Monday, April 22, 2013

We All Survived Week 5

Note to self the first thing to do when we get to our next site: find an urgent care and er that accept our insurance....

Oh what a way to start the week. Malayna tripped over herself (entering that clumsy awkward phase) and landed head first in to the corner of the table. She had a huge bump and bruise. Then later that same day (Monday) we made a trip to the local ER. Here is how it went down....I was making lunch for the kids and Lindy was crying and crying at my feet. So because I was busy and he doesn't like to hear his sister cry, CJ picked her up and took her to the bedroom. I thought he was going to keep her busy while I finished lunch. A few minutes later I look over and see CJ sitting in the living room. I asked him where he left Lindy and he said he left her on the bed. (If you have a crawling baby then you know this is not good.) I go to find her and she is on the floor next to the bed sitting up and whimpering. I see blood on her leg and try to figure out where it is coming from, I realized it was dripping from her face on to her leg. I grab a piece of gauze and a band aid and place it over her eye brow. (with 4 kid before her, I have seen a few of these types of injuries. I am usually pretty good at knowing when a trip to the doctor is in order.) I told the kids to get their shoes on and grab their lunches. They looked at me with Lindy in my arms (still covered in blood) and the panic began. Cries of, "Oh no, what did I do? She is going to dye!" to "I can handle bones, but I can't see brains!" to Malayna staying clam and saying, "It is OK guys. I have been through this before with CJ and Eva. We just need to get in the car and get to the ER." ( she is getting to old). Colt met me at the ER, and after 3 hours we were out of there. The doctor said it could use a few stitches but that would cause more scaring than the glue. So I chose glue. (she will now and forever have a funny line through her eye brow). Tuesday brought on another injury, a fatty bloody lip in the swimming pool. Malyana and Bobby were horsing around and Malayna got the back of Bobby's head to her face. Wednesday took us on a long walk about 6 miles round trip. Along our way we stopped to watch the ducks and geese at a pond. We watched as love was in the air (try explaining two duck "fighting" for a mate and then the next question is what is "mate" from a 5 year old). We were so lucky that we got to see a little goose family. The little goslings were getting a swimming lesson. The kids really enjoyed yelling "congratulations" to Mr. And Mrs. Goose. Malayna also had another Activity Days. They made mini scripture roll up case and practiced the Articles of Faith (she has had a blast, the leaders are amazing and the girls just welcomed her in). I don't remember Thursday. We survived a shark and sting ray encounter on Friday. The Boise Aquarium is not big but it was loads of fun. We fed fish, sting rays, and sharks. I was a big baby and screamed when they would swim up to take the food out of my hand. We all enjoyed the day we spent there. We watched the marine biologist free a baby shark that got tangled up in a sticky shark egg line, and Booby loved it so much that he even mentioned wanting to be a marine biologist one day. Bobby was fear less and stuck his hand in every tank and touched every animal that would swim by. Then there was Saturday date night! We had the same great baby sitter. Colt took me out to the Rodney Atkins concert! It was so much fun and the music was great!! I love that Colt puts up with country music to make me happy(best husband status, right there.) With the recommendation of quite a few people we made it to the Old Penitentiary (now, we too highly recommend this place). It was SO COOL! We took a ton of pictures. The kids loved being in the cells and seeing all the bars and gates. My favorite was the weapons collection (worth more than 5millon dollars). We walked through it in chronological order(the evolution of weapons) from the bronze age to recent weapons used in war. It was an awesome history lesson! We also stopped at the mining and geology museum(not my thing but Colt loved it). I also have to mention that we all survived stake conference. I have a love/ hate relationship with stake conference, I love getting filled with knowledge and the spirit(been 9 years since that has happened at stake conference.), I hate trying to get 5 kids to sit still and quite for 2 hours(even with a bag full of snacks and coloring books, and at last resort 2 tablets,2 smartphones and a kindle). Lets just say we all survived to the end. On to a new week full of fun and adventure. Until next time. I love you Colt, Malayna, Bobby, CJ, Eva, and Lindy.


up close it looks worse




















After the Doc fixed her up.





Cool dock thing we found by the River

On out walk
Lindy on our stroll
Bobby feeding the fish

 sharks that are still in their eggs. we could see the yolk sack and the baby shark moving around .

this explains a little about the above picture

Lindy trying to grab the shark

Bobby petting the baby shark



Bobby touching the starfish

when you live in a hotel you have to find some form of entertainment.

taking turns with the gun in the trench replica

CJ

Eva's mouth is like that because she was trying to make gun noises.

girly girly with a gun...lol

age 9 cell 9

age 7 cell 7

age 5 cell 5

age 3 cell 3

age almost 1 cell 1

death row

Eva doesn't know what single file means

cell beds

(top to bottom: L,M,B,C,E) Let us out!






the guard house

This was just some random house we saw. We thought is was so cool. Colt says he wants to build a house like this.

