Saying Goodbye To Mya The Wonder Dog

Today we lost our Wonder Dog. Our crazy dog who was our first "baby". She was nearly 12, and she was getting tired. We came home from a trip to the store and found her curled up. My heart broke.
As I sit here this evening I am overwhelmed with memories of my crazy doggo. The first time we met her... It was love at first site (me, with her... Her, with Karl.. She used to curl up with him, and then growl at me if I got too close:) ) I remember how she used to be afraid of tile and wood floor. How she used to shred stuffed animals. How she adored a game of tug o war. Her fear of thunder storms and how she would crawl under our bed to hide after her attempts to warn us went unnoticed. How she would faithfully guard our house from all things suspicious, whether it be a cat, or a plastic bag blowing by on The breeze. Her never ending hunt for something yummy left carelessly on the ground (or on the table, or in the garbage).

I remember all the memories we made with her... Teaching her how to do tricks. That dog would do nearly anything for a treat. Watching her swim in the river, and how she would jump in, float down a bit and then swim back and repeat the whole process. How she LOVED trips to the cabin and Escalante, where she would bound over the hills, tongue hanging out with a look of pure dog joy. The time she jumped out the window on the way home from Escalante and I was sure she was a goner. How she made it through with just some road rash we will never know. Perhaps some dogs have 9 lives too.

I will always love how gentle she was with my boys. Even when they didn't show her the same courtesy. She had a patience most dogs do not not possess. She was tugged on, wrestled, hugged, laid on, and loved by all of them. Especially Chase. Those 2 were best buddies. I will miss seeing them snuggle.
And so my sweet Mya dog, We will miss you. You will forever be our furbaby. We love you sweet doggo.

What We Did Yesterday...

Yesterday we got to go get more X-rays... This time of Riser. As he was cleaning up some toys, he jumped up and began screaming that he was choking. He seemed to be breathing as he jumped about, so I kind of watched to see if he could clear out whatever was in there, but when it seemed to not be working, we proceeded to the Heimlich. That produced an enormous belch, and the declaration that he had swallowed it... Then he started screaming that he had swallowed it... "What?!?!" What did you swallow?" I said. "A piece of my drum set!" he cried. We took a minute to go over exactly which piece of the drum set it was (a little metal cap that keeps the mallet for the foot drum in place), and then I began wondering what I do now... He's not choking, but where is that thing? Is it in a lung? trapped somewhere further down his throat? What will a piece of metal do in a 5 year old tummy? DO I just let it be? After consulting google and various family members, I decide to call his Dr, who says bring him right in. Perfect, except Karl had the car that day... He never takes the car... What are the chances? So, Karl comes home, we take him to the meeting he was supposed to be going to and head out for our X-rays. Thankfully, they look good. The metal piece had already cleared his stomach, and was on it's way through his intestines. Not stuck anywhere that it could do any damage. Phew!
When we got home, I asked him why it was in his mouth in the 1st place... it seemed so unlike him. He was a finger sucker when he was a baby, but he gave that up when he was around 2, and really hasn't put things in his mouth since then. He told me that he had it while he was upstairs, and when I asked him to come down and clean up the toys (Little tiny ones that I was actually worried that CHASE was going to choke on), he didn't want to leave it upstairs where it might get lost, and he didn't want to lose it down stairs somewhere, so he thought he'd just keep it in his mouth until he got done. Perfect 5 year old logic. Makes complete sense now. We decided that next time we could maybe find a good spot on the counter for things like that.

The shoes...

 Kayson got some new shoes. He picked them himself. Normally, he can't be bothered to care about things as trivial as shoes, but for some reason, when he saw these shoes, they spoke to him. He could not take his eyes off of them, and once on his feet, he would not take them off. He wore them out of the store, and for the rest of the morning. I had to pry them off of his feet at nap time, and once he was up, they were back on his feet. I'm not really sure what makes these shoes so fabulous... Is it the plaid? Is it that he can slip them on with no assistance? Is that he choose them himself? Not sure... What I do know is that this boy LOVES his shoes... and that flashlight... had to pry that away from him too ;)

 

Look who's ALMOST in Kindergarten!!

