I'm Jeremy's groupie

here is a video of jeremy playing around on the guitar. i hope it's a good video clip. we didn't watch it before, to screen it for public viewing. we're trying to figure out the whole video clips for our blog thing.

Broken Camera!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The kids playing in their fort in the living room

O.K. so our brand new camera (used off of eBay) is broken. Not our fault this time. Except for buying it used in the first place. I sent it back to the guy and he's going to fix it or replace it. We'll see.

We did buy a new video camera. We haven't had a video camera for like three or more years. We left it on an air plane somewhere between Houston and who knows where. No one turned it in of course. They scored a bunch of Logsdon home videos. I hope they enjoy those:)

We are a new and improved (try to eat extra extra healthy) family. If anyone has any great healthy healthy dinner ideas, let me know. Oh and ideas on getting kids to eat healthy would be nice. Our kids have gone to bed starving for a week now. Poor kids, we have a video clip of them scream hysterically at the dinner table. I'm thinking of buy Deceptively Delicious by Jessica Seinfeld. Maybe if I sneak it they'll eat it (as long as it's in chicken nugget form:)

I think Makayla's playground worries are OK for the time being. I went to lunch with her again and she had Jeffery eat with us. I asked him what his favorite things about recess were. He said Makayla chasing him and playing soccer. Makayla smiled at that.

I think shouts are going to be a regular visitor to my blog:

GOOD LUCK MY SISTER IN LAW AMY ON YOUR TEST TO BE A TURBO KICK INSTRUCTOR

CONGRATULATIONS POPPY ON BEING CANCER FREE

GOOD LUCK TO MY SISTER ROCHELLE WITH STARTING CHEMO YESTERDAY, YOU'LL DO GREAT

CONGRATULATIONS MAKAYLA FOR BEING SUCH A GOOD READER (she read 5 books to me last night with HARDLY any help)

CONGRATULATIONS ISAAC FOR GET THREE LEAVES ON THE COMPLIMENT TREE (for being a special helper with out being asked and raising your hand so good)

CONGRATS AND GOOD LUCK TO MY SISTER KENDALL WHO IS HAVING TWIN BABY BOYS

GOOD LUCK TO MY MOM WITH ALL THE CRAZINESS IN YOUR LIFE, YOU CAN DO IT

CONGRATULATION TO JEREMY FOR MARRYING SUCH A GREAT LADY, GOOD LUCK WITH THAT ALSO


this is too much fun i don't know if i can stop i'm sure i'll do it again so don't be sad if i forgot you

Another Shout Out

I can't get this photo any bigger. Some of you may not know that I have five amazing sisters. It was always A LOT of fun growing up with five girls, six girls, if you count mom. We kind of took over, but dad handled everything wonderfully. I aways thought that's what made me unique or different from those around me (having big family full of only girls) I always knew I'd have a big family just like it someday. Now that I have half as many as my mom, I realize truly how amazing she is. Our family has been through so much, but through it all, my parents have never let their testimonies waiver. They've always been strong in the gospel and totally 100% committed and in love with one another. To a child, that's just the way it should be - no exception, but now as an adult I see how much hard work they put in o each other, the kids, and the church, none of that just happens.

And of that hard work there are six amazing daughters (most now mothers). No matter how different our lives are or our choices may be, we each are loved. My oldest sister, Rochelle is actually who I'm shouting out. She is one of the most feisty women I know. She's truly able and capable of fighting anything that comes her way. She is strong. And along with that I know that there is a lovely Heavenly Father. He knows her, he loves her, and he is all powerful and knowing. I know this; if there's anything in this life that I know, that's it. Seasons change, ideas, and attitudes change, but I know that there is a God who watches over us. (1 Nephi 3: 1 Nephi says ..for he (the Lord) is mightier than all the earth, So why not Laban and his fifty, yea, or even than his tens of thousands?

I say, for the Lord is mightier than all the earth, so why not cancer. It happens everyday, if you just look around, MIRACLES.

