Grant's Special Sharing Time

Tonight was Grant's program at his pre-school.  It consisted of his class singing a few songs.  He gave us a preview on the ride over - "Jesus Loves Me."  And let me tell you he nailed it!  During the actual performance I barely saw his lips move but that's ok there were lots of distractions!  He stood next to his friend Brady and next to Brady was Brady's friend Evan.  The boy on the other side of him was messing with his clothes and you could see his underwear.  Brady really got into dancing and he and Evan started futzing with each other.  Before we knew it Evan had bopped  Brady in the gut and Brady is in tears.  My videography at this point went downhill.  I was laughing so hard I had tears and Elizabeth is asking me "why are you crying mommy?"  I can't keep my hand still because I am laughing so hard.  If I didn't know all of these boys it probably wouldn't be so funny, but knowing them and their personalities it was pretty cute!

Easter 2014

We had a wonderful Easter.  It started a week early when David and Sara came home for the St.Jude Gala and to share some Easter time with us.  The weather was a little breezy, but none the less a perfect spring day with the sun shining.  We spent the day playing yard games.  Good ole' fashioned fun that didn't require an Apple device!  First up was croquette.  It had been almost 15 years since David and I had last played and the last time was actually at Brandon's Aunt Sandy's house!  Lots of strategic moves later and David reigned the croquette!  We played a few games of PIG and rotated partners for Bags.  We finished the evening with a glow in the dark egg hunt which of course I have no pictures of because my nighttime photography is not good!  Best of all we got out all of those Apple devices and were able to plan a beach vacation for the summer. I am so ready for summer!!!

Actual Easter day started bright and early when Elizabeth woke up at 5:15 (ugh!! it was like xmas morning!).  Grant was already in bed with us (he is sneaky in the middle of the night like that!) and we managed to hold them off until 6:00 when I finally announced we were ready to embrace Easter and all of the memory making ahead!  By 6:45 we had found the eggs, opened the baskets and Brandon was at Ron's getting donuts!  I didn't plan breakfast because we are always so rushed and never have time to eat it!  We had plenty of time to enjoy some fried dough this year and then headed off to church.  A bonus to all of this time was we all looked really put together for the day.  After church we went to Ima and Pops for a daytime egg hunt and baskets.  We then headed to Kenny Pops' for an egg hunt and baskets.  The kids never tire of egg hunts and baskets!!  Kenny prepared a lovely meal for us and then we sacrificed a lamb.  Wait, what? Yes, we had a lovely lamb cake as a centerpiece and I was brave enough to try it and Brandon made quite a production of slicing/cutting it.  The kids were screaming "No!! Not the head! Oh Daddy! Ouch! Poor lamb!"  I sampled the ear,  thus deeming it truly only a centerpiece :)

We came home mowed the yard and the chocolate induced kids feel into slumber!!

The CADBURY EGG!

New shades in the Easter basket

Johnny Pops repurposed an Easter ribbon as a hair bow!

The lamb cake centerpiece

Melt My Heart :)

This is probably one for the "memory jar" but here it is.  The kids were outside playing with play-doh yesterday and Grant made me a blue heart and as he handed it me said, in his sweetest little boy voice "I love you very much."  As if that wasn't adorable enough a few minutes later he bring me another blob/heart and says "this is for a really special girl."  I think I might have blushed!  When he is good, he is really good!!

Tears

Things Elizabeth (5 1/2 years old) has cried about in the last 48 hours:

- it was too cold to wear a skirt to school = tears
- it was her turn to help spray the cleaner on the hardwood floors and Grant was doing it = tears
- it took too long (in her estimation - I didn't care) to pick out an outfit = tears (I told her that was part of being a girl - she found no comfort in this)
- I couldn't braid her hair all the way around her head to then make a side pony tail = tears

Trust me there was more, but they events are starting to blur together!

Grant continues to respond with "that's what brothers are for!" anytime he does something remotely nice for his sister!

And as we were looking through our wedding album, Elizabeth says "were your pregnant when you got married? Oh wait, no you couldn't have been!"  I had been talking earlier in the week how I was pregnant in my brother's wedding and sister-in-law's wedding.  I think she just got the events confused, but it was cute!

Where will Jack sleep tonight?

Since we have moved into the new house it has become a very big deal where Jack sleeps.  We encouraged him to sleep with Grant as a way to help him stay in bed all night.  Of course, Elizabeth was envious and wanted Jack also.  We allow Jack on Grant's bed, but not Elizabeth's due to their bedding.  Grant's bed is low and easy for him to jump on as well.  We usually try to rotate back and fourth but honestly, Jack always looks most comfortable in Grant's room.  Tonight Elizabeth was adamant that Jack was sleeping with her.  Jack was adamant that he was not and let us know by barking.  Elizabeth was in tears and boohooing it up pretty good.  "Jack never wants to sleep with me. My bed is too high.  It's not fair, he won't sleep with me!" (on and on and on) Grant to the rescue.  "Lisbet you can sleep with me. My bed is huge!"  You should have seen the smile on her face.  So into Grant's bed she climbed.  Grant's response "that's what brothers are for!"  Awe!! Is that not the sweetest?! Then he points to the picture on his wall, the picture of himself and says "If you can't sleep just look at that picture.  That's what I do!" Ok, hush now and all of you go to sleep!!!