Last Wednesday we went to the Elementary school for kindergarten registration.  We turned in our papers, and then waited in the cafeteria for the meeting to start. The principal talked for a few minutes and then asked all the kindergarteners to go on a little tour of the school. I pointed out which group Riser was in, and he quickly walked away to join them... My heart didn't quite know how to feel. I was so excited for him and the new adventures that he would soon be having. I was so proud that he was brave enough to just go on his own, and not need me to walk him over, but... he didn't need me to walk him over. I have to admit that it broke my heart a little to know that he IS big enough to not need me to help him or to be with him all the time. Crazy mixed emotions!!! I was proud that I was able to hold it all in and be excited for him the whole day. It didn't get the better of me til I was telling Karl about it later that night. Anyway, even with all that... Riser, I am proud of you, and can't wait for all the great adventures you'll have in Kindergarten!!  I love you buddy!!

March Snow Storm

 Last week it snowed. It hasn't done that much this year, so the boys haven't had much of a chnace to get out and play in it. We decided to throw on our snow clothes and get out there.

 Riser found a great stick.

 Chase promptly plopped himself down...

 and began eating snow.

 Riser built some roads, and Kayson brushed off anything he could find.

We watched the diggers working on the canal.

 Chase ate more snow.

 Writing in the snow.

 More surfaces to be brushed off.

 Chase would not stop eating snow.

 And basically spent the entire time wallowing and eating.

 The older boys had a snow ball fight.

And the best part is, 45 minutes after we were done, it had all melted and we were back to Spring weather.

The Boys...

Since I can't seem to stay anywhere near caught up, I thought I'd just write down some stuff I don't want to forget... *Idea stolen from my Sister-in-law Rachel.

Riser:
*Loves to read. He reads anything he can get his hands on, and can listen to someone read to him for hours.
*Is dieing for Kindergarten to start. His mom is goes from dieing for it to start, to being sad that her baby is that old on an hourly basis.

*Still Loves all things Super Hero, Star Wars and Power Ranger.
*Tells me daily what he thinks we should all be for Halloween this year... It's something new every day.
*Builds incredible creations with his zoobs and trio blocks. He can build for hours.
*Is obsessed with the ipad, and can get further on most games than I can.

*Is best friends (most of the time) with his brothers.

*Loves to draw, color, paint, cut, glue, paste, and create.
*Loves music. Favorites include Mumford & Sons (The Cave, Winter Winds), Green Day (21 guns), Lady Gaga (Telephone, and Just Dance), and all Disney Music.
*Has started to play the piano, and is loving that.
*Loves being silly, and can make some crazy faces.

*Is my go to boy when I need a helper. He is an awesome cleaner, and takes his role as table wiper very seriously. 

Kayson:
*Has developed his own little personality, and keeps us laughing with all the crazy things he says.
     examples:
-After church one day, we were talking about what he learned about Jesus... he ran over to Karl and said "hey Dad!!! Jesus is my Buddy!!"
-While at the hockey game... "When are they going to fight again? I want to see them punch each other in the face!"
-While watching a fire truck drive by- "When I grow up, I'm going to be a firefighter... and I will build up my firetruck... and I will rush to the fires and emergencies, and I will rush in and save all the people and fight off the fires.
-While driving in the car one day, he was trying to ask me about something, but I had to tell him that I didn't understand what he was telling me... he looked at Karl and said, "Dad, what am I even saying?"
-While in Sharing Time, one of the teachers said stinks instead of sinks... Kayson yells "Stinks? My little brother poops in his diaper and stinks!!!"

* He has no fear of Darth Vador, but is completely terrified of Miss Viola Swamp (from Miss Nelson is Missing)

*Loves all things Star Wars, Super Hero, and Power Ranger.
*Loves babies. Especially his cousin Elyse. He can also do quite the imitation of her cry.
*Is my dance buddy. Anytime I turn on music, he comes running from where ever he is to bust a move.
*While he seems rough and tough, he is actually super tenderhearted. Any time he sees anyone sad, it makes him sad too, and it worries him for days (why was that little girl at the store so sad?).
*Can climb and jump off anything.

*Would rather be outside than inside... no matter the weather.

Chase:

*Recently broke his arm, while climbing out of his crib. I think he would have made it alright, if hadn't had 2 stuffed animals and a blanket in tow.
*Loves the movie Bolt and spends hours playing "Penny Bolt" By putting on a backpack and glasses and "riding" his invisible scooter around the house... or the one out in the garage if he can convince anyone to let him out there.
*Loves motorcycles and helicopters (which covers any vehicle in the air).
*Will not sit in a high chair, and greatly protests his car seat. He's not a baby.
*Still loves his bottle.

