A Doggie Day

Now that I am finished with radiation and can admit that I am trying to lose weight we have been making our appearance at the gym again, this morning it didn't happen, I had planned on it, I even got my gym clothes on, and the kids had their shoes on. That's how serious I was, until I sat down to check my email, and then check out some blogs, then work on a project on the computer, and then i wanted to finish this beading project I'm working on. The kids were playing so nicely and next thing I knew it was lunch time, and much too late to go to the gym and get naps in, so I attempted to do a Pilates DVD and that lasted 6 minutes and ended because all of my kids were "excercising" with me and somehow managed to maneuver themselves so they were actually on top of me, , I know resistance training right?

While I was making lunch the kids decided to play dog. Katelyn wanted to be the dog and Dallin be her little boy and Dallin wanted to be the Daddy doggie and Katelyn be the mommy doggy and Grant be the baby dog, so after some debate that's what they agreed to do. it was so cute, we ate a doggie dinner, on the floor with water dishes and all. I think that makes up for not going to the gym, don't you?

Grant really wanted to get down and eat on the floor with the others, he just didn't want to revert to crawling again, so that was as close as he got and then I gave him his "doggie dinner at the table.

When I asked for a doggie face this is what I got. they aren't exposed to too many dogs.

Dallin, attempting to roll over, I think.

Katelyn with her "water dish"

my excuse for not going to the gym is my kids runny nose, and here is the proof, Gross huh?

All Done!

I am officially finished with cancer treatments. It's gone fast huh? at least that's what everyone tells me... Friday was my last round of radiation. over all it went well. I never did get that sunburn effect everyone warned me about, and I was ready for it too, three different super intense lotions that don't smell that great and aloe vera to boot. I do have a spot under my arm that is tender. but it's a small spot and will not need a whole bottle of aloe vera, so I guess I'm good. . my skin did turn red, in fact I have a big red box that covers that entire side of my chest.

the appointments themselves went well, thankfully each appointment was short, sometimes very short, the part that made it long was dropping off and picking up my kids from various babysitters and the fact that the Moffitt is 40 minutes away from my house. if we hadn't moved over a year ago it would have been 3 minutes away, but then we wouldn't have free rent, I guess those are just some of the choices you make.

The radiation itself went fast, most days I would sit down open a magazine and they would call me back, have me change into one of those oh so flattering gowns that every hospital sports, and lay down on an adjustable table where they would spent 10 minutes tugging and pulling on a sheet under me until my tattoos were lined perfectly with the light beams, then they would leave the room while I received the radiation, which was a lot like getting an X-Ray, I felt nothing, and I didn't even glow afterwards, I checked. and that's it. I was done, it took longer waiting for Valet to return my car then it does for the actual appointment. and that's how it went everyday for five weeks. and now I'm done.

Not on my watch

Dallin has found a new love in the kitchen, he loves to cook, loves it, and wants to do it all the time, it doesn't matter what we are making he wants to be part of it. so Cameron and the kids were going to make some dinner, Katelyn soon lost interest so she and I went to go do something while the boys finished up. Later as I was downloading the pictures from our camera I discovered these shots.

Yes in deed that is a HUGE, sharp completely dangerous real actual knife.

and yes he is indeed cutting carrots with this knife. Carrots? seriously? I suppose if he were cutting something easier then carrots he wouldn't need a knife bigger then his arm, but seriously?

Thankfully he survived with all fingers and toes attached. next time I'll send Cameron to hang out with Katelyn and I'll so the supervising in the kitchen. who know maybe these cooking experience will turn him into a great chief. I would still rather he reach his third birthday before using those kind of tools.

Happy Valentine's Day

We realize that this type of letter is generally sent out with Christmas cards, and indeed we had this written before Christmas, that is everything but the last paragraph. So we’ve updated it in time for Valentine’s day.

Elisabeth has had a crazy year, she was minding her own business doing usual mother things: cooking, cleaning, making hair bows, playing with her 3 kids, taking trips to the library and playgroups and going to the YMCA to exercise everyday, when in late June she was diagnosed with stage 3, grade 3, triple hormone negative, invasive ductal carcmoma. Or in other words breast cancer. She has since gone through chemo therapy, and has had surgery; she is currently doing radiation and has been a trooper though it all. She rarely complains and manages to remain positive and happy through it all.

If you talk to Cameron and ask “what’s up”, he is likely to say, “nothing. Same old, same old…” This is not exactly true. Besides the craziness mentioned above, He is also almost finished with medical school and has applied to do a 5 year residency in radiology. He has had interviews in Jacksonville FL, Mobil Alabama, Phoenix AZ, Albuquerque NM, Knoxville TN and Richmond VA, Houston and Temple TX, and Miami, Tampa and Gainesville FL. To say the least he has been out of town a lot. He will turn in his rank list the end of this month and we find out March 19th where we will be spending the next five years of our exciting life.

