Saturday!

We went for a drive yesterday to explore some of the places in Wyoming that we have not been to yet. We walked along a creek where Brooklyn almost stepped on a snake, Kayla and Tyler tried to catch a toad, Sierra took pictures, James walked across a beaver dam, Charlie got a face full of burrs, and Jake rolled in a fresh cow pie all within an hour of leaving the house. I, of course, being the prepared, wonderful mother that I am, did not bring anything to wash our hands or the dogs with. So, we improvised. I threw Jake in the creek to rinse off (we eventually got used to the smell), Charlie just had to live with his burrs til we got home, and Tyler and Kayla could wash their hands with alcohol wipes from the first aid kit. Ha! Think again, the alcohol wipes were all gone and all I could think of were all of the bacteria from the water and the toad. So I made them wash their hands with iodine wipes and hoped that they did not have an allergic reaction. We all survived! Enjoy the pictures!

Jake, Jake, Jake...

We got new furniture for our basement (a.k.a. "the man cave") a couple of weeks ago and we have been trying to keep the dogs off. They keep trying to be sneaky and lay on the couch anyways. Well, on Friday when I got out of the shower I found Jake in this new spot and now every time he gets the chance that is where he lays.

$$ Money, Money, Money, Mo...ney $$

So, a couple of weeks ago I complained about how much it cost for school supplies for the kids; welllllllllllll, I went and bought just the things in the picture and I spent $799.61. That does not include my tuition, medical exam, background check, immunizations, scrubs, white shoes, lab coat, and stethoscope. The little remote looking thing in the pic is called a response card, it alone was $50, and it is only used for responding to questions during lectures. Why? What ever happened to the old fashioned, FREE way? You know, the one where people raise their hands and then you call on them to answer.

Ozone Layers!?!

Tyler made it home safely this morning. He is just really worn out. They had dress rehersals on Wednesday and Friday nights and then 3 performances on Saturday. He did not get back to Grandma's and Grandpa's house until 10:30 pm and was up this morning at 4:30 to catch his flight at 6:30. He has been laying around all day and this evening started complaining about his stomach hurting. Kayla said that she thought it might be the changes in elevation because he went "really high up in different ozone layers." What?? She is so 'Blonde'.

Here are some pictures that I took on our vacation to Lincoln City, Oregon in 2006. We rented a house on the beach and had a blast. Can't wait for the next vacation.

This is the house we rented.

Blogging About the Bump...

...the baby bump that is, not the flabby bump that I currently have. A friend of mine posted this on her blog and I thought it would be fun to reminisce, since my baby is 7.

Preggy Facts:

1. Who did you first inform about your pregnancy and how?
With Tyler, I first told my mom (didn't want to, but had no choice). With the girls, I told James first.

2. Maximum weight?
I gained 58 pounds with Tyler. He was 9 lbs. 11 oz.

3. Cravings?
Bean Burritos and Watermelon

4. Aversions?
Raw Chicken

5. Morning Sickness?
None with Tyler, but was sick with the girls.

D Day Facts:

1. Number of Kids/Deliveries?
4 kidos and 4 deliveries

2. NSD or CS?
All of them were natural deliveries, no epidurals, and with Kayla no pain meds.

3. Girl or Boy?
1 boy, 3 girls

4. AOG (age of gestation) on Birth?
42 1/2 weeks with Tyler; 41 weeks with Kayla; 39 weeks with Sierra; 36 1/2 weeks with Brooklyn

5. How long in labor?
Tyler - 9 hours
Kayla - 2 hours; we literally made it to the hospital 30 minutes before she was born.
Sierra - 8 hours
Brooklyn - 6 hours

Moms Who Have Played Along:

Mai Yen Arlene Hailey's Domain Hailey's Beats and Bits Can of Thoughts Designs By Vhiel Anything & Everything in Between Vhiel's Corner Lourdes' Mia Pinay Mommy Online Livy UpdaterAdventures In Babywearing The Anderson Clan The Gibbons Family Blog

If you play along, please copy the above play-alongers and add your blog!

Leaving.....on a Jet Plane.....

Tyler left for Idaho again today. He is participating in the youth cultural event for the Twin Falls Temple dedication. Then he is flying home on Sunday for the first time. I am so nervous letting him fly by himself. Tyler is loving junior high. He can't believe that they will let them have gum, food, and drinks in class. I think that he is enjoying the freedoms that are allowed in junior high but not in elementary. The girls are also enjoying their new school . Kayla has had a hard couple of days. She is at that age where it is hard to feel like you fit in and to make friends, especially for girls. Sierra and Brooklyn have both made new friends and feel like they fit in. Although, they did ask if they could stay at this school until they are old enough to go to junior high. I think that they are tired of moving around and quite frankly, so am I.

I went to the doctor yesterday to get my physical and to start my Hepatitis B vaccine series for school. The nurse told me that if I use my arm then it will reduce the side effects. I don't think that surfing the net and blogging counted as using my arm because it is hurting so bad right now. I start classes on Monday and have class 3 days a week. I am starting to get nervous about being able to balance family and school.

Some sad news...

A friend, Davina Nutsch Benson, from high school passed away yesterday. She was a really good friend to me my senior year. We had a lot of fun together. She will be missed. My heart goes out to Davina's family and friends; you are in my thoughts and prayers.

Summer, as we know it, has ended!

Tyler and Kayla made it home Saturday evening and got everything put away and settled just in time to start school this morning. I don't know who was more nervous for Tyler to start Junior High this morning, him or me. I can't believe that one of my babies is old enough. We counted how many different schools each of the kids have been in: Tyler-9; Kayla-5; Sierra-5; and Brooklyn-3. Pretty crazy, especially when you consider what grades they are in!

We took the dogs down to the river last night. We were having fun finding cool rocks when Charlie took off into the bushes and came back smelling like a rotting carcass. That was a fun ride home. He had 2 baths last night and had to spend the night in the garage. Today he smells like an old fish. I think he is going to have to have another bath today. Enjoy the pics!

Hot for the Holidays!

Hi all, I have decided to join the challenge of being hot for the holidays. As many of you know, when I went back to school I gained a few (40) extra pounds. I have been trying to lose the weight but need some extra motivation. Check out the blog and join with me.

Countdown!!!

School starts on Monday and I think that I have finally got all of their supplies. A friend of mine posted a picture of all of the school supplies that she had to buy this year, so I thought that I would do the same. Although, mine looks considerably smaller. Probably because we didn't have to buy pencils, crayons, glue, etc. The PTA are supplying them this year for all of the students. I did spend a small fortune anyways. I could not believe all of the things that Tyler needed for this year. I bet half of the supplies in the pic are his. He even needed specific gym clothes...grey t-shirt, black shorts, and sweats for when it is cold. The school was selling ones with the school name printed on them and they ended up being cheaper than buying plain ones in Wal-Mart. I do have to say that for the most part Target ended up being cheaper for supplies than Wal-Mart.

More photos!!

Trampoline Fun!!

James got a couple of new "toys"!!

I, of course, out shot him every time!!

Brooklyn shot the .22 rifle. Sierra also shot but I didn't realize that we didn't get any pics of her until we put everything away...so I took one of her while we were at the river.