UEA camping!!

 October also brings UEA break.  A time that as a kid we always went camping because my dad was a school administrator and always had time off.  Recently we decided to start joining my family in their campouts.  This year, even though my kids didn't have the same time off of school, we pulled them out and took them to be with my family 4 hours away in a beautiful place called Onion Creek outside of Moab and Arches.

 Isn't it beautiful? I love that Cordelle used his new camera to catch some of these views.

 Check out this tent?  My sister Krista recently bought this!  Talk about a home away from home! So much space!  

 Thank heavens Tallie brought a bucket full of cars to which Collin stayed and played with all day long with Beckham. How cute is he with his sunglasses?

 You know normally my mom UEA camps with a lot of neighbors and friends but this year for some reason no one could come and so it ended up just being my family!  It was so fun and beautiful!  I love camping with my family.  Everyone was there except for Brett and Tiffany because they just had a baby delivered early at 29 weeks, so that is understandable. 

 We went on a 5 mile hike called Negro Bill right outside of Arches and got to this beautiful bridge.  It's hard to see that is really is an arch because its right next to a mountain but it was so pretty and the kids, all 5 miles, were awesome and since they were with their cousins, I didn't hear them complain once!

 Everyone that made it to the arch.

 We then, went on another small hike right outside of Moab (mostly a local swimming hole) that was about a 1.5 miles.  But we found this awesome waterfall, well actually Neal and Brittlyn found it and then we followed them. :)

 Unfortunately Jaquelle rode back with Alexa to camp after the first hike so she wasn't with us on this hike, but here is Cordelle and I and the boys!

Collin started getting tired towards the end of the 2nd hike and we had to pretend we were ninjas the whole way back to the car but it was entertaining and kept him distracted.

