Baseball and Sickies

Sometimes our life is so out-of-control exciting and eventful, that I forget to even document it.  Either that or I am super sleep deprived and have a baby attached to my hip who has learned to attack everytime I open my laptop, so its made blogging nearly impossible.  I'll let you go ahead and just guess which it is...

We celebrated my sweet angel niece, Madelyn's birthday on the 13th 

We drove out to Lone Mountain and sent balloons to heaven for her. 

Two years.  Two years since that sweet baby girl changed so much in all our lives and made us even more grateful for the gospel and the Lord's plan. 

We went home and had gingerdoodle cookies and talked to the boys about the plan of salvation  

Our tiny buddy started teething like its going out of style.  He has been SO grumpy and I feel so bad for him.  His gums are so swollen and bruised and those darn teeth just don't want to punch through.

Poor boy has been extremely emotional about the whole thing.  He is either crazy happy or crazy mad.  Nothing in between. 

They had the "open ceremonies" to kick off baseball season here in Lovelock.  Isn't it funny how small towns develop these little traditions and forget that the rest of the world knows nothing about it?  haha  Like, "yeah on the 4th of July a plane flies over and drops candy on a group of people... what?"  haha  I could not get a straight answer from anyone on what "openeing ceremonies" were.  Everyone was just like, "you know, opening ceremonies..."  Anyway, apparently that means all the little baseball teams do a little parade and walk from the park to the baseball fields and then they introduce all the teams and coaches and stuff on the field, do the "first pitch" and then have the first game.  It was cute and Clark was pretty excited. 

I think he is the tiniest one on his team and its adorable. 

Ohhh his little profile makes my heart jump

So we had some hot dogs and watched the first half of the first game. 

There was hardly anyone there at all.  It was kinda sad.  Im use to Moapa Valley where there is insane amounts of support for the kids playing sports, but here... its not as intense.  There were seriously like 10 people.  But not everywhere is Moapa Valley ;) 

As Brad and I sat there on those rickety bleachers in the hot sun, we realized that we have 3 kids... and that means that this is going to be our life for like the next 20 years!  Sitting on bleachers, eating consession stand food and our entire schedule revolving around our boys sporting events.  haha  Oh well, its worth it will be worth it to see them in their cute little baseball pants and what-not. 

On Saturday we dedicated the entire day to making our house look like the end of E.T. and not just for fun.  We painted our builtin!!!!! 

Its the most beautiful bright white and I love it.  But I don't have a pic of it, cause its not finished yet.  We still need to build the cabinet doors and put them on.  So once we do that, then I will post a picture.  It really is beautiful though!! 

On the 21st it was our 8 year anniversary of when Brad asked me to marry him :)  So we have never really celebrated that anniversary much, but we did drive into Fernley to get some more wood and then went to a Denny's for breakfast for dinner.  Not real special, but the day Brad proposed, on our way back home to the valley, we stopped at a Denny's and had breakfast and talked all about our wedding and our future and so that was kinda fun.  8 years ago I never would have thought that 8 years later I'd be sitting at a Denny's in Fernley, NV with 3 wild little boys.  Life is so funny! 

I got a call from the school saying that my little Clarky was sick and that I needed to come get him.   

He had to miss school for the rest of the week and he had to miss his first two baseball games.  He hasn't been too happy about it. 

Even when he is sick, he doesn't like to just lay around and be sick, like Kal does.  Clark has to be dressed and up and busy and it drives me nuts.  Its impossible to get him to rest. 

I've been bribing him lots with cartoons and ipad time.  Hes had way too much of both this week, but its been the only way to keep him from being crazy. 

A teacher at school told Brad that one day she was helping in Clark's class and that he usually had excellent penmanship, but on this particular day, he was writing really sloppy and so she asked him why and he said, "teacher, Im just not into it today."  haha  We got a good laugh out of that one. 

Also, when I picked him up from school last week, he got in the car and told Kal that he had got something for him and saved it in his pocket all day.  And then he pulled out a cough drop, because Kalvin had been coughing all the night before.  So sweet!   

