You kid now!

Huggies sent me their toilet training dvd for free. Emily may not be interested in toilet training anymore but she loves the songs. She goes around saying, "You kid now!" If she point at me we sing the song together. ("I'm a big kid now!") This morning she kept singing it to Collin. It was so cute. Now to get her interested in toilet training again.....

I am definately not a teenager

I came up with a "great" idea last Tuesday around dinner time. I asked my sister in law if she wanted to pretend to be teenagers again and go to the premiere of Harry Potter 6 at the theatre. We would have to wait in line to get some of the last 50 tickets that they were selling at the door. She enthusiastically agreed with me. Then we got approval from our husbands (which wasn't as enthusiastic which should have been the first sign.) Ashley, Collin and I arrived at the theatre at 9pm. One of the joys of living in a small town is that we didn't have to come earlier. We were numbers 23 and 24 by my calculations. After talking to Ann (the owner) about how our babysitter didn't arrive until 10, etc she agreed to let us each get two tickets so that our husbands could go with us. Matt arrived at 10:30 and Landon around 11. By this time we were both feeling our age (24 and 29). The smoking, swearing, giggling and other teenage behaviours made us realize we are SO grateful not to be teenagers anymore. I had to disappear around to the garden area of the theater to feed Collin. We weren't the only parents there but we were definitely a minority. By the time to movie started Landon was starting to fall asleep. (We had only gotten home 24 hours earlier.) :) I really liked the movie as did my brother. Landon kept dozing off but he liked what he saw. Ashley found the storyline a little choppy. And we have all decided that we are too old to stay up this late. But who knows, check back with me when they release Harry Potter 7.......

Pictures Galore

Here are the photos from our trip. I tried to only pick funny or interesting ones. :)

Enjoy!

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4 month visit and Immunizations

A big thanks to my sister in law who lent me her van today so that I could get to my appointments!

Landon had to work today so I got the kids ready by 9:15 and out the door to catch the bus. Emily was so excited to ride the bus because its been almost a month. We got off and walked to Ashley and Matt's home. Emily and Ethan had fun playing for a little while. When I told Emily it was time to go and see Grandma and Papa, Ethan wanted to come too so I said Why not? Ashley had taken Emily on Tuesday so I could unpack so why not return the favor. We drove to town and went for a walk over to Rona with all three kids in the stroller. I LOVE MY STROLLER! After a short visit we headed for Collin's immunizations. He did pretty well. He was more mad that I wouldn't breastfeed until after the shots than actually getting the two shots. Emily and Ethan played with the toys while we were in getting the shots. (Rachel you will appreciate this next part) The public health nurse said that she can tell he isn't getting enough tummy time because he is starting to get a flat head and that I need to do more tummy time or else he will have difficulty crawling. Also she commented on the fact that I am going back to work and how that is going to negatively impact my breastfeeding. Yeah more guilt about going back to work!

Landon came in just after I finished breastfeeding and we headed to the doctors office. Collin had a four month checkup and she was checking us all because of the accident. Here are the results:

1. Collin weighs 14lbs 10 oz (25th percentile rank, since he has gone down in percentiles I have to go back in the month to check to see if it continues.)
2. Collin's height is 26.8 in (67cm 90th percentile rank) - so I guess he isn't going to be short and stocky which I've been asked twice
3. Perfect health, strong neck and core muscles. His left leg is a little more bowed than the right but still in the normal range, I'm supposed to make sure that he doesn't put his weight on his legs until he is 6 months just in case. No jolly jumper until then. So much fun since he always wants to stand. :)
4. Emily got a clean bill of health from the accident. Landon has a referral to a chiropractor because of the discomfort in his back. I have a referral to a massage therapist because my neck is stiff on one side and my shoulders are stiff still. Plus I'm to continue taking Tylenol for the headache. Oh why does Jeremiah (our favourite chiropractor) have to be in Utah!!!

Ethan and Emily were good at the doctors as well. They have loved being together again. We went to Mowat Bay with Ashley, Ethan and Sariah yesterday. Ethan and Emily loved being in the water. My dad got off work early and took Matt, Ethan, Emily and I out for a quick ride in his boat. Then he drove the boat to Haywire to pull some family friends around in the tubes. Matt is fixing his basement up for the missionaries that are coming to town. So we had a potluck picnic at their house. Matt, Landon and dad worked on the bathroom while we took the kids to the park. I'll post pictures later.

