Happy Birthday To ME!

I wouldn't normally post about my birthday but this post really isn't about me.
I started working at the boys school on Halloween. I am an aide in the resource class. I love it. I go to school with the boys in the morning and then when Ryan is done with kindergarten he walks down the hall to my class room and i am done for the day. And we get to go home together. And some days when we want to we can stay and have lunch with Ethan and Sam. It's really the perfect thing for me. Last year the secretaries at Sharon kept telling me i should just get an aide job since i was there so much and then I'd at least be paid for it. So when i heard there was an aide job at the new school i thought what the heck. And i do love it. Low stress since I'm not the teacher. No meetings since I'm not the teacher. Projects that i did when i was volunteering in the classes. One on one time with some of the students. Reading and Math at levels that i totally have mastered. And the timing in my day is perfect.
Anyway, the point is that i had to work on my birthday (just like everyone else does). Blake that morning had to do a class so he was on the phone in his office when we left for school. When i got home he had left for the office in Sandy since they had meetings. But there were flowers on the table on the counter and even in our room. I thought oh that's so nice of him. He's good to me. And I will fully admit I'm easily bought since those flowers made my day. I would have just been content with that. But as the day went i got lots of calls and emails and texts from friends and family and that always makes me happy.
The boys were cute all day trying to find ways to help me and be good and kind to each other. And i would find them whispering (not very quietly) to each other about doing this or that together to help mom out or make a card together. It was very sweet of them too.
Then as the afternoon approached and i was getting ready to start dinner Blake called and said since he had to work late that night (as per his Thursday schedule) he would pick up dinner so i didn't have to worry about it. Again i would have just been happy with that. I had to run to the store to get some milk for the boys and when i got home i went to put the milk in the fridge outside and noticed what else Blake had been up to that morning. He had made me a cheesecake with a strawberry chiffon/glaze top to be topped off with chocolate dipped strawberries. AND he had cleaned it all up in the kitchen so i had no idea that he'd done anything. What an awesome husband i have! Just to make you all drool I'm posting the pics of the final product. Take my word for it, it was AWESOME! Just added to my perfect day! Happy birthday to me. (I won't mention either that he totally surprised me with my gift that i made him take back so he could get his computer but he still hooked me up with a great gift in the end.) So thanks sweetie for making my day great!

Sorry ladies he's taken.

Future Bach and Beethoven

Halloween morning the boys had a piano recital (again happy they were healthy in time, cause they had worked hard to get ready for it). This was Sam's first recital and he was so excited. He played his pieces perfectly. The boys were doing one solo and then a family duet. Which means that they were doing one piece with a family member. Some did piano duets, others did singing and piano, and another did a quartet. I was supposed to do the duet with Sam but i will be totally honest i didn't get as much of my practicing done before the boys got sick and i certainly didn't get done when they were sick. So i know I'm horrible. Sam was fine with it. He got to do his duet with Anne Cox his piano teacher and friend. That week was our last lesson with Anne so i think it worked out just as well (at least that's how i justify it in my head). Sam was a natural performer. He played them perfectly and then bowed the most gracious bow ever. He was very happy with himself after it was done. And he should be, cause he did do very well.

Ethan's duet was with Blake, Ethan accompanied Blake singing. They did Josh Groban's Polar Express song "Believe." Both of them did great. Blake wasn't sure about it when he got his cold earlier in the week because he wasn't being able to hit the notes like he had practiced. He was worried but for no reason. It was wonderful. I love that the boys are doing so well with piano. After the recital we went to lunch at wingers with grandma and grandpa Young. (grandma and Grandpa Priday were out of town visiting my sister). The boys thought that was pretty awesome too. I know Ethan and Sam loved doing the recital but i also know they were happy to be going on to new songs. Especially since it's time to be getting Christmas music out. Great-Grandpa Leland Priday would have been proud. There is some musical talent in our family.

Halloween

This year we were not sure if we were going to be able to celebrate halloween with the usual routine. Sam was just getting better from swine flu/h1n1, and Ryan was starting to cough some here and there. Luckily that's all it was for Ryan, just a few coughs. So Thursday night (Oct. 29th, the night before the halloween parties at school) we had to scramble to get the boys costumes decided. We usually have it figured out weeks in advance since its such an exciting day/event for kids. Lucky for us we have our stash of costumes. Friday the boys had their parade at the school and then that night our ward/neighborhood did a trunk-or-treat and chili cook off. I love the trunk or treats, get it all done in 30 minutes tops. Kids are happy, mom/dad are happy, and still lots of fun and less time in the cold. Then Saturday morning the boys had a piano recital in Orem (more to come on that). So off to orem we went. We figured since we were going to be there we'd do the trick or treating at grandma and grandpa Youngs a little earlier. They came to the recital and then we all went to lunch and headed back to their house. The boys put on their costumes and loved being out of the house for the first time in well over 10 days. Glad that they all were healthy again. Happy we got to celebrate and enjoy the fun of halloween. That night our neighbors that live just one street down did a big fire (in fire bowls) and had the street decorated with lights and music playing and games going for all the kids. It was a blast. Yet another great way to celebrate halloween.

Blake was a "bone-ified" chef, Ryan and I were pirates, Sam was an indian, and Ethan went as Swine flu. Ethan carried around germ-ex hand sanitizer with him. You'd be surprised to know how many people really liked that. Happy Halloween.

Yep, we got it.

Well, Sam did anyway. We are now a part of the statistic of one in 5 kids in the states having swine flu right now (at least that's what the doctor said). Sam was home being sick all of last week. On Friday morning I called the Dr's office to see how many days i let it go before i come in. Sam had been coughing all week--lots during the day and lots during the night. I knew his throat had to be pretty raw. They said bring him in and we'll see what it is.

