Thanks mom...

Yesterday when we had our little accident, Carson was so brave. He held very still. I didn't cry, but Robbie said that I was crying out my forehead. My shock reaction was sweating. While Carson was getting stitched up, I could hear my mom's voice in my head talking about when Brandon had Leukemia and had to get spinal taps and all kinds of yucky things. She said that the doctors were amazed at how brave he was and that it was a direct result of my mom keeping herself together. I don't know if I was very brave, but I didn't fall apart. It was nice to hear a familiar voice give me advice on how to handle myself. I guess even though she is not here, she is still mothering me. Thanks mom!

There is nothing sweeter than a sleeping baby. I just HAD to put this on here.

If anyone has advice on how to treat scars, let me know...I would like it to be minimal, but scars are manly and give character, right? that is what I keep telling myself.

15

That is the number of stitches that Carson had to get today. He was chasing with his older cousin Jake and Jake slammed the door and Carson ran into the door knob. OUCH! He had 2 gaping gashes in between his eyes. He was at his grandma's house. Robbie's sister is here from Oregon, so we are all getting together tonight. Thank heavens that they were here. Shelley and Brent brought Carson over to me and stayed with Logan and Nate. Robbie's mom was going to drive us to Keith's office when Robbie pulled in. He got off work early. Thank goodness. My shock reaction was sweat. I was drying tears and he was drying sweat off my face. I sang Families can be Together Forever for about 30 minutes strait...by request. I think we had a couple rounds of Book of Mormon Stories in there too. I will post pics later. I am just relieved that he's ok. I now have new perspective on harm my kids...harm me. It broke my heart. Good thing we have a great doctor to go to. This may be our first run in with stitches , but I am sure it won't be our last.

I'm not sure this is what I signed up for...

As a mother, some experiences that I have I never expected...such as

-Having my 4 year old bring a semi trailer and a for to me in the shower asking me to remove the cow he got stuck in it.

-Having my 2 year old paralyzed by an aunt pile...Carson came in frantically saying that Nate was in big trouble. My heart sunk...I was expecting that he'd fallen in the canal or something. He had 5 aunts crawling on his legs.

-Having wrestling matches in my new house in my new family room...I guess that is not so bad...it is the near misses of the head on the corner of my fire place that freak me out.

These boys...let's just say that a dirt yard and boys is NOT a good combo. The water faucet is too tempting. After about 25 dirt/mud balls stuck to my house, I found my boys like this:

It was too late when I found them, so they had a morning of playing in the mud and having fun. There was so much dirt that I had to strip them naked and wash them down on the front porch. Then I laundered their jammies that they had on...my lint trap was full of dirt. I pulled it out and dirt spilled everywhere.

Sometimes I feel like this is not what I signed up for, BUT then something like this happens...

Carson tells me that even if we have a sister someday that I will always be the princess. Nate tells me thank you for making him bakini for lunch (zucchini). Logan smiles kisses my face...aka slimes me with slobber. Then I realize this is EXACTLY what I signed up for.

Birthday, T Ball, and Hike

I seem to be having trouble posting. Here comes another long one.

Birthday

On June 5 we celebrate Carson's 4th birthday. It doesn't seem fair that he is 4. I am VERY glad that we are done with the 3's. The only thing he wanted for his birthday was a soccer ball cake, so that is what he got (along with a few other things). He is sure growing into a fun little boy. He is fun loving, very smart, and loving to his brothers. He has some new knowledge. He informed me that when he goes under the water in the bath tub that it is called immersion, that Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River by a man named John, and that beetles are just nice spiders. He hates red ants and flies. He loves to weed the garden. We love him so much. When Nate talks about him, he calls him "my Carson".

There are no pictures of Carson with his cake because while I was getting ready, him and Nate licked a lot of the frosting off the cake...That is what I get for being so unreasonable and wearing make up.

T-Ball

It is official...we have started our running. Carson played t-ball this year. I would not say that he loved it. By the last game he liked it. He did not like playing in the field. In fact, I got to stand by him a lot and when I wasn't standing by him, his coach was carrying his glove. He did like hitting. Running the bases...what to say about that...he passed the kids in front of him, ran more than one base, and my moment of glory...I got to run around them with him a time or two...the things I get to do as a mother...As much as I had to coax Carson, Nate was on the sideline crying because he wanted a turn. Next year...The best part of the season for Carson was being on a team with a team shirt, having a coach (who he still sees and calls coach), and earning a medal.

Our Annual Hike

My hiking husband and our little family started doing this little hike when Carson was just barely 2 and Nate was a tiny baby in a front pack. We drive our car to the mountains where the road is closed and hike about 3 miles (on the road) back to a lake called Lake Cleveland. It is a small mountain lake, but early in the spring there is still snow and some run off roaring down the mountain. The kids love the hike in. It is full of drinks and snacks, but the way out is not so fun. They are always tired a need naps. Carson walked the whole 6 mile loop this year. Plus he was our little snow explorer. Nate did the whole way in, but Robbie put him in the back pack on the way out. We had to hurry because a storm was coming. Logan was in the front pack. The kids loved throwing rocks into the water, putting food out for the chipmunks, and exploring around the lake. On the way out, we had to do a little distraction method. Carson was getting tired so we were counting to 100 and singing "the ants go marching" the whole way out. The kids are still talking about it. I am hoping that next year I won't be pregnant or carrying a baby in the front pack...so far I am yet to be with out either of those things...We'll see!