on the cusp

We are on the cusp of a brand new year, decade and life, if it so be. I was reflecting on the last decade this morning and thought about where our lives were 10 years ago. We were living in Orem UT. Getting ready to have our first born, Mariah. Will was in school at BYU and working for PowerQuest (a computer software company). I had just finished my 2nd stint at Bon Losee Academy (which I hear is no longer) and preparing for the new chapter of motherhood.
In the year 2000, we had a very full and exciting year. After Mariah was born, it worked out that in some way, we got to see my parents every other month. We took a trip with them and all my siblings (except Paula) to the UK to see Amy Mayall marry Malcolm Young when Mariah was 4 months old. That was such a fantastic time!
As we start this new decade and I think about the next 10 years, it is scary to think I'll have 2 daughters go away to college and possibly get.... *whispers*... married. EEEK!
In the year 2010, the only resolution I have made so far is to be a better visiting teacher. That is something I have been lacking in since we moved back to the mainland and I want to strive to do better.
So far, the decade is starting off great because we are in one of our favorite places with some of our most favorite people!! I couldn't ask for a better jumping point!
We are headed to the beach again today! Should be some exciting pics to post tomorrow! Got a long and busy holiday ahead today.

Swap Meet

We braved Aloha Stadium Swap Meet today with all 10 girls (Kauwe had to work, so Will was all alone...poor guy). I went armed with my list that I'd been secretly keeping for the last couple months, so as to not give away the travel plans. I was able to get everything on my list except the Christmas tree ornaments I was hoping to add to my collection for next year.

Mariah bought this Hello Kitty
necklace at the swap meet

After we left the stadium, we hit the H3 freeway and went over to La'ie to go to BYU-H bookstore and see the temple. I thought that I'd seen a Dave's ice cream over there before, but it turns out there isn't, so we stopped at Angel's ice cream for a cup with ice cream and shave ice. It was pretty good, but Dave's is still my favorite (even over Matsumoto's).

I missed these Ko'Olau Mtns. So majestic!

We went to the temple to see the grounds. The temple is currently closed for some major renovations until next summer, but the grounds are still as beautiful as ever. They even still had their life size marble nativity still set up and the visitor's center is still open. The girls were in awe of everything there.

Outside the La'ie Distribution Center

Peek-a-Boo!

Visitor's Center

Gorgeous La'ie Temple

The Nativity next to the VC ("Nice Doggie"...LOL!!)

Then we went up the road to the BYU-H bookstore and let the girls wander around the bookstore. They love looking around stores like that. It kind of cracks me up how excited they get about such little stuff.

We decided to take the "long way" home and drive over the North Shore. We made a stop at the Dole Plantation to get Pineapple Whip. YuuuMM!!! And it's dairy free, so even Roxelle got to have some. She totally dug it!

Front Entrance

Look at the Brinlee and Tatum in the back ground. LOL!

Penny Flatener. Mariah has sort of made this a tradition to do when we go places that have it.

Poor baby is EXHAUSTED!

Ko'Olina again

First thing this morning, I went for a run and then a walk with the girls on bikes. We went past our old house and Keoneula Elementary School. The sun was shining through the clouds in the most beautiful way.

Our place on Kai'Oli St. and the girls school just to the right of the front gate.


Taylin picked this ENORMOUS hibiscus flower just outside our old house. I remember admiring them. There are usually pink ones too. SO pretty!

I thought the sun looked cool.
(These were all taken with my phone..sorry for the poor quality)

Then the girls were given the go ahead to eat the gingerbread houses. They dug right in!

LOL! Tatum thought this was hilarious!

We went to Ko'Olina again today. It was cloudy today and a little bit of a cool breeze was blowing. The girls didn't care, though. They threw themselves into the water like it was 90 degrees out. They came out an hour later with slightly blue lips, but they didn't seem to care at all.

I'd have to say that Roxelle gets the brownie award for the day. The poor baby didn't get her 9am or 1pm naps and we didn't hear hardly a peep out of her all day. She toddled around on the "straw" mat and munched on snacks and cooed at the the birds. She was just happy as can be!

