Beware of Spiders!

The Birthday Gang!

I have to admit, that while the birthday celebrations were wonderful and well deserved, I am relived that the party is over. I stayed up way to late (3:30 AM), which is normal when Rich is on call (not that late but between 1-2 AM), but got everything ready for the blow out last night. And sometimes I ask myself why I am tired!

This morning I didn't have too much set up, but we did decorate the back yard with just minutes to spare. We had 17 kids, 6 babies and 6 adults. My angel babies went along with my plan and took their nap from 12-2, so they were just around for the clean up. How convenient! They woke up at the end, ate some pizza and managed to find some suckers for an after dinner treat.

We went through 3 X-large pizzas, 2 liters of rootbeer, 2 pitchers of lemonade, 1/2 family size bag of Cheetos and almost a box of popsicles. Maybe that is why only ONE child had cake and two had ice cream. I made two cakes yesterday (one white for Josh, one chocolate for Matt) thinking they would be needed. Oh well. The Underwoods ate a bit more later so I have 1/2 a white cake left and a chocolate cake minus one slice. The chocolate is really good since it has chocolate pudding in the middle and homemade frosting so Rich won't be sad there are extra helpings of that.

We ate pizza, read a story, played the games, colored, made little spiders, broke the piñata and had cake and ice cream. I think the kids like the Web Walk (like a cake walk, but with candy bars) the best. The boys were once again spoiled and got more Transformers, spider man toys, a PS2 game, a Pokemon movie and many other things. Thank you notes will be hard since they were both opening the gifts at a rapid pace with me trying to video and take pictures. Maybe the video will help figuring out who gave them what, but they might end up being quite generic.

The Underwoods came down for the festivities and it was great to see them. Traci came down last August and it was Zane's first time to our house. They stayed until 5:30 PM.
The boys were in heaven playing with Trevor and Boston and it was fun to see little Mallory again. Rich slept through the party, but did get some pizza and said a quick hello to Traci and Zane before he headed back for a full night of work. No rest for the weary!

Happy Birthday Josh and Matt!

The Celebration!

The Birthday Boys!

The Family at Chili's celebrating Matt and Josh's 6th Birthday.

There was no room left in the van after a full day of fun!

Wow! What a day. It's hard to believe that after all the birthday celebrations we had today that there is still a HUGE party to throw tomorrow. So far I have only heard of three "no" so that still tips the scales at 18 kids! It is going to be fun. The Underwoods are driving from Louisville and Tiffany Rosenhan is going to come too. We are going to have Papa John's Pizza, coloring pages, a story, a Web Walk (like a cake walk, but you get a small candy bar), make spiders out of pom poms and pipe cleaners, pin the spider on the web, Venom Tag, a piñata, cake and ice cream and presents. We will see how many games we get to since it only goes from 12-2, but I didn't want to run out of things for the kids to do. It's easier to keep them in check when they are doing something organized. I am hoping for good weather so we can have it in the back yard. We have cool Spiderman masks for the kids and stickers. It will be fun.

Today was a party in itself. As the pictures show it was non-stop fun. The boys still went to swim practice, but after we opened presents, ate at Chili's (then Rich had to go to the hospital), went to Build-A-Bear, Toys-R-Us and Wal-mart. The boys were completely spoiled and I almost thought it was Christmas in June because it looked like Santa's sleigh had tipped over at our house.

Spotlight on Matt and Josh

Since the boys birthday was this month, the Primay decided to spotlight Josh and Matt to help the other kids get to know them better. Here's what I wrote about each.

Josh and Matt were born on June 29, 2001 in Provo, Utah. Josh was born first at 1:41 AM weighed 7 lbs 2 oz and Matt arrived at 1:48 AM and was 6 lbs 8 oz. Josh's favorite colors are blue and yellow. He loves all sports and was first baseman on his t-ball team. He loves the Utah Jazz and the Boston Red Soxs and St. Louis Cardinals. His favorite foods are hot dogs with ketchup, bean and cheese burritos, McDonald's cheeseburgers and vanilla ice cream.

