Crazy busy day.

Oh my goodness. Today was just too much. We were so busy! Back and forth...
Free breakfast at Chick Fil'A, made cupcakes for tomorrow, playdate at the park, Isaac's class, program at the library, soccer practice...AAACK!!

Watered our seeds and put them back up on top of the fridge (supposed to be the best place until they start to sprout.)
Cute pics at the park of kids and the hawk that hung out with us the whole time.
I so need a break. Not likely until the kids get back to school. Tomorrow we have big St. Patrick's Day plans!!

Spring!!

We started our cold weather seedlings indoors today. We did peas, two varieties of lettuce and onions. I also let the kids all do their own bean plants just for kicks. I have been studying and reading up on veggie gardening a lot so hopefully this year will be better than last!!

So helpful

We had a low-key day today. Ryan has been working on the kitchen for three days straight. It will be done someday... (I'm holding off posting pictures until it is all done! It is going to look awesome!!) It's been a crazy few days--no microwave, sink and as of today, no stove top. AAAACK!!! Anyway...

We went shopping in the morning and then I got home and had my sink back (woo hoo!!) so I started doing the dishes which have been accumulating since WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

The kids got out a puzzle and worked so hard on it. It was such a nice, peaceful afternoon.
Then they all went their own ways and sweet Audrey decided to be helpful. She put the puzzle away. :( Isaac was devastated. Obviously Audrey had no idea that we were planning to leave the puzzle out on the card table until it was all done. Oops. I guess we will start over again tomorrow.

Zoo!!

It was 67 degrees today!!! I think I got sunburnt!! This was my footwear of choice...

I convinced my friend Tara to go with us! Thank goodness--the zoo is always more fun with more kids. Or at least with another adult to talk to. They had to leave around 11:30, right after the exciting elephant demonstration, but we stuck it out all day long. I am exhausted!!
And, wouldn't you know it, while we were in one of the exhibits, a squirrel raided our stroller and chewed a hole through Lincoln's lunch box. They are out to get us, I tell you!!!

Time for a change

The girls decided it was time to get makeovers. Starting with their hair. Chloe actually cut bangs on herself at school a few weeks ago, so we needed to get it fixed. They decided they wanted little bobs. I'll admit I was a bit nervous, but considering how much they HATE getting their hair done, I thought it might be worth a try. They turned out soooooo cute!!!
Chop, chop...I started to get really anxious at this part.
Look at all that hair!!!
After--
I want to get better pictures tomorrow!

She did it!!

Chloe finished up working sooooo hard for months and earned her new doll, Elizabeth!!

Open wide!!

Lincoln went to the dentist for the first time this morning. He was so excited! From 6:30 this morning he was asking me if it was time to go. He did an awesome job!

Houston, we have a problem: Suicidal Squirrels.

(This is long, but it is really funny. I highly suggest you read it. Just sayin')


The kids are off-track and today I was finally able to do something fun with them. It was heavenly to get out of the house for the first time in weeks.

We had big plans to go to the Denver Mint. It is a free tour, but you do have to make reservations well in advance. My friend and I planned ahead and got our tickets and we were all set. We left the house a full hour and a half before our tour was scheduled to begin. The first bump in the road occurred because I let Isaac program our GPS, and while he did a perfectly acceptable job of putting the address in, he also thought it would be hilarious to change the voice so it was a NASA guy telling me where to go. "BEEP, Discovery is cleared for take off. It is a go to enter the motorway. Repeat it is a go to enter the motorway. Touchdown! Discovery has landed. BEEP!" The NASA guy is funny at first. He is not remotely helpful when I am trying to drive somewhere unfamiliar in busy, downtown Denver traffic. He doesn't tell me what street to take, or which exit to get off. And he bursts into random bits of monologue that had me screaming "SHUT UP!!!!!" repeatedly at the GPS.

Anyway...Discovery eventually landed at the Houston Space Center and we were a go. Except we couldn't find a parking spot that wasn't going to cost us our firstborn child. And all the streets downtown are one way. And there was construction. We finally found a spot, got all seven kids unloaded, hid all of our valuables (because you can't take anything into the Mint) and started the long walk down from the Capitol to the Mint. Only then it turned into a run. And then a sprint. Because despite the fact that we had left the house 90 minutes early, it became clear that if we didn't hurry, we weren't going to make it. So there we were, me, Amy (about to give birth any day) and our seven children sprinting through downtown Denver to make our tour.

We got there with ten minutes to spare. Oh, but wait. Too bad. We were five minutes too late because you have to get there 15 minutes early. The guard just glanced at us unsympathetically as we panted and showed him our tickets. I pleaded our case--"This poor pregnant woman just ran all the way down from the Capitol to make this tour." The man couldn't have cared less. Better luck next time.

