Another Baby, and birthdays

Austin opening her presents at her birthday party

Caleb in his new snowsuit from G and G Hardy

Austin building a Temple with dominoes

Joseph and Caleb playing peek-a-boo at the park

Caleb peeking through a log at the park

Caleb playing with a car at the park

Caleb swinging at the park

"AAAHHH" my shadow is chasing me!!!

Caleb blowing out his candles

Austin and her friends playing "spa" at her birthday party

I am pregnant with baby #6, and have been since Travis got home from NTC in November.  I am due August 14th, and Travis is supposed to be deployed sometime this summer, so I'm not looking forward to giving birth, without him here.  But I'm still hoping for a miracle, and he will get to be home when the baby is born.  I was sick a lot the first three months, and now into the second trimester, I'm just really tired, have no energy, and basically don't want to do anything.  We are very excited to add another little baby to our family though, and are looking forward to the new adventures it will bring.  The past month and a half have been busy, or just boring, because I was too sick to do much.  I don't remember a lot of what happened, but I'll try to remember some of the things.  Travis was gone for two weeks to San Antonio TX for some training the end of January, and beginning of February.  As soon as Travis got home from TX, we had a formal ball for his squadron.  We dropped all the kids off at childcare (Travis said it was provided), and then went to the ball.  It was a little boring, but interesting to see the way other people's behavior changed, once they'd had a lot to drink.  It was a nice evening with Travis, but we left as soon as we could, to go get the kids.  When we got there, we were told childcare would be $72.  We thought it was free, but I guess not.  Caleb really hated going to childcare, so was really clingy to me for awhile after that.   Both Caleb and Austin have birthdays in February.  Caleb turned 2 on Feb. 17th.  We didn't really do much for his birthday, but I did make him some brownies for a cake, and he opened his presents.  He loved all his presents, and played with them for hours, especially a Thomas the Train engine set.  He was so focused on playing with his presents that we could barely pull him away from his toys to eat cake and ice cream.  We also took Caleb to the park, since the weather was decent, and he loves the park.  We had Austin's birthday party yesterday, but her actual birthday isn't until tomorrow.  Travis was in charge of a marriage retreat yesterday, so as soon as that was done, we came home and only had a few minutes until the party was to start.  I hadn't finished Austin's ice cream cake, so I quickly started making the ice cream, as the guests arrived.  They danced on the Wii, until I was done with the cake, and had gotten the games ready.  Austin wanted to do a little spa.  So the girls took turns, soaking their feet in a foot bath, painting their nails and doing hair.  They had fun, and Caleb had to take his turn soaking his feet too.  Next they playing a BFF game, that's asks different questions, they we had cake.  The ice cream was still a little soft, but it was good.  Then she opened presents, and then time was up. 

New Years and Grandma visiting

 

