Just Breathe...

Me and AJ waiting for the X-ray, I know I look great especially in my X-ray Apron. AJ and the nebulizer are NOT friends
At the ER Anderson found a deck of cards and brought it to his room. He had fun taking one card at a time and throwing it into this basket. He did this with about 20 cards.
This morning started out kind of boring. Anderson woke up at about 8am. He had a banana and a cup of milk and went back to bed, nothing out of the usual for him. At 11am he woke up again and was kind of wheezing. I thought it was weird but decided he was probably getting a cold. We ate lunch and he went back to bed, I actually thought maybe I should call the doctor cause it was kind of bothering me that he went from fine to wheezing so quickly and that he was VERY cranky, but decided to just see what happens. At 4pm he woke up again and this time he was having a super hard time breathing. I called his doctor's office right away and they had us come in immediately. They gave him two treatments with the nebulizer right away. This is a horrible thing to watch. He screamed the whole time and fought as hard as he could to get away from it (pulling the tubing out with his toes, grabbing and kicking the nurses, at one point he pulled the tubing so hard the whole nebulizer crashed to the floor.) AJ, Me, and the 2 nurses that were holding him down were exhausted and sweaty by the time we were done. It didn't seem to help him as much as they would like, so we went to get an X-ray. Afterwards, we had one more treatment but the Doctor didn't feel comfortable sending me home so she sent us over to Mary Bridge Children's Hospital. They took good care of him and gave him some medication and a machine to take home if we need it. Unfortunately, they don't know for sure what is from but they believe he just has some sort of bronchial infection. I am thankful for the doctors and nurses at Mary Bridge, they seem to love the kids they take care of. It was nice that they were willing to entertain and make AJ happy during an unhappy time for him. I am also thankful that Wes and Kristin could pickup Mom and Dad at the airport while this was happening and that Valerie was able to come get my big boys from the Doctors. I don't know what we would do without family and friends who are willing to help us out, especially at times like this.

Back to School

Ashten and Ayden
"Mommy, the boat is sinking!"
Wes and his "girls"
Double fisting the apples we picked from a tree on the way to the park
Ayden loves to go SUPER high while Ashten will just leap off if he thinks he's been pushed too hard (which seems weird to me if I thought someone pushed me too hard I would hold on for dear life) Today, Wes had planned for us to walk to NE Tacoma Elementary School to play. Both Wes and I attended this school when we were young. The kids love to yell out "that's where you went to school when you were a little girl" whenever we drive by. So they were very excited when I said that we were going to walk there and play on the toys. They had a great time playing but didn't so much care for the walk...it was very hot out and there wasn't a lot of trees shading the walk there. Besides playing on the big toy they also played fetch with the dogs (who couldn't have cared less) and fetch with each other. At one point when the whistles blew ending recess I told Ayden to sneak into a class and pretend he was in Kindergarten. He took me too seriously and was upset when I didn't let him. Poor guy, it's just one more year! The school has been remodeled to an unrecognizable point as well as the playground and the park, but it was fun to go there and swing on the swings with my boys. I felt just like I was back in elementary school again.

Random Happenings on a Thursday

Here is just a glimpse into our daily lives inside the house:

AJ wants in the "red chair" so bad he climbs the printers to do it.
While making lunch...Yes that's right we had breakfast for lunch. I cracked an egg and out popped a twin. The kids thought this was pretty cool!!
Ashten got into Anderson's drawers and picked out one of his size 18 month outfits to try on. Fits him well...like a glove.
Our house is always crazy, but sometimes it's crazy fun!

Celebration Park

Ayden made this "sandwich" with all the meat and cheese and only 2 of his crackers
What a cheese! This is his favorite outfit and he would wear it all day everyday if I would let him luckily it got lost in the laundry for a few weeks.

Ben found the best spot at the park...a mini swing perfectly shaded
Nothing was wrong with Gavin...apparantly this is what happens when you ask him to smile
When I pulled out the camera he shoved this stick and his mouth and just sat there like he was the funniest thing on Earth.Ben, Ayden, and Ashten I think this was one of their favorite parts. It had scoops for the dirt and then you could put the dirt in those red bowls. They played here for a long time.

We have never been to Celebration Park before so I was glad when I asked Cassi for a suggestion on where we should go this Wednesday and she mentioned having a picnic here. The kids really liked the toys that they had there. Afterwards, we went over to the library got some books and played on the toys there while we waited for Uncle Wes to walk over. We went on some of the Trails in Alderwood Park and tried to get Wes to find a geocache BUT the boys ruined it for him by telling him where it was. We had a fun day and everyone slept well at night!

Brian Boitano Jr.

What is he thinking? Ashten's skating demonstration

For those of you who read our family blog:
I hope that through my tragic embarrassments,
I can bring a smile to your face or make your day a little brighter.

This morning Ashten comes into the living room wearing the above outfit. He has always been fascinated when I wear nylons but today he thought it would be SUPER fun to try them on. My first reaction was to get mad and tell him to take them off before he ruined them...but seriously how could I help laughing at him before I could even finish the lecture. He showed me his skating and then went on his merry way. An hour or so later, as I was blogging about the "tights", I heard a huge "HOOOONNNK". Today is garbage day. I ran outside because I know the boys LOVE watching the garbage truck. There at the end of my driveway is Ashten still wearing the "tights" with the garbage man yelling...Get Back!!

