Guess what time of year it is?

PoOl TiMe!


Can you believe that we are already swimming. The kids and I had a great time swimming this week. Ethan LOVES the water, Cole loves to play dress-up with all the floaties and lounge around the steps, and Liv HATES the floaties, but likes the water. So, we are off to a good start with our summer swimming. I am sure we will have many more pool adventures to share over the next few months.



*sorry, I know the pics are bad quality. I used my very old camera because I didn't want to take my nice one and get it wet!

Congrats !

We just found out this morning that Shawn passed his board exams. YEA!!!! Way to go babe, I knew you could do it!

Question for the Doc!

Shawn had two funny questions last night at the hospital that I think are worth repeating. One mom brought her two month old baby into the ER. Her complaint: My daughter has a hole in her head. While that might cause some concern, she was referring to her child's soft spot. So Shawn explained about the soft spot and that her child would be just fine.

Next, she wanted to know if Shawn could pierce her daughters ears. Shawn just started laughing, but I guess she seriously thought it was a medical procedure! Shawn continues to be amazed daily at the questions he gets. Most revolve around feeding issues, like parents who feed their newborn baby food (I'll give the mom a little credit on that one. After all, it is called baby food-not six month old food).

Beauty Shop

Ethan and Cole decided to play beauty shop with Livy today while they were outside in the backyard. This is what Livy ended up looking like (keep in mind they used the garden hose in the backyard to help wet her hair). She laughed the whole time!


What is the problem with buying kids toothpaste that tastes good? They just might eat the whole tube, as Cole taught me this morning. I wondered for a second if we should call Posion Control. It looks like we will have to find a new place for the toothpaste.

Olivia Jo

Livy was tagged by her cousin, Maycee, so here are ten random facts about her.

1. She can eat us all under the table.

2. She LOVES to gives hugs.

3. She likes throwing things...down the stairs, in the toilet, and everywhere else.

4. She has an amazing smile and laugh.

5. She is chubby, and even has rolls on her rolls.

6. She is slow to get teeth, with only two bottom teeth and one top, but the other top one will be making its appearance soon.

7. She is a great little walker and is even starting to pick up the pace, almost to a toddler gallop.

8. She has finally figured out that if she climbs off the couch, bed, and stairs backwards she doesn't land on her face!

9. She can scream really really loud, especially during the night.

10. She has two brothers, a mom and dad, and many other family members that completely adore and love her!

Dad Rules!

Why is it that my kids always want their daddy to do everything for them? They want daddy to brush their teeth, read them stories, fix their ouchies, make them chocolate milk, play Lego's (and I am pretty good at Lego's), make sandwiches, ride scooters, play football, read scriptures, and help say prayers. Pretty much anything that occurs during the day is requested to be accomplished by the one and only, Dad (who usually is not home.) If Shawn and I both take the kids somewhere they are only glad that Dad is there, if we both are watching TV with them they only remember watching TV with dad, and if they want to make something special for someone (picture, food, etc.) it is always for Dad. You probably wonder why I complain about this, but the reason is because Daddy is never the one to do these things, it is me. And boy does that make my kids mad. Dad is the hero of the family, regardless that I am the one who kills all the bugs, cleans all the toilets, and takes care of the garbage. Here is an example during my conversation with Ethan earlier.

Ethan: "Mom I talked with a NICE stranger at the park tonight."
Mom: "Ethan, what would you do if that so called nice stranger tried to get you to go with them somewhere?"
Ethan: "I would just get dad to beat them up" (okay, so that is a little aggressive, not exactly what I was looking for, but don't worry we talked a little more about NICE strangers later).

That is they typical response to anything and everything....that Dad will fix it!

Tonight while at Ethan's soccer practice someone was commenting on how my friends kids all looked like her husband. Her response was that she often heard that and while she thinks her husband is good looking, she feels like since she did all the work getting them here, she should get some of the credit.

I am kind of feeling that way about parenting. I am the one who does all the nitty gritty parenting stuff, but yet the kids still think daddy is the greatest. I could never even come close to comforting their needs when they are sad. Or when they are sick and throwing up, all they want is Dad. I just get to clean up the throw up all over the wall! What am I.....chopped liver? Even after all of the cookies I have baked, silly games (that Shawn would never play), and all the fun outings to the park, they still LOVE their daddy best. But, I guess I can't be that mad, because really I am glad that they love their dad. I don't mind taking the backseat on this one. Someday, maybe in twenty years or something they will remember their sweet mom who sacrificed everything all for their happiness!

Yah for Kindergarten!

