Trip to Flagstaff

We took a trip to Flagstaff this last weekend for Tag's annual heart check-up. The good news is that Tag's heart is doing well. He does have a funny fast heart rate which he takes medicine to control, but sometimes it still beats out of control. So, the doctor talked about doing a procedure when he turns 7 that will hopefully zap the bad node that is misfiring in his heart. It has a 90-95% success rate and that sounds pretty good to me. Tag's pediatrician once told me that if it were me experiencing the fast heart rate, I would probably be dead, so these episodes are scarey. AND, the bad thing is, he doesn't tell us when he is having one. We have been very blessed so far and been able to get him to the ER when he is having one, but it would be nice to not have to worry about it anymore. We'll see what happens next year(:

So while we were down there, we decided to make a mini vacation out of it. We were supposed to go down over spring break so the boys wouldn't have to miss school, but sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do. We visited a little pioneer museum. I tried to get all my kids to dress up in the pioneer clothes, but they just wanted to play with the guns. I got Whitley in an apron and before I could get the rest of them together with their guns, she had everything off again. She has not wanted her picture taken at all lately and it is quite annoying.

We went swimming at the Aquaplex, that was fun. Brinley is my first baby to actually like the water.

And, on our way home we went to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon and just our luck, entrance to the park was free!!! I think the Grand Canyon is amazing, so many layers and colors.

It is difficult to entertain a 9 year old, a handicapped 6 year old, a fiesty two year old, and a sweet 10 month old. We heard, "I'm bored," from Tanner all weekend, and Tag and Whitley fought in and out of the car. I can't complain much about Brinley. She was the most pleasant of our four, but I love them all and hope they remember some of the fun things, although rare, that we do as a family.

Our sad Easter

This was a sad Easter because the week before, I was taking care of Tag and Trent with pnuemonia. Easter was the furtherst thing from my mind, and then, I got pnuemonia so there was no Easter bunny this year. No candy filled eggs, or baskets or stuffed animals. We had an easter egg hunt with the eggs Tag got from his little party at school, but the candy had already been eaten. The funny thing is, is that my kids really didn't seem to care. This was Brinley's first Easter and she just crawled around and chewed on the first egg she found.

We also celebrated Tag's 6th birthday on Easter because he was really sick for his real birthday. Some present, huh, pneumonia which came with a shot in the leg and body aches and chills. He is so resilient, and I don't think he even noticed that we celebrated a week late.

This is our cowgirl. Everyday when grandpa gets home from work, she greets him with, "You put the saddle on for me?"

And here is Brin, 10 mos going on two. She thought she was as big as her sister and tried to walk right out the door where she found herself face to face with the cement. I was going to get her pictures taken because her grandma was on the ball and made her an Easter dress, but I guess we will wait a bit for her nose to get better.

Just on Friday we found out that Whitley has pneumonia and Brinley has an ear infection so it has been a fun filled last three weeks): We are all couhged out. I didn't think pneumonia was contagious but I'll not be thinking that again! Trent lost his voice for a few days, but I think we are all on the mend, or I hope so.

It's good to be back!

I have been without a computer for way too long! You don't realize how much you use it until it's gone so it's good to be back(: It has been a rough weekend at my house. You should see my kitchen counter. It is stocked with Tylenol cold and cough, Nyquil, Dayquil, Amocillian, Augmentan, medicine syringes, and gatorade! Taggert and Trent both have pneumonia!!! And I thought it wasn't contagious. Tanner has it, too, but the doctor is baffled by him because he hears it in his lungs, but he has no other symtoms. He's wierd!! So, anyway, I am hoping that it is just a male thing, and that the female half of the family stays healthy(: Pray for us!

The latest fruit of my loins

This baby girl brings so much joy into our family. I love, love, love her!!! She was the best surprise I got have ever gotten. She is just so mellow and calm. My dad said her eyes just sparkle and they do. She is truly so fun to have around. If I could gaurantee that the rest would be just like her, I might venture out into the land of five, but nobody is ever that lucky, so we will just have to see.

I have been feeling like a bad mom because I have never had Brinley's pictures done professionally. So, I decided to try some at home. I'm no pro, but even I can see that she doesn't need to be at Kiddie Kandids to be cute(:

My family

I had a good friend remind me last night that these three guys and these two little girls are the only thing that really matters at the end of the day. No matter what happens, if we have our families, everything will be okay. There are so many things that can get in the way of what is really important, and they aren't necessarily "bad" things. It is hard to be a stay-at-home mom. There are days that I feel like I am just spinning my wheels, but then I look in my baby girl's cute little smiling face or hear Whitley singing, and realize this is exactly where I am supposed to be.

Christmas

Taggert's very first Christmas program! I was very proud of him because he stood with his class so nice. He didn't sing much, but I thought he would be running all over the gym so he did good. The final song the kids sang they also did some sign language, that's what Tanner's pose is. It was the best Christmas program I've attended!!!

Whitley was terrified of Santa and he just wanted to hand her a bag of goodies. She did say thank you as he was leaving.

Brinley was just trying to check the bearded man out, no tears.

This man, my dad, has truly surprised me with his love and tenderness for my little babies. I do love him!

Christmas morning was fun. Whitley just loves her babies, and even though she just got one for her b-day, I had to get her another one. I had to get Brinley one, too, even though she will just chew on it. Tanner got legos and more legos. I know I'm going to be kicking myself for that one because I am going to find little droids and pieces everywhere, probably in the middle of the night, and then I will most likely curse. Taggert got a new dump truck. His old one flew out of the back of the truck and got mangled. He and Whitley also got scooters that even I can ride on!

This is another man that has surprised me with my kids. They are so lucky to have two grandpas who would do anything for them.

Reindeer

When we were up in Salt Lake a few weeks ago , we went to Thanksgiving Point and there were real reindeer. We were glad we brought our coats because we got snowed on and it was a little colder than we were used to(: