Medical Train Wreak

That is what we used to call Jayden. A few years back we were honestly in the ER with her ALL the time. Let me just give you some examples:

Age 4 years 8 months:

Jayden complains about her leg hurting and says she banged it outside riding her bike. When asked if she is okay she says yes and runs off to play. Later that night she crawls down the hall crying about her leg. The next day the doctor finds a fracture in her right femur.

Age 4 years 10 months:

Leg is healed. I am put on bed rest (at 10 am) and told by my doctor if I dare do anything physical she will put me in the hospital and keep me down. At 4 pm Jayden climbs a tree and happens along a wasps nest. In the time it took me climb the tree (7 1/2 months preggers) Jayden received 18 wasp bites. 85% of them on her poor little face and in her mouth. Her lips were bigger than Angelina Jolie's and her whole face was swollen. She spent the next 24 hours throwing up.

Age 5 years 7 months:

While at the church one night I hear "Sister Widing, Jayden's bleeding." My reaction? I didn't even look up. I just said "OK, send her here." THEN I looked up. Blood everywhere. Her entire face was covered. It was awful. She looked like something out of a horror movie. We rushed her to the hospital. She had a puncture to the skull (a story for another time). She was glued up and then put on strong antibiotics in order to keep out severe infection to her brain.

Age 6 years 11 months:

Jayden falls riding a scooter. Gets back up and plays for the rest of the day, the next day and then starts nursing her left arm. 5 x-rays later...a broken arm on the last day of school. Ugh, welcome summer.

Age 8 years 11months:

NOTHING major and in fact its quite silly but it is random medical junk. The girl has white paint on her eyeball and it won't come off. So the eye doctor now wants to scrape her cornea to get it off. Doesn't this sound disgusting? So now we are waiting to find out if and when the scraping will commence.

Why her?

Rose Festival

Here in the Northwest the days are getting longer, the sun is getting warmer and the nights are exploding with color. It's Rose Festival time and of course we had to go into Potland to see last nights fireworks. Before the show
Besides having fun people with us we also had lots of fun junk food. The kids were in HEAVEN with all the Swedish fish, licorice, and other goodies.

It is so fun to have a night out with your sweetheart...
...your kids...
...your sister...

...your little friends...

(Jayden, Braley and Ansen with Jalen and Zenida)

...and your big friends....

(Lorelei and Steve)

Fireworks are the best. They just bring out the little kid in you. You just have to "oohhhh" and "awwwww" and cheer at the spectacle and smile.

And when I am with such a great group I just have to smile anyway.

It's Good To Be Four

Oh the fun this big boy has been having over the past few days. Barbeque's, sunshine, gifts, cake, slip-n-slide, fishing, friends and family. When you turn four at our house it is a par-teeee. Its a long standing birthday tradition to have a birthday bbq in Molalla with our friends the Kurns and the Mercados. So Sunday the tradition continued.

Ansen wanted Pirates!Pirates!Pirates! So we made Pirates!

Of course no cupcakes are complete without that special ingredient: Spit. I just love this picture of him. Rosy from the sun and a smile on his face. I just love him! Go big or go home! Enough said.

Looky what the birthday boy caught. annnddd then back to business.

Today was Ansen's party to share with his 4 year old friends. We had a orange pirates and a ship for cake today.

Oh yea...and more spit.

Everyone made sure to leave with proper pirate attire.

We even played "X" marks the spot. (aka Pin the tail on the donkey).

Happy 4th Birthday AnsenYou sure a super little man!

Your Attention Please

Ansen is four today!Pictures of his exciting day to follow this evening.
You may now continue with your day.

OMSI Fieldtrip

Going on field trips with the ladies is one of my favorite things to do. I was able to go to OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry) with Jayden and her class last Wednesday. This is one of Jayden's favorite places and it was really fun to visit it with her. We learned how babies developed (in utero), learn how to keep our bodies healthy, learned about gravity, and did experiments in the Chemistry lab. The experiments were Jayden's favorite part of the whole day hands down. My favorite part of the day was being with her.Jayden and Giselle on the way to OMSI
Task: Get untangled without moving your feet.

My little Scientist. Isn't she cute?

Lords And Ladies Of The Dance

The kindergarten/first grade music program was today and it was adorable! The theme was Dances Around the World. Braley and her classmates did a Irish jig and they rocked it. All the costumes were made by teachers and parents at the school and the kids looked great. Mrs. Fee and Mr. Lopez even got in on the costumed action and looked very Irish themselves. Other classes did dances from China, Cuba, Australia, Mexico and Africa (Kenya-maybe?). My little Irish lass

(A purple crown? Do I have to tell you how happy this little girl was to wear a crown? No? I knew you already knew.) The girls all had curls in their hair and the boys all wore hats that made them look like little Leprechauns. First grade music programs are the best!

