Cowboy Reese

This is another "catching up" post.  We came in from North Carolina to find a place to live. It was a really quick weekend.  We did get to go on a playdate with my sister and nephew. A friend of her's-in laws have a farm and invited us along with some others to their farm for a playdate.  SO. Much. Fun.  They were so kind and welcoming.  Abram went to play with Nana, and Kris was really sick-so he slept while Reese and I went to the farm with Natalie and Isaac. 

They did horse rides and I had no idea what to expect from Reese (I should have known). The kid had NO FEAR.  That is the thing with him, I think I have mentioned it before. He is 100% no matter what. Good....or less than good.  He was kicking his legs because I wasn't getting him up there fast enough. He kept laughing and yelling, "Yee Haw!"

My sister got on with Isaac.  We talked later about how that was the first time she has been on a horse since she was 7 or 8 and a horse took off with her and she almost fell off. Luckily a family friend was with us and raced after her and helped.

Totally worth it, look at Isaac's face.

When I was little, I always wanted to be in the Finess (sp?) hair commercial. The one with the girl riding the horse on the beach, with her hair blowing in the wind.  I think this is the closest I will ever get to that dream.  I don't know if they even sell that shampoo anymore.

There were sheep, that got bored when all Reese was giving them was grass, and left.

Come back!!

Isaac needed a quick break after all of this fun.

And a tractor ride!!! There's my boy, trying to drive that tractor and having the time of his life.

And this is when Mama got out of eyeshot and the ride was over.

It was such a fun playdate, and we did find a place to live.  More about that, and the recent birthday boy later.



I Can't Make This Stuff Up

You know whenever you are in a group of people and the question goes around, "What is your most embarassing moment?" I hate that game, because really, I don't have a lot of them-meaning, I am pretty good at laughing at myself, because most times that is the only thing you can do. 

And then there was today. 

It was definately a "These things only happen to me" moment.  Reese has had a cough and runny nose for a couple of weeks.  At first I thought it was a virus, then I thought it must be allergies because he coughs whenever we are outside and he has been running around.  I have been debating going to the doctor, but he didn't have a fever, and was eating/sleeping well.  This morning he woke up and I could tell he did not feel good-he was super whiny, etc. I knew he was sick.  The phone lines were down at the doctor (weird, right?) so I called their "sister-office" and made an appoinment.  We head over and Reese is falling asleep in the car (it's his nap time). And I think "Perfect, Reese will sleep and hopefully Abram will just watch TV so he won't touch anything in the "sick waiting room". We go back and Reese is extra pitiful, got weighed etc.

THEN IT HAPPENED. 

I had the diaper bag strapped across me, holding Reese and he threw up.....a lot. And it just kept coming.  We are talking oatmeal, strawberries, and banana.  All down my shirt, capris, in my hair, and on the diaper bag.  The nurses frantically were getting those "throw up cups", but it was too late.  Then Abram starts to gag-because of looking at it and the smell.  So I am saying, "It's okay Reese, Abram don't look!"  The nurses were amazing! They took Abram out and gave him stickers and played with him while they cleaned in between my toes (yes, the vomit made it to my flip flops) as I stood there holding Reese in vomit.  One of them looked at me and said, "We have a shower downstairs?" -Really? Yah, could you guys watch my kids while I go take a shower? I. Wish. The vomit had soaked EVERYTHING. So I asked if they had anything-even a hospital gown I could wear.  So they brought me an XXL gown and some "shorts" they give teenagers who don't wear underwear (yes, that's what they told me-um grose. 1. Wear your underwear. 2. If you choose not to follow rule #1, then at least let going to the doctor be a speacial occasion to wear some.).  So that's what I wear, an OPEN BACK gown and teenager "shorts" (I keep putting them in quotes because they are that paper-like material).  They did a double swab test on Reese for strep and walking pnemonia, both negative. A blood test which made them think it was some sort of bacterial something, but all else looked good.  I told the doc I had family coming in town and she said that would be fine, not to cancel anything.  That he just didn't feel good, and in 24 hours he should feel a lot better.  And then he got a shot of antibiotics and a a prescription.

Did I mention our pediatrician is on a COLLEGE CAMPUS???  You know, where people go to class, whether it be walking or driving? That there are also a couple of hospitals across the street?  Yes, so if you can tell me how to gracefully carry a bag of throw up clothes, a puked on diaper bag, a sick child, while making sure your 4 year old doesn't get hit by a car, AFTER YOU GET TO WALK THROUGH THE WAITING ROOM TO GET TO THE PARKING LOT in an open back gown-please, leave a comment and let me know.  Because everyone on campus got to glance at the goods today.  I prayed all the way home that we wouldn't get in a wreck or get pulled over. 

As if that wasn't enough, I am unloading the kids from the car-and a male neighbor down the street WAVES TO ME! As if to make me totally aware, "Yes, I do see you in all your glory, hello there!" Nice.  What we Mother's do for our kids.  Poor little guy is going to miss the Easter Egg hunt tonight.  I sure hope he feels better soon. 

Mental note: Always have, not only change of clothes for the kids in the car, but some for me as well-just in case.

