Happy Halloween!

The Bass family gave Brigham a pumpkin a few weeks ago and almost every day since he has asked me about carving it. With all the sicknesses and just busy daily life we never got around to doing it. Well, after his nap today, he and I finally got to it! Levi was outside helping Daddy make a table and fixing the van and Hryum was still asleep so it was just our little project. It was kind of fun getting to do something alone with him.
Me-Me, Uncle Steve, and Logan came to pick up the two older boys to go trick or treating. Brigham isn't running a fever anymore but we had him wear a surgical mask anyways, just in case, under his Iron Man mask. They took them to the nursing home that Steve works at and I guess they were spoiled rotten with attention and candy from the residents there! Thank you Me-Me and Uncle Steve for being surrogate parents tonight...I love you for that!

And here is our poor little "gimpy" tonight. Even in sickness he is so stinkin' cute!

Ice Cream Bugles, Anyone?

My poor kids have been very sick for a while now. It started about 3 weeks ago...making its rounds through each child. Most of the time it ran its course while it was still infecting another child but every once in a while we would get a few days break before starting its course again. I'm sure it mutated somewhere along the way. Last night, I took Hyrum to the Emergency Room after learning that Daddy had put him to bed at 5:30 p.m. That is very early but it seemed even more odd to me since he had pretty much slept the whole day while I was home earlier that day also. So I checked in on him and sure enough he was burning up with a 104 temperature. He tested positive for Influenza A. I knew that had to be what Brigham was at home sick with also. Sure enough, today Brigham tested positive for it also. The flu outbreak here has really scared a lot of people and so the schools really don't want anyone going to school with a fever or if a sibling has the flu. Both the kids were so excited for their Halloween parties today. It really was not fun trying to get Levi to understand why he couldn't go to his Halloween party even though he wasn't sick. So I tried to make it as fun as I possibly could tonight for them. Grandpa (Thatcher) had brought over some Bugles and Kraft Easy Cheese yesterday for the boys. So after having pizza and watching a fun kid vampire movie we brought out the "little ice creams." Grandma started this with Hyrum. She would take one of the Bugles and put the Easy Cheese in the middle of it and give it to him. One day we were all over at Grandma and Grandpa's house when Brigham asked MeMaw and Poppy for "one of those little ice creams." It took them a while but then they finally realized what he was asking for.

I guess being sick can still have a few perks to it.

The Grove Branch Halloween Party

The church had their halloween party at the "Right Choices" corn maze tonight. I had such a wonderful time tonight. There are times in your life when you feel lots of love with and for those you are around and tonight I felt that. This is our group before we ate and before going in the actual corn maze and other corn maze activities. Our children (and some adults!) were the only ones in costumes so you can imagine just how much we stood out! And it was very busy! I can't tell you how much I love this picture!

And this one!

This is April and Jolayne right after they attacked me with makeup kisses!

The night was filled with food, trick or treating at the picnic tables, and lots of outside play.

Nanny/Poppy Nights

Every Friday night one of the older boys has a Nanny/Poppy night. They share it with one of their cousins and they get spoiled rotten! Sometimes Nanny and Poppy will have a little activity for them (like this picture; I think they dug these rocks out of a block of something...not sure...but they loved it!). But they can always count on picking out the place they are going to eat that night or make something fun like homemade pizza. Later that night they can eat as much ice cream as their little hearts desires while they watch endless episodes of Spongebob or whatever cartoon they want while Poppy falls asleep on the couch. Which of course means they can stay up as long as they want because Poppy is asleep! You can imagine just how much they look forward to Friday nights.

