re: Things our kids do

I found a great jewelry web site for you to check out on the inexpensive wedding ring. It is called naturesjewelry.com I think that is the web site. If it doesn't work let me know. And if that is the worst that happens with kids, it's not so bad. I had a friend whose son (he was 2 at the time) broke a small figurine that her mom owned, only to find out that it was a collectors item worth over $2,000. There was no way to replace it even if they had the money.

The things our kids do

Let me tell you a story of a little by named Kip. Yesterday, 29 November, Kip found his way into our bedroom. Kip found next to our bed a drink a quarter full of some very watered down soda with a straw in the glass. This was Caren's drink from the night before. Kip, as it turns out, is fascinated with straws and all that is wet. I heard him playing in the bedroom and went to investigate. I found that he had taken the glass off the bedside table it was on and placed it on the floor. I was amazed that he spilled so little of the drink. He was then playing with the straw in the liquid. I promptly tooko the drink away from the one year old and placed the cup in the kitchen.

I discovered later that day that Caren did a quick cleaning of the kitchen later that morning. As she dumped drinks and other stuff down the drain she did not hear anything out of the ordinary. She noticed the food was piling up so she turned on the garbage disposal. She quickly turned it off because she heard a sound that she knew was not food. As she dug in the sink she found her wedding ring.

Apparently, Kip added the ring to the drink before I took the drink away from him. Since Caren's drink of choice is dark in color I could not see the ring as I transported the cup to the kitchen. Caren loves ice in her drinks and so only thought the cup still contained some ice when she heard a clank into the sink as she dumped out the cup.

The ring, fresh from the garbage disposal did not look that bad, except that the main diamond and the crown that help it in place was now missing. Me, being the budding home-fix-it husband took the u-bend off from under the sink. A miracle happened in that I found the small clear diamond. I eventually found the crown the diamond used to be in.

Now we have one wedding ring that is a little worse for wear. The funny thing is that I made mention not to long ago that I had wanted to upgrade her ring to a more fancier ring or something. I was thinking this would take place 5-7 years away from now as we really can not afford anything like that right now. I am glad I found the big diamond. We plan on seeing how much it costs to use the same stones but have a new ring made. We shall see. In the mean time, Caren is looking for a cheap ring to wear as a temperary wedding band. That way the EFY kids won't hit on her if we visit next summer. ;-)

School

It has happened sooner then I thought it would. Adam is starting school today. He and I are now in school at the same time. I figured this would happen, but I did not expect it this soon. Adam will be attending the same school Jacob went to before Jacob started Kindergarten. Adam will be at school 4 times a week for 2 hours each day. On 2 of those days a second person is there to help with his speech specifically. The rest of the time he will be working on fine motor skills and other such stuff. Caren and I are just happy that we are getting some professional help for his speech.

Otherwise: all is well at home. We hope all is well elsewhere as well ;-)
SKT

Thanks

Thanks Keryn!!!!

Love,
LaDale

November 23

Happy Birthday Heather!

Happy Birthday Erica!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Semi-relevant question

I've been wondering this for a couple of days now: You know the saying "Running around like a chicken with its head cut off"? So how do you really cut a chicken's head off? Is it possible to do by yourself?

Think about it. Most people have two arms, right? So if you are holding the chicken down on the cutting block with one hand, you've got the ax in the other hand...how do you make sure the chicken's neck and head stay put so you can lop it off? If you hold the chicken by the neck, aren't you at risk of losing your fingers to the ax? But then how does it work? Do you need a guillotine?

Speaking of pumpkin pie...

About twenty minutes before Brad got home from work, I had dinner in the oven and I was STARVING because I'd skipped lunch. I was trying to ignore the smell of baking potatoes when who should appear at my door but my visiting teacher! She brought me a freshly baked pumpkin pie made from fresh pumpkins and it was still a little warm from the oven. She couldn't stay to chat, she just handed me the pie, asked how I was, and had to run.

Okay, so it was about fifteen minutes until Brad came home and dinnertime...

Of course I sat right down and had a big slice. It was delicious.

