The Sweeter Side of Life

Jamie is still sick. All week he has just kind of been laying around the house. With both of his ears still hurting, he prefers to be in a quiet dark room most of the time. But I guess our bedroom was getting to boring for him. So he came downstairs for awhile, but ended up in the living room on the couch. Grant asked where Daddy was, I told him, and after awhile, this is what I found:



It was so cute to see Grant trying to comfort his Dad. But as soon as he heard the camera click, he jumped up and gave me this face:



Either way, if I wasn't feeling well, either the cuddle or the goofy face would be enough to lift my spirits!

Not Daddy Too!!

Sickness is all around me!! Since Jamie made it back from his trip home to Canada last week he hasn't been feeling that well. He made it into work one day, tried to get up and go today but was too dizzy. I think he still has the ear canals of a 2 year old because he ALWAYS gets ear infections. So after I took Emma to school we were off to the doctor. Sure enough, he has a double ear infection. So armed with a Z-pack of antibiotics, ear drop antibiotics, and Mucinex-D we headed home. He is now resting comfortably (as comfortably as he can with Grant going in asking "Daddy, you wanna' catch bad guys with me?") Hopefully he can kick it quick and our house can be a GERM FREE ZONE!! You ever feel like you should do a "Lysol Bomb?"

Project

This is the piece of furniture that I am attempting to paint. We have had this hutch since we got married almost 12 years ago. It is a good piece, but just isn't doing it for me anymore. So with the help of my best friend Jamie, and her creative vision, we started the process last night.


I found this wall hanging at Pier 1, and took it from there. Hopefully I can get it all put back together before the dinner that I am having at my house for 30+ people on Saturday. Wish me luck!

Making Progress

Today Emma has a playdate after school with a friend from Kindergarten. This morning while she was getting ready she remembered where she was going. And then she paused and got a worried look on her face. For those of you who know Emma well, you know that she has a paralyzing fear of dogs--ok almost ALL animals. SO I knew what was coming next. I said "Does Gionna have a dog?" And much to my surprise she said "Yeah, but she told me it was just a little one." So I said, "Do you want me to talk to Gionna's mom about it this morning when I take you to school?" She said, "No, I'll just tell them when we are walking to her house, and maybe she could put it away." PROGRESS!!!

No Words Needed

I love the fact that Grant can just walk up and stand in front of me and point--to his nose!! He's not like most kids who freaks out about a booger, its just more of a nuisance. He points, I wipe, and we go about our day!!

Over The Hump

I think we made it over the hump, and we are on our way to recovery. Grant doesn't cough 24 hours a day now, just has fits of coughing. He really wants to do more than he has energy for, and overdoes it and then starts coughing. He said to me, "Mom, you wanna' see how fast I can run?" And took off for a full circle around our family room/living room area. And boy was he serious! Now we have to work on the eating habits we have fallen into this last week. He wasn't eating ANYTHING, so of course I'm offering him everything under the sun--Popsicles, ice cream, french fries & chicken nuggets (his fav)--well, you get the picture. Now when he's hungry and ask for ice cream at LUNCH, he can't understand why he can't have it. Oh well, Daddy is taking a sick day from work today--they can work it out!!

Thanks to all of our friends and family who helped me out with this little incident while Jamie was gone. The phone calls, Diet Pepsi, advice, sitting with Grant while I escaped to Walgreens, and everything else was greatly appreciated.

Dear Dallin,

I am so sorry that you are sick too. It is NOT fun! Thanks for the letter. Today my Grandma came over to play with Emma while Mommy was holding me, and I wanted to play the game too. So I went over and tried to play, but I was too tired. I love playing games with Grandma but it will have to wait until I feel better.

Make sure your Mommy lets you eat and drink ANYTHING you want! I've got to eat a lot of popcicles too. We also go outside (well its raining here so we sit in the garage) and read books when I start coughing a lot! Maybe you could do that too.

Take care, we'll talk soon.

