Happy Birthday Devin!!!!

I know every parent is always amazed that they could have a child as old as their oldest, no matter what their age. I remember my parents saying, "I can't believe I have a 16 year old....a 20 year old.....a 30 year old.....and so on. But, seriously, I can't believe Devin is 9 today!!! Crazy. This picture is his one year photo-one of my favorites! Just look at those cheeks!

Devin is a great oldest child. He is very responsible. He watches out for his brothers, even when he hasn't been asked. His teachers always say what a well behaved kid he is and what a good example he is to the other students in his classes. Devin loves to be doing exciting things. He wants to have something to look forward to all the time. But, he also likes down time at home. (I guess we had better enjoy that while it lasts :) ) He doesn't like to have things scheduled right after school because he wants to come home and veg for awhile.
Devin loves baseball, I think he likes learning about the players and their stats more then he likes actually playing, but he enjoys playing, too. He played outfield, second base, and catcher this year, and he did a great job. Although he was disappointed that his team was the Cincinnati Reds and not the Dodgers. :) I couldn't find a song that had the Dodgers in it, so you'll have to imagine them saying....root, root, root for the Dodgers....:)
We love you Devin and we're so proud of the person you are. Have a very happy birthday!!!!

Pop$&%^#!$#@Corn

Mark worked the dreaded 5pm-1am shift last night. The boys and I were eating popcorn and watching Tarzan (at Ty's request). I got up to switch the laundry and came back to hear Ty talking about his nose. At first I thought he just needed to blow it, but then I put two and two together and looked up his nose to see a popcorn kernel! It was right there, so I pushed on the side of his nose and it popped right out. Then I proceed to check the other nostril, and see another one! Same procedure. Okay, no harm done. All is well. WELL, luckily I looked in both nostrils and saw TWO MORE!!! It took a little more coaxing, but I got those two out as well. There couldn't be anymore, could there? I checked, and sure enough! Two more!! They were a ways back, and I wasn't sure what to do, so I did what all good moms do, I called my mommy. She calmly suggested I try saline spray to wash them down, and then a bulb syringe to pull them down until I could get to them. Meantime, Noah is screaming and Sam is going into exaustive detail about something or other. I got Noah in his bouncy seat with a bottle propped, and I told Sam that now was not a good time for Mom to be listening because there were kernels to be extricated. Mom's plan worked fairly quickly on the right side- about 10 minutes- but the left one wouldn't come out. That's when I called Mark. Anyone want to guess what he suggested?? Prayer. Now why didn't I think of that!!! We knelt down, and I was about to pray when Ty started, "Heavenly Father, bless my nose, seed, no infection, no doctor...." So, cute!! After the prayer it seriously took me only about 1 minute to get the kernel out! Sheesh! I was exhausted! Now, thank heavens it was Ty who had stuck kernels up his nose and not Sam. Sam would not have calmly sat on the couch while I knelt in front of him sticking syringes, saline and tweezers up his nose!!!! Just another day in the life...

So, you would think the story would end there, right? WRONG. This morning Mark was getting ready to leave for work when he decided to look in Ty's nose with a flashlight. Yes, people, there was ANOTHER kernel!!!!!! Four up the left nostril, three up the right. I swear that kid! This one was really up there and we thought we might be making yet another trip to the ER. But, thankfully Ty suddenly got the hang of blowing his nose, and he blew it right out on to his lap. Gross, but so beautiful!!! I let out an audible sigh.

Summer Time!!

I love Summer!! I could do without the 100 degree temps, but other then that, I love it! Maybe it's because it brings back memories of my childhood summers. Baseball, swimming, playing outside all day and into the night, sleep overs, fireworks, picnics, family parties... One thing that puts a damper on all of that is year-round school! There are definite benefits to it, but the traditional summer has been shortened to three weeks for my kids. Bummer. They even have to miss the first day of school in order to go to a family reunion that is at the end of July! Oh, well. We will make the most of it. The traditional kids will be in school when the heat gets more tolerable, but my kids will be off for three weeks and we can extend the Summer fun! I guess I have to look at it that way. We're enjoying the weekends right now. Here are some pictures, swimming in the backyard and building a go-cart out of an old crib, a plastic bin, and several other odds and ends. Ty was the only one light enough to try it out. Devin and his friend Blake from across the street are always dreaming up inventions. Blake's mom jokes that we need to dig an underground tunnel from our house to theirs. Not a bad idea. Blake's little brother Preston is a year older then Ty, and they are good friends, too.

