Oh man we’ve been the sick house and it’s not fun. Tanner had to miss his last basketball games-bummer. Then we sluffed church cuz he still wasn’t good. Cannon had plans to hang out at a friends house Monday since there was no school but he didn’t look so good Sunday night-and he had a big ole nap with is out of character, by Monday he couldn’t even stand up. So he missed Tuesday, I kept everyone home Wednesday cuz it was fever city around here. Although those stupid thermometers—who knows, I had a brand new one I busted out because my old one was all over the place and 11 years old-new not all over too. Everyone had fevers, then no one read hot. I didn’t know!!  I had thought Tan was better Tuesday but I was wrong. Colt says he feels “great” every time I ask no matter what but he did sleep in a good two hours when I kep him home and had a nap, he read the hottest of all of them and did admit he’d been really hot in the night. By Thursday everyone had been fever free since the morning before so I sent them school only to have the nurse call me about Tanner. Uggggg

He’d told his teacher there was something in ear so when she looked at it, it was draining junk so she sent him to the nurse. The nurse was like no fever and he says he feels good enough to stay but I’ve never seen one that looks like this so you should get it checked out. So I called But the Dr I usually take them to was out for the day, but they could get us in with a nurse practitioner. (There was not a single car in that parking lot they probably could’ve got us in with anyone) but I had to go pretty much right then-so Tann had to miss his class trip to the FFA petting zoo ☹️ He was bummer and we tried to make it back in time but no luck. Anyway just a pretty nasty ear infection with a ruptured membrane. So we have antibiotics on board for him. I’m not sure we’re done being the sick house yet-Seth seems a little slow tonight but good heavens, a mom can hope! 

Usually I have pics but this is really it!

We did lay around and watch the primary face to face Saturday. 

Seth showing off his slushy smile. 

And Tann took a few selfies at the Dr office. 

What a week! 

Oh wait-Isaac did buy tickets to Puerto Rico and his birthday was Monday so happy 40th birthday to my celebrater hater, I guess we’ll go on vacation with you celebrate 😉

The boys are so pumped. 

I’ll go along to document it. 

Oh man, in a moment of weakness me the non-traveler told Isaac the winter hater (man I swear the weather affects his mood a ridiculous amount) that if he wants to go to Puerto Rico for spring break-fine buy tickets I’m fine with it. Actually I really do feel fine about it which is SUPER WEIRD! So stayed tuned…time will tell. I mean we’ve gotta do something the guy is just dissatisfied with life in general so if it takes me sucking it up and going on a family vacation-fine, I will. Just to restate the facts though I genuinely deep down in my soul hate traveling! If you’re laughing that I married Mr Adventure himself I assure you the joke is on me. But it is what it is. If we didn’t live so far from family he wouldn’t be able to get me to go anywhere! As it is I feel like we travel a lot. I highly doubt that he agrees. Ha! 

Saturday we had a great time with the Bryant’s. We kept things pretty normal with a trip down to clean the church. Our house is so much better when it’s warm instead of being stuck inside so the gym was a good option for killing some energy and getting to run around a little. Isaac had stake mtgs over in Quincy so he took off a little early and I kept the troops so Ren and Sherrida could sneak out on a little lunch date. 

We need better weather to cut down on football in the house! 



That night we traded and they tended so we could go to the Adult session of stake Conf. The kids were so tired the were zonked by time we got back-we could’ve stayed gone as long as we wanted but we too were on the so tired team too. It was pretty awesome coming home to a quiet lights out house though! 

They took off Sunday right after Stake Conf and that night Cann made himself a Valentine box. 

And Sethy thought he needed one just like it. 

The brothers had a late start that day so we slept in then played a little hoot owl in the morning. This little Valentine and I made some some cupcakes and did puzzles while his brothers were at school. 

Grama sent us on a little Valentine run after school. They picked hot wheels tracks and slushies/ice cream! As we were driving home I realized I didn’t feel very good so when we got home I just turned them loose.

I was so happy they had a distraction. Cuz it just got worse! 

