Dirty Backyard Fun

A couple of weeks ago we had some rain for a few days (miracle) and it made our dirt clay under the grass really soggy. Clay doesn't soak up water so efficiently. Gavin and Reese went to town under the play set and made mud with the sand box.

Reese practicing her mud wrestling skills. Never know when those might come in handy.

Gavin thought it might be nice to make a mud slide.

The results.

And cover the play set fort with a mud carpet. Where was I during all this? Getting my pasty white self some color...tan on!

Caden on the other hand had nothing to do with the mud. That was surprising actually. He's always up for a little dirt 'n trouble.

He liked seeing how high he could get on the swings by himself. Good boy! And then when I opened my tanned eyes to discover what his siblings we doing...

I came back to find him like this..."relieving himself". All boy this one, I tell you!

Early Release Movie Night

Look what I'm watching TONIGHT (and the movie isn't even released for general purchasing until midnight tonight!!) in about 2 minutes.

And yes I'm making Christopher sit though it and watch it with me!

While the children are in the other room having movie night watching THIS:

which isn't available for purchase until TUESDAY the 24th. Yeah, I don't know how we get so lucky....but I love it!

The Chicken Taco Soup that won "Best Overall Chili"

This isn't a picture of my soup, it's just a picture of some persons chili. I didn't have a picture of mine.

Yes, it's that time of year again- Chili Cook Off time! The last time I participated in this, I won for best "classic taste"(bottom of post)...whatever that means. I really didn't want to make the same chili again, and truthfully, I don't really like chili. So this year, I made a Chicken Taco Soup and pretended like it was a Texan chili.

Guess I fooled everyone b.c I WON!! I won "Best Overall Chili". Can you believe it? There was another chili (Dave!) that won for most spicy and it was! The judges also wanted to award that chili with the best overall as well, but decided not to give two awards to just one chili. Oh, and did I mention who was one of the judges? Never mind that! My "chili" was awesome and the bowl was licked clean!

Few pictures of the kids enjoying their chili. Yeah, Caden was the only one who ate any (he'll eat anything) while Reese was watching her figure with fruit and crackers and Gavin had a hardy does of cheese and cornbread!

Caden thought my chili was a little too spicy. He still ate it.

Then quickly grabbed a ball and started playing church ball with the big boys!

It was really cute watching him interact with the older boys. Caden is such an old soul.

Jake is a family friend that Caden has really taken a liking to. Jake is really patient and doesn't mind playing with him and Caden eats. it. up!!!

We love Jake in our house!

And for those that are interested in my recipe for Chicken Taco Soup:

INGREDIENTS

• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 (16 ounce) can chili beans
• 1 (15 ounce) can black beans
• 1 (15 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
• 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1 (12 fluid ounce) can or homemade chicken broth
  
• 2 (10 ounce) cans diced tomatoes with green chilies, undrained
• 1 (1.25 ounce) package taco seasoning*
• 3 whole skinless, boneless chicken breasts
• shredded Cheddar cheese (optional)
• sour cream (optional)
• crushed tortilla chips (optional)

DIRECTIONS

1. Place the onion, chili beans, black beans, corn, tomato sauce, broth, and diced tomatoes in a slow cooker. Add taco seasoning, and stir to blend. Lay chicken breasts on top of the mixture, pressing down slightly until just covered by the other ingredients. Set slow cooker for low heat, cover, and cook for 5 hours.
2. Remove chicken breasts from the soup, and allow to cool long enough to be handled. Stir the shredded chicken back into the soup, and continue cooking for 2 hours. Serve topped with shredded Cheddar cheese, a dollop of sour cream, and crushed tortilla chips.

*Using taco seasoning is a shortcut, but if you want a truly delicious soup use these ingredients as your taco seasoning: (it truly makes the recipe!)

• 1 tablespoon chili powder
  
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  
• 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
  
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  
• 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
  
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
  
• 1 teaspoon sea salt 1 teaspoon black pepper

P.S. Dave. I'm not above sharing my secrets when it comes to my "award winning chili". Care to share your recipe?!?

Pokemon Hair Club - For Women

Be afraid, be very afraid!! I got a hair cut the other day. In an effort to be more thrifty, I've stopped seeing my "rock my personal world" stylist and have gone back to an even less "satisfied" stylist...aka, cheap. All I can say, is, you get what you pay for.

