My Poor Baby!

I have never really thought much about this, but after 7 years and 3 boys, I have never taken them to the ER or Urgent Care for stitches or broken bones. That is not too bad of a record. Well now that has changed and I had to take Van in last night for stitches/staples. Here is the exciting story.

At about 4pm I noticed that Van's eyes were starting to get very goopy and after talking with Carrie about Jane I figured that he developed and ear infection and what she had. Well, since I am now a Den mother and Pinewood Derby was that night I was just going to take the boys with me since Walt wasn't going to be home in time. But now with Van being sick I decided not to go and in the morning I was going to take him in to get some antibiotics. Walt called to check in and said he would come home so I could go. As I was getting ready, Van was on a little stool playing with my light switch, the doorbell rang. It was the neighbor girl wanting to play. Walt is pulling in the driveway and I hear the stool bang on the floor and Van crying. I told Hannah she had to go and I went to comfort Van. I gave him a hug and then noticed the blood pouring from his head. I grab a paper towel and yelled for Walt to hurry up.

Luckily there is an Urgent Care just about a mile from our house so I had Walt drive us over. I don't like Urgent Cares because they take forever, but the key is to go in with a bleeding head wound on a child and you go right in. Just a little tip the next time you need to go in with Strep Throat or something like that. Just cut your head and you don't have to wait. Anyway, he needed 3 staples and so we did it right there. It is cruel, but I didn't like the fact that to get him sedated I had to take him to the ER, get an IV when staples would be quick and the pain would be over soon. They did numb the area well and Van was a trooper. They also checked his ears and eyes while we were there and got antibiotics for his infection.

He did have a rough night last night and just woke up. He does look a lot better and the swelling is gone. But the staples are a little creepy. Of course, Max and Ian think it is awsome. On the way to the UC, Walt mentioned how great it was that he had already shaved his head. Way to look for the silver lining honey! Here are some pictures to document this milestone.



We gave him a piece of chocolate, but I wanted you to see the ugly wound and the goopy eyes and running nose. This was definitely not his day. Doesn' your heart just ache for him?

The 4 Bald Men in My Life Whom I Love

This past weekend we took the boys to an air show at Luke Air Force Base here is Phoenix. This was mine and Walt's 2nd date and we try to go every time they have one. And it is something that the boys enjoy. But this year was a pretty bad experience. I don't know if you can blame in on the economy but it seemed like everyone that lived in the valley was there since it is a free event. It took us 2 hours of standing in line to even get in the gate. Now of all the events out there an air show shouldn't be that bad standing in line because you can still see the airplanes flying, but there wasn't that many. Plus it was 90 degrees. We had plenty of water and sunscreen and the boys did surprisingly well. I was just glad that they shortened the show from all day to half a day so we were out of there by 4pm. In my true fashion I forgot my camera so pictures will have to come later when I get them from Walt's brother Sam.

Everyone was so filthy and hot when we got home, Walt decided it was time for the summer haircuts. So out comes the clippers. I do think they are cute. Max's hair is so funky anyway that this is easier. I never know how to comb his hair without it sticking up in the back. Walt gave Ian more of a flat top but since the other 2 didn't have one, Ian wanting his shaved too. It also seems that Van didn't get a guard on his because it is sooooo short. His head is like velcro trying to get a shirt on. And with him being sick, I have started calling him Chemo. It is cute but also sad. And then we have Walt, who just doesn't have hair on top anymore.


Oh, and by the way, they love to have their heads rubbed. Max even washes his hair twice in the shower so it is nice and soft, so he tells me.

My Busy Weekend!

There has been quite a few things going on this weekend. Some significant and others not but it is fun to share all of them. It all began on Wednesday and is now ending Sunday night. The first thing that happened was I was released from my church calling as a teacher and asked to serve as a den mother in the cub scouts. This isn't too bad. I just have to get over my childhood hangups about this calling. I found out that I will be working with the 10 - 11 year olds so that will be fun.

Thursday I spent the day getting ready for the camping trip we would be going on. I wanted to clean my house before we left so I needed a new vacuum. Ours had finally died after about 9 years of use. Since we don't have much carpet we were debating whether to spend a lot on a good one or go cheap. I decided to go cheap and spent $60dollars and I love it. As others of you may know, having a vacuum that doesn't have a powerful suck, really sucks. This one was awesome. I hadn't vacuumed in a week but this is what the container looked like when I was done.

