Weekend

We have kept ourselves busy this weekend. Friday my neighbor had a water party at her house. She has a big blow-up water slide, a hose running down the swingset slide into a wading pool, lots of water guns and a sprinkler under the trampoline. The kids had a fun time playing with all the other neighborhood kids while the moms got to have some adult conversation--which is always welcome. I am happy to say Josh didn't get naked this time while playing in the wading pool like he did last year. I guess last year he thought it was more of a bath and took everything off. This year he has learned his lesson--thank goodness. We don't need any flashers in the family--other than babies with cute buns! Speaking of buns I guess I have two sets. I picked Daniel up the other day and it pulled my shirt down just a little. It was enough to show a little cleavage and Daniel looked and pointed saying, "Mom, it's your buns!" It's one of those funny things kids say. I am hoping he'll learn the difference when he gets older.

Saturday we took the kids and went to the neighboring city's parade. The pictures are of the kids at the parade. Much to Aaron's chagrin the kids actually were more interested in watching the parade than gathering up the candy that was thrown. When they did get the candy they had to come show us each individual piece they picked up all the while the rest of the kids were gathering the rest of it up. We just had to laugh. Don't get me wrong we still had plenty to last a day or two, though ;). Afterwards we took them swimming to the recreation center. My maternity bathing suit is getting more use this time than with any of the other pregnancies, but I won't be sad to put it away again. To make sure they were good and worn out and ready for an early bedtime we took them to a playland to get some dinner. Of course we forgot to make them go potty before we left the house so as soon as we got there they all had to go--even Daniel who isn't even potty trained yet. He just wanted to be big like his brothers. I used to not think there was nothing worse than the pee-pee dance, but Josh has proved me wrong. No sooner had Aaron taken him potty and come out of the bathroom, Josh announced in a loud enough voice for everyone in the restaurant to hear that he needed to go STINKY quite a few times while doing the poopie dance before we had time to respond. There were a few parents who thought it quite funny, but a few others that didn't. I truly think kids were sent here to keep you humble through total embarrassment. On the five minute drive home Daniel and Josh both fell asleep. We didn't have too much of a problem with them going to bed.

Splash Pad

There is a new splash pad somewhat close to our house that we thought to try out today. They are a lot more manageable for me here alone than at the pool so that's why we gave it a try. Matthew found the biggest water gun and started squirting everything he could.
Daniel was not the least bit interested in getting wet so he stayed by my side the whole time.Josh got thoroughly soaked the first few minutes and spent the rest of the time drying off in the hot sun.

Busy

We have been keeping ourselves plenty busy so far this summer. I am trying to make up for later on in the summer when I either will have a newborn or be huge and pregnant and not feel like doing much of anything. This week we have gone bowling and also visited the Train Museum at Union Station which is where the pictures were taken. The kids are also doing kids in the park and enjoy it for the most part. We did have a little trouble today. Today was a water day and Matthew lost his towel. Well with the obsessive/compulsive component of autism he had a full on melt down because he couldn't find his towel. It got pretty ugly and bad enough they called me to come and help, but the people I gave my cell phone number to didn't seem to share it with everyone so they only had my home phone number. I was out running errands so by the time I got the message on my home phone the melt down was over, but they didn't let me leave without getting my cell phone number--which I can fully understand. Hopefully things will continue to go smoothly for the most part without too many calls.

Matthew and Daniel had dentist appointments today. Josh had his appointment back when his permanent tooth was coming in behind his baby tooth. I was nervous to take everyone by myself since we (Matthew) had had a rough day and it was Daniel's very first appointment. Everything turned out great--thank goodness. I am happy to announce no cavities so I can pat myself on the back for being a brushing the teeth nazi which I am sure my kids can attest to :). Daniel did great with the mouth cleaning and X-rays--I guess the bribe of toys really had a great affect on him. Matthew was a perfect patient which is the exact opposite of what happened last year. Last year he found the controls to the chair and suction instrument and wouldn't leave them alone long enough to get a very good exam. The office was not very sad to see us leave last year :P. This time Matthew let them do a full mouth cleaning, put fluoride and sealants on for his molars, and get some X-rays. I was pleasantly surprised--all in all it was a good visit.

What a Weekend!!

Friday morning I had an OB appointment. I am 31 weeks today and things are so far so good. We got to see in the ultrasound it looks like she has some hair. I just hope it isn't that spooky baby hair Daniel and Josh had that doesn't lay down, but at least with a girl you can put cute bows and headbands in it :).

