Family Walk/pictures with Daddy

Travis looks so handsome in his uniform

Travis put this branch in his shirt, and the kids had get it

In memory of chippy the squirrel

Caleb looking adoringly down at his Daddy

Travis chasing Sam

Travis caught Sam and Joe

Crazy monkey Man

Crazy monkey boy

Travis looked at this and said "oh..it's my son(sun)"

Travis picked up Austin over his shoulder

Graduation pictures

lock your doors around Samuel and too much going on

I have have too much going on this past week or so, and I feel the need to vent to relieve my stress, and this blog is a good outlet. Last week Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday were filled with finals and papers, which we finally got done!  Yeah!!  Thursday was graduation, and Travis had a lot of his family coming, so we spent all morning cleaning and getting ready for the party we were having at our house afterwards, for all the family who were coming up for graduation.  Travis' sister and her kids were going to watch my kids so that I could go to graduation, and they were late getting there, so I had to rush over to the marriot center with the baby to get there in time.  The place was packed, but luckily Travis' mom and sister had walked over earlier to save seats, but we were still way up high, and it was really hot too.  The baby fell asleep on the way over, so he slept in my arms the first part of it, and then I took him in the halls the rest of the time.  Travis looked so handsome in his graduation cap and gown, and his army uniform.  Anyway the party afterwards was fun, but was very busy getting all the food and such taken care of.  After the party, we cleaned up and went to bed.  Friday was also filled with graduation events, which was fun, but long, and I kept having to follow Caleb and Sam around.  There was a lunch afterwards so we stayed for that, but Travis' mom and sister had to leave so they didn't stay for that.  We finally got home, just barely in time for the rest of the kids to get home from school.  We had to clean up after having company, and were trying to get ready for our garage sale in the morning, and packing up stuff for Travis to take Sunday morning on his trip to Colorado (he was taking a trailer full of stuff to put in storage).  Travis picked up the trailer, and put garage sale signs up around the neighborhood.  Samuel kept leaving the house and riding his bike around, and I would look out the window occasionally to make sure he was still were he was supposed to be, and one time I couldn't see him, so I grabbed to baby and we walked around to find Samuel.  One of the neighbors was just getting home, and saw me and waved me over.  She told me that Their neighbors had called them and said Samuel was in their house while they were gone.  She said he had taken some food, and played with some toys.  I was appalled, I apologized to her, and told her I would talk to Sam.  By the time I was done talking to her, I saw Sam had returned to the house and went home to confront him.  After getting the whole story out of Samuel, I discovered that he had been riding around looking for a friend to play with (I had already told him he couldn't play with friends) and he knocked on their door and when they didn't answer he went inside to see if his friend was there.  He looked around and couldn't find him, so he decided to wait until he got home, and while he was waiting he got hungry so had some food, and played with his friends' toys, because he was bored.  So it made sense in Samuel's mind, but I talked to him about not going into other people's houses when they are not home.  Then he told me, he did the same thing at two other friend's houses.  I couldnt' believe it.  Anyway we took some fresh bread that I had made over to their house, and Samuel apologize and said he wouldn't go into there house again when they weren't home. So after that, Samuel has to have me, or one of the other kids with him in order to leave our house. 
So early Saturday morning Travis (at 3:30) and I (5:30) woke up and got to work getting ready for the garage sale.  I made three different kinds of muffins, and then helped pull everything out of the house for the sale.  The kids were helping a little bit, but mostly just wanted to play in the uhaul trailer Travis and rented.  So as soon as we had everything out for the sale, we would take turns packing everything up, watching the kids, and manning the garage sale.  My muffins sold really well, and we sold some green smoothies and popcorn as well.  It was a slow day for customers, maybe because it was graduation day, but we did make over $100 so it was worth the work, I guess.  The landlords are trying to sell the house we are renting, so the realtor came over and put up a sign and said he needed to take pictures, and showed someone the house.  I was embarrassed because in every room things had been torn apart, due to packing, and pulling stuff out for the garage sale.  And the kids had been making lots of messes while Travis and I were busy.
Betsy was playing with one of her friends, and she was petting her cat and the cat bit and scratched her arm up, she came running home, with her arm bleeding.  I washed her arm, rubbed some lavender oil on her temples and neck to help calm her down, and bandaged up her wounds, only 5 of the bites or scratches were bleeding enough to need a bandaid, and then she was good as new. 
 Joseph was playing at one of his friends houses, and he lost control and hurt his friend.  He was extremely distraught and sorrowful, he kept running away, and he wouldn't talk to anyone, after a couple of hours of trying to communicate with him, he finally told me he had a hurt the other boy and that everyone hated him, and he wasn't worth loving, no one could love him.  I was really concerned, since I had never seen Joseph so distressed and feeling unworthy of love.  I tried talking to him about the atonement, and how Heavenly Father and Jesus love him unconditionally, and that we, his family, love him too.  I told him to pray, but he said he couldn't.   I called the other boys' mom, and made sure he was okay, and they said he was just fine, just a little upset with Joseph.  We finally called everyone in the family (except Joseph, he wouldn't come, he just kept hiding) and had a family prayer for him.  A little while after that Joseph came to me, and said he was feeling better, and I told him that we had a family prayer for him, and that we love him.  He went over to the boys house and wanted to apologize to them, they weren't home, so he said he was going to stay on the front porch and wait for them to get home, because he refused to leave until he said sorry, it was too important.  So I left him there and he stayed there for an hour, but they we had to leave, so he called him on his mom's cell phone, and said sorry.  So that night at 6pm we went to a Kaleigh (a Scottish party, pronounced just like my name) with the other chaplain guys in the program, and we were late but, we still had way too much to pack and take care of, so we only stayed about an hour and a half, but it was really fun. We got home, and Travis Dad came with us, since he was going on the trip with Travis.  We worked until almost midnight, but then had to go to sleep.  We woke up early again, and I made Travis and his Dad some food for lunch and dinner.  Travis' Dad had a diarrhea accident in the night, and dripped all the way from the couch to the bathroom, and made quite a mess of the bathroom and such, so Travis cleaned up most of that,  he was very sweet to take care of his Dad.  Anyway we went to sacrament meeting at the earlier ward so Travis could get on his way to Colorado, and Caleb and Samuel were being difficult, so we left after the Sacrament.  I helped Travis finish packing up, and they left on there way.  He forgot to take the couch and some other things inside from the garage sale, so I had to call our neighbor to help me move some stuff.  Then the kids and I went to primary in our ward.  The house was completely trashed from the weekend stuff.  Monday I woke up early and took care of kids, and tried to clean as much as I could.  Travis called me and told me I had to decide by today at noon, if the kids and I were going to come with him to South Carolina or not, because the army needed to know right away.  With everything that's been going on, I have not had the time to think about it, and I really wanted to go to the temple before I decided, so that's been a stressful thing for me.  After praying about it last night, I decided we're just going to stay in Oregon with my parents, and not do the extra traveling to South Carolina.  So Monday morning the realtor called (the landlord is selling the house we're renting) and needed to show the house to 3 different people.  I told him I needed at least until Tuesday, so he made three appointments for Tuesday, so I worked like crazy Monday and Tuesday getting the house clean, while taking care of kids, and everything else.  This morning the lady I carpool with let me borrow the car to take Samuel and her daughter to preschool, but on the way home the car died, so I had to call her and have her come pick me up, then she picked up Sam from preschool.   I also had to walk Betsy's backpack to school, and ride my bike with Caleb in the bike carrier to the post office to mail a book I had sold on amazon.  Caleb has been waking up 4-6 times a night still, making me pretty exhausted, and we had to get Joseph's pine wood derby car cut and painted by Tuesday night for the pine wood derby.  We walked to swimming lessons, which the kids enjoyed.  The pine wood derby went fine but Sam took off at the end on Austin's scooter and wouldn't stop, so I quickly gathered up the rest of the kids and walked home, but when we got there Sam wasn't there, so I  sent Joseph around the neighborhood to look for him, and he found him and brought him back. 

