Jason's Stitches

So last night Jason gets ready to go mountain biking after the kids get in bed, but he gashes open the side of his leg. It was really deep (I will spare you the gross details of that). It is obvious that it needs stitches, since it is 1 1/2 inch wide and 1/2 inch deep. So he decides to stitch them up himself!!!! And he did. He was so proud he took a picture and I told him I would post a picture on the blog! My favorite thing that he said was "It is harder putting stitches in skin than in the mouth. Or maybe it was just because I was doing it on myself." I think it was because he didn't have anything to numb it with!

Our trip

So my pictures aren't in order, but here are some different things that we did before, during, and after my family reunion in Ohio.

OUR FAMILY IN FRONT OF PALMYRA TEMPLE
(outside of Joseph Smith's family farm)

SUNSET AT LAKE ERIE

My kids all got pretty wet, but we were flying home the next day and didn't want to deal with wet swim suits. Ashley's shorts were dripping so she ended up just in her diaper.

The waves were really big because of the wind, but the kids thought it was awesome.

PALMYRA
Here is the monument at the Hill Cumorah.

This is where the first copy of the Book of Mormon was published. We loved this site and my kids liked walking on the same floor that Joseph Smith walked.

This is in the sacred grove. Even though we don't know exactly where, it was a very neat experience for my kids.

NIAGARA FALLS

This is the American Falls behind us. We LOVED the boat ride.

This is before we went on the boat.

We only really got good pictures of the American Falls. There was too much water getting on us at Horseshoe Falls--but they were spectacular!

HORSEBACK RIDING

REUNION

My girls are modeling the tutus Aunt Becky made with the scarfs that Grandma Heath made.

The beach at the house we stayed at. They are swimming with dad and their cousins.

KIRTLAND
Our family in front of the temple.

Side view of the temple.

On the steps with cousins at the Johnson Farm. These are the steps Joseph was dragged down when he was tarred and feathered.

We had a great time!!! We were so glad to get to see so many meaningful and fascinating sites. We also enjoyed the chance to be with family for a lot of the trip as well.

It's a girl!!!!

Since I finally told my family when I saw them this past week, I figured I might as well officially announce that we are expecting baby #5 right before Christmas. We found out what we were having right before our big trip (I will post pictures later of our travels), but thought I would let you all know! I am now just over halfway, and have been less sick this pregnancy than any of the others! (Thankfully!) Now when I post pictures of our trip, you won't have to wonder about my belly.

Andrea's 1st perm

I am not sure how she got it in her head, but Andrea begged me for a perm. So my sister-in-law and niece did the job for me, and Andrea is one happy girl. It turned out great, and she absolutely loves it! But I am still getting used to it--when did she grow up?

Recent pictures of my kids

Tyler on his birthday--Spiderman bike and pajamas--it doesn't get better than that for a 4 year old boy!

Lots of pool pictures, or course, it has been over 110 all week!

Ashley loves the waterfall.

My three independent swimmers. They all still think it is fair that they race each other! But they have a lot of fun.

Dad swimming with the kids.

Right before we watched fireworks. We went up to Pinedale an camped for the weekend with Jason's dad and brother's family, then went to a rodeo Saturday night (and ran into some old friends from dental school John and Michelle Bigler), and then sat on the grass and enjoyed the show. Well, Tyler was more interested in the root beer at first.

Our little Ashley

Recent pictures of the many faces of Ashley. She is growing up so much and learning new words and sentences every day. My favorite words to hear her say are "Sure", "Papa" (grandpa), and "Love you". She is so fun! (Most of the time.)

She has learned the words "princess" (the shoes) and "spiderman" (the goggles).

Tyler's aunts gave him some presents for the pool. She claimed them as her own almost immediately.

This was in the middle of a fit. There were a few other pictures with this one, but she looked so funny here to me.

This was when we celebrated Kara's birthday. This was before it was nap time when she was still happy and having fun.

Swine Flu

This past week we have been battling all the symptoms of swine flu, and it has wiped us out. Jason, Tyler, and I got hit the hardest, though all the kids got something. We had every single symptom of the swine flu (and there are quite a lot of symptoms). It has been a miserable week and a half, but we are finally recovering. I seem to be the last one to be able to get over it, but it hit me last. This picture is of Tyler. He had to go to the urgent care with Jason when Jason's virus spread to a bacterial infection and Tyler had labored breathing. We purchased a nebulizer so that he didn't have to go to the hospital. Today was his first day not having to use it, so he is one happy boy! I am just glad we are finally feeling better.