Crazy Dayz of April

We had A LOT go on during the month of April.  I am going to separate it into a few posts, for organizational purposes.  We have 2 birthdays plus Easter, so yeah, it's a bit.

I'll start with the daily fun of the month:

Spencer made our Green Smoothie Face for the month.

 

If you thought my house was anything NEAR quiet, you were wrong. Dead wrong.  One afternoon it was a different kind of noise...and I kinda thought it was fun.  I'm not a grump all the time...yay!

 Spencer has watched his brothers read all kinds of books, in all kinds of positions, so he was giving it a try.  (I think he is demonstrating one of Parker's favorite reading positions.) He grabbed a magazine, assumed the position, and I think he tried to read out loud.  There was a magazine casualty.

It's a Spencer highlight post, because here we see Spencer showing off his mad basketball skills.  Yeah, we're hoping for some money in about 18 years to come from this one.  He'll be tall enough for the NBA, for sure!!!  (At 15 months apart, he is barely a few inches shorter than Kaden...it's crazy. He's only 21 months and wearing 3T.)

Utah Trip: March/April

We made an unexpected trip to Utah.  We obviously planned it, but we thought we would not be going all that way this year due to the difficulty in traveling with four young people. (Really it's all the work it is for me...stress and I need a break for a while, but it's not in my life plan.)


We drove the first 6 hours after Josh got home from work on Wednesday night.  Spencer had thrown up every day for about a week, and I wasn't feeling so hot myself...so it was a crazy time for a trip!  Josh gave us both a blessing just before we loaded in the van.  I had NO more issues, and Spencer did not throw up again.  Ahh, sweet relief of using the priesthood. 

Spencer DID cough the ENTIRE 6 hours.  He had some kind of weird spasm and just kept coughing.  I tried EVERYTHING...essential oils (yes, I packed them), vicks, drinks. I kept thinking he just needed a steam tent. In the last bit of the drive, I finally put in on my lap in the back seat (normally not okay with me) and I breathed with him.  I put ALL my thoughts and energy into helping him relax and breath and not cough.  It worked and he fell asleep.  Once we got into Salt Lake the next day, we went to a health food store and got some other things he needed to fully recover, and he did.  He had TONS of fun...after the first day.

I have to brag, cause I think I have some of the BEST travelers in the world!! 

The rest of the boys were amazing! They only watched one movie during each 6 hours.  They talked, they played, they read books, they colored, they watched the world go by...and the didn't fight.  I love my boys!!  So we got into Salt Lake then West Jordan on Thursday around 5.  It was so wonderful to come 'home' to a meal and family!

So here are some pictures and a recap of what we did:

We made a bucket of popcorn to take on the trip. Spencer was quality control.  He learned all about what goes in the bucket from a picture I have in the kitchen of my dad eating popcorn out of a bucket just like it.  It's hard to tell if he's saying 'Papa' or 'Popcorn'.

Can't have a post without a smoothie face!  This is a good cleanser before a road trip.

 FRIDAY: we spent the day focused on Temple work.  Josh's dad started with the baptism and did all the way through the endowment for his dad (Granddaddy).  It was a beautiful day, both outside the temple and in.  The boys had fun playing basketball, running in the back yard, and hanging out with their Aunties!

SATURDAY: General Conference day.  We watched the sessions and went to dinner with Grandma Winx.  I have some GREAT little boys!  I heard everything and only had to chase Spencer a little bit.

Parker and Tyson were GREAT for ALL the sessions.  They colored, drew pictures and kept track of all the speakers.  Here they are playing BINGO.  It was intense listening!

Spencer was a bit wild.

Legos were played throughout the stay.

Dad/Grandpa exercised for one session.

I made baked french fries between sessions.

Spencer FINALLY had a good appetite!!!

This was Saturday...so green a pretty.

This was Sunday morning....WHAT THE???  Kinda ruined my visiting plans for the day.

Again, good kids during the Sunday sessions...all dressed up in their Sunday Best too.  Such good guys.

 SUNDAY: after some good conference sessions we celebrated Emily's birthday and Fuzzy Grandpa and Grandma Winx visited.  It was great to see them!

Dinner with Fuzzy Grandpa.....

....and Grandma Winx

Spencer loved playing, and having a purse?

They act tough, but inside they are mush!

Not so much mush on the inside...clearly he was having fun.  If you haven't met Kaden, now you have.

And all DID enjoy Emily's birthday celebration.

He might have liked it most.

You have to catch him eating, otherwise he scowls.

Josh just always catches me eating.  I promise that's not all I do.

MONDAY: We spent the day in Grantsville with Aunt Rizz, Uncle Jake and the cousins (Devin, Kaleb and Kenny, whom we brought with us).

