Brossettelewis

We're still here

2012-01-27T10:31:00.002-07:00

Looking back I didn't post anything about Christmas or Kate's birthday. We had both. Both were magical. We had Brossette-side family pictures taken for Christmas.

For Kate's birthday we had a "Kate's favorite things" party. Think Oprah but Pinkalicious inspirired teal decor, fun foods, 20+ 6 years olds, crafts, face painting, nail painting, etc. Think hard because it was crazy busy and fun. All but two kids came. It was a full house and by the time Rich came home and took one picture, I realized I hadn't taken any. Kate loved it. You'll just have to be happy knowing she did.

Also we have been prepping our house to sale. We've finished and stuck it on some local websites this past week. We have had a couple appointments each night. Thankfully, the kids have had parties, library, and parent teacher conferences this week to keep me and them away. Last night was a "sleeping bag-in the church parking lot-in the rain-watching Madagascar-eating marshmallows and crasins" night. They loved it. Our realtor will post it on the MLS soon but I am excited with the amount of attention it is getting off of two free listings. So, if you know anyone wanting to move here two couples "couldn't believe we had 5 kids living here"...it's that awesome.

Mother's daughter

2011-12-31T16:56:00.001-07:00

There are some instances I am not 1000% ready to own it, like oh April 15, 2010 but days like today I'll own her quirks 1000%. Some people know my ~~issue~~ ~~freaking awesome idea~~ use of milk boxes for filing...see the top of the shelves. They hold file folders, cans or pasta for food storage, cloth diapers, pretty much everything perfectly.

Costco has also provided me with another amazing box, the blue spinach box. It's solid. The base is solid. The flaps are on the side so weight to the bottom is distributed to the sides and not through flaps in the base. The dimensions fit the depth of the closet but not the moulding, so it sits on top of allowing for airflow {because I think that's important for something}.

See the room for airflow? The boys have had these for probably a year because Kate took the dresser when she moved to the basement. They were going to be temporary but I like free, the drawings, ease of use, the fact that I don't care if they get destroyed, the fact they they have climbed them and they haven't fallen apart, & that they have grooves so they stack like legos.

Plus I've used them everywhere and the kids get it. They know where stuff goes and..... put their own stuff away.

Now back to why this all matters. Today at Costco Grace spied a spinach box. She got giddy, so much so that the lady in front of us in line was amused at her wavering inability to restrain herself. After ~~patiently~~ waiting she scored three boxes and while I was upstairs getting my pinterest projects, boys destruction projects, Kate's dress repairs done she was in the basement doing this.

{beaming with pride}

Here's some close ups of her intricate tags.

Love.

Here's one of what I was doing. I added hooks to the hair bow board for all their . Isn't it awesome? That brown hedgehog bow in the middle... PS: I did the mock-"make a bow tutorial" way before pinterest was even born...was also a pin project.

It's exciting!!

2011-12-03T20:33:00.002-07:00

My Real Brother

2011-12-02T16:28:00.001-07:00

Miles - "My brudder at my cheese stick. Mom, he ate it. I want it. He ate it." {unconsolable}

Me- {Assuming it was out resident cheese freak} "I am sorry. Granty is a baby. I'll get you...."

I was interrupted with "No! My real brother!"

Me-"James?"

Miles-"Yes."

Me-"Both James and Grant are your real brothers."

Miles- {now mad at me}"No MY REAL brother James took MY REAL cheese stick"

Sorry! The poor kid is surrounded by freakin' idiots! :)

8 is Great

2011-11-11T09:46:00.001-07:00

If you have older sisters, it's just going to happen. You'll learn to cope.

Be grateful. She could have dressed you to match her.

Kate with her matching paper doll at school.

Daddy with his new grilling toy he got for his birthday. We need to rotisserie something.

Ok, on to the real post...
Grace had a lego birthday party. She was very specific that she like the minifigs and ninjago. Since black doesn't do well with foods, we leaned towards the minifigs for our party. They made minifig heads out of baby food jars. They had minifig races with the jar size guys and duplos and several other loge-ized games. We ate minfig cupcakes and lego crispy treats.

They created their own wall of minifigs too.

But their favorite part was a last minute idea. They had 2 minutes to build something and sit down. The first person started a story about what they built. When they we getting comfortable it switched to the next person. They ended up playing it five times.

After the party, Grace got her ears pierced. It was a late night. I think we got home at 9:30.

It's like the freakin paparazzi. Look at all those flashes!

Saturday she was baptized and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

We had Tucanos to celebrate.

It was a Graciepalooza. Eight is great...or at least turning eight is great. :)

Halloween Costumes

2011-10-24T21:47:00.000-06:00

This may look like one of those post about the kids and how cute they are but it's not. They are, but this is not that post. Somewhere along the line of doing church parties and having to save the budget for Christmas, I got into DIY "thrifty" costumes.

This year is The Wizard of Oz. It's magical!

Dorothy #1 - Me. Me. Me. Me. Me. My material for my dress was the twin sheet I used in college. How's that for Reduce, Reuse, Recycle? Since my seamstress {My sister just had her 5th baby, her only girl.} was indisposed I did most of the work myself. Yikes! My shoes were the ones from Manda's wedding, de-flowered, painted and glittered, and a little sharpie-d. I think I spent $1 on 1/2 yard of elastic!

#1.5 Tinman - Rich. He put tinfoil over his SL hat. Free.

#2 Glinda - Kate (disregard her go to blazes look, I think that was for me). Pink long sleeve leotard and leggings were existing. Her crown and two butterflys were made from a gallon ice cream bucket, some aggressive Magic Eraser-ing, glue, glitter, and pins from the back of flair style buttons. The Princess poofy top is a borrowed princess dress-up . The 8 yards of tulle "apron" skirt to make it bigger was 40% off...so total cost $5.

#3 Witch of the West - Grace. Existing skirt and shoe from Manda's wedding. The shirt was one of mine, refashioned. The cape was a black sheet, refashioned. The hat and tights were $5.

#4 Flying Monkey - Grant. Existing pants and too small coat were perfect monkey skin. The vest is the inside out of one of the boyos vest from Manda's wedding, and the paint used was from one of Rich's college projects. The hat is a yogurt cup, black spray paint, and the college paint. The fur-ish pelt for the wings was 70%, so $1 for a flying monkey.

#5 Lion - Miles. The lion suit was something we found at a thrift store for $5. I had a mane and ears but he thought they were scratchy and not cool. He saw a pair of cheetah at Joann's for $2 that he's worn ever since. We'll just pretend they are Lion ears and hope my idea is cool by the next party. His badge of courage is leftover craft scraps. Total cost $7. So spendy!

#6 Scarecrow - James. My garden hat, his shirt, his overalls. His straw filling is my {pout, size 2 Banana Republic, decade old, favorite capris} Shredded and knotted on broccoli rubber bands. Free costume.

Tadaa.... $20 for a family of 7!

I'm a dork. Big deal. :P

JDRF Walk

2011-09-24T10:16:00.000-06:00

Saturday was the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation walk at the Scera. We went to support Miss Darci. We had a great time. Part of the warm up was the macarena. Marissa taught it to Grace. She loves it. She's still doing it a week later in the kitchen.

Once the walk started we spotted some Star Wars people. Grace wanted a picture with them to show Dad what he missed.

We found Darci's sign about half way through the walk.

After one lap J&M proved being contained would be a better idea. Within the park there were blow up toys and booths. Granty found some cheetos and watched the boys play.

We got our letters sprayed in our hair. I think only Marissa and I enjoy this little hair pattern / initial thing J&M have...so since they don't sit still for very long, it was perfect for them.

Grace and Kate made me proud and climbed the rock wall.

There was free soda but they were running out of Sprite so Grace and Kate both forced down half a Diet Coke. I think they were both disgusted with it but didn't dare want to drink the boring non- carbonated water that I had.

Hopefully they are festival-ed out for a while because Halloween (and all the associated parties) are on their way.

School Carnival

2011-09-23T10:14:00.000-06:00

We went to the school carnival. We're jumping into this school 100% so we also made two prizes for the soda walk. The girls are still holding on to Tangled so we made Rapunzel and Flynn.

We bought our punch card and blew threw it as fast as we could. We did find a very cool rocket activity.

{PS: It was apple day and Kate felt the need to dress apple-y }

We made rockets and launched them for around an hour. We need to find out how to make these.

Imagine less than 2 sheets of paper, glue, (not to mention the science behind different wing pattern/weight/sizes/angle of the arm) & dry time....launching, running at least 30 yards to retrieve, and repeating for-ev-er. That's 10x zoom baby. Two laps of that for every rocket you launch....:).

This is my kind of kid project.

Sorry no Grace, she was back and forth with friends. It was amusing the number of people that called out to her. She doesn't lack in the ability to be social. She's been there under a month and her biggest fears (not having any friends at her new school) are unwarranted. :)

Hair

2011-09-22T20:44:00.000-06:00

Grace has a freakish affinity for hedgehogs. I may be an enabler....and umm uhh her supplier. Check out her new hair bow. It's a hegdie. (thank you pinterest)

In related hair news, the boys got haircuts from Grandma Lewis when we went to visit Friday. James and Gma did great.

Miles was a little hesitant. (It couldn't be because his mom cut his hair wet with trimmers?!? Forgive me. I didn't know!!!!) If I screw him up at least I have James. :)

Puppet Festival

2011-09-17T20:12:00.000-06:00

Our library is pretty awesome when it comes to kid activities.This time Rich took the kids to a puppet festival. They already like puppets from ones we've made at home so this was something they were looking forward to for a few weeks. This one was pretty awesome.

You'll have to watch the video to fully appreciate it's coolness.

Rad Kids

2011-09-16T14:48:00.000-06:00

Grace is a Rad Kid.

She's even got a certificate to prove it.

She participated in a Saftey Education program... reminiscent of DARE, but more about creepers than drugs.

I just hope her skills are saved for bad guys not little brothers.

Hill AFB

2011-09-10T14:37:00.002-06:00

Rich and the boys went to Hill AFB. He's been begging for (probably) years to take them and they finally went. They met up with one of Rich's friends and spent all day looking at airplanes, bombs, tires, big metal stuff, flipped upside down hats {who knows} ....and he didn't even think to bring me some Popeye's Louisiana Kitchen Bonafide Chicken and Shrimps?!?!

Knock. Knock.

2011-09-06T22:00:00.000-06:00

Kate started her acting career today. Rich needed a little girl for something at MPS. She started off a little shy. She was hesitant to run up to the dad actor and pretend to be excited that he got home. She kept holding back. I didn't know were the line was as to how much, if any, help they wanted from me to get her to loosen up. To get her to be a little less rigid, I suggested that the dad tell her knock knock jokes once she jumped into his arms. It worked. She started giving him little smiles and trusting him a bit more. He then asked her to tell him knock knock jokes.

