After Easter Sales

I had to have a picture this morning.  

Aren't they a handsome group of boys?

I love the kids new suits. 

Wichita Mountains

The kids had fun climbing around the big boulders.  The picture of the sign is for Uncle Scott, we were thinking of you.    

Bubbles in the Rain

 It rained on Easter.  The kids were out blowing bubbles and found out that bubbles don't pop on wet concrete.  Some of them didn't pop on the grass either.  Something new to try when it rains. (Today they even talked about wetting down the driveway and trying it again.)

$100 Lego

Yes it was about that big, and it came out of my dishwasher. How do legos get into a dishwasher? I must give credit to my boys who are amazingly fast at emptying the dishwasher. It's amazing how loud legos sound in the chopper of a dishwasher. It's just one of those moments to remember when I had to thank the repair guy for a small handfull of legos and plastic pieces in exchange for a $100 check.

Blue and Gold

I love cub scouts.  It gives the boys a chance to be boys and learn something at the same time.

  

         Jackson is behind the U

Jacob got his Scholar pin!

This picture is true to life.  It's blurry, but then again these boys don't hold still all that often.

What's in your Fridge?

This was too funny to not share.  I found this.........the wii.........in the fridge.  The boys put it in to cool down because it overheated.  

To their credit they ended up shooting off rockets for the better part of the day.  I've heard you can buy a fan for your wii, but it's not so bad that it overheats sometimes after 30 minutes, is it?

Airplane style rocket

This one is for you Dad.  It's a video of an airplane style rocket.  We shoot it with a low psi and the younger kids love to be able to watch it.

Well I guess I should update the record

Or maybe I shouldn't have started to blog about being sick, but Brandon took me to the ER last night because I was having a hard time breathing the fever wasn't gone. The flu test was negative. I have "a good sized pneumonia" on my right lung. Another 5-10 days of good drugs and I should be fixed.

And since I have an opionion on everthing and time to kill here's a couple.

Instacare-firstmed-BAD I went on Wednesday and they took my temp, looked in my ears, and did a strep test, then patted me on my head a told me it would go away on its own, and gave me a reciept with "flu like symptoms" printed on it. I had a temp of 102° and didn't get so much as a sample tylenol.

Mercy ER- EXCELLENT Everyone that walked in those doors got their temp taken (mine mutliple times), oxygen levels checked, blood pressure checked (shouldn't an istacare do that at least) mine kept beeping because I get low blood pressure when I'm sick. Blood work, urinanalysis. They even offered my a wet washcloth for my forehead while I was waiting to see the Dr. After waiting for what seems like an eternity, when your sick, some kind man with a wheelchair wisked me past the PA and straight to the real Doctors. (I should have caught his name to send him a thank you note) They did 2 xrays, and 2 Cat scanss, more blood work, and hooked me to an IV through which they gave me some of the greatest drugs, one of which literally took 10 seconds to take effect. I could feel it start at the top of my head and then immediatly dull the pain in my whole body. I love modern medicine. If you are ever sicker than a regular Doc or it is after hours I would definately recomend Mercy Hospital.

Nationwide digital medical records - BAD at first it sounds like a good idea so every Dr. knows what other Doctors have done, but isn't that why we seek a second opinion because we want a fresh set of eyes? Not one that is handed someone else's opionion as you walk in the door. I also fear the government getting their grubby fingers into medicine telling the Doctors what they can and can't do. Yesterday I had the works and I'm glad no tests were skipped because some government decided they weren't necessary. I read an article about people lobbying for "Canadian style medicine" I laughed out loud. Do they not know people from Canada come here and pay cash for the best medicine? And my final thought on government ran clinics, have you ever been to one? I did when Brandon was in grad school. They are the worst.

The Smith Family GOOD they called to invite the kids over to play just as we were putting on our shoes for the ER. Nice timing thank you for taking care of us and the kids.

My Husband THE BEST cheesy I know but he was the one that forced me to go to the ER, and has taken good care of me, and gave me a priesthood blessing.

Once again thank you everyone for all your concern, dinners, phone calls, emails, help, and taking over our Sunday teaching so we can stay home a recoup.

Spoke to soon

Ok, so I'm really not better. I woke in the middle of the night with the same raging fever. I'm still alternating Tylenol and Advil and I still have a fever. (day 8) I thought mom's weren't supposed to get sick. I am definately getting a flu shot next year. Should I get them for my kids too? They don't like shots and none of them have ever had the flu. That would be 10 unnecessary shots for Jacob already?