Mudder's Day

I know I am late on Mother's Day update but here it is. My Mother's Day was great. It is probably rude of me to say but I totally scored! I had well behaved kids that sang in sacrament meeting, my husband was super thoughtful (as always), my primary class was extra polite, the sun was shining, I got to talk to my ma and Jason's mom AND I got presents. Personally, I think we should celebrate Mother's once a month if I can get a repeat of last Sunday.

The ladies each gave me that gifts they made me at school before church. They were right up my ally. Jayden made me a bookmark and Braley made me a vase. I love them. Ansen was feeling a bit left out so he announced "I have something for you!" and he ran up to his room. 30 seconds later he throws a half deflated, ratty old basketball from his toy box at me yelling, "It's a basketball! Catch!" Wow, Bubba. Thanks. Thanks a lot. I just had to smile.

Daddy did take the wee ones shopping and so can I just brag a moment at how well my three know me? Jason does this thing when he takes the kids shopping. He lets them pick out what they want and does not ever try to re-direct their holiday giving efforts to what I could really use or want. Gifts can be really crazy. But not this Mother's Day. They were totally, exactly, perfectly me.

Jayden got me a digital photo frame that holds 5,000 photo's. If you know me well, you know I always have my camera. It also has a calender, recipe book and alarm clock. This thing is high tech. Braley got me a tanning packing because, according to her, I am beautiful when I am tan. Awwww, shucks. I like being tan too. Cross your fingers that I am not going to get skin cancer when I am old. Jason gave me some lawn furniture for our backyard. Now I can lounge in my chair with my book while the kids run and play. I love the chairs. Ansen bought me a ARMPIT. Yep, that's what he calls it. The rest of us call it a backyard FIREpit. But who can resist calling it a ARMpit from now on? We are so excited to fire the sucker up. Jamie loved on me with some yummy Mother's Day treats. She knows what to do to make me a happy big (and now fatter) sister.

I LOVE being a mother. Sometimes I wonder who I would be if I didn't have these three little spitfires in my life. I know I wouldn't be 1/2 the person I am today. They have brought me all the joy in the world and I am so thankful for them.

Costa Rica Hodge-Podge

Here are just some final pictures from our trip. I was considering being a "pool shark" prior to our trip. I figured it would be an easy way to make some extra dinero. My plan has changed now that I have learned that I am the worlds worst pool player. I lost every game I attempt to play. Back to the drawing board to find a new career. Jason won. Isn't a husband supposed to let his wife win? I swear that is in the wedding vow's...."and do you, Jason, promise to love, honor and let your wife beat you in any and every game you play together?" He missed that memo.
Our final night was spent at a company awards dinner. We were assigned to this table. I think all the tables were names of native Costa Rican animals.

Me and my hubby.

This is the morning we left at the tiny little airport in Liberia. We were sunburned and tired. Can you tell?

And home we go....

We had a great trip and would do it over in a heart beat. If you get the chance Costa Rica is defiantly worth the trip[!

Deep Sea Fishing

Question: What do you do when you find out fish is not on the menu for the large company awards dinner the last night in Costa Rica?

Answer: You go deep sea fishing, of course!

Here is the finished product....yummm.

Now back to how it all happened.

Jason. On a boat. Four miles off the Costa Rican coast.

(Me. By the pool. At the resort. Virgin Maimi Vice in my hand)

Out of order but I think you get what happened here.
A grouper. Look at the eyeballs on that sucker. Personally, I would have felt so guilty with those lifeless eyes staring at me. Boys have no conscience.
Steaks anyone?

Yellow fin Ahi. They cut one up on the boat and ate it right there. According to everyone on the boat it was the "most excellent" sushi they had ever eaten. (Again, me with another virgin Miami Vice in my hand shaking my head in a "no thank you" fashion)

Jason had a great day fishing. They were out for about 6 hours and caught enough fish to feed 170 people at the banquet dinner that night. All the guys came home completely exhausted. I guess when you are reeling in 45 lbs. fish it can be a little tiring. Jason is already planning a return trip to go after some Marlin this winter. Anyone want to go with him?

Let's Get Dirty

All for the sake of beauty, of course. We took the "plunge" and went mud bathing while wandering around Central America. All I can say is F-U-N! I don't have a picture of how you apply it. I thought we were going to actually get in a huge mud puddle and roll around but you actually paint it on. The mud is piping hot since it is actually from big thermal mud pools and you just paint yourself from head to toe in the smelly stuff. You also apply it to your hair. They tell you its a natural conditioner. I wouldn't go so far as to agree but who cares? Once fully caked in mud you take LOTS of pictures.
SOMEONE had a good time getting all muddy.

Below: Jason and Brett. LHFP home office at its finest.
After the mud is dry, crusty and you are done with pictures you have to wash it all off. THIS takes forever. That mud is like trying to get tar off. Beauty is work.

Last, you hike yourself down to a cooler pool and soak for a half hour. Technically this is supposed to make your skin smooth as a baby's bottom. The jury is still out on that but it was definitely worth the experience.

Plus I look pretty hot in pink and brown.