This weekend was great. Aaron and I had a much needed mini vacation and Grandma and Grandpa Terry were very nice to watch the kids for us over the weekend. To make it an official vacation we even stayed in a hotel. While we were there we got to get in a temple session, a movie, some shopping that was scream free, and we went and saw the play Les Miserables. It is one of my favorites since this is about the 7th or 8th time I have seen it between Broadway, London and here. I think Aaron even enjoyed it, but he will never let on. It was just nice to have a much needed break before the baby gets here!!

The kids seemed to have a lot of fun as well. G&G took them to feed ducks, to the store, to the park, to see the horses in the neighborhood, and they even braved taking them to church. We were quite impressed. The kids had the funnest time with the blow up waterslide in the backyard playing on it with a lot of their cousins. Daniel was too afraid to go on the slide at first until he saw his cousin Tess, who is the same age, go down. I guess his machoism came out and he couldn't be outdone. He went right up and went down and didn't stop until it was time to come inside. The kids informed me that G&G house is a lot more fun than theirs and they were sad to go, but alas, all good things must come to an end! Everyone was pretty worn out--even G&G I think--by the time we got home and amazingly enough they are all still asleep this morning. All in all it was a great weekend. Thanks G&G Terry!!

Tooth Fairy Strikes Again!

Josh and Matthew both lost teeth this morning. The Tooth Fairy will be bankrupt soon especially when she gets these double whammies!! If it keeps on happening at this rate, both will be ready for braces before we know it!

Matthew and Josh had a field trip to the bowling alley today with Kids in the Park and both had a great time. Aaron took the day off because it is Youth Conference and I spent all morning doing a service project. We planted all the plants at a new park they just built. I started out shoveling the holes, but had to stop a while into it when I started getting frequent contractions. The contractions stopped after taking it easy for a little bit which is good. I was the only leader from our ward that could make it so I felt I had to do the most I could. They are having a concert and a dance tonight so I had a little time to update the blog in between all the activities.

Our membership to Costco ran out this month which means we can't get the same Dino nunnets that Daniel loves. I tried some different ones for dinner tonight, but he didn't hardly touch them. I think we might have to re-up just so Daniel can get his nunnets! I try them a few more times before we take drastic measures :).

Yesterday Matthew and Josh had swimming lessons and it didn't go over so well. Aaron ended up needing to take Matthew home during the middle of it because he was having a really hard time. They have one more week of lessons, but for now I think Matthew has had his fill. We did find out they offer special needs lessons, but they are around the time I am due. We are still debating whether we dare try it or not.

Top 12 things I love

With our anniversary, Aaron's birthday and Father's Day all so close together it got me thinking about how greatful I am for my husband and for my kid's dad. With all the statistics about divorce--80% of all parents of autistic children end in divorce--I am truly grateful that is one area we have not had a problem with. He has taught me so much and has been and continues to be very patient with me with all we have been through. The top things I love are--in no particular order

1. How he has taught me not to take things so seriously and to laugh more at myself. Even the serious issues we have had to go through, mostly with children, we are able to get through by seeing the humorous aspects of it. Even in my worst moods he can get me to smile.

2. I love how he is willing to pitch in to help with any household chore even if it is putting away the dreaded laundry pile that never truly seems to be done.

3. How he is willing to help me out either with buying feminine supplies or underwear, painting my toenails when I am hugely pregnant, or bringing home flowers after a hard day he has always been willing to help out--although embarrassed at times.

4. How he loves spending time as a family whether it is going to the store, vacation or the doctor together as fun as that can be :).

5. How he is very encouraging and supportive. He encourages and supports me whether it is watching the kids so I can take community education classes or through my callings at church. He has spent many late night taking care of the kids while I am at young women, helping me out in nursery, and listening and helping me prepare my endless Relief Society lessons--since I have had that calling 4 times!!--and never complained.

6. How he is willing to provide for our family.

7. How he is very smart in everything from electronics to helping me with my blog.

8. I love his gray hair because I know he has earned and deserves every single one!!

9. He has high morals and honors his priesthood.

10. How he tells and shows me and the kids he loves us every day.

11. How he is willing to go along with some of my ideas even though he has to do the majority of the work such as setting up the garden from last year, by changing his diet to help me out with Weight Watchers, etc.

12. How he is a great dad by showing his support and encouraging the kids at special needs soccer, swimming lessons, T-Ball practice, school functions, etc.

I have truly been blessed with a great companion and help mate!! We have weathered many a storm and have grown closer because of it. I wouldn't change a thing if I had it to do all over again. I love you and am thankful for you Aaron!