As of this morning Ethan is OFFICIALLY enrolled in Kindergarten. I am so excited for him, but also so scared. My little boy is entering the world of public education, and in Las Vegas of all places. But I am sure he will be fine, he is such a friendly, happy person. I was the dorkiest mom at the school this morning, asking the secretary every question in the world about Kindergarten. We live on the boundary to a different school than the one all his friends in the ward will go to, but I think he will do fine making new friends. Who knows, this could be Ethan in a few months!

Actually, I think this is what Shawn has looked like the past two days while he has been taking his board exams. He finally finished tonight and what a relief to have that over, well almost, it will be much better in a month or so when he finds out if he passed. Every few years for the rest of Shawn's life he will have to take board exams. As a consumer of medical services that makes me glad, but as a wife to a doctor that makes me mad! At least for the next two years we are done with board exams.

Ethan's Wisdom

We were at the park yesterday morning and as we were leaving Ethan took his water bottle and dumped it all over the ground. When I told Ethan to stop it he said, "But I am making the trees so beautiful and green." Oops, I guess I got the wrong impression-that he might be wasting his water in this drought ridden city.

Ethan's Wisdom: If the trees look thirsty, share your drink with them.

Ethan is so efficient with his time. Last night while we were walking Ethan to his bedroom he folded his arms and started saying his prayers. When I realized what he is doing I told him that he shouldn't walk and say his prayers because it isn't reverent, and that he should always kneel to be reverent. So, the next thing I know he stops in the middle of the hallways and gets down on his knees and continues his prayers. The funny thing is that he was still walking down the hallways on his knees.

Ethan's Wisdom: If you say your prayers as you walk down the hallway you get things done faster.

Ethan is really funny with boogers. They freak him out and he refuses to blow his nose. So last night Ethan had a booger and Shawn instructed him to get a tissue. I wasn't in the room and later when I went to bed I went to grab a tissue and it had a big booger sticking off the top. I guess that is improvement, at least it got somewhere near a tissue.

Ethan's Wisdom: If you just use the top of the tissue to wipe your booger and leave it there, you can still use the bottom half of the tissue later.

Ethan: Dad, when you were little did you want to go to Disney Land?
Shawn: Yes
Ethan: Did your Dad take you to Disney Land?
Shawn: Yes
Ethan: Well, my Dad won't. He is mean.

Ethan's Wisdom: If you make your Dad feel guilty for not talking you to Disney Land, when he got to go as a child, he just might let you do it soon.

At soccer practice this week Ethan was instructed to follow his coach while dribbling the ball. Ethan didn't really understand, so he was told it is like follow the leader and that he needed to follow his coach. Ethan's response, "We follow the prophet." Isn't he such a smart boy!

Ethan's Wisdom: Follow the Prophet-enough said!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LIV

Today is Liv's first birthday. I know we celebrated it a few weeks ago in Utah, but today is the official day. Liv is such an amazing little girl. When I was pregnant, before I new Livy was going to be a girl, I remember that I didn't really care too much whether she was a boy or girl. I thought I would be totally satisfied with three boys, but the second she was born there was something so special about having my own little girl-it was so amazing. Ever since then she has been such a joy! She is so full of spunk and attitude and so so cuddly. I look forward to many more years of loving my sweet little Louie( aka Liv).


Livy at one year old!


Also, as a side note. As the perfect daughter-in-law that I am, I forgot to include one amazing doctor on my "doctors that are NOT pains in the butt" list. That would be my wonderful father in law. Truly, he is the best pediatrician I know!

Cole and Emerson sitting in a tree.

K-I-S-S-I-N-G

I don't really think they are kissing, at least not yet, but they are sure cute together. Although I did see them both under a blanket together tonight at the park! Cole just adores Emerson and he says her name so cute, almost with a little lisp.



And for the doctor update. I went to another doctor this afternoon. I am happy to report that this doctor was much better. He actually went to the same med school as Shawn and he was very helpful. He even gave me his personal cell phone number so that Shawn and I could call him if we needed. He tweaked my medicine a little and added yet another pill and a bunch of lab tests. So, things should definitely be getting better soon!

What kind of fish do you eat?

Ethan: Mom, I want fish and broccoli for dinner tonight.
Mom: That sounds great, except I don't have any fish.
Ethan: Well, what about those fish over there. (Pointing to the gold fish on the counter we are babysitting for a friend).
Mom: Ethan we don't eat that kind of fish.
Ethan: What kind of fish do we eat?
Mom: We just eat fish that live in the ocean.
Ethan: Okay, I guess those fish are pretty small anyway.

