tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36250106688419447822024-02-19T03:19:36.967-07:00Keeping Up With the CannonsLynzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18192302655461364266noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3625010668841944782.post-71145128201003498592011-11-12T09:47:00.000-07:002011-11-12T09:47:40.950-07:00Seriously?I was just thinking that I hadn't even been on Blogger in months and so I decided to update my background when my sweet little cherub did the nastiest thing. Jacob, Ethan and Noah were sitting on the couch watching Gnomeo and Julilet when Mason climbed up on the couch in front of Jacob and while standing bent forward and farted in his face. Did this seriously just happen?Lynzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18192302655461364266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3625010668841944782.post-50700769722831447602011-08-02T14:47:00.000-06:002011-08-02T14:47:33.270-06:00Keeping up with....NoahSince I've taken almost the entire summer off of blogging I thought it would be go to summarize what is going on/what is new with each of the boys. I thought I would start with my oldest darling first.<br />
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Noah had a great end of wrestling season. I was fearful the first few matches but he doesn't like to lose so he worked hard and did amazing! At the state tournament he ended up taking 5th place after working his way back up the loser bracket. He also got rookie of the year for his age group. He hurt his knee during the match for 3rd/4th place but even with an injury he pinned the boy for 5th/6th place. <br />
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His knee was quickly mended after a day or so of RICE (rest, ice, compression and elevation) and Motrin. Or so we thought. He has intermittently complained of this "popping" sensation with his knee. He occasionally has some swelling as well. Since it was still bothering him and it was time to sign him up for tackle football we decided it should be checked out. We took him to the injury center where he was examined by a doctor. Noah denied any pain with the exam but the doctor was still able to feel swelling and a cyst. Due to Noah's age he wanted to do a few x-rays of his knee and hip. The x-rays were normal but didn't really answer the question of what was going on. So the next step was an MRI. He had this done last Monday and we finally got the results. The only thing it showed was a popiteal cyst or a "baker's cyst". It is 2cm by 3cm by 2 cm. Which may not seem small but on a 10 year old knee (no matter how tall) it is quite large. <br />
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Popiteal cysts are usually not treated. This may be the cause of the "popping" sensation he is feeling. The doctor at the injury center is going to discuss Noah's case with an orthopedic surgeon just to make sure he isn't missing anything. At this time Noah can still do all of his usual activities. The surgeon that did all of the work on Clint's knee is on vacation until sometime this week so hopefully we will hear final word on the plan at the end of this week or the beginning of next week. <br />
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When Noah was really little he loved water then all of the sudden not so much. This summer he spent a ton of time in swim lessons and is doing awesome. Quickly moving from level 2, to 3 to finally 4. He can swim the length of the pool and back with multiple different strokes. He also went down the Geronimo at the water slide with Clint...twice! Geronimo is the big slide that goes straight down. I almost vomited watching! <br />
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He has become a decent lawn mower and has been trying to get clients so he can make some extra money. Noah told me the other day that if he can get x number of clients and x number of employees he can have his own business and make a lot more money! <br />
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I can't believe he is going to be 11 this fall. Well most of the time I can't believe it, sometimes when he is sighing and rolling his eyes I'm sure he is well into his teens. Most of the time he doesn't think I'm funny anymore. I crack my cheesy jokes and he cuts his eyes at me like "I'm sorry you are such a loser mom". <br />
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We went on a date night in July. It is something I have to keep going as most of the time he would rather hang out with his Daddy since I am such a dork. <br />
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I am sad that he will be in 5th grade.....but a little bit thrilled that school is almost ready to start! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0rbZ-33B0jL1ncWyZRZXdvQCYoEoyuqhVDJzhmUObY3iXGEpNsFJ4l-jaNR6QNXQmbhjoI1IXaBaQ9fzYpSpQz4Xh9qZ_3WZy7uJV3rO4oq-T6WRgRSVBJPfDhiParcYWm6VAk9glakk/s1600/IMG_9154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0rbZ-33B0jL1ncWyZRZXdvQCYoEoyuqhVDJzhmUObY3iXGEpNsFJ4l-jaNR6QNXQmbhjoI1IXaBaQ9fzYpSpQz4Xh9qZ_3WZy7uJV3rO4oq-T6WRgRSVBJPfDhiParcYWm6VAk9glakk/s320/IMG_9154.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK2m4S9DwCwtd57likFYUDSrv_FS2W3yk-vGs4KN_x8A4h2ZiabUOz-j2DkuPGM3rnWGjMJToUuCHEi8U7dvbCEU43PT-hpHSdTiVJhMUazz2TopORaCUn4ADweFolbhJpnu6K3eM0Ngs/s1600/IMG_8937.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK2m4S9DwCwtd57likFYUDSrv_FS2W3yk-vGs4KN_x8A4h2ZiabUOz-j2DkuPGM3rnWGjMJToUuCHEi8U7dvbCEU43PT-hpHSdTiVJhMUazz2TopORaCUn4ADweFolbhJpnu6K3eM0Ngs/s320/IMG_8937.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Lynzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18192302655461364266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3625010668841944782.post-4741664372623993812011-08-02T10:44:00.000-06:002011-08-02T10:44:36.152-06:00My fun little project<div>Last week Clint had sinus surgery. They (the VA) did a cleaning out of his sinuses and fixed his very deviated septum. The surgery went well or so I'm told. Care at a military hospital is nothing like care at a civilian hospital. At a civilian hospital the patient (and his family) are a consumer. They have the ability to seek treatment where they choose. Not so much with a VA or military hospital. I wasn't allowed to wait with Clint prior to surgery. I got to walk him to the check in desk and then the nurse asked for my cell phone number and told me they would call when he was ready for me to pick him up.....uh no. I tried to patiently wait in the waiting room until I assumed the surgeon would let me know how the surgery went. Wrong again. The OR tech wheeled Clint by the waiting room then he hollered in the door "anyone waiting for Clint?" I hurried up and walked to the door looked into my husband's still very out-of-it eyes and the tech said "he did good, you can come back and get him in about an hour". I still wasn't leaving, partly out of concern for my husband and partly because I was driving the beast and I wasn't sure I could find my way back to the VA and park it without running someone over. So I waited and waited.<br />
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During my wait I was hit on by a man in his 80's. You may be thinking he was probably just being friendly, no I felt dirty after he left. The recovery nurse finally came to my rescue and told me Clint was ready. She read both of us the discharge instructions but did not love all the crazy questions like "did he get any zofran?" "when was his last pain pill?" "how did the surgery go?". Once he was discharged I walked him to the elevator, down to the first floor where he had to stand in line for his prescriptions. Fast forward 24 hours it was time to remove the packing and talk to the surgeon and the doctor told me to wait in the waiting room. Seriously? I told Clint that I want to get a copy of his medical records so I can read what they have written about me.<br />
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Now that I have gotten that out this blog is really suppose to be about my "fun little project". A while back I got this grand idea that I should move Clint and my room down to where Noah's room is and use Jake and Ethan's room for a craft/office. Mason and Ethan could share and Noah and Jake could have bunk beds in my old room. Really great idea. Right now if I want to do any craft I have my kitchen table. I haul all of my junk upstairs, set it on the kitchen table and it is time to eat so I have to clean my mess up. No matter when I try to do a project it is always time to eat at my house! I was really excited about being able to have a small place of my own.<br />
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Saturday at a garage sale I found a metal bunk bed that just needed a little spray paint so it was not so obnoxious. I tried my hand at spray painting and quickly learned I could never be an artist with a spray can. Jenny was kind enough to volunteer Jude so I would stop freaking out. So what better way to spend the rest of Saturday when it is 90 plus degrees out and we don't have central air? Move rooms. I had to take apart and move 2 lodge pole beds. Move 2 twin and 1 full mattress from downstairs to upstairs and our queen bed downstairs. As well as move the belongings of 5 people. I was smart enough to not move my dressers downstairs so we have "traded" dressers. My house is currently a mess, not everything has found a home, my arms are like noodles and I would probably cry if you squeezed them but I learned a few valuable lessons.<br />
1. Although I could never be a carpenter, or a professional bed putter together or taker aparter once I find the correct tools I'm good.<br />
2. It is really hard to find the right tools when you don't know the official names (i.e. easier to call something a wratchet instead of the tool that goes "kweee koooo" when you use it).<br />
3. If I have to be I am pretty strong.<br />
4. I will no longer complain when Clint moves my furniture and bumps it into the wall.<br />
5. I would rather be in charge of the cleaning and organizing of these projects and leave the "muscle" jobs to Clint.<br />
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I just keep telling myself "It will be worth it when it's done.......I swear"</div>Lynzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18192302655461364266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3625010668841944782.post-56326796031649029402011-04-03T19:36:00.004-06:002011-04-03T19:44:34.836-06:00“Me do it”<span xmlns=""> <br /><div></div><br /><p>These are three dreaded words around here. It is a difficult time of toddlers asserting their independence and parents practicing patience. Once the task is mastered and we are one step closer to self-sufficiency that is awesome but in the heat of the battle I wonder if it is really worth it. Maybe I will dress this child into adolescence; maybe I will put them in a headlock and brush his teeth until college. Mason has jumped into the need to do everything himself feet first. He not only wants to do it all himself he wants everything else done the exact way he wants It done. </p><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin7Lmzx4llEtotek-Pv-E1kV_43TBYG_NPsLFz8CAP0glCLnGzH2Ek7ovCXlbJz16-xdptNUDGlfVjvu1JDTIb0PyFif53HcybZMJ2fO403uGRg8yLToT3FY8NKshFgryNa-pY3W-HlkE/s1600/IMG_7929.