It's Great to Be Eight

My little girl turned 8! It feels like she is growing up so fast, I can't believe it. For her birthday Erik took a day off work, pulled her and her friend (also named Olivia) out of school for the day, and went to Disneyland! She was so excited. These 2 blonde Olivias had a blast together, going on rides and making up dance moves for Zip-a-dee-doo-dah. Ah, to be 8 again.

Clockwise from top left: Liv and Dad, Mad Hatter hats, watching the Star Wars show while wearing matching hair ribbons, O for Olivia, waiting in line.

Saturday was her actual birthday, so that morning Olivia and I went to get pedicures. She was so funny playing with the massage settings on the chair. Her little back was totally getting pounded. But, she loved it!

That night our family went to dinner at Souplantation, yum! I always eat too much at that place.

Then it was home for birthday cake and presents. She got walkie talkies (one of them already went through the wash, bummer), her very own scriptures, and a beautiful CTR ring.

Happy Birthday, sweet girl! We sure love you!

Way Back When-sday: Daddy's Work

Soon after we moved to CA 4 years ago, we took a family field trip to visit Erik's new workplace. We loved seeing his new desk, and the building he would go to every day. The kids loved seeing photos of themselves on his wall.


Looking back at this picture, it is crazy to me how much the kids have grown in just a few years.

Caleb was younger than Ben is now, and Olivia was barely four years old. Back then her beloved Teddy went everywhere with her. He stays at home more often these days, but she still adores him. He has now lost an eye and I have sewn his arms back on so many times they are both sticking out at weird angles.


And Erik is still working at this desk. He is there right now, in fact. We love him and are very grateful for his job, especially in this economy. I know things can change at the drop of a hat, so we will happily keep him at this desk for as long as possible. As long as he comes home to us each night.

I Love to Read the Holy Scriptures

I recently finished reading the Book of Mormon. Don't worry, it wasn't my first time. When I was in college I started writing the date and city I'm in each time I finish reading that 10th chapter of Moroni. I got this idea from my friend Amy and I love it.



So I noticed that since I've been keeping track, I just completed my 10th time reading this marvelous book. My first thought was "Whoa, that's a lot." My second thought was "That's not enough." In any case, I took a minute to look back over the previous times I have recorded reading it in its entirety and took note of some interesting facts.


This book has traveled with me across the country, and even internationally. I have recorded 8 different locations, including 5 different states and 2 places abroad (London when I did study abroad in college, and in the Caribbean when my parents took my family on a cruise). I'm so glad this book has been in my possession everywhere I have lived.


I also noticed the varying amounts of time it took me to read all 531 pages. And I realized something interesting. The times when it took me longer to read the entire book (which means I wasn't reading on a regular basis), were the darker and more difficult times of my life. And the times when I was obviously reading the BofM more consistently because I got through it more quickly, were times of greater peace and joy.


Coincidence? I think not.


Not that this is surprising information. It really does make sense, and I feel a little silly that I am even writing about this fact, as if it is some new revelation to me. But really, it made it so real to see it in black and white. My logical, math-thinking brain understands that. But so does my heart. I need to remember this and be consistent with my daily scripture reading. It really is an important and life-bettering (I don't think that's a word, but you get my meaning) habit.


On a related note, Olivia received her first set of scriptures in the mail a couple of days ago. She is turning eight soon and has been waiting and waiting to get her very own scriptures. Well, they came, they are beautiful and she loves them. So far she has read a chapter a day in both the Bible and the Book of Mormon. I am not naive enough to think she will always keep this enthusiasm about reading the scriptures, but I will enjoy it as long as it lasts. Because unsurprisingly, she is much happier and nicer to her brothers when she is reading her scriptures on a regular basis.

Coincidence? I think not.

Smartest

Conversation I just overheard between my 7-year-old and 5-year-old:

O: Who's the smartest in the world?

C: Well duh, it's Jesus. That's so easy!

And there you go.

Way Back When-sday

When I was at my sister's house last weekend, she shared this little gem with me, circa 1974.
If you have ever met my sister, you can tell she is on the left in this photo. The blonde hair and adorable cheeks are a dead giveaway. And yes, that is little ol' me who is being dragged around by my loving big sis. By my foot.

The thing is, I didn't seem to mind. And I'm fairly certain that if one of my older kids did that to Ben, he would think it was the greatest thing ever. Isn't it funny how older siblings can get away with doing things that parents would never be allowed to do?!

