Wow, I have been a slacker. December has been so crazy, it is almost a blur. We had a wonderful Christmas and the kids got spoiled. We decided this year that we were not going to buy toys or video games. We wanted the kids to have something that would get them outside and not be a distraction to the family. So we decided on adding a motorcycle to the family. Summertime is pretty crazy and David's work keeps us from going anywhere too far. So the one thing we do like to do is go for 4-wheeler/motorcycle rides. We have a 4-wheeler that I ride. David has a motorcycle, we bought Ethan a 100 this summer, but it is a little big for him. So we told Santa to go ahead and bring the boys a Honda 50. It is perfect for the boys to learn on and I think Dad likes it too. David is going to make a motorcross track somewhere for them this summer. That will be fun!

Santa was kind to us this year, Taylor was so busy looking at his pile he didn't even see the motorbike!

They did not let the snow stop them. They bundled up and went out for a ride!

Ethan had a part in the 3rd grade play, he was a cousin. He said a song with 3 other girls and I could hear his voice. He did great. He had a little problem paying attention throughout the rest of the play (surprising, I know), but he was pretty entertaining to watch. He said he got stage fright.

Here is Jenna and Kira. Jenna was being a little protective of the remote.

I was "dejunking" the pantry one day, and I was tired of storing these cups, so I was thinking of ways to get rid of them. The boys took care of it for me. They spent all afternoon building different towers and Jenna loved to knock them down. Thank goodness she took a long nap this afternoon:)

Their final product

I have one independent little girl. She now likes to feed herself. This is her going from naughty to nice in a matter of seconds. The video is fuzzy cause it was on the wrong setting, but you still can get the idea of what I am in for. Good thing she is so dang cute!

What a fun time!

Wow! What a crazy year. We have had sickness like crazy. Here is a recap:
It all started in August when I went back to work and got a really bad cold then:

• My cold was followed with shingles (lasted one month)
• Then Jenna got the stomach flu
• I got the stomach flu (on top of shingles, so not fun!)
• Taylor got the stomach flu
• Ethan got the stomach flu
• Within a day of Taylor having the stomach flu, he got a fever, sore throat, cough (looking back now, he probably had the swine flu) He missed almost a week of school.
• The next week, Ethan got a fever and sore throat, (no cough- not similar to Taylor's the week before) Took him to the doctor-Strep!
• 10 days later, Jenna got a fever (going on day 4 and still no sign it letting up)
• Now, Taylor is home with a cough.

Holy cow, I have missed so much work. Of course, it is David's busy season so he can't really help. It has been so crazy. I feel bad for my class, but I have had a ton of kids absent too. Swine flu has hit really hard and I have had so many kids gone, and for a week at a time. I have never seen anything like this. I went a half of day yesterday so I could check in with my kiddos and they are being so good. They know that Jenna is sick and they let me know that they are very understanding.

I have enjoyed snuggling with Jenna, she has not been too grumpy (only when her fever is spiking). But she loves to cuddle. Last night, I woke her up at 11:00 pm to give her some Motrin. She of course thought it was playtime. So we played a while, then I turned over to go to sleep. She will not just lay there, she has to snuggle. So she got as close as she could to my back and put her arm over me. That wasn't good enough though, she scooted up so she was laying on my head. It was so funny. I turned over and held her in my arms and she wrapped her arm around my neck and gave me a big kiss. It was so precious! We went to sleep and woke up at 6:00 when my alarm clock went off. She didn't wake up at all (she has been waking every 4 hours with a fever). Her fever did come back shortly after waking though. So more Tylenol, and she's good to go again. Hopefully, the sickness will end and we can move on!

It has been a while since my last post. We have had a couple of very busy weeks. Ethan has been playing football and loving it! He had strep throat for almost a week and was a very sick boy. He bore his testimony in church on Sunday for the very first time, and it was all his idea. I was shocked, to say the least, but we were very proud of him. It was very special for us to hear his little testimony.

