The Lion's Den

I felt a little like David in the Lion's Den today. We stopped by the MGM Grand for a quick look at the lion exhibit. Can you believe they let our kids right inside with the Lion's? Check out the pictures.

Actually, we were just outside the glass, but they Lion's were SOOO close it felt real. The lion keeper kept bring the blue stool and setting it right in front of Livy. The kids were petrified at first, but then they thought it was fun. Cole kept asking if the Lion was going to eat us for dinner.

The Coke and M&M Factory

We haven't really done too many tourist activities in Las Vegas, so we decided that since Shawn had the day off we should go down to the strip. Our first stop was the Coke Factory, as it has become Shawn's main source of food and energy. This wonderful drink gets him through long nights at the hospital and makes it so that he pokes children in the right places, gives accurate medication, and diagnoses correct diseases. So if any of you find yourself in the hospital with Doctors that are strung out on Coke you will know what that is for. Thank goodness for Coke! Here is a picture of Shawn and his main squeeze.

The kids each enjoyed their own drink. Livy was really upset when Shawn didn't buy her a drink, but they are sold in the traditional glass bottles (and loaded with caffeine) so she did get one.

Our next stop was the M&M Factory. The kids has a good time and I couldn't believe how many different colors of M&M's there are.

We LOVE Water!

My kids just can't get enough water. I have a feeling it is going to be a long summer with lots of water fun. I didn't get any good shots of Liv, but she was so cute. She would run right through the middle of all the sprinklers laughing the whole way. She is much braver than Cole when it comes to water fun!

Occupational Hazards in Motherhood

Occupational Hazard:
Danger to health, limb, or life that is inherent in, or is associated with, a particular occupation, industry, or work environment. Occupational hazards include risk of accident and of contracting occupational diseases.

Certain occupations have greater risk of injury than others. I believe Motherhood should be rated at the top and this is why:

Mothers work under constantly changing and often unstable environments. A disorderly house and lack of proper hygiene are routine. Mental integrity is often compromised, the work is often strenuous, and many situations will require the use of specialized personal protective equipment (wipes).

Motherhood involves repetitive strenuous movements (ex. changing diapers, cleaning toilets, making chocolate milk), standing for long periods of time, moving heavy loads of laundry, children, or car seats, and working in conditions where the noise level exceeds recommended audible conditions.

Mothers face an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, psychological stress and mental disorders, and strain injury due to improper lifting.

Seriously, last night I brushed my teeth with Desitin, used my hand several times as a tissue to wipe Liv's nose, wore clothes all day covered with snot, food, and who else knows what, fell down the stairs in pursuit of refereeing a fight, got stabbed with a lightsaber, my head was used as a basketball backboard, got my eyes poked out by Liv's fingers, raised my voice beyond normal speaking level, was sprayed with spit from Ethan and Cole, and some how this morning I woke up with Cole sleeping on my face. If that doesn't sound like an occupational hazard I don't know what does.

To top it off, Shawn came home with blood or some weird brown bodily fluid all over his shoes. I only became aware of this as Livy tried to eat his shoes. The crazy thing is that Shawn has no idea what or whose bodily fluid is all over his shoes. GROSS!!

Last Day of Preschool

Today is a very exciting, but sad day. Ethan is officially done with preschool and the next time he steps foot into a school it will be Kindergarten. Ethan's teacher is amazing and she has accomplished more with him over the past year than I could ever imagine. We made lots of good friends, but sadly most of the kids will go to different schools. We will just have to stay in touch! Thanks for a great preschool year Belinda! (please keep teaching, at least until Cole gets to preschool)

Are we really adults?

Sometimes I wonder if I am really a grown woman with three children. I still feel like I am 15 years old and all I want to do is play games, sports, and any kind of activity that gets me running and having fun. Maybe it is an early midlife crisis, I don't know, but I am really enjoying it. This morning for playgroup we went to Pump It Up! We LOVE that place and my kids just bounce off the walls-literally-and have such a great time. But, the highlight for me was when the mom's decided to race through the relay course. It was like American Gladiator Mommy Style! We raced two at a time until we had a champion. It was funny to watch the mom's all doing the relay and the kids watching, a little backwards right? I even came home with a few battle wounds. It got me thinking....are we really adults? Do you ever grow out of your inner child? I am not sure you do. My dad is living proof of that. He is 52 and still acts like one of the biggest kids I know (temper tantrums included). Weekly he crashes his mountain bike down the mountain, wrestles (serious wrestling) with my teenage brothers, and I think he has been in the ER more than any person I know. But for some reason he gets up each day and does it again. So, I just think the kid in us never leaves..... and that is a good thing.

I'm still here

Really, I am still alive- just haven't blogged for a while. Kids haven't been feeling great and you know how it goes. But I will share a couple of the past few days highlights.

1. When I was driving in the car this afternoon the thermometer registered at 102. Okay, so that is not really a highlight, but seriously it's only May. I am not ready for this hot of weather so soon.

2. I got my first EpiPen today. Yes, my hives are still here and have gotten worse. Now they are accompanied by edema (swelling). Some mornings I wake up with Angelina Jolie lips, sometimes I have my cankles back to remind me of the pregnant days, and some days my eyes are swollen shut and some I can't even get my wedding ring on. The past few days my throat has been swelling also and breathing has been difficult. So, this morning I went back to the Doc and got a few more pills to take (I already take 18 pills each day, seriously how many more can I take). But, hopefully soon I can get this hive thing under control.

3. Ethan's last soccer game was on Saturday. This might be his last soccer game EVER! He was not excited about it and it was usually a very tortuous hour for Ethan and both Shawn and I. But we survived and we will definitely wait a year or so before trying that again.

