Sickness, Fun, and Projects

Can you guess who is sick at our house?

This poor girl. Whenever she gets sick, her eyes get super swollen, red, and watery. There is no hiding it. Fevers, coughing, and sore muscles. Hopefully it goes away soon!

I went in to check on Treyton the other night and this is what I found:
There is barely any room for him on the bed!

While Treyton was at school, Jayci and I were playing in the front room. In walks Griffey wearing this:
I just started laughing because he looked so cute!

Later that day, I was in the front room again with Griff. Jayci came out and said something but I wasn't really listening, so I just said, 'okay'. Well, TEN minutes later I went to find out what Trey was up to, only to walk into his room to find this:
Apparently Jayci had come out and told me that Treyton was stuck. He had been waiting there, crying, for over ten minutes for me to come help him!! Being the mean mom that I am, I just started busting up laughing. He was trying NOT to laugh through his tears, hence the weird face.

And these are a few of the things I have done lately: I have had to be a lot more creative and budget savvy than before...so I haven't done nearly as much or as great of things.
Jayci wanted tulle around her bed to make it like a princess.
She needed somewhere to put her bows since I left her other bow board in VA. I had the frame around already and the ribbon. I just painted it green to match her bedding and the ribbon went perfectly!
I decided to try my hand out at an elaborate bow. I wouldn't put this on Jayci just for every day, but maybe for a birthday or something special. It is gigantic, but I love it!
And lastly is the quilt I made for an online auction in a week or so for the Millers. I am in LOVE with it. Seriously. It broke my heart a little to mail it out, but it is for a GREAT cause and I couldn't have been happier to donate it.


I will post more about the auction as it comes closer. There should be some great stuff to bid on and it will all go to helping baby Seth and the Miller family. If you haven't read Jamie's story already, do it. You'll cry. I promise. Against all odds, Seth is such a little fighter and it will make you 100 times more grateful when your child has a runny nose or fever but is home safe with you.

Its a bird. Its a plane. No, its....

Treyton's Superman quilt! I really did get it finished before we left for Idaho, just like I had foolishly promised him. That is seriously the fastest quilt I have whipped out. Not that it is a complicated quilt, but with three little kids at home full time, it took some serious focus to get it done in three days. Plus, it helped that I decided not to stipple but instead do straight-line quilting. Saved time and thread. Bonus!

1st Day- Round 2

This afternoon was Jayci's turn! It was kind of nice to come home and have lots of time to get her ready. Although, she was SO tired by the time it came for school that I wondered if she would stay awake during reading time!

I sent both of my kids to school with a suck-up gift for their teacher. Yes, I am cheezy and I love it.
We went outside to do her photo shoot, but the sun was SO bright (that combined with the fact that she was so tired that she wanted to close them anyways) that we didn't get any good pictures. Sad.
This is Jayci trying to keep her eyes open.
Her backpack with all of her school supplies weighed basically as much as she did. It was pretty funny.
And yes, even though the school is LESS than a mile away, she managed to fall asleep.
Here she is in front. Doesn't she look so tiny?!
I wanted to get there with lots of time to get a good parking space this time, but unfortunately we had to then wait outside in the blistering heat. Good thing they look cute doing it.
Jayci with her friend from VA who moved out here two years before us, Owen Putnam. They got into the same afternoon session, but different teachers.
Jayci sitting on the rug in her classroom. She wanted to sit on a purple letter.
Then Griffin insisted on following suit. I kept trying to get him off to make room for the other kids, but he just kept going straight back over, plopping down, then turning to me and saying "cheese" so I'd take a picture. I really could have used my stroller.
Her teacher, Mrs. Kincannon, read a quick story and then the parents waved goodbye. I get to pick both she and Treyton up every day after school (along with the three Putnams). I can't wait to see if she stayed awake and made some new friends!

