~More October stuff

 

A fun picture of the boys playing with nerf guns.

Levi is just SO cute!

I just wish he didn't throw-up every other day.  He seriously pukes at least twice a week (sensitive gag reflex).  I know this picture is disgusting and its border-line neglectful, because he's sitting there in his own vomit...but it was just one of those days that this was the icing on the cake.  ugh!!!!

 

As a side note I know my bathtub is nasty but that is the joy of having no water softener and living in Alaska.  I get sick of scrubbing it every day.  His puke matches the tub!

 

Compliments of a pillow fight and the bench.  Jett probably needed stitches.  Adam and I disagreed on the proper medical treatment for Jett's ouchie.  Adam said he was fine and scars are cool, no dr. needed.  I thought it was gaping open a little too much and needed a professionals opinion.  So I called Jeanette.  She fixed him right up.  She said he probably could have used a few stitches.  She closed it with steri strips.

 

 

 During General Conference the boys were all working on crafts and activities from their Conference Buckets.  Levi did awesome at threading beads.  I swear he sat there for probably 45 minutes, putting the beads on and off of the pipe cleaner.  He eventually became disinterested and that's when the real fun started.  Before we could get the beads away from him, he had stuck a handful in his mouth and was spitting them!  Luckily he didn't choke.

 

 

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We were a little late with Well Checks but both the younger kiddos did good.  They were so cute while they got their stats.

 

Jett is very short and weighs hardly anything.  I think his percentiles were 10-20 for both weight and height.

Levi is short, but is average in weight. 

They both have huge heads though.  It's because they have lots of brains :)  That's what their dad tells them!



 Shots are always bad news...Jett first.  Then Levi. 

Yes I'm taking a picture of them crying instead of comforting them.  Lol  After so many kids you tend to be a little less stressed about things like immunizations, puke, crying in general...



 

Awww, the nurse brought them comfort.  Otter Pops!  All better. 

Yes, I know what you're thinking and I did give them both hugs and lots of love :)

 

~Different ideas of fun

October 2013

 

Our hometeacher was the young mens president and while hometeaching one day, Adam mentioned that he wanted to butcher some of our chickens before it snowed.  Brother Pfost thought it might be fun for the ym to help so they came over one night and Adam showed them how to kill a chicken.  The boys thought it was a great activity and MY little boys liked it too (though they got a little grossed out at times). 

 The set-up...plywood and traffic cones with the top cut off, all held up by sawhorses.

 Turn the chicken upside down in the cone so the head is sticking out of the small, cut-off end, and slit it's throat.  I know.  Gross.

 A new meaning of "drip-dry."

 Simon getting close to the action.

Simon holding a chicken head.  So brave and disgusting!

 Three chickens were slaughtered, gutted, de-feathered and prepared for the freezer.

 At one point during the activity, I heard scratching on my window.  It startled me and I jumped.  I turned to look at the window and a chicken foot was clawing the glass.  So funny!!  I can thank Ethan for that mini heart attack.  (pictured above.  Jett's on his shoulders)

 After all was said and done, the boys ate "S'Mores  I'm not sure how they could eat after that, but they did!

 

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The young women have a different idea of fun (nothing to do with chickens at all!!).  We had a 24 hour Book of Mormon Read.  It was my 3rd time participating in one of these.  It's interesting the different dynamics that have been with each group/ward that has done it.  My first group, ate junk food all night, drank soda and laughed.  It was really fun with great leaders but we didn't finish in 24 hours (probably because of all the sugar and bathroom breaks...ironically by about 5-6 am the guest bathroom toilet was clogged...ewwww!) .  It took us 26 hours that time.  My second group, was super excited and did really well at staying awake.  If they fell asleep they had great attitudes when we woke them.  A lot of those yw were/are spiritual giants (in my eyes).  They had a thirst for all things good.  It was evident because the Spirit was very strong during that "read."  We finished at exactly 24 hours.  It was amazing and I cherish those memories!  This last time (my third), I think most of the girls went into it with the "idea" that staying up all night sounded fun.  Some of the girls had a hard time staying positive and not everyone attended.  We had fantastic support from leaders and the ward though.  I'm not sure if these girls know and understand how much they are loved.  I hope someday they realize it.  And thanks to some awesome speed-readers, we finished early.

 I love the ladies I work with!