4. My first volleyball game since Junior High. Our stake just started a Volleyball league. I was really excited to play since it has been a while. I missed the practice so I was nervous that I wouldn't even remember how to serve, but things worked out okay. We won the game and had a great time. I discovered the next day that you use different muscles playing volleyball than for anything else and to my surprise I was a little sore.

Mother's Day!

For Mother's Day this year I got three kids with Strep Throat. Today I have enjoyed fevers, sore throats, green gooey snot, antibiotics all around, and lots of good pain killer. But, the highlight of the day was when Ethan pulled out a surprise that he made last week in preschool. It was the cutest little bracelet, not the fake kind with fruit loops or something, but a real bracelet made with beads. I would totally wear it out in public, and I am sure that this bracelet will always hold a special place in my heart.

Motherhood has been such an amazing ride. It has changed me in ways that I never thought possible. In becoming a mother, I realized how amazing my own mother was. I have never met a more amazing woman and I truly admire and respect her. My mom would drop anything in a second to help me and the kids out and she means so much to me. I love you mom! There are many more mothers who have helped me along the way and this day goes to you as well. Thanks for all your love and support!
Happy Mothers Day


Also, here are a few of this week highlights.

1. Getting to know my Pharmacist. I have been to the pharmacy almost daily this past week and my pharmacist and I are now on a first name basis. I know all about his two kids, as well as he knows all about mine. For a total stranger he knows WAY too many things about me and my family. It is so embarrassing!

2. Being totally disgusted out by the show Man vs. Wild. For those of you familiar with the show you will know what I am talking about. This week he bare handed caught a snake, killed it with a rock, ripped of it's head and started eating it. Cole and I had to leave the room, while Shawn and Ethan enjoyed the disgusting moment.

3. And last, but definitely most important was VISITORS! Shawn's parents spent the weekend with us. They are so great and took such good care of us. The kids went crazy loved every minute of their visit. We enjoyed some of the Strip festivities, particularly the Bellagio Fountains-the kids really like those, lots of good restaurants, playing, swimming, and shopping.

Tagged.....

I was tagged by my cute friend Kelly so I get to tell everyone 7 things about me that you might now know. Here is goes...



1. I am way OCD about closing doors, closets, and drawers. I really am not anal about too many things and I don't know when it started, but I can't stand to have a drawer left open or a closet door open. Or, if a shirt or string or something is hanging out of a drawer, I have to fix it. It drives me NUTS!
2. I really like to sing, but I can never remember the words. My dear husband always makes fun of me because I am always singing but NEVER the right words. I would have totally bombed on the Singing Bee show!
3. I really want to travel the world. As soon as my kids get old enough that I don't have to find a babysitter (that and a little extra cash would be nice), Shawn and I want to travel the world. From Paris to Machu Picchu, the Taj Mahal to Africa, Amsterdam, Vienna, Capri, Turcs and Caicos, and every place in between.
4. I am probably the least flexible person in the world. I can't even touch my toes without bending my knees. I took gymnastics for a long time when I was young and it took me a whole year before I could do the splits.
5. I hope someday to compete in a triathlon (well, not really compete-just FINISH!). I am not much of a swimmer (even with the webbed toes), so I should probably start working on that, but the cycling and running part seem kind of fun.
6. I miss going to school. I really do, you might think I am crazy, but I can't wait to go back and get a Masters Degree.
7. I really like taking pictures and hope that someday I can learn how to do it well, maybe even professionally. Maybe a few photography classes and lots of really nice expensive equipment!

Okay, well that was fun. I hope you each know a little more about me!

Fire Station 21

This morning for Ethan's preschool we went to Fire Station 21 on a field trip. The kids had such a great time. Ethan was smiling the whole time, especially when he was chosen to be the captain and got to ride up front in the fire engine for our little ride, with lights and sirens blaring, around the block. The kids got a chance to spray the hose and learn all about the fire trucks, ambulances, all the special equipment, and clothing that the fireman wear. It was a great field trip!

Captian Ethan Reese

Happy Happy Birthday Ethan Dear!

Today is Ethan's birthday-he is 5 years old. We have been celebrating all week with lots of presents, cake, ice cream, and a little Chuckee Cheese. Saying that Ethan was excited to go to Chuckee Cheese is an understatement, he was beyond excited. He and Cole ran crazy the whole time playing any game that would take their token. Shawn was like a little kid and kept sneaking off to play the games. I even enjoyed the skeeball game, it brought me back to Lagoon many many summers ago playing skeeball (remember Jam and Brooke). I've lost my touch, but I used to be really good! I think Ethan had a great birthday, but if you ask him he says that he didn't get enough presents. He expects everyone who sees him to come bearing gifts. Oh well, you can't please them all!

Race Day

Today was the big day- I ran my first 5K this morning! I ran with a group of friends in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure (breast cancer) race. It was so fun-I didn't think that about two miles into the race, but now I look back and it was so great. The energy and buzz at the race was so fun. I ran the race in 29 minutes, which isn't great, but I was just proud that I finished and didn't pass out. There were 20,000 people who ran this race in Las Vegas. It was crazy! When the race started at first you couldn't even run because there were people everywhere and we had to hop into the median to just get past people and start running. I feel so good to have finished! Ethan and Cole thought it was funny that I was running in a race. This morning before leaving Ethan told me that I probably wouldn't win because there are a lot of other moms faster than me. Thanks a lot for the support! But, overall a decent race and definitely great friends to run with-thanks girls for running with me! The goal is to shoot for the half marathon next fall in Disney Land. I will really have to get working if I even have a chance at that one.

Thanks Dawn for the pics!