Love, Grant

PS--My mommy doesn't know how to do everything that your mommy does on the computer, so if anyone wants to see Dallins letter, just go to www.lifeasathompson.blogspot.com

Crap--I Mean Croup

We have a diagnosis. This morning I called and made a doctors appointment for Grant--just for the pure fact that I was frustrated. He was on my lap, asking for medicine, coughing, coughing, coughing. And there was nothing I could do to help him. It was the most frustrating thing. So I decided I would pay the money to go to the doctors and have them tell me it was a virus-and there was nothing they could give him. (Don't you just love it when they tell you that!) But it wasn't, and I'm glad I took him in. So feel free to throw and croup remedies my way!

Last Call for Girl Scout Cookies

Girl Scout Cookies are here!! Emma is still selling Girl Scout Cookies--so email me if you want to order some. She has 1 more week until her order has to be in. She looks at the prize sheet everyday and really has her eye set on the pewter horse figurine (I don't know why).

Sweet Words

Grant has been sick since Sunday morning. And I thought I would be sick of hearing, "Mom, you sit with me?" But I have to say, they are the sweetest words I could hear. I am grateful to have healthy kids (most of the time), and for my own health, so I can take care of them. I am thankful for a wonderful husband who works hard, so that I can "sit" with my kids when they need me, and not have to worry about daycare. And I am thankful for wonderful family and friends who bring over chewable Tylenol, so I don't have to load my sick kids in the car to go get it.

History

Whether or not I agree with the Presidential decision, I have to acknowledge the fact that history IS being made today. Grant was up at 4:30am with a coughing fit, so after I couldn't go back to sleep I turned on the news while getting ready. At first I was kind of annoyed at all of the Inauguration "stuff", but then I realized that this is a part of history. I needed to remember that this is going to be a significant part my life, and my kids lives--good or bad. So here's to history!!

Old Fashion Wonders

My kids love to eat apples! Yes, they like chocolate and candy too, but because of a handy dandy little tool they really like to eat apples. Jamie brought home this apple pealer a couple of months ago and they think its the best thing EVER!! Sometimes they eat the skin and everything! Gotta love it!
 
 
 

Gymnastics Class

Last night the kids had their first gymnastics class. Emma started classes when she was about Grant's age and did them for about 2 years. Then we stopped while she tried a few other things (cheerleading, dance, softball, soccer). But now we're back and really she loves it. She was put in a class where all the other girls are about 3 heads taller than her, and they all looked like they had been in the class for awhile and very comfortable with the teacher. But I was really proud of her. She just watched what everyone else was doing and got in there and did it.


Grant has the same teacher that Emma had for 2 years. We love her! Grant did very well for his first class. He listened pretty well, but got very distracted when they were out in the big part of the gym. After he would do one rotation of the circuit, he would try and run over to another part of the gym that looked more fun. But his teacher was very patient and just called him back and got his attention. After awhile he got the idea that he wasn't supposed to do that. His favorite phrase was, "But I don't know how to do that."




I love to see my kids active, healthy, and happy. I am so grateful to have healthy children, and a husband who works hard so we can do these kinds of things with our kids.

Birthday Fun

Friday we had Grant's 3rd Birthday Party. We went to one of his favorite places to play, Funtastic, with about 13 friends. This is an indoor play area with slides, tunnels, soft mats, etc, so basically he plays full force the entire time he's there, without hurting anything. The kids played for awhile, did the parachute, hide and seek, and then we had cake and opened presents. Grant is very into ANYTHING superhero (Spiderman, Superman, Batman, Hulk) so we had a Hulk party. He does a great impression of Hulk! I'm sure the other parents were thrilled when I pulled out the green cupcakes-but Grant loved it. After he ate it and his tongue and fingers were green--he was convinced he was turning into Hulk himself. It was so cute, because every present that I handed him to open he would say,"I wonder what this could be?"

Thanks to everyone who came and made this a great day for Grant!

