Burley Time

On Tuesday, I rode with Sara and her kids to Burley. Mandy and her kids were already there. We went to the good old Burley fair. Of course we had to eat at the Burley West Stake booth, and the kids enjoyed seeing the animals.

Maddie eating her hot dog

Sisters, 4 year old girls, and 1 year old boys

Maddie, Abby, Kaisa, and cows

Grandpa Paul helping Maddie get to the car safely

Garen has discovered how wonderful Popsicles are.

On Wednesday morning we took the kids to the parade. The girls had a great time filling their bags with candy and the boys wanted to run in the rode or take a nap. But we had a fun time.

It was so fun to stay up late and watch movies with my sisters and my mom. Although we spent the majority of our time entertaining the 6 kids, it was fun to be together.

The girls played out side in the pool for hours and Mandy created some Blue's Clues paw prints that we hid on clues and then they had to figure out where the treasure was. In the treasure was some things to paint and some pop-its and some candy.

My mom tried to tire the girls out by taking them to Storybook park for awhile-they head a blast! We also took them to the Mt. View playground.

Joren, Garen, and Colton

Maddie and Garen

Maddie and Abby had fun finding the states they live (or will live) in.

Fun on the slide

5 Minutes in the Life of Garen

I just wanted to give you a glimpse of my crazy, fun little boy-Garen. All theses pictures were taken within five minutes: (notice he has no pants on because he won't hold still long enough for me to put them on him)

Garen grabbing the camera

Garen pouting on the floor because I won't give him the camera

Garen rolling and laughing after pouting for 5 sec.

Garen pulling the laundry off my bed

Garen climbing in the laundry basket

Garen slamming all the doors shut.

Garen is such a fun kid, but he does not stop-ever.

So tonight, I was at my class and Andy gave the kids a bath. Garen was done and then it was Maddie's turn. I get home and hear all kinds of laughing upstairs. I go in the bathroom and there's Maddie in the tube and Garen sitting next to her in his pajamas. The crazy kid ran away from Andy and climbed into the bathtub before Andy knew what was happening. I didn't think to take a picture until I had pulled off his PJ's and his diaper. We don't usually bathe the kids together, but I guess Garen is in charge these days.

A Lovely Sunday

Today was a nice relaxing Sunday. Church was great-full of great speakers and the kids were good. I am still very impressed with our little 12 year old Sunday school class. They are all very intelligent and know the scriptures much better than I did at that age. Do you girls even remember listening or participating during Sunday school when we were 12? All I remember is being sent to sit in the corner or chalk being thrown at me. Don't get me wrong the kids do get distracted and off on tangents, but they are wonderful kids that are easy to teach and do fun things with. I really love this calling.
After church we went out to Clarkston for dinner with Andy's parents, grandparents, and sister. It was a wonderful evening with good food and games. While we were out there, we say a beautiful rainbow.

Maddie standing in front of the rainbow.

The kids playing with my sunglasses on the ride home.

Sister Weekend

On Friday my sister, Mandy, her family, and my mom came down. My mom watched all the kids while we went to dinner at Maddox. The food was great and it was fun to spend time with Mandy.

Madelyn and Kaisa playing

After my family left Andy, Maddie, and I went to the Martin Harris Pageant in Clarkston. Garen stayed with Grandma Jann. The pageant was wonderful and I think Maddie really enjoyed going with us, even though sometimes she was more interested in the spotlights, the glowing bugs, and the stars, then she was the play.

Maddie by Martin Harris' Grave

Then Saturday morning Maddie and I went to Syracuse to my sister Sara's house. Then me and Sara met Mandy at the temple. (My Mom babysat all the kids once again)(and Andy took Garen to Bear Lake with him for a family reunion). Me and my sisters went to the Joseph Smith movie-it was soooo good. It gives me such an appreciation for what I have and the life I am blessed with!

Me Mandy, and Sara

After the temple we all got to go shopping at IKEA. What Fun. There were so many things in there I wanted! But I guess we cant have everything we want.

Cousins, Abby, Maddie, and Kaisa

It was a wonderful weekend and I'm glad I got to be with both my sisters; since Mandy lives in Boise and I don't get there very often and Sara is moving to Arizona in the next month. And I am also very glad my wonderful mom was there to make everything possible by taking such good care of the kids!

A Day at the Fair

This afternoon, Me, Maddie, and Garen met some friends at the fair (Andy went fishing). And watching the way Maddie ran around and played her heart out, you would have never guest she had been in the ER till 11pm the night before.
We sat on the grass and watched the dancers and singers. Maddie was so excited to see a young girl sing the Hannah Montana song! Maddie is a big fan of Hannah (a Disney girl for those of you who don't know)

The kids showing off some dance moves.

