change of plans...again

Well, we are not going to go to Wy and Ut afterall. We are dissapointed because we really wanted to see family and friends. Sorry to everyone that we would have seen we will see you another time hopefully soon. We have decided to stick around here for Joes vacation, draw things to do out of a hat daily and then go see Whitney in Georgia for the 4th. We are excited to see the East coast and to see Whitney and Josh.
The kids are great and loving break from school. So much to fit into a few months. Garden is in and growing tons. I think I weeded most of my corn out of the garden, so I replanted some and hope that I will still get some corn this year.
We have seen tons of turtles and some huge snapping turtles. lots of turtles laying eggs. I think it takes 2 yrs for them to hatch? We all love seeing the wild life in our yard. Turkeys, white tail deer, rabbits, turtles, all kinds of birds, crains to tiny finches, toads, fish, racoons, muscrats, moles, squirles, and chipmunks. you know... I could have forgotten one in there...
Our one eyed cat brought us a rabbit the same size as him and keeps bringing chipmunks and mice to our door as prizes i think. everyday I have to watch the first step out of the door or I might end up regretting what i step on:}
all is good on the homefront.

stuff

I went the last week to a girls night out to eat. Joe got home in time to switch cars with me after the kids last Gymnastics class. I was 30 min late and hoped I would find someone at the pizza place to eat with. I got to the pizza/subway and everyone was leaving. I had 3 friends that stayed behind and waited for me to eat a sub sandwich. If they would have chosen a restaurant like they did the previous month it wouldn't have been a big deal to be late. I had good conversations and enjoyed my 30 minutes with friends. I wasn't wanting to go home yet so I went to the church and picked up my eggs I forgot on Sunday, and then went to the grocery store by myself. How boring but needed. I was able to fit everything in one cart and didn't have to squish the food around a baby seat or around Tyler in the front. It was nice. Yes I didn't have any kids. I stayed out for 2 hours and came home wishing the night out didn't start at 7pm. I couldn't think of where I could go at 9pm and seeing Joe so little, I really didn't want to be away form him either.

I have planted the garden I need to do the tomatoes and potatoes but will when I finish the fencing. We have deer and I will try to keep them out as much as possible.

Joe's Dad is not going to get married anymore and I am very sad about that. I really thought they were a good match and stuff... We thought we would stay home now. We were going to go to Wy and then UT to make a vacation out of it. We have gone back and forth about staying home and going different places closer to home, but in the end we are deciding to go to UT and WY anyway. We would like to see family and friends and still need a good vacation. It will be 1500 miles one way so lots of books on tape and games in the car. Our car dvd player's screen isn't working so most likely we wont be bringing dvds.:(
Today is our 10 year anniversary. Joe is out of town so we will celebrate when he gets home. I think we will celebrate together as a family and make cards, cake and stuff. I will post pictures and stuff probably tomorrow.
I was weeding the garden and Adam decided to take Johnny's training wheels off of his bike. John was helped for a couple of times to steady himself and then rode the bike all by himself. I got it on video because I told him to stop. I got back and he started right back up and really didn't have any trouble starting and stopping and turning. I am so happy that the 4 yr old can ride w/o training wheels. in 2 minutes flat he learned.

camera

I am loving my camera. I love learning to take picts with the different lenses, and light modes etc. I am frustrated with the computer though. the cd rom drive wont read the install cd and the camera hooked to the computer wont upload the picts. I have some good picts of us doing some fun stuff.
I got in the tree the other day.. I'd share that pict but can't. I took some picts of the kids at gymnastics share those later too.
Oh that reminded me, I was at the gym and one of the girls that works there is a cheerleader etc and anyway we were watching the kids play while Adam was in his class. I decided to try a cartwheel on the flatter beam and see what happened. I did the cartwheel not falling off the beam. I am so proud on my first try. The girl couldn't do it and she works there. She likes the floor. Then I did some standing balance thing and could do that. and then I went and jumped on the tramp and looked graceful and all that. I know it seems weird that I am mentioning all this but I really haven't been on a tramp for a long time with out a kid or tried a cartwheel in a strait line. I know I am getting old, but I am proud that I still have it. ( more like surprised) :) I know I surprised the kids and that was fun too.
The climbing the tree last week was fun. ofter I planted the garden I climbed a tree with Joe. We were both in climbing harnesses and ropes. This is one aspect of his job, teaching. I had a blast and look forward to doing it again when it is not quite so wet outside. Joe took Sam and Adam up the tree after I was done and they also had fun. John and Ty got to swing in the tree in there harness later.
Yesterday, Sat I took the 3 youngest kids on a bike ride. John was on the bike that is attached to mine, and Ty and Ian were in the trailer attached to Johnny. We were a long train. Johnny talked non stop and kept asking why we were going so slow up the hills. I told him he wasn't pedaling hard enough. :) We had a good time and my bum hurts from the seat.

