You won't believe me but...

As I sit here typing this my house is totally and completely...silent. Well except for the sound of my keyboard. The bigger three are at school, Owen is at a friends and the daycare kiddos are asleep! Wow...I don't quite know what to do with myself! Oh, I know BLOG! So I've had several people ask me if things are better now that the kids are in school. I always respond with a great big YES and a little no. We are still trying to get into the hang of things and adjust to the new schedule. I thought I'd have it all figured out but I don't think I'll know what our real schedule feels like until next week when Owen starts school. Over all I have way less messes to clean up and way less stress during the day. Ian gets up and gets started early though, I think he has to fit as much in as he can before he leaves. Today it was the mustard (again, sheesh, what is with the mustard?) the caramel ice cream topping and the lemon juice. Sticky, stinky and just plain messy! Everyone seems to be adjusting to their new schools nicely. Emilia is making friends, Matthais is getting to class on time and Ian, well, Ian is still Ian but his teacher LOVES him! What a difference that makes! I am *trying* to get caught up on the disaster that summer left behind. This is no easy task but I take it one day at a time. As for today...I'm going to go enjoy the silence!

Proud mommy moments

Seriously, how big is he?? Without any warning or practicing or having mom run along side him on the road, Owen announced this morning he can ride a bike. I was wondering what was in store for me as I came out to watch him. "Maybe he'll push off and coast" I think, "maybe he'll Flinstone it" I think. Nope. He hopped on and peddled away. I am a very proud mommy!

First day of school for the other two

Well, it's the day I've waited for all summer! They are back at school! Well, actually it will be tomorrow before the three oldest are back and next week before Owen starts but I'll take what I can get! I had this great plan this morning...I was going to get Ian on the bus at 8:40 (the pick-up time) take Misty to school and be back by 9:00 to walk Millie to school. Ya, right. Ian's bus never showed. Well, actually it finally came at 9:15 long after I had already taken him. Misty was almost late and Millie walked to school by herself. So sad. I feel like a loser mom sending her that way but I didn't know what else to do! I talked to the principal at Ian's school about the bus and she said she'd take care of it so hopefully it will be on time tomorrow. I'm really excited about this year especially for Ian. I hope and pray this is just what he needs! I am so excited school is back in session,I finally feel like I can BREATHE! but, I have hours of housework to catch up on...sigh. The good news is that what I clean will actually stay clean for more than 5 minutes Yay!

Can you say "trip to the emergency room"

I think this has that written all over it!

Birthday Bash 2010

This post is kinda late. I had it all typed out and all the pictures loaded and I don't know where it disappeared to. So, here is the story. I had an opportunity to borrow some of those big, blow up water slides for Millie's birthday. She had originally wanted to go roller skating but I talked her into a water party instead. With Owen's birthday only days after hers I couldn't let her have a party and not him so I decided to combined party. I made invitations and put them in water balloons so the kids had to pop them to get the invitation. It was lots of fun. Two days before the party I watched the news and much to my dismay the forecast was for rain. Great. It was suppose to rain all day Wednesday and Thursday but Wednesday wasn't too bad so I crossed my fingers. Early Thursday Becca and Amanda came and set up the water slides. The kids were so excited and couldn't wait until 1:00 when the party would begin. At 12:30 this was the sight...

Dark clouds, wind, thunder, lightening, and rain. Time to come up with plan B. I had 20 kids invited ages 4-8, both boys and girls. What could we do to entertain them all for 2 hours? I quickly got on the computer and came up with a scavenger hunt.

It was a little stressful having that many bodies running through my tiny house but the kids seemed to have a good time.
We did cake and ice cream and opened presents.

And then, HALLELUJAH! The sun came out so I sent them all out for some water fun!

I think they all had a lot of fun! Here is the whole load of them, minus a few who refused to get in the picture

Happy Birthday Emilia and Owen, I hope your day was wonderful!

