Lagoon 2010

Friday we hit Lagoon. It was UEA and the kids were out of school for four days and since we hadn't made it to Lagoon all season.....I broke down and took them!

It was a perfect day. Not too hot, not too cold and the lines were nice and short when we first go there. 

Alex and Rylee were so excited they got up and emptied the dishwasher on their own accord and helped me pack lunch. I rememeber being excited for Lagoon when I was little. I would get butterflies like it was Christmas. The drive there seemed to take forever and the entire event was just a joy!

Wish I could say the same now. 

As I was following the boys from ride to ride, I sent James a text. "You know you're old when the idea of never going to Lagoon again sounds lovely." To which he replied "You know your old when you say that every year and yet pay the ticket price again the next year!" 

Here are the kids before the first ride. 

The majority of the riders hit "Re-Entry" first:

But the others hit a ride a little more their speed. (Last year Alex "frowed up in his mouth" on a few of the high speed rides. We were trying to avoid that this year.)

So, I tagged with the three youngest boys and the other four went crazy with their thrill seeking, twisty, turning, plunging rides, while we stuck to rides like "The Scrambler":

Our first ride all together was "The Pirate Ride" I don't think that is the real name but that's what we call it.

Tyler looks frightened here-but he really wasn't.

Then we all did the big swing ride. 

Here is Devree & Kambree giving us some Super Model poses:

Then Brach broke off and went with the thrill seeking kids and Tyler, Alex and I hit kiddie land:

Here's Austin, amusing us at lunch with his big hammer. Count on Austin to make us laugh and convince us to let him hammer on our heads at least one time!

Kammy showed up with Syd and dinner around 5.

And then the spooks came out:

It was time for Devree's maiden voyage on the Sky Coaster. Yes, Rylee had gone before but not Dev. The three of them plucked down $15 per person and were hoisted hundreds of feet in the air, pulled a  cord and plunged down, down, down until they hit the bottom of the rope and then swung back and forth. Shrieking in delight!

It makes me sick just watching. 

They LOVE it!

Taking Syd on some Kiddie Rides:

Syd finally decided she was having fun:

Possing for pictures outside of Dracula's Castle

Going home..... all tuckered out.....

Some of us were more tuckered out than others:

The whole group posing for one last photo op:

The funniest part of the whole night was the Hypnotist. 

Kambree was hypnotized and she was a riot. She danced like The Village People, thought the edge of the stage was a 500 foot cliff, laid on her tummy to peer over, then when the hypnotist told her he was "floating" (by stepping on the stair off the stage) she asked if she could try and she thought she too was floating....500 feet in the air! She thought her neighbor smelled atrocious and then that SHE smelt atrocious, got really cold, really hot, danced like a puppet, saw a ghost (and cuddled in fear with a very handsome large guy that was also hypnotized), thought she was handed $1000 (and turned away to tuck it securely in her bra), and here she is thinking she is a famous butt drummer: 

I think she was the star of the show - if you ask me - but I didn't watch anyone else.

Not the best video-but given I was shooting it between my knees with Syd sitting on my lap-I think I did pretty good! (Yeah, I'm rebellious-video recordings are not allowed. Shhhh!)

You've come a long way baby!

Two years ago I took Alex to the dentist for the first time. It was during the hosting program. Donated Dental gave all the orphans  dental exams, pulling some teeth and fixing the worst cavities. Here is what  I blogged about the dentist visit:

Lex was so very nervous, he crawled on my lap and kept groaning and asked me by nodding at the door and saying "mama" and squeezing my hand. I assured him I would come with him and hold his hand. At last our turn came. I held not one but both hands as his eyes filled with tears. He didn't cry, but he was so scared. I was scared too. His mouth looked awful to me. They cleaned his teeth and the dentist examined him and gave us wonderful news. The bad teeth are all baby teeth and will fall out on their own within a year. He did mention that he was a grinder and had ground his baby teeth down to almost nothing but that he must have stopped grinding as his adult teeth were just fine. I'm attributing this grinding to the stress and anxiety he has probably experienced at such a young age.

A quick X-ray reveled that he had a tiny cavity in an adult tooth and recommend asking our dentist for a filling before sending him back. I told them I hoped to have him back here in 8 months to a year and can the cavity go that long he said absolutely. The dentist laughed when I said "We'll say welcome to the family, now let's go fill your cavity!"

About a month after getting home I took him to our family dentist. He insisted again that I sit with him and hold his hand through the exam. Luckily all those bad, brown and ground down baby teeth had fallen out. And the one little cavity we were told he had was no where to be found!

