The Christmas Spirit

The Christmas Spirit

Halloween

Lasik

I can see! I got Lasik Friday. Everything is still a little blurry but I'm still healing and have high hopes that I won't have to go under the laser again. If in six months my vision in not 20/20 or close to it than they will do a touch up. We were very blessed that our health insurance covers almost the whole procedure. Something that would have cost well over $10,000 is coming to about $1600 for both of us. Yea, health insurance! I just don't see them as being as evil as Obama tries to make them sound!

No Good Day!

Today has been one of those days that you just have to laugh at! But, at the same time I also feel very blessed. I woke up in the morning to find the contents of my glove compartment strung out all over my front seat. Hmmm... It could not have been the kids. Someone was in my car last night. There was already a police car at the house across the street so I stoped and found out that there were five cars in the neighborhood that were all left unlocked the night before and had been brooken into. I can't find anything missing. The car seats are probrably the most valuable thing in that car and they were all there. :) I ussually have a couple of bucks in the console and there was no money there today but hey if that was all that was taken! Wow, I kinda feel like I dodged a bullet and feel blessed more wasn't done- or more wasn't in my car. Often I leave my diaper bag in the car and that would have been bad if it was taken. After filling out all the paperwork with the police officer, I went to the tag/title whatever that place is called, and found out they moved. Yuck, back in car seats to discover they only moved about a football field away. But, Larry didn't sign the title so it was a wasted trip. I'll have to go back to that favorite place. See bad day, but there was absolutly no lines so I was able to walk right up for them to tell me I was missing a signature. I could have had to wait an hour to find that out! Next, I stopped by the pharmacy only to lock the keys in the car! Two very fussy kids, no stoller, no way to get home but a mile walk. Luckily my sweet friend Debi came to my rescue. So I guess it wasn't too bad of a day. It could have been so much worse without a good friend! Hopefully, this bad luck is past because I'm scheduled for Lasik tommorrow. I'm so nervous! Say a prayer for me!

Sunday Thought

Larry found this and we both thought it was a good message.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Cw8I8eukaI

Camping

We have taken out our camping trailer twice now.  The first time was with a few good friends to a park with a lake.  We had a great time.  There were pesky raccoons everywhere.  They opened a plastic container and stole our food while we were sitting 15 ft away!  They were crazy.  There were also sand hill cranes looking for handouts.  They are almost as tall as Caden.  I told Megan and Caden I would give them $10 if they could grab the crane's beak and they were close but the $10 is still mine.  Mike brought his boat and I was able to clear the wake for the first time on a wake board.    Our second camping trip was to a beautiful park right on the beach.  We went for two nights.  The older kids had a ton of fun playing in the woods.  Ella had lots of fun playing with Aubree and Raelyn was fascinated with the water.  She would dip her head in the condensation coming off of the tent trailer's air conditioning or play in the puddle left by the faucet.  There is one good thing about her wanting to play in the water so much- it ment that she was not playing near the fire.  :)   I have to say that after two camping trips with a toddler and open fire I owe my thanks to lots of guardian angels (one being Katie) keeping Raelyn safe.  Although at the end of the trip she was really cute and while walking between the camping chair and fire she would hug the chair and walk as far from the fire as she could.    It was a really hot weekend.  I was glad for the AC!  The camping trailer came with a TV and we had an extra DVD player.  We brought both in case of bad weather.  I was thinking it would be if it rained all afternoon, but it was so hot and Larry and I were so tired we let the kids watch a movie one afternoon.  Some campers we are!

Family comes to visit.

My wonderfull sister and her family came to visit!  They came to Florida for over a week and we were able to see them for two weekends!  It was so much fun to see my kids play with thier cousins and get along so well.  Jana has five kids; 10 yr old Ethan, 8 yr old Kate, 6 yr old Henry, 3 yr old Eve, and 1 yr old Jane.  If you haven't noticed yet, those ages fit pretty perfectly with my kids.  We all had a blast.   For the first weekend we met them in Gainseville and had a great time swimming and going to a musuem which had really cool butterflies.  The second weekend they came here. It was crazy to have 9 kids and 4 adults all staying in our humble home but tons of fun. I didn't have my camera for most of the fun so I hope Jana sends me pictures, hint, hint.  But here are a few of the ones I did take.

