Spring Break - Day 5

This morning the weather was so beautiful that we had to go to the park. But the kids had dentist appointments, so we stopped at one that was on our way there. Landon loved the swing. It's nice that he is at an age where he can sort of enjoy the park, since spring is here.He was really nervous about sitting in the rocks. He hardly moved a muscle until I picked him back up.

This is how the older boys prefer to go down the slide...

Landon's first time going down a slide...he likes the swings much better.

This picture makes me laugh. Zach came running over and said "Mom! I found the world's biggest pine cones! They're really probably the biggest ones in the whole wide world! You have to take a picture of me with them!" The poor palm trees didn't make it through the big freeze and had to have the tops chopped off.

Connor is getting more adventurous with his climbing and it makes me nervous because he always gets distracted by something halfway up. He actually fell off of this one onto his face right before we left. Good thing for the cushion of stones underneath.

I'm glad I have a girl so I can enjoy these kind of moments at the park too.

After the park we went to the dentist. The 4 older kids all had appointments and there were no cavities. Hooray!

Shake, Rattle & Roll

Spring Break - Day 4

This morning we went to story time at the library and got new books. The boys were nice enough to sit through it for the little kids. I forgot my camera at the library though. I also totally forgot that it was St. Patrick's Day. Fun mom I am. The kids changed into green clothes right after this picture (Zach was lucky and just happened to be wearing green).We picked up Zach's new glasses. Since he's finally added on our insurance we wanted to have a spare pair (and his old pair got a little scratched when he fell at school anyway). So his old pair will be for soccer, etc. He chose more rectangular frames this time because he said he could see better when he looks to the side (since the frame doesn't get in the way as much).

This little guy never falls asleep in the car these days, but the library wore him out good.

In the afternoon Zach & Savannah went to play at friends' houses and Jacob had a friend here. We brought our dog friend over again and that was Connor's play date.

Spring Break - Day 3

Doggie Playdate

We are keeping an eye on a friends' dog while they are gone for a couple of days. They live really close by, so I brought their dog over here for the afternoon. The kids LOVE her because she is the most mellow dog you have ever met. Lucy was pretty hyper at first, but finally calmed down and they're having fun. I was happy that my kids played outside for almost 3 hours. I might have to borrow their dog more often!

Spring Break - Day 2

We stayed at home, just to be safe that we weren't spreading any lingering germs. Savannah missed school though, and was "teacher" to Connor for the morning.

We did piano lessons and theory.

We also cleaned the house. The kids were GREAT at helping me. They'd finish one assignment and come back and say "What next?" I was so proud of them. The three older kids vacuumed the entire house. Jacob did mirrors and windows while Zach & Savannah dusted and did garbages. Zach even scrubbed the toilets. Savannah mopped. I made snicker doodle cookies for all their hard work.

Spring Break - Day 1

Monday, March 16, 2011
Still tired from the flu, but not quarantined anymore. We got Megamind and Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Gahool from Redbox. Megamind was the clear favorite.

The Flu

Last fall I was going to get the kids flu shots and then decided against it. Dallin always wants me to, but I normally don't because they very rarely get sick, and I had a bad experience with the flu shot a few years ago. Well after Savannah's long sickness in the fall (which I'm now sure was the flu) and this last week we will definitely all be getting a shot every year. On Wednesday evening Zach got a fever and by Thursday morning his temperature was almost 104. I don't normally take my kids in until they've been sick for a while, but decided I didn't want this spreading to all 5 kids for Spring Break. Sure enough, he has Type A Influenza. So the doctor quarantined him to his room for 4-5 days and gave us some prescriptions. His fever stayed between 102 - 104 even with Ibuprofen, and finally went down some by Friday morning. Friday he had some throw-ups too, but luckily that only lasted a few hours.He didn't eat anything for two days and finally got his appetite back on Saturday. He's still stuck in his room until tomorrow morning.

Connor's fever came on really suddenly Friday morning and I immediately called the doctor. They just called in a prescription for him, and also a preventive one for me, since I was taking care of both of them. He had the throw-ups by evening, when I was gone to soccer practice with Jacob. Dallin got the fun job of cleaning that all up. He now gets a "special" bed so that we don't ruin everything on his bed. He likes it better anyway. His fever was finally better by Saturday afternoon and he's been eating some too.

Jacob has enjoyed sleeping on the guest bed in the computer room since Zach got sick. And Landon has been sleeping great in there also in the pack'n'play. It has been so quiet at our house and weird only eating dinner with 2 or 3 kids. Jacob & Savannah spent a lot of Saturday quietly playing legos. Today Dallin came home from his meetings to take Jacob & Savannah to church, but they didn't stay for primary. I would feel really bad if they were with all the kids and then suddenly get sick today or tomorrow. (On a side note, Dallin has to leave for meetings on Sunday at 5:45am. With daylight savings it was like he left at 4:45am this morning...poor guy.)

The boys seem to be getting much better and so far the other kids seem fine, so hopefully it's not spreading! I'm glad I quarantined them...so far it seems to have worked!

My week

On Sunday I got sustained at church to be the 1st Counselor in the Relief Society Presidency for my ward. I'm really excited to be able to get to know some of the awesome ladies in our ward, since I've been with the primary and young women for like 7 or 8 years. (I did have a little break when I was pregnant with Landon, but it didn't really feel like it because I substituted in primary so often.) It's always nice to change things up and have something new to do. I also love serving with new people and getting the chance to know them better.

I have been walking twice a week at 5:30am. I'm a little more tired, but glad I'm doing it.

Jacob took his Writing TAKS test on Tuesday (a big assessment test that they've been preparing for literally all year). I am so glad that thing is done. He's had to write a story every week for homework and that is definitely not his favorite thing (it's like pulling teeth some days).

Zach has a really awesome cub scout leader and got to start making a volcano this week. I'm glad they get to do stuff like that at cub scouts because I'm usually not adventurous enough to try it at home.

Speaking of pulling teeth, I almost forgot. I pulled one of Savannah's bottom teeth out last night. The new tooth had already grown up behind it and was starting to push the baby tooth forward. But it was sticking out all nasty and she didn't want to brush her teeth because it hurt. So I was a mean mom and made her stand still (sobbing) while I pulled it out. It took all of two seconds and she had a smile on her face the rest of the night.

Lucy dug a huge hole next to our porch last night and actually dug underneath the foundation of the porch (which was like a foot and a half down). She still likes to bark at the neighbors too, but we still love her. She can now sit, shake and stay...as long as she's in the backyard. If we take her out front she gets way to excited and pretty much doesn't listen at all.

Landon has 5 teeth now and loves to grind them together. It sounds gross, but his smile sure is cute while he's doing it. He likes to terrorize Connor when he is in the walker by following him wherever he goes. He's also getting taller and we might have to rid of the tablecloth for a while, since he likes to pull on it while the kids are eating and has caused some spills.

Poor Connor had his 4-year-old check-up today. He was 37 pounds and 42" tall. They poked his finger and squeezed blood into a vial, gave him 5 nasty shots, took a urine sample, and did hearing and vision screenings. He was sad before we even got there and as we pulled into the parking lot he said (with big tears in his eyes) "I'm so scared Mommy. It's going to hurt me. I'm so sad." Breaks my heart. But of course he did it and earned a strawberry shake from Sonic afterward. He also has to get his vision double-checked because he didn't do very well on that part. So we're going to the eye doctor tomorrow.