"I like to ride my bicycle..."

About a week ago friends down the street gave Cutter a two wheeler. He was so excited, he was ready to ride. Cory tried helping him ride without training wheels, but he isn't quite ready for that. We inadvertently got rid of the training wheels we had used for Cass, but our neighbor gave us some he had. So, on Saturday, Cory got them on for Cutter. At first they were too high, and Cutter had a great exercise bike. He could peddle like crazy and not get anywhere. So, the guys cut them down, drilled new holes, and waalah! Cutter is off and peddling. He LOVES it. He rode and rode, and got mad when we told him it was time to come in. Sunday he woke up, and asked if he could ride his bike. He wasn't happy that he had to go to church first. Once he was home, he wanted to go out. I finally let him, and off he went. He is so good at it too. He rides in circles in the garage, he can coast, knows how to brake, and turn around. He was out again today. No stopping him now! He's a pro.


P.S. The paper sack is his "treasure chest."

Saying Goodbye

Last week we said goodbye to our dear neighbors dog Lady. We loved Lady. McKenzie had had several opportunities to take care of Lady when they went out of town, or were away and needed Lady to be let out to potty. She was able to take her for a few walks, make sure she had food and water, and of course let her out so she could go. Kenzie really enjoyed and loved lady. Lady was a funny dog. She loved to run away. We often were out trying to help catch her, or find her. One day, I looked out my back window and there she was just laying on the lawn, looking up at me. She had found her way out of her yard, but couldn't find her way back in, so she came next door. Cory loved to tease her, and play with her. Thanks for letting us love your dog, we will miss her.

6th Grade Etiquette

I had the great opportunity to go to Kenzie's class on the 5th and teach them a little about etiquette. We talked about phone etiquette, manners, how to set a table, and of course how to eat your meal etc. It was a lot of fun. The kids were great. They had good questions, and really seemed to enjoy it. The point to having the the class was then to be able to put it to use. So, on Friday the 13th for their Valentine's party they had an etiquette breakfast.
Their teacher strongly encouraged them to dress the best they could. Girls were asked to wear dresses and the boys were asked to were a shirt and tie. If they didn't have those things, then dress the best they could. They all looked so nice. There was one boy that only owns shorts. But he had on his nicest pair and looked good. One girl that had flat out said she would not wear a dress did show up in a skirt. They all looked good. We had the boys escort the girls to the tables and help them to sit down. We had card tables set up and decorated in the lunchroom for them. They ate yogurt, fruit and pancakes. They all did a really good job using their utensils even though some of them admitted that they really would have rather been able to pick it up with their fingers. We served them and they got to practice all the skills that we talked about in class. They talked among their own table, even though at first they may have felt a little awkward. They remembered to say please and thank you, and most of them did a good job of keeping their elbow off the table. I loved every minute of it. It was a lot of fun.
Although I do have to admit at the end of January, when I thought I was going to have to oversee the whole thing I wondered what I had been thinking back in October when I said that I would do it. But, the room mom did the food and decoration part (it was fabulous!) and I did the etiquette part. it was a great trade off. The kids were very respectful to all of us adults. Thanks to Kenzie's teacher for the opportunity. It was fun!!!

Soooo..."Let's Hurry up and wait."

Early Monday morning, 12:30 am. Cory is stirring, he gets up, and goes downstairs in search of a Zantac for his stomach. This is not at all unusual, there are several times that his stomach has been bothering him, he takes Zantac, he is better and sleep continues. Two hours later he isn't better, he tries some Advil to see if it will help him get to sleep. 4:30 am I find him in the bathroom, throwing up. This is not usual. 7:00 am, several trips to the bathroom later to continue to vomit, he is in bed, and I tell him I don't think he should go into work today. I get all my troops out the door to school, (my own, and the one's I watch) and I go back upstairs to check on him. I find him in bed, and there he goes again, headed for the toilet. We decide that he had better see a doctor. He can't get comfortable, any way he lays he hurts. As I am downstairs trying to get in touch with a nurse at the doctor's he comes out of the bedroom, doubled over in pain. He tells me he thinks we better go now. (ya think?). C has an extremely high tolerance for pain, when he broke his leg it was no big deal to him. He NEVER has Novocaine at the dentist, even on a root canal. So he is obviously sick! 9:45 am we get in the car, headed for Instacare. We drive two houses, he rolls down the window to vomit. He is in extreme pain! I have never seen him like this, ever!