On the way home we stopped at the new Costco/Target complex in Kapolei. I so missed Target when we lived here and, of course, only about 6 months after we left, they finished building it.

We are going to call it a night earlier tonight than last night. I am closing my eyes as I type. I am exhausted!

Tomorrow: Aloha Stadium Swap Meet

Out to Dinner

Kauwe's brave dad, Gordon, agreed to keep all 10 girls home, while we parents went out to dinner. I put Roxelle and Tatum to bed and then we left. We couldn't decided where to eat, so we ended up at the Ho Ho "Chin" Buffet in Kapolei (supposed to be Chinese, but the 'ese' lights were burnt out so it looked like 'Chin').
Totally ghetto place to eat, but the food was actually pretty good. We chatted and enjoyed each other for the evening. We don't have many more days with Kauwe, as he is getting set to leave on Mon. t0 AZ for 4 months on a military training thing-y.
We love the Kai's so much! It's like looking at a very tan mirror image of ourselves. They totally get the dynamic of 5 girls under age 10. We joke that we must be building our mansions in heaven very close to one another to house all these girls and all our posterity to come!

AlooooooooHaaaaa!

We are finally here after an eventful night! We got to the airport in plenty of time to take it easy getting through security with 7 people and 11 pieces of luggage. We boarded the plane on time and taxi'd out to the runway in decent time. Then we sat there for a while. The girls kept asking if we were already flying (cuz it was dark outside and they couldnt' see that the ground was right there). Then the pilot came on and said that one of the flap indicator lights had come on and that we were turning around to go back to the gate to have the mechanics take a look. They said if there really is something wrong with the flap, that we will have to change planes, but if it's just a false indicator, that we'd take off because they don't need the indicators to work once we are in the air.

After we had sat at the gate for over an hour, it was announced that it was just the indicator light.

Once in the air, the kids slept most of the time and were, over all, pretty good.

The kids and I wore masks for a good part of the time to try and avoid the sickies.

Baby's 1st plane ride!!! (AWWW)

We arrived 2 hours late at 11:40. When we exited the airplane and walked out of the terminal into the open air, Tatum pointed to the palm trees and shouted "LOOK! It's Hawaii!!" They were so excited to just be here.

We grabbed our one checked suitcase and headed out to the car rental bus waiting area. We waited for over an hour and watched a bunch of the other company buses come and go 2 and 3 times. We used the courtesy phone (4 or 5 times) that direct connects to Thrifty and it kept telling us that someone would be there shortly to get us.

Us waiting...and WAITING! (1 am-ish)

Finally at around 1:10 am, the guy at the taxi stand next to us came and asked us if we needed help and we told him we were waiting for the Thrifty bus and he said they'd closed at 11:30. WHAT?!

So we called Kauwe, whom we'd been keeping updating since we landed, and he came to get us. We finally arrived in Ewa around 2:15.

I'd say the thing that has changed the most is that they finished the 3rd lane on Fort Weaver Rd and there is NO more traffic in Ewa!!! That is totally unfathomable to me. I can't comprehend there being no traffic on Ft. Weaver Rd.

We spent this morning getting our rental car figured out and then we all went to Ko'Olina to hang on the beach. The girls are playing so well together. I thought my girls would enter the ocean with some trepidation at first, but they hopped right back in like we'd never been gone.

Will and I agree that we feel like we're in some kind of weird time warp. It's almost as though we never left, or that we haven't been gone that long.

Tomorrow: We beach it again!!!

The first glimpse of the beach!!

Baby's 1st toes in the sand experience!!

Not all together sure of this, yet.

Don't really like the grass, either.

Called to Repentance

This morning while I was dressing Roxelle, Tatum came into her room with a concerned look and said;

T: Jesus doesn't like that one.

Me: Which one?

T: That one, it makes Him and Daddy sad.

Me: I'm not sure what you're talking about. What doesn't Jesus like?

T: That one you say. Jesus and Daddy very angry.