News of Tyler

I really don't like posting about two thing the same day but I have a little time and need to write a few things about Tyler.
Tyler has grown steadily for the past 2 yrs and never lost weight and still continues to grow. I know not like my other kids and I thought that is just how some kids are. He always seemed to get sick first and rarely has he had a solid diaper. Rarely meaning probably 10 times. I always have to change him right away of fear of blow outs. Sorry gross I know! Anyway... I had some blood work done on him to check for some stuff that could possibly be allergies and stuff. He got a positive test result back on Celiac Disease.
Celiac is gluten intolerance. The intestines are damaged by gluten and don't allow the body to absorb among many other things. So Tyler can no longer eat anything that has gluten in it. Some examples are wheat, barley and rye. Look next time on a package and see what ingredients are in the package and most foods he cannot eat.
I am trying to not get overwhelmed. I will have to bring snacks for him in primary, on road trips etc just for him. He loves oreos, fish crackers, pretzles, you know all the things he no longer can eat. He was our picky eater before... now this will be interesting. And be careful to not go where people have free cookies and stuff :) Probably potlucks are out:)
I know it sounds weird, but in the last few days of cutting out gluten from his diet, he doesn't seem to have deep dark circles around his eyes. He also seems to have more energy.
I am really relieved to know what it is. I am blessed to have it be treated fairly easily. I am excited for him to feel better and to really start to put on the pounds. if you want to know more I like celiac.com.

Sammi turned 9... a few weeks ago

Few days old

6 Months

14 mo

18 Months

6 yrs7 yrs

8yrs
9yrs

Well Sammi turned 9 a few weeks ago and I still haven't found the cute picts I wanted to share. I have not unboxed any books and searching through boxes is not fun. I have found a few picts but is was fun anyway.

Sammi is growing so fast. She will be all grown up really soon, and that is scary.

I was going to measure her and get her weight. I think I will still do that.

Sammi is such a sweet person. She is so sensitive to others needs. When we walked through the airport she would pick up my luggage and help me carry it and telling me that I had enough to carry, while she is toting a huge back pack.

Sammi is so wonderful with her brothers. I have watched each one light up when she enters a room. She has always been one to have creative pretend play. and encourage her brothers to imagine anything. I remember Adam being sad when she had to go to school without him. He would wait for her to get home and light up and then finally start really playing when she got home.

Sam is a wonderful daughter. She is patient and kind. She really listens well and loves to make people smile. She can be goofy and serious and everything in between.

She will help me with the younger boys and has been interested in learning to cook. She reads nonstop. After reading any spare moment during the day, she will ask me if she can read before bed. Now I have to get that motivation for math. She is a wonderful artist and will also draw all day if I let her.

I love her and feel so blessed to have her as my daughter. I think of her as one of my best friends and hope to be a good example of what a Mom should be. I pray everyday that she will grow up strong, stay sensitive and stay close to the Lord.

Sam I love you

Easter

We did our pictures on Saturday and the egg hunt then too. Joe had to leave so the day was packed with things to do. I had fun taking pictures of the kids. It was a very cold day for the outfits I picked out. I think that is how it goes. It really isn't warm yet but everyone expects it to be.

We went to Janae's house for dinner on Sat. and had a wonderful time. The kids enjoyed playing with each other and doing an egg hunt. Since the ground was very wet, the kids either slipped and fell in mud, or on purpose went in the mud. Either way it was messy. I was glad we went and had a great time.

Sunday was good. I went to church and got there early. The only spot was the front center row.:) We made it for the first 30 min and then Ian started screaming. I left the kids there and took care of Ian. I came back and Adam is rocking himself in Ian's car seat. I get them settled down again... so I thought. I ended up taking everyone out in the hall, and a friend came out and helped me. The speaker started talking about how even through spit up on her shirt, being a Mom was wonderful, having a sacrificing husband... that is all I heard and could take, I looked at my friend and walked out of the front door with tears in my eyes. I took a few deep breaths and walked back in. I think getting tears out and going outside for fresh air was what I needed. I went back and felt much better. Sometimes I want to just skip Sacrament mtng. It is so hard to keep 5 kids quiet for an hour by myself. I know that I have good Sundays and it seems so easy. Usually I am not on the front row, but the last row in the gym isn't any better. I guess I just wanted a good day being Easter and all. I go because I know it teached my kids so much. When we went in the hall everyone sat and were quiet in their seats. I guess they all knew I was at the end of my rope.

After being in the hall for the remainder of the hour, the rest of the day went very well. Relief Society was a wonderful lesson and I really enjoyed the 1st Pres. msg for Easter. I told Joe to watch it when he could. You can watch it if you want,go to LDS.ORG Easter msg. JefferyRHolland.

After church we went to the Cheney's for dinner. It was a wonderful dinner and wonderful company.

I will post more Easter picts when I have more time.

Johnny's 4th birthday

Johnny is now 4. I can't believe it has been 4 years now. Johnny has seemed that age for the last year, and now that he finally is 4 it seems like his is not old enough to be 4.

Our Johnny... He is a spitfire. He is very loving and passionate about many things. He is very loving to babies and loves to give Mommy kisses. He loves to learn. He loves going to primary and loves going to school.

Johnny used to tell people "Johnny blue eyes" then look at them all cute like. He knew at a very young age people noticed those "blue eyes". He likes to play with anything "boy". He is adventurous, daring, thoughtful, and likes to keep others safe. He is a joy to have around.

I love when he wakes up in the morning singing primary songs.