3rd, oops 4th and Final Accident for Emily

I was so looking forward to coming home and telling you about Emily's third and final accident and then the largest of the trip happened on the way home. But I am getting ahead of myself....

The night before we left Emily was rough housing with her older cousin (age 4), I know big shocker! She ended up falling and hitting her head on the rounded corner of my inlaws coffee table. She didn't want me to take her picture but here is a picture taken from the side about an hour later. Nice indent in the middle of a goose egg. Next morning it was mostly a bruise.

We went to church, had a nice lunch with all of Landon's family and took off for the trip home. We had an uneventful trip up to Yakima, making excellent time! And had a great night's sleep. We got off to an early start hoping for an arrival time in Powell River by dinner time. About 15 minutes out of Yakima, a "brilliant" old man in a white pickup did a u turn and started driving up the wrong side of the free way. We slammed on our brakes and missed the back of his truck as he turned. We said a prayer of thanks and went along our way. We made great time to the border, and the kids were being fantastic. As we waited in line at the border I took Collin out and fed him. He wasn't quite finished when we got to the window but I buckled him back in figuring it was about an hour to the ferry terminal and I would finish then. We drove away with Emily happily watching Madagascar and Collin almost asleep. I was elated, we were going to catch the 1:35 ferry! And then it happened. I saw a white car pulling out from a stop sign but figured he would stop when he saw us coming. When he sped up, I screamed. Jordan turned to look at me.... I looked at Collin and Emily. But Landon's door wasn't hit, I started to relax when boom! Collin and I were screaming, and we were off the road. I realized Emily hadn't made a noise, I looked at her.... and there she was still watching her movie. Landon asked if the other vehicle was still there and then he got out. His first question to the guy was, "Were you looking to kill a family today? Did you know you hit the door of my two year old?" And the guilt trip started. I started calling to Landon to stop because we were all fine. I still didn't see who was driving the car and I was scared that it could be a gang banger and Landon would get shot... yeah I wasn't thinking too straight. Emily started saying softly, "Its okay Collin, Its okay Mommy." Over and over until I started to laugh and cry. Here she was comforting me. I didn't want to get out and see how close Emily was to getting hurt. So Jordan took the first pictures. Quick thinking Jordan got her cell phone out and called 911 and passed me the phone. Eventually two tow trucks showed up and then the craziness started. The other guy fully admitted to be in the wrong. He told us he had run the stop sign because a black car had been chasing him trying to run he and his sister off the road and he was heading to the police station. Both Landon and I saw a black car back up, turn around and take off right after the accident but we hadn't thought anything about it. The boy's mom arrived and took his sister to the hospital (yeah the guy who hit us was maybe 18.) A road construction crew stopped to make sure we were okay. A guy who had first aid stopped to look over us all. The lady that lived next door came out to offer food, shelter, a car ride, anything. We contacted my dad right away since it was his car and we didn't know what to do since neither of us had been in an accident. But Jordan's cell phone ran out of minutes and so we started texting my dad and brother to get her mom to put more minutes on it. Yeah, a gong show! The tow truck called for a van taxi to take us to the towing yard since both vehicles were not driveable. They sent a car. So Landon got in with the tow truck driver and Jordan, the kids and I climbed into the taxi. The tow truck company went way above and beyond their job. While driving to the place, they were calling their dispatch trying to find us a rental so we could get home. Serge (the driver) was telling Landon what to do first and what definitely not to do. He made sure we got the right receipt from the cab company so that we could get reimbursed. I spent the first 45 minutes on the phone with the insurance company. Since the other driver had already called and admitted it was all his fault things went pretty quickly. Problem was there were no rental cars in the Vancouver area were available that would sit five passengers and all our luggage. Yeah, joys of summer. So at 4:30 (4 hours later), Scotty (the first two truck driver at the scene of the accident) approached Landon with an idea. He had heard we couldn't find a way home (expect the offer of my father to drive down in my brother's mini van to pick us up.) Scotty figured that he could bend the metal back so that is wasn't in the wheelwell and make the car safe enough to drive home. So he got to work. He bent the metal back, put the spare on and then took it off when he realized that the weight in the car would be too much for the whole distance. He looked around their scrap yard for anther tire, when he couldn't find one he called a local tire shop and got them to donate a used tire. He drove over the shop, picked up the tire, got it onto our rim (which was unharmed) and back onto our car. He got onto the back bumper and bounced to make sure their was enough clearance from the damage so we wouldn't blow the tire driving up the highway. He took more pictures for the insurance company so there wouldn't be any problems. Told us to have ICBC call him. Seriously FANTASTIC! The other two guys entertained Emily (which wasn't hard when she figured she was at an amusement park in the tow yard.) They bought her cookies, offered to guy us drink, told jokes and just kept our spirits high. The owner of the shop came out to visit with us. The receptionist spent an hour calling everywhere in Vancouver she could think of trying to find us a car. We couldn't have done it without them. We left the two yard at just after 5pm. We arrived at the ferry terminal at 6:15 pm figuring we would catch the 7:30pm ferry home. To our surprise they motioned us to come on the 6:30. YEAH! We got home at 11:30pm. I am so grateful to my Heavenly Father and to the angels that worked over time looking after my daughter on this trip. As we find out more about the damage done to the car we realize how lucky we are that Emily was not hurt in any way. My parents received word today that the car is being scrapped and so they will be buying a new car. I know that if we had been in our car we wouldn't have walked away without any injuries. A HUGE thanks to my parents for lending us your car.