Thank you for all of your kind emails and phone calls. This really would be no fun without friends and family.

Rip Van Winkle

I feel like I have been asleep forever (actually a week) and have awoke to a completely different world. I have been so sick the last week has been a blur, but this morning I got up and my house, left without a mom for too long, was...well you could imagine. The boys had cleaned their rooms and the frontroom. Luckily a good friend showed up and cleaned my kitchen for me (thank you thank you thank you!). Then this afternoon I actually left the house to buy some food. The fridge was pretty empty and I think they have been living on cereal and gas station milk. When I pulled out of the neighborhood I saw a huge line of fully blossomed trees! It was beautiful, and followed by rows of daffodils. How long was I out?

What a great way to get back into real life. Thank God for my boys, good friends, spring blossoms, and daffodils.

A little too helpful

Brandon and I have been sick and it's amazing that none of our kids are. This may be because Joshua loves to use clorox wipes. He gets them out and wipes down just about everything. I thought it was harmless, a little extra disinfecting can't hurt right?

Yesterday he clorox wiped my glass of water inside and out without me noticing. That was so disgusting! It's good I don't have a voice, so I couldn't yell at him. He was after all just trying to help. I'll never be able to smell clorox wipes again without feeling nauseous!

Jackson Violin

Jackson played his violin and did a great job!

Ward Talent Show

Jacob played Star Wars on his keyboard. All of the kids loved it.

Hermit Crabs n Joshua

Here is Joshua and Goog and Teej. I brought them home because Joshua has been asking for a fish and I really don't like the smell of a fish tank, or cleaning it. So far these guys have been much easier. We feed them once a day and let them out to "exercise."

Their exercise was climbing over these cars in Joshua's room. They look so small next to his monster trucks, but they had no problem climbing over them. If you look close you can see one clear in the back right.

I love a good deal

Brandon and I took 3 days off for a get away to Dallas. My dad came in town to watch the boys (thanks Dad!). We had a lot of fun. I realized that I learned from my mom to love a great deal. I bought a shirt from Ann Taylor Loft that was $35 for under $5 after presidents day sales, and a birthday discount coupon. We also saw cereal at a great price. We brought home a few (40 something) boxes for the food storage and the video shows what the boys did with them...

At the end of the line they had a spoon set up so when the last box hit, it threw gobstoppers all over the kitchen, ingenious!

Tornado Season

This picture, taken from the driveway, shows the daylight before and after the storm. The tornado was rain wrapped, but was somewhere in the dark center. This video is not as great as the ones that you see on TV, but the media helicopter was hovering over our house while we were taking this video. It was a wild night, it ended up being about an hour and a half of going to the storm shelter and coming out between storms to look. There were I think three good storms that passed. No one was hurt in the metro, our bishop's neighborhood lost some houses, but the scary stories were all from southern Oklahoma. For those that have never been in a storm shelter you can see it for a second in the video clip. It is basically a metal hole in the floor of the garage with a sliding metal lid.

It's hard to tell from the video but we could watch the clouds swiling around our house. It was a creepy feeling, even though they were the lighter colored less threatening clouds.

High Maintenance

I decided today that I must be a high maintenance child for God to keep happy. I always feel a little guilty praying and begging for him to fix things that I could fix on my own, but it doesn't hurt to ask right? I know he isn't going to make all the stars align every day, but I do know that every day he will answer some small prayer so that I know he is listening and cares.

Today my small miracle started with me driving past the drivers licence building this morning. I groaned and whined as I saw the line clear out the door and groups of people leaning on their cars just waiting. I drove on, not wanting to wait and then still be denied my licence. I have been putting this off forever. I called home for my dad to bring out by birth certificate and figured I would wait till he gets in town and then spend a day at the DMV. When I am frustrated I exercise (I need to be frustrated more often so I could be in shape!) anyways it is a beautiful day so I walked outside until I was sweating it was so hot. I came in and changed into some shorts, and out of the back pocket I pulled my drivers licence and a ticket stub dated November 1st to an OSU game. That was the last time I wore shorts, and the last time I saw my licence.

Woo Hoo!!! I was saved from the DMV, and my spirits are brightened from my small prayer being answered!

