Keeping Up With the Joneses

Marshall turned 37 on the 19th and we had some fun things planned. Some of it happened, and some of it got thwarted by Marshall's mono and a bout of stomach flu. We went to Los Hermanos with Marshall's mom on Friday night where they sang Happy Birthday to Marshall. Myles loved the sombrero.  We made breakfast for Marshall on Saturday morning. Mason has been taking a little cooking class and learned how to make eggs. He decided to make eggs with peppers and cheese and did it all completely by himself! Max and Myles helped make pancakes with blueberries. I put the batter on, Myles put (too many) blueberries on, and Max flipped them. It was a messy job but they turned out to be delicious. I found a Groupon for 2 people to go to the Shooting Range, 2 gun rentals, and 2 boxes of bullets, and so Marshall and I went for a date. I have never been to an indoor shootings range and at the beginning I wondered if I would be able to do it (I got startled every time a gun w...

We've had a rough week or so. We were just starting to recover after a few fun and busy weeks with lots of family, when things started to unravel. Marshall was really tired and feverish and achy when we were in Canada and when we got back he saw the doctor, had blood tests, and was diagnosed with mono. For the most part he is okay if he gets A LOT of sleep and rest, but last week he had some important meetings and couldn't get enough rest. On top of that, he had to take care of me. On Sunday I started getting a toothache (I had a root canal scheduled for the next week) and I went in for an emergency root canal It ended up getting infected, I had a bad reaction to the antibiotics and painkillers and got really sick and eventually needed shots and iv fluids. Then just as I was feeling better on Saturday I went to a wedding reception and had a little bite of cake that ended up having nuts and had a bad allergic reaction. I tried treating it myself with lots of benedryl but after 4...

We came back from Canada on July 2nd so we would have time to see Kim & Rusty's family visiting from Iowa. They stayed at our house while we were gone and then for a few nights when we got back. I don't have great pictures because I was so busy (feeding 30 or so people) but we had a blast. This just gives a sense of all the kids.  Russ and Deb were kind enough to babysit while Kim, Rusty, Marshall, I, William, Megan, Elizabeth, and Mason went to Stadium of Fire. That left Deb and Russ home with our 5 littlest ones and then with Eric and Jessica and their 5 little ones. Great grandparents! Mason loved hanging out with his big cousins.  I was shocked to see that my "always-rule-abiding-husband" actually snuck in a can of root-beer! The performer was Carrie Underwood and I enjoyed the concert.  So did Mason. 

We got to be in Waterton for Canada Day and I think is is the funnest day in the year. We got to share the day with all the Goates cousins and a few bonus cousins. Their favorite place to hang. My mom bought everyone Canada Day shirts. Getting ready for the bike parade. Myles ready for the bike parade on the "double bike" pulling the bike stroller. All Canadian. Getting ready for the Canada Day program.  Even McKay was into it. Canada Day is exhausting. It was finally warm enough for a boat ride.  My great-aunt-Maralyn was jealous that all the kids got tattoos and decided she wanted one too. Our good friends Glenda and Gail came to visit and hang out with the babies.  We went on a quick hike around Cameron Lake before dinner.  A great day. Me and my buddy.

Once again we had a fantastic trip to Canada. We got to time our trip to be with Scott and Jessica's families too so it was so nice to have everyone together again. Here are a few pics. My mom preparing my dad's daily 20-something pills for the week.  Dad wrestling with some of the cousins.  It stays light so long there that we got to go for walks after the kids were in bed.  Weird sign. Favorite place with my favorite person. I'm learning to make collages. :) Saw lots of bears. Myles loved hanging out on the hammock with McKay. Bike ride down Cameron--passing a mama bear and her 3 cubs. Scott and Annie brought all the kids lego sets. Chaos! Playing cards with the grandparents.  Dinners on the deck.  Cousins playing cards on rainy days.  The boys chopped down a dead tree. And no one got hurt! Cook-out with S'mores.  We love Waterton!

My dad has terrible teeth. My siblings and I have terrible teeth. Despite brushing, flossing, and flouride, my kids have terrible teeth. Already they routinely have cavities filled. But Max has been to the dentist 6 times without opening his mouth! He is the most easy-going child in every other way, but when it comes to the dentist he will not open his mouth. About 6 months ago the dentist pried his teeth open enough to tell that there were some major problems in there. We tried giving him valium before an appointment, and it just made him mad. Then the next time we tried valium with some oral medicine that was supposed to knock him out and it just made him even more mad. So finally the dentist and I decided the best thing to do would be to do iv sedation and see what was going on. We had to hire an outside anesthesiologist to meet us at the dentist's office and it knocked him out like a charm. When the dentist got in there he did a thorough cleaning, x-rays, filled TEN cavities, a...

Our 3rd "Friday Fun Day" included Mason hanging out on the balcony of my dentist's office reading while I had my check up, and then a visit to the recently renovated BYU Bean Museum. We had a great time.