 Much fun was had by all.  Especially these little dogs and cats (pretty sure that was their game...it was inspired by my sister's small 'farm').

Josh is goofy, but he was watching the baby chicks.  He also enjoyed the goat and the dog...Rizz, he wants a puppy when you have one to give.

Again, much fun being had and now Rizz has learned she has MONKEYS!!

We didn't do a great job at photographing much of our visit.  Josh's family did, so they'll have the tangible memories.  My kids LOVE going to Utah, so despite the difficulty I have getting them there, we'll be going regularly....well, maybe we'll take ONE year off. 
TUESDAY: Grandma and the Aunties took the boys birthday shopping and out for a pizza lunch.  They LOVED it and are looking forward to building rockets and volcanoes now!!  Such fun birthday gifts!  We also played games and enjoyed one more day of vacation.

We made it home in 12 hours despite Tyson throwing up and almost doing it again.  They were great travelers once again...only 2 movies and lots of good times.  We feel blessed.  Also, we are glad it's only 12 hours...we know it could be worse (Memphis was 24)!!

Thanks for all the fun...and sorry to those we didn't have time to see.  We'll see you next time!

2 weeks of March

I guess bi-weekly is admirable.

So, we must back up to St. Patrick's Day.  I guess even before then, the boys wanted to do something for Dr. Seuss' birthday, so we had green eggs, no ham...aaaaand, I forgot to take pictures, or else I was sleeping, who knows.

Usually I go all out for St. Patrick's Day, I've even been known to throw a party.  Not so this year...too many other things on my plate, sick kids among them.  I took Tyson to the see the doctor, where he tested positive for strep.  With no antibiotics, he got better within a few days!! Then got a cold, bummer.

However, St.Patrick's day was not a total loss....

We had GREEN Hawaiian Haystacks for dinner:

Parker's fave dinner.

Despite the painful look on his face, Tyson loves it too.

Spencer also enjoys them...and loves to say CHEESE.

The green smoothie made it's way into the day, and Kade always requests a picture of his smoothie face.

We all wore lots-o-green!! Even to the dr!

And I made a homemade cake with fluffy green frosting!

 Tyson and Dad set out a Leprechaun trap the night of St.Patty's, hoping Leprechauns still look for gold.

Turns out they DO come then too!  And leave boxed cereal...a real treat around here!!!

Spencer experimented with his pockets during the last week.  It was so dang cute.  He's really, really tall, so even though he's only 19 months, he looks like a big, little kid with his little hands tucked away.

Who wouldn't love to go outside when they had these little darlin's to greet them!!  My front and back yard make me smile even thinking about them.  The crocus have graced us beautifully, with lots of sunshine to encourage them, and the daffodils and tulips are patiently waiting for their turn.

I mean, come on, that's beautiful after the long, cold, gray winter!

All the boys have taken their turns being sick.  Vomit, coughing, runny noses, and general unhealthy has graced us (hopefully for the last time) this Spring.  This was on Tuesday, the 22nd.  Parker and Tyson both took sick leave from school.  I encouraged them to sit in the sun for 15 minutes of Vitamin D treatment.  Good rays were had by all.

Then the missionaries came for lunch, because new mission rules say they can only come to dinner if we have investigators here.  So, they came and tried out our healthy rendition of lunch....green smoothies, almonds and open face homemade peanut butter sandwiches.

And here again, a smoothie face picture.

Homemade volley ball net for Wednesday's fun.  Note Parker in PJs...he stayed home another day, which was fine. Better to vomit at home than school.

This morning Josh made DELICIOUS french toast...and I made a fun Pina Colada smoothie....so here again, smoothie face picture.

Tyson always like to be in on picture action too...cute kid.

Spencer was a good sport too...but his breakfast didn't stay down.  Poor little guy...he's been sick the longest. Hopefully we're on the upswing now!

March thus far....

I have been bad about reporting weekly. Our lives seem somewhat routine, therefore non-reportable. Also, I forget to take pictures. Words without pictures are boring.

March 1st my newest nephew was born.  His name is Jeffery Michael Black.  He has kidney, possibly liver, and heart problems.  It was a scary start, to be sure, but he has proven he's a fighter.  Everything has been much less severe than it could have been, and although he's still in the NICU, he's doing well.  When he gains a bit more weight, he'll be headed home until he's big enough for his heart surgery.  My brother and his wife are troopers, and although they are stressed to the max, they are doing well and dealing with it.

Besides them, we've had friends in Moses Lake and elsewhere dealing with stressful life issues, so I've been making meals and sending emails, phone calls or whatever else I think someone needs.  The days I have people to care for are the best days...otherwise it's just cleaning the house, which is a little lame, albeit necessary.