New Year's Eve, we invited some couples over for a game night.  We told the kids they could play in their room, as long as there were no problems.  One couple showed up, but brought all five of their kids too.  I guess next time, I need to be more specific about who is invited on the invitations.  It all worked out fine though, the kids were super excited to have friends come over for their "party" in their room.  There was plenty of food, since none of the other couples were able to come.  We had lots of fun playing games and had a good time.  Travis was very entertaining during this one game called "quelf", in which he had to act like pirate, and lots of other fun things.  Everyone stayed up until about 1:30am, except Samuel who had to go to bed early for some misbehavior. 
We had a lot of cleaning to do New Year's Day, Travis' Mom was flying in for a week to visit us.  While we were cleaning I stubbed my toe real bad on the vacuum.  It was my pinkie toe, and it hurt pretty good for while, made me limp around a little bit, so I'm pretty sure I broke it.  It's still painful 17 days later, but only when I move it, it's fine to walk on, and the bruising is almost all gone. 
It was very enjoyable to have Travis' Mom here visiting.  She was very helpful with the kids and the cleaning.  We even made some applesauce, apple butter, and apple cobbler together while the kids were at school. (I had some apples I needed to use). 
We spent a lot of time fixing the tires on our van.  The van was wiggling a lot in the back, so we took it in to Midas which the place we bought the van from told us to take it.  It was about a 30-45 minute drive each way, there was a McDonalds next door, so we went over there and let the kids play for a while.  They told us the problems was the tires, and they needed to be replaced, so the next day we drove another 45 minutes each way to the tire place we were told to go to, and played at a game store for a while.  They told us they didn't have the tires in stock, so we had to come back the next day.  Travis had been wanting to take his mom to this Irish restaurant he likes.  So we took her to dinner, and yogurt for dessert.  The next day we once again trekked out to the tire place, this time playing at a McDonalds while they fixed the tires.  Travis had been given some free happy meal coupons, so we had plenty of happy meals for our kids.  I didn't want McDonalds so Travis walked to the panda express next door, and got us dinner.  We finally had our car fixed, yeah!  The kids also loved going to the dollar store and picking out 4 things, that Grandma paid for.  Everybody had fun with Grandma and we were sad to see her go.  Joseph and Samuel started Wrestling practice on the 7th, and practice three nights a week.  They are both enjoying it, and just starting to learn the maneuvers.  This last Sunday, a lady in our ward called Travis (since he's a chaplain), she was struggling and asked for help.  Her husband was out in the field, so she and her three children came over and played at our house, while Travis figured out who her home teacher was, and he came over and gave her a priesthood blessing.  They also ate dinner with us, and stayed until bedtime.  It felt good to help someone in need.  Also last week in the middle of the night, Travis got a call from the hospital, and had to go pray over a stillborn baby.  It was very sad.  I went to a Chaplain Spouse Coffee last week, and it felt good to get out of the house without the kids for a little while, although I was only there for a little over an hour, Travis came and picked me up, so I could help put the kids to bed.  On Tuesday I went to the PWOC kick-off and ended up arriving a little late, so the childcare was full, and I had to keep Caleb with me the whole time.  He did pretty good except when we were switching classrooms learning about all the bible study groups.  He didn't want to leave one of the classrooms, and threw a fit, so I stayed out in the halls with him for a while.  At the very end, when it was time to leave, Caleb was throwing a fit and did not want to go home.  So I finally just picked him up, and walked out the nearest door carrying his coat and shoes.  Halfway to the car, I put him down, since I was tired of his kicking and screaming, and thought he would follow me to the car.  I started walked towards the car, but he didn't follow me, he ran all the way back to the chapel door in the 0 degree weather, with no coat of shoes, and knocked on the door we left from, before I could catch him.  A lady let him inside, and I quickly caught up to him, and took him all the way back to the car kicking and screaming. Most of the time Caleb is pretty reasonable, but he occasionally throws his fits.   Last week Joseph got a black eye from a seventh grader at school.  At lunch the boy (very big boy) was calling Joseph a lot of bad words, and Joseph finally couldn't ignore him anymore and called him a "big fat cow", so the boy punched him.  Joseph ran off so he wouldn't try to fight him back.  The teachers in the lunchroom saw what happened and the other boy got in trouble, Joseph went to the nurse's office and they put ice on his eye.  He was fine but still upset about it after school.  The next day after school another boy from his class started calling him names as he left school, so he ran back into the school and told his teacher.  I feel bad about him being picked on, I remember hating middle school.  Joseph is doing much better with his homework and organization this semester, I helped him get his new binder all organized and it seems to be helping.

Car shopping

So for the rest of this week, the kids and I have played in the morning, and then when Travis gets home from work, a little after lunch (he only has to work, 1/2 days this week) we get everybody ready and go car shopping.  Travis would talk to the salesman, and I would chase kids around.  Some of the dealerships had kids rooms with a t.v. and a few toys, and some had snacks, so that was nice.  But it was still frustrating for me, and didn't enjoy it much, after one particular incident involving Samuel screaming and yelling, and punching and calling me a "stupid mommy" I'd had enough.  The rest of that day, I told Travis that the kids and I were staying in the car while he looked.  On Friday, I told Travis I didn't want to go with him anymore, and he said he wouldn't go without me, so I finally called a babysitter to watch the kids so we could go together.  So we went and finally found the car we wanted.  We now own a 2007 Honda odyssey.  On Wednesday night after car shopping we went to a Mongolian Grill called "HuHot" and ate there for dinner.  It was kids eat free night, so we only had to pay for Travis, Joseph and I (older than 10 was considered an adult).  It was fun, we went through a buffet type line, and filled our bowls with meat, noodles, veggies, and sauces and then they cooked it in front of us.  They also had a balloon animal guy there, who made all the kids balloon animals.  They also had chopsticks, and at one point Samuel turned to me and said "Mom, I'm really good at these pixie sticks"  I laughed and told him they were chopsticks. 

