Almost Perfect Weekend!!!!

This was the most amazing weekend... I say almost perfect because, if Thayne hadn't been hurt from his ladder accident on Monday it would have been absolutely perfect!!! Poor Thayne could barely walk and yet... he still kept going and we still had the most amazing time!

Friday (Happy Birthday sweet husband of mine!!!) Thayne and I left for Salt Lake to meet up with Buffy and Tracy to go to Lagoon. It was the perfect day to go to Lagoon. A little muggy but not horribly hot. It is always so fun being with Buffy and Tracy... very few people think the same way we do and find humor in the same things we do. So hanging out with them is just FUN! The day was great.... completely great!!! And we knew that today was going to be even greater in a completely different way!

And it was! I cannot even express the amazing experience we had today. When I grow up I want to be a housekeeper for the Salt Lake Temple!!! We got to go to an area that is rarely ever seen by 'volunteers' and I feel so blessed to have been able to be there! IT WAS AMAZING!!! The feeling in the rooms we were in was so sacred and so... wow, I don't even know how to put it into words but I feel like it is such a blessing to be able to participate in such an experience. To help clean the House of the Lord.

After we left we went to eat with Buffy and Tracy. I can't believe how fun it is to be with them. We laugh, and laugh and laugh! I cannot believe the conversations we have... and how much we laugh when we are together. Everyone thinks Buffy and Thayne are brother and sister... Buffy tells him he should have been born into her family but he was in a hurry... it is such a blessing to have friends that are so much like family. They are always there for us, have been for so many years. They have been there in our worst trials, with their arms around us. And they laugh with us day after day, week after week.... we feel so blessed!

This weekend filled us in so many ways. And our amazing kids kept the house running smoothly..... they are beyond amazing!!! I feel so blessed!!!

He's taken over my bed....

Is it any wonder that I often cannot sleep??? Every night it is the same thing... time for bed but Nate is not excited about HIS bed. And then there are the days when he is sick, like he has been for the past week, where he wakes up gasping for air and we have to hold him and help him breathe so those nights he ends up sleeping on our floor next to the bed propped up on a bunch of his favorite pillows. But it never fails that sometime in the night, no matter where he starts out, he ends up in my bed, sprawled out pretty much like this! This is him Sunday night when we first got home from Utah. He was so tired, and so sick and every time we put him to bed he cried but then he demanded to be on our bed....and yes, he demands and sadly the vast majoirity of the times we give into his demands because... well... because he is still here, alive, and able to make demands!!! And even if I complain about it, I have to say that I just really don't mind. Because one day he will be too big to sprawl out on out bed, or even want to. Life is spinning on so quickly and they are growing up. Thayne said last night that he didn't think he is okay with this empty nest feeling. Which is funny considering we have 11 children in the home... But I get what he means because 11 kids feels like almost none! So for now I will wrap my arms around this little man every time he finds his way into bed, and rejoice that I wake up with my back hurting because of him...because I would rather hurt every morning from his foot in my back, than the hurt that we could have felt because of him.... love you little man!

This is why I love her...

Tiffany and Garrett were here most of the day while Garrett did some work outside for us. It was fun having Gabe around all day too! But this evening before we had cake for Thayne we were all just kind of relaxing around the house. I was on the couch with Gabe asleep on my chest when I looked over and saw that Nate had brought a pillow out and he and Tiffany were on the floor talking. This is just one of the many reasons I love this girl! Even though she has a baby of her own, she shows love and attention to the other kids and she loves Nate and lets him be such a huge part of Gabe's life! There was never any jealousy when Gabe was born because Nate was very secure in his place in our family and like the other kids, he didn't feel bad about sharing the attention and actually encourages everyone to show Gabe lots of love! Tiffany and I were talking tonight and she said that she gained a whole new family when she married Garrett... which is exactly what we wanted her to feel because we consider her part of our family, for the simple reason that she loves our son so much! I am so glad that she knows that we love her like a daughter and couldn't be more happy that she is part of our family! Tonight showed me all over again why we love her so much as she laid on the floor talking and reading to Nate! Love you Tiffany... thanks for choosing to be part of our family!

So...it's not really his birthday... but...

