Preparing for the Leprechauns

Saturday morning we started getting ready for the Leprechauns to come.  The kids were finally all feeling better but it was raining outside so we were still stuck in the house.  We decided to get some sacks and deorate them for our leprechaun hunt.  Each year on St. Patrick's Day the leprechauns come to our house and make a treasure hunt for the kids.  It starts with the kids going outside and calling the Leprechauns.  After they have called them they have to run in the house and hide  kids aren't allowed to see the leprechauns.  While the kids are hiding the leprchauns come and hide treasures for them. They leave clues for the kids to help them find the "pot of gold."  When the leprechauns leave the kids come out and begin the hunt.  It's always tons of fun and the kids look forward to it every year.  Anyways, to help the leprechauns out, each one decorated their treasure bag for the hunt.  It was a god way to pass a rainy Saturday.

My Week

We have had quite the week here.  Monday was fine.  Tuesday morning Michael left for Salt Lake.  He wouldn't be back until Sunday.  Tuesday afternoon I took Zeke and Olivia to the zoo.  They loved it.  It was really nice to be getting out of the house.  Tuesday evening I started feeling really sick.  The later it got the worse I felt.  Maddi and Makenna had church that night so I had to take them, plus one of the other girls from church needed a ride.  She lives about 15 minutes from us, 30 minutes from church.  So it took us 45 minutes to get there and 45 minutes to get home.  Their activity was supposed to be done by 8pm but it went over a little.  While they were there I took the other kids to Walmart to find a filter for the vacuum. No luck and I was still feeling horrible - worried that I may not make it home before things started happening!  We got home a little after 9pm.  The kids hurried got pjs on and picked out clothes for the next day, had some oreos for a treat and off to bed we went.  Zeke slept with me.  I was afraid to go to sleep because of how horrible I was feeling.  Stomach cramps were getting worse, I was up and down to the bathroom, no fun.  Around midnight Zeke started crying because his stomach hurt so bad.  I pulled off the covers and tried to get him to the bathroom to throw up.  No luck.  Pizza and Oreos all over my bed and him!  I got him in the shower, got the sheets off the bed and cleaned the matress, put a towel on the wet spot, got him out of the shower and dressed again and washed out the dirty stuff in the shower.  Then I cleaned and lysoled that, put a new sheet on the bed and went to get him his own blanket (just in case:) While I was getting his blanket for him I kicked my little toe on his wooden barn.  It hurt - really bad!  I wanted to cry, but I went and got an empty ice cream bucket instead for him to throw up in next time.  I couldn't sleep after that because he was so restless.  He threw up again at 2am, then 3:45 am and finally at 5:30 am.  By 6am we were both asleep.  6:30 the alram went off.  6:35 the phone rang.  Not a good start to the day.  I still felt horrible.  When the kids got up for school Maddi and Dillon informed me that they didn't feel well either.  Shortly there after Dillon went to the bathroom and threw up.  Zane and Makenna went to school.  Michael called and I told him of our lovely night.  When Olivia woke up I left all the kids with Maddi and ran to the store to get sprite.  There I was with some sweat pants one size too small, hair not combed, huge dark circles uner my eyes and a cart full of sprite!  Dillon threw up again while I was gone.  Then again later that morning.  I took a little nap in the morning while the kids watched TV.  That afternoon Dillon threw up all over the stairs.  It was horrible!  I cleaned it, lysoled it, started more laundry and made everyone take a nap.  Poor little Olivia was bored out of her head. She was the only one not sick.  She stayed up singing and dancing while we all slept.  That evening every one felt good enough to have crackers and applesauce.  I was supposed to babysit the next day but got out of it.  Thank goodness!  We made it through the night without any problems (or so I thought).  When I got up to make sure the girls were awake Makenna met me at the bottom of the stairs.  She informed me that she had thrown up in her bed at 11pm so she went to sleep on the daybed.  Then she threw up on the daybed so she went to sleep on the couch.  I asked her why she didn't come tell me and she said she didn't want to wake me.  Very sweet and thoughful, but...Her bed was covered!  There was drying puke everywhere!  I got it all over me while trying to get her bedding off and clean up everywhere (railings, floor, etc.)  I put it all in the laundry room floor, stripped off my pukey clothes and went upstairs to get the other kids ready for school.  Maddi and Zane went to school, Dillon and Makenna stayed home.  Makenna took and bath while I was getting them ready.  When she got out I brought all the nastiness upstairs to clean out in the tub  It was "agusting" as Olivia would say.  The bathtub started getting clogged from all the chunks so I had to start scooping it out with my hands and putting it in the toilet.   Once again, I cleaned and lysoled the bathroom.  As I was finishing Michael called, so I again told him of our lovely morning.  Then I went and showered.  I felt so gross!  The shower helped.  Later that mornin I ended up kicking my little toe again!  It hurt so bad!  I thought it was bad the first time, it's much worse the second time!  We made it through the day with no more thowing up.  Friday I was able to send everyone to school!  Zeke and I were feeling much better so we went to the store and the post office just to get out and get some fresh air.  Then I gave them a wagon ride while I went to check the mail.  By the afternoon I was feeling sick again so I layed down while they watched TV.  When the kids got home from school they decided they would do their chores so we could go eat supper at IHOP  They did a very good job so I took them.  Then we came home and watched Bedtime Stories and had ice cream cones.  Olivia got tired and went to bed, Dillon slept with me and the others slept down in the basement.  Anyways, that was my week!  Michael picked a good one to go out of town!  So far Olivia hasn't been hit with it.  I hope she won't.  It's horrible and very painful!  I'm hoping today will be a good day and that the rain won't come and maybe we can all go to the zoo!  And, in case you were wondering, my little toe is still sore but I can walk without a limp (shoes still hurt but the weather is in the 30's so I can wear flip flops)!