Re: QOTW

My least favorite Thanksgiving food are not candied yams- although they are not far from the end. My least favorite food are those silly jelly cranberries. I will without fail, fail to place these on my plate.

Now, on to the favorite- It's what I always take and always leave for last- Dixie Salad- Mom's way- and GOOD pumpkin pie. Funnily enough- not all pumpkin pie I've eaten is GOOD pumpkin pie- But GOOD pumpkin pie is GOOD pumpkin pie.

Re: QOTW

I'm with you, Keryn, I HATE yams!!!!!!! Not with marshmellows, not with nuts, I will not, will not eat them here or there, I will not eat them anywhare!!!!

My favorie Thanksgiving food will always and forever be..... Pumpkin pie!!!!!

Thanksgiving QOTW

I think we've asked what your favorite Thanksgiving food is, but I'm going to ask again, and add to the question: What is your LEAST favorite Thanksgiving food, the one that you will always and forever skip at the buffet line?

My favorite is a toss-up between hot stuffing with gravy (oh, yum!), and those silly jellied cranberries.

My least favorite? That's easy easy--Candied Yams. Hate. Hate. Hate. Even Uncle Van's famous ones. Yuck-EE!

Ross Family Update

Sorry I've been MIA for so long. There have been a lot of things going on in my life right now, and all of them slightly crazy, so that when I finally get a chance to relax, I just don't have the energy to compose a blog post. But I've been feeling guilty, and missing all of you so much this week, that I'm just going to buckle under and say "Hi!"

Hi!

Okay, so health update first. Ezra and Daddy are all better from the cold/flu combo that hit us last week, Mommy is nearly better (sore throat and stuffiness still), and Mercy was doing better but is extra clingy and sad this morning, so who knows if she's really over it. If she isn't feeling better by tomorrow morning, I'm taking her to the doctor to check her ears again--I don't want to have to go to an Urgent Care over Thanksgiving (like Caren had to last year!). Dule is a tap dancer, a mime, practicing American Sign Language, or possibly all three. My poor insides sometimes feel black and blue from all his actions. He is by FAR the most active of my three, which is marvelous and exciting (but not at all diagnostic of future mobility). LaDale thinks maybe he knows this is the time to exercise this little mortal body as much as possible, since it's going to be a lot harder when he comes out. Sounds good to me. I think he's a boy that's going to make the most of all this opportunities.

My OB and my perinatalogist have slightly differing opinions on when Dule should come, which is a little annoying but could be much worse. My OB wants to induce on...maybe you should all sit down...December 14. The FOURTEENTH. That's, like, tomorrow almost. It totally freaked me out, although I played all cool and casual. My perinatalogist thinks we should wait until Monday or Tuesday of the following week, which would be either the 18th (Efram's birthday) or 19th (Sam's birthday, on Brad's side). I think they are all insane because there is no way I am ready for this baby to come AT ALL, much less in less than a month. I mean, really.

We really won't know/decide anything until the end of the first full week in December--December 8th, to be exact. We will definitely be doing an amino before induction, won't THAT be fun (and expensive). This baby will definitely not be able to sing "Born free, but now I'm expensive."

Other interesting stuff--it's almost Thanksgiving and I'm not done with Christmas presents (ack!), but I do have roughly 1/3 of them wrapped and labeled. I don't know if I will be able to make the pj bottoms for our family, which is a pity because I already bought the material and it wasn't very cheap. But I've been concentrating on a few other things--my sick family, my calling (I'm doing the Christmas party in less than two weeks and I need to finish the invitations and call the caterer), and my thesis.

Oh, my thesis. Yes, it still exists. Yes, I have my rough draft back from Dr. C, and it is rather marked up, but you really expect that from him. I have four more illustrations to do, and a few other things to clean up. But then it's done. And there it will sit until a couple of months after Dule is born when I have enough energy to write all my letters of petition, pay my last two credits, and DEFEND. And, not so incidentally, get a blasted MASTERS degree before Samuel, who started undergrad the same year I started grad, gets his DOCTORATE. (Yes, that's my goal, to beat Samuel, who is four and a half years younger than me and took two years off for a mission. I'm a modest woman with modest goals.)