1st Day- Round 1

Treyton started first grade today! Wow. Weird. He was so excited to finally make some friends here in Oklahoma. And I was excited to have him doing projects and keeping busy somewhere other than my kitchen! But after dropping him off, I teared up a bit. Even though he is super sweet, he pesters his sister like crazy! Could it be because they have had no one else to play with for three months? Possibly. But I love him to death and I am going to miss the funny little things he makes and his endless creativity. Man, the tears are starting again just thinking about not having him at home for the majority of the day!

Alright, on to the good stuff. Treyton got to pick out his first day of school outfit, which he was very excited about. When I took him outside to take some pictures, he looked like this:
I finally convinced him that he would still look nice if we untucked his shirt.
I wanted to walk him in his first day, but I did not expect the mad house that was West Field!! I couldn't even find a space in their massive parking lot. I had to park across the main road a ways down. It wouldn't have been SO bad but our car is in the shop with my stroller in it. So I had to haul Griffey, make sure Trey and Jayci were staying close so they didn't get hit by the massive line of cars, and do it all while sweating like a pregnant pig. I'm sure I was a lovely sight.
Treyton in front of his new school!
They had all of the Pre-K-2nd graders meet in the gym under their classroom sign. Here is Treyton waiting in Mrs. Nowlin's class.
Then Griffey and Jayci wanted to do a little bleacher posing of their own.
After 30 minutes, they were finally ready to head to class.
We got to walk down with them and say goodbye in their room. Treyton was SO excited and nervous. I can't wait to pick him up this afternoon and see how it went! (and look: I was pleasantly surprised to see there actually WAS diversity in Edmond, OK. Wahoo!)
Jayci heads to pre-K this afternoon at the school, so there will be an update about her first day in a bit!

Praying

Everyone who has attended SVU or lived in Buena Vista, VA knows what a tight-knit community it is. My apartment neighbor, Jamie, and I spent many hours out on our porches, talking, letting our little boys play, and having baby girls a few months apart. Last year, Jamie and her husband, Andrew, added another precious addition to their family. Unfortunately, Seth has not been able to spend even one day at home. He basically has been a medical mystery to all involved. Recently, he was transferred back up to Chicago to undergo a bone marrow transplant, hoping that would solve a lot of the issues, since they couldn't really find anything that worked. His big six year old brother, Joseph, was his donor. It is quite an amazing story. He received the donation last Monday, but things are not looking great at the moment. He is having serious complications and the doctors aren't sure if he is going to pull through. Jamie and Andrew have been staying at the Ronald McDonald house with Joseph and Grace and decided today to send them home with grandparents back to Missouri so they could spend some time together with little Seth. Jamie has a blog http://millermm.blogspot.com/ that she keeps updated regularly, and which I check daily, about the ups and downs and Seth's progress. I honestly cry every time I read it because it is unimaginable to me. Jamie is really one of the sweetest people I have ever met. I was so lucky to have her as my neighbor for our last year in BV. Anyways, I know they started a fast last night and asked for prayers on Seth's (and their) behalf. I was just wanting to spread the word to anyone who might know the Millers from SVU, or those who don't, who would like to pray as well. I know they could use all of the support they could get. Make sure you go to their blog and check out their story, progress, and pictures of the Miller family.

Down at the Ranch

Nate gets three weeks of vacation this intern year. We decided to spend it escaping the stifling OK heat and head north to Idaho Falls to visit his parents at their ranch. Because of our new, ahem, financial situation, we decided to drive...in our honda civic...with five people...and our luggage...oh, and Nate's golf clubs! Wow. I don't know how we did it! About three hours into our drive, our cute little Jayci threw up all over the McDonald's playplace. Lovely. Luckily, nothing on her or her clothes. Then, she was at it again about an hour or two later in the car. Again, bullet dodged. She managed to fall asleep with a cup next to her mouth so when she woke up sick, there was no mess! She only threw up once more that day, at the hotel. She had the ice bucket nice and close, so no mess again. Griffey just stood by saying "Ew....YUCK" at her. She was laughing. Even with the vomit, the 20 hour car drive there was great! The kids were fantastic.

