Ben's Elbow

Today we went to Ririe for our nephew's baptism (congrats Colter!!!!)

Benjamin climbed onto Ethan's back during the closing prayer (while Ethan was still sitting down).

When Ethan got up, Ben started to slide off so Ethan grabbed his arm & pulled him over his shoulder.

 And popped the elbow out (also called "nurse maid elbow).  Since we have experienced this with all of our kids (at least once), I wasn't panicked, but I knew he needed to go to the doctor.    So Rusty rigged a sling for his arm (I found an ace bandage in the van).  After a dose of baby Tylenol, he was fine for the 1 1/2 hours before we got him to the doctor's.

In fact, he got down & played while we were at Colter's house eating and visiting with family.  He was such a good boy at the doctor's (we just went to a redi-care since it's Saturday) & got 3 suckers after it was popped back in.  Three to make sure he could reach in 3 directions.  And to show what a loving boy he is, he shared his suckers with Zane & Emmalee.  (Ethan & Callum had already gone home with Grandpa).

It was great to visit with our family, and we look forward to weddings the next couple of months for more family time!  And we are really hoping that a camping trip to Montana works for us this summer!

PS--And his arm being in a sling didn't slow him down one bit!  And he is still going!

Spring Day

It has been cloudy for a couple of weeks now--I hope we have sunshine soon!  (and maybe even 50 degrees??)

 Emmalee talking to Wilbur

 Benjamin & Zeb 

 Emmalee, Ethan & Ben

 Callum getting ready to feed the pigs.

 Rusty, Zeb & Benjamin

 Benjamin peeking in at the pigs.

 Rusty & Emmalee keeping the pigs inside their shelter while Callum gets them food & milk.  Otherwise Wilbur knocks him over.

 Ben was just laughing at Zeb licking him, so I turned to take his picture.  Just as I took it, he hit his head.

The pigs were ready to get out!  But Emmalee is enjoying watching them.

I didn't stick around to take pictures of them eating because I went inside to fix my family their dinner:  homemade biscuits & sausage gravy, hash browns, & fruit (pineapple, oranges, grapes).  YUM!! 

Spring Fling Week--Day 4

Thursday was Hawaiian Day--and of course, it snowed.

 When Brienna left for seminary early this morning, it was just barely sticking to the ground.

But when she came home for lunch, she ended up with cold feet. (she doesn't look too happy!)

 She decided to change her shoes, because she felt like she was walking barefoot in the snow.

 Zane left a little later & there was a nice layer of snow on the ground, so he wore his tennis shoes.

I guess it's nice to dream of being in Hawaii!

Spring Fling Week--Day 3

Today was Movie Star day--I think that is a hard one to dress up for.

Brienna was going to wear a "red carpet" dress, but decided she didn't want to be in a fancy dress all day.

 So she settled on this dress.  Here she is with attitude.

 Smile for the camera!  (and see the blur of a jumping Benjamin!)

 Poising for all the "paparazzi"

 So then Emmalee wanted to wear some "cool" glasses too & get some "glam" shots.

 Gotta love it!

 This is her "smile-but-not-silly" look.

And the reason Zane's pictures aren't here:  He was going to dress up as Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley from Harry Potter), but the wig wasn't right, and we couldn't find the orange hair spray.  And then he had after school club (Science), then dinner & a Boy Scout Merit Badge Pow Wow 30 miles south of us.  

So he had already changed into his scout uniform when I realized I hadn't taken a picture of him.

But I plan on getting pictures tomorrow:   Hawaiian Day!

Benjamin--Playing School

Benjamin found Emmalee's backpack she used when she went to Pamela's.

So I asked if he wanted to play school.  

 He grabbed my hand & headed to the door--he wanted to GO to school!  

 He remembers going to the high school last week to "help" Brienna with her demonstration speech.  I convinced him to just go into Ethan's room & play school. 

Gotta love the glasses he found.  And he also got a lunch box out to carry around.  But instead of putting food in it, he put a doll & a ball.  

 Then he wanted to comb his hair.  So we got the spray bottle out & he combed his hair.

 He looked very handsome, but when I got the camera out, he had a fit, messed up his hair, and got pouty.

 so this is these are the best pictures I could get.

 Although it looks like he is smiling, he really isn't very happy with me.

I guess he is practicing putting his head on the "desk" ;)

Spring Fling Week--Day 2

 Pirate Day.

 I love her pirate shoes!!!  

Education Fair--March 9, 2011

Another post that was in my "drafts".

This was Wednesday, March 9, 2011

The elementary has an Education Fair every spring.  It is like a science fair, but the displays aren't always science projects.  And the school hosts a book fair.

Emmalee by her desk--with a painted turtle and the earth (paper-mache on a ball--and she got to bring the "earth ball" home!) 

She was more than eager to show everyone her projects!

Callum had lots of projects that he worked on for about 6 weeks.  He had to pick a book & complete 6 or 8  different assignments about the book.  Here you see his homemade TV version of the book, "Wild River".

He also wrote a "prequel" chapter for the book, made a map of Idaho out of salt-play dough, gave a speech on why someone should buy the book, and then various other projects at school.  He did an excellent job!

Here he is demonstrating how to poke a stick (wooden skewer) through a balloon without popping it. 

Ta-da!!

And Benjamin parked himself by our turtle & fish--that live at school in Rusty's room during the school year.

Every time we are at the school, he likes to sit by them.

Brienna, Rusty & Emmalee 

Benjamin's Hearing Test

I thought I posted this one, but found it in my "drafts".

This was around March 10, 2011.

When it was determined that Benjamin was delayed in speech by 10 months, they decided he needed his hearing tested.  This is one of the tests they did.  He sat so still, and cooperated 100%.  I really couldn't believe that this well-behaved child was my little Benjamin!!!  

And the good news:  He has awesome hearing & no build up of any fluid in the ear canals.

One Year Anniversary

Today is my 1-year anniversary of being sugar-free.

Well--refined, white sugar-free.  For more clarification, read this post.


I don't have any desire to start eating sugar again, so I guess I'll just continue on my journey in life--minus the sugar!!


PS--it's been 2 months since I drank a pop.  I have to admit that I miss my caffeine-free diet Dr. Peppers!  I'm not sure how long I'll go without pop (Brienna gave me "permission" to drink pop again.  She was the one that challenged me to quit drinking pop).

Spring Fling Week--Day 1

Monday was super hero/villain dress up day at the for Zane & Brienna.

Brienna wanted to be a minion, but we couldn't find everything she needed for it.

 So she decided to be Cat Woman.

 Meeee-ow!

What a great Cat Woman she was! 

 Zane started out as Megamind, but ended up deciding he was a jedi (I think that's what he told me) from Star Wars.

We tried to get something for his hair to make the bubble/light-bulb head, but it didn't work.

Tuesday is Pirate Day!