What's next??????

Andrew was in the hospital over the weekend for a "fever of unknown origin."  Basically, he had a horrible headache (writhing on the ground) and a fever of 104.7 a stomach ache and a rash.  They thought he had meningitis so we went to the local Children's hospital.  Thankfully, that wasn't the problem, but after an incalculable number (I'm sure the hospital kept count) of tests and 3 days in the hospital he was released and is perfectly fine except for being a little tired.

Two weeks before, Spencer was diagnosed with Cold Urticaria (allergy to the cold) and went into anaphylactic shock after eating orange juice and yogurt from the fridge.  Let me tell you, that was fun.  He is fine now and we just microwave everything from the fridge for 7 seconds and limit his ice cream intake - as in telling him it is yucky.


Oh, yes, forgot to mention, in the middle of these two health issues, I got called as the Relief Society Pres.  I am excited, but right now I need a little less excitement.

I realize I keep only posting about health issues so I am determined to post about the other goings on in our lives in the next little bit.  Really we have more interesting things going on, so keep a look out.

What has been going on in our lives - Part 6

While in Idaho/Utah Brandon had a conference in San Diego and I joined him for a few days for our anniversary.

 Brandon too a lot of photos, notice the shoe in the incoming tide.

We took a dinner cruise around San Diego Bay.

Afterwards, Brandon returned to NM and went to scout camp and I went back to Utah & Idaho.

We went with Grandma Eames to the dinosaur museum at Thanksgiving point.

And later in the week we went to a family reunion in Delta, UT where Spencer and his cousin played next to the water - a lot!

Happy Birthday to Me

I figured I should mention my birthday mostly because Brandon pulled off a surprise, which is not common.  He was out of town on my birthday  and the Sunday following he said he wanted to go for a drive but we had to pick something up from some friends.  Once we got there it was a party.  It was very sweet of him.

Visit from friends

Once we returned from camping we (kind of) got the house ready for company.  Our friends the Infangers were driving from Alabama to Idaho/Canada and stopped for the night.  Karissa got to see her friend Lizzy.  When we lived in Nashville they were joined at the hip and we found they seemed to be good friends still.  As they left Sunday morning we got a picture of both of our Spencers and since it was early I was still in my PJ's but here we are all together

I can't believe I just posted this - Please say it is as bad as I feel it is and I usually look better than this.  Luckily the kids are cute enough to make it a bit better.

Enjoying General Conference

When I was younger my sisters and I always colored while watching General Conference.  Now my kids do it also.  This year my parents came for the weekend which was so much fun.  Anyway, during one of the sessions we got "caught" coloring.  I have to say, oddly enough, it is the best way for me to focus on conference.

A day with nature

While I have to admit, I am not a big city person, a big city does have its advantages, like a great library (which I have taken a huge advantage of.  We got our cards the same day we signed our papers. Another is great recreation activities.  A couple of weeks ago we went to the Aquarium and the Botanical Gardens.  The aquarium wasn't anything to jump up and down about, however we did get to touch rays and small sharks.  The Gardens were amazing.  I can't wait to see them in full bloom.  The best part, you can get a yearly pass for a family to both of these and the zoo for about $90.  We are planning to go to the zoo soon.
We started at the aquarium.  As you walk in there is a huge tank with rays.  Andrew was a little nervous about them.  I personally found them facinating.

If you notice, Andrew's body looks like it is ready to run away at a moment's notice if necessary.

Spencer loved the large wall size tank.

Karissa and Andrew loved looking at the sharks -- as long as Andrew didn't have to stand too close to the glass.

I love this photo

After the aquarium was the botanical gardens just next door.

They had a wonderful children's maze where there were vegetables, tunnels, bugs and such built at huge proportions that you felt like you were in Honey, I Shrunk the Kids.  Needless to say, the kids loved it.

On a huge ant

Then running away from the huge ant.

Mom and Spencer in the huge carrot patch

Such a cute girl

and so goofy at the same time

Another cute and goofy girl.

I know, you are wondering, why a picture of a duck.  While this is a beautiful duck, I have decided that Brandon must LOVE ducks, because I can't tell you how many photos he has taken of ducks over the years.  So I am including a duck he photographed.

Andrew in the Southwest garden being "careful" not to touch a prickly pear.

Such a fun day.  To top it off, we ended it with a downpour and had to run for the van.  It was a lot of fun.

Christmas Day

We told the kids they weren't allowed out of their bed before 6:00 and they couldn't set an alarm and they couldn't wake each other up.  Miraculously, at about 6:03 all three kids came into our bedroom ready for Christmas.  We chose to pretend they were obedient.  We then read the Book of Mormon Christmas story found in 3 Nephi Chapter 1, and talked a little about it and then went and got Christmas.

Andrew found that Santa had left him a new blanket since he was outgrowing his.

He promptly named it "Wheelie" since it has lots of things with Wheels.

