Dirty Jobs

Our trampoline of 6 years had seen better days.

It was time for a new one. And since we were going through the effort of putting a new trampoline together, we (Paul) decided to make the hole extra rain resistant. You see, the problem with having a Jerry-rigged in ground trampoline is that when it rains, the earth around the trampoline gets washed under, thus creating large holes around the tramps frame.

The workers:

(What a mess!!!)

Andrew and Barik headed outside right after school with their pick ax and shovels to work on this hole (only to have it covered a couple days later).

At the end of 6 days (filled with lots of dirty clothes and sore muscles), the masterpiece was complete and enjoyed by all!

Paul decided to turn one of the rain-made holes into a secret entrance to the "Underworld". The boys LOVE their hide-a-way!

Good Bye Bubbles...

Hello Waves...

Barik felt a little left out with all the room changes that happened several months ago, so this was our compromise. Rather than buying a new house (this one was "boring") I repainted and rearranged their room. We all approve.

We're going to the Zoo, Zoo, Zoo.

How 'bout you, you, you? You can come too, too, too. Cause we're going to the Zoo, Zoo, Zoo.

A trip to the Zoo capped off the first graders Animal unit. With the enlisted help of a couple friends to watch Cooper (thanks Abby) and Drake (thanks Julie) I was able to accompany Barik's class as a chaperone to the Wildlife World Zoo. I always love the opportunity to spend a little more intimate time with each one of my boys. Even though Charlie was part of our little group, I was still able to spend lots of time w/ my little Bear.

Feeding the birds...

This was the ONLY animal Barik would touch. Not the giraffe. Not the goat. Not the llama.
No. The non-fuzzy turtle was the lucky one to win Barik's affection.

Smitten

I've got some new competition. I'm not quite sure how I feel about it either. Cooper is only 4...much too young to think that anything or anyone is prettier than his Mama! I should have learned this already when we were in Utah over Christmas vacation. You see, I was told, by Cooper that Sage (the DOG) is prettier than me. Not only that, but Cooper loves Sage (THE DOG) more than me. I'm just not ready to be kicked off my pedestal yet.
Are you curious to know who my latest competition is?

Her name is Ms. Susan Bocks Dutter Docks Berklummer Snue. And she even has her own book! It's all about her! How can I possibly compete with that?!

So, when Cooper asks to stare at "the pretty girl" before going to bed, I guess I'll allow it...So long as the pretty girl is in a Dr. Seuss book.

My body: Ice. My throat: Fire. My saliva: Gasoline.

I don't get sick. At least not sick enough to need a Doctor. I visit my O.B. once a year for my obligatory yearly exam. And that's it.

I guess there's a first time for everything...

Tuesday night my left gland was the size of a ping pong ball. Swallowing was very painful. So painful that it woke me every time I did so. With a fitful night's sleep, Wednesday was a rough day. This was Day 2 of poor sleep (I slept on Drake's floor Monday night trying to comfort him through his fever spells). I can deal with one night of poor sleep, but not two. Tears are FAR too close to the surface under those circumstances. And I was a blubbering fool Wednesday...

and Thursday...

and Friday.

Between my own issues and Cooper's and Drakes multi-nightly visits, a good night's sleep was impossible.

Friends and family kept asking if I had strep. "I don't get strep. My kids don't get strep. Paul doesn't get strep. It must just be a bad sore throat." SORE THROAT...That sounds SO wimpy!!! But the PAIN and DISCOMFORT that this "sore throat" caused was unbelievable. The chills set in on Thursday. I was living on ibuprofen. It took the edge of the pain off...barely. I only got off the couch when absolutely necessary.

Having accepted the idea that this bug wasn't going anywhere without force, I resorted to making a few Doctor calls. Starting with my O.B. (my only Doctor). But he only deals with "girlie" issues. Next...Doctor or P.A. friends. Both were booked. One didn't even have an appointment available for 6 days. SERIOUSLY?!?! What's a sick girl supposed to do for SIX DAYS?!?! So, I either spend another $130 at Urgent Care, or call in a favor. But with $130 Urgent Care bill for Drake AND $577 E.R. bill for Cooper both sitting in my drawer waiting to be paid, Urgent Care was the least desirable option.

