Allergic

So we found that Spencer has an allergy (besides seasonal hayfever.)

Thursday morning while Ruth and I ran to the grocery store Spencer got stung by a bee 2 times (in different locations) on his face. They told me about it when I got home so I immediately gave him Benadyl (he has been known to swell with mosquito bites so I knew bee stings wouldn't be good...)

We went spent the day in Strawberry {had a fabulous time.}

8 hours post sting

We rolled in to Vale just minutes before midnight. At this point the Bedadyl was really starting to wear off and he was in a lot of pain. There was definitely some swelling going on. I woke Spence during the night to make sure he had Benadyl every 6 hours.

24 hours after the bee sting this is what Spencer looked like:

It just made my heart hurt to see him like this.

I found it odd that it was getting worse with time instead of better. I called the nurse who asked, "Can you tell if there is any swelling?" I laughed out loud {hopefully she doesn't find me rude because I know she wasn't in front of him but look at the poor kid!} She told me to keep giving the Benadyl and the Dr. would call in an epi-pen in case he started to have trouble breathing. Kurt and Jessie gave him a blessing. About an hour later the Dr.'s office called back. The Dr. wanted to see him before she prescribed the epi-pen but didn't have time to see him today. Seriously? o.k. I went to our clinic in Vale {they were all super nice and friendly btw.} Short story it was starting to get infected, they prescribed a antibiotic and steriod for immediate recovery. An epi-pen for future recovery if he were to get stung again. They cautioned me that subsequent bee stings will only get worse...

24 hours after meds {36 post sting}

Strawberry

Karen's friend from the mission, Jessie, came to visit. He got in Wednesday night. Karen and I were trying to brain storm great ideas of things to do while he was here. Strawberry Lake is my special spot in Oregon, I'm always happy to share it. We planned a day hike. We didn't get out of Vale until 11 am.



Once we got there we ate lunch and then started the hike up to the lake.


A little caterpillar came to say "Hi!" to Austin.

Emma Lynn had one of her famous-but-pretty-rare-these-days melting moments. You can not reason with her when she gets worked up. Ruth was already in the backpack and I was not carrying her up the mountain. I held her hand and literally dragged her up the trail (her feet were moving of her own accord so it was not a painful child abuse situation) while she shrieked and screamed all the way. Disturbing the quiet sacredness of strawberry. {{oh, it requires great patience. deep sign.}} Ruth sang with me all the way up to help ease the situation. At times she would put her arms around me and lay her head on my back, giving me a hug. It was so sweet and helped me carry on. The second Emma Lynn saw the blue of the lake she immediately stopped crying and ran down the trail happy as a lark. If only we could see the lake during the entire hike!



Tyler was a great help with Spence. {Thanks Tyler!}


I LOVE Strawberry Lake. It always makes my heart happy to be up at the lake.





Jessie showing Spencer how to fish.





After spending the day at the lake we hiked back down to roast dinner of hot dogs and smores.




I love to share strawberry.

Definition of

Summer brings a lot of "anniversary" moments.

June 18th - 4 years living in Vale {ya, I'm serious. This alone is HUGE for me. On the record, the longest place I've ever lived. e.v.e.r.}

July 26th - 2 years living on Graham Blvd {love this house.}

July 27th - 10 years ago Kurt & I got engaged {LOVE that man.}

Karen was so kind to inform me (on the eve of my 2 years living on Graham anniversary) that Malheur (the county in which I live) is a French word. The definition of Malheur is saddness, or woe.

LOL

Regardless this is home. And I'm hoping for many more anniversary moment in saddness county. ;)

lakeview

Summer wouldn't be complete without going to our favorite pool in Nampa {Lakeview.} We brought Kelli, Kenzi and Mollie along this time so they could fall in love too.

We had lunch in the park before.


Then tons of swimming fun.






















