Sick Sayings.

We've all heard there are funny drunks. Well I think there are funny sickies. Drunks say funny and crazy things while intoxicated. As do sick children when they're doped up on meds or puking their guts out in the middle of the night.
I am blessed not to have interacted with drunk people very often. But, on the other hand I have been blessed with children and I have interacted with them while they've been sick.
And leave to my precious little Dawson leave this 'sick saying' with me in the middle of the night as he is puking into the toilet.
Back story:
I woke up at 2:00am to a whimpering Dawson. He usually wakes up in full tears and pain from constant leg aches. This was different. I was heading down to the kitchen to get him some pain meds when he said he felt like his body was going to throw up.
I quickly, 'gently pushed' him into the bathroom to avoid a massive clean-up so he could be near the porcelain throne. Sure enough, that's exactly what he needed to do. In fact over the course of the night he revisited the porcelain throne 9 times. Which means mommy was up 9x too. We are running on very little sleep this morning.
OK. this where I do use potty talk. Be forewarned.
What else usually accompanies puke? The runs! Yep Dawson got it all. A couple of his trips resulted in both experiences. Poor kid.
But, if it hadn't of happened this comment wouldn't have been made. I went into the bathroom to find him standing there. Naked from the waist down. He had just finished puking and says to me when I questioned if he was OK, "I was going poo, when I needed to throw-up. So I got up and when I started puking out my mouth, poo started squirting out my butt." Sure enough there it was all down his leg and on the rug. Then he started crying because I let a little giggle escape.
I told him would be OK. I had him hop in the shower while I took care of the floor and rug. After we got him all cleaned up, he then leaves me with this comment,
"Mom, I'm so sorry. I just was spraying out both ends at the same time."
Oh son, it is just fine. As a mother we take care of our children's needs. No matter how disgusting they may be. In the moment the grossness was replaced by love and laughter. His comments could make any one forget what was really happening.
When he made his latest trip (#9) as Kenzie and Xander were leaving for school, he says to me, "mom, should I be getting ready for school now?"
I think this would be a reasonable excuse not to go today. Don't you agree.

Abraham Lincoln

Craziness makes my world go round. With 4 children, there's never a shortage of craziness around here. It seems like there is a consistent stream of homework, reading, special projects and daily activities going on.
We made it through Mackenzie's science fair. She didn't pass onto district. Which honestly, I'm relieved with. That would have meant one more thing to schedule into my calendar. Recently, we've been working on Xander's Abe Lincoln report. Last week there was a debate over it's due date. I had marked on my calender that the poster was due on Friday the 24th. Xander told me his teacher changed the due date until the 29th. I questioned it, but knowing Xander and what a stinky lier he his, I believed him. Then a great friend of mine who happens to be an aide in his class confirmed Xander's new date. Sweetness! We now had an extra weekend to get it done.
My friend sent the teacher a txt to double check the due date. When the reply came back, it was contrary to our new due date. It was still due on the original Friday. Oh SNAP!
My week just got a whole lot busier and stressful. Xander and I went to work on his poster. Because of my crazy schedule and by the time we found out his poster was due Friday we had to double time our pace. It was Wednesday when we discovered the date change. On Wednesday, I drive to and from gymnastics. Plus dinner gets fit in there somewhere. Also, Xander started and extra math class. (I'll explain this in another post)
Anyway, our time was limited. Thursday before just happened to be the Blue & Gold banquet. Which started at 5:30. I needed to make a cake too and I work in Dawson's class on Thursday's. Can we say CRAZINESS!!
The poster needed to include 10 facts about their person, a time line of their life, birth and death dates, and the person's name. A huge part said that the things needed to be written in the students own words. Or typed. Thank goodness it could be typed. If Xander had to write it all, it would have taken 3x as long and I would have had to spell every other word for him. He came up with the 10 facts about Abraham Lincoln and helped partially with the timeline. I typed it all up for him. His things were put into his own words. For example; one of his facts said, "His grandpa was killed by an Indian War party." I believe they called them grandfathers back then. Plus I would have added Shawnee Indian War party. In the end he came up with 17 facts. I was very proud of him for doing his research. The timeline was trickier. He only had about 5 things throughout Abe's life. I did help him research more. Then we added a cute story about Abe's beard and a copy of the Gettysburg Address.
FYI: Did you know, the Gettysburg Address only lasted 2 minutes and was only 10 sentences long , but is one of the most influential speeches ever given. Now ya know.
After we printed everything off it was time to glue it onto his poster. Xander instructed me the colors needed to be boy colors and no pink or purple was to be used.
With Xander's instructions in mind I laid out an idea and he approved. I then sent him off to bed and I attached the things to his poster.
Yes, It looks like something I would make, but it was all done in his words and his ideas. I just typed and glued. Nothing wrong there.
Here is his poster.

