Keep out of Reach of Children

Mommy blogs are notorious for always putting a shiny, happy glow on day to day life. It's tempting to leave out all of our not-so-proud moments and let people think we are great mothers at all times. Maybe we worry that people will know we aren't perfect. So here I go... I'm not perfect-- far from it.

This week I got distracted. Shane and I were cleaning out cars and I was in and out of the house. Bella wasn't feeling well and I got out the ibuprofen. I took a dose to her in the bathroom and left the bottle open on the counter. I went outside and brought some more items in from the garage. I saw the medicine bottle on the counter and went to put it away when I realized all of the medicine about 4000 milligrams was gone and Bella was standing in the kitchen. Panicked, I questioned her,

"Did you drink this?"

"Yes Mama, but don't cry Mama, I'm sorry."

My heart sank, Shane walked in the room and we called Poison control. Poison Control called the hospital and told us to get her there as fast as we could. We were both terrified.

I could barely get the words out, but I called my friend Tawni to pick up my poor boys who were completely distraught... moments after arriving at the hospital, two more friends, Allison and Shannon showed up. A member of the Stake Presidency also came only 10 minutes after we got there to help give Bella a blessing. It was a HUGE comfort to have the support of so many friends.

They gave her an IV and she didn't even cry, she also had to drink charcoal. It was black and gritty and terrible. They mixed it with chocolate milk, and she did a fantastic job drinking it. But by the end she was saying, "No, stop it. I hate chocolate milk" Our friend Dr. Wild, bribed her with a barbie princess and got her to drink the rest. His wife and my friend Allison delivered BIG TIME on the barbie promise.

Here she is after drinking her charcoal like a big girl with her barbie doll princess as promised.

She had to stay the night at the hospital, they were watching for kidney function and electrolyte imbalance. Isabella did fantastic and we came home the next day with no serious side effects.

I'm thankful for a loving Heavenly Father who is merciful to us, who knows our hearts and our intentions.

I'm thankful for priesthood blessings.

I'm thankful for loving friends who drop everything in a time of need to just to hug you and sit with you, and tell you it's going to be alright and that you're not a terrible mother.

I'm thankful for friends who are there in a moments notice to hug your kids when you can't, and feed them pizza, and make them laugh.

I'm thankful for the phone calls and texts and prayers of family members far away.

I'm thankful for the power of prayer and especially for forgiveness.

Isaac's Mad Science Seventh Birthday

Seven? Did I really just type that?!!! Can't believe my Ike is seven. When we moved to Texas he was two and I remember thinking that when it was time to leave, he would be seven. Seemed impossibly far away then, yet here we are.

For Isaac's birthday he kept asking for "Science stuff" so we decided to throw a Mad Science Birthday Party. We usually aren't the most exciting parents to have when it comes to birthdays, but the theme was nerdy enough to be right up our alley. So Shane and I went to educational outfitters and went a little crazy coming up with experiments and ideas.

Shane dressed up like a Mad Scientist and looked hilarious.

Biohazard goodie bags...

We dressed up the kids in safety goggles and "lab coats" (adult white tee shirts, cut down the middle).

Then the geekiness ensued:

The mad science lab... can't really see the water vapor from the dry ice in the pictures but it looked cool! Shane was the proud creator of the molecules.

The tornado tube

The balloon blow up-- achieved by mixing vinegar and baking soda

We also had a science scavenger hunt around the yard which ended in finding the treasure which was test tubes filled with Mike and Ikes.

Then time for "Mad Science" cupcakes... or white cupcakes with blue sprinkles.

Soda Geyser Finale ... or as my friend Allison said, "a waste of perfectly good diet coke!"

Happy Birthday Isaac! I hope you have happy memories of this special birthday we celebrated together. We love you!

Youth Confrence

A few weekends ago, I went to the Waco stake youth conference with the young women from our ward. I absolutely love working with the youth in the church. They inspire me and give me great confidence in the future. They are hard working, thoughtful, innovative, and caring. Working with the youth is one of the greatest joys in my life, and I'm so thankful I was able to be with them to witness some small miracles happening.

They spent the morning working at the World Hunger Farms hauling wood and water, and other things, at least that's what I hear. I wasn't able to make it to that part of the conference... and no, I wasn't just trying to get out of the service project :) Afterwards they plodded on over to the Ropes Course area at Baylor University where I met up with them. Here they did team building activities and really started to bond as a group.

They were really supportive of each other and so brave to take on the difficult challenges and obstacles they were faced with. So much like their daily challenges in High School and family life. Challenges I don't think most of us in the pre-internet, pre texting...etc. era can truly comprehend.

