We are thankful for family!

Oh man, if I accurately document the week this post will be LONG because we've had SO MUCH FUN. We'll have to see what I can remember. Playing in the snow was a top priority for the boys so that was the first thing (well second-the boys really wanted to clean Grandpa's model airplanes so we did that) but pretty much first thing we did Saturday! Snow was scarce but Cannon was determined to find some and play in it so we headed up Huntington canyon on a snow hunt--and we found just enough for a little fun. Colt's pretty cute about the snow too "It No!...It No!" (9 pics...I should have made a collage but oh well we don't get to Emery County often enough so we need to make sure this fun is well documented!!)

I totally missed the best picture (or movie) of Isaac sledding off a little 5 or 6 ft. ledge...it was hilarious. He came out unharmed-the sled...not so much. The day we rolled into town the weather said we would get snow Wednesday, but we didn't, another time it said snow today-its dang cold but no sign of snow so it was a really good thing we found a little and had our fun. We also heard it snowed in Kirksville-so maybe this was just to get me geared up for it:) I wish I had taken more pictures just around the house the first part of the week,  the boys were pretty cute helping Grandpa work on the airplane. (I'll have more to say about that in a minute.) Cannon helping him drill-it was so cute but my phone was plugged in charging. And naturally-anything Cannon touches-whether he's supposed to or not, whether he gets in trouble or not-Colton is guaranteed to touch! I tell ya though-the boys can be a little too much help down with Grandpa's stuff. But we were having fun. Isaac was a little bit of help getting the boys to bed the first night we were here, but the next day-NO HELP, I was pretty annoyed and Sunday I informed him that was the case. So he helped-some. But by Monday I finally figured out why he was just sitting there at times when he's usually so helpful. He was SO SICK. Why does he always get so sick when he gets a little break? Poor guy, his body just revolts I guess...It was super bad 2 years ago at Christmas time too. He was so miserable he said "Maybe we can only come in the summer." Ummm I don't like that plan! But anyway he was burning up and just miserable and moany. Yikes. Thankfully he was home and his mom took care of him (does that make me a crappy wife? don't answer) and I mostly just worried about the boys. But Tuesday night in the middle of the night he told me he was going to the clinic-if Isaac's willing to go to the Dr. -he's pretty dang sick! But he did, they got him in that morning and...strep throat. So he just got the shot of antibiotics and we are SO THANKFUL for modern medicine. He expected to work within a 1/2 hour-didn't happen- but by that night he was feeling a little better and ultimately on the mend. YAY! (Cuz we were having fun but super cruddy for him!) One of the sick days we did venture out to fly the airplane. In August for the family reunion Grandpa had bought kits so the boys could put together remote control airplanes and fly them. Isaac has SEVERAL HOURS into this little project. So we headed out to fly it...no power. But the boys found a really fun playground :) When we got home he realized he had put the battery-or something-in backwards so after naps we went for round 2. And it was fun...it really was! But we're talking about 5 1/2 seconds of fun for all those hours of work. We broke two propellers. I don't know. Grandpa's comment was it was "it was still more exciting than a baseball game." I laughed at that and said "What if there was a home run?" We have different interest! And that's okay.

Since the cousins have gotten here they've tinkered and played and been out flying airplanes a few more times. They love it! -I haven't got in on it so much since he has people with a more genuine interest to do it with ;)- But speaking of everyone being here. SO! MUCH! FUN! We've had a great time. We had a great time being the only ones here too. Grandma goes a hundred miles an hour all the time. She cooks, she cleans, she plays and spoils grandkids-and their parents-and I swear, she runs circles around us! We love her its so fun! Oh and she has the patience Job, she's always game to let the boys help!

Cannon was eagerly awaiting the arrival of his uncles and cousins though. Aaron and Tarra got in late Tuesday night and he begged and begged to get out of bed to just go say "Hi-really super fast." So Wednesday as we got to play with them and everyone else started getting here the fun just escalated. We took Aaron and Tarra's dogs out to the dessert...the boys thought they were BIG STUFF riding in the back of Grandpa's jeep with the dogs :)

 I love the older cousins they are SO SO CUTE with my boys.

If you ask Colt who his buddy is-he'll tell ya, its Eric! And Eric loves him too, he'll ask all the time "Are they up from their naps yet?"

And visiting with my sister in laws is just so fun. Isaac's sister is just one of my favorite people-she's so great. (I told Isaac we need to plan a vacation with them for this summer! Idaho is just really far...but I think we can make it happen...it would be so fun.) And all the other sister in laws...married Isaac's brothers-so as it turns out we have a lot in common. We have a great time-and laugh and laugh.
Thanksgiving was great-we even did a redo on the family picture so we'd Grandpa in it.

(Hopefully a pic here soon)
The only bummer of the week-well besides Isaac being sick-is Colt not feeling well. 4 times I've cleaned up puke. Once in Grama's car. UG. Poor little toad-I've figured out the biggest give away for when he doesn't feel well is when I'm holding him and he's still whining "I want mom!" I'm like I HAVE YOU...but anyway...not sure about him...hope he's feeling better-I keep thinking we're out of the woods...and then we're not-again. He's not exactly a fun kid when he's sick-and that screaming in the middle of the night, yikes, thankfully we were the only ones here when that was going on.