Brad had a little bit slower week at work and thats been a happy change.  Well, for me anyway.  He has been soooo busy the last few months.  But I think the closer we get to summer, the more things will start to calm down. 

I had a day with Jonas where he refused to sleep all day long and just screamed.  I think it was just his teeth combined with his dramatics.  Finally, the only thing that would calm him was being outside watching Clark and Kal ride bikes.  So we sat out there for a loooong time. 

We watched Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and the boys were slightly horrified.  Mostly just by the Umpa Lumpas.  It just made no sense to them. 

So for this weekend, I told Brad that I want to do absolutely nothing. 

We have been way too busy every weekend, its just time for a break 

So we got some movies and snacks and plan to just stay in our pajamas and watch the rain 

And I could not be more excited about it 

Brad teaching Clark how to make spaghetti :) 

Oh also, Brad got called to be the 1st counselor in the Young Mens Presidency.  So between his new calling and mine, things just got a lot busier around here.  haha 

But not this weekend.  This weekend we rest and sleep and hug Scout as tight as a 3 year old can hug.

We are crazy awesome

Ahhhhh Spring Break!!!  It was great.  I don't think that we are quite ready for it to be over.  Its been so fun having Clark home all week.  Kalvin has especially been enjoying having his buddy around to play with all the time.  I think he is excited to go back to school and see all his friends and stuff though.  He sure does like school, although he likes to pretend he doesn't.  Apparently he told his teacher that he doesnt like coloring and that he would rather just be learning stuff.  haha  Oh that serious boy.  He started Tball (although he insists we call it "baseball" because Tball is for babies) and he LOVES it.  He is obsessed.  All he wants to do ever is practice.  I just want to die watching him at practice.  He is so tiny and cute, I cant stand it.  I am so excited to watch all these little kids actually try to play some games.  Its going to be awesome.  Clark is also going through this weird phase where he insists on wearing his shirts backwards.  Its driving me nuts.  I will make him turn it around and then as soon as he is out of sight, he turns in backwards again.  Crazy boy!

Oh our poor little Kalvin.  He has been struggling lots lately.  His asthma is out of control!  I dont know whats going on...  maybe its just because its allergy season or something.  We got him a pulse oximeter so that we can check his oxygen levels throughout the day and especially when he is having an attack.  Its helped ease my worry actually being able to see the numbers and know that he is getting enough air.  We took him into see an allergist in Reno and are going back in a couple weeks for more in depth allergy testing so that we can get to the bottom of all this and decide what the best course of action will be.  But of course on top of all the asthma/allergy stuff, he got the flu.  This baby just cant catch a break.  He is such a little trooper though and just goes with it.  Throws up out the side of the bathtub and just keeps right on playing.  He is the sweetest.  And we always know when sickness is coming, because normally this boy will eat us out of house and home, but the moment he says no to a snack, we know whats coming.   

Our tiniest monster got sick.  He had his first ear infection, poor buddy.  He got over that and went straight into cutting teeth.  Hes been fussy and drooling and biting on everything.  But, the amazing thing is.... he has slept through the night 3 nights in a row!!!  9pm to 7am.  Oh my goodness I am in heaven.  So I can handle all the crying and grumpiness all day as long as he lets me sleep!  He is eating TONS and gaining weight like the chubby baby I dreamed he would be.  Hes over 15 lbs :)  He loves toys, loves watching his brothers and loves being on his tummy.  Still cant keep him on his back for anything.  He even sleeps on his tummy with his little bum up in the air.  And he just keeps getting cuter every single day. 

Things are all good with me.  Taking the RA one day at a time and trying to get my new calling figured out.  I have spent oh so much time getting our little house all cleaned and organized and running smoothly, and now that I have, things have got crazy again with cleaning out the garage and bringing tons of boxes in to unpack and what not.  We decided for Spring Break instead of going away, we would just spend the time/money on a built-in for our livingroom.  We have been wanting to put in some cabinets and book shelves since we moved in, so we thought we would move forward with that.  So we priced cabinetry.  Holy expensive!  And then we got quotes for custom cabinetry so that we could get exactly what we wanted... holy over my dead body expensive!  Why??  Why do people pay so much for cabinets??  Anyway, us being as crazy as we are decided to just build our own.  Thats right, we are nuts.  Or awesome.  Im not sure which.