Then I realized she was referring to me saying "freakin'" a little while earlier because she was holding a flashlight over the toilet and I told her to "Close the freakin' lid" before she drops it in the toilet.
I know that isn't a curse word to most, but I don't like it and try really hard not to use it. I didn't use to care, but the first time I heard one of my kids say it, I didn't like that very much, so I told them that it's not a "curse" word, but that it's not a very nice thing to say.
Tatum was so concerned that I had said a swear word and that Jesus and Daddy were going to be very mad at me. I hugged her tight and sincerely apologized to her and told her that I promised to try really hard to never say it again. Funny girl!!

An act of kindness

Last night, I decided to just bite the bullet and go shopping today for the girls "Christmas dresses". I decided to hit Clackamas Town Center because it's in OR, so no sales tax, and it has the best selection of stores that is closest to me.

I decided to go to Target, which is across the street, first. I actually found a couple of cute dresses there and decided that since they were such a great price that I would just go for it. So I paid and left.

When I got in the car, I was organizing my bag. When I pulled out of my spot, I realized that someone had been waiting for it and I felt bad that I'd taken so long, so I waved an apology and she smiled and waved back, which I thought was a nice gesture. As I was driving away, I realized that my Target receipt, which I had put into my wallet after paying, was on the edge of my driver's seat. I went to slip it back into my wallet and realized that my check book (with all my credit cards) was missing. I frantically searched the sides of my seat and the back while stopped at the stoplight, but could not find it. So I flipped a U and hurried back to where I was parked. I knew that since it wasn't in the car, and I know I put it back into my wallet after I paid, with my receipt, that I had to have dropped it in the parking lot.

I didn't see it in the spot where I'd parked (I recognized the car still in it that had parked there after me). I went into Target and no one had turned it in. I was FRANTIC! I kept thinking that I wouldn't be able to make the 30 minute drive home fast enough to cancel my cards and checks before someone might start doing their Christmas shopping on my dime!

On the drive home, I kept going over it in my head and kicking myself for even going shopping in the first place. I knew this was my "punishment" for spending unnecessary money. I was praying that it would be found by someone honest, that wouldn't use my identity or spend our money, and I promised that I would return the dresses and they could go without this year. They don't need them anyway.

After I cancelled my debit card, checks, and credit cards, I was sulking on the couch when my phone rang and an angel was on the other end. The gal asked for me by name and told me her name and said she found my wallet in the Target parking lot. I thanked her vehemently and asked her if she by chance had turned it in to Target. She said "No. Honestly, I used to work for Target and I've seen what those 'girls' behind the counter do to lost wallets. So I thought I'd take my chances and try to find you myself. I was the one who pulled into the parking spot you were in and when I got out of the car, I saw it on the ground. I hope you don't mind, but I had to go through your checks to find your number." Of course I didn't mind. I told her that the funny thing is that just a couple of weeks ago I had gotten new checks and my old checks had my HI number on them. She said "Well, when I was looking, I noticed that you made a check out to a ward. Are you LDS?" I laughed and said "YES! Are you?!" and she said "Yes!" We both laughed. I told her she was a direct answer to prayer. I thanked her a million times over and we agreed to meet back up by Clackamas Town Center, which is where she lives.

I had made these little baskets with a candle for my visiting teach-ees for Christmas and I had an extra, so I put a thank you note inside and took it to her.

I have such a strong testimony of the power of prayer already, and after today it is strengthened 10 fold. I know that He hears and answers all of our prayers. Sometimes those answers don't come as immediately as we like, but if you live righteously and listen to those simple promptings, you will hear your answers.

"Xmas"

So, I have been the "Xmas" police for years now. I am not afraid to scold anyone for "taking Christ out of Christmas". I thanked a friend for NOT taking Christ out of Christmas in her Facebook post today and it started an interesting conversation. One of the people pointed me toward an article on the origin of "Xmas" that helped me understand it better. So I thought I would share.
p.s. I know I have been doing a lot of non-personal blogging lately. I'll try to get caught up with my pics ASAP.

http://www.thehistoryofchristmas.com/trivia/xmas.htm
Xmas is an abbreviation for Christmas. It is derived from the word ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ, transliterated as Christos, which is Greek for Christ. Greek is the language in which the whole New Testament was written.
Originally, Xmas was an abbreviation where the X represents the Greek letter chi, which is the first letter of Christ's name. However, because of the modern interpretations of the letter X, many people are unaware of this and assume that this abbreviation is meant to drop Christ from Christmas.

