Happy Fourth of July!

Whew!  What a weekend! 

It all started with a great campout with our ward (church) on Friday night.  Taryn, Avery and I went home to sleep, but Braden and Keara stayed overnight.  I think Keara loved it!  T, A, and I went back in the morning for potato launching, rocket launching, and a little more fun before heading home for some much needed naps.

After naps, we headed out for some festivities.  We first put our blanket down for the fireworks and then stopped by Subway to get a sandwich for dinner.  The line was VERY long and with three (really four) VERY tired girls in the car, it was all I could do to keep them entertained for the eternity that Braden was in the store.  So first, we changed into swimsuits and got rebuckled in.  Then I had them try to lick their elbows.  Definite entertainment there...

Avery wondered what in the world was wrong with her mom and sisters...

And then Keara delighted us with silly faces.

Finally, daddy came back to the car and we headed to the lake for swimming.  I love this particular lake and beach.  The water is always comfortable and the girls LOVE it. 

We stayed until about 8 or so and then headed to the other lake for the fireworks (hey, in a land of 10,000 lakes, everything is bound to take place at a lake).  We got a great little spot right across from where they were shooting them off so we got plenty of heart-stopping action.  It was really fun!  Shaun and Susan and co. joined us for the pyrotechnics, and even brought a family tradition: oreos.  We all love spending time with them!

Taryn is a ham...And don't mind the red in the middle of our family picture.  I think someone's finger was over the flash...

Six Fireworks Shows and a Miracle

Before we get to other things, I figure some of you would rather hear about this. 

This fourth of July, I was priviledged to see not one, not two, but SIX fireworks displays.  Yes, I love fireworks, but that is NOT why I got to see so many this year.

On Thursday, our Avery Goose woke up with a bit of a fever.  Nothing to worry about, so we went to Keara's park class on our bike/trailer.  About 30 minutes into it, Avery crawled over to me, and crashed in my arms.  Not normal, but sweet.  So I held her for the next 45 minutes until it was time to go home.  She was starting to feel really warm now, but I woke her up and leaded the girls in the trailer.  Within seconds, she was asleep again in Keara's arms.  When we got home, I laid her in her crib where she slept for the next hour and a half until I woke her up.  She was boiling at that point, so I gave her ibuprofen.  She took another nap a while later, and woke up feeling and acting much better.

We had been invited to our neighbors for a play date, so we headed over around 4:30.  After being there for about a half hour or so, Avery again crawled to me and crashed in my arms.  She was feeling warm again, so we took her temperature.  101.5.  No big deal, but something to keep an eye on. 

But then she started shaking with the shivers so badly.  So I called a pediatrician just to see if there was anything I should be concerned about, as well as to initiate contact with a doctor since our insurance kicked in THAT DAY and we hadn't ever been to a doctor.  I got off the phone and her temp spiked to 103.5.  I took the girls home and debated about going in to see a doctor.  I generally don't worry about temperatures, but she was so lethargic and couldn't even lift a hand. 

I decided to NOT go in, but rather gave her more ibuprofen and a luke warm bath which greatly helped.  She made it thru the next couple hours, but in the middle of the night, she woke up vomiting and dry heaving.  I've never had to hold a 10 month old over the toilet to throw up.  She was hot and miserable again.  So I gave her more medicine and put her back to bed.

The next day, she followed the same pattern.  Her  temperature would go up to 103.5 until we gave her the medicine, where it would drop to 101 until the meds wore off.  We went thru that roller coaster thru Friday, then Saturday, and finally on Sunday, when it had been over 72 hours of this, I called our old pediatrician to get some free advice.  They recommended taking her to an urgent care because it sounded like it could be a urinary tract infection.  So I did.

They had to get a urine sample which, from a 10-month old, means either a bag or a catheder.  They tried to cath her but had a hard time so they recommended we go to the ER at the children's hospital where they would have better luck.  Her white blood count was high so they knew she was battling a major infection, but couldn't verify it without the urine sample.

Off we went to the ER.  Avery did amazing well for being so tired and it being so late for the third night in a row.  They were able to cath her and found that she does indeed have a UTI.  So they gave her a shot of antibiotics and we were finally able to go home.  She is doing much better, though still isn't herself yet.

I was so glad that we were discharged just after 10pm because all fireworks started a little after 10.  So as I drove home, I had fireworks to the east, south, and west of me until I got on the highway, where I then had them to the west and northwest.  It was SO fun!!  People were stopped in the onramps to watch the display or pulled over on the side of the highway.  Everyone was driving 30 miles an hour, watching the sky.  I kept my windows down so I could hear the booms.