Kaden is talking SO amazingly well.  His full sentences make me smile, and laugh, every day!!  He is so serious sometimes.  One morning he told Josh and me that he loved God, and the He was going to lead him, and guide him, and walk beside him.  We told him we would do that too because we are his parents, kind and dear, and that we love Heavenly Father and Jesus too.  He told us we are not parents.  He's pretty sure that anyone can only be the names by which he is familiar with.  Therefore we are not parents...only mom and dad.

Spencer, wow...that child is too much.  I want to take a day to write down everything he does!  Today's highlight was spilling lemonade (which we NEVER have) ALL over the kitchen floor, then running through it in his socks and spreading it all over the rest of the floor.  Yes, I was in the kitchen...or that area anyway...but no, I had NO idea.  He's so sneaky.  Also, his favorite thing is to bump knuckles. He's always thrusting his little fist at me.

When he's in a high chair, he's okay...until he is done eating, then it seems a requirement that he throws his remaining food on the floor...in a flash...no warning.

Tyson lost ANOTHER tooth!  It was last Sunday night.  The tooth fairy didn't come for two whole nights!!  We reassured him that she doesn't work on Sunday, and then she was probably catching up on Monday...whew, luckily she remembered JUST before she drifted off to sleep Tuesday night!

2 little teeth gone so quick...and a new one well on its way already!

Parker and Tyson have been writing a novel together.  It's REALLY good!  They based it on a computer game and their pretend play they did one day.  Tyson is the illustrator, Parker the writer.  Parker is planning out the steps he needs to take, including finding a publisher.

We have been lazy watching movies more often than usual.......and busy painting Parker's room (creating an outer space theme in there for him), putting shelves up and organizing the garage, feeding missionaries, and rewarding the boys for all their work around the house by going out for ice cream....and trying to get ourselves more 'prepared' (I've taken an inventory of everything in the house--boy are we LOW). 

So far we've liked the warmer weather this month too!!  Spencer asks to go outside every day, and is sad when it's a bit too cold, rainy, or windy.  He can stay out for over an hour and be happy!  He has enjoyed 'helping' me get our strawberry patch under control...I've LOVED it too...the sunshine on my skin feels great!

Last Sunday. We ALL squeezed on one chair.

That's more than I should write...cause it's too much to read! But that's us for now.

Almost through February!!

We had a nice week.
Biggest news: we have officially lived in Moses Lake for ONE WHOLE YEAR!!!  I can't really believe it.  I am not 'used' to it, nor do I like it yet...but now people are telling me it takes 2 years, so we'll see.  We still love our home, and we love the people here, and Josh LOVES his job...and we've paid off 2 small student loans already...so we're surviving.  But we miss family and friends, always will.

I filled my week with service which brightened my mood and my whole outlook on life.  If I can keep it up, this week promises to be bright too!  Josh and I spent the latter half of the week helping a family move. It was great to get out of the winter blues and think about someone else for a while. 


On Monday, the 21st, it was finally 'warm' enough for the kids to go outside.  They stayed out for more than 15 minutes...and came in excited and cold.

Spencer LOVES going out.  He stands by the back door and makes noise...since he can't talk yet.  He did that A LOT this week after he got to play Monday.

Parker DOESN'T love outside. But he went willingly...that was nice.

Kaden wanted water for the squirt gun. I said it was too cold.

Tyson would live with any kind of sport ball in his hands, and stay outside all the time, if he could.  He and Spence will be great friends (notice Spence in the background).

Even though it was cold, I decided to try out a new recipe I heard for homemade 'raw food' ice cream.  It took a while, but it was a hit!  Strawberries, Almonds, Cabbage and water...and they all ate it happily.  Then they complained they were cold.

Look at those handsome boys!! Yikes...the ladies are gunna love 'em!

Spencer looked like he was in time out and I thought it was adorable.  Thing is, he can climb up that chair on his own...and turn off lights, and reach into EVERY drawer, and climb on ALL the counters, and find every thing in the world he shouldn't touch...and he does it on a daily basis.  Yes. I. am. busy.

 

Tyson got to go to a party on Saturday!  It was just a fun thing one of his friend's family does in the winter for something to look forward to.  He was thrilled. He got to make a pizza at Dominos and then watch a movie and play games. 

I did our bi-monthly trip to Tri-Cities for shopping...but I took a friend and enjoyed it SOO much more.  It really is drudgery to me to have to shop, so it was nice to go with someone who loves it and made it fun.  I might just 'get used' to this town if I keep mixing things up!