Diggin' up some fun

On Saturday Dallin planted four new trees in our back yard. Last year about this time he planted two peach trees, but Lucy dug them up and chewed on the trunks and they died. This year he planted two peach trees and two pear trees. I'm excited to have some shade and some fruit back there. He put Jacob to work in the beginning and then slowly gained more helpers that wanted to play in the dirt.Poor Lucy had to be chained up on a rope for a couple of days until we got the fencing up around the trees. But it's her own fault after mangling the trees last year.

Zach helped plant one of the trees for cub scouts, but somehow this is the only good picture I got of him. This was the top of one of the dead trees that they dug out.

On Monday I put up this fencing around the trees and thankfully she hasn't tried to touch it even once.

Zach was bored on Monday evening after we put away laundry and decided that Landon would like a ride. He pushed him around for almost an hour. Landon was in heaven of course. Landon's favorite thing to do is sit somewhere and pile toys all around him, so this was perfect for him. The kids have done it for him a couple of times since then, so I think we have a new activity.

Zach parked him right in front of the book shelf where he could reach and get new books. He stayed there until I took him out to get ready for bed.

What a week

The last 10 days have been so crazy and out of our regular routine that I had to document it. I even forget to do laundry on 2 of my regular laundry days...that is when you know things are crazy around here. So for my journal, here is a list of the things that have been going on aside from the regular grocery shopping, scouts, homework, etc.:

*5 Valentine's parties (3 at the kids' schools, but that is extra stuff to bring, etc.)
*Relief Society service and visits
*Trip to Urgent Care to get Connor's head glued shut
*2 trips to the optometrist to get Connor's glasses fixed
*Got a massage to help with my migraines (which was one of the nice extra things)
*Did visiting teaching
*Helped Savannah's teacher at the school twice
*Took Jacob to Parent Night at the middle school (ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!)
*Watched my single friend's 2 kids last minute while she went to a funeral for 3 days (one is home-schooled and the other was home sick one of those days)
*Went to an amazing Women's Conference fireside with Sister Julie Beck
*Had the missionaries for dinner while friend's kids were still here
*Scrubbed down the entire back porch with water and a broom because it was caked in mud; cleaned out the dog house, washed all the dog blankets and gave Lucy a much-needed bath
*Took Connor to the University of Texas to participate in a child research study
*Totally forgot about Fine Arts night at the middle school and found a ride for Jacob to go

*On Monday the kids were home from school and I watched another friend's 4 kids for the morning. While they were here Landon got the tip of his thumb slammed in the back door (by Zach accidentally). It was completely purple and all the skin came off the end of his finger. He pretty much cried for the entire day and held it out and screamed if it touched anything, so we thought it was probably broken. He didn't fall asleep until 11:00pm. I took him to the doctor the next morning and he sent us to get x-rays. Luckily it was NOT broken, thank goodness. By that evening (when I took these pictures) it was already looking SO much better and he was touching on stuff again. I'm so grateful to not be having to deal with an orthopedic surgeon right now.
*I am now watching another friend's 2-year-old for a day and a half while she is out of town.

It has been so crazy around here, but I'm thankful for all the blessings we have that allow us to help people out when needed and a great husband to lean on when the craziness happens.

Valentine's Trauma

Valentine's Day started out great! We had Connor's preschool Valentine party at our house and made lots of crafts and did games. We also sang to Connor and the other girl who had a birthday this week. Then we went to help in Savannah's class for a little bit and visit the class parties at the school.

But just as I was about to leave to take Zach to scouts we had trauma. Connor was bouncing around and climbing all over my knee, and I wasn't hanging on to him because I was helping Savannah with her homework. I told him to get down, but of course he didn't listen. He kept climbing, and eventually flipped over on his head on the tile. He had his glasses on, and the screw/hinge part punctured his head and went right in. He also smashed up his glasses pretty good. As soon as I saw it I know we needed to go to the doctor. But of course, the doctor had left early, and we ended up at Urgent Care. Luckily Dallin was able to meet us there and take the other kids back home. They cleaned out the wound really good and glued it shut. The doctor told Connor to keep his eyes closed, since it moved the wound around when he blinked. He said "I'll just go to sleep." And he held perfectly still for a good 15 minutes pretending to be asleep. The second she was done he popped right up and said "I feel all better now! And I'm 5 years old now!"I was tired and exhausted from such a long day, so our Valentine's dinner consisted of leftover spaghetti and hot dogs. So romantic, huh. I'm just thankful that Connor's accident wasn't any worse.

UT Basketball

On Saturday Dallin took the boys took Jacob & Zach to the UT basketball game. It was "cub scout day," so they got cheap tickets. The boys seemed to have a fun time. They left after the half-time show because UT was losing by quite a bit, but they came back and won!

The most exciting part of the game, and pretty much all I heard about, was the giant "flying ketchup bottle." It was actually Rudy's BBQ sauce. It flew around at half time and dropped coupons.

Happy Birthday Connor!!!

My sweet Connor is 5 years old!!! How did that happen?