Matt's favorite color is green. He loves Star Wars action figures and Star Wars movies and loves building cities with his toys. He has a great imagination. Matt got the best hitting award from his t-ball team and he loves collecting weapons. His favorite foods are chicken nuggets, french fries and doughnuts.

They are both on the Pinnacle Pirates swim team this summer. They love having me read Harry Potter books to them (we are 1/2 done with Book 2) and going to Build-A-Bear at the Mall. Their favorite place to spend a Saturday is at Chuck-E-Cheese with their uncles and grandparents. They will be starting kindergarten this fall at Veterans Park.

Happy Birthday Matt and Josh!

Josh and Matt turn six-years old today. How quickly the time has passed. Yesterday, Rich and I were reflecting the events of their birth day on June 29, 2001.

I had been on strict bed rest for over a month and had just passed the blessed 36 week mark in my pregnancy. Oh how I had longed for the day that I could get off the couch!

When I was 28 weeks we had moved home from Louisville to Utah with little Trey. He was just 21 months when the boys arrived. Rich's parents were serving as mission presidents in Brazil so we lived with my family in Salem. Rich took a class at BYU and my Mom chased Trey around while I lounged on a couch in the family room off the kitchen. The time moved slowly, but with the help of movies, TV, a cordless phone, books and my beloved Gameboy I wasn't too bored.

On June 27 I went to my doctor, Brian Wolsey M.D., who told me that I was doing well and that getting to 36 weeks was like getting a B grade. I now was supposed to try to get to 38 which would be an A. There were no indications that I would be going into labor anytime soon. That meant my Mom and little brother Jeff were safe to drive 10 hours to Wyoming for Youth Conference. On the morning of the 28th they loaded the car and were soon off. That day I actually got up a bit more and made dinner for the family. After dinner I started to feel intense contractions in my stomach and back. I waited a few hours and finally went downstairs to get ready for bed. After a few more hard contractions I was hurriedly packing my bag and we were off to the hospital. We called Rich's sister Rosie who met us at the hospital and took Trey. It was her birthday as well. We then called my Mom and Jeff and told them to turn around! My Dad went to a delivery in Payson as we were leaving the house, but met us at Utah Valley so he could be the assisting doctor.

Just a few hours later (about five hours from start to finish) our family had grown from three to five. Josh was born first at 1:41 AM with a head full of dark hair and tipping the scales at 7 lb 2 oz. Rich said that he looked to be the size that Trey was and that was quite shocking since Josh was 4 weeks early. Matt arrived just seven minutes later and was 6 lb 8 oz. They could breath on their own and were beautiful to look at, though Josh's face got a bit bruised on the way out. He had a sign saying "I have a busied face" in his bassinet so no one would think he had stopped breathing. My Mom and Jeff rushed back and arrived around 3 AM. We woke up the Brazil gang and gave them the good news of Josh and Matt's safe arrival.

Happy Birthday to my boys! Thanks for six wonderful years. I love you so and am very grateful to be your Mom!

Midnight Madness!

What a Dad! Rich went to Wal-mart tonight to get Josh's big surprise gift, our first basketball standard/hoop. Every boy needs one and they certainly have out grown the Fisher Price one we've had for years. This new version stands 8 feet tall and we knew it was perfect for Josh. The only negative was that it came packed neatly in a large box- meaning it had to be assembled. Rich worked for hours and hours and soon he had it up and looking great. He wanted Josh to wake up and find it ready for action, not still in a box waiting to be built. He finished at 2 AM and we (Trey included!) crawled in to bed at 2:30 AM. Not a good thing when he has to be on call for the next THREE nights. What a super hero! Thanks Rich for making this day special for the dudes!

Learning at the Library

Today we went downtown to The Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning for story time. It is held in the original Lexington Public Library that was built in 1905. In 1795 Lexington had first subscription library established west of the Alleghenies.