I took him in for an orthodontist evaluation about a month later-because his mouth was a jumbled mess of twisted teeth-and was told he needed braces and soon! I just didn't think he was ready for the trauma. I had visions of him ripping the instruments out of his mouth or pulling the wires and brackets off at home. I held off for about six months.

About a year ago, he got his braces on. He's been a trooper about it. He had a very sore mouth those first few days and I think he thought it would last forever, but it doesn't . (One thing about having a mom that has had THREE sets of braces - a total of 12 years - every appliance imaginable and maxilla facial oral surgery and my mouth wired shut for six weeks at age 15- I have compassion but I've "been there - done that"....you will live! ) He rarely complains about his braces - even after tightening appointments.

Yesterday I took him and Devree for their regular eight week appointment. It took longer than normal. Once the kids came out, I popped in the back to say hi and thanks to the orthodontist and he kept telling Alex how well he did. Hum? Apparently they had to cut back some of his upper gum to secure a bracket to the tiny little eye teeth he has growing in? They've been these tiny little vampire teeth for months and I guess they need some help coming down? Alex told me in the car about the blood all over and how much it hurt and Devree told me she saw him trying to pull the instruments out of his mouth and the doctor telling him that he didn't need his help. I asked him why he didn't come get me? I would have held his hand. Wasn't he scared? He just shrugged. You could tell he was pretty proud of himself.

I asked if he cried. No. (Although Devree confirmed that he had groaned a bit. The office isn't that big and I was sitting in the lobby the whole time and didn't hear anything, so it wasn't too bad.)

Ouch! He's been sore but a trooper. He loves food too much to pass up anything so despite having lots of yogurts, soups and puddings on hand, (remember my history? I know all about sore teeth!) he ate meatloaf, broccoli and potatoes for dinner.

I had him write about the experience in his journal today. Here's what he wrote:

Yesterday during school I went to the orthodontist . I was waiting in the chair then the Doctor came and started to cut my gomes (gums). It hert (hurt) so he put some madesane (medicine) on my gomes (gums) but it did not work. I had my blood all over my face. I was done and they put the color's (elastic bands) on my brasses (braces). It hert (hurt) bad.

But he didn't cry.

He didn't have to have his mama beside him holding his hand.

And he was prouder than punch when it was all over.

I think he's come a long way!

English Lessons....

This afternoon Jazmine was studying her Spanish and Alex was working on his journal and he came up and we had this conversation.

Mom, what language closest to English?

I am puzzled.

Well, I'm not sure what you are asking. There are many countries that speak English but they just pronounce their words differently.

Oh. Where?
Like England, Australia, Wales, some parts of Africa. They speak English but it sounds a little different. Didn't people from different parts of Ukraine sound different?

No.

Well, you probably didn't travel around Ukraine much.

Like Russia sounds different?

Yes! Like how people from Russia sound different than people from Ukraine but they speak the same language.

All the billboards and television were in Russian but I've been told Ukraine Russian sounds different than Russian Russian. I am sure it's like how a Utahan sounds vs someone from Louisiana or something like that.

Oh.

See? England speaks English pretty much like we do. Do you understand what I mean about how they sound different? 

He nods no.

Like Harry Potter. He's speaking English but he sounds different. 

At this point Alex's eyes light up, like he's had a brilliant thought.

Oh, then that's what I'll take in junior high then! 

What?

Harry Potter English.

For you foreign language class?

Yes!
I begin to laugh

Honey, you can't take "Harry Potter English" for your foreign language class. It's English! 

The disappointment was evident on his face and then in a voice of despair, 

"You mean I have to learn ANOTHER language???"

Oh dear.

I should have figured out where this conversation was going, given Jazmine downstairs reciting Spanish.

Well, yes but maybe you can take a Russian class? 

I don't remember Russian.

I know but maybe it will come back to you?

Sigh from Alex.

Little does he know they don't even offer Russian in junior high.

Great.
Poor little guy.

 

Perhaps I should rename this blog....

...."Alex's Invention Emporium" or something?

His quest to figure out how to make a "mother board" is still underway. The scary part is that when things go missing - like today with my camera cord - my first thought is, "Does Alex have it? Has he made it into something or cut it up and used it in one of his creations?" After searching through his THREE drawers of "resources" I found the cord on the other computer Whew!

Lately Alex has been very, very huggy. (I recognize the huggy is not a word but it's the only way to explain it!)  He will say "I just need to hug you." and then he does. He'll rub his face against mine, kiss my cheek, and hold me and sigh. For minutes at a time. I will ask him why and he'll say "Cause I just love you" or "I don't know". 

