This summer in Recap

We had so much fun this summer, I didn't stop to blog. After the kids finished their school year, we sat around doing nothing for about a week--well not nothing, we jumped on the trampoline, planted some tomato's, decorated our new rooms (Kaleb cut out little pictures of Pokemon, and stuck them to the wall), and we just relaxed. Then we were done with that pretty quickly and took off on a massive road trip. We drove up to Washington State, to see old friends and help Miss Robyn move. It was so good to see everyone again, and I'm not sure I helped Robyn as much as I should have considering I was always out 'playing' however, I figure as I took her girls with me most of the time, that has to count for something. We stayed a couple of nights with Kathleen, and she was gracious as always. It was such a great chance to see how's she is doing. Then we stayed over at Jessie and Jason's house. This was a blast! The kids loved playing Dance revolution with Jeffery and Jonah, and Jessie and I stayed up every night watching shows until our eyes grew dry and blurry forcing us to sleep. Jessie was exhausted by the end of our trip, but she was such a good sport and we had such fun! The first few days we spent painting Miss Robyn's house. Tavy was in heaven with the girls, and even painting and cleaning can be a blast when you're doing it with good friends. This is about the time I acquired the name 'master packer,' and though I only packed the pictures and other delicate items, I'm going to own it because I've moved enough that I feel I've earned it. We took the girls to a primary party and their very cool teachers had arranged a 'shove the other kid's face in a plate of whip cream' game. The teachers were such good sports about us coming and my kids were so glad they got to crash. Thursday night Amy had a going away party for Miss Robyn. It was so fun to see everyone and I could just feel how much Robyn's family meant to the huge amounts of people who showed up to say good-by and wish them well. It was so nice to see everyone and I still feel like they are a piece of me, like I finally gave in and grew up in Washington, so it's a part of me--or there maybe there's something addictive in the water, either way, I'm hooked. Friday night we said good-bye to miss Robyn and the girls after their piano recital. It was sad for everyone but me, who realized they moved only five hours from my dad's house in Idaho--yeah me! We went to a movie with Jessie and Jason, that night, and Tavy lost her tooth, making her toothless in the front. The next day Jessie spent in Squim picking strawberries. She brought them home, and they were so beautiful, I almost wanted one, but as I'm highly allergic, I stayed away from them. And now we know Kaleb is highly allergic as well. I spent the night in the ER with Kaleb who'd gone into anaphylactic shock. He was a trooper, and after they pumped him full of steroids his body calmed down and about three in the morning we finally made it back to Jessie's house. I tried to convince him he needed to pump some iron and take full advantage of the steroids, but he wasn't having it. We were supposed to leave that next morning, but I was afraid to drive on no sleep, so we stayed through Sunday--and Jessie and Jason were saints about it, I love knowing I have such good friends out their. We went to church and I've always loved our old ward in Washington, so that was nice. Then we went over to Amy's house and walked with her and her boys down to the park by the Sound. It was a blast, the kids turned over rocks and caught whatever they could manage to hold with out squealing. Tavy collected shells, and insisted on taking them with us stinking up the car the whole way down to Utah. We made it down to Utah about the same time as Becky and her family, and Danny and Debbie. We had two great fourth of July celebrations, since we were in Utah--which does the always celebrates the 4th right, but it was on Sunday, so we had a parade in Kaysville on Saturday--fireworks at Davis high with my all of my family, and Grandma Bab's Grandpa Scott, Brad and Mo, and Amy and plenty of Glow sticks--we managed to only lose the