Gutting the pumpkins.  We started by cutting the top open.  Ben was so excited to start with, but he suggested that we just wear our underwear so that it doesn't get on our clothes.

Then he started to bawl.  It was so gross and he couldn't take gutting the pumpkin. Jayden was waiting patiently for his turn.  Ben gave up and we gutted it for him.

He was still very upset and didn't want to do it anymore.

All of us together.  FHE carving pumpkins and watching the debates.

Ben trying it out again for the 3rd time, and tried for about 5 minutes.  Then asked Dane to finish it for him.  Symi wasn't liking it at all.  She would daintilly pick out one seed at a time and cringe in she touched the slime.  Until she started gagging.  Then quietly asked to be done.

Jayden started to play Peek-A-Boo.

Laughing because he thinks he's funny!

It's "Red Ribbon" week at school.  Today was "Wear a Hat Day".  Ben wanted to wear his cowboy hat.  Symi wanted hers too.  Jayden doesn't have one and keeps stealing Symi's.

He just wants a hat, he doesn't care that it's pink or his sister's.  He's got it now and won't give it back!

Just the normal.  Unload tupperware drawer. Check.  Pose for Mom. Check. Say cheese. Check.

Today has been a movie day.  Symi woke up with a fever and a tummy ache.  So she's just vegging.

A few weeks ago, Jayden was woke up that morning at 5 am.  WOW.  I was not ready to be up that early, and he'd been up most of that night. Finally at 8:30 I couldn't take his whinny, clingy, sobbing stories anymore.  I set him up with a bunch of toys and took a shower.  He was too quiet so I looked out to find this.  He was so tired and slept for 3 hours.

Symi was right where I left her as I showered.  She loves to sit so close because we have 1/2 of a speaker that works.  So we always hear 1/2 of a show.  But the kids don't know that, they are just excited to watch TV.

Please forgive my photography skills.  Our original camera eats up batteries in less than 5 mins. (Not exaggerating)  And so my parents kindly sent one of their older cameras for us to use.  On the first day here Dane sat on the camera and the screen broke.  So we have no idea what kind of pictures we are getting other than most of them the kids are cut off or we get a partial picture.  At least we have some way of taking pictures for future generations to laugh at. :)

Summer 2012

Practiced taking aim and shooting.

Went fishing early one morning.

Dad caught a fish and so did Ben.   But Ben's fish got away before we could get a picture.

Wearing Dad's old fishing hat.

Symi followed Ben around the pond, but never got anything.

Jayden sat and played in the rocks and dirt.  He was happy to watch from a distance.

Jayden started a habit of falling asleep at lunchtime.  Playing hard is tough work!

My long lost love was sold.  I've had this beauty longer than I've had Dane.

Ben reading his 1st chapter book.  Symi and Jayde have to be right by him.  Now that he's in school all day they miss him and won't leave him alone.  EVER!!

Jayden has started to put everything on his fingers.  These are his favorites.

Ben made his "Halloween Mouth" snack and assembled it all by himself.  He was so proud, that he insisted on a picture.

Symi is working on her letters.  And so far she's can correctly name 12 of them.  Ben's teaching her, she won't listen to me.

Symi pointing to her letters.

Yet another item on his fingers.

Trying to throw it at me.

Can you find the children?  They love having a room with just toys.  Even though we have only 3 rooms it's nice to have a toy room.

This summer has been lots of fun.  With running through sprinklers, going to the Willow Park Zoo, going on walks, playing in the park, watching lots of movies while I rested, camping, fishing, watching fireworks right in our back yard, riding bikes, and so much more. 

Ben claims that he was bored a lot, and yes I'll admit, we did spend a lot of time inside.  But I'm grateful that we at least had some fun memories to share together.