We went to the gift shop. The kids wanted me to buy them something. I said (loud enough for everyone to hear) "No. I am pissed off at the Denver Mint."

So there you have it.

We walked all the way back up the hill, got our picnic lunches and went into the Capitol to eat them. The rest of the day was great. We ate amongst Senators, we hiked to the top of the dome, we saw the chambers for the Senate and the House and lots of other fun things. Did you know that one of the original suggestions for the name of the state of Colorado was Lula? I'm glad they stuck with Colorado.

The view from the top of the Dome. I'm surprised the hike up there plus the 10K we ran through downtown didn't put Amy into labor. That was all part of my evil plan. Well, I guess the night is still young...

Chloe and Katy
The girls at the Dome museum. They really liked these "girl cowboys."

Audrey in front of the Capitol.

All the kids exactly one mile above sea level. Yay for the Mile High City!!

A view of the Dome.
Looking down...
Looking up...
Looking at the camera...
Amy was a little tired by then so she took her brood home, but I had paid an arm and a leg to park so we decided to go to The Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception which was right across the street from our expensive parking spot. I got a little concerned when I realized that today is Ash Wednesday--I wasn't sure what we would come out of that church looking like, but they weren't actually doing services at that time. It was really an incredibly beautiful church. The girls are ready to join.



We had walked past a museum earlier in the day, so after our flirtation with Catholicism we decided to go see what it was all about. As we were walking along, we walked under some tall trees when out of nowhere something fell from the sky right in front of me and right next to Chloe. It smacked into the sidewalk with a very loud thud. I thought someone had thrown something out of the window at us. Then this thing scurried around and ran away. It was a kamikaze squirrel that had dive bombed Chloe!! Seriously, it was within inches of landing on her head--and from the noise that thing made, I think it would have caused some pretty severe damage. I can't believe it even survived the fall--it must have been three stories high when it decided to off itself. Oh my. After freaking out for a minute we laughed and laughed. Apparently Audrey thought it was a monkey falling from the sky. Because Denver is just that exciting.

The museum we were headed for ended up not being an actual museum, so we did a bit more sight-seeing, then called it a day and came home.

It was such a good day. I love feeling well enough to do things again!!!!! And I know you all want to come visit me now. Just don't ask me to take you to the Mint.

Honor roll

Isaac was awarded at the Honor roll assembly last week. Unfortunately I was too sick to attend, but Ryan was at home that day taking care of me, so he ran up to the school to watch the excitement. Congratulations, Isaac!

Oh, baby.

In the midst of my illness (which is really actually finally starting to subside) I was also planning a baby shower for a dear friend. The shower was supposed to be on the day of the funeral, but we ended up postponing it until last Friday night. We had a fun night full of good friends and food, but unfortunately I was still really sick and ended up leaving early...and having to be driven home because I was so bad off. Then I slept for the next 48 hours. But it was still fun!! Happy Baby, Amy!! :)

Decorations:
Look closely at those blocks--they think the baby will be named "Cole" so I added a question mark. Hee, hee.
Favors:
I must be a sadomasochist suggesting we make these little paper shoes. I made the girl version for a shower a few years ago. They are darling, but they take forever.
Food:

New Year

Here is our annual family blog"time capsule"-- a little late, but that's okay!! I've been typing it slowly as I lay dying on the couch over the past two weeks.

Ryan: age 34
Favorite food: Biscuits and Gravy
Favorite fruit: banana
Favorite drink: water
Favorite toy: volleyball
Favorite TV show: Castle
Favorite game: volleyball
Favorite restaurant: On the Border
Favorite animal: Isaac
Dream vacation:Grand Teton National Park
Favorite thing to do with the family: play games
Favorite memory of 2010: Finishing the backyard
Wishes/Goals for 2011: Finish the kitchen

Lindsay: age 34
Favorite food: Risotto and a good salad
Favorite fruit: peach
Favorite drink: Diet Coke with a shot of vanilla
Favorite toy: my Dyson
Favorite TV show: Bones
Favorite game: I tolerate Speed Scrabble.
Favorite restaurant: On the Border
Favorite animal: Dog
Dream vacation:Hawaii
Favorite thing to do with the family: anything we do together where everyone is happy.
Favorite memory of 2010:
Wishes/Goals for 2011: Lose weight.

