Sunday, November 24, 2013

July Cabin Trip

Over the 4th of July we went up to the cabin for a few days.  We planned to go fishing, into town and dinner with friends.  We started out on time but had to turn back around because Dan forgot his keys for work and needed something from his office but luckily we were only a few miles from home.  We planned on a short stop at Costco but turned into a hour long stop complete with lunch, can't beat the cheap lunch at Costco.  We grabbed a few snack items and each one of us got a new book.  We made a quick stop at Dan's work and finally we were on our way.  I happened to be texting a friend who was also in Prescott and we were going to meet and she reminded me to bring some extra chairs.  I mentioned it to Dan and that is when we realized that we forgot chairs and fishing stuff.  Normally this would not have been a big deal but the kids really wanted to go fishing and this was the big event for the trip.  So we turned around at Stapley and the US 60 and headed back to home, which is about 30 mins.  We finally made it to the cabin around 3PM and about 3 hours that what we originally planned.   We played outside for a while and then came inside to make dinner.  After dinner we went on a short hike and to see what we call the haunted cabin.  At the bedtime Dan and I had great plans to get the kids asleep and snuggle down in bed with the windows open and enjoy the night time air and read our new books.  Ha... the plans were foiled by 2 kids not wanting to sleep.  The cabin being so warm during the day that it was hot and uncomfortable and took a while for the room to cool down and of course the occasional Daddy Long Leg crawling across me.  The end result was David on the murphy bed, Mattie and Dan in the big bed and I was asleep with Michael on the other bed.  The next day was the 4th of July.  We played in the morning and started to build a big fort for the kids with the fallen trees.  After lunch we got ready and headed into town.  We hung out for a while and then meet my friend Katherine and her family for dinner.  It was wonderful to see her and catch up.  We planned on going to the fireworks show but it was so crowded that we decided not to go and went to Sonics and headed back to the cabin.  We cheated and got a movie for the kids to watch back at the cabin. 
 Picture taken at the haunted cabin
Not the best picture of Dan and I but I had to post David Photo Bombing us.  I have no idea what he was doing.

                                                                                   
                                                      
                                                                                         I love this face. 
 Mattie does not like to walk on uneven ground so the walks where either one of us carrying her or similar to this with Mattie lifting her feet off the ground.


                                                    Watermelon is from the garden and the first one we picked.

Michael wanted to play but Mattie wanted to swing.  Michael took some time and pushed Mattie in the swing.


                                                                         The bull that would not let us pass. 

Hard to see but this was taken at the top of the mountain.  Can see the haze from the smoke from the Yarnell Fire.
 
                                                                                       Travelling in style.



Funny story.... The mountains where the cabin is located still has a working ranch.  When we were driving into town there was a black cow in the road and he would not move out of the way.  We sat for a few minutes watching him and the kids were laughing.  Dan honked the horn and the cow just stared at us.  He honked again and drove forward and the cow turned around and faced the other way but still looked at us.  By this time there were a few cars behind us.  Dan drove forward slowly and the cow put his head down like he was going to charge.  At the last minute the cow went off the side of the road and barely hit the vehicle. 


The day after July 4th we went to Lynx Lake to fish and rent a boat.  I've been to the lake when I was young but don't remember.  The lake has a neat restaurant and the food smelled so good and it was busy.  The plan was to rent a boat, fish for awhile and then go have lunch in town.  We went inside the tack shop, rented the boat and came back outside to get the fishing stuff.  On the sidewalk was this huge butterfly.  I lined the kids up for a picture and then that is when Dan delivered the bad news.  We had the chairs but forgot the fishing poles and tackle box.  Remember we already forgot it at home and had to go back home to get it.  Well it turns out we ended up leaving it at home.  The poles and tackle box were laying on the floor in the garage. 

