Memorial Day Fun!

Memorial Day was soon approaching and Barry had made plans to meet up with his dad and brother in Bear Lake for a guys weekend of golfing and hard labor to work on the house in Bear Lake.  Barry's Grandma Michaelson passed away in November (we miss having such a sweet spirit in our family), and his parents inherited her home on a beautiful piece of land in St. Charles, just 2 minutes from North Beach.  Now since we live the closest to the house we have several trips planned already this year to Bear Lake to go work on the house and get it back up to par since no one had lived there for a few years.

I'm really excited because if you know me, you know I LOVE projects, especially home remodeling (it's more of an addiction just short of an intervention session).  When I was 19 I bought my first home.  I remodeled my bathroom, including pulling up yucky bathroom carpet (really whoever thought it was a good idea to put carpet in bathrooms and kitchens should get a serious slap upside the head to help jog some sense back into that noggin).  I also managed to repaint nearly everything and redo the cupboards and linoleum in the kitchen.....oh happy days of fumes :)

So back to where I was before my "days of old" tangent.... I am excited to be part of this massive home improvement project.  So, seeing how the men were going to be "working" and their particular "projects" weren't kid-friendly, I decided to have a weekend of my own and take Kael and Koen to stay at a friend's house for the weekend in St. Anthony, Idaho (just outside of Yellowstone).

Tammi was so kind to let us stay at her home.  Her and I go back.... in fact, judging from my age I think if it's over a decade it's considered "way back."  We used to work at the Utah State Hospital (yes, worked there, not admitted there ) for about 5 years together.  We've been on several camping trips, rented a beach house on a private beach in San Juan Capistrano, California for a week and brought a bunch of friends.  We also made trips to Zions National Park...just to name a few.  Now Tammi, who I love and adore, lives a mile from some massive sand dunes.....23 miles of dunes to be exact.  So when she mentioned the words, "4-wheeling" and "dirty" we were SO on board!

Little guys all geared up.  (Koen is in the green helmet)

 Idaho law requires helmets so Kael technically had a helmet on, even though he looked more like a bobble head.  As big as it was quite snug and did its job.

Later that day we went to Mesa Falls which is another thing I'm crazy about....waterfalls.  If it's water especially if it's falling from some sort of outdoor element, I'm happy snappy.  So you can imaging 4-wheeling combined with a waterfall excursion....you can just jot this day down in my book of life under the category of "Best Day Ever!"

Kael got caught by the Momma-razzi!

 Koen being a tourist..

 Sadly, this is the only picture I managed to take with Tammi (sort of) in it.  We didn't take many pics of our weekend visit since we were busy playing and gabbing from sun up-to nearly sun-up again.

 Kael looking down on the upper Mesa Falls.  It doesn't look big but trust me, it's high enough that when you look over the edge you get that tingly feeling because all of the sudden everything is so out of perspective.  And then your thoughts linger onto "I wonder if I pulled a Pocahontas maneuver, would I survive?"  That's a definite Negative!

 I think if I had the superpower of not dying, I would definitely have "jumping off every waterfall in the world" on my bucket list.

 Koen, Kael, Gavin, and Branton. These guys had a ball playing outside in Tammi's HUGE yard, jumping on the tramp, playing in the tree house or playing with her vast expanse of toys and of course....playing the X-Box. This trip started the trend of playing Castle Crashers here at home.

Another pic of the upper falls.

 On our way to the lower falls.

 ...and here we are...  You can't get nearly close enough.  Still gorgeous but these sights must be seen from a "Viewing Area" that seems way to far away.

 Boys observing the falls.

 We went further down the river to a feeding area.  It's a fun little place where you can throw a quarter in the machine and get a handful of fish food.  Apparently all the fish in this area have told their buddies about this particular spot because when you throw the food in the water all the fish jump up and grab at it....making the water look like it's bubbling.  Really cool. 

After we ran out of quarters Tammi had found an old box of something similar to corn flakes in her car and we decided to feed the fish with it.  So the kids would eat some and throw some and the fish loved it.  So when Tammi found another quarter in her pocket she put it in the dispenser, getting her handful of promised food and rationed it out to the boys.  Kael, not noticing what was put in his hand, threw almost the whole handful in his mouthspit it all out and then continued to finish the rest of my water.  On the way home he was convinced there might be a chance he would turn into a fish since he ate fish food.  I assured him he would remain the beautiful handsome little boy that he is.  So this pic is him with a handful of corn flakes, just minutes of ingesting the aquatic lovers-snack.

 On our drive back it was stormy and we were quite entertained with beautiful scenery.

 We had great weekend, thank you Tammi for sharing your home and family with us!

Aidan's Baptism

Aidan's Birthday is in January and we were finally able to get together in May for his baptism.  My oldest....little guy..

Well, there were parts that were celebratory and parts that were depressing....like I am now the mother of an 8 year old!!!  What happened to my baby!  Now he's growing to be one of my greatest friends.  We occasionally stay up late together and talk about life, the world, our silly personality flaws (don't get me wrong it was a delightful conversation), and hopes and dreams...

He never ceases to amaze me.

Uncle Reed!  One of the greatest guys I know.  I raised Reed since he was a baby.  Now as I'm raising my own children I have found myself ( too many times to number) calling Aidan by Reed's name.... 

