing her attention on anything but her arm, her irritated parents and family. I remember feeling so relieved to see her stop crying and so grateful for Jenn. She is AWESOME!! (I'm crying all over the computer keys.) She fosters lil' lost souls, she jumps in to help those in need, she calms angry frustrations, she loves. I have wanted to send a thank you card a thousand times and every time I look at our Disney Cruise pictures I remember this "downer" as a lesson to me. You were a life saver, vaca saver, and my lil' girl's pain reliever that day! Thank you Jenn! I love you!

Freedom Rider

It finally warmed up around here and this is how Jack chose to enjoy the warm weather. He's feelin' it!

Jeff is Gettin' OLD!

He graduated from 6th Grade and is done with elementary school! He had his last day of Primary on Sunday!

He's cute, friendly, funny, helpful, and OLD!! He turns 12 on Saturday.

He's not humble though! He told me today,"I'm really good at outside things and inside things. I can make rock paths and hook up the surround system." True that! Now about that report card . . . .

But he can still make one mean train track which I'm SOOOOOOO grateful for. Jack will play on it for hours or until Molly destroys it.

He's great with the lil' kids. Keeps them entertained and loves to play with them. He even asked if Jack could go with him to his friend's house today to fish. Love this kid!

Our Jack Jack!

Shy one minute!

All smooth the next.

He's all boy!

1/2 Marathon: CHECK!

Before!

Walked EVERY step and finished in 2:57. 13:32 miles per hour. A few blisters to prove it. It was a lot of fun!

Daily Excercise: CHECK!

For those who know the area or want to know the elevation change, check it out. http://www.runwithpaula.com/images/stories/maps/helvetia_argus_map.pdf


After!

Conversation between Jack and Molly

Molly: "Let's go show mama."

Jack: "Mommy bird."

They come in the back door with Molly carrying this . . .



And yes, I took the picture, then sanitized everything!!!! Clothes, hands, house, me, EVERYTHING!!

By the way, I have a baby chipmunk hiding in my kitchen island. My cat brought him in and then let him go. He wasn't dead, so he ran around until he found a safe place. The no mans land under the island. . . . great!!!

And then there were . . .

We put the 5 bigger chicks out in the coop last week. They had all their mature feathers and we excitedly prepped the coop, cleared the area, made a fence around the coop and generally had a fun time working together as a family for our future egg laying poultry.

The kids have not lost their zeal about the chicks. They still run down after school to check, feed and play with the chicks. Molly hugs and kisses them each. She is a pro chicken catcher. We put her in the cage and she quickly rounds them and hands them off to us. Very cute!

Yesterday, I saw our neighbors puppy-eating Russian Husky in our yard. She has never been out of her electric fence yard in the 5 years we've lived here. I panicked! She has killed many a puppy who went into her yard and I would never let my kids out while she was around. She is MEAN!! Her big brother is meaner, but I didn't see him. I told Jeff to run down to the chickens and check on them. They were all malled to death. Brutally killed in their own home. I was TICKED!! The kids were upset!! I haven't been able to talk to the owners yet, but . . . . grrrrrrrrr!! I KNOW their chickens, but their my kids chickens. Mother Bear is out!

And then there were 4. We still have the 4 baby chicks, but still . . .

Marriage Therapy

We figured taking a vaca without the kiddos would be a lot more fun than hours of future counseling. It worked!





Experience something new together . . . neither of us had been in a helicopter before. I was pre-medicated, Ben wished he was. What an amazing ride! It was beautiful!!


Spouting Horn near Poi'pu.


Enjoy the sunset together.


Walk together.


Don't drive off-road together. He had more fun without me and I had A LOT more fun reading in the shade!!


Drink one of these everyday of the vaca.


Snorkel together. We prefer sea turtles to barracuda, but whatever works for you. We've done both and I seem to stay in the water longer with the sea turtles.


Eat breakfast here together.


Eat lots of ice cream and shaved ice together.

Use LOTS of sunscreen, SPF 70, 2.5 bottles to make sure you are not miserable for the rest of the vaca. Time well spent slathering each other. No burns for us, thank you very much!