HAPPY TRAILS BIG JOHN

 Big John was what the boys named our largest rooster. He was big and mean!  He chased them around the yard and pecked them more than once and yesterday he stranded Caleb in a tree while he pecked around on the ground below because Caleb remembered how bad it hurt last time he got pecked.  We'd been meaning to eat him for a few weeks but never seemed to have the time to actually get the dirty work over with.  Today R got up and decided today was the day.  The boys  were so excited and went with him to catch the bugger and do the deed.  Thankfully R sent them away while he actually did the deed.  Anyhow R found a blog with step by step instructions and even pics (very graphic ones) of how to do the entire thing from start to finish.  Here he is right after he was done.  R's first comment? "We need a cleaver, that was way too hard to do with a knife"  Before you start thinking he sawed the head off while John was alive he didn't, he killed him first.  His second comment, "you're not so bad now are ya buddy?"

Next you put him in hot water for a few seconds to loosen up the feathers.  I clarified w/ R before the adventure began that I would cook the fellow but he had to gut it.  I expected the boys to pluck it but R did it all.  Notice the groupies following his every move.  Even the dogs were fascinated.  I have to admit, I was a bit concerned that they were too fascinated by the whole thing, hopefully they don't become serial killers or anything.
   I decided to spare you the pic of him gutting him although it's not that bad, no blood really.  I was a bit worried after hearing about it from Mel on the trek.  The whole process went alot faster than I had feared and we weren't even late for church.  Right now he is sitting in the fridge in an oven bag ready to be roasted for dinner tomorrow night.  So one rooster down, 3 left so watch out and don't peck my kids or else!

ALL BOY

When Ryan and I were first married one of the things I loved about him was that at every family function he was always playing with the kids. He was always on the bottom of the pile of A giggling wrestling mass. After our kids were born and life got harder and more stressful it didn't happen so much anymore which was kind of sad in a way for me because some of my best and favorite memories growing up were wrestling on the floor with my brother and mom. The last 6 months, maybe more, I've started seeing the old Ryan I fell in love with. I still love him. AJ today reminded me how much they love him too and love wrestling with him when he came up to me tonight before dinner and asked if dad would wrestle with him ( he couldn't since he was in the shower) and since Ryan couldn't asked if I would wrestle with him. I guess boys really do need that rough play... Anyway then tonight Ryan went into work late so that Jake could go to football practice since we are down to one vehicle right now. Practice was cancelled, after we got there, because coach hurt his back but he handed out some plays to work on at home. My superstar hubby stayed at the park and ran through plays with Jake and Caleb. Within minutes he was surrounded by other kids asking to play too, and of course he included them and AJ. He ran around with them and threw to them and just had a great time. I'm not sure who had more fun, him or the kids, but I'm so grateful for him and the great man/father he is.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO RYAN AKA STUDMUFFIN

My awesome hubby's birthday was yesterday and I meant to post about it yesterday but we were busy celebrating family style. We had a great day together despite having awakened to water dripping from the ceiling fixture in our dining room first thing in the morning. Our on the ball landlord got the plumber out right away and even though I spent pretty much the whole morning cleaning up, we had a great afternoon. Ryan is a champ and was content to hang at home and enjoy a steak dinner and his fave... yellow cake with chocolate frosting! It was a great time at home with the boys enjoying his special day as much as he did. He is of course old at a ripe old age of 35 with many more to come I hope!

JOURNALING

If you were in our ward's Sacrament Meeting yesterday you heard Sister Lewis speak on the importance of journaling not just for our own benefit but also the benefit of our posterity and others. She also mentioned that we will be held accountable for the record we keep and the lessons we could have taught/learned with that record. That is pretty heavy and of course I got to thinking that I obviously haven't been keeping a very good record so I'm recommitting to do better. She also reminded us to represent ourselves truthfully and not try to "whitewash" ourselves. I'd like to think I'm pretty good about that since I frequently share my most embarrassing and unflattering moments, never the less, I can do and will try to do better. I also got to thinking that I should document our Saturday night.
I am so thankful for good friends, of which I am blessed with many. Four of which I was blessed to spend Saturday evening with in the temple and afterwards, dinner. Tisha, thanks for thinking of going and getting the ASL screen for the session, I felt the spirit so much stronger than I can ever remember, I think because I was focusing so hard on the sign language and what was being said. Joyce and Andy, thanks for driving all of us and especially Andy, thanks for saving us from that accident on the way there, that would have ruined the evening. During that session I felt the most love for my incredible husband that I have ever felt. I love him so much and that feeling and the feeling of the spirit testified to me how great our marriage is and how blessed I am to be married to him. I have to admit though that looking at some of the younger men in there made me jealous. I was jealous that I didn't know Ryan when we were 19 or 20 and I wish I had, I'm certain I would have seen then how truly wonderful he is, I could have enjoyed him that much longer. I'm just grateful to have him now and for the last 10 years.