 We ended up just cruising around the lake and taking the scenery in.  The kids had a blast and when we got off the lake is when it started to rain.  We drove into town and walked around the downtown area for a while.  Because it was 4th of July weekend and that is when the rodeo is, there is tons of stuff going on.  We had lunch at Gurley Street CafĂ© and then  walked around some more before heading back to the cabin.  The next day we headed home.  It was a wonderful family trip and nice to get away.  I'm so grateful to have the cabin.  It was something that my grandparents built before I was born.  My dad use to go up there as child.  He got to create memories by taking his family up there and know it is my turn.  Wonderful memories and many more to come.










 This is Mattie's famous Water Buffalo pose. 














Sunday, August 4, 2013

Last day for 2013 school year

David went to the Walker-Butte Preschool.  He rode the bus and was receiving speech therapy.  He really improved his speech during the year but getting him to go to school was hard.  I had to chase him almost every morning to get him ready for school.  He did not like riding the bus.  I should say it was not everyday but it sure felt like it.   He was able to participate in the end of the year ceremony.  It was cute. 










Mattie graduated from Kindergarten.  The school had a little ceremony and it was cute and I'm happy to say it was not long.  She tried to sing and do the dance moves with the songs.  When it was her time to graduate she hugged every person.  We are so proud of her.  She did very well in her classroom and made many friends.  It seems like everyone knows Mattie and we can't pass anyone without a hi and a hug. 





 
 
 
 
Michael finished second grade and he had a great year and a wonderful teacher, Mrs. Davis.  I was able to help out a lot in her classroom this year.  I forgot my camera so I was not able to take any pictures.  The last day of school was a pizza party and a movie. 


Thursday, July 18, 2013

Mattie's 6th Birthday

Mattie turned 6 at the end of April.  She weights 32lbs and is 38 inches tall.  She is talking more and very active and can be very sweet and mischief at the same time.   some of her words:

Coco for Michael
A-id for David
Papa for Grandma and Grandpa and pretty much everything else
Dod  for Dad
Mum    Sometimes she will say Mom like Candance on Phineas and Pherb
No  I would say this is her favorite word
Dink
Yea

She likes to watch Good Luck Charlie, Jessie, and Phineas and Pherb. She likes to swim and will just go for it.  She loves music and likes dancing.  Her favorite color is pink.  She loves her baby dolls and will always have one with her.  When she is not playing "babies" she is playing with cars or doing something she is not suppose to be doing, like coloring on walls or empting out a draw or dumping Lego's all over the floor.  She likes to lick everything and oh my it is so gross and Dan and I can't break the habit.  She loves to school and says "hi" to everyone.  Mattie can light up a room and will hug everyone.   Mattie has recently learned to ride her little tricycle and is getting faster when she runs.  She also can jump.  She also likes to hide things.  I could not find my debit card for a few days and I ended up finding it in her school backpack.  I have also found the keys in there. 













Monday, April 22, 2013

The month of March

Where do I begin with March.  We finished planting the garden at  the beginning of March.  This year we did Tomato plants (12 Roma and 6 Sweet 100 Cherry), Corn, Lettuce, Bell Pepper, Celery, Onions, Carrots, Herbs, Banana Peppers, Watermelon, Spinach, Beans, Jicama, Radish, Zucchini and added 6 more Green Chili's plants.  In addition to what we already have.  I'm excited this year because the Apple trees look really good and have a good amount of Apples on them already.  Last year I had enough to can 6 quarts of Apple Pie Filling.  I hope to be able to can more this year and maybe some apple sauce.  The grapes are coming in strong and can't wait until the middle of summer to eat them.

The kids had 2 weeks off for Spring Break.  It started off good and we did a little hike at the San Tan Mountains with some friends.  In all it was 3 moms and 10 kids.  We ended up hiking about 2 miles and I carried Mattie on my shoulders most of the way.  Towards the end of the hike my friend offered to carry Mattie so I could have a break.  Mattie loved it and wanted nothing to do with me.  I would call her name and she would turn her head away from me and not look at me.  After the hike we got lunch and I took all of the older boys for the afternoon to play.  After that day I think the Spring Break went downhill.  Everyone got sick.  Mattie ended up having tonsillitis.  This was a total shocker since she showed no signs of it.  David had ear infection and respiratory infection.  Dan and I both had strep and I also had bronchitis and Dan also had a sinus infection.  We had our fair share of doctor's appointments and medication.