Seth's Peanut Allergy

When Seth was like 2 he had a tiny bite of a peanut butter sandwhich and his lip started to swell.  When he was 4 or 5 he took a bite of a peanut butter granola bar and his throat started closing, tongue started swelling, and he started to become sleepy and not getting enough oxygen.  Luckily, we had had him tested for a peanut allergy and had an epi-pen that we gave him at the Dr.'s office.  This was our first real experience knowing that Seth had a pretty severe peanut allergy and we did everything in our power to make sure he knew and that those around him knew he couldn't have peanuts.  
  Over the next couple of years, Seth grew in fear of the allergy as well.  He started avoiding any kind of sweets, especially homemade goods when he didn't know who made them or IF they possibly could have peanuts in it.  He was afraid of accidentally eating them, and probably rightly so.  In 2nd grade it all came to a head.
Seth started acting weird.  He is normally the kind of kid that wakes up and just gets his morning jobs done, is focused and responsible.  But he was just "off".  He was reading slower, dawdling around and was overly emotional.  One day I came home with some cinnamon rolls for him from the Hub and I thought he would have loved them, but he said he didn't want any.  Well this just didn't make sense to me, so I jokingly kept badgering him asking him why?  Because it was right after school, and he normally loves cinnamon rolls. And he kept being all silly and coy like he had a big secret to tell why he was not eating them and I couldn't figure it out.  He'd get giggly and just say never mind or no, I don't want to tell you why.   Anyways finally, it hit me and I said, "Seth are you afraid this has peanuts in it?" And he just broke down sobbing!! And I was like whoa! Where is this coming from?  I tried to comfort him assuring him it didn't have any peanuts in it and he didn't have to eat it if he didn't want to or felt uncomfortable with it, but he still wouldn't really talk to me about it.  And we had to kind of leave it at, "Ok Seth, whenever you feel comfortable you know you can talk to me about anything you are worried about."  But he was closed up like a book and didn't want to talk about it with me.  Frustrating!
  Well so I knew there was a deep concern there, but I wasn't settled that that was all of it.  He continued in his "off" behavior and started to avoid all brown foods even like cooked chicken.  Well one Monday while I was praying and meditating I knew there were still a lot of fear and anxiety for him regarding peanuts and I just didn't think it was right.  I prayed about what I could do to help him.  I suddenly started getting ideas for that night's family home evening.  One thing led to another and we ended up having a "very inspired" family night on Trusting in God.  It was one of those incredible family home evenings where your kids are really listening and totally get it.  We told the story of Meshack, Shadrack and Abednego and how they trusted in God completely and they were protected in the fire.  I wish I could remember everything but it was really cool.  Even Jaq randomly raised her hand and said, "I think you need to do 3 things.  Trust God, pray to God and love God." And I was like, um, yea.  That is exactly right.  Profound coming from a 6 year old.  Anyways, Seth kept raising his hand to comment and then getting embarrassed and saying, I'll tell you later.  He wanted to talk but didn't like the setting of FHE to do it.  He was anxious to go to bed so we could talk.  So I went in and asked him what he wanted to talk about.  He proceeded to tell me that a couple weeks earlier a neighbor boy told him that I had told another boy that if Seth ate peanuts or peanut butter he would die.  Like instantly.  He was so nervous about dying!  (Suddenly I started to remember how often he had brought up death the last couple of weeks and everything started to totally make sense to me.  Matter of fact I can remember one day we were having a spiritual discussion and with tears in his eyes he looked at me and said, but if I died I would still see you in heaven one day right? I mean, heart breaking!  But i was so glad to finally know where this was all coming from.)  Anyways we talked about it.  And I told him I never said anything like that and sometimes kids make up things.  But I also went step by step through what would happen if he did have peanut butter or peanuts.  And although it could be life threatening, it was not immediate. There was a time period where his body would send out antihistamines which might make his throat or tongue swell.  But that there was time to get to a doctor and time to get help before it escalated to a dangerous situation.  He then asked me if his heart slowed down if he had peanut butter?  I told him I had no idea.  But that sounded like something that could happen.  He then proceeded to tell me that in his brain he thought that this is what happened.  Because when your heart stops you die.  Suddenly I began to remember how much he has been working out lately, running, doing sit ups etc.  And he continued to tell me that is why he likes exercising, because it speeds up your heart so you live longer.  It all made sense. His fear of dying, the peanuts, the exercising to keep his heart pumping.  And I was so grateful for the opportunity to give him truth, to correct those incorrect thoughts and beliefs in his mind.  I explained that hearts are made to last 60-100 years even when people don't exercise.  And while exercising is good, God made our hearts to help keep us alive for a very long time.  I could literally see his body take a deep sigh of relief at all this new knowledge.  He wasn't going to die, not right away anyways and not from peanuts and not from not exercising.  What a weight had been lifted.  A couple of times the next day he even told me, "I'm so glad you told me I wasn't going to die if I ate peanuts." :)  And I was SO grateful to a God who listens and the Spirit who taught me how and what to say to help this big burden.  We have a long way to go to fully over come this fear of his allergy but this night was pivotal.   So grateful we can tackle this without those huge fears. 
  Well long story short, (haha, I know) over the next 6 months we talked a lot about trusting in God and he made an effort to fast every fast Sunday for Heavenly Father to take away his Peanut Allergy.  **Yes i know as a parent, you get nervous with these types of requests, because what if it never went away?  But If he was willing to fast, I was not about ready to dampen that with my doubts, so I did everything in my power and knowledge to help as well.  
  At his 9th birthday I told him we could go and get him re-tested for peanuts just to see.  When they called back with his results, they told me he was at a .34.  Well this didn't mean anything to me so I had them pull up the results of the first time to have something to compare it to.  The nurse did so and then was vocally surprised at how much it had changed.  Apparently the first time he was tested back in 2008 he was at a 6.75, or what was considered high risk.  And now at a .34 he was not even considered low risk.  If he ate peanuts he might just develop a rash or something.  I started crying, knowing what had gone into it like Seth's fasting and prayers.  When I told Seth, he was so excited!  He couldn't stop telling people!  What an experience.  I doubt he'll still eat peanuts because he thinks they stink, but the fear is almost completely gone for him to accidentally eat something.  I am so grateful today for fasting, for Jesus Christ, for knowledge, for tender mercies, for faith....for miracles. 

Oh yea. This happened.

We're having boy #3 in Februrary!  What the what?

Somebody got a new Camera!

 Cordelle playing around with his new SLR camera he bought himself for his birthday.

Its fall soccer season!!

