Mother's Helpers

I am so excited. Aaron's cousins Rebecca and Rachel started their second week with us today. They are coming to help me one day a week during the summer. At first, I was apprehensive about having five kids running around, but I soon learned what a blessing it truly is. They are extremely helpful. They read to the kids, do crafts, help me gather them to wash hands, make waters, prepare food, whatever. I'm sure we will have our moments this summer, where it might get hairy. But, honestly...when isn't it hairy in this household. It has been something I look forward to and it is so nice to have family that is willing to help me out. I have attached a few pictures of McKenna and her new/used birthday bike. You can't pass up a ten dollar barbie bike, right? Gotta love a good yard sale. I have also included some pictures of the kids with their cousins. Oh yeah, and a picture of Caleb with his tongue hanging out...just like mommy does when she's concentrating. Like mother, like son...Too cute.

Baby in there

OK. So, I know this is a picture of Caleb....I just didn't have a recent picture of Trevor that you haven't already seen and I love this one of Caleb. Nonetheless, here is a funny story out of the mouth of Caleb's older brother, Trevor.

It goes something like this...
Trevor: Mom, there is a ball in my ball. Why is it there?

Mom: One day, Trevor, when you are much older, it will help you to make babies.

Trevor: Can I touch it?

Mom: Only in private.

Trevor: How about when Caleb is there?

Mom: No, only by yourself, Trevor.

Trevor: Well, when the baby comes out, I want to share it with him. McKenna doesn't share her babies. I'll share mine with him.

(Why, oh why, did I decide to try and tell him the truth?)

Ault

Here are the pictures from Ault Park. I have just gotten around to downloading them. It has been a crazy nightmare here. As you know, we are in the process of renovating our kitchen. We hired a friend of the family to do the work. Of course, as everyone knows, this is a bad idea. We tested this theory and found it to be 100% true. So, the guy we hired had another worker with him. As I was bathing the kids last night, the employee was finishing installing the new dishwasher (which was something we weren't expected to have to buy, but found it had a small leak in the motor which couldn't be repaired). I heard some commotion downstairs, but that is what you hear when your tearing down walls, laying flooring, etc. So, next thing I know, I go downstairs and the worker is bleeding profusely from his hand. Not only was he bleeding, but there was water gushing from the pipes under the sink. Apparently he hadn't shut off the water before cutting the line to the dishwasher. He sliced his finger trying to stop the boiling hot water from spraying all around my new kitchen floor. Since nobody was around to help him, he let it go and ran around like a chicken with his head cut off trying to find someone to shut off the water. At this point, we have spraying bloody water filling up the kitchen floor. It was then that I realised that there was a true crisis going on. I got the worker band aids and neosporin and went upstairs to the now tackling and screaming kids. I overheard the worker telling everyone to wash their hands immediately. I then realized the tru crisis. This guy has Hepatitis C. So, I had to break out the bleach...pronto. We spent the better half of the next three hours bleaching every surface of the first floor and the basement. The new flooring has since buckled up in spots, we have bubbling base cabinets, and now have water damage to the front room of the house too. Did I mention that the "worker" wiped his silicone glazed hands on my new granite, making his hand print irreversible and very much noticeable if you are looking at it? And did I mention he had freaking Hepatitis C? I am still in shock and there are a few more things that went wrong with this remodeling project, but don't have the energy to put it into words. I think I am more at a loss for words, really. Honestly, I know that there is so much more to life than water damage (oh yeah...it also seeped down into the ceiling of the basement that we just finished last year)...OK. Let me start over. There is so much more to life than worrying about this crap. It is who you share it with and how you spend your time. So, I am done griping and I am ready to smile and move on. Life is too short to be mad about everything. And you live and learn, right? NEVER AGAIN will I hire a friend of a friend to do work. I would rather spend the money and save the heartache.

By the way, Caleb is soooooo much better. Back to being a bratty, but adorable three year old.

Itchy, Itchy, Scratch, Scratch

Well, here are the pictures of Caleb. For those of you who don't know, he had some sort of allergic reaction (we think) and ended up with hives on every part of his body except his shins and feet. We were at the pool this week and think it could be that, but aren't sure. I say "we think" because we don't have the greatest faith in our pediatrician, who told us for two years that Caleb's daily (and sometimes, hourly) vomiting episodes were "normal" and that he was simply a "puker". Come to find out he is severely allergic to eggs (bad enough that they gave us an epi-pen), chicken, pollen, dogs, cats, mold, grass, etc. So, not sure I trust that this is just hives and not to worry. These pictures don't even show his now swollen eyes. I am actually keeping the epi-pen handy, in case he goes into some kind of anaphalactic shock. It may seem crazy, but he looks really, really bad.

We also spent the morning at the park. I am hoping to edit those photos this week. Been a little pre-occupied with Caleb and the fact that we have no flooring in our kitchen. At least the renovation is underway. It would be nice if, while Caleb is doing so poorly, we could just relax in the cool house. But, as it stands, we need to get out of her. First, he can't be around any allergens right now (dust is an allergen last time I checked) and we can't be around because the whole downstairs is in disarray. Those pictures will be soon to follow too.

Frontiers Day Parade

So, we went to the annual Frontier's Day Parade this week. I took a million pictures, but haven't really found the time to edit them. The kids had a lot of fun, the adults did too. Not much has changed in the town since the last time I was there. I have fond memories of the parade. I do wonder, though, when they stopped throwing out candy. The boys were a little disappointed that they couldn't ride rides (too long of a line and too expensive) and the lack of candy throwing (economy, I guess).

On to the pictures...there are a few in front of the steps where Aaron and I were married. I love this. Also, the pictures of the kids on the bench in front of the church are important to me too. There are some pictures of Trevor, Caleb and their new friends. I love, love, love, the pregnant, smoking teenager. Only in the town where I grew up, would there be such a fine specimen. And then there is the clown. Those of you who know me know that I HATE CLOWNS. OK. I FEAR CLOWNS. So, that picture is cropped and that is all I could stand to look. It was great to go to the old stomping grounds and see some old and new faces.

Trevor Tuesdays

I am finally editing pictures from Trevor's baseball game last Friday. I thought these turned out really cute. I love the pictures of Caleb (who wanted to play with his brother oh-so desperately) and Pepere with McKenna. Oh yeah, and Caleb with his purple purse (I mean purple man bag, Aaron...sorry). Anyway, once again, Caleb had a difficult time. I am thinking we are going to find a sitter for him this week. I think I need a break. Speaking of a break...Mimi took the boys for the day. They went to the Aquarium (better her than me...I hate that place), had a picnic lunch, rested, went to Coney Island and went to Chipolte for dinner. Of course, I couldn't handle being away from them for that long (and I was itching to go to the pool), so I joined them for a dip in the pool and burritos at Chipotle.

McKenna and Caleb are starting to get sick. McKenna has actually had a cough, runny nose and has been pulling at her ears for some time and Caleb is just starting to show symptoms too. I couldn't get them in tonight, so am taking them tomorrow to get checked out.