Grandma, Papa & Muma come to town

It is always so much fun to have visitors. The kids get so excited. This year for the first time we ate Thanksgiving dinner with extended family. Jason and I have eaten about 19 Thanksgiving Dinners together. Only maybe 5 of them have been with extended family. We have been looking forward to this weekend for a few months. We were so glad that Jason's Muma made the trip all the way from Sweet, ID. It was a busy week with lots piled into each day. We went up to Harper's Ferry, West Virginia. This is a very historical civil war town. We ate at the local dinner. The waitress said that we doubled their business for the day. We went into all the museums and really had a great day.
It was so much fun having Jeff and Linda come to see us. Thanks so much Grandma. Papa and Muma for coming to see us! We love you.

Harper's Ferry is so beautiful. It is set right where the Shenandoah meets the Potomac River. The train goes right through the town. It really is a beautiful spot.

Isaac found a gift shop. He had his heart set on a civil war hat and gun. He wanted a real authentic looking rifle. We could only find a wooden one. He got his hat and gun and was all set.

We also went into DC to see the Smithsonian and all the monuments. The changing of the guard at Arlington Cemetery was a big high light. It was such a beautiful day to sigh see.

We went to the outlet mall to try and brave the crowds and see what deals we could get. It was a lot of fun. We were sad to have the weekend over, but I guess that means that the kids can go back to school...YEAH!

Thanksgiving Turkey Trot

Jason, Zach, Camilla, Isaac and I ran the Lansdowne Thanksgiving Turkey Trot. It was freezing, but really fun. Dylan wimped out and was at home sleeping in the warm house. What a baby. This was Zach and Isaac's first race. Zach actually beat Camilla and Jason. Great job on your first 5k Zach. Isaac and I ran the 1 mile. Isaac ran the whole way. Each of the kids got a medal. It was a fun way to start Thanksgiving morning.

Pie 101

What could be better than making apple pie with your great grandma. We had a magical moment with the girls helping Muma make Thanksgiving pies. He homemade crust is just amazing. I had to capture her hands needing the dough. I have all these fancy gadgets in the kitchen to mix dough, but Muma said that your hands are the best because then you can feel when the texture is just right. This is s moment that I will never forget. The kids all loved the pies!




As we all sat around the table and said what we were thankful for here were some of the answers: friends, the Gospel, ourselves, Jesus Christ , family & our memories. What I was most thankful for this year was sitting at the table that moment with those that I love creating memories. We had my grandma's stuffing, my mom's famous jello squares, grandma orange rolls and Muma's apple pie. What more could you ask for.

Superbowl Saturday!

Zach's football team made it too the finals. YEAH! It was awesome. They got to play at the local High School and even had the use of the score board and announcers. It was about 32 degrees on Saturday with a lot of wind. We were freezing. We all got bundled up (except Clara, thanks Penny for letting her stay with you!).
We drank hot cocoa and watched the game. The score was 0-0 going into the 4th quarter. It was a really well played game. A few fumbles (because of cold hands), but these were the best 2 teams in the league and it showed. We ended up loosing 6-0. Camilla did a great job cheering! GO TERPS! We are so proud of Zach. This has been his first year to play tackle. He has been hurt, frustrated, and had to practice several times a week since August, but at the end of the game he said that he really had a great time playing. I hope he wants to play again next season. I am looking forward to a break away from driving to practice (yeah!). Football sure is a BIG commitment.
We are really proud of you Zach! Way to go # 14!

Twilight

I went to see Twilight (with about 300 teenage girls) on Friday night.
It was so much fun. Here we were about 15 innocent women going out to see the show. As we waited in line for the movie to start. I heard a group of girls giggle and say, "did you see all those "Moms" in line?" Then another girl said "they are like...40 years old" "did they read the book?"...Ahh to be young again...
I recorded the screaming that really says it all. It was a great movie and really fun. We had a great time coming over here after and talking about our favorite parts of the show!
During the 1st kiss scene one girl yelled out "that should be me" It was so funny. I don't know if I had more fun watching the movie or watching/listening to the girls reactions. It was a fun fun night! Hope this video clip captures the feeling!

little "helping" hands

This is my little helper who pushed the bright orange "publish post" button on my last blog post "heart surgery" while I was in the bathroom. I was not totally finished, but thanks for helping me out Clara Pei. She ran and hid in my bed. Trying to look really cute with that amazingly beautiful "Chinese face". She knows just how to melt my heart...and avoid a spank.

