Spirit Week for Teila

Spirit Week at Emerson.
Sports Day first then of course Crazy Hair Day.
Now I don't claim to be the coolest mom, but I'm at least scoring some points with these!! And more importantly Teila was very happy.

West Virginia to visit TEGAN!!!

Tegan recently had her 6th baby!!! Little Sydnie Maxine Sherwood. She now lives in West Virginia where Nathan is doing his residency. My mom of course went out to see the baby and flew me out with her. This of course is just a glimpse of how pretty it was. The primary song about it being autumn sprang to mind (either that song or I just made one up that says "it's autumn time, it's autumn, there's ..... all around." to the same tune as another primary song,..anyway)
Needless to say it was beautiful to see trees leaves actually changing colors...



and fog in the morning waiting for the bus stop that was almost tangible.

It was simply beautiful!!

So let me first tell you about little Sydnie's arrival. Tegan is always induced, except for Brennan, but those were special circumstances that we feel certain God had a hand in. Anyway, she was going to be induced late Sunday night. Friday night she started feeling contractions. Nothing new for her, she has Braxton-Hicks for like a month. She was starting to get kinda uncomfortable after about 2 hours and decided to go down stairs to time them, only 10 min. apart. It wasn't long after she got comfy on the couch that her water broke. She paged Nathan to come down because it was 5 in the morning, he quickly assessed the situation, called the lady from the ward, then the paramedics. To no avail, they didnt' make it. By time Nathan really got the situation under control Sydnie was crowning and Tegan, still in denial about not having meds, was ready to push. 1 1/2 pushes later she said, Sydnie was here!! All I can say is it's a good thing Nathan's got skills!! She was 8 lbs and both mom and baby were doing wonderfully by time the paramedics got there. For immense pain that I myself have never felt, it's good it didn't last long. She's like a pioneer woman!! She did great!!

Back to the trip- you would think that I would have managed a picture with all the kids, but we were busy and it never seemed like a good time and then there was no time. Ridiculous I know! Never the less I got some cute pics. These are some favorites.

Brennan holding Sydnie.
At the bus stop: Brennan, Kate, Kenzie, Creighton, Me

The only one missing besides the baby, is Samuel/Sammy. He's almost 4.

Another one at the bus stop: Me holding Creighton, Kate, Kenz

Creighton wanted some marshmallows and took matters into his own hands when he was denied such a treat before dinner.

Kenzie playing soccer. At one point during a drill a boy was just standing there so she kicked her soccer ball right into his shins and then I heard a slight giggle as she dribbled her ball away.






Kate is a sweetheart!


























If you consider flying to WV to work to help your sister organize her house, cook so she can have easy meals, shopping for new organizers and this and that, clean up the basement where you throw everything you don't know what to do with, (mine is an office) then we had a good time.

If you consider visiting a sister that you love so much it's bringing tears to your eyes right now just typing this and having to leave, not being sure when you'll get to see her again that it makes you cry 30 min. before you leave, and you enjoyed spending every second you can with her!... then I had a perfectly wonderful time on my trip to West Virginia!!

I love you Tegs and your little kiddos that feel like my kiddos!!

Sunday nights with Jarmans

I'm sorry to copy Beth again, but she just has such a gift with words and I knew I could not out do this. This was stolen from her blog, so sorry if you check on both.


"On Sunday nights at my parents house

it is not uncommon to hear the deafening sound of children squealing.

It is not uncommon to see little girls dressed in crazy outfits from grandma's dress up box, or some serious make up designed by older cousins or young aunties.

It is also not uncommon to see adult men competing in ridiculous competitions like who can jump the highest, kick the farthest etc.

I have seen 6 siblings stack into a human tower.

Silly things just really abound at my parents house on Sabbath evenings.

Well this last week I died laughing when without a prompt this little one started demonstrating his skills...

Only to one up himself with this...

There is no surprise where he learned it, but oh so funny still!"