A group from the Tates Creek ward met at the center at 10:30 AM and the class was run by a woman from the Blue Grass Ward who works in the children's department. She informed everyone that each time you visit the center every child gets to pick out a book for free to keep. The boys eyes lit up as they searched the shelves for their prize. Trey chose Franny K. Stein Mad Scientist chapter book, Josh selected NBA Super Guards and Matt found an X-men book. I spied a hard cover Miss Spider's ABC and quickly told Kaitlyn and Brynn this was the book they wanted. They smiled at the pictures, but really didn't care which book was brought home.

The children listened to a story about a colorful island and then made a craft with new pizza boxes and felt. They designed a story book about colors using felt di-cuts. The kids munched on color Goldfish crackers as they cut and worked on their scene. She even gave each family a copy of the story she read to the kids.

They also got a card to mark down the books they read so when they reach ten, they can redeem it for free ice cream at Maggie Moo's.

It was a great outing and I am sure we will head back again soon!

Old Lexington

We have been going into downtown Lexington quite often this month for the boys swimming lessons and walked through a lovely area on the way to the library this morning. Lexington full of historic homes and beautiful architecture. The large trees provide shade while the flowers, lamp posts and brick sidewalks bring an added charm. I love walking the streets admiring the old buildings thinking of the days past and the people who once called them home.

A home on Mill Street.

Gratz Park

Today while going to the library we passed the The Hunt-Morgan House,historically known as Hopemont. Built 1814.

John Wesley Hunt was known as the first millionaire west of the Alleghenies and earned his fortune from the mercantile business shortly after Lexington was established. Other notable personalities have also resided at Hopemont. Hunt's grandson, General John Hunt Morgan, was a dashing general in the Confederate Army who gained the nickname "The Thunderbolt of the Confederacy" through his many raids and daring military feats. John Wesley Hunt's great grandson, Dr. Thomas Hunt Morgan, was born in the house in 1866. Dr. Morgan became famous for his work in genetics and is the only Kentuckian to have won the Nobel Prize.

On the way home we drove past the Mary Todd Lincolon Home Built 1803-1806.

This simple two story brick building on West Main Street was home to Robert S. Todd and his family, including his daughter Mary, wife of the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. Mary Todd was not born at this house but moved here with her family in 1832 when she was 14 years old. She eventually married a young lawyer named Abraham Lincoln in 1842.

Hosta in bloom.

Just a two minute drive from our home is Waveland. Rich and I visited it in February. It is considered one of the finest examples of Greek Revival architecture in Kentucky. The home sits atop a small knoll surrounded by 200 acres of Bluegrass farmland. Joseph Bryan constructed Waveland in 1845 on a 2,000-acre tract of land "laid off" by his uncle and frontiersman, Daniel Boone.

In the fall Rich and I toured Ashland: The Henry Clay Estate. Built 1804. Henry Clay was Kentucky's famous senator and three time presidential candidate. Clay served as a United States Senator and Representative from Kentucky during the period of the War of 1812 up to the decade preceding the Civil War. Henry Clay was best known for his attempts to secure a compromise between the states on the issue of slavery.

He is buried in the Lexington Cemetery. Located in the center of the cemetery is a magnificent monument in honor of Henry Clay. The monument was erected in 1857 after Clay's death in June 1852. The monument was built using native limestone and consists of a 120-foot tall Corinthian column surmounted by a statue of Clay. The remains of Clay and his wife Lucretia rest in two marble sarcophagi on the floor of a vaulted chamber at the base of the monument.

While Lexington has many wonderful sites, Kentucky is filled with many historic places and Rich and I have tried to visit as many as we can.

While we were living in Louisville my family and I traveled to Shaker Village at Pleasant Hill and my little family had visited the Kentucky Horse Park on a day trip during Rich's second year of medical school.

In Louisville Rich and I went to Thomas Edison's home located in historic Butchertown where at age 19 he lived for a short time working as a telegraph key operator. (Thanks to Kristi for watching my boys!)