On a sidenote, who loves the brown and gold striped couch (you'll just have to trust me on this one) and shag carpet? Gotta love the 70's, man.

Authoress Extraordinaire

On Saturday my sister and I (along with most of our kids) stopped by a bookstore near her home. A famous author was visiting, and we wanted to see her. We love her books and think she is a pretty snazzy gal to boot. That lady is none other than the incomparable Shannon Hale, author of Princess Adademy, Goose Girl, Austenland, and other fabulous books. She also happens to be our cousin.

I know what you're thinking: How lucky is Shannon to be related to such lovely and talented cousins! Oh wait, you weren't thinking that? Oh, sorry. Moving on...

In a stroke of bad luck, both Angela's and my camera betteries died, leaving us with the sub-par quality of cell phone pictures. Not ideal, but it works.

sleepy Ben, me, Shannon, and Ang

Her husband Dean came too, as they were signing the latest book they co-wrote, a graphic novel called "Calamity Jack." Here they are at the signing table.

Shannon and Dean were hilarious together, and quite entertaining to listen to. We even got to witness a small portion of an interpretive dance, which was.... well, I think the only word that can aptly describe it is WOW. These folks are seriously multi-talented.

There was a good crowd who came to see them and get books signed. It was beyond fun to see Shannon, first of all because it's been too long since we've hung out, and secondly because it was so exciting and surreal to see her in her element, as the famous authoress that she is. Beloved the world over (is that overly dramatic?), yet still our goofy cousin we performed lip synchs with at Lake Powell. Love ya, Shannon! Even though you ARE Advanced Maternal Age...

ER Visit

I've decided there is nothing sadder than a little kid in the ER. They're just so helpless. So sick. So sad. So adorably in need of their mama. I love feeling needed. Most of the time.

Last Saturday afternoon, our little Ben woke up from his nap struggling to breathe. He could barely get a wheezing breath in and out. It was pretty scary, so I rushed him down to urgent care. As I drove wildly down the street, fists clutching the steering wheel, I mentally dared any cop to pull me over for speeding. He would surely regret that decision as soon as he faced the wrath of a terrified mother whose child can't breathe.

I got him to urgent care 15 minutes before they closed. The receptionist was maddeningly calm as I checked in and explained that the baby in my arms could hardly breathe. The nurse came out and explained that he had croup and they couldn't really do anything for him since you have to track them for a few hours after you give a breathing treatment, and they were closing soon.

Are you seriously telling me you can't do anything to help my child who is struggling for breath? Besides, Caleb used to get croup all the time and he always got the tell-tale barking cough. He could always breathe, however. Ben wasn't coughing. "He can't breathe!" I practically screamed at her.

After a call to the hospital, she finally let us back into a room and tried to give him albuteral (I later learned that this does nothing for croup, it is for asthma). He HATED it, plus it didn't help his breathing at all. He was just getting more worked up. Finally she told me to take him to the ER, as they had more medications available to them. Really, I just think she wanted us out of her hair so she could close up shop and go home.

Erik showed up with the other kids and we caravaned to the hospital. Thanks to the urgent care nurse calling ahead, they got Ben right in. Turns out it WAS a sudden attack of croup. They tried another breathing treatment (something they called an "epi treatment") which didn't seem to do much. Finally they gave him a steroid shot which started helping. I sat with him on the hospital bed for 2 1/2 hours, holding a tube up to his mouth and trying to get him to breathe in the cool mist. We watched an Amanda Bynes movie, which helped pass the time. Nevertheless, the poor kid was so miserable and exhausted.
After a couple of hours, he finally started to perk up. When he ripped the heart monitor off his toe and wiggled down to the floor I knew he was going to be OK. "He's back!" I cheered. He scarfed down the chips Erik had bought at the cafeteria and tried to play with the computer keyboard in his room. By this time Erik had taken the kids home to bed, so it was just me and my little boy. I was so thankful that he was feeling better!

I went to tell the nurse that he was feeling better. Didn't want to interrupt the group of nurses and doctors gossiping at the nurse's station, as it was obviously a huge intrusion. It of course took them forever to get the paperwork processed, but they finally sent us on our way.

I'm so grateful he is feeling better! That was a scary day. Now I know to go straight to the ER if this ever happens again. Thank heavens for modern medicine.