While I am on cuteness of the kids. Here are a few "kids quotes" that I have heard the last few weeks:

Dylan- (Nov. 1st 2008): "I feel dead inside." Why would you say that D? "because this was the 1st year I did not trick or treat....something is lost inside of me now." :(

Isaac (in his room with Clara crying because he is hitting her in the head with a bean bag): Clara crying out stop it Isaac! Isaac stop it! Isaac says "no....I could do this alllll day.

Jason was going to the gas station to get a Diet Coke. I was upstairs. He yelled up and asked if I wanted a drink from the store? "Clara yelled out from the other room "Yes. I'll take a sprite Daddy!"

Isaac was laying on his bed reading. We were running late for something and I kept coming in his room telling him to get his shoes and socks on. Felling really proud of his reading skills he looked up from the cover of his book (that was way over his reading level) and said "Can't you put them on....I'm reading a "chapter book" here!"

Heart surgery

When Zach was at his 5 year old well visit (and I was 9 months pregnant with #4) they checked his femoral pulse. They found a weak beat and sent in 2 more Dr's to take a listen to his heart. As my heart started rushing, and 2 year old Camilla started destroying the room, the Dr said that I needed to make an appointment with a pediatric cardiologist. I left the Dr's office pretty scared to say the least. After a few weeks and several appointments at Children's National Hospital we were told that Zach had a coarctation of the aorta and would need open heart surgery to fix. It was a really scary time for us. We decided to wait until after Isaac was born to do the surgery. My sister came out and stayed with me to help out with the kids. Jason lived at the Hospital and Isaac and I went back and forth each day. I still cannot believe I took a new born to the hospital each day in the critical pediatric ICU waiting room. I could also not take him back in the ICU where Zach was, so I had total strangers hold him in the waiting room, while I went in to stay with Zach.

Zach had his surgery,came out of it great, and is now doing awesome. It was a very scary time for our family. I think back now to our 1st check up after his week long stay at Children's National Hospital in DC. I asked the Dr. when we would be "out of the woods". He said that Zach would always have to be monitored. Every 3-6 months at 1st, then every year. After 5 years they would do a stress test to make sure the blood was pumping through the aorta correctly. They went in and took a 2-3 inch piece out that was pinched closed. This was not allowing the blood to flow to his lower body. Most children who have this repair are under the age of one. Zach was one of the few kids that was older. (I hate to say that 3 or 4 different Dr's had missed it in his 1st 5 years of life). He said that if Zach would not have had this surgery he could have just dropped dead in his teenage years, probably playing sports. I asked him if Zach could play sports?
I loved his response. He said this is your son and you ultimately make the decisions, but I would never let my child not experience life, because of the what ifs.

Zach has gone on to play any and ever sport he has ever wanted. In fact we really encourage him to do so. I would hate for him to wake up one day as an adult and be sad he missed out on childhood because his mom was scared of the what ifs.

That is not to say that I don't pull every coach aside and let then know about Zach's condition and what "could " happen. It just makes me feel better.

Here are a few pic's of the scar (that we told him looks like a really cool shark bite). This was about 8 months after surgery.

I am posting this post because Zach is now in the championship game of his football league! Last weekend his team won the semi finals and on Saturday he will play for the championship.

We are so proud of Zach. He has struggled this season with a lot of bumps and many bruises with his new sport. He plays 1st string linebacker. Don't know much about football, but you have to be tough and aggressive. Zach does not seem to be either of those around the house, but on the field he is AWESOME! Thank heaven for good Health!

Mother Daughter Night

Camilla and I had a really fun night out on Saturday. We went out to dinner and then to see our local production of the Sound of Music. Some of her friends from school and church were in the play. It was awesome.

As we sat and had dinner I could not help but stare at this little girl who was growing up all too fast. Camilla is fun, energetic, and has high hopes for herself. As we ate dinner we played the "question game". She asked me any 3 questions and then I asked her.

