Ethan Being Ethan

I recorded Ethan when he thought I was just taking a picture.

The Aftermath

This is what happened after that last one didn't work.

Jeffery Sneaks a Treat

I told Jeffery that he could only have one Cherry Kiss because he was sick. He kept standing beside me and trying to put his hand in the bag to get some more. I just pushed his hand away. Then this sneaky kid comes up with the idea to cover his eyes while reaching in the bag, and when I look at him, he says, "Don't see me!"

Pretty Blue Van

Well, we finally found a van! I love all the new technology that it comes with (like keyless entry, CD player, rear air that works, etc.).

Sick, Sick, Sick, Sick

All of the kids have gone to the doctor this week (each on a different day). It is extremely frustrating to get home from Jeffery's doctor visit on Thursday night and find out Ethan has a fever as well. Now Katherine has a fever today! So I will make the familiar call to the doctor's office in the morning. It would have been nice and convenient for all of them to get sick at exactly the same time. Well, I'm just grateful that they don't have the flu, since that would be much worse than everyone having bronchitis. I just have to share the chart that I made to keep up with each child's medicine. With all this medicine to dole out, I made a major error twice. I gave Ethan ibuprofen, and he is allergic to it. Right after he swallowed I realized what I had done and immediately gave him benadryl. Katherine was so sweet to write a large sign, "Remember don't give Ethan ibprofen" to stick on the fridge.

Ants and Uncles

Today we had a few things to do as we woke up. We never thought that we would be killing ants in our cupboards today. We, first, saw them last night, but I didn't think much of it. They covered the pancake syrup bottle, so I got it down washed it off in the sink and saw a few that went for a swim down the drain. I finally went to Wally World and got some home defense and ant killer spray. I sprayed the cupboard where I found them then I opened up the other cupbards and found more. They were marching somewhere. We couldn't find where they were going. I sprayed in the one cupboard to make sure that no more came in because that looked like the place where they were coming from.
Later on Wendy opened up a another cupboard to fix something to eat and found where they were going. It was a great value peanut butter container. So, we threw it away and commenced the slaughter. Mormon would've been proud of Wendy and her ten-thousand. We finally extinguished them as much as possible and started a major cleaning of counters, sink and kitchen floor. This was almost as nasty as finding a roach - well, maybe not.

Bronchitis Attack

Jamie got sick Sunday night and stayed out of school for two days. She still has lingering effects...cough. Ethan and Jeffery got sick yesterday and even though they are sick they are still jumping around like grasshoppers in a bucket. It's a good thing Wendy got her new van just in time. She's been playing the soccer mom, cab driver, and shoeffer for the past week. She's also been the family nurse, 1st grade teacher, 3rd grade teacher and 5th grade teacher and let's add one more, the cook. She's been frustrated with all that she has to do but we're very thankful for what she does for us. I know that I wouldn't last as long as she has. Thanks Wendy!!!

New Van

I just purchased my first vehicle with cash! It feels so good to have all that hard work of saving money pay off. It is a 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan with 73,000 miles on it. I'll post pictures later so you can see that it is a pretty blue.

New and Improved

I changed the blog background and banner which now includes our family picture taken about a year ago. It took a while to figure everything out, but I think it looks good.

Un-Labor Day

Our original plans for yesterday included a trip to Missy's in Wetumpka, AL. However, Laci got sick with the flu. We were disappointed we couldn't spend time with the Howell's, but there will be time in the future for us to get together.



The backup plan for Labor Day was cooking out, games, and slip-n-slide at mom and dad's house. There was certainly no laboring at mom's yesterday, except for making food. Jodi, Adam, Jamie and I played a game of Monopoly - StarWars Episode I which took 2 1/2 hours to play. It was a lot of fun since I hadn't played that game in several years. Jamie surprised me by doing well and enjoying the game. I thought it would be over her head, but she gave me a run for my money, literally. The second game of Monopoly which lasted 3 hours was played by Paul (who got left out of the first game, sorry.), Adam, Jamie and me. I had lots of fun because I won again! Jamie played so well that we went head to head at the end. She only had the dark blue (ie, Park Place and Boardwalk) and the purple (ie, Mediterranean Avenue and Baltic Avenue) monopolies. It seemed like Adam, Paul and I landed on hers each time around the board!

Jason just watched football and I think he played a dice game, too.

The kids had fun playing with Brian, Luke and Rubi. I think they also had fun fighting with them too.

A game of Clue was going on in the kitchen while Adam, Jodi, Jamie and I played our first game of Monopoly. Becky, Amy, Mom, and Paul suggested and accused their players of committing the crime.

After finishing our first Monopoly game, Adam, Jason, and I rearranged mom's green bedroom.

Car-less

On my way to class Tuesday night, my van died. Thankfully Jodi quit her job and was therefore avaliable to pick me up and get me to class in time to take my quiz. (We have one every week.) Adam waited for me after his class finished at 6:45pm until mine was over at 8pm.

I'm selling my van for $250 (the ablolute most I could get) and hoping that I can find something soon. I really liked my '98 Dodge Grand Caravan even though it had 170,000 miles and no working horn or reverse lights (I know, very dangerous). The kids will be happy because they will be able to enjoy cool air in the back (just in time for fall) instead of sweating.

I have a hate/love relationship with change. I always hate it at first, and then I warm up to the idea. After that, I get really excited.