Also, here is a relevant excerpt from Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xmas
"Xmas" is frowned upon in modern guides for writing styles. Style guides at the New York Times,[2] The Times, The Guardian and the BBC all rule out its use, where possible.[3] Millicent Fenwick, in the 1948 Vogue's Book of Etiquette states that "'Xmas' should never be used" in greeting cards.[4]
The Cambridge Guide to Australian English Usage states that the spelling should be considered informal and restricted to contexts where concision is valued, such as headlines and greeting cards.[5]
The Christian Writer's Manual of Style, while acknowledging the ancient and respectful use of "Xmas" in the past, states that the spelling should never be used in formal writing.[6]

So I suppose I should stop telling people not to use it in forums like Facebook and Twitter. LOL!

Happy Thanksgiving!

A young man named John received a parrot as a gift. The parrot had a bad attitude and an even worse vocabulary. Every word out of the bird's mouth was rude, obnoxious and laced with profanity. John tried and tried to change the bird's attitude by consistently saying only polite words, playing soft music and anything else he could think of to "clean up" the bird's vocabulary.

Finally, John was fed up and he yelled at the parrot. The parrot yelled back. John shook the parrot and the parrot got angrier and even ruder, John, in desperation threw up his hands, grabbed the bird and put him in the freezer. For a few minutes the parrot squawked and kicked and screamed. Then suddenly there was total quiet. Not a peep was heard for over a minute. Fearing that he'd hurt the parrot, John quickly opened the door to the freezer. The parrot calmly stepped out onto John's outstretched arms and said......"I believe I may have offended you with my rude language and actions. I'm sincerely remorseful for my inappropriate transgressions and I fully intend to do everything I can to correct my rude and unforgivable behavior."

John was stunned at the change in the bird's attitude. As he was about to ask the parrot what had made such a dramatic change in his behavior the bird continued, "May I ask what the turkey did?"

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Will's mom read this poem to us at the first Christmas after Will's dad passed. I just dug it up to give to a grieving friend and thought there might be others who would benefit from it. Merry Christmas ALL!

My First Christmas In Heaven

I see the countless Christmas trees
around the world below
With tiny lights, like Heaven's stars,
reflecting on the snow

The sight is so spectacular,
please wipe away the tear
For I am spending Christmas
with Jesus Christ this year

I hear the many Christmas songs
that people hold so dear
But the sounds of music can't compare with
the Christmas choir up here

I have no words to tell you,
the joy their voices bring
For it is beyond description,
to hear the angels sing

I know how much you miss me
You know I hold you dear
And be glad I'm spending Christmas
with Jesus Christ this year

I sent you each a special gift
From my heavenly home above
I sent you each a memory of my undying love

After all, love is a gift
more precious than pure gold
It was always most important
in the stories Jesus told

Please love and keep each other
As my Father said to do
For I can't count the blessing or love
he has for each of you

So have a Merry Christmas
And wipe away that tear:
Remember, I am spending Christmas
with Jesus Christ this year.

Sack Lunches

Sack Lunches

I put my carry-on in the luggage compartment and sat down in my assigned seat. It was going to be a long flight.. 'I'm glad I have a good book to read; perhaps I will get a short nap,' I thought.

Just before take-off, a line of soldiers came down the aisle and filled all the vacant seats, totally surrounding me. I decided to start a conversation.

'Where are you headed?' I asked the soldier seated nearest to me. 'Petawawa. We'll be there for two weeks for special training, and then we're being deployed to Afghanistan.

After flying for about an hour, an announcement was made that sack lunches were available for five dollars. It would be several hours before we reached the east, and I quickly decided a lunch would help pass the time..

As I reached for my wallet, I overheard a soldier ask his buddy if he planned to buy lunch. 'No, that seems like a lot of money for just a sack lunch. Probably wouldn't be worth five bucks. I'll wait till we get to base. His friend agreed.

