Snow!

It's snowing here. I don't have time or I would take a picture and upload it. Isn't that amazing March 28th and it is snowing. Crazy

Is spring coming?

I forgot last Friday the boys had a boys night and the girls had a girls night. The boys went with some friends to the monster truck races. Carter is still talking about it and everyday and asks if he can go. Ryan said he was scared the whole time. I told Ryan he must of really liked it. He talks about how loud it was. I think that is what scared him. The girls went out to Applebee's and the little girls had their nails done at Walmart. The mom's needed to do a little shopping so it worked out. Then we picked up ice cream and went back to our house to visit until the boys were done.

So life is getting busy for us. Kamden is doing dance two nights a week, baseball 2 days a week. She started t-ball practice this week. She loves to go to practice and it is fun to watch her play. She has four other girls on her team. She is so cute!

Cole is also keeping us busy with 3 days a week of baseball and soon it will be 4 or 5 days a week of baseball. He is also busy with piano and Scouts. We have been working on Scout stuff more these last couple of months. When he had his birthday in September thing got busy and I didn't have the energy to help him with Scout stuff. Things of course are more manageable so we have been trying to get things done with scouts. I am hoping by the end of the month he will have his bear badge. I think it is his bear badge. Oh, can't you girls wait for your boys to be old enough for Scouts.

I have week one of chemo the week of spring break this year. So we have decide to do something small everyday that week. Cole is excited that we will be doing something. Most of the things we are doing are to help him pass off things for scouts. I am hoping I can rest enough to be good to go during spring break and make it fun for the kids. We still have two weeks until spring break. Easter was early, early and spring break is late. And it has been so cold here. There is a chance of snow again tonight. Isn't that crazy. We froze last night at Kamden's practice. I read that it is then going to jump up into the 60's next week. I hope we have had it in the 50's for that last little bit. I am so ready to see and feel the sun and actually have it warm.

Easter 2008

We had a busy but boring week. Cole had practice on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. He also had piano and primary activity this week. For primary activity the kids had a bug theme. So they wore bug head bands stamped their faces and did relay races. Kamden went too they seemed to both have a good time. Kamden had dance on Tuesday and Friday. Kamden started t-ball this week. Today she has her first practice. She is so excited about playing baseball like Cole , mom and dad.

I had chemo on Tuesday. It was the first dose of round 8. I had an appointment with the Doctor on Tuesday and he said it was up to me. If I felt good we could go ahead and do 3 more rounds or I could do this one and then take a break for a while. We (Ryan and I) decided that we would keep going. It is better now than to do this again later. I can bear being more tired. We just want it to be all gone and not to have to do this again if we don't have to. So two more rounds after this one. I have the second dose of round 8 tomorrow. So I have 8 weeks left. I wont be done but hopefully I will be done with chemo.Yeah!!

I have been really tired but people in the ward have been good about making dinner 4 nights a week and helping me with the kids and the girls picked up my car pooling again. So I am back to not doing as much. We are hoping that helps me not to be so tired.

We spent a few hours on Saturday cleaning the house and yard. We had some people come look at our home. Then we went to Dennis and Melanie's to color Easter eggs. I was tired and come home right after. Ryan and the kids stayed for awhile.

Yesterday Carter and I went to Sacrament then came home. Carter has a cold in his eyes. So we were kind not to spread it around. We had a good time at mom and dad's. Dinner was so good and we played a few games and the kids hunted Easter eggs.

We have been reading the 12 days before Easter, Easter eggs. This year the kids did so while helping me tell the story about the Savior. I can't tell you how thankful I am for the gospel and the knowledge it gives me. I don't know how people with out the gospel go forward every day. I love my Savior and all he has done for me. What a wonderful gift! I hope I am able to teach me children how much they are loved by their Heavenly Father and their family.

I have pictures from this last week. I can't seem to find either camera. So when I do I will post some pictures.

Movie and Pizza Fridays!

Today I had blood work done for my appointment with the Doctor on Tuesday. I always see the doctor before a new round of chemo. I have chemo on Tuesday. Usually my appointment with the doctor is on a Monday and chemo is on Tuesday early afternoon. The doctor is so busy I was lucky to get in on Tuesday. So I have to push my chemo back to 3 pm which isn't very convenient for anyone. Cole has baseball practice and Kamden has dance and they go to bed at 8 pm and we have our bed time rituals. Anyway I am glad to have family here who can help out. I just wish it was during the day when it worked out for everyone better. I have to do this again for round 9 too. So I hope it works out. O.k. enough of that.