Tuesday I laid around the house all day. Isaac came home early that day and whatever we had-we both had. He slept from about 10:30 until 5:00 then zonked out and left me hang’n on bedtime too. He slept WAY more that me (my jealous self swears that always happens) but I still recovered faster than him. But we were in rough shape for a couple of days. Wednesday after the kids got home I went screens for the babysitter! And that night we all watched Hook. 

Cannon pulled out 3 teeth while we were watching it and had Isaac get the 4th one! 4 teeth in one night!!! Last time we were at the dentist he said they’d all be falling out soon but yikes! 

Thursday I was feeling a little better just in time to have them all home for a snow day. 

Yikes. 

Miserable. 

Fight city. We’re failing miserably in the “teach your children to love and serve one another” category. 

Then this morning I got another text-due to road condition school canceled -again. 😩

I rolled over and told Isaac “the schools hate us” 

Isaac ended up taking Cannon into work with him though and the other 3 play together pretty good. Also we went no tablets Thursday so that was a battle. Today I bargained and they did get a little so it was a much easier  day. 

I think that’s it. 

I’m falling asleep so I guess that better be it. 

Basketball is over!!!!! Well-not Tanners-but my coaching days are done! Will I coach again? Not in a situation like that!!! I’ve always enjoyed it-not this year. Maybe it was just a perfect storm, or maybe I really hate something I used to really love-who knows??? But that disaster is over and I couldn’t be happier about it. 

It was a good weekend to end on. 

Isaac went to the temple and youth activity over in Nauvoo. Tanner had to ride to his games with his coach but he was a trooper about it. I was hoping my game would be a blowout and I could sneak away early-nope. We won 21-20 in a nail biter and tried our hardest (like at least 3 times with under a minute to play) to give the game away. Luckily that Milan team didn’t know how to take it! 

After the first game the Cahalan’s had the team over for breakfast (so nice) and they invited Colt to join in-so just Sethy and I bolted for Schuyler Co and Tanner’s games. The second one had started by time we got there. But we found the blowout! Yikes-Tanner is the very youngest on his team but they were playing kids his age and younger. It was a disaster. By the end the big 3 that always score we’re passing…a little bit, but sufficed too say they really don’t know how to take the foot off the gas. Or pass. They should have been calling every travel and double dribble on our guys. 

Tanner (easily 2nd string) was making it worse by stealing the ball every chance he got-Tough cuz you want the bench guys to play hard. 🤷‍♀️
After his game we (bought popcorn #momtricks) and busted it back to Kirksville for Cannon’s last 2 games. But they were delayed by at least an hour. So we shouldn’t have hurried. 

(Mark seriously took my van across the street to his car wash and scrubbed it while we were waiting! I’m tell’n ya-those Cahalan’s are great people!!) 

Andrea had her camera so that was a win. This is my favorite picture of Cannon because it shows his brothers along the sidelines watching. 

I’m surprised it didn’t show them counting their skittles. It was concession stand kindof day on account of trying to survive! Heaven only knows how much junk Seth ate,  I made him brush his teeth twice that night and I hope it helped. 🤞🏻
Here’s some more pics- (the boys liked the mismatch jersey/shorts I didn’t, oh well) 

We still have some work to do in the head up category. A couple of Isaacs students play on the Truman basketball team so we went to a game last night. It was pretty fun but I was just like oh yeah this is what it’s like when guys can dribble with their head up—and fast!!! It took me several possessions to adjust to watching a game that fast. 

Anyway back to Saturday we won the last two pretty easily. I had to take Seth to the bathroom in the middle of one of them 🤦🏼‍♀️ then he wouldn’t go. I came out and we were losing 5-3. I just told Colt along the sideline if Seth said he had to go again he had to help me and if he had to wipe him I’d pay him $5 (Colts the best helper) then I went back to coaching. After the games I  paid up. 🤣 ha and to hear Colt tell it I guess it was pretty traumatic for both of them. Seth thought he should get $5 because Colt wiped him…I gave him $1 🤣🤣

Anyway—it’s over and I’m happy about it. 

