5 years ago we were so blessed to have our sweet Lindsay join our family. I went into labor on Saturday, March 15th, 2003, but she decided she wanted to be our 3rd Wedding Anniversary present and waited until Sunday, March 16th at 6:36 am to be born. Lindsay we love you so much and are so proud of you! Happy Birthday Lou-Lou!
March 2008
We've been trying to get Gavin off the binky so to slowly do it we only let him have it at nap time and bed time. So it pretty much just stays in the crib. After he wakes up and we come to get him out, he will either bite down on his binky and hold on for dear life so we can't take it out or he will spit it out and say "plaaaaaa!" It depends on his mood. Well last night, after he'd been asleep for a couple of hours, I heard him yelling "Mama! Mom! Mama!" I quietly opened the door to see why he was awake. He was searching all over his crib for his binky. He would crawl to one end and pat his hand around the matress to see if he could feel it, then crawl to the other end. He only has a little touch lamp in his room that was on low, so it's hard to see. I couldn't wait too long because I felt bad that he couldn't find it, so I finally went in and found it for him. He stuck it in his mouth and laid right back down.
March 2008
Yesterday Gavin learned how to open our door that goes from the house out to the garage! When Dan got home from work, I said, "Gavin, go show daddy what you can do to the door." He proudly walked over to the door smiling and while staring at Dan, he opened the door. Then Dan promptly put on one of those childproof doorknob thingys and Gavin started crying! It was kinda sad because he was so excited to have gotten it open and then we dashed his dreams!
March 2008
I got the kids Arctic Circle for dinner last night and Zane wanted Apple Juice for his drink. It came in a little, green can. While he was eating his dinner, he said "I have Mountain Goo like Daddy. I need to finish my Mountain Goo." I laughed my head off.
March 2008
I'm not a perfect mom and I've never claimed to be. I've slipped a few (and by few, I mean a lot) times and said some not very good words in front of our kids. About a year ago Lindsay tried one out in front of Dan and I and we told her that wasn't a good word and that was the last we'd heard her say it. Well this past week, she's tried it out again twice (that I know of). Once was at my mom's house in front of Jenny and the other was last night while we were watching "Peewee's Big Adventure." For those of you who have seen it, it was at the part when Peewee is in the car with the escaped convict and a truck with his bike on it drives right past them and Peewee doesn't see it. Well that frusterated Lindsay, but if he saw his bike then that would be the end of the movie so of course the truck goes one way and Peewee goes the other. Lindsay started yelling at the tv, "Peewee look over! There's your damn bike!" I tried so hard not to smile and laugh. Then I said, "Lindsay, that's not a very good word to say. Mommy is trying to not say it too. So let's both try not to say it ok?" I couldn't really get mad at her, since I'm the one to blame, or maybe we'll blame it on her dad!
March 2008
Yesterday, Lindsay was having a grumpy day and got mad at me. She yelled, "I'm just so mad at you and you're making me so frusterated!!!!!!"
Dan went out of town again today for just a few days, to Greenville, Texas. We were hoping he'd be able to see my little sissy, Amy, who's on a mission in Fort Worth, but we don't think it will be able to happen (sniff-sniff). Sorry Amy! He went to North Carolina last week. I can't really complain because the last time he want out of town was in October when he went to Australia. This trip and last weeks trip were for different reasons. When he usually goes out of town it is because he goes to train other companies how to use their software. But these last two times he went to go check out some of his accounts who have been having a few problems with the software. Anyways, I'm a single mom just until Wednesday. I've decided the only time of day that I really dread is bathing the kids and putting them to bed by myself. I feel like it's such a chore and it takes forever and I'm so exhausted by the time there in bed and asleep. Oh well. Count my blessings. Hurry home honey!
A little over 2 weeks ago (I'm behind on my blogging) Lindsay got her Kindergarten shots and boy did she put up a good fight. She had to get 4 (2 in each leg). It was a traumatic experience for her. She knew earlier in the week that she was going to be getting them on Friday, but I told her we'd make it a special date and go out to lunch and ice cream afterwards, just me and her. She seemed okay with it. Well the day came and she would say things like "why do we have to do it today?" and "I hate Kindergarten shots!" We got ready to go and I left the boys home with Dan. She started whining in the car the whole drive there (the dr.'s office is only about 3 minutes away). Then she said, "I wish the doctor's office was an hour away so it would take longer to get there." I took her inside and she started whimpering while I signed in. We sat down to watch a movie they had on in the waiting room and she was clinging to me. Then they called us back to a room. She instantly started crying and wouldn't let go of me. The nurse told me to pull her pants down to her knees but Lindsay would NOT let us. She bent her knees so we couldn't get them down. She also became stiff. After a minute of wrestling with her, all the while she's SCREAMING, the nurse had me pick her up while she tried to pull her pants down, but Lindsay kept her knees bent in the air. FINALLY we got them down and I held her on my lap, holding her legs down by wrapping my legs aound hers and I had to hold her arms down. The nurse was very quick with each shot, but Lindsay SCREAMED and SCREAMED and SCREAMED! Then it was over. I held her for a few minutes while she cried on my shoulder and then I walked out to see the whole waiting room staring at me. YES, they could hear it all. Then a guy said, "that deserves some ice cream." I took her to Arctic Circle, but she didn't eat much and she ended up limping for 2 days. I think because she tensed her muscles up so badly while they gave her the shots that is made them more tender. I'm glad it's over with and so is she. After we got home and Zane saw her bandaids and that she was limping he said, "mom, I don't want to go to Kindergarten." Sorry son, you will. But I don't think I'll be informing him of his shots next year until we are in the doctor's office on the day he gets his. 