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Week Four was a Chore

Well week four has come and gone. Just like the post title, it really felt like a chore. Like a chore you hate to do (if you know me than you know it was like having to do the dishes). I am not sure if it is now getting to everyone, that we have been living in a hotel for a month. Or if it is the normal cycle/flow of being a homeschool family and being together 24/7. Or if it was just me not really in the mood to go out and do everything (thank good ol mother nature). Either way it was a long, hard, frustrating week. The kids woke up every morning and started fighting. They went to bed every night fighting. I had no desire or patients to deal with that mess so most of the days I would just try my very best to ignore them in hopes that I wouldn't go all crazy mom on them.

We spent the days getting school work done then spending as much time in the pool as we could to pass the time. Finally the weekend  came and Colt was there to help! 

Friday morning we had to get the kids out of the hometel so we took them to this place called "Bodies In Motion". They had so much fun (so did mom and dad), it was like a huge indoor play place. 

Later that night we got a babysitter (we found her on care.com). She was great and the kids loved her. Colt and I went to a class for our concealed carry permits. It was a fun class and we learned a lot. We are finishing up our paper work to apply. The class certified us for our licenses in four different states ID, AZ, FL,and OR. 

Saturday morning we dropped Malayna off at stake activity days. She had a fun time and learned how to iron and sew on buttons. While she was there we dropped the other kids off with a friend (trade off). Colt and I had a lunch date at a good bbq place. Then we were able to go shopping with out kids (if you have kids then you know how this rocks)!

We had a wonderful day at church on Sunday. It was fast and testimony meeting. Malayan kept trying to get Colt or I to go up with her and we didn't, finally she got up and did it herself as she was walking back to our row (the front) she threw her hands and said "Boo Ya! I did it myself!" it was loud enough that the rows around us and the Stake President and Bishop on the stand heard her. We all just smiled at each other.

The weekend helped to turn around our week. Until next time. I love you C, M, B, C, E, and L.

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Week 3 was a Breeze

It was such a breeze that Colt nor I could remember what we did. I had to upload and look through all the pictures to refresh my memory. Now that I am all caught up I can tell you we had a wonderful week! Full of exploration, new friends, art, knowledge and entertainment!

The river by far is still our favorite place to play and explore. The kids just love to watch the water flow. While we were there CJ found a rock that he just loved! He thought it looked like a chicken leg. He got a little worried when he set it down to pick up another rock and then he couldn't find it because it "blended in". It was right behind him, but I could totally see how it could be over looked. He also picked up a rock that he exclaimed was "The most beautiful rock I  have ever seen!" We found a lot of other cool shaped rocks that we snapped pictures of. (note to kids: Look for and find the beauty in this earth that God has created.)
chicken leg


heart


"the most beautiful"





















We are making Boise "home" even if it is only for a couple quick months. We are also so thankful when those around us help to make us feel like we will be here forever! Making new friends is always the best part of going to new places. We had a blast at a BBQ with a couple of families from church. (note to kids: Always try your very hardest and go out of your way to make new people feel welcome and loved. It will mean more to them than you may ever realize. Oh and when it is you that is new go out of your way to meet new people and always look for the good in everyone.) We have already baby sat and plan on helping with their home improvements. New friends are great, I love getting to know new people.















Here in downtown Boise they have this ongoing event called "First Thursday" and like the name, many things in downtown are FREE on the first Thursday of the month! We made it to the Boise Art museum. It was also where Malayan was meeting for activity day girls. She went off with her group to learn and discuss talents, while the rest of us went on to see all the beautiful art. They had a section for kids to make their own masks like the ones we saw in the museum. I think Colt enjoyed the mask making the most! We ran in to Malayna and her group there with all there masks. It was a wonderful evening. (note to kids: Find an art form you love to do and do it. It doesn't matter if it is art, or music or dance, try them all at least one will bring you happiness.)








Oh the things we can learn. Personally my favorite subject in school was history and coming in second was government. So I had so much fun at the state Capitol building. The craftsmanship of that place was amazing! Seeing all the different gifts that were given to Idaho from our country and even from other countries was interesting. Reading the little plaques with all the history of the building and of Idaho and of the people who settled this state was so cool.(note to kids: Learn all you can about the past, history will repeat itself and if you don't know what happened, you wont know what can happen.)


 















 We also spent one morning at a building work shop. The kids got to build bird feeders. They had so much fun. They were all saying, "Dad, help me next. Dad, what do I do now?" (note to kids: Your Dad loves you all so much, he will always be there to help you and give you instructions on what to do next. The same goes for your Father in Heaven.)































I love the movies! If you know me than you know that I love going to the movies for the whole "movie experience" popcorn, drinks, nachos and all! Our kids have all seen and love Jurassic park and when we found out it was going to be released again in 3D we couldn't wait to take them. We went to a downtown theater for the first showing and we pretty much had the place to ourselves. We bought tickets and ordered a ton of food then found some seats. The staff must have been really board because they brought us our food to our seats. It was so fun. (note to kids: have fun and do something crazy once in a while, like taking 5 kids to movie..lol)

I am so glad that we get to be on this adventure and share it with you who want to read it and save it for the ones whom I want to remember it. Until next time. I love you Colt, Malayan, Bobby CJ, Eva and Lindy.