Next up-Santa Clara for the boys and I...back to work for Isaac. Poor guy-so nice of him to send us on our way to have more fun though. We will miss him! Actually at the thought of it I miss him! We love him!

Oh boy it's been a busy week! Saturday Grama got here, she rode the train from Kansas City so we went down to LaPlata to pick her up, but we were late because we dilly dallied and then I forgot I had covered her seat with stuff I needed to drop by the church-so we had to stop by there, and on top of that LaPlata isn't 10 minutes away like I thought it's 20! Plus I thought I knew where the train station was...but those train cars were just decorations at the Depot Inn...So by time we got there we had totally missed getting to see the train Grama rode but she was there!!! (Abandoned in small town missouri! With no cell service...Isaac can cross that off his small outlying town list!!) 

First thing we headed right to the craft fair so Grama could meet Mrs. Hardee! That was fun and also disastrous 2 & 4 year olds at the craft fair...please get us out of there ASAP! But we got some cute little craft kits. After that Cannon talked Grama into a long awaited for trip to McDonalds, for pancakes and French fries-what a mix right? Yuck!! But both boys ate great! Colt piped in that he wanted a Pepsi too, it was pretty funny but we did hook him up with a root beer  "Pepsi" by time we finished that adventure we were all ready for naps! (Grama had done the all night thing ...but she didn't have two kids with her...) The boys love cashing in on some Grama time and hey, I love it too! 

Sunday was the primary program! So nice to have it over!!! Cannon was so cute!!! Sunday morning he said "Mom, I know what I can say in the primary program." I said "oh good let's practice your part." His part was "I know Heavenly Father loves me because_________" and when it came in the mail (oh thank heaven the prior primary president had all that done-yikes) but anyway Cannon matter of fact-ly finished the statement "because I love Him!" It was so cute. So we went with it and I kindof prodded him a little and we added "and because He gave us the scriptures." So that was his part and that's what we'd practiced "I know Heavenly Father loves me because I love Him and because he gave us the scriptures." But over the couple weeks it kind of evolved into "I know my Savior loves me because -he loves me! And because He gave us the scriptures." And that's what I was expecting him to say but back to Sunday  morning he said he knew what he could say so I got him to rehearse his part and then he told me what else he wanted to say and it was "Brothers and sisters I love you and I know Jesus loves you too!" I smiled and said "Sure! You can say that if you want." He told Grama what he was going to say and when Isaac came home between meetings and church he told him too but it was all on his own accord and sure enough we got into the primary program and he proudly stepped up on the stool grabbed the mic and pulled it down by his lips and said "I know my Savior loves me because-He loves me! And because he gaves us the scriptures. Brothers and Sisters I love you, and I know Jesus loves you too!" It was so cute. You could kind of hear the whole congregation chuckle but in a good-that was so cute-kind of way. The whole rest if the program he was a knot head, messing with the microphone we'd set up in front of where the Sunbeams stood every song, (not singing most of the time, or singing the wrong verse just always something) playing peek-a-boo with one of his teachers nursery age daughter who was running off and on the stand but...not reverent! But oh well. I felt like he was a big distraction but he's my kid-overall the program went well I was very proud of all the kids! And it's over :) yay!!

Monday I'd loaded with Dr appts, I've never had my eyes checked but Isaac wanted me to because then he wants to drop the eye insurance-I think I'd have to be blind to ever go back! 1 hour sitting in the "diagnostic exam" room waiting after the initial stuff- plus the wait before I even got to that initial stuff! I get that it's an eye Dr. but not even a magazine once in that room waiting the second time. I was fit to be tied! The Dr came in for less than two minutes and said I didn't need glasses-I already knew that! UG! 

Tuesday we took a little road trip to Cantril Iowa to visit the Dutchman store. SOOO different than what I was expecting! But we had a good time! And I think I'll go back, just not to explore again, with a list--and no kids.  And then I think Wednesday blended into Thursday, who knows but again we were having fun so that's all that matters right? One of the  evenings I was upstairs cooking dinner and the boys were down stairs playing football with Grama, she was the announcer/ref. I couldn't see anything but I wish I had a recording of the audio I heard, it was hilarious, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Thursday evening we took off, dropped Grama at the Kansas City airport and then drove through the night and now we are in Huntington!!! I think it's Colton's first trip-that's crazy to think about, so far all we've really done is try to catch up on sleep but the boys are having a blast!!

Cannon's been waiting almost 2 1/2 years to play with that pile of equipment under Grandma's deck (and telling Colt all about it) he couldn't be bothered with looking up for a picture!

Mrs Hardee sent us home with play dough this week-the boys have got a lot of mileage out of it! Embrace the mess...