Polish Horseshoes

Here's a video of Daniel getting pretty serious about playing Polish Horseshoes.

Father's Day

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY to everyone! We had an exciting Father's day that started out with Aaron getting breakfast in bed. I got up and pre-fed the kids breakfast, but I did make extras of Aaron's breakfast so he could share. The kids just have those puppy dog eyes when it comes to Mom's or Dad's food. He got some maple bacon, eggs and oatmeal. After waking him up--which I think he was all ready awake due to the commotion from the kids in the kitchen 'helping' me--the kids all piled on the bed to watch and help Dad eat breakfast. Aaron was in the middle of eating when Daniel took a piece of bacon, chewed it up and choked on it making him vomit in my hand and over part of the breakfast. Aaron suddenly was not hungry anymore.

Yesterday we celebrated at Grandma and Grandpa Terry's house with most of the cousins. We had a lot of fun talking, eating and drinking homemade root beer with the added slush. We played Polish Horseshoes and Grandpa had set up the zip line--or zippo line as Matthew calls it--for the kids. Everyone was pretty worn out by the end of the day which made bedtime that much easier!!

Here are some cousins hanging out in the hammock eating their root beer slush.

Matthew is riding the zip line in the other picture.

Summer Fun

This week we have stayed pretty busy between bowling, T-Ball, swimming lessons and Kids in the Park! Tuesday we ventured to the nature park by our house to feed the ducks. Unfortunately, they weren't that hungry especially after Daniel threw whole rolls to them. You can see the whole buns floating in the water by the shore. His little arm couldn't quite get the pieces that far especially with the wind blowing like it was. Also, there weren't really very many ducks anyway. The bread store by our house offers big bags of stale bread for a dollar so I thought we would try it. Now we are just left with a bunch of stale bread. We might try again sometime soon, though. It was pretty cold the day we tried so maybe on a warmer day they will be more cooperative. We were able to see some pelicans there, however.

Twins?

Matthew has kept asking me if I had two baby girls in my belly. Trying not to have hurt feelings I kept telling him no, but he was quite insistent. He even asked my neighbor if she had a baby in her belly. Embarrassing as that was I finally asked him to point to where he thought the baby was. He ended up pointing to my chest which explains the fact he thought I was having twins. I finally showed him the baby was in my tummy not my chest, but who knows if it really sunk in. If that were the case there would be a lot of expectant mothers of twins out there.

This is what 29 weeks of pregnancy looks like. I am hoping that my current maternity clothes will suffice during the duration, but things are starting to get a little snug around my tummy. I am hoping for the best.

We had another visit from the Tooth Fairy last night. Yesterday before church Matthew came to me and asked me to get something out of his mouth. I sent him to Aaron since I really can't handle teeth and they worked for about an hour and pulled the loose tooth. Matthew and Dad are out right now trying to figure out how to spend that Tooth Fairy money, but there is only so far a dollar can go ;). If Matthew and Josh keep losing teeth at this rate, she might become bankrupt!!

8 Years of Suprises and Adventures

Yesterday we decided to have an adventure in celebrating our 8th anniversary. After spending the morning bowling with some friends, we decided to to take Frontrunner (the commuter train) into Salt Lake to have some fun. Here are the kids excitedly waiting for the train to come and waiting patiently for it to start going fast while having a wallering contest on my lap.

We went down to Salt Lake and celebrated our anniversary by having dinner at the Spaghetti Factory--a place that Aaron and I went to a lot while dating--that seems like so long ago! Anyway, poor Daniel dined on some scrumptious poptarts while the rest of us had entrees with LOTS of cheese. We did have to give Daniel a dose of Benadryl after we left because as careful as we were, he left with huge hives all over his legs. I think it came from the unwashed booster seat that for some reason was sticky. However, I am trying not to think about the unwashed and sticky part--oooooooo!!! We then went to the Planetarium to watch an IMAX show, Mummies, that Aaron and I had won tickets to. The kids weren't as entertained as we were, but it was still fun.
On the way home, Josh and Daniel decided they were officially out of gas. Matthew as always was still quite full of energy. We wanted to stay longer, but we weren't very prepared because neither one of us brought an extra diaper. Daniel decided he really thought the drink was quite tasty at the restaurant and drank two full glasses. He ended up having the biggest super soaker of the year saturating his clothes quite thoroughly. Aaron and I had to take turns holding him before we got pretty wet as well--oooooooo! I guess we wouldn't make very good boy scouts because we weren't prepared. We could just look at each other and think this never would have crossed my mind eight years ago--HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, HONEY!!

