Poor David

The doctors say that David has cold sores all over his face and inside his mouth. He has had high fevers and hasn't been eating anything for days. I can get him to drink a little pop. I keep calling and they act like it is no big deal. He cries most of the day and a lot of the night too. He will only sleep if I am holding him and he wants me to hold him all day. My back is killing and my heart is breaking. Mostly he just says owie.

Welcome February

Is it just me, or is January the worst month. Other than the fun of setting new years resolutions. It is cold and gray. I was a little worn out from all the Christmas projects. Trying to lose the extra pound or two from Christmas treats. Missing Kelli because school is back. Making lunches, cleaning house, and dreaming of warm weather and visits with friends and family.

Thank goodness we are in February one month closer to summer! I am starting to think of the next project I want to tackle and planning the summer trip.

January Pictures and Happenings

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David is still into everything. I am still doing dishes by hand. I don't want to fix our dishwasher or buy a new one because David climbs in it everyday. He has discovered Kelli's bunk bed and everything else in the house has been climbed and sorted.

Scott showing the boys a funny video on u tube. David is in awe and Derek and David are clearly enjoying it.

We have been switching babysitting every other Friday night, so the other couple can go on a date. Here are the kids watching UP. Little Cole is sound asleep. They sat here for most of the movie. Then off the the basement to play dress up.

Derek has started reading to David, it really helps especially while I am making dinner.

If I am running, working out on the yoga ball, having a bath, or reading my scriptures- David wants me attention. He gets it by climbing over the barricade to the treadmill, sitting on top of my stomach so I can't do too may sit ups, climbing in the bath with his cloths and diaper on, or sitting on top of my scriptures. As soon as I finish any of these activities, he is off playing completely ignoring me.

Quotes and Thoughts

"The power of the Atonement also covers the consequences of sin in the lives of innocent people. We pay no eternal price for things over which we have no control, including harm done to us by others. The Atonement can heal us. The only thing for which we pay a spiritual price is misuse of our own agency, and for that the Savior has given us the Atonement." - Elder Bruce D. Porter

"Since not all human sorrow and pain is connected to sin, the full intensiveness of the Atonement involved (Christ's) bearing our pains, infirmities, and sicknesses, as well as our sins." -Elder Neal A. Maxwell

" When Christ pleads for us before the throne of the Father, He does not plead on the basis of our merit; He pleads on the basis of His merit and His suffering." -Elder Bruce D. Porter

I love reading a quote that makes you think differently. These thoughts really helped me to ponder the Atonement and all that it encompasses. I have always thought of the Atonement (Christ's suffering) in terms of payment for our sins. When in fact it covers much more than that.

Sledding

It was so nice to have everyone home Monday.

We spent the afternoon sledding on our park hill.

It was iced over from the warm up, so some pretty high speeds occurred.

Of course Mom warned everyone to be careful and Dad was lots of fun.

Kelli thought it was pretty funny when I screamed while sledding down with her.

The hill is actually pretty steep. Dad and David. Becca makes a snow angel. Derek had one big crash into a tree, that sent me running after him. David's coat was missing so he had to wear Becca's. I took him home for a nap and the older 3 and Dad kept going for another hour.

We really enjoy these "warm" 3o degree days. It is wonderful to be outside again.

Random

Winter time doesn't really inspire my creative side.

I have been meaning to post, but what to write about?

Life has been good we have had a week of 30 degree weather!

It has been so nice, we can actually go outside.

No crying babies because they can't breathe in the cold.

We had some friends over to play Saturday.

First we wore them all out playing in the snow.

Then we warmed up with hot chocolate and sent them all to the basement for a movie and popcorn.

The other night I asked Kelli to lay out an outfit for school.

This is what I found. Yes all of this was supposed to go together.

Some days I just go with it and let her be herself.

However this time I tried to teach her a little about fashion.

I convinced her to wear a solid color leggings and shirt and let her keep the crazy sweater skirt combo.

I have been working really hard on reading to the kids every night. I used to do it during the day but then things got so busy and it was easy to let Scott take over at night. It has been fun doing it all together again.

Journaling

They grow up TOO FAST!

David and Becca 17 months ago.

Becca: I wanna 108 babies in our family

Derek: But they would take up the whole house and we wouldn't have our rooms.

Kelli: But Becca you have a lot of doll babies.

Becca: No I wanna 108 real babies.

Me: Becca but I think Mommy is done having babies.

Becca: No I wanna 108 babies and one girl with a bow in her hair.