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 134px; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591537169527777538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin7Lmzx4llEtotek-Pv-E1kV_43TBYG_NPsLFz8CAP0glCLnGzH2Ek7ovCXlbJz16-xdptNUDGlfVjvu1JDTIb0PyFif53HcybZMJ2fO403uGRg8yLToT3FY8NKshFgryNa-pY3W-HlkE/s200/IMG_7929.JPG" /></a><span style="font-size:0;"></span><span xmlns=""></span></p><br /><div></div><br /><p>This is a "me do it" outfit. The only thing going for him with this outfit is the color scheme was perfect. The sweet little fish is technically supposed to be on his backside. Not in front on his business. Nobody should have fishy business. Some of things Mason "thinks" he can do on his own: </p><br /><ul><br /><li>Pour his own milk </li><br /><li>Load/unload the dishwasher </li><br /><li>Dress/undress himself </li><br /><li>Pick out his own clothes </li><br /><li>Wipe up his own messes </li><br /><li>Make his own snack </li><br /><li>Open the refrigerator and pick his own snack anytime he may possibly be hungry </li><br /><li>Brush his own teeth (for an adult to brush them it is when he's in headlock) </li><br /><li>Change his own diaper </li><br /><li>Wash his own body </li><br /><li>Open his own yogurt </li><br /><li>Put his own lid on his sippy cup </li><br /><li>Carry in groceries </li></ul><br /><div></div><br /><p>This is only a small list of the things he likes to do on his own. All of them have made or are a potential for making a huge mess. Today he took off a poopy diaper twice. I was cooking dinner and he had been playing downstairs with his brothers when up runs a naked Mason with a nap (napkin) that had a piece of poop in it. It took a moment for me to realize what was going on and before I knew it he was racing downstairs to pick up another piece. </p><br /><div></div><br /><p>The other fun thing he has been working on is potty training. He really likes to wear big boy pants. He wears them when I am home and has an equal number of accidents vs. getting his pants off and peeing on the floor. The great part about when he pees on the floor is he grabs the underwear and pants he was just wearing and starts to clean up his mess. </p><br /><div></div><br /><p>If I leave Mason alone for a minute there is a good chance he is either making a mess, getting into something, or getting a snack from the fridge. Sometimes if I am really lucky he has done all 3 at once. </p><br /><div></div><br /><p>Although there are times the "me do it" phase drives me crazy it is amazing to see what a big boy he is. He is growing each day and is always trying to be a big helper even if sometimes his help makes more work for me. Before I know it we will be past this phase as well. He will no longer be my baby. Today I told him "thanks babe" he replied "no, I'm 4". Thank goodness he is not 4, and thank goodness he is not a twin! </p></span>Lynzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18192302655461364266noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3625010668841944782.post-17292860996377900062011-03-29T11:40:00.003-06:002011-03-29T12:21:27.485-06:00Wrestling weekend.....Cannon styleThis last weekend there was a very large wrestling tournament in Butte that we decided to brave. Noah and Jacob had an early out so we left town early. It was a wonderful drive. We didn't lay Mason down so he actually slept most of the way to Butte. Mason travels one of two ways. He either sleeps or screams. I was pretty certain that since our ride was <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">soooo</span> wonderful getting there the rest of the weekend would be a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">success</span>! We checked into our hotel and found a bag of candy wishing us luck in the tournament from the hotel. Jacob was impressed by the nice job the hotel did with making the beds. After this we went to weigh in. This is the first tournament we had to weigh in for ("we" meaning the boys. there is no weight class for the parents) usually our coach just submits the weights they have on the boys. I went with Jacob and Ethan to their weigh in area, Clint was entertaining Mason in the car and Noah ran upstairs to weigh in by himself. As we were getting finished weighing in J and E, Noah comes back downstairs and is a little upset. He weighs 89.5 lbs. Which is absolutely a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">wonderful</span> weight for him but the weight classes are set up so there is a 81, 85, 89 then 100 lb 10yr old weight class. 11 lbs is a huge difference! Especially with the how talented a lot of the wrestlers are at this <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">tournament</span>. So the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">official</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">weigh-er</span>-in-<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">ers</span> upstairs suggested Noah run for about half an hour. Thank goodness Tony was behind us in line and was able to help Noah figure out what to do. Noah ran some laps, went to the bathroom (twice), then wrestled Tony for a few minutes and success! He was able to weigh in he weighed 88.9 lbs. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">Woohoo</span> (I wish I could lose 1/2 lb that way!). Thank you Tony!!! We then met our good friends the Yates family at the restaurant for a great dinner and drinks. Their son <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">Zay</span> was wrestling as well. We wanted a table all together. It had to be a large table to fit my family of 6, her family of 5, and her aunt. There was a lot of testosterone in that room since 0f the 12 there were only 3 women. Back to the hotel for a long night of Mason miserable because it wasn't his normal routine. Mason loves routine. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Especially</span> his "nigh nee" routine. After a quick breakfast at the hotel we were off to the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">tournament</span>. The brackets they had printed did not have the correct bout number on them, and then some were printed incorrectly multiple times. Because of this Ethan almost missed his first match. When we <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">finally</span> realized what was going on Noah ran him over to wrestle. They went so quickly that Ethan wasn't sure how to get back to where we were sitting (the tournament is at the civic center). Ethan quickly was pinned (so was Jacob and Noah this round). When Ethan wasn't back a few minutes after his match I was worried, but hopeful that he would be there any second. Then I hear the announcer say "Will the parents of Ethan James from Great Falls please come to the announce stand. Your son is lost". Love that he knows his middle name, but important that we work on telling people your first and last name if ever lost! After watching lots of wrestling there was a break. Sarah and I brought the "babies" out to the entryway to run around. The other boys were hanging in our seats. Moments later Steve comes running out and tells me "your kid just puked on your chair and I don't do puke". I ask which one and he says "the little one Ethan". I leave Mason with Sarah and hurry to the bathroom to get some cleaning supplies. The <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">paper towel</span> dispenser I'm sure saves the Civic <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">center</span> a ton of money since it will only <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">dispense</span> one towel at a time, but for a mama needing a large amount of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">paper towels</span> to clean up puke in a public area I wanted to find the override button. Back in the stands poor little Ethan is white as a ghost and there indeed is plenty of puke on the chair I had been sitting in and on the floor. He also had a few other gastrointestinal issues but we won't discuss those here. I was able to successfully clean up the puke and sanitize the chair between my limited supply of stolen towels from the bathroom, the napkins/trash on the ground, wet wipes from my bag, and sanitizer wipes from Sarah's. Clint then took poor Ethan and Mason back to the hotel for some rest. Ethan had to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_16" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">forfeit</span> his second match. Jacob lost his second match although it lasted much longer! Good job Jacob! Noah lost by points on his second match. He went all 3 rounds with a boy that had some serious muscle definition and had some pretty amazing moves. It was a close match for the first 2 rounds Noah even giving the poor boy a bloody nose but this must have made him see red so the 3rd round his opponent pulled out all his tricks and won. This was a hard lose for Noah because he tried so hard but I was very proud of him. Thanks to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_17" class="blsp-spelling-error">Zay</span> I feel like we still were victorious since he brought home 3rd for us! No matter what we do there are always some bumps in our adventures (see the postings about our summer vacation). Although it wasn't a "perfect" weekend it was <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_18" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">definitely</span> a Cannon style adventure and we had a great time!Lynzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18192302655461364266noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3625010668841944782.post-91166767241125982582011-03-20T17:09:00.003-06:002011-03-20T18:02:54.054-06:00Keeping the Frat party at bayI usually work 1 of 2 shifts. Either 7 to 3:30 or 7 to 7:30. Either of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">these</span> shift can be much longer depending on the day but there is always hope that I will be home shortly after. The days that I get off at 3:30 are great I have the whole evening to help with homework, cook dinner, do dishes and hang with my boys. Often when I come home after my 7:30 shift I feel like I came home to the wrong house. Maybe I <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">accidentally</span> set foot into the frat house.<br /><br />What could have possibly happened in the 4 extra hours I worked? Where did my sweet little boys with good manners go? I can't help but smile when I open my house and hear all the giggling going on. Even if it is over <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">someones</span> bodily function. There are wrestling tournaments, and Mario tournaments, push up tournaments and eating spicy sauces on pizza tournaments. These are only some of the tournaments that I am privy to knowing about. Some days when I ask them what they've been up to I only get giggling in response. These days it is probably best I didn't know.<br /><br />Thank goodness there is a little estrogen in this house. My new motto should be "Motherhood keeping the frat parties at bay".Lynzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18192302655461364266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3625010668841944782.post-64944612077381985332011-02-12T19:02:00.003-07:002011-02-12T19:39:11.661-07:00Wrestling for dummiesToday was absolute insanity! <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Today</span> was our first wrestling tournament. I am a planner and like to be as prepared as possible for things. I am <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">ok</span> if it changes along the way I just like to start things off by at least thinking I am prepared. I arrived at the gym 30 minutes before the tournament started (when the coach said we needed to be there). The gym is already packed. I am actually concerned if the fire <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">marshall</span> were to come they would have to shut the place down. The boys quickly change from their shoes and wedge their feet into their wrestling shoes (seriously why are they so tight?). They run off to join their team to do strange warms ups wrestlers do.<br /><br />I found the sign that was put up on the wall so our team would all sit together and headed up. I carried my camera bag, the bag I brought of things to do in "free time", the bag that held the boy's tennis shoes and 4 winter coats. I shoved through the stairs hopeful I would find a place to sit down. There were a few areas that appeared to be open but after wedging myself right up to multiple options and being told "sorry these seats are taken" I went and stood at the top of the stairs.<br /><br />Finally a mother (from our team) offered to move a few of her things that were holding a seat in case her kids wanted to sit there later. I am so thankful for her! She then helped explain what was going on and what to expect. Later when I was watching Noah wrestle and Ethan had to go to the bathroom she took him. She helped keep an eye out when Ethan and Jacob would wrestle since they seemed to start at the same time. I wanted to hug this woman!