On our way...

to Key Largo! Wasting away in Margaritaville (as they say).

Ellen's home in Key Largo. Also the place that Chris and I went on our honeymoon a little over 14 years ago.

As soon as we pulled in the driveway, the kids put on their suits and got in the ocean.

Greyson and Lauklan having a blast!

Greyson was a little scared at first, but he warmed right up.

There were not enough kayaks for all the kids so they had to share, and that was hard at times. But, we still had fun.

It took us a little over 6 hours to get there and Aislinn had to pee every 2 minutes. Besides that, the trip was great! :)

Spring Break is here

Let the chaos increase like crazy.

We'll see if I live through this.

Keep checking to find out...

Field Day Round 2

Brennan and Kerstyn got to have field day today. Aislinn and I went to visit with them for a little while. We all had a nice time and the weather was just beautiful.

Tonight Brennan and Chris left to go camping tonight and won't arrive until late Saturday night. I am sure that they will have a great time doing their Boy Scout stuff.

Field day round 1

Lauklan had field day today. Brennan and Kerstyn have it tomorrow. I also had to work at the office this morning, so I went in there and left a little early so I could visit with Lauklan. I missed all of the field day events, but I did get to sit with him in his classroom and help him with his journal entry. We then headed to lunch and enjoyed lunch together.

Tomorrow, back to see the older two. I still can't believe that Brennan will be in middle school next year. Where did the time go?

Want to know why I haven't kept my blog too current?

Enough said?

Child number 6 is keeping my quite busy!

Released

I forgot to mention on my Easter blog that Chris was released from Elder's Quorum President yesterday. We were sad. It is always hard to be released from a calling, but this was especially difficult since Chris had developed many special relationships with the members of his quorum and loves them very much. Chris served as EQP for a little over 2 years.

Easter Sunday

This beautiful Easter morning was started off by my parents coming over to meet Ooh-Rah and then going to sacrament meeting with us. They drove 2 hours and 15 minutes one way so that they could hear Kerstyn sing a special musical number.

Kerstyn did GREAT! She got up there in front of the whole congregation and sang like a 'big girl'. I never heard her do as good of a job as she did in sacrament meeting. She had all of us crying. Papa started right from the beginning and Chris lost it in the second verse. I held it together until she was done but then lost it myself. She sang 'I wonder when he comes again'. Click on the title of the song and you can hear it from the church website.

I love the whole song, but the second verse is just beautiful:
I wonder when he comes again, will I be ready there? To look upon his loving face and join with him in prayer? Each day I'll try to do his will, and let my light so shine, that others seeing me may seek for greater light divine. Then when that blessed day is here, he'll love me and he'll say, "You've served me well, my little child; come unto my arms to stay!"

Now you see why we were all crying, right?

It was a treat for me this afternoon because lunch was provided by Chris, hot dogs and hamburgers. I know, it's not the traditional Easter meal, but the key was that I didn't have to make it! Good!

Later in the afternoon, Chris's dad and Kenney came by. We had a short, but nice visit with them and Alyssa.

11 year old day camp

Brennan and I attended 11 year old day camp today. We had a fun time and learned a lot of neat stuff like, how to read a map and follow the compass. We also learned several new knots, the uses and types of saws, some first aid and did skits.

I think that I had a s much fun as Brennan, however, I am sure that I came home more tired than he did!

A little quiz

I just had to take the opportunity today to quiz the children on Good Friday and Easter and the significance that it has with Christians. Since they had the day off from school, I just had to keep them hoppin'.

Whew! They passed. Maybe I AM doing something right.

I am glad, and feel blessed, to have the gospel in my life. What a blessing it is to know that I have a Heavenly Father and a personal savior, Jesus Christ. What a blessing it is to know the plan of salvation!

Now Lauklan

Well, I sure hope this doesn't mean that all of us are going to take our turn being sick, but this morning Lauklan woke up complaining of a headache and being hot. I took his temperature and it was 101.4. So, he took some Tylenol and stayed home from school.

