Gracie & her Grandparents

We got to visit with Grandma & Grandpa while we were in Mesa. They loved spending time with the kids and getting to hold little Gracie. She was the perfect baby the whole day and smiled and cooed for them on command.

Jackson turns 9!!!

I can't believe my little boy is 9! We decided not to have a party this year. He just wanted to go to Mesa and go to Peter Piper Pizza with our family and his aunts & uncles. I told him he could bring one friend. He was hoping for Justice but Justice was unable to go so he was just as excited to bring one of his favorite cousins, Rhonni. They get along so well and have a good time together. They were so excited playing games at Peter Piper because they hit the jackpot several times and ended up with just over 1000 tickets. They bought blow up bats, whoopie cushions & candy with all their tickets.

We took him shopping for winter clothes and he used some of his money to buy some new brown DC shoes. Jackson's, Uncle Dana also bought him an Airsoft Machine Gun. I'm not thrilled but since his dad let him buy a BB gun last month I've decided I've got to let it go. With three boys, guns are going to be part of my life forever. He's very responsible with them and only shoots at the targets and always wears goggles so I can't complain too much. He always follows all the rules we set for him.

I love this boy. He is such a joy. He has always had the desire to do what is right and to make good choices. He wants nothing but to please you and he gets upset if he falls short of the mark. He excells at most things that he does. He's always been a straight A student. This year has been the first year that has posed a little trouble for him. He's struggling with his comprehension & fluency in reading so we're working closely with him on that but other than that he's doing great. I'm so grateful he is a part of our family. He is the best big brother and is such a big helper. I love you, Jackson!

I think his brothers were just as excited as he was.


Cashing in their 1000 tickets!

Dinosaur Days

Once a year the Safford Library puts on Dinosaur Days. They have fun little dino games, stories, puzzles and you get to decorate a dinosaur cookie and eat it. Last year we happened upon it by accident but this year we planned it and went with Aunt Penny and Benjamin and they brought along Missy's twins, Trevor and Travis because she was babysitting them. The boys all loved it and had a good time. I love fun, free activities like these that keep our kids busy.

A Fun Food Tag

While surfing around on some of my favorite foodie blogs tonight searching out new recipes I found this fun tag. It's unlike one I've ever seen or done so I thought it would be fun. Some of these things I've never even heard of. If I knew what they were there might be a few more red items. *Becky, you might not want to do this one. I don't know that anything would be bolded except the Krispy Kreme doughnut and everything else would be red. ;o)

Here’s what I want you to do:
1) Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.
2) Bold all the items you’ve eaten.
3) Make red any items that you would never consider eating.

1. Venison
2. Nettle tea
3. Huevos rancheros
4. Steak tartare (I do enjoy a rare steak but tartare might be a bit much)
5. Crocodile
6. Black pudding
7. Cheese fondue
8. Carp
9. Borscht
10. Baba ghanoush
11. Calamari
12. Pho
13. PB&J sandwich
14. Aloo gobi
15. Hot dog from a street cart
16. Epoisses
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes
19. Steamed pork buns
20. Pistachio ice cream
21. Heirloom tomatoes
22. Fresh wild berries
23. Foie gras
24. Rice and beans
25. Brawn, or head cheese
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper
27. Dulce de leche
28. Oysters
29. Baklava
30. Bagna cauda
31. Wasabi peas
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl
33. Salted lassi
34. Sauerkraut
35. Root beer float
36. Blood pudding
37. Clotted cream tea
38. Jell-O
39. Gumbo
40. Oxtail
41. Curried goat
42. Whole insects
43. Phaal
44. Goat’s milk
45. Rocky Mountain Oysters
46. Fugu
47. Chicken tikka marsala
48. Eel
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut
50. Sea urchin
51. Prickly pear
52. Umeboshi
53. Brautwurst
54. Paneer
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal
56. Spaetzle
57. Dirty gin martini
58. Tripe
59. Poutine
60. Carob chips
61. S’mores
62. Sweetbreads
63. Kaolin
64. Currywurst
65. Grits
66. Frogs’ legs
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake
68. Haggis
69. Fried plantain
70. Chitterlings, or andouillette
71. Gazpacho
72. Caviar and blini
73. Louche absinthe
74. Gjetost, or brunost
75. Roadkill
76. Baijiu
77. Hostess Fruit Pie
78. Snail
79. Lapsang souchong
80. Bellini
81. Tom yum
82. Eggs Benedict
83. Lobster
84. Menudo
85. Kobe beef
86. Hare
87. Goulash
88. Flowers
89. Horse
90. Criollo chocolate
91. Spam
92. Soft shell crab
93. Rose harissa
94. Catfish
95. Mole poblano
96. Bagel and lox
97. Lobster Thermidor
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
100. Snake (tastes like chicken)

Asthma!

Can you believe ...

this boy ...

has asthma?

I can't. Out of all my kids he would be the worst one to get it. My on-the-go, always outside doing something active boy is the worst one to have been diagnosed with asthma. I have to say I was shocked with the diagnosis because he just had a cough but he kept getting a cough and after several rounds of antibiotics it kept coming back. After looking into it and talking to the doctor apparently this is how asthma presents at first is as a cough. So he's now on a daily inhaler of Flovent with an albuterol inhaler for flare ups. I'm just grateful we have insurance.