<br /><br />Ethan wrestled first and won. He was very excited! He later wrestled 2 more times and lost both of them. He put a lot into each match and wasn't always convinced he should stop when the ref told him to. He would shake his opponents hand vigorously. If he was an old lady his arms may still be shaking from these hand shakes! It warmed my heart the entire time he <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">wrestled</span> it was so <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">stinkin</span> cute!<br /><br />Jacob lost 1, won 1 then lost his final match. He did a great job listening to his coaches and doing what he was suppose to. His final match he got hurt. His shoulder got pinned behind him and he started crying. I teared up as well. I was proud of him because he finished the match. Sometimes when things get tough Jacob will just give up and I was <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">sooooo</span> proud that he pushed through! He did great!<br /><br />This is the first year of wrestling for Ethan's age group so today was all of their first tournament. For Jacob some have wrestled for a year or two but there are plenty that are new to the sport. This isn't the case for Noah. All of the kids he wrestled today have been wrestling since they were 4 or 5. For at least half of their life they have been on the mats. They have lots of experience. Watching him sitting on the mat before his first match I felt a little nauseous. I think he did too.<br /><br />His nervousness was very apparent because his coach was shaking his arms before he went out there to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">loosen</span> him up. He lost all 3 of his matches today but he gave it his all. He has scrapes and bruises all over his body to prove it. Those older boys tough!<br /><br />Today was very difficult for me. It was hard to watch my boys in hand to hand combat. At the same time I was so proud of them! They all worked so hard. I can't wait to watch them grow throughout the season.<br /><br />I too am excited to grow this season. I have a lot to learn about wrestling. This is the first sport that they've played that I have no clue what is going on. I am going to be doing some online searching of "wrestling for dummies" tomorrow. I already know I am smarter than I was this morning. Next week I'm going to get there 1 hr <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">early</span> so I can have a seat, we are leaving winter coats in the car, the cooler is coming in with me so I don't have to run out to the car a dozen times. Ethan is going to go pee when the 8 year old kids are wrestling.<br /><br />It really was a great day and I can't wait until the next one!Lynzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18192302655461364266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3625010668841944782.post-71615529092625973192011-01-26T21:33:00.004-07:002011-01-26T22:12:06.392-07:00It's the right thing to doSo I need to rant and I thought this would be the perfect place to do it! I have good kids (I'm not ranting about this part). We set rules and are consistent and we think it is our job to parent. It is our job to lay the foundation of what is right and wrong. What is expected of our children. Yes it is hard work and yes sometimes it sucks. It's the right thing to do.<br /><br />At wrestling practice the other day I was busy helping wedge E.T.'s foot into his shoe (why are wrestling shoes so small?) and I overheard a mother telling her son that he can't go to practice until the coach comes up to talk to her (her son is 4ish). My incredible hearing skills could not help but overhear the conversation that took place with this mom and the coach. HER son was wrestling a small, younger child and had pinned this child and wouldn't get up. This happened at home not at wrestling practice. She wanted the coach to punish the child today by having him only watch practice and have a talk to him. This mother told the coach that her son needed to learn when it was appropriate to wrestle etc.<br /><br />(My heart is pounding through my chest right now just remember the conversation. It actually went on for quite a bit longer with the mom telling the coach what he should tell her son but I had to stop for fear of stroking out right here at the computer and I haven't set my kids clothes out for school yet.)<br /><br />At the end of practice this mom was talking to another mom about the "incident" and how the coach needed to "step in". She also talked about how he didn't have a father figure so no one was there to tell him what was appropriate.<br /><br />I wanted to jump up and down raising my hand. Oooohhhh pick me, pick me, I know the answer to your problem - "Parent your kid!!!".<br /><br />It doesn't matter if there are 1, 2 or 12 parents in your home. It is your responsiblity to parent your kids "it is the right thing to do".Lynzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18192302655461364266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3625010668841944782.post-78687220636481924102011-01-24T19:33:00.004-07:002011-01-24T19:48:00.475-07:00My own little "Duggars"<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicr6leVUKTP36VdZ7tnd1ZyJCdSqiS26tRDG1zuqWdluCybBn2XNwlO8YpCnWkxEpDU1yiHunsm9MDZ-jt0cgJwVc2ntxFN7YH8V34bTy1vDuFgXlUtX_lXpW34Y_Fq6zObBT75b4EjYE/s1600/IMG_6908.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 134px; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565946565848859074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicr6leVUKTP36VdZ7tnd1ZyJCdSqiS26tRDG1zuqWdluCybBn2XNwlO8YpCnWkxEpDU1yiHunsm9MDZ-jt0cgJwVc2ntxFN7YH8V34bTy1vDuFgXlUtX_lXpW34Y_Fq6zObBT75b4EjYE/s200/IMG_6908.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh06RbeAIbuxcY9NqeQ5bsSdzjpeNgHyxZetaPVYgPuMOc7uP5Pj-cfr_9L-duBlgx326FimtQuzkOhRiAC0CauYXr5pY5kaba9kElrqkolmrNbGhMV84TmDFSxS4IKy_T9N7Zy8oANNBY/s1600/IMG_6914.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 134px; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565946558237215218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh06RbeAIbuxcY9NqeQ5bsSdzjpeNgHyxZetaPVYgPuMOc7uP5Pj-cfr_9L-duBlgx326FimtQuzkOhRiAC0CauYXr5pY5kaba9kElrqkolmrNbGhMV84TmDFSxS4IKy_T9N7Zy8oANNBY/s200/IMG_6914.JPG" /></a> </div><div></div><div>Immediately after my last blog post little E.T. and I went to Target in search of a potty chair. They had 2 choices. One was a $20 princess chair and the other a $30 chair that has a "flusher" a toilet paper holder and if a person were to actually own AA batteries it talks, sings and when the sensor gets wet (hopefully from pee) it says "good job" (this is what the box tells us). I was willing to wait a few more days until I ran to Walmart but my little dugger really wanted a potty chair for his brother. He batted those sweet little eyes at me and I said "fine". So E.T. carried the box through Target, to the car and had his little arms wrapped around the box the whole way home. He ran it into the house and began using his scissors to cut into the box before I got my shoes off. </div><div></div><div>He has since brought Mason a variety of books to look at hoping that he will be there when his brother pees in the new potty for the first time. They just got done playing hide and seek and I heard E.T. say to Mason "I know you have to pee by now let's go try". He brought Mason in and sat him on the toilet and when Mason didn't immediately go he got mason a drink of water. When Mason didn't have his gun behind the backstop they have nicely installed for the boy pee-pots he started giggling and said "he doesn't have his privates put in there". I reassured him that Mason would figure it out. </div><div></div><div>So this is one of my little Duggars. Although I don't have 19 (and counting) and the oldest kids don't do all my cooking and cleaning and child rearing (Noah did cook dinner tonight) I will take my Cannon's any day!<br /><br /></div><div></div>Lynzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18192302655461364266noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3625010668841944782.post-15236840785054083752011-01-24T15:46:00.003-07:002011-01-24T16:44:05.190-07:00Damn diaper"Damn diaper" this is the phrase that I mutter over and over in my head right now. Mason is not yet 2 but he is already showing signs of wanting to potty train. Just like his big brothers did. All the boys were early potty trainers like their mother. Not to toot my own horn or anything but I was potty trained before my 1st birthday. I felt like this was a remarkable feat and was <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">supremely</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">disappointed</span> when I found out that there was no box to check on my college application about how young (or old) potty training commenced. Bummer.<br /><br />Taking this new-found knowledge into parenthood I didn't push potty training. I knew that the boys would do it when they were ready. One great thing about saying that I will wait until they are ready is that not a single one chose to be ready when it was <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">convenient</span> for me. After realizing with Noah that no time really is a good time and it really is great to get them to pee/poop in the pot!<br /><br />The first 3 boys were potty trained between 22-26 mos. They all needed pull-ups for different lengths of time at night. Sweet little Mason is very.......determined. I didn't know how this "determination" would affect my potty training track record. He has actually been interested in "peeing in the pot" since he was about 18 mos. He hasn't ever been very <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">successful</span> but he has been very interested. The past week he has decided the minute he pees (or poops) in his diaper it needs to come off. He also just likes to walk around naked and once I see that he has started peeing I run him to the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">toilet</span>. This has been very difficult this week because I've been so sick that walking and breathing has been difficult for me let alone running a little boy down the hall with a loaded weapon.<br /><br />This is were the thoughts "damn diaper" have come in. I want to scream "keep your damn diaper on", but he wants to potty train. No this isn't the best week for me to potty train, but next week we have 2 birthdays and taxes and the week after wrestling tournaments start so if it was up to when it was <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">convenient</span> for me who knows when that would be.<br /><br />I am not going to be angry or upset that Mason wants to be potty trained right now. I am going to enjoy the potty training memories of my last boy. From here on out I will just be offering potty training support for my friends and family who want to pull their hair out because their child has pooped/peed on the floor for the 32<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">nd</span> time that day. It really is worth it. My only regret from today is I didn't get a picture of him earlier but since it is an image I hope to never forget I will describe it here: Mason had on a grey long sleeved t-shirt, diaper and jeans. He decided to remove his diaper and jeans. He found a pair of Ethan's cloth shorts (dark blue) which he wanted to wear as undies (I asked him if he wanted undies he said "<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">uhhh</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">uhhh</span>" nodding and points at the shorts). he put both legs in one leg hole and had the shorts around his waist. All of his business flapping in the wind when he was running around. He then found his jeans and put them back on....backwards. So he was laying on the floor, playing with his zipper down, jeans unbuttoned, cute little butt-cracked buns hanging out. I wish I had taken a picture!<br /><br />So I'm off to Target. I am going to get a new potty chair and potty seat (and probably a few more containers of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Clorox</span> wipes for the floor!)Lynzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18192302655461364266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3625010668841944782.post-32171465065403323032011-01-17T21:27:00.004-07:002011-01-17T21:47:46.670-07:00Wrestling<p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK4S0pKnrRGNJvAcceOskJHNPOOgo17O5GCl1pjWJrbllzz19gDYhxh7d7XHtBaLUekszh6lLlhl5_z2MrMDm9sNkrktIdAvi76d6mORvVi4tycwFftRuqeKOLRKOPRvwQ5ul7SB8NS6c/s1600/IMG_6842.