He started out his birthday morning opening one present to play with during the day. He got a Veggie Tales play-doh hair-cutting set, and he loves it. It was nice to find something he liked besides snakes.Instead of playgroup at the park (since it was all wet from rain) we invited any friends who wanted to join us at Chuck E. Cheese. This is my favorite (and only) way to go to Chuck E. Cheese. If you go right when it opens there is nobody else there for at least an hour, so we had the whole place to ourselves. We don't eat, just play games that are all a quarter. Connor also loves the climbing area.

Landon was scared of all the other rides, but loved this carousel.

Connor and a couple of the many friends that were there.

This is his favorite ride. You pedal to make the bike go up and down.

Landon was in heaven just running around pushing buttons and touching lights on machines.

At lunch time we went to the school to pick up the class snake, Miley. This was Connor's birthday request, and luckily Jacob's teacher was happy to accommodate.

After school Connor & Savannah's friends from down the street came to play and hold the snake too.

Connor requested another diamondback rattlesnake this year. So to change things up we made it out of cupcakes.

Mom & Dad agree that Connor has PLENTY of snakes, so we got other animals for him. He loves his new stuffed crocodile, Snappy, and his rubber sting ray.

He also got new finger paints and paintbrushes.

He loved his card and army guy shirt from the Strongs.

Connor's other birthday request was to have a family in our ward over for dinner. The 11-year-old son is the only person we know who loves snakes as much as Connor, and he loves to have him here.

Thanks for coming friends! They gave Connor a cool puzzle ball that has already been put together many times.

The next day Connor showed Savannah how to use his new play-doh set.

Landon kept trying to touch the snake, so I sat him down and put her around his neck. I held his hands until I was sure he wouldn't squeeze her. He was so cute and held perfectly still while she slithered all around him. He'd gently put his hand on her so he could feel while she was moving. Then as soon as she was off of him he'd start bouncing all around for us to put her back again. We did that for probably 15 minutes. We might have another snake-lover on our hands.

Lucky for Connor his birthday got celebrated all the way through Tuesday. On Monday he got a package from the LeSueurs...a new (and bigger) Diamondbacks shirt. He was so sad that his other rattlesnake shirt was getting too small.

And a new book...perfect for Connor.

Daddy Daughter Dance

On Saturday Dallin took Savannah to the Daddy Daughter Valentine Dance at the rec center. She was beyond excited all day long. To make it extra special I told her we'd go find a new dress to wear. We found this one at the second hand store for super cheap. (She actually did not like the dress at first and threw a huge fit about not getting to pick it out herself, but that's another story in itself. By the end of the day she loved it and was happy.) We did her nails and fixed her hair extra special and she was giddy with excitement. When they got home Savannah told me every little detail of the whole night. They had face painting and treats and she brought home a little bag full of stuff. I know she will remember it forever and I'm so thankful to Dallin for making her feel so special. I remember many of the Daddy Daughter activities I went to with my dad and hope she'll have the same good memories. I asked her what her favorite part of the night was and she said "Dancing with Daddy. And especially when he pulled me through his legs. That was SO FUN!"

Life

Life has been so busy lately. It just never seems to slow down. But I can't complain, because we've got five great kids and that's a good reason to be busy.

Jacob entered the science fair at the end of January. He didn't win anything, but enjoyed doing his experiment on hand washing. He got to submerge his hands in a bowl full of glitter over and over again...what kid wouldn't like that?We had a nasty sore throat (I think bronchitis) that went through all seven of us over about 3 weeks time. It started with Landon the day after my mom arrived and we're just now all getting over it. Jacob had a small fever one day and had to stay home from school, but was still feeling pretty fine. He invited Connor into his room to play legos and watch a movie with him on the portable DVD player. Connor was in HEAVEN all day. He is never invited to play in there and was so thrilled by the attention that Jacob gave him.

This little man is still into everything, and now loves to sit in everything.

I had to document this part of Savannah's life. She loves to set up little groups of toys all over her room. I have learned not to touch or move them, because they are all special and have a purpose. I saw this one on her bed the other day and took a picture. She made a throne for her puppy dog, that is wearing a huge ring "bracelet." The bottle of yellow stuff is a science concoction they made at school. It has glitter and dish soap to make bubbles. It's fun having a little girl.

LeSueur Visit

Grandma LeSueur came to visit on Friday, Jan. 20. She had been helping with my brother's new baby in Odessa and came here after. We love it when she comes! Dallin and I were able to go on a long date on Saturday to the temple in San Antonio and out to lunch. Otherwise we mostly just hung out at home and enjoyed having her here.

Sometimes the kids get a little silly too, to show off for Grandma.

Connor loved reading books to Grandma and have her listen all about snakes.

Grandpa flew to Austin on the evening of Tuesday, Jan. 24. Landon has been a little warier around strangers the past few weeks, and was even a little bit with my mom. But he warmed up to Grandpa in about 2 seconds and was with him the entire rest of his stay.

It probably helped that Grandpa has a pocket full of all kinds of cool things, like a comb.

We forgot to take a picture with Grandma & Grandpa until the night before they left. So we got a pajama picture this time.

All of us got sick during the week, except Zach. And we still are. I was so relieved that we didn't pass it on to them before they went back to Odessa and the new baby. Thanks for the visit Grandma & Grandpa!!!