Pumpkin Patch, Recess, and More

Isaac on the hayride with some of his class friends. I was amazed at how well he listened and followed directions. Of course I saw a few slip ups, but oh well. Here's Jackson on the hayride. He had a good time.
Jackson was so brave. He fed the cows twice and the goat a few times. He did get scared a few times. Isaac said he didn't want to get slobber on himself (he's scared of everything)

I was able to go to the pumpkin patch with Isaac's preschool class. I took Jackson with me, I wasn't much help, but I think Jackson had a really good time. We went on a hay ride, fed the goats, sheep, and cows. Then we were able to pick out a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch. It was so nice out and it was a real fun time. I think Isaac does a whole lot better without me around though. He through a few tantrums because I wouldn't give him and Jackson Cheez-its. It was pretty embarassing, but I'll survive.

Makayla would just die if she knew that I was going to tell everyone this. From the first day of school she had two best friends, Jeffery, and Kaylee. Last week I went to eat lunch with her at school. She is allowed to pick one friend to come and eat with her. She chose Kaylee even though Jeffery was asking to join her. I think he got his feelings hurt. From that day til yesterday, which has been 5 school days, she says no one will play with her at recess. It breaks my heart in two. I emailed her teacher yesterday because she went to the nurses office with an upset tummy on her way out to recess. She told me the first day no one would play with her, she sat on the ground with her face in her hands:( We'll see how she does today. Her teacher said that she's always nice and great in the class and at recess, but that she would keep an eye on her.

Jackson is starting to speak a little better. He says car now and cool, wow, and dog. He loves playing with cars this last week. It's so cute. I catch him rolling cars along everything (couches, floors, walls) and running them into each other. He's also been lining them all up in rows :) Jackson's Dr appointment is Nov. 8th hopefully someone will cancell and they'll get us in earlier.

love ya all

REFLUX?

JACKSON EATING A WHOLE PEACH. I LOVE THAT HE'LL EAT ALMOST ANYTHING I TRY TO GIVE HIM. (almost, as long as it small portion all day long)
ISAAC AT THE FOOTBALL GAME. WHAT A CUTE KID!!!!!

So, I forgot to add something. I don't know yet, but Jackson may have reflux. I feel so bad. I thought the doctor was crazy for thinking that he had reflux. She mentioned reflux every time i went in to see her, but she never told me the signs to look for. All I knew about reflux is that as a baby you spit up all the time. He didn't a whole lot and now that he's older, he never spits up. Until a few weeks ago. He spit up twice and when he has anything with cheddar or straight milk he throws up (I thought he was just allergic) I got on a web page that gave like ten signs of reflux and he has like 8. I have to call the G.I. specialist today. I've already seen him, (like 5 months ago) but he's the one that will test him for reflux. I'm very excited that we may know whats wrong with him and that there's something we can do about it. I don't know much about it. So I don't know it he'll grow out of it or what. Hopefully he'll start eating, growing, and cheer up a lot.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SHOUT OUT TO ANGELA

THANK YOU! ANGELA SENT US BOX TOPS! AWESOME!!!!
MAKAYLA GOT HER FACE PAINTED LIKE A TIGER AT A BIRTHDAY PARTY. SHE HAD FUN CHASING THE BOYS AT THE STAKE PARTY THAT NIGHT!!!!
THE BOYS, ENJOYING THE FOOTBALL GAME. ISAAC ONLY STAYS FOR THE FOOD. JACKSON ENJOYS THE GAME A LITTLE MORE THAN THE FOOD!!!!!
MAKAYLA OUR MIGHTY MUSTANG, AND HER PROUD DAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MOM WAS PROUD TOO. WE'VE ALWAYS KNOWN MAKAYLA IS RESPONSIBLE AND CONSIDERATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

yesterday I had to rent a carpet doctor, because spilt half a galloon of paint on the carpet in my front room (formal dining room) I totally freaked, but I think I got it all up. It was white paint so it came up a little easier than the red paint all over jackson room. Here is still a red haze all over his room. And the purple and red make up didn't come up off of Isaac's room, and the purple soda on the stairs is barely noticeable now, and the red juice in the toy room is covered by a rug etc................................ So I guess the carpet will need replaced before we ever try to sell this place. Thank goodness jeremy didn't get his way, to recarpet before we moved in:)

My new Kitchen Aid!!!!!

Yeah!! I bought a kitchen aid. I've been wanting a kitchen aid for 7 years (no joke) So today I was at target and it just so happened they were marking all their show models down because they are moving locations. :) I'm going to make bread, cookies, and cake everyday!!! Well maybe not everyday. But I may gain 10 pounds ( my husband says he'd like that )

I just bought tickets to go to a local high school play of Beauty and the Beast. Our home teacher is playing Gaston. We're going to take Makayla and Isaac. We'll leave the baby with a sitter. It should be fun, if Isaac will sit through it.