We still haven't gotten Avery's antibiotic because our insurance doesn't cover the one the ER prescribed, but we're about to head out to a doctor's appointment to get a new prescription.  Thru this all, I'm just amazed that we haven't had insurance since March.  We were finally approved, but it wouldn't start until the first day of the month after our first premium payment was received.  We found out about our approval on the 27th of June so we paid our premium on the 28th and coverage started on the 1st.  The first was Thursday...the day Avery woke up sick.  I am so grateful for a Father in Heaven who is mindful of our needs!!!  Miracle still happen!

It's Pumpkin Season

Our whole house is excited about pumpkins right now.  I'm excited because the little pumpkin plants are still alive.  Keara's excited because, frankly, what isn't exciting about pumpkins?!  We talk about them a lot and look for them in the stores or in books or whatever.

So today Keara decided to draw a pumpkin.  If you've ever read "Franklin's Pumpkin" you'll know that Franklin (the turtle) wants to win a blue ribbon in the fall fair.  His friends are baking pies, so he find a REALLY big pumpkin in his garden and decides to make a pie from it.  But the best pumpkin pie pumpkins are really small.  So he changes his plan to win the ribbon for the biggest pumpkin.  But this year, the ribbon is for the biggest zucchini.  So he gives up.

His little sister wants to win a blue ribbon for her princess costume, but everyone ends up being dressed up as a princess, so she comes home crying.  Then Franklin has an idea.  He carves out his pumpkin, turns it into a carriage, and he pulls her sister to the fair in his pumpkin.  That is what inspired Keara's series of drawings today.  The first is Franklin's sister in the pumpkin.  The other two are just other people in a pumpkin.  Her drawing changes all the time, and I love seeing it evolve.

Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary, How Does Your Garden Grow?

I am so excited to say that our garden has actually produced something!  I have this awesome friend in Utah who seems to be the master of the garden and produces tons of beautiful things.  I am learning the art and have yet to have a bumper crop.  This year, as I'm sure I've posted before, we have planted tomatoes, basil, parsley, lettuce, carrots, red onion, yellow onion, bell peppers, peas, beans, raspberries, zucchini, and sweet pumpkin.  I think that's it.  So far, the yellow onions failed to sprout.  The red onions only became green onions, which we never use.  Half the carrots got eaten by ants and the others are probably too crowded to become anything.  The parsley is growing great, but remind me WHY did I plant parsley?  I never use it.  I wish I had planted oregano.  The basil looks a lot like these weeds I'm constantly pulling so I think I pulled most of it.  The raspberries seem quite stunted in their growth.  The peas have been abused by the rains and winds and look quite pathetic, though we do have one flower!  The pumpkins just sprouted a week ago but look good!  The zucchini also just sprouted and then two got eaten by some creature.  I put a fence around it today.  The 20 tomato plants are still small.  Only three have grown to about 18 inches.  The rest are about 12 inches.  I dont' think we'll be harvesting those any time soon.  The beans are growing, and the peppers are going to take a LONG time. 

BUT, the lettuce (though nothing to look at) is pick-able!  And good!  We've been using it in salads and are quite enjoying it!  I love being able to go out and pick a few leaves.  I am so amazed at how much better it is than store bought.  I mean, duh.  Of course it would be better.  But the difference is quite astonishing to me.  Very yummy.

We'll see if anything else can pull thru!  I'm sure hoping to be able to can the pumpkins this year.  I think that is my #1 hope for the garden.  If that happens (and is good), I'll consider it a relative success.

Fun Books!

We've been getting tons of books from the library lately.  I really appreciate your input on your favorite books.  If you haven't shared yours, please do! 

A few that we've gotten lately have been a lot of fun and I wanted to share them with you.

We got Curious George Rides a Bike.  I love Curious George, though I've realized that each book is the exact same, just with George getting into trouble a different way.  Have you noticed that the man with the yellow hat is kinda slow?  He obviously has never learned to NOT leave George alone! 

Anyway, this book shows George turning a whole bag of newspapers into boats.  And it gives step by step instructions on how to do so.  Today we made a few paper boats!  So fun!!