We had a little break through, on Sunday he was upset because he didn't know who he was suppose to deliver fast offerings with (the young man that has taken him under his wing and usually goes with him was out of town) and he was overwhelmed as he didn't know where he was going or what to do. As he's trying to explain to me in the hallway at church I could see his eyes fill with tears. I assured him we'd figure it out. I got Austin to go with him after he delivered the sacrament to the home bound people in our ward. (It only cost me a pan of Auggy Brownies-which are brownies with a layer of marshmallows, a layer of homemade mint frost and a layer of homemade chocolate frosting.) That night during Alex's need for marathon hugs moment and my asking why he needed to hug for so long, he told me it was because he felt bad about fast offerings. He's trying hard to put words with his feelings. He's trying to express himself. That's good. I think we're making progress. (Now if we can just keep those words nice, unlike yesterdays words!)

Crazy Weekend!

Whew. 

I don't know why people don't like Mondays. 

I do.

Kids back to school.

House back to quiet.

This weekend I had my sister and niece over and we had a great time watching chick flicks, eating lots and hanging out. 

My mom came over Friday night to play and bond with us.

So let the bonding begin!

I scuffed her car with my car running Devree & Jazmine to night games.

Doesn't matter how old you get....it's scary to admit to hitting your parents car. It was nothing horrible or that I think will even require a repair-it mostly washed off but I said my "s" word of choice about ten times in a row when I realized what had happened. Yeah. Kids in the car with me.  Am I'm a great mother or what?

Speaking of potty words. 

Alex came in last night and told me that "Rylee is pissed." Pissed? We don't use that word. I told Alex as much, explaining what it means and that it's not nice and Austin pipped in. "Tell him not to call me a pussy either!" 

WHAT???

Apparently one of Austin's buddies whispered to Alex "Tell Austin he's a pussy." during church yesterday and he did! He said it twice and not quietly....during their young mens meeting. 

Good gravy.

I matter-of-fact-like gave Alex the slang explanation of what he was calling his brother and you should have seen the horror on his face.

"Mom, I didn't know."

I think he was on the verge of crying. 

"No worries." I told him. "I know you didn't know. But you better be asking me before you call anyone any names you don't know the meaning of."

Later I overheard the kids talking and Alex telling them something about how he's going to ask mom because "Mom is my helper!" Yes, I am. His helper in explaining all things slang/crude and inappropriate. 

Alex bore his testimony in church yesterday. (Yes, testimony and shouting that his brother is a bad word all in the same three hour block!) It was sweet. He basically said he is thankful for the Church and he is thankful for his mom that teaches him "not to lie, cheat, about the church and all kinds of stuff" and that he knows the church is true.

Short and sweet.

It made my eyes water.

On the Alex-boy wonder-creative front......

He is now researching how to make a mother board. 

A mother board?

Really?

Please dear neighbors and friends that might drive by our house. If you smell smoke, see electrical sparks or any questionable machines/robots running amuck in our yard. Do not hesitate to call for help!

I do wonder how Albert Einstein or Benjamin Franklin's mother dealt with all this?

Alex Neutron!

After school today Alex told me he was going to make an invention to make life easier. 

A remote control garbage can.
"You can say,  "Come here John." and the garage can will come to you."
(A garbage can named John?)
I told him that would be wonderful.

Later that day I was discarding a small, sturdy apple box and asked him if he wanted it. (He has so many small things-junk in my opinion-invention resources [last weeks vocabulary word] in Alex's opinion.) "Sure Mom. I can find use for this."
About a 1/2 hour later down came Alex with his remote control garbage can!

And just in case you want a demonstration:

Funny Alex sayings...

"Mom, you want a Kitty Kat?" (Kit Kat candybar)

Alex has a new watch and wears it always. The other day I asked....
Me: Alex, what time is it?

Alex: Uhh....time for you to get a watch?
(I laughed so hard!)

A: I can't wait for winter
Me: Why?
A: So I can go sled and drink hot cocoa.
Me: But you don't like hot cocoa.
A: I do now. It's like hot chocolate milk.
Me: But you didn't like it last winter.
A: That's because I was half Ukraine.
Me: Oh, and now what are you?
A: All the way American!

Our newest word: Urkrainattuide
When you act disgruntled, roll your eyes, make a low guttural grunting sound and sigh heavily when a sweet/exasperated mom is trying to help you with your homework/piano or whatever.....

Austin's Choir Performance!