Spring Break

This week was spring break so the kids were home from school.  Travis and I still had school, and we've been studying for finals and such, but we did at least one fun thing with the kids each day.  It was also no T.V. week, and that went really well, the kids hardly complained about it at all. 
Monday-Hike to Y and ice cream.  Everyone made it to the top of the Y, and did a great job.   Joseph made it up second, and down first.  I only had to pull out my first aid kit once, when Betsy hit her knee on a rock.  It ended up being a really hot day, so we went out for ice cream at SubZero afterward...yum!
Tuesday-Travis' Gymnastics Class, Park.  Travis had his final in gymnastics, and the kids and I all came and watched.  He was pretty amazing, and the kids and I were allowed to play on the trampoline, and enjoyed that a lot. 
Wednesday-Bowl Park.  We walked to the park above the temple, and had a great time playing in the sand box, running up and down the hill, climbing trees, and playing tickle monster at the playground.  Joseph's friend Josh had come with us, and when we got home, he realized his ipod was missing.  So we drove back and looked all over the park for it, but couldn't find it.  Finally Joseph and Josh looked one more time, and a group of girls had found it, and gave it back to them
Thursday-Trafalga, potluck.  We went to trafalga and had fun rock climbing, laser tag, and other games.  That night we had a potluck with the other chaplain candidates at our house and their families.  It was a lot of fun.  There was tons of people and kids, and even had a kid pee all over the floor. 
Friday-Swimming and reading to Travis and quizzing him.  Travis needed to study, so the kids played with friends most of the day, while I read to Travis and helped him get ready for his test.  Then we all went swimming.  It was "the best time ever" according to Joseph.  We played lots of games in the water, and raced each other
Saturday-Bike ride to post office and library.  On Saturday we didn't have a car, because Travis had to work in SLC.  I needed to mail a package, so the kids and I rode bikes all the way there, and back to the library.  I pulled Betsy and Caleb in the bike trailer, Because Betsy hasn't learned to ride her bike yet.  I really need to teach her, the bike trailer was way to heavy with her in it.  Joseph had to ride his scooter, because he doesn't have a bike. 

