New Piano, Wax Museum, Pinewood Derby, 3/4 - 3/10

The beginning of this week was especially busy.
Sunday - We had a very nice fast and testimony meeting, the spirit was very strong.  My lesson went pretty well, the kids weren't too chatty.

Monday - I was gathering up a prop I needed for Tyler's costume when I received a text from my piano tuner.  (I had been asking him for advice on buying used pianos)  He told me that he was tuning a piano and that the family was going to sell it.  He said it was in great condition and that it was a good deal.  I was so excited!  I had been looking a lot for the past 2 weeks and hadn't been able to find a nice piano in the price range we were hoping for.  So I called the lady who was selling and it and made plans to go look at it that day.  I had to hurry and go grocery shopping, and then after I put the food away and drove up to her house (50 min away). 

The piano looked so nice.  It was older, 1975, but in really good shape.  There was some fading on the front of the keys, but the ivory was still great and it sounded so nice.  It was a Yamaha which was an extra plus since I know that they are usually very nice pianos.  Anyway, I stayed and visited with her for a while and told her that I would like to buy it.  I had stopped by Wells Fargo before I left so I had some cash on hand.  She wrote me a reciept and I told her I would arrange for some movers to come pick it up during the week.  I was so excited to have found a good piano!!  I drove back home and had a few minutes to spare before I had to pick up the kids. 

On Mondays I've been helping my friend with a show that she is putting on: "Lemonade."  It is a cute show.  So I always have dinner in the over or in a crock pot so that Damon can help get that started before I get home.  We had to be quick this time because Tyler had his Wax Museum project in the evening.  In 5th grade the students choose a person to do some research on and they write a report.  Then they make a poster at home and dress up like them and pose for the evening while family walks around the walls looking at all of the historical figures.  It is pretty fun.  Tyler said he got pretty bored just sitting there, but he made a very nice Theodore Roosevelt.  He was just fine picking the same person as Damon so we could use the costume again.  Thank you Tyler!

Tuesday - I was a little selfish and went to see The Greatest Showman again. I just loved it and really wanted to see it in the theater again.  I was a little disappointed that the sound didn't seem as good the second time.  The probably just had it turned down since it was a matinee, but I still enjoyed the show. 

We had the pinewood derby Tuesday evening.  This was Chris's first one and he was pretty excited about it.  We tried to tell Tyler and Chris to not get their hopes up too much since some of the dads in the ward really spend some time on their cars and we don't.  The bummer about the night was the track.  Doug had gone over the night before to help set it up and they couldn't get the computer part of it working.  They thought they just needed the cars to get it to work, well it still wasn't working.  They finally got some help and figured it out, but it took 45 minutes.  We didn't start racing until 7:50.  It was a good thing we didn't have too many cars and so we were done about 8:15 - they were good and keeping the races going.  Tyler was pretty sad that his car didn't do very well.  His car just kept shaking back and forth hitting the track.  Chris did ok, but not great.  Chris ended up getting 3rd in his den (but I think there are only 4/5 boys in his den) and Tyler didn't place.  He was pretty sad since this was his last time, but oh well - he did like the look of his car so that was good.

Wednesday - I went shopping with my friend Kari to celebrate her birthday.  We went to Ross and spent all of our time there.  I was determined not to buy too much since we had spent a lot on the piano and tires for the truck and van, but the problem was that I kept finding the things that I had been looking for for the past few weeks.  So I ended up getting a new purse, sunglasses, work-out leggings and a tie for Doug.  I also bought a new shirt just for fun.  I felt kind of guilty afterwards, but really I would have bought these things anyway, I just happened to find all the ones I wanted at the same time.  Kind of good and bad at the same time. 

Wednesday afternoons are kind of busy now.  Tyler has started taking real piano lessons and the teacher lives 25 minutes away.  So this week I had Tyler ride his bike to a meeting point and I drive from there to take him.  The traffic is so bad that we really have to hustle to make it in time. I love his  teacher, we are doing the Suzuki method, along with regular music reading.  Tyler and I have both learned so much already.  I'm excited to watch Tyler grow and become a great musician. 

Doug took Damon to soccer in the evening and I had book club after the kids went to bed. 

Thursday and Friday were a little bit easier - nothing going on in the evenings.  I had been talking to moving companies on Tuesday and Wednesday and picked one to have it delivered on Thursday.  So that afternoon it was delivered.  I was afraid that they would come while I was picking up the kids from school, but we got home right as they were pulling up.  It looks so pretty and everyone is having fun playing it.  I got out some of my old piano books and played through some of my songs.  It brought back a lot of memories. 

Out with the old: bought on craigslist in Vernal

In with the new!