Kate - Knock. Knock.
Dad - Who's there?
Kate - Why did the chicken cross the road?
Dad - I don't know. Why?
Kate - To get the mommy milk.
Dad - The what?
Kate - Mommy milk.

The set, now quiet, wants to know what she said as the dad is honestly laughing. Rich tells the other men, who are snickering, that mommy milk is breast milk. Thank you Kate for making this first visit to LDS Motion Picture Studio awesome.

School

2011-09-01T14:39:00.001-06:00

Let me start out by first thanking whoever messed with the dial on my camera. These are the only in focus and retrievable pictures from the first day of school. A big "rock on to you!". We may have retakes for 1st day of school next Tuesday because this is just lame.

We are officially in school, a new school at that. The boyos are in half day, two times a week preschool. Kate is in half day kindergarten. Grace is in 2nd grade. I was lead to believe that it would be magical because I'd be at home, for 6 hrs a week, with just one baby. Grant has yet let it be magical. Grace has already passed my cell number to all her friends at school and is gearing up for "Playdate-ee of the Year". I've secured Party(Room) Mom in Grace's class, Party Coordinator in Kate's class, and am participating in Rad Kids next week.

As Kate was walking out of her first day she was beaming and though her "school was sooooo cooool". I'm so happy she loves it. She even came home yesterday with her hands torn to shreds from the monkey bars. While they were painful, they were a right of passage and she was tough about it. {Yes, Princess Katie was tough in her little Downeast Basics, french braided piggie, pale pink sock self.}

The boyos are a little disappointed that they only get to go two times a week. They love their class. They love that it has a little potty withOUT automatic flush, lots of toys, a bunch of books, and cubbies for their backpacks.

But Kate did not disappoint. On the way home, still giddy and talking 90 miles a minute she says " I didn't even think about poop or pee at school!"

This coming from a chicky that has encorpresis, that's pretty freakin' awesome. {Go ahead, google it...to be five and not think about it is a big deal.}

James & Miles are 4

2011-08-22T07:24:00.031-06:00

I don't get many things right the first time
In fact, I am told that a lot
Now I know all the wrong turns, the stumbles and falls
Brought me here

And where was I before the day
That I first saw your lovely face?

Now I see it everyday
And I know

That I am

I am

The Luckiest

(Thanks Ben Folds for the theme songs.)

(Thanks James and Miles for being my miracle.)

If you have never read what they did to make it to birth, please read their story {click here}.

The Trash Party

2011-08-21T14:24:00.002-06:00

There's about 5 good ideas on the internet for a trashman party. From that I've talked with my clients (J, M, & G) and discussed their budget (3 cents) and came up with something they loved. Ya'd thing with all the 3yr old obsessed with trash men and trucks there would be more...stuff to work with.

This is what we did:

Oh wait... that's the trashman. We needed a shot for the cake.

He's pretty much awesome.

So are they.

We checked out all the books and patterned a cake after a real Waste Management truck.

Thankfully I had several beater-lickers to keep my supplies clean.

They however did not stay clean.

The boyos retained much of the creative control and {dictated what needed to go where} loved their truck.

Complete w/ caution sign.

Then off to Grant's trashcan.

And the piñata.

These are from here then photoshopped so so we could color them.

The boyos loved paper plate fly crowns but they didn't go over well at the party.

Oh well. I had also planned trashcan cones. Green cones were perfect with chocolate melts as wheels but they melted before we used them...they just made for messy cones. James didn't complain.

So, the party!The pinata was hung by Tony. I'm sad we didn't get a shot of his knot. I don't think he was a boy scout because that knot was one of a kind.The dump was filled with trash & the treat bags hidden carefully inside.The "HAPPY BIRTHDAY JAMES MILES AND GRANT" banner organized and strung.The trash truck and fly visor crafting begun.The birthday Granty. (post cake)The birthday boyos, James and Miles. The destruction of his very own cake. He was timid at first but then dug in.Granty needed a bath once he finished his cake. Why not use the park drinking fountain?

Uncle John was awesome and helped fill the trashcans....err ice cream cones, so I could watch Granty destroy. If you look, you can see the fly sugar cookies. There's a fine line, at a trash party, between fun and gross. I think we stayed on the non gross side. The pinata was strong. It even withstood an adult beating. It finally came down when one little guy couldn't take the suspense any longer and ripped it down.

Then the frenzy.

I strongly suggest a dump (or whatever the theme dictates it be called) as an alternative or addition to a pinata for the little people. Same idea, less dangerous, pre portioned prizes. While the little ones were digging in the dump the bigger kids played a Toss the Trash version of Kick the Can and played some Trash Talking Basketball.

The only BAD NEWS BEARS is that someone(s) {Abby & Amanda}reintroduced pets into our home. All the other presents were fabulous.

We are happy we got to celebrate three birthday boys with some of our friends and family.

Now with school starting Tuesday, we should probably get on that!

Stuff I saw after the party that would have been nice to have seen previous.

Saw these at Texaco.

http://www.candywarehouse.com/grabapops.html

Why would one want to have a trash party?

2011-08-20T08:40:00.003-06:00

Good Job Trashman, Good Job!!!

Because the beep of the truck in the cul de sac over sends them into a frenzy and when it comes to our cul de sac it's crazy time.

"What the Freak" Wednesday

2011-08-17T14:10:00.002-06:00

In blogville there are Wordful Wednesday's, Wordless Wednesday's, and W...I just don't fit into those. I am more of a "What the freak" Wednesday kind of girl. So...

first edition

9:30 am - I see an email from my sister about crafting and think "I need to go get some stuff for the birthday. The kids will enjoy a trip to Robert's." Thus begins...Bathe. Change Granty. Dress me. Rotate laundry. Get new clothes for boyos. Disapprove of 3 clothe attempts from the girls. Dress boyos. Dry hair. Find shoes. Get snack for Granty. Finish syncing kid music to ipod.

10:30 am - Do girl hair. Remember I have real errands and leave message with lawn mower repair and call jewelry store (prong broke) ...in a crazy attempt to get it all done in one trip. Call lawnmower repair again....Holy heck 'spensive.... call Rich to make sure those are all legitimate fixes and parts. Send people to get in buckles. Make drinks for the ride. Grab craisins, graham crackers, chips, salsa, water. (It's getting close to lunch ~Whatever. Don't act like you don't grab a 3lb bag of chips and shove a quart of salsa in your bag on the way out the door.~}

11:30 - Curse the garage door. Play it's childish games. Win! Go through and lock the front door. Drive 1 mile to Roberts. Get sodie in route {I'm trying to quit. Today is not that day}. Unload people, stroller, bags (G&K are currently carrying purses). James has something on his shorts. "Woof, that's poo." Go directly to the potty. ~~Sparing you details but 1 hour elapses, 3 employees give me their sympathies, 4 plastic bags, unlimited "use of anything I need"~~. We leave the bathroom, and their #$%^ auto-flushing panic-causing toilets, the cleanish floor, a full trash, and a disappointed cleaner lady. "Sorri".

12:30 Get home. Thankfully Dad was here picking up something. Send a blanket wrapped (Sorry Kelly, I'd offer you mine but I think it's been there before too.) James with him. Cleaned poo off my van. Cleaned poo off the stroller. Cleaned poo off of me. Finish off Kate's poo (encorpresis) load with James' poo stuff. Clean James. Scrub hands. Make kids lunch.

1:30 What the freak! I did't even get to look at cake stuff. :{

Buzzed boyos

2011-08-10T08:21:00.000-06:00

I can't believe they are almost 4?!?!

Chocolate Train Camp

2011-08-06T21:17:00.000-06:00

We went on our Ward Campout. "Ward Camp" is also know as Chocolate Train Camp per my little people. I think I spent more time prepping than we were actually there but I received two post camping hugs so, we'll probably do it again.

Two hours in we had seen a squirrel and a buck, used up 100 pipe cleaners, and had faces painted... so we love camping.

Rich and the girls climbed the mountain.

I think the adults all slept horribly; Rich in the van with Miles and a cough, Abby in the tent with four kids, and me at the other end with an all night open bar with Granty. Saturday morning we packed, played around and ended up "hiking" to a "pond"....we walked 10 minutes up the road to a overflowing stream that had pooled and was creating a waterfall on the other side of the road.

On the way down we created a train to keep the six (mine plus a friend) little people between Abby and I. Akin to the Dinosaur Train, James knew we had to have a passenger car, a caboose, and an engine. The girls decided the remaining cars would be chocolate cars and an animal car. Who needs some sort of fuel car ? This train doesn't. It just needs chocolate. We returned to camp singing Chocolate Train {to the tune of Dinosaur Train.} It was magical.

Our train even got a little crazy and went over a table in front of a park ranger in a gold cart.

{Abby with her grown up job is all hard core now.}

Graduation & Cream

2011-07-26T21:56:00.000-06:00

{Graduation & Cream...not a Blue Bell flavor but sounds like it should be. Yum.}
Kate is offically ready for Kindergarten, as she has had her final test and attended her graduation from her Preschool program. This morning she completed her work as the other 4/5ths sucked down sprites and gummy snacks... which was an awesome follow up to chocolate chip banana bread for breakfast.

Afterward we went and used the reward coupon she got in her graduation packet for a free ice cream at Arctic Circle... then a few coupons from the library's summer reading program to get everyone yogurt. We went to Yogurtland, which I now love

After that we dumped all of our garage sale earnings into a bank tube and watched it struggle to get to the building. Who knew you were not supposed to send twenty dollars in quarters and a bazillion ones up the drive thru. Now we do :). Next, we went to the library to read, attend a activity about space exploration, and watch UP {the final summer reading program activity}. We had a few minutes once that was over and got one more round of free cones at Sonic before heading to get the state and emissions done. We got home in time to play in a 30 minute thunderstorm. Granty and I watched from the garage and got it de-garage sale-d.

Today was packed and unhealthy but it was fun and productive. We'll try for healthy and unproductive tomorrow.

Brossettelewis Day Spa

2011-07-25T19:32:00.000-06:00

We're fancy and all.

We've got our own in house day spa. We've got a deep tissue masseur and a highly opinionated, high strung stylist; a dad that provides foot rubs and a baby that provides saliva facials, and free UHF entertainment.

"How many times do I need to tell you to be still." Err, uhh, she never hears that from me. I think the total hairclip count in daddy's hair was 7. I think I had 4 hair bands, a head band, and 2 claws. More is more!

Happy Pioneer Day!

{Happy because it was a legit vacation day for Dad.}

But I trust him

2011-07-16T23:04:00.000-06:00

There was this guy named Cliff in college. He had a motorcycle. He liked to drive fast. My room mates and I liked to go on rides with him.