Oh little Joe, I hope you never ever ever change!

Danny's first Haircut!!

Danny's hair was getting pretty long. I hate to cut it with his wonderful little curls and such but when someone said he looked like he had a toupee, you gotta do what you gotta do. It was a bit unmanageable for me as well. I just never know what to do with boys hair. Luckily we know someone who can help a poor unfortunately hair soul like me..Auntie Beth of course!! Everyone should have one.

Before Auntie got started.

Daniel and Auntie after. Thank you Auntie!

For Shyla

This post, is simply proof to my sister, Shyla, that even though it is difficult, I do indeed share my El Charro left overs with my kids, particularly Joseph. (I didn't even know this was recording, it is genuine!)


























Joey eating a special cookie that Aunt Shyla got for him because she knows he LOVES Choc. Chip

Joseph story

Somehow this got missed and never posted. You guys have been missing out!

Joseph in Kindergarten was getting tested on recognizing numbers 0-10. A line was under the six and nine to tell which way was the correct. Joseph was able to read the 9 upside down (btw, he's a genius) :
Teacher: "Wow Joseph were able to read that upside down."

Joseph: "I just used my ninja brain power."

Typical Makenzie

This is my wonderful niece Makenzie or Kenz as she sometimes calls herself. Many of you may not know this about Tegan because she hides it well but she is a spitfire, esp. when provoked. Let's just say Kenzie is like Tegan in that way. Here are some stories she just emailed me:

Year:2009

One evening we were driving home from a scouting event at the church in Omaha, Nebraska. The whole family was there including Nathan. It was dark outside. Kenzie asked her dad to turn the light on in the car. Nathan said, "Why do you need the light on?". Makenzie said, "So that I can see what I am doing." Nathan then responded, "Well, what are you doing?" Makenzie then made a very logical statement. She said, "I don't know, I can't see!"

Year:2010-3rd week of Kindergarten

The other day I was talking to Makenzie about school and she was telling me things that were going on. She then told me that she got a yellow light that day. This pique my interest and so I asked her why she got the yellow light. She told me that she had pushed a girl in her class while they were in line. I asked her why she pushed the girl and she said, "because she wasn't moving fast enough!"

What I want to know, is why I was not told these stories immediately after they happened?!?!
I can't wait to go visit her in 2 weeks!!

Aghh- the boys

"The boys" I'm lovingly referring too are my brothers in law. When over for lunch yesterday Michael was holding the baby, Daniel, and another worker asked how many kids Eddie and I had. I heard him say 4, and I said "are you talking about me and Eddie Mike?" He said "Yea." So I had to tell him, "we have 5."

Then when Robert came over he asked Robert how many kids we had and he said 4! Come on Robbie!

Both had to count in their head and confirm the number was indeed 5. As if I wouldn't know.

Is 5 really that much more than4? It feels like we have a big family now and people have told me that once you hit five you are considered to have "a big family."
Huh....

Boys conversation

So coming home from picking Johnny I pick up on this conversation between John (7) and Joe (5)

John: ...like 3 , no 4! have a crush on me (just like a man to add one more in front of another guy) but I only have a crush on one.

Joe: I have a crush on 2.

John: Do you love them?

Joe: No! I just like them... I do want to marry them though.

I can't hear...

Joe: I don't know their names. (Typical)

John: (in a matter of factvoice) I'm going to tell Steven(Eddie's little brother age 9).

Joe: No! Don't tell Steven or my life will be ruined!

Then they quickly switch to imaging/wishing what or who could fly and fight.

Now as a mother I think "WHAT THE?!?!?"
But it's so stinkin cute, what am I to do?

I need help!...

So suddenly, when I try to look at a private blog, including my own, I have to sign in EVERYTIME!!!! I didn't used to and now I do.

It is really annoying. I have tried to look into my settings, bla bla and I've got nothing. I tell the computer to "remember me" and still I have to sign in every time using my ID and password.

Can anyone solve my problem?