Taylor has been so funny. He woke up the other day and told me he had a WONDERFUL dream. He said, "I dreamed I was so popular! When I woke up, I said, THIS is a new day, I am a new person." I thought it was hilarious. He must of heard "popular" on TV. He also has started "working out" on my elliptical at night. He gets off and says "Mom feel how much lighter I am. See how much stronger and faster I am!" I wish it worked like this!

And Jenna has just been her sweet and happy self. She is becoming more independent and likes to play alone.

Last but not least, my mother called a couple of weeks ago and said she was ready to receive help for her depression and alcoholism. It was a call we have been waiting for for years now. So she checked into the Rimrock Foundation a little over a week ago. She is doing so well and sounds more alive than she has for years. We went to visit her on Sunday and the kids had so much fun. We played ping-pong and visited for a couple of hours. Then the boys left and my Aunt Nancy and I stayed for family orientation. On Wednesday, I went to family day. It was really hard, but a great learning experience. It helped me understand my Mom and her disease. She gave me a letter she wrote to me and it really helped me forgive her. I feel much better being able to see my mom and I am so hopeful that she will be able to stay sober and get happy again.

So that's what we've been up to, the good and bad. I hope to post more about my Mom's treatment later. It still is a little hard for me to talk about and I am still processing some thoughts and feelings, but I learned a lot that I think will be good to share.

Yesterday I took Jenna to the doctor for her 9 month well baby checkup. Her 9 month appointment got canceled, and then silly me, forgot her next appointment. So here it is 10 months and we are just getting her in. Oh well, better late then never! So here is the rundown of Jenna at 10 months.

And here are Megan's (Brandon and Serena's daughter) precious summer toes. For some reason I love little feet.

Goodbye summer.................welcome fall!

Well, I love the start of a new school year, but with it comes a lot of stress. To start a new school year, we all caught colds. I had it for the first two weeks (1 week before students, and first week with kids), now both of the boys have it. I was just finally getting into the new routine, when I got this terrible pain in underneath my right arm. I thought I was having an allergic reaction to my deoderant. After one week , and no rash and with the pain spreading to my back, I started to think I had a pinched nerve in my back. When the pain got unbearable, I started visiting the Chiropractor. A week later, still with no progress, I made a Dr. appointment. So I really went, thinking they would give me muscle relaxers for the nerve. Well it turns out I have shingles. I don't have a rash though, so I didn't think about shingles. But now that I have researched I have found you don't have to have a rash, and it can take up to 3 months to get the rash. The doctor is hopeful, that with the meds I won't get the rash. So I felt better that we know what it is, but a little bit uneasy about the near future. It might be a long road, but we'll get through.
When I went to work today, I had a card on my desk from a co-worker. It was in the shape of a pill and said in big letters CHILL 250,000 MG. A "Chill Pill" I thought it was hilarious. I got an email from my principal that said to let her know of anything I need. And my coworkers brought me much comic relief (which they always do), and my students are just sweet and kind and always make me smile. At home I have got many cuddles from my baby, and the boys are helping with beet harvest (which they absolutely love!) So I do recognize that I have a great support system, and really have nothing to stress about. So here we go on a new adventure, that hopefully won't last too long!

Jenna has really started to love her Daddy. She giggles every time she sees him, and cries when he leaves. Today David came home and started to mow the lawn. Jenna was watching him through the front window. When he walked out of her view she started to cry. Being the good mother I am, instead of grabbing her, I ran for the camera.

Each of the boys set goals that they want to achieve this year. Ethan is shooting for Straight A's and no walk and thinks in the first trimester (this will be tough!). Taylor is going for all proficients and no walk and thinks (for the whole year). We'll see how it goes.

Well, I finished my first week back at work. I have a cold so that was bad, but other than that it went off without a hitch. Jenna loves going to Marie's, so that is nice. The boys have spent their days farming with David. They absolutely love it! Everyday when I get home they have a million stories to tell me. Today David called me and said to meet him at the farm. When I got there the boys were having a blast sliding down the ditch.