Here are some of the pictures of our amazing youth!

This one makes me laugh... these boys loved the challenge of lifting the girls through the spiderweb thingy. And flexing their muscles :)

Cup Stacking 2011

I promised my mom I would post the latest cup stacking tournament. I felt really bad because I didn't make it to Isaac's competition due to the power outages messing up the schedule, but I'll see if he'll let me take a video of him cup stacking at home. Anyway, all of the kids at Lakewood are getting better and better every year and the competition is getting tough!! Here are some clips from Mason and Jackson's stacks... excuse the bad cinematography it was shot with an iphone.

Jacksino Cuisino

Last night we had a nice break from the norm. The Wednesday night schedule included Tae Kwon Do and a Young Women's activity but everything was cancelled because of freezing temperatures, no snow, just cold. What can I say, it's Texas--people don't like to be cold.

Anyway, Shane took Mason and Isaac to run some errands, Jackson stayed with me to do homework and fix dinner. Jackson asked if he could make a restaurant menu for dinner, and I agreed it was a fantastic idea.

He made the cutest little menu and at the bottom wrote "The Jacksino Cuisino". He color copied it so that we could each have our own.

I love the "ooh-la-la" dessert...

Things evolved from there... We set the table with a black table cloth and white cloth napkins, we lit candles, and dug the christmas tree lights out of the attic. I grabbed Shane's apron that he wore when he waited tables at Tucci's, and Jackson put on a white shirt and tie (his idea, not mine). We turned off the kitchen lights and started up the Vivaldi playlist on the ipod. The ambiance was perfect.

Bella walked in and said, "Is it Christmas night?" Just too adorable.

Anyway, Jackson was jumping out of his skin, he was so excited for the boys to come home. And when they did, he was ready to greet them with a big smile and take them to their seats. Mason, Isaac and Shane were floored, the look on their faces was priceless.

Jackson took their orders and he served each of them their plates. We had a wonderful night together, talking and being a family. Although we have dinner all together most nights of the week, I was reminded how much we need to slow down and take the time to make memories together. Things have been so busy, hurried, and hectic that many days I accomplish a lot of little things and less and less of the important things.

Anyway, my new goal is to make a memory for my kids every day, even if it's something very small ... and forever be thankful for these small moments that leave big imprints in our memories.

Out with the old, in with the new, but wishing things could stay the same

A few nights ago I made smothered pulled pork burritos for the first time. I was all excited to be moving out of my cooking rut... you know the one ( and don't act like you don't)... spaghetti, chili, chicken and rice, tacos, chicken noodle soup, pot roast, repeat.

We all thought the burritos were awesome---Isabella didn't. The TinkerBell flying-fork trick wouldn't even persuade her to open her mouth. I begged, I pleaded, I coerced, I threatened to put her in time out.

"Okay mama, I want to go time out"

She left the table with her hands on her hips and looked back at me smiling as she walked away, then casually walked off in the opposite direction.

I've done this to myself.

Moving on...

We're getting ready to put our house on the market, which means making the closets and garage pristine. Clutter removal is a time for some serious self evaluation... Like, why do I still have my horrific grandma dress from my high school senior dance? And, more importantly, why didn't anyone even try to talk me out of wearing it?

I keep thinking maybe someday someone will need it for a costume or something. No one is ever going to need or wear that thing... I can hardly stand to look at it.. what do you think? Time to let go?

Finally, I realize I completely skipped Christmas celebrations on the blog this year. Too many pictures to even think about posting, so you'll have to use your imagination... lots of presents, wrapping paper, smiles, joy, happiness :) I love Christmas!

We took down our Christmas Tree on the 26th... I know, so shameful!! Shane's parents were coming into town on the 29th and we didn't want to have to worry about taking it down while they were here, so we just got it done.

We had a wonderful time with Grandma and Grandpa Lewis. It was a special time because we learned that they have been called to be mission Presidents and will be gone by the time we get to Utah. In the back of our minds, we knew that was the last time for a while that we'd be able to spend quality time with just them, so we really enjoyed it.

We went on a jog to the lake, and went to the movies and saw "Voyage of the Dawn Treader" -- probably my favorite Narnia movie yet.

We went bowling, where grandma Julie schooled us in the finer points. I'm not kidding, she kicked our butts. Here are a few of the pictures...

After the kids started school again, Shane's parents helped us get two bathrooms painted and the garage cleaned out in one day! It was amazing! Thank you!