It's summer!

I'm so excited that Isabel is out of school! She finished first grade and did a great job. It's so nice to see her teachers on the last day of school and have them all say how much they enjoyed having her in their class. She has been home for only two days so far and she has already been such a big help with the boys and keeping me company. I also LOVE that I don't have to wake up all the kids for that long morning drive.

We are getting so excited for our vacation next week. We are going to the historical city, Nauvoo. We've been learning about it for the past few weeks and are getting real excited to actually be there!

sitting with some boppy pillow help

Here is Titus. Feeling pretty happy to be sitting up and getting attention.

first kid to the ER

Joseph stayed home from church with Ansel who seemed a little sick (and Titus who was not sick). Isabel, Lincoln and I were walking to a pew to sit down and Lincoln fell down just at a great angel to hit his head right on the corner of the bench. He started screaming so I picked him up and took him out. After I got out of the chapel and into the foyer, I looked and realized his head/face was bloody. In the bathroom I got some paper towels to blot it and try to stop the bleeding then I realized it was a HUGE gash. I got it covered and went to find a friend. We went to the kitchen where the first aid kit is and got the bleeding to stop. We had a nurse come in and she confirmed that we better get him stitches. So...off to the Emergency Room I went!

I think we were really lucky to get right in and it didn't take SO long to get taken care of. Lincoln was his usual silly self and made a lot of people laugh. Some of my favorite things that he said were that we had a pet cat, his sister's name was Thomas the tank engine and when the doctor was doing the stitches he said "ouch!" (instead of just crying/screaming).

We are so proud of our brave little boy and hope it's at least another 6 years before we have to go to the ER with one of our kids again.

my biggest x-mas present EVER

I got these photos in the wrong order....but here is when joseph ripped up our carpet and installed a bamboo floor. He worked on it ALL day long, every day during Christmas break. It was our big present to ourselves! I LOVE it!

finally some pictures

the mcdonald's play place

I forgot that during spring break, I don't like to go places because everyone is already there with their kids...We decided to meet some friends at McDonald's and it was pretty crazy. The kids were real excited because I hate going there so we rarely go. Ansel came crying to me because he got kicked in the face. Ansel cries pretty easily and I know that it's crowded up in that play area so I didn't think much of it. But, another mom immediately came over and said that her son was also kicked in the face. I decided to walk over to try and see if anything was going on. I found a little girl coming out crying. The girl helping her said she got kicked in the face. So, I'm now aware of three victims and feeling certain this is not some accident. I get my stern voice out and say: Hey, whoever is up there kicking people needs to come down right now. As we are waiting some of the victims start describing the kicker. Pretty much all the kids are coming out of the playhouse and one boy asked: are you talking to me? One boy is lingering at a tunnel opening so I ask him if he is the one kicking everyone in the face. I turn around and all the kids are like, yep, he's the one. By now there is quite a crowd of parents and kids. I look around asking if this kid belongs to anyone. no. I tell the kid to come out and we better go find his mom. He said he didn't want to see his mom. I said, I bet you don't. I also said that I thought his mom would be happier to see us come to her together than me going by myself. At this point some lady is asking me if there is a problem. I tell her that this boy was kicking kids and we were going to find his mom. She said she was his aunt and I said oh, ok, great. Then I went back to sit down and eat my food. About 5 mins later Isabel reported that she was playing with the kicking boy and he was being real nice. I went and told the aunt that my daughter said they were playing together and having fun so I thanked her for talking to him. I know that several of the parents appreciated what I did. I have to say I feel a little bit like a superhero. It feels great to make the world a safer place!

scripture study

When we read scriptures as a family, we all take turns reading. For the kids that are too little to read, we tell them the words and they say them. Lincoln has a tendency to add his own words in. I've been meaning to write this down and tonight just cracked me up so much.

for, for the reward TRAIN of their pride and THOMAS their foolishness JAMES they shall reap destruction MOM.....etc.

It's SO funny to hear what is on his mind by the words he adds to the verses!