Star Wars Convert

I grew up in a family of girls and never saw Star Wars. I've fought against it for some 30 years. I even remember on a date in high school they watched the trilogy and I slept through it (where did I find that guy?). I've seen scenes here and there walking through the front room when the boys have rented it, but never actually sat down to watch it.

Well I could only last so long in a house full of boys that love Star Wars. Yesterday I spent $40 to buy the original trilogy (I laughed at myself the whole time in Target), popped some popcorn and watched all three movies back to back with my boys. It was a late night, and a lot of fun, and really not a bad flick. I couldn't help but laugh when the abominable snowman got his arm chopped off. There are some good lessons, and it was refreshing to see a good triumphs over evil film. If only I could stop humming the imperial march in my head!!!

God Bless the USA

My good friend Paola just became a citizen of the United States. The ceremony was amazing. It made me more appreciative of my citizenship when I watched about 115 people take the oath to be loyal to and protect and defend our country. I know the economy is a wreck, and I'm not real excited about the new administration, but still I believe this to be a great nation, united under God, striving for liberty and justice. It still makes me a little teary eyed to watch the 1st graders say the pledge of allegiance and then bow their heads for a moment of silence and silent prayer each morning at school. Thank you to our armed forces who work to keep our country free, and congratulations Paola!!! We are excited to have you a part of this great nation!
Each new citizen stood as the name of their country of birth was called. Mexico had quite a few, as did India and Vietnam. I am remembering about 50 countries were represented.

Snow Days!!!

I love Snow days !!! (especially two in a row!!!)

This picture is for my family that doesn't live in the midwest. Jeremy is holding what we had to call snow. Really it is just some accumulated small hail.

I have no idea how to get the blue and underlining off...

Joshua sledding. Yes, they were sledding on the frozen grass and it was pretty fast! He is sick, but couldn't be kept inside. He mustered enough energy to sled a few times before he crashed on the couch.

Jeremy sledding down the hill over the slick driveway and down the front grass. They also slid down the neighbor's driveway, but I was too cold to take more than three pictures. Last week it was 75° and now it's I think 17°. I can't adjust that fast.

Thing 1 2 3 and 4

Brandon went to Orlando for a business trip and brought these shirts back for the boys! Some days I think it looks like they have been flying kites in the house.

Jacob's first lego video

Hi i'm Jacob and this is my first time on the blog. This video took 2 days and a lot of effort. Mostly this video speaks for itself. This is like a mime film but soon it will have audio :)

(No LEGO dinosaurs were harmed by plastic lightsabers in the making of this film:)

***I have since updated the video to the one with sound--mom***

Rockets

We made rockets at Grandpa's house over Christmas break. When we got home Brandon made a launcher for us, and the Scouts set off rockets too. Now, we are using the tall skinny water bottles. They go so high they are hard to track on video. I tried, and the video is at the bottom. At the end of the video is a shot of the string that you pull to launch the rockets. The boys have had a lot of fun making and launching rockets. Joshua likes to put a payload of cars or lego guys in his, and the scouts are bringing their improved rockets this week to shoot off again!

Backyard Treehouse

This is the backyard treehouse that Brandon and his brother Monte built last Christmas. Somehow I haven't posted pictures of it, the suspense has been builing for a year now...enjoy!!!

There are no kids isn this video it is just a short clip of the treehouse.

Hummer

A red hummer freshly washed with big custom rims pulled in front of us yesterday. Joshua's comment was...

"That was the most beautifullest thing I have ever seen" He cracks me up! His love of cars is sick.

Laundry Loot

I think it was Ashley that posted her laundry loot once. It makes me laugh every time I do laundry the things that I find. I think I would be rich on the playground with my find today...a bullet, lego guy, school ticket (the good kind) and the little lego lights, which of course you already know are treasured more than real money!

Who needs toys?

Christmas morning Jeremy and Joshua played in the boxes. They even slept in them that night

The boys spent the afternoon playing on a tree that had fallen down. They were breaking off branches to make a hut, and jumping on the branches.

It was a warm day, but I have no idea why Jackson was in shorts. It wasn't that warm!

Snow!!!

We made it back from our trip home to see family. The kids had a lot of fun playing in the snow. Jeremy is going to use this picture for his school snowman picture. I will have to post more pictures when I get caught up from the vacation.