HUGE News!

Some of you may already have heard, but we have huge news around here. Michael has chosen to go into the medical field and is enrolled to start school next Wednesday in a Medical Assisting program. This is a huge deal for Michael and our family as Michael has been trying to make this decision for many years, going between such things as dental hygienist, ultrasonographer, nurse, nutritionist, radiographer, surgical tech., etc. etc. Although it is not what he wants to end up doing, it is a foot in the medical door and he can decide from there where he wants to be. We are SOOOO excited!

This does mean huge, somewhat scary changes for our family, though. Michael will go to school from 8 - noon every day so he left his job last Friday. Our plan is to find him a part-time job, ideally from 1 - 5:00 each day, somewhere close to home. Then when he gets home I will do my transcription work and the rest of the family will pretend as if I'm not here so I can make up the difference in the income we are losing. I figured out that I will need to do about three times as much work as I have been doing. It is going to be crazy. No, insane. But if we can make it through these 11 months (and I am determined since I've been waiting for this decision for so many years!), then we will be a lot better off.

Here's where I need your help. Please, please, please...if you hear of any part-time jobs (ANYTHING!), we would love to hear about it. The sooner Michael is able to get a part-time job, the better. We are asking that all of our friends keep their eyes and ears open to any opportunities. Thank you so much! If everything goes smoothly, Michael will graduate days before our 11-year anniversary. Now that will be an anniversary to remember!

Family Traditions

I was so excited to teach my Beehive lesson yesterday. It was about family traditions and as I went through preparing the lesson, I thought of a lot of family traditions that I enjoyed. For my sake and that of my posterity, I thought I'd quickly jot them down...

Disneyland:

As a family we had tons of great trips to Disneyland. Dad would always spin the teacups like crazy. We would get ice cream to eat during the day and a lollipop on the way out. I have lots of great memories of Disneyland. Thanks to my dear parents, I can no longer watch a Disneyland commercial without tears coming to my eyes for the fact that I'm not there at that instant!

Marie Callender's:

I don't know how often...maybe once a month we would go as a family to Marie Callender's. It must not have been too cheap because there were six of us, we could usually bring a friend, and we usually got appetizers and dessert, too. We would sit around the table and tell jokes and people would comment to my parents about how well-behaved their kids were. That made us feel proud. Oh, I usually liked to get a little dressed up because it was a good excuse. I usually had the Turkey Croissant Club and Mocha Mousse Pie. Yum! On the way home all of us kids would be so full we would usually pass out in the van and then Dad would carry us in. Sometimes even if I wasn't asleep, I would pretend I was just so my dad would carry me. He must've carried me until I was in my early teens!

Family Home Evening:

I don't know if we had it weekly or not, but I do remember having quite a few Family Home Evenings. I remember participating in the music, making treats, doing flannel board lessons. I'm grateful that my family had Family Home Evening and hope to pass on that tradition to my own kids.

Rock & Talk:

I don't know how often this occurred, but it was one of my favorite traditions. We would sit on my dad's lap in the rocking chair and rock and talk (clever, huh?). I'm sure my topics of discussion were usually about ballet, but we would talk about whatever came to mind.

Date Nights:

About once a month we would get to go out on a date, one-on-one, with our parents. We got to choose what we did. I think that's something amazing to do with your kids. I think I remember talking to Michael about this even before we were married and telling him that I wanted to institute it when we had kids. Here we are. I look forward to having this be a formal thing as the kids get older. I'm sure they will look forward to it as much as I did growing up.

These are just a few of the traditions we had in our family. Of course, there are lots more...especially centered around holidays. Thanks to Mom and Dad for implementing them and giving me a great childhood.

Jesus Clothes

Yes, it would've been nice to get a picture of this so you could actually tell what it looks like! However, our clown kept wanting to do "a funny trick". What a silly. Pretty cute for my mom taking 2 1/2 minutes to measure, cut and sew, huh? We now have hundreds for sale for the low, low price of $15 each. Ha!

So much...

So much has happened since my last post, it's crazy! First of all, I've still been really sick. Just barely starting to come out of it. That's why it's taken me a while to get back here. I really shouldn't be catching up right now, but I'm afraid I will start to forget things if I let it go much longer. So...

Last Saturday Michael had to work so the kids and I went to spend time with my mom. The day started at 11 a.m. We went to Hillsboro Farmer's Market, to a cool toy store in Hillsboro, and then to the cemetery to take some flowers. Well, as we were pulling around to where the babies are buried, Evan just threw up all of a sudden. LOTS! I quickly pulled over and yanked him out of his seat just in time to catch the last drop of yuck. He was covered in it, his seat was covered, the car was covered. I stripped off his clothes in the grass at the cemetery and held him because he was so upset. Shortening my story...he threw up another time before we could get back to my mom's house. I rinsed Evan off and put a new diaper on him then went to rinsing out his clothes, etc. and putting them in the washer. In all of about 2 1/2 minutes, my mom had measured him and made him a little outfit. (Pictures are to come.) He wasn't too keen on it at first but then I told him it looked like an outfit Jesus might wear. Then he went around calling it his Jesus clothes and was pretty happy about the whole thing. Oh, yes. By the time we got home, it was 9:30 p.m.!!! No, that wasn't the plan. Just all kinds of detours in our plan.