Symi's 3rd Birthday Inverview

1. What is your favorite color?
Pink
2. What is your favorite toy?
Stroller
3. What is your favorite thing to do? Why?
Play. With my shopping cart.
4. What is your favorite food?
Blueberries
5. What food is gross? 
Hot food.  It burns me.
6. What is your favorite animal?
Tiny Bird
7. Who is your best friend?
Ben
8. What is your favorite book?
Curious George
9. What makes you sad?
Getting in trouble.  Cuz Ben does it to me.
10. What makes you happy?
Outside.
11. What's the hardest thing you did this year?
Learn to go potty.  Uhh. (disgusted noise)  It not fun.
12. What are you really good at?
Putting my rainbow shoes on myself.
13. What is something scary?
Monster faces
14. What is something funny?
I DON'T KNOW!! 
(personally she laughs whenever someone falls down and gets hurt.  She laughs. So. Hard.  I guess she gets that from Aunt Kerri.)
15. What do you want to be when you grow up?  
A Big Sister

Ben 6th Birthday Interview

1. What is your favorite color?

Green

2. What is your favorite toy?
Eagle Plane 
3. What is your favorite thing to do? Why?
Going camping. Because we see lots of things.  And we can cook dinner outside and eat outside too.
4. What is your favorite food?
Grapes
5. What food is gross? 
Celery
6. What is your favorite animal?
Cheetah
7. Who is your best friend?
Hailey Rassmussen
8. What is your favorite book?
If You Give a Moose a Muffin
9. What makes you sad?
When Jayden hits me with a toy.
10. What makes you happy?
 Riding my bike.
11. What's the hardest thing you did this year?
Not having recess be very long.  It was just a little one, and I wanted to play for longer.
12. What are you really good at?
Running!  I can go like super speed 3!!!
13. What is something scary?
Climbing up a huge ladder.
14. What is something funny?
Jokes.  Like why does the alligator cross the road?  Because he wanted to get his head smashed.  Hahahaha!
15. What do you want to be when you grow up?  
A teacher and a Dad.

Symi Girl

A few days after her 3rd Birthday we were watching a neighbors little girl (she's about Jayden's age).  Symi was following her all around the house and dotting on her.  It was so cute to watch.  

She suddenly stopped playing and said:  Mommy!!  I'm not your baby girl anymore!

(choking on tears trying not to cry)

Me: What?

Symi: I'm all grown up now!  I'm a big girl!  I won't be your baby girl anymore! I go potty in the toilet.  I put my clothes on myself.  I clean up.  I help you do dishes.  I'm a big girl now!

Me: ok

Inside I was thinking.  

NOOOOO!!!!  

Symi you will always be my baby girl.  

You will always be my daughter that I held for the first time.  

You will always be my first baby that I painted her toes bright pink.  

You will always be my baby who kept me up the most at night, and always brought great joy when you would finally sleep.  

You will always be the sweetheart who would growl.

You will always be my little girl who I held for hours and hours while she cried and wailed in pain.

You will always be my little girl who followed her Big Brother Ben around everywhere copying his every move.

You will always be my little girl.  

Always.

Folding her arms for the prayer.

Cool shades.

1st Birthday attacking her cake!

Only 4 days old.

Kisses from a big brother.

Mom meeting Symi for the first time.

Sleepy baby only 1 month old.

In the cutest little blue dress that Grandma JoDee made.

Growling at someone because she didn't get her way.

Wearing Mommy's shoes, typing like a "mad woman", pretty hair, and in her favorite Tinker Bell jammies.

Tinker Bell Cake

Having a "Tea Party" with Ben at 6:30 in the morning.  She was SOO excited!

I made her mad.  I wanted a picture by her shopping cart and she had to leave her "Tea Party".

She was so excited about her cake.

Dad was being silly and she was laughing so hard.

She even blew out her own candles for the first time.

 She had a wonderful Birthday.  She laughed almost all day.  Played hard with all her new toys and sang everywhere she went, singing all of the Primary Birthday songs and the original Happy Birthday song.  It was a good day.

Happy Birthday Symi Girl

You will always be

our Baby Girl. 

Summer Time

Ben and Dane in our old trailer.