After describing my symptoms to my "friend", a prescription was ordered. "Sounds like strep." I guess I'll never know if it was REALLY strep. But who cares. I'm feeling better now. Saturday morning my throat felt as good as if I was on ibuprofen (and I wasn't). By Saturday afternoon, I could swallow without ANY pain. Starting just today, I'm able to yawn without pain.

I'm SO thankful for my health!!! Having lived only a few days with less than ideal health, I am very mindful of those who live with pain and disease every day. I'm grateful that is NOT one of my challenges. I wouldn't deal well with that one. I'm also SO grateful for Doctors and Scientists who discovered the healing powers of penicillin. I'm grateful for a "friend" who put their reputation on the line to help someone in need. I'm grateful for friends and family who were praying for my health to return. I'm grateful for my husband who picked up the slack and made meals for the boys and I. He cleaned up after those meals and then took over the bed time routine to let me veg the rest of the night away. He even had a sleep over with Barik and Cooper so I could have a room to myself where no little "sleep walkers" could find me. And I'm thankful for my sweet boys who were so concerned about their "sick" momma. Your tender words of sympathy will be cherished.

Cooper-Crazy

Is my new name for our 4 year old. He thinks it's really funny. I never know what to expect from him. I often leave shaking my head in disbelief. For example...

After throwing an absolute, throw-down fit over having the blinking light of his tooth brush turned ON one night, (which resulted in spending quite a bit of time outside in his undies "chilling out") I didn't turn it on the next night. "I want it ON!!!" he yelled at me.

"It's time to go to preschool, Cooper." In near melt-down mode he responds, "I don't want to go to preschool!" I try to point out the best in every situation. So when there's school, he "gets" to go to school. When there's not school, he "gets" to stay home. On Monday, when he doesn't have preschool, he asks if he has to go to school. "No, you get to stay home today." "BUT I WANT to go to school!!!" Ugh!

"Cooper, will you get your jacket on?" "I don't WANT to wear a jacket!" So we leave without a jacket. "Where's my JACKET?!?!"

"I don't want a bath!" followed with "I don't want to get OUT of the bath!"

"I don't care if I have dessert tonight." "Why don't I GET dessert?"

I never know when he's going to turn. I'm sure it's just a 4 year old thing. But this 4 year old is bi-polar! Laughing hysterically at one moment and then crying equally hysterically at the next.

That being said, I sure love this kid! He and Barik have become such good friends over the past several months. I remember this happened when Andrew and Barik shared a room. Brothers turned into best friends. Now it's Cooper and Barik's turn. They were just brothers before. But now they are best friends. They seek each other out when they have something funny to share. They both think the other is hilarious! They are each others biggest fans. It's good to have Barik's good influence over Cooper.

As a side note, Cooper recently became aware of germs. Drake wanted a drink of Cooper's Gatorade, to which Cooper replied, "He can't. He'll be a zombie!!" Maybe Cooper drank a zombie's Gatorade. That could explain why he is "Cooper-Crazy."

There's no place like home for the Holidays

Cousins

Grandparents

Aunts

Uncles

Sleep overs

Parties

They can't be beat! And the exhaustion that comes as a result of all the fun is well worth it!

We had our Christmas a week early this year so we could drive up to Salt Lake to attend Grandpa's funeral services. The kids had absolutely no qualms about this plan! (not the funeral part--they didn't have a choice with that, but the early Christmas part).

The car was packed...every nook and cranny filled with some sort of essential for the trip. Stockings (for when Santa comes), coats, hats, mittens, boots, 1 week worth of clothes for each of us, church clothes, church shoes, diapers, wipes, blankets, Christmas gifts for our Utah family.

We made it to my parents in record time. I'll tell you, the completing of the Dam Bridge cut about 30 minutes off our drive. 9 hours and 15 minutes later, we pulled into my parents driveway. Monday morning, it was all business as we readied ourselves for Grandpa's funeral. Andrew and Barik would accompany Paul and I. Michelle graciously accepted the challenge of watched Cooper and Drake. I knew they wouldn't understand what was happening. But more than that, I didn't want to deal with their whining and boredom at the funeral. We were in for a long day.

The snow was falling like crazy! HUGE flakes! Andrew was an awesome helper and shoveled the driveway before we left. In his suit.

Seriously! Isn't he SO handsome?!

The other boys could NOT stay out of the white stuff! They didn't care that we were pressed for time and their Dad couldn't keep them out of it.