Karissa and Alexis got some doll clothes, a couple from the store and some from me.

What you can't see is that this box holds a lot of doll clothes that are cut out, but not actually sewn.  Ran out of sewing time.  Next weeks project.

Alexis' favorite present was perhaps her crayons and coloring book from her Preschool teacher.

She was so excited as you can see

Spencer was thrilled about Christmas, especially since it was his first.  Santa brought him a new car seat and he also got some books along with a few other things. 

As you can see he loves books!  I must recommend Doggies by Sandra Boynton.  It is so fun!

I got some new pans which was so exciting, especially since I can make candy again.  My previous pans just didn't work for candy.  Brandon got two large Nerf guns, one that is automatic, so him and Andrew spent a lot of time shooting each other.  Brandon also got a .22 so you could call this his "gun" Christmas.  The rest of Christmas for the kids was a little boring since Santa also brought us a Wii.

Which we promptly spent the rest of the day playing.

For breakfast we started a new tradition and made donut balls

YUM!

In the past we have gone to grandparents for Christmas dinner, but since it was the Eames' turn and they were doing their festivities on the 26th we just stayed home.  I cooked a ham, but when it came time to eat we decided we didn't want a fancy dinner so we just ate it with some instant potatoes and snacked and enjoyed just relaxing and spending time together.  It was a perfect Christmas!

Christmas Eve

So it is just about 2 weeks late, but here is our Christmas.  This year we had Brandon's mom come and visit us for Christmas Eve and Christmas.  We just love having her here, we sometimes wish we lived closer, too bad we are moving further.  Anyway, on Christmas Eve we did a "Nativity."  Alexis got to be Mary and Andrew was, of course, Joseph, with Dad being the Donkey.

notice Andrew's "linen sack"

Karissa was the Angel

Got to love the headband "halo" -- Grandma Eames was the Shepherd(s), you can see her leg at the bottom.

And I was the Wise Men (Women???).  It was a lot of fun, and perhaps a little spiritual.  Then the kids got to open their Christmas Pajamas.

Andrew loved that him and Spencer had the same shirts.

Then off to bed we went waiting for Santa to come.

Thanksgiving Weekend- Part 2

My dad's birthday was on Thanksgiving this year and my mom surprised him with a 700lb gun vault.  The best part was the box it came in, which the kids made sure they used well.  My dad also had several liters of cola and mentos to make them explode to Andrew and his cousin J-Man's delight

While it didn't go off well, it was exciting for Andrew

The girls, on the other hand, found the perfect viewpoint.

The gun vault box

Spencer and I enjoyed the view as well

Isn't he a cute kid?

When we finally sat down Spencer thought he would join us in the festivities.

All told it was a good day.

Then there were 3

So yesterday Karissa got her glasses and she was so excited.  As we drove home she was looking up at the mountain and said, "I can see individual trees."  Apparently. she hadn't noticed before.  I have to admit she is quite fetching.  Once again I am so jealous of the cute glasses available for kids.  I only had brown plastic ones.  Anyway, here is her before:

And After

Isn't she such a pretty girl?

Now there are three of us with glasses.

Family Vacation

Every year we have tried to go on some sort of family vacation, some have been grand -- the beach, Arizona, driving cross country. Others not so -- visiting family. With the timing of the baby we realized we couldn't do too much of a vacation or travel too far se we settled for Salt Lake. Which for our kids was a treat.

We started off by picking up Brandon's mom and going to IKEA where we had a wonderful time and Brandon got lost in the frame section. He wasn't very impressed until we arrived there and he has decided it is his new favorite store -- after the photo store of course. That evening we had planned on attending a Bees Baseball game, but the weather was not very cooperative so we went to UP! instead. We were thoroughly entertained and all agreed we need to get the movie. We then stayed in a hotel -- the real treat of the trip -- and went swimming. Yes, even I went, notice there are no photos. Saturday was the real treat. We started at the Hogle Zoo

where the kids went "APE" over the animals.

And then went to the Clark Planetarium.

Alexis on the Mars "surface"

They had a display on Rockets sponsered by Thiokol which makes the rocket boosters for the shuttle. Andrew loved this!

This is the pose he had for all 4 video presentations. At one point he sat down but was glued to the screen the whole time.

We (probably just Brandon, Karissa, & Andrew) are going to try to go to a test firing later this summer.

Then we topped it off by going to Temple Square, which I must admit should have been our first stop not our last since the kids and parents were exhausted.

Karissa on the Reflecting pool

This is my favorite photo Brandon took that day. We are currently deciding where to have it hang.

On the way home we stopped at Target to return some things -- oh, to have a Target in Cache Valley. Saturday was the Air Show at Hill Air Force Base. We wanted to try to go but ran out of time. Luckily, we stopped at a store close to the base and we got to watch a little of it from the parking lot. We were all impressed.