I know that this photo is from a long time ago, but I found it and couldn't help sharing.  :)

Update:
Dane: Working on a week long course from 8am-4pm everyday.  He had to take off work to finish it.  It was pure torture. ;)  He traveled all over and learned about "Water Shedding".  He got to hike, canoe, and have take out lunch everyday.  But did have a lot of follow up homework.  He was sunburn and tired when he got home.  He did try to catch a rather large frog to bring home and show the kids.  But he was unsuccessful.  He is now working on finishing up this semester and going to start training with his "Student Teaching" for this coming Fall.  He is excited to start putting things together and working with the kids.  :)  There is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Britt:  Well her kidney is giving her a hard time and she's just trying to keep up with Dr's visits, tests, and Dr's orders.  Tomorrow I will be going to have a VAUG done and will look forward to the results.  (Not the test, but the results.)  I have been pretty lazy.  (It's kind of hard to be motivated when you're in pain and walk around like a crippled up old woman.)  But I am slowly trying to keep up with my small apartment and have cleaned out a few boxes.  My goal is to have my storage unit cleaned out and organized by this fall, so when we move this winter.  I don't have to do all of that, just pack up and move a storage unit.  ;) (I'll let you know if I get it done.)

Ben:  Has been bored to tears.  He has gone to friends houses to play games.  Water Birthday parties.  Riding his bike with his new helmet and bell.  Playing on the play ground out back.  Catching up on "Phineas and Ferb" from the Disney channel.  Eating popsicles. Reading books.  Laying around crying because he's so bored!  Working on curriculum work books. Watching "Red Box" movies.  Going to 3D shoots with his Dad.  Annoying his siblings.  Putting his nose in "time out".  Singing at the top of his lungs.  And of course going to the grocery store with me. (pure torture that last one.)  He has "kindly" informed me that I am a boring Mom.  That I need to have something for him to do "ever time of the day!" because that's what they do at school.  Too tall of an order.  He'll just be extra excited when school starts again!

Symi:  She is talking, bossing, and taking charge in our family.  She sure likes to put everyone in their place.  For the good as well as the bad.  She is our first one to cheer someone on, as well as the first to tell them what they did wrong.   She has been Ben's little shadow this summer.  Following him and doing all the fun previously mentioned activities as well.  She loves to play with her babies and has nearly destroyed her stroller she got a Christmas.  She likes it.  A LOT!!!  She also loves to sing at the top of her lungs and run around the house.  Tangled is a new found love and she is happy that she has "Rapunzel Hair".  It's a blessing because everyday now she wants to have pretty hair like Rapunzel.  So I finally get to do her hair everyday and make her cute.  Sure it doesn't last very long, but at least for a few hours in a day she looks cute.  

Jayden:  He has turned from my little lump of chunk.  To my little monster of terror!!  He loves to MOVE.  This new discovery has gotten him into some tight situations.  He was trying to get a toy he had dropped into the tub.  As he was reaching I saw him.  Like slow motion he teetered and slipped over the edge just as my hands missed him.  He landed on his head with a *SmAcK* and started crying. Tub without water by the way.  Poor kid had a bruise and bump to prove his craziness.  He also pushed our little "potty" over to the sink.  Climbed up the potty.  Grabbed the edge of the sink and with legs dangling and arms clinging to the sink tried to lift himself up onto the vanity.  I caught his just as his arms gave way and he was heading back to earth by sheer gravity.  He likes to push things around and walk behind them.  He has started to jabber a little.  Not much of a talker, but always a giggler at his siblings.  He says "Da-Dee" (daddy), "Ahh-DUuu" (All Done), "Uh-Oh", "No", "Uv-Oooo"(Love you), and "Bye".  This kiddo loves to be outside and laughs when someone picks him up and takes him out the door.  He now waves "Bye-Bye" and blows "kisses".  

He loves to tackle his siblings when they least expect it and sit on them.  I was laughing so hard at him the other day.  Symi had been teasing him all morning and he took it.  And took it.  And TOOK IT!!  He was so patient.  When she laid down to watch a movie.  He struck.  He was sitting across the room and grabbed his hands together, tucked his chin to his chest, and giggled evilly to himself.  Then he took off doing his fast crawl and grabbed a huge handful of her hair and PULLED!!  He got some and crawled off in the other direction.  Then later that day Ben was teasing him and he was done.  He waited until Ben was watching the movie with Symi.  Shortly after getting her he came back and attacked Ben.  He ended up straddling Ben's head and farting on his face.  Laughed to himself and fast crawled away.  Both of the older kids were upset and I was laughing.  They both deserved it for all the put him through.  So how do I get mad!!

We are doing well and having a "FUN" summer.  I know it's not ideal, but I'm trying to do the best I can.  So far we've had some fun memories that I'll cherish.

Longer Update

Longer update:

1. Ben had been complaining for days that his throat hurt and I took him in to get that checked.  He had a double ear infection so bad that they were draining down his throat and he was developing strep. Antibiotics later and some rest.  He started to feel better.  Then it hit like a rock.  

Saturday night, just before Easter Sunday, he started to break out in a horrible rash!  He was itching and scratching it so bad it was bleeding and he was screaming and writhing on the ground.  Dane and Symi had just left for a Daddy Daughter Date to and Archery Banquet.  So I called the ER and asked them what we should do.  The suggested some Benadryl cream.  Along with a large dose of liquid Benadryl.  

They gave instructions that if he didn't make any changes within an hour we were to head to the ER.  Well needless to say it worked, but I slept next to Ben for the night.  The rash went away for the night, but the next morning it was starting to come back.  So we dosed him up again and stayed home for the day.  He was pretty miserable for a few days, but did improve.

Easter was totally forgotten.  No dying of eggs.  No egg hunts.  No Easter baskets.  No wearing of new Easter apparel.  Instead we sat down together as a family and went through our "Resurrection Easter Eggs" and had a FHE lesson on our Savior.  We fill baskets with a few treats on Monday Night and are still trying to find some time with Dane to dye some eggs, and then have a mini Easter Egg Hunt in our living room.  

2. Due to the Still Small Voice.  We sold our van.  Not once did I feel bad about doing so, and it all happened so quickly that we weren't quite ready for the outstanding response!  Yet we were blessed and found that our Heavenly Father was in deed guiding and directing us at this time.

3. Along with that voice to sell our van another voice came along to purchase another newer vehicle.  This too happened quickly and without any complications.  We were blessed in the price.  We were extremely blessed in the condition (still smells like a brand new car and it's only 5 years old!!).  We were blessed to fit all the car seats.  We were blessed in saving gas money and extra expenses to on fixing a vehicle.   Truly it was what we needed to do.

4. Dane isn't home much.  The time home is spent either eating, showering, or sleeping.  He'll take a few moments each day and give them specially to us.  For instance today he sat down and was reading books to the kids.  Now he's play his old Nintendo games with Ben and Symi and Jayden are watching intently.  He's a wonderful, amazing, and kind father.  He's always an outstanding husband too.  He keeps me grounded even when he's stressed and overwhelmed.


5. Well from the last post that's pretty self explanatory. Jayden is now mobile. Busy. Into everything. AND teething. (he's a little grumpy when he gets teeth.)


6. Symi is indeed potty trained and is so proud of herself!  She doesn't have accidents unless she wants to do it all by herself and can't get her pants down fast enough.  But she has a cute little bum now!!  It gets pinched and patted all the time from EVERYONE!!  Jayden even likes to tackle her and lay on it.  It's cute.


7. Life is increasingly getting harder.  Meaning, Dane is gone more and more.  Dane is working more and more.  And I'm home alone more and more with 3 kiddos.  nuf said.


8. We are currently surrounded by a neighborhood breaking out in chicken pox and shingles.  Jayden and Symi are not vaccinated for those and haven't had the chicken pox yet.  We are working on avoiding that right now. 


We went to the Dr's office. again.  I talked with my Dr about Symi and he was very concerned about her getting chicken pox.  We've talked about it before.  He's concerned that she'll get it 3-4x's as bad as a normal child.  He's concerned about it effecting her health in the future.  So he's prescribed a vaccine, (and so far it's going well)  and complete lock down.  He doesn't want us to contact or bring in the chicken pox to Symi for the next 2 weeks.  No socializing.  No church.  No carpools. No No NO!  Until the vaccine can take effect or she contracts the chicken pox.  We will  know within a week if she has the chicken pox.  And in 2 weeks her body will have an immunity to the chicken pox.  So even if the neighborhood is still sick she will hopefully be able to play with them.  Without worrying about getting them.  

9.  We will rejoin the world again on May 7.  Until then we plan on movie days, Nintendo, books, homemade play dough, cookies, coloring, legos, dying Easter Eggs, hunting for  the eggs, etc.  