It's not really Thayne's birthday today... but we have much looked forward to plans on his actual birthday on Friday and since I have to work tomorrow night we decided to celebrate tonight. I can't believe that I have been in love with this man since he was 20... and he is such an amazing man, an amazing father, an amazing husband and I feel so blessed to call him mine! He is my best friend and the one that I would be happy to spend 24 hours a day with.... his kids love him, honor him and look to him for guidance and he in return honors them and loves them and wants the very best for them! Happy Birthday a little early sweet husband... I hope 45 years from now we are rocking on the porch watching grandkids, and great grandkids playing ball in the yard! Love you for always!!!
See what I have to work with here? Thayne wouldn't pose for the camera and silly Jace got his hand in the picture... on purpose I might add!!!

Gabe threw a fit when Tiffany took her spoon away from him so I offered to give him mine but Jace took it and gave it to him and teased him with frosting.... on his nose and chin mostly... but he was furious until they gave it to him!

And Kassi... um, yeah, I don't know....she was eating her ice cream!

And then we went outside to watch Willie show us his 'throw in' for soccer... he is practicing being able to do a flip while throwing it in... he needs a little work! :)

And just because it was so beautiful out tonight... though it is chilly. I am not sure what mother nature is thinking but she obviously forgot to change months on her calendar!!!

Gabe hanging with Grandma today...

Garrett and Tiffany came over this morning waiting to see if they could pick up some road fill in a dump truck they borrowed from a friend. Nate LOVES big trucks!!! So we traded off today. Nate is riding to town with Garrett and Tiffany and I am keeping Gabe. He is so tired that he, of course, is going to need me to rock him to sleep....won't that be terrible??? To have to ignore the laundry and dishes in order to rock my sweet baby to sleep? Yes, I thought so too!!! Last night as Thayne and I left their house he said, "You know, Gabe is a very cute baby!!!" I could only smile... because well... I KNOW! This little boy is such a blessing to us. He comes in the door and his face lights up because he sees how he lights up our faces! We are so lucky!!! I love his kisses. He grabs your face and pulls you right in to give a big kiss! I am so lucky!!!!

6 new white shirts...

We are trying to get stuff bought for Tallin's mission. Thank you JC Penney's for your wondeful sale on dress shirts! He needs 8 to 10 short sleeve, cotton blend white shirts. And I happened to see the ad for Penney's with shirts for $9.99.... sadly they only had 6 of them that were his size so far. I am going to check back and hope that they have more while the sale is still on because really, $30 shirts for less than 10 bucks is a deal to me... when I have to have 10 of them! 6 down.... 4 to go!

In-N-Out Burger for Nate

I can't help it... I love this picture! We stopped at the In-N-Out Burger after Kimi was married and ordered so many burgers they kind of looked like we had held them up or something, but Nate took his burger and sank his teeth right in... this boy has some talent!!!

The 4th of July....

We had planned on staying in Utah so we could go up to the zoo on Monday but because Nate was sick we decided it would be better to get home because I hadn't taken his nebulizer for his breathing treatments. So instead of going to church we headed out and got home just in time for everyone to take a nap. I think we were all exhausted because everyone fell asleep! Jace called us and asked if we wanted to come over for dinner... he was barbecuing hamburgers, hot dogs and ribs. It was fun to go to their apartment and spend time with them. After dinner we watched a movie and just got to hang out together. They were going to do fireworks at dusk across the street from our house at the marina so we all went there to enjoy yet another fireworks show! It was fun to just be able to walk across the street and enjoy a great show! And now, the 4th of July is officially over... except that Thayne gets the 5th off, but it will be back to getting things done around the house!!!

At the rest area just hanging out and showing off for the camera. It is so strange to just have the little kids. Tallin drove the van with the older kids home early so they could get to church on time here. Kassi was so funny....she said that they were talking about how much they love to go to church without us. I asked her what that meant and she said that it makes them feel so great to go to church on their own because it makes them feel... and know that they are doing it for themselves because they totally believe it all on their own! That made me feel good too!!! But I told Thayne that I am so not ready to be dwindling in numbers where kids are concerned!!!

We laughed when we got to Jace and Cait's and Thayne opened the grill to find one lone burger sitting there. We told him that he might need a little more food than that one burger! He was prepared though and fed us quite well!

Hanging out after dinner watching a movie....

At Jace and Caitlyn's....

Tallin at the marina....we are going to miss you the next two years but are so excited for where you will be and what you will be doing!

Kami and Hyrum being silly at the marina... be careful or you might fall in!

The view right before the sun went down...