One last thought on Summer, don't you think there is a smell to it? Mark and I talk about it every year. There is some kind of smell that lets you know it's summer. A plant of some kind? A weed? Hard to put a finger on it, but what ever it is, it's great! Mark's favorite thing is to ride around in the car with the windows down on Summer nights. You can really catch the Summer smell then.
P.S. Happy B-day to Travis and KC....two great uncles and brothers-in-law!!! All the cool people are born in June, right? And January :)

No Sweets, Day 3

I have NEVER made a pact to go without sweets, because frankly, it's self- torture, and not worth the agony! But, last Sunday night I foolishly gave in and made a pact with Mandy, Chris, Mark, and Carrie not to eat sweets, i.e. desserts, candy, etc. for eight weeks. We even did the Seinfeld pinkie swear!! Not only that, but we are training for the 5K and 10K at South Weber Days in August. I must report my progress because people, it is amazing!! On Tuesday I needed an afternoon pick-me-up so I got out the good 'ole Sam's Choice trail mix-peanuts, raisins, almonds, cashews, and M&M's....before you condemn me, I did not have ONE stinking M&M!! You know how you get a handful of that stuff and you can never seem to get an M&M? Well, this time I couldn't get a handful without one, so I promptly put them back in the bag. Aren't you impressed???? Last night was enrichment night and I had to make brownies, buy ice cream, hot fudge, caramel, and nuts. Do you think I had even one brownie crumb???? NO People! NO! So for what it's worth, I have gone THREE, count 'em, THREE whole days with out a treat. I deserve something for that-carrot stick, anyone?

Man vs. The Machine

Monday night started out quietly enough. I was sitting on the porch balancing the checkbook with Noah in the bouncer, Mark was mowing the lawn like the good husband that he is. After a while I hear the lawnmower stop and I look up to see Mark standing there with blood dripping off his hand. He didn't make a sound, just stood there. I said, "What happened?" He said, "I don't know." We went in the house and he started running water over his fingers and he told me that he had turned the lawn mower off because it wasn't cutting right and he wanted to see if there was something wrong with the blade. When he went to lift up the lawn mower (it's a riding mower), he heard the blade hit his fingers. He then said, "I think I need to go to the hospital." I called my mom, who was so wonderful to come right over. We went to the ER and found out that he had shattered the tips of his middle and ring fingers on his left hand. The middle finger nail was waving in the breeze because the blade had cut right through the nail bed. The x-ray showed his finger tips in three or four little pieces. The Doc stitched his fingers up, including the nail, and wrapped them. The next day we went to a plastic surgeon who said the bones should heal up by themselves and to keep them wrapped and splinted for two weeks. Gory stuff! Mark said the most painful thing was when they numbed the nerves in his fingers before they washed out the wounds. But, if it were me, I would have fainted at the moment it all happened!!

The moral of the story-NEVER stick your hand under the lawn mower, even when it's off!!!! The good thing to come out of it, he has a great finger to give anyone who cares to cross him-a big blue one!!

Tagged, again.

Four places I visit over and over: Seattle, Colorado, California, the funny farm-I see most of you there, too!!

Four people that e-mail me regularly: Family, Monster.com, the stake Sunday School President-I guess he's e-mailing Mark, not me.

Four of my favorite foods: Pepper Belly's Chicken and Strawberry Salad-you have not lived until you've tried it!!!, Chili's Molten Lava Chocolate Cake, Applebee's Oriental Wrap, Just about anything at Red Robin

Four places I'd rather be: On vacation, in bed, on a date with Mark, on a girl's night out

Four movies I'd watch over and over: The Wedding Singer, Princess Bride, Kung Fu Panda (You MUST see it!!), Nacho Libre, School of Rock-can you tell I'm a Jack Black fan?

Four bands/groups I love to listen to: U2, The Police/Sting, Natasha Bedingfeld (?), Carrie Underwood

Piano Man

Devin had his piano recital on Saturday. He did a great job, and even though he gives me major problems when it comes to practicing, I think he enjoyed himself. He had told me that he wanted to quit after the recital, but when it was all said and done he said he would keep taking lessons. I'm tellin' ya, not only is it a wonderful thing to know how to do, but not many boys play these days, and there is something about a piano man :)...I think he'll be glad when he's 17 and the girls are impressed with his skills. Admit it girls, you always had something for the guys who could play a musical instrument, and we're NOT talking the tooting that follows a big meal-Chris, Mark, KC and Travis :) Funny how none of us married the muscial types, oh well. Mark does play a little guitar...and I know Michael plays piano-I remember Mom was very impressed by that!! Here is the video, for some reason my camera shut off a few seconds before he finished, but he ended as great as he started! Way to go Dev!

He's Legal

Mark passed his licensing exam yesterday. We were very nervous because only 1 in 3 people pass the first time, even though you only need 70% to pass. He works with several people who have taken the test at least twice and still haven't passed! Those of you who know the DSM IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) know it is one BIG book, and is impossible to study in depth, especially in a limited amount of time. Mark had several practice tests he took on the computer, but he wasn't too sure he could do it-of course he did!! With a lot of studying, a lot of praying, and divine intervention he can now diagnose and treat you for any of your various mental disorders :)

He is now officially: Mark Spalding, MSW, LCSW

SWEET!