After the funeral, we picked up the Cooper and Drake and headed downtown Salt Lake for a FREE Christmas Sing-a-Long with John Schmidt at the Jazz's Arena. Even though Andrew said that he didn't have ANY fun, I know the rest of us had a blast!

The snow didn't stop for a couple days. Mom and Dad's yard was a winter wonderland! With most people snowed it, the street and sidewalk quickly became perfect sledding hills.


Drake, with his excellent aim, nailed me in the face with many snowballs.

Ready...

Aim...

Fire!!!

He had a blast slipping, sliding and falling all over that cold white stuff.

And what's 14" of snow good for, if not building a gigantic fort?

The King of the Fort, himself...

Before we knew it, Christmas Eve was upon us. I had been sleeping with Darth Vader (croupy Drake) for the previous 2 nights, so decided to get him into a Dr. before the Holiday/Long weekend was upon us. Thankfully, the Doctor prescribed some steroids (to open his breathing passages! What else would he need steroids for?!?!) to help with his breathing.

Drake woke up from his nap, found his cousin Kaden and snuggled right in...Kaden was so sweet with him. So calming and soothing for our upset little guy.



My family gets together Christmas Eve for all the festivities. It's been YEARS since we've been in Utah on Christmas Eve. We tried last year, but a VERY sick Cooper made it impossible to get there in time. There really is NO place like home for the holidays! The 20 foot dining table wasn't even big enough for all 31 of us (a few were missing). I loved every minute of it! That is, every minute until that last few...

Cooper was playing with his older cousin, Dillan. We were packed up, just getting ready to go when we heard the scream. You know the one I'm talking about. Not the "someone's messing with me and I'm mad" scream, not the "someone hurt my feelings and I'm sad" scream. No. The "something serious happened, drop whatever you were doing and come fast" scream. I really don't like that scream. This scream said, "I flew backward and hit the back of my head on the corner of Grandma and Grandpa's slate coffee table breaking off a chunk" scream.

Blood was running down his neck and back. Blood was soaking through dry wash cloths. We couldn't find the source of the bleeding. It was covered with his hair. But it was bleeding. A lot.

We know the routine. But we were out of town. Where is the closest Urgent Care? Are they open at 7 p.m. Christmas Eve? No?

OK, next option, the ER. Where's the closest ER?

While Paul was pulling the car around, my Dad and Brent administered a blessing to Cooper. Then we were off.

Miracle number one...The ER was completely empty. Paul filled out the paper work while they took Cooper and I back to the exam room. During much weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth, the Dr. cleaned his cut.

Miracle number two...3 options. Glue (which would be messy in the hair), nothing (the bleeding had slowed substantially) or a staple. DUH!!! We chose option 2. Nothing.

Miracle number three...Option 2. I know the bleeding stopped because of the blessing!

Miracle number four...We were in and out of the ER in 30 minutes! Unheard of, right?!

(Post Script) Miracle number five...That $577 ER bill was just reduced to $119. (Wait!!! Scratch miracle number 5...that $119 was just for the Dr. The $577 was for the Hospital. What a joke!!!)

Finally we were off to G and G Boleys. Christmas day was nearly upon us. We got the kids to bed, got ourselves to bed and waited for Good Ol' Saint Nick to come.

Cooper, Drake and Barik LOVED their pillow pets! Andrew LOVED his remote controlled helicopter. And I was too lame to capture any pictures!

Christmas evening was spent with the Paul's family (minus the M. Boley family). More gifts. More fun with cousins! Then off to Aunt Linda's for yet more gifts and more family time! We all LOVE it!

More snow fell while we were visiting G and G Boley. This stuff was like powdered sugar. Barik and Conner made puffs of snow as they fell backward...

It was a little extra cold this day. We had to really bundle this little guy up.

The boys just LOVE the snow!

On one of the coldest days of the year, we decided to take the kids on Trax downtown to see the temple. Conner took Drake's place in our family this day...





More fun was had at the M. Boleys. It was especially fun to watch Barik and Mena perform their "Frosty the Snowman" duet.


Our memorable trip was capped off at Denice's annual New Years Eve party/Dad's Birthday party. The men watched football, the cousins played, and the women gabbed while more inside jokes were made. This year's winner will be referred to as "Buff" and will remain an inside joke. Only the insiders know what it means...(kinda makes ya wonder, doesn't it?!)

Oh, there really is NO place like home for the holidays!