A Little Scare

For all of our readers who don't live in Utah right now, you'll be breathing easier than those of us who are. The inversion rolled in on Monday, and seems to be here to stay.

We always spend Monday afternoon at a little park while Daniel is at tutoring. This Monday as Ellie was climbing around the playground getting some exercise, I looked at the mucky sky and wondered if it was such a good idea. Turns out it wasn't. When I picked Whitney up from school shortly after, she ran to the car with her nose buried in her shirt. She informed me that our part of Utah officially has the most polluted air in the nation right now. She went on to inform me that being outside in it was equivalent to smoking a pack of cigarettes on your lungs. "Oh no! What have I done?" was all I could think.

Sure enough, Ellie spun into an asthma attack that got worse as the week went on. I was up most the night Thursday giving treatments and counting breaths per minute. It finally landed us in Primary Children's Emergency room by Friday. Thankfully they didn't keep us overnight this time, but her very high temp. that night had me worried we might be back. Her fever broke, but her cough is going to be much slower to go.

She is doing much better, but will have to stay in for a good week because her medication lowers her immune system. She is already bored and bouncing off the walls (her medication also makes her extra everything.) I dragged her bike inside yesterday and let her ride it around the kitchen just to help her get some energy out. We've also had extra snuggle time and some naps together.

Thanks to everyone who's called to check on her and for your continued prayers for her quick recovery. Steve and I decided that next January we are going to spend the money on a hotel in the mountains of Park City when the inversion rolls in, instead of spending the money on hospital bills!

Cookie Time by Janey

I am selling Girl Scout cookies! This is my second year selling. My goal this year is to sell 1000 boxes. Last year I sold 500. If you want to buy any girl scout cookies, just call me! My favorites are thin mints and lemon creams. What are your favorites?

Aquarium

At Christmas Santa gave me a twenty gallon fish tank! Before Christmas I had two three-and-a-half inch goldfish and a crayfish named Huka. Now I am the proud owner of two dalmatian mollies, (four-inch fish that look like floating sticks of granite) four sunburst playties, (three-inch yellow and orange fish) five neon tetras,(teeny little one-inch guys that are patriotically colored) and two Octocincluses (little two-inch guys that eat the algae off the tank wall and have racing stripes).

They are awesome, I suggest that you look up photos of them because I am not good at aquarium photography yet. This is my very first tropical tank, which means that it isn't room temperature like a goldfish tank, it has a heater, and with the species of fish that I have there is a tiny bit of aquarium salt. It isn't salt water, it is salty water.

Here is a picture of my tank.

P.S. I think that one of my dalmatian mollies is going to have babies, (Mollies anyone?) :)

Issue 85

Behind the Scenes

Steve L. was finished with his Cinematography merit badge, except for a tour of a TV or movie studio. Great field trip fodder! Friday found us at the LDS motion picture studio for a very impressive hour and a half tour. We got to see everything that goes into making a motion picture, from sets to costumes, props to sound, back lots to editing. The best part was having our cousins come too and topping it all off at In-and-Out burger.

Issue 84

Holiday Highlights

Holidays are for family, and we were blessed to have lots of family surrounding us for the holidays. We were so busy playing and visiting, hosting and helping that we didn't remember to take any pictures, but we made lots of memories. Here are the highlights:

• Sleeping at Grandma's and Grandpa's Christmas Eve, and opening our presents with our Aunts, Uncles and cousins.


• Going to our other Grandma and Grandpa's house for Christmas dinner and a lovely Christmas program with cousins everywhere.


• Seeing our 8 Idaho cousins we haven't seen in almost a year!


• Going to the movies with the kids - The Frog Prince (fun music), Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (delightful, we'll be quoting this one for years), and Alvin and the Chipmunks, the Squeekuel (don't bother, better yet, run away screaming!)


• Going fun places with our cousins, like the Children's museum, the Aquarium, bowling and out to eat.


• Sledding with cousins (did I mention we have lots of cousins?)


• Our newest cousin's baby blessing.


• Daniel shaking hands with President Eyring, from the First Presidency. I tell you, that boy has no fear!


• Seminary Council reunion dinner for Steve's council from 20 years ago!


• Attending my now famous author sister's Book Launch formal dinner, and Book debut speech and signing (packed to the rafters with fans, friends and family. We were lucky the fire marshal didn't show up!)


• Our Suburban blowing up. OK, I know that doesn't sound like a highlight. Especially at midnight on a freezing night when it's spewing black smoke from under the hood and your stranded. But the highlight here is our brand new 2010 Honda Odyssey mini-van! It's so gorgeous, clean and fun to drive! I'll post pictures next week.

Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas to you and yours, we hope it was merry and bright!!

Issue 82

Seasoned Scouter

Steve scored a couple more merit badges for his sash this week (Citizenship in the Community and Fishing) and now has 27 in all. Then they headed off to winter camp for some snow shoeing and messing around in the snow. BRRRR is all I can say, but Steve and his dad had a blast.

Merry Christmas!

Sleeping under the tree!

We enjoyed some of our favorite holiday traditions this week to get into the spirit of the Christmas season. Listening to "A Christmas Carol" (unabridged of course) with popcorn and hot chocolate, sleeping under the Christmas tree, decorating cookies, making homemade gifts, and watching "It's a Wonderful Life." What are your favorite traditions?

We wish you all a very Merry Christmas!

Issue 81

Birthday and Christmas Rolled into One!

One of our favorite holiday traditions is Grandma B's birthday and family Christmas party. Grandma is 87 and although her health is slowing her down a little, she is still going strong. Grandma shared lovely stories and recipes with us and there was a surprise appearance from Santa Clause. I enjoyed watching Ellie's first ever interview with the Big Man himself!

Stosignaphobia by Steve L.

STOSIGNAPHOBIA:

the fear that somehow, somewhere, a stop-sign is gonna get you

Discovery

Fridays are for field trips. I think the world would be a better place if once a week, every child was allowed to venture out and explore, play, build, dream, create, and discover. Sometimes our field trips are new and blog worthy and sometimes we repeat favorites. This week was a repeat of one of our favorite destinations, Discovery Gateway. But, I couldn't resist a few pictures.

Ellie is my water baby. Probably has something to do with spending a year at beaches in New Zealand.

The boys making some impressive stop animation films.