We borrowed a trailer and went to Fernley and got all the wood we needed and drew up our plans and Brad started construction.   He is awesome!  We got a lot done over the weekend and its looking amazing.  We are probably about halfway done and I am so excited!!  I wish that he didnt have to go back to work though, so that we could get it finished faster.  But, today is Sunday, so it will just have to wait now.  We were suppose to speak in church today, but with Kalvin getting sick, only Brad went and just read my talk and sorta meshed his and mine together into one talk.  He is so good at that.

So now we are going to watch a movie, eat some dinner and deal with my teething baby.  Until next week friends...

General Conference

Marriage and family are not part of the plan of happiness, it is the plan of happiness

Boyd K Packer

Patience is not simply enduring; it is enduring well
Dieter F Uchtdorf 

We need to make plans that are not only wishes but covenants
Henry B Eyring 

Our actions are the evidence of our belief and become the substance of our faith

L Whitney Clayton

I am convinced that a husband is never more attractive to his wife than when he is serving in his God-given roles as a worthy priesthood holder
Linda K Burton 

We are each part of God's family
Carole M Stephens 

He is the way.  The only way.  We can overcome mortal challenges, be healed, and return back to our heavenly home.
Carole M Stephens 

You lift me and I'll lift thee and we'll ascend together

Quaker Proverb

No one has ever come up with a more efficient way to raise the next generation than a household of married parents with children
L Tom Perry 

We are on His errand.  Let us learn of Him.  Let us follow in His footsteps.  Let us live by His precepts.
Thomas S Monson 

As we fill our hearts and homes with the Savior's light, we will have the strength to withstand in every circumstance
Cheryl A Esplin 

Let us defend the home as a place which is second only to the temple in holiness
Bonnie L Oscarson 

If it is the Lord's plan, it should be our plan
Bonnie L Oscarson 

Listen with love
Henry B Eyring 

Seeking the Lord and feeling His presence is a daily quest
Jose A Teixeira 

Fear will be dispelled with faith in Jesus Christ
David A Bednar 

The eternal perspective of the gospel leads us to understand the place that we occupy in God's plan
Rafael E Pino 

We see God's miracles in His wondrous work and in our own personal lives

Neil L Andersen

The gospel is a fountain of knowledge that never runs dry.  There is always something new to learn and feel.
Gerald Causse 

The path that we have chosen to walk is narrow.  Along the way are challenges that will require our faith in Jesus Christ
Jorge F Zeballos 

However many mistakes you feel you have made, you have not traveled beyond the reach of divine love.  It is not possible for you to sink lower than the infinite light of Christ's Atonement Shines
Jeffrey R Holland 

The Lord can only teach an inquiring mind
Russell M Nelson 

Although we could not embrace all of her choices, we could embrace her
Brent H Nielson 

The more we understand the extraordinary role of Christ in our lives, the more conscious we become of our purpose
Jose A Teixeira 

Strong eternal families and spirit-filled homes do not just happen.  They take great effort.
Cheryl A Esplin 

His love never fails
Henry B Eyring 

 No other work transcends that of righteous, intentional parenting

Russell M Nelson

It is vitally important for our children to know that they are loved and safe at home
Quentin  L Cook

Today we celebrate the gift of victory over every fall we have ever experienced, every sorrow we have ever known
Jeffrey R Holland 

As we enter through the doors of the temple, we leave behind us the confusion of the world
Thomas S Monson 

A saint is a sinner who keeps on trying
Elder Relund 

All of us need the Savior's atonement to heal us.  All of us are lost and need to be found.
Brent H Nielson 

Jesus stands triumphant over death, although he stands on wounded feet.  He still extends unending grace, but extends it with pierced palms and wounded wrists.
Jeffrey R Holland 

We are eternally grateful for a living prophet and we love and sustain him with our whole hearts!!!