Christmas

Austin's Snowflake face mask that she made

Samuel and Caleb in their sweater's that Grandma Hardy made them

Joseph and Samuel next to the damaged car

Christmas Eve saying goodbye to our totaled car

the kids waiting to go down the stairs christmas morning

Caleb got yogurt pretzels from santa

Samuel got a hex bug from santa

Austin got gum from santa

Caleb's cheesy grin with a yogurt pretzel in his mouth

Joseph got a pocket knife from santa (dangerous)

Austin made a face mask out of putty, sitting in front of her bear

Betsy made a manger out of her putty

Joseph made an eye mask

Caleb loves his little people track

Angry bird kids

Caleb loves his horse

Samuel and Caleb playing with the hex bug habitat

Betsy playing "Dance Disney"on the Wii

Yesterday morning, I got a call from the insurance company telling us our car was a "total loss".  So Travis is really excited to go car shopping for a new car this week.  We worked hard all morning cleaning the house, and the kid's did a really good job doing their chores.  We finished making sugar cookies, and got all our cookie plates ready, and left in the rental car.  We drove down to the auto body shop and got all our personal belongings out of the car, and our license plates, took a picture and said goodbye to our car.  Then we did all our Christmas caroling with our hand bells and sang away in a manger.  We learned that the cold changes the pitches of the bells, so we had to be careful not to have them out of their case for too long.  We had tacos for dinner, and then FHE, we talked about the Christmas story and each opened one present, and sent the kids to bed.  I was exhausted so Travis and I quickly finished the Christmas preparations and went to bed.  The kids woke us up right when the sun came up, since they were instructed not to get out of bed until the sun came up.  We went downstairs and opened stockings and presents, all the kids were super excited and happy about everything they got.  Travis' big present was an air hockey table, that we're keeping in the garage for now.  I made bacon waffles for breakfast, and then Joseph went out and shoveled driveways and sidewalks for a couple hours, since we received several inches of snow last night.  He earned $24 from the neighbors and was really excited to have some money again.  Everyone has been playing together and having a lot of fun. 

