TRYING TO PLAY CATCH UP!!

I have not downloaded any new pictures in a LONG time (I think they got down loaded on Ryan's computer!), but I thought I would let you know what we have been up to.

Ryan went back to ISU to finish his finance degree. I want him to finish, and do well, so we have decided to survive on my income and student loans. And let me tell you what, it is a lot harder than I anticipated. The begining of October I had a nervous breakdown!! And you think I am kidding, but it is so hard being the sole provider, a wife, and mother who actually does things that mothers should do, a maid, a cook.... you get the point. So really, from October on I have been on survival mode.

For Halloween we carved pumpkins and I made my first batch of baked Pumpkin Seeds! And they were not that bad. Madison dressed up as a witch. At trunk-or-treat Ryan referred to as not a witch but "the witch"! I know it sounds mean, but this little red head can throw a mean temper-tantrum! MaCrae wanted to be a lion, and it took about 3 days (every lunch break I had) to find a Lion costume. But he was so happy, and looked like the cutest lion ever!

Thanksgiving was wonderful. A nice break from work and stress. We spent Thanksgiving with my parents and my oldest brother's family. Perfect! His kids are old enough to entertain my kids for hours and hours. Friday, while I was at New Moon (shocker that I went, yes, but I really thought it was good!) Ryan noticed something odd with Madison's right thumb. It was bent funny. So Saturday as soon as we got home, we called out Pedatrician, took MaCrae to play with his cousins, and had Madi's hand examined. They sent us over the EIRMC for x-rays, and we were really worried. Because Madi is so young, she did not hold still enough to take a really good x-ray, so they could not tell if it was dislocated or broken! So Monday we met with an Orthopedic surgeon and found out she has "Trigger Thumb"!! I won't mention the Dr's name we went to, but I was not very impressed, in fact he openly came out and said he had never done this surgrey on someone as small as Madison. HECK NO!! My daughter will not be his experiment, so I cancelled the surgrey after many people reconfimed my fears with bad stories. Today we meet with a local plasitc surgeon, and have 100% confidence that this will go well! I was kind of hoping to get a 2-for-1 consult (Tummy tuck, Breast agmuntation, and Liposuction!!) but I felt this was not the right time. :) Can't blame a girl for wanting!!

So, Ryan is studying hard for finals next week, and I cannot afford to shop anymore, so I thought I would blog. Who knew the internet had something other than to shopping!!! I have come to the conclusion that I make a terrible poor person! This to shall come to pass. Hope everyone is enjoying their holidays.

Preview of our Family Pictures...

SUMMER COME AND GONE

So I have not been a very good blogger, but none of you can really complain, becasue I think it has been a very busy summer all round, and all of our blogs have suffered. No thanks to facebook as well! MaCrae had the hardest time building up courage to go down Grandma Cindie's water slide. But once I did he would stay on it for hours, literally.

I was trying so hard to get a picture of MaCrae and myself, and this is the best that I could get. MaCrae is not happy unless he gets to be the photographer.

My mom and I went to Wal-mart and loaded up on craft items to do some "projects" to keep Mac entertained. This was his 1st rocketship. So fun, thanks Karissa for the idea.

My kids winding down a long day together. There is something about a sleeping bag to kids that makes laying down sound like a fun idea.

My handsome college boy! That's right. Last week Ryan started his first day back to college down at ISU. He will graduate next year w/his finance degree and from there he will either keep going for his accounting degree or find an amazing job with a huge paycheck!!

Once again, Madi likes to shred her clothing. Actually, her clothes got completely drenched at a family reunion so as I laid them in the sun to dry she decided that this would also be a great place to park herself and eat a snow cone! Funny thing, I think I have more pictures of her with no clothes this summer, than with!!

Rigby lake. Madison is such a water dog. No matter where we are, or what she could be dressed in, if there is any water she will find a way to splash in it, and sit down in it. MaCrae loves the water, but it takes him a lot longer to feel comfortable in it than Madi.