Memorable moments include Mollie falling asleep in the pool {seriously I didn't know anyone could do that! It was adorable.} And Kenzie havin' the time of her life. After all the kids had gotten out and were done Kenzie was still going strong. Kelli might be investing a lot of time at pools for the next forever.



Cousins continue the lakeview love.

Jeff's Family

Last Tuesday I got to watch Matthew for a few hours. Ahhh, he is so fun to love on. I always love me some newborns. Naturally we had to have a mini-photo shoot {how can you resist taking pictures of a precious newborn?!?!}







Thursday was Hallie's 3rd birthday. We were camping up at Anthony Lakes so we didn't get to go visit her grave. But today (a week after Hallie's) is Julie's birthday so we stopped at the cemetery to sing Happy Birthday and sent our birthday balloons up to heaven.







Saturday was also a baby shower for Julie and Matthew. There was a nice turn out and it was low key and yummy. Unfortunately Rooster was miserable with the side effects of her Anthony Lakes souvenirs {swollen mosquito bites and feverish.} I'm glad we could show our support and everyone could love on sweet Matthew.

We are blessed to have Jeff's family in our lives.

Back 2 School Mommy Date

I had a Dr. appointment in Boise today so I invited Austin to come with me for our Back to School Mommy Date. He was definitely a trooper to run all my {couponing} errands and hang out in the waiting room during my routine physical. Don't feel to bad for him because we did make time for a good lunch and his requested activity: Build a Bear!

All the other kids have done it so he has wanted to do it since March. He has had the whole thing planned out. He choose an owl, accessorized with glasses {wisdom} and didn't need shoes {b/c owls fly!}

We picked out a new backpack and a few new clothes for school. We also made a stop at Deseret Book b/c I had a gift card I wanted to use. We were there for an hour and a half. In the end I was waiting for Austin to finish up!

2 of my favorite moments from our date:

~ That my 7 year old is not too cool to hold hands with his mom in the mall.
~ Knowing my son finds as much joy as I do in spending time in a book store. And sharing it together.

I love spending one-on-one time with you Austin. You are a wonderful boy. I know I take that for granted mainly b/c I know your potiental. I hope that I can be a good mother to you. I will always love you!

Couponing Commitment

Last Thursday night I went coupon shopping with Marti and Renae Bair. We got home at 1 am and I was amazed with how much money I saved. I couldn't sleep when I got home after all my goodies were put away. I wanted to find more deals! A few days later after I got home from my camping trip I put together my coupon binder and committed to getting 6 Sunday papers. Now that is total COUPON COMMITMENT! ;)

As Kelli said, "You've been so anti-couponing. What happened?"

Reality hit when I saw our toilet paper and paper towel supply almost gone in our food storage room. I knew how much it would cost me to replenish my stash and I wasn't sure where that money would come from. And I also knew of the amazing deals Marti was always getting on every day items. I knew I needed to try it. Plus the one factor that made couponing such a turn off to me was TIME. With no preschool and no yw I simply couldn't use that excuse any more!

I really enjoyed Thursday night. It felt like a special treat to witness the coupon guru duos in action.

So today I went to Rite Aid by myself and got a few deals. It felt amazing to walk out of the store having accomplished it without holding someone's hand. A box of 325 wipes for $2 is a fabulous feeling.

Ya, I'm hooked.

MAC

Welcome to Mom's Art Camp{another 60 days of summer item)

We spent the day creating, and painting.

Giant Sized Marble Painting

which obviously provided an outlet for some hand painting


Make


and EAT

RAINBOWS
{the cookies looked a lot like rainbow caterpillars but we still ate them!}


Cracker Box Cars

We didn't even complete half of our projects. I think we'll have to make time for MAC part 2 or just work harder to spend time creating very day.

Perspective

Today I helped a non-member teenage friend with a sad situation. It gave me a lot of perspective. And truthfully a lot of gratitude.

This life really is a battle for our soul.

I realized how much of a bubble I've created for my life. A small, safe little haven for my family. I'm striving for it to become our own temple (filled with 2 main elements of peace and the spirit.) Striving being the key word.