This is the interview I gave to the children, Joseph age 10, Austin 9, Betsy 7, Samuel 5
What is your favorite color?
Joseph-Tank, which is a brownish-greenish-blueish
Austin-Pink and Blue
Betsy-Turquoise, but it will change tomorrow, you know I change it once a month
Samuel-Green, Black, Gray

If you could have a superpower what would it be? and Why?
Joseph-Everything, because I want to control everything, I would be cool, and could defeat villains easily, so I would still have time for fun
Austin-Flying, because I don't have to walk, and I can say "ha ha, I'm flying and your not"
Betsy-Follow Me...it makes people follow me when I do good things, so I would know when I'm a good example
Samuel-It would be table blocking shield, because it's pretty cool, and has fire power, and shield power

What do you want to be when you grow up?
Joseph-Secret Agent, because it would be awesome, and I could go wherever I want, because I would have an agent pass
Austin-Teacher and a Mom
Betsy-A Teacher, because it looks easy
Samuel-A spider man fireman

How do you think you could be a better person?
Joseph-Be more responsible, I'm working on that right now
Austin-To act better, to not be mean to Sam anymore, and my other family members
Betsy-by following God
Samuel-Be nice

If you were granted one wish, what would you wish for?
Joseph-my superpower
Austin-more wishes
Betsy-to follow God
Samuel-A table, a new shiny table, which I would not put diapers on

What does it mean to be perfect?
Joseph-it means you have a responsibility and people try to do what you do...like what the believers did while Jesus Christ was on the earth
Austin-don't do anything wrong
Betsy-make no sins
Samuel-maybe, or probably a new car with some lights everywhere, like I would call it...dot...flash-dot

What to do for fun?
Joseph-play with friends, read books, play the computer or video games, I like to have fun
Austin-play with friends and family
Betsy-play with friends
Samuel-play with friends and we dress up as Supermans and Spidermans and ....mans

What are you excited about this summer?
Joseph-We're going to Colorado, and see the new place, it's sad because we're leaving behind friends, and this house with a rope swing and play house, but I'm sure Colorado will be fun, and we'll have more hikes
Austin-Going to Oregon
Betsy-that we're going to Grandma and Grandpa's and we might go to the beach to get Austin a new seashell (I want to hike to the "O" in Oregon)
Samuel-About peanuts, because peanuts have pee in them, you know, they really do taste like pee...I think they're made with pee juice

What is your favorite food for dinner?
Joseph-French Fries and Beans and Greens(Kale and beans)
Austin-Gnoccis
Betsy-Top Ramen
Samuel-Chicken and Cake and more Chicken and Cantaloupe

Easter

 We had a great Easter.  On Saturday morning, the kids were helping me fill Easter eggs for the neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt.  I had to go help Caleb get dressed, while they were filling the eggs, and apparently Samuel filled up some of the plastic eggs with ham, yes, ham...slices of lunch meat.  Luckily as Travis was taking the basket full of eggs to the neighbors to hide them, some of the eggs fell out of the basket and broke open, and Travis discovered the ham inside, and was able to go through the eggs and find the ones with ham in them.  I'm sure glad that Travis figured it out, before we hid the eggs, and some of the neighbor children found them and discovered lunch meat in them.  Anyway, I brought the kids over to the neighbors house when it was time, and we took a picture of everyone there, and then they said "go" and the kids started running everywhere.  Austin had Caleb when they were taking the picture, and when everyone started running, I tried to keep track of her, so I could get Caleb, but when I found Austin, she didn't have Caleb.  I was looking around, and couldn't find him anywhere.  Travis found him in the backyard, just wandering around.  I couldn't believe how fast he had disappeared.  Anyway the kids had a great time finding eggs, and eating breakfast at the potluck breakfast they have with the Easter egg hunt.  After that Easter Egg, we went over to the BYU stadium to another Easter Egg hunt.  They had the football stadium field covered in candy, eggs, and prizes.  There were also a ton of people.  They had us all stand around the sidelines, and yelled go, and the field was picked clean in under 30 seconds, it was crazy.  I found all the kids and we went home.  Then in the afternoon, I had to go to the BYU ballroom  dance company concert for my Dance class, so Travis watched the kids and I went to the concert.  It was amazing...so incredible...the things they can do with the bodies, the choreography, music, costumes, everything was very inspiring, I really enjoyed myself.    Then in the evening, I took the girls dress shopping, which was fun, I have two very cute girls.  Easter Sunday, today, was also a fairly good day.  We had stake conference, so that was a little tricky keeping the kids occupied, but not too bad.  Then in the afternoon we colored the eggs and had our Easter egg roll.  It was a lot of fun.  Travis ended up winning the Easter egg roll.  Caleb was really cute throwing his Easter egg, he really liked it.  Then we had eggs a la golden rod for dinner. 