Me and Maddie enjoying the music

Maddie and her friend going through the fun house

We stopped to see some animals, then back to the rides.

Maddie being a dare devil on the roller coaster.
It was a fun afternoon. Madelyn would have loved to stay longer, but Garen had had enough after 4 hours. But we will be to the Burley fair next week, so Maddie will get to enjoy everything all over again!

A Wonderful Day, Followed By A Trip To The ER

Yesterday morning Andy, the kids, and I went over the the Rec center and played basketball for awhile. It was fun to see Maddie trying so hard to make a basket! Later Andy to Maddie to the Movie "Underdog." They had a great time-Maddie thought the movie was so funny.

About 6:30 we went and had dinner with our ward in the park, followed by a swimming party. We were having a great time swimming and going down the water slides. Maddie is so crazy in the pool. She gets so excited now that she can swim on her own. She is always diving under the water and swimming everywhere.


But right before it was time to go home. Maddie flung herself under the water, swam forward right into the side wall. She came out of the water crying and blood everywhere. She had split her eye open just under her eyebrow. It didn't look to horrible but it was pretty deep and it opened pretty far when she would close her eye.

We headed to the ER, where the doctor confirmed she needed (5) stitches. And since the sewing was going to be so close to the eye we had to sedate her. She was very brave the whole time, she didn't cry until they gave her the shot. It was kind of sad to see her all out of it with her eyes twitching and her gurgling. But as soon as they started giving her shots around her eye and sewing it up-I was very glad she was sedated-she would have been flipping out! It took her about 15 minutes to start coming to. She got pretty funny for awhile. I told her they would bring her a Popsicle and asked her what color she wanted. She kept puckering her lips and opening her mouth like she wanted to talk but it wouldn't come. Finally, really slowly she said b-l-u-e. And she continued to look dizzily around and repeated blue, blue, blue. She continued to say things that didn't make sense and repeat herself. I wish I would've had the video camera.

They sent us home around 11pm and Maddie was pretty much back to normal-just couldn't walk yet. They did a great job stitching her up. They said it shouldn't really even scar up at all. But we made it through our first ER visit-I knew it was bound to happen with one of the kids eventually.

Here is what her eye looked like this morning-much better! It's still pretty sore and uncomfortable, but looking much better.

A little Hip Hop

For the last 4 weeks I've been taking a hip hop class and it is so fun!

I'm the kind of person who always needs to be doing something different or new for myself. Don't get me wrong I love being home with the kids, but sometimes I feel like all I do is help the kids to learn and grown, while I sit on a stand still. I'm so used to having work or school and the last couple months I haven't had that. So I started my 'me time' by joining an adult hip hop class. I may look like a goof when I try and do the moves, but it is sooo much fun.

The class is at Maddie's gymnastics place; and while in the class I became friends with the owner (who isn't much older than me) of the place and also a very prominent person in the school district, who is looking for someone in Special Ed to work twice a week. So I guess this hip hop class must be destiny! :)

In the class we learn whole dances to songs as well as tricks-including the tricks in the pictures. We are also learning the beginning steps of spinning on your head (I doubt I'll ever get there).

I think I'll continue these classes for awhile, but my next thing is Spanish classes.

Audios Amigos

I started reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows 0n Monday night and I finished it today. What a wonderful story the Harry Potter books have been, but now it's all over. I can't wait to see the next two movies.

Andy had the day off yesterday so Andy and I got to go to the temple in the morning, eat lunch at Olive Garden and then take the kids to The Fun Park. Maddie was so hard to keep up with-she would dart through the tubes, climb up the nets and fly down the slide-crazy little girl. Garen didn't care to much for the huge slide, but he did like snoopy.

Maddie was so proud when she finally climbed up the red slanted, squashy wall. It took all her effort, but she made it up there. After the Fun Park we went to Cold Stone for ice cream-yum. Maddie was very excited to get cotton candy ice cream with sprinkles (I thought it was kind of yucky, but she loved it).

Kids

Garen is now climbing on everything in site. He stands on top of his toys, he grabs onto the covers of the bed and pulls himself up. He gets Tupperware out of the cupboard and stands on it so he can get on the couches. There is a stool in the bathroom he loves to drag out and use it to get to things or just to stand on. And of course with climbing comes falling (so hopefully we avoid any trips to the ER). But Garen sure is growing up and becoming quite the little funny character.

Madelyn's new gymnastics leotard.