My Little Olympian

The kindergarteners at Tri-Valley held their own olympics last week.  They started off with a flag ceremony Monday.  Each child had to make their own flag.  It had to have their favorite color and shape.  It also had to have their favorite thing and some how they had to incorporate their name or initials into it.  Dillon had a green flag with red circles.  Inside the circles he had pictures of buffalo and cowboys.  His name was Flying D bar C Ranch.  On the bottom of the flag he put brown fringe to look like leather.  He was quite proud of it.  Tuesday their first event was counting to 100.  He got a gold medal in that.  Wednesday he had to say his phone number and  address.  He got 2 silvers for that.  Thursday he had to tie his shoes and read some frequency words.  He got gold in shoe tying and bronze in reading.  Friday was the medal ceremony. He was home sick that day but Zane brought his medals home to him.  He was so proud.  We had to get a picture of him with all his medals just like the olympic athletes.  They are now in his treasure box to be kept safe forever!

Yeah for the Zoo!

I took my babysitting money from last month and got a membership to the zoo.   The weather was beautiful today- around 30 degrees - so Zeke, Olivia and I went to the zoo.  We had the place to ourselves for the most part.  All the animals were out and we got really close to some.  One of the wolves came right up to the glass as Zeke and Olivia looked through.  That got them really excited.  One of the birds in a display right across from the wolves was trying to peck at them from the other side of the glass.  As we walked down the path between the two exhibits they followed, wolves on one side sniffing and birds on the other side making some awful loud noise.  The kids loved it!  Olivia thought they were following us because they liked her pink princess shoes.  I think it was lunch time!  After the zoo we went to McDonalds with an indoor playland for lunch.  It was a very fun day out of the house.  We look forward to many more afternoons spent that way!

Michael's New Suit

Now that Michael is in the bishopric he gets the privilage of wearing a suit to church every Sunday.  Well, Michael has never owned a suit.  At one point he had a suit coat that I found at a thrift store.  He wore that for a short time and then decided he was not a suit kind of guy.  He moved on to wearing his shirt and tie with his vests.  It looked very nice, but...now he has to put them aside and put a suit on.  Well, my oldest brother, knowing Michael didn't own a suit, called Men's Warehouse and ordered him a very nice navy blue one (it brings out his hair and eyes).  Yesterday was his first day to wear it.  He got all kinds of comments and friendly teasing at church and he survived a whole day in it (and I mean "whole". He had meetings from 6:45 am to 3pm and then more from 6pm to 8pm)!  When he got home I took pictures of him so we could send them out.  He hates pictures but he went along with the torture.  After all, he'd been in a suit for hours, what was 5 more minutes in front of a camera?  He did request one special picture for Sam, my brother who bought the suit.  He found his nastiest, dirtiest, most lop-sided black felt hat with Zane's bolo tie and posed.  I'm sure it brought a smile to Sam's face like it did to Michael's.  I personally think he looks very handsome in his new suit!  Thank you Sam for the gift and Grandma-Great for the tie to go along with it!

Look a Little Deeper

This may be totally inappropriate to write about but I'm going to anyways because it frustrates me.  No, I am not talking about myself either (on either end of the spectrum).  Have you ever sat and watched people?  I love to watch people and see what makes them work. It is so interesting, but there is something that has been bothering me for quite awhile so I'm going to write about it.  There is always someone who is in the spotlight.  Someone that eveyone claims they want to be like.  Someone who everyone thinks is beautiful and talented and completely amazing.  They have the hair and the clothes and the body. Then there are others.  Others that ARE competely amazing and ones that everyone SHOULD want to be like and they go completely unnoticed.  The one in the spotlight loves it there and even when it's not about them - it usually ends up being about them.  They do kind things for others but a lot of times it is so they can once again be told how wonderful they are.  They pick and choose who to do things for dependant upon the recognition they will receive.  Then I watch as they are praised and held up as an example for us all.  But over on the sidelines are the real beautiful people who try to do what is right because that is what is asked of them.  They quietly serve because they love others.  They are kind and thoughtful and good.  Yet they are passed by in the group.  To me, they are the beautiful ones. They may not be the super model like the one in the spotlight, but they are so completely amazing.  They are the ones that we should all want to be like.  I think you all know what I am talking about.  It happens everywhere, not just in lovely South Dakota.  I always wonder how these on the sidelines keep going. Not that they want the recogition or praise, but to see it all go to someone who is not "all that and a bag of chips"...I don't know. I guess it is part of why they are so good.  They don't need the spotlight.  But in my own little mind and way of seeing life, I think they need it.  I know some of these people.  I am friends with some of these people and some of them read this blog.  So to you (and deep down past your modesty I think you know who you are, even though you will never admit it) I want to thank you.  Thank you for your friendship.  Thank you for your examples.  Thank you for quietly serving and living the way you do so that people like me can sit and watch and learn.  You are amazing.  And whether you look like a super model with the hair and the clothes and the body or like a tired mother who has spent the day taking care of her family - YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL!  That means you!  I love you and I am so blessed to be able to "watch" you.  And while most people are oogling over the person in the spotlight, I am watching you on the sidelines and hoping someday to be like you.