Another that we got was Frog and Toad are Friends (I think).  It has 5 stories in it.  One of them is about some cookies that the two friends just can't stop eating.  I loved it because it reminded me of ME!  So here they are, eating cookies that Toad made and finally one says to the other "We need to stop eating cookies or we will make ourselves sick!"  The other suggests they have just ONE more cookie.  So they do.  But then, one friend suggests that they have one VERY LAST cookie.  So they do.  Then they just can't help it, so they resolve to find will power by putting the cookies in a box and closing it.  "But we can open the box and get the cookies."  That is true, so they tie a string on it.  "But we can cut the string and open the box and get the cookies."  That is true, so they put it up on the shelf using a ladder.  "But we can climb up the ladder, get down the box, cut the string, open the box, and get the cookies."  That is true.  So Frog takes the box outside, calls the birds, and they come and gobble up the cookies.  Toad is not too pleased with that the cookies are gone.  So he tells Frog "You can keep the will power.  I'm going home to bake a cake."  I loved it!  I do that ALL the time!  Give away the cookies so I can stop eating them, but then turn around and make another dessert or treat.  I thought it was funny.

Another that we got was called "Jim Copp, Will You Tell Me a Story".  I guess I should say here that all three of these were both in book and CD form.  This one was recorded 50 years ago by Jim Copp.  He does all his own sound effects and does all the voices.  It started out on reels, then records, then tapes, and now CD.  It is a riot!  There are three stories "Kate Higgins", "The Gorilla", and "Martha Matilda".  The book itself is funny (two are poems and the other is a short story), but the CD makes it great.  We have listened to it about 20 times today and I still love it. 

Some others that we got from the library that I need to add to the list:

*Amelia Bedilia (though the girls still don't get WHY they are funny)

*Angelina books

*Arthur books

Did I already have those on my list?  I can't remember.

I Wonder if I'm Growing...

My baby is growing up.  TOO fast.  She is so sweet and so incredible and we are all in love with her.  But we need to figure out a way to slow down how fast she is becoming a big girl. 

First, she's crawling.  She started scooting backwards about a month ago.  She didn't like getting stuck in corners and under couches.

So a little after that, she started trying to figure out a new way to get around.  But that wasn't too effective either.

Then she mastered the army crawl, and finally, about two weeks ago, she mastered regular crawling and can now actually look like a normal child.

Soon after, she started pulling herself up and standing.  This has opened up a whole new world to her.

And now we're trying to break her of this habit:

Do not be fooled.  That is not just a sleep sack.  Notice how the arms are tied?  Under this sleep sack, Avery is wrapped as tight as can be in a blanket.  Then, we put her in this sleep sack, zip it up, and tie the arms.  She refused to sleep without it, until...

...more sleep training.  Now, my baby's sleeping free!

And why not a few more pictures of the cute baby?

One day, Avery wasn't feeling well.  So she just plopped herself down on the couch (with Keara's help) and laid there without moving for a good 10 minutes.

We found this adorable mini rocking chair at Goodwill for $2.  I couldn't pass that up.  We found some fabric on clearance that I'm going to use to reupholster the back and seat to make this beauty like new.  For now, the girls love sitting in it and Keara thinks it is great to feed Avery in it.  This was Avery's first time with a bottle in about 6 months.

I did have a weird realization that Avery has had about 4 bottles in her life.  My other girls were much more versed on bottle feeding, which means we went out on more dates.  So either we're going out less, taking Avery more, or not feeding her as much.  I don't know which.

Memorial Day...Have I already posted about this!?!

My mom, dad, sister and family came up for Memorial Day.  It was SO fun!  We went to a splash pad for all the kids to enjoy (free and just near our home!) on Friday,

then had fun shooting air rockets and playing kickball at a park on Monday, and went to a GREAT outdoor park on Saturday.  I love that I got three pictures of my mom with my girls.  I LOVE how much fun she has with them!  And they love her too!

It was so great to have them.  AND, since I didn't get enough time with my sister, she's coming again TODAY!!  Hooray. 

These Things are Fun, and Fun is Good

We've been having so much fun lately.  I can't tell you how glad I am to be able to say that.  Life has been transformed and it is glorious.  We've been going on so many fun adventures together and enjoying the beautiful sunshine.  Between Monday and Tuesday of this week, we went to a magic show at the library, the splash park, and the beach TWICE.  SO FUN!  The girls just run right into the water and have huge smiles on their faces the whole time.  I can't wait to go back.  And next time, I'll take the camera.

We also put up this tent in the girls' room when Braden went on the Fathers and Sons' campout.  They thought that was pretty cool.

And then the other day, we made these goofy glasses made from egg cartons, as seen in the Parent's Magazine. 

We've also discovered the joys of perler beads again (again for me, first time for the girls) and I seriously need to invest in more.  More of those and also of the pony beads.  The girls love them!