Friday I helped in the library at school and then the kids got out early for Spring Break.  We went to a park and enjoyed the great weather.  It isn't too hot yet, but it is coming.  So we have to take advantage while we can.

Saturday we cleaned and Doug took Tyler to football.  They lost and Tyler didn't play very well.  Hopefully he will learn from his mistakes and do better next week.  Doug and Tyler picked up some flowers and mulch on the way home.  That will be our project on Monday.

A week of Sick and Texas Winter Days 1/14 - 1/20

Monday was Martin Luther King Jr. Day so we went with about half of the ward to the Aquarium.  It was great weather compared to what we had been having.  It was a bit cool, especially in the morning, but by the afternoon with the sun out it was beautiful.  The kids enjoyed the fish and exhibits and of course the white tiger.  No one was brave enough to touch the manta rays except me.  Damon and Tyler had fun going around with their buddies.  It was nice to go with friends so that we could all help each other out.  Chris and the girls stayed with me for the most part and we eventually got the girls to go on the bigger drop ride.  They loved it!  I enjoyed it too, it made me giggle.  But after a few times especially after lunch I was done. :) 

 They only have some basic rides at the aquarium, but they are perfect for my family.  A carousel, a Ferris Wheel, a kiddie drop ride, and a bigger drop ride.  They have a train ride too, but it was closed. :( 

 We were all tired by the end, but it was a great trip. 

The rest of the week was not so great.  It was the week of being sick.  Jenna and Kaylee had been sick with fevers over the weekend, but as long they had some medicine they were doing ok.  Chris started to get sick on Monday night.  Tuesday morning I got a call from the Dr. office saying that Kaylee's culture from last week came back positive for strep throat - so she had had it all along and now had probably passed it around to everyone - uggh!.  Anyway, I took Chris and Jenna and Kaylee into the Dr to get them tested.  Jenna was positive for the flu and strep throat, and Chris just had the flu.  So we stocked up on Gatorade and Tylenol and ibuprofen and I got some antibiotics for Jenna and Kaylee.  The other bummer is that Doug was out of town this week.  He went to Charlotte for work.  So I got to take care of a sick family all by myself.  sigh, oh well. 

Then on Wednesday, I started feeling sick.  Of course right!  So we all just bummed around and were sick together.  My awesome friends brought our family chicken noodle soup and rolls one of the evenings - it was so good.  Too bad my kids were picky about it. 

The other amazing thing was that school was canceled on Tuesday and Wednesday for winter weather conditions - yep it was going to be below freezing with chance of snow and icy roads.  It makes all of us from Utah smile.  As you can see we did get a skiff of snow and the roads did get a bit icy, but ya know - don't think you needed to close down the school.  Even some businesses closed down so their workers didn't have to drive on the roads.  But it was nice for us because then our sick kids didn't have to miss as much school anyway. 

 Thursday Damon started feeling sick, so he missed school Thursday and Friday.  Tyler was the only one to go to school on Thursday.  Jenna and Kaylee were feeling better by Friday so that was good since Jenna had earned Hall of Fame.  She was quite excited to run through the halls.  Chris and Damon stayed home Friday.

Doug got home on Friday and I put him right to work.  I was still feeling terrible.  I had warmed up a shepherd's pie but he was able to get home and feed the kids.  I missed going to Girls Night Out, which I was totally bummed about, but I got to rest a lot and read a lot of books.  I read two books while I was sick: Small Great Things, and Radium Girls.

Saturday I was able to function a bit and helped clean the house.  Tyler started football and Doug took him.  He had a great game and caught 3 touchdown passes.  Tyler was on cloud 9. 

It was a very long week, but by the end things were looking better.  Tired of sick kids though.  I really tried to keep the sick ones away from Damon and Tyler - I made them stay upstairs and even took their meals up there so they weren't in the kitchen.  It worked for Tyler, but not for Damon.  But I was very glad that Tyler and Doug stayed healthy. 

Chris's Baptism 1/7 -1/13

Chris had a well checkup on Monday and Damon went as well to get a booster shot from a previous vaccine.  Chris was glad he didn't have to get a shot.  Chris is growing well and is in about the 50th% percentile in weight and height.  He is growing very similar to Damon.  

I had book club this week and I'm sure a bunch of other things that I just don't remember.  It was great to send the kids back to school on Tuesday - I have to say I like my quiet house during the day.  

My beautiful Belle - Kaylee. 

 It warmed up one of the days and we went to the park.  This is Chris acting out falling over.

 And Kaylee was dancing.

 Chris got crystal aquarium thing for his birthday.  I forgot to take a picture when it was completely done, but the kids had fun watching them grow.

 I'm cold a lot at home, our house is drafty.