I know that it is weird to take a picture of this but I got a lot of satisfaction knowing my rugs and bedrooms were really clean. So that was exciting. I also needed to pack for camping. I thought we were prepared but I didn't account for the weather being so cold. We could have used a few more blankets. I also realized that we haven't gone camping with all 5 of us yet and no longer fit in our tent. We made some improvises having the boys sleep in the car. Here are a couple of pictures, but if you are interested in more details of the trip you can look at my sister's blog for more info. (Sarah Rowley) We are planning on going camping over Memorial Weekend, so we have a lot of things to get for that trip.







We needed to get back on Saturday afternoon for family festivities in honor of Walt's Grandpa's 90th birthday. Lots of family came down to celebrate this great milestone. We had a bar b que dinner that night and got to visit with Walt's cousins that I have never met and some that I don't see that often. It was fun. I think out of the 14 great grandchildren that they have 13 are boys. I am not sure on the number but I know there is only one girl so far. But there are 3 more on the way and 2 are girls, the other is unknown yet.

Sunday at 7pm was the real party with friends and family. There was great food and entertainment. The boys had a blast playing with all the other boy cousins and made some new friends.


Grandpa Max worked on submarines in CA for many many years starting in the 1940's. Aunt Susan made this cake for him. That is a seal in the lower left had corner.

They had all the great grand sons get up and sing Popcorn Popping. They enjoyed taking turns yelling the song in the microphone.

I had to get a picture of Max with his namesake. They are both alike. They are pests. Often when they come to visit I will have to tell Max to calm down. Grandpa will ask which Max, and I say both of you. He always gets the kids worked up.




These are pictures of Walt's cousins Paul and Katie. Paul is a huge hit with the kids. He is so good with them. As you can see they wouldn't leave him alone. He once looked at me after a couple of hours of this with pleading eyes for help. I just smiled and told him he brought it on himself. He nodded and said I guess you are right. This picture of Katie is what happened to her as she tried to be a good sister and take some of the heat off of Paul. Better them then me.

It was a fun weekend but exhausting. And now I am gearing up for this week being Spring Break. I have a couple of days planned but I just hope that I will survive. The weather is going to be really nice. Maybe it is time to get the suits out and the slip n slide.

Being a Special Someone!

Both Max and Ian had big weeks last week. Max lost his first top front tooth.


This is his third tooth lost but I think this one deserved to make the blog. He never really mentioned that it was loose until it was about to come out. Then I was thinking great, he is going to have one big tooth all alone in his mouth because who knows when the next one is going to be loose. But he informed me a couple of days ago that the other one is loose too. Thank goodness. That is such an awkward time anyway and I didn't want it to be worse.

As for Ian, he is a special boy and it is nice to be acknowledged. In his Kindergarten class, his teacher has set aside one week for each student to share their specialness. Last week was Ian's turn. They get to bring in pictures of their family and anything else they like. Then each classmate and teacher writes and draws a picture in a book why they like Ian. It is really cute. I was also planning on bringing a treat into class of Friday but Ian was sick. I love Ian's teacher. Max had her last year as well and you can tell she loves the kids so much. I wish Van was old enough to be in her class. I just hope she is around in 3 years.

I'm a Material Girl!

I never thought that material possessions would make me happy, but I was wrong. I can't express the joy that I have every time I see or sit on my new couch. I am not embarrassed to have people come over and sit on my couch. My last one was so worn out that I couldn't wash the cushions anymore and it was disgusting. I suspected that it was the cause of a cold that wouldn't leave our house for some time. We don't allow the kids to eat on it but with Van it is hard to prevent that. But no problem I can just wipe up any mess he makes. Please forgive the messy kitchen, I am going to clean that up right after I am done posting this. Or maybe I will get Walt to do it.



As for the table, this was more of an impulse buy but there is extreme joy in seeing and eating at that as well. My parents bought Walt and I a small table that seats 4 when we got married. That was almost 9 years ago and 3 children. We haven't been able to eat as a family at the table for some time and the chairs are broken. The only drawback to this table is the cushions are white. So I won't let anyone take the plastic off yet till I decide what to do. I have wanted a new table for a long time as well and my dreams came true this Valentine's Day. Now I just need my husband home for dinner time and we can sit as a family. Also, old habits are hard to break. I still find myself sitting in front of the TV eating while the kids are at the table. Shame on me!

25 Random Things About Me

I have read so many of yours and I am in awe that you can think of 25 things. I will give it a shot. I may still ideas from some of yours but oh well.