Fast forward a few years... somehow it came up in conversation and Rich felt the need to explain that boys that like to drive fast so girls hold on tighter. Fast forward a few more...Rich explains to Grace that he doesn't want her riding with boys because it is not safe...whatever, it's because they want you to hold on tight. Fast forward to tonight... after the ward pioneer party the kids are all riding their bikes and scooters around the back lot of the church while things are getting cleaned up. I see Grace riding on the bike pegs of her friend. The one who she has planned many times to marry. I had no idea she knew what those pegs were for much less was not afraid to ride on them. I point it out to Rich because I know what will pop in his head {and it did}.

After we get home, Rich casually brings up motorcycles and leads the conversation to see if Grace remembers our {his} stance on motorcycles. Once she repeats what she's been told a dozen times he asks about bikes....yes he's stretching & you thought I was the crazy parent...then she springs a "but I trust him dad" on him. He regained composure faster than I thought he would but her follow up of "you just don't know him like I know him" added a visible shudder and his undivided attention.

I was thinking we had several years before those phrases were uttered. Thanks Cliff.

Lewis-palooza

2011-07-07T13:29:00.004-06:00

I promised a reunion recap so... Friday the first of July most of the Lewis family was in Utah so it was deemed reunion time. It was started by doing temple work in Oquirrh Temple with the teenage cousins doing baptisms. What a great way to spend time with cousins we don't see too often.

That night we all met at Maryann's for a "moon meal". I had no idea what this was either. Everyone is put on teams, given a dollar, and sent away to gather the meal. I think it was something made up by Barbara when her kids were kids. I had Miles, Kate, and four teenagers. We brought back 2 mangos, ice cream, and tropical candy...there was a hawaiian theme. Thankfully the core of the meal was taken care of so after grilled salmon, corn, etc we had sugary dessert. We also has a karaoke machine which Miles and James loved, but due to needing more space on my flip video they got deleted.

Saturday I was feeling sick and took the day off but the kids enjoyed a hike, dinner at Cristy's, and 9-midnight swimming. Late that night Gpa got sick and ended up in the hospital with pancreatitis. I guess it was a silver lining that it happened when so much of his family is in town. Sunday we had another meal together at Gma's house, as people took shifts staying with Gpa Lewis.

Monday, the 4th of July, some went to the Balloon Festival and came here for breakfast.

We had family pictures and dinner at Rob's. We also had Uncle Clause (a friend of Gpa Clause that heard some of the cousins that were in attendance had never experienced a Gpa Clause).

Gpa was sent to ICU. To date (7/7), I don't think kidneys are functioning too well but has good doctors... and drugs and prayers are easing as much pain as they can. His vitals are good but he can't get comfortable. He should be well enough Friday to have surgery.

Monday was the official last day but with Gpa in the hospital there are still daily updates and shifts to stay with him. Hopefully, he will be back to normal

...err his normal...soon.

Lewis-palooza

2011-07-07T13:26:00.001-06:00

Monday, the 4th of July, some went to the Balloon Festival and came here for breakfast.

We had family pictures and dinner at Rob's. We also had Uncle Clause (a friend of Gpa Clause that heard some of the cousins that were in attendance had never experienced a Gpa Clause).

Gpa was sent to ICU. To date (7/7), I don't think kidneys are functioning too well but has good doctors and drugs and prayers easing as much pain as they can. He should be well enough Friday to have surgery.

Monday was the official last day but with Gpa in the hospital there are still daily updates and shifts to stay with him. Hopefully, he will be back to normal

...err his normal...soon.

Lewis-palooza

2011-07-07T13:25:00.000-06:00

I promised a reunion recap so... Friday the first of July most of the Lewis family was in Utah so it was deemed reunion time. It was started by doing temple work in Oquirrh Temple wiht the teenage cousins doing baptisms. What a great way to spend time with cousins we don't see too often.

Monday, the 4th of July, some went to the Balloon Festival and came here for breakfast.

We had family pictures and dinner at Rob's. We also had Uncle Clause (a friend of Gpa Clause that heard some of the cousins that were in attendance had never experienced a Gpa Clause).

Monday was the official last day but with Gpa in the hospital there are still daily updates and shifts to stay with him. Hopefully, he will be back to normal

...err his normal...soon.

33

2011-07-05T22:19:00.006-06:00

I better post this before I feel it...I know my inner thighs and forearms will.

I broke a cardinal rule and went on a date with my husband versus going out with my sisters on my birthday. We'll still do something totally awesome but this date rocked. Rich and I went to Lowe's Air Sports. Granted we were three times the age of most of the people doing stuff, we had lots of fun. We rock climbed {channeling my inner Caddo Magnet High School Billy Fontaine skills}, jumped higher than we should, played in foam pits, and leaped through/on/over stuff just like every other 11 year old there. I bet none of them boys birthed 5 babies, was up last last night feeding anybody, or did all the junk we did today BEFORE going to play. Just saying...I think we are awesome. You'll want to watch all four glorious minutes (or maybe skip ahead and pretend like you watched the whole thing).

Afterwards we went to La Dolce Vita (our pre-married date favorite and place we got engaged) and ate back all the calories we burned.

Cutest kids on earth

2011-07-04T12:47:00.000-06:00

and my van Gogh inspired 4th-o-July Lincoln Clause (Abe and Santa are brothers, no?) Wonka cupcake cake. You lovez it, right?

It's Lewis reunion time...photoshopping of fruit punch face and pictures with text to come after all the fun has been had.

Sleeping Dust....a quasi-musical

2011-06-29T19:02:00.000-06:00

What does taking your child to plays, performances, presentations do?

It has her add the cell phone and babies bit to her own improv quasi-musicals...about sleeping dust. I was going for cultured...ok the ability to listen quietly, learn about different things, or gain confidence to act/speak/show a talent to a group. Whateva'.

Kate haiku

2011-06-28T13:42:00.001-06:00

The parade marches

My sister shrieks for candy

Donuts fill MY mouth

Summer rocks

2011-06-16T13:48:00.003-06:00

We've been picnicking,

spending days at the library,

playing in the flowers

being cute,

being silly,

going to swim lessons

and even the diving board.

So far...summer rocks.

It was last day of lessons so I took my camera. I followed the girls over to the diving board and took a few shots. A dad came up to me and said "Oh she's yours". How do I answer that?!? "Yes, What did she say?"

"When the class came to the board they were waiting in line and Grace announced if we don't get in the water fast, I'm gunna pee". He then asked her after she got out from her first jump of she pee'd the pool. She assured him she did not but if that line didn't move fast she might next time. She overheard him telling me this and assured me she would not pee in the pool.

I lack confidence in every child there that promises not to pee in the pool.

Summerfest 2011

2011-06-12T21:30:00.001-06:00

Summerfest, I guess, is a tradition for us. Five or seven or whatever years in attendance makes a tradition, right? I think we have the system figured out too. We spent the morning of the first day watching the singing and dancing. There were some fun groups. There was one doing stuff inspired by Glee. I admit I'm a closet watcher. I watch it when Rich works late or has something going on after I get the kids in bed. I am not proud but it made this Summerfest better. They had a Will (in a vest), a Rachel (brunette lead with a great voice), several Quinns (it is Utah County and we have a influx of blond hair blue eyed pretty girls), a Finn, a Santana, a Brittany, a Jesse ... I kept hoping for Sue to enter the scene. I should stop, huh. Needless to say it was entertaining.

Once the girls got their fill we went through all the community and boutique booths. They boys examined every inch of every emergency vehicle and were thrilled that the trashman booth was giving away color books and balloons. We ended our morning (around 2pm) doing a free kid craft. We were all overdue for lunch and I just can't spend $8 a kid on something they most likely will not eat. We made it back and in buckles when both boys announced they needed go. To the people selling parking at the church on 400 East, I am sorry for the entertainment you witnessed. Three of five buckled, stroller, prizes and balloons packed, sorry. I'm not treking back to dirty potties. Plus, I don't think there is anything more fun than aiming. {The things you miss out on by not having brothers?!?}

We went back that night for rides. I don't do rides. Daddy does.

Saturday evening we went back for the parade and the fireworks.

And awwwwwyea the General Lee was in the parade!

It was loads of fun.

Like "hang your self" fun.

{and a cute shot of my sisters}

{and a cute shot of my boys...minus Grant, plus John}

{and Kate and dad}

{all pictures courtesy of Dad's iphone...so this makes like 1.5 posts from Dad in this blogs lifetime.}

Summer has begun

2011-06-09T14:29:00.001-06:00

It technically started here at 2:15 on Thursday, June 2nd. Maybe a day +/- earlier, Grace decided she wanted to have a party so we had a party after school with neighbor kids and a few kids from her class. Friday was the last hour of school and then off to play...visit Manda, use award coupons from school, play all day,and go to bed late.

Kate has been helping more in the kitchen. She's not a fan of her math work but cooking and CUTTING seem to excite her so she'll get it somehow.

Coloring too.

In our whole one week of summer we have gone up for a walk in the canyon

{the water is so high}

We found a tiny little baby inchworm named Keyko.

Can you see him?

We didn't kill him.

Promise.

We also stared swim lessons, the summer reading program, trips to the rec center and have managed to fill every hour of the past week with something.

Grace is the one above in the blue suit from Costco. :P Kate. Pink. Tutu. Posing.

and J&M being M&J.

Allergy

2011-05-12T11:24:00.000-06:00

Today is a read-a-thon at school. Yesterday Grace came home with a note for treats. There was an additional allergy listed...besides one kid with a peanut allergy that I knew about. There was a coconut allergy. It was spurred by this note from....ummm me....per Grace. What's awesome is that the substitute (that I've not loved because he acts like he could care less about being there) bought it. She does not have allergies. She just doesn't like coconut. PS: I don't spell everything phonetically and with pictures.

Thanksgiving Point

2011-05-09T12:18:00.001-06:00

Thanks Kate for making picture time, FUN TIME.

This is probably the best of the batch.

This could have been a keeper, except what is Grace doing?

I'll stick with individuals then mesh them together...

We went to the Thanksgiving Point Tulip Festival thanks to our neighbor giving us tickets. It was beautiful. So much was in bloom and the kids stuck together fairly well.

Oh...Except that whole 30 minutes at the end where Kate thought we left, so walked from the Children's Gardens to the main entrance to the Gardens. 5 minutes, I'm fine. 10, I'm panicing. 11 minutes I get the security guys involved. 15, Rich returns with the van (so we all would not have had to walk). 20 minutes, I'm explaining her to people that are offering to help. 25 minutes , STILL LOOKING...what creeper stole my baby!?! 30 minutes, I get a call that she's at the main entrance. It's never boring.

Phonograms

2011-04-30T10:55:00.001-06:00

There is a cool website, that Aunt Kelly found, with a fun way to learn phonograms...which lead me to this, which I like even more. Since Kate is working on phonograms I wanted to find something that would look more like a game than "work". Grace sees it as a game she can help (uhem ...beat) Kate with so likes it too. Since I had a billion eggs... maybe 3 dozen... and wasn't to keen on taking a ton of paint chips as the site suggests we now have an awesome egg phonogram game. Let the games begin, the sportsmanship shine, learning be fostered, the nonsense words grow, and watch out for swears!