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563382107932118594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK4S0pKnrRGNJvAcceOskJHNPOOgo17O5GCl1pjWJrbllzz19gDYhxh7d7XHtBaLUekszh6lLlhl5_z2MrMDm9sNkrktIdAvi76d6mORvVi4tycwFftRuqeKOLRKOPRvwQ5ul7SB8NS6c/s200/IMG_6842.JPG" /></a></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3lYlhgjiikTcdw5WwGa584-xoEQvEYM_BSyKY1J_QiOZI7JqrbHH8VDG37G26ZB93e3dz569hRFcqiec9bZJLd_R4lj0llqnsQGabfxFy5IB80Jyp2CRvVgb0Qj7K4uMCbRrn-gkz0o0/s1600/IMG_6838.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563382101583723794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3lYlhgjiikTcdw5WwGa584-xoEQvEYM_BSyKY1J_QiOZI7JqrbHH8VDG37G26ZB93e3dz569hRFcqiec9bZJLd_R4lj0llqnsQGabfxFy5IB80Jyp2CRvVgb0Qj7K4uMCbRrn-gkz0o0/s200/IMG_6838.JPG" /></a></p> Wrestling season has officially started. We have 3 little rugrats (well 4 but Mason is too young to be an official wrestler). This is the first year for all of them and they are very excited. Although I am not usually a fan of the singlet I can't wait to see little Ethan in one! Their first tournament is in Feburary. Until then it is a lots of running, lots of crab walking, bear crawling......I know nothing about wrestling except the tournaments are long, there are tons of people and crazy mothers will be yelling at their kids to pin my boys. I will be channeling my happy place when this happens. I promised Noah I wouldn't come running onto the mat to make sure he is ok if he gets pinned.<br /><br /><br />I am hoping to learn quickly about the whole scoring. I can't complain that they are not scoring fairly if I have no idea what is going on. I wonder if they have the rules of wrestling for dummies.Lynzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18192302655461364266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3625010668841944782.post-63212698089422028402011-01-04T09:30:00.004-07:002011-01-04T10:10:55.925-07:00Preserverence vs. FailureThe new year is always very exciting! I am always anxious to see what it may bring! Each year I make a few of the same resolutions. First to lose my "baby fat" as I like to think of it (well I actually didn't like to think of it). Second was to be better about sending cards, gifts etc. I am great about buying them and I buy them early. So early if fact that I had to wait to mail them so it didn't seem weird to be getting a birthday card 5 or 6 weeks early. I have found that I am really good at the waiting part. So good in fact that I wait until after the the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">holiday</span> to send them if I even remember to send them at all.<br /><br />This year I am excited to say that I get to change my resolutions a little! I was able to lose all of my baby weight! It was worth all of the sacrifice to see the extra pounds kindly given to me by each boy. First it was Mason, then I lost Ethan, then Jacob and finally Noah. I officially weigh less than I did when I got pregnant with Noah. I weigh less than the weight on my drivers license. 30 lbs. The weight of Mason is gone! Maybe it took so long because I felt bad about losing the gifts that each boy lovingly gave me. Thank goodness I can't lose the stretch marks from each of them!<br /><br />So this year I will keep working on sending <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">holiday</span> cards in a timely fashion but I get to change the other one. I am also going to add a few more!<br /><br />They are in no particular order:<br /><ol><li>work on sending cards (thank you, birthday, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">holiday</span>, just because)</li><li>have a date with my honey every month</li><li>work on my "remembering me" list</li><li>organize my recipes</li><li>finish the projects I start</li><li>look at this list at least monthly</li></ol><p>There are a few more things but they fall into the remembering me list that I haven't looked at in months (probably since the day after I posted the list). </p><p>Admitting that I have to add the same <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">resolutions</span> every year feels like failure. I do no like failing. So instead of looking at it as a failure I will think of these resolutions as on-going. I looked up the definition of resolution and at the end it listed the synonyms - resolve, determination, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">perseverance</span>, tenacity, strength and fortitude. </p><p>These are the characteristics I am going to have to focus on. I am not going to focus on my failure of not completing one resolution. I am going to focus on the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">perseverance</span> it took to finally lose the my baby fat! </p><p>2011 is going to be a great year! </p><p> </p><p> </p>Lynzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18192302655461364266noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3625010668841944782.post-34865809537362969692010-12-12T21:25:00.002-07:002010-12-12T21:51:56.372-07:00Eviction NoticeAlong with the normal hustle and bustle of the holiday season we have had some added <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">excitement</span>. My poor little gallbladder is about done storing bile. As many of you know 5 years ago I had a major attack and was jumping through the hoops to have it taken out and I found out I was pregnant with Ethan. I planned on getting it done post-delivery. Then decided to put it off for just "a little while longer" because I was going to school. I was already an LPN and wanted to become an RN. Then I was in a new job, then I used my time off for a great big cross country vacation, then I got pregnant again, then another big vacation. During these long 5 years I have had a constant ache after eating (almost everything has at least a little fat that needs to be broken down) and multiple pretty bad attacks that have left me feeling very terrible.<br /><br />So my poor sludgy <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">gallbladder</span> decided to take matters into her own hands. On black <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Friday</span> I started to have a few pains and that night I became <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">extremely</span> sick. It started at my sister's house. The best part of this was she lives about 30 minutes from my house and she had no water. After an <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">extremely</span> rough night Clint took me to the ER. After quite a few pain <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">meds</span>, anti-nausea <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">meds</span>, a few liters of IV fluids and an incredibly long time on the stretcher we were sent home with orders to call "my favorite surgeon on Monday".<br /><br />I called the surgeon that I saw 5 years ago. The receptionist politely said my file was "inactive". At work we decided this probably meant "non-compliant". Shortly after scheduling his nurse called to say that prior to seeing the doctor I should have a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">HIDA</span> scan. Last time I saw him first then never had the scan. He was probably concerned that if too much time passed I would get pregnant or another life event would happen and I would again become "inactive". I had the scan and although my <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">gallbladder</span> does work she does not work very well. I was not <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">surprised</span> by these results and could have saved my insurance and myself a couple thousand dollar test by simply going to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">McDonald's</span> and then they could watch me vomit, hold my stomach and moan in pain.<br /><br />After failing my test I saw the surgeon for about 2 minutes and then scheduled the eviction. The <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">surgery</span> is a quick outpatient <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error">laproscopic</span> procedure. I will have a few small incisions that are essentially <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">super glued</span> together. One of these incisions is in my belly button. I encouraged him to do a little reconstruction on my belly button. I had it pierced 4 <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">pregnancies</span> ago (need I say more?). I don't think he went for it....but a girl can only hope!<br /><br />Wed will be the last day I am home to a cranky, ill mannered gallbladder with poor work ethic. My liver will do just fine on her own! I get 2 weeks off from work during this time I will get to stay home and relax and take it easy (minus the 4 kids all home for <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Christmas</span> break). I have lots of family and friends that are pitching in and so it will be a breeze!<br /><br />I am actually looking forward to feeling better. I am not looking forward to what may come out of my mouth while starting to go under. I can hear it now "You would not believe what this Pediatric nurse said...".Lynzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18192302655461364266noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3625010668841944782.post-7532251799734073612010-11-12T09:43:00.002-07:002010-11-12T11:26:05.299-07:006 weeks in a nutshellI can't believe it is already the middle of November. At some <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">moments</span> I (Patty) wonder where the year went and at other times I (Debbie) think it has been the longest year ever! Since Debbie is on a much needed vacation I will focus on the "holy heck this year is flying by!".<br /><br />Some of the things that have happened so far this fall:<br /><br />Mason - seems to be having a hard time when I work. He is fine at daycare or with his daddy, but when I come home he has serious breakdowns. It is usually worse my first day home and gradually gets better until I have to go back to work. He has become very fond of kisses. He loves to say "<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">scuse</span> you" whenever he or anyone else does anything that he things needs it (even if it is just a belly gurgling). He loves babies. He is very upset about potty training, some days are worse than others with this (he is the only one that thinks he should work on potty training). He gets upset if he pees in his diaper or if he can't pee in the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">toilet</span> or if he pees on the floor. He tries to be a big help. If something spills on the floor he tries to wipe it up with whatever he can find (spills do include when he pees on the floor and anything includes my clean shirt that was folded and waiting to be put away and yes this was one <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">incidence</span>). He loves music. He sings when we listen to kids bop -<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Beattles</span> or the Black Keys in the car. He loves my <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">protein</span> drinks and hides them in his changing table. He also loves to walk around with his hands in his pant pockets. He loves for things to be in place. He is also very particular and if he wants Mama to hand him something and Daddy hands it to him (or vice-<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">versa</span>) he throws a fit and no longer wants it. He likes to show you what he wants and will grab your hand to bring you in there. He has been having a hard time with allergies and we have started him on <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">zyrtec</span>. He doesn't like watery eyes or a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">boogery</span> nose and will say "eyes, eyes, eyes, eyes" until you wipe his eyes. I can't believe he is almost 20 months old (he is my 4<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">th</span> kiddo I don't count in months anymore so I just had to figure this out).