Isaac: age 9--4th grade
Favorite food: Any dessert
Favorite fruit: Dried Papayas
Favorite drink: any type of carbonated beverage
Favorite toy: Electricity kit
Favorite TV show: Mythbusters
Favorite game: Silent Speedball
Favorite restaurant: Casa Bonita and Texas Roadhouse
Favorite animal: None
Dream vacation: Space or a Disney Cruise
Favorite thing to do with the family: Roast marshmallows around our firepit
Favorite memory of 2010: camping in our new trailer
Wishes/Goals for 2011: 4.0 Honor Roll

Audrey: age 7--1st grade
Favorite food: spaghetti and meatballs
Favorite fruit: pineapple
Favorite drink: lemonade
Favorite toy: Black Sparkles (webkin) and Kaya (AG doll)
Favorite TV show: Garfield
Favorite game: Bingo
Favorite restaurant: Casa Bonita
Favorite animal: zebra
Dream vacation: to buy a pet zebra at the zoo
Favorite thing to do with the family: go to a restaurant named Casa Bonita
Favorite memory of 2010: Disneyland
Wishes/Goals for 2011: Earn enough money to buy Kaanani (AG doll)

Chloe: age 7--1st grade
Favorite food: Chinese chicken
Favorite fruit: watermelon
Favorite drink: water
Favorite toy: Snowy (webkin) and Felicity (AG doll)
Favorite TV show: Garfield
Favorite game: Ponyville
Favorite restaurant: Casa Bonita
Favorite animal: cheetah
Dream vacation: Disneyland
Favorite thing to do with the family: go to Casa Bonita
Favorite memory of 2010: Disneyland
Wishes/Goals for 2011: Save up enough money to buy Elizabeth (AG doll)

Lincoln: age 3--no grade...
Favorite food: Hot dogs and pizza
Favorite fruit: "the orange kind"
Favorite drink: "sick juice" (Sprite)
Favorite toy: "It's a secret. No one can know."
Favorite TV show: Handy Manny
Favorite game: Twister
Favorite restaurant: "The Pizza Store"
Favorite animal: zebra and a giraffe
Dream vacation: "The Pizza Store"
Favorite thing to do with the family: roast marshmallows
Favorite memory of 2010: playing Twister
Wishes/Goals for 2011: get presents

Kirby: age 4 months--NEEDS to be in school...soon.
Favorite food: cheese
Favorite fruit: kiwi
Favorite drink: water
Favorite toy: Audrey's boots
Favorite TV show: Air Bud
Favorite game: Fetch
Favorite restaurant: Home
Favorite animal: Humans
Dream vacation: Park City
Favorite thing to do with the family: tricks
Favorite memory of 2010: joining my new family
Wishes/Goals for 2011: learn more tricks

The end?

I'm thinking, hoping, praying that the end of this illness that has been plaguing my family for weeks is in sight. Please. Please. Please.

I posted on Facebook that I don't think I have ever been this sick before. This has been horrible. The last few weeks are all kind of blurred together. But today I am not as miserable as I have been since last Thursday when phase II of this affliction settled into my lungs for an extended stay. I am beyond exhausted and I still have a horrible cough and a lot of congestion, but these things I can live with. The five days of excruciating body aches, head aches, a searing sore throat and complete inability to sleep because I was so uncomfortable were a bit much.

I feel like it was a complete blessing/miracle that I was even able to go to my friend's funeral. I took a bunch of medicine and went, although I barely had the energy to climb into the car when my friend picked me up. I think Heavenly Father knew I needed to be there and gave me just enough strength to make it through and I'm grateful for that. My last post was written in a complete drug-induced haze, but I'm glad it sort of makes sense. There is so much more that I could say--should say.

Okay, I'm about out of energy now. I really need this to be over soon.

In memory

I just came home from the funeral of dear friend who passed away suddenly and very unexpectedly on Tuesday. She was the mother of five incredible sons, the youngest of which is still in high school. She was such a great example to me of what a good mother is. I have been thinking so much about her and her family this week. As sad as it is, I think events like this can help us to focus on what is truly important in our lives. (I stole this picture from Becca, the incredible photographer's, blog.)

Loreen has done my hair for the past three years. She was the first one I let touch my head after I had skin cancer and the horrific surgery that followed. She always had a smile and was ready with advice when I asked--and not just about hair. I really, really admired her. I loved the relationship she had with her boys. I want that with my boys. Today at the funeral one of her sons said she was his best friend. It was so touching. She was truly one of the great ones. I am so sad and my heart aches for her family. She will be missed.

Almost there

With the new kitchen floor at least. We still have lighting, counters, backsplash, painting and decorating before I can say the kitchen is done. But with the cabinets and floor done I feel like the end is in sight. Sort of.

We started tiling the kitchen floor on Friday morning. Since Ryan had the day off, we felt certain we would be able to get it done by Saturday night. Ha. Ha.