Prain Pracks

I know why prain pracks (train tracks) are called prain pracks.  Because they are pracks and prains go on them.

Happy Birthday Grandpa!

Today would be my grandpa's 91st birthday.  He died almost a year ago.  I still miss him.  He was a great man whom I loved dearly.  I wrote this a little before he died.  I never got to see him before his death and I wasn't able to go to his funeral. It still makes me sad.  But he will always be in my heart and a part of my life.

Once tall and strong, active and energetic
Now frail and thin, tired and sick
His past, a long life full of family and work
Good habits, church going, honest and true
Always happy to see you with a hug and kind word
His greetings, now given from his easy chair,
Are still just as sincere and heart felt.
His family is saddened by his weakened state
He is at peace, his journey coming to a close
He did the best that he could with what he had
He’s now ready to go and let us continue on
Down the path that he started so very long ago
Though he will soon be gone and leave this earth
His legacy will live on in our hearts and minds.

Though being sick for quite awhile, he didn't leave this life until he knew that my grandma was taken care of. She has dementia and she needed him with her.  Once he knew she was going to be okay with out him, it didn't take him long to leave this earth.  A truly great man to the end.  He took care of her even though he was suffering from cancer.  What a great example to me of true love.

Her hair is now gray, her face wrinkled with time.
Her balance has lessened, but her smile is still strong.
A once strong, vibrant person has faded with age
Once full of stories, experiences and memories,
Now only knows the one who sits with her.
Day after day he helps her go through
The daily routines that she needs to do.
He stays by her side so she won’t feel lost
Though feeble himself, he stays strong for her.
With each passing day, her memories fade
Her children, once cherished, now fade with her mind
Who comes and who goes she cannot say
But with him by her side she gets through the day.
Their love has grown strong over many years together
So together they climb through one last struggle.
One fully aware of all that goes on
The other only aware of when he is gone.
This act of true love is a legacy for all
For to love through the hard times and not just the good
Is simple and beautiful and completely pure.

Happy Birthday Grandpa!  I love you!

Lil' Stangs

Maddi and Makenna were part of he Lil' Stangs cheer camp for  the boys basketball cheerleaders.  We are the mustangs (in case you were wondering where Lil' Stangs came from).  They had lots of fun.  They learned 2 cheers and a dance that went to Hannah Montana's Ice Cream Freeze.  We had to watch them perform from the back because they faced the high schoolers when they performed.  They did a good job and now go around dancing and singing Hannah Montana.

Granny

Last night Olivia woke me up around 1:30 am.  After that I couldn't get back to sleep.  My mind started racing and thoughts were swirling around so around 2:30 I got up.  I wrote this about my granny.  She has dementia.  It came on slowly.  At first it was little things she would forget.  Then she started forgetting people and other things.  First she forgot her grandchildren and then her children.  I'mnot sure she ever forgot who grandoa was but she never remebered him coming to see her.  As soon as he walked out of the nursing home, she had forgotten he had been there.  Despite her lack of memory she was always friendly and very accepting.  She didn't care who you were, as lond as you were nice, she liked you.  It has been several years since I have gotten to see her but she is always on my mind.  This is what I wrote last night.  It shows the progression of her illness by the greetings that she gives.  These are things she has actually said to me and has been a sign to me of where she was with her health.


"Hey, I know you! How are you, child?" She'd say with a smile and a wink.
Then only like a grandma can she'd hug me tight and kiss my cheek.
Those words were music to my ears. They filled my heart with gladness.
But years passed by and took their toll, her memory clouded by illness.
"I don't know who all y'all are, but I know that you belong!" She'd say with a smile and a wink.
Then only like a grandma can, she'd hug me tight and kiss my cheek.
Those words would bring a smile to my face, but filled my heart with sadness.
More years passed by and her memory continued to fade like a sunset to darkness.
"Now who are you? I think you're neat," she's say with a smile and a wink.
Then only like my grandma can, she'd hug me tight and kiss my cheek.
And I'd smile back and kiss her too with sadness still filling my heart,
But looking forward to the time when illness no longer can keep us apart.