 Kaylee was cold too.  I guess we should turn the heat up or something.

Thursday Kaylee started not feeling well,  she had a slight fever too.  She stayed home from school Thursday and Friday.  I even took her into the Dr on Friday last minute because I wanted to know if she was contagious with the flu or strep - so we wouldn't give it to other people.  Her tests were negative so she seemed to just have a bad cold. 

 Saturday was Chris's baptism.  It was a great day.  We gave Chris his new scriptures and baptism towel.  He also got a new journal, scripture marker, tie tack, and book. 

 The program was at 2:30 so we had time to clean and do our normal Saturday stuff in the morning.  Then after lunch we went over early to set up, practice our song, and take some pictures. 

The baptism program went very well.  On a table I had some pieces paper out for friends to write Chris a note that I put in a little book, along with some pictures of Chris.  We sang the rainbow baptism song and I Am a Child of God.  Chris asked his old primary teacher to give the talk on baptism.  We sang "I will be what I believe" and I bore my testimony and lead some singing while Doug and Chris changed their clothes. Damon gave the talk on the Holy Ghost, and the bishop had a fun visual lesson during his closing remarks.  The kids helped make noise so that Chris could't hear the still small voice of the Holy Ghost.  The program went well, however the girls started not feeling well and Kaylee didn't sing at all for our song.  Kaylee had a fever in the morning and I had forgotten to give her some medicine before we left.  Then Jenna started running a fever while we were there.  Afterwards they just sat on their chairs asking to go home, I felt so bad for them.

Afterwards we had some refreshments.  My friend and visiting teacher helped me with the food for the baptism.  She made chocolate chip cookies and a veggie tray.  I made molasses sugar cookies and a fruit tray.  It was perfect.  We had a lot of support from the ward since none of our family could be there.  Lots of Chris's friends came too.  He invited his teachers and some friends from school, but they didn't come.

Chris said he felt warm and good inside even though the water was cold (it had been filled in the morning and had just been sitting for hours).  We are so proud of Chris for making this important decision.  It was a great day.

In the evening we had a pizza mishap.  The box said to put the pizza right on the rack, well, it just got a soggy bottom and basically just fell through the rack.  We managed to save most of it and finished cooking it on a pan.  Live and learn.

Happy New Year and Happy Birthday Chris 12/31 - 1/6/2018

Happy New Year!  New Year's Eve was on a Sunday this year.  We played some games in the evening and watched a little bit of TV.  The girls we put to bed earlier and the boys stayed up until 10:00.  Doug and I watched a showed until 12:00 then went to bed.  I guess we need to celebrate just a little bit more.  Crazy to think it's 2018 now.

The kids had fun with their blowers, I didn't realize that they made a horn sound too or I probably wouldn't have bought them.  It got old pretty quick. 

 Chris turned 8 years old on the 4th!  It was a great day.  The kids were still out of school so we had his party on his actual birthday. 

 Chris still likes Pokemon!

 And Legos!

 We gave Chris a big punching bag game - the numbers light up and tell you how many hits etc.  All the boys loved it at the party.  The bummer was that they lights died after that first day.  I returned it and the second one had a hole in it.  We tried one more time and the third had at hole in it too, so I just used some super glue and duct tape and called it good.  sheesh

 For the party we made some wooden race cars.  They are the kits that you can buy at Lowe's.  The idea was great, but the execution was a little rough.  Some of the kits didn't have the holes lined up very well so some of the boys had a hard time getting their cars to line up evenly.  I was a bit frustrated and would have liked Doug around to drill some new holes for us.  But we managed alright and I think the boys had fun. 

 We played a simple game that the kids knew from school called 1,2. 

 Chris received some fun presents from friends.

 We had 7 friends come over: Carter Call, Owen Lewis, Henri Hope, Luke Smith, Ayden Ruschoff, Hunter Bruschke, and Eli Rogers.

 We had pizza and Root Beer with apples and carrots, and of course cake and ice cream.

 They had a little bit of time to play some Xbox - taking turns playing Rocket League.

 Happy Birthday Chris we love you.  You are a fun, silly crazy boy.  Chris is very creative and can be super sweet with his sisters.  He likes to play with Legos, video games, and Pokemon.  He still loves animals and learning about things.  He likes jokes and listening to me read stories.  Chris is a great addition to our family. 

As is tradition we took Chris out for dinner.  We were going to go to McDonald's but he was ok with Sonic since it was closer.  He did a great job of eating in the car.  Happy Birthday Chris!

This was the last full week off of school.  We played poison ball, games at home, and just hung out.  Damon did have an eye appointment and we ordered him some more contacts.  But it really was just a nice week to gear up to go back to school.