We were so excited to get to the Ranch, stretch, and see Nana and Papa!

Cuddling with Papa. Even though Treyton doesn't really like touching, our other two are great with affection. Nana made these cute prayer rugs with the kids. And boy, do my kids love crafts. They each got to decorate their own carpet to put next to their bed to kneel on at night. Guess what was the first thing they wanted to do when they got home?!

Griffey loved this play sink out on the back porch. He kept trying to drink the water, even when mommy told him it was yucky.Nate's little sister, Krisit, recently won the Regional Karaoke competition in Idaho! Wahoo. She then went down to Vegas to be on Karaoke Battle USA, which aired its first episode on Friday on ABC. So, it was fitting when she wanted to take us to the sight of her win and sing with us. The owners were so nice to open it up just for us. It was a blast! It was fun to see Kristi belt it out, the kids singing together, Nate's parents sing a beautiful duet, and the adults have fun.

Jayci and Kristi singing Baby together. Cutest thing. Nate and I were so surprised at how brave Jayci was and how much she wanted to keep getting up there.
Griffey just wanted to dance on stage the whole time.
Olivia, Treyton, and Makell singing "You've Got a Friend in Me." Treyton did NOT want to go up, but I made him. Nice, huh?
Nate sang Red Hot Chili Peppers and serenaded his littlest fan.

Griffey and his Papa making faces. The boy LOVES to give hugs. He just randomly calls out, "HUG" and opens his arms and then pats your back. He is adorable.
Aaron and Kris singing to a Josh Groban song. VERY musical family.
And everyone gathered round to hear the matriarch and patriarch sing a duet. It was beautiful.

Griffin had his first experience with animals this trip. He fell in love with Abby, the dog. He would take off for her kennel the second he got outside, yelling "Abbeh, abbeh." The kids thought it was so much fun.


He was so disappointed when she wasn't there.

Nate's parents recently had a huge area cleared out for parking cars, turning around tractors, boats, and building a little shop. Since it was only in the cleared out stage, Treyton had SO much fun climbing, exploring, finding worms, and building them houses, complete with different bedrooms, a play room, etc. Adorable.
My ranching husband. Nate got lots of work in on this trip, including: flushing cows, collecting embryos, implanting them in donors, shampooing cows, and basically whatever else his dad needed help with! He said he really enjoyed spending lots of time with his dad outside, even if the work made him tired and smelling a little less than desirable.
Treyton helped keep Griffin safe from the cows, which were intensely mooing and freaking him out.

Treyton especially loved the farm equipment: tractors, trucks, four wheelers, and the ranger.
Jayci was hilarious. She kept mooing as loud as she could at the cows. She LOVED them.
Riding Jim and Beau. I just have to tell you, looks are deceiving. These two horse are HUGE!! You should have seen big, pregnant me trying to get up. Nate had to give me a push! Okay, but the kids LOVED riding them. Treyton had been wanting to all week, since his favorite ranch animals are horses. He asked specifically to ride Beau because he is fast and brown, his favorite color.








Treyton just LOVED playing on this dirt wall. Too bad he didn't discover these "vines" until our last day.
While Treyton was a little more distracted from the fun of Ranch life, the other two loved the animals. Jayci would have loved them even more if they smelled a little more like Strawberry Shortcake.


There were lots of other great things we did this week that we didn't take our camera to. We boated on Monday afternoon. Nate got to wake board for his second time and we rode wave runners. Jayci and Treyton rode with their cousins on the tube. They loved spending time with their cousins and the lake. On Tuesday, we went out to lunch with everyone at Olive Garden. It was noisy, chaotic, and so great to hang out! Nana even took the kids to see the Smurf movie, which they had been dreaming about for months!

We had SUCH a great trip! On the way back to OK, we drove the Utah way, stopping to see my brother and his family in Spanish Fork and Nate's other brother, Ryan, and his family in Santaquin. Those pics will come in a post in a few days!