Yurt Adventures

This year, for our Thanksgiving Break, we decided to snowshoe into a yurt and stay the night.  This was an awesome adventure and we all agree that it is something we have got to do again. We snowshoed in about 2 miles.  It was our first time snowshoeing as a family and everyone loved it!  My kids said “We would rather be doing this than going to Disneyland!”  They had a blast.  We roasted hot dogs and s’mores.  We spent the evening enjoying each other’s company.  The yurt was warmed with a wood burning stove and it was toasty warm… in fact it got up to 90 degrees so we had to open the door and let in some of the 16 degree air.

There is something about being out in nature away from all the distractions in life that is so good for the soul.  I feel so blessed to have eyes that allow me to view the wonders of this glorious earth -- the gorgeous sunset we were greeted with, the crackling of a warm fire, the contrast of the white snow against the evergreen trees and the way the snow sparkles when the sun hits it, and the majesty of the heavens.   It was my first time beholding the Milky Way.  It was like a haze of white smoke through the sky. I have camped a lot in my life but I don’t think I have ever seen that many stars.  I loved it!

Here is my family arriving at the yurt.

My four kids and me with the yurt in the background…

Kaitlyn, age 8

Porter, almost 6, probably had the best time out of all of us.  He tromped around in the snow for hours and hours and hours.  Winter is his favorite season.  His heart was happy as evidenced by the many, many smiley faces we found in the snow!

Cowboy Austin, 2 1/2, rode on the “horsey” and didn’t even mind getting bucked off a few [dozen] times.  He was a good sport.

Makelle, 9 months, stayed snug and napped for most of her hike. She was a champ.  I don’t think I heard her cry once.

Morning view from out yurt deck

Enjoying some breakfast!

What an amazing weekend with my favorite people!!

Annual Turkey Bowl

Okay, maybe it’s not a real turkey bowl…but this was our annual Turkey Day Bowling Adventure.  We went to our new bowling alley and it was nice, clean and not too crowded.  I won’t post our scores though…that would be way too embarrassing! 

Kaitlyn’s Baptism

Kaitlyn got baptized on November 5th.  It is hard to believe that 8 years have gone by since I became a mother.  We are so proud of Kaitlyn and her decision to be baptized.  Kaitlyn is such a good example.  She is kind. She is responsible.  She is amazing.  We are so glad she is in our family!

Thanks to all the crazies who joined us for the special day.  We love you all!

Happy Halloween!

Bad Hair Day!

Enough said.

Mean Mom

I guess I have hit the next phase of life. The phase when your kids don’t completely adore you.  The phase when they don’t like you some days and actually plot against your future with them. 

Kaitlyn: “You are such a mean mom.  When I grow up I am never going to visit you…AND I’m going to buy a small house so you can’t visit me.  So, you better start being nice if you want to live with me when you get old!”

I’m scared.  I will be sure to shape right up so I can ensure housing when I am elderly (smile).

Tonsillectomy

It has a been a long week. Between dealing with the after effects of getting Porter's tonsils and adenoids out and getting his ear tubes in and then adding some potty training on top of that, I have cleaned up enough vomit, poop, pee and blood to last me a very long time.

I needed to get groceries on Monday, but because Porter had a bleeding episode early in the day, I decided to stay home in case he had another one. So, at 8:00pm, I left the kids in Patrick’s capable hands and went to get some groceries. I took my dear, sweet time and decided to stop by Ross and Old Navy while I was out and then finished up with groceries at Walmart.