All the kids at the neighborhood Easter Egg hunt!

Caleb finding his first Easter Egg

Daddy helping Caleb get an Easter Egg out of a tree

Austin and her friend Mary finding lots of Easter Eggs

Sam and his Easter Eggs

Caleb fell asleep waiting for the Easter Egg hunt to start

Caleb's stitches and other stories

So almost two weeks ago, we were having a garage sale, and Caleb woke me up real early in the morning, so I decided I'd better get to work.  Caleb was helping me open up the fridge to get out some ingredients to make some muffins, and the butter container (held  1 lb of butter, and was a hard plastic rectangle container) fell out and hit Caleb on the head.  It started bleeding like crazy, like head wounds do, and I immediately covered it with a cloth, and yelled for Travis.  Austin was with me at the time, and was really worried about Caleb.  As soon as Travis got down, I got out a little ice pack, and Travis held it to his wound for the next twenty minutes while he cried, and tried to get away from the ice pack.  It stopped bleeding, and we woke up the rest up of the kids and got everyone into the car to take Caleb to the hospital to get his stitches (nothing else was open yet, as it was almost 6am).  By the time we got to the hospital, Caleb had calmed down a lot, and we left the older kids in the waiting room, while Travis, Samuel, Caleb and I went back into the trauma area for Caleb to get his stitches.  So the doctor came and looked at Caleb, and determined that he needed stitches.  So Travis left with the other kids to go set up the rest of the garage sale, and Sam stayed with Caleb and I.  Caleb fell asleep while we were waiting for the doctor to come do his stitches.  The nurse was able to put on the topical anaesthetic while Caleb was asleep.  Another half hour later, the doctor came in to do the stitches.  Caleb woke up, and one nurse held his head, while the other held his arms and body still, and I could hold his little hand.  They numbed up the rest of his wound, while Caleb cried, and then they covered him with a towel with an opening for where the wound was.  Caleb calmed down, and just fussed during the doctor putting in his stitches, and Sam and I sang to him to help him calm down.  When they were done, Caleb had 4 little stitches in his head.  We got them taken out a week ago, and it seems to be healing nicely, although he'll have a nice scar. 
Yesterday Travis was studying in the baby's room, and Samuel pulled a blanket down from the baby's crib, and it knocked a stack of flashcards off of a tall box next to Travis, and it fell onto the blanket.  Travis told Sam to put the blanket back, and when Sam flipped the blanket back up to the crib, it shot the flashcards back up on top of the box almost exactly where they were to begin with, it was awesome!!
Yesterday Samuel and I went to Costco to return a swimsuit and as we were going in, Samuel asked me why I was taking my swimsuit back, and I told him it was too small.  So Samuel said to be "so you need a size "big"?"  I almost got offended, but then remembered how old he was, so I simply said "no, I think I'll try a medium size."

Samuel decided that Daddy and I needed a "mantic"(romantic) dinner, so he made this dinner and set it up all by himself.  He was so sweet, he got a candle, and had me light it, and made up plates of food for us, we even had a leftover bottle of sparkling grape juice someone had given us for Christmas, that he found.  He also kept all of the other kids out of the room, so that we could have privacy.  Samuel can be such a sweetheart

Austin made a nice display of nature things outside our back door, she was very sweet

Austin in front of her nature display

Me with the ivy bouquet, tiara, necklace and bracelet on, that Austin made me

Caleb loves his bike trailer

Caleb still happy about his bike trailer

Joseph is happy

Joseph made this big tower of legos for Caleb to knock over

Caleb in his car seat pre-stitches

Betsy and Caleb

Joseph with the hole in his lip that needed stitches

Joseph, Austin, Betsy, and Samuel on the Cougar in front of BYU stadium

Caleb at the hospital just before getting his stitches

A close-up look at the wound

Caleb just after getting his stitches in

Caleb after getting his stitches out