Slip in slide

Our great friends, Amy and Adam, sure know how to slip 'n' slide!   They have a great backyard with a hill.  When you add plastic sheeting, soap (for extra slickness), and water, fun is had by all!  Erin and I were as enthusistic as the kids but what really made me laugh is when Larry helped Raelyn down and she LOVED it.

Pop up camper

Larry has been wanting a tent trailer for months but I told him we did not have room to store a boat, tent trailer and our 2 cars in front of our house.  Last month the boat sprung an oil leak so he put it up on craig's list and bought a tent trailer.  I was hoping that he would wait to make the purchase after the boat had sold but the tent trailer was a great deal so we now have a boat, a tent trailer, and two cars all in front of our little house.  As much as I hate the fact that we have become a reason people like home owner's associations,  I am excited to use it.  We have two trips planned and one more in the works all in the next few months.  The tent trailer has a stove, sink, refrigerator, couch, table w/ two bench seats, two king size beds, and the couch and table makes into two twin sized beds.  They also sold it equipped with camping gear- so we should be set.   It being a great deal means that we are having to do some cleaning and repairs.  The second picture is during all the cleaning so excuse the mess.  I'll have to add pictures of the after pictures when we are out camping in two weeks. :)

Lasik

Larry had lasik done this morning.  It went well. I hope.  The first day your vision is supposed to be off but should be good in the morning. It take 6 months before they can tell just how successfull it was.  I hope I will be able to relax before the 6 months is up.  I almost hyperventalated while he was having the surgery I was so scared.  I cried real tears.  I think they should give the spouses the good drugs they give to the patients.  Larry's not nearly as tense as me.  He's feeling good!

First Day of School

Megan started third grade on Monday but Caden didn't start until today. I admit I'm a little emotional. I can't believe Caden is already in school. It seem like just yesterday he was my baby in arms. I know from Megan that as soon as they start school there is no going back. They are school age. Next is mission and college. I'm mourning the loss of his baby years today.

Summer Happenings

We started piano lessons this summer. We first had to get a piano. We chose a digital piano and LOVE it. The kids love practicing thier songs in different sound effects. Laughing, dogs' barks, fireworks... Here's a picture of the piano we choose. Megan and Caden started their lessons in June. Megan says she likes it but her practices are what she needs to do and little more. She is plugging along though. I was going to wait until Caden was a little older to start piano but he really wanted to start. What's a Mom to do? He loves it! He practices a lot. He has even composed his own music. After he played his song for me I told him that he should really write it down. It was so good. He has revised the song since this addition but here's Caden's composition before revisions. :) Notice the forte simbol at the begining. Caden likes to play all his music loud! Megan started swim team. She is amazing. She's fast. She can already do the butterfly stroke better than her Mom! She enjoys it so much I think we decided to keep her in swim team until it gets too cold. She should be participating in the begining of September so stay tuned for more swim posts. Caden was not quite ready for swim team but loved his lessons. He can now dive into the deep end and swim accross to the other side and can swim 25 yrds without stopping. He's improved so much this summer and I think he's over his fears.

Ella Dances

For those that have been over in the last 6 months Ella dancing is not news. Ella dances for all guests that come to the house. She tells them where to sit and then performs beautiful ballets. She does so with so much passion and with a very determined look on her face. She does not need music and when she is done she tells the audience to clap for her while she curtsies. Then she tells the guest that Mom is going to put her in dance class. Well, I finally gave in. She took a summer class. She had a good time in the classes but I wasn't $45 a month impressed with the classes so her dance instruction is going to have to continue at home with videos from the Libraryand her improvisations.

wakboarding

I thought I would add a few pictures of our wakeboarding adventures.  Caden almost got up- well, he got up but hasn't figured out how to stay up.  Ella wakeboarding with Dad and then giving a thumbs up when back in the boat.  The picture of Megan wakeboarding was while she had a broken arm but we didn't know it yet.  Ooops!  The last picture is of Raelyn enjoying her time in the boat.  We've been having too much fun this summer.  Thanks Mike and Anna for inviting us out so much!