*Knows more superheros than any other toddler I've met.
*Believes that the plastic bag that we put over his cast at meal times gives him super powers. He cries when we take it off.
*Is still my most snugly child, and gives awesome hugs.
*Loves his Mya dog, and has a super sweet relationship with her. You can often find them snuggled up sharing a blanket, or playing Doggy Bolt together.

*Loves coming up with outfits. He's always bringing me some accessory that he needs to add to his outfit.

*Loves making a good mess. Pulling tissues out of the box, painting himself along with the table, pouring out water and splashing in it... glorious times.

I sure love these boys...

More Awesome Kid Quotes...

Cause I need to write these down so I don't forget them... and so I have more blackmail for later  on in life...

A few weeks ago, I ventured back to our favorite store, Walmart. I know, why do I go back there? We never make it out without incident... But that's neither here nor there. Suffice it to say, we went back. As we were going from aisle to aisle, things were going well, Riser and Kayson were both staying relatively close to me, Chase was content in the cart,and no one was begging for anything sugar coated. I was almost prepared to let my guard down. Then, we turned down a new aisle where a woman was shopping with her children. She was dressed in traditional middle eastern attire (think long black robe, long black head covering). She had her back to us looking at something on the shelf. Riser spots her, gasps a little too audibly (like when Everett hears them Sireens in Oh Brother Where Art Thou), turns to Kayson and yells "Kayson look!!! It's Darth Vador!!!" Just as she turns to put her item in her cart...Awesome I think to myself. Just Awesome. Immediately the blood drains from my face and I stammer out "I'm so sorry." She just kind of looked at me and walked on. The only thing I could think was, thank goodness she has 3 boys that look to be about the same ages as mine... She must know how they just say whatever pops into their head! From there, we had a long discussion about clothing and people and how people are just like us, no matter what kind of clothes they wear... Awesomeness... pure awesomeness.

Fast forward to earlier today. The boys and I take a trip to the library to pick out some books. We choose quite a few and make our way to the counter. As I begin checking out, a woman approaches the desk and begins a conversation (in a not so pleasant tone) with an employee about why she has been asked not to park her RV full of dogs, (some of which had exited the RV and were now roaming about out there, we saw them as we entered) in the library's parking lot. Not wanting to be a part of this, I pick up the pace. Kayson sat in the stroller observing the conversation as the woman got more and more irate. Finally, as her verbal assault continued, he could take no more. He leaned forward pointed right at her and said "You're a RAT!" (a common Kayson phrase when he's had it with someone) and then began shooting her with his invisible guns. The woman looks down and shoots him a nasty look, I shove the last of our books in the stroller, and we beat a hasty path to the door. Awesomeness... I love being a mom.

Too funny not to post...

1) Last week, while we were grocery shopping, Kayson needed to be changed. While in the restroom "freshening up", a man came over the PA and begins announcing some of the specials. Kayson gasps and says, "Mom, who was that!?!!?" I say "It was a worker telling us what's on sale." He eyes me suspiciously for a few seconds and then says "Noooooooo, how about Heavenly Father." Funny boy. Not quite the still small voice you're thinking of!

2) The following day Karl had gone to run and errand, and so I was getting the boys bathed and dressed for bed on my own. I was in the middle of dressing the 2 little guys, when Riser ran out of the room. I figured he was blowing his nose or going to the bathroom, so I just went on with what I was doing. Suddenly I hear him yelling in my room "Hey!!!  Hey Jakob!!" Now, it was really warm that day, so we had our windows open... wide open. I hurry to go pull him away from the window when I hear him yell "Hey Jakob look!! I have a penis!!" then I hear laughter. I run to the window to see Jakob (Riser's buddy next door), his mom, his dad, his high school aged brother and sister, and a friend staring up at my little nudist in the window. Thankfully they have a 4 year old as well!!  How embarrassing!! But, I guess I now have a little black mail for when he gets older!!

Incredible Fun

We had the chance to take a little trip to incredible pizza tonight. The boys L O V E that place.
We had a little dinner,
played a few games,

Rode a few rides,
.

And just had a great time together!