Sicknesses

Tuesday night we went to IT'Z, a family fun center, for a fun activity during Christmas break.  We had a good time eating from the buffet and then moved to the game room.  It is a very large game room, and I have a hard time keeping track of all the kids at once, but they have a lot of fun.  After we'd been there a little while.  Samuel came running over to me sobbing, and in great distress.  I asked him what happened, and he explained that he had diarrhea, while playing, and went to the bathroom to try and clean himself up, but the water was really cold, and he flushed his underwear down the toilet, because it was so gross.  He said he just needed to go home, he felt really sick.  That's when I realized the Samuel even though had his clothes and coat on, they all had diarrhea on them.  I tried to quickly find Travis, but couldn't so I took Sam into family bathroom to clean him off a little better.  While we were in there I heard someone enter the men's bathroom,(it was right next to the family bathroom) and exclaim in disgust about poop being everywhere.  I can't imagine the mess Samuel made in the men's bathroom, so I as soon as I was done with Samuel , I was going to let management know. The family bathroom has a tiny sink, but I stripped off Sam's clothes and had him stand on the sink and tried to clean him off the best I could.  I had my hands on him the whole time so he wouldn't fall, but he was pretty well balanced, and I had to bend down to pick up the paper towel he dropped, so I moved my hands just for a second to pick it up, and Sam leaned backwards, and fell off the sink.  The poor kid, I felt so bad.  He wasn't injured badly or anything, but will probably have a new bruise or two from falling, but he didn't cry for very long, so we finished washing him off.  I dried him off with paper towels, then took of my coat and jacket.   I wrapped my jacket around Samuel's waist, and tied it off, and then put my coat over the top of him.  Found a garbage bag, and put Samuel's clothes and coat in it, and cleaned up the bathroom as best I could, and then Samuel and I left the bathroom.  As we walked past, someone was already cleaning the men's bathroom, I feel bad for whoever got that job.  Anyway, we found Travis and the rest of the kids, and immediately left.  Thursday Morning I woke up with my stomach hurting, but took all the kids to Samuel's OT appointment, after we got home, I started getting worse, and then defiantly had the flu.  Travis had planned a surprise date for me that night, but had to call him and tell him to cancel it, because I was too sick.  Travis told me it was a going to be a formal event, with a 6 course dinner, served in a castle while watching a Christmas Madrigal.  I was so disappointed, I was really looking forward to our date.  Thursday night Caleb started throwing up, and so was I, at one point I was throwing up in the toilet, and heard Caleb start to throw up, but I was so weak, that I couldn't get to him.  It was early in the morning, and Travis had an extra early morning at work, so he had already left.  I just threw a towel over where Caleb threw up, and we moved to a different spot, and I had Travis clean it up when he got home from PT.   Betsy started throwing up Friday morning, and Joseph's stomach hurt all day Friday, but he never started throwing up.  Austin has been amazing, she has been taking care of everyone, because I've been too sick to get out of bed, and they are all sick too.  Travis had to drive an hour away on Friday to visit a solider in prison, and got some food at a Mexican restaurant while he was there.  He bit down on a tortilla chip and his tooth cracked in half.  Since it was a Friday, and he wouldnt' get back until after hours, he had to go to the emergency room, and wait for the on call Dr.  They ended up pulling out his tooth, and said it had had a long time infection in it.  Travis didn't get home until after midnight, since he had to get the hole to stop bleeding.  Travis started feeling sick this morning also, but the rest of us are no longer throwing up, and Austin never got sick.  Travis and I had plans to go to the temple in Denver today, but we had to cancel that as well.  I'm still really weak, and can't eat too much yet, but I'm getting a little better.  The house is a complete disaster, since this is day 3 of kids fending for themselves, and mom not cleaning up after anyone.  We've been doing the 12 days of Christmas to another family, and have missed some due to everyone being sick, we'll have to make it up to them tonight.  I'm very happy that everyone has survived the last couple of days. I'm also hoping we can get the house clean again by Christmas, maybe I'll just tell the kids that Santa won't stop by unless the house is clean....Yep, that's a good idea, that will motivate them. 