We're also going to the high school football game tonight. The baby loves to go to the games. Makayla loves the cheerleaders. The head cheerleader is in our stake and the kids are just in love with her. It's a little embarrassing. Isaac has a crush on one of the laurals in our ward. One week he wouldn't go to primary because he wanted to go to class with her. She's a really good sport about it.

Links!!!!!!

It's only been over a year and I finially figured out how to do links!!!!!

BOX TOPS

So Makayla and I have been saving up box tops ALL summer. Box Top$ are on different product boxes (go-gurts, cake mixes, and bisquick, to name a few). We've save up like 30. Her class was in the lead for awhile but isn't anymore. So I was thinking, if any of Makayla's Aunts, Uncles, grammys, or grandmas use products with box top$ on them, it would be really awesome if you just saved them up for awhile and mailed them to us. We're also doing Tyson's Project A+ So if you buy tyson chicken nugget save the top label and mail it to us. Don't worry if you don't buy these products it's no big deal, but if you do, I know Makayla would just be thrilled if you mailed them to her. The money goes directly to her school and it's used at the end of the year to buy really neat stuff the school would otherwise not be able to afford.

I noticed Isaac wrote his name on one of his papers at school. I'm so excited for him. He's doing really well at school (as far as I know)

I was cleaning up my kitchen today after lunch and found, Makayla school notebook. We forgot to pack it for school. Which means she won't get a stamp in it today and she won't get a treasure at the end of the week. She'll be so upset. She checks twice a day to make sure she's had me sign by her stamp everyday and gets so excited on Friday when they get a treasure for five days of remembering to get mom or dad's signiture by her daily stamp. She's so cute about all of her school stuff. I'm afriad she'll get sick, for how much she wants to please everyone (mom, dad, teachers).

Thank You

Thank you for all the comments. I can't remember if I blogged about Makayla's Birthday. She had a Hanna Montana Party. I bought wigs, make-up and sparkly scarves for everyone. We dressed up and took pictures as Hanna Montana and her friend Lola. It was a lot of fun. There were about five girls and they seemed to have a good time. I made phelt purses for everyone and we decorated them with glitter, jewels, and phelt flowers and hearts. I had so much fun.

Makayla took blueberry muffins to school for her birthday and Dad went to the school and had lunch with her. I'm her class mom, copy making mom, and cutting stuff out at night mom. I enjoy it. I didn't volunteer for class mom. They just needed one and I felt bad that the teacher was having to beg me. I did say no twice though and then eventually said yes. I love making copies at the school once a month and cutting stuff out, two or three times and month, but class mom may be too much. We'll see.

Isaac is having a hard time with not wanting to write his name or write in his journal at school. The only thing I can think of is that he's embarrassed because he doesn't know how very well. I tried to work on it today with him. I even had fun little marker boards Grammy made them to practice their letters but he refused. I don't know what to do.

So Jeremy has a new calling at church. He's the first counselor in the bishopric. He's a little sad because he LOVED working with the 16 and 17 year old young men in the ward. And I'm a little worried because I have to sit alone in sacrament meeting again. But mostly we're just glad to be able to serve and for the opportunity it will give to get to know the ward and serve. We love our ward so much all ready.

Last night was enrichment night for the Relief Society women at church. We had a Spiritual Spa night. It was so much fun. I taught a little mini class on health and nutrition. I really enjoy speaking and teaching. It's always a lot of fun to prepare for and present. I'm on the Enrichment Board. I had to make treats and gift bags for everyone. It's really nice to have it over and done with.

Was that your dad Makayla?

So Kayla had a Bingo night at her school last night. It was for the whole family and she was really excited for all of us to go. So we went and had ice cream and watched Isaac flick Bingo chips off the table between and during the games. It doesn't take much for those things to become weapons. It was fun watching the kids playing and getting really close to winning. They had ice cream and had a really good time until we told Isaac he couldn't have more ice cream.