Powder Mountian

2011-04-19T21:30:00.000-06:00

I did not know that we had hit the "we do cool stuff for spring break" age but we did. Most of the week we just slept in, went to local and unscheduled things, and had friends over for play dates (babysitting disguised). Kelly came to Grace's rescue.

Kelly had a great idea to go to Powder Mountain Friday and Saturday of Spring Break. Grace and Kate went with Abby. As we were about to enter the canyon we talked to Manda and they hadn't seen Abby. Abby left 2 hrs before us. We lost cell reception with her so Grace and I panicked. We could talk to Kelly and Manda at the condo (at the top) but somewhere on the mountain Abby sat, unable to get her car to drive up the snow. I watched the rapid flowing water along side the road. Grace had a meltdown in Abby's car. (Hello mother's daughter.) Thankfully, we found them about a mile away from the condo playing ponies (for an hour). We made it up the last mile just in time for dinner and a swim. Saturday we swam again, and James was having so much fun he swam right in to the wall and got a huge goose egg on his forehead. We went sledding, went swimming some more, ate a few times in between and had piña coladas. Wonderful. Grace had a "real" spring break.

I bet she'll want a summer vacation too.

Hazelnut soup

2011-04-12T15:56:00.000-06:00

We had a coupon, so we tried Nutella. Can you believe we've never partaken of this heavenly spread? Before the girls would taste it they wanted to know what it was to which I read verbatim, "Nutella is a delicious hazelnut spread that contains quality ingredients, such as skim milk and a hint of cocoa". They boys happily inhaled their chocolate sandwich and now ask daily for "hazelnut soup".

Somehow (Tangeled) Nutella is now hazelnut soup and Granty will steal yours if you leave it unattended.

Free Friday

2011-04-09T20:28:00.001-06:00

Like two weeks ago but still... Friday before last I made a 8x10 sandbox. This included weeding said spot, transplanting a tree, taking everyone to Lowes for wood, loading into a van with all the little people, leveling the spot, building in a very tight (window well, house, stairs, cement pad) spot and wheelbarrowing FREE (that's where free friday comes in) sand from a lady on KSL ...in between 5 little people's bagillion needs. Jared helped with the wheelbarrowing and trucking over of sand (& Rich when he got home) and the inability to feel my body for a few days was so worth it because....

They love it. Now if it would stop snowing we could play in it more.

Kate

2011-04-04T18:53:00.001-06:00

Kate + her reflection = hours -o- fun

Spelling words

2011-03-31T10:47:00.000-06:00

Tuesday Grace was late for school. Grant was having a bad morning.

1.Look! Grant exploded his diaper.

2. Where is Grant?

3. Is Grant at school?

4. Grant uses a tool.

{Not, "Grant you's is a tool"...I know one reader that will see that

& it would have fit the situation too. :)}

5. Grant is in a good mood.

Grace's teacher is due very soon with her first baby. I hope we don't scare her.

Mahna Mahna

2011-03-26T22:08:00.000-06:00

#1 Our bishopric is awesome. These are our councilors.

#2 As a previous Activities Committee Chair & against my best judgement, I signed up for the Ward lip sync. I hate presenting anything but was overcome with wanting to support the current chair that I did. After looking for a while for a song Rich and I both knew, one that people would recognize, one that I wouldn't have to "act" much (umm, I explained why I signed up) and one that {bonus}I could get the kids to help me prepare with we settled on Mahna mahna.We made puppets Friday and now have 3 puppets for 4 kids to fight... errr share... and until I want my baby clothes and safety pins back.

Granty

2011-03-20T21:10:00.000-06:00

Granty is mobile...the best 25 seconds I could catch.

and this was "super" cute...not so much the fear for his life face at the end but the cape making him super and himself making it cute.

St Patty is a big deal.

2011-03-18T16:24:00.004-06:00

Or at least it is now...Here's the proof.
Irish knot hair
Green pancakes
Green boy-yos {thanks for pacifying me guys}
Roasted asparagus, green french bread and rosemary & thyme chicken

A leprechaun trap (thank you leftover mardi gras decoration)
Green clover cookies
& an awesome time at the library
{It was so much louder in person and we claimed the hot drum boy for Abby. We're thinking the colors for the wedding are going to be pink and plaid, hot.}
Ignore the bullets. I've erased them a 100 times.

Forgiven

2011-03-12T14:36:00.000-07:00

Thirty seven dollars later, I am forgiven. I posted that Ben(dog) needed a family and after a thorough prequalification chat on facebook a friend came to visit him...and us. He's a good dog (but alas an animal) so I think he was an easy adoption. I explained yesterday, with pictures from facebook, who was coming and Grace approved that the sisters that made Manda a princess for her wedding party would be a good family, plus J&M wanted to touch their baby {whatever guys?!!|?}. I think she remembered from Anakin (the hedgehog) getting married that she was going to score a mom-guilt-gift. Once it was official and they left with their new dog we went to Toys r Us. Did you know Barbie are 50% off this week? Awesome. Two barbies, two remote control cars, two drinks later, I think I am not the worst person for giving away their pet. No one wants to sit on my toes, lick my baby, or follow me around... oh wait just four do that now, but he will be loved or even liked by a whole family, something I couldn't do for an animal.

Mardi Gras

2011-03-08T21:50:00.001-07:00

There is a little thing called houseparty. They team up brands and people wanting to promote a brand and have a party. When I saw Zatarain's in the line up, I quickly applied and was selected.

That's my fancy pre-party jambalaya shot.

and my funfetti (it's festive) king (cup)cakes. Honestly, I don't like king cake and if there were going to be leftovers I would rather them be something I would eat...but alas no leftover cupcakes.

and my first successful attempt at making rootbeer.

3 cups white sugar
1.5 gallons cold water
1 oz ounce of Zatarains root beer extract
4 pounds dry ice

Some equally yummy but unphotographed recipes were the Red beans and Rice dip and the salmon cakes with creole mustard dip (1pt mustard to 2 pts mayo) & beignets (replacing the evap milk with 2/3 dry milk & 3/4 water).

Everyone looks to have had fun. We ate and ate.

Then divided up the beads.

Had a parade

Led by a totally hott Hello Kitty float from Dumcombe & Co.

I think the good times rolled!

Floats

2011-03-06T13:47:00.001-07:00

Granty really does enjoy his life...and his float. What's not to love about a cardboard and printer paper float, complete with backrest?

We spent Saturday evening, what I thought would be an hour, making Mardi Gras floats. The boys made theirs from Costco milk boxes and the girls graduated up to orange boxes.

We looked at every Disney princess and fairy picture in google images, and found the best two, colored them for hours, pealed all the paper off the crayons, taped them on to our box, modeled for dad, compared them, and then questioned our decisions . We went through every name combination of what to call our float and added those to the back too. Then... after adding side panel paper, more art, streamers, framing, more dresses, some tiaras, attempted wings, straps, more tape, we test drove them.

The boys were much easier to please with Spiderman and Hook, assisted coloring, and lots of tape.

See Granty, you are having fun.

So who else wants to make a Mardi Gras float?

Manda got Married

2011-03-01T17:39:00.000-07:00

(who doesn't take their own wedding pictures?)

In case you missed it... Manda got married.

Mardi Gras is on it's way

2011-02-22T13:05:00.000-07:00

Mardi Gras is on it's way!

Right after Manda gets married.

If you like piña coladas

2011-02-21T18:42:00.002-07:00

It's like one of those fancy food blogs.

Complete with close ups.

And the angle shot. You're salivating huh... (Well except Janet and her blue food aversion)

But the rest of you want one, huh?

Manda's getting married this week and so we are finalizing all the details... and by details I mean everything.

It's a super fantabuloso Brossette production. We've spent several months, dollars, every coupons possiable, time, and negotiation skills on this.

I'd like to see a reciept with a big ol fat circle of how much we saved at the bottom.

It's a sister party, with a sponsor... I'm giddy too.

We have, however, taken over Kelly's house and I bet she can't wait for Manda to be married and to have her house back. Thank you Kelly.

It's a masqurade party...with a peacock flair... a hint of Mardi Gras... and mexican food for dinner..oh, in a barn. That works right? It's more like the Manda's Ultimate Favorite Things show...err party. Our final Friday meeting consisted of making cupcakes for the shower {uhem ladies day at Cafe Rio}.

She's lived with Kelly too long. She has a coupon binder with baseball card slots.

Oh yes, we found some pina colada mix in the basement from a bunch of deals Kelly got a while back, those are good. We should have been drinking those all along.

My Valentine

2011-02-15T14:03:00.010-07:00

Valentines Day started with everyone up, showered and dressed early. Some days 8am school is a blessing. We got some errands done, which somehow lasted all morning and got to Grace's class while they were at lunch. We prepped a quick party... cookie decoration station & card making station. The plan was to do the two activities, along with passing out their own valentines. Somewhere in the non-pre-derimined intervals...not me... it just turned to chaos. Happy chaos, but paper flying, kids grabbing, icing in hair, scraps everywhere, Grant entertained so let's do it chaos. There was also a substitute and we had a three minute warning as to when the party needed to end. {I blame Brossette for instilling panic in me when a function is not be uber scheduled}

While cleaning up, the girls disappear to the bathroom, I assume, as Kate just asked to go. As a hurried and not calm search proved, the girls walked home. Why walk home when mom drove to your party and is AT THE SCHOOL? That being enough excitement for the day we came home and played for the rest of the afternoon.

Dad came home early and brought Grace, Kate, and I flowers He also had a fun idea of dressing up for a fancy steak, coconut shrimp, salad, tortellini broccoli dinner.

{she's showing her self painted nails...hott}

Grace and Kate LOVED the idea and went to get on dresses, jewels, and my makeup.

{I'll let you assume what that face is saying...you're probably right. Just don't question the strip of lipstick down the nose or gobs of it surrounding her lips}

James found a button up and a tie.
Miles is still not 100% over croup so came somewhat casual & full of w(h)ine but happy with his new plate and bowl valentine.
We ate by candle light {Grant napped} then danced for a 1/2 hour to some Sinatra. It was lovely. That ended somehow when Miles got a bloody nose and the rest wanted cookies. Plus, it was past bedtime. Good times. My Valentine sure know how to swoon his ladies.
{G&K's glasses both had massive lipstick marks...we'll need to discuss makeup etiquette later}

Grace's storytelling

2011-01-28T12:19:00.011-07:00

The 1st grade had a talent show today. Grace presented this. I think that is shyness she is exhibiting...what the heck in the world?!?

She and Dad made up another story and we practiced it over and over and over. She even stayed up practicing it some more with him last night. It had hand and body movements, scary parts, and a big brother that flew in to save the day. Oh well. She was happy with this so we'll call it good.