I also visited Locust Grove. This home was established by William and Lucy Clark Croghan in 1790. William Croghan was the brother-in-law and surveying partner of George Rogers Clark, founder of Louisville and Revolutionary War hero. George Rogers Clark spent the last nine years of his life at Locust Grove, from 1809 until his death in 1818. Locust Grove also hosted three U.S. Presidents, Monroe, Jackson and Taylor, and was a stopping point for famed explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark upon their return from their expedition to the Pacific.

Ahoy There Matey!

AHOY YE PIRATES!

The boys participated in their second swim meet tonight and the theme was pirates. We all got tattoos again and the girls wore this cute pirate hat.

Since they now had times for their events, the boys moved up to faster heats. Trey didn't appreciate having to compete against better swimmers, but we explained how he is trying to beat his own personal best time and the ribbons are secondary. Josh swam the 25 meters in 43.99 seconds. That was 13 seconds faster than last week. He got a blue ribbon. Trey swam the 25 freestyle in the same time and got fourth place, but he was moved up two heats with the time he posted last Wednesday. He also swam the 25 back stroke in 38.65 seconds, three seconds faster than last week. He took third place. Matt will swim in his first meet next Thursday.

GO PIRATES!

Success!

It's a triumphant moment when after months of practicing and working on something it finally clicks and you watch your child succeed. We have been working with the girls since they started crawling up the stairs that they needed to turn around go down backwards to get to the bottom safely. You hope with some serious repetition that one day they might actually understand what you are trying to teach them. Kaitlyn finally managed to do that today. From the top she turned around and went down on her knees without stopping or turning around for a look. The landing was the hardest part because she just has to keep sliding. I was so proud of her and so glad she is a tiny bit safer on the stairs, though the gates will be shut and locked for 99% of the time at least for another year or so!

One down, one to go. Now we will focus on little Brynnie Brynn. We'll let you know how that goes!

The Great State of Kentucky

I have lived in the state of Kentucky for over six and a half years. I have loved seeing its beauty in its nature and people. It is full of kind and thoughtful people and I will miss it when we eventually leave; though we still have three more years to go. I think we could stay forever if we just had some family close by. I thought it would be fun to jot down a few things that make this state different and unique. You could call it: You know you are in Kentucky when.....

You can see bright red Cardinals at your bird feeder.

The rain can last for hours and soak you in a matter of seconds.

The Azalea bloom in the spring and the Hosta bloom in the summer.

There are fireflies on summer nights.

You can hear the ringing of the Cicadas.

There are miles of black wood fences.

There are gorgeous horse farms and stables.

Tobacco plants are growing in the fields.

They sell Derby Pie and Mint Juleps glasses at Wal-mart.

They sing "My Old Kentucky Home" before the running of the Derby.

There is a sign boasting: "Horse Capital of the World."

Graeter's ice cream is sold by the pint at Meijers.

You have a wild rabbit living in your neighborhood.

You see dead possums on the side of the road.

You don't need a sprinkler system for your lawn.

You can buy Ale8 at every grocery store.

The license plates read: Unbridled Spirit.

You live in one of the few Commonwealths.

You can watch the Largest Firework Show in North America. (Thunder Over Louisville)

You can come home from an outdoor event smelling of cigarette smoke.

You can walk through the longest cave in the world. (Mammoth Cave)

You are not far from Lake Cumberland or Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

When your glasses fog up when you get out of the car because of the heat and humidity.

You hear the tornado sirens blare on the first Tuesday of every month.

Your neighbors say: fixing to make, travel on the interstate, go to the grocery, or have a cook out.

There are streets named Man-O-War, Pimlico Parkway and Bold Bidder.

There is a Speedway, Thorntons or BP every mile.

Where you can REALLY eat Kentucky Fried Chicken!

Your cereal and chips go stale and soggy if opened in less than a week.

You can eat at Mark's Feed Store, Juicy's BBQ or Claudia Sanders restaurants.

Where you have Thoroughbred babies and not quarter horse ones. (That is an actual quote!)

There are two medical and two dental schools in the state.

Children refer to you as "Miss Cheryl".

