Thankful Thursday

1. We're on vacation!! - It is finally here and we made it and I am so happy! I was really starting to wonder if we would ever get a vacation.
2. The gospel of Jesus Christ - Sorry for getting really spiritual, but my grandpa passed away yesterday, he was 92 or 93 (I am pretty sure) and it was definitely his time to go, but it is still always a little sad when someone dies. I am so thankful I have the comfort of knowing that my grandpa is OK and that he can be with my grandma now and my uncles and other family. I know this life isn't the end and we all can be together again.
3. My kids go to bed - ...no matter where they are. I'm glad Ian and Hailey will go to bed without a fuss at my house, Jill's house, grandma's house, or wherever their bed may be. It makes life (and vacation) a lot easier.
4. I married my best friend - I'm so glad me and Adam love to be together.
5. Cute little smiling faces - I love Ian and Hailey's little smiling faces. It's hard to get up so early but it's a little easier when I get those little round grins to look at first thing in the morning.
6. We don't have any little babies on this trip - Ian was a little angel for the trip yesterday and Hailey was not too bad either. I had a really weird giant piercing pain in my head almost the whole trip so I'm glad I didn't have to deal too much with the kids. We only had to stop twice, it was fantastic!
7. Good music - We (especially Ian) love the soundtrack to the musical Wicked. Ian has almost all of the songs memorized and sings along to the words and the music. I love that soundtrack, I love good music and I am so glad Ian does too!
8. We're not sick on another vacation- Yay!

Well, that's it for today, we are having fun spending time with Adam and family. It is actually almost cold in Greenfield, it feels so good!!

Water Fun

Today I decided that we don't have much to do around here, so we went to WalMart and bought a sprinkler type mat thing and some other stuff to play with in the water. We can only have the sprinkler on for about 15 minutes at a time just because it wastes so much water, but the kids had fun and I think Hailey might get brave enough to go in the sprinkler eventually (maybe after 5 or more times).

This pic actually shows our backyard pretty well. Pretty small, huh.

It's an Elmo sprinkler mat.
Hailey stayed where it was safe from the sprinkler and dumped water all over the patio.

Thankful Thursday

1. Happy and healthy kids!! - Yay!!!!!!!!

(my kids have squinty eyes like their mommy)

2. Kid Cuisine - It costs way less than a Happy Meal but is just as much fun.

3. Google Reader - Thanks for introducing me to it, Koreena, it sure makes blog life easier!

4. Getting out of the house - You don't realize how much you take it for granted until you're stuck in the house for a week and a half.

5. Excedrin - I probably say this all the time, but I couldn't live without it, really.

6. A forgiving husband - I have been really tired and cranky lately and Adam loves me anyway and just tries to help.

7. Baby gates - I have gotten quite creative with my 3 baby gates and have found ways to use them to keep the house cooler, take a shower when both the kids are up, and do what they are meant to do: keep the kids safe.

8. Care Bears - Every little girl needs at least one. They're so cute and lovable!

9. Disposable diapers - Who isn't?

10. We are finally going on our vacation next week - Or at least I hope we are.

When will it ever end?!?!?!?

I feel like I will be stuck in this house with sick kids for the rest of my life!! So here's the story: Last Saturday Hailey started it all with a fever. She and Ian stayed home with Adam on Sunday. On Monday Hailey was quite lethargic and very sad. Tuesday Ian started showing symptoms and Hailey was cranky. Tuesday night Ian threw up and had a fever of 104.6. Wednesday Hailey seemed to be just fine but Ian had a soar throat and a fever. Thursday I took Ian to the doctor and found out he had "hand, foot, and mouth disease." Friday he still had a soar throat. And then we come to yesterday. Both of the kids seemed fine! They had energy, Ian didn't complain about a stomach ache or a soar throat. We thought we were in the clear, and were even planning on taking them to church today. But nooooooo. At 10pm last night, Ian threw up all over himself again. GRRRRRR. And now we're back to square one. Oh well, I don't need a life.

Thankful Thursday

I have been dealing with very sick kids all week so here is what I am thankful for:

1. We postponed our vacation - I would hate for the kids to be this sick on vacation (like our trip to Arizona).
2. My mom answered the phone - I have been calling my mom a lot this week because I'm a lonely needy mother of sick kids. Today I really needed to talk because I found out Ian is sicker than I thought and I am going to be stuck in the house with him for at least the rest of the week. Thanks for listening Mom!
3. Popsicles - When the kids woke up from their naps today they were both crying for about half an hour. I was talking to my mom (as mentioned in number 2) and she suggested popsicles. Why didn't I think of that?!? What a life saver! They both ate 5 popsicles and I got 30 minutes of peace and quiet. Thanks again mom!
4. My little pediatric book of answers - When we lived in Arizona Ian's pediatrician gave me a 20 page book that the doctor's office made up for all the families they treated. It covers all the common childhood illnesses and what to do and has a medication table for ages 6 weeks and up. I LOVE that little book, it has become quite valuable to our family. If I could afford it, I would make copies for everyone I know.
5. Ritz Crackers - That's pretty much all Hailey has eaten the last few days.
6. Library videos - Yesterday Ian was recovering from a high fever and throwing up the night before so we went to the library and checked out 7 videos. Nice.
7. Ian taking naps - Ian really fights naps now that he's almost 4 but since he's sick he has been taking naps, so we all got a nap yesterday and today. Thank goodness.
8. Jill - I talk to my sister Jill pretty much every day about everything. I'm so thankful I have her to talk to and (when our kids aren't sick) hang out with.
9. I'm getting out of the house tonight - Even though it's to go to a Young Women activity and go visiting teaching, I REALLY need to get out of this house!! (I haven't gone anywhere besides the store to get medicine and the library to get movies since Sunday)
10. Thankful Thursday - I know I always say it, but I really really am. I have had a really hard week and it was hard to think of things I was thankful for, but it always helps to count your blessings when you're having a hard time. So if you're reading this, try to think of what you're thankful for too.

Some Pictures

Ian Playing basketball at the Children's Museum

Hailey playing Ian's Thomas game.Hailey, A.J., and Ian in the pool. This is typical Ian...Hailey and Ian playing with water.
Hailey stacking blocks.

Hailey is a pretty silly girl.

Hailey's hair is growing in the back!

Thankful Thursday

I didn't get much sleep last night and woke up cranky so I guess it's good I have to count my blessings....

1. My digital camera - I can take as many pictures as I want and delete the bad ones. Yay!
2. Hailey has been sleeping in lately - If I give Ian a poptart and turn on Thomas I can stay in bed till Hailey gets up, which lately has been around 7:30 or 8. Thanks Hailey!
3. Laughter - It's so much more fun to laugh about things than get upset. For instance, the other day we were at my friend Wendy's house and Wendy and I were in the kitchen talking and the kids were playing. After a while we heard lots of laughing and loud talking and then water running. Wendy and I went down the hall and found the kids "scrubbing" the bathtub. Ian and his little friend A.J. had both stripped down to their underwear and socks (Ian's underwear was on backwards) and Hailey and A.J.'s sister, Alexis, were pretty wet too. It was hilarious.
4. Children's Museum Membership - I'm glad I can go any time I want for free.
5. Tylenol, Excedrin, Motrin, etc. - I couldn't live without over the counter medicine.
6. Getting bills paid - Last week we paid off a couple debts we have had for a while and it felt really good.

Well, that's all I've got for today. I'm also thankful for Thankful Thursday, but I always say that.