He had to go to Chris' office with me and about half way through the morning he said, "Mom, why didn't you tell me that you were working today?". I told him that I did and then asked him if he would of rather gone to school. He replied that he would have rather gone to school then be at work all morning. I guess the Tylenol was making him feel better and it seemed that he had grand plans of playing games and watching television all day. Oops, I messed that up for him, didn't I?

Cute.

Sarah's Quilt

I finished reading Sarah's Quilt last week and I forgot to post about it. I found myself laughing out loud several times throughout the book. A great read that I really recommend. It a the sequel to These Is My Words which I really enjoyed. The next is Star Garden that I will begin in a few weeks after I get done with Between Husband and Wife which I bought at Time Out For Women.

Do you find yourself asking when I get the time to read? Well, it's either in the sauna at the gym or late at night when I'm half asleep.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Date night

Last night Chris and I met Steve and Janet at McCormick & Schmick's. It was very nice, the food and the company.

We met Steve and Janet in Tallahassee when they came up there to go to law school. Steve was a year behind Chris. Janet and I hit it off, and our kids did too. Back then, I had just had Lauklan and Janet just had Jackson and Sadie. (My how times change!)

We only live about an hour apart now, but have such a hard time getting together. Last night was a treat! We are planning our next visit for the Shipley Pool in May or June. I sure hope we don't go another 2 years before we see each other again. :(

Meet Oh-Rah!

Oh-Rah! is the latest addition to our family. He was born January 15, 2008, and came to live with us today. He is as sweet as he can be. As typical babies go, he eats, drinks, sleeps and goes to the bathroom.
Chris and I have definitely lost our minds!

My poor baby

Aislinn is still under the weather. After taking her to the doctor on Monday, I had to call back on Tuesday for antibiotics because her fever still had not gone away. I had a hard time getting the prescription filled because my usual pharmacy was out of it. So, I had to wait until Wednesday morning to get it filled and I immediately gave it to her.

Thursday, I went to work, but Aislinn was still under the weather. A little better, but not good. She was still getting up in the night, every night, and just a big fusser-pot. In the middle of Thursday night, Aislinn had a fever of 101.4 so I knew something still wasn't right. I was having to keep Tylenol or Motrin in her to keep the fever away.

First thing Friday morning, I called the pediatrician and they worked me in. Dr. Soto said that Aislinn now had an ear infection and her chest was still VERY congested. We were prescribed another antibiotic and I assumed that we were supposed to stop the first one and then start the new one, but no. Dr. Soto wanted me to continue the first one, start the second one and come back Monday morning. I could tell that she too, was worried.

Saturday morning, Aislinn was feeling a little better and I believe that she continues to improve. But, my goodness, TWO antibiotics at once, Albuterol and Singulair! I've never heard of such!

FCAT

Begins today for Brennan and Kerstyn. They test 3 days this week. Brennan tests 2 days next week and then they both test for 3 days the following week. I sure hope they pay attention.

Asthma?

Dr. Soto thinks Aislinn might have asthma. She couldn't find anything wrong with her except that Aislinn was wheezing very badly. So, we go to a specialist in two weeks. In the meanwhile, I have to try to get rid of the cough by giving her Albuterol and every night she has to take Singulair for the asthma and allergies. Poor thing...

Home sick

Yesterday morning when I called Chris to check in, he told me that Aislinn had thrown up in the night and was running a fever. It made me so sad. She didn't even have cold symptoms when I left. I told him what I thought he should do, and then hung up. I called him back about 1 minute later and said, "You have this under control, right? You'll be fine and everyone will be okay, right? " To which he answered, "We're fine honey, have a good time".

I love him.

We (Debbie Clayton and I) got home last night around 10:30. Aislinn was running a fever so she slept on the floor next to my side of the bed.

Chris got up and took the other children to church and Aislinn and I are resting at home. I think she is feeling better since she is a little interesed in eating. However, that fever keeps creeping up. I guess I'll be at Dr. Soto's office with her tomorrow.

Time Out For Women

Time Out For Women was WONDERFUL!

I loved it, every minute! It was so much fun! I also spent way too much money! I bought several books and a shelf. I am looking forward to using it and reading my books.

Kenney, Holly, Debbie and I acted like pre-teens - giggling and having fun.