Sunday was Mother's Day. I got a lovely pancake breakfast, some purple tulips, and a little heart-shaped stool that Evan made for me. Very cute.

Monday was my first time to go to clogging practice in three weeks. I wouldn't have gone if it weren't for the fact that we have a little performance tomorrow for a Daughters of the Pioneers meeting (or something like that) and I had to completely learn one of the numbers I didn't know. Anyway, I just about died. I really think these clogging dances we are doing are more more exercise than pushing a baby out (maybe not the first time we run through a dance, but by the fourth time in a row without hardly a breather!!). So you've got that and the fact that I was sick, sick. My face had to be the color of a beet. It was hot, hot, hot. And every time I stopped dancing, I had to put my head between my knees because I felt like I was going to pass out. Anyway, Evan made some funny statements that day. Just randomly, as usual. He said, 'Sometimes I'm angry. Sometimes I'm happy. Do you love me when I fight?" I think because he's such a sweet guy, he feels cool talking about the times when he fights. I think it's all for show. Ha! Silly guy.

Tuesday was our 10 year anniversary! Whew hoo! I have seriously been so excited about that for probably five years. So, I had high, high hopes for the day. Michael asked me if he should take the day off and work Saturday instead. I told him to go to work because I'd like to do something fun on Saturday. So he left around 8:30. At 9:30 I got a call that he was in Southeast Portland with a blown radiator hose. He needed me to come rescue him. Well, the kids and I got to him around 11:30 and we spent until 5:00 driving around to find parts and waiting for Michael to fix the car so we could make sure he made it home safely. He didn't work after all. It was 88 degrees outside that day. I had to feed Maren in the car twice. Both kids were real troopers. Not the romantic day I had hoped for, however. After that, we dropped the kids off, went home and got ready for a date, and at at Macaroni Grill at 9:00 p.m.!!! No, I wouldn't have chosen Macaroni Grill and no, I wouldn't have wanted to eat so late. And, yes, I would have liked to have some other fun activities. Oh, well. I guess now I wait for an amazing 15 year anniversary. Heehee.

(This is a very long post.) Wednesday Grammy took Evan and Jaren to the zoo again. Thursday my mom and sisters came over. Danica was lamenting about her hair cut being terrible. Feney had some things to say about her hair, too. Danica got a spontaneous, wild hair and started calling around to about 10 salons to see if we could all get our hair cut. Anyway, the lady who cut mine straightened it afterwards (even after I told her that Evan can't stand it straight and Michael won't even kiss me when it's straight because I don't look like myself and he feels like he's kissing someone else). So, when Michael got home, one of the first things he said was, 'Can you make your hair curly again, please?' Glad someone likes my curls. Oh, since I wasn't able to on our actual anniversary, I did what I wanted to for him on this day. I painted words halfway down our street so he could read them as he pulled in from work. Here's a little picture.

Friday I buckled and went to the doctor again because for over a week my throat has been killing me at night. I was sure I had something serious! Well, there went another $72 down the drain. No strep again. He said my allergies were probably just weakening my immune system and that's why I haven't gotten better. Come on! It's been four weeks. Where's my miracle drug? Ha! Oh, yes. Also on Friday I took Maren in because she has had a terrible cough for a very long time. The doctor couldn't find anything concerning in his exam so he had them do a chest x-ray. That was horrible! Worse than shots!! I won't even describe it because it was so terrible, but she was fine, too. Here we think we're dying and there's not a thing wrong with us. We need validation!

Okay, that's it for now. Sorry if this is a big boring. I guess I needed to log this stuff down for myself. I've got to get a picture of Evan in his Jesus clothes. They are too cute. Maren is being so, so cute. Sometimes she starts talking and just won't stop for about 20 minutes. I love that! And some of the young women at church today got her really laughing. It was so cute to watch because I have to work up a sweat to get her to laugh. She's either a really tough audience or she's just bored of her mom. :-) Enjoy your week!

