So behind

I have let my blogging fall behind because I have been busy making Christmas presents! That's right, you heard me...Making! My sisters are probably falling down. With my baby getting closer to 3yrs old. I find myself really wanting to do more and learn more. That is the biggest drive! I have really wanted to challenge my brain. So I have taken up sewing, gotten back into photography, making new recipes, exercising more, and READING. My sisters again my be picking themselves up. I have always avoided reading. I was always on a deadline or had to write a paper about what I read, but now I can just enjoy it! I have been reading some everyday for the last 5mos or so. I have been loving it! Now onto the rest of life.

The boys are doing great! In trouble most of the time, but loving life and living it up! Isaak is halfway through fist grade. This has been a challenging year for he and I, when it comes to school. He doesn't have the best teacher, which doesn't help. But we are all working hard to keep him motivated this year! Brett has been busy this year! He has gotten stitches, and given himself his own hair cut. He was not happy about either. He hates to have a buzz cut but yesterday we had now choice.

He was very upset by having to buzz the rest. He was also embarrassed about the way it looked so he wore his coat and hood all day yesterday! Finally he calmed down after I buzzed it and he looked at it and exclaimed, "I'm not bald I look like Grandfather!" He's been fine since then!

Jack is a pill! Stubborn and strong willed to the max! Then he will turn around and ask for something and say, "Pleasey, Please!" with those cute eyes and cheeks! What a mess. He has been to the Dr. alot recently. First he got an ear infection after his tube fell out but is still stuck in his ear. The infection is gone but the tube is still hanging out in the ear canal. Then yesterday we had to rush him back for a severe infection on his privates. He is doing better. The Dr. got all the infection out she could and he is now on more antibiotics. He has been on yogurt and stuff for his tummy a lot lately.

Today! We went to get Jack's meds and we were in there for five minutes and when we came out everything was covered in SNOW! We think it's cool, but I'm sure we will get use to it soon!

Chance of a life time

So, this Saturday Isaak finally got to meet his favorite author. Jeff Kinney, who writes the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books was in town. I have to say he and his family are some of the nicest people we have ever met! He told us about how the book started and his real day time job. He is actually the creator of Poptropica. Basically, he has had dreams in life and never let anything stop him from trying. Like most stories of success, he tried for many years then finally got a break. Then, we got to have all our books signed and we got some pictures. We will put those up.

Also, he was talking about the next wimpy kid movie. He is actually in it this time. He will be playing Holly Hills dad. I thought that was funny! And this next movie is a combo of the next TWO books. It's just crazy that my 6 and 4 year old sons got to do something it took me 30years to do....meet a famous person!

One down!

Isaak's tooth is finally out! As you know Isaak is not the bravest when it comes to pain and/or blood. So this has been an ordeal! Finally Danny got behind him last night and kept Isaak from backing away from me and in one quick pull it was out! Afterward, of course, he thought it was no big deal. He is even taking the tooth for show and tell on Friday!

And yes, the one next to it is loose too!

**** A quick update! Last night that second loose tooth came out! He is now down two teeth!**

Happy Halloween!

We had a good time last night at our Trunk or Treat! It took awhile to convince Jack to put his costume on. Then he cried for a few minutes after we put it on. He finally calmed down and loved it. I knew he would...he picked it out! The other boys were Storm troopers! I was fun to spend the evening together with friends!

And yes Bones has on a costume. A girl that lives behind us use to have Chihuahuas and gave it to us!

Jack finally loved his costume and did better trick or treating then is older brother Isaak, who was freezing and got in the car half way through!

A promise is a promise!

I promised Isaak we would start a post about his teeth! He discovered, while brushing his teeth this week, that one of the bottom ones is loose! He wants to keep up with is on here. So I promised him I would. I think I'm going to do a before and after picture so he can see it forever. But he is so excited he can barely stand it! This from the boy, who at 3, discovered our teeth fall out when we are little. Then, immediately burst into tears saying he doesn't want to lose his teeth ever! Oh, how they learn and change! So, I wanted to keep my promise and now I have.

My little Isaak who didn't get teeth until he was almost 8mos old, is now losing them. He also only got one at a time...it took forever! All my other boys did it two at a time! I swear Brett woke up one morning and just had a mouthful...LOL! So, more to come on the teeth!

Harper's Ferry

We took some time from our busy weekend to visit some history! The boys loved looking in the old building and taking a step back in time. Isaak informed us it was old timey like back in the 80's. Danny and I laughed and informed him it was WAY before that! Here are some of the things we saw. They also had amazing food and Frozen Custard there!

The General Store!

They left some of the original cobblestone on the shoulders of the road!

Some more of the buildings and the Catholic church on the hill! They still use it!

Just got back from walking to Maryland

B&O Railroad!

What's left of the Bridge from Maryland to Virginia

Hanging out some laundry!

Part of the Lewis and Clark trail!

I knew he would be the first!

Of all my sweet boys...I knew Brett would be the first in the ER for stitches! If finally happened this morning, and he was really brave! I had walked upstairs to wash my face for the day and the boys were watching a show after breakfast. About 3 minutes after walking upstairs I hear the thud and screaming. I knew he was really hurt cause they all have that serious cry! I that it was just going to be another big lip but I turn the corner to see blood just flowing out of his chin. I get a hand towel for the blood, since, it was a lot! Then I realized I didn't know where to take him. We haven't needed urgent care. So I found a couple places in town but they weren't open yet. That irritated me! So I got everyone in the car and found the nearest hospital on my GPS. I have to say thanks to Danny for letting me have that in my car since we've moved here! It's been great! So we found it, he was great and I got him ice cream afterward.