Waiting for the fireworks to begin....

I REALLY need a new camera...mine wouldn't take very good pictures of the fireworks!

After the fireworks we came home and lit some fireworks of our own... the kids had a blast but again, my camera was not working well and the pictures are horrible!

This looks like there could be some trouble going on...hey Kailee, are these fireworks legal???!!!

Nate loved the sparklers!

The rest of the story...July 4th

We jinxed ourselves... I truly believe it! (well... not really but it sure seems like every time we think that something bad happens!) We had just been talking about how Nate has been healthy for over a month now. So we should have known... a month is much too long to expect him to be healthy. A few of us have had sinus issues and even poor Gabe had been sick and finally got on medication for sinus and ear infections but Nate had so far lucked out and been doing great. And then on the morning of the 3rd had started acting tired and worn down. And he got a fever. And he slept... through the parade. And even had no desire to wake up and see the tractors at the end of the parade, which is just not like him because he LOVES tractors. We took him to the derby with us for a while. He is so darn cute. He was completely out of it but every time people clapped he would clap. It looked like it took everything out of him to do it but he did. He finally went back to the hotel room with Kinzee and continued to burn up whenever the Motrin wore off. By the time we got back to the room we had become increasingly concerned because we knew he would not be able to see his doctor before Tuesday and there was no way we would take him to the ER here. We were hoping our 'family' doctor would be there but they said they had a doctor from out of town on. But by midnight we knew that if we didn't take him in we would be in so much trouble. He goes from acting just fine, to deathly ill in hours, and this night was no exception. We knew it was HORRIBLE when Thayne and Garrett tried to give him a blessing... he ALWAYS lets them give him blessings and this time he was fighting them and crying from pain and fever. You could tell he was hurting to even swallow and at the derby right before we sent him to the hotel I noticed white spots on his throat. Not what we needed!

Thankfully the one nurse knew us and told us to come right in. When the doctor came in and first heard he was just fevered and had a sore throat I am sure he thought we were crazy for bringing him in.... but then we explained that we really do not freak out except for him. He asked about how many kids we had and was shocked to hear we had 15 and after hearing his history he barely looked at him, just glanced in his throat and agreed that there was white pus pockets and regardless of the results of a strep test he wanted to start him right on medication. We had hoped to stay in Utah until today and take the kids to the zoo but those plans were quickly scrapped and we decided that we would come right home yesterday. He started him on meds that night, and he is no longer burning up with a fever but he still talks like he has a mouth full of mush and he is worn out and still very sick, and his cough sounds awful. His breathing is rattled, even though it is likely his reflux, that is how it always ends up being. But it is no less scary to know that we have done this before! It is HORRIBLE to see him like this. Scary!!! It still terrifies me and brings back horrible memories. Especially since it has been 2 years this month since we came so close to losing him to strep pneumonia!

Hopefully by tomorrow we will see a big improvement. If not he will be headed back to the doctor. I am worried that he will need his tonsils out. Because nothing is ever easy with him. But we will pray that it doesn't have to happen!

Poor baby boy...we are all praying that you heal quickly!!!

The derby...

We love the derby in Delta.... I mean really love it! The kids start talking about the next year as soon as we get home from the current year! It is pretty much standing room only and this year they sold tickets by the seat for the first time in... well in forever I think! And we didn't know they had started selling tickets in June! Luckily we got more tickets and off we went to the derby. It was everything it should have been, complete with tipped over cars, and trucks, agressive hits and fire and a couple of cars over the dirt wall and into the fence! And dirt flung on the kids that were down low by the fence which of course was their favorite part! It was fun... but boy did it get cold as the sun went down and by the time the fireworks started we were wrapped in blankets and shivering! But still... it was fun! We have been to other derbies but none of them compare to the ones they put on in Delta! In fact a couple of years ago Thayne decided to take the kids to a derby here. I told him we had done that before and it was horrible and he told me it would be great and not to worry... I was out of town! Ha! That was the funniest thing because it was HORRIBLE! It was expensive as it could be and it was HORRIBLE! He was trying to make the kids promise me they wouldn't tell how horrible it was, bribing them to tell me it was awesome! I could tell by the look on their faces that it was a total bomb... and they finally started laughing and told me just how horrible it was! But in Delta, we stay to the very end! Kailee says she wants to drive in it next year and is already trying to figure out how to talk her dad into it! This could be good!!!!