Friday the 13th

Just thought I'd give a brief update.

1. Ben has been sick, but is now better.

2. We sold our van.

3. We purchased a new vehicle.

4. Dane has a few more weeks and the semester will end and another busy semester will begin.

5. Jayden is now officially crawling EVERYWHERE.  And now trying to pull himself up onto anything.

6. Symi is officially potty trained now!  She doesn't even wet the bed at night.  

7. Life is getting better in some ways and hard in others, but we are all doing well.

Some Golden Oldies

Three little monkeys laying in my bed!

Jayden, Symi, and Ben in their Jammies made by Grandma Hepworth.

Symi, Ben, and Jayden.  Eating snacks and watching a movie.  (Jayden is eyeballing Ben's snack.)

Ben holding Jayden at 3 months old.

Jayden in his blessing outfit.

Cheeks were to heavy to hold up.  Must. Use. Shoulder.

Symi holding Jayden when he was just a few months old.

Family Update

Dane:  He is working hard.  He's gone for 40 hours in the week working.  Then he comes home for dinner.  Sometimes he doesn't come home for dinner because he's heading up to school for 2 nights out of the week.  He also is the Ward Mission Leader.  He's very busy with his spare time with his calling.    We see him a few hours in the week and are grateful for the time we get with him.  The kids enjoy their time with him every Wednesday night going swimming.  I enjoy the movie night once a week that we just sit down and snuggle.  It's hard to leave him alone to work on Homework.  So he'll wake up early to have time alone to dedicate himself to it.  Dane is so wonderful and works so hard for us.  We couldn't ask for more.

Me:  Well my kidney does well some days and then others it sure gives me grief.  Lately it hasn't been friendly.  With the antibiotics they had me on for a while have really made me loose milk.  So nursing isn't what it used to be and poor Jayden was just starving!  So we started him on some formula.  He's now satisfied again.  I just plug along keeping kids fed, house cleaned, and laundry washed.  

Ben: He's working so hard at school trying to read!  Ah!!  I just can't believe that he's ready for this!  I'm not!  But he's so excited about it and can't get enough of it.  He is constantly going around trying to read every letter and word.  Asking what this says and what that means.  He's also quite the artist!  He loves to color and does such a nice job for a boy.  He also had wonderful handwriting and I sure hope he keeps it for the rest of his life.

Symi:  She is finally feeling better!  Yes!  She is also sleeping through the night.  Which she has never done.  Eating well and playing hard.  Her spunk has really started to shine and she's also become quite sassy.  She loves baby dolls, strollers, bottles, and anything baby.  She also loves to sing about everything. Until you look at her then the performance is done.  She loves to count to 10, knows all her colors, and really likes to have you read her a book.  I put the book self back together several times a day.  She is still trying to go potty.  But can't decide from one day to the next if she wants to.  I know she can.  But she has to decide.  I'm not willing to let her get upset with me and poop her pants to make a point.  So I'll patiently wait for her, while encouraging her and giving her treats and stickers as rewards.  She is improving since the ER and they cathed her.  That really didn't help for  a while.

Jayden:  Is a rollie, pollie, little bundle of joy.  Except when he's trying to teeth.  Then he's whinny, clingy, and doesn't know what he wants.  Up. Down. Rock. Eat. Sleep. So far he has gotten 2 bottom teeth and his "dracula teeth" on top.  Poor Jayden doesn't want to crawl.  We were concerned about his foot again and got it x-rayed again.  But everything is ok.  He's just behind.  He doesn't want to put any weight on that foot for very long and we are waiting to see if that will change.  Until then I get to pack around a  23 lb ball of chub!  I just think he is happy where he's at, and doesn't have any motivation to move around more than he already does.  He is finally eating some solid foods and that helps to keep him full too. The other day he figured out how to pick up food and is excited to do that himself.  He gets so mad when he's so hungry and I give him cherrio's to start with while I get his food.  He usually stuffs them in and growls and cries while he's waiting for the real stuff.  He is also starting to sleep through the night!  My first baby to sleep!  Yeah!  :)  It's been so nice for me to finally start to catch up on some much needed sleep.