Eli

Has it been two months already?! Sheesh! Eli is one of the most cheerful babies ever. He has already laughed several times making a lopsided grin and staring into my eyes. What a loveit! His blessing day was a great day. Thanks to all the family and friends that came and supported us! Jason did a beautiful job and the spirit was strong.
Eli was diagnosed with RSV on Friday and it has been difficult. We feel so blessed, however, because of the priesthood in our home. Dad and Jason gave him a blessing and he was promised that Heavenly Father would be close by to watch and protect him and that He would send his angels to do the same. It said that his body would be comforted and that he had this disease so that his body could build up the immunities that he would need in later life. It also said that it was the power of the priesthood that would protect him. It has been hard watching him go through it but we have had several beautiful moments with him. Sometimes he looks off into space and does a huge grin and laughs. I feel so blessed to have the help of the priesthood and the gospel to aid me in motherhood. I don't know how people survive without them! There are so many nights when I go to bed wondering how on Earth we made it through the day without a trip to the hospital. I'm also grateful because it makes it easier to sleep when I know he is being well looked after!

Happy Freakin Birthday

Happy birthday to my little sister! We had lots of fun growing up and playing together.
My favorite things to do with Amy:

We invented all kinds of games to play at night "to help us fall asleep" but really to keep ourselves awake. We would use the ceiling tiles to find shapes and pictures and challenge each other to find them using a grid for reference. "I see a duck in A-4". We would listen to the We Sing Silly Songs, Bright Tapes, and The Safety Kids tapes over and over, taking turns conducting.

If I could talk her into it, we spent many a Sunday playing card games. I still remember her trying to keep her cards in PRISTINE condition. No shuffling. Just put them on the ground and mix them up so they don't get bent.

Playing with the Schumanns. We would hide in the back of their car when they went home so we could play together longer.

Playing "maid" with Kristen too. We would sit on the couch and order Kristen to bring us food and do chores for us. Kristen liked to be Cinderella and we liked to be in charge.

Anything that involved creativity, Amy always came up with good ideas for make believe.

Amy was always good for a laugh too. She comes up with wild things, like the bobos and other such nonsense.

I think one of my top memories is standing on the Nielson's front sidewalk and her showing us how to do the running man to Paula Abdul's "Opposites Attract".

Happy Birthday Sner, I hope you get you DOLE HOWSE!

The video below is the Bobos. I wasn't there when this was performed but my jaw still hurts after I watch it from laughing so hard.

i UNDERSTAND wheRE ShE IS comINg FRoM

To all my neighbors within a one mile radius: I can explain the screaming. And the shouting. Take 6 children that involve the following lovely combos: 3 (at least) who have ADHD and no meds today, 2 who can't make their pee find the toilet, 1 who saved up until he created a poopy blow out that went all the way up to his neck, one who lost her diaper (also poopy) on the carpet, and no sleep- it gets interesting here in the morning. NOW, let's add-oh....say...husband is at work. Now it gets a little hairy. NOWWWW, let's add the home inspector is coming at 11:00 and it gets crazy. Not only is the home inspector coming, but he's bringing the buyers with him. It would also be fun to factor in the fact that some kids forgot to wear pull-ups last night and triple our laundry for the morning. And WHILE we are on the subject of pee, let's just say that the angel baby boy peed on the recently laundered sheets on my newly made bed. Let's just say. Pretend. OR, we could LIVE it! Yeah, that would be fun. But let's not call social services. I swear I didn't spank anyone! Except, actually I only spanked two little twinlets who were running through the house NAKED, screaming, and giggling for 20 minutes before I lost it. (But really, the spanks were wimpy spanks that just made them laugh harder.) There's nothing wrong here!! Move along about your business.
On the positive side of things, the reason the home inspector came is because after 5 days on the market, we sold our condo!! We are now looking for somewhere to go. ..... anywhere.