Every kid plays YMCA sports.

Your kids can take swimming lesson at a university founded in 1780 (Transylvania).

You can do "Drive Thru Betting" at Gate 2 at Keeneland.

They sell glass ice cube Christmas ornaments filled with Maker's Mark Bourbon at the mall.

You can buy "Pork Butt on a Stick" at the State Fair.

They break into regular programing for Live Doppler and storm tracker coverage for all the severe weather.

Everyone is fiercely red or blue and I don't mean politically- for U of L or UK and there are not many undecided around.

Rick Pitino's hiring at U of L and Tubby Smith's leaving UK is headline news for a good month.

There is a store called CatBird at the mall.

You live near the UPS headquarters.

You are only an 1 1/2 hour drive from Cincinnati, 2 hour drive from Indianapolis, 3 hours from Nashville or 4 hours from St. Louis. (from Louisville)

You are just two airplanes away from Utah.


Thanks Kentucky for being a truly amazing place to live and raise our family!

A Great Game for Family Fun Night

My Dad had various toys and games from his youth that my brothers and I loved playing with.
He had incredible WWII mechanical airplanes, large army men, a motorized tank and a few board games. We loved playing his old Stratego game but that has since be re-released. But my favorite was called DogFight. Milton Bradley made the game in 1962. The game consists of small WWI planes that battle each other. After thinking about what fun I had playing it as a child, I decided to see if I could get one of my own. After a quick check on eBay I was in luck. I bought it for the kids, though I told them it really is my game so they can only play it when Rich and I are playing along. If you ever need a new game, consider this one. It's one of the all time greatest!

End of an Era

Anyone who knows Matt understands his undying love for his blanket. When he was small he took an intense liking to a yellow blanket that was made for him by Rich's Aunt Nancy. This blanket was never far from Matt's side. It was his ultimate companion and that's saying a lot since he has a twin brother! I could make a scrapbook of the places that blanket had gone. From Mexico to Boston to California to Missouri, it came along too.

Last summer Matt's eagle eyes spied some amazing Star Wars fabric at Wal-mart. He said he would trade his beloved yellow blanket for a new Star Wars one. My mom sewed like a mad woman and a day later, Matt had a brand new Darth Vader and Yoda Star Wars blanket. It was the best gift he had gotten all year. He had promised that the new blanket would stay on his bed, but soon off it went from place to place. It was almost lost at a pumpkin patch here in Lexington and many tears were shed until it was recovered.

The thing he loved most about the blankets were the yarn ties that he would hold and rub on his nose while he sucked his thumb. It was a cute sight to see when he was small, but at nearly six it had lost it's charm. Plus with two more kids in tow I really didn't love hauling the thing around and getting scolded when it wasn't brought along. Many can attest to that!

We have been talking to Josh and Matt for over a year about how and why they need to stop sucking their thumbs, but we weren't getting too far. We started to tape Josh's thumb at night, but Matt just held his blanket in bed and sucked til he fell asleep.

That was until two weeks ago. We were driving to church and Matt had decided he wasn't going to put on his seat belt. I didn't realize this until we had driven for some time and told him that he would have to loose his blanket for a week because he chose to not wear a seat belt after I had asked him to strap in. The first two days and nights were hard and I did allow him to have the blanket when he went to sleep, but after three days, suddenly the need for the blanket disappeared. I also noticed that he wasn't sucking his thumb and the blanket was no where to be found when we were out and about or at bed time.

A few days ago we went to Build-A-Bear at the mall to preview what the boys were going to get on their birthday on the 29th of June. Josh said he wanted to get a dog bed for his new dog and Matt was going to get a new turtle. When we got home Matt found one of Rich's shoe boxes from his Father's Day gifts and made a bed for Froggy. When I went up to look, he told me his blanket made it soft for the frog and there it has stayed for four days. It's hard to believe that two bad habits could cure themselves in a matter of days, but there you have it. It's wasn't a miracle, but it seems like one to me. It should give anyone hope that maybe someday wishes do come true!