Pillow Fight

Pillow fight!

That look of terror when dad seeks revenge.

The littles can take dad down.

visit with Grandparents

I know Kyler and Kacin each thoroughly enjoyed their individual weeks with their grandparents. They were both excited for time with grandma and grandpa and looked forward to playing games, kayaking, and other adventures. They also both needed some time to themselves. Our house is crazy and loud sometimes. I wish the boys had more quiet time and space, but our house and our schedule and our littlest ones do not allow for that at this point in life. We wanted them both to relax and rest. They looked forward to a little bit of that, too. Kyler was excited for some uninterrupted screen time and Kacin was thrilled to have a few days without screaming (from a little sibling). Though Kacin soon discovered that he missed those little siblings even with all the noise they bring. They both got a little homesick, but had a wonderful time. My mom sent just a few pictures from their weeks.

the 4th of July

Before August gets here, I better prove we celebrated the 4th of July and our wonderful country. Even if all I have to show for it is a couple of iphone pics.

We went to our ward breakfast in the morning and had friends over in the evening. The weather turned much colder than it had been and was raining by dinner time, but that didn't stop the Todd kids and the Allred kids from throwing waterballoons and jumping into a really, really cold blow up pool. 

At night fall we were outside sitting in our cul-de-sac with a mountain of fireworks to set off.

Kyler and Kacin are little pyros out there setting off all the fireworks.

Layla got as close as we would let her.

Perry was put on restraining order in my lap to keep him safe.

They all loved the fireworks.

One of the greatest things about where we live is the fireworks. 

We sat on our street and had a 360 degree view of huge fireworks lighting the sky.

It sounds like a war zone and is absolutely beautiful.

P's mitten cast

At the end of June, we bought two blow up pools at Target. We dreamed that the rest of our summer would be spent outside staying cool and entertained with splashing and scooping water, sprinklers, jumping and playing.

We got one day of this.

And then we had Perry's finger incident. We were forbidden to get it wet.

All of our dreams were shattered.

Ok, maybe not that dramatic, but we were thrown for a loop and had to alter a lot of our plans and activities.

It's been three weeks since his surgery and we go into the dr today to get his cast off. Here' to hoping it looks good, healed well, and no more water restrictions!

Speaking of his cast, here he is decorating that white mitten (no color choices for us with this softer cast). Kyler blinged it up with pictures of cars and Perry scribbled all over it.

I guess it hasn't held him back too much. He figured out his bubble blower and played just as rough and tumble as ever.

Off to the dr now! Let's hope it's good news.

goodbye and thank you

For the past year and a half Ms. Lana has been an important part of our lives. She came into our home weekly for birth to three services until Perry's third birthday. Then for the past year we have seen her about once a month. When Layla's third birthday was approaching we said a sad goodbye.

Lana is amazing at what she does. She is a wonderful person. I do not think we would have survived that first year without her support and ideas. She was someone to talk through behavior issues and developmental concerns. She helped us develop plans and to notice the growth and change. I can't even put into words how truly grateful we are for all that she did. She was a light each week during a very challenging time. 

It was hard to say goodbye, but I'm sure we will stay in touch.

All I got were these blurry pictures of the last time we will sing the goodbye song with her.

"Hickory, dickory, dock. 

The time has come to stop.

Goodbye.

Goodbye.

It's time to stop"

Thanks for everything, Lana!

all together

The last four weeks have gone like this:
Right after school got out I left Eric at home and took three kids to Idaho for a long weekend.
The following Thursday Eric drove all the way to Wyoming and back in three days to swap Kyler for Kacin.
The next weekend Eric left with the boys to go backpacking.
Two days after he returned, he left on a high adventure with the Young Men in our ward for the rest of the week.
A few days later, I left for five days at girls camp.

And that brings us to today.

I am home. Eric is home. Life has been busy. The rest of the summer doesn't look like it will slow down, but at least our little family will be all together. I like that. And all of these little trips have made me appreciate just how much I like that.

A girl at camp shared her thoughts about oatmeal and people with us. In a good bowl of oatmeal, she explained, you need oats, milk, sugar, and fruit. Each of those different ingredients are super important in making a yummy bowl of oatmeal just like different people are important. Even if you are a small grain of sugar you play a part in making the yumminess. That yummy bowl of oatmeal can be compared to a family too. Each ingredient, each person helps make the best oatmeal possible and you would notice if something is missing. The bowl of oatmeal is best with every ingredient. Our family is the happiest all together.

And here I will slip in cute little pictures of "ta-da's" on our last day of gymnastics class.

Perry's finger

Camping, fireworks, family visitors.
Summer is in full swing.
Complete with a trip to the ER.

I guess jumping from two to four kids I did double my chances for injuries.

This one was a doozy. We were having our first completely lazy day of the summer. No plans or outings. No therapy or appointments. It was 10 o'clock and we were all still in our pajamas. That NEVER happens around here.

Then Perry's finger got closed in a door.

Oh my! It was a nasty one. He was shaking his hand around. His pinky finger was flopping back and forth. I'll spare you the details of the blood and bone and suffice it to say we wrapped his finger in a nearby washcloth and loaded up the car as quick as we could. Some of us without shoes and all of us looking like ragamuffins.

Thank goodness for calm, strong Kyler who sat next to Perry holding his hand until we got to the closest walk-in clinic.

I carried my little boy inside and it wasn't until the nurses were scrambling and I saw the dr examine the finger in the waiting room that I realized I was shaking. My poor boy!

The gave him a shot to numb the hand and that helped him to calm down. Kyler did some distracting in the dr.'s office with Layla's hair clip.

We got an x-ray and it was determined there was a slight fracture to the bone and the finger tip was partially degloved. They sent us off to the Children's hospital. I turned down the ambulance she recommended and we drove to the ER.

Eight hours later, Eric had picked up Layla and Kyler from the hospital, the finger had been examined by the orthopedic surgeon and the ER doctor, Perry had been sedated for a half hour surgery, the finger was reattached, the arm was wrapped in a splint, and we were on our way home.

It was a long day. Perry was such a trooper. When they put the IV in we distracted Perry with a Mickey mouse show on an ipad. When they were done and Perry saw the red sock covering his hand, he asked so sweetly, and sincerely "Where's my hand?" 

Seattle children's hospital had been pretty good to us. But I don't wish to visit the ER again.