<br /><br /><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">Little</span> Ethan is still the Hulk. He is a great big brother and is very patient with Mason. He is doing well in preschool and has made some good friends. There is a boy from last year that goes to a different school and a boy at day care that he calls "my best buddies". When he gets hurt he screams it is almost impossible to differentiate from serious injuries (when he fell on the corner of his <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error">UNO</span> moo barn and had blood pouring from his forehead or if he just fell and got his hands dirty). He is one of the best <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error">sungglers</span> ever! Ethan has always given the appearance of being a tough guy (when he was younger and he would get mad at you he would say "I'm gonna hit you, it will hurt") he is very sensitive to being reprimanded. He has an amazing imagination and is a gifted story teller. He got to go on his first hunt a few weeks ago and can't wait to go again. I treasure our time home together and I am <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">truly</span> dreading how sad I will be when he goes to kindergarten next year!<br /><br />Mr Jacob is such a sweet guy! Everyday at recess he asks the aids if there is anything that he can do to help them. There is a new boy in his class and his teacher put him next to Jacob. Jacob has been very sweet to him even sharing his supplies when he doesn't have what he needs. Jacob also got to go on his first hunt and also loved it. Jacob loves to make people laugh and has a good sense of humor. He is learning that sometimes although it may be funny, making fun of someone can be hurtful (I remember learning this same lesson since I am a funny girl). He has also recently realized that Ethan is almost as tall as he is and at times struggles with this. We went to parent-teacher conferences last night and Jacob is doing wonderfully in school. He is a super speller almost always getting 9/8 on his tests and his bonus words are very hard! Some of them are: November, October, Autumn, Halloween. He is testing well into the 2<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-error">nd</span> grade for math and reading. He also has a love for music and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">desperately</span> wants a drum set! He loves to walk around listening to his <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_16" class="blsp-spelling-error">ipod</span>. He played football this year and was quite the blocker (sometimes blocking his own team), he also scored an extra point! It was great to see the determination on his face when he played! Lots of the girls like Jacob one day when Noah told him that a girl in Jacob's class thought Jake was cute Jacob replied "A lot of girls think I'm cute".<br /><br />Last but not least is our decade old Noah. We also had Noah's parent teacher conference last night. His teacher described each student with 3 words. Noah's were smart, polite and kind hearted. She reviewed his scores with us from his CRT tests and he scored almost perfect. He is often a "spelling-bee" which means he scored so well on the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_17" class="blsp-spelling-error">pre</span>-test that he doesn't have any spelling homework for the week and he doesn't have to take the test on Friday. Noah is a great help at home and loves to help his Daddy make BBQ. He also loves everything hunting and fishing. He had a great football season! He scored 1-2 touchdowns each game, had a ton of yards, flags, interceptions and blocks for the season. It was great to watch him play. He is now playing basketball and has been having a great b-ball season.<br /><br />The boys are growing so fast! We are <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_18" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">truly</span> blessed to have 4 incredible boys. It is wonderful watching the young men they are becoming!Lynzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18192302655461364266noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3625010668841944782.post-48249667241458422482010-11-12T09:15:00.003-07:002010-11-12T09:42:40.121-07:00Positive Patty and Downer DebbieNormally I am an optimistic person. Each day I find much to be thankful. I truly am a blessed person. Once in awhile life gets a little crazy and I lose sight of Positive Patty and I become Debbie Downer.<br /><br />I am pretty sure that exhaustion and hormones have <em>nothing</em> to do with this switch. I haven't been able to blog lately because Debbie makes it near impossible to think nice things. If I do think of something I am thankful for Debbie makes sure to attach something negative to ruin the whole thing. At work we have a white board and on this white board is an area that we write what we are thankful for. Usually I can think of a number of things to write. Sometimes they are profound and sometimes it was something funny that someone said and I am thankful that I will have that little gem to laugh about later (these are often <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">courtesy</span> of Mo...).<br /><br />Today I am thankful to say that Debbie has gone on a much needed vacation and Patty is back. I got a couple good nights of sleep (even though one wasn't super great because Mason coughed so hard he threw up at 4am and decided it was time to stay awake, Patty doesn't mind). I also have great family and friends that are extra supportive when Debbie visits.<br /><br />So now that Patty is back I will work on updating this blog more frequently!Lynzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18192302655461364266noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3625010668841944782.post-84722871708921292112010-10-05T09:12:00.003-06:002010-10-05T09:52:56.487-06:00Clint Cannon's series of unfortunate eventsA few weeks ago started "Clint Cannon's series of unfortunate events". He started a welding program in August at the local collage. The first few weeks were book work then they started to weld. He purchased the required protective gear including a welding helmet they carried in the bookstore. It is the traditional helmet not an <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">auto darkening</span> helmet (this is important piece of info). During class he diligently practices his welds always wanting them to look better then they do. I think he may forget that he has only been doing this for a few weeks and it will take a lot of welds to make them perfect. One problem he has is that if he gets himself all set-up and has the helmet down and he goes to arc (guessing on technical <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">terms</span>, sometimes when he is telling me them my brain goes <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">waaaa</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">waaaa</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">waaaa</span>) it may have moved just a tiny bit making the weld less than what he hoped for. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">Sooo</span> he decided to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">loosen</span> his helmet so he could have the visor up and then when he was ready he could just nod and it would fall down and he wouldn't have to move his hand from the welder. He practiced this 10 or more times and it worked except for the time he actually started welding. That time it got hung up on one side and did not fall down to protect his eyes.<br /><br />He got a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">flash burn</span> which is a burn caused by the UV light or essentially a sunburn to his eyes. He was only <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">able</span> to see red out of his right eye and his left eye was about 50% limited in his vision. Of course during all of this I was at work. Friends took him to quick care then to the eye doctor and home. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Prognosis</span> -<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error">flash</span> burn, Treatment - no light for 48 hours, eye patch to right eye, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Tylenol</span> 3 for pain, rest. We made it through the weekend (that I was suppose to work) with help from great co-workers and supervisor that let me do some creative changes. Monday his vision was better and by Tuesday it was really good.<br /><br />Tuesday after class he decided to go to the gym. I was excited that he was feeling better and decided once he got home I would take a nap. After picking up Jake from school I found Clint lying on the floor in the bathroom sweating, pale and vomiting. He had no depth perception and vision was once again <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">severely</span> limited in his right eye. We took him to the eye doctor who said his eye was fine and it was something behind his eye. So 2 days later we had an appointment with his primary doc. She was concerned that it could be optic <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">neuritis</span> which can be a symptom of MS and multiple other things but to diagnosis it you need an MRI. It is also important that if it is optic neuritis you have treatment <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_16" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">immediately</span>. To make sure that Clint had his MRI that day he needed to be admitted to the hospital.<br /><br />I was able to get Clint on the pediatric floor where I knew the nurses, they have nice big rooms for our half dozen children to be able to visit and since my mom was visiting I would be able to stay with him (in case he got scared in the middle of the night). He had an overnight stay and we found out that his optic nerve was good, he had a small pineal cyst, and his sinuses are very bad.<br /><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_17" class="blsp-spelling-error">Yay</span> for the optic nerve! The pineal cyst is very small, lots of people have them and are not a big deal and we knew his sinuses sucked. So if nothing is wrong with his brain but he still can't see it must be his eye, right?<br /><br />Yeah not so much. We went to another <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_18" class="blsp-spelling-error">opthamologist</span> who did 3 hours of testing and his eye is fine. He suggested we see a neurologist (we had during admission) so we were unsure what to do next. After talking with the primary docs nurse he had an appointment on Monday (eye doc stuff was on Friday). So just wait.<br /><br />Saturday vision still a little blurry but he was feeling good. We went to Aurora's birthday party had dinner with some family and had a great time. We got home late Saturday night and he slept until almost 10 Sunday. He got up and had breakfast complained of a headache and slept until 3. When he got up at 3 I knew what the current issue was he had a sinus infection. Symptoms - headache, sinus pressure, tired, very crabby, sore throat. Yesterday he woke up and also had a GI bug. AWESOME!<br /><br />I took him back to his scheduled appointment and he indeed had a severe sinus infection. Now that all the bad stuff has been eliminated from his eye issue it may be caused by atypical migraines or his chronic sinus issues. Treatment - antibiotics, saline wash for sinuses, steroid spray for sinuses, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_19" class="blsp-spelling-error">singulair</span> for allergies, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_20" class="blsp-spelling-error">motrin</span> for swelling, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_21" class="blsp-spelling-error">norco</span> for pain and wait. If his vision is better after the current sinus infection is under control then great, if not then we will try migraine treatment.