This was the finished product!

This is the numbing liquid they put on before the shot. So he wouldn't feel the shot so bad!

Thought I'd post

Since we have been back from the cruise, it has been full speed ahead. Isaak has wanted to take piano lessons for years. So we told him after we got back he could start. We just had to have something for him to practice on at home. And we don't have a lot of money to spend. Well, we thought we were doomed. We had looked on the internet and craigslist and we just didn't find anything good in our price range. There would be a good priced keyboard but wouldn't include the stand. So we were walking through our little town and came across Shamrock Music store. We saw some keyboards in the window and thought it wouldn't hurt to ask. So we went in, also because of all the Wimpy kid merchandise and Isaak was begging. Isaak has read all 4 Wimpy kid books. After going in to this massive little store. What I mean by that is they sell musical instruments, and this one little space is FULL. Somehow, we got to talk to the owner and he found out the price for the keyboard and stand was just over $100 bucks. This keyboard is nice too. I has 50 something keys and it lots of buttons for different things as well. My favorite part is that it really sounds like a piano, not electrical!

While we were there the owners mom came out. She works there. She saw Isaak looking at the Wimpy kid stuff and came over to talk. When she found out what a huge fan he is and that he has read all the books and is waiting for the next one, she said she wanted to tell him something. He said, what, and she said the the man who writes these books is my son! We were excited! Turns out Kenny's (Greg) older brother Scott (Rodrick) owns the store and his parents help out! They had pre-ordered some of the new books and are having a signing there for the people who ordered those books. So it gets better. The mom was about to be starting a 13 week music class for little kids. We were looking for something for Brett to do and he said he wanted to! Now Wednesday is our music class day. Last week, both the boys had their first class. Isaak goes to a girl in one of the wards here to learn piano and Brett goes to the music store and has his! They love it and we couldn't be happier. Brett is determined to play the drums...oh boy. But for now I am enjoying them both being so happy with their lessons!

Back from Cruisin'

So our cruise was, hands down, the best vacation we've ever had! We got to see new places, meet new people, and just have fun! We are now officially cruisers! We want to go more and more! We hope to take the kids on a fun one some day and we want to go see the east side of the Caribbean. So we would have to go in April or May before the hurricanes got there! But we enjoyed Cozumel, Belize, Ilse of Roatan, and Costa Maya. Here are the pix!

I can relate!

Danny found this story for me and sent it to me. It made me laugh and shake my head in agreement. I hope this link works. If you have ever wanted or actually locked yourself in your room (as a mother), this is a must read!

I am so behind!

I have been in one of those times in life where you just put your head down and plow through. As I have gotten older I hate complaining about any trial in my life. Yes they are hard, and sometimes they make me cry, but I can think of so many ways it could be worse. I also think of families who do have it worse, and try to see my blessings. There are times when that is hard for me and I just put my head down and plow forward, enduring the best way I can at the moment. At these moments it is a battle between my heart and my mind.

In these moments of pushing through I often come up with things to do to busy myself in good ways. So I have many pictures to edit and I have a new sewing project to start. I also, start to workout and bake when I have rough patches. Anyway, I have felt really bad for not being on here and wanted to do a quick catch up.

We are still working on selling our house in AL. As much as we can do...which is wait and pray! I have been getting the last of Isaak's paperwork done so he can start school here in a couple of weeks. He is so excited! I have been getting some blood work drown to see if the Endocrinologist can figure out what's been going on with me. If it comes back fine then I will just have to chalk it up to older age and stress. Danny and I also leave the beginning of Sept. for our cruise to the Caribbeans! It is 7days and we are going with some great friends. I am too excited!

I wanted to put up at least one picture and I took a cute one of Jack eating my spaghetti and meatballs last night!

Good Times

The boys and I just got back from Gatlinburg, TN. We went to visit my parents and spend some time in the woods! I learned a few things about my boys while we were gone. Isaak, loves putt-putt. Brett is good at any sport you throw at him. And Jack doesn't like to go on hikes...he likes to be carried on them. So here are some of the moments I caught on the camera.

This tree was completely hollow, it was crazy that it was standing!

Stopping next to the water to feel the cool breeze coming off of it.

Cute little Roma enjoying the nature hike too!

Next resting spot..on the cool bench!

Cooling off after a hot game of putt-putt

Jack protesting the hike!

Commanding it to move!

Checking out the bridge!

A cool rock with a lovely moss on it!

If I were tiny I would live under these mushrooms!

The Fallen

Yesterday we took a day to visit the memorials in D.C. The one we were really trying to get to was the Vietnam memorial. Both Danny and I had names we were looking for. I know my dad has his brother's name, but I wanted to get it too and share it with him as well. So, Hey Daddy, here you go. I also discovered that my Uncles birthday is tomorrow! So Happy Birthday Snooky! Words can't express my thanks for your sacrifice or sorrow in never having been able to meet in this life.

Beehives

Last night the young women at our church had the opportunity to extract honey from beehives! Not only was this a yummy job, but is smelled heavenly! The Burts in our ward have bees and do this every year! So I took the trusty little digital I have and took some shots! Try not to lick the computer screen as you view the photos!

First came the Bee! This little guy was found in the hive they brought!

This is just a partial example of the work these guys do! That dark spot is honey!

These are the tools we used to extract the honey from the hives.

First, we had to melt away the wax they use to seal in the honey! Three times hotter than a curling iron...OUCH!

Then you put 4 hives at a time in the spinner and spin the heck out of these things to extract the honey!

They waste nothing! This was left from the wax we melted off. They filtered all the honey through too. But even what you are looking at is edible and the girls were loving it!