After today I want to try even harder to make sure that bubble is completely air tight.

The perspective of her own self worth made my soul ache and want to bleed. If she only could see herself through my perspective. More importantly, from the Lord's perspective. I pray that I can be his instrustment so she can gain an eternal perspective.

How grateful I am for the blessing it is in my life to KNOW that I am a daughter of God. That I am worth something, EVERYTHING to my Father in Heaven. I pray daily that I can teach this perspective to my children that they too may know.

Drive-In

Parma has a drive-in movie theatre. We went the first summer we moved back to Vale and haven't gone since. One of our things to do on our 60 days of Summer list was a outdoor movie. I finally found 2 PG movies playing this weekend so we made plans to go last night.

The Rufs met us there & we're so glad they did, we've missed seeing them (they've been in Utah.)

The first movie was Shrek the Final Chapter or something like that. I'm not really sure what the name of it was or what the point of the movie was {we're not Shrek fans} but we had some good laughs {Do the ROAR} and most importantly the kids enjoyed it.

The Rufs left after that. We were drive-in die hards and stayed for the second feature, Karate Kid. Luckily Spencer and Ruth fell asleep right as it started. It was enjoyable. We got home at 2:40 am.











{And yes, you are not mistaken. We did put our nasty green couch from the play room in the back of the pick up. Hilbilly heaven, yee haw!} We had a fun time and have probably filled our drive-in quota for the next 3 years!

Trying to supress the urge to gag

Tuesday Spencer got his 4 year old shots (which he was completely brave for and did not even cry!) After he was finished the nurse annouced, "Spencer's ready for kindergarten!"

Are you serious?!! Please lady, I'm trying to deal with my daughter making that step next month. {Just typing the word "next" makes my stomach turn knots.} No need to shove the fact that Spencer will be right behind her into my face. Let's play nice here!
......

We walked into Wal-Mart only to find the SCHOOL SUPPLIES out in full force. Being a preschool teacher school supplies bring me a slightly scary amount of joy. {I love finding packs of glue sticks so cheap, I love the smell of a new box of crayon, not to mention the eye candy of colors, ahhhhh...} But it's July 8th. School supplies now? Are you serious?!!! Let me enjoy the rest of my all-too-short-summer in peace!
.......

And last and for sure not least, I know that any day now there will be a letter in the mail box for Emma Lynn. A letter about kindergarten. Don't get me wrong, I'm so excited for her to start this journey! And I'm excited for her to find out who her teacher is, and who will be in her class. But even with all that excitement that knot in the pit of my stomach keeps growing and growing. yikes. Austin received his letter on July 10th {yes, I did go back and check exactly which day his letter came.} That's 2 days away.

ECC

East Camp Creek.

It is the closest forresty camp ground. 45 minutes and then we are in camping heaven.



We got to camp around 6 pm. Marti and kids, and Grandma Renae & Grandpa Ken were already there. We got camp set up and jump in the roasting scene.





Marti set up a fabulous smore station.


That provided some great smore beards.


Bill & Cindy, Tyler and Kurt came up later that night. We enjoyed a nice breakfast Wednesday morning before they headed back to work.



We had a great day in the peacefulness of ECC.


Our yearly posing fence



Walk / Hike




Card Games {Uno & Sorry Revenge}


Dirt Diggin


Stick Horse Ridin


Austin was obsessed with maintaining the fire. He's going to make a wonderful Boy Scout! ;)


Emma's camping hair (done before we left but it worked great!)


Readin


And just hangin out






Sadly enough my allergies got unmanageable around 4 pm. Marti and Brooke were sleeping so the rest of the kids and I took a drive. I wanted to find Little Malheur. We drove for half and hour only to find a small river. They all fell asleep on the way back to camp. My allergies still had not improved so I knew we needed to pack up and get back home. I was sad to end our camping trip early because of allergies. Does it get any more pathetic than that? Clartin is definitely going in the camping box.