The confirmation circle

Father and son

My family who were able to attend...missing a few

Goofy Guys

...Our lives are made in these small hours.

 These little wonders,

 these twists and turns of fate...

 Time falls away..

....but these small hours... 

 Still remain....

Hannah Gets Baptized!

We have some 8 year olds in the house so you know what that means...  Hannah was first on the chopping block.  Barry's parents and brother came out to help us celebrate.

 We got to spend some great relaxed time together since when we usually get together, everyone is always running around from one family event to the other...so this was a nice change.

 We spent half the morning playing marbles with the kids.

 Koen still is in his "making faces in every picture" phase.

 Michaelson family just chillin'

 Grandma reading stories to the twins....priceless  :)

 The whole gang!

 ...and don't forget the classic Daddy Daughter/I'm getting baptized pose.

Hannah was so nervous she was shaking in the nice warm water in the font.  I told her we couldn't tell.  She looked as cool and calm as can be.

 Another supporter who showed up, Uncle Reed!  We were pretty busy I didn't get nearly enough pics of everyone that I would have liked.

 Kael's funny face.

 Caught Aidan mid-blink

 The confirmation group

 Baptized and Confirmed.....check!  Here's the newest member of the church in our family!

 We later went on to an amazing luncheon put on by Terryl and Jody with great food, family and lots of fun.  We love you Hannah-Bug!

A Bad Week for Koey

Talk about a mother's worst nightmare.... the twins picked up a cough from who knows where and it progressively got worse.  There's no point in taking kids in when they first get it.  Been there, done that.  Doctor confirms, yes, they have a cough and they can only treat the symptoms which they refer you to the over-the-counter drugs you've already been using and sends you on your merry way.  *Gee, Doc, so glad I busted out $20 for that genius diagnosis* 

So after I started hearing wheezing I brought both of them in only to find out they both had fluid in their lungs.  Koen's sat levels were dangerously low and they immediately put him on oxygen and called the hospital to be admitted.  For about 15 minutes we thought we were admitting both boys, but it turned out Kael's levels were OK and he was prescribed some heavy drugs and breathing treatments to get the little bit of fluid out.

I headed home to pack a few things before heading to the hospital.  I tried to keep it together and not worry the boys because they had the look of confusion on their faces and Koen was scared and week and I couldn't keep it together.  The second I got home, just one look at Barry and his glance at our little Koen, we sat in the garage holding our little boy tight and crying, wishing any one of us could trade places with him.

We arrived at Timpanogos Hospital where they were just awesome, but that didn't help having to watch them not only put in an IV but a whole slew of tests that hurt him and made him uncomfortable.  They finally came back with what they first thought was Pneumonia, was really RSV.  I then spent the next 3 days, never leaving his side, holding him especially tight overnight just giving all the positive energy I could muster, hoping it would help his little body heal.  He was such a trooper.  A little shy with the nurses, but loved all the 1-on-1, undivided attention with mom. :) On day 3 we decided it was safe enough to bring Kael to see him since this was the first time they had ever been apart.

Kael was a little hesitant at first, having seen his brother all wired up to various machines.  But after a minute they were like 2 peas on a pod again.  As it turns out, they had a lot to catch up on. 

Since they were reunited, Koen made a quick recovery.  He was discharged within 24 hours of his big brother showing up which is faster than the doctor and nurses predicted.  I learn more and more every day how amazing twins are.  I only wish I could slow time so I absorb every minute of it a thousand times or more!

Finally at home, Koen was put on breathing treatments and heavy doses of drugs to make sure we get rid of every bit of it.  Even though it was a tough experience *more rough on me I think* Koen took it all well and in good spirits.  I am so blessed to have such amazing children!

Hannah's Birthday

Hannah is officially 8!  She went on a date with her dad and got to choose where and what they did.....surprisingly she chose to go to Panda Express.  LOL!!

While they were having a wonderful time we, back at the house, were preparing her birthday cake and presents.

I started this "tradition"  where apparently the kids decide what kind of birthday cake I will attempt to make.  Hannah chose a butterfly so.......this is what I came up with.

The boys helped me decorate, clean up and prep the birthday table and we turned off all the lights in the house and awaited the Birthday Girl's arrival.
We had so much fun hiding and waiting and she walked into a dark house with nothing but a butterfly birthday cake lit up, followed by us jumping up and screaming (really, it was loud...that's how excited we were and proud of our work)  "Happy Birthday!"

If she were a lot older there would have been some sort of heart problem following a surprise like that! I'm just saying, we did good.

We sang, she blew out her candle.....

For some reason she didn't get her one candle out the first time.....silly bug, bug.  But the second time was a success!  We all ate cake while listening to her date with dad.  After, she opened presents and the kids went to bed still affected by a great sugar high.

March Madness!

OK, so it REALLY wasn't that mad....we mostly stayed indoors and hibernated, seeing how it was freezing outside.

Kael drifted off to sleep watching a movie.  This pic cracks me up...he's such a good sleeper he can snooze in ANY pose... as evidenced by this Yoga/Kung Fu position called "Downward Facing  HI-YA!!".

One of our many things we do to pass the time indoors.  The kids LOVE to paint.  We have an art gallery in our toy room with a lovely collection of paintings that dates back to Hannah and Aidan's grand 'ol age of 2!

They are so proud once a painting of theirs makes THE WALL.  One of mine even made it!!.....so exciting.....