 

 

~End of September 2013

The boys finished off running club with a bang.  They both did fantastic especially since the last race was a little over two miles.  Boy were they tired!  So proud of my little runners.

 

 

Another great activity with the young men and young women.  I have been blessed, as I've served in the church, to meet awesome people along the way.  I've been able make great contacts that have brought about fun opportunities for the youth in our ward.  I met a women who was impressed that our church provides good wholesome activities for our youth and we do it on a weekly basis.  She volunteered to come and teach the kids about scuba diving (free of charge I might add).  It was awesome.  Full equipment and great instructors.  Once in a lifetime experience!

 

 

 

Before it snowed Adam put together some playground equipment that's been kicking around the yard.  WHAT A PAIN!! 

 After a long day, we have a finished product.  The boys love it!  Thanks dad!

 

 Date night!  A chilly, but fun night at the Salmon Bake.  While Adam and I were finishing up our dessert, we saw a women with a HUGE plate of crab legs.  We kinda laughed and commented that she must be really hungry.  The next moment she was stuffing them in her purse!!  She noticed us watching and winked, then continued filling her bag.  First off, can you say dishonest?  Second, how gross to have crab legs in your purse.  Ewww!  Later as we were leaving, we saw her walk into the gift shop.  The thought crossed my mind, "What else is she going to stick in her purse?"  If you steal crab legs from an all-you-can-eat restaurant, is that really less of a sin than stealing something of greater value?  Most people would never think of stealing a car, but did this woman think twice about the crab legs? 

 

My chocolate lover...he sniffs it out like a hound dog.

 

 

 

 

Dad gave haircuts this month.. This is Simon.  Oops!

 

I found this picture on my cell phone.  What a funny looking carrot!  We did starter seeds for the carrots and then transferred them to the garden.  Come to find out the little pods don't dissolve in Alaskan soil, so the carrot grew in the shape of a very stretched-out starter pod.  

 

Noah turned 9.  Sweet Noah.  Why is this kid growing up so fast?  Yellow pancakes for his birthday breakfast.

 

 

  

 

This turkey's name is "Dinner."  Yes, I know.  Clever.  He likes to torment me.  Everytime I walk outside he tries to attack me!  I always feel a bit embarrased when he tries to jump on me and I scream.  Little does he know, but I'll win in the end.  Bwahahahahaha...

 

And finally Simon's birthday.  7 years old.  Green pancakes.

 

He wanted what the boys call "worm cake."  They think the icing looks like worms.  Its a Sams Club special and we love it! 

 

I told you Levi likes chocolate!  Before we could get the cake cut, he was already having a piece.  Silly kid.

 

 

 

For Monkey's birthday we got him Taekwondo lessons. This is a picture before his first class. He was so excited!

 

 

This car has done good but it's time to say goodbye to "The Boogie."  For almost a year, there has been a short in the headlight and brake light wiring.  At randon times the headlights will just go out.  And the brake lights just went out and never came back on.  Scared me to death one night when I was on my way home from activities and everything went completely dark.  The other issue is the heater.  Doesn't work when it hits about -10.  If we have to go anywhere when it's super cold, my poor boys have to be in full gear and then I wrap blankets around them.  We've tried several times to get these problems fixed, but after spending thousands of dollars and the problems have returned, we're done.  I'm excited to go car shopping!

~Beginning of September 2013

Again trying to play catch-up...

 

Our final harvest from the garden was this lettuce.  Can I just say I LOVE fresh lettuce!!  It's so satisfying to walk out the front door and pick fresh veggies that we've grown ourselves.  Adam heard somewhere that lettuce will last a long time in just a plain ol ziplock and something about paper towels.  There was a miscommunication somewhere because I thought I was supposed to wash it and then separate it with paper towels.  Needless to say THAT did not work.  My lettuce didn't last long at all.  Come to find out, I had everything all wrong.  Oh well, we'll try again next year.

 

 

 

 

Our neighbor had a yard sale so I and the kids stopped by.  They had this nifty little raft for sale and it looked fun, so I bought it.  We took it out on a little pond and had a fun taking turns riding in it with dad.  You may notice fishing poles, but as usual we didn't catch anything.  Always fun to try though.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jett's Birthday is September 1st.  He picked purple pancakes for his birthday breakfast.  King for a day! Jett is now 4 years old.

 Love that smile.

 We had a great outdoor activity with the young women.  Mud obstacle course.  It was fun!