Super Readers

2011-01-25T13:16:00.009-07:00

I have four super readers (per KUED). Last week we went to a Super Reader party. We met The Cat in the Hat, George, Martha, & Tiny. We made crafts, did experiments, dug for bones, had snacks and all received free books.

Our Dinosaur Train hats.
Digging,
digging for bones,
and touching dirty snakes. They had a hissing cockroach but really I escaped 2000 miles away from them, I don't need (or want my kids) to touch one.

Me thinks Abby has a thing for tall boys in tall hats... how about you?

Boy's Biolage Bath

2011-01-17T12:40:00.005-07:00

{triple word score}

There are huge bubbles. They smell very nice. Thanks boys for wasting shampoo but, silver lining, they played in the bath the whole time I roller painted Grant's room (touch ups and detail to go). The water is getting cold and we need to run to the store so we'll call it a win. Since the tub was full and and we were moving fast, I sprayed down both soapy boys in the other tub. They kept saying it was too cold. The water was borderline too hot. I got them out and they were screaming that they were too cold. After trying to restore any bit of calm that I could, I just dressed two wailing boys. Being dressed seemed to mellow thing out. So, out the door we run, in the van....ugg someone left the back light on...so we wait for Kelly to get here so we could jump start the van. Sadly, I'm very proficient at jumper cables for this very reason. Kate's in a Tiana dress up. Grace is in her Got Multiples shirt but we're buckeled and cables are attached. Half way to the store I notice my arm is a little cool, like menthol cool, and ohhh {click} that must have been Scalptherapie, not just plain ol Biolage. Oopsie, so they were tingly cold. They eyes were burning. I called Rich to see just concentrated their menthol bath was.

How much biolage did you have left?

Half to three quarters of a bottle.

NICE.

{How about we leave the stuff I take out of the bathroom where I put it?!?}

Ethereal

2011-01-16T13:08:00.008-07:00

It was great. We got ready for church quickly and happily (this is noteworthy in itself but it gets better). It was the most efficient 8am pit crew I've been a part of. Showers. Grant debugged. Dressed up to pre-dress. Breakfast. Group A up w/ me to finish. Group B helping Rich finish up the kitchen. Then seamless juggling kids back and forth buttons, socks, zippers, hair, bags, buckles, Book of Mormon's and we're out! It was magical. We were all ready with time to spare. We even got to church 5 minutes early...yes that's 8:55 A-stinkin-M. We rock.

Sacrament is going pleasantly. {Could this 9am church thing really be great for us?}

The boys are under control and girls are drawing quietly. {These are the Sunday's we are promised!!!}

The sacrament starts, arms are all folded, I'm just going with it. Why question perfection? After the prayer James asks "Do we get the spirit now?" {Part the heavens, this is awesome. He's listening and thinking about the prayer.}

"Yes we do baby" I say. "I love you Momma" he replies. {Are you not loving his childlike, simplistic, perfect concept of what's happening}.

Grace happily took Grant and is keeping him entertained and quiet. He's smiling. She's holding him carefully. {Joyful day!}

Miles on the other hand, and other parent, is not having such an ethereal experience. His arms are folded but are now coming towards James, in a WWF Briuse Brothers semi-reverent elbowing body slam. So much for ethereal experiences. Grant's hungry, the boys just remembered the only way to leave it to go potty. Since the church is the only place with a mini potty that does not auto flush they decide now is the time. Kate's stomach issues are back and so there's another accident and ahhh my normal three ring Sundays are back. Rich is teaching in Sunday School, Grace helps and three are to Primary. I get help from a neighbor with a sleeping Grant and run home with Kate.

Really, it's plate spinning that brings me peace, inner calm, and happiness. :)

NYE

2011-01-02T20:46:00.005-07:00

NYE party documentation brought to you by primarily Miles and James behind (and in front of) the camera. The girls lasted until about 10pm, the boys until about 11:30pm, and we just were drifting off as things were exploding outside. Happy New Year.

Resurrection

2010-12-29T21:22:00.005-07:00

Over the past couple of weeks we have been reading the Book of Mormon Stories. We wanted to read it over Christmas break and start the actual Book of Mormon at the beginning of the year. So fast forward to this afternoon...it's very quiet in the playroom. I take half asleep Grant to the basement to see what is going on. All four of them are on the dresser, in G&K's room, with super capes. I ask them what is going on as each one slinks off the dresser, without losing eye contact. I start in on "Do you know if you all fell and hit the bed or the chairs you could break your body or even die? Standing on the dresser is not smart, especially all four at the same time." Grace, remembering her reading from earlier, tells me "if we died, we could be resurrected in three days". Grrr, no.... just Jesus was resurrected in three days, we have to wait until everyone has had a chance to come to earth. Her reply "I could just tell Him you need us back".

I bet you would try to talk your way back Grace. Stay off the dresser anyway.

Christmas Traditions

2010-12-26T17:04:00.007-07:00

Miles with Grandpa Clause. Grandpa Clause is so much better than any lame mall Santa, not so stingy about who takes pictures, and hands out such thoughtful gifts from Grandma Clause. I love the Grandpa Clause tradition.

Rich also has a tradition of getting the kids a Pooh Bear on their first Christmas, so here's Grant with his.

Rich also likes them to open one gift Christmas Eve. This year it was the gifts from each other... pink and purple ballerina barbies.

We also have a Brossette present-palooza and Grant did well at that party too. I think they are supposed to be cowboy boots but they look more Outback to me.

In actuality everyone always does well at a Brossette present-palooza. And although Grandma and Grandpa Brossette were not here in person their bounty was. Thanks to Skype, they were able to join us a dozen times on Christmas.

Merry Christmas

We got snow!

2010-12-21T18:19:00.003-07:00

Lots of it too. At 7:30am it was a Grace's knees. At 10am they went out for Round 2 with the neighbors. I really wish it would have waited until after Christmas because the boys new coats are wrapped, ready, and fit properly. I should probably buy another round of gloves for everyone though...because I need a reason to go to Target again before Christmas?!?

5

2010-12-19T17:12:00.004-07:00

Gingerbread House Spack-tacular

2010-12-15T13:22:00.008-07:00

We were going to make the Polar Express train....

{must let go of my ideal, must accept that it doesn't matter that I made specific cookies; like 20 wheels, for specific parts of each kids part of the train, or that I made a ginger person to represent each one of them and snowmen to represent mom and dad, or pieces for me to make the to engine}

... we made rectangles

and filled them with candy.

We covered everything in icing and candy.

Some of us just ate the candy. Just skipping the "attach" step.

I worked on this most of the night, mmm Rio.

We may have had a little too much sugar.

Grace definitely had too much sugar on her.

Tony (Manda's mancub) pretended to care about The Cajun Night before Christmas.Abby recreated a Cajun Night Before Christmas.
He's just cute.

Him too.

It was Spack-tacular!

Evergreen's #1 fan

2010-12-11T18:42:00.007-07:00

A while back my sister, who will remain unnamed to save her the humiliation, threw away my reusable Evergreen Healthcare bags. Big deal right? NO! I'm sorry there was rotting fruit in it but I wanted it back.

These are special bags. These are from the Race for Fetal Hope we went to in Seattle. The Greater Seattle area is the best place on earth. It's beautiful, green, and rainy. Evergreen Hospital is there. Dr Walker the fetal surgeon who saved my TTTS pregnancy from delivery at 21wks , Judy the best tell-it-to-you-straight-but-with-compassion L&D nurse, the best antepartum wing, the best ferries, the best food, the best science center, the best everything...it's all there.

I emailed them. I asked if they had any bags maybe laying around. A few correspondences later I get a package in the mail. It's from Evergreen! Not only did they acknowledge me on the first contact (MountianStar and IHC take note), they sent me two new bags AND two logo-ed blankets. I am so giddy. Where do you go when you are already someone's number one fan? I guess I have now crossed over into stalker creepy fan-dome. Go Evergreen!

I'm not a reposter but....

2010-12-11T09:10:00.000-07:00

Homemade Christmas present bows

2010-12-09T11:08:00.009-07:00

Last week we were a foodie blog, today we're a craft blog. Don't worry we're not getting fancy, these just turned out to really make me happy.
1. Productive
2. Cute
3. Recuse something I already had
4. There was a need
5. Kate could assist
6. Free
7. Use up scrapbook supplies I don't use often

Dang it. My annotations didn't work and Grant is getting mad. So much for being a cool craft blogger today. I'm still just a hurry up and post momma blog.

The Cake & Abby's Special Day

2010-12-04T00:17:00.002-07:00

Yesterday was my sister's birthday. If you know us, you know Sister Birthday aka Special Day is sacred. I am ready to go. I have dressed in the assigned outfit and am so proud of the cake. The journey... the google image research, the youtube education {yes I expect you to watch his whole video, he's awesome. Click on his ad. Plus he promises to be your best friend...I'll wait} and the actual day long, highly assisted, heavily guarded, very coveted job of construction.

I made the chocolate cake from scratch. The scraps were dang good. I recommend this recipe.

I made the sugar glass.

(Sorry I'm not cool enough in the foodie blog realm to take progress pictures. I do good to keep 40 fingers out of the icing and 300* lava hot sugar)

I broke the sugar glass...on purpose.

(It feels good to break something on purpose.)

I decorated the cake and the sugar glass.

(I guess this is where pictures along the way are what make it cool.)

It turned out awesome and as soon as my scrapbook embellishing sister gets here (and the birthday girl in route away from wifi) with the gator and swamp people you can see it too.

laa dee dah, lah dee dah...

Are you so excited? I am. I'm excited for meat treats too, I haven't eaten all day... frosting doesn't count.

Aren't you so in love? Don't you wish someone loved you enough to spend all day making you a Swamp People cake? If you need to see the best 70 of the 180 photos taken at Tucanos in four hours {yup 45 an hr, one every 1.333 minutes...it's a wonder why our quoted 2 hr wait was 20 minutes}, visit us on Facebook.

PS: The rude balding lady, in the red sweater, that pushed Kelly with her plate...we know where your husband works so back up! Tonight we shared the restaurant with the Provo PoPo's finest, scary. Thank goodness my registration was up to date there were cops crawling all over the place.

Decorating the tree & FHE

2010-11-29T20:58:00.005-07:00

For FHE we made a nativity (from a cute blog) and talked about the reason we have Christmas. We colored it all while waiting for Rich to get home so we had it to play with while decorating the tree. Umm, you don't wear cheetah print pants with tail or ball dresses to FHE? You're crazy.

Once Rich got home we worked on the tree. It stands straight up! A-mazing, huh. The kids decorated the tree and I promise not to go back and space things out and fix it. {baby steps}

Rich made sure the top got decorated too.