A Cake for Grandpa!!

A few weeks ago Aunt Sandy came down for a visit.  The kids were so excited to have her stay at our house for a night!  She had the kids help her make an awesome cake for Grandpa Ray's birthday!

Batter testing!

1st layer!

Grant swirling the frosting

Sprinkling on the glitter!

Finished product!! 

Celebrating Mimi's Birthday

I adore my sister in law.  She had an awesome idea for a way for us to celebrate what would have been Mimi's 56th birthday.  We released balloons with birthday wishes attached and sent them to heaven.  Isn't that cool? But it gets better.   A bunch of people did it!  Brandon brought home balloons after work and it had a pink rose attached to them.  I simply wrote "Happy Birthday Mimi. We miss you." We released them on our deck with the kids and tried to watch them as long we could.  A new neighbor decided to introduce herself so and by the time we had finished chatting we could no longer see them.  The kids thought it was so cool.  The kids were having a sleepover with Kenny Pops and they had birthday cake and released balloons too.  Their sweet little voices sang "happy birthday" as the balloons drifted up to heaven.  Here are some pictures of all the balloon releases.

Mama vs. Mouse

Yes that is a mouse.  Yes it is in our garage.  In a previous life I would have screamed and called for a man however, this time was different.  I was carrying in groceries and there sat a mouse right in the middle of the garage floor.  I set the groceries inside the door and ran for a broom.  The mouse still had not moved.  I began sweeping it out of the garage, because I don't want to kill it I just don't want it residing in our house.  Well it finally starts to scurry and finds the edge of the garage and hides behind some racks.  At this point Elizabeth encourages me to move the racks and "GET THAT MOUSE!"  I didn't even hesitate as I started rearranging the bikes and moving shelving.  But I couldn't find the mouse.  I continue with the groceries and come out and find him (totally assuming this mouse is a boy) where he is pictured above.  I have time to take a picture, arm Elizabeth with a butterfly net and rearrange the bikes once again.  I started sweeping him out but this time with a bit more gusto! I rolled him all the way out of the garage and then to the end of the drive way.  He wasn't moving at this point.  I then had to go pick Grant up at school so I stratetically backed out of the drive way but I missed.  When we came back it was still in the road...mission accomplished.  No mice in this house...mama says.

Concrete Sidewalk 1 - Elizabeth 0

Last Monday we were heading into swimming and the kids were running on the sidewalk.  Right out of the gate Elizabeth fell.  It was one of those falls that you know is not going to be good.  I always think "please let all their teeth still be there."  Well, I was in luck, the teeth were all there.  Her face on the other hand was pretty scraped up.  She was bleeding from her forehead to her chin, so I picked her up and loaded the kids back up into the car and we went home.  I washed and examined everything and the wounds were mainly concrete grazes and I knew it would heal, but also knew it would look bad for a few days.  You might also notice an ice pack on her wrist.  I didn't think she got her hands out in front of her, given how much damage her face took, but she said her arm hurt.  I figured it probably got jammed pretty good when she fell.  

The next morning...at least she is smiling!

 She really didn't want to go to dance the next day.  She didn't want anyone to see her face.  I told her we weren't going into hiding until her face healed so we just had to do it.  Her dance friends were all extremely kind and they got to try on their dance costumes so it was a good thing we went.

Happy girl in her costume.  I am sure she has forgotten about her face at this point.

The next day we were playing air hockey and she was playing with her left hand.  She said it hurt to play with her right.  I went through a small series of tests.  "Does it hurt when I do this? this? that? Squeeze my hand." You get the idea.  Nothing bothered her.  She was still doing everything else. Writing and coloring at school.  But I called the doctor just in case and they agreed to just keep an eye on it.

So we kept an eye on it.  Sunday she came in from riding her bike because it hurt her arm.  The following Monday I took her to Fun Splash and she didn't want me to pull her around the pool because it hurt her arm.  We were at my parent's right after and I asked Dr.Johnny Pops to take a look at her arm and the answer was "Bad news honey, I don't think it looks quite right."  Another call to the doctor and we were sent right to X-ray.  A few hours wait and we get the verdict: "Distal Radius Fracture, we will be referring you to Ortho."

The bone should not bump out there to the left.

Polka Dots make everything better! She looks at least 9 in this picture, I swear she is still only 5!

The doctor was amazing!! He came in the room, shook my hand and then got right down on her level and talked to Elizabeth the whole time.  The break isn't near the growth plate so that is good news.  We had the option of a traditional cast or this new Exos Splint.  The Exos does everything a regular cast does, but you can take it off!  So we can scratch those itches without sticking a bent hanger down the cast.  She can swim!  She can bathe with it off!  It's light, pretty and she still great flexibility in her fingers.  Since it is her right hand this allows her to still grip a pencil.  They heated it up in a NuWave (infrared oven - yes like on the infomercials) and put it on her arm and it moulds to her size. Really cool medical product!  The best news...in 3 weeks it should be off and we can go to Disney without this accessory!!