The after shot. Look at those eyelashes!
Our Disneyland trip was a blast! We went with almost all of my family (Missy and Chad didn't come because they went last April and are due with a baby in a month and my littlest sis, Amy is on her mission). But Granny Annie and Grandpa Harry (my parents), Laurel & Sam and their 5 kids, Karen, Christian, & Nathan, Jenny & Carter and Heidi all came. We met up with my brother Matt and his wife Lauren for a few days too. Matt works in Disneyland doing landscaping.
Anyways, Dan and I flew with the kids on Saturday, February 2nd. Gavin cried and had a fit for about the first hour of the flight. I think he still wasn't feeling good from his strep throat. But about 20 minutes before we landed, he fell asleep - of course! But everyone around us was so nice and didn't give us dirty looks. We checked into our hotel (Best Western Park Place Inn, which is right across the street). We shared a room with Karen and Christian to save money. We went into Disneyland that night, rode a few rides and watched the Electrical Parade. The next day, Sunday, we woke up to pouring rain! We pretty much just layed around the hotel and relaxed. When the rain stopped that afternoon, we went into Disneyland for a couple of hours, then went to Knott's Berry Farm just to eat at their yummy Chicken Restaurant.
After Sunday, the weather got nicer and warmer each day. By the following Saturday, when we left, it was about 81 degrees. It was pretty depressing coming home to about 10 inches of snow in our yard and 20 degree weather. But we were very grateful to get out of this icky stuff and get some sun.
Zane was able to ride the Matterhorn (which he had already ridden last year), Splash Mtn, Space Mtn, Thunder Mtn, Star Tours, Soarin' Over California and Tower of Terror, but only with a certain pair of shoes. He was wearing these brown shoes one of the first days and they wouldn't let him on Splash, so I figured "well, he won't be able to ride any of the big rides then." But the next day, Dan put a pair of tennis shoes on him and while we were getting Fast Passes for Thunder, I thought to my little old self, "maybe we should try measuring Zane again because he has different shoes on." Well, he BARELY was tall enough, so they let him ride. He LOVED it and the rest of the week, he wore those tennis shoes and they let him on all those rides! Lindsay rode all of those rides too, but this year she was also tall enough for the Grizzly Rapids and Mulholland Madness. She loved both of them and rode them both twice. It's so great to have the kids getting big enough for these rides and it's even funner that they love them. After Zane got off of the Tower of Terror he said, "that was so fun! My bum was going up and down!" Pretty funny, huh?
We had annual passes so of course we went into Disneyland every single day we were there (8 days). Some people think we're crazy (including Dan) but we were able to go on every single ride, some several times, see every show and parade we wanted and we did it all at our own pace. So, the next trip is in the planning stages - 2010. Can I really go 2 years without going? I guess we'll see!
Here's some of the pictures - Hope you enjoy!
THANK YOU SO MUCH, Heather!! I loved it.
I LOVE YOU HEATHER!!
Happy valentine's day!- Love Dan
I ended up taking Gavin BACK to the doctor's today because last night he was very grumpy and was not acting like himself. He sat on my lap for an hour and watched Winnie the Pooh. If you know Gavin, you know that he doesn't sit still for longer than 30 seconds. He slept all night, so that was good. Then this morning, all he wanted was for me to hold him. He just kept crying and crying. I tried to look at his throat, but he fought me. He wouldn't eat much for breakfast or lunch. After about a 45 minute nap, he woke up crying. I decided to attempt checking his throat again. I finally got a look and he has white spots all over his tonsils. I got into the doctor right before 5:00 and sure enough, he has strep throat! I wish I would have had him checked yesterday when I hauled all 3 of them in there. Oh well. I am kind of glad it's strep so he can be treated. So off we go to Disneyland with all of our kids on antibiotics!
This is what my dad came up with for his costume. Don't ask!
This is Lindsay dressed as Shirley Temple. We had done her hair in curlers that day and she said, "I look like Shirley Temple. Can I wear a dress like her?"
We put Gavin's clothes on backwards, rolled up his jeans and spiked his hair.
Dan also decided to shave down the middle of his head. He shaved the rest of it off that night. Actually, I really like it shaved really short. He says he's trying to embrace his baldness.
Dan playing Pin the Hat on Quasimodo
Lindsay is singing "I Gotta Go My Own Way" from High School Musical 2 on the Wii.
This is what Dan and I got for our White Elephant gift from mom and dad. It is siding samples that they had from when they re-did the siding on their house.