Oh, how I miss you all! I really hope you are all having safe travel to Vegas and that you all have the most joyful of joyful Thanksgivings.

More stuff learned/reminded of

Sorry, it has taken me so long to get back to you about why Sundays are such wonderful days. Actually- it is nothing specific except that I love how I feel after having a Sunday. They rejuvenate me. I love partaking of the sacrament, I love going to Sunday School and Relief Society, I love associating with the members of my ward.
Last Sunday had the potential of being a crazy say. I had been asked to speak in church the previous Tuesday and with being at the Brady's and such- it was not my usual week. Although I had worked on my talk throughout the week, I went to bed Saturday night exhausted and without a written talk. So, early (about 5:30am) I rose Sunday morning to finish my talk, and practice the piano a bit (for the choir was also singing) and get dinner started (since my friend Sara was coming for dinner) [Side note- thanks mom. The extra tomato sauce worked- you couldn't taste the saltiness after it was mixed with that and then with the potatoes). I had to be to church early for choir and yet everything -EVERYTHING- got done and I did not even feel extra rushed. It was a fantastic day- even though the stake presidency was there and I had a quote from President Porter in my talk- apparently I quoted him correctly because he said he liked the talk.
All right, enough rambling. All I can say is I love Sundays. Thank goodness the Lord gives them to us!!!

On another note- I made a Dixie Salad yesterday for our Enrichment meeting (Christmas program on November 16th- oh well). Well, I managed to peel two pomogranates in 20 minutes. They are not as well know here as in Vegas and the store had big sign on how to peel them, so I tried it and was amazed at how easy it was. And nothing got splatters. Basically, they had you peel them under water. It worked so well, I thought I would tell you all about it.


Love you all.

Updates

So, I told you that we didn't expect to learn much at Tyler's doctor appointment, and we didn't. Basically, Dr. Vincent just agreed that there were some irregularities in Tyler's MRIs that made it so waiting a little on the diagnosis was a good idea. She gave an order for the MRI that Tyler will be getting in December and we just need to call that in and get it scheduled soon. While we were waiting (forever) in the waiting room, we saw a flyer for an MS seminar that both Dr. Vincent and Dr. DeWitt (the other Dr. we saw at the beginning) were speaking at. We asked Dr. Vincent about it and she told us it might be a good idea to go. It was completely free with complamentary dinner and parking, so we went. It was last night and was very informative and fun. It was set up in a banquet type area with 8 people per table. The table we sat at had an older missionary couple (they're actually at the MTC), a couple from Wyoming, and two men (I'm assuming brothers). The one who had been diagnosed the longest was one of the two men. He was in a wheel chair and had had MS for 17 years. He had been diagnosed when he was 16. However, I was really impressed with his outlook on life. He was a very cheerful person and was making jokes the whole time. They were all really great people and it was so good to meet and talk with other people who have MS and who know what it's about. There's another seminar the Thursday after Thanksgiving, and we're planning on going to it as well. The information on the different drugs was also useful, but mostly it was the company that made it so good.

So, we're planning on being in town Tuesday night. We'll be leaving about 1 on Tuesday afternoon. This is our first trip with Katy, so I, at least, am a little nervous about it, but I'm sure it'll be fine. We love you all and can't wait to see you! Happy Thanksgiving!

Weekly, or biweekly, update

I have come to a realization, as I am sure most of you have as well, that I love looking on the blog and reading about what events and/or activities each one of my family members and their families are doing. I sadly have also realized that I have not been sharing much about my life. I have teken the back seat and let Caren do her QOTW. I have taken this to also be my contribution to the site as we log on with the same name. But, alas, I should not be so selfish. I love being involved, or at least slightly informed, of the lives of those who I care so much about. With the idea that you also are interested, at least a little bit, in my life I have come up with a solution for myself. I will try to post a comment on what has happened in my life each week or two. Trying my best not to let 2 weeks pass by without you hearing from your very wierd brother Samuel. So hear I go.

Caren and I finally arranged our Christmas / New Years plans in visiting her family in Logan. I have realized, yet again the difference between quick travel and cheap travel, ie flying and driving. I understand still why we don't fly more often as a family to different places. It just costs too much money to pay for 3 seats on an airplane. Kip is still allowed a free flight provided he sits on our laps. And it can only get more for us and for each of you and our families continue to increase.