Rich and I were trying to not be obvious in listening to what was going on with the girls playing nativity that we didn't notice that Miles wasn't in the living room. Once we realized that Rich went to look for him. After a round upstairs Rich unloaded Grant and went to look in the basement. In the girls room, in the closet, behind the hanging storage was Miles....

R- What are doing Miles?

M-"Just hanging out"

he got up and left behind a glass Christmas tree jar full of candy and a few wrappers. He just wanted a sucker....why not sneak the whole jar to the basement and make yourself sick...in your cheetah print dressup...err man-up and unders?

Thanksgiving

2010-11-27T13:20:00.003-07:00

It was cold.

Rich took a day off and we went to the Discovery Center the day before Thanksgiving. We played there for hours in the construction site, house, farm, store, rock wall and water before Rich realized there were media toys up stairs. We went up there and played with the bigger kid toys like the theater, tv station, storyboarding, magnet, wind, and art toys.

Thursday we cooked, watched the parade, went to Rich's parents for lunch and ate all day. This year was also my first year partaking in Black Friday Walmart at midnight. I went with my sisters and Tony and we scored. I did panic a little when the crazies started running at the sound of the foghorn. Dude, it's a $3 savings on a character zip up sleeper, retract the claws and venom. I went later too, as opposed to midnight, and got the things they would not price match until after 4am and 6am. The items were still there, the crazies were not. I'm thinking I may wait until morning to shop next year but still go play with my sisters...midnight {I know, we're hard core} with the Brossette girls gets kinda crazy.

Bronchiolitis

2010-11-16T08:18:00.003-07:00

Grant has bronchiolitis caused by RSV. Not two Tuesdays ago we started a 6 mo round of Synagis, as my pediatrician strongly suggested and has been talking to me about it for a while seeing that Grant's breathing has already been an issue . He wanted him to have it as early as possible so the day they had it available we started it. Since we decided to vacation at Timp Hospital this past March, a shot to protect Grant from RSV sounded great. Because really, 3 kids for RSV, a sick pregnant mom, a birthing mom, & NICU, are enough medical extended stays for one calendar year, thanks.

To back track a little, Grant had a cough that turned scary Friday. It's never good when your breathing turns faster and weaker on a Friday afternoon, especially when you just returned all your O2 monitoring equipment. We saw our Pedia and he gave me that look and started in on the "I know we've had three in the hospital this year..." I was scared this was #4. His oxygen saturation was 99, which is about perfect but his breathing sounded wheezy and crackling. We are on the watch for a blueish tint or rapid breathing. He seems to seem like he pulls out of it a little but then has more yucky coughing. So, as for today he seems to be doing better. I will not say I feel there is no "extended stays" in our future. I think he is a tough little man and am happy we started the synagis when we did. Please!!!!!!! Let us be 99% of infants that do not get hospitalized with this.

Ya know what's gross

2010-11-09T13:28:00.004-07:00

hearing "Mom, my poop won't stop"

Know what's grosser than that,
after running said boy to the bathroom realizing it's down both pant legs, underwear, socks.

Know what's grosser than that,
seeing a trail down the stairs.

Know what's grosser than that,
remembering the bathtub you took him to has unresolved draining problems.

Know what's grosser than that,
this is accident two for the day from him.

Know what's grosser than that,
while mom went to get the carpet cleaner he attempted to take care of himself.

Know what's grosser than that,
after the other brother woke up the baby brother, he went to play in it?!?!

AWESOME!

Today's nastiness is brought to you by James.

Grace Rocks...in more ways than before

2010-11-05T09:49:00.002-06:00

Birthdays- check

2010-11-04T22:03:00.013-06:00

Rich turned 3osomething Monday. Tucanos and my parents cards both arrived that day too so we took it as a sign to go. It was also the last time we would have all the kids under seven years old. Meat treats are so much better when you only have to pay for one plate of them...even more so when a check in a card pays for that last plate. Plus two separate people complimented me on the behavior and manners of my kids. I assume only a plate full of meat and cheese bread can sedate them enough to be worthy of two compliments in one night. Either way it was a stroke to my ego.

Today Grace turned 7, eek. We started off with princess pancakes turned yell out something and see if mom can make it. We took Grace's class cupcakes around 10am and didn't stop running until dinner. The girls decided they wanted ribs and a twin party. We celebrated with two racks of ribs, pink funfetti cupcakes, "root beard" floats, and presents for both.

The boys checked out early...

well at their actual bed time and the girls stayed up late. James make a comeback for fear of missing the fun of presents.

{yup that's a real guitar, she's so excited}

Fantabulous Halloween Saturday - check

2010-11-02T21:58:00.000-06:00

Saturday was our {and the majority of Utah's} trick or treat day. We decided to make a day of it. We headed out at noon to Macey's. They had reflective bags, balloons, candy in each department, and a band rockin 80s Michael Jackson . We grabbed a few groceries and were off to Toys r Us. Geoffrey {that gigantic creeper} took us on a guided tour of the store and gave us more candy and crayons. On our way down to a mall we passed another Macey's and Grace thought we should try there too. After another round of Macey's and great creme soda we went to the mall. It had now started raining and the mall was busy but so worth all the tootsie rolls and pixie sticks. :P {Macey's by far was the best candy}

We went trick or treating after dinner. There's nothing like fried chicken and steamed vegetables to energize. Since it was getting colder and starting to drizzle...and we had trick or treated most the day... we made a short path to the houses on the route to school and back. After removing the Easter candy {dirty} and stuff I deemed poisoned we ate what we could and misplaced the rest...at keep turning up a little at a time, how odd.

Halloween Block Party - check

2010-11-01T17:41:00.006-06:00

When I found out the ward was not having a Halloween Party I decided that I needed to do something. I can't not have Halloween pass without planning a party. I know, but I didn't know about the 1st grade party until much later. With a little motivation from my neighbor Veronica I planned a party for the culde sac plus some. It was fun. Some of my family came and some neighbors and their families came. The food was yummy. The games were enjoyed. I'd call it a success.

Grace may have had a little too much powered sugar that night.

Kate and her friend Lexi from next door.

My boys and Devan. Poor Devan bit at that doughnut for 10 minutes until finally he got a little assistance. What a good sport.

1st grade Halloween Party - Check

2010-10-31T18:55:00.017-06:00

Someone {Grant} decided to be born on the first day of school so I missed out on signing up as room mom. Thankfully Jill, my good friend, is room mom and let me plan the party. It's probably better as having 4 extra kids {especially mine right now} in class could necessitate a need for a quick exit.

I came across The Curious Demise of a Contrary Cat. I picked it out at the library for the illustrations before I knew that I was able to help with the party. So once I found out I could help, I knew it would be the book. Not to go all Reading Rainbow but it is the perfect book for a PreK, Kindergarden, or 1st grade Halloween party. The majority of the words in the book are sight words, it's illustrations double as a picture hunt, you can get an additional (non written) story by just watching Rat's interaction with the everyone. Plus, it rhymes and repeats wording throughout.

On a pale gray night with a bright full moon, Witch was dresing for a bash.
"Cat," said Witch, "fetch me a hat!"
But, Cat was busy, chasing Rat.
"Cat?" said Witch.
"Purr?" said Cat.
"Hat!" said Witch.
"GRRRRR," said Cat.
And that was the end of that.
Witch got her own hat. "DRAT THAT CAT!"

Someone really thought out this book. Can you tell I'm really impressed. Plus it hasn't been overused in the classroom so the kids I read it to had no idea what the ending brought.

I'm surprised there was nothing on the internet of other people who have used this book for parties. Usually after finding a book you can weed through plenty of ideas. I made a matching game to get the kids to really look at the illustrations...because they were awesome. There's tons going on on each page so I made copies of a few in duplicate to get them to look at the details and matching. My thrifty side was pretty stoked too that that illustrations were line drawings, so the 14 copies were all B&Ws, free, and just needed cutting out and mounting.

Their craft was a paper plate cat on one side and a ____ on the other. I don't want to give the ending away but it turned out great. Plus for us photoshop challenged the pieces to the face could all be made with shapes in Word.

They also played a tweaked version of Simon Says using the wording cadence from the book. With 5 minutes of school left, they ate their witch hat (icecream cone/frosting/stripe cookie) and waited for the bell.

{See now when I look back when Kate's in Kindergarden...the party will already be planned.}

Carve pumpkins - Check

2010-10-25T12:30:00.005-06:00

T minus 5 days...

Picking out our pumpkins

2010-10-21T21:05:00.006-06:00

I don't know what the surprise was but the face was priceless.

Nor do I know why it was so bad for Grant, but it was.

We went to Wheeler Farms to pick out pumpkins, ride the hayride, and run around the maze. It was fun. We met Dad after work and spent a couple of hours there. The 6-8pm time slot is the best. Great sunset lighting, cool but not cold, and driving home at bedtime.

See look, I go to things and no one looks at the camera for dad either.

We all got to pick our own pumpkins.

and pose in and on everything.

We got to a touch a calf, get attacked by cow flies, see pigs, hens, chickens, geese, ducks, cats, rats, ride a tractor pulled hayride, oh and see a donkey. Grace got a lesson on where her turkey and ham lunch meat came from. She wasn't impressed. The boys got to see a variety of cows and where their milk comes from. They were very impressed.

We even found "the real giving tree".

They all sat and rested on the stump...and the tree was happy. So were they.

Fall Break

2010-10-17T20:17:00.003-06:00

Some weeks the only way to remember what happened is to check the camera. Thankfully the camera was charged because Grant is making sure I am not. So let's see. Wednesday we decided to meet dad at work and go play {because technically it was vacation...UEA weekend}. We made a picnic dinner and had plans to eat in the grass somewhere but ended up eating in the van waiting for him to finish up. It was still the coolest thing ever. We got a later start than we wanted and so rode free trax to Temple Square and played at the History Museum. The kid rooms are under construction, and will be until after Thanksgiving, so we got into everything else that was interactive or ok to touch

Yes I know how it 'looks' like the microphone is in Miles' mouth, it's not...cause that would be dirty. But it may explain why he has a cold sore as of yesterday. The mimicked conference speakers for a little while but I've never seen an apostle or prophet latch on to that thing. I'm not sure what possessed that.

Grace and Kate somehow eluded a picture and so posed outside.
I'm pretty sure we did more amazing things for Grace's Fall Break vacation time but I don't have pictures to prove it so I can't remember.

We've had success with potty training. We only have ONE PERSON in diapers! We're down to one disgusting accident a day. Sadly, that includes Kate. I hate when one regresses while potty training the next but hopefully the worst is over. What makes it worse is the attitude, exemplified here, with the actions of a child literally half her age. She even sleeps posed like a little high-maintenance diva. I do love her. I just fear her diva-ness.

This I just thought was cute. Witches ride push brooms too...with passengers.