I'm glad I remembered to take a pic of it.

I finished it about 12:30 and my mind was fried.

His biography fair is on the 29th. He gets to present his poster and dress up like his person. I'll be going to see him in his classroom and take more pics of my little

Abraham Lincoln.

Blue and Gold Banquet

It's so fun to have a cub scout in the house. Xander gets excited every week to be able to go to his activity just for him and just for BOYS!
Last night was the scouts Blue and Gold banquet. As part of the activities planned, the boys were to make a cake and decorate it all themselves with the theme of family.
I asked Xander what he wanted his cake to look like. His first idea was for me to make a cake and make all of our faces on it. I said, "you're suppose to decorate it, not me."
"Oh yeah, it can just say family." Pretty simple when he has to do it himself.
He did add that he wanted the word 'Family' to stand up. OK. How???
He looked at me and said, "With sticks. I'll go get the axe and cut some off the tree."
Really son! Cut sticks off the tree, stick them in the cake and serve it to people.
I convinced him to use clean Popsicle sticks in stead of sticks.
Let's be honest, I think he just wanted to use the axe.
He then decided it should have sprinkles on it too. "Oh and one more thing, mom. Make the cake high not flat." Whaaaaaat.
So, while he was at school I baked his cake. I used a bunt pan. and put the cake up onto my cake stand. There you have it son, a high cake that's not flat.
When he got home he was very happy with his standing cake. He frosted it, with a little guidance from him OCD mother. Then I realized, he was having so much fun and so happy with himself I let him have at it.
The sprinkles were his idea. He wanted and blue and gold sprinkles. Very fitting if you ask me. So he sprinkled away. And sprinkled, and sprinkled, and sprinkled. Next he added the word 'Family'
I had sticky foam letters that he was more than happy to use. Stuck them to a clean Popsicle stick and stuck them into the cake. TaaDaah we were done.
And most importantly, he loved it!

He asked me what I thought of his cake.
I told him I thought it looked great.
Super yummy and sprinkled with lots of Xander love.

Then the ever helpful and thoughtful Dawson pipes up,
"That's not Xander love, it's just sprinkles."

Thanks Dawson for that insight.

Xander received the

'Best use of Scout colors' award

for his cake design.

Hey Sawyer what was your favorite part of the Blue & Gold Banquet?

They also decorated placemats as part of the night's activities. The instructions were to draw something relating to the 'Family' theme.

There were awards for the best drawing for 12 and up. And a winner for 11 and younger.

We had a winner in our family.

Tyler won for his drawing. He was so embarrassed because he was

"just doodling, not even trying."

But, his doddles are pretty dang good.

It won him a pack of Peanut Butter cups.

This was Xander's drawing.

Looks like he's got some talent too.

Journals and Flowers.

Have I ever mentioned how much I love Activity Day Girls!!! I loved serving in Y.W. but, being with my awesome group of 9 year old girls is so rewarding. Anything you have planned is magical to them. They are so excited to be at the activity and willing to do anything. I looove it!
This past week, for our class activity we passed off one of our requirements in their Faith in God books and made Little scripture tote sized journals and flower pens.

For the journals I bought simple .50 flip notebooks and the girls picked a piece of scrapbook paper i had and we simply attached it to the front cover with scrapbook sticky tabs. Then I bought a pack of .79 pens and a cute selection of bright Gerber Daisies. The girls each made 2 pens with any color flower their hearts desired.
Then as a new leader I went through all their Faith in God books and up-dated my records with their items already passed off. My girls already have a lot things passed off. I'm so proud of them.
Then as it was time to leave, the girls started handing me their journals. I told them they were to keep them and use them to keep special notes in. The girls were so excited to be able to keep the things they made. It's funny to me that such a simple thing and craft could bring such joy.
If they liked this just wait till next time to see what I have planned.

On a side note, I do have a very jealous daughter because she is not in my group. I end up getting an extra of everything just so she can make the craft at home.

Oh, That's Dawson For Ya.

I had to post this before I forgot it.

The other morning Dawson was running across the kitchen floor. As he ran he continually tooted. I stopped what I was doing and said to him,
"Dawson was that a toot?"
He started laughing and said, "Yeah, I'm gas powered."

I literally almost peed my pants laughing so hard.
Where in the world does he come up with this stuff!

Little King Keith

Who rules the roost around this house? Sawyer does.
He thinks he's the cream of the crop, with a cherry on top. And sometimes he's right.

One night he decided he needed to sit a little higher. So he pushed a stool over to the ottoman and climbed atop.
Then he decided his tower would be much cooler if it was built higher.
So away he went. Building and stacking his tower.
But, most importantly when you have a tall tower you get a huge crash.
This process was repeated over and over.