Kelli: How will Mom give them all a bath with only 2 bath tubs.

(Then the conversation became a little too silly all about dirty diapers from 108 babies)

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Kelli is still really interested in drawing, horses, and dressing fancy. She is enjoying school more, thanks to great music, gym, and art teachers. Her teacher said her reading is really improving due to an increased self confidence. She no longer visits the nurse daily for extra attention! She still on occasion asks me when we are moving home (Idaho) and gives details about our old house and how we lived close to Gracie (cousin) and didn't have to drive forever to see her. She is very creative and organizes crazy schemes for all the kids to play. Life is never boring with Kelli around. She is getting tall and I can't believe she will be turning 7. She has a very sweet spirit and cares a lot about others.

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Derek is a self taught reader. He loves sounding out words and reading books. Today he sat down and read "If you give a pig a party". We had never read it to him before and he sounded out all the words and read the whole book. He is very excited for kindergarten next year. Derek keeps asking me if next month is June. He can't wait for baseball and for our Big Trip. He is always asking me if we are going to go to all the places again, Utah, Idaho, and Washington. He can't wait to play with cousins and see Grandpa. He plays really well with Becca while Kelli is at school and is a good helper. Every once in a while he likes to tease too much and test the limits, but always with a smile. Derek asked me the other day "Mom why do we live somewhere with so much snow and cold?". I told him I just don't know:)

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Becca is very fun to have around. She is so sweet to David and all babies. She loves playing with her dolls and barbies. She has made friends with the little girl next door and has loved having play dates with her. It is fun for her to have a friend of her own. She loves playing with her older brother and sister and will wear herself out keeping up with them. When they are not around she will quietly play in her room for hours setting up all her little toys. I love walking in and seeing all her babies tucked in bed all around her room. Whenever you do something nice for her or something she likes she tells you are beautiful or she likes your hair. Too cute. One time she told Scott she liked his head without hair. She loves wearing skirts over her pants and having her hair in braids.

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David is growing up way too fast. I still want him to be a baby. He is so much fun and so much work. He is very happy and walked into the room with a smile and a "Hi". Of course he loves his pacifiers and books. He also like to throw and kick balls and shoot the Nerf gun. Scott taught him that trick! He is a pretty good eater but when he is done he throws it on the floor. He still climbs on everything and every once and while falls off. He is very independent unless I am holding someone else. Then he wants to be held and will kick or push the other kids away. Not very helpful in his nursery class where I am the teacher. He is excited by any thing new and bright. He exclaims with a gasp and "Oh wow'. He has learned the word mine and likes to yell it at everyone. He says Momma and baby. He likes to rock Becca's babies in their cradle. Yes he has broke it a few times. The dishwasher is still broken thanks to him and he has broken a few plates and bowls. He gives great hugs and snuggles. Laughs a lot and loves his Daddy. He is a great sleeper, which makes mom very happy. We love our little number 4!

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Scott is busy with work, being Young Men's President, teaching and playing with kids, spending time with me, and playing basket ball on Tuesdays. I am missing vacation time when everyone was home together. And of course missing all the family we live so far away from. I don't like the cold weather but have some great friends I meet at the gym which makes winter not so horrible. I am teaching joy school (preschool) 2 weeks a month and really enjoying it. (Derek and Becca's class along with some of their friends. Their parents teach the other weeks. It saves a lot of money too!) I am looking forward to working on my new years goals and spending more time with my family.

Family Time

Scott bought himself a giant white board and has fun teaching the kids with it.

Here he is teaching them how to draw 3 dimensional house.

David is loading all his pacifiers into a bowl.

I told a friend at church how much David likes to play with Pacifiers, so she gave us all her old ones. David has so much fun carrying them all around. Don't worry doesn't always have one in his mouth. Blackmail pictures for Derek. He thinks he is dressed as a gymnast.

Wind chill

Issued by The National Weather ServiceMinneapolis, MN 5:42 am CST, Fri., Jan. 8, 2010

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... WIND CHILL ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CST TODAY...

A WIND CHILL ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CST TODAY.

* WIND CHILL VALUES... WILL OCCASIONALLY REACH 25 BELOW ZERO THIS MORNING.

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PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WIND CHILL ADVISORY MEANS THAT VERY COLD AIR AND WIND WILL COMBINE TO GENERATE LOW WIND CHILLS. THIS WILL RESULT IN FROST BITE AND LEAD TO HYPOTHERMIA IF PRECAUTIONS ARE NOT TAKEN.

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&& More Information

... DANGEROUS WIND CHILLS THIS MORNING...