In the midst of the noise and commotion, a letter and number was called out and out of all the people in the room, (there had to be at least 200 playing) my card was the winner! BINGO!!!! I yelled really loud, so proud of my accomplishment. The lady then came over to check my card. As she yelled to the main lady with the microphone in front of the entire crowd in attendance my letters and numbers that I had covered, it seems as if N-45 was never called. Then why did I have it covered? Was there some Bingo experience in my youth that made me really want to show everyone that I can win at Bingo? Did I really want the McNeal Elementary antennae ball so bad that I resorted to creating a competitive advantage in my favor thinking I would not have to face the consequences of unfair play? As the lady with the microphone let me know that I had not won with that "come on Dad, it's not that hard of a game" look on her face, a collective "AHHHHHH" came from the lunch room because most of the gamers had already cleared their cards. At that moment as the game resumed, a confused Makayla asked me, "didn't you win Dad?" I tried to come up with the words to help her understand that "Listen Makayla, you can't win them all; leave me alone right now."

Everyone around me tried to keep talking and playing as if I just then didn't make a fool of me, my family, and our faith since the family behind us was in our ward. Chauntel had to take off with Jackson as I yelled Bingo and came back wondering where my prize was. Last she heard, I was proclaiming my victory in this game of skill and chance. I had to let her know too that although N-45 should have been called, it really wasn't.

So as the stories will go today at McNeal Elementary about that guy that tried to cheat at Bingo last night, inevitably someone will associate my sweet girl with the event and ask, "Was that your Dad, Makayla?" She will then be faced with the decision that will follow her for the rest of her life. Does she accept me as her father in spite of myself, or does she take the easy road, one that will qualify her for much less heartache for the rest of her life and say, "I think he's my stepped Dad. Or something like that."

School days

I asked Jeremy if I sounded like such a brat asking everyone to comment, but it looks like it worked. There's still some people who I know are out there not commenting. I'm going to try to do better at commenting on everyone elses. As you can see we gave the kids all suckers, to kept them happy. It work until the last two minutes, when two duck swam over by us and the kids started to freak out. My kids are scared of everything.

I'm actually really loving school and the great schedule it forces. I get up at 6 am and the kids all get up between 6:30 and 7 I love it. I actually get to the gym more and get more done. Isaac really misses Kayla when he doesn't have school. And Jackson really misses them both on the days Isaac is also at preschool. He pouts and wines the whole time they're gone. He so bored without them I have to entertain him the whole time.

Isaac is doing so amazing at preschool. He doesn't even want me to walk him in, so I just drop him off at the door (car pool lane!) He loves it. When you ask him what he loves most about school, he yells EVERYTHING. He tells me everything about school. Unlike Makayla, who I have to trick into telling me. Well she shares a lot too but she's more annoyed after a year of answering all these question already (everyday)

I almost forgot to mention my mirror, Bailey helped me pick out. I discover IKEA while she was here. Of course I've been there before but mostly for the kids. I guess I didn't know they had nice home decorating stuff (that weren't bright geometerical patterns)

No more blogging unless

O.K. everyone who gets on my blog. I am no longer blogging until I have at least 7 comments on the latest post. We want to hear from everyone who is keeping up with us. I will try my best to check and promply post when there are enough comments. I love you all.

Family Pictures

My sister Bailey and her son Kooper came to visit this weekend. I'M SO GLAD SHE WAS ABLE TO COME! It was so great to see family. It makes me a little homesick. She took family pictures for us. The lens had a finger print on it. :( So they're all blurry. I'm still going to try and blow one up.

Cinderella's Ball

Makayla and Isaac are so cute. Today Makayla dressed up as Cinderella and Isaac dressed up as the Prince. He had me help him. He wore his suit, church socks and shoes, White shirt, and tie. Then they went down stairs, turned on some music, and danced hand in hand as if they were at Cinderella's Ball. Of course our camera is broken, so I use my film camera. I'll let you see the pictures in about 6 months:)

The pictures are from when grammy and poppy were here. Isaac, now has a new suit. Watch out girls he's smok'n. It's almost exactly the same but it isn't missing any of its buttons. I got it on line. It's the same brand as his old one (one size bigger of course)

Makayla met her new teacher tonight. She seem very nice. I'm so excited for school to start. We had a practice run this morning. We got there on time, but there was no traffic and I found out today school starts 15 minutes earlier than I thought.