I am sorry for all you sensitive set of eyes, but I thought this picture was hilarious. MaCrae will drop his draws and pee ANYWHERE! Hey, atleast his is potty trained. About 1 month ago we had a graduation party for MaCrae (graduating from his sippy cup) and it has had such an amazing impact on him. He hasn't started eating a whole lot better, but he was able to be completely potty trained within a week. He doesn't even wet the bed! At first he still struggled when Madi was still allowed to have a sippy, and even starting calling himself a little girl, so I just threw them all away and he has not had a problem since.

Madison trying to play peek-a-boo with her sippy and a cup. This is such a cute age, when they try so hard to mimick everything you do.

The reason I am SO nervous for family pictures this Friday. My kids can never want pose for the camera. This was a quick attempt to practice, and we failed. Please remember us in your prayers and hopefully I will have some proofs to post early next week.

It has been a long time since my last post, but we are still doing well. The days seem to be longer, but with more to do during the summer. The kids are growing faster than I can keep up with. They are perfect partners in crime. They know extactly how to drive each other crazy, but at the same time they work together so well when doing something I should be stopping! The 4th of July was such a great weekend. We went to my parents and had a very fun, and relaxing time. I will have to get some pictures from my mom to post with the kids at the parade. Madi is starting to enjoy the activities she once watched MaCrae do. She loves to shot hoops and go down her little tikes slide!

Mac's 1st Shower...

Last Thursday night MaCrae wanted to take a shower with daddy. I am not sure what happened exactly, because I will admit I was on the phone, but Mac feel and cut hi chin open. I really couldn't tell how bad it really was because it wasn't bleeding heavily, but it was a pretty ugly cut. So I called Upper Valley Family Medicine and they held their doors open for us to come in. I am truely thankful, that saved us a very long and expensive trip to the emergency room. He ended up having 4 stitches, and we went back into the doctor tonight to have them removed. The wound still looks sore and ugly, but they said that the sooner they can get the stiches out, the less of a scar he would have. Every male that know thinks it's a cool "battle scar". Whatever, I am just glad he is okay. (If you look really close you will see the big bump on the opposite side of his forehead. He hit his head after cutting his chin!) If you ask Mac to see his stitches he will show you his extra Spiderman band-aid and toy he got for being so good. He doesn't relate that there is something in his chin because he was numb when they stitched him up. You have to ask to see his Ouchy to see the stitches.

You Don't Want to Catch This

So I have now expierenced the 24 hour flu! Well, I should not say I had it, but MaCrae came home from Lolo's Tuesday throwing up everytime he tried to take a drink. He was starting to get lethargic, so I ran him over to the doctors, where he continued to throw up in their garbage can. Lucky for them it was closing time!! We got him some medicine to settle his stomach and continued to provide him with plenty of juice, pop, and capri sun. He would drink a sippy cup, wait 10 minutes and throw it back up in the nice tub the doctor gave us to use in the car. After about an hour he was finally able to keep some juice down. That's when Madi woke up throwing up more that I ever thought she could have possibly ate. I think we did 3 loads of laundry last night and another 3 today! Lucky for us we were able to get to bed around 1 and sleep sound until 7. I know it could have been a lot worse, but I really hope they never have this happen again. Thank heavens for Ryan who helped me through it. He actually let me go to bed around 10, did all the laundry, and cleaned up all the puke! I have a pretty amazing husband.

Idaho Falls Zoo

Over Memorial Day weekend we took the kids to the Idaho Falls zoo. The weather was PERFECT. And there really weren't a lot of people there, so it was very pleasant. MaCrae doesn't look like he is having a great time in the picture, but he had so much fun going to each exibit and telling everyone around about what kind of animal we were observing. Madi was pretty excited about the zoo!! Her favorite part was riding in the stroller and eating sour gummi worms!