A Warning...

Last week Sammers gave us a big scare. I didn't have much going on, so I decided to drag the kids to Payless and look at some new shoes for the kiddies. While I was looking at shoes, my kids were all over the store and I was trying my best to keep them near me and hurry out of there at the same time. Next thing I know, Sam is spitting on the carpet and I look down and see white powder on the floor and in his mouth. Then I look down to see my baggie of medications open and realize that's what he had tried to eat!! I hurried and bought the shoes and left the store so I could call my pediatrician, who referred me to poison control. The nice lady at poison control recommended me to hurry into the ER, since I wasn't sure if he had swallowed any, and how much of it. To make a long story short, at the hospital we found out that the medication he had taken, (my ativan for anxiety) doesn't have any toxins in it and would just sedate him, unless taken quite a few, then could stop his breathing. I could tell that Sam was acting a little more tired than normal, but thankfully, it wasn't enough to make him sleep or anything worse. We were sent home after only about an hour, and no tests were done, (much to my relief). It ended up being a very short excursion and he got a "brace-wet" with his name on it too. However, I learned my lesson- Never keep medicine in anything other than the child-proof bottle!!! I had put my meds in a baggie so I could keep it on me during my trip to Hawaii, and upon returning home, I stashed it in a zipped side pocket in my purse that I didn't think the boys would ever find. I know Sam was looking for some gum and must have thought the pills were mints or something, because they are just small and white, not capsules. Anyway, I am grateful that Sam is okay, and that I did take him in to the ER, just in case something did happen.

Kindergarten, here we come!

My little Keaton graduated from pre-school last night and is more than excited for kindergarten in the fall. We were so lucky to find "Miss Amy," (pictured above with Keek) who has been such a great teacher. I hope she will be teaching for years to come or at least until my kids are through. I can tell ya that both Sam and myself are looking forward to school starting again, when she gets to have him in her class. We'll see how that goes, he can be quite a handful! But, we were very proud of Keaton and it was a very nice little ceremony.
We were so happy to have my mother Annette, and big brother Jared down for the graduation. I know it made him feel very special. Thanks for braving the weather and coming guys!
After each song, Keaton would get this little smirk on his face, like he was trying not to smile, it cracked us up!

This video is at the end of the program, when he received a nice book that had pictures of the class and work that he did through the year, and a big hug from "Miss Amy."

Each child had a little sentence to say. First you will see Tanner, his best buddy with "N," then it is Keek's turn with the letter "O." He is saying, "O is for opposites, we learned about those." (In case you couldn't tell)

Look what we've got...

" Snowies!!" The boys and I have been waiting anxiously the last couple weeks for the "now open" sign to appear on our little corner sno shack. There really is nothing better on a hot summer day, and we are planning to visit the shack quite often this year. Growing up I was fortunate enough to live by a "Rainbow Sno" and I remember begging to go get one nearly every afternoon, whether it was with my best friend Becki or little sister Erin. I still haven't outgrown it, because I think I dragged my boys there more than they really cared to go last year. I can foresee that that will change- Keaton ate half of his by time we reached the truck and finished it not even 5 min after we walked in our door. Last year, he might have finished it twice!! Oh, snowies, what would we do without ya!! Another sign of summer approaching, we have grass!!! Saturday I was Chad's trusty assistant as he put the new swing set together, and complete with the new grass, we can't keep the boys inside! The last few weeks we were able to get the curbing done and the wood chips brought in, yea! The next project, the deck. But what a change from the dirt, huh!

Keaton's big dance debut!