I looked around at the other soldiers. None were buying lunch. I walked to the back of the plane and handed the flight attendant a fifty dollar bill. 'Take a lunch to all those soldiers.'

She grabbed my arms and squeezed tightly. Her eyes wet with tears, she thanked me. 'My son was a soldier in Iraq, it's almost like you are doing it for him..'

Picking up ten sacks, she headed up the aisle to where the soldiers were seated. She stopped at my seat and asked, 'Which do you like best - beef or chicken?' 'Chicken,' I replied, wondering why she asked.

She turned and went to the front of plane, returning a minute later with a dinner plate from first class. This is your thanks.

After we finished eating, I went again to the back of the plane, heading for the rest room. A man stopped me. 'I saw what you did. I want to be part of it. Here, take this.' He handed me twenty-five dollars.

Soon after I returned to my seat, I saw the Flight Captain coming down the aisle, looking at the aisle numbers as he walked, I hoped he was not looking for me, but noticed he was looking at the numbers only on my side of the plane. When he got to my row he stopped, smiled, held out his hand, and said, 'I want to shake your hand.' Quickly unfastening my seat-belt I stood and took the Captain's hand. With a booming voice he said, 'I was a soldier and I was a military pilot. Once, someone bought me a lunch. It was an act of kindness I never forgot.'

I was embarrassed when applause was heard from all of the passengers. Later I walked to the front of the plane so I could stretch my legs. A man who looked 20 was seated about six rows in front of me reached out his hand, wanting to shake mine. He left another twenty-five dollars in my palm.

When we landed I gathered my belongings and started to depart. Waiting just inside the airplane door was a man who stopped me, put something in my shirt pocket, turned, and walked away without saying a word. Another twenty-five dollars!

Upon entering the terminal, I saw the soldiers gathering for their trip to the base. I walked over to them and handed them seventy-five dollars. 'It will take you some time to reach the base. It will be about time for a sandwich. God Bless You.'

Ten young men left that flight feeling the love and respect of their fellow travelers. As I walked briskly to my car, I whispered a prayer for their safe return. These soldiers were giving their all for our country. I could only give them a couple of meals. It seemed so little...

A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America ' for an amount of up to and including my life.' That is Honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it.'

That's my girl

Yesterday, Tatum was playing with this little animal puzzle that Roxelle got for her birthday and she kept insisting that the hamster piece is called a "Lommster". I tried to tell her otherwise, but she would not hear it.
This morning after we dropped the girls off at school, she said she wanted to watch "Scooby, Scooby Doo" and that she can't find it. I knew it was in the car so I started handing her all the DVD's from the car. The first one I handed her was "Barbie in the Nutcracker" and when she looked at it she exclaimed "OOO! It's the 'Buttcracker' one, Mommy!" I asked "It's what?" "Buttcracker", she said like DUH MOM!
She is killing me with her mixed up words and phrases. I can remember doing that as a little kid. (ok, Jolene. I know I still do it. LOL!! "Beth hairs" ha ha ha!!) That's my girl!

Top Story

Katu Channel 2's
Anna Song
tweeted me on
Twitter
saying that someone sent her the link to
my blog after reading what happened at WinCo.

Anna and her camera guy came over on

Thursday morning and spent about

an hour talking to me and filming the kids

(Tatum and Roxelle).

Then they asked me if they could meet

me at my

dr appointment

that I made earlier that morning for Tatum.

She woke up with a red, bloodshot eye.
They came to Evergreen Pediatrics and filmed the

entire appointment and also spoke to

Dr. Fuchs

(the girls Ped. pronounced like fyou-ks) on camera.

It was CRAZY!

And also fun.

They aired tidbits on the 4 and 5 o'clock

news and then a full story at 6.

It was the top story on the 5 and 6 airings.

Must've been a slow day!!! LOL

Mask

Today I had to go grocery shopping.

I don't like going when Will's working because

I HATE taking kids with me.

I went to Wmart and Winco and because

Tatum and Roxelle both have

sneezy, goobery noses,

I was doing my part to keep them covered.

The masks help A LOT with

keeping their hands away from their mouth, too.

Believe me I wouldn't have gone

and taken them if it wasn't absolutely necessary.