Farm Days on St. Patrick's Day

There were a couple days in March when the University of North Carolina's Agriculture Department had "Farm Days". It was just that, a day where you could go to the farm, see and pet the animals-AND have ice cream at the end.  What could be better? It was St. Patrick's Day AND it was free!  We loaded up the gang and headed out.  Warning: this post will be FULL of pictures. I couldn't help it, cute kids+baby animals=picture loaded post.

There were baby bunnies...

Our little turkeys looking at the turkeys...

 And sweet little chicks, and a story...hold on, it's coming.....

It's funny (I can say that now) looking back at these pictures, because it makes it SO obvious what is about to happen-though at the time, it happened so fast.  Please note that Reese is wearing a blue coat, so the little chubby over excited hands in the blue coat belong to my Reese, got it? Okay.

Oh, what? No pictures of Reese actually holding the chick? Let me tell you what happened.  I have my camera capturing every detail of this tender moment, the children gently petting and holding the small baby chicks. Reese can barely contain his excitement. Please also note, that I did not think about the fact that Reese has never held a baby animal before.  Two things happen.  My friend Sarah convinces the chick attendent/protector to take a picture of our kids from her side-thinking of how adorable it will be. The lady agrees, while she is taking the picture, and I am also taking a picture-Reese realizes it's his chance and GRABS a tiny chick. All I see is his chubby little hand and a chick head peeping for it's life as Reese-who  is squeezing this live "toy" looking thing. I am fumbling trying to pry his hands off the chick. I finally free it and say, "It's time to see other animals." .......I don't think the chick attendent took any more pictures for people that day.

This picture makes me laugh, it was yet another attempt for a group shot and Jonah is the only one paying attention and smiling, love him.

We may or may not have decided to not wait 30 minutes in line to get in the tractors. And we may or may not have let our kids disregard the caution tape and just climb on the outside.

After farm days we went to an Old Mill and did some exploring.  Another attempt at a group shot of the kids in their green attire for St. Patrick's Day.

Pictured above is Mrs. Flash (according to Abram), the Flash, and Batman.





Things I Love About North Carolina

So I have YET AGAIN gotten behind on blogging. To be honest, I have dreaded going back and back logging all that we have done, and it makes me miss my friends in North Carolina.  I use this blog as a type of journal for my kids and I need to post about our move and what is going on currently-however-there are some gaps I need to fill because we crammed in as much fun as we could before the move with dear friends who I am SO grateful for.  In fact, they may never know just how grateful I am.  That being said, there was a park near our apartment that I had heard about, it was called crowder Park, but a lot of people referred to it as "The Turtle Park" so one beautiful day, we decided to meet up there with our friends and check it out.

Looking for turtles/fish/ducks-Reese spotted this duck. Which was funny because we had "met him" a few minutes before. I would have taken pictures, but the duck got really close to the kids, so I felt like I should-you know, be ready in case of a duck attack or something.  He lost interest when he realize we had no food for him. However, later on I realized I had goldfish, and wouldn't you know it-that duck could put down some goldfish.

Some of the turtles, we went in early Spring and our friends said there are usually a ton in the Summer.  The kids were still impressed.

The two pictures above are my favorite.  Just the kids being kids. The moms got to hang out and chat while the kids climbed and had adventures on this tree. Some of my favorite memories as a child are when I went camping with my Grandparents and we did stuff like this all of the time.

The above is a engagement photo er, I mean picture of Abram and Ensley.  They're totally BFF, and Lisa (her Mom) and I, may have an arranged marriage planned for them, just sayin'.

Reese and Jonah checking out more turtles.



It was such a great day.

New Beginnings

I know, again-I have gone a while without blogging. And unfortunately, but fortunately, it will be another week and a half for an explanation and update.  We are moving again, and it's different this time. We are settling down for a while, no more moving every 6 months-a year. It's the end of an era for us, full of mixed emotions. Totally bittersweet.  We are heading home to Knoxville.  It's been a whirlwind of craziness over the past couple of weeks finding a place to live, etc. And now there is the art of moving, which you'd think I would have perfected by now, however......anyways-I will be buried in boxes, and trying to sneak in playdates, girls nights, and a trip to the temple before we leave on Friday.  I have loved being here in North Carolina. More to come.....in a week and a half.

Cookies With Granny's Icing

I had this awesome Valentine's Day party planned for the family. There were going to be decorations, there was going to be a fancy pants dinner and dessert, there were cookies to be made.......and instead we decided to do movie marathons and snuggle on the couch coughing on each other and having a "Who has the highest fever" contest.  But alas, you cannot let Valentine themed sprinkles go to waste-so we made big heart shaped cookies after our FHE "Love One Another" lesson.  The cookies were okay, the icing was the best.

There was a lot more of this going on..

When something is good Reese makes this face and says "Mmmm, mmm, mmm" and shakes is head from side to side.

Friday Night at the Raisor House

We have been taking a break. Not really, we have actually been taking turns being sick. It started Valentine's weekend-Reese got RSV and an ear infection, he passed the cold to Abram, who passed it to me.  FO almost 3 weeks-we were miserable.  Things finally started to get better, ad one Friday night Kris brought home a sonetube (sp?) from work, that's when the fun began....

I love the expression on Reese's face in the last picture. We propped it on the couch, the bed, took turns rolling around in it-the videos are classic, I will have to show you.