.WIND CHILLS OF 30 TO OCCASIONALLY NEAR 40 BELOW ZERO WILL CONTINUE THROUGH MUCH OF THE MORNING IN WEST CENTRAL AND INTO SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA. A WIND CHILL WARNING IS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON. IN ADDITION... SOME DRIFTING SNOW MAY ALSO PERSIST INTO THE MID MORNING HOURS NEAR THE IOWA BORDER.

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A WIND CHILL ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON FOR THE REMAINDER OF SOUTHERN AND CENTRAL MINNESOTA WHERE WIND CHILLS WILL DIP INTO THE 25 BELOW ZERO RANGE.

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IF YOU ARE PLANNING TRAVEL... MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A WINTER SURVIVAL KIT IN YOUR CAR WHICH SHOULD INCLUDE SOME WARM CLOTHS OR A SLEEPING BAG.

Cold

Today it was -29 with windchill. Kelli stepped outside and decided it wasn't too cold and she would walk to the bus stop. I was going to drive her, scared she would freeze. Instead I walked her there and my cheeks are still burning, 30 minutes later. Don't worry she was bundled better than me. January and February are worse than tornado season. Seriously why do so many people live here?

Fancy Ladies

Wow look at us!

Nice shorts Jackie, Lydia during her Mickey Mouse stage, Laura wearing my old cloths (extra wide, short, neon t-shirt), Mom her classic light weight, bright, jumper, and me with the curled bangs and hair.

2010 Goals

I love writing New Years Goals. Maybe posting them will make me more accountable. Some of these are things I can cross off when I finish and some are changes I would like to make in myself or in my everyday routines. Here's to a great new year.

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1. Send more thank you cards and birthday cards

2. Post uplifting thoughts

3. More dates with husband

4. Visit Montana and Montana relatives

5. Camp with the family at least 3 times

6. Attend temple 12 times

7. Read scriptures everyday

8. Cut grocery bill and build 3 month supply

9. Learn to buy and cook more nutritiously

10. Strengthen abs and arms

11. Lose last 10 pounds of baby weight

12. Send time on nursery calling

13. Re-do master bedroom and bath

14. Play more games with the kids

15. Spend time tucking the kids in nightly

16. More effort into family home evening and nightly family scripture study

17. Spend more time reading with kids and teaching them to love reading

18. Do visiting teaching every month

19. Call or email friends/sisters more

20. Do service for others as a family ( work together as a family)

21. Run 3 races

22. time myself for a 1 mile run

23. Learn to make wheat bread

24. Do art projects & journals with the kids weekly

25. Make time in the evenings to spend with Scott

26. Study and read good books

27. Paint bathrooms

28. Do two blog books

29. Organize mudroom

30. Plant small garden/flowers

Snow Play

We still have tons of snow. The kids can walk on top of it so playing in it is no big deal for them. Because I am slightly heavier than them, I sink. It is a good workout playing in the snow when it is above your knees.

Our backyard has a small hill.

The weather got colder so now it is iced over and very slippery.

Perfect for sledding.

We can't do our favorite sidewalk chalk so we found something new.

The kids drew in the snow with icicles.

David and Kelli slide down the hill on their stomachs. I guess David decided it was faster.

Becca's doll spent the afternoon outside too.

It was nice to get out. It is amazing how warm 22 degrees can feel.

To bad it is getting colder now.

Christmas Dolls and Dresses

Kelli and Becca's new Christmas dresses also came with matching dresses for their new dolls. We even had to do Kelli's hair to match her doll.

Scott's Present

For Scott's handmade present I scanned 575 pictures, letters, cards, ect.

Then I put them together in a book. (230 pages)

Titled: The First Years, birth-June 2003.

It has pictures and memories from our childhood, high school, college, mission, dating, wedding, first year of marriage, and birth of our first child.

It starts out with separate sections.

A few pages each for the different phases of our life.

Then when we met in Hawaii the pictures are mixed together.

I scanned in a few letters we wrote to each other, some articles and rosters from Scott's basket-ball years, and added a few thoughts and stories.

(The black and white page is me getting ready for our wedding)

It was really fun to look through all our old photos and reminisce.

It is the same format of our blog books so we will have a whole set. Now I just need to do the Utah years before we started blogging.

Kids

David and his 2 favorite things.

He is so fun, I love him so much!

Always reading books and holding pacifiers.

I love it when my girls do their own hair.

Isn't Becca's just fantastic.

See the little braid in the front.

I did do her hair but then she added to it.