Katelyn is a sweet charming 4 year old. She loves everything princess, pink and beautiful. She is terrified of haircuts, I think she worries that mommy wants to cut her hair to be bald, so they can be the same. She has recently discovered Spanish Disney princess music and sings along to “Besala” (Kiss the Girl). She is a little mommy. She loves taking care of her baby dolls and younger brothers. Unfortunately little brothers aren’t always as cooperative as baby dolls and has, on occasion turned to Grant and in an exasperated voice said, “you are driving me Crazy!” (where did she hear that one?) she loves to dance and sing. She is into rhyming but doesn’t quite have it. She loves to come to us and say “watch this, Piiink, Dreeeam! They’re the same.” The proper response to that is, “Yep, they both have the long E sound huh?”

Dallin is a cheerful, excited, smart two and a half year old and is greatly influenced by his older sister. He this year requested a Pink Spiderman for Christmas, I’m not sure there is a big market for those. But if you find one let me know. Or you may want to keep it for yourself as I’m sure it will be a collector’s item. He has recently developed a fascination with “bad guys” which includes any toy that looks scary. He has also developed a deep, loud, nasally; sing song voice that he uses any time he plays. It reminds Cameron of Dumb and Dumber where Jim Carrey says “do you want to hear the most annoying sound in the world? Naaheahh” imagine that sound ALL DAY. Dallin is our most cuddly child, if he could have his way mommy and daddy would do nothing but hold him everyday, including holidays. He gives the best compliments. We often find him telling Katelyn that she has pretty hair or mommy that she looks beautiful.

Grant is a cute, happy, and excited about life one year old. He has recently joined us in the world of the walking. He has traded his speedy crawl (I’m telling you this kid could crawl faster then most kids can run.) for a much slower, unsteady penguin walk. Every now and then he tries to go turbo speed with walking….it’s frightening. Now that he can walk like the “big kids” he also feels that he can and should be able to do everything else they do. including eating with a spoon drinking with a big cup, and brushing his teeth by himself, in fact his favorite companion is a toothbrush, not a day goes by where he isn’t found trotting around with one in his hand, and he’s not picky about whose it is or where it gets left either. He does all of his communications by way of point and grunt and when that doesn’t get him what he wants he has been known to dramatically throw himself on the floor and have a full out tantrum, fake cries and all. Unfortunately for him Katelyn introduced us to that a while ago and so has lost its shock factor. Come to think of it, each year seems to reduce the shock value of so many wonderful kid behaviors….except for Dallin’s constant noise.

So that’s us in a nut shell, We love you and hope you have a wonderful Valentine’s Day…. That is if it hasn’t already come and gone before we actually get it sent off… Just to be safe, Happy St. Patrick’s Day too.

Two Princesses, a pajama baby and spiderman

Katelyn's best friend Emily came over to play at our house yesterday. although my kids have been to Emily's house countless time this was the first time Emily had come to our house and stayed. usually she is with her mom dropping something off. we had a great time hanging out with her.

we started off with a little "tea" party. Grant was thrilled to be a part of the fun. in fact after this he refused to sit in his high chair all day. Grant has been a bit under the weather the past few days, so yes in deed those are his PJ's... for the record he is feeling much better.

Next we broke out the play dough. The kids had a great time creating funny looking animals and "cookies" Thankfully most of the cookies went uneaten.

after that we turned on the music and before long the princesses came out in full bloom completely accessorised.

Dallin wasn't about to be left out and went searching for his "prince" outfit. (it's actually a pirate costume, but we would appreciate it if you didn't let him know...) unfortunately, the prince costume was no where to be found. but have no fear for Spiderman and Super Underwear Boy appeared in his place.

A day such as this wouldn't be complete without Dallin's classic "Cheese"

Animal Kingdom here we come!

Cameron had the day off so we decided to go to Disney once again. the only thing we had to work around was the pesky radiation appointment, so I scheduled it early, 7:15 in the blessed AM. and since the hospital is 40 minutes away and on the way to Orlando it meant we had to get the kids ready and out the door by 6:30am, yeah it didn't happen, but we were close. and before long, actually to tell the truth, it was probably my longest radiation appointment yet, we were off to Disney's Animal Kingdom and that's when Katelyn got eaten by the skeleton of a tyrannosaurs Rex.... oh wait that's a different story...

.... or is it?

the kids seemed to have a great time, and they even remembered our lesson about smiling and looked at the camera a few time. Now if you are thinking to yourself, "hum, I wonder if Katelyn wears that dress everyday." you just might be onto something, because in fact she does, or at least she would if I would let her, and often I do because it's just not one of those battles I'm willing to fight every time, and it's a cute dress, although getting shorter everyday.

you also may be thinking, "hum I wonder if Dallin and Grant match everyday?" but alas no, unfortunately Dallin and Grant only have three matching shirts because frankly that's what we can afford and most of their clothes are hand-me-downs and strangely, not too many other people have their boys 18 months apart, weird huh?

but speaking of Grant, he loved Animal Kingdom and was much more excited to be there then he has ever been. Grant was Thrilled to find out that the curb was the perfect height for him to sit on, he would wander over and sit, then grin up at us with glee then stand up and clap for him self and sit again. It was very entertaining, He was having so much fun that the other decided to join him.

He was in fact very sad when it was time to leave.



Dallin on the other hand was ready to go.

and it would seem Katelyn was too...

but she is faking it.