At precisely 10:22pm, as I was putting the last few bags of groceries in my car, my phone rang. I answered to hear a frantic husband and crying child. “There is blood everywhere! What should I do?” “I’m on my way! Put an ice pack on his neck and have him gargle ice water! If the bleeding doesn’t stop in 5 minutes, we have to take him to the ER” I stayed on the phone my entire ride home occasionally asking questions and giving advice. I could hear Patrick telling Porter to gargle and Porter’s continuous crying. I felt helpless. “There is so much blood. It is everywhere!” “Should I call 911?” Patrick howled. I repeated my original instructions. “Place an ice pack on his neck and have him gargle ice water. Have you done that?” Patrick was working on getting an ice pack. Porter was refusing to put anything in his mouth. “He’s shaking.” “I see our neighbors in the hot tub, should I go get them so I can take Porter to the ER?” “I think I am going to call 911.” I am almost home. I pulled in the garage and ran upstairs to see the blood bath. Blood on the top bunk in a trail from pillow to where he slid off the bink. Blood on the carpets. Blood on the bathroom floor. Blood on the doorframes. Blood in the sink. Porter’s face was covered in blood. Blood coming out his nose, wiped across his cheek down to his neck. Yeah, I can see why it was freaking Patrick out. Especially when he is not really too keen on blood. The bleeding was now under control. I looked at Patrick trying to help Porter. Patrick’s head was hung and he was kneeling. “Are you going to faint?” “Um, I might.” I took over.

So, an hour and a half later. 1 extra-large bottle of hydrogen peroxide later, and two completely full carpet shampooers later, along with half a roll of paper towels and a load of peroxide-soaked laundry, we were finally done cleaning up the blood bath. My awesome hubby decided to sleep on the floor next to Porter's bed...just in case.

Please note the above picture as drawn by Porter. The black scribble inside his mouth depicts the scabs on his tonsils. The red...well, that's all the blood!

Vain Repetitions

Patrick: Porter, would you do us the honor of giving the prayer tonight?
Porter: No, I don’t want to. I have already thanked Heavenly Father for everything.

Patrick: Well, Heavenly Father likes to be thanked every day.

Porter: Well, it says in the scriptures that he doesn’t like to hear the same thing over and over.

Here is the part where we tried to hold back our giggles.

Winter Journal

Today, Kaitlyn came home from school and brought her “Winter Journal” home.  I laughed out loud at one of the entries. Here is what it said: “My favorite day of the week is Saturday. I like it because I love to clean my whole house. It is verey verey fun!”  Her teacher made a comment at the bottom: “Wow!  You like to clean! What a good child you are!” 

Happy Birthday, Austin!!!

Today is our “Terror-Austin-saurus-rex’s” birthday.  Yes, he has recently acquired this name as he romps around the house wrecking everything in sight, much like the T-Rex might if he joined our family.   Although he is definitely showing symptoms that he is 2 years old now, we love him anyway.  

We started our day with our traditional birthday breakfast in bed.  Austin LOVED it.  He sat in his crib with his breakfast tray on his lap enjoying a cinnamon roll and orange juice.   We tried to coax him out several times to go find his present, but he wanted nothing to do with it until he had enjoyed his once-a-year breakfast in bed.  I guess he had watched everyone else do this over the last few months and knew what to expect. 

Unfortunately, with RSV running wild, we decided to stay in today.  Porter built Austin a birthday fort…and we made fish cupcakes…and Austin ended the night with a birthday bath in his birthday suit.  It was a simple, but nice day.

 

Welcome back, me.

I love Spring!  I love it when I walk outside and see tulips, daffodils and crocuses peering their little heads out from underneath their winter cover.  Today was my first day of Spring.  For the first time in over 7 months, I felt like me again.  All my pregnancy aches and pains are almost completely gone.  I felt like planning a trip, flying kites with Porter and cleaning my windows.  I felt optimistic and renewed instead of grouchy and lethargic.  I finally feel like I am peering my head out from my cover after this long cold winter.  I am ready to embrace spring.  Welcome back, me. 

Welcome Makelle Lydia Carlson

Makelle Lydia Carlson joined our family on February 15, 2011.  She weighed in at 7 pounds and was 20.5 inches.  She is as sweet as she looks and we are so glad she is finally here!

At least he is honest…

Shannon:  “Patrick, I think there is something wrong with Porter’s ears.  He can never hear what I am saying when I talk in a regular voice.”

Porter: “That is because my ears turn off whenever you talk".”