A Few Things I've Made

I've been having a blast making things lately.  I haven't taken a picture of most of them, but here are a few things. 

I made this shirt for me

I made this shirt for Avery

I made this dress for Taryn and Keara

I made this dress for Avery plus matching ones for Taryn (in purple) and Keara (in pink) but I never took a picture.

Best News!!

Taryn is potty trained!!!  YEAH TARYN!!!

Whew! That was a long road.  Not as long as most people's but we started in January and here it is June.  Yeah, we took breaks in between here and there, but I can't tell you how glad I am to be done.  She hasn't had an accident in over a week and is also not wetting the bed, as of two days ago.  She ROCKS!!  Or, as she says, "I AM AWESOME!"  Yes, she is.

(I hope I don't jinx us by posting this...)

Happy Father's Day

Why is it that on Mother's Day, dad's try to do all mom's work, by doing the chores, making dinner, cleaning up, taking care of the kids, but on Father's Day, we try to pack in as much family time as possible?  It's Father's Day?  How much can we do together as a family!?!  I guess its because we never get enough of daddy, but mommy has always had enough!

I am so grateful for Braden being the dad that he is.  On his birthday, I write about the person he is.  On our anniversary, I write about the husband he is.  And on Father's Day, it's about the kind of dad he is.  He is awesome.  He is so good about getting down on the ground and playing with the girls, reading them books, doing puzzles, playing games, being the jungle gym, being an elephant, running errands with them or working on a project with them...he usually tries to have at least one of them with him.

He is SO patient.  Where I fall short in patience, he makes up the difference.  And he NEVER makes me feel bad about my bad days as a mom.  He is creative in his parenting, coming up with better ways to handle situations.

He is the one to be trampsing all over the playground equipment with the girls and coming up with games to play.  And he'll be insanely goofy, just to make the girls laugh.

He makes Keara's favorite breakfast as often as he can, and loves to surprise her with it, just because he knows she loves it.  Taryn drives him batty, but he also adores her to pieces.  And then there's the Goose.  Braden is in love with Avery and just can't get enough.

He doesn't like cleaning up messy underwear, but he's always there to help Taryn get to the potty as fast as can be.  And he loves finding things he can fix and tinker with around the house. 

I am so grateful that he completes me so well becuase it is what makes us 'work'. 

I love you, babe!

Love Tank

Have you ever read Gary Chapmans book about the Five Love Languages?  If not, you should.  It is great.

Here's the truth about the Moore Household:  Since moving here, we having figured life out yet, which has made life a little difficult. That, and the fact that it literally rained for a complete month until today.  The girls and I are all going a little crazy.  With no car and no friends around the corner, the girls are behaving worse and worse on a daily basis.  It's been a huge challenge for me to keep my wits about me when I want to run away, too.

On Monday night, I just about had a break down.  But then, a tender mercy happened.  I grabbed that love languages book and was thumbing thru it.  Braden came in and we started talking about the love languages of our girls.  And then the inspiration came.

If my girls' love tanks are empty, they are going to be begging for that love fill-up over and over, and more and more until their tank is full.  But because their way of begging is driving me insane, I'm less likely to be responding in the way they really need.  I was beginning to feel so overwhelmed because I felt like they had so many needs that I couldn't figure out where to start.  But then, it all fell into place.  If I focused on meeting that core need, speaking their love language, maybe the other behaviors would fall into place.

You know what?  It's working.  Keara's love language is Quality Time (as if anyone out there who has spent a minute with Keara didn't know that).  She is asking all day, every day for someone to play with her, be with her, talk to her, sit with her, tell her stories, play a game, etc.  And if you give a little time, she'll ask for more and more and more.  Why?  Because her tank is empty and she's just trying to fill it up.

Taryn's language is Physical Touch.  She is my "hold me", "rock me", "hug me" kid.  She loves to be read to, not only for the reading, but also for the holding.  She gives the best hugs all day long. 

So I've been trying to "speak their language" by doing more concentrated time with Keara and holding/hugging/rocking/kissing Taryn more.  And by having this new perspective, suddenly, their begging isn't quite so overwhelming.

More Books to Add to MY List

I thought of a couple more books that I love:

*The Monster at the End of This Book
*Go, Dog, Go!

More to come, I'm sure.

