Dr. Seuss and Weekend Review

Friday was Dr. Seuss's Birthday...did you know that? If you have kids, then you probably did as it's becomes quite the celebration at schools. The kids can come dressed up to Dr. Seuss characters and such. I didn't stray too far from last years costume idea of Daisy Head Maisy...okay, I did exactly what I did last year. Except this year Morgan got to get in on it too!

Saturday morning I went to the ladies only ski clinic a the the Nordic Center...loved it! I think I found my new calling! Now, if I could just master going up hill...then I think I would love it even more!

Saturday evening Ryan was going to take both Haley and Morgan skiing. However, when they started to bicker and whine I was having second thoughts. It wasn't until Morgan started having a complete crying break down about her socks not going on right that we decided to nix the whole thing. Why pay money for an evening of complete hell...right? So, instead we went to the park for some sledding. Much better for all.

This picture cracks me up! She's saying "CHEESE"!

Enjoying the fire after sledding.

Sunday morning proved to be a much better time for Ryan to take the girls skiing. The had a ball! Both girls can pretty much hold their own now, which is nice for Ryan. At one point Haley took a path less traveled and got caught up in some trees and the snow patrol had to "rescue" her. Boy, is that something Haley would do or what?! Anyway, it was quite an adventure for her as she cannot stop talking about her experience on the back of a snowmobile!

I went for a walk with the little ones while they were skiing...did I mention the weather is amazing!! I have GOT to get more active, the scale went up a pound this week!! And if you know me, I will not cut out any sweets! I don't eat them that often, and I will not take away those little joys in my life! So, more exercise it is!

This is one of Haley's pictures I found on the camera. Cute.

Happy Leap Year!

Just like Haley, Piper loves to be outside! It doesn't matter what the weather is doing: hot, cold, rain, wind, snow...whatever! Just as long as she's in it, she's happy!

We got some more snow yesterday! I know, who knew I would be happy about snow this time of year?! But I am!

We had family movie night last week...Over the Hedge was what the girls picked out from the library. Luckily, the girls LOVED it. You just never know with my kids, they can be very sensitive, and a bad movie can make bedtime a real challenge.

It all started with the movie Spirit years ago. I thought it was a harmless movie about a horse. Wrong. I guess the horse gets taken away, or maybe it died...I don't even remember. But, it took weeks, maybe even months for Haley to get over it.

Open Season was another animated movie that Haley got really shook up over. She was so sad that the ranger in the movie had to send her beloved bear back into the woods.

ET...we all know what happened with that one. After only about 30 minutes into the movie we had to turn it off...Morgan has vowed that she will NEVER watch that movie again. She had nightmares for weeks.

Air Bud. Haley was absolutely devastated that the little boy in the movie wanted the dog to leave him. The dog wanted love and the boy was mad (I forget why) and started yelling at the dog to go. Haley cried for hours, "Why is he being so mean to the dog?!". She never watched that one again.

The Great Mouse Detective. As soon the little evil bat appeared in the beginning of the movie Haley disappeared from the room...scared. Although, I can't say that I blame her on that one. I'm not a fan of those old dark Disney movies either. The Rescuers Down Under...boy, I hated that one! The Hobbit (not Disney), but I hated that one too! That Gollum character scared the crap out of me! Hmmm...maybe I see where Haley gets it from.

Anyway, lucky I didn't purchase any of those movies that Haley or Morgan hates. I leave it to the library to let us know if it's a winner. Over the Hedge...definitely a winner! They've seen about a gazillion times since Saturday.

Happy Leap Year y'all!

Birthday Weekend Review

My birthday weekend started off with some cake that came in the mail on Friday. Let me explain....when I was away in college my mom would send me a cake for my birthday. This company that she ordered it from would make the cake, and package it all up complete with big cake topper, candle and matches...everything you need to celebrate!

It was actually a bit nostalgic opening the box...I hadn't seen one of these cakes since college! I remembered Ryan and I sitting in my dorm room all those years ago with one of those cakes. He sang, I blew out the candle. Now, fast forward 10+ years and I'm celebrating with Ryan again...same cake, but this time with our four children around us! Crazy.

Saturday morning I hit up the Nordic Center for some more skiing. Just me...it was wonderful!
Although, the conditions weren't all that great...pretty icy. And I've realized I feel much more confident with an instructor at my side. There wasn't a clinic this time so I was on my own...trying to practice what I learned the last time. I'm sure I looked pretty silly trying to skate ski up very steep hills...I was basically doing the "granny" walk up most of them. But, it felt good to get out and have some time to myself.

Sunday was my Birthday...I got to start it with a box of donuts and a cup (or maybe cups) of coffee. Perfect.

That evening we spent it at our friends house watching the Academy Awards. She made the most delicious dessert! They even sang to me! It was lovely!

In other news...Rory has decided that sleeping through the night is over rated and that 3 am is a good time for a meal. I however disagree.