Anyway. I woke up the next morning after my new do, and Gavin exclaims, "Mommy, you've got Pokemon hair!". Niiiiiiiiiiice. I've always wanted that!! Reese also mentioned that it looked like "a dog was sleeping" on my head. Ouch, it hurts in more ways than I ever imagined to be thrifty!

Gavin was nice enough to take some pictures b.c he was thoroughly wowed and "you've just got to blog about this mom". Yes, my son keeps me in the blogging world.

YIKES! The Pokemon hair is also coupled with no makeup and eye boogers for your viewing pleasure.

This was my favorite angle, although the lighting in our house early morning is not doing these pictures justice. No worries though, if you want a up close and personal look, just stop my house ANY morning and have yourself a gander.

But, hey, I can't complain too much. My dad's just lucky to have hair these days...right dad?!!? Love you! Happy hair days to all!

Gavin's Kindergarten Open House

It was so fun going to Gavin's schools Open House. They were also having a Book Fair in the school library so we hit that up and allowed the kids one book a piece. Caden (above) was sooo excited about his "Prehistoric Park" dinosaur book. We have been watching the "Jurassic Park" movies and Caden is nuts for Dinosaurs right now. Holy moly! Reese got a Fancy Nancy book (she's trying to collect them all) and Gavin an art book.

Gavin took us around his classroom and gave us a sampling of his daily learning routines.

We got to see all the work that he has been working on this past month.

I particularly enjoyed reading in his journal. It was so awesome to see his progress in writing. It went from miscellaneous letters put together to make his version of a word to actual words!! I knew he could, but it was just amazing to see what a few months could do. His little brain is such a sponge for knowledge.

February is African American History month and Gavin had a school project of picking an influential AA, writing up a summary, poster boarding it and then doing an oral presentation in front of his class. He chose Harriet Tubman (while lots of others chose athletes -insert eye roll-) and did a fabulous job. In fact, his was even displayed outside of their classroom on the hall wall.

Gavin with his Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Tuley. She's such a fabulous educator and we feel sooo blessed that she was chosen for Gavin's teacher. I hope Reese and Caden are lucky to have her as well.

Lastly, Gavin read for us the classroom schedule for the following day from their classroom tablet. I'm impressed with his reading skills. He's a beginner and just learned how a few months ago, but he can plow through a Junie B. Jones book (we have them all...my kids love them) and Mrs. Tuley mentioned that she's moved him up in reading. Yay! Great job, Gavin!

Thank You, My Son!

Why do boys have to be so messy when using the bathroom? Now that Caden is using the bathroom for some potty time, he's finding too many uses for the toilet paper! Isn't it bad enough I have to clean up your "aim" issues around the toilet?

Hallelujah!! (Say it 3 times!!)

I can say with fairly strong confidence, that Caden is now potty trained! I haven't had to change a diaper in the last 2 weeks! That was 6.5 years of DIAPERS!! That's a whole lotta diaper changin', let me tell you! I couldn't be more thrilled to be DONE with diapers in this house forever more!!! Good riddance! And done with BOY potty training! Ugh!

Now, if I could just get Caden's pants to stay up now that his diaper butt isn't holding them up! We use the adjustable waist jeans, but he seems to be having the same problems as Reese did. My baby, isn't a baby anymore!

Reese's Cowboy Round Up

Reese had her Texas Program the other week at Preschool. She made for a cute cowgirl, that's for sure! Same program Gavin did last year and the year before (yes, the Michael Jackson by Gavin performance) at the same school.

Before the program. This is the only time she had her hat. She never wore it. Good thing I bought it as she insisted that she would...

I can't believe I got this picture of Reese actually looking at the camera! Yay! She and Madison (with sassy pink boots!) were super excited to show off their singing and dancing cowgirl moves!

Reese walking up to the stage with the rest of her school. She never once looked at me. Madison sure gave some good cheezers' though!

Here's Reese before the performance. It was hard to get any pictures during the show as the kids on her row moved themselves in front of her...made evident in the following videos.

Come on 'or to Texas song.

Deep in the heart of Texas.

Those two videos were the best of 6 as the others you couldn't even see Reese. We didn't miss much though as Reese wasn't too into the singing performance. Dancing on the other hand...

Reese was a super cute dancer. But we already knew that from her very first ballet and tap performances.

Reese struttin' her stuff with the Texas Chicken Dance.


A little Texas Dosey-Doe dance.


I can't remember what this dance was...but I'm sure it's cute...and short!

Reese giving me her finest smile after an entertaining performance!