Life Put to Song

I wish you could know Taryn like I know Taryn.  She is just the sweetest thing. And one thing she LOVES is to sing.  I thought I took a video of her singing, but I think I just thought about doing it.  Her favorite movies are musicals because she can learn the songs and then go around singing all day long.  If her thumb isn't in her mouth, she's usually singing.  She gets lost in this little world of song and walks around (or runs around) with her head cocked to the side, very deep in thought as she sings and sings and sings.

On Sunday, she and Keara sang "I Know that My Savior Loves Me" in Relief Society.  Keara couldn't stop swishing from side to side and kept putting her necklace in her mouth, but Taryn just stood there, as serious as could be (besides every once and a while staring at the ceiling) and sang her little heart out.  It was adorable.

Most of her songs, however, are made up.  She just sings about whatever she is doing.  Songs like, "Put my foot in my shoe, my shoe, my shoe.  I like my pretty dress.  It is so pretty.  So pretty!" 

So the other day, after we had read in our scriptures about the Lamanites, Taryn took her little illustrated Book of Mormon in the car while we drove daddy to work.  On the way home, I hear her singing:

T: I am naughty, I am naughty, I am naughty, I am naughty, I am naughty, I am naughty…

M: Why are you naughty?
T: I’m teaching the Lamanites that they are naughty.
M: Oh. Okay.

Thankfully, she could distinguish between the Lamanites and herself when a few minutes later she started singing:

T: I am great. I am great. I am great. I am a great kid, I am a great kid…

You are a great kid, Taryn!

Love of Reading

My girls love to read.  And I LOVE that they love to read.  Whenever we go to the library, though, we grab books that we've never read before, bring them home, and find out that half of them are duds.  So I've been much more selective of my reading choices with them lately.  I know there are a ton of other books out there besides the Berenstain Bears, Curious George, Arthur, and Clifford.  That's where you come in.

What are you top 10 (or more) favorite children's books?

Here are mine, in no particular order:

*Click, Clack, Moo
*Pinkalicious (Purplicious doesn't even come close)
*The ABC book by Dr. Seuss
*The Tooth Book
*Moose's Loose Tooth
*Almost any Berenstain Bears Book
*Oink

Hmm...only seven off the top of my head.  See how much help I need?!

What are your favorites?

Deep Thoughts

How is it that a 2-year-old can never remember which shoe goes on which foot the right way...

...and yet they can manage to put them on the WRONG foot EVERY time?!

Deep thoughts...

It's a Match!

At Christmas, my sister introduced us to a game.  A marvelous game.  My new favorite game.  It's called Match-Ability and it's from the 80s or 90s.  It's out of print now, so you can only find it on ebay for between $50-$75.  Believe me, I've looked.

Yesterday, I was at Goodwill looking for something for Braden for Father's Day...tacky, I know...when WHAMO!  There in front of me was Match-Ability!!  I couldn't believe my eyes.  I tore it off the shelf like it was Christmas, opened it to find it was missing a few pieces and quite a few cards, but WHO CARES!!  It was $2.99...and I bought it. 

Happy Father's Day, honey.

It is Done.

Just over 4 years ago, we moved to Arizona.  In July, we signed on a home on Love Rd in Queen Creek.  On September 23rd 2006, we moved in.  Keara was just 6 months old. 

Flash forward...

On March 15th, 2010, we moved out.  Keara was 2 weeks from her 4th birthday.  Taryn was 2 and Avery was the 6 month old (well...almost 7 months). 

Flash forward...

On June 11th, 2010, our home officially sold as a short sale.  It is done.

Breathe in.  Breathe out.

Mirror, Mirror...

I've always been amazed by the need for people to identify who babies look like.  Now, if your child truly looks shockingly like your husband, yeah, I can understand the comments.  But I've never understood when EVERYONE, and I mean everyone, says that each of my children look like Braden.  How is that possible when a) my children don't look like each other, b) they are referring to the adult Braden, not him as a child, and c) I had a major part in this creation process?!

So, here's some evidence that my children do indeed look like me.  As well as the fact that Taryn does indeed look just like her daddy...when he was a child.  Be prepared to be shocked.

Here's me as a baby:

Here's my Avery Goose:

And no, it's not just bald part...

And here's Braden as a kid (none of our kids look like him as a baby):

And here's Taryn (it was next to impossible to find one of Taryn NOT smiling...she definitely doesn't get her constant smiles from her look-alike):

It's the eyes...and the head, and the hair, and the face, and the...

Notice, there are no comparisons with Keara.  That's because I think she's a perfect blend.  She takes after my family in her body and has my eyes (like Avery), but she has Braden's mouth and nose (like Taryn).

What do YOU think?