<br /><br />So now we will just wait and SEE :)Lynzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18192302655461364266noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3625010668841944782.post-6596944570704426992010-09-27T19:10:00.002-06:002010-09-27T19:26:11.102-06:00Monday Night FootballFootball season is in full swing at the Cannon house. This is Noah's third year playing flag football with the salvation army program. They usually start the program when they are in second grade but this year the first graders are getting to play. It will be fun to watch Jacob play as well.<br /><br />I feel that I have pretty fair expectations of how much athletic ability to expect from each age group. I know that the younger guys get board and may be dancing around in the back field. I also know that they will have simple plays and they will be hesitant this year. Each year they seem to grow into their bodies a little more and it sure makes a difference! The last few years Noah has really figured out how to use his long legs when running. Tonight he scored his first touchdown of the season and the only touchdown of the game. He ran for a total of about 110 yards with 85 of those being for his touchdown. It is fun to watch!<br /><br />That being said I felt like I was going to have a brain <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">aneurysm</span> on the sidelines. I cheer for all of the kids and have been known to clap for either team if they do well. I also am very thankful for the coaches/<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">referees</span> that volunteer, but if you don't know the rules what are you doing on the field?? Most of our game was spent in <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">huddles</span>. There is a time limit on the amount you can spend in a huddle. Also no one knew if they were suppose to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">change</span> directions at each quarter or just halftime...hello?! Even I knew the answer to that one. One very nice parent did volunteer to referee and he said that he was unsure of the rules, so he had the rule book in his hand and read it as he went. <br /><br />At one point during the game the other coach did something that was <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">illegal</span> and then said "oh yeah I was suppose to say we were going to punt". smile, smile.<br /><br />Yes when it comes to games I am a rule follower. Rules are for a reason. They make things fair. If everyone follows the rules then you won/lost fairly. I warned Clint that he may have to be the parent referee at Sat's game. He better brush up on his flag football rules....I will be watching!Lynzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18192302655461364266noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3625010668841944782.post-88958793180318526952010-09-20T21:57:00.002-06:002010-09-20T22:26:39.688-06:00Remembering MeOctober 14<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">th</span> Noah will be 10. For the last 10 years I have had the most amazing job in the world! I have loved motherhood. I have loved my role of shaping these boys. Teaching them right from wrong, teaching them to love family, to care for others, among so many other things. It is a lot of work to raise good husbands and that is my goal. Some of the other roles I play on a daily basis: wife, housekeeper, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">chauffeur</span>, nurse (at work and home), referee, teacher, hairdresser (<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">mohawk</span>, spiky or handsome), bather, butt wiper, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">entertainer</span>, silly mama to only name a few.<br /><br />My typical day off (from my paid job) goes like this: wake up, start coffee, cook breakfast, get Mason from bed and changed (the bigger boys have an alarm clock), take a shower, take Noah and Jake to school, start a load of laundry, eat a little breakfast, find something to entertain Mason, do breakfast dishes, more laundry, check my online banking (and a few minutes on <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">facebook</span>), change Mason's diaper, get Ethan from school, feed Ethan and Mason lunch, try to eat at the same time unless Mason is REALLY fussy, change Mason, put him to bed, do laundry, pick up the living room, (today I painted the dining room during <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">naptime</span>), sweep, laundry, continuing to find something for Ethan to do during quiet time, get Mason up from nap, change his diaper, get Jake from school, snack time and homework for Jake, if the weather is bad pick up Noah, Noah's homework, cook dinner, dishes, football practice, home, bath for Mason, Ethan and Jake shower then Noah showers, quick snack teeth brushing, story, bed.<br /><br />So during these days I forget about me, I fill <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">sippy</span> cups and make lots of chocolate milk, I wipe butts, sing silly songs and do silly dances for the boys. I just want to start remembering me. Just for a little bit. Obviously this is a little difficult with days off like above and a full time career. Today I started making a list. A list of things I would like to do at some point just for me. Not only am I making the list, but I am going to start crossing things off.<br /><br />Here are a few things on my list:<br /><ul><li>learn <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Spanish</span> </li><li>take a photography class</li><li>learn to scuba dive</li><li>swim with a dolphin</li><li>go sky diving</li><li>learn to play the piano</li><li>read 50 books of the BBC list of 100 books</li><li>learn to make a killer cupcake...from scratch</li><li>take a cake decorating class - fondant and gum paste</li></ul><p>I have many more things on my list and I will continue to add to it as I think of more. I am very excited. I love all of the roles I play, but once in awhile I am going to work on remembering me. </p>Lynzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18192302655461364266noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3625010668841944782.post-32623328735363581412010-09-12T21:11:00.002-06:002010-09-12T21:34:42.236-06:00Viva paper towels and sausage linksYesterday I was thinking about Viva paper towels and sausage links. Or more <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">accurately</span> sausage links wrapped in viva <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">paper towels</span>. Crazy I know. The reason I was thinking about this was my Grandma would order an extra side of sausage links and then wrap them in her <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">paper towel</span> to take home. I always miss and think about my Grandma B. but this time of year is especially difficult. Tomorrow would have been her birthday. I wanted to write down a few things that remind me of one of the strongest women I was lucky enough to know and love!<br /><ul><li><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">ked</span> shoes</li><li>Flathead lake</li><li>5<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">th</span> wheels</li><li>Cheese ball puffs</li><li>circus peanuts (the candy)</li><li>RC cola</li><li>Talk shows</li><li>Game Show Network</li><li>Yard ornaments (<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">particularly</span> burros)</li><li>Native American dolls</li><li>crochet blankets</li><li>romance novels</li><li>8-tracks (I always wondered about her fat tapes in the Pontiac)</li><li>Sweet peas</li><li>Bright, tacky t-shirts</li><li>any holiday decoration that sings/dances</li><li>Halloween cupcakes</li><li>Big <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Christmas</span> trees</li><li><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">Bon</span>-<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">bons</span></li><li>Turkey and mayo sandwiches</li><li>long fingernails</li><li>sitting on the couch with your legs tucked underneath</li><li><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">wordfinds</span>/crosswords</li><li>puzzles</li><li>swap meets</li></ul><p>So many more things that I had to stop (I actually can barely see the screen because of the tears).</p><p>My Grandma was such a strong, unselfish woman. I have so many wonderful memories from the time I was very little. I spent much of my summer camping with them and countless nights at their house for sleepovers. I know that she is in a better place but I still miss her! I fell blessed that I am her oldest grandchild. I knew her as a child and I also knew her as an adult. She was able to meet and hold 2 of my boys. I wish she could have met the other 2 and all of the other great-grandchildren yet to come (from the other <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">grandkids</span>....we are done :) ). </p><p>Thanks to her I have learned to love unconditionally, to care for my family no matter what. I have also learned to do things for myself to make me happy. Grandma you are always in my heart and I miss you!</p>Lynzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18192302655461364266noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3625010668841944782.post-28893496688803648882010-08-11T21:14:00.003-06:002010-08-11T21:37:25.272-06:00SpeedyLast night when we got into the hotel Ethan really wanted to snuggle me again he said "I won't lay <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">on top</span> of you tonight, I will only lay next to you". My mom got Mason to sleep and then went into her room. A few minutes later Mason woke up and started playing. For over 1 hour Clint and I fought with that boy trying to get him to sleep. He actually became so worked up that he threw up all over himself, so he got another bath. He was content as long we wanted to play with him, but once we laid him in the bed he started crying. My mom knocked on our door and called/<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">texted</span> my cell phone (the ringer was off so the boys could sleep) and we finally heard her. She took Mason into her room. He gave her a dirty look, crawled up onto her bed and went to sleep. Little stinker.<br /><br />Ethan was glad because he then got to snuggle me all by himself. During the night I woke up to cover him back up and his h<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">ead</span> was in the pillowcase. Not sure what he was doing, but I'm glad I woke up!<br /><br />This morning we left Iowa and went into South Dakota. I had cruise set at 75 and thought it was interesting that I was passing everyone. I usually go the speed limit or just a little over so I may pass a few people, but not EVERYONE. I was also passing bikers left and right going to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Sturgis</span>. I was <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">definitely</span> the winner....that is until I saw blue and red lights in my rear view mirror. The very nice police officer informed me that going down the hill I was doing 86 (holy heck) and that when he was behind me I was doing a steady 83. I was very shocked and said I am sure that I had my cruise set at 75. He then asked me to step out of the vehicle and come back to his police car. This must be standard practice because this it what they had Clint do when he got a speeding ticket it South Dakota. On the way back to his vehicle he made a comment about our tires and I told them we just got them right before our trip. He asked if they were larger (yes) and if we had the speedometer re-calibrated (no). I then found out that going up a tire size will put your speedometer off about 7 mph. So when he clocked me at 83 I really did have my cruise set to 75 and the reason that I was passing everyone was that I was really flying! He let me off with a warning! <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Yay</span>!