Picture of all the kids at the beginning of the hike.


Janelle carried Mattie towards the end of the hike.  She loved Janelle and wanted nothing to do with me.






Michael is in Cub Scouts and this was his first time doing the Derby Car.  Unfortunately he did not do very well but still had a good time.  I did not know that you could re-shape your car.  Next year it will be much better.  


March was also the Blue and Gold Banquet.  He made a cake with dad and decorated it as the Arizona State Flag.  Mattie and David helped bake the cake. 









In addition to the busy Month for Scouts.  Michael had his first Science Fair at school.  He did it on gravity, and do objects fall at the same rate of speed.  We were surprised to learn that night that he received second place for his grade level.   He had fun doing the project once he got started.  He was very excited to learn that he got second place.  He typed everything out himself and we helped him correct the grammar.  He cut the paper out and glued it on the poster board.  I'm very proud of him and he worked very hard on his project. 


 





The Friday before Easter (Good Friday).  Turned out to be a really bad Friday.  I was at the shed in the back yard.  David and Mattie were playing in a pile of rocks and Dan was running on the treadmill that is on the back porch.  I always feel like I have to explain this because we are not white trash, just moved it there while we do some work inside the house.  Michael came outside and Mattie saw Michael and wanted to go over to him.  She decided to walk behind the treadmill.  I saw it happen and before I could react she fell on the treadmill, while Dan was running.  I ran over to her and picked her up.  Her hand was hurt and she was bleeding from the mouth.  I took her inside and was cleaning her up.  I knew she was hurt but did not realize how bad it was.  She was doing a low soft cry, which is not normal for her.  Dan was with me and said "We have to go to the hospital know".  I asked why and he showed me her hand.  I will admit I panic thinking her hand was broken.  It was cut and swollen.  We got everyone in the truck and I sat with Mattie in the back.  She was in her car seat but because of the sore on her shoulder we could not buckle her in.  We took her to the ER that is luckily just a few minutes from the house.  The hospital was great and thank goodness not busy.  We walked in, and she was already in the system, so we did not have to do any registration .  They front desk confirmed names and the address and then when we were ready to sit in the waiting room, the nurse came out to get us.  He took us to the triage area, took one look at Mattie and said forget it, I'm putting you in a room.  The doctor followed us back and told us that he was going to listen while the nurse talked to us, so that we don't have to repeat ourselves.  They gave her some pain medication right away.   Turns out her hand was not broken but had a rubber burn on it and also her shoulder.  For a few weeks we cleaned and wrapped the hand twice a day.   Her shoulder we only had to keep cover a little over a week.  It has healed really well and she no longer has it wrapped.  I can honestly say she hated me for those few weeks.  She would see me coming with the medication and gauze and we try to run from me and start crying.  Her situation could have been so much worse and I'm sorry it happened and hate myself for having it happen but I'm thankful that it was not worse.  We were told that if the burn went any farther she would have been transported to the burn hospital. I think about how fast all of it happened.  From the time of her injury to the time in the truck was about 5 minutes.  From the registration desk to the time the nurse called us back was about 2 minutes.  We were at the hospital for about a 1 and 1/2.

After the doctor left and just given her some pain medication.  Look at her forehead all wrinkled up and her face.  This is her I'm in pain face.

While waiting for the X-ray results she and dad fell asleep.

 David and Michael.  They both were so well-behaved.  They sat in the chair the entire time watching cartoons.  The nurse brought them Popsicles.
  Hand picture is at the hospital.


 Doing the bandage change at home the first night.

Shoulder.

Face at night.  It was a little banged up and had a few bruises from the fall. 




 
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