Silly Sleepy Girls!

The boys went to a birthday party sleepover last weekend and the girls were going to sleep out in the living room. Here Dad catches Jensen and Morgan almost asleep.

But not quite!

Morgan as Lady Liberty in Her School's Freedom Play

Morgan was the Statue of Liberty in her school's 'Freedom Play' last week. She took her part pretty seriously! We were impressed with how long she could hold that torch up. She held it up through two songs and more! What a trooper!

February 21-22

A photo of Weston when we celebrated his birthday.

Here is a photo documenting that mom/Michele is in trouble. Leaving the headlights on is a bad habit. It was so cold and Thomas had to bundle up to go out and jump start the van. That happened two days in a row! :D

A New Percussionist in the Family?

It looks like we might have another percussionist in the family!
On February 10, Kaylyn found the drumsticks and began trying to play the snare drum.

Her dad gave her a boost onto a stool so she could more easily play.

Here she has just been taken away from the drums and placed into her 'play yard'...

Someone had pity on her and gave her back the drumsticks. "OH HAPPY DAY!"

February 6, Continued

Jessica and Jane.

Jane's son Jordan backed up their car to load up some firewood. The ground was so wet from our recent rainy and melting snow weather that the car got stuck and we had to pull it out with the pickup. (Do you know how many years it took my husband to teach me to say 'pickup' instead of truck? In Idaho pickup trucks are called pickups, at least according to Thomas. I always called them trucks. I don't think I am the only one that does/did that! :D)
Jordan is a good sport and gave a smile for posterity!

Thomas. He's hard to miss with that hat. I call it his 'Man From Snowy River' hat. He was so happy when he finally got that hat and it really does help keep his cochlear implant dry. (Does anyone see rain in these photos? Me neither! :D ) It looks like Thomas is not the only one who likes that hat! :D

February 6, Target Shooting @ Papa's House.

On February 6, Aunt Jessica and Uncle Mark came down to do some target and clay pigeon shooting. Here is Jensen bird watching. She was also using her binoculars to try to see the clay pigeons. Below, a photo showing the 'wide open spaces' Papa has at his place.

Uncle Mark gives up a grin for the photo!

Jensen looking in the tree for some birds...No birds? Maybe because shotguns and rifles are 'booming' just a few yards away!

Above, Papa taking a shot. We love these closeup photos of Weston. I think we should be very afraid that he closes his eyes when shooting! Below, Morgan in her Papa's big flannel shirt. It's a good thing he has a good heart. I would have sent her in to get her own coat! Below, Thomas in a classic photo. I think he is going to blow this up and prominently display it when the girls begin dating!


Megan throwing clay pigeons.

Jameson and Megan get their turns too.

Just Another Day in Paradise!

This blogging is a funny thing. On one hand I know that anyone can read it. So, I find myself being guarded sometimes about the things I write. On the other hand my favorite blogs are written by people who seem to be so open about the things they post. It's funny to me because when I talk in person with people I am sure I tell them more than they would ever want to know, yet when I blog, it's mostly about the activities that we do together.
Okay, this self analysis is making me tired...
Today, we went to church. It's a normal weekly event for us, but today was special. It was scout Sunday, so the boys needed to wear their scout shirts to church. (I think it's a once a year thing.)
Today is also Weston's 12th birthday. Happy Birthday Weston! :D At church, it was a special day for him. At 12 the young men in our church advance from the children's classes to 'young men's classes. In our sacrament meeting they are called to the front by the Bishop, their advancement is announced and they are sustained, congratulated etc. The Bishop apparently came to the pew where Weston was sitting before the meeting and asked him if he was prepared to recite an article of faith. (There are 13 Articles of Faith, they are statements about what we as Latter Day Saints believe.) Weston told him he was, not understanding that the bishop meant he would have to do it in front of the congregation. I was not there or I would have explained it to him. The time came when the bishop called Weston up and according to my husband, Weston was caught completely off guard and looked panicked. The Bishop sat down. I guess Weston managed to pull himself together, he stood at the podium. recited the first Article of Faith. (We believe in God the Eternal Father and in his son Jesus Christ and in the Holy Ghost.) He then leaned forward a bit and said with great relief and appreciation to the congregation. "Thank You!" The Congregation erupted in laughter. That's our Weston. He has kept us laughing since before he could walk.
I mentioned that I wasn't at church for that. I did try really hard to get there. Thomas and I have been sick with a virus for over a week. The past few days my throat has been hurting even worse. No fever, just bad sore throat and not wanting to do much. I decided I would go and twist someones arm at the walk in clinic to do a strep swab. Unless we see our regular doctors, we are sometimes not taken seriously when strep is in our family. We do not always run fevers with strep. (Jameson has had scarlet fever twice because we thought he just had a virus. No fever, only symptom a sore throat.) Anyway, the nurse practitioner I saw did both the rapid and culture swabs. The rapid turned positive so she threw away the second swab. I love it when the doctor/practitioner that you see asks you(the patient) what antibiotic you want to take... So funny. "Um... the one that kills strep the fastest!" So, I then went to church, where I avoided talking to people, refused to shake hands, and didn't touch door knobs. If you were at church too and are now upset, I apologize and will just say, Strep is EVERYWHERE. I am just glad I went to the clinic before church instead of after so I was informed and more careful. I would have gone straight home, but Weston was also having the Aaronic Priesthood confirmed upon him. That is something that happens once in a young man's lifetime. I didn't want to miss it and I am so glad I didn't. I know the Lord loves that boy, and I know that even more after today! I also did not go home because the doctor wanted to see Thomas too(even though he was feeling better). So I sent him to the clinic before they would close. I stayed and helped Morgan with her talk in Primary. She gave a talk about Heavenly Father's creations being our blessings. (I bit my tongue, because I don't see a whole lot about strep throat that blesses my life!) :D She did fine and we met Thomas at the clinic after church. The doctor (different one) did not 'swab' him. She took one look at his throat and said. "What antibiotic do you want?" I still think that's funny! His response was pretty much like the one I gave the practitioner I saw....
I love z packs, don't you?! :D
I am now preparing to throw away all toothbrushes, all opened toothpaste tubes, and all used chapsticks, etc. Either we have a strep carrier, we are not getting the strep bug out because of some items like the ones I just mentioned, or we are just prone to contracting strep this year. I am done! Clorox cleanup and Lysol are my best friends!