THE BEST HUSBAND EVER!!!!

Here is my disclaimer, probably most if not all of us think our husband is the best husband ever and I am no different. I have the best husband EVER! On Monday and Wednesday evenings I have an exercise class for 45 minutes. My superstar husband not only takes care of the kids but encourages me to keep going every month so that I have some me time. He never complains not even last night when dinner wasn't totally finished and he had to take a grumpy Levi and finish dinner and get family home evening together. When I walked in after my class all of our kids were fed and they were playing together! All 4 of them were wrestling with Ryan on the floor in the front room. Then he presented a great family home evening lesson. I have such a great life!!! And of course a great hubby! I love him so much!

hAppY fATherS DaY

My husband is the best in the World. Of course I'm biased and I know that. He says I'm delusional. Regardless, I thought I would list some reasons why he is the best (in my humble opinion).

He wrestles with our kids and lets them jump on him to "wake him up".

He goes camping with us even though I know he would rather have a bed and a shower for vacation.

He taught Jake and Caleb to ride their two wheelers and ran alongside down the street, which I could never do.

He works so hard for our family and is never satisified with a mediocre effort.

He makes me laugh. He makes our kids laugh even when they are mad.

He reads my parenting books at work in secret. SHHH!

He loves our kids all the time, even when they make it hard.

He stays up to go to church after work on Sundays.

He makes crabby faces at AJ and Caleb to make them laugh.

He gets up early before work to go to the kids swim meets, football/tball games, concerts etc.

He lets us have dogs and a cat, even though he is not an animal person, because the boys love them.

He honors his priesthood.

He is never too busy to give service.

He never gives up, ever.

There are so many reasons why he is the best and I can't possibly list them all but I hope he knows that we love him everyday, not just on Father's Day.

More antibiotics

Back to the Dr. today for AJ. Still has an ear infection but we see the ENT on Friday to talk about a third set of tubes, poor guy. He is such a trooper. It amazes me how he can be so cheerful when I know he hurts so bad. I'm sure it's because he is used to pain, having endured it his whole life, between the reflux, the ears and his RAD. He is such an example, only when the pain gets really bad or he is really tired does he get clingy or crabby. Thank goodness Ryan is so understanding and tells me to just sit with him and cuddle him, he needs me and not to worry about the house. I am so thankful for my men, all 5 of them. Everyday they teach me something new or remind me of a lesson I still need to work on be it patience in trials or adversity, cheerfulness, kindness, love, you get the picture. Today Caleb came to me with a handful of pennies and reminded me that his school is doing pennies for patients. He then informed me that he is taking all of his savings from his piggy bank to donate. He is such an example of generosity and selflessness.

I love Sundays

Well I haven't mentioned that last week during Jake's birthday party our second counselor called and asked if my husband was home... He came over after the party and called us BOTH to be in the middle nursery. Ryan said, "I warned you if you sub'ed for them this would happen. I think he was surprised he got called in with me though. Anyway, our ward has a HUGE primary, there are 2 of many classes and 3 nurseries. We are very blessed. I admit at first I was not as happy about the call as I should have been, I was looking forward to going to relief society. I changed my attitude and I'm enjoying my calling and I'm enjoying having Ryan in there with me. He is great with those kiddos! He knows all of them by name and plays with them and can calm down the criers easily. He is phenomenal. I love him so much and I admire him. I am enjoying watching him with all of these little angels. Today was a great Sunday, although it started out a bit rough. Getting 4 boys ready for 8 am church takes a great degree of organization and preparation. I wasn't as prepared as I usually am simply because of the baptism yesterday. I didn't have time to rewash and iron the boys white shirts so they had to wear short sleeved ones instead. Also I overslept which wouldn't have been an issue except I had to dress more than myself. Thankfully Jake and Caleb are older and immensely helpful. AJ wants so much to be like them that he does his best also. Levi has at least 4 teeth coming in, those are the ones I can see, so needless to say he was crabby but after church we all took naps and that was delightful. The evening, post nap, went happily. Jake made dinner, it's for his Faith In God award. He was so proud and cute with his mac and cheese and peas on the table that he even set. I LOVE MY FAMILY!!! I can't even attempt to count my blessings, my basket is overflowing.