Two almost-hurls for the Mama.

No I am not pregnant. But I about wanted to puke during:

a) the 1.5 minutes where Emma said, "Hammy (the hamster) is gone! There it is!"...picked it up off the floor...and stuck it in my face where it looked at me with black crusty eyes in half-dead stiffness. Apparently it fell out and has been slowly dehydrating under Emma's bed. But it is still alive. After scrubbing Emma down, Nathan came home and gave it water and a "bath". Hopefully (but not really....oops did I type that?) Hammy will recover, otherwise we are in for a funeral soon.


b) the 5 minutes starting with Tyler crawling into the kitchen screaming and dripping blood. He was running BAREFOOT in the grass and the top of his foot rammed into the end of a pitchfork. Shut up. Nathan just walked in from work and threw a towel on it to stop the bleeding. I was shaking head to toe and almost couldn't breathe. (I was terrified that it went through the foot.) Long story short: took him to the doctor (same one I brought Mason into that night 7 months ago, love that woman) and they numbed him and stitched him up good. Lots of Tyler tears but we are relieved that he is updated on his immunizations and didn't need a tetanus.

That's it. I supposed you all didn't want the real pictures. Just mental images of rigor mortis-y vermin and pitchforked feet. Your welcome.

I am wasting time on the computer because I have time to go run this very instant, and I don't want to at all. Thus the longest bug picture.

Check out the longest bug ever. Gross.

What is it about wide open spaces and kids?

They can't contain their
excitement and just run.
















So I told them they have
to stand by the wall.
And look where they go.
right behind the basket.
HELLO BLOODY NOSE
WAITING TO HAPPEN.

So I banished them to

the corner. They loved sliding

around on the sweaty

germ infested floor.

(By the way, Emma found

this old dress of Hailey's and

it is size 18 months. She wouldn't

take it off. For like 5 days straight.

grrrr.)

Corn Maze

No funny kid sayings. Nothing terribly grand. Just a day at the cornfields. There was one point where Nathan and I "ditched" them (took a different path) and with in literally 3.5 seconds they were all screaming bloody murder. I guess it was because we just watched E.T. (Remember the corn field scene?)

worse sound I have ever heard...and other stuff

fingernails on the chalkboard? no

microphone feedback? no

vomiting? close, but no

Mason's new-found hour-long shriek? YES!!!

He has learned to do the ugliest screech ever for up to an hour a time multiple times a day. We never know when it will hit, and it so happened to be yesterday during sacrament meeting. It is so ugly and it especially grates on Nathan's ears which I find particularly hilarious. Then when it is over he is back to being a mute child. Weird.

Emma woke up the other day mad as ever because a bear came and got her and I didn't save her. Her dream was so real to her and she was VERY angry. She still thinks it is real. And she is still mad at me.

Tyler bore his testimony in Primary for the first time ever. What a way to bring a tear to a mother's eye.

Hailey is practising for a vocal solo in the upcoming Primary Program. She is singing only one line but the jitters are already getting to her. It is so good for her.

Yesterday Nathan made a fire in the wood-burning stove. I wonder if there is anything that smells better than a real fire on a crisp fall day? It is definitely in my top ten. Sure makes for a cozy house.

"Tin or aluminum"

4 children

4 episiotomies (yowza!)

13 moves

9 pets (Not including hordes of fish)

1 house flood

31,536,000 seconds

800 vomits (approx.)

3 heart-stopping experiences

1 terrifying nightmare

1 beautiful outcome to that terrifying nightmare

2 states

6 wonderful parents

a multitude of vacations (incl. Las Vegas, Cancun, Florida, Oceanside, San Francisco, Mazatlan)

39 birthday celebrations

tons of memories

1 caring, tender, smart husband

1 commited, super-fly, strong wife :)

10 anniversaries

What a good day it is to celebrate.

Parent teacher conferences:

Tyler: Is sensational in reading and math. The boy is on a 7th grade reading level and does a page of math "in 20 seconds". (according to teacher). The schools are very high tech now with exact scores for each child and can measure these things in detail. (Even Vernal!:) He is even better at language which is deciphering quotes, punctuation, indentation etc. Problem is, he whips through things so easily that he isn't learning to work at anything. And he talks a lot. And he is one of those kids who leads effortlessly so he is bringing down kids who aren't super smart and should be listening. His teacher is having him teach others (usually math) to get him to regurgitate what he has learned. It is frustrating to me to see him not have to put in effort. I refuse to have him being one of those "great potential" kids his whole life. We don't use the word "lazy" with him so that we don't label him, but that is partially what he is. We need to teach him "Do, do it right, and be done." (Nate's quote). Any advice for this? More free time? Less free time? More discipline and guidelines? Do we ride him everyday about homework details?

Hailey: Is a golden student. She is slightly above average in all subjects and her teacher said if she had a class full of Hailey's it would be the best class ever. I would sum her up with the word "eager". She is eager to learn, eager to listen, eager for responsibilities. She is a few weeks away from being a "Self-Manager" and it is her goal of the century. I cringe from some of the things she talks about (girls being friends one day and not the next, friends being petty or bossy, noticing boys). But I suppose these things are unavoidable. I hate when mothers buy stuff for their girls with sayings like "Drama Queen". Some mothers even call their daughters that like it is a good thing, but I am trying to teach Hailey to not be involved in this and to rise above silly things so she can just be the laid-back sweet girl that she is. I am realizing that the best thing I can give her is a listening ear. She wants to talk all day long and to be honest I struggle with this, but I am working on it.

An invite, some animal products, and a new do.

Here's my proof that we did it. Nathan and I ran the Bay to Breakers in San Francisco 3 years ago (was it 3 years? I don't know) and there is no way to explain how exhilarating it was. We have committed to do it again this May and are actually "training" for it. (Although we are still very beginner-ish runners). I am inviting all the family to do it. Even prego's can walk in the back. Or come and cheer us on!
"ING Bay to Breakers is a 12K (7.46 miles) course. From sea level at the Embarcadero the course rises steeply along Hayes Street Hill. Around the 2.5-mile mark runners climb an 11.15% grade between Fillmore and Steiner, bringing them to the highest point in the race, approximately 215 feet above sea level. The remainder of the course gradually flows alongside the Panhandle and through Golden Gate Park." (from http://www.ingbaytobreakers.com/)

Some of the family goes to watch this race because you can imagine how free and lavish San Francisco is. (*wink wink ). Lots of people dress up for the race (which I am going to do). Entertainment at it's best! I have only started a month ago, but I am going to track my progression on the side of this blog so I stay committed. (My mental push).














4 pounds of straight bacon. That's all we ate. No just kidding. Our semi-annual Swirly Bacon party while watching conference. We had Kyle and a friend come visit. (By the way Kyle, I like her. Not that you need my permission.)
Yummy.















Like I mentioned before, Emma is on a roll. I found this in a pile behind my couch the other day. So.........












....we had to cut off her beautiful hair. It is sooo cute though.













:)

Football Games

So far this is his best sport.
He works hard.












Tyler is the tallest
on his team.

















Advice from Dad











Emma took this without
us knowing. I guess Tyler
didn't do so good during
this play.

Nice posture!