Chelsie, you might want to claim your fish back. We just might eat them for dinner!

Scripture Scouts!

I remember driving to my grandparents, who live about an hour away, on Sundays listening to the Scripture Scouts. I LOVED the music and we would always sing as loud as we could, unfortunately for my parents. The Scripture Scouts are a group of kids and one dog named, Boo, who meet together to learn about the scriptures. They talk about the stories and then sing songs. For Easter I got these CD's for my kids. They have CD's for the Book of Mormon, Old Testament, New Testament, Articles of Faith, and Family Proclamation. We have been listening to them everywhere and I am so amazed at the conversations that Ethan has initiated because of these CD's. He asks me why people didn't listen to Jesus, why they hurt him, how he can get the warm feeling in his heart from Jesus, he asks why people were wicked, and most importantly he now proclaims that he LOVES Jesus (previously he wasn't sure about that). So, I am highly recommending these CD's to anyone who wants to help teach their kids the scriptures in a fun, alternative way. They have been successful so far, and I don't even think Shawn minds it too much when I sing along in the car!

Aren't Doctors a pain in the butt?

Well, not my husband of course, but other doctors. This morning I had my endocrinologist appointment. The one that I schedule two months ago, but this was the earliest appointment-it is a good thing that I am not dying. Anyways, I dump Ethan and Cole off to a friends and head to the appointment bright and early this morning. I was there at 8:15 and sat in that same small room form TWO HOURS!!! I am not kidding-it was totally pathetic. Livy was with me and at first she was doing great, but after the first hour she started getting fussy. While I was waiting I had to fill out about 10 pages of info about my health history. As soon as they take me back to the exam room I have to meet with the nurse and he asks me the same questions that I just spend the past half an hour filling out-and he spoke really bad English so it was difficult to understand. Next, I finally see the doctor and she spends the first few minutes asking me the SAME questions. This might not seem like a big deal, but last night the office called to remind me of my appointment, but they said that the doctor might not see me because she didn't have my records from Utah yet. Well, I requested those records about 6 weeks ago so they totally should be there. Finally after many phone calls and a not so happy Jenn (I hate being mean to people on the phone) my records got to the right place. So, I was so mad this morning when they asked me all these questions after they made such a big deal about having my records. Seriously, READ the records-it will save us all a lot of time!!!

Next,the doctor took my pulse and she looks at me and says, "we need to get you on some beta blockers." I am thinking "what the heck are you talking about. I just came here to get my thyroid checked." She continues to tell me that I have tachycardia, which I have never had a problem with my entire life, and that I need these meds. I wanted to say that the reason my heart rate was elevated is because I just spent the past two hours in your crappy waiting room and I am ticked off. Anyway, she continues to lecture me one thing after another regarding my history and she actually didn't believe that I was telling the truth. During this time Liv is crying and I am trying everything to keep her quiet. She wants me to come back twice during the next week for a follow-up appointment (really like that much is changing in one week), and for an ultrasound of my thyroid. Does she have any idea how hard it is to find someone to watch my kids for TWO HOURS while I waste my time in her office??? Finally, the torture is over and I can go home-after I get all the lab work done. Livy and I finally find the lab to get my blood work and the lady informs me that the person drawing blood won't be back for two more hours. By that time I was done, so I took my lap slip and left.

The best part was that when I got home and relayed this message to Shawn he asked for her number. I said, "they will never let you just talk to her." Next, I hear, "Hi, this is Dr. Reese. I need to speak with Dr.******* immediately". I was so impressed. Shawn was ready to tell this lady off, but unfortunately she had already left the office. So he hung up and as he looked at the lab slip on the counter he started laughing. He could not believe the things she was testing me for (osteoporosis and a few other crazy things). He took the lab slip and ripped it up. First she wants to put me on beta blockers and next she is testing me for osteoporosis, when all I want is my thyroid checked! Shawn told me that he would not let me go back to her. I was so relieved-thanks for taking care of me babe!

But really, some doctors do suck! It is so hard when you move to a new place to find good doctors. We had to test out a few pediatricians when we moved to Las Vegas until we found the right one. It is a good thing I know a few good doctors because bad ones really can take advantage of people. Sorry for the long post, but I feel much better now.

Dominica Flashback

I was searching through my old photos and I found all our Dominica photos. It reminded me of what a beautiful place it is, so I thought I would share a few-especially for those family and friends who haven't seen the island. I have tons so it was hard to pick just a few, but these are some of my favorites. We had some amazing experiences there. Enjoy!