The Levi Pretzel

Tonight was Brigham's nanny and poppy night so while Daddy was bringing Brigham to the Grandparents and letting Hyrum visit MeMaw and Poppy (my grandparents), Levi and I went on a date! He had gotten a coupon for a free pizza at Pizza Hut and a free ice cream from Diary Queen from school so David and I thought this would be the perfect time to use it. David or I try to do something alone with the other older boy when it is a nanny and poppy night so that they can feel special. It doesn't always work out but we try. Sometimes it is as fun as Daddy taking Levi out to McDonald's and then out to a movie afterwards. Usually it is something as simple as Mommy taking Brigham to Wal-Mart with her (I try my hardest not to take the kids with me when I shop....its my alone time!) and letting him pick out a cereal....any cereal that he wants. Which may seem so little but it is a treat since mommy only buys the healthy stuff; so you can imagine what the boys pick out when they get to pick! This is a picture of Levi at Pizza Hut. I got him some cottage cheese at the salad bar while we were waiting for his pizza. I had picked up some crackers for my salad when I thought it would be interesting for Levi to try the cottage cheese on a cracker. He tried it while I asked him, "What does it taste like?" He waited a little bit and then said, "It kind of tastes like a pretzel!" So for the rest of the night we were talking about the Levi Pretzel.

Later when the pizza came, he wasn't eating so I said, "Levi eat your pizza." He looked at me with the most discusted look and said, "Did you say, eat your poo!?!" And yes he was serious. He really thought I had told him to eat his poo!

A friend of mine, Tammy Gibson, and her family visited us for a few days once while we were living in Idaho. Her oldest was on a mission and her youngest, Anna, was probably 5 or so. Anna was still sucking her thumb and I remember Tammy saying something like, "I just don't worry about things like that anymore. It's not like she is going to be in High School still sucking her thumb." I doubt that she knew she was giving advice at the time but she was and I haven't forgot it. We have had our third child since then and our parenting is different for sure. When I get frustrated with things that the kids are doing, I often find myself remembering what Tammy said 4 or so years ago. Today was one of those days. I was at the computer when I turned around to find this. We would have NEVER let our other kids do this. We would have been so afraid that they would end up pulling on the pillows of the couch so much that it would end up ripping. I just think it is plain cute now. I think it is adorable that he uses the couch in a whole different way than the rest of us in this house! I believe that each child comes down with their own personalities and sometimes what we teach will come out in these personalities and so he could very well be spoiled. He does get away with so much more than Levi and Brigham ever did. But I can't help but feel that we are getting it right. Maybe I'm making excuses for myself but I can't help but feel that I don't worry as much as a parent as I did with the other two. I know for sure that David enjoys this go around much better! You should see the two together! I think that when we first were parents we wanted to be the best parents to Levi so badly that in some ways we were too strict. In some ways, he is more responsible than the others. He listens much better, he always wants to help, and so on but he also worries more than Brigham and Hyrum do. I guess what I'm saying through all of this is that there is no perfect way of parenting. Both being strict and not strict enough can have negative and positive outcomes. I hope that the Lord knew this and that is why He send us Levi first and Hyrum last. I hope that with the little personalities that they came down with that we parented in a way that works well with those personalities.
I like this picture because of his cute little lips. He is saying, "tools" from Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.

Someone is in love with Daddy!

Levi is my little lovey dove. He always has been. That boy melts my heart with how much he loves me. For the longest time Brigham seemed to like guys better than girls, with the exception of Grandma Adams. And he especially loved Daddy! He has grown out of it a little bit and now asks for a lot of attention from both me and David. In Utah, Hyrum wouldn't even let me leave the room without whining. But when David lost his job he became extremely attached to Daddy. Months have went by and it hasn't changed. Just a few minutes ago, I could hear some muffled Hyrum sounds coming out of the bedroom. I opened the door and found this! Daddy can't even read a book by himself if Hyrum is around. He always has to be where Daddy is! I got the camera, took the picture and came out here to the computer to put this on the blog when seconds later I hear little Hyrum feet running across the hardwood floor and a slam of the bedroom door...apparently no mommas are allowed in that room!

Corn Maze

Today, Hyrum and I started off spending some time with Levi in the computer lab of his school. Levi loves seeing us at school but I think today he could have used to do without. We came up to be with him as he was getting his flu shot. Some kids cry at just about anything but Levi only cries for 2 reasons. He is a very sensitive boy so he will cry if he thinks some one is upset with him. The only other time he cries is if he is really hurt. It makes me so sad to see his big eyes tear up. But tear up is all he did! I was so impressed that the schools here in Grove are giving out free flu shots to all the kids. And then tomorrow there will be free flu shots to the public at the civic center. I am so grateful that we are not going to have to pay for any flu shots this year!

