Updates

So we now have a 10 week old. I know. I'm not happy about that ether. She seems so big to me. I know she's still a little one, but she's not 'new' anymore. She is such a quiet content baby. Right now she is in watching Sponge Bob with 5 of 6. It's been an eventful week of Dr. appt antibiotics, colds, and going back on track. 6 of 6 got this horrible rash on her butt and since I was taking 4 of 6 in to see why she had a horrible 2 week long disgusting green nose, I took the baby too. The dr put her on and antibiotic until the culture came back. Luckily it ended up being a yeast infection and not Staph or strep.
5 o6 still doesn't know what to think about her.

I have been trying to capture a smile. This was as close as I could get.

The 2 little girls have been spending a lot of time out side lately. 5 of 6 likes to put things in her mouth, and this was the result of the dirt she put in her cup.
We also got 4 of 6's eye evaluation back. Apparently she's blind. I think this school and her teachers just don't know her very well. I went to a parent teacher conference yesterday, and they asked me if she was learning anything. Um, she does know her numbers 1-10, and can pick out and say 14 of her letters. She also knows her body parts and colors. But, she knew those going into school this year. She doesn't learn a little at a time, she goes for months with out gaining, then she'll have a really good week, and pick up a few new concepts. It's just the way she learns, and it's okay.

We are reading the Book of Mormon as a family, we can finally do that and have the kids help read. 1 of 6's reading has dramatically improved because of this. 2 of 6 is being tested for the advanced program, 3 of 6 is apparently engaged, I have become fluent in typing 1 handed, and Trent is getting ready to tear down a wall.

There we are now caught up.

Oh, and thank you Michelle, we LOVE the couch. I hope you like yours too.

Did I Ever Tell You Why I Run?

This picture has nothing to do with it, but I thought I should post kids in costumes.
Anyway. Have I ever told you the story of why I wanted to start running? It was 2003 and 2 of 6 was about 22 months old, 3 of 6 was a few months old. We decided to take a trip up to ID to see Trent's grandparents. We were driving this old Plymouth Acclaim that sputtered a lot, and had given us a little trouble on the way up. His uncle knew that these cars lost their alternators about 130 miles or so, so we decided to replace it while we were there. The part store was just around the corner, so we asked if we could leave the baby sleeping, and the 2 older kids playing while we ran there and back. We were gone for about 15 minutes and upon our return, I went looking for the kids, (I have always needed to know exactly where the kids were and what they are doing) to make eye contact with them. There's 1 of 6 sitting on the couch reading a book with GMA, but no 2 of 6. He's not in any room. Then I notice the back door is open. My heart sinks. I go out back and the gate to the garden is open, it sinks deeper. On the other side of the garden is an irrigation canal, at peak capacity. I bolt, yelling for someone to get Trent. GMA was behind me because when I went down stairs and asked where 2 of 6 was, she realized she hadn't seen him for a few minutes and followed me up to look for him. Their yard was a good half to three quarter acre, so it took me a few minutes to get to the canal. I immediately started looking at the bottom of the canal. There is truly nothing worse than looking for your 2 yr old son, thinking he had drowned.
The canal went under the road a few yards down, and got rough, so I started to panic more when I saw the water turned to rapids. I got to the road and looked up the road a bit, and noticed and older man with something in his arms walking towards me. It was him. He was dry, and smiling, and happy. He had wandered out of the house, through the yard and garden, along the canal (someone was holding his hand and keeping him out of the water, what 2 yr old doesn;t automatically go for the water) then down the road, looking for "his GMA who lived in the trees". GMA lives in a neighborhood with 100 yr old maples. After my adrenaline stopped pumping, my chest hurt, and I felt like I was going to be sick. I was so out of shape. I decided then and there, that I wanted to be able to run and not faint, in case my kids ever needed me.
It took a few years to reach that goal, but I can tell you I feel much more at ease, knowing I could run if I needed to.

What Did You Do This Weekend?

Gardener Village with good friends (i tried to call you Erin)

Sighted a few of these

After the night here

to see this.

Yes, that is Mt. Rushmore up there. Trent had a bunch of days he had to take before Nov. So we packed the kids up and drove all the way across WY, into SD and saw Rushmore. We also stopped at Martin's Cove and Seminoe res. It was beautiful. Well, all except for the drive across Wy, that was nothing but blowing snow, semis antelope and cattle. The baby was fabulous, and all of the kids did really well being in the car for 1500 miles in 4 days. Well, all except 5 of 6, she struggled. Not as bad as it could have been, but considering she's only 20 months, she did well.

Now, back to the same old stuff. Kids off track, messy rooms.... But I will not want to eat out for a long time. That was overkill. The down side to vacations is all the fast food.

Anyway, we're happy to be home and sleeping in our own beds and our own rooms. Nothing like sharing a room with 7 others to make you glad to have your own.

Happiness is

A friend and neighbor and blogging buddy, has a segment called 'Happiness Is'. I would like to steal it, because every time I read it, I think to myself "yes it is, and it is also this" So here goes.... Happiness is a warm Indian Summer afternoon. Playing in the warm dirt with your little sister.

Happiness is an apple off the apple tree.

Happiness is covering yourself in the warm dirt, in your brand new school clothes.

And last.... not pictured, the bath after the dirt.

On My Mind Monday

The kids are off track, and no one slept in past 7, I don't mind. I didn't have to get anyone to school, the baby slept from 9-3... so did I. Things are good. Now, If I could get on top of my house before it gets worse, I will feel like I have done some good in my world.
Short term: bathrooms need to be cleaned,
Laundry done, again
house vacuumed
DI stuff collected.

We have also picked up family scripture reading again. It has been a little while since we have read as a family, I can already see a huge improvement in 1 of 6's reading. That has been a struggle for her since 2nd grade. I hope this will help her gain confidence, and that will turn into a love of reading. It is actually kind of fun, now that the 2 oldest can help read.
I also need to plan a few off track activities. We are planning a road trip for 5 of those days, hit a few ghost towns, but what to do with the other 2 weeks......

Updated

I finally updated my side bar to reflect the changes to our family. Now that 6 of 6 is 6 weeks, it was time.
I know can 1 of 6 look any grumpier? She would give me a grumpy look Every time I asked them to smile....... I thought 9 was to young to me grumpy, but she got grounded, and every time I remind her she can't do something, she gets grumpy again. This was after one of those moments. I think I just need to get used to not always getting to be the fun parent. This job has down sides too. Oh well, We have 3 weeks off track, and we are hoping to go on a ghost town trip, maybe in the Moab direction. I'm excited, we need to get out. Take a trip, get away from house remodeling, computer, Sponge Bob, laundry, You know every day norm.

Back in the Saddle

I have been meaning to set the treadmill up for about 3 weeks now. Today, it finally happened. I ran 2 miles. It was so good. I missed running, and have thought about it constantly for about 2 weeks now. I hope to be ready to do the SL half this spring, and the Wasatch Back with my SIL in July. Maybe it's Aug. And as a bonus for my efforts, drop 20 lbs.
As for life, I feel like there aren't enough hrs in the day. I my house seems to get the short end of the stick, but I'm sure it doesn't mind. It doesn't make me happy to get further and further behind, but I have days where I can get tons done, and when I get another one of those, I'll catch up.
Now, what's for dinner?