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Nomination

I've decided that its time to put my hat in the running for worst mother of the year. Let's face it, I might as well document it so my kids have something to bring in to their therapists when they are older.

1. My kid is the one with juice in her sippy/bottle. (It is watered down but still there is juice.)
2. My 2 year old still uses a bottle.
3. My 2 year old goes to bed around 10 pm.
4. When at restaurants, its my kid you see running around while I finish eating.
5. I spank.
6. On occasion I yell.
7. My house gets cleaned once maybe twice a week.
8. My dishes are done maybe once a week.
9. My kid walks around in dirty clothes.
10. There are days her hair doesn't get brushed.
11. I have crayon on circles on my walls and sometimes I don't have the energy to wash them off.
12. I tell my daughter to wait so that I can finish blogging, checking email or facebook.
13. I am not consistent with family or personal scripture study or prayer, or family home evening.
14. I lose it on my husband.

Many more to add but hey I still need to put my daughter to bed.

Bedtime

We have been so lucky to have our friend Jordan on this trip. Emily sees Jordan as her bestest friend and is always asking where she is if she isn't in the same room. Jordan is such a good sport! Jordan told me that on Wednesday night Emily tucked her into bed. Jordan was sitting in a chair in her room, reading her scriptures when the door opened. In walked Emily. She walked over to Jordan bed, patted it and said, "Nori, bed" (That is what she calls Jordan and Serena.) So Jordan to humor her climbed into her bed. Emily pulled the blanket up onto Jordan, turned and walked away. When she reached the door she said, "Night, Nori". Then she turned off the light and closed the door. I think that it is hilarious since every morning Emily turns to me and says, "Nori sleeping, shhhh." Then with a grin she will point at the closed door and say, "Nori, up" and I will have to tell her that she can't go in and wake her up. :)

Skunk anyone?

We had a great time at the cabin which I will write about later. Some near misses but no accidents for Emily! We spent Monday in Yellowstone Park. We let Emily pick up a souvenir from the gift shop at Old Faithful. Now which stuffed animal would your child choose: bear, coyote, moose or skunk? Emily loved the coyote (puppy) until she saw the skunk. That was THE one. It was rather cute but we got lots of funny looks and laughter as Emily walked around holding it. On the way home she asked for a diaper and wet wipe. She told me her skunk had yucky pants. She washed and washed the bum and tired to put a pullup on it. I have it on video. It was cute and hilarious!

Rocks and Emily

I've mentioned before that Emily loves to collect rocks. She may have changed her mind.....

