Highlight of the weekend

Bryan lost a tooth!  It's actually his second (you can see a permanent tooth that's grown in on the bottom right beneath the one he just lost), but it was a big one because it was on the verge of falling out for several days.  We're still getting used to his new grin, since it's a constant reminder of how fast he's growing up!  It's hard to believe.  Thankfully the tooth fairy remembered to do her job, and he was thrilled to find a dollar bill when he woke up this morning.

Besides that, we've taken it real easy the past few days.  In fact, David would probably say that this has been the highlight of his weekend...

David and I both have colds and an awful lingering cough that keeps us awake at night.  I had the worst cough attack of my life yesterday afternoon.  It was awful!  My stomach muscles are actually sore from coughing so much!  Now the cough is just annoying and I just want it to go away.  I've been reading that we shouldn't take cough suppressants when it's a "productive" cough, which it is, but David finally broke down and bought some so he could get some good rest.  I haven't tried it yet, but I probably will...  Cough drops and honey just aren't doing the trick.  At least the kids are doing better.  Matt and Ari both had ear infections in both ears, but the medication for that has helped clear up their coughs and boogers.  Since we haven't really been going anywhere, Ari's enjoyed wearing funky outfits and her favorite dresses around the house.  Just seeing her lifts my spirits.  And the mini-Cadbury eggs I bought myself and a good book have helped as well. :)

Hopefully we'll get back to normal soon.  It seems someone's been sick the entire month of February!  But March is just around the corner and then it's spring!  That's got to mean good things.

The things they say

Tonight the show "Top Shot" came on (a competition show about target shooting) and Matthew said, "I want to be a 'Top Shot' guy when I'm big.  A 'Top Shot" guy and even a State Farmer!" :)

And then I was laying on the couch with Matthew and Ari walked up and wasn't happy to see me cuddling with him and not her.  So she tried to pull him off the couch for a couple seconds and then turns to me and says "Time out!"  I said, "What? Time out?" and she points at Matthew and says again, "Time out!"  I was surprised to see she'd caught on to things already.

On a different note, Bryan came up a little later, after the other kids had gotten distracted by something else and said, "Mom, I love you so much."  Then he kissed my cheek and covered me with Ari's blanket.  (I'm not feeling well today.)  I'm grateful he's such a sweet, affectionate kid.

Then while putting them to bed tonight, Matt noticed me looking at the recent mess of toys on his floor and says, "We don't need to clean it up - just do it like a maze!  See walk around that, and then that..."

Oh, these kids!  At least they make me smile. :)

No more kiwis for David!

This morning we had quite the scare with David.  It started last night when he called me and asked if I'd meet him at his office so we could go and buy a few things so he could start being more healthy.  He'd talked to a friend of his who's a big health expert (he'll listen to him, but not to me) and decided he needed more fruits and veggies, so we stocked up on all sorts of things to use for healthy juices.  This morning he spent a good 20 minutes making juice with apples, oranges, carrots, pineapple, and kiwis.  It tasted great and we all enjoyed some.  He left for work just fine, but by the time he was getting close to his office he'd started having an allergic reaction.  He called and told me he'd just sit and wait it out when he got to work, but when I called some ten minutes later he quickly told me he was on his way to the hospital and couldn't talk because he was having a hard time breathing!

This isn't the first time something like this has happened, but it's been several years and it was so unexpected.  I was initially pretty scared, but then I got really scared when five, then ten, then twenty minutes passed and I hadn't heard anything.  He didn't answer his phone, I couldn't get through to his office, and the guy that was driving him to the hospital didn't pick up either.  Twenty minutes is a long time to wonder if your husband's still breathing or not!  I was VERY relieved to get a text from his employee after about a half hour saying he was doing okay.  He'd gotten to the emergency room barely being able to breathe, so they hurried him to the back where they gave him a number of shots, including three or four EpiPens.  When I finally spoke to him he was pretty woozy, but breathing normally again.  They discharged him with some names of allergists and a few prescriptions for EpiPens and allergy medicine, and he came home and slept for most of the afternoon.

I'm SO grateful he was okay and had good employees that were able to help him out at work.  It's such a helpless feeling to be on the other side of the phone miles away and unable to do anything but pray.  But I suppose praying is one of the best things I could be doing...  We were certainly blessed that he was able to get treated in time.

The ironic part is that this all happened because he'd decided he needed to do something to ensure that he'd be around to live a long, healthy life. :)  Poor David.  This has certainly discouraged him from eating fruits, although I think we've narrowed it down to just the kiwis.  (Maybe the pineapple...)  Hopefully he won't give up on everything else as well.

Gotta love holidays

I have to admit, I kind of had a hard time explaining the importance of President's Day to Bryan this morning.  I should have planned ahead and read up on George Washington and Abe Lincoln so I had good stories to tell, but I didn't think that far ahead.  Instead, I was just grateful for the day off!  It was nice not having to plan the day around Bryan's kindergarten class.  So mid-morning we took a walk to enjoy the sunshine and let the boys ride their bikes.  It was Bryan's first time since we put his bike away in the fall, so he was especially excited.  Since Matt and Ari have been sick with colds, we didn't stay out long, but it was fun to get out of the house after a long weekend of staying inside.