twins once. Then we had another parade on Monday. We went to the carnival in Layton City and the kids almost went into heat exhaustion jumping on huge inflatable toys--we lost the twins a few more times--but there were inflatable toys so what are you going to do? We went over to Nick and Lindsey's house that night and Nick started lighting off fire works. The kids each got a sparkler and held it until the dancing light got close enough to there hands that it made them nervous enough to drop it. At which point of course we all rushed to stomp it out. Ah, you have to love the fourth of July. Happy Birthday USA! After the fourth we went up to Idaho where poor sweet Debbie was riding the four wheeler and got a shiner, just before her luncheon. My mom had a luncheon at the Lion House so all of our relatives could meet Debbie. It was nice, the food was great and every one loved Debbie, but then how could you not? Chad had flown in for Danny and Debbie's lunch, and the next day we all drove back to California. After we came home, Jessie and her boys drove down from Washington--it happened to be at the same time my mom came to visit. Jessie was introduced to California, Grandma Doris style, and after the delights of In-N-Out Burger, Fairy Tale Land, Water World, China Town, the Golden Gate Bridge, an Oakland A's game, and Ghirideli Square, everyone was exhausted, and just wanted a day at home doing nothing. After Jessie and my parent's left, we had a few quiet days and I realized that Kaleb was having a harder time breathing as he slept since his allergic reaction. His tonsils have always been huge so I knew something needed to be done. However, we were only a week and a half away from school starting again, and I was really worried I would have to pull him out of school for two weeks to get it done because in California, there is so much red tape even getting into a doctor--let alone getting his tonsils out I couldn't do it quickly. After I spent a few days trying to figure out how to transfer all Kaleb's information so I could get him on a waiting list for an appointment in a few months, despite his being hospitalized--I just decided I would take him back to Utah and get it done. I left for Utah on Sunday after church, and by Wednesday, Kaleb's tonsils were out--tah da. It's funny it was so easily done at last. Doctor after doctor, state after state, time after time of hearing, "Oh, we really need to get those out, let's set a time for a sleep test--or any other test that will take months--oh you're moving next week, well find a doctor where you're going to do it." It is such a relief to have it done--and I still have to check to see if he's breathing some nights because he's grown so quiet. Kaleb couldn't drive home for ten days, so we just hung out at my mom's, and the Kids missed the first three days of school, but I think that's better than two weeks somewhere in the middle. My mom bought Kaleb a DSI as an early Birthday Present and he was pretty out of it most of the time, so I just let him play it. I think my wow--really? What were you thinking moment was when I figured since we were there anyway, I'd make Kaleb and Tavy go to the dentist. Poor Kaleb had six teeth pulled and a spacer put in on top and bottom, and Tavy got three teeth pulled and a spacer put in. On the bright side we did learn that the tooth fairy pays double for teeth pulled by the dentist--especially for little boys who just had their tonsils out. I think it's safe to say that I just let them veg for days with out expecting anything out of them except to take their medicine. I don't know if this was the best move as Kaleb is now extremely attached to his DSI, and he spent a half hour 'going to the bathroom' after I told him to turn it off. It was a relief to go back to school. Who ever heard of the regiment of a school schedule to slow you down? After the few hard adjustments change naturally brings Kaleb and Tavy have already made friends at their new school and are glad to be away from the car. The summer was a blast, thank-you to everyone who made it possible. Especially Chad who was such a good sport when he had to miss out on some of the fun to work.