Do The Puyallup...Again!

Nofo, Mariah, Marisela, Anderson, Me, Armand

John, Liliana

Nofo Jr, Ayden, Ashten

Our first stop was the fire trucks! Where the 5 big kids got Puyallup Fireman Tattoos. Home Depot had a kids workshop booth that allowed the kids to color on a tile that they got to take home. They each got a free apron and a pin to take home also. We had done this the day before so we have a little collection of tiles now.Afterwards, we rode on the train while the husbands and babies waited at the "train station"

We have only been at the Fair for an hour or so and the thumb is already in the mouth which means he's tired. I was surprised that he made it all the way til 930pm before he snuck a 10 minute nap in (He couldn't sleep with all the screaming going on at the Hypnotist show!)

While we were riding the train the kids saw this canoe ride. It was SO hot I think we were all thinking and hoping to get a little wet so we could cool off too bad it was a fairly dry ride.

Ashten with his new shades (he likes to wear them just like Daddy) and LilianaAJ after lunch and after his piece of licoriceAyden and Ashten (on my lap and I DID scream my head off) had gone on a little slide the day before but today we saw this GIANT SLIDE...it was all Ayden could think about. He climbed up the stairs all by himself, got sat down ,and waited for the worker to give him a push. He said his legs got really tired walking up all those stairs but he loved the slide down!! We were all proud of him for being so brave.While we waited for the Marionette Show to start Armand took Ayden over to ride on the carsAnderson waiting for the Puppet Show to start. He loves shoes right now...He is always taking them and trying to put his foot in them. It's so cute to watch him discover new things and scary also to watch him attempt things that he sees brothers doingALL the kids LOVED the show but when it came time for Ayden to meet Pinocchio (which he had waited patiently for about 10 minutes for his turn) he would not smile for the picture.
5 big kids waiting for their Daddys
This tree was outside of the stage where the hypnotist was. While Nofo, Mariah, Marisola, and Armand watched the show for a few minutes, I stayed out and watched the kids. This is what they came up with to do. Hey at least they were busy...but I got some of my favorite "you're a freak show" looks. I had six kids under 7 with me. Oh, by the way when we parked the lady at the house we parked at said "Wow you have a preschool with you today" HAHA Yesterday, we went to the Fair for "playgroup". We didn't have a camera and haven't had one all week...bummer! I've dropped very obvious hints that I would like one of my very own for my upcoming birthday, I am crossing my fingers. Anyways, we had been invited to go roller skating (scary) by Mariah but luckily the husbands decided that the Fair would be a better idea. Thank goodness!!! We had a great time with the Ngata Family. All of the kids had so much fun spending the whole day together.

Some parts that we didn't get pictures of but have to be mentioned:

• We went over to catch a Mutton Bustin' competition and along the way Ashten was separated from our group. Luckily, after a few minutes of splitting up and searching Armand found him over by a Laser Tag place waiting in line. Thank goodness he found him and just in time, I was having a hard time holding back tears and vomit.
• After the canoe ride that was obviously only for kids I told Ayden that I REALLY wanted to go on a ride in one of the canoes to which Ayden replied. "Mommy, the canoe ride is for kids and I don't want to hear any crying OR whining" HAHA Where did he hear that from?
• We stayed for the last showing of the Travis Fox hypnotist show. It was SO funny. I wasn't sure how the kids would do. We got a seat about an hour before it started plus the show is about an hour which is a LONG time for 7 kids to sit still. They ran around for awhile but once the show got started and the people were hypnotized the kids got really into it. They moved right up to the floor in front of the stage and sat there. Their favorite part was the end when the 4 remaining people acted out the Lady Marmalade as Pink, Maya, Little Kim, and Christina Aguilera (a big black guy played her and he stole the show!!)
• On the way out after a whole day of being asked "Mommy, Daddy can I get a trumpet?" We finally gave in. They were five dollars and we did not know what we were getting ourselves into when we finally agreed. They are SO loud!! The kids and I stood at the gate while some of our group went to the bathroom. The Fair was almost over so people were pouring out of the gates. The kids played their trumpets "beautifully" giving the fair-goers migraines as they left. People suggested putting a hat out so they could throw money in it for them. Others just looked at me like the felt bad for me. Some rolled their eyes...like the Fair is supposed to be a quiet place! Luckily for Armand and I they are fair toys and they will be lost or broken before the week is over!

I love that I get to take my kids to the Fair just like my Mom took us when we were little. I have so many memories of the Fair from when I was young and I get so excited to share those memories with them and give them memories that they can share with their kids.

Labor Day Wedding

Kristy and Andy Ayden sat very still
Ashten was a little wild man

Anderson was fine...he was eating macaroni

(thank goodness for an outdoor wedding)
Today my cousin got married over at the Stake Center. The ceremony was outside, it was hard for the big boys because they saw the ball field and just wanted to go play in the sand...somehow I didn't think that that would be appropriate. Luckily for them, the ceremony was straight to the point. Afterwards, there was a dinner inside. The boys had an awesome time playing with Ashley and Cori in the nursery. Sometimes (not always) it is such a blessing to have a big extended family living nearby. Afterwards we went home, put the kids to bed and vegged out for the rest of the night. It was nice to recover from the adventurous weekend we have had.