Fun Farm Day

Memphis is where the Keller's live. It's an hour from us, but they are still in our ward. Crazy. (We aren't in Utah anymore folks.) Dr. Keller is actually an ER doc that Shawn occasionally covers shifts for. He was covering a shift on Sunday for a different Doc. His wife takes pity on me. She knows what it's like to have a bunch of kids and a doc for a husband. So, she invited me and the kiddo's out to dinner at their farm yesterday. The whole idea was for Shawn to meet us for dinner because his ER was empty. Turns out we didn't get to see him the entire time we were there because it was a rare day and he was slammed with patients. We had a great time anyway! Kennedy has been saying for the last year that she's going to be a cowgirl one day and when I mentioned we were going to a farm she put on her cowgirl boots and brought her hat "just in case there are horses mom". I had never been to their farm and didn't know what to expect. Horses? Tons of them. Turns out they breed them and sell them, or trade them for cattle. They had a cat that had baby kittens. Kennedy fell in love with one and I had to check her pockets before we left to make sure she didn't smuggle the little creature into the van. She woke up crying this morning because she knows I won't let her "just keep it in her room". Ethan enjoyed the Keller boys. They were hitting water balloons with baseball bats, and then started launching them with a water balloon launch system off the deck. Jack really liked the trampoline, but not so much the horses. He stood back behind the gate until one of the older boys picked him up and carried him for a closer look. Landon just enjoyed exploring. He scooped in the kitty litter until he was caught (it had a shovel. Isn't that what you do with a shovel?). He was also caught eating a hunk of bread that was meant for the dogs. Funny boy. Doesn't complain when he's hungry, just finds what he can. He'd be great on survivor. The horses fascinated him. So did the trampoline. We ate dinner and she sent me home with enough food to last the rest of the week. Homemade jam, rolls, and cinnamon rolls. We had a great day! Farms are fun places for kids to explore. We'll have to go back and visit lots because I myself am a city girl through and through and wouldn't survive actually living on a farm. Or in such a small community.

Snap turtle, snap!

Shawn was outside the other day reseeding parts of the lawn and discovered this huge turtle sitting next to our house! I wanted to put my hand on it's back so I could show a size comparison, but Shawn stopped me. I'm so glad he was there or I would probably have lost a finger! That thing could snap! Shawn was trying to scoop it up with a shovel so he could take it around back closer to our neighbors pond, but it kept snapping the metal. So, we rolled it down the side of our lawn onto it's back and that's how we finally scooped him up. Ethan was yelling that it was going to die, and Landon just thought this whole thing was hilarious! Only in Missouri........(Erin, this in NO way tops your story of turtle soup!)

Let the fun begin, right??..........

Today is the last day of school. As a teacher I used to love the last day-------all the letters and gifts from the kids telling me how wonderful I was, papers flying everywhere, kids running, and then the stillness of the empty classroom with empty bulletin boards and empty desks. I used to sit in the middle of my classroom floor after the last kid left and just reflect on everything that went on that year, good and bad, and just relish the times I had. Now I'm on the other end of the spectrum. Those kids running down the hall with papers flying behind them are now running into my house, my car, my space, instead of away from it. The stillness of my home is no longer. But, I do have to say that I love summer. Everything about it. Even with all my kids home. Especially with all my kids home. There is something about having your kids around all the time that gives you some sense of comfort. I know they are safe. (At least until summer gets old and having them in my space gets old and the pools get old. Thank goodness I can count on school starting again in August...)

Kennedy had a last day of school picnic at a local park today. She went to Faith Lutheran this year (a private school), and I was able to attend with Jack and Landon. We had a great time!

Mrs. Fouch gave all the kids their own bubble wands.

Kennedy and Jack negotiate the last chocolate cookie.

Kennedy eats strawberries with her friend Grayce.

Landon eats his weight in grapes and strawberries!

L to R: Kennedy, Kenzie, and Zoe.

Left to Right: Tate (Kennedy's boyfriend), Parker (wants to be Kennedy's boyfriend), and Kennedy.

Ethan's world........

The first thing Ethan does when he walks through the door is pick up the phone to call Ashtyn. They play computer games together while on the phone. I think it's cute. I know she's very smart because she's in RAP (rapid accelerated program) with him. They would talk for hours if I wasn't so mean and made his phone limit 45 minutes. At his school program friday I was able to meet Ashtyn. After seeing her I understood why he was so anxious to call her all the time. He has great taste in girls..............

Neighborhood life.........

I LOVE living in a neighborhood! We are surrounded by great people with small kids. Because we are in a new subdivision there is rarely any through traffic so it's safe for the kids to ride bikes up and down, and around the corners without too much parental anxiety. Saturday there were about 10 kids riding bikes, running swing set to swing set, eating popsicles, and just enjoying the beautiful day. I parked myself in a camping chair next to Tiffany (another mom) and Landon and Grace (Tiffany's daughter the same age as Landon) just played with toys on the driveway. I feel like this just might be the most carefree summer I have had in the last, oh, 7 1/2 years!