Spring Sports

This year we did Spring Sports with the kids. Kaleb was on the Cub's baseball team, and Tavy was on team Italia for soccer. Both were exceptional, and I think if they could get their Mom to quiet down from the side lines they may be willing to play again in the fall. Tavy was exceptional at stealing the soccer ball and was very good at driving it down the field. Kaleb was a great hitter, and when he played first baseman he made a few amazing outs, though he was put in the catcher's uniform more often than not.

Easter Comes in Threes

This year the kids had three Easter Egg hunts. The first one was in Clayton. This really cool lady in our ward planned and carried out an Easter egg hunt. The second was in Utah at my mom's house. It was on the day we drove in, and we had started out at two in the morning, so it was a little drowsy. The third egg hunt was at Grandma Barb's house with Braxton and Chelsea. The Easter Bunny really out did himself this year, and we are still eating all the candy we brought home with us. I think once we drove home, Tavy was going through Easter withdrawals, because a few days after our trip I found her Easter basket hidden behind our desk with four real, uncooked eggs in it. It had been there at least 24 hours. She said it was an Easter surprise for me. I was defiantly feeling surprised--it was mingled with other feelings as well. After we celebrated Easter, we drove up to spend some time with Grandpa Roy and Grandma Ruth. It was so nice to see them. We got to see them twice while we were up in Utah, and the second time we even played a game of Rumicube, and Grandpa took us all. We also had the opportunity to go up to Idaho to see my Dad and Danny's new house. It is really nice and we are really excited to spend the summer in Bear Lake. On our way home from Idaho Grandpa John and Grandma Doris took us to Baby Days in Logan. The kids held baby everything--kitties, duckies, chickies, bunnies, they rode ponies, and petted baby goats. The kids took a ride on a wagon. Then we had a lasso, and tried to rope wooden cows. I showed the kids how it was done, roping Kaleb with a surprising ease, but I've had so much practice--that's how we got through our terrible twos. Kaleb lassoed the wooden cow a few times, and Tavy even figured it out after a while. There was a pole that had money stuck to it with butter--Kaleb saw it and pulled of his shoes and socks immediately. That child tried everything he could to climb up to the money, his shirt still has grease stains on it. He would get close to the money and then he would slide down the pole trying to scamper back up like an old cartoon--his legs were moving forward, but he sure wasn't. Yellowstone had baby bears at the exhibit, and the little cubs ran around this play pen trying to climb up the ranger's leg. The kids were asking for pet bear cubs after and we had to explain, yes, they are adorable--but they get bigger. We came home and went to Diary of a Wimpy Kid with Aunt Amy and Grandma Barb, I think that one day we will own that movie, my favorite line: "Rodrick started it," "So you decided to pee on him?" All in all the trip was a fantastic blur. I came home to runny eggs, and a realization that yes, I did eat a cricket--but after motherhood, I think your eww factor has gone way down, and it was covered in BBQ seasoning. So what you going to do?

Tavy Turn's Six

On March 17 Tavy turned six. This year we told our kids, they could choose to have a present or a party. Kaleb of course went for the present. Tavy however, started kindergarten this year, and for the last few months she has become obsessed with the idea of a birthday party. For months, Tavy was very boisterous about the birthday party she decided she was having. At some point or other she told every kindergartner at her school they were for sure invited to her party, especially if they had a better snack than she did. So by the beginning of March Tavy assured us that her whole class was coming to her party. Chad and I looked into options, and found a fun place full of bounce toys that we could rent and she could invite all her friends. It became very apparent that Tavy has her daddy wrapped around her little finger because it took no effort at all for her to convince daddy that she just had to have her birthday party at Pump it Up. The party was on her actual birthday which is St. Patrick's Day. On a side note, I feel sorry for Kaleb's wife, she is going to wonder why Kaleb has this overwhelming need to throw huge bashes on St. Patrick's Day--"Come on hun, St. Patrick's Day? We aren't Irish." Anyway, when the day arrived, we had 30 kids confirmed for the party. It turns Tavy stayed very vocal about her party and all the kids she invited just had to come. There are 32 kids in Tavy's class, and a solid majority of them came. We had a blast. Chad and I were right there with the kids playing in the bounce houses, while the other parent's who choose to stay sat on the benches looking at us like we were goofs, but we had a blast! Kaleb invited a friend, and they also had a lot of fun. Before we went into play the kid's were hyper, and excited. After and hour and a half of bouncing we went in for snacks and cake, and they had all wilted. More than one parent told me they felt sure their kid was going to sleep well. Tavy sat in a inflatable throne and we all sung Happy Birthday to her. It was a great birthday, and that night as I put Tavy to sleep I noticed she does seem so grown up. I still remember so vividly that sweet little baby girl with the black tuffs of hair brought to me in the hospital with the sweet little green bow on her head. I sure love my girl.