Yesterday she had a perfect afternoon playing with her cousins Zerric and Audrey. They ran around, played with trains, danced for Collin, played in the sprinkler, and ate cookies. It was idealic! My brother in law, Cade, was hosting a bbq and we were outside enjoying the great food and weather when it happened. Emily had been sitting on and pushing a little car around the yard. She leaned back to far and over she went. Which would have been fine except that she hit the back of her head on the rock border of their garden. By the time Landon got to her she had blood dripping down her little curls. That is something that I never want to relive again. One of the great things about having a brother in law in law enforcement is that pretty much everyone at the bbq was a cop and one of the spouses was medic. So as I held Emily to me, Landon and this woman looked though Emily's hair to find the cut. They eventually found two small cuts with a small goose egg between them. I HATE HEAD WOUNDS! Her shirt and curls were soaked in blood but the two wounds had already stopped bleeding by the time we found them. The woman recommended we take her to the hospital to check her for a concussion. So we said goodbye to Zerric, Janie and Cade (Audrey was still playing) and headed out with Emily in full blown temper tantrum. She thought that she should be allowed to go back outside and play with Zerric. She DID NOT want to get in the car. The next best thing about having a deputy in the family is that Cade told us where the accident on the highway was so we could avoid it. As we pulled out of the driveway we realized that we didn't have any gas. We stopped at the first gas station. By then the adreniline had worn off and we realized that Emily was fine and that if she had a concussion there wasn't anything anyone could do so we decided to drive through to Pocatello. (Which was our destination for the night already.) She hadn't had a nap all day and had been playing in the sun all afternoon so she fell asleep. I woke her every 15 minutes and when we arrived in Pocatello just over an hour later she woke herself up. With enough energy that I couldn't get her to sleep until after midnight. Today she is upset that I am making her have a bath. Rita and I got a few pictures on her camera. I will get her to post it on her later. If Emily survives this vacation it will be a miracle!

Time Out and Wasps

I am loving VACATION! Just what I needed. Emily is loving all the playtime with cousins. But not all has been candy canes and rainbows.......

As I was unpacking the car in Mantua, Emily started to cry. I ran over. She was sitting on my inlaws front porch holding her foot. She pointed to a wasp laying on the front step and said, "Bee gave owies." Yep, she stepped on a wasp. She became more upset once her dad tried to put ice on it. She asked me to kiss it better and then ran off to play. And then it happened.....

Emily asked me for her bottle. I told her that during the day we only have sippy cups. So the temper tantrum started. Nothing was going to calm her down until she had her bottle. Landon decided that since we were finally somewhere with a door she could go into his old room (where we would be staying) and have some time to herself. The minute he shut the door she was trying to open it. And that was when it happened.....

Next thing we know Landon is at the top of the stairs asking his mom when they put a lock on his bedroom door. His mom said they hadn't. I guess he has always had a KEYED Lock on his bedroom door. It was there when they moved in. No one knew it existed. And yes, Emily had locked herself in. As the scramble began to try and find a key I sat and sang to Emily outside her door. Put my fingers under the door (which she stamped on) and even pushed a cookie under to her. She started sobbing, "I'll sippy mommy, I'll sippy." Broke my heart. The hinges were on the inside of the door. Lance volunteered to break the window while Landon volunteered breaking down the door. (both ideas discredited due to expense and the fact that Emily was on the other side of the door. Mel decided it was time to break off the door handle. As he went to find the tools, Lance came running up the hallway with a set of keys. Vauna had been searching through drawers and found a set of keys she didn't recognize. Sure enough key number 2 fit the look and out came my daughter. A sippy and a cookie brought the crisis to an end. And then it happened......

For dinner Landon's aunt Nondis and some of her family, along with all of Landon's siblings came for a potluck bbq. After dinner Emily and her cousin Kenlee were swinging on a two person swing. Next thing I know my sister in law Janie is walking a sad looking Emily into the house. I guess a wasp was climbing down the rope of the swing and decided my daughters arm looked good. Yep, second time she was stung. This time no tears. My daughter is a tough one! She had just turned to her aunt Haylee and said something about owie and bee. Emily was back playing with the kids within minutes. She even asked to go on the swing. But it was off limits until my father in law Mel could spray it down.