One of the high lights of the evening was answering the question "How old were you when you got your 1st pair of roller blades?" I had the best memories flood through me as I remember roller skating around our unfinished basement with my girlfriends when I was Camilla's age. She laughed when I told her that my skates (no roller blades around yet) were handed down from my older cousin, but that the white roller blade boots looked liked ice skates with 4 metal wheels. I think that they even had yarn pom poms on them.

She asked me what all the jobs I have ever had before I had kids. She dropped her jaw to know that I was once upon a time: a salad girl, baby Gap employee and most importantly a travel agent. She loved that I had made important travel plans for people. And that I knew how to book airline tickets and cruises.

I also cherished the fact that if money, time, or nothing could stop you, what would be the one thing you would buy if you could buy anything in the whole world. She said another baby from China. I had tears in my eyes when she said that she thought the most important thing that she will ever do in her whole life is become a mother.

I just love being a Mom. Moments like these make it all worth it.

Justin Timberlake's back up singers

Dylan and Zach have a love hate relationship. I caught them other night singing while plying video games on the computer. I finally figured out how to record on my camera. I was hiding around the corner so they could not tell that I was videoing them. Turn up your volume on the computer and listen to them sing Justin Timberlake's "Bringing Sexy Back" They were embarrassed when they found out that I had them on video, but then agreed that I could post it on the blog. It is the funnest thing Jason and I have ever seen.

Election 2008

Tonight we had our Family Election Night. The kids set up Election 2008 right in our house.
We had our waiting room with a brochure on each chair. We had pros and cons for both candidates. We talked about the political process and why it is so important to vote.


The election booth was in our powder room. It is a quite place for everyone to have a minute to think about who they want to vote for.
The election booth (bathroom) was to be used ONLY for voting. If you needed to "go" you had to use the upstairs bathroom.


The ballot was very simple.
Clara cannot read so we printed out photos of each candidate for her to choose from.

We made "I VOTED" pins for each citizen to wear after they cast their vote.

We then counted the ballots. We did ask the kids to take it seriously and not "write in" any candidate (scooby doo etc.).

Our election was very close we had 3 votes for Obama and 4 votes for McCain. It was a fun process. We got the kids talking about what the biggest worry was for them. It seems like Taxes and the War were the 2 big issues on the kids minds tonight.

I hope everyone makes it out tomorrow to cast your vote!

Halloween Past

For the past 3 years we have hosted our neighbors for dinner before the kids head out to get the candy. It was a fun night. 10 families came to eat hot dogs, chili, and soup and much more. After everyone leaves I clean up, put on a movie and answer the door. It is my favorite Halloween tradition. I handed out bubbles this year (Jason was disappointed). I ordered 200 bubbles and ran out. I had to borrow candy from the neighbors. The kids just kept coming and coming. Camilla,Isaac and Clara went trick or treating for 2 hours this year with Jason. They each had a large pillow case full of candy.
Each year when the kids get home they have to pay their Halloween tax to mom and dad.
Jason and I take all the awesome candy we love and then we all sit and binge. The kids always sort the candy to see what kind they get the most of. Here is all the loot. Zach went to a Halloween Party and Dylan went to the Stonebridge football game. It was a great Halloween. The weather was awesome.

Here is me and Clara at her Halloween party. This is the only photo I got because the battery died. I also had to run out and get oreos in the middle of the party, because I forgot to bring them. I also forgot to bring Clara a change of clothes to wear after the parade. They don't want the kids wearing their costumes for the whole day. I was a complete basket case. After the party I had to go to the elementary school. I ran into my friend Cate. I told her what a flake I had been and all that I forgot at the preschool. I then realized what a great mom I was 10 years ago. I was totally prepared for Dylan and Zach's preschool parties. I was always on time, had "film" in my camera and a home made snack. After 5 kids I have really relaxed....or gotten lazy? I like to think of myself as a more "free spirited Mom" The kind of mom I hated (and swore I would never be) when I had only a couple little ones!

Since Dylan and Zach are not dressing up any more...here are a few photos of Halloween past. Camilla as dorothy.
I think Jason was the una-bomber this year.
Isaac was a bat

Dylan was wolverine and Zach was a werewolf

Isaac as the cutest clown ever!

Dylan was a headless guy (i made that) Camilla was snow white and Zach scooby doo