She also discovered she has limbs! And sometimes if she's lucky she can get that hand in her mouth!

Also, last week she giggled for the first time! Music to my ears!

Traditional VD Dinner

Last week we spent Valentine's Day evening at Long Beach airport awaiting our flight home.

I've made our traditional Valentine's meal of steak and potatoes for several years now...and I wasn't about to let it go this year! So, on Presidents Day (a week late) we finally celebrated! The girls "helped" me grocery shop that morning and they were thrilled to have flowers decorate our table!

And for dessert? My traditional molten lava cakes!

Now, here's to a less stressful week! And perhaps I'll catch up on laundry if I'm lucky!

How we're doing...

Well, I'm desperately trying to play catch-up with all the household chores since returning from CA. Getting nowhere it seems.
Saturday night we went to a dinner at our church. Oh, how I love a break from cooking!! A free meal and good company...can't go wrong. They even had a little program where the young men and women performed in a talent show of sorts. Mainly, they did little comical skits poking fun at some of the leaders. And then a kid did a weak rendition of a Justin Beiber song. I think I was most impressed with the kid who played the music for the Justin Beiber song using just the piano! But the kid singing could not stop laughing...major case stage giggles. I think Haley was disappointed...she could have done better singing it!

And speaking of Haley. There was some down time between skits and so some kids volunteered to say some jokes to the crowd...and of course Haley jumped on that! Now, let me just say that this girl knows several good jokes! Honestly, she does.

This is what she shares:
"What did the bigger hen say to the little hen?...........Ketchup!"

I think she got a little mixed up with the famous tomato joke in Pulp Fiction (no, she has not seen that movie! What kind of mother do you think I am?!) and some other chicken joke. But the crowd did not hesitate, and laughed up a storm! She was thrilled!

Sunday morning we woke up to a Winter Wonderland! Finally, some snow! The girls were out there right after breakfast!

We went to church later in the day. Morgan got an assignment earlier in the week...she had to share an experience when she remembered to "Choose the Right" to her Primary class. I figured she was supposed share a little experience during the beginning and perhaps several kids were going to get up to share something as well.

So Ryan and I are sitting in the back of Primary waiting for Morgan's turn. Then, not seeing any other children sitting with her at the front by the podium I realize...she has the main talk or "lesson" of Primary! Now, primary talks are extremely simple, they don't expect anything too long or drawn out. I'm thinking a child's talk should be around five minutes long. I blew it! I did not prepare her!! And of course this is our Ward Conference Sunday...so all the big time leaders are sitting in the back as well watching.

So Morgan, all smiles gets up for her "talk" on "Choose the Right". This is what she says:

"This one day me and Haley got into a fight. I really wanted to kick her. But I didn't."

*silence*

From the back of the room I frantically mouth, "What did you do?!".

"I didn't kick her."

The end.

I hope everyone knew I had a very difficult week...cut me some slack please!

Back in Utah

We made it back to Utah...it's good to be home.

Yesterday I was able to spend a few hours with my family before catching our flight. After the graveside service Ryan picked me up and I was able to join everyone (brothers, uncle, grandparents, parents...we had quite a group) to go out to lunch. I was exhausted, dressed in sweats, and I hadn't showered in three days...but I was there! I was so glad to be with my family on such an important day.

And then after a delayed flight we made it home at about 2 in the morning. It was an exhausting trip to say the least. Ryan had to hop back on a plane this morning CO bound for work...ouch.

A few pictures of Rory's drama.

In the ER getting some oxygen.

She had to be transferred in an ambulance to another hospital...we couldn't drive her.

I'm scared to see the bill on that one.

Our home for a couple of nights...I told you it was small!
I will not miss that chair!

RSV

I'm sitting in a hospital room with my little Rory by my side...in CA. She was admitted because her cold has turned into RSV. This closet of a space they have put us in has been my home for since Sunday. Seriously, I really haven't moved from this chair. Lots of sick kids on this floor...and as you know I'm pretty paranoid about illness...so here I stay. We have a roomie, a little boy also with RSV...so there is no shortage of hacking in this room.

I'm depressed about my situation and starting to feel sorry for myself. The sole purpose for this trip to CA was to attend my grandfather's funeral...and I missed it. I spent more than half this trip in a hospital. I'm so sad to have missed the services, missed being with my family. I feel absolutely no closure in the death of my grandfather...something I was hoping to gain by being here.

But I do realize it was the right thing to do, to bring Rory in. She was pretty bad off on Sunday. She was having a lot of trouble breathing: chest retractions, nose flaring, and grunting and wheezing with every breath. I had no choice. But to be honest, I had no idea it would turn out to be a hospital stay.

She's doing so much better today and we have been given the okay to leave. One problem though...my entire family is in Riverside (at least an hour away) right now for the graveside service. I so wish I could be there.

Well, at least I know I'll make our flight tonight. I really want to be home.

Life can really throw you some challenges. But I'm ready for a break from them.