11:30 am: Soooooo after 1/2 a liter of IV, a blood test, urine test and x ray, the doctor says, "Well he either has Appendicitis or Diverticulitis, but that would be very unusual in a 38 year old. You need to get him to the hospital." Okay! So, he at least had color back in his face and he wasn't in as much pain. The IV had helped. Off we go to IMC, with a brief stop at MIL's to drop off Cutter.12:30 pm we arrive at the IMC Emergency. An hour and a half later, we are finally in the ER. Again C's blood is taken, urine is given, and off he goes for a CT scan. The doctor comes in to see where they are at with all the tests and he says "So, let's hurry up and wait!" Exactly!!!!!!!! His white blood count is off the charts... He has appendicitis, and it needs to be taken out NOW! says the doctor. 4:00 pm he meets the Doctor that will do the surgery. Cory is up next. 5:00 pm he is in surgery, then recovery and finally in a room. 8:00 pm. WHAT A DAY! All is finally well. C is home, the pain is gone, so is his stomach hair. :) The things this man goes through so we can spend some time with him. WOW! Love you babe! Glad your home and okay!

Courage, prayers and faith

Grandma and Grandpa J were asked to speak in their Sacrament Meeting on Sunday, and they asked Cassidy and McKell to sing. We practiced, the girls were excited, they got all the words down. We were ready.... Then Saturday night before going to bed, the nerves hit Cass. She came downstairs in tears. We talked about it, I told her it was okay to be scared, but hoped that she would still do it. I suggested that she pray about it and ask Heavenly Father to help her not be nervous, and be able to sleep. She did, and slept all night, woke in the morning ready to do it. We did her hair, got her all dressed up, and headed to Grandma's. All was great, until we walked in the chapel to practice, and she stood there in tears, rubbing her eyes. We tried to comfort her, and Grandma told her that she didn't have to do it. But her older cousins spoke to her, and talked about saying a prayer, I hugged her and we talked and I too suggested praying. I know that she did pray as well as me all through the opening of the meeting. Grandma asked Kenz if she would be willing to sing with them as a support to Cass and she agreed. The time came, the three girls went up, and she did it!!!! No tears, no rubbing her eyes, she even smiled here and there, and they did a beautiful job. I think I was the most grateful that it had been a good learning experience for Cass. She had courage, trusted in her prayers, and had the faith. It was a good experience for me too :) Great job littlest sis! I love you.

PHEWWW!!!!!!

I took Cutter to the dentist today... and phew, one little cavity! Can I just say that I HATE taking my kids to the dentist, because it always ends up costing us a bazillion dollars. I'm sure that we have paid the equivalent to the cost of McKenzie's braces (coming soon!) or at the very least a trip to Disneyland in dental work. McKenzie finally gets it, dental hygiene. She brushes with toothpaste, swishes with mouth wash and more than once a day. Cassidy is catching on to. Slowly but surely, there are still tears involved quite often, but still an improvement. Cutter, it is still a chore, and often with gallons of tears. They all still have to be reminded to brush in the morning, and brush at night, and in Cutter's case to use toothpaste. It is on the checklist of things to do. ("is you hair brushed, teeth brushed with toothpaste, shoes on....). On a friends blog she talked about getting the Sugar bugs. I started saying that to Cutter, "Oh Cutter, I see lots of sugar bugs, lets go get em, op I see more back there, and over there." Most of the time it works. Other times no way! It is just extremely sad, when you have to almost sit on your child (all three) to help them brush their teeth. The girls go to the dentist next week. I am keeping my fingers crossed!