Car accident

So, on Wednesday morning, I spent all morning trying to make calendars on picaboo.com and it was very frustrating, it took me all morning, because I kept having problems using their site, I'm never using it again.  Anyway I also gathered together a bunch of pictures of Betsy, and had some printed at Walgreens, so I could make Betsy a scrapbook for Christmas at a scrapbook class I was going to this afternoon.  So Travis came home for lunch, and picked me up with the car (he hasn't been riding his bike because of his sprained thumb) we drove to walgreens and picked up my pictures, and grabbed some lunch to go from panera bread.  I dropped Travis off at work, and then dropped Caleb off at the hourly care provided by the class I was taking.  Then drove over to the building where the class was being held.  I turned right onto a street, and then started to turn left onto the street  where I needed to go, and out of nowhere "bang" a car hit me rear driver side.  I banged my head on the side window and got a little whip lash.  After stopping, I realized what happened.  I was driving like I was on a two-way road, and the road I had been on was a one-way, so when I turned left, I turned right in front of the other lane, going the same direction as me.  I really wish they had never invented one-way roads.  I was on that road, such a short amount of time, I didn't even realize I was on a one-way road.  Anyway I got out of the car, to check on the other driver.  Thankfully she was okay too, I apologized profusely and explained my mistake.  We waited for the police to arrive and take down our information and write their report.  Both of our cars were deemed undrivable, and were towed.  By the time that was all taken care of.  The kids were getting out of school.  So I called the school, and told them what happened, and that I would be late picking them up.  So I quickly walked over to the school, it was probably a little less then a mile away.  Then we walked back to the where I dropped off Caleb, and I dropped them off, then walked back to where my class was, and made the last 45 minutes of my three hour scrapbooking class.  The lady had compassion on me, and let me take some supplies home to finish my book later.  Then I walked back to the child care facility and picked up the kids.  The rental car company was supposed to pick us up from there, but they were really busy, and we had to wait a half an hour, for them to come get us.  So, we waited in the entrance of the child care facility and Samuel complained about being hungry, and climbed on furniture and kicked things, and caused all sorts of trouble.  But, finally the rental car arrived, and Travis called to say he had found a way home from work, so I had the rental car drop the kids and I off at the house, and Travis rode back with him to get the rental car.  I warmed up some soup for dinner, and then helped the kids with homework and put them to bed.  Travis got back with the rental car, and I had to find a way to get Caleb's car seat out of our car, so we would have one for the rental car.  Our car was originally towed to a towing yard, and then it was being towed to an auto body shop.  So I texted a neighbor and asked if I could borrow their car seat, so I could drive and go get Caleb's out of our car at the auto body shop.  She said I could pick it up in the morning.  Thursday morning, Samuel had his OT(occupational therapy) appointment at 7:30, so I got all the kids out the door a little before seven, and we picked up the car seat, put Caleb in it, and dropped all the kids off at school except Samuel, and took him to his appointment.  I realized I had forgotten to take out the recycling and garbage before I left, so I called Travis to take them out, but he didn't answer his phone.  After dropping Samuel off at school, I rushed home to take out the recycling and garbage.  Our recycling is overflowing, and it is only picked up every other Thursday.  As I drove to our street, the recycling truck was just leaving out street.  I couldn't believe I just barely missed it.  Anyway I got home and brought the garbage out, so at least it would get dumped today.  I called the auto body shop to make sure I could get the carseat out of the car, and they said the car wasn't there, so I called usaa and they never got it towed to the auto body shop, so I arranged the tow with them, and they told me it would be towed within 90 minutes.  So I drove down there, and picked up Caleb's car seat from the tow yard.  Then Caleb and I drove to Wal-mart, and picked up Austin's bike for Christmas, it was our last day to pick it up.  And did a little shopping for the 12 days of Christmas then we went home to grab some lunch, before going to run the rest of our errands.  Well when we got home there was water all over our kitchen floor, and the pipes under the kitchen sink were leaking.  So I called maintenance and they said they would have someone there within four hours.  My shoulders and neck were really sore today, so I wanted to go see a chiropractor, but I don't know how to find one as good as my cousin in Utah, so I called him to see what he would say about how to find a good chiropractor, but he was with a client so I left him a message.  I called USAA to tell them I was going to see a chiropractor about my neck.  I was also cleaning up the water mess in the kitchen and cleaning other things up while making all the phone calls.  Caleb was a very good helper.  I have so many things I need to do, that I was getting overwhelmed and stressed out, and decided to call my Mom.  After talking with her, I felt much better.  After finishing cleaning up the kitchen and starting some laundry, Caleb and I had lunch, and I got him down for a nap.  Then I started making a big batch of cinnamon rolls with maple frosting for the 1st day of the 12 days of Christmas, and for all the ladies I visit teach (there are 5 of them, plus my companion)  I was really hoping the maintenance guy would get here to fix the plumbing before the kids got home from school, so I could finish my errands, without taking them all with me.  But alas, the kids got home from school before the maintenance guy got there.  Joseph called me from the Youth Center after he was already supposed to be home, and told be he went there because he wanted to, and asked if it was okay.  I told him no, he needed to come home, and to take the next shuttle back to our street (they leave every hour).  He must have missed the shuttle leaving, so I was waiting for him to come after the next one, but he didnt' come home then, and the maintenance guy still hadn't come even though it had been more then four hours, and I couldnt' leave to go pick up Joe, until he got here.  I called the maintenance people, and they had had a mandatory meeting, so that was why he was late, but that he would be here before 5pm.  So even though Joseph missed the 4:30 shuttle I still couldn't go pick him up.  I finished up the cinnamon rolls, they turned out beautifully.  Then at 4:55pm the maintenance guy got here, and fixed the plumbing.  luckily he had everything he needed to fix it, so it was done right away.  After he left, I covered all the cinnamon rolls, and got the letter for the 12 days of Christmas ready, and gathered up all the kids, and called Joseph at the YS, and told him we were coming to get him, he was in big trouble, to be thinking about an appropriate punishment, and he was to be standing outside the building waiting for us, when we got there.  I stopped and dropped the car seat I had borrowed back to the lady on the next street, then picked up Joseph.  When Joseph got in the car, he said he was sorry he hadn't come home after school, and that he should be grounded from the YS 1 week for every shuttle he missed.  I agreed, so that meant 3 weeks of no YS, but I also told him he might be able to lessen his grounding with good behavior.  Then the kids helped me deliver all my cinnamon rolls to the ladies I visit teach.  In the middle of delivering Travis was finished at work, so we picked him up.  Our last stop before we got home was to deliver the twelve days of Christmas.  Austin and Samuel put on their Santa hats, and delivered the goodies, and then got back to the car, and we drove home.  Thankfully I had put terriyaki chicken in the crock pot this morning, so we ate dinner.  Then I drove to the store, while Travis stayed home with the kids, and I finished my errands.  I got home just after 8pm, and helped Travis put the kids to bed.  This morning I called to check to see if the body shop had an estimate of the repairs on our car yet, and they told me the car never arrived, so I called, and found it still hadn't left the towing yard.  So I called USAA again, and set up another tow.  Hopefully it works this time.  I got the kids all off to school this morning with the plates of cookies for their teachers, and the things they need to bring for their class parties.  They have an early release today, and then are out of school for the next 3 weeks.  Travis left early this morning at 4:30, he is in charge of a singles retreat, and he's taking them to a resort in Keystone, CO.  I'm just glad it isn't over overnight trip, he should be back late tonight.  I'm still stressed out, and have too much to do, but I know that Heavenly Father is helping me through all my trials.  My neck is feeling a little better today, so maybe I won't end up seeing a chiropractor after all.  Poor Caleb keeps getting upset with me for not dancing with him.  Every morning he likes me to turn on Just Dance 3 on the Wii and dance for exercise.  He gets out his remote and tries to dance with me too, but I haven't felt much like dancing since the accident, but finally this morning I turned it on when he was begging me too, and moved around some.  It made Caleb very happy.  He is also obsessed with the book "Go Dog Go" I have to read it to him at least 10 times a day.  I feel I need to count my blessings:
Today I'm grateful that I have insurance and that the most my accident will cost is the $500 deductable.
I'm grateful that neither myself or the other driver had any of our children in the car during the accident and that we weren't hurt badly
I'm grateful that everyone in my family is free from illness right now
I'm grateful that everything in our house is now working correctly.
I'm grateful for a husband and kids who love me.
I'm grateful for the christmas season, and the spirit of Christ it brings with it.