Church

2010-10-10T14:56:00.008-06:00

I know one day I may look back and laugh at it all, so why not today. Today was the first day boys were in underwear at church. I'll be honest, I was nervous. Poo at a school - fine. Parent Teacher Conference was this week and they already have to deal with accidents so let's try it. Poo at Walmart - fine. It's Walmart. There's another one 2 miles in the other direction if we embarrass ourselves. Both, I might add, we rocked at. But church, we have to keep going back. We went early and took care of business before we left. We had to say "Hi" to the guys (bishopric) before church started. We were able to take care of wiggles and bathroom needs, now to be reverent.

Whatever. Squirm & color, 3 trips to the bathroom. Alternate who gets to use mom's crossed leg as a springboard, and the hymnal holder as a step up, 2 trip to the bathroom. Break free and alternate running laps around the chapel watching for mom to respond. Play w/ mom's jewelry and finally mellow a little, 1 successful trip to the bathroom. Go to nursery, another successful trip to the bathroom.

Safe right? They both went.

I go to Sunday School to listen to Rich teach on Isaiah. Grant will have none of that, leave get him eating and covered, come back. Get about 10 more minutes of Rich's lesson and James is brought to the door. No...poo. Thankfully a sweet friend followed me out to be a second set of hands. I love her. She takes Grant. I take care of James, then send him back to class while I finish cleaning up his stuff. My friend comes in with Grant & I change that poo too. Since I feel like a disruption if I go back I drop off the mostly clean unders at the van (on the tire versus inside) and just decide to finish off the 2nd hour in nursery. I then remember Kate is doing scripture in Primary and leave to help her. Rich is now available so I get him from Priesthood to hang out with the boys, everyone is covered. Grace is sitting in the "give a talk" chair, that's news to me. I stand as support for Kate, then help Grace wing it and bear her testimony. Grant really didn't get to eat earlier but got poo on his blanket so off to Relief Society to nurse under a pair of back up 2T khaki shorts. Where have the last 3 hours and my supposed spiritual refill gone? Come what may...

We get home and I tell Rich about the above. He asks if I grabbed those underwear because he didn't.

Oops. One pair of tire stamped underwear back in our possession. Nobody saw those, right?

Pee

2010-10-06T14:46:00.005-06:00

Remember how it's my blog...well we're going to talk about pee.

I've giving it my all to not have 3 in diapers. $40 for diapers, $13 for wipes, that really cuts unto my Costco budget. Kate was sick so for a few days there we had 4 in diapers and that happened at the same time we ran out of diapers after Costco closed. How that happens, I have no idea. So I rented videos, read books, learned songs, made sticker charts, went against the pros and am doing twins at the same time, and currently still have a little of my sanity, dry little man pants, and stickers remaining. We've done well so far. I feared going to get Grace from school and still fear bedtime. James eased those fears a little when in the 3 minute round trip he needed to pee. We were waiting for Grace and from the back he yells "Mom get that cup". What?!? We have never peed in a cup. Does that came prewired in boys? I didn't want it on carseats and van seats so I jumped back and complied. He was giggling he was so proud of himself. Way to go James! Yes we threw that cup away. I hope no one in the after school pickup line realized what we were doing. In some circles I still am somewhat respectable. . . I think . . . ok, probably not.

Dear Ben Folds,

2010-09-30T08:22:00.004-06:00

Making dinner has become more challenging. Grant isn't a fan of sitting alone. I can't really blame him as when he does somehow Miles and James take that as their time to attack. Yesterday was no different so I asked Grace to guard him. She ended up walking around holding him... lesser evil. She decided she wanted him to go to sleep so started singing to him.

"You can't fool me, I saw you when you came out
You got your momma's taste but you got my mouth
And you will always have a part of me
Nobody else is ever going to see
Gracie girl"

So sweet....

She knew he was "a GR like me but the song is for Grrr-ace, so you need to make up a song about him." I hope Ben doesn't mind that my daughter thinks I made up his song for my kids.

Grace has Graciegirl ... One day you're gonna want to go, I hope we taught you everything you need to know, Gracie girl

Kate has Kate ...And you can see the daisies in her footsteps, Dandelions, butterflies,I wanna be Kate

Miles and James have The Luckiest ... That I am, I am, I am, The luckiest

More importantly I wonder how he would feel about making one for Grant.

Dear Ben,

Lonely Avenue doesn't seem to have any songs about normal functioning relationships (but I still want the cd), much less about a sweet little man that never sleeps, never stops eating, always wants to be held, has a very productive digestive system, grunting skills, looking around skills, pinching skills, smiling skills, beautiful eyes, and is planned to get off oxygen monitoring in two weeks . Would you mind writing one something like that for Grant? Please.

Thanks,

Libby

PTC Mall

2010-09-28T13:00:00.009-06:00

We use to go to festivals, parks, & fun stuff but then we kinda slowed down (we'll blame it on Grant). We went to the new Provo Towne Center play area opening. Starting off big and fancy, I know.

But they had a face painter, balloon maker, chocolate cupcakes, poppers, princesses (err, Miss Utah & Teen Utah w/a a crown) and prizes for everyone so really what more do you need for an outing with my group?

The play area is definitely for little kids. It's small. It's made of soft material (bumbo-like firmness).

It's small. But we had fun. Speaking of which. Mr. G in the bumbo...graciously adorned with washable marker. Nice.

Gracie's World

2010-09-22T10:15:00.003-06:00

La la la la, La la la la, Gracie's World.

Grace usually walks in the door from school at 2:28- 2:30, so when 2:38 rolled around I was listing all the horrible things that could have happened to her and went to retrace her steps. I went to the school and the first little group of girls sitting under a tree included my Grace. She said bye to her newly made older friends and after getting in told me she didn't want to walk home today, so she didn't. I'm trying to work on using Love and Logic more so I asked her what she thought I would think if she never came home from school. MY daughter answered perfectly.

G- You'd think I died or someone took me. {Worst case scenario, thanks.}
Me - What should you do instead of deciding to just not walk home?
G- I should tell you or call you.
Me- Or you could just come home?
G- Or you could just get me a cell phone, Mom. I need to have a cell phone for just me.
Me- You're 6. You're not getting a cell phone.
G- You wouldn't have to worry about me if I got a cell phone.
Me- I'm done Grace.
G- {still going....}

Up the Canyon

2010-09-21T06:03:00.009-06:00

For the final day-o-fun with Gma & Gpa we went up the canyon for a nature photo scavenger hunt. We broke into teams. We found all kinds of stuff to shoot.

I had Kelly's two older boys so we found a huge rock for climbing and posing.

After the huge rock, we found a fallen log crossing the river. We had Gpa and Grant move down the path to join us and played there for a while.

The older kids, and by older I mean Kate and up {I wasn't excited about Kate assuming she was now in the older bunch}, crossed back and forth while the younger tried to play in fire pit ashes.

I guess plain old mountain dirt is not dirty enough to entertain Miles, James, and Sammer.

To prove I should have followed my instincts and made her come play with the "babies", Kate fell off the log and into the river on the upstream side.

Jake came from one side while I came from the other. He got there first pulled her out. The water was very cold after the panic {hers and mine} wore off she was more upset that she fell in "with eyes open and got all wet".

After a clothes change, we tried {unsuccessfully} to get some posed pictures of the kids and headed back to Kelly's for dinner.

Good times.

Brossette/Blessing weekend

2010-09-19T15:43:00.010-06:00

Pirate week at school ended with a dress up day on Friday. Thankfully J&M recieved the coolest bucket-o- man costumes from Aunt Manda & Kelly. Daddy kind of frowns on the boys dressed as princesses and such so we were extra excited to have some masculinity to add to the bucket. One of the man costumes...under the hazmat man, indian head gear, army man, chef, super hero capes, leopard suit there was a pirate costume. Grace borrowed it, hence the manpris and 3/4 sleeved pirate coat. She was the coolest pirate for school.

Friday Gma and Gpa also got in town for Grant's blessing. Cute little man huh?

We're living it up all weekend and that included a trip to Costco, a trip for meat treats and a visit to the Gateway fountain and shops...so far.

From what I can remember, I think this is the first time the boys got in and understood the dancing water fountain. Grace and Kate knew the drill and jumped right in and got soaked with their cousins. We need one of these fountians closer to our house. They are so much fun.

It was lots of fun until Grant's O2 battery life got too low and I went to find an public electrical outlet {oddly this proved more difficult that it should have been}. He and I found one in a breezeway connecting the parking lot to the main street. It was so stinkin hot, stinky, and echoed; so I took him out of his seat only to notice he pooed through his clothes. We managed to rearrange the double stroller, car seat, diaper only 8lb teathered man, vigorously eating a bottle, and poo clothes out the double door and prop it open to stay connected to electricity but also have a breeze. How do I get into these situations and why do passerby's feel the need to ask if my hands are full? Obviously they are, we're not a zoo exhibit, keep it moving.

Once I stopped sweating the rest of BrossetteTown showed up on their way to meat treats and we redressed and crammed 16+stuff into a normal size elevator. I have no idea what the weight limit was but we definitely tested it and square footage. Plus, we impressed the group that was waiting when we exited. Once we were all in meat comas we headed home to prepare for Grant's blessing on Sunday.

We blessed Grant at church this morning. Where other religions baptize infants, we give them a name and a blessing {D&C20:70} and save baptism for 8+ years old. Grandma Lewis made his suit, booties, blanket and bonnet. I took a few pictures before we left, because as a child of mine, he followed the rest and poo-ed his nice new never-worn white handmade suit right when we got home.

The boys wanted to hold him and take a few shots with him. They love him and start off soft.

James was helping him here to stop crying... don't you stop someone from crying by covering their mouth, nose and eyes? He was just trying to keep it all in.

I do love this shot of my boys. My boys... :) I like that.

I planned for the post blessing explosion and had another suit ready (from "Aunt Polly") for being passed around family.

We had all of my family and most of Rich's family to celebrate. Granted the air conditioner struggled to match to the volume of people and revolving doors, the food was great; Rio style salads, enchiladas and lots of chocolate treats... a party favorite being the S'mores bars. {That blog rocks, huh!} Everyone seemed to be full and happy.

Bwaa ahh ahh and the weekend isn't even over. It's going to be one of those extended weekends that last five day. More to come.

Maybe Later

2010-09-16T08:10:00.004-06:00

Grace - Mom, I can karate chop my arm and it hurts bad.

Me - Why would you want to hurt your arm?

Grace - Watch! {repeatedly whacks her own arm}

Me - Well that's fun. {sarcastically}

Kate - Do me!

Grace - OK!

Me - Do not hit Kate.

Grace - She wants me to.

Me - What will happen if you hit Kate?

Grace - She will cry.

Me - And?

Grace - I will get in trouble.

Kate - Grace, karate me. {secretly}

Grace - Maybe later.

Me - Uhhh Grace? What did you just tell me?

Grace - Mom, when a woman says later what she means is not ever. { with a southern drawl}

{watch the first 17 seconds if you are not a die hard Lottie fan}

Me - Thanks Lottie.