As for school; This semester is quickly winding down. The realization of Thanksgiving is the realization that finals are around the corner. In addition to my classes, most of you know that I am preparing to tackle my next hurdle toward my degree, an oral exam in front of people. Yes, I said it, "People." Since this exam is not scheduled years in advance I have the option to take it whenever I feel ready, as long as it doesn't take too long. I hope to be ready in January, before next semester begins. All I will do when I feel I am ready is contact the people who have to be there and tell them the place and time. I hope all goes well. If everything else gets in the way I will postpone this hurdle until May. But I will make an attempt to pass this part well before next August.

That's a lot to read for now. Love you all tons. Safe travels and see most of you in a little over a week. - SKT

Sundays

I ADORE SUNDAYS!!

Only, no time now to elaborate.

Love you all,
LaDale


P.S. Christmas is coming- which is about as good as Sundays!!!

Okay, never mind

For whatever reason, this just isn't working. I guess I'll try to add those pictures later. If you want to see them before then, we're putting them up on our website. Sorry!

Okay...

Try again...hopefully the pictures post this time.

Pictures

These are a couple of pictures of Katy in her cute Sunday dresses. The pink one I'm not sure where we got from, but the black and white one is from her Grandma Smith (who's going a little overboard with clothes shopping for Katy...not that I mind!). Anyway, just thought you'd like to see her.

Also, Caren, Happy Birthday! I'm sorry I missed it...I hope it was a great day!

Hi everyone!

Okay, I know, I'm terrible. It's almost been a month since the last time I wrote on here. I check it frequently, but I've gotten really bad at responding. So, to catch up...

First, cute Halloween pictures! I hope everyone had fun. I would post a picture of Katy, but she didn't dress up this year. The only outfit we had was the cave girl costume that Keryn let us borrow and it snowed on the night of our trunk or treat. So, we decided to just bundle up and go as a family. Actually, I think Tyler and I decided that Katy went as the cutest baby girl ever. =)

Second, in response to Keryn's QOTW, my favorite fast food place would have to depend on my mood, but most of the time, it's KFC. If I want really good fries, though, I go to McDonald's, curly fries and burgers, I head to Burger King, and if I'm just not in the mood for any of those, I'll go to Taco Bell. When Tyler picks, we usually end up at Panda Express, which is really good, but does funny things to my system, so I can't really claim it as a favorite. Anyway, there you go!

Third, exciting news! Katy rolled from her back to her stomach today! It was so exciting. She was playing with her tights on the ground and just rolled right over! Then she looked at me with this shocked expression like "What just happened?" Eventually she got her arms under her so she could push herself up off the ground and then she rolled again back onto her back. I commented to Tyler that I'm really going to have to keep the floors vaccumed now. There's little bits of leaves all over the place that blow in every time we open the door. She just about got one into her mouth before I could take it away.

And in other news, we go in for another appointment with the neurologist, Dr. Vincent, tomorrow. We don't expect anything new will come from this visit, but you never know. Anyway, we love you all very much, I'll try to do a better job of keeping you all posted from now on and I hope you have a wonderful Sunday!

Really quick

Really quick because my brain is about to fry with thesis revisions, but what movie is this from:

Did I just do a commercial?

If you know the answer, put it in the comments!

What I have learned/ been reminded up this past week

(1)- When you must leave at 8:50 to get somewhere by 9:00- do not, at 8:50 say, "Okay, everyone into the car, we have to go," because by the time everyone is in the car it will be 9:00 and you will be late. It does not matter if you are talking to a 5 year old, a 9 year old, a 12 year old, a 15 year old, any two of them, three of them or all of the above- you will still be late. Even if they already have their shoes on, you will still be late. I am amazed at how long it takes to pack one little 5 year old into a car.

(2) I enjoy cooking much more for a large group. Maybe it is because I don't very often- or because while cooking, I know someone else will be eating it- I haven't a clue but cooking for one is not as much fun. (No doubt after having four kids and cooking for them day in and day out I will change my mind- but there it is).