Happy Birthday Grant

When I was looking back at all of these pictures of Grant I realized how expressive he is. He wears his emotions on his sleeve. Grant came into the world at a whopping 10lbs. 12oz.-strong and strong willed! He hit the ground running and never looked back. Grant is full of energy, wit, and life. He is outgoing, funny, creative, and sweet. He is very in tune to those feelings around him. Just the other day we were out and a little girl was crying. I didn't think anything of it, but I looked down and Grant was in tears. I asked him what was wrong,and he told me, "That little girl made me sad. What's wrong with her-she okay?" Sometimes when he is his being strong willed, I have to take a step back and just remember what a special child he his. I am so lucky to by his mom, and learn something new from him everyday. I love you Grant!

Grandma Cahoon

We got the news this morning that Jamie's Grandma Cahoon passed away. She has been sick off and on for the last couple of months, and finally went into an assisted living facility. While living there she was still trying hard to be independant and fell a lot. This week she fell and broke her femer, which she has surgery to repair. The surgery went well, but developed a blood clot after.

Grandma Cahoon was a spunky lady. She was a no nonsense kind of gal-but very kind. I loved going over to her house and just listening to her. The last time we were over there with all of the kids Grant went to go take a nap on her bed. After awhile we heard him crying so we went in to check on him. We found him on the floor pulling at his mouth, with a bottle of Ambesol on the ground-empty! Grandma was so worried about him and thought it was her fault for leaving it out. We thought it was funny. And when I first met Jamie I remember him telling me about his Grandma's ongoing obsession with Days of Our Lives (since I still watched the show at that point-I thought it was very cute). And Grandma Cahoon is the only person I've ever played Rook with. Any Cahoon family member will understand this!

We are gratful for our knowledge of eternal families, and the temple, and know that we will all be together again someday. We love you Grandma, and will miss you, but know that you are very happy to be back with Grandpa.

New Years In Tahoe

We spent our New Years In Tahoe this year. Jamie and I took the kids up for 4 days and we had a great time. We took them to the snow 1 time last year and Grant didn't really like it so I was a little cautious. But as soon as we pulled into the parking lot of our hotel the kids were out of the car digging in the snow and throwing snowballs. Grant's favorite saying the whole trip was, "Snowball Fight!" And let me tell you, he has a pretty good aim.

One of the most impressive things I've seen is the picture above. Looking at Lake Tahoe from the shores of the beach covered in snow--at sunset! It really is something I won't forget.

Another highlight of the trip was the day we went snowmobiling. Jamie talked me into all of us going. I was trying to talk him into going on a trail close to our hotel, so that Grant and I could go back when he got tired of the snow. But he won, and off we went with our snow clothes, lunches packed, and the snowmobile. We left around 10am and didn't get back until about 3pm. It was a great day! Once we hit the trial we took the snowmobile about 20 minutes back into the trails and found a great meadow area to play in all day. Grant made a snow angel, Emma rode in the tub and NEVER got thrown out, I made it the farthest down the sled hill, and Jamie only got the snowmobile stuck ONCE! I guess Grant has found a new love for the snow. He played so hard, he even fell asleep on the snowmobile driving back out on the trail. Could we ask for anything more? It was a great way to start the new year!

Translation Please

As we were driving down the rode Grant is in the backseat (obviously) and says, "Mommy, I fell a dunk." Um What? And so he repeats it with a little more vigor for me. Once again, WHAT? This goes on for awhile then I change the subject because he is getting really irritated with me. Go to errands.........Coming back on the same road ..........

I say, "Yuck, do you smell that skunk?" Grant's reply, "Yeah, dat's what I said, I fell a dunk!"

Mystery solved!!

Christmas at the Cahoons

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve was low key and quite around our house. Grandma and Grandpa Redfearn, Uncle Randy, Leslie, Karon and Bill all came over in the evening. The kids decorated cookies for Santa, made reindeer food (oats & sprinkles), and got to be the center of attention. Emma and Jamie worked on a puzzle (a Cahoon traditon), and Grant took off his clothes. This is something that was bound to happen! All in all it was a great day!