Happy Birthday to Dallin

Well, it was seven years ago today that Dallin was born. Hard to believe. It's always a surreal day, though it keeps getting more chaotic as we add kids. We all visited the cemetery today. Evan picked out the flowers - purple something and white roses. Michael tried to steer him toward more hearty flowers that might last longer, but he insisted. He also chose the balloon. It said, "It's a Boy!". This was the first time we have had to really explain Dallin's death to Evan. It was hard and emotional for us. He seemed to grasp it pretty well. He really likes looking at the scrapbook we have with pictures of Dallin in it. Anyway, I can't believe that our first child would be seven years old today. We miss him and look forward to the day when we will all be together as a family. Happy Birthday, Dallin. We love you.

Well, I took a $72 risk today. I woke up almost not being able to swallow and Michael confirmed white stuff in the back of my throat. I decided it was finally time to go to the doctor even though we don't have insurance on me right now. Luckily, I don't have strep throat. Just a virus working its way out. An expensive way to confirm that you're going to live!

Yesterday my mom took Evan and his cousin Jaren to the zoo. They had such a great time (and I had a great time, too!). They rode MAX there, went on the zoo train, saw lots of fun animals, ate an elephant ear, and bought stuff at the gift shop. Thanks, Mom, for giving those sweet boys a great day. Here is a fantastic picture of them just before they left. So cute!

Time to Play Catch Up

To prove that I really do exist, here's a picture of me. I'm usually the one behind the camera and I've been wondering lately if anyone in the future will know what I looked like. Heck! The last "family" picture we have is of me and Michael in, oh, about 1998. Ha! Yeah, we look a lot younger and, as Anton said one day, "smaller". Ha! So, here I am with Maren this afternoon while the boys were taking after-church naps.

This past week has been a blur of sick, sick, sick. I'm still not completely better and now my allergies are going berserk. Yikes! Like I said before, I'm really looking forward to being healthy. That's enough about that subject.

Yesterday Evan and Michael went to Home Depot again and this time made an herb garden. They enjoyed it just as much as they did last month. I know that these pictures are almost identical to last month, but they are so cute. First the one with the safety glasses. I swear Michael must've picked out the most humongous ones he could find just to be funny!

Next comes the completed project picture.

You know, this guy is turning into a real boy. Boys do gross, disgusting things I'm learning. Like today...he licked the bottom of his shoe. Sick! He drops his toothbrush on the floor. I could go on, but I won't. It's been bliss up until now (heehee), but I'm having a hard time with this part. I'm pretty sure we're going to have to get his tongue disinfected.

As for Maren, she is getting more and more fun every day. Her personality is starting to come out and it's a cute, feisty one. She loves to squawk like a pterodactyl (at least what I envision!) whenever she wants us or is just having fun. She is starting to laugh when she's tickled. And she is grabbing at her toys. Here's the first almost-smile picture I've gotten of her. Actually, I got actual smiles but those pictures were blurry. She's a cutie, though.

I know I've said it before, but I'll probably say it 100 more times. I am completely humbled by the friends and family I have. I feel like I am constantly getting the royal treatment and wondering if anyone else in the world is so fortunate. This week alone I had two friends bring us dinner, one friend watch Evan for a couple of hours so I could rest, one friend come over and help me clean the house (it hasn't gotten much attention this week!), and lots more call or email to see how I was feeling. If these were not all-the-time occurrences, that would be one thing. But people are always helping me out. I seriously don't know what I would do without the help. I know everyone is busy, but I feel too busy for my own good and that a lot of things slip in my life (like the house! You'd know that if you've ever been here!). I'm so grateful for wonderful friends and family who lift me up, encourage me, support me, etc. etc.

This next week should prove for some good posts. Stay tuned. And thanks for caring enough to read all the way to the end of a very long post. Ha!

Our Friend, Anton

We met our friend Anton when we moved into this house about five years ago. He was five then and he rode his bike right up to our car and introduced himself and started to play with us. We've been loving him ever since. Today I had an emergency and needed to be gone for about 15 minutes but Evan was sleeping. Since he's been sick, I didn't want to wake him up. I called Anton and asked him to stay here with Evan. When I got home, Evan was up and the two of them were playing. I knew Evan would be fine with the shock of me being gone if his good friend Anton was here. Ah yes, Evan is sporting some fancy Frosty chocolate on his face - the treat I brought everyone home.

Anyway, Anton is special because everyone loves to spend time with him. He's been playing with Evan - a 2 year old - for about an hour now and both are enjoying themselves. Michael - who is 24 years older than Anton! - has spent tons of time with Anton in the past...teaching him cool science things, doing experiments, making paper airplanes, going sledding, etc. etc. We always have great chats. And Anton was genuinely excited to see Maren today when he came over. Of course, she gave him a nice big smile to show that she loves him, too. The only thing that would make me sad about ever leaving this house is that we'd move away from Anton. And that's the truth! I think about it every time the thought crosses my mind that we need a bigger house. For now, we'll just enjoy our time with him - until he turns 13 and we're not cool enough anymore. Ha!