<br /><br />We then finally made it Rapid City we decided to have an early dinner at a place that had pizza, arcade games and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">lazer</span> tag. We ate dinner, played some games then my mom kept Mason entertained while the rest of us played <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">lazer</span> tag (I did offer for her to play). Noah and I were red and Jacob, Clint and Ethan were green (of course because Ethan is the Hulk). We were the only ones playing and we had SO much fun! Ethan and Jacob just followed me around and shot me. I couldn't get away from them. I'm not sure how but Noah and I did come out victorious! <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">Yay</span> Red!<br /><br />As we got closer to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">Sturgis</span> the traffic became very bad at times <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">completely</span> stopped. We could see flames on the road ahead of us so we patiently waited. During our waiting we enjoyed people watching. There were some VERY interesting folks headed to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error">sturgis</span>! Many of them were all decked out for a night on the town. When we finally got to the accident we saw that a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">semi</span> tuck was <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">completely</span> incinerated. We pray that the driver made it out safely! There is nothing left of the cab of his truck or the trailer. Very scary.<br /><br />Since we are hundreds of miles behind where we planned to be today we tried to find a hotel as the afternoon went on. Due to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_16" class="blsp-spelling-error">Sturgis</span> being in full swing we are driving to Sheridan. If hotels before Sheridan had any openings they were charging $500 a night (and it was a dive). We are still driving and have about 30 more miles to go but at least tomorrow we only have another 20 miles until we get into Montana!Lynzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18192302655461364266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3625010668841944782.post-16143135454515313112010-08-10T20:44:00.003-06:002010-08-11T21:14:12.476-06:00It's all fun and games until someone gets poked in the eye with a strawFirst I would like to start off by saying Ethan's eye is doing wonderfully. 1 hour after I rinsed the heck out of it (18 minutes and 18 hours worth according to Ethan) it was only slightly red. Once we got into the hotel Ethan really wanted to sleep with me so we could snuggle. He is always a great snuggler but last night he was more of a smotherer. I'm sure he needed some mama time!<br /><br />This morning we were driving into St Joesph, Missouri and saw the signs for the Chief's training camp. We decided to try to see if we could see anything. Once we got to the University where they had training camp we found out they were taking a long lunch break due to the extreme heat. We then decided to find an Olive Garden for lunch. My mom has this handy GPS feature on her phone, it first finds where she is at (sometimes she needs help with this) and then she can pick where se wants directions too. This really has been a valuable too and I am convinced we may need GPS for in the Excursion We followed her directions and she said "make a U turn". When then drove a very long way and realized it was the wrong way and headed back the other direction. While driving (for a really long ways) up and down this road I was able to look at a lot of bilboards and stores we were passing. (This new knowledge becomes very valuable as the story unfolds). We then see where we made our u-turn and just a little ways up from that was the Olive Garden we searched so hard for.<br /><br />We got right in and seated. Mason sat with me for a few minutes and we ordered drinks. He then decided to sit with Clint. He is a very determined boy and wanted to open his straw himself. Clint was leaning forward and Mason jabbed him right in the eye with the straw. Clint had immedate shooting pain in his eye, was barely able to open in and once I was able to see in it he had a very large streak of blood in it. He was adamant that he was okay so we ordered lunch and began eating. I was not loving the way his eye looked so I borrowed a phone book and searched for an eye doctor close by. I recognized an office by their whitty billboard that had a large pair of glasses on a person's face and said "do these glasses make my cheeks look big". I also recognized the address from our early tour of the city. I called and they were able to get us in but they wanted us there "right now".<br /><br />We quickly paid our bill and loaded all of our hooligans in the Excursion and instructed them to be quite "cuz mama has to drive the beast". They were very good and I was able to get us there unharmed and even did a decent job of parking. My poor mom entertained the kids at random stores in the shopping complex while I filled out paperwork etc. When we finally got in we found out that Clint was very lucky because although it looked bad the cut was not in his central line of vision. He got a perscription for antibiotic drops and lubricating eye gel. The opthamalogist then gave me instructions on how to put in the drops and then our converstaion went like this:<br /><br />Him: I'm writing this for bedtime and prn that means as needed. Now you get to play his nurse tonight.<br />Me: I am a nurse :)<br />Him: Yes you will get to play one (Very serious)<br />Me: No really I am a nurse.<br /><br />Clint also recieved instructions on no driving for 24 hours.<br /><br />Until today i have only driven the "new" Excursion one official time and a few times of pulling forward a tiny bit to get the camper hooked up/unhooked. What an adventure this was going to be! Yay for me! We were hoping to make it Mitchell SD, but we made it to the edge of Iowa. We didn't make it as many miles as we wanted, but I safely navigated us through lots of traffic and construction sites in our big beast of an Excursion. Yay!Lynzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18192302655461364266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3625010668841944782.post-22518319645188601402010-08-09T20:35:00.002-06:002010-08-09T20:58:25.451-06:00It's all fun and games until someone gets glow stick juice in the eyeLast night we stayed in Tennessee. This morning we were driving through Nashville and I said that "it sure would be fun to see the Grand Ole <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Opry</span> sometime" a few minutes later we saw the sign for the exit. Clint suggested that we make a quick detour and drive by it. Due to the huge flooding that part of Nashville is <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">completely</span> closed. We were only able to drive behind it on the interstate. We then thought about going to the wax museum but this too was closed due to the flooding. We finally settled on mini golf and the arcade games.<br /><br />I warned the kids that I would win and I did. I also won 206 tickets on a game. It was the one that the light goes around in the circle and you push the button when it is front of you trying to get it to stop on the jackpot circle. I usually get it to stop <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">immediately</span> to the left or right, but today I got it to stop right in front! <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Yay</span>! I am hoping my winning streak will carry over for a few days so I bought a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">powerball</span> ticket. (Hopefully the winning ticket!)<br /><br />The rest of the day has consisted of a lot of driving. We left <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Tennessee</span>, Kentucky and Illinois and will be stopping in a little bit in the middle of Missouri for the night. We should actually be there but...it was all fun and games until Ethan got glow stick juice in his eye.<br /><br />I bought a ton of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">glow-sticks</span> for the trip. They are fun to play with in the evening when we are trying to make it the last few (100) miles to our hotel. I have a ton of the small ones but I also bought a couple of really fun ones. These ones were really thick wands with bumble bee tops. Not only were they thicker but they are longer than the traditional sticks (containing more glow juice). Ethan was trying to bend his into a bracelet like he does with the small ones and it busted. He got glow stick juice in his eyes, on his face and on his arm. We were driving down the interstate in Missouri and there was quite a bit of traffic. My mom was sitting in the middle section and began squirting water on him. Clint swerved through traffic and stopped on the shoulder of the road. We got him out and I squirted 2 large bottles in his eyes. We got him back in the car and I called <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">poison</span> control even though the back of the box says they are non-toxic and will not do damage if you get them in the eye. It also says they are made in China. The man at poison control confirmed that they were toxic and that I needed to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">immediately</span> rinse his eyes for 15 minutes with water. We were lucky to be right near an exit so I could rinse his eyes. I then had to pin him to the counter by laying on top of him and dumping water in his eyes while I pried them open and he was screaming and pulling at my shirt. 5 women came into use this bathroom during this time and just stared at me. 1 of them was very helpful and tried to calm him down and then offered her ex-<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">emt</span> skills. One man leaving the men's restroom commented on the child who was screaming and ruining the store for everyone. Thank goodness Clint didn't throttle him and just informed him that the screaming child was his poor son with glow-stick juice in the eye.<br /><br />His eyes are red but no longer painful. I am no longer blurry or "fuzzy looking". The poison control man called back and said the redness should be better in about 1 hour and if it isn't I should find an ER. Hopefully tomorrow I will only be blogging about the rest of Missouri, Iowa and getting into South Dakota and I don't have to write about the ER!Lynzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18192302655461364266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3625010668841944782.post-50177712417651312482010-08-08T19:00:00.002-06:002010-08-08T19:22:58.195-06:00Family, the Beach, and heading homeA lot has happened in the last few days. On Tuesday we picked Jenny and Jude up from the airport and drove them to Lake Park, Georgia. There we had a delicious dinner (my favorite was the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">homemade</span> mac-n-cheese) that Grandma Jean and Clint's parents made for us. The next morning we woke up and drove to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Pavo</span> to Clint's Papa's place. It was fun to show Jude (Jenny has already been there) where Clint grew up and take him around. We had 2 delicious meals and were able to visit lots of family. It was fun seeing everyone. We also fished a little, saw the Oak Tree in <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Thomasville</span> (I will post pics later). We also took some fun family pictures (also will be posted later).