Anyway we took Cole to the skate park today. He had so much fun he was in seventh heaven. I couldn't hardly get him to leave. We were there for an hour and a half. He saw a boy from home school in Kennewick. He ran around with him and his friends. This kid and his friends were amazing on their scooters. When we were leaving the skate park Cole said he wanted to come a couple of times a week. I asked him when he thought we had time to go since he has baseball 5 days a week along with piano and scouts. I told him I would try to take him once in awhile when we had some time. He was bummed but not willing to give up baseball. So he said in the summer. So I guess I know where we will be this summer. The only problem is there isn't anything for the younger kids. We sit in the car and watch movies. I would let them run around but there are so many kids skating everywhere I don't want them to get in the way of all the kids and there skating.

Kamden had jazz today. She loves to dance and grandma came to help me out and pick her up and bring her home so I could go home. I have been so tired the last couple of days.

Our microwave broke a few weeks ago and we have been doing with out. I told Ryan that we would be fine without a microwave that we don't use one much and we are moving. Well since we have people bring us in food and eating left overs it is so hard to be without a microwave. So tonight Ryan went and picked one up and put it in today. So we are back to having microwave popcorn and not having to warm up a plate of food in the stove. I guess we use a microwave more than I thought we did or at least more now than we use to.

Have I told you all how much I love Friday's. We love to get movies and pizza and just hang out together and watch movies. It is so nice to just relax and be all together.

Missed the carpool to school!

So I hope everyone is doing well with spring right around the corner. I think Chauntel and Jeremy may be enjoying spring weather already. I am so jealous! We had rain here all morning then clouds the rest of the day and only in the 50's.

I have a car pool I am in with both kids. But this morning was one of the other mom's turns to take Cole to school. It was 8:40 and there was still no ride and Cole was running around the house freaking out. We had been up in his room cleaning out his closet and when it was time for his ride I sent him down stairs. But he came back up to get his shoes and must not of heard his ride come. So after some freaking out by Cole we decided it was time to load up and take him. Well, Kamden was in the bath and I was in my p.j.'s. I am usually in my yoga pants and a t-shirt but this morning I was in actually p.j.'s. So I was not very excited to take him but it all worked out. The whole way there he kept telling me he was going to be in trouble for being late. I told him it was o.k. and that the note would get him into class. This all coming from a child who likes to blur the rules line. I guess the unspoken rule that you should be on time is important to him. I must have passed that on to him because I hate being late. Ryan doesn't seem to mind and almost prefers to be a little late or right on time.

Anyway I did get Cole's and Kamden's closets cleaned out today. I took one look at my closet and didn't even know where to start. So I hope that for those people that come walk through our house don't mind a messy master closet. I think I have gotten everything done around the house to get it ready to sell. Now all that is left is to take things from the garage and the food storage from Kamden's closet to a storage unit and that is all Ryan. He promised it would get done on Saturday. We will see.

Cole had another early relase day today so we run some more errands today and passed off some Scout things. One of the things for Scouts was to play Monoply. So Kamden, Cole and I played. We had a good time and Cole did such a good job being the banker. Both kids that it was funny there isn't an end to the game. Well I guess there is but it could take days. We also opened a saving account for Cole. We opened one at Yoke's. At Yoke's for every $3 you deposite into your account you get your name entered into a monthly drawiing and you get to go to a treasure box and pick out a toy. We decided that might help make saving a little more fun for him plus he could pass it off for Scouts. Cole and Ryan had practice again today but it was only an hour and a half. I guess they are changing practice to only and hour and half instead of 2 hours yah! Ryan found out they are the only team practicing this week. Some kids haven't even heard from their coaches. I guess that means they are the die hard coaches. They have already lost 4 kids off their team. They started with 13 and now have 9. They need 9 to play so they are hoping they will give them a few more kids. Otherwise it could be an interesting season.

Busy Cleaning!

I love everyday away from a chemo days is a little better. I love that! This is my week off so I am trying to get things around the house done. Melanie has come over the last two days and painted our front door. We are painting it red. I will take some pictures and post maybe today if it is done. It has needed quite a few coats. We are hoping today is it.

Cole has 1/2 days this week. So yesterday we went and ran some errands and then went to the library and the park. It was so windy they didn't last long at the park. Which was o.k. with me the wind made it very chilly. Cole has started baseball practice and it is on Monday, Tuesdays and Thursdays for two hours. I am so glad Ryan is coaching and has to be there. I really dislike having to go and sit there with the kids for two hours. If all the kids were older I could sit and read or something but chasing them all over isn't fun.

So today I was feeling good again so I cleaned all my min blinds. Oh, how glad I am I only have 4. The rest of the windows have curtains they are so much easier to clean than the blinds. That is one chore that is not fun. I love to clean but wow! Today is Cole's parent teacher conference. I hope things go well? Every Kindergarten one I came home upset or in tears and all first and second was fun to go. This year it is back to like it was in Kindergarten. I think having a good teacher makes all the difference in the world. I guess I am so glad that he loves his teacher.

Pinewood Derby Car

I thought I would take a couple of pictures of Cole Pinewood Derby car so you could see it.