(3) Mothers must be perpetually tired. I have been getting to bed on time every night and falling to sleep quickly- but I am tired all day long. Whether it is because I wake up as soon as I hear movement in the morning (hence about 5:30 when Mark is getting ready to leave for seminary) or because I am doing more things faster during the day I don't know- but I PRAISE ALL YOU MOTHERS OUT THERE!!! Good Job!

(4)- 15 year olds- no matter how good a kid they are- believe everyone else's life revolves around them, period! Funny thing is- at 18 and in college- they believe the same thing and the babysitter (that's me) is left to pick up the slake- like having to take the two little ones with me to my Tuesday night meeting to sit in the hallway bored out of their minds (and you know what happened when kids get bored) while the three older boys rush of to a state championship soccer game because Brett came unexpectedly into town from college to see it. GRRRR!!! Not to mention fixing dinner for 8 people because that how many people I was told would be at dinner (and panicking because originally I was only suppose to be fixing for five) only to find out two of them were not showing up!!! Not to mention promising the little ones they could watch a movie if they were good for me without telling me they had promised them this- on a school night- after mom told me no tv on school night. Great- now I get to be the bad guy like a mom sometimes has to be without any of the perks that go with being a mom (i.e. hugs and kisses and just simply being a mom).

Oh well, this is still the best 'gig' I've had (except last night and possibly the next few nights- since the 18 year old doesn't look to be leaving soon!!!!!!!

re: early Novemeber

Well, LaDale, you're one up on us. Our radio station started IN EARNEST!!! All Christmas, all the time. Benjamin started to gag in the car yesterday. He asked, "Isin't it a little early?" and I quote, I didn't coach him either! It was a little wierd to me, too. All I could think is, "Don't they usually 'prime the pump' first. I mean, that's the way I remember it. A few songs, then a few more, THEN the non stop stuff." Oh, well, I guess it's to remind us it's Christmas time. The weather is certinally not doing it's job of that!

Re: Early November

Okay, so I finally caught a station break. This weekend was a preview weekend. They will be going back to their regularly scheduled tunes on Monday until the end of November.

Early November

It is 9:00 in the morning on November 4. I have just dropped Mark off to play church basketball (p.s. Mark is the 15 I am watching right now- one of four- not four fifteen year old- but four kids ages 15, 12, 9, 5-) I turn off his CD (which wasn't bad but which I have listened to 'numerous' times in the last few days) and suddenly there it was- O Holy Night. Okay, I thought, they are playing a few Christmas songs to remind us they will be playing Christmas song continuously toward the end of the month. The song ends- Another song begins- Again- Christmas (a horribly sappy- even sappier than usual- Christmas song I have never heard before about how someone is missing this Christmas.)

Now, I have been a little anxious to begin listening to Christmas music. So far, I have been pretty good about it. But it appears the radio is against me.

Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way....

I'm in trouble

Serious trouble. Who exactly rules the roost here? (Hint: It's not an adult.)

Mommy: I don't think Katy needs her blanket right now.
Ezra: Yes she does. Katy needs her blanket.
Mommy: (removing blanket) No she doesn't.
Ezra: Arggggggh! Yes she DOES. (Yanks blanket back from Mommy, drapes it over smiling Katy, who by now has VERY rosy cheeks because SHE DOESN'T NEED HER BLANKET.)

Finally Mommy picks Katy up and the discussion is over. But, really. Parenting advice from my three-year-old?

News you can use

Duct tape no substitute for a babysitter, police say

Ya think?

Birthday Greetings

Happy Birthday Caren!

We are so glad you are part of our family!

Re: QOTW

I love Arby's also. In fact, it is the only place I never know exactly what I want- potato cakes or curly fries. I always get the roast beef though.

But, I also like Taco Bell and Sonic during certain craving sessions and I will admit ( as my deepest, darkest secret), I also crave McDonald's fries- although, it's hard to eat them knowing what I am putting into my body!

Re: QOTW

I can't decide. My favorite fast food place depends on the mood I am in! Sometimes, it's Arbys, sometimes, KFC, sometimes even Taco Bell or McDonalds. It just depends!