 This year Cordelle switched from coaching Seth and he and I kind of tag teamed coaching Jaq's.  It was fun and the girls did great.  Jaquelle is getting very fast and starting to cut and get around people without much coaching.  We need to start working with her more but she is doing really well all on her own.

 Mom and Collin watching our fair share from the sidelines in a camping chair. (I think Collin's look of concern here is the playground next to the field that he really wants to go play at, but can't find Jaq to go with him).

 Seth has started playing for a soccer academy.  Fewer games but more practices. Its been really good and he's learned A TON from the coach.  His interests are kind of shifting more to football so we'll see how much longer he decides to play soccer.  Which is sad, because he is actually quite good.  But you can tell he doesn't love it like he used to.  We will miss watching all the soccer games if he does.

Happy Birthday Cordelle!!

Well he spent his birthday sick at home, but since it was a Sunday that meant no meetings for him.  A plus! It was a chill day needless to say, but we did get a round or two of Monopoly Empire in. And I gotta say, 35 looks pretty good on him! Happy birthday hunk!  I love you.

hApPy BiRtHdAy JaQ!!!

She has patiently waited through all the boys summer birthday and now finally her day has come!  Today Jaq turned 7!!!

 Highlights were her own MP3 player, rollerblades and Monopoloy Empire.

She loved these hand made dolls from Grandma Morris.  They are so awesome!

 

 She's going to love me for posting this picture of her with her cake (above), but it was so funny. The day was filled with her soccer game, going out to eat, and spending the day trying out her new blades.  This year she even got to cut her own cake (below). 

Jaquelle at 7!  

She loves school and is so smart.  She reads so well and understands what she reads.  She loves soccer and playing football with her dad and brother.  But she also loves learning how to do backbends, cartwheels or anything else like her favorite cousin Alexa. She has recently learned the piano and is catching on so well.  Thanks to her grandma sending her music in the mail, she has learned quite a few primary songs!  She is ALL girl, and loves cute outfits, good smelling things, and crafts!  She is the sweetest, most sensitive girl.  She can sense when people are sad or alone and goes out of her way to include them.  Matter of fact her teacher in Kindergarten once told me a story of a new kid that moved in that was pretty chubby and didn't have any friends, but from the first day he came, Jaq took him under her wing and showed him all the centers and where everything was.  He is still her good friend to this day.  She always has friends around her because she is a great friend.  I have told her many times that this is a gift for her and that she needs to make sure she looks outside of her friends and include those who are outsiders.  She totally does that. She understands what a good friend is and what that looks like and tries to include others.  I hope she continues this non-drama friendships through out her teen years.  I have been so blessed to have a girl in my family and I am so glad she has been sent to me.  She is definitely a Ham and super silly at times but it totally makes her, Jaq!  Love you Jaquelle!

Quick trip to Las Vegas

 Cordelle had a wedding invitation conference that took him to Las Vegas for a couple of days, so we decided to pull the kids out of school and see what fun we could have with him there.  We stayed in a hotel and spent the morning swimming at the pool.  Next we discovered the Shark Aquarium! It was a little overpriced but my kids enjoyed seeing the komodo dragons, petting the de-stinged sting rays, and of course seeing all the cool sharks!

 Our last day there Cordelle had one last class he wanted to attend and we didn't know what more to do than go to the M&M factory but not wanting to find parking, Cordelle dropped us of and we discovered the fascinating (or not so fascinating) life of M&M world.  The older kids got a blanket and Collin made out with a candy star wars M&M fan.  We then realized our mistake of being stranded on the strip and quickly tried to fill it with something to do in a very unkid friendly place.  We checked out the Nike store.  Found some shoes for Jaq at Ross and then spent a great deal of time waiting in line to check out, but the kids were remarkably good and all was going well.  Right before we left Collin had to go to the bathroom and we raced to the nearest food court we could find only to end up getting pee all over as we tried to carefully have him go in the gross bathroom.  Needless to say by that time my attitude shifted and between Collin and his pee ridden clothes and the endless porn I had to advert my childrens eyes from....I felt gross and wanted to go home.  Lucky for us Cordelle came and rescued us not long after.  Loved the family time, but I'd be ok never going to downtown Las Vegas ever again...Especially with my kiddos.