Week Highlights

Here are the highlights of the week.

We have had torrential rain these past few weeks.  Lots of homes in Milwaukee were flooded.  We had flash flood warnings and tornado warnings the other night (of course while Shawn was working), so the kids and I camped out in the basement until the tornado warnings were over and told stories and ate popcorn in the dark (the power went out for a little while).  Our house didn't' get flooded, but the intersection in front was totally submerged and a car hydroplaned right on our front lawn.  It was a crazy night, and I'm sure just the beginning of fun midwestern storms for us.  I snapped a few pictures courtesy of the i-phone so they aren't great quality, but it gives you an idea.

(these pictures were taken from my front porch)

Ethan finally lost his front tooth, but now the other one is ready and he won't let me touch it.  The boys have dentist appointments on Tuesday so if he doesn't get it out soon I told him the dentist will pull it.  Well see who wins that battle.

Cole spent this past week going to the Coerver soccer academy camp.  He had a great time and I was really impressed with the program.  Amazing coaches and a fun learning environment.  Cole got voted player of the day 3 days out of the 5 he was there, and I even won "mom of the week".  During water breaks they take a few minutes and let the kids stand up and tell jokes.  So Cole and Ethan planned everyday what jokes they were going to tell.

Here is Cole with Coach Frans and Coach Kevin.

I told him to give me a pose.  This is what I got.

Liv continues to do her Liv thing.  She plays, screams, laughs, run, fights, smiles, and everything else in between.

I got the kids registered for school and found out their new teachers.   I am really excited for the school year.

We have continued to explore all the fun summer stuff Milwaukee has to offer, including lots of parks and hikes. The kids come home with pockets full of all their "treasures" (which usually include rocks, bugs, sticks, leafs, garbage, etc.)

I went to the dentist for the first time in three years (I didn't have dental insurance previously) and am proud to say that I have NO cavities.

Shawn continues to work hard and A LOT.  He's been taking care of lots of sick babies and is amazed at how busy the hospital is and the level of complications presented.  He had a big conference this week that he presented at, but now that is over he gets to focus on the upcoming board exams :)

We've had frozen custard twice this past week and I'm pretty sure that is really bad for you.  But we don't care because it's delicious.

Staying up late to catch some fireflies.

Pioneer Days Activity

Having not lived in Utah for over 7 years we haven't celebrated Pioneer Day with the kids before.  This morning we had a Primary Activity to celebrate Pioneer Day.  The kids dressed up like pioneers, played Pioneer games (shot sling shots, gunny sack races, stick pull), made homemade butter, learned about Pioneers, and paraded around the church with the wagons.
Here is a picture I took before we left this morning that I edited to look old fashion just for fun!

Stick'em Up!

Lots of Walks

We've been going on lots of walks lately, and bike rides, and scooter rides.  People here think it hot, but we have just come from the desert and think it feels great :)  The boys usually ride their bikes...

while Liv runs...

Then, everyone runs, and skips, and hops.

(don't you love Ethan's outfit.  Plaid shorts with a plaid shirt.  He must have a thing for plaid)
Now time for our cheerleading moves.

Cole always has to take off his shirt.

This picture reminds me of my Grandpa Rudd.  He always had a piece of hay in his mouth.

One of Ethan's top teeth is finally ready to come out (they have been loose for a long time).  It's not even sitting vertical anymore, rather it pokes straight out.  It is driving me nuts and I want to pull it really bad.

We found out Liv's allergic to mosquito bites.  Unlucky for her that we live in mosquito land.  This week Shawn had his flight training. He gets to fly in the helicopters (life flight) to go pick up the sick babies.  He is way excited about that, but he also has a squeemish stomach and is very motion sick so I hope he doesn't throw-up.  Now that we are pretty much settled I've started running again.  This is such a beautiful place to run and it's so fun to run in the evening with fireflies all over :)

Morning Hike

We were up early this morning (not early according to Shawn, but to me and three kids :), and everyone was ready to go.  I told the kids I'd pay them each .25cents a day if they get up every morning, make their beds, shower and dress, eat breakfast, and brush their teeth without me having to get after them.  Over the past two weeks it's worked wonderful!!  I'm all about bribing :)  It was only 8, and everyone was ready so I took the kids for a morning hike.  I only had to drive about 3 minutes to some nice trails.

Cole really wanted this stick, but it was too big for him to carry.  He got mad!

This was a totally non staged moment, I love it when every once in a while my kids are nice to each other.

This picture makes me laugh.  Liv was pouting, but she looked so cute!

Ethan is thinking "not another picture".

Raspberries

 Our bushes are blooming with raspberries and every morning the kids and I pick a bucket full.

We are full swing into the summer and still enjoying the hot tub and yard.  We are taking full advantage of that before we freeze here in a few months :)

Last night after the kids went to bed Shawn and I snuck outside and got in the hot tub.  It was the first time since we lived here that we used the hot tub the way it was meant to be used, quiet and relaxing.  Let's be honest, getting in the hot tub with three kids who think it is a swimming pool is not the least bit relaxing.  I just might have to do that more often :)

4th of July

This weekend was the first time in three years that Shawn has not been working on the 4th of July.  We just kind of celebrated all weekend.  On Saturday we actually started the fire pit and roasted hot dogs and smores for dinner, followed by a relaxing swim in the hot tub.

Sunday we went to our new ward.  While we definetly miss our old friends, this ward has lots of neat families that I can't wait to get to know.  Many of the families in our ward are med students, dental students, or resident so I tease Shawn that our ward is full of a bunch of "Shawn's".  Shawn made more friends on the first day of church that he has in the past 5 years.  Ethan is in Sr. primary here and Cole in Jr.  Liv went to nursery and didn't even cry when I left her.  I was so proud of all the kids, no tears, and they were so brave.  Going to a new ward with new teacher and friends can be scary, but they did good.  When I picked Ethan up from primary he complained about not feeling well.  When I felt his forehead he had a ragging fever.  Both Cole and Liv had some intense fevers earlier in the week, so I figure he just picked up the bug they were passing around.  By Monday afternoon Ethan felt much better and last night we walked with some new friends down to the local park for some fireworks.  On our walk home we saw lots of firebugs, which was something that Shawn and I haven't seen since living in Dominica.  We had a nice weekend, now back to life again.  I'm making the kids actually do some chores today and a little summer homework.  I feel like we have been in limbo for the last few weeks it feels nice to get into a routine again.  

First Day

Yesterday was Shawn's first day of work as a Neonatology Fellow.  He was so excited and so nervous.  I got up and ironed his shirt, even though I HATE ironing.  He is sooo excited to be part of a nice, big Children's Hospital.  He meet another fellow yesterday that has done over 300 intubations since being here and that got Shawn so excited.  Shawn has a weird sickness and really gets excited to stick tubes and needles into cute little babies.  I don't know where he gets it, but he seriously gets an adrenaline rush, but I guess that why Neonatology is such a good fit for him.  Here is Shawn walking in from the garage after his first day of work.  This kids were so excited to see him (Ethan even left his Wii game to welcome Dad home, but as you can see he didn't leave the controller).

As you can see, we are still enjoying the yard and spending lots of time out there.  I keep thinking I'll put up some other pictures of the house, but just haven't gotten around to it yet.

The boys have turned the basement into a Star Wars battleship and the backyard into their hideout.  Poor Grandma got all her limbs chopped off multiple times while she and Grandpa were here this past week.

Watering the yard (and the kids)

Looking forward to a nice weekend with lots of food, fireworks and I even get to mow the lawn (which I haven't done in over 15 years).