a busy day

So Caleb did indeed have strep throat, so he was put on antibiotics as well.  Joseph and Austin stayed home from school for two days, and were then able to go back.  Joseph stubbed his toes three days ago really bad, and almost his whole foot is bruised from it.  Travis sprained his thumb while playing football two days ago.  But, everyone is healthy now except for the few injuries.  Well, everyone except for Caleb, he is still hanging on to the last of his cold stuff, but is much improved.  Yesterday was a very busy day.  In the morning I had a Dr. appointment for some test results, and everything came back normal, so that was nice.  Then I had to stay home for pest control to come take care of the mouse problem in the garage, and then several maintenance guys to come fix various things on the house, and I baked cookies during the rest of that time.  After school, we took Joseph to get his tooth pulled out, so the permanent one could come in the rest of the way, then we stopped and got a smoothie for everyone to share (except Joe, he couldn't eat or drink yet) on our way for Betsy to meet her "Big sister", once we got there.  Samuel was carrying the smoothie, and was running down the hallway to catch up to Betsy and accidentaly hit the smoothie against the wall, and it busted the bottom of the smoothie, so he ended up spilling smoothie, all the way from that spot to the office door(all carpeted).  I got the smoothie container from Sam, and stopped it from spilling anymore, then went in the door and asked the receptionist who we could get to clean it up, and while she called maintenance, we went to the bathroom and got some paper towels to put over the mess.  Samuel was extremely upset about the loss of his smoothie, even though it was his fault, and was difficult to calm down.  We made it through the meeting with Betsy's "big" she likes her, and they should have a good time together.  Then we rushed back to the middle school to drop off Joseph for his choir concert, and picked up Travis from work(he hasn't been riding his bike, due to his thumb injury) then came right back to the school to watch the choir concert.  Joseph did really well, and I enjoyed their music, the other kids were a bit restless, and Travis took Caleb out most the time.  After the concert, we rushed to get Joseph to scouts, and had to grab a little ceasers pizza on the way, because everyone was starving.  Then went home and put everyone to bed.