Saturday the boys got to help dad with a little home teaching project. Really we were cleaning out the gals garage so she can park in there this winter but when the boys saw the saws they begged to get to cut something...so Isaac showed them to the woodpile. She has donkeys-or burros-I don't know- and goats and dogs...they were in heaven. She was burning weeds though so we all stunk when we got home-UG.

For the most part I feel like I can sum up the week in one word-primary! Oh man, did I mention I got thrown in front of this moving train right before the primary program-and our poor chorister is only a week ahead of me. It will be nice to have Sunday over (plus then we're leaving town for 3 weeks...good luck) I have a whole new appreciation for Kim--and anyone else who's ever had this calling...yikes!!

I hate screen time but they love it and sometimes it's the only thing to keep me a float! And just one more quick pick from Mrs Hardee's, we love her! 

The boys played at the Lingwall's for an hour or so tonight while we went on a date. Colt didn't even cry!! Progress!! We just drove around and looked at houses it was dark but still. Isaac would really like to buy the cheapest thing he can find in some outlieing town and then fix it up. When the conversation heads that way-often-I just refer to myself as his high maintenance wife! 

Time will tell...time will tell...

Tomorrow Grama's coming :) that will be fun! 

I know this is pretty much the 3rd time I've posted Halloween pics, but it was kind of a big deal...and how cute are these two? I LOVE IT! Probably tipping my hand at my Christmas card here-cuz why would I do anything else- but whatever...

 

Oh boy! Did we have a good time! Santa and Rudolph we're a big hit, especially as it got dark and Cannon had flashing horns a glowing nose and the sleigh was all lit up. (So glad I ordered those I had tried to talk myself out of it several times but they were totally worth it! So fun.)  Cannon was so diligent about pulling the sleigh-at some point I thought he'd let me just pull it. But it was more like "No way, I'm Rudolph and this is what Rudolph does!" And so he did! His friends from preschool invited us to their Halloween party (so nice of them but really big crowd and I kind of missed just doing our simple thing, and visiting our neighbors, people we actually know...ok I really missed it.) Anyway once trick or treating he was determined to keep up with the rest of the group. It was exhausting just watching him. And ole Santy Claus had it pretty easy perched back there in his sleigh. Almost all of the houses had stairs up to the front door though :( Tons of those split level homes. Of course Cannon tried to pull the sleigh up them. Yikes! I wasn't really exhausted just from watching him but from running trying to keep up and make sure he didn't dump Santa out on his head as he hit the curbs going in and out of driveways. I put an end to the stair attempts too, if I were to do it again I'd definitely want to make Rudolph unhook-able! But I finally convinced him to stay in the driveways and get the sleigh turned around while we sent Colt to the door doing the actual trick or treating.

 

 

 

And one more...because its mid  "HO HO HO"

Anyway, it was a bit of a late-and sugared up=night but we had a good time. Sunday was normal-ish I think, or at least some idea of what our new normal is going to be. One way cool tender mercy happened though. As I was leaving this super cute family said "Oh Sister Ison, can we walk out with you?" Of course. But they are darling-kids are teenagers (or off to college) and they said "Hey we just realized you and your husband both have ward council meeting, we'll (the teenagers) come tend, we'll be there at 8:30." How's that for the red sea parting? I thought it was awesome. Then they explained that several years ago the mom was Relief Society President and the dad was Elder's Quorum president and some nice lady had done the same thing for them. SO NICE, I promised we would pay it forward someday too :)
Tues night Isaac went to clean the temple, I wanted to do something fun with the boys since they were missing out on dad time, so we doing the ivory soap in the microwave thing -it was awesome but then it overflowed off the plate and so I stopped it and grabbed it and said "oh dang that part was hot" (cuz most of it isn't) so Cannon said "how hot?" I said "way hot!" And he said "hotter than a hootchie cootchie?" I busted up laughing... And then said "yes" Isaac always says that.

 

Both boys had a little sickness run through this week :( Not fun for anyone! Colts a down right beast when he doesn't feel good and Cann is super whiney.  But anyway I kept Cannon home from preschool Thursday just because I didn't want to be the mom sending germs. BUT we needed something to do...so we ground some wheat ;) Cannon did pretty much all of it. I've been trying to study the Word of Wisdom just a little more because his awesome preschool teacher gave up coffee (kind of for him, and because its healthy and she recognized that and doesn't want to be addicted to it too) but one of the other mom's at preschool has lots of friends (in Med school here) who are members and she was just kind a saying "I don't get it..." so I just wanted to study it a little closer-maybe be able to answer questions-more than "ya we don't drink that because we're Mormon" Anyway as I was reading the "wheat for man" part I decided we needed to bust out out little food storage wheat grinder and give it a shot. So we did, and we made some whole wheat cookies-it was fun. 

That's about it as far as excitement this week though. I mean, we wrote Grampa's dogs "thank you" notes for being the best dogs that Cannon loves very much. haha oh and we took Cannon's primary teacher a birthday balloon and note that he wrote too-that was fun. But that's about it, mostly uneventful week.