That mid-day while we were passing the time waiting for our Dr.'s appointment, we were all out on the front lawn basking in the sun and enjoying the fresh air. I was explaining to Sam what they would do at the doctors (check your throat, listen to your lungs and heart, etc.). He understood. Sam then asked me if he had swine flu if he would die. In shock i said no, no of course not. Poor kid thought he was going to die. I explained that the people that he's heard of dying from swine flu had other health issues. And that since he was a very healthy boy before he got sick he would be fine if we listened to what the doctors told us and we took good care of him. He was quite relieved of course.

By the afternoon Sam was defiantly getting worse. I was really glad i had made the appointment that morning cause i would have been trying to get him in to the after hours or the insta-care otherwise. When we got to the Dr's office we didn't have to wait long. Sam had to put a face mask on as soon as we walked in because he was coughing so much. Once in the back Sam was burning up and was really wiped out. They swabbed his nose and said it would be 10 minutes. While we waited, he just sat wrapped up in my lap so still. When they came in they said, yep, he's got it. Sam has been a trooper. Every time i have held him to help him or comfort him he's said thanks mom. When I've told him how sorry i was he doesn't feel good, he quickly says back "it's ok mom, it's not your fault" or just simply "it's ok mom." We got him into the Dr's just in time. He was boarder line going to the hospital. His oxygen level was at 90 (and anything below that they send you in to the hospital). They said after listening to his lungs that he wasn't quite pneumonia yet. But after all that if he got any worse or wasn't showing signs of improving we'd better bring him back into the office or take him in to the hospital. After getting him home we sprayed EVERYTHING with Lysol and tore all the beds apart and started washing everything. Sam took some time to start getting better but he finally did. He's gotten some better each day.

We had decided we needed to just all stay locked in and stay put for the weekend and possibly Monday to be sure we were not exposing anyone and spreading it. In some ways it's been nice to have a quieter stay at home weekend. Out side of the coughing fits, endless temperature checks, and constant coughing at night anyway it's been great. He is feeling lots better. You can tell by the smile. Oh how i missed that smile.Ryan wanted to pose with sam so he went and got his mouse nose.

YO-YO!

We have a new "yo-yo" master at our house. Ethan has been playing with his yo-yo lately and since Ryan is as cool as his big brother he wanted to play with his yo-yo too. Ryan's yo-yo is one of those balls that never needs winding and always comes back to you. He sure thinks he's pretty cool--cause he is of course. I think it's just as fun watching his face as he's doing the tricks. He's got some skills.

Livin' in Paradise

We live in a boys paradise, really. Dirt, sticks, and rocks as far as the eye can see. And bugs and lizards and frogs to catch most days. Dirt bike paths, endless running space, and lots of friends to share in the fun with. Saturday morning, after jobs were all done, the boys headed out to bask in the warm sunny day. As Ethan was getting his mitt and ball out to play catch with Ryan i was taking some boxes out to the garbage can. Just as i was passing my car, that was parked in the garage, i saw a little lizard by the back tire of my car. You'd think we were used to seeing so much wild life at this point, but we're not. We've seen the lizards a few times as we've gone for walks but not really up close. This time we got to see it right close, and Ethan was even able to catch it (much to my surprise). Sam had already headed down to the new neighbors that moved in this week to see if they could come and play. I told Ethan to go show the new neighbors (since they have boys too) and Sam. They all thought it was great. "Lizzy" is now a part of the neighborhood too. Lizzy the lizard

Just in time for pictures

For the last while Sam's had a few loose teeth. Problem is that they really have not gotten any looser (more loose, less, or lost. boxes, boxen, moose meecen). Every once in a while we'd point out to Sam that he needed to wiggle his teeth if he wanted them to come out. We'd try to keep him motivated, but he would loose interested in wiggling and we'd remind him again later. Sam being the kid that was nearly in tears 2 years ago when all his friends were loosing teeth and he was not, you'd think he'd want to get them out. I guess he's no sucker for peer pressure.

(This is Sam attempting to make his teeth loose. He tried to tie the floss to the door and it wasn't staying tied. So i told him I'd hold the strings and he could just fall back. He laughed more than anything. He was having too much fun.)We might have the genetics stacked against the boys to having healthy teeth, but the root system is amazing. I was in 3rd grade when i finally lost my front top teeth. And Ethan was the same way. So tomorrow is picture day for the boys and Sam (being in 3rd grade) had been working more on his teeth over the last week and they were getting pretty loose, but still not out. Tonight i put the boys in bed, a little earlier since they got to bed later last night, as i left their room Ethan said his tongue felt weird and Sam said something about wishing he would have gotten his teeth pulled. I said just go to sleep both of you we're all tired and we need the sleep. As per usual, Sam was up and out of bed about 15 minutes after i closed the door. When i got upstairs he said his tooth was bleeding, and it was. (Timing is everything for a kid right?) And it was not too much more work to get the tooth out. As he was working on getting the tooth pulled, Ethan came walking into the hall with a tooth in his hand. He had pulled one of his molars. Well that just motivated Sam to get his tooth out faster and sure enough it was out within a few minutes.Poor Ryan. He was so wanting to add to the fun of the evening, and he kept trying to tell me "Mom, MOm, MOOM, look my tooth here, see, it's uh, it's uh, it's flat." I said yep, it sure is lets keep it safe right there for now. Ok. He said ok.

Well with Sam's one front tooth gone and the other one loose and not being held back because of the first one, Sam was determined to get it out as well. At one point Sam said "I wish my hands were bricks so i could just whack my tooth out." It took another 20 minutes of old fashion pushing and pulling, since he didn't have hands that were bricks. And out it came. Funny kid. And i thought he was hard to motivate.