Sick Day

Last night I got sick.  It was the inevitable stomach virus that every mom gets after nursing her sick kids back to health.  I could feel it coming on but I begged my body not to give in.  I lost that battle.  I suffered all night.  This morning I got up and got the kids off to school as best I could.  Zach hugged me numerous times, asking if I was ok.  Grant told me I looked "really bad," but followed it up with, "I still think you're pretty."  When I picked Ella up for school, she was informing her friend that she could not play today because she had to care for her sick mommy.  She has brought me cold water, made her own lunch, and has spent the afternoon laying on the floor next to me.  Being sick is much more tolerable with concerned babies.

Read with Dog

Here is a picture of Grant reading.  And that furry creature on the floor in front of him?  That is Bryce.  Bryce is a therapy dog trained through Intermountain Therapy Animals of Salt Lake to help kids improve their reading.  When Grant shows up, Bryce wags his tail and shakes his hand.  Then, as Grant begins to read to him, Bryce quietly settles on the floor at Grant's feet and listens patiently.  At the end of the book, Bryce will get up and shake Grant's hand.  

The theory behind "Read with a Dog" is that sometimes kids (mostly nervous boys who would rather play than read) would find motivation in entertaining a dog.  It seemed to work.  Grant practiced all week so he could flawlessly recite his stories to Bryce.  And Bryce, in turn, practiced sleeping on the floor all week so he could be a good audience for Grant.  My only request is that next month they have a child to read to Bonnie the Beagle.  The poor thing sat on her sad little blanket across from Bryce with no child to entertain her and whimpered each time Grant turned his page.  No one, not even a dog, should be left out of story hour.

Pouty Puffer

I took this picture of Ella last year and, I have to admit, it is one of my favorites.  This is a perfect example of Ella's face when something is out of whack for her . . . the puppy dog eyes, scrunched up nose, her little lips pouting.  But as much as I love this picture, Ell hates it.  Everytime she sees it, she begs me to delete it.  Everytime she begs, I tell her no.  Someday, I tell her, her pouting won't be so cute. I am going to need this reminder that right now, she is an angel . . . even with the pouty face. 

Quiet

The kids are off to school and it is quiet in here.  The sun is streaming through the windows, music is playing, and it is so relaxing that I am having a hard time getting going this morning.  I could, however, be tired because Miss Ella crawled into our bed last night.  I woke up enough to hear her say she had a nightmare as she crawled over me and under the blanket.  When I woke this morning, I looked over and found, to my surprise, that she was all blinged out.  She came to our room in the middle of the night wearing necklaces, a tiara and carrying a purse (which was still draped over her shoulder).  I guess fashion never takes any time off.

Welcome Spring.

It is really too bad these children are not excited for warm weather.

80 Years!

Last night, we gathered together to celebrate Grandpa Hal's (Cory's Dad) 80th birthday.  The Memmott family met at Little America for dinner and cake.  Grant was a little hesitant to return to Little America.  Apparently when we had brunch there last December, Grant scooped a large serving of eggs on his plate which, in turn, prompted some little know-it-all girl to call him "Chicken Boy."  I assured him it wouldn't happen again and taught him a few comebacks to use next time (because that is the responsible mother-thing to do, right?).  

  

We ordered Hal an electric blanket, which apparently you can't buy in a store in Spring (don't people still get cold in the Spring?).

This past year has been a real marathon year for Hal and we are definitely looking forward to a much quieter, less stressful 81st year.  

Happy Birthday!

What's that you say?

This just in . . . the best quotes of the week.

Zach:  I can't wait to go see Terminator Salivation.

Grant:  I wish I had a trampolizer.  You know, so I could shoot animals and make them sleep.

And the scariest quote of the week . . .

Cory saw a billboard and said:  Oh look, there is an amateur pole dancing competition in Ogden.

Ella:  Dad, if you signed me up for that I would totally win.

Easter Greetings

It was an awesome Easter week-end.  The Easter bunny visited us and brought a Lacrosse goal and Lacrosse balls for Zach, a Lacrosse stick and a blue-jay webkin for Grant and a bouncy ball to ride on and sidewalk chalk for Ella.  The baskets were hard to find this year.  Cory found his new shirt and basket of candy in the dryer.  My new shoes from the Easter bunny are awesome and I can't wait for it to warm up so I can wear them.

We had a neighborhood Easter Egg hunt on Saturday.  There were 6,000 eggs hidden around the park and pavillion.  The boys searched the trees, which was much harder, and came out with some hard earned eggs.  Ella stuck to the grass and fared a little better.  They had fun playing with their friends and cousins.

After the Egg Hunt, we went to Mimi and Grandpa's house to dye eggs.  There were nine dozen eggs and plenty of dye cups for each child to color to their hearts content.  All of Grant's eggs were green and Ella stuck to oranges and pinks.  Zach only dyed a few eggs because he was too busy entertaining the babies.

It was a fun, but cold, week-end and we are looking forward to Spring.

How do you entertain nine kids on a Sunny Spring afternoon?

One can of Silly String . . .

Four games of red light / green light . . .

and lots and lots of popsicles.

Week in Review

Wow, I really have been slacking.  Sometimes time barrels over me and I am left wondering what happened.  It usually happens when there is a change in routine.  Having the kids off-track was a whirlwind of events, one right after another.  But it was time to head back to their studies.  So, here are the highlights of our past week:

Cory and I went to two Jazz games, one good, one painful.

Ella is learning her dances for her upcoming recital and is awesome at "freestyling."

Grant and Zach played April Fool's jokes on their classes.  They each went to school with their arms in slings and bandages.  The story was that they fell off the rock wall at the Treehouse.  Grant didn't fool his teacher.  Zach was more successful and had his class going until lunch.  One boy, when he found out there was nothing wrong with Zach's arm, actually got mad.  I think he was jealous that he didn't have a cool April Fool's Joke.  

Ella made a cool ring at the treehouse, and both boys went with their dad snowboarding on Thursday night. 

 

Life is eventful with this crew.