But you gotta do what you gotta do.

So I am hurrying in Winco, because Roxelle has had enough. I am bagging as fast as I can and I say (kind of to myself)

"OO I hate to be the mom at the checkout with a screaming child. he he"

The woman across from me bagging in the lane facing me just kind of glared at me and I thought,
OH.Kay.

Then she says

"You know your kidding yourself

if you think that's gonna work. The

mask has to be sealed tight to prevent sickness.

So you might as well take it off and make 'him' happy".

I said (humbly) "Oh, well it does help a little."

She said "No it doesn't if it's not air tight."

I said (humbly again)

"Oh. Well, my

husband's a nurse and he insists I have them wear it".

She says, (GET THIS)

"Well maybe he should be the one at the grocery store instead of you."

THE NERVE!!!

Then the checkout lady called me over to ask a

question and gave me a sympathetic look.

When I went back to my business.

She was glaring again and so I said;

"Well, you know, they have icky noses and are sneezing, so I'm just trying to save everyone else from getting their germs. The masks will at least keep the snot from spraying everywhere."

She didn't respond. RUDE!

Several people at both stores made comments like "That's smart" and "Good for you" and "Thank you for sparing me the germs". One older lady in Wmart in one of those electric carts had on a mask, too. I told Tatum "look, Aunty has a mask, too". The lady was so nice telling Tatum how cool hers looked with Mickey Mouse on it. Their Peds office gives them out for free, so I snagged a couple when I was there last. Glad I did! The girls were both really good about leaving them on. Roxelle got over it toward the end and refused to leave it put, but for the most part she didn't even bother it. Tatum didn't take hers off at all.

baby steps

Roxelle just took her first steps about 20 minutes ago!!! We were sitting on the floor watching tv and Will says "Mommy! Mommy, LOOK!" I turn to see Roxelle take 1 and a 1/2 little steps toward me, giggling all the while. FINALLY!!! She's 12 months and 10 days, already!!

I am so proud of you, Honey!!

Check out these 2 letters that Will received from the hospital today. One is from the Director of Human Resources and the other is from the Head Hospital Administrator.

If you click on the letters individually, they will open up into larger view.

These letters are to inform Will that he is being named the hospital wide Employee of the Month for October!!! His manager said that they will give him a party at the hospital and present him with his award. She said to invite his family, friends and well anyone that cares to come and celebrate. He needs to pick a date that he wants the party on and I will let everyone know when he does.

His floor manager, DJ, told him that this is a pretty big deal and will probably only happen once, maybe twice in his career so plan big! He even gets to choose what food to have! I am so thrilled for him! He, of course, is being very modest about the whole thing. Congratulations, Honey! You deserve it!!

Always a day late and a dollar short...

I know I'm always a day late and a dollar short. I thought all day yesterday about 9/11. I will never forget.

The footage is very real. Don't watch if you can't stomach it.
If you can, then grab a tissue and we'll watch it together.

My memory of that day is not out of the ordinary. I was doing the same thing as everyone else when I got a phone call from my sister Paula telling me to turn on the tv and my world came to a screeching halt. Mariah was 18 months old and I was pregnant with Brinlee.

I was working part time for Caldera Systems as a receptionist and I was just getting ready to leave for work when the 2nd plane hit.

I remember watching the replay of the 1st plane and trying to play out in my mind what could have possibly happened, but when the 2nd plane hit, is was horrendously obvious what was happening.

I can still hear the eerie quiet-ness of the skies and streets that day. I remember the sense of hopelessness in the days after and then the slow building up of unity across the nation.

I am proud to be an American and I send my prayers and well-wishes to those that have made and still make my freedom possible.

I am forever indebted.

billy bob

Look MOM! I have teeth!!!

(You have to click on the picture to make

it bigger and get a better view)

Oh, Asia.

That girl gets me laughing and angry all in about a 30 second span!