Reese and her bff Madison. I love this picture of these two girls. So, them. They've been friends since they were 8 and 9 months respectively. They are 4 1/2 years old now and going strong. It is fun to watch them grow and learn together.

Still There?

I went private and then stopped blogging! Things have been crazy around here and I feel like I'm running around constantly and incredibly busy to even spend a second at the computer. Here's a short run down of why I went private. I'll most likely (unless I find that I like private) go public again next month.

I spend a lot of time (too much) online and have a few message boards that I post on. Well, there is a group of LDS (Latter-Day Saints - Mormon) women and we're all pretty tight. We share personal stuff (blogs, children, etc) b.c we trust each other and are FRIENDS! We befriended a woman a few months ago and all was dandy until it was discovered that she was really only around to mock us (on another board meant for people who have disaffected from the LDS faith). They would come check out our blogs and such and then poke fun at our children and beliefs.

Well, generally I don't care what people want to think of me (and I don't get super personal or open on my public blog) but when my children are involved the "mama bear" came out and decided I should go private until things blow over. Eventually this woman and her "friends" will move on and prey on some other poor unsuspecting person in hopes of "saving" them from their lives.

That's the super skinny of it all. Lot of drama! Anyway. I know there were many curious minds, so there you have it. I'm working on catching up on my blog right now. At least 7 posts in the works. Hoping to get them up and catch up all everyone else's blogs within the next day or two. It's Spring Break here though, and the kids are keeping my busy!!!

Thanks for sticking around!

Hello, Anybody There?

OK. I have invited all that have requested to be added and then some that I thought might want an invite but either haven't seen my blog since the change or whatever. Note that my URL has been changed too.

www.theforneyfive.blogspot.com

I'm hoping with the URL change that I've done as well, I'll be able to go public again soon.

"Going Private" - This bites!

Reese's bite mark, compliments of Caden. He thinks going private "bites".

I hate to do this. I really do. I never thought I would. But, I need to make our blog private. Hopefully it will only be temporary. SO, please leave a comment or email me if you would like to be added as a reader. Come Monday the 9th of March our blog will be private.

BEAR - The Other Bear

Although we had to say good-bye to Milo, "Bear" our neighbors dog, makes for a good pet in my book. He comes around when he sees the kids outside.

Gavin, Reese and Caden throw balls around with him.

And play "catch n fetch". Bear's an excellent player.

Best part of it all, I don't have to feed him, clean up his poop, bath him, train him (although he is very well mannered) and all that tiresome duties that come with a pet.

When the kids or even Bear tire with each other, all parties move along on their merry way. Yep, I really like this type of pet. After all, we already have Mr. Cat! Mr. Cat also makes an apperence in the video above. He couldn't let Bear steal too much of his thunder with us!

Henoch-Schonlein Purpura - WHAT!?!?

Caden had his first ER trip as a toddler this past weekend. Friday night he started breaking out in a small rash on his legs. I assumed it was his eczema again and lathered him up in his lotion. Come Saturday his ankles were super swollen, bruised looking and the rash had spread.

I knew he hadn't taken a fall so I called our phone nurse to see if I should wait until Monday to have him seen by our pediatrician or to take him into an Urgent Care facility. I gave her his symptoms= low grade fever (100.3), swollen and bruised ankles, unexplained rash and extreme irritability. She said to take him in within 3 hours.

I waited for Christopher to get home from his cousins wedding and church meetings (Stake Conference) and then took him to an Urgent Care center only to be directed straight to the hospital's ER.

Caden was quite feisty and took 4 male orderlies (yes, 4) plus myself and a tight wrap to hold him down to receive his catheter and IV line. It was not pretty. I was a mess and called for reinforcements...Christopher. He called our friend over (thank you Miranda!) to stay with Reese and Gavin (it was 9 pm at this time).

While we were waiting for lab results a nurse tried to put cartoons on the TV however Caden would have none of it and only wanted to watch Bear Grylls in ManVS Wild. That show calmed him down and got him talking and laughing instead of crying and screaming.

By the time Daddy showed up we had a diagnosis. Acute Bronchitis (had no idea!!!) with HSP or Henoch-Schonlein Purpura more commonly known as Allergic Purpura, an immune system reaction. Ever heard of it? Neither had I! But I'm sure glad we got him to the doctor when we did and avoided kidney and intestinal damage!

He is now on a strong antibiotic, a steroid, pain killer, and lots of fluid. We have a follow up appointment with our pediatrician tomorrow. No keeping him down though! He's currently chasing his sister around relishing in her annoying squeals. Yep, business as usual!