MOD Jail & Bail

2010-09-09T15:10:00.005-06:00

"1 in 8 babies is born too soon, too small, or sick and in need of special care."
Between my sister and my 8...eek 9, we had 4. Please help if you can. Any amount helps.

March of Dimes Jail and Bail

I know... I need a new header picture...I'm working on it.

Kate's keeping the blog up

2010-09-07T11:48:00.005-06:00

I wondered how I missed 87 pictures on my camera. Upon further inspection, Kate has been "collecting memories" for me while I have been occupied with getting back in a rhythm with 5 + O2. Most were of the ceiling, dirty table, blurred fingers over the lens, and closeups of scabs and cuts. Here are 4 that were blog-able. Grant is warming up to his surroundings. I hope he's ready for us.

Yikes

2010-09-04T17:52:00.005-06:00

It's in those moments that I look at the van, with all the car seats installed..or filled... that I think "Yikes, we've got a lot of little people." Yesterday I found myself in another situation that reminded me again.

We went to the mall. We needed to exchange something and I needed a trip out of the house that wasn't to the Pedia. Plus, I've heard some women get a present after having a baby and I totally earned something good. Once we got in the store I caught a reflection of this...

Yikes, I've got a lot of little people...and that oxygen tank doesn't really help diminish the parade-ish feeling of going anywhere with everyone. I love it.

Case in Point

2010-09-03T14:04:00.005-06:00

Remember that 4 hr, 2 bags of sugar water L&D visit in June?

Total charge for all that jazz, 1523.18. Amount due for uninsured, 624.50.

You need a hearing test to graduate NICU. I remember James had to have it done twice. I remember insurance (BCBS) not covering the second test and we paying right around $400. Since Grant got out fast they just scheduled the test for next week at Timp. They called Rich & quoted him a couple of hundred. He forwarded them to me. They quoted me $75 and I had reservations about doing it as Grant responds when I talk to him. I understand the use of oxygen could have an effect on his hearing but I really see no signs of it. They then offer it for $54. I know there is a chance so for $50, let's do it.

Today Mr Grant had cosmetic surgery on his man parts (aka circumcision...NICU boys have to have it done at the Pedia). How much is that? It's $260. Oh you're paying for it? It's $200 and if you pay today it is$154.

What a freakin racket. I can't wait for the NICU bills. Come what may...

So, where did I leave off...

2010-08-31T22:03:00.011-06:00

{sorry all of this will be scrapbooked one day so it may be more than you are interested in}

Well Sunday we failed that test after 12 hours sans cannula. The dumb ol thing was back on. Monday morning he took another test and made it 1.5 hours. I saw the Neonatologists and asked if we could chat about why, because what mom does not feel a tinge responsible for her baby being in the NICU. Could I have gained more? Should I have drank more protein shakes like with the boys? Should I have had a steroid shot? Was anything in my system responsible? Did he just come too fast? Was it anything I could prevent? Could I be doing anything now (like pumping only and not nursing) to make it easier for him to grow, heal, what ever he needs to do.

She then surprised me by saying " I think you can do this at home, especially since I looked and you are self pay and driving from O___ twice a day to nurse him for 30 minutes." What? What? At home? Like take my baby home? My insides were exploding but I think I kept it calm on the outside. I didn't want her retracting her statement once crazy mom popped out at the notion of going home. She decided that Monday night, once daddy was done with work, would be best.

I came back home and tried to do everything for my other four before heading back up at 4pm. I pretty sure they could feel my excitement, as we were all bouncing off the walls from noon until we left. I tried to get them to burn off some energy by going out to jump while I packed up. Bad idea. Miles and James came in with bloody noses and wet... since when is the sprinkler set to go off at 3:30 on Monday?!? A wet trampoline is fun at first but obviously does not end well. After complete clothes changes we're off to St Marks, pit stopping to grab pizzas and drop off little people at Kellys. Somewhere along the line I convinced myself that keeping Grace w/ me, to use the carpool lane, would get us there in better time. This also meant borrowing unmatched and too big flip flops from our cousin to go.

Thankfully the oxygen guy was late too and we got there about the same time. Grace kept busy in the pumping room on my computer, thank you St Marks for free wifi. I learned how to use O2, read the monitor, where everything goes, etc. Rich got there soon after and the respiratory theripist went over the same thing with both of is but in greater detail. After leaving and coming back (left to help w/ an emergency c/s baby) to finish up we were then allowed to take our little man home.

They unplugged him, attached him to our monitor, had us sign a stack of papers, gave us bags of NICU swag, and then walked us to the van. I was crying on the inside, again I think I held it together on the outside. I was so excited. I was so scared. (kind of like his birth experience) We went to Kelly's to get the rest of the siblings, have cookies with blue frosting in celebration, and scavenge for any remaining pizza.

After being sanitized up to their elbows, Grace, Kate, James, Miles, Cam, Kelly, Manda, Abby, Jake, and Jared held our little man. In that order too. Grace was promised, like at 20wks pregnant, she would be the first kid to hold him. I needed pain pills, badly. I needed to pump or nurse, badly. Grant was definitely over stimulated and hungry. Grace was already up past school bed time and had no intention of sleeping with her new brother home. Rich was getting anxious because of the above list so we went home. We made it to the end of the street before the alarm was continually going off. I tried giving Grant a chilled bottle. I tried moving Grace's seat closer so she could feed him. Rich tried (remember I am overdue pain meds etc). Granted ended up calming down after a few mls and we got home. Most little people got to bed and after a while we were all in bed. The first night went well. I don't think Rich or I really slept in anticipation for the alarm to go off, or stop functioning, or Grant to cry.

Tuesday we visited the Pedia, tried to exchange the Ns the NICU gave us for 1s at Target (they don't sell 20 count), and tried to set into our new "normal". By the way, if anyone knows who sells 20 count Pampers Sawddlers, please let me know...we need to exchange for my little chunky man.

The pedia said he looked great, took a detail of what had gone on since birth, and loved on him. I love our pedia, he's interacts with them like he's their Grandpa. Night two was a little better than night one. Grant sleeps well once he gets to sleep. He eats very well and gives us decent stretches of rest. I hope it continues. Now Day 2 of being at home...I can do this.

Seems to be the thing to do around here...pumps all around

{Disregard that McNasty couch unless you wanna replace it.}

NICU Sunday

2010-08-29T19:25:00.004-06:00

Sunday morning Grant got off oxygen at 9:30am and is still off... I'm not getting my hopes up or anything. We're just playing it cool. Ok, I lie. I am pretending to play it cool. We are almost a quarter into blowing that popsicle stand. But like I said, we're playing it cool.

We went up as a family to visit him.

Grandma went with us and

then Kelly came at the next feeding and gave me a ride home. Kelly was lucky enough to receive his first projectile spit up. That 1 mil had to have gone a good seven inches before landing on her hand. I'm glad she could be a part of such a important milestone...I don't know if she was so much.

And something for Gma/pa Brossette about the boys new spenders. They love them. I do too.

Day 5: Why

2010-08-28T21:48:00.007-06:00

I've only really been in contact with family and facebook but I am a little nervous about church tomorrow. Grace's assistant teacher from Kindergarden saw me Friday at the school and asked, and I thought I'd be just fine, but the lump in my chest, came up my throat, and was doing everything it could to come out my eyes. Big deal. I cry.

Why is Grant still in the NICU?

When he sleeps his oxygen saturation drops, most babies readjust or take a deep breath, he does not. He just breaths shallower and shallower until his alarm goes off. He has to out grow that to come home. They are testing him. They take him off oxygen and see how long he can sustain himself on room air. If he drops below 90 and stays and does nothing; like move, breath deep, etc, it proves he still needs the oxygen. We are past the point of needing it around the clock. He's gotten to the point that he can sustain himself while sleeping, just not all the time.

He gets one test every nurse shift (7a-7p or 7p-7a) that he can prove he is ready to try. I love the nurse I had today (twice now). She's very informative and very aggressive on keeping that line between helping him with O2 and making him work to progress very fine. The first time was 1.5 hrs. Today he made it 5 hrs before needing help. They put him on the lowest amount of oxygen needed so that he does not become dependent on it and balance that with not letting him get so low that he wears out and needs more than the minimum. We'll get there. Probably not in the next day or two but next week is highly likely. On top of that, since he takes two steps forward and one step back, they want a 48 hr perfect record to let him take his car seat test (2 hr buckled in perfect O2 for him).

So, that's why.

In happier news, the nurses call him a bottomless pit. Who wouldn't be happy that their son can out eat everyone in the NICU (including what a set of twins can down per day)?

NICU Friday

2010-08-27T16:39:00.003-06:00

Kate wanted a big video of Grant, so we'll share.

and it's back...

2010-08-26T14:52:00.004-06:00

Stupid dumb old ugly nose cannula. I hate it. Thankfully Mr Grant is cute enough to make IT even look cute.

Guess who's rockin the NICU sans nasal cannula?

2010-08-25T10:15:00.005-06:00

I'll give you a hint. He's the cutest baby in the joint.

I was about to make a "so, happy I could pee my pants" comment but given the circumstances, that's kind of not appropriate. I have bladder control but am super duper excited (but that doesn't really convey my excitement).

Look at those chub cheeks. He's a great eater. I love his expression... kinda reminds me of a little Kate. {Holy cow, if you knew the number of times I have edited this post to be coherent...I have a touch of post partum ADD :P }

1st Grade!!!

2010-08-25T09:45:00.006-06:00

I was sad to miss the first day of Grace's first grade. The mommy is supposed to help her pick out clothes, do hair, make lunch, be excited with her, document and photograph everything to an ad nauseam point...but I'm in the hospital. Daddy took care of it and gave me the following play by play via iphone. Technology is awesome. So is Daddy.

6:40, I open Grace's door just as she is opening from the other side and she is all dressed with her shoes on.

6:50-6:58 Grace is very chatty and getting cookie & pluot ready for her lunch box. she is also brushing her own hair and putting in a matching headband.

7:10-7:35 make pancakes and pack lunch. she's almost bouncing she's so excited.

7:35 have to remind her to eat

7:40 G is too excited to eat, IT'S THE 1ST DAY OF SCHOOL!

7:42 J wakes up w/ stinky Tucanos poop. ya hoo

7:50 we leave for school, G is sick of pictures but still bouncing around excited for school
that poor teacher that has to deal w/ all of those excited kids today. we'll find out at 2:15 how everything went. now off to beat the boys, they just can't keep their hands to themselves.

8:00 Mrs Field came out and got her class, G ran right in w/ her backpack & new lunch box

NICU 2

2010-08-24T13:35:00.003-06:00

eating all the time...

getting held all the time...

people watching you breath...

being by the window...

being so dang cute...

It's hard, I know... :)

Somehow we will overcome...

We just need to get his sleeping breathing in check and we're out of there...but who knows when that is.