Conversations

Back in the summer of 2008, Eric was laid off along with 250 other boat builder here in the Valley.  As a family we had a crash course in "need vs. want" real quick.  We found that we didn't "need" cable and had it shut off.  Though things are perfectly fine now, we still maintain that mentality and find that cable is among things we don't need.  We watch movies in the evenings and that's about the extent of the ol boob tube.

This past Saturday morning Caitrin had woke up and stumbled onto the couch.

Caitrin: Mom, will you put in a movie for me?
Mom: Nope.  It's "No TV Saturday".
Caitrin: You are so mean!
Mom: I know.  But me being mean only means I love you.  Isn't that right, Tarren?

Tarren's room is right off the living room.  I knew she was trying to wake up and was hearing our conversation.

Tarren: Yea, well.. most of the time.
Mom:  What's that supposed to mean?
Tarren:  All the other times you're just PMS'ing.

The child obviously doesn't know how dangerous those words are.

As for Eric, he had to hold himself back from spitting all his coffee out..

First day of Summer Vacation...

 I came home on my lunch hour to find this...

He must have stayed up way too late last night celebrating....

Hard Lessons Learned

Tarren has always been my sick child.  She had many ear infections as a baby, had a bout with pneumonia, bronchitis, strep, and now with her hay fever she's had many sinus infections.  All have been treated with various forms of penicillin.  This last round must have done her in.  She woke up Wednesday morning with a rash but only on her sun burned area from the weekend.  By Thursday morning, the rash had spread to her entire body.  At that point I knew it was the allergic reaction to the amoxicillen and hauled her in to the hospital.  I was hoping to just go through Minor Care, but they pushed her thought to the ER because they were worried about her breathing.  The doctor got her hooked up with a Z-Pack and told me to keep her doped up on Benadryl for the next couple of days.  Poor kid, she says she's not in pain, but my heart breaks just looking at her.

ARMS

BACK

LEGS (her thighs are way worse)

Her poor hands, feet look just as bad. 

Up River

In the 4th grade, students learn about Idaho History.  Being that we live at the mouth of the great Hell's Canyon, Lewiston student get to fund raise the whole school year to take an all day boat trip up the Snake River.  Trenton alone raised over $200.00 for his class.  Since space is limited, not all parents are allowed to go.  Trent's teacher, Mrs. Roberts, has a raffle that each parent can purchase a ticket for $5 and only two entries per child.  I bought two and put Eric's name on both (he's lived in Lewiston his whole life and has never been up the Snake).  Trent and I had prayed every night that his dad would be drawn, and Eric was!! Last Wednesday was the first nice day we've had in a long while, and that just happened to be the day that was scheduled for the boat trip. 

The boat driver had no objections about entertaining the kids, so during the heat of the afternoon he decided that he'd do "cookies" and splash any of the kids who sat in the back.  Eric snapped some of Trent's turn...

 Bracing himself....

..wait for it...

Trent claimed he had a BLAST!! (so did Eric)

Shout out to Coop Dog...

Being busy with five children's activities I nearly forgot to say........

Happy Birthday to Cooper....

He turned 12 on May 11th, the day after my birthday.

Instant gratification

Back at the beginning of the month, Eric had said that he wanted to go to Home Depot to look at what they had for our garden.  Up until this point we had only tilled under the area we wanted to plant in and fertilized it.  We had discussed what various plants we wanted and were they would fit best. When we got there I was grabbing plants left and right, throwing them in the cart. "I want these, and these, and ohh some of those!!"  He was putting them back on the shelves as fast as I was tossing them in the cart.  He had to explain to me what his intentions were, which was all seeds, no starts. 

Me "Umm.. NO.  I need starts" 

Eric "Why?"

Me "I need instant gratifications.  I need to SEE it all"

Needless to say I had a small baby tantrum in the Home Depot Garden Department because I wanted to see greenery.  After he brought me back to reality, he gave me his reasoning as to why it all had to be seeds, the price.  It's quite a cheaper to purchase the seeds than the plant starts.  Fine, I give in. 

So, on the 7th of May, Eric planted my garden all from seeds, minus the tomatoes and strawberries (I wouldn't budge on those).  Six days later this is what I got....

 Thai Radishes

 Spinach

 Corn

 Sugar Snap Peas

 My strawberries already have green heads on them!!

Since then my carrots, chives, bell pepper, jalapeno peppers have all sprung up as well. 

When one of your weakness's is patience, God gives you plenty of opportunities to practice it.  I am now extremely grateful for the wonderful garden that I have in bloom.  I just can't wait until they all come to fruition..

Welcome Baby Scotlyn

On May 16th, Eric's little brother's wife finally went into labor with their 4th child.  Scotlyn Camry Reel graced us with her presence at 9:53am weighing in at 8lbs 3oz and 20 in long.  She was due to arrive on the 5th but thought she'd hang on for 11 more days...

Trent refused to hold her, I had to beg him.  After I got some pictures he asked me if he could be done yet.

Caitrin and Tarren couldn't get enough of her. 

This is grand baby #17 to the Reel Family.