Happy 4th of July

Leaves of Three Let It Be

So last Wednesday we went to the park with friends and her daughter was waving a branch at Matthias and Hannah and tickling them with it, rubbing it all over their necks and faces. My friend goes, "Is that poison ivy?" To which I responded, "No, It's like a tree branch." 


HA. 


Thursday morning Hannah woke up with huge cheeks and a rash all over her arms, neck and face. Matthias had it all over  his arms and neck and then he apparently had gone to the bathroom right after the park also...poor kid. Taylor said, "What is wrong with them? Look at Hannah's cheeks, they are huge." Me..."They are always really fat." Taylor, "Not like that." And of course she had already climbed in our bed when Taylor got out to shower so I had to wash everyone's sheets not just theirs. Somehow James avoided all the poison ivy even though he was at the park also.


So Hannah and Matthias are both on steroid treatments right now. Hannah looks crazy, but I can't get a good pic...sad. We think it was actually poison sumac, but whatever it was it was bad. 


Matthias has been sleeping fine, but Thursday night Hannah came in our room 9 or 10 times in a 10 hour span...so I honestly don't know if she slept at all. Friday night she probably got a few hours as she had some longer breaks in between. And she's going strong during the day--running around in circles, jumping around, "dad look at me!", and generally acting like she's totally wired. It's been pretty funny, but I'm glad I finally got 5 straight house last night because I was getting really tired.


Today at church the nursery leaders brought her to me and said, "I think she's having an allergic reaction to something." Whoops, should have told them what happened I guess. Now her face is starting to peel like she had a sunburn and some of the rash on her arms is pussing up and breaking open. Poor girl. I feel really bad. 


Taylor of course can't believe I'm so lacking in plant identification but in my defense it completely looked like it was growing from a huge tree (that was obviously a regular tree) and Amelia just pulled the branch off. "But if it has three leaves you should never touch it!!" --Taylor


Lesson learned. I now know what poison plants look like. Because I had certification night for girls' camp two days later. =]

A Big Trip

Our really close friends are moving away next week. Last Thursday we were getting ready to meet them at the park...

Me: This will be one of the last times we get to see Jack.
Hannah: Because he's going on his little trip.
Me: Honey, he's moving. We might not ever see him again.
Hannah: So it's a big trip.

Hannah's New Goggles

Isn't she cute? My goal is to have her swimming by the end of the summer. She can float well on her back and was doing some kicking yesterday. She's going to be great!

James' First Piano Recital

James asked if he could learn to play the piano so we started lessons about January-ish. He and I have done some here and there in the past but now that he can read so well and also has the desire himself to learn it's been a great experience. We have a lesson once a week and then he does his practicing pretty well the rest of the days. I have really enjoyed teaching him and it's one of the best parts of our week. Historically James and I haven't always done well in a teacher/student relationship, but piano has been wonderful for us. Last Friday a friend in the ward was having a recital for her students so I asked if James could join. He did a wonderful job and played great! Normally he does sit down while playing piano so I guess his nerves just kept him standing up rather then missing a note? 

We Love Camping

We went camping last weekend and it was tons of fun as usual. The weather was so warm (low 70s at night) so we kept the fly off the tent and could see the stars and feel the breeze during the night. It was lovely. I just love my sleeping back and my air pad and sleeping outside with all the kids close by. We went to Perdenales Falls again and had a blast. Since it was really warm this time we were able to swim in the river which the kids loved! Also the kids found a cactus field close to our campsite that they thought was really cool. 

The wild flowers were really beautiful this time of year also and there were tons everywhere! James learned the names of some at school so he was able to enlighten us all. The most abundant were the Indian Blanket flowers and I got a picture of Hannah with them. She loved all the flowers and there are really flowers everywhere right now so every time we drive any where Hannah shouts "did you see the flowers mom?" "Look at the pretty flowers!"

Too bad it will be way to hot to camp any time in the next 6 months. 

Taylor Turns 30

Taylor just had his 30th birthday! We had french toast for breakfast then headed to church. Vegetable Enchiladas for dinner (yum) and amazing chocolate cake for dessert. Yes, we love our food. Some friends came over. We gave Taylor some Lard. It was a great birthday...I hope

Exact conversation earlier in the day...

Taylor: I think we should start cooking with lard.
Kristi: (laughing) I know you do.
Taylor: What don't you think we should?
Kristi: We should.

Haha. Little did he know I already had some wrapped up for him. So that is why I gave my husband lard for his birthday. I knew he wanted some. Sadly the lard I grabbed in my haste was hydrogenated lard. Who knew you could ruin lard? I just wanted some good old fashioned pig fat. I just might have to render my own...right after we get a pig. Or Taylor shoots a wild one.

We love this guy! Happy Birthday!