I can truly say that I am deeply saddened about the passing of President Gordon B. Hinckley. I know I probably shouldn't say I have a favorite prophet but he is my favorite. He was the prophet for almost half my life so far. I remember President Benson a little. He was good friends with my Grandma and Grandpa Skousen and he came to their 50th Anniversary in 1986 and I had the chance to meet him. I was only 8 but it is a special memory. My mom took us kids to his public viewing after he passed away and I remember that. Because President Hunter was only the prophet for a short time, I don't remember much. I heard the news about President Hinckley while at my parent's house last night at about 8:00. Heidi's fiance, Jeff, texted her saying he had died. We all couldn't believe it so we quickly turned on the tv to see the breaking news. Of course, Lindsay heard us and went running downstairs to tell all of her cousins. Then she wanted to start calling any family and friends she could think of. I told her she could call Karen and Christian (who had just left my parent's). I was glued to the news until 11:00 last night when we got home. It didn't really hit me until they showed people down at Temple Square singing "We Thank Thee Oh God for a Prophet." That is when I started to cry. I feel like President Hinckley was so connected to the youth of the church, well, actually everyone, mormon or non-mormon. I know people who are not members of the church and they loved him too. What an amazing example he has been. I LOVED his sense of humor. He always made us laugh during his conference talks. I am so grateful that he was able to be our prophet for so many years and will miss him, but I know he is with his sweetheart again and that they are happy together. I am grateful to be a part of this true church and for the knowledge that we have of life after death. We love you President Hinckley! So last Thursday, Gavin started getting a cold and cough. It got worse through the weekend and he was not sleeping well AT ALL! Because my nephew, Nathan, had just recently been hospitalized with RSV (he's home and doing good, by the way!) Dan and I watched him carefully so we could catch any symptoms. After 3 sleepless nights of Gavin coughing, crying, weezing every 5 minutes, I decided to take him into the doctor yesterday to have him checked. The doctor said he has RSV, but not too serious to hospitalize him ~ yet. So we're supposed to give him Benedryl, lots of fluids and a humidifier and watch for the other symptoms (fever of 104 or above, more weezing than he was and/or deeper stomache retractions). Well, last night, Dan and I got 7 1/2 full hours of sleep! Not one of the kids woke up (well, if they did, we didn't hear them!). Gavin perked up a little more today. So hopefully we're almost out of the woods. Lindsay and Zane both have colds and Lindsay has a cough. So we're just staying home all week to get better. We have a trip coming up next week and we want to be healthy! Cross your fingers!
Our nephew, Nathan (Karen & Christian's baby) has been at Primary's Children Hospital since last night because he has RSV and he's extremely dehydrated. They were hoping he'd be able to go home this morning but he's still not having wet diapers so they are keeping him until at least Saturday morning. This picture was taken last spring (it was one of the only pics I have of him) at Disneyland. Nathan is on the left, Carter is in the middle (Jenny's baby) and Gavin is on the right. Please keep Nathan in your prayers!
My sister Heidi is ENGAGED!!!!!! We're so excited for her and Jeff! The wedding is set for April 18th in the Bountiful Temple! We love you!
The past couple of months, we've noticed that Gavin likes to line things up in a row. The first time we noticed it was at Dan's parent's house when he lined up a few toy cars, bumper to bumper, all facing the same direction. Then he did it again a couple weeks later. The week after New Year's, I was downstairs excercising and turned around to see that Gavin had pulled about 10 DVD's off the shelf and lined them in a row. Well the other day, I was cooking dinner and he came in, started scooting the dining room chairs around and he lined them in a perfect row, then got up on one of them, as if it were a train! So, we're not sure if this kid has a little OCD or just likes order. I guess we'll have to see as he gets older.We have a tradition on Heather's side of the family, where every Christmas, each of Heather's siblings and their families makes a Christmas video (with the editing help of Heather's dad) and then we all watch them on Christmas Eve. It's been fun to see what different ideas we all come up with. The kids were very cooperative when filming ours. We want to give a big "thanks" to Grandpa Harry for his help with editing ours and also a big "thanks" to Lindsay and Zane's good friends, Lydia, Cole and Macie, for being our "friends" and saying "yoo-hoo!". Hope you enjoy!
Here's Zane on Christmas Eve, performing his part he had in his Preschool program and my favorite - Chubby Snowman!
So the Friday before Christmas, we had the chance to go up to East High School and get a tour of the school, where they filmed High School Musical, from a good friend, Ceciley Hallman, who is a Senior there. The kids thought it was so cool, and so did their mother! Thanks Ceciley!
Lindsay and Zane sitting on the bleachers in the gym trying to Get Their Heads in the Game! HAHAHAHAHA! I'm funny!
A blurry pic of Gavin with gym behind him. They were having Basketball practice so we couldn't really do much in there.
Here they are standing in front of Sharpay's locker (second one from the right). Of course in the movies, it was painted pink.
This is Miss Darbus' classroom. The masks above were really used in 2nd movie (maybe the 1st too). They decided to leave them up. So next time you watch the song "What Time is It?" look for the masks in the background of the classroom and this is where my kids are standing!