Here are my new thoughts on home improvement projects.

1. Calculate the number of hours you think the project will take you. Be generous. Allow for mistakes, extra trips to the store, random, unexpected snags. Got a number in your head? Okay--multiply that number by 10. Then you have a pretty good estimate of how long it will really take you. You're thinking 10 hours? Try 100.

2. Do the same thing with the cost in dollars.

Anyway--we had a LONG, LONG, LONG weekend. We worked until about 12:30 in the morning on Friday (well technically Saturday morning.) Then we started working at about 6:30 in the morning on Saturday. I finally went to bed just after midnight. Ryan, on the other hand, worked until 12:45 on Sunday afternoon. (Yes, that would be over 30 hours of installing a tile floor without sleep.) Then he went to bed. At that point we had the tile laid, but nothing more. I have spent the last three days grouting. And finally we are getting close. Ryan has to put the baseboards back in, but at least our kitchen is functional again.

Before..

I got to do the wet saw! I really liked that. And no, I am not pregnant--it was cold and I was wearing Ryan's oversized sweatshirt. Wow, what an unattractive angle.

Right before we started laying the tile we had a dance/graffiti party and let the kids decorate the old floor. A lot of people have questioned why we replaced the floor. The old one was old, dirty, holey linoleum. It needed to be replaced. Even though we pretty much replaced it with tile in the same color.


After...
I never thought this project would end. I still have some touching up to do, but I'm happy with the result!

Weird, weird week

I don't even think I could get into all that has gone on this week but I'll do a fun little re-cap so I don't ever forget the insanity...

--Monday morning I'm still not feeling great, but I have leftover stain, plenty of sandpaper and a free schedule in the week ahead, so I decide to start refinishing the kitchen cabinets. I tear the kitchen apart, finally figure out how to load the sandpaper into the hand sander and get going! Before...

--Monday afternoon I find out that school is canceled on Tuesday due to cold weather. Remember I mentioned that I had torn my kitchen apart and was planning on a free schedule... Scramble time! I organized a large child swap/playdate to keep the kids occupied.

--Tuesday morning it's -18 degrees outside when we get up (-31 with wind chill.) We swap the kids around and I end up with 4 three year olds. They play all day long while I continue to work on my kitchen. It is exhausting work. And extraordinarily dusty. Here are some of the 3 year olds playing...

And here we have a very strange dust pattern on the tv.
--Tuesday afternoon...the kids are all having a blast. I get another call from the school district--school is closed again on Wednesday. Isaac plays in boy's heaven all day. The girls spend the morning at a friend's house playing American Girls and then get to go to a museum and sleepover with another friend.

--Tuesday evening I get a phone call from Ryan--with a high of -2 it is too cold and his car won't start. I load up the boys and we brave the freezing cold to go rescue him. We leave the car and hope that it will start on Wednesday.

--Wednesday morning we load up again and drive Ryan to work. The kids have a low key day while I continue to work on the kitchen.

--Wednesday evening we get the call--Ryan's car still won't start even though it's a whopping 9 degrees! I bundle and load up all 4 kids and make the trek again. We get Ryan and then go and buy a tow rope. I get the exciting new experience of towing him home. Oh, I can say for a fact that I never want to do that again. (That little trip took us almost 2 1/2 hours...ugh.) Ryan sets up a heater tent on the car engine to warm it up.


--Thursday morning the kids go back to school and Ryan's car starts!! Yay! Kirby has his first puppy playdate with his sister, Sugar.


I continue to work on the kitchen. My house is slowly being overtaken by dust. I finish a round of sanding and as I turn off the sander I hear water running. I wonder why Lincoln has turned on a bathtub and I investigate. No, it's not a bathtub. I go into the basement and discover water cascading from the ceiling into the workout room and pouring out of the light fixture. Frozen pipes. Gulp. I frantically call Ryan who explains how to turn off the water and the power and says he is coming home.

--Thursday Ryan spends the day on the phone with the Homeowner's Insurance Company, six different plumbing companies (it took that many phone calls for him to find one that could come that day), and a water clean up crew. The plumber has to tear out walls and part of the ceiling to get to the leaky pipe. The cleaning crew does more damage by removing more drywall and insulation. I keep on working on the kitchen.

--Today. The kids go to school. Ryan goes to work. I FINISH the kitchen and clean up all the dust. (This picture is dark--I'll have to take another tomorrow in the daytime.)

Weird, weird week.

By the way--refinishing the kitchen cabinets was a long, dusty, labor-intensive process, but the whole project only cost me a whopping $15!!! Not too shabby. But I never want to do it again...