As I mentioned in my blog a couple weeks ago, my mother-in-law has her own dance studio. Yesterday was her annual recital at the junior high, and it was fun for us to go and watch the big show. My little niece, Mccall, who is only 13 days older than Keaton, has been dancing in the show for a few years now, and since I have had boys, I have missed out in having a performer... until now. My mother-in-law asked my permission to have Keaton make an appearance in one of the dances as a "prince". I made sure he wasn't doing anything too girly, before I told her he could. All he had to do was walk across the stage while the princess were "sleeping," wave his little wand to wake them up and then sit in the chair while they finished their dance. I was able to video his little "cameo" with my camera for you to see. Mccall and Keaton on stage after the show The first video is Keek's Debut. Notice how quickly he goes across the stage and how he picks up the chair and moves it, so we can't get a good look at him. You have to wait a few minutes before he comes out, but it is worth the wait!! The second video is one of Mccall's dances. She is the cute one waving at the audience with lots of blonde curls!

Happy Birthday Emmi!

Today my little Peanut turned 1 and we had a big party with the fam to celebrate! She looked like quite the hungry girl, shoving the cake in by the handfuls even though she was surrounded by cameras and the sound of laughter. I think it is safe to say that she enjoyed it! We had a great time with everyone who came down to see us (thank you fam). With each child, they seem to grow faster and faster, and I'm not sure how I feel about Emmi turning 1 already! All I know is that I just adore this little one, with her little growl and sweet smile. She has us all wrapped around her tiny princess finger, and I don't see it changing anytime soon. Happy Birthday Emmi, we love you!!

To celebrate the last 12 months, I thought I would use my friend Candace's idea, and show a picture of her each month, so you can see my little sweetheart change and grow. Enjoy!!

1 day old

1 month old

2 months old
3 months old
4 months old
5 months old 6 months old

7 months old 8 months old
9 months old 10 months old 11 months old

7 Years ago today..

...Chad and I were married in the Bountiful Temple. I am so glad that I found him. He has made me very happy and, as you can see in these pictures, he is one handsome man! 7 years is quite a while and in that time we have...

1. Had 3 beautiful children
2. Lived in 8 different homes (4 apartments, 1 condo, 2 townhouses and 1 house)
3. Lived in 5 different cities
4. Managed an apartment complex (a very bad decision!!)
5. Graduated from SUU with Bachelors Degrees
6. House-sat for my grandparents for 6 months while on a mission
7. Had 5 jobs between the 2 of us (Chad's had 3 and I've had 2)
8. Used 6 different vehicles (2 Honda's, 2 trucks, 1 Mazda and 1 suburban)
9. Got 1 speeding ticket (Chad)
10. Went on over a dozen vacations (with and without children)
11. Attended 3 funerals and 6 weddings
12. Gone through 10 different Temples and countless sessions
13. Spent only 30 days of it apart from each other
14. Had 2 pets (a dwarf frog that died a year and a half after we were married and a puppy "Muppet" that we had for only 2 months a couple summers ago)
Shared countless gifts, hugs, kisses, laughs and happy days. How could the next be any better? Happy Anniversary Babe!

Peace of Mind.

I just got back from the cannery, and already I feel so much better about the future. For months now, I have heard how food prices have skyrocketed, and have worried that my little family doesn't have enough food in case of an emergency. Luckily for me, my good friend Sidni called the cannery and was able to squeeze the two of us in today. I don't know if you are all aware, but at least down here in Utah county, the cannery's are all booked until November. To top it off, we arrived at the cannery to find very bare shelves, and they had received a shipment in just this morning! They had no flour, powdered milk or white flour, and they ran out of cans before we had canned all that we wanted to do. I'm not sharing this to complain, but to illustrate how grateful I am feeling that I was able to get any food at all. Today has reaffirmed to me how inspired our church leaders are to have encouraged us to be prepared. I wish that I wouldn't have waited so long, but I am quite the procrastinator and sadly work the best under pressure! Last year my relief society president made the comment to me that she heard from a church leader that wheat would be worth gold in the future. Her comment went through my head today, when the cannery didn't have white wheat, and when we questioned them as to when they would get more in, they shook their heads and said they haven't had any white wheat come in for months. Sidni and I took the red wheat, thinking that we couldn't afford to not buy the red when who knows when it as well won't be available. Again, I am so grateful today to have a few months supply, and the peace of mind that comes with it. Thanks again Sid, for taking me with you and I hope you all out there are continuing your food storage as well!!