Saturday we went down to clean the church crud just typing that I guarantee he hasn’t found anyone else to help with that. For this next week. It’s a good way to serve but every single week…and it’s not like we do a good job-it’s a spit shine at best. Anyway I only remembered because I had a picture. We had a little drama! Isaac was multi tasking and had an interview I was finishing up while the kids played in the gym. I walked toward the cleaning closet and realized I’d missed the garbage in the foyer. I grabbed it and a liner from the roll I had stashed in my hoodie pocket. As I was putting the liner in I saw a bat between the garbage and the wall. 

I kinda freaked. 

I went and hid in the gym with the kids and text Isaac. He likes bats about as much as I do. Zero! But when he was done he and the member he was meeting with (who had bat experience) came to the rescue. 

Turns out it was already dead. Phew. But yikes-made for quite the stressful event! 

Sunday Colt said the opening prayer in Sacrament meeting-he was terrified but wanted to do it. He did a great job! That’s all I can remember though. 

Monday when I picked Tanner up Mrs Feeney told me their class had had a special visitor. 

It was Colt! 

He got to be a guest reader in Tanners class. 

Colt reading to Tanners class

https://youtube.com/shorts/4v0-Hj00GS4?feature=share

And Tanners teacher is the best at hooking me up pics and videos! We love her! ❤️

Seth and I did a little home improvement project this week-the upstairs bathroom was missing the casing around the door. Motivated by the fact the Bryant’s were coming -and they’ve seen it before- I was determined to make some progress! It’s not perfect, but definitely better-and I just did it, however I wanted, and it worked out fine. Little success make me inclined to tackle more projects. 

Thursday we made Tan’s valentine box-he wanted sn aircraft carrier and he had a great time making it. It was good because we did it between science club and basketball practice so we were crunched for time but enough of a c eat ice outlet for him that I actually thought it helped him want to go to basketball. Man he is my kid in temper and emotions but he is 100% Isaac in desire (need?) to NOT be scheduled. He can’t handle having things he has to go to and do-even if as soon as he gets there  he has a blast-HAVING to go? No way. 

He ended up pretty happy with the box 👍🏻

Today Sethy was running around with this green rubber and flipper gun he’s pull it back, let it fly, then say “nailed it” it was pretty darn funny.

And speaking of funny things they say: Tanner calls carrots poison sticks 😂 he’s a goof. 

Tonight the Bryant’s are here and we are having a blast!!!

If they slow down I’ll get a pic of the boys playing together. 

Tomorrow is busy though so that’s the wrap. 

Grama and Grampa got up early Saturday to watch Tan’s ball game. Yikes those 7:30 start times in the next town up are kindof rough-I’m not sure anyone was really awake. Seth was still asleep when we got home! Isaac got the best end of that deal…no actually it was really pretty great for everyone. 

After that it was hugs and they hit the road for the long drive home.

We needed something to be happy about so I saved their Riz presents for the day after his birthday. (I’m not saying they’ll always get presents for their brothers birthday but…they did this time.) And it was a pretty good trick. Seth got some new Rubble (yellow) construction jamas. Colt got new gloves. Tan got a duffel bag for his basketball stuff and Cann got a new work coat. They were pretty excited. 

Monday was the 100th day of school so Tanners grade had a hoedown and the other two were supposed dress like they were 100 yrs old…so sprayed their hair gray. 🤷‍♀️



It was also in the 40’s on Monday -which is basically a heatwave this time of year-and I’ve wanted a family picture at the cemetery for a LONG time but -no luck- however, realizing it had been more than a year since we had a family picture…and we only have that because Grama was there to take the pictures the day we buried  Riz. I didn’t care of it was a cell phone selfie special. It had to happen! Throw on a black hoodie boys-let’s go! 

So it’s not perfect but here we are:

And if I’m honest it kindof changed my mind or how I feel about family pictures. It’s what I wanted, but a family picture is never going to have all of us in it. Bummer. Oh well. These guys aren’t off the hook though-we’ll keep doing the best we can! 

Other than that…well we forgot to eat these with Grampa so Seth and I had to have them for breakfast without him 😂

Then just art projects of the boys. I actually sounded out South Dakota…but I had to ask about the rest 😉



Other than that I don’t know what…

I guess that’s it.