1. I'm not a gigantic whale about to give birth.

2. I don't have a new little baby that needs bottles, naps, and to not be in too much sun.

3. I'm not puking from being newly pregnant.

4. I live in a great community in a GREAT neighborhood!!

5. Did I mention I'm not pregnant?!?

Our neighbors the LaBeth's have a daughter who just turned 4. For her birthday she received a princess car. You know the kind that you can actually drive by pushing the pedals? You can go fast, faster, or in reverse. Well, my kids love that car. Especially Jack. In fact, I think he thinks it's a real car. I've noticed that since he's taken over her car he has become a backseat driver in MY car. He likes to let me know that the light just turned red and I should have stopped, or that I'm not going fast enough, or that the light is now green mom so go already. (even if I were to drive into the trunk of the person in front of me). Jack knows his boundaries of our neighborhood. He knows he can ride his bike around the corner to the stop sign, but he is NEVER allowed to turn at that stop sign onto the busy street and loop back onto our street. He is always supposed to return the way that he went. He's proven for the last year and a half since we've lived here that he understands that rule. On his bike. One day he hopped Landon into the little princess car with him and drove off into the sunset. I watched him go around the corner headed for the stop sign. Then I just waited to see him returning. 1 minute. 2 minutes. 3 minutes. Where is Jack? He wouldn't have gone onto the busy street. He knows the boundaries. 4 minutes. Panic starts to set in. The only thing I can do is catch him turning back onto our street because it's too far to head him off at the stop sign. Pretty soon here comes my babies coming towards me. He did it. He took the extremely busy road Shepard. His answer? "Mom, I looked both ways. There were no cars coming. I was driving a car and you are supposed to go on busy roads in cars." We now have new rules and boudaries for 3 year olds driving cars.

What?? Already?? You've got to be kidding me.......

See this little sweet innocent girl (courtesy of Christina Dixon photography)?? Isn't she so innocent? Well, I am completely shocked at the conversation we had this morning. As I was doing her hair (brushing only, no pigtails mom) she kept mentioning Tate from her class. I asked if he was her new boyfriend. She said yes, and then proceeded to tell me that he kissed her at recess yesterday. So, being the sly mom I am, I pretend what she said didn't even phase me. Trying to keep up the conversation, I casually ask where this kiss took place. These are her exact words------"Well, he wanted to kiss me on the playground, but I didn't want anyone to see so I told him about my secret hiding place in the rocks. It's underneath the elephant slide."
Me: Did he kiss you on the lips?
Her: No, just on the cheeks, but a lot of times! When he was done Parker said it was a lot of kisses!
Me: Did Parker watch?
Her: Well, he was blocking the doorway so nobody could see in, but he kept watching instead.

By now my head is spinning and I'm starting to lose consciousness, while still trying to maintain a nonchalant attitude. You see, I still want her to tell me things and am afraid this was one of those "make or break the relationship" type moments. If I overreact she won't ever tell me anything again. If I get upset and tell her this is not appropriate, she'll do it anyway and never tell me anything again. But, if I pretend it's no big deal and in the future when it isn't connected to something she tells me, teach her what is appropriate and what isn't, then maybe she'll keep telling me things and I can gently guide her? Well, that is the only theory I could come up with. I guess I turned out okay and I started kissing boys in secret hiding places at school in the 4th grade. (Sorry Mom.) One day she'll grow up and be married and have this same conversation with her daughter and she will then know what my heart felt like the day I found out she was interested in the opposite sex. I just hope she turns out as good as I did! (Thanks Mom)

Some cute pictures...........

Jack looks so sweet and innocent in this picture. Wow, the camera sure doesn't capture everything.
I can't get enough of this picture with Landon listening to Kennedy's ipod. He is so squeezable!

Here is Ethan ready to launch a sandy bomb. I think he's retaliating from when Jack launched his.

This is my little pirate princess Kennedy. I love her little freckles!

Caught Off Guard............

I was caught off guard this morning, and am at a loss for words. Me? Loss of words? Wierd, I know. Some of you reading this haven't seen or heard from me in awhile, so I've decided to give you all an update. For those of you I speak to on a regular basis, you might have better ways to spend your time!
These are my four fabulous babies. I call them babies, but Ethan reminds me that he is 7 and I have to cut the strings eventually. He's my oldest. My actual baby baby is the one standing. Landon is 18 months. Hardly a real baby, but to me he'll always remain with that title. Kennedy is 5 and the only girl. Sometimes she prays that she'll have a sister. I nixed that, so she started praying that her brothers would turn into sisters. I don't think she realizes what she's really praying for. Then there is Jack. He's 3 and he thinks he's 25. He wants to move out and buy his own house. I asked where he'd get the money and he said from my wallet of course. He definitely keeps me on my toes.
This next picture is Shawn. He's a doctor now. Well, an Anesthesia Resident. To me he's just the man I married. So he saves people from pain during labor, and calmy sedates them before surgery. All I know is he's gone all the time and I savor the times he is home. I miss him. Hopefully one day he'll be able to retire and we can travel to some remote island alone and live on the beach. Except, not too remote, we like the comforts of home. And not too sunny because he burns super easy and by then I'll be old and my wrinkles won't be able to take the sun. And not too sandy because sometimes it chafes. Okay, just retire and be home with me doing nothing exciting, just being.
This is me. Well, this is me two years ago while visiting my brother and sister in law in Chicago. It's the only halfway decent picture I could find. I'm still the same, only older, and probably add a few pounds. I try to excercise everyday to keep my sanity. I chase kids, break up a lot of fights, clean, read, watch tv, and now I blog. Nothing too exciting in this little life I lead. But, I'm learning a lot lately about who I am, what I believe, and why I do the things I do. It's amazing how much less you know the older you get.

A work in progress...........

I find myself needing to become a blogger. I'm fascinated by reading into the minds of others and am inspired to start my own life saga. It's definitely a work in progress, but so am I, right?