First day of 7th grade

Could it really be possible? I'm kinda freaking out. There is just something about jr. high. Not quite the innocence of elementary school, not quite the maturity of high school. I had fabulous middle school experiences (I went to a 7th, 8th grade middle school) but I know that is not the case with all kids. I just hope Matthais's confidence will help him. I just hope he doesn't take it to the point of cocky, ya know what I mean? Anyway, I forgot to ask him if he had his schedule so now I'm gonna stress all day about that. What if he doesn't know anyone in any of his classes? What if he gets lost? does he know where the lunchroom is? What if he doesn't know what bus to get on at the end of the day? Sigh...it's going to be a long, worry-filled day. Good thing I have something to take my mind off of things..

Totally Forgot...Please don't tell Owen!

My baby, my BABY turned four on Saturday! We were so busy having so much fun I forgot to wish him a happy birthday on my blog!

Man I love this kid!

Some of Owens favorites

food: Pizza

Color: green

Toys: Thomas the Tank Engine

LOVES preschool!

Citydeals

Ever heard of Citydeals? I was introduced to them several years ago by my friend Sabrina, way before they changed their name to City deals. Anyway, it's this fabulous way to get discounts to great local attractions. For instance, last year we celebrated Millie and Owen's birthdays at Chuck E Cheese for $10. That's right, fed our family and had tons of tokens. This year I got two $20 gift certificates there for only $16. Just now I got a  $25 JCW gift certificate for only $12.50. Love, Love, LOVE this site! Check it out for yourself!

http://www.citydeals.com/?ref=CDUOTYzNDY

My Sweet Baby Girl Turns 8!

She is such a joy to have in our lives.

8 years old, I can hardley belive it! Some of Millie's favorites:

Color: Magenta

Food: Grilled cheese sandwiches

Activity: Playing with friends

Best Friend: Lezlie and Courtnee

School Subject: Art

Isn't she a beauty? I feel very blessed to have her as a daughter. She is very obedient and very loving and kind. Happy Birthday Millie!

Interesting facts

So, at dinner last night Adam and I were talking about various things when I realized something. My mom was MY age when I got married. She was barely 35 when her 19 year old daughter was married. Crazy! My dad a mere 36. Don't we all look so young?

That's cause we were. (And why does she look so much younger at 35 than I do?) Want to know something even crazier??? She became a grandma that same year! (not me...My sister had Kelsey that October). I'm having a hard time sending my oldest to jr. high and my mom was marrying off her oldest child at my age. Can you even imagine?

Owen and build-a-bear

We received a coupon in the mail for a free animal at build-a-bear. Since all the other kids have gone and because his birthday is next Saturday I decided to let him use it.

He got a dog and named it Iron Man. Weird but whatever. He wanted to name it Owen but I said no. He also threw a fit because I wouldn't buy him candy that cost $3.50. Remind me to never take him to the mall again.

The Summer of Survival continues...

This week was an interesting week. Well, in all truth, every week is an interesting week at the Harris house. We just seemed to be a little busier this week.

*Sunday- I ran downstairs to get something from the storage room when I stepped on a nail (it was in some baseboard Adam removed that he needs to put back up). As I stood there bleeding I looked over to find two 2 liter bottles of root beer spilled with a third half empty. As I was cleaning that up I also found an emptied bottle of red Gatorade.

*Tuesday- I came home from running errands to find Ian's entire bottle of seizure medication empty. Not knowing whether or not he drank it or spilled it I called poison control who then sent me to the emergency room. He was fine.

*Wednesday- I woke up to an awful pain in my foot. I figured I had injured it in my previous nights run. Later took Ian to his psychologist appointment where I was lectured for not having more structure in my home and for not taking time for myself ( I felt like I was at a therapy appointment for ME!). Then rushed home for a Relief Society Meeting.

*Thursday- Spent all day running around Baptism and birthday party invitations. Then waited up until 1 am for Matthais to come home from watching the meteor shower.

*Friday- Had an interesting date night with my handsome hubby at the Salt lake Arts Center.

A little culture mixed with recreational activity? It was defiantly something different.