Austin in his A'capella tux...trying to look sweet!

He is pretty cute....even with his little "faux"hawk!

I think he's right behind the conductor but this is the least blurry picture.

 Dev...open your eyes!

 Well, maybe not THAT much!

(I have no idea why this is sideways and cannot get it rotated. Sorry!)

First attempt at a group picture.....

2nd attempt

And then I gave up!

Conference!

I love conference weekend! 

Even better James and Kambree were home for it!

 We ended up not going to see Kambree dance Friday as she informed me Friday afternoon that she was only dancing for about two minutes, only part of their squad was performing and wasn't it silly to drive two hours each way for that? So we bagged it and she drove home after her performance.

Saturday we washed walls and cleaned like crazy during the first session. (Insert sounds of children groaning!) I made homemade breadsticks and clam chowder for lunch. (Insert happy sounds mostly because I have mastered breadsticks. The secret? Using all white flour instead of the 100% freshly ground whole wheat I always try to cook with. I do TRY to be healthy but when it comes to bread sticks white flour is where it's at!) 

During second session I chopped up the abundance of zucchinis and peppers from our garden and froze them on cookie sheets then stored them in zip-locks and bottled tomatoes. I felt like a little chipmunk getting ready for winter.

With James leaving at three tomorrow and Kambree having a date for the 2nd session I had to serve our traditional seven layer dip Saturday night instead of between sessions on Sunday. So we had leftovers and dip for dinner. Alex informed me that it was more like a lunch-dinner than a dinner.

That night the boys went to priesthood session where Alex was disappointed that there was "nothing to do" but listen. James promised the boys a treat if they could remember the name of one speaker and what he talked about. Alex kept trying to let him tell him during the meeting before he forgot but me managed to remember Thomas S Monson said something and repeat it to James afterwards. They went to Mavrick for soft serve ice cream topped with slushie. I know that sounds gross and certain combinations are but if you use chocolate ice cream and cherry slushie.....it is very yummy!  Alex came home and said that dad told him we have lots to learn to get to heaven. This was news to Alex. I explained that we ALL have lots to learn to get to heaven but his brothers and sisters have been learning it since they were babies and we didn't get to start teaching him until he was ten almost eleven.  He agreed to try and listen better in church and when we talk about scriptures and Jesus-instead of walking off and playing the piano like he had that morning. Then he gave me a big hug and told me "thank you for teaching me." I'm sure conference weekend is torture to sit and listen for hours on end in a language your are just barely grasping. Heck! It was torture for me as a kid too.....and I've always understood English!

I took the girls to Desert Star for a girls night out during the Priesthood session. We had a good time, laughed a lot and discussed what characters we would play if we were in the show. We also came up with a great idea for Rylee's Halloween costume. We'll see if that pan's out...

On Sunday morning I made our traditional "Sticky Buns" a double batch in fact:

Here's my token shot doing what I do best.....the dishes!

 Then we played.....

 I tried to get some candid pictures-since I've been a slacker lately in the picture department-but I either got uncooperative poses:

Uncooperative and hammy....

 Or just hammy....

Or really hammy....

But I managed to get a few sweet ones. Here is Austin being nice to the dog and almost giving me a real smile.

Devree helping Alex with his bingo 

Alex

 Alex sitting on Devree-at her request-to crack her back

Austin & Ry

And my cute Ry.....

Kam left for her date. I think he's name was Joe? She told me about so many new guys that I'm getting them confused. They attended 2nd session at the Conference Center. We made a big lunch and ate it during the 2nd session. James left for work midway through  and the kids got out clay and made friendship bracelets to help pass the time during the last hour. 

Kambree came home, ate leftovers returned Devree's beloved skirt, left her the coveted jean dress for the month of October, packed up and left for school. I got texts from both her and James that they arrived safely! Safe comings and goings are such a blessing!

I just loved having everyone home-even if it wasn't for the whole weekend-and I love conference and am so grateful for the gospel in my life. 

Alex is a Uncle!

Ivan and Snezhana had their baby!  Baby Egor. They sent a picture and in my excitement I posted it on my blog and shared the link with them. I then got a very nice email explaining that in Ukraine they do not share their babies photo's at such a young age. would I please remove it? Of course!

Yikes. 

My bad.

So I have removed Baby Egor's picture and you'll all just have to wait until he's a month old to see how cute he is! (And he is cute!!)
When I told Alex this morning he didn't seem all too excited but Rylee was. She asked if she was an aunt now? I told her she could be an adopted aunt. Does that make me an adopted babushka?
Double yikes!