<br /><br /><br />Friday we got a rental car. I LOVED that car. I will now be counting down the years until a few of these kids move out so I can downsize. We drove to Okefenokee Swamp and took a swamp boat ride. There were lots of gators and some snakes. I thought my mom was going to jump ship when the tour <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">guide</span> said "it's a hot day. Snakes like to go up in the trees to sun themselves so if a snake falls off the tree and into the boat don't hog it to yourself, pass him around so everyone can enjoy him". After that she kept making weird noises. It was incredibly hot in the swamp. After the boat tour we went to the snake and gator nature show. We were the only people in there so we all got to touch the snakes (except for my mom) and Noah, Jake, and Ethan all got a little gator sit on their neck/shoulder and Jenny and I got a little gator necklace. Our ticket also included at 45 minute train ride but we decided to head to the beach to cool off. <br /><br />We drove to Jacksonville beach and stayed at the same hotel that we stayed at before. It was great to be right on the beach. It was fun to boogie board, look for sea shells and just have a relaxing time on the beach. On Saturday Noah, Clint and Jude went on a chartered fishing excursion. They went out about 10 miles and fished. Clint caught 14, Jude 13, Noah 3. Noah would have had 4 and it would have been by far the biggest catch of the day. It was a huge <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">amber jack</span> fish. Clint had to hold the rod for him and he did everything he could to reel it in, but the hook straightened out and he came off. Big bummer. Noah was very excited when they got home. Later telling me "we all thought it was well worth the money". <br /><br />Today I took Jenny and Jude to the airport then got back and took a little nap before we hit the road. We dropped off the rental car even thought Ethan really wanted to keep the "limo" as he called it. It was a white Chevy Impala not quite the limo he kept calling it. We are now <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">officially</span> out of Georgia and in <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Tennessee</span> and on our way home.<br /><br />The big bummer about today was I looked at our bank account and $1,106.85 was taken out for some swimsuit website. That is a lot of swimsuits. It is going to take 3-5 business days for the money to be credited back to our account. Big bummer!Lynzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18192302655461364266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3625010668841944782.post-20398748920456696402010-08-03T13:14:00.006-06:002010-08-03T13:48:08.870-06:00Jacksonville BeachWe had a great weekend at the beach. Here are a few of the pictures from our weekend. There were literally thousands to choose from! I was only able to upload a few because looking through <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">them while</span> the car is moving made me a little motion sick! I am able to blog right now by looking out the window in front of me and type (hopefully I don't have too many typos).<br /><br /><br /><br />Ethan and Grandma enjoying the waves. Ethan liked to go out really deep. He kept saying "only a little bit further". The water would be too your chest and you had to told him up. He loved the waves crashing into him.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdwOyJD75K4UWQCF6YPAwJt5qZAleoCVyrii1gdwR1rGDU17PZjobrXntyE7CcE637NOyZMSoZpSxpE71EUJdlbxbmsDYpm9Eaw5Y9M1SKIhgC139hgQRA_gP-XI5F8pmSM8Dco2LMiDU/s1600/dawns+beach+pics+561.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501268055571603138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdwOyJD75K4UWQCF6YPAwJt5qZAleoCVyrii1gdwR1rGDU17PZjobrXntyE7CcE637NOyZMSoZpSxpE71EUJdlbxbmsDYpm9Eaw5Y9M1SKIhgC139hgQRA_gP-XI5F8pmSM8Dco2LMiDU/s200/dawns+beach+pics+561.JPG" /></a><br />Jacob didn't like going as far out, but he loved the boogie board. He was really good!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuUnWCvfa7HN_PvD4WZm8QVx8f9260q4MXw_xNP30PwQU5Iqhfc-ygmin_gi10GKhCNsYOaOzeSwUPnilLJ7YWwRf8IWLMUXzTYS_KDjYh62rycMNE_JdrpUEW9YQ1b3euk6YnL2EDrM8/s1600/vacation+3+714.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501267101397164546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuUnWCvfa7HN_PvD4WZm8QVx8f9260q4MXw_xNP30PwQU5Iqhfc-ygmin_gi10GKhCNsYOaOzeSwUPnilLJ7YWwRf8IWLMUXzTYS_KDjYh62rycMNE_JdrpUEW9YQ1b3euk6YnL2EDrM8/s200/vacation+3+714.JPG" /></a><br />Poor Papa and Grandma are going to be exhausted when we leave!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUCCwQNx-GXNuHYsFhuVHc9vkA4rA0eDgTRZCv-Yyd6sm3pY71cdOA3w-mZSSE7gsBhqzX8srOfxBwCGBokfeAePfmit8W3p_5qlfw1HUJkK9kQwXvbU99vzXGmee2-f49QUgjWjvQ0ic/s1600/vacation+3+343.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501267099843747666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUCCwQNx-GXNuHYsFhuVHc9vkA4rA0eDgTRZCv-Yyd6sm3pY71cdOA3w-mZSSE7gsBhqzX8srOfxBwCGBokfeAePfmit8W3p_5qlfw1HUJkK9kQwXvbU99vzXGmee2-f49QUgjWjvQ0ic/s200/vacation+3+343.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqIelfzXGqOjV6rKD9rZgooU1CGgR7dxuA4flr-ECuNExWoU2gxfMhzWrjKdV3ZNr1jOAvQKPvgNRa1puk6yohP8ASYQZ4XkAJKVgcxame4du32tAnwIbGzPPTGAXCMpRmfomIaVXObCg/s1600/vacation+3+068.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501267091441463250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqIelfzXGqOjV6rKD9rZgooU1CGgR7dxuA4flr-ECuNExWoU2gxfMhzWrjKdV3ZNr1jOAvQKPvgNRa1puk6yohP8ASYQZ4XkAJKVgcxame4du32tAnwIbGzPPTGAXCMpRmfomIaVXObCg/s200/vacation+3+068.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Noah also loved going on the boogie board. I enjoyed going out with him "to the third wave" as he called it. Then he would nod and say "yeah this <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">one is</span> ours". It was a lot of fun. The last day at the beach he made friends. He will tell you he had 2 friends (a boy and girl-13 year old twins). They were small for their age, just a little shorter than Noah (9 1/2). I would say he only had 1 friend. 90% of the time he was only playing with the little girl -Shelby. Her brother was off doing other things. He really wanted to go up to their room (uh....no). He had a really good day with them but he got VERY sunburned. The poor boy has never been sunburned so he made sure to really burn himself. We <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">diligently</span> applied sunblock, but I was a bad mama and I didn't have him <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">wear</span> a shirt. His little brothers all wore their swim shirt, but like I said he never burns. I feel terrible!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKXNIJR7lF6cCh3OiXdWMi2c1ju5ECY1ArRrcFMphPnci2DRdakys1eMeu9uD9DZ62psrqj9O_38VJSXufu4SIMudmpxdcpvdgrIwj8-Puf0wbhvch2l0ab6Zry_kaOvd26WBMDlHAz8s/s1600/vacation+2+258.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501267084246259602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKXNIJR7lF6cCh3OiXdWMi2c1ju5ECY1ArRrcFMphPnci2DRdakys1eMeu9uD9DZ62psrqj9O_38VJSXufu4SIMudmpxdcpvdgrIwj8-Puf0wbhvch2l0ab6Zry_kaOvd26WBMDlHAz8s/s200/vacation+2+258.JPG" /></a><br />We were sure that Mason would love the beach. We thought he would tot along the beach, pick up seashells and think the waves were fun. This was not the case at the beginning. It took him <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">awhile</span> to warm up to the idea of the beach but he finally would sit in <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">someone's</span> lap and play in the water.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2WPxpchNJX87PXejrUob2oVD8yW-oROmI0P1dWS7n9zmccfoXfGfCrdn4m1AbSu0Z08ErJZ35W2s0z0kxLlnn4EbnNI8QGyn0C0-K5ZERs_7_AzvtLS1m5kXfDLUbFAR1DxkFjWQ39IM/s1600/dawns+beach+pics+696.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501267076330049554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2WPxpchNJX87PXejrUob2oVD8yW-oROmI0P1dWS7n9zmccfoXfGfCrdn4m1AbSu0Z08ErJZ35W2s0z0kxLlnn4EbnNI8QGyn0C0-K5ZERs_7_AzvtLS1m5kXfDLUbFAR1DxkFjWQ39IM/s200/dawns+beach+pics+696.JPG" /></a><br /><br />We had some great meals as well. We went to Joe's Crab Shack, a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Japanese</span> Steak House, and a nice Seafood <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Restaurant</span> on the water. </div><div> </div><div>At the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Japanese</span> steakhouse Mason sat still for the first time at a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Restaurant</span>. He loved the Chef cooking in front of. Noah was able to catch a piece of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">broccoli</span> in his mouth. Jacob and Ethan tried but the chef missed their mouth. The chef also tricked Noah by pretending to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">fumble</span> a bottle and then <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">accidentally</span> squeeze it. Noah thought he was going to get some sort of sauce on him, but it was a trick bottle. </div><div> </div><div>It was a fun weekend! Today we are waiting to pick up my sister Jenny and her husband Jude from the airport. We then have some busy days in Georgia, going to the swamp then back to the beach! I love vacation!<br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div></div></div></div></div>Lynzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18192302655461364266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3625010668841944782.post-86340118212411018052010-07-30T16:16:00.002-06:002010-07-30T16:56:58.233-06:00Atlanta ZooLast night we got in late to Lisa and Scott's house. The girls had patiently waited all day to see their cousins. They hit it off like old friends even though that haven't seen each other in 2 years. Amy and Noah are both going into 4<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">th</span> grade this year and Jake and Amber will both be in 1st. They played until we finally forced them to go to bed then first thing this morning they were busy. My boys quickly showed their <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">cousins</span> how you can play a fishing anywhere. Had we stayed longer I'm sure they would have started to make Amy and Amber play hunting as well. After a nice morning of waffles, visiting, coffee and Clint working on his beauty sleep we went to the zoo in Atlanta.<br /><br />We had a great day at the zoo. It was a 102 degrees and we felt every last one of them.<br />Some of my favorite animals:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKaofMF5Z9855kPaTkB9a0UN_DdCLdma6GEsAokA-hg3bYL87KaAZqhVFPxj_0rB6OhhWh0NkElWp0f7emy5od_7shl1qpQiU844dznwei92iMU2ccXEKOtSCcz_AivXwWPriKX_so7vY/s1600/vacation+350.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499828806012281490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKaofMF5Z9855kPaTkB9a0UN_DdCLdma6GEsAokA-hg3bYL87KaAZqhVFPxj_0rB6OhhWh0NkElWp0f7emy5od_7shl1qpQiU844dznwei92iMU2ccXEKOtSCcz_AivXwWPriKX_so7vY/s200/vacation+350.JPG" /></a>A new family picture. I always have a baby on my hip in these. The last one we took was at the Aquarium 2 years ago and Ethan was on my hip. If we take another one in 2 years I may have to stand all by myself.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU1kDrsNvLD2USpyZTl0nZJVZVWQEBwl14dzTaM6CQ9bqwiLjiCPCSNDpcSY1xXgBgtDIT1SMdjXTwd-ndUpGy988Qx5P0sOJSTdY1YOjg5XNzzCJTZQjqV3F_WRlT23A_cg7Qo0PG8lk/s1600/vacation+087.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499828795977993026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU1kDrsNvLD2USpyZTl0nZJVZVWQEBwl14dzTaM6CQ9bqwiLjiCPCSNDpcSY1xXgBgtDIT1SMdjXTwd-ndUpGy988Qx5P0sOJSTdY1YOjg5XNzzCJTZQjqV3F_WRlT23A_cg7Qo0PG8lk/s200/vacation+087.JPG" /></a><br />This picture belongs to a previous post. I just wanted everyone to get a good look at the window ac unit <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">cruising</span> through Kentucky:<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4o3fCPXvXnDQeDnay1eJoDy0KLUzuLnBBaxfEt8Am8qZEOq2M6Eg2XjnHyhmvyxZRZpBsaejbn4xbLimqSIG6wAmbBl3904-ma3Icg6h6DsstD8314GKlQuDbkpw2cO_pULodot5qJdw/s1600/vacation+070.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499828789443012786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4o3fCPXvXnDQeDnay1eJoDy0KLUzuLnBBaxfEt8Am8qZEOq2M6Eg2XjnHyhmvyxZRZpBsaejbn4xbLimqSIG6wAmbBl3904-ma3Icg6h6DsstD8314GKlQuDbkpw2cO_pULodot5qJdw/s200/vacation+070.JPG" /></a><br /><br />We had a great day. I took well over 400 pictures at the zoo. I have only taken a total of 501 on my camera this trip (I did take a few on our smaller camera but I won't count those in my total). Good thing most of our days will be hanging out my camera is itching to be used! Right now are a few hours out Savannah. Tomorrow we will drive down the coast to Jacksonville were the only agenda item is hanging out on the beach (and taking pictures of course)!<br /><div></div></div></div>Lynzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18192302655461364266noreply@blogger.com0