28 1/2 weeks!?!

We had another OB appointment today and got to see the baby's face in a 4-D ultrasound. I can't believe we don't have that much longer left (81 days)! It has gone by pretty fast! She is all ready up to 3 pounds, but personally I am trying to convince myself it is more because I have definitely gained more than that!!

Matthew and Josh had a field trip day today with their summer recreation program. They went to the Sweets candy factory and had a tour. They all got to bring home a bag of salt water taffy which, shockingly, most of it didn't make it home because it got opened on the way home. They said they had fun.

Rookie League

Yesterday I was brave and decided to try taking the kids swimming by myself. I can honestly say it is easier when I have someone else to help me. Matthew kept drinking the water (I am trying not to think about how gross that is!!) and had to go potty every 5 minutes it seemed. That meant I had to gather everyone up, put sandals on and take everyone to the potty. That got real old really fast!! Other than that I think it was a success. Daniel even ventured on to the slide a couple times which is a great development!

After leaving the pool we got home in time for dinner than for Josh to start his Rookie League practice. It is a program for 5 year olds to help them learn T-ball skills. They work on batting, fielding, catching, etc. Since we had been swimming earlier the kids were really tired and Josh just seemed to have that glassy eyed look all through his practice and no energy. When it was over it was bed time for the kids and they were so tired they went to bed without any fighting last night--which is amazing!! I don't think we'll go swimming before Josh's next practice so he can actually be awake and alert enough to learn something!

I have found more evidence that I live with monkeys!! Last night after the kids were in bed I was on my way out to Young Women when I heard a huge thump and then screaming. Knowing from experience that can't be a good thing, I went upstairs to meet Daniel in the hallway with a bloody nose and bloody mouth with a nice fat lip--which he still has this morning. I went and asked Josh what happened and I guess Daniel was climbing on the chest of drawers and slipped and fell in between Josh's bed and the drawers. The song Ten Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed one fell off and broke his head...then flowed through my mind, but this time I didn't call the doctor I just knew to not let them jump or climb on the bed/drawers. That's what I get living with monkeys AKA BOYS!!! The picture doesn't quite do it justice.

Black Bean and Corn Salsa

I came across a really good and easy salsa recipe. I have made it twice and both times it has been delicious!! Bon appetite!!

Black Bean and Corn Salsa

1-15 ounce can black beans

1-12 ounce can whole kernel corn

1-medium tomato finely diced

1-small red onion, finely diced

1/4 cup lime juice

1 tsp cumin powder

Drain and rinse beans and corn. Combine in a medium bowl with diced tomato and onion. Mix and add lime juice and cumin. Serve with tortilla chips. Refrigerate leftovers.

Swimming/Kids in the Park

This weekend we decided to get a membership to the local recreation center/pool. To try out our new pass we took the kids swimming Saturday. Not knowing how Matthew will do that is always a gamble, but he did great. They have a big slide everyone can go on and I made Matthew a deal if he went down it five times he could have a treat. That seemed to get him to try it out and once he did, he loved it. Josh is just Josh and has no fear and loves anything like that. Daniel he spent most of the time crying because he was freezing. He kept saying, "I feezing, Mom!" Towards the end he ventured out to try the little kids area, but he wasn't that interested in it. Part of the reason we got the pass was the kids started swimming lessons yesterday and needed to be able to practice what they learned outside of the lesson itself. We put Matthew and Josh in the same class so, hopefully, they can leave each other alone long enough to learn something. They seemed to have done pretty well yesterday, but we'll see if it continues--you know how brothers are.

Yesterday I also started Matthew and Josh in our city's kids recreation program. Every morning they meet in the park and have fun activities for three hours and every Thursday is a field trip day where they go to area attractions such as the candy factory, bowling center, water slide park, etc. I am all about keeping kids busy in the summer especially as it is getting harder for me to keep up with them as my belly gets bigger!!! I was nervous about their first day mostly for Matthew's sake because he does not do well with new things. I stayed the first 45 minutes to make sure he will be all right and that the leaders would be all right. He did well enough that I left, but I left my phone number just in case. I didn't get a call and he was still there when I went to pick them up so I consider that a success. Matthew and Josh also said they wanted to go back again so I think that's another good sign. They split kids up into age groups and Matthew's group has three leaders so between them all they should be able to manage. Josh did great and had lots of fun. He didn't even wait for me to check them in before he found friends and started playing.