Home, Home

We're 'home, home'.....That's what Nathan and Hannah call it. That is opposed to being 'home' at Grandma and Grandpa's house in Hawaii. I have so much to write, but I am going to get some sleep so I can hopefully get back on the right schedule. Look for part one of our Hawaiian getaway tomorrow.

Wowzers!

Can I just say THANK YOU! To all my friends who have called asking what they can do to help me! I have the best friends EVER!! It really shouldn't be difficult to get ready to go. I mean, it's only packing for eight people for 15 days....I don't understand what the difficulty is....

Oh yeah....I have a cat getting ready to give birth. So I need to write her birthing plan.....

Maybe it's Nathan who decided this week would be a good one to a:) mess in his pants and strip down on the front porch and solicit help from a friend driving by. b:) trip and fall and practically bite off his tongue on his way to tumbling, while running there without the adult required to accompany him to class (ie: ME) c:) Slip on some spilled milk in the kitchen and in the process, spill his own bowl of sugary cereal milk all over himself and the newly mopped floor.

Really, I think it was the little detour to the dentist (AGAIN!) for a quick, 1 hour, not quite root canal, but will hold you over 'til you get back...

On second thought, it was the hair-brained idea someone got to make matching T-shirts for the clan to wear to, you know where, so we could easily spot a wandering wee one in a crowd. And the fact that no matter how many stores were searched, matching yellow shirts were not available in the wide range of sizes needed, so a little RIT dye was in order.

And then there was the ever-so-fun notion of letting the kids each decorate their own tote bag to carry their 'keep me occupied' stuff in.

And why do I wait until the last minute to do all these things, you ask. Well, because that is just me. It's not like I haven't tried. Remember, we did clean the house on Saturday. But if you came over right now, you wouldn't know it. And I have been shopping for weeks, but lets just say I am glad stores let you return things.

That's the Beauty of It

We had a nice weekend. Tyler had a good birthday. He got some cool presents and especially loves his new stuffed tiger and art stuff. That's Tyler in a nut shell. I love that at eight years old, he loves those things. He did get an airsoft gun because Randy, Casey, and Hailey have guns and this way he can play, too. At his age, that is all Casey ever talked about. But it is the paint set and giant stuffed animal that he spends the time with. It proves, yet again, just how different each of my kids' personalities are.

Saturday Hailey had a soccer game (you'll be hearing that A LOT in the next couple months...) and we got the house somewhat in shape for the coming week. Randy's parents spent the night and left after breakfast Sunday.

We watched conference and after the first session went to our friends' house to watch the solemn assembly. She was kind enough to invite us and another family without TV over to sustain our new Prophet. In all, there were 14 kids between 2 and 12! We ate lunch and stayed for the second session. Needless to say, we didn't make the kids sit for the whole thing.

Today I felt the crunch. I looked around at everything I need to do for the upcoming trip and the headache hit. (...not like it ever really went away from the cold/sinus infection I had...) So here I am, bloggin', when I should be doing something more productive...just one more thing, and I'll get to work....

Tonight at dinner, Nathan was trying to decide what activity he wanted to be in charge of for Family Home Evening. Hannah suggested Ghost in the Graveyard and was teaching Randy the rules (I, for one, couldn't believe that there was a game Randy didn't know how to play- he just knows those things...) Nathan chimed in: "You try not to get touched-ed. That's the beauty of it!"

Funny Nathan

I am trying out a new program that lets you change the font on your blog and put things where you want them just like a word processor. While I am at it, I'll leave you with a funny Nathanism:

We had a friend over one day and they were sitting at the table eating lunch having a typical preschooler conversation. It went like this:

Elizabeth: "I am four years old."

Nathan: "Well I am five years old!"

Elizabeth: "Nuh uh. You're only three!"

Nathan: "Noooo! I had two invisible birthdays!"

Where does he come up with this stuff? He's too smart for his own good....this was not the first time he has used subtraction....what am I going to do with this kid?!

A-Z Tag

Another Tag...take it, or leave it!