ISAAC'S COOL O'METER

So it's been summer time, not a whole lot of occasions to wear nice stuff except for Sundays. (which Isaac will only wear his suit to church because it's cool)(sweater vest are not cool and everyone will laugh at him, or so he thinks) So everyday he wears basketball shorts and a tank top of some sort. No biggy because it's summer time. Occasional I've tried to get him to wear nice shorts and a polo and he has strongly declined.

Last night we went out to eat and Jeremy put Isaac in nice cargo short. I have never seen such a test of wills. He was convinced that it wasn't cool to wear cargo shorts and that everyone at the restaurant was going to laugh at him.

The other day I bought him two pair of cute cargo shorts and while we were checking out he informed dad that he HATED those shorts. Then today I was buying them school shoes and Isaac informed me that the spider man lite up shoes made him run faster and everyone at the gym would think he was cool if he wore them. Somehow I convince him to let me buy them somewhere else where I knew they would be half as much.

TWO WEEKS TIL SCHOOL

I can't believe summer's coming to an end. Makayla's first day of school is August 27th. Isaac starts on Sept. 5. I hope I can keep up with all the dropping off, picking up and nap time schedules. I think the only school clothes I'm going to buy is shoes. I think the kids will be fine till it starts getting cold. I do need to go school supply shopping. How fun. I guess all this stuff is fun because it's my first.

I don't think I posted how Jackson's 18 month check up went. He wieghs 19 pds 9 oz. which I thought he'd weigh more, but at least he wieghed more than before. That puts him at the 0% for height, wieght, and head. What a bummer. His doctor totally stresses me out though. She wants him to go to the G.I. specialist again, have blood work done, see a cranial facial specialist (because his head isn't growing), see a speech theapist because he's not talking, and take antibiotics because of fluid in his ears. The list goes on and on about genetic disorders, allergy tests, and diseases I've never heard of; and the whole time the kids were acting like they were little monkeys climbing on everything and pretending like they couldn't hear me when I was talking (sternly). I was so stressed out I was unable to function the whole rest of the day. I came to two conclusions 1. something is wrong with the baby and my doctor is totally on top of taking care of him. 2. She's a total basket case and freaks everyone out that comes in to visit her and the baby just needs to recover after the 8 rounds of antibiotics he's had in the last 9 months and his hearing and speech just need some time after he gets tubes to get used to hearing everything. Personally, I think she's a basket case and I need to find a new doctor who is more laid back and doesn't stress me out so much. I don't think I'm in denial. I'm just not a freak when in comes to getting sick, giving medicine, and going to the doctor for every little scrape and runny nose.

I'm venting. That's what blogs are for, right?

I think Jeremy is so ready for summer to be over and focus on his branch and not the woes of salesmen. Hopefully he can figure out how to keep all of his customers and have a great 2nd summer. He's been spraying everyday for at least the last month. He'll probably spray every other day after the salesmen leave. He's working really hard for this branch to be successful. I'm really proud of him, for how he's dealt with things and worked so hard. I love you Jeremy.

Tubes

Jackson is scheduled to get tubes in his ears Tuesday morning. I've had a really hard time giving in to this. It probably should have been done two or three months ago. We went to a natural (helistic, or chiroprator) for a while which I still think would be the best solution.

So keep us in your prayers, Tuesday, that everything will go perfectly. You guys should click on the last picture of Jackson to have a better look. It's great.

We love having familly visit!

Thanks to grammy and poppy I have a few pictures to share.

Thanks you, Jeremy for your always wonderful posts.

Computer back, Camera broke!

So our computer is back in all it's glory and it's great to be able to have access to the real world now. But now the problem is that our new camera is broke. Of course one of the kids found it, took 26 pictures of themselves, the TV show they were watching, and the kitchen chair and then thought they'd save time I guess by pushing the lens in with their finger rather than pushing the button to do it for them. Whatever. We can either keep them seperated, confined in areas where they have no access to anything other than nerf products and let them out to graze at the table periodically, or have Chauntel get a job to support our electronics habit. We've decided to let the kids roam free while Chauntel is applying at Best Buy as a greeter so we can get a discount perhaps on their stuff.

Here are some pictures of our Mexico trip from earlier this year. That blonde is my wife. She's pretty hot. The other one is of me and Cheslie rockin' out by the pool at night in front of our resort. It was a lot of fun. A lot of people would stop and listen for a while as they were walking by. One groupie ended up in my hotel room that night. (of course the same one that was there the night before)