Climb, stack, knock over. Repeat.

 The next morning Sawyer decided he was still the king of the mountain and thought he should be able to eat breakfast while perched high on his stool.
He pushed the stool over to the ottoman. Brought in his food, which was set on the kitchen table. Brought in his sippy cup and began his assent onto the stool. Then Little King Keith realized his predicament. His plate was much lower than him.
What was Little King Keith to do?

This was Little King Keith's reaction when he realized how far away his plate was.

Little King Keith thought for sure his mother servant would place a bite of food on his fork for him. After all, he is the king. Simply hold out the fork and food will surely appear at the end.

Hmmm. That didn't work.

Guess it was time for Little King Keith to figure out on his own how to reach the food.

The Little King Keith had great success in his mission for food at the end of his fork.

He learned that a little bit of hard work and perseverance can pay off.

Little King Keith was rewarded with food on his fork and his favorite show.

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.

Valentine, I Love You

Somebody must love me alot.

Oh YES he does!

I'm So Glad When Daddy Comes Home.

Business trips are hard on anyone. The spouse that is left home alone. The spouse that's gone from their family. But, most of all the little ones left home. In our case it's hardest on daddy's boy. Sure I'll do if he has to resort to me. Every one who knows Sawyer, knows he adores his daddy. Especially at night. He loves to cuddle with Ty every night.
Well, with Ty being gone this past week. Sawyer was left with me. Sorry little dude. Mom will have to do.
Here's the shameful back story.
Since Sawyer was born he has been cuddled to sleep almost every night. Due to the fact that our home is space challenged Sawyer's crib was set up in our bedroom. His crib however, was only slept in a hand full of times. Instead Ty cuddled with Sawyer and they slept on the couch every night. (Ty usually sleeps on the couch because the bed hurts his back very bad. And because let's face it, he snores like a bear with cold.)
So Sawyer has become accustomed to sleeping on the couch. Even his naps were taken on the couch. With all of us going about our daily routines. Plus side to this, Sawyer can sleep through anything.
We have since taken the crib down. My neighbor who had twins is using it. After all we weren't.  In the crib's spot sits a toddler bed. Still not being used.
With Tyler being gone for an entire week I came to the conclusion that it was time for little dude to sleep in his bed. Mommy doesn't do couch!
The night Ty left I went to work on my mission to get Sawyer to sleep in his own bed. I am happy to report that I succeeded. Yes, I did. Sawyer now sleeps every night in his toddler bed. The first night he slept for only about 4 hrs in it. Then he woke up crying. I think it's because he had no idea where he was. The next night total success. He slept the entire night in his bed. I had to wait for him to fall asleep on the couch first and then carry him up to bed. Sad I know, but it was a baby step.
We continued this routine on the 3rd night too. By the 4th night it was time to try and have him sleep on his own. As Sawyer was almost asleep, I carried him up to his bed. As I laid him down he lifted his head and mumbled a few things and I just stayed by him for a minute with my hand on his back for reassurance. It worked he tuckered out in no time.
However, this was the night he fell out of bed. Sorry little man. I had a railing for the bed at one point but, lost it somewhere. Time for a new one. So the 5th night (Friday) his bed was equipped with a new railing for safety and security. Once again Sawyer slept great. And I slept better knowing he was secure.
I told Ty of my success. Let's just say it shocked him. Then I informed him that if he came home and broke Sawyer, then I was throwing in the towel and Sawyer was all his.
On Saturday night, Ty put Sawyer to bed. In his bed. Sawyer tried to get out once. Ty just told him to get back in bed and he did. Then he slept through the night.
However, on Saturday afternoon when Tyler got home. I did allow cuddle time with daddy.

Everyone loves a good cuddle.