Saturday (today)- Woke up and headed out for a run with Kinna. Made it 2 miles before the pain in my foot was back...big time. Now, I can barely walk. Really, really sucks! Later that morning Ian started acting very, very strange...turns out he was having a seizure. I left with Millie and Owen for a planned date at the mall and Ian had another seizure while we were gone. Thank goodness for my mother-in-law who came and sat with him until I got home. Oh great, He just threw up again... Oatmeal from breakfast...does it really take that long to digest? Now he's scarfing down pizza...I'm not a good throw up mom...hope he keeps it down. Funny thing, I was just telling Kinna this morning how thankful I am his seizures are under control. Did I mention my foot hurts? Really, really, bad.

Next week is just as crazy. There are 2 birthdays, 1 birthday party, merit badge classes, a ward FHE in my back yard, reminders to deliver, invitations to address and mail, a Relief society activity, a young men's activity, a primary activity, another date night with hubby and I'm sure lots and lots of messes. Summer is winding down and I can't wait to feel the sweet relief of school starting. Mocking Jay comes out August 24th and I plan on spending the first day of school reading and enjoying the sweet peace that only school can bring.

"I testify to you that our promised blessings are beyond measure. Though the storm clouds may gather, though the rains may pour down upon us, our knowledge of the gospel and our love of our Heavenly Father and of our Savior will comfort and sustain us and bring joy to our hearts as we walk uprightly and keep the commandments. There will be nothing in this world that can defeat us."




--Thomas S. Monson, "Be of Good Cheer", Ensign, May 2009, 89–92

Word to the wise

If you go to the gym at night you should always come home and shower...even if you think you didn't get too sweaty. You never know when you might spend the next day at the ER stinky and sweaty and feeling extremely self conscience.

Lagoon-Family day

I've decided that Lagoon is much more fun with the kids. Even though Ian did have a few melt downs we had so much fun at Lagoon on Thursday. Here is everyone when we first got on Rattlesnake Rapids

Here is everyone after!

Millie was much braver than I was at her age. She went with me on the Fire dragon, the Spider, the Tidal wave, the Wild mouse, Jet star 2, and the Bat. I was so surprised! Next year I'm taking her on Wicked!

August Storms

I woke up this morning to one of the most amazing summer storms ever. Lightening and thunder filled the sky with light and sound. I watched in awe in the quietness of 5 am at mother nature's fury. The storm let up and we had blue sky for awhile. Then it started to rain again...

It rained a little on and off all day and then it started to HAIL! I came outside this evening to Ollie out and saw this...

Our storm drain was clogged and all that water had to go somewhere!
Poor Adam had to clean them out...

It's still raining and it's so beautiful! I just love a good summer storm!

Meet Oliver

Or as I like to call him, Ollie.

I have never been an animal person although I always grew up with a dog. Adam did too but for some reason we were in no hurry to add one to our family. Ok, really the reason was that we figured 4 kids and one with autism was enough to take care of for now. Something was nagging at me though. Ian needed a dog. I knew it but I still kept thinking, one day, when things are not so crazy. I don't know why or how but on Sunday we decided it was time for a pet. We knew we wanted something medium sized, something that didn't shed and something that was great with kids. I spent a few hours online and decided I wanted a goldendoodle. We had just happened to see a sign up the street when we had gone for a walk on Sunday night ..."Goldendoodles for sale". I had looked on KSL and few other places and then decided to call. The price was right. I took the kids up to see them and we came home with Ollie. We are all in love! So, as it turns out, he's a labradoodle/golden retriever mix. We were hoping the poodle in him would be a little bit stronger so that Adam wouldn't be as allergic to him. So far, Adam is doing ok with him but it is only day one. I think it would be heartbreaking if we had to let him go.

I really hope that Ollie will be a great companion to our kids but especially to Ian. He has no friends to speak of and I think at times he is very lonely. I hope that Ollie will fill this gap and help calm Ian. Here is to best friends!

Or if Candy wall art is not your thing...

I may have another option for you...

What can I say...I have very artistic kids!!! And it wasn't even Ian, although, they did try to blame it on him!

Don't worry, I made them clean it up