This morning she just had me laughing, though. She came up to my room and discovered her money purse. I was getting ready and she was on my bed. She suddenly says:

A: "Ughh! I don't want $2 dollars!"
Me: "OOO! I'll have it then!"
A: "Nooo-wuh! I want more dollars!"
Me: "Well, then you'll have to go get a job to earn more dollars."
A: "What?! Why?"
Me: "Because money doesn't grow on trees like the fruit."
A: *Thinks for a minute* "What if I find a dollar, no, a LOT of dollars in the street and I just start picking them all up? Then I'll be RRrrrich!!" *laughs her funny little giggle*

p.s. I finalized everything for her to start Kindergarten. After all my effort, I still couldn't convince VANSD to let her into public school, so she is going to a private school (Kindercare Learning Center). Much to my relief, it's not going to be quite as expensive as I was told it would be. It's actually not that much more than putting her in preschool for another whole year. She is over the moon excited!!!

delayed reaction

I guess I spoke a little too soon. (BOOOO!) After about a week and a half of Tatum being on cow's milk, this morning she woke me with her trademark "dairy" hacking cough. She's been fine with everything else since last April at Easter time. I guess she wasn't ready for straight milk yet. I am still happy that she can have pretty much everything else. I'll just have to keep her on Almond Milk for drinking for a while, I guess.

Dairy Ice Cream

Every summer, my girls' pediatric dentist has an ice cream party. This was our first year and the girls were in heaven!! He rents an ice cream truck and gives each kid a set of tickets for different stuff and one ticket is to pick 1 treat (anything they want) off the truck. Since we've been easing into letting Tatum eat dairy, I let her choose what she wanted. She was practically giddy and knew exactly what she wanted...."DORA!".

Dr. Brandon has these token machines in his office and each visit the kids each get 1 or 2 tokens to get a prize. This day, they earned the tokens by playing the little "carnival" games they had set up.
At the end of the day, they got some airbrushing.

FREEEE the "Dairy Free-k"

We've been battling an annoying dairy allergy with Tatum since she was about 9 months old. She has a serious respiratory reaction to any type of dairy ingestion and so we've been pretty careful about reading labels and letting caregivers (i.e. nursery and babysitters, etc.) know about it. Plus the older girls have been really good at knowing what she can and cannot have.

Each year at Easter, we make sure that the bunny knows that she can't have chocolate and she gets stocked with appropriate treats like Skittles and Starburst (and Oreo Cookies...they don't have milk. I know. Go figure!)

Anyway, this past Easter, Tatum kept hiding behind the couch and eating the other girls chocolates. She just couldn't resist. The poor kid LOVES chocolate. She would come into the kitchen with a thick ring of chocolate around her mouth and I thought for sure we were gonna be seeing the ER in a few days, but about a week later, I noticed that she hadn't had ANY reactions to it.

Over these last few months we started with letting her have hard cheeses. She loves Mozzarella sticks. A few weeks ago I let her eat a 1/2 of a gogurt. Nothing. Then we had an ice cream party at the their dentist's office and I let her have "dairy" ice cream (that post is on it's way with pics). Nothing, again. A few days ago, I started putting "dairy milk" on her cereal. Still, nothing.

HALLELUJaaaah...

......oh. wait. Roxelle was born with the same allergy. She got her first runny nose at about 9 days old. I couldn't eat dairy while nursing her and that was HARD! Hers manifests a little differently than Tatums. Her first symptoms are goopy eyes. Tatum would always start with the wheezing and hacking cough. Roxelle has only worked up to the cough once or twice after someone accidentally gave her something with dairy. I can only hope that she grows out of it as quickly as Tatum did!

Tatum turns 3!

Tatum wanted to have her party at the "water park". Luckily, downtown Vancouver has Ester Short Park with this great water feature and it's FREE!
Tatum was in her own world most of the day! She wasn't going to let anyone or anything bother her! She even got to see her favorite cousin, Hannah. They are like 2 peas in a pod, but couldn't be more opposite at the same time!!
We let the kids play in the water for a good long time and then we had cupcake cones, snacks and juice.
Will had to work, but I had my mom there to help and lots of friends, too.
When we got home, we did another cake and sang Happy Birthday and then she wanted to jump on the tramp, so she did just that!
She is such a funny girl and so much fun to have around! She is our family "clown"!