After we left the lower elementary, we went straight over to the ECC (early childhood center) to get to Brigham's class before they left for the first field trip of the year! We followed the buses to the "right choices corn maze" in Missouri. Ok, I put that in for the effect of it sounding like we went sooooooooo far! Missouri is one of the many state lines that we live not to far from! I took this picture because I thought it captured the feel of the Bible Belt. It seems that most things are centered around the cross here. Even a corn maze! But I love it. You can get away with stuff like this in the Bible Belt and in a small town. In fact, as we were waiting for Levi's shot I noticed that in the computer lab of the school there was the quote, "In God We Trust" in a frame on the wall. Only in a small town in the Bible Belt, at a school, can this be found without fear! Hyrum and I didn't stay the whole time because we had to get back home for his nap but here are a few things that we got to participate in.

Hyrum being cute during one of the presentaions where the kids were learning about corn products.

Conference Challenges

This Saturday and Sunday was General Conference. General Conference is when our Prophet and Apostles and other leaders of the church meet together and speak to us, via satellite. It is time consuming....especially with children. This is the first year that I tried to entertain them with projects. I briefly went over a video we have of Jesus' resurrection and followed with some worksheets for them to work on while David and I listened. The first hour and a half went really well, after that.....well, I now know that next year I will have to put more preparation into this before general conference begins. Better luck in April of next year! Daddy and Hyrum taking it easy while Brigham and Levi color and work on the worksheets.

Mommy taking a break and laying down on the couch.....but was soon joined by Levi and Brigham.

And this is what happens when you get a phone call from a friend and you don't pay attention to what the littlest one is doing....Daddy's tie in the toilet!

Are those your pants, Mom?

I was out here on the computer when Brigham comes sneaking out of my bedroom. He does this a lot around this time of night. We only have a 2 bedroom house and so you can imagine bedtime with 3 little boys in one room. So the system we have down is that we put Hyrum to bed about an hour before the other 2. Then Levi goes in the bedroom with Hyrum (because he can actually be quiet) and Brigham goes to bed in Mommy and Daddy's bed until he falls asleep. Then Daddy transports little guy in his own bed. Well, Brigham always comes out multiple times to say that he needs to put his book back (we let them take a book to bed) or that he forgot to give me a hug and kiss or that he is coughing and the list goes on. Every once in a while he comes up with something new. Tonight he came up to me and said, "Um mom...I accidentally didn't do something...um...." Then he was mumbling something I didn't understand so I went in the bedroom and found this! I just started laughing and of course that was all it took for Brigham to think it was ok to put my pantyhose around the ceiling fan. Just before he got back up on the bed so I could take this picture he said, "Are those your pants, Mom?"

Homecoming Parade

Today I was suppose to help Mrs. Goff with her class as they were watching the homecoming parade. The parade was during Hyrum's nap so I needed Daddy to be here to stay with Hyrum. The plan didn't work out like I'd planned and I'm glad it didn't! Hyrum has bowl movement issues and today was no exception. He was in a LOT of pain this morning and so I ended up putting him to bed for his nap much earlier than normal. I think all that crying took a lot out of him because he didn't fight me putting him to bed so early. Then 1:00p.m. rolled around and David still hadn't showed up to stay with sleeping Hyrum. Even though David was just a 5 minute drive away, he couldn't get to me because of the parade (we live right by the schools and that is where the parade was circling around). So he ended up having to find Mrs. Goff's class to try and help. I'm really glad that it worked that way because I ended up hearing Hyrum stirring in the bedroom at about the same time that I heard the band....they were coming down 7th street! So I hurried and got Hyrum out of bed and of course he had peed everywhere so rush, rush I went to getting him changed and shoes on. As you can see in the pictures, I didn't even have time to button him up! It was so cute to watch all the girls get excited over the baby/little kid on the other side of the fence. Most of the parade watchers were on the other streets so by the time they got to us they were pretty excited to see someone again and it just happened to be a cute little boy! As you can imagine, he was spoiled with candy!