Shortly after getting home, Javi called and said he wanted to take the boys on a "date!"  He and Annalece picked them up and took them to lunch, and then David, who'd decided to take a half-day at work, met up with them at Jumping Jacks.  The boys were thrilled!  They came home a little out of breath from bouncing around so much, but we didn't let them rest for long.  Sara and Jazmin and their families came over and we all took off for an afternoon of sledding up Hobblecreek canyon!  We'd never been to Jolley's Ranch, but I'd heard a lot of good things about it, and we sure won't disappointed!  It was so much fun!  The boys loved it, even after getting banged around a bit at the bottom of the runs...  Ari wasn't so excited about it and preferred watching everyone from the top of the hill.  I went down a few times but spent most of my time with Ari taking pictures of everyone else. :)

After sledding, we went to a pizza place in Provo, but they had a pipe burst in their kitchen and had to close so they were just handing out free pizza to get rid of all the pizzas they'd made.  David and the kids certainly had their fill of pizza - Bryan kept going in for more - and they even gave us a carton to take some home, too.  I'm not a huge pizza fan, but it was still fun to get so much for free!  We came home and had a nice Family Home Evening about Joseph Smith (the first president of the Church), so it was nice way to finish off the day.

What to say?

I haven't been very good with the blog lately.  It's easy enough to post pictures, but I'm having a hard time making time to write.  Or I just don't have much to say.  It is February, after all, which in my opinion is one of the longest months of the year.  (Ironic, since it's really the shortest.)  January has the excitement of starting a new year and everything, but February is just rather dreary.  I know there's Valentine's Day, and thank goodness for that or it would be a completely depressing month!

We've actually lucked out the past couple days with nice weather in the 50s, which gave us a good taste of spring and sunny days to come.  Bryan has spent hours after school playing tag and things with the neighbors, but it's been too windy for Matt's tastes so's he's mostly stayed inside with Ari and I.  (He's afraid of wind!)  I love that Bryan has lots of kids to play with these days.  He doesn't care if they're boys or girls, three years old or thirteen - he'll play with just about anyone!  And speaking of girls, he had his first "playdate" with his favorite girl, Brinn, the other day.  He says he's "in love" and has called her his girlfriend since school started in the fall!  I try to tell him that he doesn't need to worry about love until after his mission, but secretly I think it's pretty cute.  It's all talk, as far as I know, and that's okay, I suppose.  At least he's loyal. :)

Poor Ariana's been sick the past few days with a fever, cough and runny nose.  Her fever's gone away, thankfully, but she's still really congested.  I'm hoping it doesn't go through all the rest of us as well.  That would really make this a dreary month!  But so far the rest of us are doing okay.  And as long as Ari has her pacifier, blankie, and a good supply of apple juice she's actually pretty happy, for being sick.  She hasn't slept as much as she normally does, but it just makes me all the more grateful that she's such a good little sleeper otherwise!  Tonight she went to sleep really well, so maybe that means she's on the mend.

On a fun note, David qualified for the State Farm trip this year and we've finally decided to go! We were worried about what we'd do with the kids and considered skipping out on it, but David went ahead and signed us up, figuring that we'll be able to work something out.  I'm so excited!  This year's trip is a cruise in the Caribbean, which means lots of sunshine, reading by the pool, yummy food and relaxation! I can't wait.  It's in April so it's going to come fast!

And that's about it for us these days.  Matthew's obsessed with playing the wii and uses potty talk for just about everything he has to say.  (I'm hoping it's just a phase...)  I started teaching Bryan how to play the piano and he's doing an awesome job.  We're also enjoying reading Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh, one of my childhood favorites.  David's starting his diet and workout regimen again in preparation for the cruise, and I'm having fun trying out new recipes and finding excuses to bake.  (Good thing David doesn't like eating most of the things I make!)  Life is simple, but good.  Can't ask for more than that.

Snapshots of Valentine's Day

It was a good day. :)

Notes from Bryan

"No Mom... but, I love you." These were sitting on his night stand guarding his "treasures."  At least he's sweet about it. :)

Getting the hint

So tonight Bryan and I had just finished reading a book on the couch and the younger kids had begun throwing face cards up into the air and laughing as they fell all over the room.  I could tell Bryan wanted to join in, but first he said, "Don't you have to finish cleaning in the kitchen or something?"  I told him I'd finished, so he said, "Well don't you have a book to read or something?  You know, that one you were telling Jana about?"  By then I'd gotten the hint.   I was being dismissed by my six-year-old.  So I came up here to the computer and let the three of them go at it.  I guess Bryan's realized that some things just aren't as fun with parental supervision. :)

Toone Family Dinner

This last Sunday Dad was in town, so we had a big get together at our house to spend time with him and watch a little bit of the Superbowl.  We had lots of delicious food and had so much fun.  Can you tell what the girls enjoyed most?

The best part for me (aside from having Dad here) was having Nate and Allison's baby over!  Little Katelyn was born January 28, so she's just over a week old, and she's so cute!!  We all loved taking turns holding her and watching her sweet smiles. :)  And we skyped with Mom for a long time so she could enjoy watching her as well.

(A screen shot from Mom's computer...)

 The boys were their normal, crazy selves and loved having so many people over to play with them!  Cassity is always especially patient with the kids... :)

The only thing that would have made the dinner better would have been having David there.  He left Sunday morning for a "study group" down in Arizona with several of the top agents from the Great Western zone.  He's loving his time there and learning so much, but he sure missed out on a great night!

One reason I wouldn't mind winter sticking around a while...

This darling snowsuit!  It just came today and I LOVE it.   I wish I'd thought to get one a long time ago...  Ariana played out in the snow today for a good half hour with Matt - a first for her!  And then she liked it so much she kept it on inside the house for hours until I forced it to take it off so she could eat dinner.   As much as I love spring, I'm hoping we'll get lots of snow in the weeks to come just so I have lots of excuses for her to wear it over and over again.  :)