Spring is coming!!!

Kamden got a new haircut. She loves it and wanted to show it off.

Cole participated in the school talent show again this year. He did his pogo stick again. He loves to do this and the kids think he is so cool. His face got so beat red this year. He says he didn't get embarrassed. He said he had a good time.
Cole tried to do a lot more tricks this year. He tried to spin the pogo stick while he was jumping and he jump with one foot and also with both feet on one side.
A couple of weeks ago Cole had his pinewood derby race and Blue and Gold Banquet.
Cole took fourth this year. He was a little bummed because last year he took second and got to go to the regional race. This year they also bought them trophies for 1st and 2nd place.
Cole had his last basketball game the last Saturday in February and they had a pizza party with cake and trophies. Cole had a fun season. Ryan even enjoyed it this year.

I thought I would try to do better and start updating again on the family blog.

I will start with Cole he has been so busy. He finished up basketball at the end of February and then had baseball tryouts the first weekend in March. Then last Saturday was tryouts again for the older boys and they did the draft this weekend too. Ryan is assistant coaching this year with a guy we meet a few years ago in baseball. They have the same coaching style so Ryan is excited to not have to be in charge and to just be able to help. So Cole was drafted on to the team with Ryan and Brandon. The only other kid on the team that we know is Austin Bennion. He is Shawn Bennion's son. Austin was on Cole's basketball team and in his class at school. Anyway we have been busy with Cole trying to get everything passed off to earn his Bear. We have not been to good getting things done since I have been sick. So we are trying to get things passed off and he had his pinewood Derby a few weeks ago. He designed his own car and picked out the color to paint it and painted it himself. He also made a stand for it at scouts. He seems to really love school this year and his teacher. I am having a hard time because I haven't been able to go in this year and watch him and the other kids. He as I said before did the school talent show and had a good time. Cole has decided to grow his hair out again. It is finally long enough to gel it down a little and spike it up in the front. I can't believe he is 9 boy how fast he has grown. I have been reading a book called "How to teach you kids about sex". I love it so far and I am trying to get through the book so we can have this talk. I think it is so important to have this conversation and then to talk about it often. I think they hear to much at school to soon. If we don't talk I think he will get some wrong information from school. Anyway my point is he is growing so fast and before I know it he wont want much to do with Ryan or I. I hope that never comes but I think it is inevitable.

Kamden is keeping busy also. She has tap and Jazz on Tuesdays and Fridays. We decided to try her out in t-ball this year. She is really excited to start playing. She asks Ryan almost everyday if he will play catch with her. She even goes out and hits the ball off the t. I hope she enjoys it. I will admit it is my favorite. If she doesn't like it that's o.k. with me. I think it is nice for all the kids to try lots of things until they figure out what they like. Kamden also decide she wanted her hair short. Well we decided this a while ago but I never made an appointment. So finally I did and she was sick but I decided to take her anyway. I was afraid if I canceled we would never get in.

Carter seems to be getting in to trouble a lot lately. I think he is having a hard time with mom and he fights all the time with Kamden. His new favorite thing to say is I hate you or poop but head. I flick his mouth and put him in timeout but he hasn't slowed down. He also is loving to hit and bit Kamden. She has a couple of bit marks on her. I can't say she is totally innocent she isn't always kind to Carter. Does someone know of a magic pill I can give them both to get along.

All the kids have been sick pretty much the whole time I did the 6 rounds of chemo. Then I was off for a couple of weeks and everyone was well and no one but me was sick. Then I started chemo and on that Thursday Carter got sick and then Cole was throwing up last Thursday and then Kamden started running a fever on Friday. I think she has an ear infection. So back to everyone being sick. I am hoping that my blessing is still good and that my kids wont get me sick for the next couple of rounds. I have a feeling when this is all over I am going to get every kind of sickness flu colds and everything to pay back for not being sick all winter.

Since I have started these last four rounds. I feel like life is getting back to busyness and very hecked. I am trying to slow things down and rest but life is so busy that is really hard to do. The ward has started bringing in meals which has been so nice and helpful. That is one less thing I have to worry about. Last Friday Ryan decided to put the house up for sale. So I have been busy trying to get it ready. We found some property in Kennewick that we would like to buy. Ryan is afraid it will be gone if we don't buy know. We found out we can't get a loan for property so we have to sell our house and then get a contractor loan. Basically we have to build on it as soon as we buy in order for them to give us a loan. The banks also don't like to loan money to you if you are not a contractor. We think we found one bank that will let us build. Who would have thought that we would live in a day and age where you couldn't build your own home. You use to only be able to build your own home now you almost have to have someone else build for you. I think that is crazy. I think of it a little bit like the seat belt law. I think it is so funny that they make you wear a seat belt for your safety? What happened to freedom or choice?

I am really hoping to be better with the updating on this blog so stay tuned.