A. Attached or Single? Very much attached!
B. Best Friends? Randy, and the six little munckins that rule the roost
C. Cake or Pie? Angel Food cake...maybe some Lemon Merengue minus the crust.
D. Day of choice? Saturday....I feel guilty for not saying Sunday...it's just that right now, Sacrament meeting is quite difficult! But I love days we are all home together!
E. Essential item? Camera and phone
F. Favorite color? Rainbow
G. Greatest Accomplishment? My family....still a work in progress
H. Hometown? Right here, baby!
I. Indulgences? Well, if you don't consider it a food group like I do, then...candy
J. January or July? I love the New Year, but I love camping and fireworks, and cool summer nights....staying up late, not worrying about schedules...OK, so I'd have to say, July!
K. Kids? Um, yeah.
L. Life is incomplete without? Life is complete...but if I didn't have my family, it wouldn't be.
M. Marriage date? April 8
N. Number of siblings? Five. And I am the baby...
O. Oranges or Apples? Cuties
P. Phobias or fears? water
Q. Quotes? Love 'em... too many to list!
R. Reason to smile? My family....
S. Season? It used to be spring, then it changed to fall, and now I'd have to say summer! No school!!!! And no headaches! (I get migraines with the changes in air pressure :( )
T. Tag three friends? Brit, Kristen, Celsete
U. Unknown fact about me? I was born with twelve toes. OK, you caught me. I can't really think of anything....I talk too much and everyone knows everything about me. But my brother used to tease me that I had extra toes when I was born. If I believed it, I though maybe you would, too.
V. Very favorite store? Amazon.com
W. Worst habit? Pulling out my hair
X. X-ray or Ultrasound? Ultrasound! I loved the freaky 3D ultrasound I had with Emma! X-rays usually mean something not good...I guess that is the only 'x' word they could come up with.
Y. Your favorite food? Anything I don't cook...
Z. Zodiac? Aries

I'm a Nikon Girl

Woo Hoo!!!! I got my new camera! It is technically my birthday/anniversary/mother's day/ Christmas gift. But Randy got me birthday presents anyway. :) He got me an outfit and a fire pit thingy for the backyard. I can't wait until it warms up enough to use it. Mmmm, S'mores! OK, So I really don't like S'mores- it's just a song from an episode of Barney that I have seen a million times- but I do love roasting marshmallows and sitting around a camp fire!

After much agonizing over which camera to get, I decided on the Nikon D40x...when I went to place my order, I found that in the length of time it took me to decide on the camera, they no longer sold the D4ox...so I got the D60 instead. A few more features, a few more dollars. :) I love it so far! It came last Thursday, but between scrapbooking, emotions, and a congested head this week, (I still feel pretty crummy- maxed out on decongestants and pain relievers.) I haven't had the chance to play with it like I would like....but Tyler has a birthday coming up and I'm sure I'll have plenty of picture moments.

I ordered a telephoto lens and a camera backpack last night, and I am getting excited for our trip. I have been excited all along, I just need to take things one at a time. Birthdays are coming to an end (for the next six weeks or so...) and soon we can focus on trip preparations. I still need to buy Tyler's birthday presents, but we are relieved that he agreed to having his friend party when we get back. Now that our trip is a little over a week away, I am getting pumped. Although...I still need to do some shopping before we go....swimsuits and shorts might be a useful thing, eh?

Thanks, everyone for making me feel so special! I had a terrific birthday and loved every bit of it (in between blowing my nose.) I enjoyed the cards and gifts and phone calls from everyone!

One last thing....our momma cat, Sophie, is having babies again. We planned on letting her have another litter. It was so fun last time and it satisfied my baby hunger just enough (is that weird?) But the timing this time is not good. Remember this post? Well cats aren't supposed to go into heat in the winter. I had done calculations and tried to keep her inside back in February, but with as many people opening the doors around here, it was next to impossible. Needless to say, she got out, and we are expecting the kittens to be born shortly after we leave. No big deal, huh? Do you remember I had to bottle feed the last litter? And do you remember we kept one? A male. Not good. So I am hoping she has them before we leave and that she can nurse them all without complications this time. Otherwise, I need someone to move in. I think my sister thought I was kidding. I figure we will lock up poor Oreo until they are born so she can choose where she gives birth. After they are born, she will need to be locked in my closet with the kittens. I don't think Oreo would do anything, but I can't take the chance. Not to mention, Sophie already doesn't let him anywhere near her. By the time we get back, their eyes and ears will be open. and they will be walking. :( Maybe at least this way, I won't be quite as attached when it comes time to find them homes. But don't count on it

Remembered

The past week has been an incredible one. Last Tuesday Randy took the scouts to their home with cards and a poster. Randy said it was very difficult and the dad even congratulated Casey on his birthday the previous day. What a selfless person. Afterwards, they asked Randy to speak at the funeral.I knew before he even told me that he would be asked. In Randy's words, it was a 'tall order'. But one that he would fill amazingly well. One that he was honored to fill. He spent many hours praying and talking to his friends and parents, making sure he would convey the proper message. The Spirit was very strong throughout the whole process. One 12 year old boy has influenced so many people. It was apparent with the overflowing chapel at both the viewing and the funeral. Randy did an excellent job presenting it and strengthened all our testimonies as he remembered this boy.

I also had a spiritual experience scrapbooking pictures of the boy at various scout activities and camp outs. It was so neat to give that to them. The mom was so excited to begin scrapbooking herself. Thanks Mindy and Natalie!

Tonight we had the opportunity to visit with the family in their home. They shared many neat experiences they have had over the past week and a half. We talked about how our testimonies have grown tremendously and how we all resolve to 'step it up a notch'. We laughed and we cried and went away from there with a feeling of happiness and determination. I pray we can always remember what we have learned from this family and from the difficult trial this has been.