Heart Attack

I was in charge of the combined activity for activity day girls this past week. We were to focus on developing our talents. I started off my lesson/thought by asking the girls the girls what kind of talents they had. The girls named the usual talents that come to mind such as; singing, playing instruments, art, sports, dancing.....
I put a little twist on it and pointed out that not everyone has some of these talents. The girls agreed. Mackenzie then said, "I can't play the piano like Kaylee but, I can do a back walk over on the balance beam." Very true Kenz.
My point was that sometimes our talents are very noticeable and stand out. And sometimes our talents my be inside us. Talents such as; being a true friend. Or loving unconditionally. Being kids to others is a talent. Seeing another's needs and being able to help. These are all talents that aren't necessarily "stand-out" talents but, they are great talents to have and anyone can develop these talents.
I then ended my thought with an explanation of our activity. I told the girls that one of my dearest friends is going through a hard time. That this friend is someone very important to me and to them. She is someone who has a big calling and that her calling involves them.
This really got them thinking. I gave them a few more hint as to whom it could be.
This person has 5 children and is a single mom. One of her daughters just got home from a mission. The girls guessed it with that clue.
It was Sister Woodmansee, our primary president.
What I didn't tell the girls is that Juli, is a survivor. She fought breast cancer and kicked it's butt. But, she recently had another doc's appt. where they found a few things in her lympth nodes that caused concern.
She got this news 2 weeks before her daughter was to return from her mission. A time that should have filled with stress from getting the house ready instead was filled with the stress of trying to be positive and not worry the other kids and unanswered questions. On top of the additional stress she had to battle with her new insurance about covering the tests she needed and getting the glitches out before she proceeded further.
Then her missionary returned and she was faced with new challenges in life because she had her daughter home, but her daughter was on a very big spiritual high and Juli wanted her to hold onto the spirit as long as possible. But, realized that the home environment she came home to wasn't helping her keep her "high".
Because of everything going on in her life, Juli was in a funk.
I explained to the girls that a talent we all can have is the ability to recognize another person's needs and that sometimes they just need to feel loved and appreciated.
So for our activity we were going to give Juli a heart attack. We all spent the next 30 mins cutting out hearts and writing notes of thanks and appreciation. The girls made hearts of every size and color. Some hearts had sticks attached for sticking in the ground. Some hearts said, "we love you", "thanks for everything" or "Sister Woodmansee ROCKS!"
When the hearts were done it was time to make our stealth like attack on her house. I discovered in this process that 25 giggling girls are not so stealth-like. It was more circus like.
However, I knew Juli wouldn't be home because she works until about 5:30. A bonus to our friendship is knowing her schedule. (:
The girls went about the yard and house putting hearts every where. They had hearts in her trees, on the railing, in the snow, on the front door, on the house, on the porch swing. Hearts were every where. It was a beautiful sight.
Juli's daughter (RM) came out and told the girls her mom was going to love it. She took a few pics for memory sake and thanked us for thinking of her mom.
When the attack was done we headed back to the church for a few closing thoughts, prayer and refreshments.
Later that night, Juli called me in tears thanking me for thinking of her. She knew it was me because "who else knew what she was going through and what she needed." I quickly replied, "Heavenly Father does." I could tell she was smiling when she said, "Well, He knew how to use you as His tool."
If all it takes is to listen to a little prompting and a bunch of hearts to make some one else happy and lift their spirits, then I'm glad I listened.

You can feel the love just looking at her house.

Home Work Time

One day after school, Xander was at the kitchen table doing his homework. Dawson decided he wanted to work on his too. Dawson doesn't usually do daily homework because he is given a packet to finish over the course of a month. Not to be left out, Sawyer decided he needed to join the boys and do his work.

Dawson had to draw a picture of something he did over the Christmas break.


He decided to color a picture of his
ginger bread house.

Xander is working on spelling.

Take a look at Sawyer's expression.

I think it's his concentration look.

Dawson, hard at work.    Xander being a cheeser.

My silly little guy.

His shirt says,

"I'm the smart one."

Science Fair Is Finished!

I have realized something this past few weeks as we worked on Mackenzie's science fair project.
First, when a teacher sends home a 2 month long schedule for completing a science fair project. Follow it. For she is wise and knows projects can not be completed over night.
2nd, If it's winter in Utah maybe pick a project that doesn't need to be done outside. Brrr.
3rd, leave procrastination to Kenzie's Uncle Dan. He is a Pro. And he can have it.
Finally, I learned that Mackenzie gets really silly at 1:00 in the morning as we finished her poster board. She stalled every time I sent her bed and kept coming back in to "tell" me something else. So I decided if she was up, she was doing her project board. She designed it and typed up stuff and choose the colors. I was just going to attach the stuff so she could go to bed.
Here is her finished project:

Her board.

1. Middle of board

2. Left side of board.

1. Right side of board

2. Board set up as a display.

Silly Mackenzie at 1:00

when we finished board.

When I woke up that morning I was looking at Kenz's board and realized we forgot to add her data table.

 I quickly typed up her info for her. I sent her off to school and attached the data table.

Luckily, there was a spot for it.

It's the little, rectangular, purple framed paper next to the hypothesis.

Kenzie on the day of her science fair at the school.

The kids set up their displays on Thursday. Parents could come walk through that afternoon. On Friday the students presented their projects to the judges.

Monday we'll find out the judge's results and who the winner is.

Stay tuned......

Care Instructions

If kids came with washing instructions......

I'm pretty sure his would say,

Hand Wash Only.

Lay flat to dry.

Do Not Iron.