Debbie can't believe that I don't weigh 400 pounds since all I talked about was eating Krispy Kreme doughnuts and Zaxby's. We seriously ate and sat the whole time we were gone. I ate 7 doughnuts from Krispy Kreme, 3 on Friday night and 4 Saturday afternoon. They were delicious! We had Zaxby's for dinner Friday night. I have my fixes from those 2 places now for a while.

I can't wait until next time, for Time Out For Women, that is.

On my way

I'm going to Tallahassee for Time Out For Women. I can't wait!

Crazy day!

Today is my day to work in the office. As you might remember, I also got my first speeding ticket a week ago today, so I was very careful to not speed, or at least, not speed too much.

I dropped the oldest 3 at school.
Stopped at 7-Eleven for my Diet Coke.
Went by the banks and made the firm's deposits.
Took Aislinn to Ben's house to play while I am working.
Went to Greyson's pre-school to drop him off. We were a few minutes early, so I turned off the car and just had the radio playing (it was just for a few minutes). The time came for Greyson to go in and I let him out, told him I love him and went to start the car.

Well.... it would only click! I couldn't, and still can't believe it! I had to get my car out of the little driveway so the other parents could drop off their kids and after a few more tries to start the car, and it NOT working, I got help from 2 of the teachers and we had to PUSH it out of the way. SO EMBARRASING! By the way, that van is quite heavy.

So, I call Chris at home, no answer.
I call Chris on his cell phone, no answer.
I call Chris at work, he's not there yet!
OF COURSE!

Well, I am stressing about now because I had my day all planned out, and this was NOT in the plan! So, I called Jose Lugo, our mechanic and he talked to me and thought it was my battery and told me he would come and help. Thank goodness! Chris arrived between talking to Brother Lugo and him getting there and took me to the office. Brother Lugo called later to say that he needed me to come drive my car to his shop so he could put in a new battery. I went there, drove the car, got the battery, 2 quarts of oil, and went on my way.

It was a totally crazy morning. However, I must admit that it was a blessing because I am going to Tallahassee in the morning and I would of hated to have that happen on our way up there with nobody around to help.

Happy Birthday to me

I had several great birthday wishes today. I am so thankful to all of you who called, e-mail or sent birthday messages. That was so sweet.

True to Mary Gronlund's tradition, she baked me a cheesecake. But, this year it is a turtle cheesecake and it is so rich and tasty! Thank you Mary.

Debbie Carter, Debbie Clayton and Cherylyn came over around 3:45 to wish me Happy Birthday and give me a sweet card telling me that we were going to have a girls night out to the movies. They really must love me because they are going to buy me popcorn and a diet coke too! Wa-hoo!

Chris came home early, right around 6 tonight and we ordered Pizza Hut. Not my first choice, but it was at least something that I did not have to make myself.

As far as birthdays go, since I still have to continue to have them, this one was pretty good even though I am 34!

One day shy of 34...

Looks like this...

I'm not too sure what I think about that! I sure thought that at 34 I would feel different. I'm not sure what I mean by different except for the fact that I thought I would 'have it all figured out'. I don't have it all figured out, and I still feel, at least inside, like I am a teenager.

Why can't I just age gracefully? I have gray hair, too many wrinkles and about 25 pounds that I don't want!

On the positive side. I have a great husband, who is also my best friend. I have 5 GREAT kids and parents and friends who care about me. So, as long as all of my faults aren't enough to run them off, I guess I'll just try to deal with it. :)

I must give thanks to the photographer, Lauklan Shipley, for doing a fine job! He has potential...

Primary activity

Today was our Eustis Ward Primary Activity. We had it at the Teets' farmhouse from 4 - 6. I counted after I got home and I think we had between 58 to 60 people in attendance! Can you believe that? I was so happy! We had every child there with their family that comes to primary on a regular basis. With that said, it was surely a success!

Maria planned a nice lesson on the week before Easter that the Bishop shared with the children. Then the children split up into Junior and Senior Primary and did games and planting seeds.

The children participating in the easter egg roll.

Planting their seeds.

Way to go Eustis Primary!