Ouch!

Megan was racing on her bike and wrecked.  Ouch!  We were more worried about her lip that had a little road rash and was swelling than we were about her arm.  We thought it was just a sprain.  She even went wakeboarding on it, but a week later we found out she had a buckle fracture.  She now has a cast.  Poor Megan!   She cried more at the thought of no swimming for three weeks than she did because of the pain.  Thanks to a dry pro cast cover she has been able to swim and wants to ask the Dr if she can wakeboard with a cast.  :)

Babtism

This blog is long awaited! Megan was babtized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on June 6th! I can't believe she is already 8. She's such an amazing daughter and is definitly ready for this step. She just radiates goodness and is such an example to us. We love her! We were sure glad to have her grandparents come and share this special day! Thank-you Mom and Dad Pratt and Mom and Dad Seiter!

Megan wakeboards!

Our small camera is on the fritz so we don't have pictures but Megan got up on a wakeboard yesterday!  Caden tried and I think will make it next time.  Larry is a great coach and held the board steady until the boat pulled them away.

Weekend Wakeboarding

We went out wakeboarding and tubing this last saturday.  We didn't charge up the battery on our camera but Mike got a few good pictures of Larry.

Gardening

It's growing!  I did most of the planting but Larry took over on the watering so it is growing.  Yea, Larry!  It has rained every day almost all day long for the last week or so, so his job has been easy as of late.  We've gotten lots of green beans from our bush beans, a green peper.  Our tomatoes look promising and there are more bell pepers to be had as well as carrots.  The pumpkin plant has produced beautiful flowers but has not started growning any pumpkins from it yet.  Oh, and the kids pinto beans have produced a few pods.  :)  The pea plants died a quick death.  I think it may have been too late in the season for them.  :(.   I think over all it's been a pretty successfull season, but then I didn't have much hope.

LARRY GRADUATES!

He did it!  My hubby is just the most amazing guy.  He worked full time, is a wonderful father to 4 children, a wonderful husband, and served as Elders quarm president all while getting his master's degree in 20 months.  I married superman!   He truely is amazing to me.  He got a Master of Science dregree is Industrial and Systems Engineering with an Emphasis in Management from the Unviversity of Florida.  Go Gators!

Marker Mess

Raelyn is starting to get into everything!  She sure loves the freedom (and mess) that crawling and cruising affords.

garden

We put in a garden a week or so ago.  We still have room for a few more tomato plants but so far we have peas, green beans, beans, bell peppers, pumpkin, tomato, and carrots.  Wish us luck.  We'll need it.  Now that it is blogged, I'm accountable.

Ode to the wrap!

Maybe that's a bad title... but I seriously love my wrap.  I have memories of lugging carseats around or pushing strollers while baby is screaming.  Dark memories of trying to quiet baby down while pushing with one hand.  People watching and giving dirty looks.  But, not anymore.  Raelyn loves her wrap.  At Leu's garden we looked at the flowers together until she started making little fussy sounds and kept laying her head down on my shoulder so I put the wrap over her head and she was out in minutes. OK so granted sometimes there is a little fussing to get her to sleep but nothing like before.  And I just love her cuddles while she sleeps- and no more sore aching arms.  I think I have become, at least while we are out and about, a babywearer!  I'll be sad when she gets to heavy to wear.  With Ella, I use to feel guilty that while we were at the zoo I wasn't able to get her out of her stroller more and show her the animals.  I felt bad that I didn't interact with her more.  I don't have that guilt anymore with Raelyn and I feel like I have more time for the older ones as well.  OK I'll stop rambling.  I'm probrably already going to regret this post because it includes a picture of me.

Leu's Garden

We went to a Garden in Orlando this past week.  It was really pretty.  We had fun taking pictures of the kids and some of the flowers.