1. Shopping for cards makes me have to pee. It never fails. I will even go to the bathroom before, knowing I need a card. But it never works. So I usually just walk away without buying one.

2. I hate eating. If I could live my life without food I would be happy.

3. Another food one. I don't like refridgerators. I open them knowing that there is probably rotten food in there and I can't take it. Walt cleans out the fridge for me.

4. I am in a loving avocado phase right now. If we eat out, I will look for anything that has avocadoes and I will order that.

5. I hate folding clothes. But since I only have 2 laundry baskets and I hate piles of clean clothes all over my house even more. I fold.

6. I love reading. All kinds of books. I especially love series books.

7. I have never really cared for my husbands name. It just seemed to old for him. He knows this. But for some reason I just found out a little while ago that Walter is/was his great-grandfather's name. How did I not know this? I thought he was named after a friend of the family. Now I feel really bad that I gave him a hard time.

8. I am the extreme opposite of a pack rat. I through everything out. I hate having clutter all over the place. I have 1 small bin of my childhood memories, Walt has about 4 big bins. This might account for my lack of memory about my childhood.

9. I am a little OCD about money. I have to balance my checkbook everyday. It has to match right down to the penny or I freak out until it is solved.

10. I have a hairy face that I don't like. Luckily it is blonde but my mean sister used to call me LeaAnnderthal. It makes me laugh now. In fact I am chuckleing now.

11. I am an idiot when it comes to electronics. I tell Walt to read the manuals and tell me how to use whatever it is. Maybe I am not such an idiot but just lazy. Electronics are suppose to make your life easier, but why do they have to be so complicated to learn to use?

12. When I know I need to have a possible confrontation with someone I play the conversation in my head first with possible scenerios. Which usually makes me more nervous because they never go well in my head.

13. I am firmly against exercising now. I have spent years and years doing it and now I am sick and tired. I do go walking with a few girls every morning but that is it. We don't really walk that fast but I love the conversation.

14. I don't really like Halloween. Dressing up in costumes is not my thing. And I don't like having that much candy in my house. If the kids know it is there that is all they want. And I will admit, it is what I want too.

15. I will kill any plant that is left in my care. I don't know what it is that I do or don't do but they always die. It is sad because I would love some real plants in my house. Fake plants are not that bad but I don't want a whole house full of them.

16. I will never own a dog or a cat. Nothing against them I just don't want them.

17. I, like Daniell, don't like shopping. Get in get out. I especially don't like Ross or thrift stores. So much stuff and unorganized. Gives me a headache.

18. I really don't know if my name is spelled with a space between the 2 As or not. I don't even know if it matters.

19. I love sleeping. I just wish I could get more.

20. I am in pain pretty much constantly. My back hurts all the time.

21. I would love to travel the world with my sisters. Nothing against the hubby but I love hanging with my sisters.

22. One of my eyebrows is higher than the other. I apparently have one facial expression that I use a lot and caused this problem.

24. My feet are shrinking. I used to me a 7 1/2. Now I am a 6 1/2. I need new shoes for church. None of my dress shoes fit anymore.

25. I use to be against blogs and thought they were ridiculous. I was wrong and love reading about all of you and your lives.

I am like fine wine!

I have definitely gotten better with age. Other than being a little fatter and more aches and pains, but I think I have definitely gotten prettier and wiser. I look back as to what I was like as a teenager and wish I new then what I know now. I was a pain in the neck. I was negative about everything and cared about the stupidest things and didn't care about the things that mattered. I am a little more emotional than when I was younger, but a husband and kids do that to you. I am definitely happier all around. I am grateful for my kids and a husband that loves me and compliments me often. (A girl needs that) I have the gospel in my life which I don't think I could live without and 3 healthy boys that try my patience, but love dearly. I have a great extended family and friends that keep me sane. What more can a girl ask for? Oh yeah, I want a boob lift and a tummy tuck. Anyway thanks for all your birthday wishes so far and I love you all.

I actually did find some pictures of me as a youngster. You may notice that there are none of me as a teenager. That is because I had a very long ugly phase that ended about 5 years ago and started at about age 8. Enjoy

I was a cute baby.

Me with Grandpa and Grandma Perrins. I can't believe Grandpa is holding me.

My kindergarten picture. Again cute, but I wasn't happy about wearing a dress.

Graduating from Washington State. Yeah!